Today's info

Today I am going into Manhattan. I am going to the China Institute to see their exhibit of bronze mirrors before it leaves town. Then I may or may not go to the Met, depending on how long it takes me to see stuff at the Institute.

Why am I telling you this? Because my mother was for some reason so nervous about my going into the city that she asked me to program her cel number and the number where she and Dad would be spending the day into my celphone, and not to go to anywhere I didn't know, and to be extra careful in the city. Normally she just says 'have fun'. I can only assume that either Fleet Week or the erstwhile threat of terrorists worries her.

For the record, I'm wearing an American Red Cross t-shirt with 'Something To Believe In' on the front over the logo, a pair of dark blue jeans, and black and gray sandals.

More later as events warrant.

Today's pulp survival tip is #31: Study mythology during your downtime.

I'm back.

No terrorists, no gunmen, no anthrax, no nothin'. The mirrors at the China Institute were really neat, and the exhibition showed the progression of mirror-making techniques pretty nicely. The gallery's darn small - about the size of my family's living room and dining room put together - but considering that I paid $3 to see stuff that normally would require a trip to Cleveland, I don't mind.

The Asia Society, which was a few blocks' walk from the China Institute on the path to the Met, is currently showing photographs and videos from the Soviet-Afghan war that ended in 1992. It's also exhibiting modern New York children's art inspired by trotting the kids through the last exhibit of the stuff in the Rockefeller collection. Some of those third graders are pretty darned good. Also, somebody put quarters all over the statue of Ganesh, gave him several Jolly Rancher candies (still in wrappers), and spelled out "We Love You" in pennies at his feet. The lady at the coat-check informs me that next month they're doing an exhibitino on the city of Benares; I may have to go back for that.

Went to the Met after that. Managed a reasonable sketch of the life-size Sanxingdui priest statue, although it's not the best. I love that exhibition, and will be very sorry to see it go. Wish they sold reproductions of some of that stuff... oh well. Wound up not bothering to go up to the Manchu calligraphy exhibit or the rest of the Asian art - my feet hurt from walking from Penn Station (34th street and 8th Avenue) to the China Society (East 65th Street, between Park and Lexington) and then to the Met (81st St and 5th Ave). I still have a weekend or two before that leaves, so I'm not worried. God only knows what'll move into that space, but at least I have a few sketches and a nice poster to remind me.

Now I go to shower. Even on a gorgeously cool and sunny day when the city is overrun with tourists and sailors in dress whites, it's still a hellaciously grubby place.

But no terrorists.