Meant to post earlier - been so much happening that I’ve not had the time to really focus on all my blogs.  For one thing, I started a new job at Monster.com early this week and the change, while welcome, is still an adjustment.

Meanwhile, a week ago last Friday, after my last day at IBM, having pulled my back out, sorta, earlier in the day (stress related) I handed my laptop over to a friend at work and headed over to the Metropolitan to celebrate the end of something old and the beginning of something new.

Tapestry in the Baroque: Threads of Splendor was a spectacular show that closed just after I attended - and as I sat, my back in pain (and not really wanting to sit) to have dinner and some red wine - I thought about what it took to be in this place in my life.  After having a nice conversation with a retired lady in the Metropolitan Cafeteria, I made my way over to the European paintings and the Tapestry exhibit.

The European painting area was redone, and I saw much of the Metropolitan painting collection on the walls, where they have not been seen for several years - including a large Boldini painting I used to admire, many years ago.

The Tapestry show - well …. I’m not really into large rugs on the wall … but I have to say - I had no idea that the most valued part of an artist’s work in the 16th and 17th centuries might not have been the paintings they did, but the Tapestry - amazing.

And the Tapestries of Rubens were among the best - I just felt that I needed much more time and to be in better shape to fully appreciate what I was looking at.

And in a way, the Tapestries reminded me of paintings of Cezanne (strange.. huh), esp some that Cezanne did of Madame Cezanne.   It’s surprising what goes into the formation of an artist.

Getting back to this week, I was kinda occupied, starting a new job, feeling complete and empty at the same time and trying to get some other matters lined up with speaking engagements in Miami later this month and another conference in Manhattan the week after next.

I did see an opening on Friday night, but it’s not really worth commenting on - it wasn’t very interesting - though it was crowded - and I had some champagne.

I was about to go home when I remembered an annual dinner party at Florent, in the West Village, that I was going to attend - I rushed over and spent a couple of hours last night seeing friends I’ve known from between 20-40 years, including Ellen Silverman and Drew Knapp.  I had a really good time and getting together with old friends is really a must - I’m so glad I remembered at the very last minute and it was not too late.

I got home at 1AM - after a couple of glasses of red wine, a light meal and great company.