(another delayed post...sorry if you've heard this b4, tho i doubt it since i've not been very communicative)

OK, the apartment--we carted all this shit out here (see previous post about haulin 11,000 lbs over the rockies) and now we're selling most of it. It's taken a number of bruised shins and stubbed toes but Jenni now sees that the stuff doesnt work. Our neighbor (former cyclist, chef, sommolier, and now stay at home dad at 33) came by on one of our first nights with a bottle of fine bordeaux and gave us advice ("go UP wherever you can" and "we tried what you're doing with the sofa. we also tried it this way and that. eventually you'll find it only works here (points to back wall). go into any apt here and that's what they've concluded, too.").

i should also write about pamela, another neighbor, who has really helped jenni thru the emo aspects. pam and husband, ari, have been great friends. their son, sam, is 6 and rides bikes and plays pokemon w/ my boys. i'm going out with ari tonight to drink beers downtown at an irish pub called doulan's (i believe). ari is a great conversationalist, dry wit, combined with a musicians flair (MA from USC, is a composer for the film industry) and a businessman's sense of cost/benefit (self-employed). It's my first time out (w/ someone other than jenni or brett) and it should be fun.

also, recently we've had leaks allowing water in the apt (this november is setting a record for rain, but nothing to compare with auckland, i'm told) which is making us consider a move w/in the year but it's hard to beat all the perks. the manager is very good about trying to fix the leaks so we'll hope for the best.