Montana Roué

Saturday, February 25, 2017

SCENTS AND SENSIBLITY

Spring break
Yesterday spring arrived in Manhattan. While
a temporary respite at best, the thermometer
surged to the low seventies. Everyone was out
and about. Making my the walk to and from
the office akin to swimming upstream against
a salmon spawn. Packed to the gills, everyone
had a spring in their step. And given we knew
that shortly hereafter we would return to the
frozen tundra, we all took advantage of our
current situation. However any uptick in one's
spirits was not the only thing blossoming. The
city sewers were also rising to the occasion.
And frankly, they stink.

Under current
Beneath a vast metropolis such as this bubbles
a variety of necessary evils. Most of the time
we're unaware of what lurks underfoot. Yet
whenever there is a warming trend all sorts of
smells suddenly rise above the surface. Thus
this morning as I stood on each corner waiting
to cross said stinks affirmed that waste disposal
is an ongoing process. Layer on the subtle scent
emanating from the piles of trash and suddenly
one comprehends that we literally reap what
we sow. And that as spring approaches, so do
such fragrances that not so subtly remind us of
what living in a literal melting pot truly means.

Food for thought
Fortunately it's not all that bad. Mixed with
the fetid stench of past imperfect are many
alluring scents of this city's fleet of food carts.
Hence one's appetite is oddly peaked by the
lingering allure of hot halal meat on the grill.
Add an occasional whiff of fragrant curry,
roasted chestnuts, Starbucks, plus varied
blasts of other assorted culinary delights.
Suddenly one is lost in a swirl of both good
and evil. All which mixes up into the sensual
reminder that this ever changing city is but
a melange of contrary forces. A melting pot
that blends into the sweet smell of success.

Mixed messages
Obviously this city stinks. Strolling down the
main aisle at Saks one is attacked by perfume
spritzers. Meanwhile on Park Avenue you
may catch a bit of Chanel No. 5 as you share
your elevator with a grande dame. Whereas
one may opt to quickly move when within
close proximity to a street person who hasn't
bathed in months. Often we're reminded that
some folks still smoke even if they must do
so surreptitiously. And if one opts to walk
Central Park South, the wafting aromas from
those charming tourist horse and carriages
are yet another reminder that shit happens.

While you were out...
All of this will soon pass. Quickly we'll hit
below freezing and all smells will dissipate.
However once spring arrives we'll have to
readjust to the smells of said season. Such
and assault on my senses reminds me of
how much I miss Montana. Back home the
air is truly fresh. That is unless one happens
to drive by the stockyard during an auction.
Up at our cabin in the mountains, fresh pine
and smoke from a roaring hearth combine
into an intoxicating brew. Reminders that
while at times our lives may stink... one
find the time to stop and smell the roses.

Friday, February 24, 2017

ALL MIXED UP

Coffee talk
A few months ago I was having breakfast with
a group back in Lewistown. The majority of
whom are born and raised in Montana. Great
people, we can talk about just about anything.
Somehow the subject shifted to "surprises" -
times when one discovers something new. A
gal who I really like shared about traveling to
Seattle only to realize "there were so many
black people there." Said statement was NOT
a racial slur. Rather it was an honest statement
based on her life experience. However I still
found it more than disturbing. That's because
it indicates the scope of America's great divide.

Melt aways
New York City is a melting pot. An amalgam of
a global melange of economic, social, ethnic, and
cultural groups. Therefore with the exception of
the environs within fossilized clubs such as the
Knickerbocker or Union, diversity is the lay of
this land. Hence whenever locals are confronted
with blatant racism, our immediate reaction is a
mix of surprise, pity, and disdain. That's because
bigots invariably seem ignorant at best. And at
least in these here parts in the minority. Yet just
dismissing divisive acts can get us all in trouble.
Or place a president in office such as Mr. Trump.
Who loudly claims that he's anything but a racist.

Baggage claims
Like it or not, we come from two different places.
As we consider the results of November's election
it was obviously a split decision. The dichotomy
being driven primarily by location. Rural versus
urban. Meaning that those who live in provincial
settings had no problem leaving urbanites holding
their mixed bag. That's because they simply don't
understand the reality of those who live far from
their comfort zones. Which means that while the
the majority of Americans swim in a melting pot,
the role of the electoral college allows an isolated
minority to usurp the rights of dissenting opinion.
Thus the reason why so many of us are ANGRY.

Between here and there
Both side's perspectives are driven by their
personal experiences. One side lives within
an ever changing collective of diversity. The
other resides in a world where any change
to their status quo is considered a threat.
Thus it's hard for either faction to respect
or comprehend the other's perspective. In
the years prior to this election, those truly
red states felt violated and ignored. Due to
economic and cultural forces their worlds
were changing for the worse. Thus it was
easy to blame others for their problems.
And support whomever was on their side.

Split decision
Angry, disenfranchised, or fueled by rumor
and innuendo these lambs were easily led
to slaughter. Ultimately Mr. Trump did not
receive the endorsement of the popular vote.
However fear mongering and false promises
enabled him to collect the electoral votes of
provincial America. Hence post the election
the balance of America was dealt a bitch
slap of reality. The fact is that all of those
red voters couldn't be more different. Blues
can no longer rely on safety in numbers.
Our electoral college gives smaller players
an unfair advantage. Hence our split decision.

Deep and wide
While our differences divide us, few know
where the other side is coming from. Like
it or not, the former majority is becoming
a minority in our largest cities, states, and
regions. Most living in such circumstances
have adjusted to the benefits of said mix.
Diverse opinions, experiences, perspectives,
and talents fuel the growth of such urban
centers. Meanwhile within the heart of
America - the balance of our geographical
core - the locals live within a context much
like they did a century ago. Hence it's no
wonder they reject the reality of diversity.

Extreme exposure
For the first time in decades, racial extremists
feel empowered and hence emboldened to lash
out. Be that anti-Semitic threats against Jewish
Community Centers or toppling grave stones.
The outbreak of blatant bigotry post November
is more than disturbing. However one might
argue that such open and vociferous racism is
not our greatest enemy. Rather it's the continued
undercurrent of "us" versus "them" that remains
rampant in our rural environs. And sadly, also
exists in our most affluent areas where many
private clubs still maintain membership policies
that exclude Jews and other minorities.

The power of one
We must stand up for what is just and fair.
And many Americans are now doing just that.
Recently Republican leaders have been met
by angry constituents in public. Incredulous
they claim such dissension is fueled by fringe
groups. However in reality these are patriots
fighting for the American way. Within our
political system freedom of speech and open
dialogue are welcomed and encouraged. Just
because some differ in their opinions doesn't
make them wrong. It's time that we listened
to each other, worked through our differences,
and joined as one to make America GREAT!

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Home sweet home away from home

Been there, done that
It's been almost six weeks since I left my
beloved home in rural Montana to return
to New York City. Frankly, the transition
has been a mixed bag. Born and raised in
these here parts, I'm quite comfortable
living back "home." Thus the move from
a community of six thousand to this mega
metropolis of eight and a half million has
been easier than most might assume. Our
new apartment is in our old neighborhood.
So, I know where to dine or buy groceries.
Therefore while I miss Montana this old
cowboy is happily back in the saddle.

Friendly persuasion
Don't get me wrong. There are many differences
between here and there. However urban versus
rural life share many similarities that help make
such a move is easier than expected. Much like
Lewistown I consider the immediate ten block
radius around our apartment my "village." And
slowly I'm getting to know those who live or
work within it's borders. Every day that I come
and go I'm greeted by the doormen and staff of
our building. Thus like waving across the fence
to one's neighbors, intimate interactions are very
comparable here in our home away from home.
Which at least for a few years will be just that...

Swop meet
In essence the feeling is the same even if our
surroundings are dramatically different. Back
in Lewistown I used to shop at Albertson's on
a daily basis. Now I stop by Morton Williams
on my way home. Whenever I needed a gift
I would pop into Country Junction. Instead I
walk down the block to Bergdorf Goodman's
seventh floor. And while I miss my friends at
The Mint, I'm equally comfortable dining in
one of my old favorites nearby. If we want to
see a movie, we'll stroll down the block to the
Paris rather than hit the Judith. Where the
only difference will be what's on the screen.

Art for arts sake
Thus while my options in Manhattan may be
more varied, I still tend to stay close to home
just as I did back in Lewistown. One thing is
certain. I've returned to civilization. Especially
when it comes to the arts, New York is a global
leader. Within blocks lay Carnegie Hall and
Lincoln Center. Equally convenient is the
theater district. Then of course there are the
museums. Making the pursuit of cultural
indulgence more than easy. Last weekend
I hit the Frick and spent an afternoon with
my old friends Corot, Whistler, and Turner.
A reminder of how happy I am to be here.

Old enough to know better
Growing up within the gilded confines of the
New York metro area, one tends to take it for
granted. In truth I had no context beyond this
glorious city. Thus when I first moved west
to Chicago, I was more than disappointed.
That's because I compared everything to
Manhattan. Meaning that even an esteemed
establishment such as it's Art Institute paled
by comparison. Ultimately I learned to adjust
to my new surroundings and appreciate the
nuances of a different time and place. The
fact is no matter where we are, beauty awaits.
We must be ready, willing, and able to see it.

Out to lunch
For most of my adult life I've lived far from the
isle of Manhattan. Thus I spent a career working
in blank boxes on isolated corporate campuses.
Returning to New York affirms that there is a
much better way to work. Given most folks
commute here, the day doesn't start until nine
a.m. Lunch hour begins at one o'clock in the
afternoon. And the majority step out of the
office to enjoy said repast. Driven by limited
train schedules, they dash off before six. But
as a resident of this city, I get to walk to work.
Meaning I'm home within thirty minutes. And
if that isn't civilized... I don't know what is!

Live it up
As I've said before, life is what one makes
of it. We all have a choice in how we live,
work, and play. All it takes to insure that
we're not victims of our circumstances is
to take control. So why not savor the here
and now? Whatever your comfort zone is,
go there! Invest in yourself even if that
means driving off the corporate campus
to grab a sandwich. Quality of life has
nothing to do with where you live. Rather
it's all about HOW one chooses to spend
their days and nights. Whether here or
there... do whatever it takes to be happy.

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

THE JOKES ON US

Triple threat
There are times when we all do the wrong thing.
Whether said error was purposeful or not makes
no difference. However when offered a option
between one extreme or the other each of us must
make our own decision. And... own it. Thus while
I would really like to blame someone else, I must
hold myself fully responsible for that third round
of Manhattans last night. While at the time they
seemed a perfectly viable option, their residual
effect as of this morning is a reminder that less is
more. And so one can only hope that this time,
I've learned my lesson. Yet if I'm truly honest I'm
fully aware that I'm likely to be a repeat offender.

Send in the clowns
While acquiescing via culpability is always the
most optimal approach, many feign ignorance
or purposefully misrepresent the facts. All in
the hope that nobody will find out the truth of
said matter. However ultimately such subterfuge
only makes the situation worse. Hence invariably
it's much better to rip the band-aid off than very
slowly remove one's cover. Which brings us to
our new President and his gaggle of gadflies.
For reasons unbeknownst to us they feel they
must misrepresent the facts. The result being
a barrage of rumor, innuendo, and outright
deception. All of which benefit no one at all.

The truth be told
Usually only the delusional find it hard to
separate fantasy from reality. Adults must
consider pros and cons to make a decision.
Where deceivers get into trouble is when
they alter data to suit their circumstances.
Ultimately the facts always trump fiction.
So why waste everybody's time by trying
to prove the veracity of a bunch of lies?
Yet many alter the truth to suit their needs.
And the best way to control a message is
to tightly manage it's transmission. Thus
censorship has oft been most dictator's
preferred mode of communication.

History repeats itself
One can't help but worry when the top dog
barks that our free press is "The enemy of
the people." We've heard this prior from
the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao Zedong,
Hugo Chavez, and even Richard Nixon.
All deemed alternative opinions "fake
news." So they did whatever they could
to control the media and silence THEIR
opposition. Sadly it seems that we now
have a leader whose fragile ego is easily
compromised by any dissent. The question
is does he truly mean what he says?! And
if so, what does he intend to do about it?!

Clowning around
Last Sunday Fox News anchor Chris Wallace
and the White House Chief of Staff Reince
Priebus got into a rather heated discussion on
this subject. Mr. Wallace accused President
Trump of "crossing the line" via an accusatory
tweet. Mr. Priebus subsequently spewed verbal
cartwheels in an attempt to shift blame onto
the New York Times. Finger pointing aside,
our President's opinions are now on the record.
Therefore President Trump has drawn a line
between freedom of the press and purposeful
propaganda. And no denials to the contrary
can ever alter that fact.

Paper trail
We all make mistakes. However if the guilty
party's only regret is that they were caught in
the act, everyone is at risk. Ultimately few if
any of us get away with not telling the truth.
Therefore attempts to hide the facts simply
defer the inevitable. Which suggests that in
contentious times such as these honesty is
the best policy. Better to own up to one's
mistakes than waste time trying to prove a
fantasy. Sorry Don but as Americans it's
our innate right to freely sift through the
facts from ALL sources in order to reach
a conclusion. Whether you like it or not.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

LOST IN SPACE

Home alone
You gotta love New Yorkers. Each and every
one of them work very hard, Yet come a day
off or weekend free and they literally drop out
of sight. Yesterday our offices were open for
business. And thus while the rest of humanity
seemed to have checked out, our team had to
get up and go to work. Which my friends was
a bit of a problem given much of the subway
system was closed for holiday weekend repairs.
The good news is that hardly anybody was out
and about. Thus catching a cab was very easy
and there was virtually NO traffic down Fifth
Avenue. Which was actually rather fabulous.

End of the line
My personal preference is to always go against
the natural ebb and flow of this city's populace
as often as possible. Therefore while most of
my friends and neighbors flee the city during
the summer, I plan to be happy all alone in my
somewhat fetid bit of heaven. On most summer
weekends the crowds dissipate and suddenly
one can actually enjoy this most beautiful of
cities sans any competition. Well that is except
for the tourists who come out en masse once the
weather gets warmer. Sans the rest of us they're
almost charming as they gaze in awe. That is
until they stop dead and you trip over them.

Fare warning
One of the things any true New Yorker knows
is that the best scoop comes from cab drivers.
Given they spend their days interacting with all
forms of humanity, they see and hear things few
others experience. Recently a cabbie informed
me that tourism was off dramatically. He knew
it simply by the fact that his tips were half of
what they normally were. Obviously the winter
months are always slower here in the city that
never sleeps. However he claimed that post
Christmas visitors virtually evaporated from
the scene. And given at least fifty eight million
visit annually - that's a lot of people.

Cash and carry
To put those visitors in context, said fifty eight
million souls doled out forty two billion dollars
within our five boroughs in 2015. Predominantly
said human money machines hailed from within
the USA. However over 1.2 million interlopers
came across the pond from the UK to shell out
their hard earned pounds. Thus post Brexit, it's
continued drop in value has impacted the Brit's
spending power. The next highest groups of big
spenders are traditionally Canadians, Brazilians,
after that the Chinese, and then the French. Thus
it's not surprising that the city that never sleeps
gets nervous when visitors opt to go elsewhere.

Gold standard
Don't get me wrong, midtown is still packed
with temporary aliens. One only has to see
them line up across the avenue from Trump
Tower to get their pictures taken to prove
there are strangers in our midst. Yet after a
decade of dramatic growth in their numbers,
one has but to look about to realize that the
crowd has thinned. Hence it seems that a
weakened global economy, rabid terrorism,
and a questionable leader at our helm have
lessened their desire to charge about our city.
All of which indicates that bravado aside,
not everything is well in the world at large.

No room at the in?
I'll admit that I rather enjoy having the city
to myself. Yet I've no doubt that we need
tourists more than they need us. In such a
melting pot as New York, a constant influx
of talent, ideas, and cash fuels growth. Thus
attempts to close our borders challenge our
ability to leverage the best of the rest. While
keeping "foreigners" out may help folks in
the corn belt feel safe, it limits New York's
ability to be a world leader. Thus it's quite
important that Lady Liberty continue be
the hostess with the mostest. Otherwise all
that makes us unique will slowly disappear.

Open for business
As a New Yorker and businessman President
Trump knows what I'm talking about. He had
no problem buying whatever from whomever
from wherever. In a competitive market only
the best win through trial and error. Pandering
to provincial fears only limits our ability to
play with the big boys. Thus I'm incredulous
at the idea that the ultimate deal maker is now
willing to compromise our collective future
for the sake of red state votes. Isn't it time to
embrace the world at large? Our country is
built on a legacy of diversity. Thus our motto
should be THE MORE THE MERRIER!