If you’ve been following my real estate adventures (follies?), you may recall that I had an extended dalliance with the idea of buying a farmhouse with a barn in Upstate New York last summer. I fell in love with the idea, but researched it and estimated costs of repairs and was overwhelmed with the idea … Read more
I was in the IKEA store when I noticed this pair, and was curious why these little characters were frowning at me. It seems they are considered “mood vases” with the product name “Fröväxt,” which means “seed plant” in Swedish. They’re meant to be mini plant holders, with the idea that whatever greenery that comes … Read more
I had pretty much let go of the idea of pursuing the old house in the country in Upstate New York, when on a recent Sunday morning, I was minding my own business, drinking coffee, and reading the Sunday Times … and then I was triggered. There was an article about a dance studio building … Read more
I’m struggling with a decision. I’m doing my best to convince myself that a rural estate upstate with a cool Mission Revival style house, old barn, and 2nd house (and a few sheds thrown in) is a bad decision, as there’s so much expensive work that would need to be done, renovation-wise. And it’s far … Read more
When I was in Ithaca on a long weekend with my girlfriend, the living room of the Airbnb where we stayed had these two chairs. We were rarely sitting in this room at the same time, but it seemed like the few times we did, I somehow always ended up in the chair on the … Read more
I’m considering the purchase of an old house, and the phrase “this old house” came to mind, which I see is a television show on PBS that perhaps I should start watching. You can see my back-and-forth debates with myself as to whether this is a a good idea or not here. I’m still in … Read more
… and that is the question. What is the more-likely thing that a person might say: “I took on a historic house that needed a lot of work as a new chapter in my life, and it’s the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done,” or: “I bought a historic house that needs a lot of … Read more
I have a property tax payment coming up on May 1st, and it always seems to trigger an escape mentality, as Essex County taxes are notoriously high – in fact, 2024 data shows that Essex County had the highest property tax rate in the state of New Jersey, higher than Bergen County, Morris County, and … Read more
I heard about an art exhibition I wanted to see, a mini-retrospective for FUTURA 2000, at The Bronx Museum. I’ve been to the Bronx before, but never to that museum, so I decided to make a trip up there to see it. As I was walking along The Grand Concourse to get to the museum, … Read more
My girlfriend made me a breakfast sandwich the other day which struck me as a true “breakfast of champions,” because it’s so damn delicious. A toasted english muffin, with a spread of sheep/goat cheese, topped with sliced avocado and thinly sliced smoked salmon, and a squirt of lemon juice. Oh my, when I took my … Read more
