the final countdown

This fabulous image comes courtesy of the very talented Darren. I was trying to attach it to my blog template as a permanent feature but it got shrunk and ruined, so it's going here instead. And it certainly captures a few things pretty essential to this whole experience: a frequent feeling of glee; flightiness; being on top of the world; etc, etc.

I have about five days left! And jammed into that time, I have a whole lot of people to catch up with, a bedroom full of stuff to sort out and pack up, a tiny bit more shopping to do, at least one more museum and a show to go to, an article to finish, and perhaps one or two more rounds of late night bar stumbling. It's probably a good exercise in making the most of things, something I'm not the best at doing instinctively. And I've been thinking a lot about what I'm going to bring back to Sydney of this experience, in terms of the kind of person New York encourages me to be. I don't want to lose the sense of adventure that I've restored here and slide back into boring habits at home. At least, only until I move back to New York...

The highlight of last week was going to see Kiki and Herb, the fucked-up, queer, crazy cabaret duo. I hadn't seen them before (as had Ben from Sydney, who I went with) but I will be making a beeline in future. Brilliant! One of the best live performances I've seen in ages! They were so funny and very very talented, despite the carefully produced appearance of anarchy and drunkenness and general messiness. Who knew the song "Total Eclipse of the Heart" could be so moving?

And last week's celebrity spotting: Rufus Wainwright. I was sitting in a restaurant in Chelsea and he walked by outside some distance away so I didn't get a decent gawk at him but my eyes were drawn to the fuschia scarf draped around his neck.