Catskills - Sullivan County - Ulster County Real Estate -- Catskill Farms Journal

Ok, these photos of this pre-Christmas adventure were taken awhile ago, like the 14th or so, but it's been a busy season.  Looking back on that Friday, Saturday and Sunday makes me tired just thinking about it now.

So Lucas and I drove into the City and had a great idea that Macy's wouldn't be busy at 6pm on a Friday 2 weeks before Christmas- a thought of delusion that scares me mostly by making wonder how far off base I'm regularly am without the obvious correction or reprimand this idea had.  Literally, not only did I park too far away, and not only was Lucas a little tired, but I think we were on the like busiest blocks of the City that night, and Macy's was CRAZY - super crowded, like 6 deep at the elevators, and we had to go to the 8th floor where Santa was.  Upon arrival and hearing of the 2-3 hr wait we reversed gears (after a lot of hype that I was quickly trying to backtrack from - it's not easy talking about Santa for 2 hours on the way into the city and then saying, 'hey, let's just come back tomorrow'- but I pulled it off with a lot emphasis on how tired Santa would be and he might not remember Lucas' list and a bunch of unchristian baloney and outright fabrications).  Whatever, it worked, and we grabbed a slice and headed to the hotel.

Only to be back on the road to Macy's at 630am, meaning we were up pre 6am.  Here's a pic of lucas, pre-dawn, at Macy's, at one of their cool windows.

Ok, maybe he should have had a heavier coat on.  But Macy's opened at 7am, and we were literally the first ones in the door.  Turned out Santa didn't arrive till 8 cause the 'reindeer needed feeding'.

I got to tell you, Macy's at 7am a few weeks before Christmas is pretty cool.  It's empty, it's Christmassy, it's quiet, and the elves are in great spirits.  It totally has the Christmas vibe.

So, by the the time 8am arrived, maybe there were 25 other people waiting max, and the whole set up worked pretty good.  Right in to Santa, past the penguins, past the mailbox to the North Pole, past the cool train thing.

And right onto Santa, who was very fresh, where Lucas shyly and softly told the big guy what he wanted for Christmas.  Here he is - slumped shoulders, hands folded, best behavior Lucas.

Then back in the car to head up to the Bronx Botanical Gardens Holiday Train show which is super cool.  All sorts of old and new landmarks of NY with lots of trains running in and out of them and lots of varied plants throughout.  This, too, we hit before most people were out of their respective houses.

That's the Brooklyn Bridge in the background.

The old Yankee Stadium.  I think these were all made out of various twigs and organic matter.

Now, I like to sport the slacks, sneakers and sweater vest look, to the derision and scorn of my ex - and after seeing these two examples of the 'old man' look, I'm rethinking my thought that I was ahead of the curve on that one.  Although I suppose I could spin it as ahead of the curve, and such a simple, utilitarian approach to comfort and fashion is surely soon to be recognize and applauded.  Until that time, however, I've cut back on it as my 'go to' look.

Lucas got his big nap on before heading back to Mid-Town (in case you've lost track, stayed overnight on Clarkson, then up to Macy's, then the Bronx, now back to Mid-Town).  Had to double park for awhile and wait for him to awake.

So we parked the car and since we were ahead of schedule for the main event, we grabbed a cross town cab to ...

That's Right - FAO Schwarz.  Big line around the block, moved very fast.

Bonanza.

Lego Statute of Liberty.

Lego Soldier.

Lego Batman.

Then across the street for a cupcake.

Then a bicycle rickshaw ride through Central Park which was not only expensive, but slightly geared to a much less savvy clientele than Lucas and me.  Though did see and learn about the exact center of NYC (or was it of the park).  Whatever, pretty good, glad he had a blankie, cause it was almost cold.

Then over to the Met by Lincoln Center where we were going to the ...

Old Skool Big Apple Circus.

Horses, high wire, contortionist, bad jokes, high rings, synchronized bicycles, clowns with bad jokes...

I thought the all-chinese trick bicycle troupe was weirdly racist, but authentic.

And then to just make it really crazy I picked up my nephew (dropped Lucas off at his cousins in middle of nowhere PA) and drove out to Pittsburgh for the University of Pittsburgh soccer prospect day - about a 7hr jaunt.

And back to work at 7am Monday morning.

Merry Belated Christmas.  I'm in the process of delivering this year's Catskill Farms Christmas gift to all our clients - a feat that was much more easily accomplished before we had 100 homeowners across a 100 miles radius.  I know, I know - why don't I just throw myself a pity party that no one will come to.

I'm sitting at the bookstore in Saugerties NY trying to write and finish up this blog post before they close.  Just arrived at the upstate apartment which I haven't been to in awhile, turned up the heat, then came across the street here to write.

Snowy days up here in the Catskills are not as common as they used to be - not that I've been here forever, but the last few years have been warmer and less snowy than a few that I remember.  It's best illustrated by comparing a snowy winter - when the frequent storms leave 4"-6" storms labeled as just a dusting by February, in contrast with the snowless winters whichs leaves a trail of preemptory terror and hysterics with even a mention of snow.  I like snow.

I like the wintry nights like last nights when it snowed all night long and the windows on the older part of my home were rattling and noisy and the furnace had to keep running.  Back when we had a lot of homes going on in Sullivan County, my good friend and employee Juan and I would travel around in my old dump truck/snowplow truck, from driveway to driveway, plowing them out, shoveling the steps.  Sometimes I'd have my dog Bella along, sometimes we'd stop at the Carriage House for a beer when we nearly done.  Juan moved back to Guatemala, Bella was hit by a car a few yrs later and the Carriage House was long ago replaced on my beer stop joints by Bakers Tap Room.  I've also replaced my old dump truck with a brand new one a few years ago, and that baby is a real treat to plow with - one of those fancy plows with the blade split in two and each section can do all sorts of fancy maneuvers, maneuvers I've heard about but never really mastered.  I was famous for knocking over stone walls, getting stuck, scratching cars, and most annoyingly, getting stuck.

Just yesterday I had to run back to Bakers Tap Room to pick up my gifts, cards and assorted liquors that I had left there after my party last Friday.  For me, the party was a blast - sort of a combination of Jimmy Buffet's Margravitaville, Billy Joel's Big Shot and Joe Walsh's Life's Been Good.  Let's just say I'm glad I own the company because the last thing I remember was being on stage with Jay singing Last Christmas by Wham!, forcing a multiple refrain of the chorus -

Last Christmas I gave you my heartBut the very next day you gave it away(You gave it away)This year to save me from tearsI'll give it to someone special


Jeanne and Deb, the famous Cottage 14 owners, were saddled up at the bar at Bakers when I got there last night.

The party was a lot of fun and was well-attended by most of our venders.  I don't know, maybe 70 people - sure, maybe I did say if I don't see you there I might not see you next year, but hey, what's the fun in being the Owner if you can't throw your weight around.

I think the folks from Village Green Coldwell Banker up in Woodstock got the 'longest trip' award, but there were a lot of close seconds - Grahamsville, Callicoon, Goshen, Middletown, etc...  I tend to get a little excited about my once a year party, and this year was no exception, where once again a lack of pictures is a testament to the diversions available at the party - this year, memorably, being Wild Turkey and Jameson shots.  Literally my stomach hurt for 3 days and I think I booted on my nice shoes at some point - at least that's what it looked like, I haven't investigated too far into it just yet to offer a final determination.  I do remember being all gushy and complementary and I'd just like to right now take about half of that back so we have something to work towards.

Now that we finished Farm 21/aka Craftsman 2, Farm 19, Cottage 39, and Barn VI, we are busy and focused in on the Glasco Cottage in Woodstock, and Farm 20 in Barryville.  I was over at Farm 20 this morning just after the snowstorm creating an end-of-job game plan.  Looking real good in all the seasons.

So 8" of snow, a late start to the morning, and a quiet week between the Christmas holiday and New Years.  Gotta finish some up and get some new ones started.

Well, we sell them then we start some more.  Getting a real fast start to the 2013 sales season.

Farm 23 on 10 acres in Stone Ridge.

Cottage 44 on 5+ acres in Saugerties, NY.

Cottage 43 in Livingston Manor, NY on 5+ acres.

Mid-Century Retro Ranch VII in Barryville NY.

And a barn I'm building over at my pad between Barryville and Eldred.

Once a year I have a party for all my vendors, supplies, employees, subcontractors, bankers, insurance agents, lawyers, PR people, local town board members, building inspectors, etc...

Most of our clients and friends aren't up on a Friday at 4 pm, but if you are (that means you Glenn!), stop by on the 21st and say hello - it's our 3rd annual.  The food, drink and entertainment is on me, where I can savor every dollar being drank and ate not just because I get to enjoy them with my friends and co-workers who I see too little, but also as one more dollar not going to Henning's Local.  It's perversely like the gift that keeps giving.

Just kidding, I'm so over that Norwegian Yahoo. Judging by the parking lot last night, they could use a party or two like this.

Once a year I have a party for all my vendors, supplies, employees, subcontractors, bankers, insurance agents, lawyers, PR people, local town board members, building inspectors, etc...

Most of our clients and friends aren't up on a Friday at 4 pm, but if you are (that means you Glenn!), stop by on the 21st and say hello - it's our 3rd annual.  The food, drink and entertainment is on me, where I can savor every dollar being drank and ate not just because I get to enjoy them with my friends and co-workers who I see too little, but also as one more dollar not going to Henning's Local.  It's perversely like the gift that keeps giving.

Just kidding, I'm so over that Norwegian Yahoo. Judging by the parking lot last night, they could use a party or two like this.