A Banner Day
I have no energy or motivation to write. Work is crazy, I’m traveling and/or living out of a hotel for the next couple of weeks while the back wall of my building is being renovated. My management company is annoying the heck out of me. S put an offer in on an apartment in the East Village, close to my old neighborhood, great location, two bedroom, with a private roofdeck. It’s a short sale so would be a great deal but I don’t really think they will accept the offer. Guess we’ll see.
My last swim broke the streak of having horribly tough finishes, and although it was a short one for me, I was able to keep my stroke rate up which is going to be key for the rest of the season. I have two more long swims and I think at least one if not both are going to be a doozy. I think this is the year the water makes me show how much I really want it. But I do want it, badly, and am willing to suffer, so hopefully fortune will smile on me in the end.
What else? Went to an art show in a beautiful artists’ live/work space, sadly the artists are being moved out in September and replaced with luxury condos. Part of me is sad, part of me wonders if I can afford one.
Lots of movies, one at Lincoln Center, really awful Southern Gothic thing with Matthew McConaughey and Gina Gershon. We were in the center of an aisle and couldn’t get out during the Q&A afterwards, and every time Matthew McConaughey opened his mouth I got a little dumber just listening. Man loves to talk. Gina Gershon didn’t say much, but looked ridiculously hot. Far better combination.
The other movie was at my old favorite Tribeca Cinemas, we used to go there on Sunday mornings to watch "Breakfast at Tiffany’s" in the tiny old theater. Theater’s still the same, lots of wine beforehand and then of course I was running for the loo after the Q&A. Totally awkward because I was waiting there when the stars came through and it was kind of like, "Uhhh, don’t worry, I’m not a stalker, I just really need to pee." Yeah.
A more interesting story than any of mine recently:
In Upstate New York, about 50 miles upstream from Manhattan Island, there is a small mysterious island officially named Pollepel. The island stands in the middle of the Mighty Hudson, complete with crumbling castle, and I’ve been obsessed with it for years. Until recently visitors were not allowed to set foot on the island. But now it is, and we took a kayaking trip out there to finally set foot on the magical Bannerman’s Island:
This island was discovered by Dutch settlers and used for a variety of military purposes, including hiding from Native Americans, who disliked the island and thought it was haunted. In Revolutionary times, American Patriots spread barricades in the river to prevent the British from coming upstream, but they were not effective. General Washington made plans to turn the Island into a military prison, a la Alcatraz, but this never happened.
After Revolutionary times, the island became a haven for offshore gambling, drinking, and prostitution. Local resident Mary Taft purchased the island for the sole purpose of clearing it of vices. What a jerk!
In the late 19th century, Scottish Immigrant Francis Bannerman came to the US to build his fortune. As a child he worked 3 jobs starting at the age of 8 before starting a military surplus/munitions business on Broadway in Lower Manhattan.
As his arsenal grew, he could no longer house it in a residential area, and so purchased Pollepel Island from Mary Taft (promising in writing to keep the island from falling back into the devil’s hands) unofficially renaming it Bannerman’s Island. He built several large warehouses, modeled on Scottish castles, for munitions as well as a more modest weekend home for himself and his family.
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Bannerman was a natural marketer and his castle warehouses were a great advertising tool, easily visible with his name from the river. Customers came from far and wide to buy his arms and he also gave back to the community, sponsoring local children and donating to charitable causes. He was also a huge Patriot – on the brink of WW1, he sent supplies to the Allied forces. Unfortunately these donations were intercepted by the Axis powers and Bannerman was interrogated as a traitor by the US Government, while he was recovering from surgery. He died shortly after that, and after his death, the war ended and he received a full apology from his country clearing him of any wrongdoing, but he died thinking his adopted country thought him a traitor. Two years after his death, the warehouse exploded and the island was abandoned.
Years later the Island was sold to the NY Parks Department and the State is in process of preserving and renovating the buildings. There have been reports of preserved explosives and grenades unearthed and exploding up until only 3 years ago, over 100 years old! In summers, the Bannerman Castle Trust sponsors tours and even small concerts and an yearly farm-to-table dinner.
Love the story of the island, and the pics are gorgeous!
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a rooftop deck would be great! it’s crazy how one swim season can differ so much from the next. i admire your determination! what a cute little kayak trip. very cool building for a warehouse.
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that’s amazing! Do you and S not formally live together? I did not realize that, you crazy kids. Somedays, I would like to go buy myself a loft in downtown LA for quiet time.
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Oh my god! I have been obsessed with that place for ages too!! It’s utterly fascinating. I used to see it from the train when I’d go with Nick to visit his parents upstate. Weirdly, he had never noticed it. (I should have broken up with him right then.)
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That is really, really cool.
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Wouldn’t that be a great place to have a wedding? 🙂
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That is so interesting!:)
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Very cool photos and story!
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RYN* Ha, that makes sense! And no I do not want Beans and Beans 2.0 living here in 30 years. Unless they want to live in the shed, I guess. I am sure she will get totally spoiled when the new baby comes. I’m hoping stuff like bunk beds, new big girl room, etc will help her out. I don’t remember Sara being born, but I apparently took my new “Baby Dear” doll and slammed her into my bed posts over and over again.
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Thank you. I love a good story.
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This was so wonderful — thank you for sharing! I’m sorry for the annoyances from your management company and I hope they do accept Steve’s offer – YOU NEVER KNOW. Please keep us posted.
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OMG I totally want to go there! I thought of you when I kayaked last weekend. Going again this weekend. Before they put my clavicle back and I can’t move for 6 weeks. lol xoxoxo
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The island looks amazing, in the photos the ruins don’t even look real. Fascinating history, thanks for sharing it.
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How cool is that island?? Very awesome.
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Awesome story of the island. Brilliant.
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i hope you and S get the apartment!! also, i wanna go kayaking there..!
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What a fantastic place to kayak!!! Awesome pictures. Good luck on the new apartment! 🙂
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That’s amazing!!
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your diary reminds me of every reason why i loved new york. i can’t wait to come back already, but when i do, it will be at a much different age/chapter of my life than i am at now.
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Really enjoyed the Bannerman story…interesting stuff! Haven’t seen Gina Gershon in anything lately, which saddens me.
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wow, that is so interesting! i never knew about this island.
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love the island!! you do have a knack for finding and squeezing the most out of the best adventures.
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Whoa, I can see why you would be obsessed with that place! So cool. And I adored NYC. I totally get why you love it so much. I loved the energy. Next time I visit, no traveling for work allowed!
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ryn: I will tell them! sarahbaby. is in town, all work must come to a halt. That’s what I’ll say!
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Ryn* your dad did not let you go hungry! E has a fake cell phone. She pushes the buttons and pretends to talk on it.
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I’m not a big Matthew McConaughey fan and am strangely comforted to know that he’s as simple in real life as he appears in a lot of his movies lol Hey loved those pics and the story! xo
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That island is so cool! Fingers crossed on the apartment.
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What a beautiful piece of land. I miss kayaking those waters.
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Wow – cool piece of history.
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beautiful.
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I think you meant that NC-17 Bad Joe movie. I can’t watch gratuitous violence. Even though I liked Kill Bill. That had more fantasy and the fighting was more stylish though. Amazing pics as always!
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I’m so glad that your fascination with that island meant I got to learn about it this way. And your photos have caused me to miss Upstate yet once more.
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Wow, how fascinating about the island! Love it!
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ryn: Ha! I’m not dating an FBI guy. I have to go meet one today though who sounds ultra-sexy on the phone. A friend was being cyberstalked for two years and they finally arrested the guy. It is going to go to trial so they are contacting all of her friends that he contacted to try to harass her or get info on her and I am included. So I have to go downtown (it’s always downtown, isn’t it?) to signan affadavit and give them copies of the msgs he sent to me regarding her. I was just fantasizing about how cute he sounded and how sexy it’d be to date an FBI guy.
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RYN: I would normally agree that no hips and a pencil skirt works awesome, but not when your clothing size for tops is 2-3 sizes larger than your skirt size. I tend to look like a popsicle. 2nd row? Good position. I played that when we toured Scotland. I was usually flanker/lock though.
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that is so freekin cool!!
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R: And OF COURSE that is one of the things I just love about him. He always cracks jokes at his own expense (he makes fun of his name a lot), and doesn’t believe he is hot, and that all the ladies want to get their hands on him. It’s like, “PLEASE SAY SOMETHING DOUCHEY SO I CAN MOVE ON WITH MY LIFE.” Oh god. I just realized that I’m becoming one of those crazy housewives who lusts after actors. Great.
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I wish you would give us more detail about your swims! And RYN – I had no idea you were here! And I think the support just goes to show how excited everyone is about the whole Olympic thing! CD xxx
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I heard some poor man died during the IronMan competition. I think there have been 7 deaths, usually in the first part, the swimming. Supposedly very crowded, cold and difficult swim. They should have more people in boats to rescue these guys! UGH
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RYN: Thanks! That’s what I was going for. If I get too fancy with clothes, I feel the need for makeup and such so I don’t stick out too much (at least in my head, I look more “passable”). I think this look was right on the edge of that.
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Oh my gosh, breathtaking. I am living vicariously through you right now, if you couldn’t tell.
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