Be Brave Project, Day 23: Butler Library & The Glare of the Blairs

There's already an autumnal lilt to the air, here in Manhattan, that I've never detected before the third week of September. Usually the students move to the city at the end of August and spend three weeks gasping in the dying grip of a New York summer; they gawp in shocked appreciation as models stroll up Broadway wearing nothing more than three handkerchiefs and a pair of knuckle-dusters, they avert their eyes from bearded hipsters in cut-offs (there's just something about the sight of a bearded guy in shorts that's a bit porno in all the wrong ways.)

But this morning something happened that's the equivalent of Groundhog's Day--I woke up, scratched my way to the kitchen, fed & watered Gigi Colette, and then went to get a glass for my morning diet soda. But I froze. I sniffed the air. I wrapped my arms around myself and felt the need for a dose o' cashmere, or at least a velour hoodie. And then I made myself a cup of tea.

Autumn's come early this year.

I should have been expecting it: Last week I had a slightly disconcerting experience. I was heading to Butler Library on the Columbia University campus. As an alum I have access there, and it's a fine, elegant, efficient place to get some work done (whilst occasionally distracting yourself with their quality baked goods). The architecture of the building is so marvellously over the top in its self-important pretentiousness that I always smile when I see it. I adore this building. I can see some 1930's Preston Sturges characters discussing its design: "I want some columns, see--big ones, and don't be stingy with 'em! Gimme lots of columns, a few big hanging lamps, and a couple a' archways. And let's get some names up there! Who's big in this book business? Aristotle--I heard of him--get his name up there. He's dead, right? Good. No lawsuits. . ."

Anyway, I'm walking towards the library, smiling and thinking girlish thoughts of Preston Sturges, chocolate chip cookies, and the diversification of my credit portfolio--when suddenly I noticed that the people around me were far, far better looking than the average variety of human being. And that these good-looking people were weirdly over-dressed for a summer's day. They all had sweaters tied stiffly around their necks, and the guys wore khakis with knife-like creases ironed into them.

And they were glaring at me.

Turns out that the tv show Gossip Girl was being shot on campus that day, and the entire College Walk was shut down. H'mm. Why, now you mention it, I did suddenly notice that there were plenty of people standing around with the self-important casualness of a film crew--and oh yes, those are some big ass cameras and equipment trucks over there.

While basking in the feast of my own imagination, I had apparently ignored the shouts of the various interns, assistant directors, and security guys, and wandered into the middle of the scene they were shooting. Whoops! I've never seen the show, as I watch Skins on BBC America and only have the capacity for one group of self-involved adolescents in my viewing life. . .but it certainly looked as if I'd just really pissed off a bunch of girls named Blair.

So if you watch that show and see a scene in front of a profoundly fabulous library, where there's an over-aged and apparently mentally challenged female student mooning around, wearing summer clothing when all others are tweeded up to their asses--That's Elusive D.!

Be Brave Project: Yesterday pulled together tax stuff for 2006. Called Health Insurance about activating plan. Edited Self essay, and think it's better and tighter. Called Rebecca about going to see the duplex in the ugly building. . .I decided to risk it for a biscuit, and slightly delay returning the lease agreement to my landlords: It's Labor Day weekend, and these things happen.

Just please God don't let me end up on the street. Think how many film shoots I'd screw up if I wandered this town full-time.