conquering the cold....

an improvement yesterday night---was able to sleep better with less protection and only one heater on. Should be better tonight, as the snow has actually warmed up the city. And the heat in the apartment is a little stronger. Still somewhat anxious on the effect all this will have on my electric bill, but things are much more in control.
   Yesterday, after the library, did attend the colloquium on gentrification in the library at Division street in Williamsburg. Glad I did, met lots of people. Some discussion, some presentation--at times, there was a ponderous sense, but some strong interaction as well. I always feel better after attending one of these, I always manage to have at least one interesting conversation with another participant, in this case a young man named Khalil, who was raised in Flatbush---attended Dalton and Amherst,and now lives in Bed Stuy. Trying to figure out what his role was in all this.  He lives in an apartment house that has been redone---all the tenants, whether black or white or basically young people. So where does he fit in in the "probblem"? Can't say, all I can say is that gentrification has many sides and comes from many angles. Each of us must conceive of it in his or her own way. After the forum, headed over to South Fourth to hang out for a while. Met my friends, Alison and Bill, a couple that I had not seen in a long time---it was really good catching up. Then I returned home to check on the heat, and found myself too tired to check out a movie. Stayed in and rested.
  Tonight, there should be a movie that will interest me--tomorrow is the "dreaded" New Year's Eve.
  Must give my life some meaning on that day. But how? If the cold is strong, will probably simply go to La Flaca and wait it out (perhaps with some really nice people). Otherwise could move around a bit. Reading some interesting essays by Ta-Nahisi Coates--should be able to report back on Tuesday.