Took a ride in the back of a taxi cab. Got drunk on a martini in a hotel bar.

Attended a philosophy conference – listened, asked questions, discussed the strength of arguments or the implications of claims. Topics of colloquiums and symposiums included autonomy (especially temporal), personal identity and survival, what we owe the dead, pacifism as war abolition, political philosophy of social movements, the political epistemology network (with talks on epistemic encroachment on political normativity, and also hidden content moderation), buddhist illusionism, epistemology and social identity (which included an inquiry as to whether experiencing oppression can provide a unique epistemic advantage), the epistemology of resistance, the language of queer hookups – including a careful analysis of the definitions of words in the vocabulary surrounding sexual orientation and a bright and colorful and sexy presentation called “how to fuck with words.”

Mingled and engaged in shameless people watching among a crowd of drunk philosophers from all over the world in a hotel ballroom in the evening. Caught a glimpse of a well known author of a textbook for philosophy of mind, agreed he was very good looking in person. There were people here from all over the world. Steve was shamelessly checked out by a good looking guy who walked by our table like three times before he finally asked if he could sit down and then pretended to read a book so he could eavesdrop on our conversation. He then proceeded to turn up at the “top, switch, bottom” symposium and then like lean against the doorframe and try really hard not to look at Steve. It was cute. I get it.

Listened to street musicians in a subway station and accidentally got on the wrong train. Visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Could have spent days in the Ancient Egyptian exhibit. Took the bus when it was too cold to walk. Strolled down a street adjacent to Central Park. Navigated the streets of Manhattan via NYC’s useful coordinate numbering system but still felt overwhelmed and turned around and like it would be so easy to get lost. Stood in Times Square and looked up. Enjoyed live musical theater on Broadway. Bought a magnet featuring Van Gogh’s Starry Night from the gift shop at the Museum of Modern Art. Invited friends we hadn’t seen in way too long back to the hotel room and had the chance to visit and talk and sing. May have smuggled them into the conference for a session or two. Ate a bagel and drank an iced coffee in the café and talked about ideas. Picked up some naan and falafel and rice from the Halal Guys food truck. Ate fried noodles and steamed buns and a tea egg and scallion pancakes from “Real Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen” but also later on we tried just “Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen,” just to see if there was a difference.

Got ourselves some pizza in New York.