To Miami or not to Miami

This seems to be a weekly thing.  Day 2 of my weekly days off, after 10am, mommy and daughter sleeping, while daddy writes.  It's a start.

I've started drinking green tea this week after a taste test, walking by Teavana at the mall.  Am I choosing to be an addict, or assisting in the consumption of antioxidants, cleansing the body, and bowels?  Yes, it has that effect.

As I anxiously hope that the grass-cutting outside does not wake the baby, I was moments ago pondering while watching the local news whether or not I love Miami.  A montage describing the pulse of Miami and being proud to call Miami home, sparked the question after one year and eight months away from New York City and its vicinity.

I change the channel to VH1, something i haven't done in at least two years, and i see the VJ Suchin walking through Times Square, and I feel double the pangs of longing.  Do not confuse my true feelings of living here - I am utterly in love with my daughter and wife, and no matter where we are together, I call it home.  The question is whether or not this environment of Latin America North is the right fit for me, and ultimately, us.

Those two pangs were for the job I once had which I could not translate here to the States, and the city I still love, conveniently forgetting the reasons to simultaneously hate.  I came close to the dream job a couple times, being first refusal to the winner of Survivor for the Fox Soccer Channel.  Then showing too much personality with a combination of little sleep caused by anxiety, the coffee, then adrenaline during the VH1 audition, resulting in a jittery performance, ultimately serving as a learning tool.

Back to reality, In this moment, the weed whackers, cloaked in bandanas, resembling a Mexican militia, is entering our bedroom and shaking the baby with their handheld, landscaping weapons of minor destruction.  In this battle, baby-sleep 1, terrorists 0.  They move on, while the Meesch rustles to her side, continuing her slumber.

No matter where we rustle, there will be a reason to dislike where we dwell, grass-cutters being one of them, though i admire their work when I walk out the door.  The absence from NYC allows me to forget the physical toll the City takes on one's body, and the difficulty we would discover with an urban infant. Let's reconsider Miami.

The friendships I have made with the Floridians in my retail environment have deepened, and let me preface by stating I rarely hang out with any of them except at work.  This is by choice, financial limitations, and fatherly concern.  Even so, I feel like my actions and experiences with them are helping to develop a crew of computer-obsess-ees, like myself, into a well-oiled machine of thoughtful, caring, loyal teammates, and empathetic communicators.

This is the most rewarding experience next to parenthood.  It's similar to parenthood, but I'm not legally responsible to my team of 14 to 20, and I refuse to change there diapers… until further relationship building… and consulting with my spouse.  And in this environment, some of the members move around to new teams, whereas my child would never do that yet.  She's small.

Ok, Miami, I'm giving you a chance, but just because I stay here longer, doesn't mean I'll love you more.  It means, I might find a relationship with you, as long as you meet me halfway.  

Can you do that?  Damned, race car drivers on the 836 aren't' helping.  Oh wait, that was a cop who cut me off.  Come on, get it together. I'm trying to like you.