In one week's span, Beka found two grey hairs (right at the temple, by the hair line), aged one more year, and ate pudding and animal crackers for lunch. Nikki asked Beka if she was seven years old. Doug asked Beka if she was seventy.
So the day of Beka's birthday, she busied herself with teaching in Long Island in the morning, meeting Doug midtown for lunch and then teaching in Larchmont. When Beka got home after 7pm she was tired.
Doug had cleaned the whole apartment and lit candles around so that it smelled nice again too. This is the card from Doug →
And the inside →
Dr. Pepper Jelly Beans...
And books!!
Beka thinks that Doug was paying attention when Beka said weeks ago that she wanted sewing books that were good ones. Not the ones that have a pattern for a placemat and a square pillow.
So now Beka gets to learn how to use patterns correctly (She's always sewn "by eye" with relative success.) This book is more complicated, so it will be a goal to be able to follow some of the patterns in here.
This one has lots of fun things too and good starting instructions for sewing with a pattern.
And of course, a new cookbook!! There are some really interesting recipies in here, all with beer — cookies, dip, multiple breads, soup and chili, and various seafoods and meats.
And of course Beer and Brats...
I think this matches closely with how Beka's Mom taught her to do it... Drink a beer, boil brats, drink a beer... pretty accurate, only a few minor ingredients are different.
This is a pendant that Doug made Beka while she was gone. It is copper and jeweler's solder and very very nice.
Thank you to everyone else who sent cards and warm wishes Beka's way. It was a very nice birthday. :)
This week:
In one week's span, Beka found two grey hairs (right at the temple, by the hair line), aged one more year, and ate pudding and animal crackers for lunch. Nikki asked Beka if she was seven years old. Doug asked Beka if she was seventy. 
Our friends Alison and Brian hosted a potluck with the theme of foods from movies. Doug and I made "National Lampoons Jello Salad from Aunt Bethany" and "Sleepless in Seattle Tiramisu".
There was also Ratatouille, "My Big Fat Greek Salad", "Life is Like..." boxes of chocolate, NY Style pizza, Garlic Mashed Potatoes in the shape of a Devil's Toweer from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Pecan Pie, and a lovely Chianti (but no fava beans).
It was all wonderful and delicious... :)
We found it!
We finally sampled our pumpkin beers from the fall...
Becky and Audrey came into town last night. We had some dinner at the new Blockheads and then hung out for the evening. 
Emo Doug.
Emo Becky.
Well, I think you're crazy
Both of them hate getting their talons trimmed even the slightest bit, but when they have trouble walking across the carpet because their claws get stuck or we can hear Pushkin clicking on the wood floor, we know its time.
Challah French Toast.
Pushkin, our moody and often unwanting to 'cuddle' like a normal cat, has decided that he deserves to be on the couch at all times — even if someone or something else is there (right now he is sleeping on the cords and headphones for Beka's mom).
This is an ad on a pay phone down Broadway. 
Beka made penne in a creamy mushroom sauce for dinner. She got two new cookbooks yesterday :)
Apparently our favorite Gator bar had quite the New Year's celebration the night before. They were out of some beers, their cooks didn't show, their waitress was late, and they ended up ordering pizza for the crowd that still showed for the game. They felt so bad we got $5 off the original price and we are being mailed $25 bar tabs (so yes, in a weird way, we profitted $5 each by going). 
It couldn't have been nicer... oh, wait, maybe if the gators had won. 
Doug is holding out for Tebow getting 3 heismans.
