snowy

This is the view from our fire escape. (We have a fire escape!)

Doug walked in and asked Beka while covered in snow, "So what am I supposed to do with this now?!?"

found

The cookies. Within 15 blocks of home.

Uh-mazing.

ash wednesday

Being in a seminary, a lot of people pointed out that Beka had something on her forehead to be witty and ironic.

But then there was the person who blessed her and made the sign of the cross over her in the deli across the street, the person who said it looked nice (as if it were a fashion statement), the person who seemed more willing to ask me directions, the person who complimented me on being a good person for already having been to church (it was from the noon chapel), and the person near the end of the day who said, "Oh! Where'd you get those? I need to get me some of them!"

it almost seems big now...

Our empty old apartment seemed like it grew once we took our stuff out...
Granted, it would be a good size space for one person...
Not 2, and 2 cats plus furniture.

impressions from the cats

Eva enjoys our 5 windows and the respective windowsills that look out to birds.
Pushkin (still) likes playing in the bathtub and running from one end of the apartment to the other.
Both of them were getting a little too brave and trying to go upstairs and downstairs when we were loading in the last carload of boxes and needed to be distracted with catnip in the bathroom.

dont make us try to explain

No worries, we didn't hit the chicken dancing in the street.

But we don't have any idea why...

first pic of the new apt

Doug's been waiting to do this one...

...floor angels. Or maybe we've both just been wanting an apartment where this was possible...

out with a bang

and a crash, and screams, and jackhammers...
Really.

For our last night sleeping in our old apartment, it was like all the stops were being pulled out. About 3:00am some people were singing (kinda?) down the street and woke us up. At 5:30am, a group was screaming as they walked down the street. About 7:00am trucks were pulling up and idling outside. Finally by 8:30am, the jackhammer started.

This is the view from our window. In between the two crosswalks is the entrance to our building (where we had mistakenly planned on loading the car). This picture is remarkably representative of what it was like living on Broadway — cars, people, construction, and that damn bus stop.

busy busy

This week:
• Doug built more of the laser scanner and figured out a little more of what kind of work load he was in for.
• Beka started spring semester classes.
• Both of us have worked fastidiously to pack up our lives into boxes and suitcases so that it can be moved to the new apartment starting tomorrow.
• Eva got nervous as the space in the apartment changes.
• Pushkin played in every open box and in the hall, happy to have more to do.


We'll still update when we can... but be patient. :)

happy clappy birthday

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. :)

movie food night

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... :)

movin on up...

We found it!

Tommorrow afternoon we will be signing a lease for a 1 bedroom apartment in Washington Heights. (The one with the kitties outside.) No more M4 and M104 bus outside our window. A real size refrigerator. Walls, not curtains. And a reason to visit Ikea.

We're awfully excited.

it's the great pumpkin ale charlie brown

We finally sampled our pumpkin beers from the fall...

(click to make it bigger)


Doug's Favorite: Post Road
Beka's Favorite: Pumking (in moderation)
Becky's Favorite: Pumpkinhead

Audrey enjoyed her apple juice and water but didn't really have anything to say about them.

weekend visit

Becky and Audrey came into town last night. We had some dinner at the new Blockheads and then hung out for the evening.


This isn't the first time that the wig has made an appearance with Audrey and Becky in town.

Emo Doug.
Emo Becky.

does that make him crazy

Pushkin was hiding in the bathtub and meowing again...

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice
Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control









Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy