Rest in Peace, Little Jait

Today our friend Evan told us that his little 2-year-old boy, Jait, died of pneumonia yesterday. We had brunch plans with Evan, Jait, and Evan's wife Siri on Sunday, but Evan canceled because Jait had just entered the hospital. Monday he was gone.

I cannot imagine what Evan and Siri are going through right now - the pall cast over our little home is the merest shadow of their grief. Jait was an adorable, strong, feisty, active little kid. He was the center of their lives. He was just getting started on this life.

Our wishes and prayers go out to Jait's family.

Replicators

One funny thing about living in New York is the way trends are adopted and immediately replicated to the point of over-saturation. One example is the ubiquitous "skinny jeans tucked into high boots" Look. I think every woman in New York City owns this outfit. Granted, it is rather practical in the face of the weather we've been having (EIGHT inches of rain on Sunday). But how do they know that they are ALL supposed to be wearing this? Maybe I should start reading fashion magazines.

Erika's favorite trend, which has already spread all over the United States (even Portland), is Cupcakes. Yesterday Erika's friend Wendy (who studies and predicts trends for a living) met her at the Chelsea Market. The purpose was to obtain a cupcake from Eleni's Bakery (chocolate with pink buttercream frosting), but after a brief tour of the market, Erika found cupcakes in EVERY SINGLE BAKERY. And there are like 4 or 5 bakeries in that place. All of the cupcakes were slightly different - more or less frosting, flat vs. dome-shaped tops, bizarre toppings like Oreo cookies, extraordinary "Cupcake Cafe"-derived buttercream flower sculptures - but they were everywhere. More research is clearly necessary.

We have been living here for exactly one month as of yesterday, and we have 14 more days before we move into our New Apartment. We counted those days up last night after the Rangers game (they won) let out. We know they won because we currently live a block from Madison Square Garden and the streets were filled with, er, revelers after the game let out last night. Hockey, for the uninitiated. Yep, 14 more days. Did I mention I'm looking forward to more space? Bored with the chair/bed/suitcase napping circuit, I've been spending more time in the "closet" and the shower. And Martin brought home my new favorite toy last week - the string from a bakery box of cookies. It's *fascinating*!

In the Good News department, Erika has figured out a way to trade office work for classes at the Culinary School while she looks for a Real JobTM. She is focusing on the business side of things until she has an actual kitchen to experiment in. On the agenda for this summer: Career Paths in the Food Business, How to Become an Event Planner, and How to Open a Coffee Bar. One day she really is going to leave the advertising business.

A Different Kind of Limbo

Limbo seems to be a big theme in our lives this year. I haven't written in nearly a month because, well, we haven't had much to write about. The days go primarily like this: Martin goes to work, Erika looks for work, I nap (punctuated by brief and occasional bursts of play with my favorite toys). At night, Martin and Erika look desperately for somewhere decent to eat in the West 30s and I nap. Last night they traveled all the way to "The Northeast Kingdom" in Bushwick for banana cream pie (and some *amazing* lamb sausage) while I napped.

Highlights of the last few weeks:

1. We found an apartment in the West Village (hurrah!). We move in May 1 and at last I will have some room to stretch out and a variety of places to nap.
   
2. Martin has optimized his commute, after trying various combinations of the PATH train, the subway, the ferry, and his feet.
   
3. Erika has been dancing once a week at her beloved 5 Rhythms class. For those of you who still are not sure what this means, Wikipedia has kindly provided a hippie-dippie explanation which may or may not make things any clearer for you.
   
4. Martin and Erika stumbled upon a free preview showing of "Hot Fuzz", the new film by the makers of the brilliant "Sean of the Dead". They even got to ask the director and writer questions afterwards!
   
5. Erika had her first celebrity sighting when Ethan Hawke sat down at her (communal) table at the Cupcake Cafe. [swoon]
   

That's all the news for now. It's raining hard today, so I think I'll just curl up on top of Erika's suitcase and...nap.