Suburban Bliss

Martin and Erika have created a strange parallel universe of suburban bliss in Manhattan. For two weeks now, they have been BBQ-ing on a tiny propane grill on the fire escape. Chicken parts (we really need some input from Dad Willett here on how to carve that Special Piece), hamburgers, lamb steaks, and tonight - lamb kebabs. Remember when Erika was a vegetarian?

And, last weekend, they took the plunge and purchased...A CAR. Yes, we have a car in Manhattan. Pictures to follow, when we return from our goat cheese making road trip to Washington County. Unfortunately it did not come with a neat little attached garage, but WE HAVE WHEELS! Martins is overjoyed, especially because he recently discovered that this particular car (a 1984 Audi 4000) has some esoteric part in common with an airplane. So he can at least pretend. Yes, we are crazy, yes we know how expensive this could be, no we don't know where we are going to park it. But it's still pretty thrilling, and it was a great deal! (Thanks Wendy, our real estate fairy turned transportation fairy). I'm not so crazy about cars (see previous posts about road trip in 1977 Buick), but I like Martin to be happy.

In other news, I gained another third of a pound, which means it is time for The New Diet. We start next week on wet food. I don't think they are going to BBQ it for me either.

Side note from Erika: If anyone feels like Manhattan is getting too suburban for them, they should go see a show at Spiegelworld. It's like Cirque due Soleil done by a sleazy French circus troupe who spent too much time in Argentina and the Black Rock Desert...