This City Mouse Is Now A Country Mouse

At least until Murray Hill has power again. Conditions on the 21st floor became downright Third World without power or plumbing. I made one last romp down and up the stairs to drop trash in the basement since the trash chute was bolted shut. The super didn't want the compactor to get backed up since there was no electricity. Then I packed up my laptop and defected to Easton, Pennsylvania.

A few observations:

McDonald's tastes so much better in the suburbs.

Whatever stress hormone kept me moving and grooving up and down all those flights of stairs officially ran out the minute I got out to the countryside.

The greatest feeling in the world is a shower after two days of pioneer living in a highrise. I now smell like flowers and rainbows. And it is right.

I also have Val, the sweetest little stray I ever took in, even if he did give everyone in sight ringworm.

Thanksgiving Chugs Along

Holidays are for sleeping on the couch with your favorite pet. Here are TR and Valentino, enjoying an early evening nap.

Earlier today TR and I hit Wegman's and Target. For your typical suburbanite these trips are mundane, but for city slickers such as ourselves they were adventures in consumerism.

Me, in Wegman's, in awe of the size of the place.


Wegman's has a section of "international foods" and so they included tea in the British section. No stereotypes there!


Last time I checked Tazo tea wasn't from England. Isn't it from Starbucks?


We just don't have in-store displays like this in NYC


Just seeing these made me feel 30% more Christmas-y.


After Wegman's we hit Target, where I actually got some gifts for some relatives and some goodies for myself. Target is the most fun you can have in discount shopping.

And if anyone's been looking for me, either over e-mail or phone, please know that since I'm out of town, I'm not answering much in the way of e-mail. Like my two beasts, Peppe and Valentino, I am enjoying a few long naps. I'll deal with you all in a few days.

And this? This is the piece of flourless chocolate cake that wouldn't leave me alone all afternoon. It's so good I could wear it.

Thanksgiving, It Is Going Well

I'm out in Easton, PA for Thanksgiving with TR's family. It's a rural little town and TR's family's place is built in the middle of a very hilly golf course. Yesterday before dinner TR and I headed down to the greens and took some photos. Yes, we brought Peppe and Valentino, and they have been quite a hit.



One of my faves.


I have eaten my body weight in food and plan to camp out at the gym for the rest of December. Getting out into the country is a lot of fun. The quiet is good for the mind. Later today we are headed to Wegman's and Target! YAY!

This is a bird's nest we found in a tree, made out of everything from plastic bags to fabric to, of course, sticks.