GRADUA-Shon

CHUMLEY'S and THE PINK TEACUP: AN EVENING IN THE VILLAGE

The Watts' and Higgins' met, en mass, for the first time. Mother Higgins has met Mother and Father Watts before, but this was Father Higgins' maiden voyage. We went to Chumley's, rumored to be NYC's original speakeasy. Apparently the term '86-it' comes from Chumley's as the phrase was code for 'get the hell out, here come the smokies'. The back door of Chumley's is 86 Bedford St. and still hosts several secret passaways. Down the block, we stopped for the meanest peach cobbler and Banana Cream Yumminess at the Pink Teacup. It was a very nice evening, even if Matt had to sit between our two mothers and listen to lady chat.

SPEAKIN' EASY

Christmas also brought a new digital camera from Iowa which has allowed our blog to expand. Amy learned about the auto function with mother as a backdrop. Mother on the computer in her nightgown as a backdrop. Nothing like new toys.

MORE CONEYS

Here are my favorite people in the world together. What a great day. Even with the Russian presence of the Russian Mob, Brighton Beach was lovely.

CONEY ISLAND CON'T

GLOBAL WARMING OF CONEY ISLAND

New York reached record highs last weekend--upto 70 degrees on Saturday. On one hand this made for a splendid mosey along the boardwalk. The other (bitter, frightened) hand shudders at the water temperatures reaching dangerous levels. Greenland is melting, Ireland is freezing, Manhattan is drowning. For those of you who have not, please watch Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth and pray to whatever God or higher being you fancy. Also, take the time to buy hybrid, twist in energy saving lightbulbs and recycle. In the meantime, please join me in appreciating my beautiful family.

WE ARE FAMILY

It wasn't just about gastronomic delights. Indeed there was blueberry pie and ice cream, Turkish coffee and NY Pizza, but Mom and Dad were put to work as
well. Dad and Matt detailed the doors (new satin nickel finish doorknobs, shiny chrome hinges) while Mother and I put the towels and pans where they belonged. Little did I understand the burden on my soul because my blankets and cereals bowls had yet to find their forever homes. Like a many-medaled general, Mother took charge and made the hard decisions. Pans and lids in the bottom drawer, spices next to the stove. Dad also spent some precious time 'tuning me up'. Sometimes I lose the course when he's not around, so it's good that he's so patient with my misgivings. The bottom picture reveals how I felt about some of his input.