The pic above is the ugly dolls. I think they're very cool.





So City mouse and Country mouse made the trek to see the "free range" children and the rest of the clan.
Driving was uneventful. Country mouse is not a car person, as you may have gathered.
We were set to stay in a B&B with Joey and Ginny. No name dropping here.
So we headed over to the B&B,that was lackadaisically run at best. They'd told Joey the key was under the oil can. In we went. Walked all through the rooms. Then heard the TV and found the moldy remains of a an earlier happy hour or something.
Now we can "leak the news about Joey's and Ginny's engagment. They're so sweet.

This is when I said it felt like a Saw movie and all the doors and windows would close up. And we'd hear
" You have all been brought here for a reason". That got a few laughs.
Back to "toys R us" we went. Not quite as over the top this year as last. Until Christmas morn and the melee began. I'm all for the joy of kids and presents. Gus went nuts when he got an Ipad, now he's nine. So now nine year olds have cell phones and Ipads. Call me a Luddite. Joey who's 32 got a gift certificate for one.
The booze flowed and so did the food. Good times were had by all.
Glad someone does. See below. Nice Christmas gift.

So moving onto the near year. We hit a couple movies. 127 Hours. Intense. Could you do it? I don't know.

Then we saw I love you Phillip Morris with Jim Carrey who I can't stand but he did a good job and the movie was funny.

We also saw the Edward Hooper exhibit at the Met and someone that basically made doll clothes on another floor. Here you have Hopper who was fantastic,then the typical "art bullshit" on another floor. The exhibit looked like a high end kids clothing shop. I'm missing something about all this.

We also saw the King Tut exhibit. I loved it. How did they make all that? The craftsmanship was incredible.

After the show we were in times square before the big festivities. It had already started by 4pm. We got out of there asap. Headed over to a favorite haunt,the Blind Tiger for a couple pints. The Brooklyn Cuvee Noir was Bad. It was wet was all I could say. Very overrated. Like the year before we had NYE dinner at Mama Mex. But even they cut back. No dumping shots down your throat this year.

As usual no one wanted dessert but me,but all had a bite. Now Herman that's enough. Long story.
Before leaving the Big Apple we swung the little red car by Zabars for duck con fit and I picked up a nice bread. Then it was over to "Whole paycheck" to hit the beer store. Just what I needed more beer. I got some Xingu and a couple black Ipa's to have. Back in Black was one. Yummy,poured from the can.
 So I cooked up one of the duck con fit last night. Saved the duck fat for a recipe for french onion soup and made that today along with a spicy vegan chilli. There's a little duck fat left so I'm going to fry up some sweet potatoes and have some chili. I think a Raging Bitch IPA will pair well with this.
Belated Happy New Year. OGQ