Exercising restraint

Erik spotted this album on a stoop while he was walking to the train the other morning. A Dylan album free for the taking. Erik's vinyl problem has been noted before but there's two reasons Erik didn't bite: 1) It's Dylan's JC period. Not good for anyone. 2) Erik already owns this on vinyl.

Setting Up His Shots

A little insight into how Erik manages to get so many great shots.
First trick of the trade: lots of bending and awkward neck turning. Looks fun, right?

I Think Locusts Are Next . . . But Let Me Check My iPhone to Confirm.

Karen isn't usually superstitious, but she's pretty sure this is a sign of the Apocalypse. At least according to WikiReligion anyway.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Answer: All the examples of Ice Cream.

Friends of G.O.B. Washington, D.C. Chapter

Wow, so they're apparently not just in Italy? My apologies to those of you who think this posting is too soon.

Sometimes We're Patriotic, Deal With It.

There are very few things in life that make Karen get a little misty. The Lincoln Memorial and the giant carving of the Gettysburg Address are two of them, don't judge until you see them yourself. And if you have and weren't moved, you are a robot, but not in a good way. 

Cool Digs, Man . . .

The hotel was pretty cool, if you like mid century modern furniture and pop art.

Some Nice Landscape

We had some pretty amazing weather and were really lucky with some of the views. Check out the moon! It's almost like DC is a clean, pretty place!  (spoiler alert: it's a little sketchy)

 

D.C.

The Burgs recently took a trip to our nation's capital. While we did take a couple cab rides, sadly, we did not run into that D.C. Cab.

The Washington Monument is the world's tallest stone structure and tallest obelisk. And you can see that thing sticking up like a pointy finger from everywhere.

 

See what we mean? And Erik wasn't even trying to take a picture of it in that last one.

There were definitely other buildings jockeying for "Biggest Ham of D.C.", but the Monument wins by a landslide.  Nice try "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" . . . or whatever you call yourself.

I know you are but what am I?

Erik surprised Karen with tickets to the Pee-Wee Herman Show. He totally faked her out, made her think he didn't want to go to DC to the Jon Stewart Rally (sorry Jared) because he was a total party pooper. But then he presented her with FRONT ROW CENTER TICKETS!!! Karen was so close to Pee-Wee that she could've grabbed his shoes, but she didn't. Mainly because she didn't want to get kicked out and not be able to come see the show again. And we are definitely going back. Definitely. For once, no one attempted to ruin our childhood. This was just spot on perfect. Thank you, Mr. Reubens!

 

(We're sorry we didn't have any pictures of the inside, but they were pretty serious about no photos. Just imagine the Playhouse, exactly as you dreamed it. Only we got to basically sit in it. We could see the fuzziness of Chairy . . . so amazing! Karen also showed amazing restraint not rushing the stage to sit on Chairy. Good job, Karen!)

XXX

This weekend, Karen and Erik celebrated Karen's birthday and their fifth anniversary by doing many fun things. We visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the first time since moving to New York. After checking out lots of art and a very cool photo exhibit, we hung out on the roof deck. It was a little cold and windy.

But with the amazing view and everything, we decided this might be an excellent location for a future anniversary shindig. Don't worry American Museum of Natural History, Milstein Hall (a.k.a. "The Underwater Room") is still in the running. Either way, save the date!

Moving Day, Slightly Different Than "Training Day".

But only slightly . . . The other day an odd number of moving vans were on our block. As a result, there was an unusual amount of random things left out on the sidewalk for us to peruse, judge, fret over potential bed bug infestations, etc. One particular piece of trash really, really stood out. At least they're a good shot, right?

First in Flight!

Karen had to go work in Boston for a week. She was happy to go, but not so happy about her overly ambitious 6:30AM flight time. She arrived at LaGuardia roughly 23 minutes after leaving our apartment and quickly learned that she was:

A) Very Early. VERY early.

B) Possibly flying out of the first airport terminal. Ever. This was the "lobby":

 
Note the complete and total lack of other travelers, the sign font, the old school cafeteria "restaurant" instead of a Starbucks/McDonald's kiosk, etc.

The mural depicts man's obsession with and eventual discovery of flight. Yeah, Karen got there early enough to read the whole story, it was actually pretty good.

The more seasoned commuters knew to arrive AFTER the security gates opened at like 5:30AM. Not, sadly, at 4:45AM.

The Burgs Go to Boston!

We spent Labor Day Weekend in Boston. Aside from some minor hurricane winds on Friday, it was a really, really nice time. We forget how lovely towns without millions of people can be, with their magically clean sidewalks and strange lack of urine smells. It was positively uncanny.

That Guy, Again.

Boston really enjoys George Washington . . . a lot. I mean this guy gets around to more places than Mr. Franklin and Lady Liberty. It's pretty ridiculous.

Not Exactly A Party Animal . . .

This guy, does not look like a good time. It's pretty hard to imagine him making beer, let alone drinking it.

The Top Left Corner Explains a Lot

At Fox News, you need a lot of ingredients to make the special magic that we have come to know, love and depend on to make sense of the world around us. Here's a partial recipe (admittedly incomplete): a heaping helping of xenophobia, a dash of good old-fashioned jingoism and whatever is in those bottles in the window on the second floor.

Lunch Time!

As any viewer of "Shark Week" can tell you, sharks get hungry. So when you take them out of open water and put them in a tank at the New England Aquarium, you have to feed them if you don't want them to eat their fellow "performers."
Enter the guy in the Body Glove suit holding a piece of squid on a stick.

And cross your fingers.

Erik's Not Convinced

The New England Aquarium has about 80 adorable penguins . . . Erik was pretty sure the majority were  animatronic, but Karen is pretty sure he's wrong. I mean, at least half of them were definitely real.

Total Health Nut

At the Museum of Science in Boston, there are some cool interactive exhibits such as this one where you can ride a stationary bike and watch as this guy mirrors your every move. In short, it's a little creepy. You'd think they'd give the guy a break and let him get a protein shake or something.

Where's Karen?™ Boston Edition

Where's Karen?™ Boston Edition
Originally uploaded by The Burgs

In Boston, it seems that everyone has a boat. Fortunately, the city has a lot of waterways and actual means to get to them. Karen had fun watching the boats (and wishing she had one) as you can see above. Can you find her?

(Click on the photo for the answer!)

Happy Birthday!

The Burgs swung by a little birthday party in Prospect Park. The guest of honor? The late Michael Jackson . . . The hosts? Spike Lee and Tracy Morgan.

Karen did not get a chance to discuss the Pizza Hut lies with Spike Lee, maybe next year?

Seals Not Married to Models

Ok, Sea Lions, but you get the point. The Burgs decided to play the cheapskate card and spend all weekend doing free things.
Day 1: The Zoo.
Day 2: The Aquarium.

Thank you, Wildlife Conservation Society membership . . .

Good Call . . .

This was found feet away from the Brooklyn Flea. We can't help but wonder if the person who wrote this was, in fact, also a hipster? Magic Eight Ball Says, "It Is Decidedly So."

Special Delivery

What could it be? The zoo keeper sprayed it with perfume . . . it smells good. Hmmm? I wonder what it is??? Cardboard? Chanel #5? An Investment Banker? Oh right . . . it's a steak. How exciting.

Just Before the War with the Gorillas*

Look at everyone. Happy, amused. "Awww, they look just like us!" Cute, right? It's all well and good until one of them figures out there's just some glass and caulking in between them and freedom.

*Karen really misses J.D. Salinger

I'd expect this in Los Angeles . . . or the '90s

But last time I checked oxygen bars haven't been cool since Woody Harrelson was still considered young. So why did we see this in the Lower East Side recently?

Hello? 911? I'd like to report a hit and park . . .

Big jerks and their fancy Audis think they can get away with anything.

Better than part I have now...guy who orders strike on Pearl Harbor.

Only Arrested Development fans are going to get the headline, but that's fine, you should ALL be AD fans.

Sometimes when you're walking to work you see a pigeon, or a cute dog being walked. Other times you see an Uncle Sam I Am hat . . . you know, whatever.

Bunch of savages in this town.

For some reason everyone in this town feels the need to eat everywhere, at all times. Hot dogs while walking, hot wings on subways, salads in public parks, a soup in the elevator, etc. The other day Erik saw someone eating a tv dinner on the subway, a TV DINNER!

I get it, New Yorkers like to think they're always on the go . . . but can't they eat when they get where they're going? Also, for a city that likes to consider itself to be the "Restaurant Capital of the World," can't these people find an actual restaurant to eat in?

Slightly Less Vikings Than Expected . . .

But plenty of garbage on the train platform . . .

New From Metro North: Aquarium Seating

But if you want to be close to the sunken ship or the mermaid with bubbles...that's gonna be extra.

Somebody From The Chamber of Commerce Might Want to Intervene

I mean really? We're the first people to notice this issue?

Partying, Burg Style.

Cards, Smokes, Internets AND Soda? Whoa! That's Crazy Talk!

Maybe a Little TOO Quiet

The scenery? Gorgeous. The concern? No one around to hear us scream . . .

The Burgs Go Outdoorsy

We decided to play like NYC yuppies and go into the country for the weekend. Karen was on medication and couldn't drink at all. Overall, the weekend was very peaceful, but a little bit like how we imagine a fancy rehab clinic.

Don't Worry, It's NOT Crystal Lake

But that didn't stop Erik from being too scared to go swimming in it.

Karen didn't go in either, because she didn't want Erik to feel wimpy. Yeah . . . that's why she didn't go in, Erik's feelings . . . that's it!

Almost There!

The Burgs took a train into CT for the weekend to enjoy the fresh air, go hiking, read some books and maybe, just maybe, get really sunburned.*

*Spoiler Alert: We did get really sunburned.

Where's Jerry Lewis when you need the man?*

There was a Bastille Day festival in our neighborhood today. They blocked off the street, poured some sand and held a pétanque tournament. Roughly 12,000 people (literally) converged on our little neighborhood to celebrate France's independence. 
It was a good time with decent booze, but a little hot, sweaty and full of rude people. All in all, a pretty decent representation of the south of France.
*To all "The Frogs" fans: you're welcome.

Still Life with Eightballs and Cranberry Beans

The farmer's market in our neighborhood finally had real produce. Oddly enough, they had all the random high maintenance produce Karen was looking for, but no decent tomatoes. We're really not so sure about this town.

World Cup Fever

Erik caught a little case of the World Cup Fever while visiting friends in California. Karen's had the disease since 2002, so really, it was only matter of time.
Fortunately, the Burgs found a cozy table at their favorite speakeasy, The Clover Club, to watch the final game today. Nothing says sports fan like high maintenance drinks and a TV that was only installed for the World Cup. Right?