Why Karen is Happy

And, yes, there is also a dishwasher at the new digs. Karen and Erik did not have one at there last place so they spent the last year washing their dishes with an OXO squirting scrub-brush. You know, one of those you fill with soap and it comes out with a button. In other words, like savages.

And, yes, that is a New Yorker cartoon plate. Do you have a problem with that?

Why Erik is Happy

The Burgs officially changed residences (don't worry, kids, those change of address cards will be in the mail soon!). And the new place has a washer and dryer and, as much as we know how much Karen loves laundromats (did you forget?), she does think it's pretty sweet to wash a load of laundry while watching a movie.

Also, not fighting someone for a dryer is good.

And no wheely laundry-carts is nice too.

Bye, Bike.

Well, the Burgs have been in New York for a year now and this bike has been here at least as long as we have. It's locked to a street sign near our subway stop and we've watched it slowly die. Poor guy. See ya next year, buddy.

Downsizing for the move.

Erik decided he didn't need ALL of his records and downsized the collection by exactly three: Benny Goodman's "Swing into Spring" (not pictured), "Friend or Foe" by Adam Ant and "Ghost in the Machine" by The Police.
The altruist that he is, he parked them under a shady tree on their block so someone else could enjoy them.
Thirty minutes later, all were gone and Erik already regretted getting rid of the Police album (it was pretty scratched up though). Don't worry, he still owns "Synchronicity" and the sheer weight of his remaining collection will still have the movers silently cursing him.

Jim Davis lives in Brooklyn.

Well, he must. Is there any other way this could've made its way onto an Ed Hardy poster at the nearby subway stop? It's not just that dead-on illustration that has us convinced, but the droll writing as well.

You've been here before.

The Burgs are packing up again. It'll be an easy move this time, within the neighborhood. And, as you see here, we've pared down the books to 15 boxes. Such minimalists.

The Burg you won't be seeing more of here.

We recently had a momentary lapse of reason and considered moving to Williamsburg. It's a cool place (and "edgy" as the kids say) but not for us. However, the neighborhood does breed perfectionists in their given fields: Henry Miller, Barry Manilow, Al Capone.

I think I smell a rat, Pt. 2

While waiting for the train, you always see rats on the tracks, running around, doing rat things. You don't usually see one on the platform, hanging out . . . waiting for the F train.

Erik's childhood is pillaged yet again.

"Clash Of the Titans"--the remake--came out today. Erik is a big fan of the original 1981 version and is dismayed to see his childhood peed on yet again (the last time this happened it involved crystal skulls).
Some kid from Erik's work: "Yeah, it's based on this movie from the '70s. It had really bad special effects but the story was good. It was like based on Greek mythology and stuff."
Erik would've told this kid that the Kraken was actually based on Scandinavian mythology but he thought this would've made him seem way too cool. And '81 was two full years after the '70s, junior!