Easter

Ken was kind enough to invite a bunch of us to his abode for an Easter repast not to be forgotten. It's times like these when I remember the chief reason for me to just shut up about my own beliefs (or lack thereof) and just enjoy these Christian Holy Days, when people gather together and share fellowship.

And kick-ass food.

I stopped first at Topher's place, and we caught up while waiting for our friend Mary to arrive, so we could all make the ungodly trek to Queens together.

Topher and Mary are pretty seriously-dedicated Manhattanites. I think this might have been Topher's first trip to Ken's Queens exile-atorium in all the years they've known each other -- which is a lot longer than I've known Topher. Still, they were game, and managed to survive the trip out on the 7 train, even if they did come perilously close to starving.

Thank god for store-bought, pre-packaged cashews.

Eventually, we made it, and it was kinda fun to see Topher explore Ken's apartment -- in which he's lived for 20 years -- like a puppy plopped down in a new and bigger place. Ken's place is deceptively big. He's got it packed with 20 years worth of accumulated stuff, so it kinda feels a little smaller than it is. Still, he could rival our dear friend Janet (she of Doug and Janet fame) for Martha-Stewartiness, so it's incredibly homey (is that even a word?) and warm.

Speaking of Doug and Janet, they were at the dinner party too. That's Janet with Mary up there to the left, and Doug and Janet on the train back to Manhattan on the right.

That's right, friends. Sooner or later you must return from whence you came. Or, at least, you gotta get your ass outta Queens at a reasonable hour.

But our time in "The Queens" was lovely, and Ken is, indeed, the host with the most.

Thanks Ken, and Happy Easter.