No Jacket Necessary. It's Good to Be Home.

This is neither an optical illusion nor a time-warp photo from 2003. Plotnik paid $2.07 a gallon in Providence to fill up BZ's Explorer, and by the ride to the airport it was already down to $2.01. We get SO hosed at the gas station in Shmalifornia.

The Plotniks returned home to find Todd the Carpenter's Victorian carpentry 99% finished, and J-Wacky having worked behind him, to the point of the scaffolding being ready to be removed next week. Jack only has to finish prepping the last round of carpentry, and then he will be able to add the finish coat. The end is truly in sight...yeah,right. Spit over shoulder.

It took a leap of faith to leave the key to the house in the hands of a stranger for eleven days, although J-Wacky was here as well, and John the King not only kept an eye on the place and moved both cars (yes, the Plotniks still have the Saab) but even left a giant bag of lemons on the counter. You can't beat great neighbors.



For the first time in his life, Plotnik spent a week in the Big Shmapple and never ate a pastrami sandwich from Katz's, or from anywhere else for that matter. There was one pretty tasty slice of pizza and three or four bagels, but no pizza from Famous Ray's and no bagels from H&H. The five Plotniks ate sushi but no spaghetti and meatballs from Pisticci. They ate veal goulash at Veselka but not even one hot dog from the Sabrett's cart.

Obviously, this trip was about more than food. We really did have a great time.