Beyond the Sea.

Needless to say, I am feeling much better now. Adam and I had a really nice long weekend, and I think I am ready to go back to the world again. Friday night we both conked out early and slept forever, and then Saturday morning we went to the Grand Army Plaza Farmer's Market and bought some great stuff. We got lettuce and tomatoes, a nice loaf of fresh bread, a small apple pie, some fantastic grapes from a vineyard, and some peppers, eggplants and zucchini's so I could make my stuffed vegetables for the week. We also got a bit of smoked bluefish from the fishmongers, which was super-cheap (like, 5 bucks for two nice hunks) and ate that with a sourdough roll and grapes for lunch out on the grass. Really, really lovely.

We rested at home until it was time to get ready, and then we took the subway to 23rd St. on the west side and walked out to the Chelsea piers. The Bateaux New York is a beautiful ship. Long, thin and enclosed in glass, it is the most romantic boat you could think of. We boarded around 6:45 and got our seat next to Bill and Fran, a middle-aged couple celebrating their 7th anniversary. We ordered a nice bottle of champagne, and then...our meal. Let me tell you how incredible this food was....auuuggghhhh it was so good. Here's what we had:

ADAM:

• Appetizer: Maryland crab cakes with black bean salsa
• Entree: Braised lamb shank with polenta and fava beans
• Dessert: New York cheesecake with mixed fruit

MICHELLE:

• Appetizer: Eggplant chevre parfait
• Entree: Filet Mignon topped with crumbled blue cheese with smashed red potatoes and mixed vegetables
• Dessert: Also the New York cheesecake

Best part of the meal? The eggplant parfait. This little thing was the most delectable 3 ounces of food I have ever eaten. They take these eggplant slices and marinate them in some kind of tomato base, cooking them into a little cup shape with a layer of creamy goat cheese on top. So you get that little thing on a plate, with sprouts on top and drizzled with balsamic reduction sauce and olive oil. I MAY DIE. It was so good.

So it was really romantic. The weather was beautiful, and the city was all lit up around us. There was a jazz band with singer, and we danced (they played our wedding song, and we didn't even ask!) and stood out on the open deck with our faces in the wind. Really, we couldn't have asked for a better night.

We told the waiter that it was our 2nd anniversary, so he said they would acknowledge us to the ship. So later, the singer goes, "Let's congratulate Adam and Michael on their 2nd anniversary!" And Adam and I look at each other...I say "Hey, we're gay!" and laugh. The singer corrected herself later when someone probably dashed up there to say "MICHELLE! MICHELLE!" Bill, our tablemate, called me Michael for the rest of the night.

So, filled with rich food and a bottle of champagne, we dragged ourselves homeward and fell into bed. Check out our photo page for new pics!!!

Sunday was filled with chores and other sundries...and we visited a music store where I got to play a cello for the first time! It was so incredible. I'm so excited, because Adam's going to get me one for Hanukkah! He has a hook-up from school and we are going to buy one from them later in the year. I've started to work on a music theory book in preparation. I can't wait! Then I made some shwarma chicken stew and called it a night.

This morning, after going to the bathroom 14 times during the night I realized that my severe back pain of late might be related and ... took my home test and ... sure enough, I've got another UTI. Sigh. So, all that champagne probably wasn't the best thing for me, but it was WORTH IT. Now, it's all cranberry juice for me.

That's about it. Tomorrow it's back to the grind!