I went away for the weekend. I hate going away for the weekend generally, because it means I don't have a weekend in the city to do the city things I need to do. But when you're going off to Bill and Aidan's house on the beach in Bridgehampton, for a weekend of naps, cheese, waves, and laughs, there isn't a whole lot to complain about.

We arrived Friday night, er, Saturday morning. We were a bit delayed in our arrival because when we got to Jamaica, Queens on the Long Island Rail Road--where we were to switch to a new train--Laura felt compelled to visit an old haunt of hers, The Blarney Bar. The Blarney is where the Jamaica fashionable meet and greet after work, and Laura was determined to join them once again. So after a few hours of socializing with the Glitterati of Queens, and after three paid-for and one free round of Jack Daniels (free round compliments of our fabulous bartender named Hallelujah), we were back on the train to the dump that is know as "The Hamptons."

Upon arrival, and a brief tour of the house for Laura who'd never been, Paula prepared the loveliest spread of cheeses, breads, crackers, olives, and wine for us. We pigged out on that cheese all weekend! Laura described one of the harder (and harder-edged) cheeses as a cat clawing at her throat. I myself like a nice burning hard cheese. Mild cheese is for wimps.

The next day was a series of naps and visits. Laura preferred the wicker couch:

Paula preferred the leather:

We visited with Laura's friend Brian, who kindly lent us a car for the weekend:

Brian and his beau are fixing up a fantastic house in East Hampton. We had lunch beside their pool, admired their trees, and they made us feel like part of the community of beautiful people.

Laura also found herself in the community of wild animals: an owl and a skunk:

The luxury of a little house on the beach is almost indescribable. Martinis on the deck, walks on the beach, the constant sound of the ocean turning its pages, the songs of birds, the salt air, the moody sky--these are the draws of a weekend away.

I'm learning that one of the great things about having such a sexy little camera in my possession is that handsome men always stop me and ask what kind of camera it is. On the train back to the city on Sunday night, these two fellas wanted a piece of the action:

When I arrived back in the city, I met up with Chris Conti and a few of his friends for a couple of drinks. We had a nice visit, albeit brief. He was only in town a short while, but when we see each other we always pick up where we last left off.

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