New Jersey

On Boxing Day, headed to New Jersey on the train (NJ Transit, North East Corridor line, NY Penn Station to Princeton Junction). Busy busy train. I realised that Jeff and I hadn't met for a few years, the last time being at a conference in San Diego in early 2003. First, back to Jeff's house, where I commenced to eat and drink my way through his kitchen. Three thick slices of fresh bread baked by his lovely Swedish wife, ham (thick chunks, not deli style thinly sliced stuff), cheese (real cheese smuggled in from Sweden), Negro Modelo, Fullers ESB.

Next to 'Cue and Brew', Jeff's local pool/dive bar which (because of the strange style of New Jersey suburbia) was 40 minutes away. It was pretty quiet although the bar itself had all seats taken, mostly with people watching the various TV screens of american football. Jeff's team from Buffalo was playing so we watched that awhile; played a couple of games of pool (at which I am, of course, terrible); chicken wings, hot dog and kraut (no hot dog rolls left so burger bun instead - an interesting construction).

Then back to Jeff's house, for some swedish drink (Glög) made from red wine and vodka, heated up and then mixed with raisins and almonds. Several glasses of that and idle chitchat with Jeff's Swedish brother in law and then back on the train to NY where I fell sound asleep after all the warm red wine. Luckily NY Penn Station is the last stop so would have been reasonably difficult for me to miss.

It had been snowing a little at Jeff's house, but as I emerged from the subway by the hostel, the sky was filled with thick falling snowflakes and there was plenty of snow on the ground.