Yesterday I went to New York for an exciting evening with three favorite bloggers -- Sean Kinsell, Connie du Toit (best known to bloggers as Mrs. du Toit), and her husband, the one and only Kim du Toit. Sean (who has recently moved back from Japan) and Connie (visiting from Texas on a business trip) are old friends, but this was the first time I'd met Kim. While anyone who has read his blog knows Kim as an excellent and witty writer, he is also a charming conversationalist with such an incredible collection of life experiences that he is a raconteur's raconteur. When I say the evening was exciting, that is no exaggeration. Considering the sheer philosophical and geographical range of this group of people, had I been there all night it wouldn't have been long enough.

We started with a delightful dinner at the "Cafeteria" Restaurant in the area of Chelsea and Greenwich Village, then found a nearby bar which was more appropriate for talking and drinking. Sean found both places, and I was so caught up in the conversation that I never thought to ask the bar's name, but it was a comfortable little place to hang out, with excellent draft beer. Fortunately for me, I was not driving, so I indulged freely. (We also traded some very funny jokes, which I am not about to share here lest the net nannies block me again.)

Anway, here's what an uncontrollable group of international troublemakers looks like after several hours of eating and drinking:

(Left to right: Eric, Connie, Kim, Sean.)

I don't know whether poor defenseless Greenwich Village has recovered but I had an absolutely wonderful time.