pre-thanksgiving feast at the local Flip joint

Woo hoo... Got out from work early last Wednesday and grabbed some Filipino food (and cheap wine, to boot) with some friendly colleagues... just a pre-cursor to the holiday weekend.

members of the IAB crew

ray 

mmm.... yummy 

all those joining the cool kids' lunch table must eat a chicken rind as a rite of initiation (with the exception of Lucy, our fearless leader)

fun at the filipino joint 

heavy metal rules, man 

thanksgiving with some family

Some pics from last week's Thanksgiving "linner" (lunch + dinner) over at Chip, Pinky, and Miles' home out in Brooklyn... Second year in a row, first year with Vallie (Valaida, Veronica, Val, whichever name she goes by these days!)... Nice to have another family member on the East Coast!

mmmmmm..... a maple and hickory smoked bacon glazed masterpiece! 

lynn valerie and valaida 

chippy and lynn 

joe and veronica 

chip and miles 

chip and his college buddy, derek 

joe and his sister, jennifer 

with pinky 

""Friends are the family we choose."

Not sure whom that quote is attributed to, but it's true... Friends ARE the family we choose. Been thinking about that a lot, especially since the holidays are around the corner....