Mike shared one of his favorite places, Raymond's in Montclair, with Renu and me today. It was a delightful meal. I actually enjoyed Mike's trout and Renu's chicken more than my fish & chips. I had a feeling that I was choosing poorly but I have this strange inability to resist fish & chips. And, in my defense, I normally don't make it a habit of eating everyone else's food. It was just too yummy to resist today.
We get into a pattern of spending time with friends in the same setting. It is always pleasant this way...there is a comfort in familiarity. But, spending time in settings outside of the normal pattern can be so rewarding. I'm always impressed with the depth of individuals' personalities, talents and interests. And, spending time in diverse settings is the only way to truly learn about and appreciate these characteristics.
Mike is a true gentleman and I thoroughly enjoyed this evening...I'm certainly richer for it.

Mike and Renu were planning (or "plotting") to make my townhouse into more of a home (instead of a storage closet and wasteland). This task required plenty of visual aids.