Patty, Bob, and I spent this day in Boston! We parked the car at Alewife Rail Station and caught a couple of trains to reach Fenway Park! Our main activity of the day was to tour Fenway Park! We started off in the Red Sox Team Store! Bob and I looked at merchandise that would be appropriate for a Thank You Gift for taking care of our cat Morgan and for cleaning our house way beyond the call of duty. When we saw an Indians Bobbing Head (Not Bobblehead), I couldn't resist buying it after the tour! A Red Sox Cap or Coffee/Tea Cup was also considered, but it was never purchased. We also took some pictures in the not too crowded store.
It was now time to gather for the tour. This was done in the store. We learned a lot about Red Sox History, including the Pesky Pole, Ted Williams' Red Seat, and The Curse of the Bambino (Broken in 2004). We saw the Visitors Clubhouse, that the Indians would enjoy for a four game set two days later. We looked at various seating areas. The Press Box was also featured. Emily, our tour guide, did an excellent job, considering the fact that her microphone stopped functioning during the tour! Thankfully, she was loud enough for the whole group to hear with little difficulty. This tour is something that every baseball fan should enjoy at least once in his/her life.
After the tour, I bought the bobbing head. We invested in the Photograph set that should have been included in the cost of admission, but I can't complain since I didn't pay for this tour! Perhaps, I will treat for a tour of Progressive Field. Hopefully, Flo will be our tour guide. (I know that she is an actress who has helped out on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.)
A nearby Qdoba was considered for Lunch (Parallel to last year's Moe's Southwest Grill experience), but Bob talked me out of it. I had seen a Tasty Burger while on the tour, but we needed help in finding it. Thankfully, a helpful employee affiliated with the Photography aspect of the tour showed us the way. The place has both indoor and outdoor seating. It was once either a Gas Station or an Auto Repair Shop. I had a Mushroom Burger with Cheese and Tasty 17 Steak Sauce (I added Heinz Pickle Relish to it at the table.). It was delicious!! I treated for entertainment by paying a dollar for two tunes. One of them was "Pontoon" by Little Big Town! The next tune was "Holy Diver" by Dio. (AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" and Boston's "Don't Look Back" were unavailable. The jukebox enhanced our excellent meal.
After lunch, we walked down to the Boston Marathon Memorial Site (Three people were killed by a pair of bombs on April 16, 2013. (Patriots' Day)). It was impressive, but we didn't go down by the Walgreen's that was featured in coverage of the event seen worldwide. We then took a couple of trains back to Alewife Train Station. Patty then drove us home!
After relaxing, I researched the route to IHOP in Northborough, MA. (The only Wegmans in Massachusetts (So Far) is part of the shopping complex.) There were three potential routes, but I only printed the first page/route. John, Patty, Dan SR., Bob, and I were the participants in one car this time. After some confusion, we made it to the restaurant. I had a chicken salad, but I erred in judgment because I expected a Grilled Chicken Salad! It was Crispy Chicken! I ended up eating the salad both in the restaurant and for snack time a couple of hours later. It was a fun experience with an eclectic group of people! I didn't mind paying because it was appreciation for a very memorable trip. (My coupon for a $1.99 meal with a meal purchase didn't hurt, either. If I had explained the coupon, people would have ordered beverages that would have allowed me to use a second coupon. Since only one person out of three eligible ordered from the Senior Menu, this option was possible.) We then went home through Marlborough, Berlin, and Clinton on the way home. It was too late to enjoy the strip mall. Once again, we relaxed for the rest of the evening.
May 22 is the conclusion of this journey!
P.S. The Red Sox ended up beating the Indians three out of four games at Fenway Park in the series that started the day after Bob and I came home. I should have not rooted for the Indians on Red Sox Property. I can freely do it here in Cleveland, though!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Enjoying the Surroundings
Since Patty had a seminar related to her part-time nursing job, Bob and I stayed home to play with Caesar and to observe Max, the dog next door! I had a turkey, bologna, and cheese sandwich with Nachos (Multigrain Chips, Gorgonzola Cheese, Peach Salsa, and Sour Cream) for lunch. Dinner was Butternut Squash Triangoli with Chicken Sausage and apples! Salad was included, but I failed to take notes.
We watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening!! Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day. Boston awaits us!
We watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening!! Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day. Boston awaits us!
The Only Real Culture Today Was in the Frozen Yogurt and Maybe the Ice Cream
Today started off with Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, MA! Since it was warm, a window was opened up by Dan Sr. (If I did something like that in an air conditioned church like St. Leo's, the Liturgy Coordinator would come running to give me a tongue lashing.) The priest was not a big fan of singing, so we didn't sing as much as we do at St. Leo's! The Mass was enjoyable.
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Peter Pan's Magic Wasn't Needed, But He Saved the Day! (Our Vacation (Day 6))
There was a News Report the night before that continued throughout the day! There was a crash between two trains around South Norwalk and New Haven (Both CT) after we safely arrived in New York City! Metro North was not providing shuttle buses between the two stations! Amtrak Service was also affected. We had to scramble to find a way home! Thankfully, Patty had her Kindle Fire HD with us, so she researched a number of options. There will be more details later, but we still had some sightseeing to do.
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
Friday, May 31, 2013
It Was Past Matt Lauer's Bedtime, so a Cardboard Cutout Was a Suitable Fill-In.
The day started out with Patty driving Bob and me to the Metro North Station in New Haven, CT. (Amtrak and Interurban Bus Lines use this station as well.) The trip went smoothly until we couldn't find the station! Thankfully, we found some construction workers who led us to our destination! An Insurance employee was also helpful in leading us from the parking garage to the Station itself! Miraculously, we made our train to Grand Central Terminal! Once again, we ate sandwiches on the train! Last year, Bob and I walked by the school that Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' kids attend. This year, while on the train, we saw Cardinal Hayes High School, where Regis Philbin and Martin Scorsese attended. Otherwise, the ride was uneventful.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
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