While using my primary cell phone, I decided to see if I could easily read my blog. At first, the effort was successful. However, when I clicked on the "Web Version" portion of this page, an inactive page went over the blog. Thankfully, when I hit the "Previous Page (<)" Button, the page re-appeared. I then attempted a sign-in, so I could write this post. However, when I tried typing in a potential password, it failed. I didn't realize that I was signed into my G-Mail Account. In a strange circumstance, my E-Mail Account for this Blog is from Yahoo because Blogger wouldn't let me use my G-Mail Account for reasons that have baffled me for years. Also baffling, this is a Google Web Site. At this point in the process, I realized that I am signed into my G-Mail Account. I was asked for the last password associated with my G-Mail Account. The Password space had asterisks because the phone remembered the password. I clicked on the button that makes the password visible. After clicking the button to sign-in, I finally discovered that I needed to change accounts. To make a long story short, I was finally able to write this post that took me longer to write than it took to solve the original problem.
I'm Back!!
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
The Road to Cleveland, OH
The last day (June 24, 2015) that Bob and I were visiting our Sister Patty and her Husband Dan in Lancaster, MA started with Patty already on her way to Pittsburgh to take her granddaughters Amy and Emily back to Lancaster, MA for a week's visit. I spent my morning trying to watch The Rhode Show in Dan and Patty's bedroom, but the signal was erratic as the station was the CBS affiliate in Providence, R.I. I also tried to access the Internet on the Smart TV in the loft. It would have worked perfectly, but Spotify was my test case. Scrolling to the bottom of the screen to find the Web Player function did not work, and I couldn't find the Spotify App on the TV (In happier news, Spotify came to our Smart TV, which was bought in May 2016, at the end of November 2016.). After two failures, my success was enjoying Dan's homemade Golden Raspberry Jam (By the way, I have not found Golden Raspberry Jam in the Cleveland area.).
It was soon time to go. Thankfully, most of my packing was done the night before. We packed everything except the Shoes that we had bought at the New Balance Outlet Store in Wrentham, MA (They arrived in Cleveland when Patty and Dan came to NE Ohio in August 2015.). Dan then took Bob and me to the Logan Express Bus Terminal in Framingham, MA. Dan looked around the Terminal before saying goodbye to us. We boarded the bus to Logan Airport in Boston. Once again, the bus fare was paid in cash.
The airport experience started off smoothly. Check-in and Security were not problems (In Cleveland, there were questions about my CPAP, but they were quickly resolved.). As we headed to our Gate, we looked for places for my lunch. Bob had eaten back at the house because Dan had advised us about price gouging at Logan Airport. Bob probably had a sandwich.
We made it to the Gate. I decided to find more lunch options. As Bob was watching our luggage, I searched the Concourse. Dan was right about price gouging because I caught Burger King "overcharging" for soda. There were some possibilities, but I was not fulfilled, so I headed for the other Concourses.
This turned out to be a big mistake. I found doors marked "Ticketed Passengers Only." There were Checkpoints where I had to show my Boarding Pass. Eventually, I ended outside the Security Zone, so I had the pleasure of going through Security again. Thankfully, it went smoothly.
I reluctantly headed back to Bob. After telling my story, I ended up at U Food Grill, one of the possibilities from earlier. I had a Chicken Burrito. It fell between Taco Bell and Qdoba in size and in ingredients. Bob might have had a bite. I probably shared my soda, too.
After lunch, which was around 3:00 P.M., we waited for the plane. The plane ride was relatively smooth. I may have enjoyed some Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. I don't remember what Bob had.
Once we reached Hopkins Airport, I called Maggie to pick us up. Unfortunately, instead of calling our house, I called her house, but the mistake was corrected. During the ride to get some take-out food from Arby's on Snow Road in Parma, we talked about the trip. Maggie talked about our now deceased cat Morgan. When we came home, we ate and talked more about our trip. Eventually, we called Patty and Dan to tell them that we were home. Patty mentioned that her Granddaughters' Happy Meal toys were accidentally thrown out on the plane.
In conclusion, we had a great visit. I survived without my light jacket, sweater, or the cash that our brother Joe gave me for the trip. I spent most of the morning that we left scrubbing the carpet.
Two goals for our next trip are a visit to the Racino in Plainville, MA that opened on the day that we left for home, and trips to Wegmans, Tops, Roche Bros., and Donelan's. The last three visits complete the Grocery Decathlon. The other stores that comprise the Decathlon are Big Y, Hannaford, Market Basket, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Stop and Shop.
Of course, there will be a report if the trip happens!!
It was soon time to go. Thankfully, most of my packing was done the night before. We packed everything except the Shoes that we had bought at the New Balance Outlet Store in Wrentham, MA (They arrived in Cleveland when Patty and Dan came to NE Ohio in August 2015.). Dan then took Bob and me to the Logan Express Bus Terminal in Framingham, MA. Dan looked around the Terminal before saying goodbye to us. We boarded the bus to Logan Airport in Boston. Once again, the bus fare was paid in cash.
The airport experience started off smoothly. Check-in and Security were not problems (In Cleveland, there were questions about my CPAP, but they were quickly resolved.). As we headed to our Gate, we looked for places for my lunch. Bob had eaten back at the house because Dan had advised us about price gouging at Logan Airport. Bob probably had a sandwich.
We made it to the Gate. I decided to find more lunch options. As Bob was watching our luggage, I searched the Concourse. Dan was right about price gouging because I caught Burger King "overcharging" for soda. There were some possibilities, but I was not fulfilled, so I headed for the other Concourses.
This turned out to be a big mistake. I found doors marked "Ticketed Passengers Only." There were Checkpoints where I had to show my Boarding Pass. Eventually, I ended outside the Security Zone, so I had the pleasure of going through Security again. Thankfully, it went smoothly.
I reluctantly headed back to Bob. After telling my story, I ended up at U Food Grill, one of the possibilities from earlier. I had a Chicken Burrito. It fell between Taco Bell and Qdoba in size and in ingredients. Bob might have had a bite. I probably shared my soda, too.
After lunch, which was around 3:00 P.M., we waited for the plane. The plane ride was relatively smooth. I may have enjoyed some Blue Corn Tortilla Chips. I don't remember what Bob had.
Once we reached Hopkins Airport, I called Maggie to pick us up. Unfortunately, instead of calling our house, I called her house, but the mistake was corrected. During the ride to get some take-out food from Arby's on Snow Road in Parma, we talked about the trip. Maggie talked about our now deceased cat Morgan. When we came home, we ate and talked more about our trip. Eventually, we called Patty and Dan to tell them that we were home. Patty mentioned that her Granddaughters' Happy Meal toys were accidentally thrown out on the plane.
In conclusion, we had a great visit. I survived without my light jacket, sweater, or the cash that our brother Joe gave me for the trip. I spent most of the morning that we left scrubbing the carpet.
Two goals for our next trip are a visit to the Racino in Plainville, MA that opened on the day that we left for home, and trips to Wegmans, Tops, Roche Bros., and Donelan's. The last three visits complete the Grocery Decathlon. The other stores that comprise the Decathlon are Big Y, Hannaford, Market Basket, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Stop and Shop.
Of course, there will be a report if the trip happens!!
Friday, January 29, 2016
The Road to Bolton (MA)
June 23 was a quiet day for some of us. Since there was inclement weather in the forecast for later in the day, Patty decided that we would go to the Bolton (MA) Library before lunch. Bob joined us on the adventure. This was the first visit for all of us. The library was quite nice for a small town. It was on two floors. It had been expanded from the original building. We bought nothing from the "ongoing" book sale, but Patty picked up something for her granddaughters, Amy and Emily, to share.
We came home briefly. Eventually, the three of us and Dan Sr. went to Michael's Bridge Diner in Lancaster for lunch. I had a Lobster Roll. Like Pizzeria Uno, they followed the traditional "cold" route. It was okay, but I learned that I prefer the hot route. I also learned that the Lancaster Building Code once required that the light switch was required to be outside the room. You learn a lot when you travel.
After lunch, Patty offered to drop Bob and me off somewhere. Unfortunately, Wegmans (Northborough) and Roche Brothers (Westborough) were too far away, so we all came home. Patty did laundry and other chores because she was headed to Pittsburgh early the next morning to pick up her granddaughters to bring back to Lancaster for a week. I did some packing and relaxed.
Around 4:00 in the afternoon, a tornado warning was announced for Norfolk, Bristol (?), and Southern Worcester Counties. Thankfully, the weather co-operated, so we were able to go to Outback Steakhouse in Leominster for dinner. Dan Sr. had suggested The Old Mill (Westminster, MA), but I had coupons for Outback. I had Steak that was a little spicy for my tastes, but the conversation was interesting. Patty and Dan Sr. asked about my cooking habits. I mentioned Lo Mein that I had purchased at Big Lots. I may have also mentioned the Kettle Corn Chips that I picked up at Burlington Coat Factory because I had a $10.00 Voucher from the Grand Opening of its Steelyard Commons (Cleveland, OH), and the shirt that I purchased was just less than the voucher value. Dan thought the Big Lots purchase was amusing, but he confused the aforementioned store with (Ocean State) Job Lots, a similar store in name and merchandise philosophy.
After dinner, we went home. Bob and I could have made our Bob's Store debut since it was nearby, but it was late, and Patty was getting up very early. As for the tornado warning, there was a small tornado that did not appear to cause significant damage in the affected areas. It rained while we were in the Outback, but it had stopped before we exited the restaurant.
The night ended as some of us watched The Interview via Netflix. During the movie, Bob and I offered our goodbyes and thanks to Patty as she went to bed. This day turned out to be interesting, but it will pale in comparison to the next day. Details will be in the next Post.
We came home briefly. Eventually, the three of us and Dan Sr. went to Michael's Bridge Diner in Lancaster for lunch. I had a Lobster Roll. Like Pizzeria Uno, they followed the traditional "cold" route. It was okay, but I learned that I prefer the hot route. I also learned that the Lancaster Building Code once required that the light switch was required to be outside the room. You learn a lot when you travel.
After lunch, Patty offered to drop Bob and me off somewhere. Unfortunately, Wegmans (Northborough) and Roche Brothers (Westborough) were too far away, so we all came home. Patty did laundry and other chores because she was headed to Pittsburgh early the next morning to pick up her granddaughters to bring back to Lancaster for a week. I did some packing and relaxed.
Around 4:00 in the afternoon, a tornado warning was announced for Norfolk, Bristol (?), and Southern Worcester Counties. Thankfully, the weather co-operated, so we were able to go to Outback Steakhouse in Leominster for dinner. Dan Sr. had suggested The Old Mill (Westminster, MA), but I had coupons for Outback. I had Steak that was a little spicy for my tastes, but the conversation was interesting. Patty and Dan Sr. asked about my cooking habits. I mentioned Lo Mein that I had purchased at Big Lots. I may have also mentioned the Kettle Corn Chips that I picked up at Burlington Coat Factory because I had a $10.00 Voucher from the Grand Opening of its Steelyard Commons (Cleveland, OH), and the shirt that I purchased was just less than the voucher value. Dan thought the Big Lots purchase was amusing, but he confused the aforementioned store with (Ocean State) Job Lots, a similar store in name and merchandise philosophy.
After dinner, we went home. Bob and I could have made our Bob's Store debut since it was nearby, but it was late, and Patty was getting up very early. As for the tornado warning, there was a small tornado that did not appear to cause significant damage in the affected areas. It rained while we were in the Outback, but it had stopped before we exited the restaurant.
The night ended as some of us watched The Interview via Netflix. During the movie, Bob and I offered our goodbyes and thanks to Patty as she went to bed. This day turned out to be interesting, but it will pale in comparison to the next day. Details will be in the next Post.
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
The Road to Clinton (MA)
June 22 was a quiet day during my vacation at my sister Patty and her husband Dan SR..'s house in Lancaster, MA. Bob and I finished Patty's pizza from our meal at Uno Chicago Grill on June18. We also enjoyed some of the leftover pizza from Sal's Pizza (Milford, MA) from the night before.
After lunch, we went back to Aldi in Leominster to pick up some supplies for our great nieces Amy and Emily's visit two days later. Since there was nothing that we needed, I suggested that Bob and I could visit the Tractor Supply behind the Aldi. The store wasn't that exciting, but we noticed that the cat food that we feed Morgan was priced about the same as it is at our local Marc's (Parma, OH).
After Tractor Supply, we returned to Aldi to help Patty with the grocery shopping. We looked for Frozen Lima Beans that was going to be the centerpiece of that night's dinner. Aldi does not carry Frozen Lima Beans. Patty had never found Frozen Lima Beans at Aldi. I regularly buy canned Lima or Butter Beans at Aldi in our area. Patty was probably looking for frozen. Also, she is not a fan of Lima Beans. I later remembered that the Sweeneys (at least the ones related to me) are not into electric can openers.
After Aldi, Patty visited Digital Credit Union in Leominster to take care of some banking business. We then went back to Hannaford in Clinton to look for Lima Beans. Patty realized that she needed to purchase her Megabucks ticket for the next seven drawings. She asked if I minded if I picked up the ticket for her. It was not a problem. When I walked to Customer Service, I noticed that they had a Self Serve Lottery Machine. I had exact change, so I was going to try it. I discovered that I needed to scan a driver's license (It said nothing about State IDs.). My (Ohio) State ID would not scan. I then discussed the situation with the clerk. The ID policy was to deter underage gambling. Ohio should do something similar with their Lottery machines.
I then looked for Frozen Lima Beans. The only ones that I could find were Hannaford Brand Lima Beans. I bought them. I then told Patty about the Lottery Machine. She didn't know that the machines could handle Megabucks. She thought that they were for Scratch (Instant) Tickets only. She also didn't know about the Driver's License Policy. We then came home and relaxed.
After relaxing, Patty cooked dinner. It consisted of the Perdue Breaded Chicken Patties that we didn't have for our supper on Saturday because Sbarro was open at New Haven's Union Station. Multigrain Sandwich Skinnys, Tomato with Mozzarella Cheese and Caprese, (On September 21, 2015, I learned that this dish is called Caprese.) and of course, the Lima Beans accompanied the Chicken. The food was delicious. Amy and Emily called during the meal. Dan JR. and/or Laura were not part of the conversation. Ice Cream from Aldi was Dessert.
By the way, Patty served the Lima Beans that we had bought that day instead of the ones that we had in the freezer because they were Baby Lima Beans. When I was dishing out my Ice Cream, I discovered that the Lima Beans in the Freezer (from Market Basket) were also Baby Lima Beans. In any event, I hope that the Lima Beans in the house during our visit have been "enjoyed."
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.
After lunch, we went back to Aldi in Leominster to pick up some supplies for our great nieces Amy and Emily's visit two days later. Since there was nothing that we needed, I suggested that Bob and I could visit the Tractor Supply behind the Aldi. The store wasn't that exciting, but we noticed that the cat food that we feed Morgan was priced about the same as it is at our local Marc's (Parma, OH).
After Tractor Supply, we returned to Aldi to help Patty with the grocery shopping. We looked for Frozen Lima Beans that was going to be the centerpiece of that night's dinner. Aldi does not carry Frozen Lima Beans. Patty had never found Frozen Lima Beans at Aldi. I regularly buy canned Lima or Butter Beans at Aldi in our area. Patty was probably looking for frozen. Also, she is not a fan of Lima Beans. I later remembered that the Sweeneys (at least the ones related to me) are not into electric can openers.
After Aldi, Patty visited Digital Credit Union in Leominster to take care of some banking business. We then went back to Hannaford in Clinton to look for Lima Beans. Patty realized that she needed to purchase her Megabucks ticket for the next seven drawings. She asked if I minded if I picked up the ticket for her. It was not a problem. When I walked to Customer Service, I noticed that they had a Self Serve Lottery Machine. I had exact change, so I was going to try it. I discovered that I needed to scan a driver's license (It said nothing about State IDs.). My (Ohio) State ID would not scan. I then discussed the situation with the clerk. The ID policy was to deter underage gambling. Ohio should do something similar with their Lottery machines.
I then looked for Frozen Lima Beans. The only ones that I could find were Hannaford Brand Lima Beans. I bought them. I then told Patty about the Lottery Machine. She didn't know that the machines could handle Megabucks. She thought that they were for Scratch (Instant) Tickets only. She also didn't know about the Driver's License Policy. We then came home and relaxed.
After relaxing, Patty cooked dinner. It consisted of the Perdue Breaded Chicken Patties that we didn't have for our supper on Saturday because Sbarro was open at New Haven's Union Station. Multigrain Sandwich Skinnys, Tomato with Mozzarella Cheese and Caprese, (On September 21, 2015, I learned that this dish is called Caprese.) and of course, the Lima Beans accompanied the Chicken. The food was delicious. Amy and Emily called during the meal. Dan JR. and/or Laura were not part of the conversation. Ice Cream from Aldi was Dessert.
By the way, Patty served the Lima Beans that we had bought that day instead of the ones that we had in the freezer because they were Baby Lima Beans. When I was dishing out my Ice Cream, I discovered that the Lima Beans in the Freezer (from Market Basket) were also Baby Lima Beans. In any event, I hope that the Lima Beans in the house during our visit have been "enjoyed."
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
The Road to Medway, MA
June 21 started out with heavy rain, but by the time Dan SR. and I headed for Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, MA for 10:30 Mass, the rain had died down considerably. For the record, Patty and Bob were not "up" for Mass. We entered through the front door of the church, which led to the back of the Church.
Mass started about eight minutes late. Before Mass, there were some announcements. The Church was not "super-crowded!" Despite the open spaces, a group of six in the pew in front of us had five people sharing a kneeler. FR. Hultquist's homily discussed the "biological family" and the Charleston, SC Tragedy of June 18. I could have fallen asleep, but I didn't. I also wish that I had taken better notes.
One interesting highlight is that Dan SR. was "drafted" to take up the Collection by his friend Tom Kennedy (Not the Legendary Game Show Host). He was once a regular "Usher" before he and Patty switched to the Saturday 4:30 Mass! Another interesting detail is that no wine was provided at Communion time.
Although Mass started late, we were out of there before 11:30 A.M. Dan SR. drove me to Cumberland Farms on Main St. in Lancaster, so I could pick up Newspapers of Interest. I only picked up the Sentinel-Enterprise, (Fitchburg-Leominster, MA) which cost $2.50, because Amy Gould (from the "Casino Posts") said that she would let me look at her copies of the Telegram-Gazette (Worcester, MA) when she was finished with them. I did not discuss this with her this time. I like looking at the Price Chopper ad because apparently they do not offer the online version which is a "reproduction" of the print ad.
After Mass, we ate lunch. Bob and I had Meat and Cheese sandwiches, Caramel and Mint Brownie samples, and Cola. The brownies were delicious. Amy had told Patty before we went to her house that we could have the brownies. I had peanuts as well.
After lunch, Patty, Bob, and I went to Kohl's (Me and Bob) and Target (Patty) in Leominster, MA. I had suggested that we go to the Kohl's in Milford, MA because we were going to be in nearby Medway, MA that day, but Patty wanted to go to Target. As it turned out, Target Milford was not that far from the Kohl's that I had requested. In any event, I picked up a watch that was marked down about 30%. Bob also had a 30% off coupon from Kohl's that was expiring that day. The watch cost about $15. Since we were headed to Amy and Dave's that afternoon, we did not visit any other stores.
Not long after we came home, we headed to Medway, MA to celebrate Father's Day with Amy, Dave, and their dog Caesar. We had Pizza from Sal's Pizza, a local chain with a branch in Milford, MA. Dan SR. "jokingly wanted Anchovies, but we ordered a Thick Crust Ham and Pineapple Pizza, a Thin Crust Margherita Pizza, and a Thick Crust Meat Lover's Pizza. Amy made a salad with Spring Mix Lettuce, Tomato, Spinach, Yellow Peppers, Cucumbers, Feta Cheese, and Croutons. There were a number of Salad Dressings provided. I used Brianna's Homestyle Real French Vinaigrette Dressing. Dinner was delicious, but I can take or leave purple/brown lettuce because it is bitter.
Dessert consisted of Ben and Jerry's and/or Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Trader Joe's Fudge Sauce, which was heated, HomeGoods Blue Sprinkles, Essential Everyday Whipped Topping (in an Aerosol Can), and Peanuts (I skipped them because they weren't unsalted, but I used everything else.). I selected Ben and Jerry's Dulce De Leche Ice Cream. Dessert was delicious.
Dan SR. then opened up his Father's Day Present which was some sort of Alcoholic Beverage. Bob and I gave Dave an early Birthday Gift Card that was for Olive Garden and its Affiliates. Dave was very grateful. The U.S. Open Golf Tournament was also watched, but mostly by me. Dan SR. and Dave who play golf were both unaware of the timing before we saw them. Thankfully, we were home in plenty of time to see the fantastic finish when Dustin Johnson three-putted from 12 feet, giving the title to Jordan Spieth.
This day was very memorable.
Mass started about eight minutes late. Before Mass, there were some announcements. The Church was not "super-crowded!" Despite the open spaces, a group of six in the pew in front of us had five people sharing a kneeler. FR. Hultquist's homily discussed the "biological family" and the Charleston, SC Tragedy of June 18. I could have fallen asleep, but I didn't. I also wish that I had taken better notes.
One interesting highlight is that Dan SR. was "drafted" to take up the Collection by his friend Tom Kennedy (Not the Legendary Game Show Host). He was once a regular "Usher" before he and Patty switched to the Saturday 4:30 Mass! Another interesting detail is that no wine was provided at Communion time.
Although Mass started late, we were out of there before 11:30 A.M. Dan SR. drove me to Cumberland Farms on Main St. in Lancaster, so I could pick up Newspapers of Interest. I only picked up the Sentinel-Enterprise, (Fitchburg-Leominster, MA) which cost $2.50, because Amy Gould (from the "Casino Posts") said that she would let me look at her copies of the Telegram-Gazette (Worcester, MA) when she was finished with them. I did not discuss this with her this time. I like looking at the Price Chopper ad because apparently they do not offer the online version which is a "reproduction" of the print ad.
After Mass, we ate lunch. Bob and I had Meat and Cheese sandwiches, Caramel and Mint Brownie samples, and Cola. The brownies were delicious. Amy had told Patty before we went to her house that we could have the brownies. I had peanuts as well.
After lunch, Patty, Bob, and I went to Kohl's (Me and Bob) and Target (Patty) in Leominster, MA. I had suggested that we go to the Kohl's in Milford, MA because we were going to be in nearby Medway, MA that day, but Patty wanted to go to Target. As it turned out, Target Milford was not that far from the Kohl's that I had requested. In any event, I picked up a watch that was marked down about 30%. Bob also had a 30% off coupon from Kohl's that was expiring that day. The watch cost about $15. Since we were headed to Amy and Dave's that afternoon, we did not visit any other stores.
Not long after we came home, we headed to Medway, MA to celebrate Father's Day with Amy, Dave, and their dog Caesar. We had Pizza from Sal's Pizza, a local chain with a branch in Milford, MA. Dan SR. "jokingly wanted Anchovies, but we ordered a Thick Crust Ham and Pineapple Pizza, a Thin Crust Margherita Pizza, and a Thick Crust Meat Lover's Pizza. Amy made a salad with Spring Mix Lettuce, Tomato, Spinach, Yellow Peppers, Cucumbers, Feta Cheese, and Croutons. There were a number of Salad Dressings provided. I used Brianna's Homestyle Real French Vinaigrette Dressing. Dinner was delicious, but I can take or leave purple/brown lettuce because it is bitter.
Dessert consisted of Ben and Jerry's and/or Haagen Dazs Ice Cream, Trader Joe's Fudge Sauce, which was heated, HomeGoods Blue Sprinkles, Essential Everyday Whipped Topping (in an Aerosol Can), and Peanuts (I skipped them because they weren't unsalted, but I used everything else.). I selected Ben and Jerry's Dulce De Leche Ice Cream. Dessert was delicious.
Dan SR. then opened up his Father's Day Present which was some sort of Alcoholic Beverage. Bob and I gave Dave an early Birthday Gift Card that was for Olive Garden and its Affiliates. Dave was very grateful. The U.S. Open Golf Tournament was also watched, but mostly by me. Dan SR. and Dave who play golf were both unaware of the timing before we saw them. Thankfully, we were home in plenty of time to see the fantastic finish when Dustin Johnson three-putted from 12 feet, giving the title to Jordan Spieth.
This day was very memorable.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
The Road to New Haven, CT
On June 20, since the Hilton Garden Inn did not offer a Complimentary Continental Breakfast, we ordered Breakfast from Fresh Food Market, Deli, and Grocery, which was near the hotel. Although they offered Free Delivery to our room, Patty decided that we would pick it up! While Bob was preparing for the day, Patty and I walked over to the store to pick up our food. I had a Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich because they were out of Lox (Salmon). Patty had Pancakes. Bob had an Omelet. Either Bob or Patty had Bacon as well. I can't vouch for the Omelet, but the Pancakes, Bacon, and my Sandwich were appetizing. I enjoyed my Orange Soda originally from Aldi with my breakfast because I didn't drink it the night before.
After getting organized and having our luggage held at the hotel, we walked down to the One World Observatory where we had 11:45 A.M. Tickets that were purchased Online. Since we were early, I was curious about a complex across the street named Brookfield Place. Since there was construction, Bob and I went to the left and headed for the back of the complex. An unexpected pleasure occurred. We had a view of the Hudson River behind the complex. We then entered the upscale mall. No stores "excited" us, so we went back by the Hudson River. This time, we clearly saw the Statue of Liberty. We then discovered that it would have been easier to go to the right of the complex. We then re-united with Patty.
In a light drizzle, we entered the line to enter the One World Observatory. Once inside and past Security, we headed for the elevators. The evolution of the World Trade Center was depicted as we rode to the Observation Deck. We then walked down two floors to view New York City from well past the 100th Floor. It was a cloudy day, but the scenery was adequate. It wasn't as exciting as the Empire State Building at night, but it was okay. It was crowded but traffic moved at a steady pace. Besides the view, there was a tour guide who amusingly educated us about New York City. Bob and I then visited the Gift Shop, but we left empty-handed. We also checked out the dining options, but we deemed them overpriced.
Since we were way early for our 3:45 ticket into the 9/11 Museum, Patty wondered if we could exchange our ticket for an earlier time. We were able to enter the Museum at 2:00 P.M. It was quite crowded. There are a lot of artifacts and reminiscences. Visiting the museum took us about four hours.
Since we were hungry, we found a small counter with a limited menu that sold sandwiches and related items. Bob and I split a Roast Beef Sandwich that cost about $11. We each had Boylan Craft Cola. Patty had Coffee. We then finished our trip inside the museum. Bob picked up a Coffee/Tea Mug with the One Surviving Tree from 9/11. I was willing to "contribute" for the "Deluxe" package, but Bob decided that the Mug was enough!
A couple of times during the day, we visited the original Memorial Fountains. Security was not needed to show our respects for the lives lost on September 11, 2001! Admission to the 9/11 Museum was not needed to view the fountains.
After the 9/11 Museum, in another light drizzle, we headed back to our hotel to pick up our luggage. We then took a train to East 53rd St. and Third Avenue. Unlike Tribeca, we saw chain establishments. Alas, most were closed for the day. We made it to Grand Central Terminal. We were going to find a place to pick up food, but we discovered that a train to New Haven was arriving shortly. I should note that the train was waiting for both parts of the commute. It wasn't the "stampede" of past years.
The train trip had a few highlights. I transferred between train cars to use the restroom, but only when we were stopped at a station. Bob and I enjoyed the Potato Chips from the day before. Patty was not interested in them, A few stops from New Haven, the train was delayed to allow some passengers to make the train (Details were vague on this development.).
Once we reached New Haven Union Station, Bob and I discovered that Sbarro was still open. (For the record, Dunkin Donuts and Subway were also still open.) We each had a slice of Pepperoni Pizza and Ginger Ale. The beverage came from the Refrigerated Case because the Soda Machine was apparently turned off for the night (It was not clearly communicated.). I don't think Patty picked up anything. By the way, if there was nothing open at Union Station, Patty told Dan SR. to make these Breaded Chicken Patties that they loved. As it turns out, they were served for Monday Dinner.
We then headed for home. It was a little after midnight when we made the house. If we hadn't exchanged our tickets at the 9/11 Museum, another night in a hotel or motel would have been a possibility. I would have enjoyed Hartford, CT Television. It was nice to be back home.
The next reports will involve quieter days, for the most part.
After getting organized and having our luggage held at the hotel, we walked down to the One World Observatory where we had 11:45 A.M. Tickets that were purchased Online. Since we were early, I was curious about a complex across the street named Brookfield Place. Since there was construction, Bob and I went to the left and headed for the back of the complex. An unexpected pleasure occurred. We had a view of the Hudson River behind the complex. We then entered the upscale mall. No stores "excited" us, so we went back by the Hudson River. This time, we clearly saw the Statue of Liberty. We then discovered that it would have been easier to go to the right of the complex. We then re-united with Patty.
In a light drizzle, we entered the line to enter the One World Observatory. Once inside and past Security, we headed for the elevators. The evolution of the World Trade Center was depicted as we rode to the Observation Deck. We then walked down two floors to view New York City from well past the 100th Floor. It was a cloudy day, but the scenery was adequate. It wasn't as exciting as the Empire State Building at night, but it was okay. It was crowded but traffic moved at a steady pace. Besides the view, there was a tour guide who amusingly educated us about New York City. Bob and I then visited the Gift Shop, but we left empty-handed. We also checked out the dining options, but we deemed them overpriced.
Since we were way early for our 3:45 ticket into the 9/11 Museum, Patty wondered if we could exchange our ticket for an earlier time. We were able to enter the Museum at 2:00 P.M. It was quite crowded. There are a lot of artifacts and reminiscences. Visiting the museum took us about four hours.
Since we were hungry, we found a small counter with a limited menu that sold sandwiches and related items. Bob and I split a Roast Beef Sandwich that cost about $11. We each had Boylan Craft Cola. Patty had Coffee. We then finished our trip inside the museum. Bob picked up a Coffee/Tea Mug with the One Surviving Tree from 9/11. I was willing to "contribute" for the "Deluxe" package, but Bob decided that the Mug was enough!
A couple of times during the day, we visited the original Memorial Fountains. Security was not needed to show our respects for the lives lost on September 11, 2001! Admission to the 9/11 Museum was not needed to view the fountains.
After the 9/11 Museum, in another light drizzle, we headed back to our hotel to pick up our luggage. We then took a train to East 53rd St. and Third Avenue. Unlike Tribeca, we saw chain establishments. Alas, most were closed for the day. We made it to Grand Central Terminal. We were going to find a place to pick up food, but we discovered that a train to New Haven was arriving shortly. I should note that the train was waiting for both parts of the commute. It wasn't the "stampede" of past years.
The train trip had a few highlights. I transferred between train cars to use the restroom, but only when we were stopped at a station. Bob and I enjoyed the Potato Chips from the day before. Patty was not interested in them, A few stops from New Haven, the train was delayed to allow some passengers to make the train (Details were vague on this development.).
Once we reached New Haven Union Station, Bob and I discovered that Sbarro was still open. (For the record, Dunkin Donuts and Subway were also still open.) We each had a slice of Pepperoni Pizza and Ginger Ale. The beverage came from the Refrigerated Case because the Soda Machine was apparently turned off for the night (It was not clearly communicated.). I don't think Patty picked up anything. By the way, if there was nothing open at Union Station, Patty told Dan SR. to make these Breaded Chicken Patties that they loved. As it turns out, they were served for Monday Dinner.
We then headed for home. It was a little after midnight when we made the house. If we hadn't exchanged our tickets at the 9/11 Museum, another night in a hotel or motel would have been a possibility. I would have enjoyed Hartford, CT Television. It was nice to be back home.
The next reports will involve quieter days, for the most part.
The Road to New York City, NY
On June 19, Bob, Patty, and I headed for New York City. Patty drove us to New Haven, CT Union Station. After using a Port-a-Potty because the Men's Restroom was under renovation, picking up a water bottle for Patty, and buying two lines of the Connecticut Lottery's Lotto game, we boarded a MTA Commuter Train to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. At the house, Patty prepared sandwiches for lunch, while Bob and I grabbed cans of soda. We enjoyed looking out the window on the train.
After reaching Grand Central Terminal, we walked down to Fifth Avenue to Premier Exhibitions, which is between East 37th and East 38th Streets to see Saturday Night Live: the Exhibition. There was no line, so we entered the exhibit. We sat on the benches to enjoy the initial images. (Patty was waiting to be "invited" into the rest of the museum.) The exhibit was mostly props, costumes, show history, and education about the weekly production routine. The museum was enjoyable, but overpriced at $29 per person. I picked up a cowbell from the Gift Shop because Maggie likes items like that. Does this make you want "More Cowbell?" (Devout SNL Fans will understand the reference.)
After the SNL museum, we walked to a Subway station to reach the Hilton Garden Inn in NYC's Tribeca Neighborhood. We went through the Flagship Macy's because there was construction. The train ride was a success because Patty picked up a Subway System Map at the station.
We had difficulty finding our hotel, but a friendly Policeman helped us to find it. There is a Maserati dealership adjacent to the hotel, but since Dan SR. was not with us because he had more important priorities, we did not visit the dealership. Bob and I can always go to North Olmsted to visit our local dealership.
We checked into the hotel and relaxed for awhile. Since we were getting hungry, we checked the menus that were available in the Hotel Room, but most of the places were "overpriced!" We decided to walk in the neighborhood to find a suitable restaurant. Patty also scoped out the place where we picked up breakfast on June 20.
After a lengthy search where chain restaurants were scarce (other than a Subway), we settled on Tribeca Tavern. I had a Bison Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. Bob had a Burger (Details not retained because Bob does not keep a Food Diary) and French Fries. Patty had "Loaded" Potato Skins. I can't vouch for Bob's meal, but my meal and the Potato Skins were delicious. Bob had a beer. Patty enjoyed wine. I had Sprite. Soft Drinks were nowhere to be found on the Menu, so we had to ask our waitress, who did not answer my request on the first attempt. We were seated near the door in an apparent non air-conditioned building on a warm night. The atmosphere was nice, though and the Restaurant/Bar was crowded.
After dinner, we walked by the adjacent Soho Pharmacy to pick up snacks, but they were closing at 8:00 P.M. (It was a little after 8:00 when Patty went into the store.) Since there were no chain drug stores, supermarkets. or department stores nearby, we checked out the Convenience Store in the Lobby of our Hotel. A small bag of Kettle Brand New York Cheddar Potato Chips and a small package of Plain M&Ms (Both weighed about 2 oz.) cost a total of $5, but we still purchased them. The three of us shared the M&Ms that night and as part of our Breakfast. Bob and I ate the Potato Chips on the MTA Commuter train back to New Haven the following evening. It was an early night for Bob and Patty, but I was awake until about 12:30 A.M.
June 20th was a very long, but interesting day!
After reaching Grand Central Terminal, we walked down to Fifth Avenue to Premier Exhibitions, which is between East 37th and East 38th Streets to see Saturday Night Live: the Exhibition. There was no line, so we entered the exhibit. We sat on the benches to enjoy the initial images. (Patty was waiting to be "invited" into the rest of the museum.) The exhibit was mostly props, costumes, show history, and education about the weekly production routine. The museum was enjoyable, but overpriced at $29 per person. I picked up a cowbell from the Gift Shop because Maggie likes items like that. Does this make you want "More Cowbell?" (Devout SNL Fans will understand the reference.)
After the SNL museum, we walked to a Subway station to reach the Hilton Garden Inn in NYC's Tribeca Neighborhood. We went through the Flagship Macy's because there was construction. The train ride was a success because Patty picked up a Subway System Map at the station.
We had difficulty finding our hotel, but a friendly Policeman helped us to find it. There is a Maserati dealership adjacent to the hotel, but since Dan SR. was not with us because he had more important priorities, we did not visit the dealership. Bob and I can always go to North Olmsted to visit our local dealership.
We checked into the hotel and relaxed for awhile. Since we were getting hungry, we checked the menus that were available in the Hotel Room, but most of the places were "overpriced!" We decided to walk in the neighborhood to find a suitable restaurant. Patty also scoped out the place where we picked up breakfast on June 20.
After a lengthy search where chain restaurants were scarce (other than a Subway), we settled on Tribeca Tavern. I had a Bison Burger with Sweet Potato Fries. Bob had a Burger (Details not retained because Bob does not keep a Food Diary) and French Fries. Patty had "Loaded" Potato Skins. I can't vouch for Bob's meal, but my meal and the Potato Skins were delicious. Bob had a beer. Patty enjoyed wine. I had Sprite. Soft Drinks were nowhere to be found on the Menu, so we had to ask our waitress, who did not answer my request on the first attempt. We were seated near the door in an apparent non air-conditioned building on a warm night. The atmosphere was nice, though and the Restaurant/Bar was crowded.
After dinner, we walked by the adjacent Soho Pharmacy to pick up snacks, but they were closing at 8:00 P.M. (It was a little after 8:00 when Patty went into the store.) Since there were no chain drug stores, supermarkets. or department stores nearby, we checked out the Convenience Store in the Lobby of our Hotel. A small bag of Kettle Brand New York Cheddar Potato Chips and a small package of Plain M&Ms (Both weighed about 2 oz.) cost a total of $5, but we still purchased them. The three of us shared the M&Ms that night and as part of our Breakfast. Bob and I ate the Potato Chips on the MTA Commuter train back to New Haven the following evening. It was an early night for Bob and Patty, but I was awake until about 12:30 A.M.
June 20th was a very long, but interesting day!
Saturday, July 4, 2015
The Road to Wrentham, MA
On June 18, Bob, Patty, and I went to our niece and Patty's daughter Amy's house in Medway, MA to drop off some items that belonged to Amy. Walking Caesar was the main focus of this visit because Amy was bowling after work. Her husband Dave's after work activities were unknown, but I later learned he has a long commute to and from work with his new job. Patty missed the exit that she wanted, so we went through Bellingham, MA and encountered a traffic jam caused by some construction.
Once we arrived at the house, Bob and I unpacked the car and placed the materials in their enclosed dining room that we have never enjoyed. Patty walked Caesar. Thankfully, things went smoothly.
After leaving the house, we went to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham, MA. Lunch was at Uno Chicago Grill (Once known as Pizzeria Uno). Though they have had an on and off presence in the Cleveland, OH area for years, this was the first experience for Bob and me. I had (Cold) Lobster Sliders, French Fries, and PowerSlaw. Patty had a Chicken Caesar Salad and a Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza (She let us enjoy the pizza that also went home for leftovers.). Bob had a Chicken Pesto Sandwich and a Chopped Grilled Citrus Chicken Salad. Bob's salad went home. (I hope that Dan SR. or Patty enjoyed it. It was probably Dan SR. because Bob, Patty, and I were in New York City for two days starting on June 19.) The food was enjoyable, but it was confirmed that I enjoyed my (Warm) Lobster Roll at Old Timer Restaurant and Tap Room in Clinton, MA that I enjoyed on June 29, 2014 more.
The paying method was a little unusual. The tablet that held games (Free and Paid) was also used to pay for the meal. I had trouble swiping my Credit Card, so the Waiter performed the task. Perhaps, Bob's suggestion of tilting the device would have been helpful. These devices work better at stores for the most part, but it is a wave of the future.
After lunch, we visited the New Balance, Eddie Bauer, Columbia, and Reebok Outlet stores. Bob and I purchased tennis shoes from New Balance that were Buy One Pair, Get the Second for 50% Off. The shoes are still in Lancaster, MA because we had no room for them in our luggage. They will return later this year. Bob also picked up a Polartec WindPro Jacket and a Water Bottle from Eddie Bauer.
Since there weren't any more "exciting" stores and Patty wanted to avoid rush hour, we headed for home with a detour to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton, MA, so I could pick up a Gift Card for Dave's Birthday, which was July 1st. After finding the cards, I waited through a computer re-boot and a voluntary lane change to purchase the Gift Card. Shaw's was "crowded" that day.
After Shaw's, we came home to anticipate a dinner consisting of Butternut Squash Triangoli with Apples, Smoked Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage, and Onions. (Trader Joe's was a major contributor to this dinner.) Frozen Corn was also featured. Although I would have used a bowl that would eventually hold the corn, Patty insisted that I just place the corn on the glass "turntable." (Our sister Maggie later backed up my plan, though she initially "agreed" with Patty.) At home, I will continue to have a bowl over my "Steam Fresh" packages because I am not supposed to place food "directly" on the "turntable." The food was tasty as usual.
Our main activity before and after dinner was packing for New York City. Future Posts will reveal more details about our adventures. Hopefully, my audience will enjoy these stories as much as we enjoyed the experience!!
Once we arrived at the house, Bob and I unpacked the car and placed the materials in their enclosed dining room that we have never enjoyed. Patty walked Caesar. Thankfully, things went smoothly.
After leaving the house, we went to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets in Wrentham, MA. Lunch was at Uno Chicago Grill (Once known as Pizzeria Uno). Though they have had an on and off presence in the Cleveland, OH area for years, this was the first experience for Bob and me. I had (Cold) Lobster Sliders, French Fries, and PowerSlaw. Patty had a Chicken Caesar Salad and a Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza (She let us enjoy the pizza that also went home for leftovers.). Bob had a Chicken Pesto Sandwich and a Chopped Grilled Citrus Chicken Salad. Bob's salad went home. (I hope that Dan SR. or Patty enjoyed it. It was probably Dan SR. because Bob, Patty, and I were in New York City for two days starting on June 19.) The food was enjoyable, but it was confirmed that I enjoyed my (Warm) Lobster Roll at Old Timer Restaurant and Tap Room in Clinton, MA that I enjoyed on June 29, 2014 more.
The paying method was a little unusual. The tablet that held games (Free and Paid) was also used to pay for the meal. I had trouble swiping my Credit Card, so the Waiter performed the task. Perhaps, Bob's suggestion of tilting the device would have been helpful. These devices work better at stores for the most part, but it is a wave of the future.
After lunch, we visited the New Balance, Eddie Bauer, Columbia, and Reebok Outlet stores. Bob and I purchased tennis shoes from New Balance that were Buy One Pair, Get the Second for 50% Off. The shoes are still in Lancaster, MA because we had no room for them in our luggage. They will return later this year. Bob also picked up a Polartec WindPro Jacket and a Water Bottle from Eddie Bauer.
Since there weren't any more "exciting" stores and Patty wanted to avoid rush hour, we headed for home with a detour to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton, MA, so I could pick up a Gift Card for Dave's Birthday, which was July 1st. After finding the cards, I waited through a computer re-boot and a voluntary lane change to purchase the Gift Card. Shaw's was "crowded" that day.
After Shaw's, we came home to anticipate a dinner consisting of Butternut Squash Triangoli with Apples, Smoked Apple Chardonnay Chicken Sausage, and Onions. (Trader Joe's was a major contributor to this dinner.) Frozen Corn was also featured. Although I would have used a bowl that would eventually hold the corn, Patty insisted that I just place the corn on the glass "turntable." (Our sister Maggie later backed up my plan, though she initially "agreed" with Patty.) At home, I will continue to have a bowl over my "Steam Fresh" packages because I am not supposed to place food "directly" on the "turntable." The food was tasty as usual.
Our main activity before and after dinner was packing for New York City. Future Posts will reveal more details about our adventures. Hopefully, my audience will enjoy these stories as much as we enjoyed the experience!!
The Road to Uncasville, CT
On June 17, Patty took Bob and me to visit the Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster, MA. Patty went to Triple A to acquire some information for our upcoming trip to New York City. Bob picked up some Pocket T-Shirts at JcPenney because with a $10 dollar coupon, they ended up half-price. It was even better than buying at home because there is no sales tax on most clothing in Massachusetts.
After we were finished in the mall, we made the short visit to Market Basket Supermarket to pick up some regular sized deodorant because it was unclear if there was any deodorant in my travel deodorant. We had visited CVS in the mall. The deodorant would have been more expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run with the ExtraBucks. Market Basket was a second opinion. The deodorant that I had selected was 2 for $4. I did a price check and discovered that it was $2.49 for one, so I grabbed two deodorants. We reached the cashier. Just as before, the deodorants scanned at $2.49 each. I told them about the sales sign on the shelf. After confirming that I was correct, the deodorant was bought. We skipped the nearby stand-alone CVS.
After the mall, we went to Aldi and picked up some supplies. We then went home and enjoyed meat and cheese sandwiches. I had Ham and Rotisserie Chicken with Swiss, "White" American, Cheddar (Shredded), and Provolone Cheeses. Bob had Roast Beef and Cheese (No records exist for his sandwich.). We relaxed for awhile until Patty's friend Amy Gould arrived.
After Amy arrived, Patty, Bob, and I headed for Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, (near Norwich) CT. Amy and I had never been there. It had been years for Patty and Bob. Dan SR. stayed home.
Other than Amy's $20 dollar win on a quarter of a cent machine (which was donated back to the slot machines), we were not too successful.
Dinner at the Casino came courtesy of the buffet. This was Amy's decision. Buffets are okay, but since I write down everything I eat, salad bars and buffets become "endurance tests" since I don't bring the "Food Diary" with me to restaurants. I would have chosen The Original Soupman, Hash House a Go Go, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, or something simpler. As it turned out, their menus were not that exciting to Bob or me. The buffet had an eclectic variety that ranged from Sushi (enjoyable) to Prime Rib (skipped). The food was generally tasty, but it was overwhelming. I ate most of my food, but I left some of my Chocolate Mousse because I was full. The Seven Layer Brownie and Gluten Free Brownie were both appetizing and in the case of the Gluten Free Brownie, not as bad as I expected.
We gambled some more, and then we headed for home. After we said goodbye to Amy, we relaxed until bedtime. It was a long, but enjoyable day.
After we were finished in the mall, we made the short visit to Market Basket Supermarket to pick up some regular sized deodorant because it was unclear if there was any deodorant in my travel deodorant. We had visited CVS in the mall. The deodorant would have been more expensive at first, but cheaper in the long run with the ExtraBucks. Market Basket was a second opinion. The deodorant that I had selected was 2 for $4. I did a price check and discovered that it was $2.49 for one, so I grabbed two deodorants. We reached the cashier. Just as before, the deodorants scanned at $2.49 each. I told them about the sales sign on the shelf. After confirming that I was correct, the deodorant was bought. We skipped the nearby stand-alone CVS.
After the mall, we went to Aldi and picked up some supplies. We then went home and enjoyed meat and cheese sandwiches. I had Ham and Rotisserie Chicken with Swiss, "White" American, Cheddar (Shredded), and Provolone Cheeses. Bob had Roast Beef and Cheese (No records exist for his sandwich.). We relaxed for awhile until Patty's friend Amy Gould arrived.
After Amy arrived, Patty, Bob, and I headed for Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, (near Norwich) CT. Amy and I had never been there. It had been years for Patty and Bob. Dan SR. stayed home.
Other than Amy's $20 dollar win on a quarter of a cent machine (which was donated back to the slot machines), we were not too successful.
Dinner at the Casino came courtesy of the buffet. This was Amy's decision. Buffets are okay, but since I write down everything I eat, salad bars and buffets become "endurance tests" since I don't bring the "Food Diary" with me to restaurants. I would have chosen The Original Soupman, Hash House a Go Go, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, or something simpler. As it turned out, their menus were not that exciting to Bob or me. The buffet had an eclectic variety that ranged from Sushi (enjoyable) to Prime Rib (skipped). The food was generally tasty, but it was overwhelming. I ate most of my food, but I left some of my Chocolate Mousse because I was full. The Seven Layer Brownie and Gluten Free Brownie were both appetizing and in the case of the Gluten Free Brownie, not as bad as I expected.
We gambled some more, and then we headed for home. After we said goodbye to Amy, we relaxed until bedtime. It was a long, but enjoyable day.
The Road to Lancaster, MA
It is still June 16.
After leaving the Logan Express facility in Framingham, MA, we headed to nearby Natick, MA to enjoy lunch at Smashburger. Dan SR., Bob, and I had burgers and fries. Patty had a salad! The food was tasty, but I can live with McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.
When Smashburger was mentioned to Patty in a previous phone call, she revealed that their pool table was bought at the same shopping center years earlier. I researched the potential store for my interest. Thanks to my research, I found the place. Dan SR. picked up the stickers that he wanted.
After we crossed the road, we went to Natick Mall. The anchor stores are Sears, JcPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. Bob and I visited all the anchor stores. Sears was the only store where we bought something. I picked up a pair of tan Dockers that ended up costing me about $12 after various discounts. While we were having all that fun, Patty and Dan SR. visited the Tesla Car Dealership in the mall. Even with the mainstream anchor stores, Natick Mall was too upscale for our tastes.
After the mall, we headed for the Hannaford Supermarket in Clinton, MA. Patty was buying corn on the cob for dinner. I bought Megabucks Doubler (I didn't splurge for the Doubler.) tickets for the drawings on June 17th, 20th and 24th. I ended up winning $2 in the last drawing. The ticket will be in the mail soon with a request for re-investment in instant (scratch) tickets. Dan SR. and Bob stayed in the car and talked, I assume.
When we were done shopping, we went to Dan SR. and Patty's house in Lancaster, MA to relax. After relaxing, a dinner consisting of grilled Ball Park All Beef Franks, Baked Beans, and grilled corn on the cob (Dan SR. and Patty had researched grilling methods on the Internet (I presume.). Patty's research won because it was quicker. ). The food was tasty. We spent the rest of the evening watching television and relaxing. The sunset with a faint red sky was quite interesting from the loft.
In the next report, the adventures become a little more interesting.
After leaving the Logan Express facility in Framingham, MA, we headed to nearby Natick, MA to enjoy lunch at Smashburger. Dan SR., Bob, and I had burgers and fries. Patty had a salad! The food was tasty, but I can live with McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.
When Smashburger was mentioned to Patty in a previous phone call, she revealed that their pool table was bought at the same shopping center years earlier. I researched the potential store for my interest. Thanks to my research, I found the place. Dan SR. picked up the stickers that he wanted.
After we crossed the road, we went to Natick Mall. The anchor stores are Sears, JcPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom, Lord and Taylor, and Neiman Marcus. Bob and I visited all the anchor stores. Sears was the only store where we bought something. I picked up a pair of tan Dockers that ended up costing me about $12 after various discounts. While we were having all that fun, Patty and Dan SR. visited the Tesla Car Dealership in the mall. Even with the mainstream anchor stores, Natick Mall was too upscale for our tastes.
After the mall, we headed for the Hannaford Supermarket in Clinton, MA. Patty was buying corn on the cob for dinner. I bought Megabucks Doubler (I didn't splurge for the Doubler.) tickets for the drawings on June 17th, 20th and 24th. I ended up winning $2 in the last drawing. The ticket will be in the mail soon with a request for re-investment in instant (scratch) tickets. Dan SR. and Bob stayed in the car and talked, I assume.
When we were done shopping, we went to Dan SR. and Patty's house in Lancaster, MA to relax. After relaxing, a dinner consisting of grilled Ball Park All Beef Franks, Baked Beans, and grilled corn on the cob (Dan SR. and Patty had researched grilling methods on the Internet (I presume.). Patty's research won because it was quicker. ). The food was tasty. We spent the rest of the evening watching television and relaxing. The sunset with a faint red sky was quite interesting from the loft.
In the next report, the adventures become a little more interesting.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Road to Framingham (MA)
On June 16, my brother Bob and me left Cleveland on a 9:30 A.M. Jet Blue flight to Boston to visit my sister Patty and her husband Dan SR. The whole flight experience went smoothly We were moved into the fast security lane, but it wasn't as great as last year's experience where my cell phone temporarily ended up with my brother.
Jet Blue offers a lot of creative options. Every seat has Direct TV and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, but headphones cost extra, of course. In the future, I will bring my own headphones, which was suggested when we were boarding our return flight to Cleveland on June 24th. Our flights had thirty-six TV channels and about one hundred radio stations available (Some flights have about one hundred TV channels available.).
Unlike most airlines, which offer a bag of peanuts and a variety of beverages, Jet Blue offers various chips and cookies that are interesting. Bob had Skeeter Nut Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. I had Pop Corners Kettle Corn Chips. We both enjoyed Coca-Cola.
After landing in Boston, it took awhile for Baggage Claim to send down our luggage, but once the carousel started, we had our luggage almost immediately. We then headed to the Logan Express Bus Stop to wait for our bus to Framingham, MA (Logan Express's station was temporarily in Natick, MA a year ago while the station was being replaced.). I had called Patty's Cell Phone (Dan SR. answered.) to tell them that we were on our way.
The bus trip was uneventful. Since it was not rush hour, the bus was not crowded, and the traffic was not heavy. The trip took about half an hour. As we were heading into the station, Bob saw Patty and Dan SR.'s car. We paid for our ride as we vacated the bus. Each one of us paid $12 CASH.
We then met up with Patty and Dan SR.
We were on our way to Smashburger in nearby Natick, MA. The story will continue from there next time. The fun is about to begin!!
Yes, Kathleen, there is an active blog!!
Jet Blue offers a lot of creative options. Every seat has Direct TV and Sirius XM Satellite Radio, but headphones cost extra, of course. In the future, I will bring my own headphones, which was suggested when we were boarding our return flight to Cleveland on June 24th. Our flights had thirty-six TV channels and about one hundred radio stations available (Some flights have about one hundred TV channels available.).
Unlike most airlines, which offer a bag of peanuts and a variety of beverages, Jet Blue offers various chips and cookies that are interesting. Bob had Skeeter Nut Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. I had Pop Corners Kettle Corn Chips. We both enjoyed Coca-Cola.
After landing in Boston, it took awhile for Baggage Claim to send down our luggage, but once the carousel started, we had our luggage almost immediately. We then headed to the Logan Express Bus Stop to wait for our bus to Framingham, MA (Logan Express's station was temporarily in Natick, MA a year ago while the station was being replaced.). I had called Patty's Cell Phone (Dan SR. answered.) to tell them that we were on our way.
The bus trip was uneventful. Since it was not rush hour, the bus was not crowded, and the traffic was not heavy. The trip took about half an hour. As we were heading into the station, Bob saw Patty and Dan SR.'s car. We paid for our ride as we vacated the bus. Each one of us paid $12 CASH.
We then met up with Patty and Dan SR.
We were on our way to Smashburger in nearby Natick, MA. The story will continue from there next time. The fun is about to begin!!
Yes, Kathleen, there is an active blog!!
Friday, December 19, 2014
Good Gravy
On November 29, I purchased powdered gravy from the Save-a-Lot on Brookpark Road in Cleveland just as I said I would in my last post. However, instead of the turkey or chicken gravy that I was planning to buy, I bought brown gravy because they were out of the aforementioned gravies since it was two days after Thanksgiving. I chose Save-a-Lot because I knew that Aldi does not carry powdered chicken or turkey gravy (at least at the Aldis that I patronize)! Save-a-Lot was also cheaper than Marc's.
The gravy turned out to be delicious. It enhanced the mashed potatoes that came home from Thanksgiving Dinner! The leftover gravy was used on December 4 with mashed potatoes that came from a box purchased at Aldi weeks earlier. Needless to say that I was the sole judge for the gravy because my brother Bob decided the gravy wasn't necessary.
There are no plans to buy any powdered gravy in the near future. I bought three boxes of Hungry Jack Au Gratin Potatoes from Dollar Tree in Rocky River this afternoon. They will be made for consumption on Christmas Day. The third box may be used in the future, but it could become part of Christmas Day if the first two boxes are deemed to be inadequate for our family gathering.
The next report will reveal how successful our potatoes turned out!!
The gravy turned out to be delicious. It enhanced the mashed potatoes that came home from Thanksgiving Dinner! The leftover gravy was used on December 4 with mashed potatoes that came from a box purchased at Aldi weeks earlier. Needless to say that I was the sole judge for the gravy because my brother Bob decided the gravy wasn't necessary.
There are no plans to buy any powdered gravy in the near future. I bought three boxes of Hungry Jack Au Gratin Potatoes from Dollar Tree in Rocky River this afternoon. They will be made for consumption on Christmas Day. The third box may be used in the future, but it could become part of Christmas Day if the first two boxes are deemed to be inadequate for our family gathering.
The next report will reveal how successful our potatoes turned out!!
Friday, November 28, 2014
Thanksgiving 2014
For a second year, our family celebrated Thanksgiving at my niece Mandy and her husband Paul's house in New Franklin, OH (near Barberton). The participants were my sisters Kathleen and Maggie, my brothers Tim, Joe, and Bob, Tim's companion Lois, Paul's mom Nancy, and Paul and Mandy's nephew Eric (Better known as Moose) who appeared just as I was selecting desserts to take home with Bob and me. It was a quiet gathering.
We had Turkey, Beef Brisket that appeared to be barbecue-seasoned, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Chicken (?) Gravy, Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Corn Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Candied Pineapple (?), Salad, Green Olives, Pickles, Rolls, and a Lemon Jell-O Salad with Nuts! The food was delicious. It took two plates to enjoy all the food.
After the main course, some of us selected leftovers to take home! I took most of the items that were mentioned! Unfortunately, the meat did not come home with us because I didn't arrange for any more to be cut, but the leftovers will be interesting when I serve them with canned Mackerel that I picked up from Dollar Tree in Rocky River on Wednesday. I may also pick up some Powdered Chicken or Turkey Gravy from Save-a-Lot on Brookpark Road in Cleveland to supplement the Mashed Potatoes. The Gravy will end up being used with the Mashed Potatoes from Aldi Steelyard Commons that I will make later this week! It would be fun with Rice or Quinoa, too. (The Gravy will be kept separate.) Socialization also occurred while the clean up started in anticipation of dessert.
Dessert consisted of a homemade Cheesecake, a Cheesecake variety pack from Aldi, French Silk and Pumpkin Supreme pies from Baker's Square (Provided by Bob and me), Caramel Pecan Pie, Stuffed Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Fudge, an Ambrosia made by Nancy, and Mandy's famous White Trash made with Cheerios, M&Ms, Rice Chex, Pretzels, and Powdered Sugar. The desserts that I had were very appetizing!
After dessert, we relaxed and socialized! Before Bob, Kathleen, and I left, I selected desserts to take home. The hosts were given appreciation, and the other participants were given goodbyes.
We then headed for home. The ride started out relatively smoothly. However, it started snowing! Fortunately, gridlock did not occur. We arrived home safely. Kathleen spent the night with Bob and me. The night ended with more relaxation!
Thanksgiving was quite enjoyable. Once again, Mandy, Paul, and Nancy's hospitality is greatly appreciated. It was a lot of hard work, but the results made it worthwhile.
We had Turkey, Beef Brisket that appeared to be barbecue-seasoned, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes and Chicken (?) Gravy, Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Corn Casserole, Cranberry Sauce, Candied Pineapple (?), Salad, Green Olives, Pickles, Rolls, and a Lemon Jell-O Salad with Nuts! The food was delicious. It took two plates to enjoy all the food.
After the main course, some of us selected leftovers to take home! I took most of the items that were mentioned! Unfortunately, the meat did not come home with us because I didn't arrange for any more to be cut, but the leftovers will be interesting when I serve them with canned Mackerel that I picked up from Dollar Tree in Rocky River on Wednesday. I may also pick up some Powdered Chicken or Turkey Gravy from Save-a-Lot on Brookpark Road in Cleveland to supplement the Mashed Potatoes. The Gravy will end up being used with the Mashed Potatoes from Aldi Steelyard Commons that I will make later this week! It would be fun with Rice or Quinoa, too. (The Gravy will be kept separate.) Socialization also occurred while the clean up started in anticipation of dessert.
Dessert consisted of a homemade Cheesecake, a Cheesecake variety pack from Aldi, French Silk and Pumpkin Supreme pies from Baker's Square (Provided by Bob and me), Caramel Pecan Pie, Stuffed Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Fudge, an Ambrosia made by Nancy, and Mandy's famous White Trash made with Cheerios, M&Ms, Rice Chex, Pretzels, and Powdered Sugar. The desserts that I had were very appetizing!
After dessert, we relaxed and socialized! Before Bob, Kathleen, and I left, I selected desserts to take home. The hosts were given appreciation, and the other participants were given goodbyes.
We then headed for home. The ride started out relatively smoothly. However, it started snowing! Fortunately, gridlock did not occur. We arrived home safely. Kathleen spent the night with Bob and me. The night ended with more relaxation!
Thanksgiving was quite enjoyable. Once again, Mandy, Paul, and Nancy's hospitality is greatly appreciated. It was a lot of hard work, but the results made it worthwhile.
Saturday, October 18, 2014
It Wasn't a Special Birthday, but the Party Was for a Very Special Person!
My niece Mandy turned 37 on October 14. About a month ago, her husband Paul decided to give her a surprise birthday party at their house in New Franklin, OH (near Barberton, which is near Akron)! One of the "announcers" for the party plan was my sister Maggie because Paul chose not to use e-mail or Evite for party management! (Last summer's pig roast invitations were partly handled by Mandy's use of Evite.). I called Maggie to RSVP for this party on October 10. Today was the big day!
While the party was being set up, Paul took Mandy out of the house on various excursions. One of these excursions was lunch at Chili's on Ohio 18 in the Fairlawn area. As a result, they did not do much eating at this party! Thankfully, we left them plenty of food!
Some of the participants were my brothers Bob, Joe, and Tim (Mandy's Father), my sisters Maggie(Part of the Set Up crew) and Kathleen, Tim's companion Lois, my brother-in-law Mike (who took me and Bob to and from this party), my niece Marnie and her daughters Kendal and Hayden (Mike Schmidt was back in Highland, MI because his brother Tim and his wife Megan came to visit.), Paul's mom Nancy and her grandson Eric (Two major parts of the party set-up), and a few of their friends. It was a relatively quiet affair because Kendal and Hayden were the only kids at this event.
The food consisted of Lasagna, Ravioli, Manicotti (?), French Fries, Cole Slaw, a Vegetable Tray, a Tossed Salad, Sourdough Bread, and some Fruit Salad type dishes. The main feature was Barberton Chicken from White House Chicken, since it is a law that it is served at Paul's family functions. I did not eat the Chicken, the Fruit products or the Vegetables from the tray, but the rest of the food was tasty.
Dessert consisted of a sheet cake that was Chocolate and Yellow Cakes, Apple Pie, Cassata Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Boston Cream Pie! I did not have the apple pie nor the Cassata Cake, but the rest of the desserts were quite enjoyable.
The entertainment was socializing, watching the Ohio State Football Game, and watching Kendal and Hayden go in the outdoor hot tub on the patio. The temperature was in the low 50s with periods of rain, but it did not dampen the mood.
It was a nice party. After Mike took us home, we relaxed for the rest of the evening. Bob and I are savoring the leftovers that came home with us. Eating them will help us to remember the party of the year.
While the party was being set up, Paul took Mandy out of the house on various excursions. One of these excursions was lunch at Chili's on Ohio 18 in the Fairlawn area. As a result, they did not do much eating at this party! Thankfully, we left them plenty of food!
Some of the participants were my brothers Bob, Joe, and Tim (Mandy's Father), my sisters Maggie(Part of the Set Up crew) and Kathleen, Tim's companion Lois, my brother-in-law Mike (who took me and Bob to and from this party), my niece Marnie and her daughters Kendal and Hayden (Mike Schmidt was back in Highland, MI because his brother Tim and his wife Megan came to visit.), Paul's mom Nancy and her grandson Eric (Two major parts of the party set-up), and a few of their friends. It was a relatively quiet affair because Kendal and Hayden were the only kids at this event.
The food consisted of Lasagna, Ravioli, Manicotti (?), French Fries, Cole Slaw, a Vegetable Tray, a Tossed Salad, Sourdough Bread, and some Fruit Salad type dishes. The main feature was Barberton Chicken from White House Chicken, since it is a law that it is served at Paul's family functions. I did not eat the Chicken, the Fruit products or the Vegetables from the tray, but the rest of the food was tasty.
Dessert consisted of a sheet cake that was Chocolate and Yellow Cakes, Apple Pie, Cassata Cake, Red Velvet Cake, and Boston Cream Pie! I did not have the apple pie nor the Cassata Cake, but the rest of the desserts were quite enjoyable.
The entertainment was socializing, watching the Ohio State Football Game, and watching Kendal and Hayden go in the outdoor hot tub on the patio. The temperature was in the low 50s with periods of rain, but it did not dampen the mood.
It was a nice party. After Mike took us home, we relaxed for the rest of the evening. Bob and I are savoring the leftovers that came home with us. Eating them will help us to remember the party of the year.
Monday, September 29, 2014
Saturday Night in Howland Township
On September 27, we had a family gathering at my nephew Dan Jr. and his wife Laura's house outside of Warren, OH. Dan's parents are still in the area because Dan and Laura went to Jamaica to celebrate the 50th birthday of Laura's cousin. Their daughters Amy and Emily are way too young to stay by themselves, so their grandparents came from Lancaster, MA to watch them. Dan and Laura have returned, but other "commitments" kept them from enjoying this event. Dan Jr. was at a cabin in Pennsylvania with some of his friends from Kent State's Delta Upsilon Fraternity branch. When we arrived, Laura was on her way to the aforementioned cousin's birthday party in Eastlake, OH. If you were expecting an adults only event, you would be disappointed. Amy and Emily did not accompany Laura. They made this a very festive event.
Besides Dan Sr., Patty (The Grandparents), myself and the "little angels", the participants were my sister Maggie and her husband Mike (who drove my brother Bob and me to this event), my sister Kathleen, my brother Joe, and Dan Sr.'s brother Mike and his wife Joanne. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of grilled/barbecued chicken with a honey mustard "glaze", Tortellini Salad, croissants, and fruit salad. Dan and Patty provided most of these items, but Joanne made the fruit salad from fruit purchased at a Farmer's market. The food was delicious. Dessert consisted of Marie Callender's Chocolate Peanut Butter and Lemon Meringue pies, both courtesy of Maggie and Mike, a Coconut Cream Pie of unknown origin, Pumpkin Pie, and some other desserts. The Pumpkin Pie and the other desserts were not opened because there were plenty of options for a "small" gathering. The desserts were enjoyable, too.
The entertainment consisted of socialization among the guests. One major topic mentioned were brothers and sisters. After one of my great-nieces asked Kathleen about religious sisters during a previous visit. Kathleen came prepared. She brought some pictures of nuns. One picture was from her order (Sisters of Notre Dame). Kathleen was not in this photo. She found another picture of five nuns from a different order who were biological sisters. Unfortunately, Amy and Emily's attention span was too short to receive the full lesson, but the pictures were left at the party, so they might receive the education at a later date. The discussion also offered a review of the brothers and sisters at the event. Since Dan Sr. and his brother were nearby in the house, (The discussion was held on the patio.) they were not emphasized.
Beyond the usual socialization, Amy and Emily were the center of attention. Their main activity was handing out tickets for unknown offenses! It was later revealed that the "crime" was too many people on the couch. Somehow, I was not charged with a crime. My tickets were for being "good", though that almost changed when I suggested that they should be careful with what looked like drumsticks because they could have injured somebody. I was briefly deemed to be naughty, but it was immediately reversed. By the way, the bathroom was the jail. There was also a puppet show that I missed because I was looking at the Ohio State-Cincinnati Football game at the time. Amy also played the piano/synthesizer for us, but most of us only heard the music. These girls sure have a lot of energy. It comes from their father. Surprisingly, there was no yoga demonstration, but the gathering was still memorable.
As the girls were up way past their bedtime of 7:30 P.M., they prepared for bedtime after 9:30 P.M. with a lot of energy. Maggie, Mike (Schabel), Bob, and I were the last to leave. After the drive home, we relaxed for the rest of the evening. It was a nice event, but Dan Jr. and Laura were missed. Perhaps, they will be there for the next event at their house. If it's Amy's First Communion next spring, it would be strange if they weren't there!
Until the next report, enjoy life!!
Besides Dan Sr., Patty (The Grandparents), myself and the "little angels", the participants were my sister Maggie and her husband Mike (who drove my brother Bob and me to this event), my sister Kathleen, my brother Joe, and Dan Sr.'s brother Mike and his wife Joanne. We enjoyed a delicious dinner of grilled/barbecued chicken with a honey mustard "glaze", Tortellini Salad, croissants, and fruit salad. Dan and Patty provided most of these items, but Joanne made the fruit salad from fruit purchased at a Farmer's market. The food was delicious. Dessert consisted of Marie Callender's Chocolate Peanut Butter and Lemon Meringue pies, both courtesy of Maggie and Mike, a Coconut Cream Pie of unknown origin, Pumpkin Pie, and some other desserts. The Pumpkin Pie and the other desserts were not opened because there were plenty of options for a "small" gathering. The desserts were enjoyable, too.
The entertainment consisted of socialization among the guests. One major topic mentioned were brothers and sisters. After one of my great-nieces asked Kathleen about religious sisters during a previous visit. Kathleen came prepared. She brought some pictures of nuns. One picture was from her order (Sisters of Notre Dame). Kathleen was not in this photo. She found another picture of five nuns from a different order who were biological sisters. Unfortunately, Amy and Emily's attention span was too short to receive the full lesson, but the pictures were left at the party, so they might receive the education at a later date. The discussion also offered a review of the brothers and sisters at the event. Since Dan Sr. and his brother were nearby in the house, (The discussion was held on the patio.) they were not emphasized.
Beyond the usual socialization, Amy and Emily were the center of attention. Their main activity was handing out tickets for unknown offenses! It was later revealed that the "crime" was too many people on the couch. Somehow, I was not charged with a crime. My tickets were for being "good", though that almost changed when I suggested that they should be careful with what looked like drumsticks because they could have injured somebody. I was briefly deemed to be naughty, but it was immediately reversed. By the way, the bathroom was the jail. There was also a puppet show that I missed because I was looking at the Ohio State-Cincinnati Football game at the time. Amy also played the piano/synthesizer for us, but most of us only heard the music. These girls sure have a lot of energy. It comes from their father. Surprisingly, there was no yoga demonstration, but the gathering was still memorable.
As the girls were up way past their bedtime of 7:30 P.M., they prepared for bedtime after 9:30 P.M. with a lot of energy. Maggie, Mike (Schabel), Bob, and I were the last to leave. After the drive home, we relaxed for the rest of the evening. It was a nice event, but Dan Jr. and Laura were missed. Perhaps, they will be there for the next event at their house. If it's Amy's First Communion next spring, it would be strange if they weren't there!
Until the next report, enjoy life!!
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Lunch at the Pub (Part 2)
On September 23, my sister Patty joined my brother Bob and me for lunch at The Pub at Beachwood Place. Patty and Bob both had Cranberry Pecan Salads with the Grilled Chicken option. I had a Black Bean Burger with French Fries. The burger was a little spicy. The fries were delicious, but I had a little surprise. What I thought was a French Fry was really a breaded fried pickle. It was a "flavorful" Dill pickle. Bob and Patty enjoyed their salads.
We talked about recent happenings in our lives. It was an enjoyable experience. We then said our goodbyes. Bob and I then visited Dillard's and Nordstrom in the mall. As we were exiting the mall through Saks Fifth Avenue, Bob thought he saw Browns backup quarterback Johnny Manziel in his Heisman Trophy jacket. Ironically, I had jokingly said that I had seen Browns starting quarterback Brian Hoyer in the same store moments earlier. We then visited Nordstrom Rack and Dick's Sporting Goods across the road at Legacy Village. We didn't buy a thing. Legacy Village ended with a walk by Claddagh Irish Pub before we headed toward Perkins in Brooklyn, OH.
Since it was about 4:00, Bob and I visited the Aldi next door. I bought a box of Chicken Flavored Rice and a box of Fruit and Nut Granola Cereal. I thought that I was overcharged for the cereal until I found the item in question. Our box was "mistakenly" displayed with a similar type of granola cereal that I have bought in the past. I did not challenge the price.
Our food at Perkins was tasty. I had Salmon with Apricot Teriyaki Glaze. My accompaniments were Herb Rice and Broccoli. Bob had Mushroom Swiss Chicken with Green Beans (?) and a Vegetable Medley. We both had rolls. Dessert was Chocolate French Silk Pie for me and Peanut Butter Silk Pie for Bob. With the Dessert and Beverage option, it was only Seventy Cents more for the pie per person. The pie was up to the usual standards.
After dinner, we took two buses and enjoyed a fifteen minute walk to take us to our house. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing. It was a long but exciting day.
Hopefully, Saturday dinner at Dan Jr. and Laura's house in Howland Township, OH will be just as enjoyable!
We talked about recent happenings in our lives. It was an enjoyable experience. We then said our goodbyes. Bob and I then visited Dillard's and Nordstrom in the mall. As we were exiting the mall through Saks Fifth Avenue, Bob thought he saw Browns backup quarterback Johnny Manziel in his Heisman Trophy jacket. Ironically, I had jokingly said that I had seen Browns starting quarterback Brian Hoyer in the same store moments earlier. We then visited Nordstrom Rack and Dick's Sporting Goods across the road at Legacy Village. We didn't buy a thing. Legacy Village ended with a walk by Claddagh Irish Pub before we headed toward Perkins in Brooklyn, OH.
Since it was about 4:00, Bob and I visited the Aldi next door. I bought a box of Chicken Flavored Rice and a box of Fruit and Nut Granola Cereal. I thought that I was overcharged for the cereal until I found the item in question. Our box was "mistakenly" displayed with a similar type of granola cereal that I have bought in the past. I did not challenge the price.
Our food at Perkins was tasty. I had Salmon with Apricot Teriyaki Glaze. My accompaniments were Herb Rice and Broccoli. Bob had Mushroom Swiss Chicken with Green Beans (?) and a Vegetable Medley. We both had rolls. Dessert was Chocolate French Silk Pie for me and Peanut Butter Silk Pie for Bob. With the Dessert and Beverage option, it was only Seventy Cents more for the pie per person. The pie was up to the usual standards.
After dinner, we took two buses and enjoyed a fifteen minute walk to take us to our house. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing. It was a long but exciting day.
Hopefully, Saturday dinner at Dan Jr. and Laura's house in Howland Township, OH will be just as enjoyable!
Lunch at the Pub (Part 1)
While my nephew Dan Jr. and his wife Laura are in Jamaica, his parents Dan Sr. and Patty (my sister) flew in from Boston to Pittsburgh to baby-sit their grandchildren Amy and Emily. Dan and Laura live in Howland Township, OH (near Warren). Patty and Dan are re-learning the logistics of extra-curricular activities. These include soccer, dance lessons, piano lessons (Amy only), and yoga. Visiting family during their stay is another lesson in logistics!
Thankfully, Patty was available to join my brother Bob and me for lunch on September 23. Since she and Dan Sr. have the responsibility of taking the girls to and from school, when Patty called us the day before, she asked us to take public transportation to a place that is a little closer to the Warren area. Restaurants near I-271 that were also public transportation friendly were the most logical option. My first choice was Scrambler Marie's on Som Center Road in Mayfield Heights. However, there was only one route available during lunchtime (Later in the afternoon, there is another bus route that would allow a shorter walk to the restaurant which is ironically closed by this time. (Scrambler Marie's closes at 3:00 P.M.)).
Since there are a number of public transportation methods to reach Beachwood Place, Legacy Village, La Place, and Cedar Center/University Town Square, Bob suggested that I find a suitable place in that area. I researched a number of places in the Beachwood Place/La Place area where we have never eaten. The two top choices were Claddagh Irish Pub, which is at Legacy Village and The Pub, which is at Beachwood Place. After researching the menus of both restaurants, I chose The Pub. I then called Dan Jr. and Laura's house to reveal the decision to Patty. (Dan Sr. would have been an acceptable conduit for the information.)
Fast forward to Tuesday. Bob and I took a bus to Downtown Cleveland. We then took a train to connect with another bus that took us to our final destination. We walked through Beachwood Place to find the restaurant. (There are other options which would have left us closer to the restaurant, but we had chosen this route because it worked better for us.) We looked at the menu to refresh our memories. I had decided to step outside to wait for Patty and/or Dan. As it turned out, Patty was waiting on a bench near the restaurant. Since the restaurant was not open yet, we waited outside for a few moments before entering the restaurant. By the way, Dan Sr. chose to skip this outing, but he sent his regrets.
Thankfully, Patty was available to join my brother Bob and me for lunch on September 23. Since she and Dan Sr. have the responsibility of taking the girls to and from school, when Patty called us the day before, she asked us to take public transportation to a place that is a little closer to the Warren area. Restaurants near I-271 that were also public transportation friendly were the most logical option. My first choice was Scrambler Marie's on Som Center Road in Mayfield Heights. However, there was only one route available during lunchtime (Later in the afternoon, there is another bus route that would allow a shorter walk to the restaurant which is ironically closed by this time. (Scrambler Marie's closes at 3:00 P.M.)).
Since there are a number of public transportation methods to reach Beachwood Place, Legacy Village, La Place, and Cedar Center/University Town Square, Bob suggested that I find a suitable place in that area. I researched a number of places in the Beachwood Place/La Place area where we have never eaten. The two top choices were Claddagh Irish Pub, which is at Legacy Village and The Pub, which is at Beachwood Place. After researching the menus of both restaurants, I chose The Pub. I then called Dan Jr. and Laura's house to reveal the decision to Patty. (Dan Sr. would have been an acceptable conduit for the information.)
Fast forward to Tuesday. Bob and I took a bus to Downtown Cleveland. We then took a train to connect with another bus that took us to our final destination. We walked through Beachwood Place to find the restaurant. (There are other options which would have left us closer to the restaurant, but we had chosen this route because it worked better for us.) We looked at the menu to refresh our memories. I had decided to step outside to wait for Patty and/or Dan. As it turned out, Patty was waiting on a bench near the restaurant. Since the restaurant was not open yet, we waited outside for a few moments before entering the restaurant. By the way, Dan Sr. chose to skip this outing, but he sent his regrets.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
To Cleveland from Lancaster, MA (with Help from Boston and Baltimore)
We packed on July 1st and 2nd. After making sure that we had everything, we said goodbye to Dan.
Patty then took Bob and me to Boston's Logan Airport. We checked our bags inside the terminal (It was performed outdoors in Cleveland.) Security was more routine, including the removal of our shoes. As far as TSA was concerned, it went smoothly. Since we had a long layover in Baltimore, we relaxed until our plane was ready to board. The plane had a smooth takeoff, but there was some turbulence during the flight. On the plus side, we received pretzels, peanuts, and Coke for a snack. The landing into Baltimore went fine. However, I discovered that my glasses were not on my face when I left the plane. Fortunately, they were in a Southwest Airlines employee's possession, so they were not damaged.
Once we made it into the airport, it was lunchtime. Since we were in a different section of the airport, our food options turned out to be better than they were eight days earlier. Bob sent me to scope out options. Since I didn't have a directory at the time, I called Bob, but his cell phone was turned off. I found a directory and shared it with Bob upon my return. I chose BGR: the Burger Joint because it was not as far as the more extensive options. Bob agreed with the decision. We took our carry-on bags with us and found a seat in the food court. I ordered our $7.00 burgers and split a $3.00 order of French fries. The burgers were filling and the fries were tasty, but the soda that we purchased from Subway because the fountain drinks machine at BGR was not functioning apparently turned out to be Diet Coke. I guessed that I should have sprung for Cheerwine at $2.79 a bottle (Bob paid for the food.). Oh well, you don't visit Baltimore-Washington International Airport everyday.
After lunch, we waited for our flight to board. Thanks to Hurricane Arthur, our flight was about half an hour late leaving Baltimore because it was late coming in from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Our plane encountered so much turbulence that we only enjoyed Coke on our plane. After a short flight, we were back in Cleveland.
Once we were in the airport, I called Maggie at our house to pick us up. We then collected our baggage. We waited patiently for Maggie to show up. It wasn't too bad, considering it was rush hour.
Maggie arrived. Since we needed supplies, we went to Aldi Seven Hills to pick them up. It was a successful shopping trip.
Before we arrived at Aldi, Maggie revealed that Subway was offering footlong subs for $4.50 on Wednesdays. I decided that we try the Subway on Broadview Road, (near Brookpark Road) which opened while we were gone. They were not participating. We skipped the Subway on Broadview Road at Carlton Road. We headed for the Subway on Broadview Road (near Sprague Road) They were not participating, either. Maggie wisely decided to go back to her house to find the ad which would have the participating Subway(s). As it turned out, the Subway in question was on State Road (near Pleasant Valley Road). We all bought subs to go. Bob and I bought chicken subs (My sub was on flatbread.). I don't remember Maggie's sub, but she picked up a meatball marinara sub for her husband Mike.
After three Subways that I had never visited, Maggie dropped off her sub and Mike's sub at their house. I handed over the small wooden boat that I had purchased at Woods to Goods in York, ME to Maggie. She then took us home. We immediately passed Mike as he was coming home from a long day of work Maggie visited with us for a short time. We then ate our dinner. Bob ate all of his sub, but I only ate half of mine. The other half was eaten for dinner on July 5.
It was a very nice trip. Boston was limited to our trips to and from Logan Airport. Maine replaced New York City. I wonder if our next trip will be as memorable!
Patty then took Bob and me to Boston's Logan Airport. We checked our bags inside the terminal (It was performed outdoors in Cleveland.) Security was more routine, including the removal of our shoes. As far as TSA was concerned, it went smoothly. Since we had a long layover in Baltimore, we relaxed until our plane was ready to board. The plane had a smooth takeoff, but there was some turbulence during the flight. On the plus side, we received pretzels, peanuts, and Coke for a snack. The landing into Baltimore went fine. However, I discovered that my glasses were not on my face when I left the plane. Fortunately, they were in a Southwest Airlines employee's possession, so they were not damaged.
Once we made it into the airport, it was lunchtime. Since we were in a different section of the airport, our food options turned out to be better than they were eight days earlier. Bob sent me to scope out options. Since I didn't have a directory at the time, I called Bob, but his cell phone was turned off. I found a directory and shared it with Bob upon my return. I chose BGR: the Burger Joint because it was not as far as the more extensive options. Bob agreed with the decision. We took our carry-on bags with us and found a seat in the food court. I ordered our $7.00 burgers and split a $3.00 order of French fries. The burgers were filling and the fries were tasty, but the soda that we purchased from Subway because the fountain drinks machine at BGR was not functioning apparently turned out to be Diet Coke. I guessed that I should have sprung for Cheerwine at $2.79 a bottle (Bob paid for the food.). Oh well, you don't visit Baltimore-Washington International Airport everyday.
After lunch, we waited for our flight to board. Thanks to Hurricane Arthur, our flight was about half an hour late leaving Baltimore because it was late coming in from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Our plane encountered so much turbulence that we only enjoyed Coke on our plane. After a short flight, we were back in Cleveland.
Once we were in the airport, I called Maggie at our house to pick us up. We then collected our baggage. We waited patiently for Maggie to show up. It wasn't too bad, considering it was rush hour.
Maggie arrived. Since we needed supplies, we went to Aldi Seven Hills to pick them up. It was a successful shopping trip.
Before we arrived at Aldi, Maggie revealed that Subway was offering footlong subs for $4.50 on Wednesdays. I decided that we try the Subway on Broadview Road, (near Brookpark Road) which opened while we were gone. They were not participating. We skipped the Subway on Broadview Road at Carlton Road. We headed for the Subway on Broadview Road (near Sprague Road) They were not participating, either. Maggie wisely decided to go back to her house to find the ad which would have the participating Subway(s). As it turned out, the Subway in question was on State Road (near Pleasant Valley Road). We all bought subs to go. Bob and I bought chicken subs (My sub was on flatbread.). I don't remember Maggie's sub, but she picked up a meatball marinara sub for her husband Mike.
After three Subways that I had never visited, Maggie dropped off her sub and Mike's sub at their house. I handed over the small wooden boat that I had purchased at Woods to Goods in York, ME to Maggie. She then took us home. We immediately passed Mike as he was coming home from a long day of work Maggie visited with us for a short time. We then ate our dinner. Bob ate all of his sub, but I only ate half of mine. The other half was eaten for dinner on July 5.
It was a very nice trip. Boston was limited to our trips to and from Logan Airport. Maine replaced New York City. I wonder if our next trip will be as memorable!
Saturday, July 12, 2014
From Foxwoods Casino to Ninety-Nine Restaurant
For the third year in a row, Bob, Patty, and I visited Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT. In addition, Amy Gould, Patty's close friend joined us for the second year in a row. We started off with lunch at California Pizza Kitchen in the Foxwoods complex. We had some difficulty finding it. The interactive directory decided not to "co-operate."
Once we found the restaurant, I had a mushroom and spinach flatbread that was delicious. The other participants half salads which were big enough for dinner, let alone lunch. They were priced if I were eating at Perkins or IHOP. I sampled Patty's Waldorf salad and Bob's Chinese Chicken salad. Both salads were tasty.
After lunch, the men and the women separated for each gaming room. We visited the Great Cedar and Fox Tower Casinos. Our beloved Rainmaker Casino was closed due to "lack of customers." We won a little. We gave most of it back. It was fun, though.
After Foxwoods, we came back home. Amy went back to her house. Dan had a conference call at 5:00 PM, so we relaxed. Eventually, we dined at Ninety-Nine Restaurant in Fitchburg. I was going to have steak from the $9.99 menu, but the lemon caper swordfish appealed to me. It met my expectations. The rest of the group enjoyed their meals, too. I guess that I should take notes on their meals, too.
After dinner, we went to Sears at Mall at Whitney Field, so Patty could exchange a gift for one of Amy Gould's granddaughters. Bob and I took a brief look in Sears, while Dan stayed in the car. Somehow, we made it out of the store before it closed for the night. We came home and relaxed while eating ice cream.
This day was quite enjoyable. I have to acknowledge Amy Gould for bringing the Jumble App to our attention. Bob enjoyed playing it on Amy's cell phone so much, it is on his cell phone and Kindle. It's fun, but not when I am trying to look out the window to and from Foxwoods.
By the way, there is renewed hope for visiting Mohegan Sun. Amy Gould has never been there. Patty had dismissed it as we were leaving The Old Timer Restaurant in Clinton on June 29, but she changed her mind by July 1st. Twin Rivers in Lincoln, RI could be fun, too. If I make it to either casino, it will be reported here.
The conclusion of this trip is coming soon!
Once we found the restaurant, I had a mushroom and spinach flatbread that was delicious. The other participants half salads which were big enough for dinner, let alone lunch. They were priced if I were eating at Perkins or IHOP. I sampled Patty's Waldorf salad and Bob's Chinese Chicken salad. Both salads were tasty.
After lunch, the men and the women separated for each gaming room. We visited the Great Cedar and Fox Tower Casinos. Our beloved Rainmaker Casino was closed due to "lack of customers." We won a little. We gave most of it back. It was fun, though.
After Foxwoods, we came back home. Amy went back to her house. Dan had a conference call at 5:00 PM, so we relaxed. Eventually, we dined at Ninety-Nine Restaurant in Fitchburg. I was going to have steak from the $9.99 menu, but the lemon caper swordfish appealed to me. It met my expectations. The rest of the group enjoyed their meals, too. I guess that I should take notes on their meals, too.
After dinner, we went to Sears at Mall at Whitney Field, so Patty could exchange a gift for one of Amy Gould's granddaughters. Bob and I took a brief look in Sears, while Dan stayed in the car. Somehow, we made it out of the store before it closed for the night. We came home and relaxed while eating ice cream.
This day was quite enjoyable. I have to acknowledge Amy Gould for bringing the Jumble App to our attention. Bob enjoyed playing it on Amy's cell phone so much, it is on his cell phone and Kindle. It's fun, but not when I am trying to look out the window to and from Foxwoods.
By the way, there is renewed hope for visiting Mohegan Sun. Amy Gould has never been there. Patty had dismissed it as we were leaving The Old Timer Restaurant in Clinton on June 29, but she changed her mind by July 1st. Twin Rivers in Lincoln, RI could be fun, too. If I make it to either casino, it will be reported here.
The conclusion of this trip is coming soon!
Friday, July 11, 2014
From Leominster to Medway
There were two significant trips on June 30! The first trip was to the Mall at Whitney Field in Leominster. This trip was scheduled in conjunction with Friday's Wal Mart-Aldi trip, but we didn't start the trip as early as I expected. (The beer and wine making store was educational.) It is an adequate mall. We bought nothing. We had lunch at home because we had another late start.
After the mall, we visited Market Basket, which is across the road from the mall. Though we did not buy anything, I was impressed with their selection of Lean Gourmet products that were selling for a dollar apiece at the time. They even had Swedish Meatballs, which are a luxury in our area at this time. The renovations after CVS built a stand-alone store nearby after our last visit made the store even better than before. (CVS still has a non-pharmacy store in the mall.)
After Market Basket, we relaxed for awhile. We then headed for Dave and Amy's house in Medway (with a detour to a nearby liquor store to pick up some beer for Dan Jr.) to celebrate Dave's birthday, which was the next day. Dave enjoyed his presents. He enjoyed our Olive Garden gift card, but the most popular gift was a R2D2 which had vocal commands allowing it to do such tasks as "walking." Patty, Dan, and Bob had tested it at home, but it did not work very well on a rug. It performed better on the floor at Amy and Dave's house. It stopped short of a speaker near their home theater system.
On the other hand, Amy and Dave's dog Caesar's brakes did not work quite so well. After grabbing wrapping paper and running through the living room, Caesar broke a fragile candle. Amy was not happy. Thankfully, Caesar calmed down for the most part for the rest of the evening.
Dinner consisted of Chinese food from Hang Tai Too in Medway. Patty, Bob, Amy, and I went to pick it up. Bob and I did not enter the restaurant. A brief tour of some sights in Medway occurred on the way home. We had pork lo mein, chicken with cashew nuts, barbecued boneless spare ribs, crab rangoon, Mongolian barbecued beef, vegetable fried rice, and sizzling three (shrimp, chicken, beef) delight with homemade noodle. This restaurant does not do combination plates which sometimes include egg rolls. Also, we did not purchase won ton soup, but it was not missed. The selections were chosen by "committee" (Dave was doing some online work related to renewing his driver's license, so he was not involved.) The food was delicious. There were a lot of leftovers. Hopefully, Amy and Dave enjoyed them.
We relaxed for awhile. One interesting event that I have not mentioned is that we fed the fish in the coy pond near their patio area before dinner. We drove home and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
The next post will discuss our adventures at Foxwoods Casino.
After the mall, we visited Market Basket, which is across the road from the mall. Though we did not buy anything, I was impressed with their selection of Lean Gourmet products that were selling for a dollar apiece at the time. They even had Swedish Meatballs, which are a luxury in our area at this time. The renovations after CVS built a stand-alone store nearby after our last visit made the store even better than before. (CVS still has a non-pharmacy store in the mall.)
After Market Basket, we relaxed for awhile. We then headed for Dave and Amy's house in Medway (with a detour to a nearby liquor store to pick up some beer for Dan Jr.) to celebrate Dave's birthday, which was the next day. Dave enjoyed his presents. He enjoyed our Olive Garden gift card, but the most popular gift was a R2D2 which had vocal commands allowing it to do such tasks as "walking." Patty, Dan, and Bob had tested it at home, but it did not work very well on a rug. It performed better on the floor at Amy and Dave's house. It stopped short of a speaker near their home theater system.
On the other hand, Amy and Dave's dog Caesar's brakes did not work quite so well. After grabbing wrapping paper and running through the living room, Caesar broke a fragile candle. Amy was not happy. Thankfully, Caesar calmed down for the most part for the rest of the evening.
Dinner consisted of Chinese food from Hang Tai Too in Medway. Patty, Bob, Amy, and I went to pick it up. Bob and I did not enter the restaurant. A brief tour of some sights in Medway occurred on the way home. We had pork lo mein, chicken with cashew nuts, barbecued boneless spare ribs, crab rangoon, Mongolian barbecued beef, vegetable fried rice, and sizzling three (shrimp, chicken, beef) delight with homemade noodle. This restaurant does not do combination plates which sometimes include egg rolls. Also, we did not purchase won ton soup, but it was not missed. The selections were chosen by "committee" (Dave was doing some online work related to renewing his driver's license, so he was not involved.) The food was delicious. There were a lot of leftovers. Hopefully, Amy and Dave enjoyed them.
We relaxed for awhile. One interesting event that I have not mentioned is that we fed the fish in the coy pond near their patio area before dinner. We drove home and relaxed for the rest of the evening.
The next post will discuss our adventures at Foxwoods Casino.
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