Since Patty had a seminar related to her part-time nursing job, Bob and I stayed home to play with Caesar and to observe Max, the dog next door! I had a turkey, bologna, and cheese sandwich with Nachos (Multigrain Chips, Gorgonzola Cheese, Peach Salsa, and Sour Cream) for lunch. Dinner was Butternut Squash Triangoli with Chicken Sausage and apples! Salad was included, but I failed to take notes.
We watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening!! Tomorrow is going to be a memorable day. Boston awaits us!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
The Only Real Culture Today Was in the Frozen Yogurt and Maybe the Ice Cream
Today started off with Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Lancaster, MA! Since it was warm, a window was opened up by Dan Sr. (If I did something like that in an air conditioned church like St. Leo's, the Liturgy Coordinator would come running to give me a tongue lashing.) The priest was not a big fan of singing, so we didn't sing as much as we do at St. Leo's! The Mass was enjoyable.
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
After Mass, we dropped Dan Sr. at home! Patty then took Bob and me to Shaw's Supermarket in Clinton to pick up some Newspapers. We then enjoyed leftovers. A traditional brunch didn't happen this time.
While Patty and Dan were picking up Amy and Dave's car from Boston's Logan Airport and dropping it off at their house in Medway, MA. Bob and I caught up on our correspondence! Entertaining Caesar the dog was probably part of the activities during the afternoon.
After Patty and Dan came home, we relaxed some more. Eventually, Patty and her friend John in one car, and Dan SR., Bob, and me in another car, headed to Longhorn Steakhouse in Leominster! Bob and I had given Patty a gift card for her birthday in April. We all lived it up when we ordered. Instead of the inexpensive steak, I had the Rainbow Trout stuffed with Lobster, Sweet Potato Bites, and Rice Pilaf. It was interesting, although the trout was a little over seasoned for my tastes.
After dinner, we went for Ice Cream at Rota Spring Farms in Sterling, MA. I had Moo Tracks Ice Cream and Chocolate Chip Froyo! The rest of the people ate it there! It was raining. It was too messy to eat standing up. I was also full from dinner moments earlier. I ate mine over two consecutive nights! I love Roto Spring Farms when I get to choose the flavor(s)! I believe that we had some last year. Maybe next time, we can enjoy the full experience!!
This day was quite relaxing!!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Peter Pan's Magic Wasn't Needed, But He Saved the Day! (Our Vacation (Day 6))
There was a News Report the night before that continued throughout the day! There was a crash between two trains around South Norwalk and New Haven (Both CT) after we safely arrived in New York City! Metro North was not providing shuttle buses between the two stations! Amtrak Service was also affected. We had to scramble to find a way home! Thankfully, Patty had her Kindle Fire HD with us, so she researched a number of options. There will be more details later, but we still had some sightseeing to do.
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
We started off with a Continental Breakfast at the Hotel. Despite the small space, there was a variety of foods that were quite tasty! I used moderation in making my selections. Scrambled eggs with cheese, employee made waffles, bacon, bagels, yogurt, and fruit were among the items available. The beverages were of the usual variety.
After breakfast, we packed our suitcases and backpack (We all shared one suitcase last year.) and checked out, leaving our suitcases at the Front Desk while we did some sightseeing. We then walked down to Columbus Circle on the way to the American Museum of Natural History! A PediCab Operator named Elijah tried to get us to ride with him. He succeeded! He offered some interesting details. Strawberry Fields was one of the places that we visited. (I wish that I took notes!) Eventually, we made it to the museum.
Thanks to an automated ticket kiosk, we avoided the long lines that could have caused a meltdown. We enjoyed exhibits on reptiles, amphibians, gems and minerals, African Mammals, and so on. Just like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, they do an excellent job in educating its visitors.
We finished our museum experience with a late lunch in the Museum Food Court! I had a Veggie Burger, Rice, and a small carton of milk! I could have added more food, but they were charging $3 per quarter pound for a lot of the items! The food was enjoyable.
We then took the subway back to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The Subway was under the museum, so we didn't have to go out in the rain. Patty then bought our tickets for the Peter Pan Bus line to get us back to New Haven. We then relaxed in the hotel lobby before it was time for us to leave.
The bus was quite nice. We went through Harlem before the bus went on the Freeway! I had a brief nap early in the trip, but I was awake for the rest of the trip. When we reached New Haven, Patty attempted to get a refund for the unused train ticket. I bought a Ham, Egg, and Cheese sandwich, hash browns, and Fanta Orange Soda! It was no problem eating it in the car on the way back to Lancaster, MA.
We then relaxed for the rest of the evening!
Friday, May 31, 2013
It Was Past Matt Lauer's Bedtime, so a Cardboard Cutout Was a Suitable Fill-In.
The day started out with Patty driving Bob and me to the Metro North Station in New Haven, CT. (Amtrak and Interurban Bus Lines use this station as well.) The trip went smoothly until we couldn't find the station! Thankfully, we found some construction workers who led us to our destination! An Insurance employee was also helpful in leading us from the parking garage to the Station itself! Miraculously, we made our train to Grand Central Terminal! Once again, we ate sandwiches on the train! Last year, Bob and I walked by the school that Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos' kids attend. This year, while on the train, we saw Cardinal Hayes High School, where Regis Philbin and Martin Scorsese attended. Otherwise, the ride was uneventful.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
After we reached Grand Central Terminal, we walked to the Comfort Inn on West 44th St. (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues)! We left our luggage at the hotel. We almost took a bus tour! We then went to look for the Ranch 1 that we didn't see last year because I was careless with our research last year! (I was no better this year, but our phone book in the hotel room this year was better, so we were able to find it.) On the way back, we enjoyed a beverage at Crave/Chicken Bar (The former location of the Ranch 1 which was under renovation when we were last in New York City). We then checked into our room and rested until we went to dinner at the Ranch 1 on West 46th St, (Near Fifth Ave.). I had a chicken sandwich and fries! I also ate Patty's leftover salad! The food was delicious, but the facility needs some minor renovations to make the experience more enjoyable.
After dinner, we walked to Rockefeller Center to research availability for the NBC Studio Tour on Saturday! As it turned out, we ended up on the last tour that night! I had a minor meltdown because our two dollar off coupons were back at the hotel because it had been decided that we were going on
Saturday. Thankfully, it did not put a damper on my enjoyment of the tour! Before the tour, we took a picture with Matt Lauer! He was quite stiff, unlike his on-air persona. (It was a cardboard cutout.) At about 8:15 PM, our tour started. Our tour guides were Ola and Lauren. They were very informative and entertaining. The tour started with a brief video on the History of NBC that featured its many networks, such as Golf Channel and MSNBC. We then went through security! The backpack that Bob insisted on bringing made maneuverability a challenge! We saw Jimmy Fallon's Studio, Saturday Night Live 's set (with Ben Affleck and friends rehearsing in the background), the control room for NBC Nightly News and many other interesting areas! I was disappointed that I didn't see The Today Show set. (They were preparing it for Saturday's program.) The tour ended in the Gift Shop! Most of the merchandise was NBC related, but I was baffled by The Simpsons being represented, since they are affiliated with Fox. (The Mindy Project's merchandise was not a surprise because it is produced by NBC Universal, but it airs on Fox.)
Since I was out of cough drops, we went to Duane Reade (Owned by Walgreen's)! We also bought drinks and cookies for snacking. We also went to the Hershey Store because there was a coupon for a free candy bar with a purchase! As luck would have it, I had a coupon usable on a bag of Bliss candy. It took management approval, but both coupons were usable.
We then headed back to the hotel. We watched local news! One story became very important because it would have a great impact on us returning to New Haven. The next installment will give all the details.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
People Without Facebook Can Be Very Interesting. (The 2013 Vacation (Day 4))
This day starts out with a visit from Amy Gould! Just like on Monday, she was very entertaining! I am grateful for the issues of The Boston Globe and Worcester Telegram and Gazette that Amy provided. I read through most of what she provided. The remainder of that material and what I picked up, mostly on my own, will be handed over at Kathleen's Birthday Party on Monday!
After Amy left, Patty, Bob, and I went to Ocean State Job Lot in Leominster! It's a store similar to Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet! Needless to say, I bought nothing in the store!
We then went to Denny's for Lunch! Amy Gould gave Patty a Gift Card for her birthday in April. I had the Moons over My Hammy (Made with Egg Whites) and Hash Browns! It was up to the usual Denny's Standards!
We then went to the adjacent Market Basket Supermarket! I picked up some Market Basket brand Cough Syrup and Cough Drops (Still 50 drops for a dollar).
After Market Basket, Patty took care of some business at Home Depot and Radio Shack. Bob and I went to the Mall of Whitney Field! I bought some Navy Blue Pants at Sears! Needless to say, they are 100% Polyester! They will be worn when it's 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below! We looked at a few other stores, but it was a brief visit because Patty had picked up butter at Market Basket! it was also Shorts Weather. By the way, The Mall at Whitney Field is similar to Parmatown Mall (Circa 1992)!
We then went home and relaxed! After a few hours, Dan Sr. and company headed over to Dave and Amy's house in Medway, MA for a Pizza Dinner! The Main Intent of this visit was to pick up their dog Caesar because they were leaving Saturday for vacation for about a week! Ironically, it was also their Fourth Anniversary! Patty forgot this fact when planning this dinner! The reason this dinner was on Thursday was that Patty, Bob, and I were going to New York City the next day! The pizza was delicious! It came from Medway Village Pizza. Patty made a big Chocolate Chip cookie! There was also a Chocolate Cake with White Frosting! The desserts were yummy, too!
After dinner, we went to an Irving Gas Station to pick up some regional newspapers and to get gas for Dan's car! (Patty's car received gas earlier in the day from a Hess Express in Leominster, but I didn't go into the station on this trip!) We then headed for home!
When we came home, Patty and Dan's friend John was waiting for us! By the way, I officially met both Amy Gould and John at Amy and Dave Goldberg's wedding! While Patty and Dan visited with John, Bob and I watched most of The Office finale (We caught up on the preceding retrospective and the first five minutes on May 28.). We then relaxed for the rest of the night! John and Caesar made things very interesting for the rest of our stay!
In closing, the title of this post refers to the fact that Patty, Dan Sr., Amy Gould, Dave, and John are not on Facebook, but they should be!
After Amy left, Patty, Bob, and I went to Ocean State Job Lot in Leominster! It's a store similar to Big Lots and Ollie's Bargain Outlet! Needless to say, I bought nothing in the store!
We then went to Denny's for Lunch! Amy Gould gave Patty a Gift Card for her birthday in April. I had the Moons over My Hammy (Made with Egg Whites) and Hash Browns! It was up to the usual Denny's Standards!
We then went to the adjacent Market Basket Supermarket! I picked up some Market Basket brand Cough Syrup and Cough Drops (Still 50 drops for a dollar).
After Market Basket, Patty took care of some business at Home Depot and Radio Shack. Bob and I went to the Mall of Whitney Field! I bought some Navy Blue Pants at Sears! Needless to say, they are 100% Polyester! They will be worn when it's 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below! We looked at a few other stores, but it was a brief visit because Patty had picked up butter at Market Basket! it was also Shorts Weather. By the way, The Mall at Whitney Field is similar to Parmatown Mall (Circa 1992)!
We then went home and relaxed! After a few hours, Dan Sr. and company headed over to Dave and Amy's house in Medway, MA for a Pizza Dinner! The Main Intent of this visit was to pick up their dog Caesar because they were leaving Saturday for vacation for about a week! Ironically, it was also their Fourth Anniversary! Patty forgot this fact when planning this dinner! The reason this dinner was on Thursday was that Patty, Bob, and I were going to New York City the next day! The pizza was delicious! It came from Medway Village Pizza. Patty made a big Chocolate Chip cookie! There was also a Chocolate Cake with White Frosting! The desserts were yummy, too!
After dinner, we went to an Irving Gas Station to pick up some regional newspapers and to get gas for Dan's car! (Patty's car received gas earlier in the day from a Hess Express in Leominster, but I didn't go into the station on this trip!) We then headed for home!
When we came home, Patty and Dan's friend John was waiting for us! By the way, I officially met both Amy Gould and John at Amy and Dave Goldberg's wedding! While Patty and Dan visited with John, Bob and I watched most of The Office finale (We caught up on the preceding retrospective and the first five minutes on May 28.). We then relaxed for the rest of the night! John and Caesar made things very interesting for the rest of our stay!
In closing, the title of this post refers to the fact that Patty, Dan Sr., Amy Gould, Dave, and John are not on Facebook, but they should be!
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