Oh, say can you see... wait... I'll say what I saw! My mom actually made it to Philly... well, first it was Jackson (she got on the plane) then she landed safely in Baltimore and we drove into Philly after we picked her up!
It was a fun-filled weekend that started with lunch at P.F. Chang's in White Marsh, and then a little shopping in Glen Mills. We then headed home where two very anxious furbabies were waiting. This is the first time that Mom has seen them in a year and two things are constant... Max hasn't changed, and Marlee is a monster! LOL!! They were so excited to see her... and she was just as excited to see them in return! After a stint outside, we came in and relaxed to wait for Troy to get home from work. We all just hung out and visited on Thursday and planned our busy Friday!
Friday started with a haircut for me and KC and a little war time fun for Troy (gotta love it when the mother-in-law's in town and can keep the wife occupied)!! We then got ready for the day and headed north to West Chester for ... wait for it ... do not say!!! The QVC Studio Tour... first we made sure that mom was medicated, for this kind of excitement could just throw her over the edge... hehe! Then we hydrated and headed in. I went to the counter to pay for 3 tickets for the 2 PM tour, and just our luck, the tour was free because of construction... QVC saved us money, once again! We spent about 3 hours at the Studio, then lounged in the QVC Garden, where I almost got stuck in a oribital swing thingy and we headed South to our apartment. We got home and started dinner which was lasagna and garlic bread. It was sooo yummy... I introduced mom to ground turkey in two forms... the lasagna and my turkey burger on Saturday (and... gasp... she liked it!). We then watched some television and relaxed because the big day was Saturday.... the parade and the tour of downtown!
We got up Saturday morning and headed to Panera Bread for breakfast and then to the Old City for the parade. We parked at the airport and took the train into the Market East Station where we walked Market Street into the Old City. When we made it into the parade area, the festivities had already begun. There were people galore and flags were flying high! Troy had to go and play manager while Mom and I visited the Liberty Bell. She was in awe... loved it, I tell ya! From then on... she was one of them ... shreak... a TOURIST! LOL!! She snapped little mini photos with her camera and posed for not one, but several pictures across town. I promise, when the parade started, she stopped and spoke to every street liner that was there and offered peanuts and stickers to everyone!! She fit in nicely! We finished with the parade and took the L-train to Suburban Station where we walked through LOVE Park and showed her where we lived on the Parkway. We walked down the Parkway to Logan's Square and saw the fountain and the museum. We weren't able to get to Rocky because of the concert and such, but she was happy to see what we could see for the day. We then made our way back to Suburban and waited on the R1 to the airport to get home. That night, we finished out our visit with a little R&R and a little M&M!
Mom's flight was at 10:15 the next morning, so she, Troy and I loaded up and headed to Baltimore. It was sad to see her go, but we had such a good time. I can't wait for her to visit again. Check out the pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/mandyeblack.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Party Like It's Two Thou-sand and Nine!!
Ok... so this post has been in the draft section since June 23, but it's finally making it's debut!!
On Friday, June 19, we embarked on the journey to Houston for the party of the summer. Watch out CMT Awards... the after-parties of the after-parties of the around the world celeb birthday party trains can't compare to this... Abby's 4-year-old party was on Saturday, June 20 at Bounce U in Sugarland. And it was a screaming, laughing, bouncing good time!
We landed and Teresa was there waiting on us with cold water and cokes... it was soooo hot and humid! We hopped in the Lexi and away to Missouri City we went! After a stop at Target for Princess wrapping paper and birthday cards, we headed to the other Black's house to await the dawning of the girls. The sleeping beauties rose shortly after we got there, and we were greeted by a giant hug from Abby which shortly followed by "I'm the birthday girl. My party's tomorrow. Did ya bring me anything?" As we laughed and answered her questions, she saw the Princess box and said, "that's a girl's present. It has Princesses on it." And a few moments later, paper was flying; ribbon, unraveling; and smiles were on faces... it was great!! After the gifts were ripped apart, we played in the dark with the glowing scary monsters and then Abby got girlie, along with Uncle Troy, and started on everyone's makeovers. Uncle Troy had Snow White with irridescent glitter polish on his toes and multi-colored fingernails which were Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty Pinks, Ariel Blue and Snow White Iridescent polish respectively. For those of you who do not believe this, we have still shots AND video. Izzy even had a go at his feet. Needless to say, it wasn't on his nails, but the top of his feet and toes. She did a great job!!
We stayed for a bit longer then headed to Spring for dinner. We grilled in the 95 degree weather at 8 PM... gosh, it was hot!! We were later visited by TB's friend, Anthony, from high school. It's been quite a while since they have seen each other and were reconnected on Facebook a while back. They chatted and reminised about the days of old, and I do mean OLD (I love you, TB... LOL)! These guys have been out of high school for 18 years now, so there was a lot to talk about. Dinner was phenomenal... we outdid ourselves on steak, chicken, and grilled shrimp with baked potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, and salads! It was so good. Following dinner was clean up and bed time. We had to have our rest for the Four Year Old festivities the following day!!
We got up on Saturday and headed to the party establishment--Bounce U. It's an inflatable fun zone that echoes shreaks of laughter and excitement as the kiddos run, climb, bounce and slide down the gigantic inflatable slides, wrestling rings, and obstacle courses. The giant slide seemed to be a fan favorite. It was worn out by the time our 75 minutes were up and so were the kiddos. We made our way to the red party room, where the Tinkerbell cake and balloons were waiting. Abby got to sit in the birthday throne and we sang a happy birthday to her... the regular one. That kid doesn't like options for the birthday song... just the regular one, she said with a confused frowny face, as opposed to the "happy birthday to you... cha, cha, cha (accompanied with clapping during the cha, cha, cha part). She blew out her candles and got a fairy from the cake, and we were ready to rock. The kids all sat down and devoured their juice boxes, cake and ice cream. The time to leave came and went, and we went and left them with the pile of cake crumbs from under Izzy's chair and the mess we created! It was great!!
The rest of the afternoon included the tour of Toys R Us: The Lakeside Meadow Edition. I've never seen such an array of toys. She couldn't play with them all... even with help from Isabelle. It was like a pinata of toys exploded and rained down on us. I'll bet to date that she still hasn't seen everything that she got!! There were a few favorites, but mainly, they just made the rounds. Barbie came in strong with 4 or 5 guests at the birthday party present gala with Disney Princess paraphernalia following a close second. Fisher Price sorta lost out this year! She's growing up!!!
We headed back to Spring after the day of festivities... tired, exhausted, spent... did I mention tired?! It was a wonderful trip full of wonderful memories. I love those two babies. They are my heart... I can't wait to see them again!
We got up on Sunday and made our way to Hobby. Our flight left at 9:30 AM CST, which is really 10:30 AM EST, so we were able to sleep in a bit. We got through security, went to our gate, and awaited our turn to board the corporate jet. It was full, so we took our seats, one in front of the other, for the long flight home.
Jammed packed weekend... yes. Was it worth it... yes. We love our trips to Texas... even if we only get to stay for 1 day, the time is worth it. We miss our families, but know that one day soon enough, we'll be back (that's we'll be back, not Ab-by Black... Todd, Kelley... you'll understand that one!?). Next weekend, we're on our way to Amarillo. I'll post about our visit with my mom soon!
On Friday, June 19, we embarked on the journey to Houston for the party of the summer. Watch out CMT Awards... the after-parties of the after-parties of the around the world celeb birthday party trains can't compare to this... Abby's 4-year-old party was on Saturday, June 20 at Bounce U in Sugarland. And it was a screaming, laughing, bouncing good time!
We landed and Teresa was there waiting on us with cold water and cokes... it was soooo hot and humid! We hopped in the Lexi and away to Missouri City we went! After a stop at Target for Princess wrapping paper and birthday cards, we headed to the other Black's house to await the dawning of the girls. The sleeping beauties rose shortly after we got there, and we were greeted by a giant hug from Abby which shortly followed by "I'm the birthday girl. My party's tomorrow. Did ya bring me anything?" As we laughed and answered her questions, she saw the Princess box and said, "that's a girl's present. It has Princesses on it." And a few moments later, paper was flying; ribbon, unraveling; and smiles were on faces... it was great!! After the gifts were ripped apart, we played in the dark with the glowing scary monsters and then Abby got girlie, along with Uncle Troy, and started on everyone's makeovers. Uncle Troy had Snow White with irridescent glitter polish on his toes and multi-colored fingernails which were Cinderella, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty Pinks, Ariel Blue and Snow White Iridescent polish respectively. For those of you who do not believe this, we have still shots AND video. Izzy even had a go at his feet. Needless to say, it wasn't on his nails, but the top of his feet and toes. She did a great job!!
We stayed for a bit longer then headed to Spring for dinner. We grilled in the 95 degree weather at 8 PM... gosh, it was hot!! We were later visited by TB's friend, Anthony, from high school. It's been quite a while since they have seen each other and were reconnected on Facebook a while back. They chatted and reminised about the days of old, and I do mean OLD (I love you, TB... LOL)! These guys have been out of high school for 18 years now, so there was a lot to talk about. Dinner was phenomenal... we outdid ourselves on steak, chicken, and grilled shrimp with baked potatoes, roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls, and salads! It was so good. Following dinner was clean up and bed time. We had to have our rest for the Four Year Old festivities the following day!!
We got up on Saturday and headed to the party establishment--Bounce U. It's an inflatable fun zone that echoes shreaks of laughter and excitement as the kiddos run, climb, bounce and slide down the gigantic inflatable slides, wrestling rings, and obstacle courses. The giant slide seemed to be a fan favorite. It was worn out by the time our 75 minutes were up and so were the kiddos. We made our way to the red party room, where the Tinkerbell cake and balloons were waiting. Abby got to sit in the birthday throne and we sang a happy birthday to her... the regular one. That kid doesn't like options for the birthday song... just the regular one, she said with a confused frowny face, as opposed to the "happy birthday to you... cha, cha, cha (accompanied with clapping during the cha, cha, cha part). She blew out her candles and got a fairy from the cake, and we were ready to rock. The kids all sat down and devoured their juice boxes, cake and ice cream. The time to leave came and went, and we went and left them with the pile of cake crumbs from under Izzy's chair and the mess we created! It was great!!
The rest of the afternoon included the tour of Toys R Us: The Lakeside Meadow Edition. I've never seen such an array of toys. She couldn't play with them all... even with help from Isabelle. It was like a pinata of toys exploded and rained down on us. I'll bet to date that she still hasn't seen everything that she got!! There were a few favorites, but mainly, they just made the rounds. Barbie came in strong with 4 or 5 guests at the birthday party present gala with Disney Princess paraphernalia following a close second. Fisher Price sorta lost out this year! She's growing up!!!
We headed back to Spring after the day of festivities... tired, exhausted, spent... did I mention tired?! It was a wonderful trip full of wonderful memories. I love those two babies. They are my heart... I can't wait to see them again!
We got up on Sunday and made our way to Hobby. Our flight left at 9:30 AM CST, which is really 10:30 AM EST, so we were able to sleep in a bit. We got through security, went to our gate, and awaited our turn to board the corporate jet. It was full, so we took our seats, one in front of the other, for the long flight home.
Jammed packed weekend... yes. Was it worth it... yes. We love our trips to Texas... even if we only get to stay for 1 day, the time is worth it. We miss our families, but know that one day soon enough, we'll be back (that's we'll be back, not Ab-by Black... Todd, Kelley... you'll understand that one!?). Next weekend, we're on our way to Amarillo. I'll post about our visit with my mom soon!
Monday, June 15, 2009
They're Here...
Yippee!! My Gurkee's arrived! I have the olive pair on right now, and my feet couldn't be happier! The beige are on back order, but I can wait. The olive ones are neutral enough to match my wardrobe! Once again, I insist everyone purchase a pair. They are a little hippie-ish, but I will be hippie-ish for comfort!
The time's ticking down... we are T - 4 days until the big trip South... I believe some call it "God's Country!!" I'd have to agree!! I will say, I'm not too excited about trading my 80 degree days for 95+ degree days, but it'll be worth it to be partying with Abby and Izzy! How much fun... BounceU better watch out!
Then... our tables turn for more visitors! On June 29, I will officially be in the Philadelphia area for a year! My how time flies!! Mom is then coming up on July 2 for a fun-filled Philly Phourth weekend! It'll be her first trip to the mighty Mid-Atlantic where we will dine at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and then play around Philadelphia for a few days. I think a trip to QVC's studios is in store (the shopping mecca for my mother). I can't wait!!
I guess June is basically almost over... it's the 15th, and we've got the rest of the month jam-packed! What a wonderful summer... it's been a blast so far, and we've got so much more to look forward to!!
Don't forget the summer solstice is upon us!!
The time's ticking down... we are T - 4 days until the big trip South... I believe some call it "God's Country!!" I'd have to agree!! I will say, I'm not too excited about trading my 80 degree days for 95+ degree days, but it'll be worth it to be partying with Abby and Izzy! How much fun... BounceU better watch out!
Then... our tables turn for more visitors! On June 29, I will officially be in the Philadelphia area for a year! My how time flies!! Mom is then coming up on July 2 for a fun-filled Philly Phourth weekend! It'll be her first trip to the mighty Mid-Atlantic where we will dine at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore and then play around Philadelphia for a few days. I think a trip to QVC's studios is in store (the shopping mecca for my mother). I can't wait!!
I guess June is basically almost over... it's the 15th, and we've got the rest of the month jam-packed! What a wonderful summer... it's been a blast so far, and we've got so much more to look forward to!!
Don't forget the summer solstice is upon us!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Excited About My Gurkees and Dressin!
I am so excited!! About 4 years ago, my mom ordered my a pair of shoes from a tanning supply catalog when my sister was in cosmetology school called Gurkee's. They are rope sandals... 
actually they are spun carpet fibers that are bound together by heating them together to form a rope-like string, and formed into sandals. They are my favorite summer shoes... it's the next best thing to being barefoot!
actually they are spun carpet fibers that are bound together by heating them together to form a rope-like string, and formed into sandals. They are my favorite summer shoes... it's the next best thing to being barefoot!I said last year that I thought it was their last summer, but when spring rolled around this year, out they came! After wearing them for long days, I've realized that it should have been their last summer. My feet start to hurt after about 3 or 4 hours, and I've never experienced that sensation from my rope shoes.
I've been searching forever for these wonderful shoes, but have yet to find anywhere online or a store that sells them. Moma ran into a girl in the new DSW in Jackson that had on a pair and asked where she got them. The answer was Shaggy's--a very hippie store who's customer base is Jimmie Hendrix fans and incense lovers. Wendy and I went in and found the shoes, but they didn't have my size. The search continued.
I got home Sunday and hopped online. I found a website one like the 15th page of a Google Search that sold said sandal in question, and they were on sale for $22 a pair! I got two pair of Barbados--one natural and one olive, and I can't wait for my new shoes to come in the mail!! It'll take some getting used to as I wear in two new pair, but since I had these for 4 years, I'm thinking two new pair will last me around 8 years or so! Woo hoo!
I'm so happy I found new Gurkee's and it'll be so nice to have comfy summer shoes! I encourage everyone to get a pair... www.gurkeescentral.com.
Hope you enjoy!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Out With The Old & In With The New... But Nothing Is Borrowed & Nothing Is Blue!
That's right, peeps!! This blog is unrestricted, one-of-a-kind--an all original!! Well... my brain claims plagiarism, but my fingers keep walking across this keyboard!! And... with the new look and uncensored comedy it provides, there isn't anything blue about my journalistic antics and our knee-slapping adventures!!
There are a couple new additions to the Black's Blog... we got a spring face lift!! Yay!! New colors, fonts and backgrounds make the blog a bit more vivid than before!
Come on, kids... follow us!! Get updates when I post a new story and follow the daily chaos we call life! We have 4 followers now... don't you wanna join them?! No pressure... Gmailers... You gotta! It's easy, easy!!
Also, I've opened up the pots to comments! If you click on the title, you can actually comment on the story. I have limited this to 5 comments per story, and first, they must be approved by me. Not that I think any of you will embarrass yourselves, but in order to make it so everyone can comment, this has to be done. I don't want hackers making rude comments on our beautiful page!
Also, there is a ticker to our next summer event! It's now counting down the days until our trip to Houston! Wooo hooo... we'll be back to our roots in only 29 days!!!
I've tried to remove all the songs that are fried from the music player. Hopefully, Troy and I can sit down soon and create a new play list. I think it's time for some new tunes for your listening pleasure!!
Enjoy the changes! And remember... this blog is made possible by the letters T... M... and B! :)
There are a couple new additions to the Black's Blog... we got a spring face lift!! Yay!! New colors, fonts and backgrounds make the blog a bit more vivid than before!
Come on, kids... follow us!! Get updates when I post a new story and follow the daily chaos we call life! We have 4 followers now... don't you wanna join them?! No pressure... Gmailers... You gotta! It's easy, easy!!
Also, I've opened up the pots to comments! If you click on the title, you can actually comment on the story. I have limited this to 5 comments per story, and first, they must be approved by me. Not that I think any of you will embarrass yourselves, but in order to make it so everyone can comment, this has to be done. I don't want hackers making rude comments on our beautiful page!
Also, there is a ticker to our next summer event! It's now counting down the days until our trip to Houston! Wooo hooo... we'll be back to our roots in only 29 days!!!
I've tried to remove all the songs that are fried from the music player. Hopefully, Troy and I can sit down soon and create a new play list. I think it's time for some new tunes for your listening pleasure!!
Enjoy the changes! And remember... this blog is made possible by the letters T... M... and B! :)
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Summer's Shaping Up
Oh, boy! We've got a full summer planned already... and it's just Memorial Day! In June, we'll be heading to Houston to attend the event of the summer! Abby will be 4 on June 24... I can't believe that sweet little girl is already 4 years old... how time flies! Aunt Mandy's got a task before her... making the picnic basket for her birthday!
Then in July, we've got the July 4th Parade in Philly... SWA is the presenting sponsor, so we get to walk in the parade and attend the festivities that night. What fun!! The fireworks are always sooo pretty! The next weekend, we'll be in Amarillo for Kevin's wedding. Guess I'll get a new outfit for that one! Yay... shopping!!!
Then in August, we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary. I know... giggle a little that it's only #2, but I can't believe it's #2!! The first year was a whirlwind with Troy traveling all the time, not to mention the big move to Philly! Now, we've been here almost a year, and our second year together is rapidly approaching! Before we know it, it'll be our 5 year anniversary, but hopefully, we won't be in Philly anymore!
I don't know if we will be able to fit anything else in the summer months! I want to enjoy our fabulous weather here some, too! Just reading this post makes fall seem right around the corner... hehe!! So much for not wishing our lives away, right?!
With all these travels, we hope to see everyone soon!! Especially the Texas crew... it's been so long since we've seen you guys! Can't wait for July!!!
Then in July, we've got the July 4th Parade in Philly... SWA is the presenting sponsor, so we get to walk in the parade and attend the festivities that night. What fun!! The fireworks are always sooo pretty! The next weekend, we'll be in Amarillo for Kevin's wedding. Guess I'll get a new outfit for that one! Yay... shopping!!!
Then in August, we will celebrate our 2nd anniversary. I know... giggle a little that it's only #2, but I can't believe it's #2!! The first year was a whirlwind with Troy traveling all the time, not to mention the big move to Philly! Now, we've been here almost a year, and our second year together is rapidly approaching! Before we know it, it'll be our 5 year anniversary, but hopefully, we won't be in Philly anymore!
I don't know if we will be able to fit anything else in the summer months! I want to enjoy our fabulous weather here some, too! Just reading this post makes fall seem right around the corner... hehe!! So much for not wishing our lives away, right?!
With all these travels, we hope to see everyone soon!! Especially the Texas crew... it's been so long since we've seen you guys! Can't wait for July!!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Weekend with the Wavras!
The last weekend of April, the Wavras ventured to the Northeast! They arrived, and we started our fun-filled, jam-packed weekend. Dave's birthday was April 26, so we started with a small celebration of sorts. I made him a birthday cake that was multi-tiered and multi-colored. Not only was it sugar packed with icing, but M&M's topped off our sugar quota for 11 PM at night!!
It was the first time that either had met Marlee... resident ADHD dog of the complex. She was very excited to see them... Max growled a little at first, then he realized that there were two extra laps to sit on and 4 extra hands for morning, noon, and night-time pettings! They were really sweet and were very sad to see our company go!!
Our trip around Philly was so much fun. We started out the day with a tour of Bala Cynwyd (where I work)... then we headed into town. We parked in the Old City by the Liberty Bell, gathered our cameras, and headed out. We were all a bit famished for none of us ate breakfast, so Troy and I took them for a six-block stroll through the outskirts of Chinatown to Reading Terminal Market. It's a market place with many, many vendors that sell both fresh and prepared foods. Very local, very cultural, but nothing compared to the look on Dave's face after Troy found us a place to sit and eat and the little ladies of the local red hat society took over! We walked up, and he said... they just sorta sat down... I wasn't going to tell the little old ladies they couldn't sit down!? After squishing in like sardines, they realized they were unwelcomed guests, and we all enjoyed our lunch... except for Dave. He wasn't too keen on the local atmosphere... Teresa seemed to like it, but the experience turned into a joke by saying "we'll take you back to Reading Terminal!" They did end the lunch outing with pumpkin whoopies from the Amish bakery, Bailer's. I think that from the "oohs" and "aahhs", and "we shoulda gotten a dozen of those" sounds, they were so yummy!!
We then continued the day to the Liberty Bell where Dave stood in line to see the actual bell; Teresa and I attempted to read a map by twisting it, turning it, and standing on our heads to determine our location! It was quite funny... about 30 minutes later, Dave joined us... we headed into the Visitor's Center to the gift shop. Dave got a replica bell... however, it wasn't up to quality standards because they looked very cheap, but what else do you expect from "Made in China" when buying a replica American history artifact!? We then were treated to tickets for the Philadelphia Big Bus tour and decided to visit the US Mint. The sign that read "Pardon our mess... we are under construction" really meant, "we aren't working today... Please enjoy the self guided tour through the US Mint of Boredom. You can see more pennies in action at the arcade than here, and run to an exit if you start to suffocate because we're not going to circulate air for you today!" We then got on the Big Bus... it was a nice day out, so we decided to ride up top on the double decker... after settling in, we started to roll... we went down quaint streets that used to be driven over by horse-drawn carriages by men of Ben Franklin's like; but here we go, barreling down in our tour bus on the top deck that was so loud, we couldn't hear the tour guide in the microphone. One other thing we didn't prepare for was tree branches... yep... almost got decked by one or two of those, too! But it was fun. I enjoyed my Snickers bar and Gatorade as we rode down the streets of Philly. We got into the museum district and hopped off at the Rocky stairs. We made our way to the top; Dave did his best Rocky run; and I climbed on Rocky like a monkey and luckily, Dave was able to get video footage of my time with the statue. He didn't seem to be too conversational, but then again, I was stepping on his toes!! After our museum visit, we hopped aboard the big brown bus and headed... well, I'm not really sure. We went back toward the Old City and the Delaware River where we got up close and personal with Camden, NJ and got a glimpse of the Battleship New Jersey. It was a very, very nice afternoon, and we really enjoyed seeing the city from a tourists perspective... I suggest the big bus tour to everyone!
We headed out of the city and got a bite to eat at McKenzie's Brew House. The food is so good, and they brew their own beers. After our very astute waitress got our food ordered and to the table, we enjoyed our dinner. Next stop... well, you'd think it would be home, right?! Uh-uh... nope... we headed to Genuardi's for fresh flowers for the late Mrs. Wavra's grave site and Starbucks... Teresa had to get the fix for the day (she's one of those black card carriers... LOL)!!! Now... we headed home.
The next morning started out just as you would have imagined... it was crisp and cool... and otherwise, cloudy! The forecast called for the hottest day of the year so far, so I decided to give my right index finger a taste of how my nose, ears, neck and forearms would feel later that day by cooking the pad of my finger on the blade of my Chi. Now this flat iron doesn't just get hot... it gets to about 405 degrees Fahrenheit and would make a grown man cry if he touched it at it hottest point. So, I jumped up and down and held my finger under cold water until it was time head out, but the quest to keep my finger cool and my pain under control didn't stop there. I filled a baggie with ice, pressed the burnt metatarsal on the bag, and headed out the door. Let me tell you... eating a donut and drinking chocolate milk is quite a feat when one hand is otherwise occupied trying to keep a finger from falling off!
So... away we went... the wrong way. Troy missed the exit to 95 South, so we headed toward Philly only to turn around and head the right way 5 minutes later! Equipped with enough map devices sure to get a person lost, we started our day toward the Baltimore-DC area with the Garmin on the dash, the paper map open on Dave's lap, and Inga (that would be my iPhone) tracking the way. Between the three devices, we were going no where fast!! We finally made it over the Potomac and made it to Arlington National Cemetery. We stopped, got our pass and found our way to Dave's mom's grave site. We found her head stone and placed flowers at its base and took some pictures. It was a very nice visit.
Next stop... the parking garage, potties, and yes, another big bus tour. So... on we go! Back across the Potomac where we hopped off at the Lincoln Memorial and saw the Reflection Pool and Washington Monument... I didn't realize it was only "this big! (reference photos for laugh). We walked over to the Vietnam Memorial and then waited for the bus at Constitution Ave. We went from there to the White House visitor's center and walked the 7 blocks to ESPN Zone for lunch and then one more block for a glimpse of Ford's Theatre. As we headed back toward the White House, we walked by the Old Post Office and the Reagan Building. We then proceeded to head to the pedestrian viewing area that was (just our luck) roped off for an indefinite amount of time. Teresa was convinced that Sasha and Malia were having a party on the South lawn, and Troy was looking overhead to see Marine One land.
We then rode around the National Mall, around the Capitol Building, Union Station and then down the North side of the Mall to the American History museum. We stood in line for quite a while to take our tour of the First Ladies exhibit. Once again... we stood in another line. We then exited the museum. We rode our bus back to the cemetery and got on yet another bus to tour Arlington. It was late in the afternoon, the breeze was blowing, and looking out over the rolling hills of the former plantation was quite serene. We stopped at Kennedy's Burial Ground and the Tomb of the Unknowns for changing of the guards, and then we made our way back to the parking garage where we started the journey home. And by journey... I really mean trek!
With Inga's map device enabled, the map folded precisely on Dave's lap, and the GPS pointing us in another direction, we headed out! We got somewhere and realized we were headed into downtown DC... not just anywhere in downtown DC but to Dupont Circle... the proverbial Dupont Circle, on which we got stuck. The GPS was stuck... it wasn't communicating with it's satellite, so I whipped out Inga, found our way off Dupont Circle. When it caught up, it told us to take the second right when Inga said the first, so Troy followed the GPS. We went through the ghetto, the slums of DC, and the otherwise unlabeled, undesirable neighborhoods! As Teresa was redistributing her bag, she pulled out a Ziploc bag of very unhealthy snacks... M&Ms, mini Kit-Kats, chocolate chip cookies... and yes, we all devoured these like hyenas over a fresh kill. Keep in mind, all we had to eat was donuts and hamburgers (chicken for me) all day. Our 2.5 hour trip home turned into about a 4 hour quest for civilization! All in all, it was a very nice trip!
We got up the next morning and got them to the airport... or should I say, TB got them to the airport. I, of course, was riddled with an allergy attack from Friday afternoon that left me under the weather until the following Saturday, so I stayed home with our pups.
We can't wait to do it again... maybe not ALL of it again, but the four of us have never gone on a boring trip! We can always find something to get into!!! Check out our pics on the Picasa site!
It was the first time that either had met Marlee... resident ADHD dog of the complex. She was very excited to see them... Max growled a little at first, then he realized that there were two extra laps to sit on and 4 extra hands for morning, noon, and night-time pettings! They were really sweet and were very sad to see our company go!!
Our trip around Philly was so much fun. We started out the day with a tour of Bala Cynwyd (where I work)... then we headed into town. We parked in the Old City by the Liberty Bell, gathered our cameras, and headed out. We were all a bit famished for none of us ate breakfast, so Troy and I took them for a six-block stroll through the outskirts of Chinatown to Reading Terminal Market. It's a market place with many, many vendors that sell both fresh and prepared foods. Very local, very cultural, but nothing compared to the look on Dave's face after Troy found us a place to sit and eat and the little ladies of the local red hat society took over! We walked up, and he said... they just sorta sat down... I wasn't going to tell the little old ladies they couldn't sit down!? After squishing in like sardines, they realized they were unwelcomed guests, and we all enjoyed our lunch... except for Dave. He wasn't too keen on the local atmosphere... Teresa seemed to like it, but the experience turned into a joke by saying "we'll take you back to Reading Terminal!" They did end the lunch outing with pumpkin whoopies from the Amish bakery, Bailer's. I think that from the "oohs" and "aahhs", and "we shoulda gotten a dozen of those" sounds, they were so yummy!!
We then continued the day to the Liberty Bell where Dave stood in line to see the actual bell; Teresa and I attempted to read a map by twisting it, turning it, and standing on our heads to determine our location! It was quite funny... about 30 minutes later, Dave joined us... we headed into the Visitor's Center to the gift shop. Dave got a replica bell... however, it wasn't up to quality standards because they looked very cheap, but what else do you expect from "Made in China" when buying a replica American history artifact!? We then were treated to tickets for the Philadelphia Big Bus tour and decided to visit the US Mint. The sign that read "Pardon our mess... we are under construction" really meant, "we aren't working today... Please enjoy the self guided tour through the US Mint of Boredom. You can see more pennies in action at the arcade than here, and run to an exit if you start to suffocate because we're not going to circulate air for you today!" We then got on the Big Bus... it was a nice day out, so we decided to ride up top on the double decker... after settling in, we started to roll... we went down quaint streets that used to be driven over by horse-drawn carriages by men of Ben Franklin's like; but here we go, barreling down in our tour bus on the top deck that was so loud, we couldn't hear the tour guide in the microphone. One other thing we didn't prepare for was tree branches... yep... almost got decked by one or two of those, too! But it was fun. I enjoyed my Snickers bar and Gatorade as we rode down the streets of Philly. We got into the museum district and hopped off at the Rocky stairs. We made our way to the top; Dave did his best Rocky run; and I climbed on Rocky like a monkey and luckily, Dave was able to get video footage of my time with the statue. He didn't seem to be too conversational, but then again, I was stepping on his toes!! After our museum visit, we hopped aboard the big brown bus and headed... well, I'm not really sure. We went back toward the Old City and the Delaware River where we got up close and personal with Camden, NJ and got a glimpse of the Battleship New Jersey. It was a very, very nice afternoon, and we really enjoyed seeing the city from a tourists perspective... I suggest the big bus tour to everyone!
We headed out of the city and got a bite to eat at McKenzie's Brew House. The food is so good, and they brew their own beers. After our very astute waitress got our food ordered and to the table, we enjoyed our dinner. Next stop... well, you'd think it would be home, right?! Uh-uh... nope... we headed to Genuardi's for fresh flowers for the late Mrs. Wavra's grave site and Starbucks... Teresa had to get the fix for the day (she's one of those black card carriers... LOL)!!! Now... we headed home.
The next morning started out just as you would have imagined... it was crisp and cool... and otherwise, cloudy! The forecast called for the hottest day of the year so far, so I decided to give my right index finger a taste of how my nose, ears, neck and forearms would feel later that day by cooking the pad of my finger on the blade of my Chi. Now this flat iron doesn't just get hot... it gets to about 405 degrees Fahrenheit and would make a grown man cry if he touched it at it hottest point. So, I jumped up and down and held my finger under cold water until it was time head out, but the quest to keep my finger cool and my pain under control didn't stop there. I filled a baggie with ice, pressed the burnt metatarsal on the bag, and headed out the door. Let me tell you... eating a donut and drinking chocolate milk is quite a feat when one hand is otherwise occupied trying to keep a finger from falling off!
So... away we went... the wrong way. Troy missed the exit to 95 South, so we headed toward Philly only to turn around and head the right way 5 minutes later! Equipped with enough map devices sure to get a person lost, we started our day toward the Baltimore-DC area with the Garmin on the dash, the paper map open on Dave's lap, and Inga (that would be my iPhone) tracking the way. Between the three devices, we were going no where fast!! We finally made it over the Potomac and made it to Arlington National Cemetery. We stopped, got our pass and found our way to Dave's mom's grave site. We found her head stone and placed flowers at its base and took some pictures. It was a very nice visit.
Next stop... the parking garage, potties, and yes, another big bus tour. So... on we go! Back across the Potomac where we hopped off at the Lincoln Memorial and saw the Reflection Pool and Washington Monument... I didn't realize it was only "this big! (reference photos for laugh). We walked over to the Vietnam Memorial and then waited for the bus at Constitution Ave. We went from there to the White House visitor's center and walked the 7 blocks to ESPN Zone for lunch and then one more block for a glimpse of Ford's Theatre. As we headed back toward the White House, we walked by the Old Post Office and the Reagan Building. We then proceeded to head to the pedestrian viewing area that was (just our luck) roped off for an indefinite amount of time. Teresa was convinced that Sasha and Malia were having a party on the South lawn, and Troy was looking overhead to see Marine One land.
We then rode around the National Mall, around the Capitol Building, Union Station and then down the North side of the Mall to the American History museum. We stood in line for quite a while to take our tour of the First Ladies exhibit. Once again... we stood in another line. We then exited the museum. We rode our bus back to the cemetery and got on yet another bus to tour Arlington. It was late in the afternoon, the breeze was blowing, and looking out over the rolling hills of the former plantation was quite serene. We stopped at Kennedy's Burial Ground and the Tomb of the Unknowns for changing of the guards, and then we made our way back to the parking garage where we started the journey home. And by journey... I really mean trek!
With Inga's map device enabled, the map folded precisely on Dave's lap, and the GPS pointing us in another direction, we headed out! We got somewhere and realized we were headed into downtown DC... not just anywhere in downtown DC but to Dupont Circle... the proverbial Dupont Circle, on which we got stuck. The GPS was stuck... it wasn't communicating with it's satellite, so I whipped out Inga, found our way off Dupont Circle. When it caught up, it told us to take the second right when Inga said the first, so Troy followed the GPS. We went through the ghetto, the slums of DC, and the otherwise unlabeled, undesirable neighborhoods! As Teresa was redistributing her bag, she pulled out a Ziploc bag of very unhealthy snacks... M&Ms, mini Kit-Kats, chocolate chip cookies... and yes, we all devoured these like hyenas over a fresh kill. Keep in mind, all we had to eat was donuts and hamburgers (chicken for me) all day. Our 2.5 hour trip home turned into about a 4 hour quest for civilization! All in all, it was a very nice trip!
We got up the next morning and got them to the airport... or should I say, TB got them to the airport. I, of course, was riddled with an allergy attack from Friday afternoon that left me under the weather until the following Saturday, so I stayed home with our pups.
We can't wait to do it again... maybe not ALL of it again, but the four of us have never gone on a boring trip! We can always find something to get into!!! Check out our pics on the Picasa site!
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"Play the music, not the instrument." -Author Unknown
