Where Was Everyone?

We are home.



We had the most wonderful trip. The drive up was a bit dicey. Fog and rain. And the windshield wipers were not so good....and there was this driver who almost cut us off, but Mippy took care of it.



Garmin doesn't work in NYC. It said to turn right onto W42nd, then immediately said to turn left onto 10th Ave. It was very confused. We were tired. Got cranky. Mippy kept saying "Don't yell"....does she know the meaning of the word yell?



Got to the hotel and checked in...thanks to Ralph. He was wonderful, just what we needed. Got to our room and off to Toy R Us. Rode on the darn ferris wheel. I hate ferris wheels, scare the heck out of me. Kids laughed. They thought it was cool that I went on. I didn't.



Went to pool. Watched them swim. Monkeyboy is doing well. They got a bit wild. Well, actually they were wild with anticipation. I thought to myself that they would medicate Monkeyboy if they saw him, but I thought it is just excitement. Anticipation.



Woke up and had breakfast before leaving for Statue. It worked perfectly. Got on the boat, went to see Statue. Had beautiful weather. Mippy wanted to take subway...we took cab. She is such an adventurist, but Hotel said....get there early. Trip over, Bean started to feel sick from fumes from boat. We all did, just didn't want to talk about it. Made it to the island, and what a sight. I was impressed. We had lots of fun, just exploring.



Came back on boat. Woman heaved overboard and hit the deck below. Lots of "ewwwwww" from deck below. Felt badly for the woman who heaved, not thinking about the people to whom she heaved. We all got a little nauseous from watching heaving.



Arrived at hotel after eating dogs on the street. More swimming.



Went to see Wicked. What a wonderful show! Laughed, laughed some more. Left theater feeling very good, heading back to hotel. Eating cookies.



Shopping day and Monkeyboy and Mippy went to GCT. Did not see Tim. Waited for many, many hours for song and dance, but nothing.



Met back at hotel for swimming. Tried to do dance and song in pool, did not work.



Went to dinner and off to Gazillion Bubble Show. Was wonderful. Monkeyboy went up on stage to participate and was great! He was part of foursome that went inside bubble. Anna, the bubble person, was born in 1965 in Vietnam. She told her story, and Monkeyboy knew it all to convey to his father.



Trip back.



Awoke early, went to deli to get breakfast. Deli man remembered me and gave me the order. Wished me a safe journey home and wished the Pens good luck. Went back to hotel and packed to leave. Got car, porter, and were on our way. Did I mention....Garmin doesn't work in the city? Thanks to Mippy got out of city and on our way.



Through the Lincoln Tunnel and a sigh of relief. No traffic to speak of, on the road and clear sailing. Well, maybe not. Bean said she had to stop. We were just outside the city. It sounded rather urgent, so we pull off and find this gas station. Bean gets out of the car and heads to the ladies room. It's quite windy and somewhat cold. We wait in the car. And wait. And wait. Bean finally comes out, looking a bit green. She asks if we can sit for a while, she doesn't feel well. Nope. We can't. Get out the plastic bags and head back onto the freeway.

I should mention that this happens when we are on the road. Kids get nauseous It generally passes rather quickly.

We drive on for an hour or so, checking with Bean who says to continue. Monkeyboy wakes up and says he needs a restroom. Bean concurs and says she does also. We get off at one stop and no restroom. On to the next stop. We see a sign for a motel and for a Home Depot. We figure there must be a restroom in the motel.

The motel is boarded up. Things are getting urgent. We head for Home Depot at top speed. We pull into the parking spot and get out of the car. Mippy is hiding the Garmin (it's finally working) and tells the kids to hide things. I say let's just get going here. She says to quit yelling.

We race into Home Depot, four of us running madly. We ask the greeter who tells us that the rest rooms are at the other end of the store in the back. We run. And make it. WHEW.

Everyone feels much better, and the rest of the trip goes without any problems. We arrive home to be greeted by Oscar, Flurrie and MR, the next door neighbor.

It's great to go away, and the trip was wonderful, but boy, my bed felt great last night.

I Think I Am Ready

The Pens lost...but we have a chance tomorrow night.

So much excitement.

Monkeyboy played so well in baseball Monday night. Boy, can that boy run. And he can hit. He made Sunday ball.

Bean turned 13 on Monday. Bird always cuts their age into the grass. She is a teenager. How scary is that?

OM gosh, I am so excited to get on the road. I packed, and re-packed tonight.

I hope Mippy doesn't take her blackberry...those are so very annoying.

We are renting a van and packing food. So much better than flying, though I have three tickets on airlines from fiasco in June.

We are seeing "Wicked" and I can't wait.

I wish we could meet in Grand Central Station and dance to the music.

GO PENS.....WE HAVE ONE MORE CHANCE....AND EVEN IF WE DON'T WIN....YOU GUYS DONE GREAT!

Getting Ready

We leave for New York City on Thursday, and we are counting the days. We are a group of singers, we are. Each person has their own part to a song. Monkeyboy beats out the song with drumsticks on the back of the seat and also chimes in on the singing. MY goal is to learn the words to this song. Mippy and I attempted to sing it and yelled to Bean "Hit it" for the chorus. Bean is too young to remember this song, but perhaps she will read the blog and she and Monkeyboy can practice it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dBDhNLpVYo&feature=related

Michele is photographing a wedding tomorrow, her first I think. She told a co-worker about it and he was very mean about it. She takes wonderful pictures, but she is nervous, so keep your fingers crossed that she doesn't trip the bride!

Kitty SOLD one of her beautiful bags yesterday. They are truly unique and eye catching. I am thinking she has a second career here.

Know this is short, but Pens are playing, so gotta run. Have a good one.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

Last night Monkeyboy and I went to a Pittsburgh Pirate game. What an experience! Bean was having a birthday party and I offered to spend the evening with Monkeyboy. I wanted to make it a good time for him, so for a child that said at the beginning of baseball season "This is the best time of my life", I thought the game would be a good choice.
We left in plenty of time, 5:00 for a 7:00 game. Monkeyboy directed me to the parking lot and we walked the two blocks to the ballpark. Since his father had told me where they usually sat, Monkeyboy took me to the seats, pointing out sights along the way.
The Reds were warming up, and apparently, the center field bleachers are the place to sit to catch balls. The Reds threw them into the crowd on occasion, and as you can see, Monkeyboy was right there, ready to catch them.
It was umbrella night, as well as dollar dog night (limit, four to a person). Monkeyboy explained the game to me in detail and was impressing those around us with his knowledge. I had one highlight, when I told him why players used to tuck their pants into their socks...it was so the umpire could see the strike zone more clearly.
They have questions throughout the game on the jumbotron, and one of them was asking the players which birthday they thought was the most fun for them. The one player said that when he was a kid, he got lots of presents, had a big party, was very special for the day, but now he got a card and a happy birthday. Sometimes, growing up isn't fun.
The rain began in the seventh inning, and it came down hard. We had ponchos, so we kept fairly dry. The nachos got soggy, though. My favorite part of going to a ballgame is the nachos and beer. I had no beer. Just pepsi. But it still was a wonderful evening. The Pirates lost, but I got to know quite a bit about their team, thanks to Monkeyboy.
Now to get ready to watch the Pens....GO PENS.
Do you remember your favorite birthday? Mine was when papap and mime came to Pittsburgh and we went to the Point to see the fireworks.

A Perfect Weekend

What is your idea of a perfect weekend? Is it the weather? Is it the family time? Is it reading a good book? Going to a sports activity? To the museum? Perhaps a concert?
The Pens won yesterday afternoon. We had to plan around that event. We ended up at a sports bar. As we walked in, the crowd went wild with a goal that we had just scored. I mean, absolutely wild. We are a sports town. Then we raced back to the house to see the end. Philly has a great team, but we took the series. Now we wait to see who we play next. I understand the cup isn't until June. Wow, that seems so far away.
Bean, not feeling well, played lacrosse Friday night. She is getting much better very quickly, if that makes sense. She looks like a gazelle as she runs down the field, really very graceful, fast and in control.
Monkeyboy played a scrimmage game yesterday and had a hit everytime at bat and did some excellent fielding as well. They have a girl on their all boy's team this year. She also runs very quickly.
Sprout makes her first holy communion today. I will be leaving for church in a few minutes.
Ava is enjoying the open windows. She is an indoor cat, which I guess is mean by some people's standards. I fear her getting hit by a car, so I keep her inside. She was making the oddest sounds this morning as she was talking to a bird outside the window. I was watching her as I was contemplating getting out of the very comfortable bed.
So, this is what makes my weekend perfect. I even read my book and am almost finished. Reading, sitting at a little league field and lacrosse game in the warm (okay, hot) sunny day in the burg, seeing the Pens win, a wonderful dinner with friends and Sprout making her first communion. About as good as it gets.
Have a wonderful Sunday.