Friday's Day Trip

We headed to the Cape on Friday. The weather didn't cooperate, but we went anyway. My mom and I wanted to see the ocean. On our day trips to the ocean towns ends up being the only time I get to see the ocean. I love the water. Its the sounds, smells and sites that lure me so much to the ocean. This is one of the reasons, no matter what the weather is like, I make it a point to go see it.

I hope Drew loves the ocean as much as I do!

We originally chose to go see Hyannis but on our way to the town, there was a massive accident across the roadway, so we took a detour. I had noticed a sign at the intersection before the accident for a local beach and we chose to go there rather then waiting for the traffic to clear to head to Hyannis. We ended up in Centerville.

The beach was empty. We were the only fools there on a damp, overcast, misty day but it was worth it. It ended up being Drew's first time to the ocean and I hope its not the last. When I took him out the van he was a little cranky, since it was just about time to eat. I walked with him over to the water and the little guy just calmed right down with the sound of the waves. So, we stood on the beach listening to the water and seagulls while his grammie collected sea shells. It was so perfect! I wouldn't change it for anything.

The day at the beach was cut short since the rain started to come in a little heavier, but it was still a great day. After the visit to the beach, we drove around the cape a little bit more before heading home.

My mom and I promissed to go back to the cape for another day trip this year....I just hope we get the chance!

TGIF

Its Friday!

Its almost my last day off for my maternity leave (it has been extended by one day with the Memorial Day holiday, yeah).

Grammie, Drew and I are going on an adventure.

We are going on a road trip. Its not Drew's first, but it will be his first to this location.

We are heading to Cape Cod for the day!

Every year, my mom and I pick a Massachusetts town to discover, walk around and enjoy in the spring. We say its our mother's day treat (this year for the both of us).





So, this year we chose a town in Cape Cod. We haven't decided which one we will go to, since there is so many to chose from. We decided to just drive and see what catches our eye. I know for sure it will be one near the beginning of the cape's "arm", but to be exact, we'll have to wait and see.





I can't wait to see where we end up and I'm sure I'll have photos and stories to tell soon!

She can't make up her mind

Yesterday morning, my husband was out golfing and my FIL was working. I did a few errands myself, moving at my own pace with no worries. I remembered at the end of my list of things to do, my mom mentioning that she wanted to go to one of the local parks to walk around and take pictures one of these days. I figured it was a bright and sunny day, perfect for pictures.

So, I called my mom while I headed home to see if she wanted to spend a little time in Szot Park today. The conversation went like this:

Me-I was wondering if you wanted to go to Szot Park, walk around & take pictures today since the boys aren't home.
Mom-Oh, your father just got home (from doing his errands) and I don't know what he wants to do yet. Oh, I'm sorry.
Me-Its OK, I just thought it was a nice day and you were talking about it the other day. Maybe we can do it the weekend after the 4th.
Mom-Sure, that sounds really great. Yeah, lets do it then.

So, after chatting about a few other things the conversation ended. About a 1/2 hour later after I had gotten home, the phone rings. Its my mom with conversation #2:

Mom-OK, I'm ready
Me-For what?
Mom-To go to the park for pictures (in a very excited voice)
Me-You said no and I'm home working on my blog (yesterdays entry)
Mom-Oh, OK (in a very disappointed voice)
Me-Hey, you said no earlier

Mom-Its OK (in a very disappointed voice, like if she was standing in front of me, she would be giving me the puppy dog eyes)

So, after we hung up, I sat there starring at the computer screen. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and thought to myself, ugh! I picked up the phone and called her back. And that's how conversation #3 started:

Me-Fine, get ready.
Mom-Really?
Me-Yeah, give me 20 minutes to finish up and I'll be over to pick you up
Mom-Oh, OK (now back in the original excited voice)

So, after the back-and-forth of yes, no, yes, we headed off to a small park in our hometown to walk around and take pictures. I'd like to share with you some of the photo's I captured.

Even though, it was very uncertain the whole thing might not have happened with the whole back and forth game we were playing, I'm glad in the end that we both convinced each other to go. I had a wonderful time!

Witches, Broomsticks & Pirates....oh my!

This year was the first time in 10 years that I had the chance to take my birthday off from work. Before this year, we just didn't have the office coverage in the summer to be able to have such little perks, but this year we do and I took advantage (Thanks Char)! I didn't HAVE to take the day, but I chose too.

Since I declared to my boss that I was taking the day, the next step was to figure out what to do. So, I called my mom and asked her if she wanted to head to Salem, MA for the day? We were suppost to go last year, but never got a chance.

Yesterday morning, we hoped in the car and started our adventure. Then just under 2 hours we arrived in the town that put witches on the map.

Our first stop, the Witches Dungeon. It was there we took advantage of a package deal to see a few "museums" in the area that spoke about the town's history. It was a little building that held a little stage for a live reenactment of a witch trial and then a dungeon in the basement. The dungeon was filled with wax figures, but we got the idea. Here's an interesting fact....people who were imprisoned had to pay to be there, their food, their shackles, their buckets to relieve themselves, etc. If they couldn't afford to pay and it came upon their release date, the prisoners were kept there until their families paid for them or they paid with extra imprisonment time.

Lock her up & throw away the key (Just Kidding Mom)

The next stop on the tour was the Witch History Museum. This was a walk through of witch hysteria history that started in Salem. The story was told by wax figures in a 1600's setting in a freeze frame of each important detail.

The cheesy rendition of the Salem hangings of innocent people

The final stop in the tour package was the New England Pirate Museum. I don't know why this would be in the package of museum tours because the town is all about witches, but maybe since we were by the water or there was some sort of theory during the coordination of the tours that they were connected, but who knows. Again, this was another walking guided tour, but with pirate wax figures showing the history of pirates not only in New England, but in the world. *Each museums wax figures were very weird and hokey looking, but they told the stories just fine*.

I was told this wasn't Johnny Depp, dang it!

Between each museum stop we also did some shopping. They have the cutest and quaintest little shops in that area. They have shops ranging from serious witch supplies for potions all the way down to souvenir shops for the area.

Also, while we were walking around I noticed a store front offering tarot, psychic, crystal ball, aura and many other readings. I looked at my mom and said, since I'm here there isn't a better place to get a reading done. I never had an official reading done and of course no idea what kind I had wanted. So, over the next few hours I had decided to go with a tarot reading. After searching for a shop that had a "reader' in for the day, I found a cute little shop called Angelica of the Angels and signed myself up.

I borrowed this picture since I couldn't take photographs during the reading.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details of my reading, but it was pretty interesting. I tried not to give her too many details so she couldn't feed off my answers, but on several occasions she brought things up that were true and I hadn't even said a word about the situation. For instance, she saw in my cards that I was getting a raise and it was quite sudden. So, I thought it was pretty interesting for my first reading.

If you are ever in the Salem, MA area and is interested in the town and the history of its people, definitely stop by. We did it in a day, but we could have stayed longer to see everything the city has to offer (and not just witchcraft stuff either).

The Big Apple

What a beautiful day we had this past Saturday in Manhattan. My mom, husband, his friend & me went on a bus trip with the college.

The first picture is the view from the highway of Manhattan. The second is just a view of the city as we make our way to the departure location.

Jeff & his friend started off on their own to shop and people watch. They went into every electronic store they could find around Times Square and then went in to the ESPN Zone for a beer and appetizer. Then they met up with us.

Times Square

My mom & I started off shopping at Macy's (for my mom's outfit for the wedding this Sat). After that was taken care of, we headed uptown and found ourselves in Bryant Park (near the library) and decided to sit and enjoy the sights for awhile.

Before my husband & his friend met up with us at the park, I got hit on by a homeless man. Yeah, not my proudest moment. The situation went like this....I am sitting at one of the outside tables behind the Library Cafe, my mom is off getting a coffee at a vendor at the other end of the park & I see this gentlemen talking to a couple at another table. Next thing I know he is approaching my table and asks me how I am. I responded fine and you? Then he said good and asked me for some change to do something (I really don't remember what it was) and I told him my mom has all of the spare change (I didn't want to pull money out of my pocket, being by myself). Then he said he'd be back and I said ok. Next thing I know he asks me what I was doing later. Um, OMG I said to myself. I told him, Um going home with my husband.....he starts chocking and walks away never to be seen again. Phew!

Bryant Park

Then after everyone meets up at the table we head up a few more blocks to eat. We decided to eat at Planet Hollywood in Times Square. I wasn't impressed, but the food was ok. The music was playing so load and the waiter didn't hear my order correctly and brought me what he thought I said. No matter, I wanted a BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger & I got a Bacon Cheeseburger. At least I got something almost the same rather then ordering a burger and he bring me chicken figures.

After we ate, we split up in groups again and did some more shopping. Mom & I went to Barnes & Nobles (I stocked up on books!), American Girl and Crabtree and Evelyn all on 5th Ave. The boys went to Best Buy and ended up in Starbucks.

Rockafeller Plaza, off of 5th Ave

So, overall it was a lovely day. The weather was gorgeous too!

Kevin James is Hilarious

Saturday night, my husband, myself & two friends went to see Kevin James (from King of Queens) at Mohegan Sun Casino in CT. I didn't win the tickets this time, but it was still destined to be a fun night.

We arrived to the casino in enough time to find the arena and then our seats. So, we decided to do some gambling after the show.

The opening comedian was pretty funny. Forgive me, but I don't remember his name, but he was hilarious. He was definitely a great start to a good show. He was on for about a half hour.

Then Kevin James came out to perform. He was so funny. He talked about so many things (family, movies, tattoos, gambling). He was making fun of the people who need equipment to gamble (I thought it was an appropriate location). He mentioned he walked through the casino and saw a lady wearing a glove while at the slot machines. He said that if you need equipment to gamble, its time for a phone call. The whole place laughed.

There was so many things he said that was funny, but I can't remember the whole story so I can't repeat what he had said. But, , it was such a good time and I would definitely see him again if he came around here.

Also, I won $50 at the casino on a slot machine.....yeah!