New York trip Day 4- getting closer to New York!

Well we are getting closer and closer to New York every day but still not there. I shall now tell about yesterday, Day 4 of our grand adventure.

First I will start by saying day 4 is my least favorite day so far. It was alright just not my favorite.

Our first stop was Fort McHenry. I liked Fort McHenry and Colt and I had a good time exploring, we were barely on time to catch the bus!!

we then drove a ways and stopped at a Harbor in Baltimore. Not exactly sure what we were supposed to do here as there were a couple of interesting looking exhibits we could have paid to go see but we really didn't have enough time to warrant paying the prices they cost when we might be short on time by the time we got through the lines. so we went for a walk around the harbor and then had ice cream at Ben and Jerry's.

After the harbor we drove for awhile again and arrived in Amish country. We stopped at a couple of Farmers markets which were awesome but would have been more awesome if they were near our houses so we actually would want to buy the stuff there and then it was on to the Plain and Fancy farm. which is set up to be like a Amish Homestead and there are a couple of stores and a restaraunt and such. I will honestly admit I enjoyed after dinner when we went on a drive through the country seeing the farms then the actual house tour. It was a house. They have alot of things that you don't think they might have and I really don't get why Power is so bad, but they can use propane and disel engines to run stuff. I do get the fact that the tour guide said that electricity makes it easier for families to not spend time together but you could just not bring computers and tv's etc in and still have the same end result. I don't get it. I will say however that they have BEAUTIFUL farms and their Gardens are awesome. Dinner was also good. Although not as good as I had it in my head it was going to be. I ate shoofly pie and I have no idea how to describe it, it was odd but it was good... in an odd sort of way. I think people think I'm strange because I keep "trying" things even if they look disgusting but hey, I still think you might never know something is really good if you didn't try it in the first place!

After dinner we went on a ride through the country just looking at the farms. The poor Amish people probably thought we were very lost, this big huge bus going down this little tiny streets mostly used by their buggies.

And that was about it. We then drove through Philadelphia to our motel in New Jersey and that was the end of our day.

NY Trip day 3- still not New York

Ok, so we were now to Day 3 of the NY trip but really we aren't in new york yet still. This was actually yesterday, but I'm apparently not doing a good job of keeping up! so here goes

First we went to the Capital building. We only got to walk around it and talk about it as you can't go in it any longer unless you are accompanied by a staff member. We then went to the Library of Congress.. again could only "see" it couldn't go in. The same with our next stop at the Supreme Court. We did see a couple of protesters on the supreme court steps.

Then we went to Fords Theatre BUT it is presently closed as the balcony and such are unstable. So we also only "saw" the outside of it. We did go in the Petersen house across the road. The Petersen house is where the president was taken after being shot and ended up passing away. They used to have the actual bed in there still and up until last year they had the actual pillow with the blood stain still on it, but now they have been moved to a museum in Chicago or something. How rude. we did walk through it though.

Just as a point of funniness in my brain I included a picture of a bistro near the petersen house that had a beware of dog sign in the window... oh that's welcoming. what the heck!!!???

Next we went to the Holocaust Museum. It was so sad it wasn't funny! It is just unbelievable to me that one person can have that much power. Of course its harder for me to believe that the same concept is still going on in some parts of the world.

We then went to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum, which was very cool. I swear they have the worlds largest McDonalds there as that is where we had lunch. We also didn't have nearly enough time to see everything in there before it was time to leave.

We walked to the National Archives and cut through a sculpture garden on the way. It was "interesting". I just really don't get some things that are art.

The National Archives. the line was HUGE and there were so many people already in the Rotunda that they had to stop the line until it cleared out some. So we stood in line for about 45 minutes before we even moved a foot. It was interesting to see the documents and to think that how long ago they were written. we didn't see anything else in the archives building except the gift shop because we were behind schedule after the wait.

Next we went to the Museum of Natural History. Which I thought was awesome! The really bad thing was that it took us so long at the archives that we had almost no time at this museum and I could have taken hours in there. Sad. but we had a reservation for dinner we had to keep so we had to cut it way to short. The picture on the slideshow is of red beryl from Utah :-) we came clear to D.C. to see Utah rock!

we then walked from the museum to dinner at California Tortilla, which was very good. I bought some Dave's Insanity Hot Sauce there to bring home because it was quite tasty. REALLY REALLY hot but good. I think the little bottle will probably last 2 years because you use so little at a time!

After dinner we went across the road and took the subway back almost to our Hotel where Roger our lovely bus driver picked us up and took us the rest of the way. Our driver is AWESOME! I have no idea how he fits that mammoth bus in some of those places but he does.

anyhow, that was our day 3. now the slideshow

one more thing...

Ok, so we were on the subway tonight and there was this guy that I thought Tia might like to "see" and so I casually pretended like I was taking a picture of our group that was on that side of the train and lo and behold, my camera was to darn slow and he had leaned forward at exactly the wrong moment so now she can't see him. But check out our Fearless leader Mr Styler's face! :-0

New York Trip day 2

Ok, so really right now it is the end of day 3 but I was really tired after day 2 and just wanted to go to bed after trying to do day 1. So here we go....

Day 2

We went to Arlington first thing. talk about a sobering experience seeing all those tombstones and knowing there was at least one sailor, soldier, airman or marine who had served their country under each one. They stretched as far as you could see about in any direction once you were in the midst of it all. I did learn something new also. I did not have any idea that the families could also be buried there. They can have up to 4 bodies in one grave site and the names are on the back side of the grave markers.

After Arlington we went to the Marine Memorial, where the HUGE Iwo Jima statue is. I swear I had NO idea the thing was that huge!!! I've only seen it in pictures and in the pictures it didn't look that big but it is a massive bronze sculpture! I am putting the picture of colt next to it to have a reference sort of as to its size.

White House- We of course only got to go to the fence at the White House and take a picture or two and we actually didn't get to go to the side they normally take the tour groups as someone had collapsed on the other side and they were waiting for the ambulance but we were there and took a picture of the other side.

We then went to the government mall to have lunch in the food court. Colt and I ate at the Texas BBQ and it was very good. MMMMmmmmmmmmm I would eat there again if they had one in Utah. that mall at first thought is "wow its huge" but really I don't know that it is. its got four stories but I don't really think that its that spread out. Of course we didn't have nearly enough time to browse the side halls so maybe its bigger then I'm thinking.

Mt Vernon- Washingtons home place was next on our agenda and It was quite cool. I will say that I now have the opinion that washington was kind of vain and pompous. He appears to have always wanted to make sure his status and wealth was known even if it meant painting his rooms ungodly colors because they were the most expensive tints at the time. I loved the grounds though and he had some ingenious (for the times) ideas on farming and how to go about it right.

After that we went on a Ghost Tour in Alexandria Virginia it was fun because I like to hear stories about places. especially since we were right there close to the building being talked about. Our tour lady didn't have a whole lot of personality and I wish we had the other tour guy who told a couple of us a story about womens signals and fans but alas we didn't. I do have a picture though

I can't remember what else I wrote, my computer had a burp and the last part of this didn't get saved to draft. we pretty much just came back to the motel and I blogged halfheartedly and went to sleep :-) Now unfortunately I am not going to get to day 3 yet either. maybe I'll draft it on the bus ride tomorrow so I can get it up faster. I'm not sure if I will have internet access tomorrow as we are leaving this hotel and will be in New Jersey I believe tomorrow night and I'm not sure of the internet status at that hotel. So if you don't hear from me via this medium or email no worries, I just lost access :-)

New York Day 1

Ok, so this is a day late but whatcha gonna do about it.. huh. :-) I'm not telling you where back east we are staying so :-p you can't even hunt me down and beat me over it. so here goes... our trip (which is actually a trip "east" not really new york persay).

So anyhow, we stayed in Salt Lake Monday night as we had to be at the airport at 4:45 am Some boy who shall remain nameless had the brilliant idea to watch National Treasure 2 so we didn't exactly go to bed very early! so anyhow, after a couple hours sleep we got up an headed to the airport. oh wait, we stayed at the Airport Baymont and those people working that night were SOOOOO SOOOOO nice it wasn't even funny! I would recommend staying there for that reason alone. so we flew to Minnesota, then on to Maryland. We were picked up by the tour bus and immediately were on our way to see the sights. I am going to learn the whole slideshow thing and put some pics up hopefully soon. but anyhow, we went to the Jefferson Memorial, FDR memorial, Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam war Memorial, Washington Monument and the World War 2 memorial. I "think" that is all, I am sleepy and its late so i may have forgotten something. (luckily I am saving my pics by day so they will straighten me out!)

I am having a great time and getting ALOT of walking in! I have always loved history but I have not really been "into it" the last few years and I am discovering I have forgotten everything I might have once known. I have loved this trip so far, I love hearing the stories and seeing stuff. It is amazing how much history there is in the DC area, it makes me want to go home and take up my teenage habit of reading historical biographies. It has been fun being here with Colt also as he really seems to enjoy the history factor also, he adds in his own stories of things he's learned wether via school or the History channel. I am convinced he is really planning his military ambitions when I watch him at the military memorials. I can only hope he finds a nice safe branch somewhere.

Oh yes, I must also mention my room mate is awesome. She is funnier then crap and a bit of a troublemaker at heart I'm thinking

That is all for last night and now I'm very tired and it is 11:10 pm local time and curfew was at 10:30 hee hee... shhhhhhhhhhh don't tell them I'm out of my room in the lobby. ha ha

I may try and figure out the slideshow thing, but I will probably not be doing Day 2 until tomorrow.

It's almost time

In a few short hours Colt and I will be heading North to spend the night before heading to the airport at 4:45 am. If I wasn't such a wimp I'd just drive up in the middle of the night but alas, I'm getting old. I'm excited but worried about everything at home! I know Tia will do a fantastic job taking care of the critters, the garden, the lawn and most importantly her father! Hopefully there will be no fighting too! I'm going to take my laptop along and hopefully get Internet access at least periodically so I can blog about our trip.

Off to put stuff in the car! YAY

I need a time turner!

( ok, so I'm a little HP obsessed, leave me alone already)

Look up there at the top of the page! the time left until our trip to New York is rapidly running out and I am SO not ready!! There is so much still that should be done before colt and I leave for over a week but its just not going to happen. Oh well, I guess Todd and Tia will survive and maybe they'll even get it all done themselves :-) At least our clothes are packed and I guess that is all that really matters!

Tired...

So tired. I don't know whats up with me this morning but I am flat out exhausted. The counter here at work is looking like a mighty comfortable sleeping spot!! It would help if there were customers to keep me occupied I'm thinking. Hopefully they will start coming in before I fall asle...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

*jumps around*

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I AM SO AWAKE!!!

So guess who willingly went to a school activity? Yes it was I! I just got back from the "yearbook dance" where I attempted to learn how to dance and all that crazy stuff that happens when you get a bunch of teenagers together! :DDDDDDDDD

I soooo need to take a shower and go to bed, but I'm not tired!!


*laughs like a maniac*

I'ts a date!

the ever lovely Tauna and I have a date! It was a secret but she figured it out... of course I knew she would that was half the fun of it. So anyhow, we are going to go watch the American Idol live show. I will admit this is not a show I have been all excited and ecstatic to see but I think it will be fun. I actually like a wide range of music and styles (there are a few I can live without though), I may not listen to them all the time but that doesn't mean I dislike it. I also will admit I bag on American Idol, but I don't actually hate it. I just don't "get" the obsession with it. I will watch it when there is nothing else on and I have nothing better to do. I just don't like the early and mid ones when people are still singing who suck. c'mon admit it, alot of them suck. So anyhow, I'm all excited only sad its soooooo far away!

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale....

a tale of a fateful trip.... hee hee

Ok, so I can't help it the Gilligan's Island theme song keeps running through my head every time I think about the trip Colt and I are going on soon. Did you see the spiffy Banner up there counting down the days. Well I'm excited. I'm not so excited about a few of the people who are also going and I still wish I'd have gotten it so Colt and I were staying in the same room but I didn't know it was possible until now when its too late. Sad. I wonder if my room mate will notice if I smuggle him in :-0 I think she might. Oh well, It will be great fun the rest of the time I'm sure. Anyhow, we are going on a whirlwind tour of the East Coast Historical spots. I'm soooooo excited. I used to love History beyond all the other subjects in school. here is our current Itinerary... subject to change at a moments notice apparently! But I'm going to put it as it is on our paper...

We depart from lovely Salt Lake City at the lovely hour of 6 am on May 27th.
upon arrival in DC we then go to:

visit the Smithsonian museums
and a tour director led night bus tour

The next morning:
Arlington National Cemetery
The White House
Supreme Court
Library of congress
Washington monument
Vietnam Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
Lincoln memorial
Marine Memorial
and any others we have time for

after lunch
a excursion to Mt Vernon

after dinner
a Ghost Walk (which I believe Tia said she had a hot guy as the tour guide, we will probably have a old lady... sad)

the next day.
more Smithsonian museums
visit the capitol
visit the national archives
supreme court (hey wait didn't we go there already)
more Smithsonian museums
ford's theatre

then after dinner it says more touring or activities

next day
go towards amish country

tour of fort mchenry
Guided tour of amish homestead and surrounding country
amish dinner
go to Phillie (well that's what the paper says but our hotel info does not say we are staying in Phillie at all)

next day
valley forge
liberty bell
Independence hall
Franklin court
valley forge (hey wait...)
national constitution center
photo stop at museum of art

after dinner Phillie's vs the Marlins

next day leave for new york
some activity... could be the dodger game or could be something else

empire state building

next day (we are now to Monday)
wall street
Greenwich village
Soho
Chinatown
empire state building (again, with the repeats)
little Italy
central park
statue of liberty and Ellis island

Phantom of the Opera on Broadway

next day
time in new york
visit battery park or south street seaport

go home

I think I'm tired already!

what are they thinking....

Ok, so I keep going to blog about things when I think of them and then don't. well here goes one and now you shall realize why I never get back to them because they are random stupid thoughts that enter my head... :-)

todays random stupid thought:

Why do people wear capris and then have long socks that go up to meet the capris? what a dorky look. Like I should talk as I'm the queen of dorky looks but still :-)

by the way how DO you spell the plural of Capri?

Happy Mothers Day to me...

Here is what I got for Mothers Day......

YEAH! So this year I'm not killing crickets, but playing with a cricut! hahahahahahah

Happy Mothers Day all!

Or at least to all you Mothers out there!

So my posting has been extremely lax. I actually will think of something and say I should blog about that but then I do something else and then never get back to it.... or I try to get back to it and can no longer remember what I was going to write about!

Lets see there is really not a lot going on at my house. I am ever so glad that I am not killing crickets in the grouse creek area this year, I was ever so lonely last year. I have never thought of myself as someone who needs "people" but I was wrong... I really really need people! Ok, maybe its just that I need my family members. I actually liked going out and working all day by myself, more then happy with my own company in those cases and besides most days I talked to a friendly rancher or two, but coming back to town to a freakin lonely motel room sucked rocks. Not only did I have no one to talk to but I'd sit there thinking about all the stuff I could be getting accomplished at home. Yep, definitely glad I'm not out there again this year! Loved the job, hated the location.

The day before yesterday I got contacts... I had them years ago but thought they were a pain in the butt. I've needed new glasses for awhile because our full contact volleyball games really did a number on my last ones. But I've hated to buy new ones as I had wanted to see about just having Lasik done. well that aint happening anytime soon so I had to give in and go to the eye doctor. So now I've decided to give contacts a whirl again. It may only last until this trial pair are done with but hey I tried. Besides, do you know I have blue eyes. Apparently no one in this town did as I keep getting told "hey you have blue eyes"... oh really never knew that. I've actually always liked my eye color as they aren't the usual light blue, they are "different" they used to be darker blue then they are now though. don't know how that happened.

We have peas growing. we are so far sucking at the whole garden thing but we do have peas growing.

sometime next week our baby chickens should be here... the brooder area and the pen is not ready yet... I have time still.

Colt will soon officially be a highschooler... how did that happen! both my kids in high school. Yep, I'm getting old.

In two weeks Colt and I will be flying to the East Coast for a history inspired tour. I am SOOOOO excited... Colt doesn't seem so excited. But I am excited enough for both of us!

I don't know what else so I guess I should go back to work!