Dec 5

Dec. 5
We got up early in the morning and headed for DC, and exited at Fairfax, Va. to get information on taking the metro rail. At the information center we found the bus and train info we needed. The center was the first school in Fairfax and we visited the small museum at the school. We found out that the metro parking site is full during the week and were told that our best bet would be to park and take the bus to the station, and that is what we did.
Our first stop was the Holocaust Museum. The museum “is both a memorial to the past and a living reminder of the moral obligations of individuals and societies”. The architecture of the building is amazingly stark. The impression I got was a brick train station. It took us 4 ½ hours to go through Visitors would comment and talk to us as we went through. The brochure states one to 3 hours, but we read and saw everything.
We then went to the Washington Monument and walk the mall toward the capital. What a beautiful place.

pix conr.

12/4

Dec. 04
We left Becket Mass. on Monday after the ice melted from our trailer and the road and drove to Jackson, N.J. to stay with our friend Lorraine. The first evening we had dinner and sat and talked until bedtime. I am still sick, so the next day, Tuesday, we went to a walk in clinic at the CVS Drug Store. I have a sinus infection and was given a prescription of an antibiotic, over the counter Musinex and a saline spray. Gene and I took Lorraine out for lunch after the medical stop and went back to Lorraine’s and viewed the facilities at her gated senior’s only community. They are really nice houses, a huge beautiful community center that has indoor and out door swimming pool, tennis courts, botchi ball courts, and game rooms for both the men and women that live there. We viewed her slides from Kenya, Africa which made me want to take the trip. The next day we took a trip to Frenchtown where another friend Marian lives and works. She is an amazingly talented potter. Pictured are some of her works, the pot she graciously gave us, and a picture of the 3 amigos.
We had a delicious lunch at a little café’ the crab cake over a bed of lettuce with a tomato and garlic dressing. I repeated the garlic all day but it was worth it.Lorraine gave me a book, "eat, pray, love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. After lunch we went to a warehouse shop of Elizabeth and her husband. A picture of her husband, a beautiful marble Buda and me. On the way home we stopped at Washington’s Crossing. This is the spot where General Washington crossed the Delaware River on Christmas Eve of 1776 with 2,400 troops. The river was ice-choked and the operation was slow and difficult due to the conditions. It started sleeting and a blinding snowstorm, the men did not have the clothes for the cold weather but against all odds, Washington and his men successfully completed the crossing and marched into Trenton on the morning of the 26th, achieving a resounding victory over the Hessians. This re-ignited the cause of freedom and gave new life to the American Revolution.
We are now in Front Royal, Va., and plan to go to the DC museums and visit Revolutionary War sites around the area the next few days. It is raining tonight, but should be dry tomorrow.

Sunday 11/23

Sunday we met Norene & Cory at a Dunkin Donuts for a late breakfast. They have some great breakfast items on the menu that are ok for me. We sat and talked for 2 hours. Norene left for Maine and we headed back to our garage home. When we sat down we both were exhausted. We just relaxed and watched football all afternoon.
The 5th wheel will be ready Monday. We will leave for Lee Mass. Tuesday. Neither of us wanted to travel over a holiday week. Monday, Dec. 1, we will leave for New Jersey to see our friends.

Nov 22

We went down to Laurie's about 11:30. Norene & Corey stayed over Laurie's last night so Krista, Laurie, Norene, etc. all sat around talking. Laurie had a problem with a thermostat in her computer room. We all went to WalMart and got what Gene needed and then stopped at a pizza parlor to pick up pizza to take to Bambi's house. We had never been to Bambi's and Steve's. Three g.g.kids Deja,and Abriana enjoyed pizza with us while Jovi bounced in her chair.
We got back to Laurie's and Cindy came over to play cards. At 10pm we got home really tired. It has been a busy weekend.

Nov. 21

Today is a special day. Gene turned 70,so we celebrated all day. We went to lunch at his favorite restaurant, Burger King, and shared a mushroom swiss and cheese burger, fries and diet coke. Then we went shopping at Linen & Things, going out of business, to pick up some little things we needed. Laurie was having us to dinner and we could not get there until about 7:30. It was a surprise party, so Gene & I went to the movies and saw "The Changeling", a true story set in 1920's about a corrupt police department and a women caught in the fray. A really good movie. Norene, who lives in Maine, called Gene to wish him a happy birthday and I wondered if she was going to make it to Conn. She was helping to make the dinner but was throwing her dad off making him think she was in Maine when she made it to Conn. Complicating, but it all worked out. Five of the kids where there, Norene, Gene, Cindy, Mark and Laurie,along with grandkids Jamie, Mike, Bambi, Krista, and Daniele. Great grandkids Jamie's 5, Bambi's 2, Jackie's 2 new born twins, Jolene's (granddaughter) son Cory and spouses or significant other of Cindy, Gene, Bambi, Jamie. Laurie and Norene made lasagna, salad, bread and Krista made the cake. Bambi's S.O. Steve's BD (28)was Saturday so they made him a cake too.Jolene & Jennifer, two grandkids that live in Maine, made a dvd for Gene. It was great. It was a really great day.

Steelers fan club

Last night we went to the Steelers fan club to watch the Steelers beat the Bengals. I am not impressed with the Steelers offense but they did win 27 to 10. We have tickets to the Steelers game with the Titans on Dec. 21.
It is still frigid cold outside, but we are camped in the garage so last night was actually warm.