Long Island/NYC, New York

Aunt Joyce and Uncle Bobby are packing up and leaving the cold Long Island winters for the hot, humid Houston summers.  Fortunately had an opportunity to get down to see them before they left.

Aunt Joyce and I went and ventured into NYC.  To experience some NYC style holiday cheer

The tree at Rockefellar Center.  This year a 74ft (or approx 22.6m for my loved ones around the globe) Norway Spruce.  Thanks to the Acton Family from Mahopac, NY for donating the tree for us all to enjoy.

Aunt Joyce and I- Rockefellar center

Skaters at Rockefellar Center.  The person a little left of center on their back best depicts my skating abilities.

NYC stores do a great job decorating for the holiday season.  I love seeing the window scene at "Lloyd and Taylor".   This year they had Christmas scenes from around the world.

 Makes me want to go experience the holiday season in other areas around the world.  Any invites for next year?

 After we we headed over to Grenwich village and found a cute restaurant for some lunch.  Stuffed our faces with some delicious mussels, pizza, and eggplant

We also spent some time touring around the Huntington area.  Cute little town with some great restaurants, cute little shops... a nice change of pace from NYC

mmm...some deliciousness

Glad I had an opportunity to see you before you move.  Will have to look into coming to Houston once you are settled in there.

Walpole, MA

Finally, after months of talk, Audra and I made it out to Walpole to have Joe take us shooting.

This deer doesn't look to happy : )

 

There's a lot to know about guns and that look, aim, pull, fire thing isn't as easy as it sounds.

 I did however manage to obliterate one of the clay targets.  At least wasn't a total bust

Had a great time.  Hoping ot make it back out that way.  Thanks Joe for taking us out

Tucson, AZ

Had an opportunity to show my friend Diana around my old stomping ground Tucson.  Definitely very different from Boston!

It was a quick trip, so didn't get to take her everywhere I would have liked to. 

We made it over to the Desert Museum.  Which I recommend to anyone in the area.  The drive over is pretty and it's a great way to see a variety of desert animals

  Definitely ate a lot of Mexican food while there.  Enjoyed some fresh table made salsa at Guadalajara grill

A Sonoran dog at El Guero Canelo

Cafe Poca Cosa, and Martins Comida Chingona- Which I've been told translates to Martin's fucking good food.  Anyone know if this is correct?

I know Di really enjoyed seeing the Saguaros and desert vegetation.  I did too.  I forget sometimes how beautiful the Sonoran desert is. 

Thanks Matt for making the drive up.

The weather was warm, but not as sunny as I would have liked.  I know the people who live there were charishing the clouds.  Fortunately we did get to enjoy some pool time on our last day.

It was great to get back.  Wish I could have spent some more time. 

Rochester, NY

Went back to Rochester for my friend Tara's Bridal Shower.  Flight from Boston is only an hour.  Really can't complain.  The shower was fun.  She had a brunch with yummy fruits, potatoes, french toast, eggs, mimosas.  The venue was an old mill that is now used for weddings and such.

 

 

 

We also enjoyed some cake. 

Can you guess the flavor? ... Strawberry.  A blue, strawberry flavored cake.  Definitely a little confusion to ones senses

After eating ourselves into a food coma we went back to her place and relaxed, before going out for the evening.

Unfortunately didn't get many pics of the night out.  We started off with some margaritas at a Mexican food restaurant

Chili pepper lights : )

After dinner we went and met up with a couple of friends for a 30th bday party.  Definitely some interesting bars in Rochester.   Made for some interesting people watching.  Lets just say you can dress up the woman, but it won't make her classy.  : )

The next day we went and wandered around a park.  I was kind of sad the leaves were already off the trees, but still beautiful in its own way

 I didn't get any photos, but they had  interactive booths set up all over with info on the flora, and fauna

We did see a deer

Was fun to see Tara's friends again and of course meet Phil.  See you guys in January!

North Leominster, MA

Thank goodness for AZ friends coming to MA or I may not ever get out and explore outside the Boston area. There are definitely some charming towns in New England.

We had dinner at this great Italian restaurant. Food was great, but I'd recommend avoiding the weekend rush. As it was quite a hotspot and difficult to get a table.

Had a great time playing with this cutie

Checking out the changing leaves

And of course visiting friends

Great to see you guys and thanks for letting me invade your family time.

 

 

Plymouth, MA

Thanks to Matt and the Douglas FD I finally made a trip out to see Plymouth Rock with my friend Audra.  I had always expected it to be bigger.

In short- the rock went through some tough times including being moved, buried, broken in half and eventually saved when some old dude who I think was on the Mayflower or knew people on it mental break down saved it. 

We also saw the Mayflower- or a replica. 

which had about 100 people aboard.  About half died that first winter.  Eventually Plymouth became a booming colony.

The Mayflower had been used previously as a Merchant vessel.  Once in a wine trade with France and another time a fish trade with Norway before the Pilgrims hired her.

Some interesting facts about the pilgrims-
They didn't always wear black like we think and belt buckles had not been invented yet

Thanksgiving to them was going to church and thanking god.  What we think of as Thanksgiving was originally celebrated in Sept and known as Harvest Day. 

All food was placed on the table and people ate in whichever order they desired and mostly just stuck to the food in front of them and not everything on the table.

Plymouth also has beautiful statue "monument to the forefathers" in honor of the original pilgrims.
The top of the statue is Faith and she is surrounded by Education, Morality, Law and Freedom.

 After our quick sightseeing tour we headed out for a yummy seafood dinner.  Unfortunately couldn't stay long.  Nice that it's so convient to get to.  Am definitely interested in seeing Plymouth Plantation and exploring the town some more.

Boston/NYC

 

One of the great things about living in Boston is that people are willing to come visit. Most recently was my friend Kristall. Who made the trip from Portland, Oregon!

She was awesome letting me drag her all over both cities.  Our Boston tour included the Freedom Trail-

 Sam Adams Brewery-My first time to do the Brewery tour.  I was disappointed that we didn't get to sample some of their more unusual flavors.

Harvard Square where we did a tour with tour guides dressed in costume.  The biggest thing I learned from the Harvard Square tour- Don't touch the feet of John Harvard statue ( who by the way is actually a statue of some other random guy) I guess the Harvard students think it's hysterical to piss all over the feet.  Hmm, and these are suppose to be our nations brightest minds.

Boston adventures ended with a visit to the MFA, and Fenway Park.  Unfortunately Red Sox were away when she was here

We also took the bus down to NYC where we stayed at the Jewel.  A great hotel located at Rockefellar center.  In two days we managed to see- The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, WTC site, Rockefellar Center, Times Square, The Frying Pan, The High Line, Grenwich Village, Meat Packing District, Central Park, Trump Tower, Penn Station, The Empire State Building- phew! I feel like I'm forgetting something, but it was a lot! Here are few pics from our NYC adventures

Had a great time! Thanks for coming to visit Kristall. XO