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Long Weekend Part 2

Last weekend was a four day weekend for me and my beautiful bride. This weekend, as in right this very minute, is another long weekend. This time we will have the kids, and it’s probably going to be a stay-cation kinda thing and that is perfect.

The kids are on a trip with their father and step mother right now but we will pick them up tomorrow. We haven’t seen them for a full week. That sucks. I’m so looking forward to tomorrow.

Long weekend #2: bring it on!

The White House

I don’t know if the Obamas were home or not.

We went to the White House on Friday. Every time I’ve walked down this street there has been a crowd, but this time it might have been bigger than before because there is a Pokemon Gym right at the tree on the left of the picture. Figure at least 3/4 of these people are just playing Pokemon Go.

The ban the bomb signs have been there every time I’ve visited over the last 12 years. I don’t think they were playing Pokemon Go though. They might have been, I just don’t think they were.

You can just barely see them in the image, but there were a couple of staff people standing in front of the front door. There was also a van off to the left with it’s hood up. I wonder if it was left there by Billy Carter or something.

I don’t know whether or not the Obamas were home. Part of me wanted to knock on the door and ask if I could shake the man’s hand. Instead though, I just got my ass kicked in the Pokemon Gym.

The Most Hipster Thing I’ve Ever Been A Part Of

So hipster that even the cola is locally produced.

Over fourth of July weekend in 2008 my wife and I drove to Saratoga Springs, NY to see Rush at SPAC. We sat in the second to last row of the balcony and the show was freakin’ awesome.


On the drive there we went through a town called Woodstock, VT and were instantly won over. We did a little sight seeing and decided that at the very least we were going to buy a house there when we retired. Best case scenario we were going to buy a building there and open a business and build a summer home on a river or something.


Instead of doing all of that, we decided it would be great to add Woodstock to our honeymoon. Our first of three stops on what was originally going to be a huge road trip, but turned into cross country travel instead. Tewksbury, MA to Woodstock, VT to Manchester, NH (just for the airport) to Washington, DC to San Diego, CA. Woodstock was limited to just one full day, but we once again had a great time wandering around the town and just loving everything about it.

Today we were supposed to drive from New York City back home. We left at around 8:00 am and headed North. Shortly after we got out of the city my wife had an idea. Let’s head North into New York State and then cross over into Vermont and pass through Woodstock. We just wanted to stop for lunch and then head home. Consider it the long, long, long way home.

We picked a restaurant using Yelp! and unknowingly found the single most hipster establishment on Earth. The place is called Worthy Kitchen. Locally produced beef, locally produced poultry, locally produced produce, locally produced craft beer, and (if you can dig this) locally produced soda. The guy taking our order actually looked down his nose at us when we ordered a coke.

I got a burger and fries. It was outstanding. Jen got something with oodles of cheese on it that she said was excellent. The locally produced cola was… eh. Either way it was something else about Woodstock, VT that was really cool. Even if it was a weird alternate reality where hipsters rule the world.

Not My Best Travel Moment

We cut short our two days in Washington by one day and decided to spend that day in New York. We booked a hotel before we left DC, but otherwise had no plans.

We head North and Waze takes us into Manhattan through the Lincoln tunnel. The second we pull out of the tunnel a thunderstorm hits and the sky literally falls on us. Huge, massive downpour.

We get to the hotel, my wife runs inside to check us in and I wait for a valet. I’m double parked. A city bus comes up behind me. I have to move.

Around the block I hit monster traffic as everyone here (just like at home in Boston) equates rain with a suspension of all driving laws. Idiots everywhere. It took me about 10 minutes to get around the block. When I got back I double parked again. No one from the valet paying any attention. The rain continues to pour. Again, a city bus starts honking.

Screw you, bus driver!

I pulled up a little and blocked a driveway. Someone from the hotel comes out with an umbrella. Do I give you my key? No. Damn it. I get all discombobulated trying to hurry up and get the bags and get inside out of the rain and figure out who the hell gets my car key and who gives me a receipt…

…and I forgot my iPhone in the fucking car.

Looks like no Pokemon Go at the Empire State Building for me.