You know what’s better than seeing New England like a tourist? Seeing New England like a tourist with a local. Michael Terrile teaches art at the Central school. I mentioned him in my entry about the Currier. He and I have talked about going to the MFA together for quite some time. An exhibit by the Japanese artist Hokusai seemed like the perfect incentive to visit the museum.

I’ve posted about my trip to the MFA before, but seeing it with Michael brought a whole new dimension to the trip. Visiting an art museum with an art teachers is kind of like having your own personal tour guide. I was most impressed with his explanation of many of the modern art exhibits. I’ve often noted that many works look as though a first grader could have created it, but he helped me see that the work and study that it took to create something that looked so easy was the essence of the art. We both agreed that it was more evident in some artists than others.

The highlight of the day was seeing Hokusai’s most famous painting “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.” I was surprised how small the painting was. It’s always a thrill to see masterworks, and I know that Michael was as in awe as I was.  I just need to teach him how to take a selfie!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I grew up in the Kansas City area. I moved away after high school to sing/act in a traveling music and drama ministry for four years. I came back to Missouri, got married and went to college. After college we moved to Oregon for seven years where I was music minister and elementary teacher. We moved back to Kansas City in 1998 and spent the next fifteen years teaching in the Raytown School district. In those fifteen years, I got to know Kansas City pretty well by singing in the Kansas Symphony Chorus and performing in community theater in different venues around town. Before college I worked in downtown Kansas City for two and half years, and I thought I’d seen and done most of what Kansas City had to offer.

Elizabeth Kay was born in June, so we booked tickets to Kansas City as soon we could. Autumn and Jim were also able to fly to Kansas City so our whole family could join together to celebrate the arrival of this precious little girl!

Nothing I write can describe the overwhelming feelings of love and pride as you gaze into the eyes of your first grandchild.  I never thought I’d be ready for this phase of my life, but it’s amazing. My brother Dave and his wife Jennifer purchased a condominium in Lee’s Summit that Erik and Amanda are renting, and it gives them the perfect space for this new addition to their family. I love seeing the baby and visiting the kids, but as you’ve seen, I can’t sit still for long periods of time.

 

Erik loves cities as much as I do. Before I moved to New England, we spent a day seeing things in Kansas City that tourists should see. One thing we weren’t able to do was the Negro Leagues and Jazz museums in the historic 18th and Vine district. Erik loves jazz and has played trombone in many combos.  Like his mother, he’s also a huge Royals fan, and is also aware of the legacy of the Kansas City Monarchs negro league of the mid-twentieth century. These museums are both Kansas City gems and celebrate a rich heritage of African-American art and sport.

After the museum we headed over to Arthur Bryant’s BBQ and had lunch. I’m not a huge fan of AB’s BBQ as there are other joints in KC that I prefer. But Arthur Bryant’s was the first to begin the tradition of KC BBQ and it seemed fitting.

After lunch we headed over to the Liberty Memorial. This torch style monument is the national World War I memorial and both of us were eager to visit the newly completed museum underground. I have to say that I was really impressed with the exhibit, and very proud that Kansas City houses such a quality venue. We took the elevator to the top of the torch for some amazing views of the city.

Union Hill cemetery is just up the street from the Liberty Memorial so we paid respects at the grave of my great grandfather Elisha and his wife. My father had taken Erik here a couple of years ago, and he was eager to show me their headstones. Erik loves family. He has a strong sense of heritage and makes everyone who is related to him, proud that he’s part of the family. For me, he’ll always be the best son I could ever have.  Thank you son for sharing the day as I visited my home town like a tourist.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I love summer in New England! The days are rarely over 85° and there is very little humidity. When it is hot, there’s an ocean beach less than an hour away.  This is very different from the mid-west where temperatures are often 95° to 100° with 85-90% humidity. Summer days in New England are made for exploring new places to me, but old places for New England.  Harvard Yard is a very old place in Cambridge, MA. But, since I had never been there it was a new place to me. As always, we drove down to the Wellington station and hopped on the Orange line into the city. We changed to the red line at Downtown Crossing and headed over to the Cambridge side. The Harvard station lets you off at Harvard Square. Coming out of the station, I felt like we were back in London. There was almost a medieval vibe to this energetic area filled with shops, restaurants and bars. Janet and I strolled through the book store and a couple of other shops before heading across the street and into the campus.

Cambridge is home to two of the most elite schools in the nation, but anyone can walk through the grounds and feel the aura of higher learning in this renowned institution. Many others were doing the same as us as we passed groups on campus tours and others just visiting. My Alma Mater, William Jewell College likes to think they are where the ivy grows in Kansas City,  and I’m grateful for the education I received. But sometimes I think it would have been nice to have a degree from Hahvahd University.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I started teaching in 1991 where I first became known as Mr. Dancy. Many people I know shy away from that kind of formality, but when you’re a school teacher you need to create some sort of barrier for respect. It took me awhile to get used to it, but before the year was over I accepted the title as a part of myself. Fifteen years later when I became a principal, some would call me Principal Dancy which always sounded odd, but I got used to it as well. A couple of years ago I received my Ed. D. in Educational Leadership/Education Technology. Now I’m known as Dr. Dancy which is actually quite nice. I’ve also begun teaching part time at Southern New Hampshire University so many of my students are also calling me Professor Dancy. I like that one too. However, in June of 2015 I received my favorite title since I became a dad, and that is Papa (Grandpa). Elizabeth was born to our son, Erik and daughter-in-law, Amanda, and I couldn’t be prouder. I’m sure this will mark the beginning of a brand new adventure which will require more trips to Kansas City. Janet and I are thrilled for our new titles.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned the art of planning. I especially like to plan trips. Oh, there’s always room for spontaneity, but there’s also a huge thrill in planning a trip down to the last minute and seeing everything happen the way you planned it. Our 29th anniversary was a planning event that evolved and evolved until the day of the event. Even so it was great fun to see it unfold.

We both adore Kristin Chenoweth, so when we learned she was coming back to Broadway to do a show, we thought that would be an excellent way to celebrate our anniversary. I bought two matinee tickets for decent prices and felt really good about it. As the time drew closer we began to consider a double header. Why not, we’re there and it seemed a waste to drive down, see a show, and then drive back. We decided to visit the TKTS outlet at South Street Seaport when it opened to avoid the lines of Times Square. Now, the day was beginning to fill up, so I needed to make lunch and dinner reservations. Not wanting to spend a fortune on a hotel, I booked a room in Stamford, CT to save a few bucks. Janet woke on our day of departure with a terrible head cold, but a determination to see the day through.

After arriving in New York, I dropped Janet off into a line that was longer than I expected. I was able to find street parking and joined her to get tickets for Something Rotten. We’d seen a number the week before on the Tony’s and thought it might be good fun. I’d booked parking near Times Square, so we headed to the garage and then on to a table the Obao Thai restaurant I’d reserved. Though sick, Janet managed to enjoy the meal and we both agreed to come back again. On the 20th Century was kind of a throwback to madcap musicals of the 40s and 50s. Kristin was wonderful and we treasured the opportunity to see her perform live. Our dinner was Italian at Mama Mia 44SW, and we both wished Janet had felt better. By that time, the sickness was starting to settle in and made eating difficult. She was able to eat enough to sustain her through another show. I was so proud of the trooper she’d become.

Something Rotten was hilarious.  The combination of the Shakespeare parody and the references to at least 50 musicals made that show one of the best I’d ever seen. It had all the big production numbers and a lighthearted script that make musical theater a treat! Though we came to see Kristin, Something Rotten was the winner of the day.

The hotel I booked in Stamford was exactly what I paid for, and probably less. Though it was a bed to sleep in, I think we can do better next time. I was certainly glad for Janet to get some much needed rest. Living the adventure with me can be straining at times, and she proved she was more than up to the task. My plans paid off and we had a wonderful day that we will remember for many years to come! Happy Anniversary darling!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I’ve lived in New Hampshire almost two years and visited the MFA a couple of times and the Isabella Stewart-Gardiner museum.  I’ve yet to visit the local Currier Art Museum right here in Manchester, so today’s the day. My friend, Michael Terrile, teaches art at the Central School and is always encouraging me to go for a visit. Some days I document everything in pictures, other days I simply enjoy. Today is a day to enjoy.

The Currier is a small museum with a little wing dedicated to modern art. Two hallways in the front of the museum are show cases filled with glass art including a fascinating exhibit of glass paper weights. Three galleries to the side of the museum contain European artwork through centuries. The special exhibit on display was work of John James Audubon.  I’d heard of the Audubon society, but did not know there was an actual person behind the organization. He was a painter and an ornithologist. His paintings were extremely detailed and often accompanied by a taxidermy example of the animal. While most of his works were of birds, there were many other animals depicted in the paintings.

My visit didn’t last long, but I enjoyed the museum. Looks like I’ll have some stuff to talk to Michael about when I see him at the Central School.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Who doesn’t love eccentric millionaires? Isabella Stewart-Gardiner was a 19th century Boston socialite and patron of the arts. She loved to travel and collected many works of art. When her house became too small to house her treasures, she commissioned the building of the Isabella Stewart-Gardiner museum which lies about a block behind the Museum of Fine Arts in the back bay area of Boston.

It was a beautiful day for visiting this hodgepodge of paintings, tapestries, and statuary. Probably the most interesting area of the museum was the three story glass covered courtyard in the middle of the building. The sound of the water splashing in the fountain pond gave the place a very tranquil feeling despite the hundreds of visitors moving throughout the building. I was only allowed to take pictures in the courtyard which is why this post doesn’t have many photos.

Most of the museum is rather dark, and the art reflects the collector’s personal taste.  Before the advent of public museums, most masterworks were held in private collections such as this. Unlike public museums, the collection does not change. In fact, Mrs. Gardiner stipulated in her will that the collection should not undergo any significant changes. That would be part of the reason that there are empty frames on the third level. The art in these frames was stolen in 1990. Wikipedia says the frames still hang as homage to the lost art and a placeholder for their return.  I think they just add to the eccentricity of the place.

Janet and I also wandered through the modern additions which included a working greenhouse for the flowers in the courtyard, a gift shop, and a concert hall. Of course I had to check out the acoustics in this theater built with the stage in the center of the audience.

This experience will be archived in my memory in that large file cabinet Janet often refers to as “totally useless information.” Who knows, maybe I have a destiny to be a Jeopardy contestant. Until then, I’ll keep learning.

 

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

I don’t mind revisiting places as long as I’m adding new experiences to my memories. I love living in an apartment. Some people do not like having neighbors in such close proximity, but that doesn’t bother me. I love that when I want to go somewhere, I lock the door and leave. No worries about the grass needing mowed, or other household responsibilities. This lack of responsibility also means that down time in an apartment can be boring. This is one of the reasons I go on so many adventures.

Today was one of those days with nothing to do in the apartment. I visited Salem last year, but I wanted Janet to share in the adventure.  A quick trip down to Mass. seemed like the thing to break the monotony.  Instead of walking the town, this time we took the Old Town Trolley. This makes our third Old Town Trolley tour, and I’ve been pleased every time.  As one of America’s oldest cities, Salem has a rich history with many stories. Our tour took us through nearly 400 years of history including the witch trials, the seaport, and Fort Pickering on Winter Island.  We still didn’t make it to the Peabody museum, but I have to save something for another day. Being the foodies that we are, we like to try local eateries. The chef found out we had lived in Kansas City and offered for us to try his Kansas City style BBQ brisket.  It was very good, and may really have tasted like one of the hundred BBQ joints in KC.   Having BBQ in New England though, is like lobster in Kansas City.  Somehow, it never seems to fit.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

Peter Pan, MegaBus, and Chinatown bus are lines I’d never heard of until moving to  New England. After traveling the MassPike, I-95, I-495 and other interstates, these buses became all too familiar as daily transports between Boston, New York, and other cities in the northeastern megalopolis. Some of these lines advertise fares as low as $1 each way if you’re the first to buy a ticket for that day’s trips.

Autumn’s birthday was coming up, and I thought it would be neat to take her to a show in New York.  I think I’ve written before that her husband, Jim, hates going into New York. He lives about an hour away and has only been in the city less than half a dozen times. I’ve been there more than he has. However, Jim wanted to do something special for his new wife, and if that meant going to NYC, he decided he would suck it up and go.  I booked tickets to see Ave Q, as I thought this might be a show he’d enjoy. I already knew Autumn would love it.

All that to say that I booked a round trip bus fare on Peter Pan for about $25. I parked in a subway lot and boarded my bus at South Station in Boston around 7:00 A.M. to arrive in NYC by 11:30.  Jim and Autumn arrived on the NJ Transit train in Penn Station where we ate lunch and prepared for the day.  It has since become a ritual for Autumn to visit the Nintendo store in Rockefeller Plaza when she comes to the city. Poor Jim had to endure a sardine can subway full of NY Yankee fans as we made our way over to 5th ave. I have to give him props for what he’ll endure for his wife. After the Nintendo store, we visited the M & M store in Times Square until time for the show.

 

Avenue Q is not a family show, which was why Janet did not join us, but my little partial family enjoyed it thoroughly. Jim, Autumn, and I had a wonderful day together. I know he won’t go back to the city for a long time, but I was really proud that he ventured out of his comfort zone for the day. They boarded their train, and I boarded my bus back to Boston. I got home around 1:30 AM.   Though in past trips I’d made NYC a stop on the way home, I never dreamed it could become a day-trip. Thank you Peter Pan!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

As of 2015, I’ve worked in public schools for 24 years, in three states, and four districts. In Oregon and Missouri, spring break was observed in March.  When I moved to New England, I found that spring break occurred in the last week of April, partially due to a winter break in the last week of February. Winter break, as we call it here in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, helps the local skiing economy, and provides a great time for Caribbean cruises and other warm weather vacations. This year, I decided to take advantage of the week by signing up for Powerschool University at Walt Disney World.

I need to note here that this was to be my eighth visit to Walt Disney World. I love Disney. I used to theme my whole third grade curriculum around Disney movies. It’s a magical place and I plan on revisiting the place many times in the future.

Powerschool is the student information system our district uses to maintain digital records for all our students. This is how our teachers take attendance, record grades, and keep contact information for our students.  It sounds easy on the surface, but when you’re the technology director who needs to know the back end of things, it can be pretty complicated. Powerschool University is held at different times throughout the year in cities throughout the country.  The February break seemed like a perfect opportunity to attend the event, and escape the cold winter at the same time.

I won’t bore you with all the details of the four days of classes I attended.  Instead I’ll share some highlights of staying at the resort in one of the least populated times of the year. PSU was held at the Yacht Club resort outside Epcot Center. Janet & I had stayed at the Dolphin Resort and the Animal Kingdom resort with the kids about ten years prior, and were familiar with Disney’s attention to detail. The Yacht Club was amazing. Our stay from Sunday evening through Wednesday night was both comfortable and convenient as it is located between Epcot and Disney Studios theme parks. While I attended classes, Janet was able to enjoy Epcot, the Magic Kingdom, and Disney Studios. She even got to spend an entire day at the pool which is one of her absolute favorite pastimes.  I was able to join her in the evenings for dinner, and some evening attractions. We especially enjoyed Fantasmic and Disney Studios, Soarin at Epcot, and the new laser show on Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom. The crowds are so few in February that I was able to ride Soarin, Mission Space, and Fast Track within 45 minutes.

PSU ended on Thursday, but Janet and I opted for another day to spend at the Animal Kingdom. The Yacht Club went back to normal pricing after the sessions, so we booked two nights at the All-Star Sports resort.  Lesson learned, never downgrade your stay at Disney World. In fact, if you don’t have to stay at an economy resort, don’t. The level of comfort we had grown accustomed to at the Yacht Club was sorely missed. All Star sports is a place school groups book, and the noises coming though the walls were evidence.

Our day at Animal Kingdom was awesome. The temperatures were in the 50’s, so all the Floridians were wearing parkas. The Kali River raft ride was completely empty. Not only was I the only one on my raft, I was the only one on the entire ride. The animals didn’t seem to mind the cooler temperatures. Our lines were short, and fast passes weren’t needed. In fact, I gave up my fast pass to Mt. Everest because I could get on an hour earlier with little to no wait.

As I’ve noted in past entries, living in New England has many perks, including it’s proximity to major tourist destinations. The winter break is one of those perks that encourages New Englanders to live like tourists.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

Sometimes I plug places and dates into Expedia to see what an extended adventure might cost us. I was doing just that over the holidays and came up on a deal for two flights and two nights lodging in Washington D.C. for around $500. Anybody who’s done much traveling knows it could cost that much for 1 flight alone, much less two night in a downtown hotel. We decided this would be fun to do over the Martin Luther King Holiday. As a double bonus, we could celebrate the 30th anniversary of our first date which was in……Washington D. C.

We have frequent flyer miles through Delta, but this deal was though Jet Blue.  I really wish Jet Blue flew more places.  I love their airline! We flew into Reagan International and were able to take the subway to within six blocks of our hotel. Let me take a second to note that Janet & I love subways. We find them to be incredibly cost efficient and fast. When we go to Boston, we park outside the city and take a train.  D.C.’s subway system is a lot nicer than Boston’s and I really enjoyed using it.

After checking in to our hotel, we lost no time heading over toward the capitol where we had 2:00 tour reserved. We stopped in at the Library of Congress for a brief visit. An original version of the Magna Carta was on display and we enjoyed the replica of Thomas Jefferson’s library.

The capitol has changed quite a bit in the thirty years since we’d been here with the addition of the new visitor’s center on the east side of the building. We took the standard tour through the rotunda, the old senate chamber, and the old supreme court room. I wish they’d take you into the house or senate chambers, but I guess that would mean the public might see what really happens.  The rotunda was being worked on so a huge parachute like curtain was hung to catch any falling materials.

After the capitol we headed over to the Museum of American History, but not before reenacting some pictures from 1985 in front of the reflecting pool. The bunting on the capitol in 1985 was from the inauguration that had taken place the day before. 

I was heartbroken to find that the Muppet exhibit was no longer on display. I really had wanted to see Kermit. I had to send my father a picture of Archie and Edith Bunker’s chairs. We were both excited to visit Julia Child’s kitchen which looked exactly like it did in the movie Julie and Julia.

It was raining on Sunday, but we had already planned to take the Old Town Trolley ride through the city.  Since it’s a hop on hop off experience, we thought it would be the best way to see as much as could in a short amount of time. Just like Boston, they did a great job of telling the stories behind many of the buildings and monuments.

After the tour we took a short walk through the museum of natural history to see the Hope Diamond, some pretty large sapphires and Jumbo the elephant.  But our main objective now was lunch at the National Air and Space Museum. This had been one of our stops on that first date in 1985. That day had been very cold, and we liked staying inside as much as possible.

After lunch, we got back on the Trolley and headed over to the Jefferson Memorial. I think this is one of my favorite monuments on the mall. The place is filled with quotes that help you understand exactly how much of a genius Jefferson really was. 

From there, we made our way around the Tidal Basin to the FDR monument. I did not know there was an FDR monument, but it was also impressive. I really appreciated how much tribute they also paid to Eleanor.  I’ve always admired her and her place in history.

 

Our trip around the tidal basin concluded at the Martin Luther King memorial.  MLK is one of Janet’s favorite heroes and it seemed appropriate to be here on this day.  The attitude was very solemn compared to many of the other monuments.

We crossed the street to visit the Korea and Vietnam war memorials. I was able to find my uncle Bob’s name on the wall. The Lincoln monument is always impressive and reminded us of a funny story on the day of that first date. We were there because the singing group we toured with was spending a day in D.C. After touring the capitol and some museums, we all got on the bus to go the Lincoln monument. Our driver kept getting confused and took us over the Arlington Bridge three times before finally making it to the monument, just like the scene in the Chevy Chase movie, European Vacation.

After the monument we decided to take the extra tour through Arlington Cemetery.  Every American should visit this hallowed place once in their lifetime. The sacrifices made by these people are never forgotten here, and are honored with respect and dignity. We felt adventurous and hopped off to see the statue of the Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima.  I say adventurous because there was only one more bus coming through that area to take as back to the entrance.  At the end of the tour, we were able to witness the final ceremony of the changing of the guard that included a wreath hanging. It was a perfect way to end the day.

Our last day in D.C. included a walk down to the White House and trip through the National Gallery of Art. It’s hard for me to go to large city, and not check out the art museum.  With tired feet, we headed back the hotel to retrieve our bags and get to the airport. One of the best parts about the city is how much a person can do for free. I’m so glad that every citizen of the United States, or the world for that matter, can visit these places and learn of the rich heritage and history of the country.  What an amazing way to revisit that first date, thirty years ago.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I love Christmas lights and decorations. Kansas City, MO is a magical place at Christmas time. Whether the lights of the plaza, Crown center, Union Station, the Power and Light district, or the lights of the Marriott hotel the city just reverberates with color and spectacle. Keep in mind that Kansas City is a small big city with a metro area of about 2 million people. Boston, by contrast is about 7 million, and New York is well over 20 million. With this density of people, my expectations were very high for Christmas decorations in the city.

This month Janet & I returned to New York after visiting Jim & Autumn, in hopes of beginning a tradition of visiting 5th Ave to view the department store windows. I love New York at Christmas! The walk down 5th Avenue is delightful especially in and around Rockefeller Plaza. The store windows are impeccable, and the exterior decorations are over the top. Music plays on loud speakers, and the crowds add to the excitement of the season. I hope to continue this trip every year we live here.

Knowing what New York had to offer, and the bar Kansas City had set, I had high hopes for Boston. I hadn’t been down to the city last year, so I really didn’t know what the city decorations would be like. I’d read that there were lights in Boston Commons, and I’d heard of a musical Christmas tree in Quincy Market.  With this in mind, I begged my wife to come with and see what a Boston Christmas looked like. The day was cold, and it seemed that the sun would never set. Janet’s feet were freezing as we waited in Boston Commons for that elusive magical moment. Sadly, it never came.  Yes, some trees had strands of lights, and yes the tree in Quincy Market played and flashed for five minutes, but somehow the lights of the city failed to provide the spectacle to which I’d become accustomed. Poor Janet was frozen, and tired and I vowed not to drag her down to see the Boston lights again. I suppose not every city can be a Christmas wonderland. Boston certainly has it’s own charms, like these authentic gaslights in Beacon Hill which look like something from a Dickens novel. It’s a different kind of Christmas magic. Maybe someday I’ll go back and try to find the novel way Boston decorates, without comparing it to the spectacle of other cities.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Snow in New England is a serious thing. I wrote about snow last year, and as bad as it was in 2013, this year was even worse. Thanksgiving week began with a horrendous storm that knocked the power out through most of the Manchester area including our apartment complex. Fortunately for us, Thanksgiving day was planned to be at Steve and Kim’s where we were able to get cleaned up and enjoy a warm day. We returned to our home that night to find the power still out, and the apartment very cold.

It was obvious that staying home on Friday was out of the picture so an adventure was in order. I love thematic adventures and thought that there was no better Thanksgiving adventure than to visit Plymouth again and see where the holiday began. Last year I toured the Mayflower, but I knew there was more to this town than a ship.

As with many New England towns, the downtown had more than a few antique stores, and other novelty shops.  We always like to look, but now that we’ve downsized to an apartment we rarely buy. Janet had never toured the Mayflower, so we took advantage of the experience. I don’t mind visiting places a second time. After the tour, we found a great bistro on the harbor with a nice view of the ship in the distance for lunch.

After lunch we headed over to the Plimoth Plantation. This is a reconstruction of the colony that was settled by the pilgrims after their voyage in 1620. The plantation is divided into a colonist area, and a native American area. In the colonist portion, actors portray characters who share their experiences with the visitors who tour their homes and work areas.

The native American area contains a longhouse and other structures to visit. The guides are members of tribal people who lived in the area during the time of the pilgrims. They shared information of their heritage, and what life was like at the time. These people were not actors and did not attempt to portray a character.

I found the entire experience to be amazing and so relevant for the holiday. By the time we returned home, the power was back on, and our apartment was once again livable.  I guess I learned today that even when circumstances seem miserable, adventures are just down the road in New England.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

In 2010, Janet & I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary a year early with a trip to London and Paris. To this day, it remains one of our greatest and most memorable adventures. Our second night in London we attended a performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love never Dies. Though the show was panned by many critics for it’s labored plot, Janet & I fell in love with the show due in no small part to the stars, Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo. Having sung many duets together, we recognized the extraordinary chemistry between these two and began to follow their careers, and more importantly their profiles on Facebook (LOL).

As fate would have it, Ramin was cast as the star, Jean Valjean in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables, and this became a must-see on our bucket list of adventures. Fortunately we were due for a visit to see Autumn and Jim in NJ. I thought it might be cool for us to stay at a resort by the beach. After all it was the off-season and it looked like a good deal. So we booked a hotel in Seaside, less than a block from the beach. Unfortunately, the place was a flea trap after the long summer season. Bad as the hotel was, I try to find the best in any situation. I woke early see the sunrise from the boardwalk and was richly rewarded. I love sunrises at the beach, and these pictures only partially capture  the awesomeness of the experience.

After a great visit with the kids, we headed to the city to see Les Miz. Sitting in the 5th row made the show an immersive experience. Ramin was as incredible as we hoped. So much so, we decided to wait at the stage door for an autograph, and were duly rewarded.

Living in the northeast continues to make these types of adventures accessible.  Some days it makes the old cliche “living the dream” seem like a reality.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

I like to surprise Janet. She’s never wanted me to buy her flowers on Valentines Day, Mothers Day, or any of the other obligatory holidays because she’s always preferred them to be spontaneous.  I’ve often transferred the flower philosophy to other things like dinners, gifts, and yes adventures, too.

Janet didn’t have a job lined up until two months after she moved. Through some of my connections, she was able to get an interview for a 1st grade teaching position in Windham. Her excellence got her the job! Starting a new job is always hard, and after a month, I thought she needed a reward for all her hard work.  On Friday afternoon, I came home and told her to pack a bag. I’d booked a night in Hyannis on Cape Cod with plans to spend Saturday on Nantucket Island.

Hyannis was great. Main Street is bustling with night time activity. We found a trendy Tapas bar for a dinner before retiring to our hotel for the evening.

 

The morning began with a beautiful ride on a high speed ferry to Nantucket. The day was better than I could have imagined. The downtown included museums, art galleries, trendy shops and restaurants. The piers were also filled with kiosks and novelty shops. We found a cute little seafood diner for lunch before boarding a bus tour of the island. I think the highlight of the tour was the lighthouse that had been moved a couple hundred feet away from the shore to protect it from erosion. Nantucket is a pricey place that we could never afford to live, or even spend an extended visit.  But it was excellent for a one day adventure, and an excellent way to surprise your best friend.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

I’ve visited Boston many times in the last year, but I’ve not done a lot that was really “touristy.”  Today, Janet & I decided to explore Boston like a tourist. I researched the best tours and settled on the the Old Town Trolley tour and Boston Harbor cruise.  Not only was it the best value, but it included the harbor cruise, which no other tour included. I couldn’t have been more pleased.

The tour began at the long pier near near the aquarium and proceeded through all the major sites of Boston. It’s a hop on hop off tour so we saw the North Side, the Constitution, the theatre district, the state house, Boston Commons, Copley square, Symphony Hall, Newbury Street, Fenway park and more. Our tour was the driver’s first solo tour. I have to applaud his effort. I was the only one on the tour that knew of the Kingston Trio’s Charlie on the MTA song. That’s OK, as I’ve said before, I’m a geek. My wife is famous for saying I’m full of totally useless information.

I didn’t take this picture, but I’m not ashamed to promote their business. Old Town Trolley does an excellent job capturing the spirit and history of the tours they offer.

After the trolley tour, we ate lunch at Quincy Market then boarded our boat for the harbor tour. This was an unexpected pleasure. Boston harbor is replete with historic and legendary sites, the Constitution, a Nantucket light ship, The North Church, and the No Name restaurant. The No Name isn’t really a legendary site, but it’s on fisherman’s pier and my in-laws love the place.

Today was a day that epitomize’s this blog.  We did things today that tourists do, which is exactly what I always hoped to do when we moved here. I hope to do more of these “touristy” activities in the future!

 

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

If you’ve been reading from the beginning, you’ll know that my in-laws, Jim & June celebrate their anniversary in August.  Last year we had a big party for their 55th at Kim & Steve’s house with lots of friends and family, and then a trip to York beach and Nubble light. Fifty-Six isn’t quite the same milestone as 55 so Janet and I volunteered to take them to  Hampton Beach for the day, and then have dinner at Brown’s Lobster Pound.  I took the day off work, Friday, and I was so glad. I think tourists understand Hampton Beach better than locals. All the locals come on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays. Tourists are at the beach on the weekdays. Regardless of the day, Janet and I try to get to the beach before 9:00. Usually we can get a decent parking space that doesn’t require us walking half a mile with all our gear. This summer we’ve equipped ourselves with the basics; folding beach chairs, umbrella, blanket, insulated tote bag, and water bottles. We know how to set up our space that says “this is ours, don’t mess with us.”  Jim and June are up at the crack of dawn, so it was not an inconvenience for them to show up by 7:30 to get to the beach.

Living this close to the beach makes every summer weekend feel like you’re on vacation.  The cool thing is that we don’t have to pay airfare or hotels. It’s simply a 45 minute drive from home. The weather was gorgeous!! It was a beautiful day to be at the beach.  Jim and June aren’t social media people so we posted pictures on Facebook for them and tagged our family members so that friends of theirs could congratulate them. Within three hours, they had over 100 likes and many comments. We shared these comments on a regular basis and it really made their day.

We were ready to be done with the beach around 1:00 and packed up the van. Brown’s Lobster Pound is legendary in these parts.  Across the street is Markey’s Lobster Pool, and quite a rivalry exists between the two. Since the Sheppards have a long standing tradition at Browns, that’s where we ended up. Browns is cash only and you order outside, but can sit inside. The line to order wasn’t terrible, but the wait for the food reflected the number of people crowded around. Jim had his predictable favorite dish of scallops.  None of us opted for the lobster, but our food was good nonetheless. Seating at Browns is on long picnic style tables. You bump elbows with those around you and everyone appears to be having a good time as you here the kitchen calling for orders of lobstahs and steamahs.

Partway through our dinner, an announcement came over the intercom that people parked in the lot may want to move their vehicles as the tide was coming in. Maybe because of the number of people talking over the announcement, or maybe because I didn’t think it applied to me, I just ignored the warning.  Lesson learned, listen to the lady when she warns of the tide coming in. We finished our dinner and proceeded to the parking lot, only to find the van sitting in 3-4 inches of water. Fortunately the van started up and I was able to pick up the family on dry land, but it sure did make a great story to tell.

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

 

I didn’t want to run Janet ragged with my weekend adventures so I made sure to pace myself. We enjoyed the summer in our new apartment and explored our local surroundings a lot so that she would become familiar with the area. On Saturday we were in Concord having dinner with her parents when her mother gave us a newspaper article about Franconia Notch, located in northern New Hampshire in the White Mountains.  This looked very interesting to me, as I’d not visited the White Mountains or the site of the Old Man of the Mountain. The farthest north I’d been was to Plymouth for a performance of Les Misèrables at Plymouth State University.  She suggested we visit the flume at Franconia sometime. For Janet, sometime might mean next month, or possibly next year. For me it meant the next day, hence the warning-be careful what you suggest.

After church and lunch, I decided it was time for a new adventure and we headed up I-93 to the mountains. The drive only took an hour and half from Concord, and I was thrilled by the beautiful scenery along the way.  I was not prepared for the beauty of the flume. New Hampshire is known as the Granite state for good reason. There is granite everywhere. The flume is a natural waterfall that has cut through the granite in a very narrow steep canyon.  The park service has built stairs that travel along the falls and to the top for visitors to enjoy the beauty. While we were there I was also able to see my first covered bridge in New Hampshire. Someday I want to take a covered bridge drive to see as many as I can.

After the Flume, we drove a little farther to the actual Franconia Notch where the Old Man of the Mountain used to be.  In the early 2000s, after years of erosion, the landform tumbled to a heap at the bottom of the mountain.  The image can still be seen on residents’ license plates, but the rock formation is gone.

There are over a dozen ski resorts in New Hampshire.  Franconia Notch is home to Cannon Mountain ski resort, home of Olympic gold medalist Bodie Miller. It operates a tram through the summer to the top of the mountain.  This was a thrilling way to see the mountains. It was a cloudy day or we might have seen Mount Washington. After taking in the incredible vistas, we rode the tram to the bottom and visited the skiing museum that house Bodie’s Olympic medals. 

This adventure was truly fantastic. The weather was beautiful, the scenery gorgeous, and we got great exercise seeing the sites. Janet was a little surprised at how quickly I acted on her mother’s suggestion. She later told her mother not to be suggesting any more activities to me, as we might be jumping in the truck and heading out at the mere hint of an adventure.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

Janet & I are both educators and have been on dozens of field trips. I love field trips. It’s always a chance to go someplace and learn something new. Sometimes I already know a lot about the place and have been guilty of prompting the guide to tell us more, or I will supplement their spiel. Janet doesn’t hate field trips, but it’s not the favorite part of her job. When she was young, she visited many of the historic sites of Massachusetts as field trips. It’s always a joke in our home that she will not climb the stairs of Bunker Hill because of the many times she did it as a kid. I have yet to do that, but I’m sure I’ll get to it someday.

Today’s adventure was back to Concord, MA. I enjoyed my day there last year so much I wanted to share it with her. It was around the July 4th holiday and I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate the founding of our country than a place where it all began.  It was a hot day, but I insisted we get out and do something. She enjoyed the main street, going into antique stores and seeing the quaint shops.  We ate lunch at the tavern on the square, reputed as one of the oldest in America. I showed her the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery I’d visited last year, and to top it off, took her to the bridge and visitor’s center. It was here I learned a valuable lesson, field trips are not adventures. Walking the 1/4 mile trail to the bridge in the heat and back again wasn’t as much fun the second time around. I can’t blame her. These places were new and exciting for me because I was not accustomed to living in such close proximity. I hadn’t thought that her history might have been visiting these places as school field trips.  Please don’t hear me throwing my wife under the bus. This was only our first month living together in New England and we had a lot to learn as we explored an area that was familiar to her, but new to me. Suffice it to say, future adventures needed to steer clear of field trip material.

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

The major reason to move to the northeast was to be closer to our daughter. Making regular trips to New Jersey is part of the purpose of living here. With Janet here, it makes sense to be visiting as soon as possible. This was our first summer trip and we got to enjoy some of the touristy beach activities in New Jersey like mini-golf and bowling.

After visiting Jim and Autumn, we headed back to New Hampshire, but decided to take a more scenic route home. Our normal route is to travel north on I-95 to New Haven, and then travel north on I-91 to Hartford and then I-84 to the Mass Pike.  This trip we decided to take I-95 all the way to Boston to enjoy the Connecticut coast and see Rhode Island. When we reached New Haven, we decided to stop at the IKEA store and check out this phenomena that seemed to be the new thing in furniture and home decor. From memes and jokes, I knew that most of the furniture bought at IKEA required assembly, similar to the particle board entertainment cabinets I’d purchased through the years. What I didn’t know was how IKEA was the master at space saving arrangements perfect for apartment living.  Janet & I had lived in apartments in the first few years of our marriage, but had gotten used to living in houses for the last twenty years. When I moved all of our stuff from the house into the apartment it was apparent that we needed to rethink our style of living. IKEA is an experience as much as it is a shopping destination, and I loved every minute of it. Seeing all the arrangements and furniture options made my head spin with ideas. I am relieved to know that an IKEA exists in MA near my brother-in-law’s home. I know I’ll be down soon to start my IKEA collection.

After IKEA we continued our drive up I-95 and the coast. Connecticut has a beautiful coast line dotted with fishing villages. We stopped at one and found a cozy seafood shack to enjoy a local favorite.  One thing I learned today was that even the ordinary things, like a furniture store, can become an adventure.

 

 

 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller