Just some extra photos of our Boston trip.

Last Day

Again we hopped on the trolley for another, though last, day of fun! One goal today was to visit Harvard. Viv had an old college friend who is a professor there. So we had lunch in the faculty lounge and a personal tour. Where else, but Harvard would you see a student walking along carrying a lacrosse stick?

We also visited the famous Quincy Market Place, Newberry Street, Cheers and the top of the Prudential Building. And of course, I had to end the last night with a lobster dinner!

Everyone flew home the next morning, but I headed to Virginia to meet up with my high school girlfriends. STAY TUNED FOR MY VIRGINIA UPDATES!!

Day 4

Today we became tourists and hit Boston full force! I know you’ve all seen old buildings, so I’ll spare you those photos. (and plentiful they are) First, we took the “Duck” tour, a tour bus that goes on land and then into the Charles River. From there we saw many things, one of them being the ship the “Constitution”.

Next day we took the dry land tour trolley, as we were able to get on an off as we pleased. This allowed us to walk part of “The Freedom Trail” , where we saw and old graveyard and Paul Revere’s house. We also took time out to enjoy some nice dinners.

Day Three

This morning we were able to hear Maya Angelou and Whoopi Goldberg share a conversation with each other and us. More exhibit time and then lunch with Viv’s daughter and two other young ladies from the area. That evening was the final show with Rod Stewart performing. What a great show! The fiddle player is a local Redding girl and her mother is a retired teacher friend. Later, we met some groupies who had an autographed soccer ball.

Boston Days One and Two

2700 people rose to their feet and a roar of applaud thundered through the auditorium as Tony Bennett came out on stage. He was sensational! And that is how we spent our first night at the AARP convention in Boston. Having flown in that morning on the red eye...we were totally jet lagged, but ready to enjoy it all! We even hit the after hours-- Motown dancing after the concert.

Next day, bright and early, well, at least EARLY...we headed over to the convention center to hear Bob Newhart speak. He was great, two of the gals nearly missed hearing him...that is when we learned that there would be a lot of rushing and standing in line. The next show we got to too late and it was already full. Which turned out to be a good thing because we were now able to stand in an one and a half hour line to get into the next show. This one was Joan Rivers and her daughter...which we attended so that we would have seats for the next speaker who was Hillary Clinton. She was amazing!

Finally, we had some down time and hit the huge exhibit floor (size of 6 football fields). So much to see. That evening we saw Lilly Tomlin and Earth, Wind and Fire perform, great time!!

Quickie on Boston

The Tahp Ten Things Ta Look Out Foha in Bahstun
10. Pahl Reveah's silvah at the museum of fine ahts.
9. Two headed lobstahs in Bahstun Hahgah.
8. A wicked lotta beahs at cheahs.
7. Bunka Hill Monument.
6. Oystah Chowbah in Quincy Mahcut.
5. Fennway Pahk.
4. Bahgins at Nieman Machus.
3. Dawchestah, Revaeah and Summahvul.
2. Pahkin yah cah in Hahvid Yahd aftah dahk.
1. The plate number of that cah on yah bumpah.

Off to Boston, DC and Virginia.
Update when I return.

Food Photos!!

Need I say more? Almost as
good as eating them!! Some
prepared by me, some by friends
and some by professionals.

• 

It is who you know!

Happenstance! One summer evening some weeks ago, some friends and I decided to check out the local excitement of the “Lyle Lovett Large Band” being in our town. We didn’t have tickets, but looked at the many large fancy buses. Then we went for a drink at the Market Street Steak House. Since my son, Chris is the bartender there, he treated us to our drinks and fixed us his own special creation “ultra light”. After, we walked past the theatre and my friends knew a couple of the ushers. One took us into the box office and located a front row loge seat for each of us. We shelled out the money and enjoyed an amazing show!! Free drinks and seats at a sold out show!! It’s got to be who you know.

A thought: Good morning is an oxymoron.

Odds & Ends

Haven’t blogged for a while but here are some random photos and comments:

What does the sign mean? I saw it on the wall at covered parking at the busy downtown mall during the afternoon. I parked here and so did many others.

I had a few Monopoly pieces and cards from my Mother’s old game. I placed them in a frame with some pictures I printed from the computer.

Recently, I attended a retirement party and presented my friend with this bottle of wine, I designed the label. Good place to make wine and labels is Vintner’s Cellar.

Have you played “Mexican Train Dominoes” ? It is fun to play without to much thinking! Just goofing around in last photo!

A thought: Despite the cost of living, have you noticed how it remains so popular?

www.bikestorwanda.com

A link to read about Alison's housemate's trip to Rwanda.

Side Trip

Being in Portland and only 3 hours from Seattle, we went to see our family there. It so happened that Bonnie & her family from San Jose were also visiting. So more the merrier!
Bryan and his family made us very welcome.
They live near the ocean and so we enjoyed several nice walks there. Also, it had been awhile since we had been to Pike’s Market, so we went there. We browsed around and ate the obligatory fish lunch! So great to see everyone and keep up with the nieces and nephews! I love my family.

a thought: You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.

Portland, OR

Fun trip to Portland to see my daughter, Alison. First night there, we went to “trivia” at a local funky restaurant/bar. It is her Sunday evening activity with friends. They sit outside and compete with other tables while enjoying food and drinks. I also met her cat and new roommate Clara.
Of course, we shopped and visited different areas of the town. The homes are all unique and
the streets are tree-lined with flowers everywhere. Some of the interesting things were: narrow streets, 7 bridges, quaint little shops, and one parking meter used by a whole street (it uses credit cards and prints out a sticker for your car and you can move to a new spot and continue to use it if time is still left). This I learned from her good friend Jackie, who we lunched with one day. The very best experience was going to hear Chris Botti and Diana Krall perform!! They each had their own set and where incredible!

Just a thought: Eat right, exercise, die anyway!

Summer Fun

I hope you are enjoying your summer time and your vacations. I have been having a wonderful time. One of the best times has been kayaking with friends on Whiskeytown Lake (in spite of the fact that I sprained my wrist which was extremely painful while paddling). Music, of course,
has been enjoyed at several venues, from downtown Redding Marketfest, the Turtle Bay Cafe (music by the Sundial Bridge), to music festival in the Dunsmir Park (a lovely setting by the river).

Food, absolutely, is part of the enjoyment of summer. What can be better than barbecue fresh caught salmon? Besides my standard stir fry, there have been several luncheons. The Oregon Street Tea Company was a fun new place, but NOT for the dieter!! We also indulged in “snacks” at our “weekly” scrabble games!

Yes, I still am going to Curves and walking the Sundial Trail!!