Parka boy

It was a little cold and windy at the game. I brought my windbreaker just in case.

Cloudy much?

At least it stopped raining, for now.

Dinner!

Outside our hotel, which ws the first...

YWCA in the US,

Check out the rigging...like that would

...break a fall.

Breakfast...cafe...

This place was smaller than my kitchen at home. Seriously. I was leaning against the window to get this shot. One table and one tiny counter off to the left. Good breakfast - I had the torta, which was refried black beans, an egg, avocado and a bunch of other stuff in a fluffy bun. Very tasy and energizing with a cup of black coffee to get me through the morning.

If you look closely, in the upper right corner is a bag of go-chu-ga-ru, Korean chile powder. Apparently it is used in their house aioli. We had a lovely chat about it before I left.

Oh - the place is called Mike & Patty's. I'm told they have great sandwiches for lunch.

Waiting for the shuttle.

Must be spectacular out here on a sunny day.

Breakfast...cafe...

This place was smaller than my kitchen at home. Seriously. I was leaning against the window to get this shot. One table and one tiny counter off to the left. Good breakfast - I had the torta, which was refried black beans, an egg, avocado and a bunch of other stuff in a fluffy bun. Very tasy and energizing with a cup of black coffee to get me through the morning.

If you look closely, in the upper right corner is a bag of go-chu-ga-ru, Korean chile powder. Apparently it is used in their house aioli. We had a lovely chat about it before I left.

Oh - the place is called Mike & Patty's. I'm told they have great sandwiches for lunch.

FASCINATING which presidents they put...

...on this magnet. FASCINATING.

Flag @ JFK library & museum

It's a wonderful museum. I found it inspirational. Moved some things around in my head that hadn't really moved in a long time. I wonder if this country will ever embrace public service as a nation with the same passion again?

Somehow I suspect the other presidential libraries can't possibly be this...inspirational? thought provoking? Anyone been to the others?

Tree growing in gutter. Sigh. Cities.

THE best way to start a sleepless day

I didn't sleep so well on the plane, but I'm determined to make the best of my half day before I collapse into a nap. Late breakfast, off to my first presidential library and then back to check in and sleep before dinner. :D

Grey arrival into Boston.

Bonecrusher

This is what happens when monster trucks and speed boats breed. After i took the picture, he ran over 5 lesser boats, then rolled over.

Bird grooms boy

Natto

Kind of disappointing. Not nearly as stinky or horrible as I was hoping for. Just kind of an unpleasant, dull taste. Maybe I got a bad batch? I still ate about 1/4 of it. Amy left the table and Drew gagged when I touched it.

Napping, after a long morning...

...purring and getting between me and my laptop, nipping at my ankles, and jumping up and down from the back of my chair. It was exhausting.

Jackknife

America's Test Kitchen's youngest...

...test chef, trying out the brownie batter. It was a test recipe destined for Cook's Illustrated.

He's outraged by the Fed?

Drew discovers water projectile devices

Long day partying.

Crawling up the walls, literally.

Pooped!

After a stressful day of cleaning and yard work and being freaked out by the vacuum, Rich and Aimee take a much deserved nap.

Rich and his red beer

The breakfast of champions. Accompanied by a biscuit and gravy, of course!

I suppose if you own one...

that you should drive it for even the most mundane errands, including a grocery run. It did look a little odd, though, and it didn't fit in my viewfinder except diagonally.

(Rich) I normally leave people alone, but along with having a fancy car, this guy parked in a freshly painted handicapped spot. On the way into the store, I checked his rearview mirror and license plate for a placard, and there was none. On my way out of the store, this guy was carrying a bag of groceries back to his car, putting them into the trunk. I asked him if he knew it was a handicapped spot, a rhetorical question. He responded that since there was no placard in the spot, it most certainly was not a handicapped spot.

I hope someone else slashes his tires. I'm not hating, it was a beautiful car, but it's not a license to do what you like.

Red beer

Much better than that crap they sell in a can.

Bob

Amy's cousin left Drew a message.

A round meal

Pizza and hot dog dinner.

Guess what?

Chicken privates.

Bad kitty

Here she is hanging from the blinds. She hung there so long I had a chance to look for my phone and shoot the picture.

Reception

Several soldiers from Afghanistan were on my flight. There were a lot of people waiting to welcome them back.

Kitty in the window

When we leave in the morning, the kitty runs up the stairs, through the den into our bedroom and up in the window where she perches, watching us drive away. The white blur in the top left window is the kitty. She is always so sad when we leave.

Waiting for class

Amy took Drew to class yesterday, it was my turn today. He was happier than he looks in the picture. I was teaching him to introduce himself to the other students in line, but they were even more shy than he was about it.

The most entertaining part about waiting in line was another kid. When the school principal walked by to say hi to some of the kids and parents, the kid looked at his dad and said "Dad is that the president?".

From the mouth of Drew

Dad, why is that horse sniffing the other horse's butt?

First Soccer Practice!

It was an eventful day!

Drew and Daddy getting the balls out for practice.



Pesky runaway balls...



Coach Rich, addressing the team (and the parents).



A get to know each other game.

Cat in the Colander

She likes being up on the kitchen counter, much to our dismay. And apparently she likes the colander. Sigh.

Hanging out waiting for the teacher to talk to and dismiss the parents...

The kids ended up sitting on this mat, waiting while the teacher spent an HOUR talking to the parents. It was useful, but the kids were super restless by the end of that hour.

Signing in on the First Day

Maybe the teacher will do one on the last day, too.

First Day of School

Drew...all dressed up and ready to roll. I love uniforms. The kids were adorable in all their white and khaki. (They can wear other colors, too, but most kids had white and khaki.)

Vandalism

The hobby store sells a train covered in graffiti.

Cat grass

She has her own water

I guess this is more fun.

Tomatillos

Face cake

Drew and other graduates