My Vacation A to Z --- (B)

B is for BAGS

I should have taken a picture, but we were LOADED DOWN!! Well.... the girls and I were, at least! David only had his one small carry-on bag and he was PROUD of it!! LOL!! My girls and I each had a carry-on bag AND a personal bag! We also "checked" Miranda's BIG suitcase that we used to put our bulky items like shoes, hair dryer, straighner, make up, etc. I learned quickly that the next time I fly... I am purchasing a small carry-on bag that ROLLS!!!

B is for BOARDWALK

In Atlantic City, we of course walked on the boardwalk. We didn't walk too far because it was SO HOT!! We did eat pizza there and walked in a few souvenier shops, too.

My family loves to keep walking while I stop to take pictures! LOL

B is for BOATS

When we were in Philadelphia, we visited the marina where David and his family kept their boat when he was a kid. We were shocked to see how much it had grown!! The last time we were there, there were hardly any boats. The marina is on the Delaware River.

David's brother lives on a lake and this is his boat dock. You can't really tell, but his boat is parked there.

B is for BOYFRIEND

David's mom has a male "friend" that she won't say is her boyfriend, but we all know the real truth! LOL!! We were so excited to get to meet him for the first time! He is SO SWEET!!

B is for BAD EDDIE

Hahaa! You're probably wondering why this is on my list! Well..... there is a story...

While we were visiting with David's mom, she mentioned that she was waiting for "Bad Eddie" to come and mow her lawn... (the little bit of lawn that she has!). We laughed when she said this and asked her... "Why is he called 'Bad Eddie'?" She said that he grew up in the neighborhood and when he was little, he had thrown a rock thru one of her windows right after they had moved into the house! (We're talking over 50 years ago!) And that she has been calling him "Bad Eddie" ever since!! He now has a lawn care business and she hired him to take care of her lawn. We couldn't help but laugh! While we were there, "Bad Eddie" showed up to do his job and we couldn't wait to get a peek at him thru the window!! It was funny!

B is for BRIDGES

We crossed over LOTS of bridges and I thought I took more pictures of than I did of different ones that we saw, but it turns out that I didn't take as many as I thought I did! Philadelphia has a beautiful BLUE bridge that I just love! I missed my opportunity to get a photo of it.

To the right here, is the Brooklyn Bridge. We found it by accident as we were trying to get to the Staten Island Ferry! (Hint: Don't bother following your GPS in NYC! (Or any big city!) It's worthless!!)

This is the Manhattan Bridge.

More of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was kinda' glad that we made that wrong turn, because I kinda' wanted to see this famous bridge!

We had to drive down this road and turn around. This is on the way back towards the ferry area. This was also about the point that David said... "I feel like I am in a video game!" (referring to driving in NYC!) He did REALLY WELL, tho!

B is for BAPTIST

On Sunday, while we were still in Philadelphia, we went to church with David's mom. David grew up going to a Methodist church. Within the past couple of years, that church had to close it's doors due to financial reasons and David's mom had to find another church. She ended up visiting a Baptist church and eventually joined it. We enjoyed our visit at her church, very much! Everyone was so friendly!

B is for BALTIMORE

We had to pass thru Baltimore to get from Philadelphia to Washington, DC. And then again, to get to NYC from Virginia.

B is for BEN FRANKLIN

There is a LOT of Ben Franklin history in Philadelphia. We visited "Franklin Court". Here, you can see the site where his house once stood. It features a steel-framed outline of Franklin's home, a museum with a print shop, a working post office where you can send letters hand-stamped with with Franklin's original postmark and more.

This is a walkway where Ben Franklin passed thru on a daily basis.

B is for BATTERY PARK

This is in Lower Manhattan and where you go to ride the ferry. I didn't take many pictures here. We were too busy trying to figure out where we were going!!

B is for BLOOMINGDALES

I know that this famous department store has been in many movies, but the one that comes to mind the most for me is the movie "Splash" with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah.

B is for BAGELS

This was our Friday morning breakfast! David's brother had told us that NYC bagels were yummy, and they were!! A huge bagel filled with cream cheese!!! YUM!!

B is for BRYANT PARK

This is where the "Concert in the Park" was going to be the next morning for Good Morning America. We weren't interested in the singer, so we didn't bother to attend the concert... but, this is where it was to be.

Philadelphia - Day Two - Revealed!

Ok. I get it. My little guessing game isn't as exciting as I thought it would be! Sorry about that. So, I'll just TELL YOU... little by little... where we will be going, what we will be doing, and who we will see as we venture up north for our relaxing whirlwind vacation! (I do hope that at least part of it is relaxing!)

Yes. On day TWO of our stay in Philadelphia... we will be attending church with David's mother. This will be our first time seeing her new church and meeting her new friends that she has met there.

We will also be finally meeting her boyfriend for the first time, too!! Yes. She has a boyfriend! Well... she calls him her "Gentleman Friend". **Smile** She met him at her new church over a year ago and ever since, she has been like a young school girl...unable to have a conversation without mentioning him! It's so cute! 

photo source

 After church... and probably after lunch... we will be going to visit David's grandmother (his father's mother). TODAY is her birthday!! She is 99 years old!!! She is a sweetheart! David had wanted to wait and go for her 100th birthday, but I told him that we better not wait! He would also kick himself if we waited and then..... well, you know.



Happy Birthday, Granny!!!  Photo Source



We are going to call her today to wish her a Happy Birthday. We are going to tell her that we are coming for a visit, but she may not remember. Fortunately, she has a live-in sitter that is there with her 24/7, so we will be sure and let the sitter know. Plus, David's mom will be able to let her know, as well.

It will be wonderful to see her! She is an amazing woman! Her favorite color is PURPLE. Everytime I see the color purple, I think of her. 

Sometime, while we are in Philly.... we plan to get a SOFT PRETZEL while we are there! Venders sell these on almost every street corner. They are SO yummy!!

Photo Source

When David's mom comes to our house for Christmas every year... she always makes a stop before she goes to the airport, to pick us up some of these yummy treats!! They're STILL delicious even after they've traveled almost thousand miles!

Philadelphia - Day Two - More hints!

Ok... so, I am guessing that my little questions this last time were a little too hard, huh?

Many thanks to Becca over at Everyday Life  for guessing the first answer!

Yes, since it will be Sunday on our second day in Philadelphia, we will be going to church with David's mother. Since we were up there last (11 years ago!), she has joined a new church. We are looking forward to visiting it with her and meeting all of her friends.

My second hint & question was:

The rest of our day will be spent visiting with someone very special.

Can you guess who it might be??

Here's a new clue for you regarding this answer ---

This special lady will be turning 99 years old tomorrow!!
Now can you guess who she might be?

My third hint & question was:

There is also another food item that we MUST HAVE while we are in Philadelphia!

Can you guess what that food item might be??

I also gave you this hint:

To find this answer.... try looking up Cuisine of Philadelphia and you will most likely find the answer!

Here's a NEW hint:

This snack item is commonly associated with Philadelphia, but not invented there. It dates back to 7th-century France and was brought over to the Philadelphia area by the Pennsylvania Dutch. They became iconic with Philadelphia by the numerous vendors who would sell them on street corners.

Now can you guess what special snack we will be having while we are in Philadelphia??

Philadelphia - Day Two - How will we spend the day?

The second day that we are in Philadelphia, it will be a Sunday.

Photo Source

We will spend the day with David's mom.

So... where do you think we will go FIRST??

 (well.... after breakfast, of course!)

The rest of our day will be spent visiting with someone very special.

Can you guess who it might be??

There is also another food item that we MUST HAVE while we are in Philadelphia!

Can you guess what that food item might be??

Hint: To find this answer.... try looking up Cuisine of Philadelphia and you will most likely find the answer!

GOOD LUCK!!

A to Z Blog Challenge - M

Letter M

Miranda

Miranda is my youngest daughter. She will be 20 years old in May. WOW! No more teenagers! Seems like yesterday that she was running around the house with her bleached blonde hair, yelling through her pacifier.... "Mommy! Mommy!" Now, she is in college, studying to be a nurse! Unbelievable!

Mom

I have been a "MOM" now for almost 24 years. (Wow!) It is the most rewarding and challenging job that I have ever done.... and probably will do! I always knew that I wanted to be a mom someday. And I knew that I wanted to be in my 20's when I had children. I also knew that I wanted more than one child. You see... my parents were married when they were in their early 20's, but then waited 10 years before they had ME... their ONLY CHILD! My parents were always the "old" parents. My friends parents were always the "young" parents. It always bothered me. I have also always wanted a sibling. So, this is why I had my girls early, so that I could be a "young" parent! And this is why I have "two" children, and not just one. The relationship that I have with my girls is, I believe, a very good one. I enjoy hanging out with them, and I think for the most part.... they enjoy hanging out with me. I pray that our relationship only grow stronger and closer as we go down life's path. ~ My relationship with my own mother has been like a roller-coaster. It has had it's ups and downs. I honestly do not know how to describe it! I love my mom, but I think I have a lot of resentment towards her for many reasons. Because of this, I have a hard time "loving" her. It's weird and like I said... hard to explain.

Music

I love (Oops! That sure is a hard habit to break!) really enjoy music. I always have! When I was very young, my favorite singers were Olivia Newton-John and Elton John --- We're talking 1970's, here! Then, in my late teen's... my favorite's were Journey, REO Speedwagon, Rod Stewart, Genesis, John "Cougar" Mellencamp, and others in this genre. Now... I still love the artists that I grew up with, but I have added Country Music to my favorites. Some of my favorite artists now are.... Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Keith Anderson, Rascal Flatt, Miranda Lambert, and many, many more! I also enjoy several Christian groups such as... Sidewalk Profits & Casting Crowns. Truthfully... I like most all music except for Rap, and I even like a "little" bit of it!

Mall

Going to the mall to go shopping has always been a part of my life, until just the past few years. I used to really enjoy going to the mall to go shopping. That was something that I did with my mom when I was little, and then something that I did a lot of as a teenager. (Oh! The memories!! **Smile**) My girls grew up going to the mall with me, as well. Sometimes we would go for specific reasons. Other times, it was just something to do to get out of the house on a rainy day. Now, there seems to be a trend of "outdoor" shopping, instead. The malls of today are set up so that you are outside, not inside. I am ok with that. I like it. But, I do miss the days of just "cruising" the mall for no reason!

Mountains

I am more of a "beach" person than I am a "mountain" person, but I do like going to the mountains. I feel blessed to live just about half-way between the Gulf of Mexico and the the Great Smokey Mountains. We don't get up to the mountains as often as I would like to. Some of us (not me!) get car sick very easily, so a trip to the mountains is not something that everyone enjoys. It IS a memory that I have with my own parents, tho. We didn't have a lot of money, so we would take "day trips" up to the mountains and just drive around. We would stop and have a picnic at a park. The Fall of 1982 is the last memory I have of a mountain trip with my parents. My daddy died the next February.

Visit With My Mom

I went to visit my mom today, at the nursing home. I go once a week, at least. This summer, since I am not working, I have been going in the late morning, before she goes to lunch. But, lately.... she has been more interested in getting in the dining room early in order to get a place at the table that she wants to sit at.

Today, I decided to go by there AFTER lunch. I didn't arrive there until after 12:30pm, and I expected her to be in her bed... lying down... as she is in the habit of doing after lunch. But, suprisingly... I found her sitting in her wheelchair, with her glasses on (a rarity!), reading the book that I had bought her. I also noticed as I entered the room that she had MAKE-UP ON!! This is something that I haven't seen her do in quite a while! She looked so good, I just had to take a picture of her!

I brought her a McDonald's fruit smoothie (YUM! By the way!), which she seemed to enjoy. I didn't make any big deal out of her NOT being in her bed, but I praised her for how good she looked! I think she liked that.

For those of you that don't know my mom's story.... she had a stroke back in November of 2005. She bounced back pretty good for a little while after the stroke, but then developed Congestive Heart Failure in April of last year, and has lost a lot of strength since then. She used to be able to walk pretty good, with a walker. But, now.... she can't walk but a few steps without having to sit down. So, she pretty much stays in her wheelchair in order to get around.

I miss my mom -- the mom that I used to have. She's there, but then again... she's not.

My "Foundation"

Original date written -- 4/7/10

As I was watching Glenn Beck last night on TV talking about Obama's "foundation"... (No. I'm not going to go into how I feel about him!!)... I got to thinking about my own "foundation". Exactly, what is my "foundation"?

Let's start with my Daddy. ~ He was born here in west Georgia in a moderate sized city known for it's many textile mills. His mother and father (my grandparents) were both from southern Alabama. My Daddy was a very affectionate man, as was my grandmother. I never knew my grandfather. I know that my grandmother -"Ma Ma" (... pronounced "Maw Maw", but this is how she spelled it!) went to a Methodist church and I assume that my Daddy did too, but I am not sure. Ma Ma may have gone alone. I never learned anything about God from my Daddy, but I did go to church with my Ma Ma, when I was little. I do know that my Daddy had a good singing voice and grew up singing at a small, local theatre with my aunt.

My Daddy played football in high school and then went into the Navy for a couple of years. He and my mom met and married after that. He was always a hard-working man. He started out his career in the finance business, but then moved into working blue-collar type jobs which suited him better. He never made a lot of money, but provided as best he could for our small family.

He was always a very friendly and funny person, too. He loved to tell jokes and make people laugh.

Health-wise.... my Daddy was NOT healthy. He was overweight. He had heart problems and diabetes. He died of a heart attack at the early age of 53, when I was 18.

So.... going back to my "foundation".... what did I get from my Daddy?? --- Besides his blue eyes (*smile*)... I believe that I am an affectionate person because of him. I have also been told that I have a good singing voice, so maybe I got that from him too! I am a Christian because of my Ma Ma. (She was the only one that ever took me to church!) I guess you could say that I get my love for football from my Daddy, too!!

I think I get my "friendliness" from my Daddy, as well. I enjoy people and even tho I am no good at telling jokes, I do like to make people laugh. (Although... they may be laughing at ME!!)

Next... is my Mommy. Although, I no longer call her "Mommy". Now, she's just "Ma". She was born just north of the city that my Daddy was born in. It was (and still is) more of a "town" than a "city". Her parents (my grandparents) were both from this same area.... or not far from it, in other small "towns". My mom was never as affectionate as much as my Daddy was. I don't remember her telling me that she "loved me" when I was little. I don't remember getting hugs from her either, like I did from my Daddy. I could have blocked them out. I'm not sure. I have a long, not-so-good history, with my mother that I won't get into right now.

I never knew my mother's father, but I have always heard how wonderful a person, he was. He was a "rural mail carrier" for the small town that they lived in, here in west Georgia. My mother's mother - "Mama Lou"... (Yes, there's a story behind that name!) - was not a very affectionate person. I suppose that this is why my mother really wasn't. Mama Lou was a very "needy" person. My only memories are of her either lying in her bed, or sitting in "her chair". She didn't do a whole lot. She always had someone to take care of her.

My mom has always been very artistic. She has always had a love for crafts and for painting. She always had some sort of "project" that she was working on. She loved to sew, as well. Her career was always in the apartment management field. She did that for over 30 years, until she was forced to retire at about the age of 60. She has always been a very "giving" person, too. If she had it, she would give it! (and is still that way!)

My mom has always been a very "friendly" person, too. She always made friends easily. She has also always loved to talk!! She could tallk the ears off of a donkey, if he would let her! - LOL!

Health-wise.... my mom is NOT a very healthy person! She has been overweight my whole life! (The picture here, was taken before I was born.) Not just "overweight", but obese. She has too many health problems to even name! Five years ago, it caught up with her in the result of a pretty bad stroke. As a result, she now lives in a nursing home at the age of 78 and needs a wheelchair to get around because she is too weak.

So.... what did I get from my mom?? --- I get my artistic abilities from her. I am not as talented as she is, but I do love creating things by hand. I also like to sew and quilt, but I'm not as good at it as she was either! I have to admit that I am not the "giving" person that she is. I tend to be more selfish of my time and my "things"! (I probably get that from Mama Lou! LOL!) I do try to be a "friendly" person, like my mom has always been, and I guess I could probably talk the ears off of a donkey, too! Thankfully, I am NOT obese. I am, however, overweight. I do work hard at trying to take care of my body and lose the extra weight. It is just being stubborn and won't leave!!! I will say this.... my mom is my inspiration to take care of my body and not get to the very, unhealthy condition that she is in!!!

All in all, I think I am a well-rounded person and my "foundation" is a very good one. I have much to be thankful for.