Day ONE:
3/26/09 SLC-LAS 7:45 AM
3/26/09 LAS-JFK
JOHN F KENNEDY AIRPORT NEW YORK HIGHLIGHTS
We had a little bit of a layover
so we ordered food with Jennifer and Mark.
First day on the trip, the airport food didn't seem so bad.
Below, Lizzie is calling home to talk to Dad
She loves to talk on the phone and pose for pictures.
And of course, Sentrina had to come with.
What a good kitty.Just stuff her in a bag and off she goes!
3/26/09 JFK-CLT
Day TWO:
3/27/09 Concord, NC
Day THREE:
3/28/09 Raleigh/Durham, NC
Rileigh did a superb job. She placed well in most of the events and came in 6th in the All Around. Way to go Rileigh! We are really proud of you.
After the meet, we had lunch at Wendy's with Scott's folks (Jan's husband). After getting a tour of their new home, we had the long drive back. Jan was the perfect hostess and had me sit in the front. Sadly, it was wasted on me because I may have fallen asleep then too. Scott, did I snore?
Maybe her parents live in the dark ages?
Oh, that's Lizzie, being a HAM!
Day FOUR and FIVE:
3/29-30/09 Concord/Lexington, NC
Day SIX and SEVEN:
3/31-4/1/09 CLT-JFK *** JFK-IAD
I wished I had my laptop.
3/31/09 IAD Dulles International Airport, Chantilly,Virginia
Washington D.C., here we are! The last stop on our agenda. It felt good to be on the ground again. Jennifer and her sister, Lynette picked us up and we headed for dinner at some resturaunt I can't remember the name of, but it was tasty. By now I am growing weary of eating out but what's a traveler to do?
Our next destination....The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and a walk around the Tidal Basin to see the blooming Cherry Blossom Trees.
this is not my picture
Because my camera is so lame, I borrowed Jennifer's but I was unfamiliar with it so not all the night shots are not as clear as they could be.
Elizabeth very much wanted to see the White House. She loves our new president but was slightly disappointed that the house was 'smaller than she imagined' What in the world did she expect?? The place is a mansion! This 'high expectations' fits well with her Nordstrom fetish. Anyway, we tried to figure out which room Malia and Natasha sleep in, where the swing set (playground) is etc. Lizzie even picked a blade of "Presidential Grass" through the gate. I was afraid we'd be immediately surrounded at gunpoint but we escaped an arrest. Thank goodnness.
the white house at night
After a good hour drive back to Lynette's in Maryland, we were ready for bed once we got there. Lizzie and I slept on a blow up bed that was actually fairly comfortable. I slept like a baby and hopefully didn't keep Jennifer up with my snoring. (Are you seeing a pattern here?) She was on the couch in the same room. What a good friend to put up with me.
On day seven, I was rather slow to get going. I just wasn't in a hurry to get back into DC for the sight seeing. I think I had run out of steam by now. Thankfully Jennifer wasn't in a hurry either. We took our time getting ready and then headed for the Metro Station. We parked the cute little rental car and boarded the train. It was a nice ride in. Stress free. I like that kind of transportation.
Since we got into DC kind of late, we only saw a few things that day. Arlington Cemetary and the Smithsonian History Museum. My favorite thing in DC, believe it or not, is the Cemetary. I always cry when I watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I don't know why but I do. It moves me. Lizzie watched in complete silence. (mostly because they tell you to be quiet!) Just as they guards began to change, it started to rain. You can see it in the pictures if you look closely.
SMITHSONIAN CURIOSITY:
Day EIGHT:
Lynette and I got up and went to Dunkin Donuts so there would be breakfast. Of course, I didn't want her to have to serve us her food but also, it was my excuse to indulge. After donuts and milk, we packed up our things and headed back to IAD for the the flight back to JFK. The road we took went through what I call the countryside of Virginia. It was beautiful but the neighbors are too far apart and civilization too far away. What happens if you run out of eggs? Your nearest neighbor is like miles away. That just wouldn't work for this city girl. Give me a slab of cement for the back yard and a Nordstrom for Lizzie and we will be fine.
We checked in, got boarding passes and headed to the security line. Can I just say that I don't like Dulles Airport? The personelle is unfriendly, the airport is confusing and they confiscated my facial scrub! It was .5 oz over the allowable limit! This was my 7th flight and it was taken away? Sad. But we pressed on even under my durress. We arrived in JFK and by now, airport food was of the devil. I was _done_ with eating out, eating chicken nuggets, and even, eating Dunkin Donuts. I wanted a home cooked meal. Sadly, I had to submit to the fast food gods and we got pizza. Ugh. My stomach.
FLIGHT DELAY and THE SICK MAN:
I have to tell this story because it was so horrible to endure and I need everyone's pity. On the very last leg of our flight we boarded the plane with anticipation of our return home. We were nicely situated when suddenly this man behind us began to cough. Gross, but whatever. Well, he coughed and coughed and coughed so much I thought he was going to lose a lung right there. Soon, the pilot announced that because we were minus one flight attendant, we had to deplane. I guess beginning April 1, JFK was down to 2 runways and our flight attendant was still hovering over us in a holding pattern waiting for approval to land. I never thought I'd enjoy hearing "Im sorry, but we need to have everyone off the plane" so much. Maybe because the sick guy was coughing with such an alarming force, they'd deny him re-boarding? One could only hope. Luckily, because I am an employee, Lizzie and I got to remain in the plane. She really enjoyed this since the co-pilot let her hang out with him in the cockpit.
Anyway, they let the sick man board again and he started right in with his hacking. I can't even begin to describe how horrible it was to sit in front of him while he gagged and coughed and discussed his bodily fluids with the unfortunate guy next to him. Everyone around Mr. Sicky was disgusted for at least 8 rows forward and back and almost everyone had on their headphones cranked at full volume to drown him out. It didn't work for me though. My hearing is too keen. I sat in total repulsion from New York to SLC thanks to a coughing FREAK! Even the poor kid next to me called the attendant for some Airborne which they didn't have so he settled for a cranberry juice, or four.
By the time we landed, I had gone deaf, felt ill and was dialing the doctor for an emergency penicillin shot. Just kidding but I did drop my clothes at the door once we got home and I took a long hot shower before I even hugged my family. What I really needed was a Haz-Mat scrub down!
Aside from being contaminated in the airplane, our trip was a total success. When I asked Lizzie what her absolute favorite part of the trip was, her answer... 'Spending time alone with you, Mommy'. That made the entire trip worth it , including having to endure... The Sick Man.
Joanie,
ReplyDeleteWhat an exciting trip! I love all the pictures you took. You'll never forget that time with Lizzy. You are brave. Sometimes I think about taking Natalie on a trip(just the 2 of us) and then I chicken out. I love reading your bloggs.
Oh my gosh, that trip sounds amazing!! I want to go back there so bad... maybe someday. How fun for Lizzi! And your photos are breathtaking. I've heard it's beautiful back east. And I love your sick man story but YUCK!! It almost made me sick reading about it! What a fun trip!
ReplyDeleteMom says
ReplyDeleteThanks for the bloging lesson. I'm happy that you and Lizzie had such a good trip to remember,
Glad you saw Jan. Best friends forever,
Glad you guys had a great trip. We are looking forward to seeing the whole gang....maybe next time?!
ReplyDeleteLoves and Hugs
Mary:)
It was fun talking to you on the flight. I added you to my blog and am now "following" you so we can keep in touch.
ReplyDeleteThats fun that you have all girls. I hope you got home to everything ok.