The Grist Mill

So peacefull... sereine...and just plain beautiful.

This is the Grist Mill at the Wayside Inn. If only there were somewhere like this in California.

Waiting for the Train

That's right Massachusetts has what Los Angeles dreams of .... Mass Transit.

So Sam left a few days ahead of us to go to the David Project. She arrived at the airport and took the train to Boston University. She finished up on Thursday afternoon and took the train (T-Line) out to Worcester.

We got to the train station a little early (well maybe more than a little) and then we were able to grab some lunch at St. Vincents waiting room.

I will digress for a moment and tell you that this was the most wonderful hospital waiting room I have ever seen. There was a waterfall 5 different healthy fast food restaurants even a hair and nail salon, and it was just soooo nice.

So the end result of this adventure is that Samantha is with us. And we do so want real mass transit in Los Angeles

Our First Day

Well we did arrive a little early (5:50) instead of 6:30 it was a real easy flight even for a red eye. So once we got the car (with a garmand gps) we were on the road... we got to the hotel, checked in, had breakfast, Morgan took a little nap while Bubbie, Barry and I went down to the Jacuzzi and then we took a nap (yeah I know we are old).

But then we were ready to see Worcester.... our first stop was The Worcester Craft Center and Museum it was nice but nothing to exciting. I do wish there were something like this back in our neighborhood what this actually is is a facility where you can rent space to work your creative side and they have everything you need there.... a crafters heaven.

However it was just a short 40 minuets and we were done and on to our next stop... the Worcester Historical Museum which was truly fascinating, sadly a lot of what we saw was how Worcester had been such a growing city full of life and then as manufacturing left the area so did the people and slowly the area started to die. Morgan was most affected by the room dedicated to the Worcester Ice Cats, a minor league hockey team that is no longer around,. The museum was great a definite must if you ever get to Worcester.

After the museum we were off for a little Lunch/Dinner at The Sole Proprietor and all I can say about them is go! and even though is was a completely not so kosher meal it was delicious, we had a chance to write some postcards... but the mail was already gone when we got back to the hotel so it will get out tomorrow.

However as always we did have an evening of firsts... Morgan had

her first Oyster Shooter...

and it was a good experience.
We went back to the hotel and took another nap and then went out to explore Worcester.. with the garmond. But now we are back in the hotel one last trip to the jacuzzi under our belt and then it was time to blog and now it is time for bed, so goodnight.

first my apologies

I will be bringing you the antics of Morgan behind the wheel when we get back.... but here is a picture or two until then

We' re Off...

Morgan has said her goodbyes at the camp and they gave her a picture to remember the summer with. She really didn't want to go all her little kids especially the ones who kept proposing to her (you will have to ask her about the whole story though) are gone... the summer is almost over two more plane trips and then she is home to conquer the open road (pictures to follow) and 11th grade.

But we are packed and in the airport... got to love the lap top.... so we are off to Boston for a wedding between Jesse (cousin) and Sarin. Samantha is already there on David Project where she is learning how to be a Pro Israel College Activist, and we were very surprised to find out that Ari (Barry's Cousin) Applbaum was part of the program also..... so we are hoping that Barry and Ari will meet sooner than we thought.

So we had a great dinner at Drew and Lorraine's house and we played with Jolee and Kylee (who had her first piano lesson today) and then Drew took us to the airport (he did take off his crown before he drove)...and here we are waiting .... for our turn to board the plane.... well my next blog will be from Boston.... more from bean town.

a rite of passage

They have waited many years for this, to be in Machon to have that last moment in the sun to be the Big Kids on the block!

To have a week away from camp roughing it, communing with nature and finding out what you are madeof. And as the end of the week is near the moment all of Machon has been waiting for has arrived... as you walk back from the beach... through the muck and the MUD.... The MUD we need a bath... oh do we need a bath.... we need a mud bath!!!!!!!!!!!

And after our bath we will march back in to camp with one mission in mind...

(and it is not real showers)

IT IS GET THE LITTLE KIDS MUDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is a tradition?

How often do you start doing something because it's simple and makes your day easier but then it starts to take on a life of it's own. That is TRADITION. O.k. so that might not be everyone else version of tradition but it's mine.
Many years ago when my dad was in a nursing home my mother and I started a routine of me calling her everyday on my way home from work, actually I would page her and she would call me back. Then when my dad came home we kept it up,,, it was easier and I could talk to her without any interruptions. And for many years we kept it up.

Then last year when Celia moved to Portland the tradition started to move from one generation to the next. At first I didn't see the pattern because Celia was working retail and her hours would always be different and sometime she would call me from the house and sometime on her way to work and if she was getting a good schedule she would call me on her way home from work. But then she started her new job and had a regular schedule and I noticed my cell phone ringing every day at 5:30 on as she was calling me on her way home from work. and then it became a game to see which one of us would be on our way home first... lately it has been Celia winning. But the realization that this behavior has moved from one generation to the next came when Sam started doing the same thing and she calls me as she is driving back to Daniels house from camp.

And my leisurely drive home from work is now a minimum of 3 phone calls one to my mom and then if I get out first one to Celia and one to Sam and the tradition continues... by the time time Morgan and Ashleigh are out of the house I might need to find a longer drive home....but that 's a good thing .