Sunday, May 30, 2010
Camping Trip Shopping
We got...
3- 8 person Northwest territory tents (sold at Sears retail price $200)
10 gallon water jug (sold at Home Depot for $29)
1 queen air bed (sold at Cabala's for $129)
3 sleeping bags
4 flashlights
12 hot dog skewers
1 two burner camp stove ($49 retail at Dick's Sporting Goods)
1 one burner camp stove
Total Price we Paid.... $ 200
Dear Judy went out the day before and found
1 small tent
4 Nice sleeping bags
2 fishing poles
3 hot dog skewers
all that for $50
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
"Life is either a daring adventure....
I love that quote of Helen Keller's. It reminds me of all the things that are important to me. I need adventure the way people need water or food. I crave it like a drug. For me, adventure is not about doing crazy, daring, amazing feats, but experiencing things that some people only dream about. To be able to connect with a place on a different level.
Our next adventure is going to take us back outdoors. Someplace new and amazing. Last year when we visited Hocking Hills State Park I was absolutely in awe of the amazing beauty that surrounded us. I felt alive there, like this was proof that there are things more incredible than our little lives.
I don't know if my children will enjoy our trip or appreciate the world they are stepping into, but I feel like I have to give it to them. I have to try to open their eyes to the things that are really important... family, togetherness, memories, love. I feel like the City Kids (my four and my sister's four grandchildren) haven't learned to dream. They haven't learned to look outside of themselves.
And that shall be my gift to them (hopefully) to be able to see that beauty doesn't come from a shoe store or a supercenter. We are surrounded by it, it is part of who we are and where we are going. Always.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
New York City April 2010 (Part 2)
After finally making our way to Niketown (which is pretty close to Central Park), we hiked back to Times Square Crowds waiting for the Ipad at the Apple Store.
We ate lunch at a pizza shop on Times Square and then I decided we should take the double decker bus tour. I thought it would be the easiest way to see the city.
The Bus Tour was ummmm.... 3 hours long and we all fell asleep. LOL It had to be the most boring city tour I've ever had. We did get to see a lot of the city (between nodding off) Tribeca, Chinatown, Battery Park, the World Trade Center site, the Statue of Liberty and I know there was a bunch of other places we slept through.
I was so glad when it was over. We called it a day and headed back to the hotel. We had dinner at Chipotle and went to see a movie. We were too tired to walk around, but not tired enough to sit in the hotel and look at each other.
The next day was Sunday...our last day. We had considered going back to NYC but nobody felt like dealing with the throngs of people in the city. Plus, we had to be at the bus station in Newark, NJ in the afternoon.
New York City was an experience like no other. Times Square was awe-inspiring. I understand why they call it the city that never sleeps. It was an incredible experience.
New York City April 2010
By the time we rolled into NYC it was about 10:00pm. Times Square is amazing at night. The lights are so bright it looks like daytime. It was very crowded.
We hung out for about and hour and a half before the kids started complaining about being tired and wanting to go back to the hotel.
The next morning started with breakfast (free) down in the hotel lobby and then we were off again. Pickles wanted to go to the Niketown store first. Niketown was about a 2 mile walk from the bus terminal. So we walked and walked and walked and took in the sights.