Guess what we have been doing the last few days?? NOT HIKING!! I’m excited to tell you all that we are enjoying a few zeros at my parents’ house in NJ! We had this planned in our heads for a long time and actually, we haven’t taken a full day off since Hanover, NH, just…
Today we hiked into New York. This is our 6th state (out of 14)! Unbelievable! Connecticut was a good state to us. Similar to Mass, it was relatively flat. The climbs were steep, but the good thing is they are quick. Surprisingly nice vistas too! Overall, the trail is nice and friendly. Hopefully someday, we…
Today, we got trail magic. This time, though, it wasn’t from a stranger, but from our family! My sister QuickQuestion, brother-in-law Yankee, nephew Bones and niece Curly Locks picked us (including Fire Marshall – we have reunited!) up from the trail in Kent and took us home to shower, launder and eat home-cooked goods. It…
My mom turned 66 today!! However, she has the energy of a 46-year-old! Maybe it’s from all the coffee she drinks … I wanted to give her a shout out because she is always a very thoughtful and loving person, but she is especially important to us while we are on the trail. She is…
A few months ago, my dad suggested we (us, my parents, my sister’s family) take a vacation before J & I hit the trail. So we (I) planned it all out to coincide with the kids’ spring break and to take place up in the White Mountains of NH. My sister kept saying, “why can’t…
Before I get into the Christmas festivities, I have a BIG announcement to make. SILMeow and Napolean Dynamite FINALLY got engaged!!!!!!They have been dating for something like 15 years (okay, not really, but play along with me here). We all thought they were a good match, and they knew it too, but they chose to…
We’ve driven 670 miles so far, and this is what we’ve done. We packed up pretty much our whole house to take with us across the country. We even brought Mr. McKinley’s Christmas stocking with a new toy so he wouldn’t feel slighted that we left for the holidaze. The night before we left, the…
We spent the day (weekend) of Thanks with J’s family, including his grandma, who flew in from Cali, and SILMeow & Napolean Dynamite, who flew in from Chi-town. Lots of highlights to mention . . . I consumed approximately 29,635 calories this weekend. And didn’t exercise one bit.I succeeded at making 2 pies. I think…
We had a very important visitor this weekend, but before I get to her visit, I can’t keep the news in any longer. I won a game of Scrabble!!! (Did you think I was going to tell you I got a job?) I RARELY beat J at Scrabble, as in every 3 years or so.…
Three guesses where I was today? My sister and I met up in NYC on this rainy, yet humid, fall day. Growing up a stone’s throw from the city still means you can play tourist, which we try to do together every once in awhile. And we did what most NYC tourists would do. We…
Well, there was not ANY traffic this past Labor Day weekend on our drive to Jersey. Which forces me to ask, where all the people at??? But, no traffic=happy road trippers. The purpose of the trip … you guessed it. A concert. It looks like J’s all-time favorite band, From Good Homes, is semi-back together…
This weekend was a big ‘ol family reunion of sorts. Mostly with J’s sisters and significant others coming to New England and wreaking havoc. J’s sisters (SILAdventure & SILMeow) live in Denver and Chicago, respectively, so we don’t all get together often, aside from occasional holidays. So it’s nice to gather just for the hell…
For the third summer in a row, QuickQuestion, Yankee, Bones and Curly Locks made a vacation out of visiting us in New Hampshire. And we all survived for the third year in a row. Adults, kids and cat included. We jam-packed the weekend with fun and new things around the state! And because I know…
So it has been a week since my return form Colorado and it has been a busy one. My wife, “the blogger” has been bugging me to write a post so you all can understand the “Festival”! It was my sister’s (SILAdventure) 30th bday June 19th and I told her I would party with her…
My dad came out of surgery and is a-okay! I didn’t get to talk to him yet and I only talked to my mom briefly, but all went well so thanks for any good thoughts you sent our way. To lighten the mood, here is a picture of a “sit off” between Mr. McKinley and…
I think everyone knows that J loves Alaska. It’s in his top 3 (Me, Music & Alaska-in no particular order of course!). Part of the reason he married me was because I had family that live in Alaska. Last weekend while we were in Jersey for the awesome Indian wedding, so was my family from…
I checked the Life Less Ordinary blog the other day to see if that chick updated it and what a slacker, she hasn’t! After getting a harsh reprimand about the issue from her husband last night, she decided it was time. So what’s been going on guys? Last weekend was busy with J’s work events…
Chicago was windy and chilly. J asked me the expected temps before we left and I told him it would be 50s/60s at best, to which he wrongly assumed was shorts and t-shirts weather. So this is why you see him wearing pretty much the same outfit in every single picture.Anyways, the annual Mother’s Day…
Bones is growing up fast. I guess kids do that. He made his Communion this weekend! Made us all so proud. Bones is getting old and smart. He said to me, “I don’t know if this is rude, Aunt Pay, but your butt kind of sticks out.” Well, at least we know he is very…
My rents (Short on Coffee and Big on Lotto) have come and gone. It was a truly gratifying visit. My family has had a tumultuous last 2 years, so visits like this are priceless. The weather in the Northeast has just been spectacular. I have a feeling it’s not going to last, but you just…