Dog Park

Watching pups at the dog park on 17th...

Boo!

Happy Halloween, from Washington, D.C.!

Night out in DC

Great night out with Cory, Linda, and James!

Fall Colors

Awesome!

DC

In DC for a work meeting. Love this city.

Beautiful Night

Lovely sunset over Rochester.

Volleyball

We may suck this season, but we're a team...

Trip to Connecticut - Part 2

So on Saturday night, James & I hit up the Mohegan Sun Casino is eastern CT.  The drive was two hours, but man oh man, this was an amazing casino! When we got there, we set ourselves down at the blackjack tables.  Little did we know we were JUST inside the door, and that the whole casino extended at least 5 more identical rooms.  Spent several hours here!

The casino has an entire mall inside of it, including a Tiffany's, Puma, TWO Krispy Kremes and about 5 steak houses.  Insane. INSANE.  I could see people vacation here like it was Vegas.  

There was lots to do besides gambling.  They had entertainment playing all over the casino, they have concerts there all the time, and there is just so much to see and do.

I was really blown away, and if I ever find myself over on the coast again, I will check them out again.  But alas, the night was getting late, and we had a big day in NYC on Sunday.

James wanted to get a coat and new colognes from NYC, and we met up with his friend Chris down in Harlem.  I do like Harlem, it reminds me of Rochester a bit.  So we shopped, and shopped, and walked and shopped.  Had a little lunch from this per pound take-out buffet place, and then joined Chris to look at a couple condos.

He's looking to buy in the next year, and it was cool getting to see just-built units.  Quite expensive, too!  For 800 sq. ft., this one condo was $280k.  Insane.  Not sure about that! But after getting a ton of stuff purchased, hanging out with Chris and walking about 10 miles throughout the day, we had to get going.  He was going to a benefit, and we needed to hit the road for our drive home.

It was a great drive home.  I drove first, he drove second.  We made it back in about 5 1/2 hours, which is wonderful time.  My car made it through like s trooper (better, with all the maintenance I've put in recently).  It was a lovely action packed FULL weekend away, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Trip to Connecticut - Part 1

Plans had collapsed a few weeks prior to my going to Connecticut.  But with some finagling, I managed a fun weekend and a great visit with some good friends.  The drive wasn't terribly long, and the leaves had just started to change.  It was beautiful.

When I got there, there was a bit of jubulation, catch-up and honest conversation.  Seth & Kelly miss Rochester something terrible.  But their home is gorgeous (a former Baptist church) and their children are doing wonderfully.  They're slowly but surely exploring their little down of New Milford (outside of Danbury), and beginning a new life.

Kelly always goes way above and beyond whenever she does anything.  So night one was a delicious meal, and very low carb.  She's quite the cook, and I cannot tell her this enough.  She made bacon wrapped everythings each night. She has a very lovely kitchen now, full of space for preparation.

Ellis and Milla were quite the warm, lovely children.  Prior to this trip, I had seen both of them in small quantities as they were heading to bed.  Or on some outing, like apple picking.  But this trip meant I saw then day in and day out for 4 days.  They warmed right up to me and Ellis even insisted I hold her while hanging out on the couch.

Lunch on day 2 included getting hot dogs from this antique train car, which while cool, wasn't too impressive once you ATE them.  The town is tiny, and I was able to explore it in all of 5 minutes.  Drove around a little bit, did a little shopping, and ended up back at the Bell's church for dinner.

We hung out and watched a lot of tv, talked a lot about our lives, issues and good times/memories.  I thoroughly enjoyed hanging out with the little girls, too.  On Saturday, I went to Danbury to the mall to look for a couple things, ate a nice lunch, and even stopped at a Trader Joe's!  It was a very relaxing, raining day.

For dinner, we ended up hitting this BBQ place that they've been to in the past.  The food was interesting!  Was not the typical BBQ that you can get in Rochester or in the south, but it was good!  The location was odd, and their service lacked, but it was decent.  Unfortunately, Ellis got sick, and they took the girls home.

To see how another family interacts, lives and grows is heart-warming.  I have my memories of my childhood and I think back to all the things that I ever did and saw.  And to think, this is what they'll one day see in their past.  I'm so glad to be a part of it.

To spend some time away from the house and to have a good time with Seth & James, the three of us hit up a billiards/pool hall.  The two of them are very fond of it, and I make the best of it! We stayed a couple hours and had a great time.  Saturday night, I headed to the Mohegan Sun casino, and Sunday I spent in NYC, but it was still wonderful to spend a few days with Seth, Kelly, Milla & Ellis.  I'll be back!

Game Nights

We have resumed our game nights! Welcome back!!

Old age

Definitely entering into old man territory. Came downstairsand found a half-eaten bowl of soup, half-drank glass of wine & my reading glasses. I had fallen asleep at 8pm. #sadness

Morning commutes

Getting darker every morning...

Exhausted & Stretched

Night Life

Enjoy.

Italian wine/cheese!

Trying out some wine & cheeses!