Vacation 2. ..End of the Summer

We planned our second vacation after Labor Day, thinking all the tourists and kids would have returned home. How wrong we were. The hotel and town was mobbed. We couldn't figure it out why all these people were up in the mountains after schools had reopened and most vacations were done with. Labor Day is usually the "official end of summer and vacations" weekend. We kept asking eachother "doesn't anyone work anymore?" Oh well....

Vacation started for us on a Sunday morning. Barb wanted Kim (Barb's daughter) and me over to her place at 8:30 for breakfast. She was going to make us blueberry pancakes before we left (and boy, were those pancakes FLAT!). Our plan was that Barb would ride up with Kim, following me, as Kim had to leave in the morning to get back to her horses. Barb and I were going to stay til the middle of the week. After I had arrived at Barb's, she told me to go look in her bedroom to see if I noticed anything "different". Hmmmmmm, took me awhile as I stood at the door way looking in and around but then I finally saw feet sticking out of the bottom of her bed. At first I thought she was playing a joke on me, and it was some dummy buried under her covers that we were going to have some fun taking on vacation with us, until...the feet moved! Out popped Diane, Barb's friend and she was going with us!! She drove her car, as she needed to leave a day before us. Our convoy was growing. Little did they know, how directionally challenged I am...and they were following me!

Of course, it was pouring out when we left. Could it be anything but pouring on vacation? We made it to the hotel in better time than our vacation in the spring. We did stop at that one famous landmark country store and gift shop. Diane had never been there before, neither had Kim and Barb was still in awe from the last time we stopped there. Hard to imagine they had never been there. I've stopped there since I was a kid with my parents, every time going up north. I stopped there with my own kids every time we traveled to the mountains. Guess "Ma and Dad liked me best" (ha-ha).

When we arrived, check in time was 3pm and we were early. So, we walked the nearby shops for a bit and checked if our rooms might be ready a bit early. Only Diane's room was. So we unloaded everything in there and went to pizza place next door. After that, our rooms were ready. Onward again with that luggage rack. (And Barb had to even ask me after we registered and I grabbed the luggage rack to wheel out to the cars.. "Do you think we're gonna really need that thing??" Barb....I think we needed it!)

We planned for this trip, all summer and looked f orward. Learning from our first vacation here, this one was MUCH better planned (look at that luggage rack...we almost needed two!). Course we bought movies, drinks, and snacks). We hit all the shops...buying gifts and decorations and books and cd's, Diane even bought a few Xmas gifts (I can't think Xmas yet!). Barb caught me more than once snorting those pine pillows up my nose just because I LOVE the smell of pine. Diane danced without the need for music; Kim had only Poncho on her mind and Barb really wanted to snort those pine needles up her nose with me. We had many laughs and thats what it's all about.

Its sort of strange in a way and we talked about this while on vacation. Here are the White Mountains...a place up north that we've all been to hundreds of times, since young kids. And now, we go there for vacation as though we've never been before and it's all new to us. We did take the train ride, we had never done that there before. That was new to us. The sightseeing part did not really matter, which is a good thing because you couldn't see anything anyway with the fog, cloud, rain. It was just fun anyway. We were going to take the trolly also but ran out of time. The next trip! But everything is fun all over again. Maybe it's just the company and it really matters not where we go. Though, this hotel really is convenient to everything and has everything right there.

Maybe some day we''ll get risky and venture out deeper into the world! (as long as I'm not driving)

It did rain all during our vacation. Of course, as I expected, it cleared up the morning that Barb and I were packing up. We walk to the car in the morning and out peeks the sun. Barb looks over at the mountain and says "I KNOW that's not real!! Someone painted that! It's a mural! I've never seen that mountain there before!!"

Until our next vacation, hopefully in the spring...
below are bits and peices of our early fall vacation. Enjoy!

We Made It!! We're Here!

We're here but are we prepared?? Unloading our trunks took up a few hours. Here, we begin the long struggle into the hotel. Took all of us to drive that device on home!

The Storm before the calm...

The work before the rest...

Ya never know what the weather's gonna be...or what kind of snacks you'll feel like...what what you will want to drink...and we have to share of course!

OHHH I think we're actually gonna make it! Come on Diane, PUSHHHHHHHH!!!

Finally....we're cruising on in...

Home away from Home! The familar trademark! The Flying eagle! We're ducking low as we push our luggage rack under him...
















And there we go! We've made it so far...down the hall searching for Diane's room. Left? Right? Nooo back up...turn here! Get ahold of that rack! Yikessss hold on to the bags, everything is starting to fall off! Grab the soda, its fizzing up! Ohh my God! Push it! PULLLLL it! Ohhh it won't make it around this tight corner! Phewww, i think we're almost there! I think we're gonna do it!

(and whose pushing it up to the forth floor after?)

Welcome...

Diane welcomes us poor roomless folks into her pad for awhile. In we push the luggage rack..

Knowing that we're gonna only have to push that luggage rack up to the forth floor once our rooms are finally ready to be moved into.

Only Diane's room was ready when we FINALLY got our luggage into the hotel , so we camped there until ours were. We really needed and deserved a vacation after pushing that luggage around.

Who knows whats going on here but it looks like vacation has now offically started. I think Barb is laughing cause we all just realized that Diane's room does NOT have a coffee table! And it looks like Diane is not too thrilled about that news!

Dinner

The first night we ate in the hotel restaurant. This plate look familar? As the spring vacation's memories remained...so did the thoughts of this burger. The four of us had our first dinner together.

Evenings........

This time we came prepared. We learned after our first vacation here in the spring exactly what we needed to bring with us to save traveling up and down the strip, gathering items. We was able to get right down to serious vacationing the minute we got there, this time! We made sure we had snacks and drinks and movies for the evenings (we live an exciting life, don't we? right on the edge!)......

Even before the show began, we all get silly and Diane does her dancing thingy...and the movie hasn't even started yet!

Barb and I had hunted all summer for movies to buy. Of course, they had to be just right. We weren't looking for new releases or highly recomended movies or high rated ones. We were looking for stupid ones. When you're not looking for them, they can actually be difficult to find! We have a weird sense of humor, if you haven't figured that part out yet, I think you're soon to do so.

So, after dinner, we all went to our rooms and changed into something comfy, grabbed our snacks and met in Barb and Kim's room cause that room had two queen beds. We could all get cozy, have snacks and watch some great (stupid) movies to laugh over. Thing was, I think Barb and I shopped wayyyyyyy too good for these kinds of movies! They were really bad. Well, not all of them but most. Once we pulled out the first movie half way through and put in the second one "Wild Hogs", we found success. That second one was really funny and we all enjoyed it. We had a lot of laughs. Then we went to our own rooms and went to bed.

Kim had to leave early the next morning as she had to get home and take care of her horses. That left Barb, Diane and me.

Barb and Diane had breakfast with Kim in the morning before she left. I never made it til later. I slept in and came down later. The hotel had a great buffet breakfast every morning...

Then began our shopping frenzy. Many of the places we went, I did not get pictures, like the book stores and smaller shops.

The Top Stupid Movie

This movie was our first choice of our evening entertainment. By the picture of the male here, I'm just certain you can tell what movie it is! Why it's called "The Thumb Sucker" (see picture 1.) We like stupid movies but they have to have some humor in them. Our motto is "The stupider the better".

I think Diane is really enjoying the movie. At least, at this point. Or was it the cracker and salami in her hand that she found so funny? In any case, she is certainly enjoying something! Or is she crying? Because that movie really was BAD! I mean, we like stupid movies but this one took the prize.

Below, the Thumb sucking teenage kid goes to the dentist!! Now how exciting is that??

Dum-de-dum-dum-dum....

and now...we interupt this intense moment , as the dentist's hands begin his fine work and he hypnotizes the thumb suckers......

to pull out the tape and put in a different movie!!

We begin our shopping vacation...

When we arrived, our shopping careers had just begun. Kim wasn't yet over the shock that she had actually left Poncho, her horse, for the night. Her mind is still racing as she tries to figure out what the hell she is doing here without her Poncho. Next time, I think she might leave the car home and ride her horse. This is our first gift shop of the trip. Only dozens more to go and we'll call it quits. I think Kim realizes right at this very moment that this trip is gonna be a "trip" of it's own makings. Diane begins to warm up here. Soon, she'll be dancing through the shops! And the train....and the room....and the hotel....and the pool.....and the restaurants.... you name it, she'll dance it.

In Town.....more shops

More Shops...

Unique gifts shops are everywhere and we shopped them all! They also seemed to go for miles and miles inside. Here's Diane dancing through one. I'm beginning to think this is her normal walk and all this time I've only assumed she was dancing. She's just one cRaZy GaL and she has about proven at this early point in the trip that she just might qualify to become one of the "Twisted Sistas!!"

The Traveling Trio...

Well, we've all have only been coming up to the mountains all of our lives and yet, its all new. I don't know how many times I said that over this vacation and still more times, I would think it. Here is this little, tourist, mountain town that could easily be a day trip and that we've visited probably every year for our whole lives but now it's different. I actually think we're sillier than we were as kids, or maybe it's that we're more open about it now, and don't worry about it. I don't remember ever taking the train before though. It goes on two different trips. One trip takes you up on top of Mt. Washington, which I wouldn't even want to go on in a clear day. Its scarey! Straight UP and then straight down and I mean that literally, without much land on either side of the tracks. We took the simpler trip; one way down the tracks, reverse the engine, and then one way back. Flat ground, through towns, views of the trees and clouds and one hell of a conductor!

Through the clouds, Diane kept us entertained as necessary. Sometimes, when it wasn't necessary too. We, as always, had lots of laughs. Its not really the trip that matters but who your company is on the trip. So, let it rain. It won't ruin our time, for even in the rain we'll go a traveling and takes in the sights. Even if the only sights we see are whats in front of our face.

The Train Journey....

We begin our train journy with Barb and ticket in hand. She looks so happy! This was our car. Though cloudy and misting of rain at times, we choose the open car at the end. The cool air felt good against our raging hot flashes. This begins our train travels...

The Beginning of color...

My favorite time of year; Autumn. It was still early, only the second week of September but up north in the mountains the leaves had just begun to change colors. Even on the moving train and cloudy day, I managed to catch a few shots at the leaves starting to change. On a bright, sunny, clear day, the foliage in the mountains is breathtaking.

A Rare Moment.....

Diane, calm and still. For the moment. We didn't sit too closely to her though. She needed the room to get up and dance, when she'd get the urge. That urge came on at any time.

Huh????

Barb Really enjoyed this trip! I sat behind her, i KNOW! Somehow, between the LOUD blows of the train horn, and blocking my own ears, i managed to capture her enjoyment. The train was very couteous of every little town, every little road it crossed and I think it took under considerations of nature too; all the chipmonks and squirrels and creepy crawlers, because it blew its VERY LOUD HORN almost constantly to warn everything and anything that it was coming, so get out of the WAY! It was worth losing our hearing over. HUH? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING??

And oh what sights!!

Well, we KNOW there are mountains out there somewhere. There has to be! After all this was suppose to be a train ride over and through the mountains. Diane though kept us all entertained. With these views on an hour and a half train ride, something had to keep us entertained. So, between Barb and I joking, laughing and goofing off and Diane keeping herself busy and amused by acting out foot loose, i don't even know how I had the time to snap these pictures!

Trains, planes and automobiles..

Even on the cloudy, rainy day, there were some pretty sights along the river and there was a positive side to this trip! The train certainly wasn't crowded. I mean, who but us would go sightseeing on a cloudy day, where no sights could really be seen? Not many. For that matter, we got to change our seats on the train often. Going from one to another; from one side to another; from sitting together to sitting alone; to opening the seats up to couches and of course, Diane taught us how to lift the back of the seat around and ride backward. Or forward again, once the train changed directions.

Diane, in her dancing mood and at times she even calmed enough to watch out the side of the train, at the woods mostly. Barb and I got on one of our silly, laughing hard acts where you felt like you were on a amusement park ride, and your sides hurt cause you just couldn't stop laughing. That's us.

Train rides sights...

The End of the Ride (finally)

The end of the train ride. Diane either REALLY liked it or she was very glad it was over, either way she danced her way off. I think she'd be happy wherever we took her.

On the way home....

Of course, Barb and I just have to hit one more gift shop on the way home. This one in a huge, old two story barn and as all the others, just seemed endless. As tired as we felt, and i think we both in a way just wanted to get home at this point, still managed to walk every inch of this place and as always, we just seem to have so many of the same interests.

Home calls us both now and we're on our way. Vacation has ended.

In Memory of Mary Jane...

To Rita....

Dear Rita,

We have never met. I do not know You, but I know of you. You are the friend of Mary Jane's, who remained by her side through thick and thin, until the very end. You are the friend who gave her the gift of knowing such a person as you, and I am sure that Mary Jane's friendship returned to you, the joys that made it all worthwhile. I am sure, there were times filled with laugher and silliness as well as with the pains and sorrows, that could only be shared by friends, as you both were.

I knew of Mary Jane's trip, a year ago, to see her brother. I knew that it was you that accomodated her, to make this long, distance trip, a reality. And it was you, who allowed for them to see each other, one last time. I knew it was you, who kept her spirits high, your encouragement, your support, your care, your love. Her family spoke of you in the highest of respect and gratefulness.

I've known of You, remaining by her side, as her illness worsened. And I know it was you, whose rare and special friendship, kept you beside her until she was gone. Her trust in you never betrayed. Your courage and strength shown as your grief deepened, has not gone unnoticed. Nor has your dedication and your unique, special friendship. You are truely a special person.

I cannot help but think now, for what I do know, that You must surely have your own special angel in heaven that watches over you with such care, just as you did for her, when you were by her side every step of her journey.

How could I have ever known this of you, whom I've never met? To hear your name mentioned and in my mind's thoughts comes the name "Rita", and then I do know you, once again. You are in the thoughts of a family whose hearts have filled with gratitude of you and for whom you are, Rita, and for whom you have been. In the family that Mary Jane belonged, it is You, Rita, that has not only been such a true friend to Mary Jane but you have taught us all the truest meaning of what a friend is. We thank you.

We have never met, Rita, yet I know you. Thank you.
From us all, thank you.

Rita...It must of been written of you...

Portrait of a Friend

~

I can't give solutions to all of life's problems, doubts,

of fears. But I can listen to you, and together we will

search for answers.

~

I can't change your past with all it's heartache and pain,

nor the future with it's untold stories.

But I can be there now when you need me to care.

I can't keep your feet from stumbling.

~

I can only offer my hand that you may grasp it and not fall.

You joys, triumphs, successes, and happiness are not mine;

Yet I can share in your laughter.

~

Your decisions in life are not mine to make, nor to judge;

I can only suport you, encourage you,

and help when you ask.

~

I can't prevent you from falling away from friendship,

from your values, from me;

I can only pray for you, talk to you and wait for you.

~

I can't give you boundaries which I have determined from you,

But I can give you the room to change, room to grow,

room to be yourself.

~

I can't keep your heart from breaking and hurting,

But I can cry with you and help you pick up the pieces

and put them back in place.

~

I can't tell you who you are.

I can only love you and be your friend.

----Unknown

~

And Rita, gave of herself, unselfishly and beyond.