July 30, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 8 Days

What a freakin' DAY!

Hey guys! I'm baaaaack!

In Cali that is, so here's one BIG GREETINGS from SoCal for ya!

We got in around 12:30a last night/this morning, however you prefer to look at it; and we were so glad that the household was still awake and had only just started to unwind. 
We were able to hug everyone and to wish Dave a Happy Birthday in person (albeit a 1/2 hour after his birthdate!)

So anyhow yesterday turned out a bit crazy and quite stressful. 
We had left Virginia by 7:45a, a hour past what I had originally wanted to leave because the kids Grandma and cousin had woke up to see us off and I didn't want to just rudely rush out. 

I figured that it was no big deal - my flight wasn't until 7:29p out of JFK and the drive was gonna take around 6.5hrs. 
So all seemed good and I wasn't rushing.

We stopped at the gift shop on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel - since each and every other time we are crossing that Bridge/Tunnel the shop is either closed or we are in a hurry. 
We browsed around, walked around and took pictures, then piled back into the car and had continued on our way.

Here are a few FACTS about the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel:

Total Length (including approach roads):
23 miles
Depth of water along Route:
25 to 100 feet
Islands:
Four manmade islands each with approximately 5.25 acres of surface, 30 feet above water
Opening Date:
Northbound: April 15, 1964
Southbound: April 19, 1999


Once we were in northern Delaware, I had rechecked the GPS and it had estimated an arrival at JFK of 5pm?! What? 
How can that be?? UGGGGH

I thought that I was gonna have time to stop by and do just a wee bit of visiting and now instead I was pressured to even get back to JFK in time for our flight!

I had called my Grandma, who I was hoping to swing by and at least say good bye to. I informed her and my dad of the driving situation and told them that it was highly unlikely that I'd be able to head to Maspeth and then deal with the rush hour traffic to JFK.

But after a brief while it had appeared that the arrival time to Maspeth would be 10 minutes earlier than the arrival time to JFK - I was GOING FOR IT!

Watching the clock and the traffic, either cheering or yelling at the traffic/drivers from the time I got to the Lincoln Tunnel until arriving at my Grandma's. The kids thought it was a real HOOT! I honestly was just not shutting up.

So very many pigeons!

Then a brief visit and a quick bathroom break (I had to pee since Delaware!) and then we were on the road again. 
It truly felt like a "pit stop" for race car drivers! 

Back into traffic and back to praying that we make our flight. 
While it was under 12 miles, those were the LONGEST miles ever! 

Check out the miles 4,195 - that's one heck of a road trip!

On the Air Train

We hurried at the rental agency, dropping the car off, we rushed to check in line (being that we couldn't do online check in). 
The Delta employee was cool, calm and collected. 
Although we only had 46 minutes until take off, she acted like it was nothing. 
Then the printed wasn't working...
UGH we gotta GOOOO

Finally got our boarding passes, and hurried to security. The line was HORRENDOUS! 
Luckily once past TSA, we were sent to the pre-check line and avoided having to take our shoes off, laptops out of the bags, etc...

Next was rushing to the gate, and lastly we made it. We were the last ones to board, but they hadn't called our names out yet and then we collapsed into our seats. WHEW! 
These are real life AMAZING RACE moments people!

About 6hrs later we were standing at the curb in San Diego (surrounded by mutants) and waiting for the Bird-Mobile to come pick us up. 
Birdwald was all spiffy and had greeted me with a gorgerous "welcome back" bouquet!

Then one last 1.5hr drive and we arrived at our doorstep. 

What a freakin' Day!

As for Today, it's TBT (Throwback Thursday) and it's my turn to share a TBT story with you - I will be posting a story about Puerto Rico with you - and just in time for my next week departure to none other than Puerto Rico (of which I STILL need to book our flights) and then off to 5 more Southern Caribbean Islands! Click HERE for more.

My day here should be fairly mellow, showing some of my bazillion pictures from my Summer thus far, and finally handing out all the gifts that I carefully selected while traveling abroad on our European Rail Trip! 

That's about it folks! Hope to see you in the comments...

Toodles,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: SEPTEMBER

HEY THERE!! 

Greetings from West Hampton Beach!!  
Yes, that's right,  I had an early appointment out here this morning.

In addition to Travelin' Cousins (which is my passion!) I also have a few other business projects in the works. So, this morning, I had a meeting with a few business associates regarding one of these endeavors.

Now, I can think of a lot worse places to have a meeting - especially in the middle of Summer!!

I'll spend the morning out in West Hampton and then head back to Nassau County for the rest of the day.  

Perfect match with my green marble on the right (mine is a little dusty so it looks off, but it's the right color)

The right color white marble!!!

Yesterday, I finally found the marble I was looking for!!! Nick (the marble proprietor I met on Tuesday) pointed me in the right direction, to the most amazing marble shop!!!  

I was thrilled to have found BOTH the green and the white marble that I needed for my master bath.  Score!!! That job is now done.  Now I just have to wait for the plumber to do his job and then the tile installer can return to make it look like a finished shower stall again. 

A cart full of school supplies of the new school year

The kids love using the "Duck Tape" for protecting their school books

After I returned home from my afternoon errands, Gianna was begging me to go to Staples to buy her school supplies for the new school year.

They school posted the lists of necessities and she was overzealous about getting that job out of the way.  I just wanted to relax, having been out and about in the 95 degree weather yesterday.  

I know you know how much I hate the HEAT!!
So, I struck a compromise with her -- if she let me sit, relax and watch a movie, I'd take them shopping.

And so, they did.  And so I did. Just as I sat down, I caught a very touching movie, called "Belle," that was just starting on HBO.  It was inspired by a true story, I'm so glad I watched it.  I really enjoyed it!!

It was the story of and illegitimate, mixed-race daughter of a British admiral who plays an important role in the campaign to abolish slavery in England. 

Great cast of British actors, including Tom Wilkinson and Miranda Richardson.

We managed to get just about every single thing on their school supply lists, including new back packs for each of them.

One job out of the way!!  I know how anal Gianna is, so she is going to label all of her new things and get them packed up in her new back pack so they are ready and waiting for the first day of school.  

I'll have to give Kelsey a hand with her stuff.

Don't forget to catch Tanya's Throwback Thursday story today!!   

I'll finally be posting my long-awaited Foodie Friday feature about KIDÓ in Prague, tomorrow!!

Have a fabulous day!!!


-E
xoxo