White River Junction, VT (USA)

[began teleworking very early - at 0645, I drove to White River Junction to get my 72K Service for my Subaru at the dealership - I worked from their waiting room between 0700 and 0845 - after that, returned to my condo and resumed teleworking]

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[after work, returned Enterprise rent-a-car in White River Junction (1500) - 2700 miles - got a ride back to my condo and was home about 30 minutes later]

Waterbury, VT (USA)

This morning, I woke up with hopes for a repeat of the previous day's adventure on skis.  I had the rental car for one more day so didn't want to miss my chance to take advantage of the unlimited miles!  However, one look out the window revealed that it was raining and foggy near my condo.  I dithered all morning but eventually got the idea that I should try to escape the weather.  My weather app showed promising conditions to the north so I left home at 1100 and headed in that direction (via I-89 and I-91).  I got off the interstate at VA-25 and took it towards Corinth.  The roads were clear and it wasn't raining so I hoped I'd find a place to get on my skis.  There was LOTS of ice in the rivers... Unfortunately, the place I was trying to reach, Northeast Slopes, wasn't open.  Undeterred, I continued towards Barre (US-302).  During this time, it started to sprinkle - to the northwest, however, there were clearer skies.  As I made my through Montpelier and got on US-2 (to drive to Waterbury), the rain didn't stop.  If anything, it actually got worse!  Once I was on VT-100, I drove through Stowe (lots of people there) and continued north to Morrisville.  Getting on VT-15, I initially headed west and - briefly thought about trying to ski on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail.  In the end, though, driving west didn't help.  Instead, I returned to Morrisville and then drove east on VT-15 towards St. Johnsbury.  Along the way, I passed many more trailheads and boat launches (all along the Lamoille). On the western side of the town of Hardwick, I stopped for gas (at Demers Company Oil station) and found it to be surprisingly cheap (1345).  From that point, though, the rain continued...  It was tough trying not to hydroplane in my rented car (Nissan Versa) but I safely reached I-91 and then drove south.  Had to REALLY watch my speed all the way, for good reason - I passed a truck that had careened into a deep ravine (yikes!).  When I arrived back in Hanover (1500), I found there was no rain at all.  Sadly, though, the snow was nearly gone.  I'm disappointed that I wasn't able get any outdoor adventures but still felt good about exploring some new areas of Vermont I'd never seen.

Craftsbury, VT (USA)

Back in New England again!  Since I still had my rental car, I decided to take it out into the wilds of Vermont in the afternoon - hoping to find some groomed skiing trails at Craftsbury Outdoor Center.  In the morning, I cleaned, did laundry and unpacked from my trip.  It felt good to get organized!  At 1145, I was ready to leave the house.  The drive to Craftsbury was pretty long (1+45) and required I-91 and lots of back roads (including dirt).  Somehow, I made it there by 1330.  It took me some time to find the place to pay but the people were nice (they mentioned that all of the fun was run "on the honor system" but were glad I paid).  After I had my trails pass (1445), I found it easy to get started on the trails.  Temps were in the low 30s and it was partly cloudy. Along the way, I explored the northeast side of the complex (mostly, Ruthie's Run).  I made it up to one really high point (with good views) and then returned to the Lodge by way of the Lakeside Trail.  For most of the afternoon, I saw no people at all...  As I was thinking about finishing, I noticed some lights had just been turned on for night time skiing!  I then used groomed tracks in that area until I'd reached the three hour mark (1340 to 1640) and six miles on skis. When I was back in my car (1645), I decided I'd truly found my bliss in the woods...  As it got darker, I headed towards home, using the same dirt roads.  Eventually made it to I-91 OK and then made good time as I went south.  I stopped for gas at Exxon in Wells River (1745).  From there, it was easy to reach home and I was in my condo by 1830 - I had just enough time to clean up before my dad called me.  Finding this fun today required a long drive, deep into the NEK, but was well worth the effort!  

Christmas Trip - Day 12

Even though I had planned to drive home today, I still did some teleworking in Chantilly as soon as I woke up (before 0500).  Like yesterday, the morning was quite slow (all meetings had been canceled and most people were on leave).  I took a break to get some breakfast (comped again) in the hotel restaurant and then resumed teleworking.  At about 0745, I packed up my car, checked out of the Holiday Inn and departed for New Hampshire.  My first stop (after using VA-28, I-66 and I-495) was in Beltsville, where I spent over an hour (0830 to 1000) with Brother Jim in his retirement home.  I helped him with some computer problems and we had a nice conversation.  During this time, I also got a bit of teleworking done (mostly just checking email; everything was quiet).  At 1000, I said goodbye and headed north on I-95.  Along the way, I thought about all the hiking trips I'd done on this route...  I changed to I-695 and skirted around the northwest side of Baltimore.  There were a LOT of speed cameras in the construction zones (ugh).  Made it to I-83 without much incident and then settled in for a long drive to Harrisburg.  Fortunately, the weather was great and, initially, I didn't have too much traffic. When I got to the Susquehanna River, however, the traffic jams started and it took me a while to get to I-81.  Even then, I had some stop-and-go all the way to I-78;.  North of that junction, though, the drive was very easy and I thought it would be smooth sailing all the way to Binghamton.  Unfortunately, there were a lot of left lane cruisers, some big trucks, and construction - this slowed me down a little.  I made a couple of stops for short breaks and even kept my computer signed into my work network for several hours as I drove.  Just after getting to the New York State Line, I took some back roads towards I-88.  It was during this time that my sister, Carolyn, started texting about some sort of problem with my dad.  When I called to find out what was wrong, I learned that his dog, Ana, had died.  I thanked Carolyn for letting me know but didn't immediately contact my dad because I needed to stop for gas.  After getting off the Interstate in Oneonta (NY) at 1605, I found that my Mirabito card (still) didn't work.  Instead, I went in search of another station.  Along the way, I redeemed more cans and bottles at Walmart (1815).  Next, I headed over to BJ's, where I filled up the gas tank (1830).  Once I was back on I-88, I made really good time as I drove east.  West of Albany, I got off the Interstate (Duanesburg) and took US-20 all the way to I-87.  Next, I got off the Interstate again and took NY-7 towards the east and across the Hudson River.;  After a brief break at McDonalds in Troy, I resumed driving towards Vermont.  Unfortunately, I got stuck behind some slow traffic and it took forever to reach VT-7.  However, once I got on VT-279, I made good time to US-7 and Manchester.  At this point, I called my dad to express my condolences about the passing of his beloved dog (had to leave a voicemail).  My drive continued (via VT-11) across the Green Mountains and I found a good "rabbit" in front of me who made the trip go quickly.  I followed VT-11 all the way to the western outskirts of Springfield and then used some back roads through town.  After that, I picked up VT-11 again and used it to reach I-91.  During this last leg of the trip, I made good time to I-89 and arrived home at 2030.  It was only then that I realized I hadn't eaten anything since the middle of the day!  Still, I didn't feel hungry...  As I usually do, I sent a Smurfey picture to the girls, unpacked and then went to bed early.  This Christmas trip to Virginia worked out much better for me than the last one I did - it was great to see friends and family and meet some new people.  What a great ending to 2024!

Christmas Trip - Day 11

This morning, I was awake at 0530 and started teleworking immediately.  I took a short break for breakfast (made to order) in the hotel conference room (it was comped for my being Platinum IHG).  Afterwards, I continued working.  Along the way, I coordinated with a former work colleague and my friend's (Chris C) daughters (especially Amanda) for a possible get together (for lunch or dinner).  Unfortunately, this plan fell apart when I found out everyone was sick.  Instead, I made plans with my own daughters to meet for an evening meal.  At 1205, I walked across the street to the Hooters and had their lunch special.  The food was good and the server was nice.  After getting finished (1300), I took a walk near the hotel (including inside the Walmart) and got about half of my daily steps.  Returning to work, I did a lot of technical research to support work I need to be doing in 2025.  Like on Tuesday, almost none of my colleagues or customers were working.  I finally knocked off work for the day at 1645.  During the time I had before dinner, I did some Duolingo and reading.  I was able to make an arrangement to meet with Brother Jim the following morning - that should be a nice break from my drive.  After confirming time/location with Erin and Brenna, I drove to Alexandria so I could meet them for dinner at Olympians Family Restaurant (a place we used to visit often when I lived in NoVA).  They arrived just a bit after I did (1745) and we then enjoyed some Greek food and conversation.  We talked a lot about holidays and other family news.  By the time we were finished eating (1845), the girls asked me to return to Nicky's so we could go on another walk with the dogs.  I agreed to do this and then got some bread pudding (to go) for Austin.  After driving from Olympians to Groveton, I waited while my daughters (and Austin) got all three of the dogs (Kiki, Bear and Pippin) ready for a walk.  Once everyone was ready, I learned that this was the first time that all of them have been on a walk together.  With the dogs, I had a good time with my daughters and Austin - everyone was in good spirits by the time we finished (2000).  It was hard to say goodbye to my daughters after a wonderful 10+ days of visiting with them but I managed.  Next, I drove to a nearby gas station (Shell near Edison High School) to get a gas fillup (2020).  From there, I used I-495, I-66 and VA-28 to drive back to my hotel in Chantilly.  Before going inside, I finished my 10K steps by walking around in the hotel and the Walmart parking lots. The temps had started to drop but they were still higher than in New Hampshire, where I'll be tomorrow night...  Back in my room, I read and did some more Duolingo; went to bed at 2245.  It's been a great trip!

Christmas Trip - Day 10

Christmas Day!  I slept "late" (until 0730) and then relaxed with some reading and Duolingo.  During this time, I texted a LOT of people, to wish them a Merry Christmas, and got lots of cheery responses.  After finally getting ready to go outside, I made a trip through the hotel (looking at the amenities) and then walked across the street to the McDonalds, where I got breakfast (0930).  I brought the food back to my room and ate it there.  Afterwards, I left the hotel again and spent the next hour walking around nearby, mostly in the parking lots for Walmart and the Dulles Expo Center.  All told, I logged four miles towards my 10K step goal.  At 1130, I returned to my room and relaxed some more.  Throughout the morning, I heard a few times from Erin, who wanted to plan our meetup at Austin's family Christmas party.  With this guidance in mind, I left the Holiday Inn and stopped for some gas at the Sunoco (across the street from the hotel) and then (1315) drove (via VA-28, I-66 and I-495) to the Tyson's Corner area.  Once there, I met Erin and Austin at one of the family homes and joined in with them for a Christmas party.  The event turned out to be wonderful, with amazing food, bourbon tasting and a White Elephant Gift Exchange.  I got to participate in the latter activity, thanks to Austin's mom looking out for me.  Along the way, I met Austin's parents, Chris and Tina, for the first time.  There were MANY, MANY other family members to meet - actually, the group seemed huge to me but the hosts mentioned that lots of people weren't there (!).  Between 1335 and 1705, I enjoyed myself and, when I left, I got LOTS of leftovers (it was amazing to watch everyone pick the food they wanted to take and it was soon all gone).  Erin told me she wanted me to join her and Kiki for a walk so I followed her and Austin (via I-495) to Nicky's house.  We arrived in Alexandria at about 1730 and I asked if we could walk Bear too.  Erin convinced her mother that this was a good idea (he rarely takes walks, I guess) and we (Austin, Erin and even Brenna!) took the two dogs for a walk around the neighborhood.  The weather was very nice and it was good to be seeing my daughters for a bit longer.  I texted Mollie some photos of our time and she ended up texting with me for quite a while.  After the walk was finished (1810), I departed for my hotel (used Telegraph Road to I-495, then I-66 to VA-28).  Along the way, I talked to my sisters (and cousins, nieces and nephew).  I reached the Holiday Inn in Chantilly by 1845 and, while parking, noticed that the Hooters (located across the street from my hotel) was open.  Since this was a rare treat, I changed clothing and quickly headed over there so I could have a drink.  I wasn't hungry at all but I got a "Dad Beer" and watched football on the big screens.  After staying for about an hour (finished at 2015), I then walked back to my hotel room.  I spent the rest of the evening blogging and reading (and more Duolingo) - went to bed at 2300.  It was a wonderful Christmas Day!

Christmas Trip - Day 9

Fortunately, I slept much better (I was wide awake at 0615) and immediately started teleworking (even though the Feds had a full day off from work).  I also ate breakfast at Erin's (banana bread) and did a little packing.  After Austin left for work (0700), Erin asked me to do some "dad projects" and I assisted in checking the shelves in the garage (for stability), did some research in Ring Camera installation, recommended some additional projects (e.g., cleaning up garage areas and removing pine needles from gutters).  Later in the morning, I took a short walk with Erin and Kiki - we were joined by a young neighbor, Cameron.  At around noon, Erin went to get some lunch from Aldi while I did some more teleworking.  After she brought back the food, we ate together and talked some more about my 2025 plans.  I then teleworked until 1400.  Packing up my car, I said goodbye to Erin and then departed for NoVA.  My route was intended to be rather scenic, with plans to stop at two State Parks and have dinner with my friend, Stephanie.  I used I-264 and I-64 to reach US-17 and then drove north - I crossed the G. P. Coleman Memorial Bridge at 1455.  To pass the time, I listened to audiobooks and music on the way.  The weather was very nice and I had great views as I crossed the York River.  I continued north on the Gloucester (north) side and took some back roads to the Machicomoco State Park.  Arriving at 1505, I used Erin's REI receipt for free entry and drove around the loop inside the park.  The location featured a lot of fields but I noticed some places with trees - I could also see the York River behind those.  I eventually found a trailhead and ended up hiking for about 30 minutes on the Forestry Trail.  I was taking lots of photos - and would have kept walking - until I realized I needed to be on my way ASAP if I wanted to be able to reach Belle Isle State Park before they closed.  To this end, I returned to US-17 and then drove north.  Google Maps next took me on to VA-3, which (through a meandering pathway) routed me to the Northern Neck.  The scenery was nice but I kept getting stuck behind slow traffic and my ETA to Belle Isle kept getting closer and closer to the time for the sunset. Even after I managed to pass all the traffic, I still didn't think I'd make it in time.  When I finally arrived (1645), I encountered the Park Ranger who was locking up the gates.  Fortunately, I sweet talked my way into getting inside (mostly because another person was still in there)... I reached the Day Use area on the southern end of the park just as a spectacular sunset was developing.  That wasn't the only impressive thing, though, and the sky color combined with the clouds to make a beautiful dusk.  I stayed inside the park until after 1700 and then texted with Stephanie to coordinate dinner at Randolph's on the River in Port Royal.  Google Maps said it would take an hour to reach the restaurant and, with some luck and good four lane highways (mostly VA-3 but later US-360 and US-17), I made it there by 1800.  We were able to have a very nice visit and dinner (seafood platter, which we shared) and Old Fashioned - we stayed until the restaurant closed (2000).  After saying goodbye, I returned to US-17 and then drove north through dark forests.  There was no traffic and I made good time to I-95.  Once I was finally on the Interstate, I realized that my route to the Holiday Inn in Chantilly would take long enough to prevent me from attending the musical performance of my friend, Kim, in Arlington.  So, I redirected to the Clarendon area (via I-95, I-395 and surface streets).  I arrived at St. Charles School and Parish at about 2120 (10 minutes before the performance) and was able to see Kim - and listen to 30 minutes of beautiful music - before Mass began at 2200.  The service lasted for almost an hour and then I was able to visit with Kim again afterwards.  At about 2300, I left the church and headed towards I-66 (used surface streets) - from there, I drove west to VA-28.  Again, there was almost no traffic and I arrived at my hotel, the Holiday Inn in Chantilly, by 2330.  This gave me just barely enough time to check in, take my stuff to the room and then walk around near the hotel to achieve my 10K steps - with one minute to spare!  After getting all riled up to finish my exercise goal, I was not ready to sleep.  Instead, I did some reading and got distracted for almost an hour before falling asleep (0100).  It felt great to have been able to see some friends today and continue my pursuit of the Virginia State Park Adventures Challenge; adding Machicomoco and Belle Isle (today) to Lake Anna (December 20) and York River (December 22) brings my Grand Total VA State Parks to 26!

Christmas Trip - Day 8

This morning, I woke up at 0500 and started teleworking.  I was surprised to find that some of my colleagues were also working but all my meetings were canceled.  Later, I took a break and got some breakfast (orange and banana bread).  During this time, I was able to talk with Erin about her upcoming Masters Degree semester.  At lunch time, Erin picked up some food (fancy Rueben sandwich and disco fries) from the Bagel Baker Deli in Virginia Beach.  I continued taking care of projects for my job while eating my lunch and teleworked until 1330.  At that point, I departed for Naval Station Norfolk so I could drop off some of my old Navy uniforms at the base Thrift Store.  The people working there were very appreciative of the usefulness of all my old stuff.  It was nice to meet the lady who ran the establishment and we talked for a bit about the many changes on the base over the last 30+ years.  Next (1430), I drove east towards Virginia Beach along the Chesapeake Bay coastline (had another speed camera scare in a residential neighborhood).  Since I bought a "Pick 3 Brew Hop Pass" on Viator, I'd discovered that two of the five bars were located on Ocean View Avenue.  So, I made my first stop at COVA Brewing Company (1445) and found that they had a "Wall of Beers" (taps to make my own pours).  I enjoyed trying about 10 different beers (including Foam Party, East Beach Blonde, Adios Amigo, Aloha State of Mind, Cosmo, Bourbon Aged Stout).  There were two (Salted Caramel Porter and Butterbeer) that I REALLY liked.  Also, I enjoyed the "beach bar" vibe too.  Afterwards (1530), I drove west on Ocean View Avenue for a couple of miles until I reached the Bold Mariner Brewing Company.  While there, I used the Brew Hop Pass again and got a free flight of four beers (Frogman Lager, Oh Snap!, Voodoo Style Apple Brandy and Noser).  The atmosphere of their "Navy bar" was also good and I had fun talking to some other veterans there (one of whom served on the same ship as I did).  I stayed there until about 1630 and then headed back to Erin's (we'd actually had some phone calls at different times during my time away and she hoped I was on my way).  When I got there, I resumed my teleworking and later took a short walk with Erin and Kiki.  The weather was nice but cool.  I teleworked until nearly 1800.  Austin came home at around that time and cooked up some spicy rice noodles!  We then ate dinner together - that was nice.  At 1915, we departed for Home Depot so I could buy Erin and Austin their Christmas Present (an electric lawn mower).  Once we found a model that was too their liking (1945), we returned to their house (to drop it off).  Next, we headed (via I-264) into the Norfolk Downtown area.  First (2030), we stopped at the third bar on my list for the Brew Hopper card, Smartmouth Brewery, and I got a free pint; the establishment chose this beer (Alter Ego Saison) for me and I didn't end up liking it...  The ambiance at the place also wasn't that great.  Still, I concluded that the Brew Hopper Pass itself was an excellent value.  Erin wanted to show me the Christmas Lights on the USS Wisconsin so we drove to the nearby Norfolk Harbor (arrived at 2045).  That ended up being a real treat - although we didn't buy tickets to go onboard the ship, we walked (with Kiki) around Town Point Park and along the edge of the Elizabeth River.  I suggested that Erin and Austin take a harbor cruise in the future and they considered adding such an excursion to their bridal registry.  Before getting back in the car, I asked if we could try to access a view from the other side of the slip.  They agreed and we were successful in locating a better angle for seeing the entire battleship.  In Wisconsin Plaza & Wisconsin Square, we found a Medal of Honor walk and Lone Sailor.  Nearby, we located Friendship Park, which contained a pretty Pagoda that was brightly lit for Christmas.  Overall, this was a very nice experience.  At 2130, we headed home (arrived at Erin's at 2200) and I went for a walk to get the rest of my 10K steps.  I was finished with at around 2245 and then said goodnight to Erin and Austin.  Heading back into their nice guest room to rest and relax, I found a space heater, blazing away!  I finally went to sleep at 2300 after a wonderful day in Hampton Roads.

Christmas Trip - Day 7

This morning, I was awake earlier but tried to go back to sleep.  As a result, I didn't really feel ready to get up until almost 0700.  After that, I did some reading and doing Duolingo.  Mollie and Alex got up at around 0830 and we made plans to go out for breakfast.  At 0915, we departed for the Metro Diner (I was driving because Mollie was tentative about using her own car).  After arriving, we each ordered one of the signature breakfast/brunch specials - I got a waffle with an entire Thanksgiving dinner on top!  My daughter and Alex also got some tasty food at the nice restaurant.  We were done eating at 1045 and then drove a short distance to the Barnes & Noble (because Mollie wanted to do some Christmas shopping for her sisters and friends).  There were a lot of things to browse and I realized this was a good chance to buy some travel books - in the end (1145), I bought Southeast Asia books for my upcoming trip.  Next, we drove back towards Alex and Mollie's house but stopped in a residential neighborhood so we could take a walk on the Spotsylvania County section of the old Virginia Central Railroad bed (now a bike path).  It was chilly but sunny and we got about two miles of walking.  Returning to Mollie's (arrived at 1300), I packed up my car and then watched some "Cobra Kai" videos with Alex and Mollie.  At 1445, I sadly said goodbye to them and got in my car for the drive to Virginia Beach.  After departing, I made my way (using some back roads) to the south side of Fredericksburg and then got on I-95.  The speeds were pretty good but there were odd slow downs along the way.  At one point, I became concerned that I'd be trapped on the Interstate in the jam so, instead, got off for a gas fillup at FlyingJ in Carmel Church (1525).  Fortunately, the traffic evened out once I was back on I-95.  I passed the time by listening to audiobooks.  Once I reached I-295, the speeds increased; however, the road construction on I-64 slowed me down again.  Since it wasn't dark yet, I got off the Interstate at Croaker Road so I could visit York River State Park (first visit since late 2005).  At that point ("dusk"), the park was about to close - this meant I was the only visitor and got some great views of the sunset and lighting on the water.  A passing ranger saw me as I was finishing up and we talked for a short time about the beautiful place. Retracing my route to I-64, I found that the traffic was moving nicely, probably because of the expanded lanes as I drove east.  I arrived at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel by 1730.  Despite lots of left-lane-cruisers (ugh), I made good time on I-64 and I-264.  I reached Erin's neighborhood at 1750 and she was waiting to greet me.  After saying hello, I unpacked all the remaining items (that hadn't been taken by my other daughters) in the boxes I'd brought with me.  Erin took a surprising amount stuff!  In the end, the three boxes I'd brought on the trip were reduced to only one with barely anything in it (very glad my instincts with the items were correct!).  Meanwhile, Austin ordered some dinner from a nearby restaurant (Oahu Barbeque) and we gorged ourselves on the delicious food. I also got to try some gingerbread stout that Austin had saved for my visit - it was good! Our conversations were great and we made plans for the next few days of my Christmas Journey.  Since Austin had never seen "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", I found a website that would allow us to watch it online - we all enjoyed it.  During the whole visit, Kiki (Erin's dog) decided that I was her friend and was being very friendly.  Erin took some funny pictures of the action to share with her sisters.  As it got later, I started to feel tired so said goodnight at about 2230.  After that, I read for a bit before heading to sleep (2245).  It felt good to have been able to see all three of my daughters during the last 10 days!

Christmas Trip - Day 6

After a restful sleep, I was awake by 0600 and spent some time reading and doing Duolingo.  Since I wanted to be productive while Mollie and Alex were still sleeping, I decided to get ready and load the boxes I'd brought back into the car.  Next, I took a short walk near Mollie's apartment and waited for her and Alex to wake up.  Finally (0830), they were stirring...  Even then, though, they were a bit slow to get ready themselves.  We were all set by the time that Alex's parents, Joe and Joanne, arrived (0900).  They brought Maple (Mollie's dog) with them and we all spent a short time visiting and playing with her.  At 0915, we drove a short distance to the local Chick-fil-A and ate breakfast inside the restaurant.  I'd never met Alex's parents before so most of the time was spent exchanging life data - I learned that Joe was an avid metal detectorist and that Joanne worked at Kings Dominion.  They described how they lived on a beautiful piece of land to the southwest (Mollie later told me how much she liked visiting there).  After finishing our meal (0955), we drove down to visit the Stonewall Jackson death site.  The weather was clear but cool (and a bit breezy) - it was a pleasant day.  We spent some time there, learning about history and talking about Joe's metal detecting hobby.  Afterwards (1045), we drove north on some back roads to reach downtown Fredericksburg.  Once there, we parked at the Visitor Center for the Battlefield and visited a Civil War Store across the street - it had bullets and buttons found by metal detectors and other "buried and non-buried" finds from the war.  Joe was in heaven and even bought a book there.  Next, we walked around in the cemetery and got views of the town (and river) from the high ridge (Maryes Heights).  After exploring along the Sunken Road Walking Trail, we made a short stop at the Visitor's Center and then (1230) drove across town to the "Main Street" area.  It took a while to find a place to park but we eventually were able to walk around there, visiting shops and other businesses.  Mollie and Alex had told us they knew a good restaurant for our lunch but it turned out to be quite busy.  Instead, we moved down the street to another place (new to them) called "Bello Manzo".  The signature meat dishes ("Manzo") allowed for a "dry or baptized" (the latter was soaked in jus) option - I tried one with pork.  Mollie and I also shared some garlic fries.  We finished our good meal at about 1400 and departed the restaurant.  Just after exiting the building, though, I had a strange encounter with someone who told me they wanted to pray for our family.  It was a nice gesture but they did it in such a strange way that I awkwardly passed on the offer.  On the way back to the car, we stopped in antique and book stores.  Everyone else got really immersed in the experience - all birds of a feather, I guess...  Joe next drove us back to Mollie's apartment (via US-1) and we said goodbye to Alex's parents (1500).  Afterwards, I took a walk in the neighborhood (to get the rest of my 10K steps) and then (1615) watched more of the College Football Playoff games (end of Penn State versus SMU and beginning of Texas versus Clemson).  By 1745, Mollie informed me that she was "bored from watching football" and asked if we could watch something else.  I suggested a Christmas movie and we all enjoyed a viewing of "The Santa Clause".  After that was over, Alex and I returned to football.  A bit later, Mollie and Alex made me a delicious pasta dish (with venison and sausage) for dinner - it was really good.  As the evening progressed (2000), we ended up watching a third football game (Ohio State versus Tennessee).  Through it all, we had lots of great conversation and playing with Maple.  At about 2200, I said goodnight to Alex and Mollie and went to the guest room to do some reading before falling asleep (2300).  It was fun to spend time with Mollie and Alex in “their” town - I'm Looking forward to my next visit to FXBG!

Christmas Trip - Day 5

This morning, I began my telework day in Christiansburg (Econolodge) as soon as I was awake (0500). I did take a break for breakfast in the hotel lobby and also took a short walk in the neighborhood.  Other than that, though, I teleworked all the way until my late check out time (1200).  At that point, I ate lunch (leftovers from Macado's) and then got back in my car for the drive (via US-460 Business) to the Kroger near the Virginia Tech Campus.  Once there, I walked a bit more (to get the rest of my 10K steps) and did a bit of reading and Duolingo.  Since I still had time, I ended up doing some more work for my job (mostly via text) - even that was good to pass the time.  At 1400, I parked in a lot near the Cassell Coliseum and started looking for Mollie.  Fortunately, I found her rather quickly and got some photos with her (Alex took them).  When I heard that Nicky and Steve (and his kids) were about to appear, I departed and went inside to find a seat in the auditorium.  Surprisingly, after I sat in an empty area, I ended up being right next to two people who knew Mollie and their friends.  One, Jamie, had been on the Australia trip with my daughter.  During the time before the Graduation Ceremony began, I texted a bit with Mollie (who had noticed that I'd met her friends) - we even waved to each other across the huge room.  At 1430, the ceremony for the granting of Doctorate and Masters degrees started.  There were a lot of speeches and then there were many, many students who walked across the stage.  Quite a few were international young people, apparently without family members in attendance.  Noticing this, I ended up clapping for all of them but hardly anyone else around me did.  There were also a lot of people nearby who were coughing and hacking (ugh...).  I got lots of pictures and some videos of Mollie (and her friends).  When the ceremony was over (1550), I made my way outside to find Mollie again.  By then, it was raining lightly so there was less incentive to take photos.  About ten minutes after I found her, Nicky, Steve, his kids and Alex arrived.  I said hello and then departed for my car (Alex gave me their apartment key because they weren't going to leave for over another hour).  It took a while to get out of the parking lot but, by 1615, I was on US-460, headed towards I-81.  The rain made the drivers tentative and this got worse once I was on the Interstate.  For a few miles, everything was pretty good and it looked like I was going to arrive in Fredericksburg by about 2010.  However, the traffic jam started just south of Salem and I decided I'd rather not use I-81 for many miles of traffic and trucks.  Instead, I exited the four lane highway and started driving (with lots of lights and slow traffic) on US-460.  This added about 30 minutes (initially) to my trip but I didn't feel trapped on the highway.  Eventually (passing Daleville), I was in the clear and made great time through Lynchburg.  Passing through, I saw the Liberty University ski slope lit up in red.  A bit later, I switched to US-29 and made more good time all the way to I-64.  In the meantime, I was communicating with Mollie about ETA and food.  I also listened to audiobooks and music.  Ultimately, I made up about 10 minutes while driving because here was MUCH less traffic and hardly any trucks at all - I was very glad to have taken this route.  If I'd had daylight, I would have stopped at one or two of the Virginia State Parks that I passed.  However, I never had any time (or daylight) after I got off of I-64.  I used several back roads (VA-208 to US-522, then VA-208) to drive to the northeast (through Louisa) to Spotsylvania Court House.  On the way, I found myself in a part of Lake Anna State Park - it looked quite pretty!  This route allowed me to reach Fredericksburg from the west side.  Meanwhile, the weather had improved tremendously.  Once I arrived at Mollie & Alex's apartment at 2025 (only about 20 minutes later than I'd originally thought, despite the traffic delays), I successfully located the right apartment.  After that, I unloaded my car and tried to find the Notre Dame versus Indiana College Football Playoff game on their TV.  I wasn't really successful but, luckily, Alex and Mollie arrived at 2115 and got me to the live broadcast.  We all spent the rest of the evening watching the Irish winning.  I nibbled on snacks ("dinner") and Mollie went through the boxes of items I'd brought for her - in the end, she took a lot of items (just like Brenna had) and my boxes (I'd started with three full ones) were MUCH lighter.  For her part, Mollie gave me two Rosaries that Nicky had found - what a nice surprise.  At 2330, the football game was over and we said goodnight.  Before going to sleep, I did some reading (0015).  I'm excited about having two more days with Mollie!

Christmas Trip - Day 4

I was awake by 0630 this morning and started teleworking immediately.  Brenna got up at about 0700 and we talked a bit while eating breakfast.  She left the apartment by 0800 while I kept working.  During short breaks, I did some Duolingo and reading.  At 0950, I departed for Brenna school so I could volunteer again.  Arriving just after 1000, I spent the next two hours (1010 to 1210) helping in her classroom.  It was great to see her in action and she seemed glad that I was there.  Afterwards, I said goodbye to Brenna and her students because I had to attend some afternoon meetings.  On the way to Brenna's apartment, I got lunch (to go) at Arby's (1220) and was back to teleworking by 1230.  After some lengthy meetings in the afternoon, I was also able to take a short walk in Brenna's neighborhood.  When she home from work (1630), we departed for the Blessings Christian Bookstore so I could buy my daughter the Christmas gift she wanted.  We ended up finding a good "Journaling and Mapping Bible" for her and we got her name embossed on the cover (I also got her a gift card for future use).  Afterwards (1705), we walked around in parking lots near the store (to get the rest of my 10K steps) and saw some pretty sunset views over the mountains.  We also saw the brand new JMU sports complex, lit up in purple, from a distance.  At about 1800, we walked over to the nearby Macado's Pub and had dinner.  We tried some of their house potato chips and then got good entrees (I had a turkey club called "Tippecanoe and Tyler Too").  Our food order was so extensive that neither of us finished - there was plenty for our "to go" boxes.  While eating, we enjoyed the music playing in the background - the vibe was really nice. At about 1830, Nicky contacted Brenna to tell her that she was on her way through Harrisonburg and wanted to meet Brenna for dinner at 1930.  Since Brenna had some shopping she wanted to do beforehand, we departed the restaurant (1900) and headed back to her place.  I got the rest of my things packed in the car.  We said goodbye and I we headed south (via back roads and neighborhoods).  Brenna and I talked one more time as I was passing some amazing holiday light decorations  (1915).  I got a gas fillup at Shell in Weyers Cave, VA (1930) and then got on I-81.  As I headed south, I encountered a lot of trucks again.  Because I was mainly focused on driving, I only listened to a bit of music (but no audiobooks).  Encountered some construction just north of Roanoke but the roads were mostly clear.  Even though the speeds were pretty good, I had to be strategic because of lots of "left lane sitters".  For this reason, I was quite relieved to reach US-460 (on the edge of Christiansburg).  After exiting the Interstate, I arrived at motel (Econolodge) at 2115.  In my room, I checked in with all three of my daughters and learned that only Mollie was coming towards Blacksburg - that was disappointing... I spent some time teleworking and then setting up for my next day of work from the hotel.  Before going to bed, I did some reading and Duolingo - went to sleep at 2300.  I'm now set up for Part 2 of my Christmas Journey!

Christmas Trip - Day 3

I woke up on Brenna's couch at 0615 and did some reading & Duolingo.  After that, I started teleworking (0630).  Brenna was out in her kitchen by 0645 and we had a nice morning talking, eating breakfast and making plans for me to visit her classroom in the afternoon.  She expressed some disappointment that I wasn't going to be there in the morning but, I told her, I had meetings planned and it was rather late to change them.  As a result, I stayed at Brenna's apartment after she departed for work (0730) and teleworked there until 1230.  After that, I took a break from work and drove (I ate snacks for my "lunch" on the way) towards Brenna's school for three hours of volunteering (1245 to 1545).  It was fun to watch “Ms. Coogan” teaching her enthralled First Graders and I got to be part of the learning process as a “Guest Reader”!  I also got to assist at recess and with math exercises after her students asked me for help. Once all the kids left (whew!), I said goodbye to Brenna and drove to the Harrisonburg Post Office, where I mailed some Christmas cards (because I needed some international stamps).  Finished at 1600, I drove back to Brenna's and resumed teleworking.  Brenna got home at around 1630 and I expected to depart almost immediately because she'd asked me to join her church young adult group at a Christmas Caroling event at a Nursing Home.  However, due to concerns about COVID-19 flare-ups, the event was moved to a neighborhood caroling and a bit later.  In the end, though, the entire event was canceled due to COVID concerns.  Brenna was very disappointed but I assured her we could still do something fun together.  After she got ready, we drove to Purcell Park so we could take a walk together.  We explored the grounds for about 45 minutes and had a nice talk.  Once it was dark (1730), we drove to have to dinner at El Charro, our favorite place to eat in Harrisonburg!  We had lots of chips, queso and enchiladas - mmmm...  During the meal, we talked a lot about Brenna's students and our Christmas Week plans. My daughter told me that she hoped my Christmas present to her this year would be to buy her a new study bible (hers had lost the binding).  Of course, I replied that I'd be happy to get that at the nearby Christian Book Store before I left the next day.  Just as we finished dinner (1835), Brenna heard from friends from the church young adult group that they were at Smiley's Ice Cream.  Since we both love the delicious desserts they make and Brenna wanted to me to meet her friends, we drove to Mount Crawford (arrived at 1900).  Brenna and I got some seasonal treats and they were really good.  While there, I met three young ladies (one who was a teacher at Brenna's school) and a young man named Nathaniel.  With the latter, Brenna and I had a long conversation about the mountains and travel.  After everyone was ready to go (2000), Brenna drove me back to Harrisonburg (we arrived back at her apartment by 2030).  Later that evening,  I watched parts of a few more episodes of "Shogun" while Brenna took care of chores and talked to some friends on the phone.  Like last night, I had planned to go to bed at my normal time.  However, Brenna asked if we could talk some more about life issues and family stuff.  Of course, I agreed and, before I realized it, we'd been talking past midnight!  I eventually went to bed (0015), my mind swimming with all kinds of "Dad" thoughts.  One more thing - I agreed to visit Brenna's classroom again in the morning.  It's never dull to have daughters!

Christmas Trip - Day 2

Woke up at 0615 in Carlisle (PA) and started teleworking immediately.  A bit later, I got quick breakfast in the hotel lobby (good) and then resumed teleworking.  I had lots of meetings early but was finished with my morning work session by 1015.  After checking out and packing up the car, I drove (via I-81) from Carlisle to Martinsburg, WV.  On the way, there was lots of traffic and road construction (annoying lane closure at one point).  Still, I made it to the local Chick-fil-A by 1145 and met my colleague, Mike G, who treated me to lunch.  We spent the next two hours in a working session (while eating).  Afterwards (1345), I thanked Mike and left Martinsburg and headed south on I-81 again.  Once again, the traffic was tough (trucks, ugh).  I tried to break up my rising frustration by stopping at a Welcome Center, just after entering Virginia.  When I asked the staff inside where there might be a good place to walk nearby, a nice lady at the desk directed me to the Third Winchester Battlefield Park, which was only one exit away.  This seemed like a good choice for some afternoon "outdoors time", so I drove there and spent some time (1430 to 1515) exploring the trails and learning about the history of the Shenandoah phase of the Civil War.  The weather was wonderful (temps in the 60s)!  As I walked through fields and past cannons perched on low hills above the Shenandoah Valley, I reflected on how this part of Virginia has always been one of my favorites, mostly because of its long views (mountains, farm fields, cows) and Civil War history.  The best reason, though, is because Brenna lives there!  Speaking of my daughter, I tried to text to find out when she might be home, but was unable to reach her.  Since I still had some time before I needed to be in Harrisonburg, I decided to try to check out the nearby Woodstock Brewing Company (one of my work colleagues was one of the founding partners!).  However, I hadn't yet reached that location before Brenna suddenly texted that she was home.  I immediately redirected my route towards Harrisonburg and drove all the way (via I-81) to US-33.  While exiting the highway, I had a speed camera scare (yikes) [fortunately, I never got a ticket from the City of Harrisonburg].  I arrived at Brenna's apartment at 1630 and we spent a short time visiting.  Later, I unloaded three boxes of nostalgia (games, books, magazines, etc.) and practical items (storage containers, kitchen utensils, spices, etc.) into her apartment.  Brenna was very happy to look through the items and took almost everything I'd set aside for her.  Surprisingly, though, she gave me back the Harney Tea I'd bought for her at Valentine's Day (she said it was too "tart") - I'll have to pick a different variety next time...  While Brenna had been going through the boxes, I did another 1.5 hours of teleworking.  At 1730, I made an online order for Panera (used the rest of my gift card) and then followed Brenna through her apartment as she pointed out some things that might need fixing.  One easy "repair" involved some light bulbs (burned out in the overhead fixtures).  So, after picking up the Panera order (1800) and eating in the restaurant, we drove across the parking lot to the Home Depot.  Together (and with help from the staff), we located the hard-to-find long fluorescent lightbulbs.  By 1900, we were back at her apartment and I helped her install the bulbs (she said they'd been out for "a little while").  Our next activity was for her to watch the rest of "Oppenheimer" (she told me she had been enjoying it).  During this time (and when she started doing chores), I did another 1.5 hours of teleworking.  With my work day finally complete (2030), I decided to watch some of the Hulu "Shogun" series - it was very good.  Just as I had decided it was time for bed, Brenna decided that we needed to have a conversation about some things that had been troubling her.  In the end, I think she was glad we'd talked.  After saying good night to her (2230), I did some reading until it was time for me to try to sleep - officially turned off the lights at 2300.  It's great to have "Bren time"!

Christmas Trip - Day 1

My big trip to Virginia starts today!  I spent most of the day teleworking (from early in the morning until 1500).  I then got picked up by a member of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car team and driven to their office in White River Junction.  They gave me my car - Nissan Versa - and I was on my way back to Hanover by 1525.  Once at my condo, I packed up the car (finished by 1625) and then left town.  I used I-89 to reach I-91 and then headed south.  By then, the sun had set and it was dark and misty.  My drive to the south went pretty well and I had very little traffic for a while.  I stopped to pick up dinner at McDonalds in Greenfield, MA (1750).  After getting back on I-91, I used it to reach I-84.  Started to encounter some drizzle and it lasted for most of the rest of my drive.  After I crossed the Hudson River, I used I-86 to reach a Walmart in Middletown (NY).  I'd been collecting bottles and cans and was able to redeem almost all of them at 2030.  I did a bit of shopping there (long lines, slow) and was finished by 2105.  After returning to I-84, I continued west.  As I usually do, I stopped at New York Exit 1 (just east of the Delaware River) to get gas.  Before setting up at the pump at the Shell in Montague (NJ), I had some misdirection because of the unfamiliarity.  It's hard to believe that I used to come to this town almost every weekend and now can't remember where to go...  In the end, I pumped my own gas (first time in New Jersey) because the station was closed (2140).  I also made a hotel reservation online.  Once back on I-84, I continued west without incident all the way to I-81.  I did start to encounter denser fog and rain but it wasn't until I was headed south that I started to see a LOT of crazy drivers.  Mostly, this change was familiar and I though things were normal until I passed I-80.  At that point the fog got really HORRIBLE.  Through the next 40 miles of driving, the road was almost impossible to see.  Most people had their flashers on and were going quite slowly.  For my part, I stayed below the speed limit but still made decent time.  I eventually (whew) arrived at the I-78 merger and found better weather.  Continuing west on I-81 from there, I arrived in Carlisle, PA at 0040.  After checking into the Quality Inn there, I got unpacked and then went to bed.  It took a while to fall asleep after I turned out the light at 0100 but, eventually, I succumbed to exhaustion.  I'm glad I made it this far today - tomorrow, I get to see Brenna!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[worked around my condo all morning (also Christmas Cards) - at 1430, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) and spent 45 minutes swimming (54 lengths) - next, I went to Mass at Sacred Heart in Lebanon (1600 to 1645) - afterwards, I helped my Brother Knights with moving organ components from upstairs to the Parish Hall (done at 1715) - returned home after that (arrived at 1530)]

White River Junction (USA)

Today started out like a normal Tuesday, with teleworking from very early in the morning and (at 0745) a drive to the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction (I spent 45 minutes swimming, 56 lengths!).  Next, I went shopping in West Lebanon (I was done by 0915).  I then drove home (arrived at 0930) and continued teleworking.  Before my productive work day was complete (1540), I figured out that rain was in the forecast that evening - the snow might be gone by the next day!  I decided to make sure I got one more session of cross country skiing before sunset  and drove to the big field in the nearby Mink Brook Community Forest.  In the end, my timing was very tight - I started skiing at 1540 and ended in the dark (1640); before that, though, a light drizzle tried to drive me off the field.  Fortunately, I still managed to log two full miles in my EVOs on some tracks another skier made.  Afterwards, I had to dig myself out of the snow in the parking area - glad I carry a shovel everywhere.  Still made it home by 1700 and resumed teleworking.  Hope our multi-inch base of snow stays in place through the next 24 hours!

Boston Trip - Day 3

I slept in this morning because I was tired from yesterday's events.  As a result, it wasn't until around 0730 that I was fully awake.  Since I'd requested a late checkout, I spent time relaxing (movies, reading, Duolingo, Sudoku, etc.) until almost 1000, when I made another Panera order with my gift card.  I picked up my lunch at 1015and, again, ate at the restaurant.  Afterwards, I walked (via High, Summer and Winter streets) towards the southwest.  The weather was much warmer and it there were many more people walking the streets.  Like yesterday, I passed St. Anthony's Shrine, Macy's and other interesting buildings (Kraft Foundation).  Eventually, I found a good place to enter the Boston Common and spent a bunch of time walking around on the grounds.  I ended up by the State House and the skating area.  To get back to The Dagny, I used almost all the same streets and arrived at my room by 1130.  I spent time packing and relaxing before heading downstairs to check out of the hotel (1230).  From there, I walked to South Station and located the spot inside where I needed to wait for the Dartmouth Coach.  I arrived at 1245 and discovered that there was very little seating - luckily, I found a spot.  At about 1315, I decided to go stand near the gate for the bus and, soon, a queue formed behind me with a surprising number of other passengers.  The bus itself arrived a bit late but was ready for us to board by 1335. Fortunately, I had a much better seat this time and was able to relax (reading, watching "We Bought a Zoo") all the way (via surface street to avoid the Big Dig tunnel, I-93, I-89) to New London.  As we drove through Southern New Hampshire, it was nice to see there was still some snow - in fact, there was some new accumulation in the parking areas!  We arrived in Lebanon a bit early (1530) and I quickly got to my car.  When trying to exit the parking lot, I had trouble paying so had to go inside to use my card (1545).  After that, I drove home (arrived at 1600).  I spent the rest of the evening relaxing after my fun weekend.  It was great to have a chance for a fun adventure with my generous company!

Boston Trip - Day 2

Unfortunately, I didn't sleep that great last night due to lots of noise down on the street.  As a result, I was wide awake just before 0500 and spent the next two hours reading, doing Duolingo and Sudoku, relaxing.  At 0730, I ordered some food from Panera (used a gift card) and then walked downstairs (and then just down the block) to pick it up at 0815.  I ended up eating in the restaurant.  On my own until a company event, I decided to do some exploring.  First, I walked outside and took High Street to Summer Street and continued southwest until I was able to reach Washington Street.  It was VERY chilly!  After passing Tufts Medical School, I crossed I-90 and then walked through an area of the South End where my grandparents got married in the 1940s.  Most the area was demolished to build I-90 and I-93 but the exact spot where Our Lady of Pompeii Parish once stood has since been gentrified. Walking around near that location, I ducked into an interesting condo ("The Lucas") that apparently used to be a Lutheran church - the doorman allowed me to warm up before proceeding on my way.  I next walked to the east and stopped at the distinctive building I remember passing during many trips to Boston as a youngster.  The Pine Street Inn has a tower that my dad always told me reminded him of the Provincetown Monument.  Afterwards, I walked over to the water (Fourth Street Park) and took the bike path towards South Station.  Instead of going all the way there, though, I returned to Summer and High Street.  After passing a restaurant I'd noticed earlier, Better Bagels, and bought a snack (0940).  Again, I ate at the shop.  Resuming my walk, I reached my hotel again and took a break (and talked to Mollie) in my room.  At 1045, I went downstairs to the lobby to meet up with Chris D and other members of my company.  We had a large "tour bus" reserved and it used busy city streets all the way to Fenway Park.  Once there, the bus had trouble accessing side streets...  After getting inside the historic ball field, we were given a VIP tour by a quintessential Bostonian (sarcasm, shtick, etc.).  We also walked down behind the dugouts, visited the visitor's locker room and sat in old seats with big green columns in the way.  We next walked up to the top of the Green Monster, then through the Press boxes and across the top of the stadium to the Sam Deck.  The tour was wonderful!  We ended in a kind of ticket holder lounge that was filled with lots of memorabilia - I found lots of amazing items related to players I knew "way back when."  A few of my colleagues had memories of Fenway from when they were younger and we all shared happy stories.  Afterwards, we got back on the bus and started back towards the hotel - it took a while because of the regular traffic.  We arrived back at The Dagney at about 1330 and I immediately walked over to Coogan's Pub, where I had lunch (Coogan Burger, fries, $2 Bud Light draft).  It was nice to enjoy the vibe of my namesake restaurant for the first time in many years!  Finished at 1415, I walked back to the hotel and spent some more time relaxing (reading, watching the Bowl Selection program, etc.) before it was time for our company to go to dinner.  At 1730, I went downstairs and (after looking at everyone else) realized how overdressed I was.  Returning to my room, I downgraded from a suit jacket to just a shirt and tie.  At 1745, it was time to leave on the tour bus again.  We drove a short distance to the North End and then walked the last 100 yards to Lucca's Restaurant.  Inside, our company had the whole downstairs dining area reserved.  The hors d'oeuvres were really good and the wine was free flowing.  I sat with a few of my old friends from work.  The courses were soup/salad (I had a Caesar), entrée (I had lobster ravioli) and dessert (I chose chocolate torte).  All of the food was wonderful!  Afterwards (2200!), I walked with a few people back to the hotel - it didn't take long but I was glad to have people to follow...  Other folks kept the night going at the hotel bar but I went to bed (2300).  It was great to see everyone today and to discover that our little business has grown from everyone fitting in a small bus (20) to needing a tour bus (almost 30) to get around the city!  Only a few of us, though, were used to the cold & windy New England weather so we’ll see if the annual meeting place is in Boston again.  I hope so!

Boston Trip - Day 1

Holiday Party Weekend!  Like they did in 2023, my Boston-based Company invited all employees to gather in Beantown to celebrate our 2024 accomplishments.  Prior to departing home today, I teleworked until 1300.  Next, I drove to Lebanon and volunteered (1.5 hours) at the LISTEN Food Pantry.  After that, I headed to the Dartmouth Coach parking lot and left my car there (first time parking).  From that point, I set up in the station to wait for my bus to South Station.  During this time, I talked to one of the drivers about the improvements that D-C has made over the last few years.  At 1500, I got on my bus and we headed south on I-89.  Along the way, I read and watched a movie ("Kicking and Screaming") on the bus entertainment system.  We stopped at New London and a few more people got on the bus.  After reaching the end of I-89, we got on I-93.  I found my seat to be very cramped due to the person in front of me deciding to recline his seat all the way back (grr).  Fortunately, I didn't have anyone sitting next to me.  We hit a lot of traffic near the Massachusetts border and, from there, it was slow going.  As a result, we arrived to South Station 30 minutes late (1755).  Still, my ride on the bus was was much more relaxing than dealing with gas-break-gas during a drive all the way down from New Hampshire.  I quickly exited the station and walked about half a mile to my hotel.  Once again, our company got us rooms at The Dagney (near the Aquarium) - VERY nice digs!  I checked into the hotel at about 1815 and immediately went to my room.  After getting changed, I returned to the lobby and found my boss (Chris D).  We then joined the rest of my colleagues, who were celebrating in the hotel bar.  I stayed with all of them there from about 1830 to 2130 - it was great to see many of the people I met last year and also some new hires.  I tried several Old Fashioned drinks (good).  Afterwards, I returned to my room and did some reading before bed (2200).  I'm looking forward to tomorrow's planned entertainment!

White River Junction, VT (USA)

[started teleworking very early - at 1145, I drove to White River Junction (UVAC) and spent 45 minutes swimming (52 lengths) - next, I went to a doctor's appointment at the VA Medical Center (1300 to 1345) - afterwards, I did some errands (shopping) in West Lebanon - drove home (arrived at 1500) and continued teleworking]

Woodstock, VT (USA)

I had several activities planned for today so woke up early.  After a bit of reading and Duolingo, I left home (0800) and drove (via I-89 and US-4) to Woodstock, where I attended Mass at Our Lady of the Snows (0830).  Afterwards, I drove to Billings Farm (arrived at 0920), where I helped out at the Billings Farm Family Thanksgiving Weekend.  I worked at the Kids’ Craft Table, assisting the youngsters in assembling a “woven placemat”.  It was warm and cozy in the Exhibition Barn and I was surrounded by Barn Quilts made by Piermont (NH) middle schoolers.  Overall, this was pretty good volunteer work!  The Scoop Shop has closed for the year but I got a delicious Maple Donut reward for volunteering.  Afterwards (1300), I changed clothes in my car so I could do some cross country skiing.  I'd already done this a few times and knew just where to go to find the trails.  After making my way back to one of the big fields behind the Farm (along the river).  Between 1315 and 1445, I logged three miles (five laps of the field) on my EVOs.  I've come to see these outdoor opportunities as another reward for volunteering at the Billings Farm!  Conditions: temps in 20s, partly sunny, light breeze.  Afterwards (1500), drove back to West Lebanon (via US-4 and I-89) to do some shopping at Staples and pick up an order from Walmart.  Once finished with my errands, I drove to Hanover and arrived at my condo by 1545.  Another nice day on "The Farm"!