Fun in Lynchburg, VA

During our week off, we drove down to Lynchburg, VA to meet our friends Tom G., Robert and Ed. We stayed at a great hotel that was once a shoe factory. We enjoyed a great dinner, breakfast and lunch, and paid respects to our other friend Ed who passed in 1996 (my Tom's late partner). We learned the Lynchburg closes up shops during Christmas week and about 80% of the stores are closed during that entire week!  It was a fun time and great to see Tom, Robert and Ed. Here are some photos- and some thanks to Robert L.

L to R: Rob, Ed, Tom, Tom and Robert in hotel lobby

L to R: Ed, Robert, Tom, Rob and Tom

Shoebox with breakfast order inside

Ed, Tom and Tom breakfasting in downtown

Craddock Terry Hotel- former shoe factory and nice place to stay!

Ed, Tom, Robert, Rob and Tom in hotel lobby

Tom and Tom at Lunch in restaurant that was a former Woolworth store downtown

Dolly and Franklin's (and Rob's) Trip to Mass.

Taking a break from the road.

I (Rob) went to Massachusetts with Dolly and Franklin,while Tom and Sprite stayed behind. (Tom has no vacation time yet). I visited my mother to help her with some things and was gone 4 days. It took 10 HOURS to drive up, and 10 hours to drive back!  - I was there 2 full days, and also got the chance to help hold signs for my younger brother's local political campaign. - those pictures will be posted tomorrow, with a video! Meanwhile here are some pictures of Dolly and Franklin's adventures.

Franklin drives in comfort

Yay! Finally getting to NYC!

Dolly enjoyed the entire back seat of the car.

Stopped at Bridgeport, CT City hall where daddies got their marriage license.

Kids posing in front of Bridgeport City Hall

kids posing in Restaurant garden- outside of where Rob and Tom Married.

Ralph & Rich's restaurant where Tom & Rob took vows in 2009

Another rest stop along the way - this one at the Conn./ Mass. border

Boston, Mass. in our sights!!

Franklin and Dolly in grandma's backyard... finally!

All posing for a pic during a walk in Massachusetts

Dolly and Franklin visit daddy Rob's elementary school!

AirTran *and fliers*- Our Experience

We just returned from a short vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico (which was nice) and took Air Tran Airlines. It was an interesting experience. Most of the customer service people were friendly and helpful. Some of the airline practices were questionable but you can determine that from what we saw:
1) Duplicate Seat #s:  On all 4 flights, several duplicate seat numbers were issued, so there were a number of complications getting people seated before the flights took off.
2) Gate Changes: (This one is understandable) whenever we printed a boarding pass 24 hours before, the departure gates had all changed (on all 4 flights).
3) Seating: I (Rob) sat in a middle seat on all 4 flights because I'm smaller and thinner than most adults. On 2 of the 4 flights a very large man was seated next to me on the aisle (Tom was at the window). Those 2 men spilled over into my seat, took the arm rest and had their legs and elbows into me. Fortunately, Tom was at the window, so I put up the armrest between us and loosened my seatbelt to get away from the 2 inconsiderate fliers. I don't mind that people are large. What I DO mind is that they continually elbow me, overflow into my space and never ONCE say "Excuse me."
4) Weather Delays Not Due to Weather: We flew from Puerto Rico to Orlando. Our connecting plane was grounded all morning in Charlotte because of an "approaching cold front with strong winds." Yes, the front did have strong winds. However, it wasn't and didn't reach the east coast until mid-afternoon. So, instead of beating the front, they flew the plane directly into it by delaying it. Stupid.
5) What if Flights Canceled? We learned that if Air Tran cancels a flight and you have to stay somewhere overnight, they offer you "a small discount at a local hotel." What if it's not in someone's budget to pay a surprise $150-200 for a hotel because of an airline? I thought airlines used to cover that.
6) Baggage Fees: We paid the $20 for each bag (we had one each) on Air Tran. Although I think it's nickel-and-diming people, it's a lot better than trying to battle the 120 or so others for meager space in an onboard compartment. Despite the rules of "one carry-on" many people were wheeling on 2 and 3 bags. Only once did someone get caught and have to check their bag. People need to check their big bags and pay the darn $20. It saves a LOT of time and hassle getting onboard and in-flight.
7) Nice People: I did have the pleasure of sitting next to a really nice guy named John who lives in Orlando as we flew from Puerto Rico. He and I had a great conversation (Tom couldn't hear being near the window, and happily read his book), and that made that leg of the trip really enjoyable. John is in good shape, so I didn't have to worry about "body spillage" into my seat, which was also comforting.
8) Overbooked Every Flight: Every single flight we were on (4) were overbooked and gate attendants begged people to give up their seats for a free trip somewhere. I understand the need to fill a flight, but overbooking EVERY flight is really annoying, especially when people usually don't have the luxury to hang out in an airport for another 5-10 hours and waste a day.

Cumberland Maryland Visit!



Sunset from Cumberland, Md downtown.

One of the ways we celebrated Tom's birthday this month,
was an overnight trip to western Maryland to the town of Cumberland. It's nestled in the Maryland mountains and really a quaint and beautiful little town.
- We went there for a "Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre Train ride" and it was fun. I'll post photos of those in the next blog, however, there were so many good ones of Cumberland that I thought I'd post these by themselves.
- We plan on going back to Cumberland after our brief visit. It was really enjoyable (and about 2 1/2 hours from Annapolis).

Cool building in downtown
Cumberland, Md.



Another pic of quaint downtown Cumberland, Md.



Sunset over Cumberland, Md.



Tom near the Western Md. Scenic Railway Station



Birthday Trip! Part 1: Asheville, NC

This week, Tom surprised me with a short trip to celebrate my birthday. We flew to Asheville, NC and stayed at a nice hotel there. The trip included a great ghost walk through town (the next blog entry); a tour of the famous Vanderbilt mansion called "the Biltmore," and a day at Dollywood on the other side of the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee. These are our pictures of the day at the Biltmore and VIDEOS! 

The Biltmore has 125,000 acres and the mansion has 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 34 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. The basement alone would house a swimming pool, gymnasium and changing rooms, bowling alley, servants' quarters, kitchens, and more.  We took an audio-tour of the mansion that covered 3 levels and the basement where the servants lived. It was an overwhelming display of wealth. It's an amazing museum, but we were disenchanted with the wealth and elaborate stuff in the place... you will still be amazed.

Ready for action in NC in the rental car at the airport!

Tom at the back balcony of the Biltmore looking out over the
125,000 acres behind it.

The Pisgah National Forest is now part of the original
Vanderbilt/Biltmore Estate. Mrs. Vanderbilt sold it to the
USDA Forest Service in the 1900s.

Tom on the back patio of the Biltmore



Rob on the back patio of the Biltmore





Tom in the front of the Biltmore



One of the "towers" in the front of the
Biltmore Mansion

This is a tower where the three flights
of stairs are located.



Tom and Rob on the west side outside

the mansion.



Tom at the entrance to the massive gardens.
The greenhouse was as large as a modern 6 bedroom home.

More airports create pet "restroom" areas

Areas for pets are long overdue in airports around the U.S. people who maneuver with guide dogs have had a terrible time trying to accommodate their dogs. Sighted people who are transporting their dogs with them by air also have to really search for dog relief stations. This is way overdue.
(PHOTO: Buddy the Weimaraner - part of our friends Cathy and Cindy's family in PA)
More airports create areas for pets to take care of business
USA TODAY: Dogs need to go, too. So airports are adding doggie restrooms.
Airports say "pet relief areas" enhance customer service. But they're also being nudged by a federal rule that orders airlines to work with airports to install facilities for travelers who have service dogs.
Among airports with new dog bathrooms: Atlanta, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington Dulles, Washington National, Chicago O'Hare and Phoenix.
The facilities are typically outside, within walking distance of the terminal. The federal rule requires they be kept clean, free of odor, contain a gravel or sand surface and have adequate drainage. Some airports have added synthetic grass, fire hydrants and benches.
"Many of our members travel," says Melanie Brunson, executive director of the American Council of the Blind, which pushed for the rule. "Increasingly, you don't get much time between flights. You don't have a whole lot of time to take care of your dog's needs."
FULL STORY: http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/2010-07-20-airportpets20_ST_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing

Dread and Anxiety Drives Us from Haunted New Hope, PA

Tom and I visited New Hope, Pennsylvania this past Saturday and as soon as we crossed into the town line I started feeling anxious, nervous and miserable. It was like I walked into a thick blanket of negative energy. It didn't help that the bed and breakfast that we were going to stay at (but we didn't) was full of negative energy either, which is why we drove home that evening.
First, however, we walked through the town for about 2 hours. The first hint that things were screwy was a restaurant we went into. I sat while Tom went to the restroom for a minute. During that time (which was about 3 minutes) a waitress and her husband (they owned the place) walked up to me and asked for the order. Not knowing what Tom wanted the man said "you come to the cash register when you know." Um... so when Tom returned to the table I had to order at the cash register. Weird.
New Hope, Pennsylvania runs along the west side of the Delaware River (yes, the one that George Washington crossed on December 25, 1776, and he did so just south of New Hope). As I've mentioned many times before running water near a town adds to ghostly activity. This was off the charts for me and I couldn't block it out. The tell-tale headache I get that signals ghosts or spirits are around hit me when we came into town. The negativity, the sadness, the fear, anxiety, nervousness I felt were making me really, really uncomfortable.
In terms of the haunts, here is what Unsolved Mysteries.com says about New Hope, PA: "The New Hope area has been rumored to be haunted by a number of ghosts. So many, in fact, that it has been named “America’s Most Haunted Town.” Most [haunts] originate in “downtown” New Hope surrounding Bridge Street and the New Hope-Lambertville Bridge." (That's especially where I felt miserable and where we decided to leave the town that night and return home!
Unsolved Mysteries.com goes on to say that many places have ghost stories: the Inn at Phillips Mill, the Pickett House, the Logan Inn, Odette’s Restaurant, and the Van Sant Bridge. Each place has its own specific legend and the witnesses to back it up.

"The Inn at Phillips Mill is known for having a couple of ghosts spending their time inside its walls. There is rumored to be a woman who wears a long dress with a high collar roaming about around the staircase and the upstairs hall of the building. A rocking chair in one corner of the Inn is also claimed to have a spiritual presence about it."

"The Logan Inn also has a reputation for being haunted; in fact, so much so that the place has four ghosts. If you stay in room six, watch out for a man’s reflection in the mirror which disappears when you look around. Two children are also said to stay in this room sometimes. A Revolutionary War soldier also wanders about the Inn, taking refuge in different rooms including the bar, the basement, and the dining room. A portrait of a woman who enjoyed wearing lavender perfume hangs in a hallway, and many claim that they can still smell the scent when they pass by it. For men who wish to use the restroom, be wary if the steps leading to the one in the basement: it is believed that a man in knee breeches waits on them. And in the parking lot, a little girl who was known to have drowned some time ago lurks in the shadows."

"Joseph Pickett is a deceased artist who hauntes what once was his bedroom in the house he owned on Mechanic Street. He also, like many residents of New Hope, enjoys strolling along the towpath. Joseph likes to visit a house on Mechanic Street once owned by his cousin. Odette’s, which used to be called the River House and used to serve boatmen in the late eighteenth century, has occurrences of a ghostly woman who was rumored to be murdered during the time when the restaurant was called the River House. There are also moments of chills and voices in the restaurant, accompanied by a strong smell of perfume, much like in the Logan Inn."

"The Van Sant Bridge is also haunted by an unmarried young woman with an infant, who was thrown out of her house by her parents. She jumped to her death off the Van Sant Bridge, with her baby in her arms. The legend says that to this day, when you stand on the bridge, you can hear the baby crying. Horse thieves also used to be hanged from this bridge, and people can often still see one of them hanging there."

So, it's no surprise to me that it was especially walking over that bridge that I felt the most negative energy and we decided to leave the town. Between the suicide and the hangings from that location, there was way too much negative energy for me to block out.

Information from: http://www.unsolvedmysteries.com/usm464955.html

WHAT would you do? - An Odd Help Request

Yesterday morning I received an email asking for help from a guy I've known since 2003. I haven't seen him since 2003 or 2004. I think he became involved with someone and we lost contact. Maybe once in those 6-7 years did we send an email.
In fact, he's not even on my local forecast list I send out weekly.
So, yesterday's email was a desperate plea for assistance. He's in the UK and he and his parents were apparently robbed and beaten. All of their cash, credit cards and phones were stolen. Fortunately, their passports were still in their hotel room. The incident happened outside the small hotel. The hotel manager will NOT release them until they pay (apparently in the U.K. this small hotel doesn't take a credit card up front for some odd reason). With no money, they can't pay!
So, "D" said in his email that he and his family checked with the U.S. Embassy and other places and no one would help them. Their plane departed yesterday and they're still being held at the hotel (How foolish is that to have them take up rooms where people could pay now?). "D" emailed and asked if I (and whoever else was BCC'd on his email) could give a credit card to the hotel to cover it, and he'd pay me (and whomever) back. I reluctantly agreed but after much back and forth the hotel manager (who speaks some weird mix of French and British English) said that his "credit card machine is broken" and he requested a Western Union money transfer.
For those who have used Western Union you know that they ONLY TAKE CASH, not credit cards. I learned about it. I told "D" I couldn't send him the $1800.00 to cover the bill, but could send a fraction of that to help cover some costs and get he and his family on the plane. He accepted and emailed back (he was using a library computer).
The whole thing sounds weird. A hotel that doesn't understand people were robbed. A hotel that refuses to let people fly home even with a promise to pay after a terrible incident. A U.S. Embassy that refuses to help. An old acquaintance that I haven't heard from in 6-7 years that suddenly needs urgent help and $1800 overseas. (I know he lives and works in DC). I'm just wondering where his true friends are, his boyfriend is, or his relatives are and why they're not helping him. I know he's shy, so perhaps he doesn't know many people. I just find it really strange, but I'm always willing to help someone out.
This morning I wired some money to him from Western Union (yes, in cash). I don't expect to ever see it again (I watch Judge Judy...who says, "don't lend money to people if you expect to get it back. You won't).
I hope he and his family are able to negotiate with what I sent, and get home. Meanwhile, if you travel, ALWAYS leave money and a credit card back at the hotel with your passport. We do. This is a lesson to all.

Massive Snow Storm Destroys Travel Plans / AirTran and Hotwire.com are Useless

(PHOTO: Dolly flapping her ears saying "I don't want a foot or two of snow! Franklin the dachshund will have to make a tunnel to pee!")
Because of the massive snowstorm upon us after midnight tonight here in Maryland, we've canceled the trip to Boston, and have to eat $250+ in airline and rental car penalties. I'm really, really, really ticked about it.
I'm not only ticked that Air Tran is such a miserable airline charging fees when there's a winter storm warning (they're charging us $150), and Hotwire.com, where we booked the rental car absolutely, positively gives NO refunds. So, we lost over $100 there, too. That means nothing will get your money back: winter storm warning, blizzard warning, heavy snow warning, canceled flights, natural disaster, etc. I've learned an expensive lesson here. NO more Air Tran. NO more Hotwire.com.
My nephews told my brother they're really disappointed we're not coming and I feel horrible. At least we mailed all their presents weeks ago, and they've got them to open. My mother also managed to get a flu, too- so we couldn't have seen much of her either. What a mess of a holiday.
On the good side, our friend Darold drove up from Florida (he's moved here for a job) and arrived last night safely. We were able to move all his stuff in storage, return his moving truck and get him situated in our guest room. Now we'll spend the weekend in the house with Darold and not have to put the dogs in overnight boarding, either.
We have a Winter Storm warning here starting at midnight tonight through 12 noon on SUNDAY. Snowfall totals are expected between 1 FOOT and 2 FEET. Yes, I said FEET OF SNOW. Last year, our entire winter snowfall was 7.1 inches. This is going to be a tough winter.

Good News for Air Travelers Bringing Small Dogs

Here's a development that's long overdue... considering how many people now travel by air with their dogs: ACCORDING TO USA TODAY: Dog parks are proliferating at U.S. airports. Atlanta Hartsfield installed an off-leash dog park last month, featuring benches and bags for pet waste. The 1,000-square-foot facility is part of the ground transportation center on the western end of the main terminal. Los Angeles International has added three "animal relief stations" near its terminals, bringing the total to five. The facilities are aimed at assisting travelers with disabilities who are accompanied by guide dogs, says Larry Rolon of Los Angeles World Airports. Rolon says revisions to the Air Carrier Access Act require service animal relief areas to be installed at all U.S. airports.

Travel By Train: A Smarter Solution

An article in USA Today on 3/17 said that President Obama's stimulus package included $8 billion for high speed rail development in the U.S. - EXCELLENT. It's great to know that we finally have a president that uses his head, and understands that rail travel is the answer to transportation problems. Europe has been doing it successfully for decades. Here's the article:
USA TODAY - Now, President Obama and leaders in more than 30 states say it's time to embrace trains again — but newer, faster ones that can transport passengers past gridlocked airports and highways on electrified railroads at up to 200 mph.
They're betting billions of federal and state dollars that high-speed railroads can someday move travelers between major U.S. cities within two or three hours just as they do in Western Europe and Japan. And along the way, they argue, such systems can ease travel congestion, reduce the nation's dependence on oil, cut pollution and create jobs.
"For so long, Americans have viewed the automobile and the airplane as our transportation vehicles," says Anne Canby, a former transportation secretary for Delaware and train advocate. "Until now, rail hasn't been a major player in the discussion."
Driving the new-found interest in trains is $8 billion that was tucked into the president's economic stimulus legislation signed last month. FULL ARTICLEhttp://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2009-03-16-high-speed-rail-travel_N.htm?csp=DailyBriefing

NOW...I can go to Germany

Our friend Gary just visited Germany and he took this photo. Yes, there's actually a Dunkin' Donuts in Berlin. NOW I can finally go visit Germany. :)

Savannah: Part Seven: RR Museum and Paula Dean's

Famous TV Chef Paula Deen has a restaurant (The Lady and Sons) and a gift shop in Savannah- so we opted for the gift shop. It was filled with cookbooks, nicknacks for the kitchen, jarred delights, and more. It seemed that it was all really fattening (although appealing). Perhaps that's just southern cooking! - Some of the items on her restaurant buffet are:Southern fried chicken, Baked chicken, Collard greens, Mashed potatoes, Yams, Lima beans, Black eye peas, Mac and cheese, Green Beans, Rice, banana puddin', Peach cobbler, and "Gooey butter cakes." Oh yeah, her sons are handsome guys.
Another place we went was the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 W Harris St
Savannah, GA 31401 (http://www.chsgeorgia.org/roundhouse/home.htm). It's laid out as a circle and you can see the railroad yard, printing press (where the bills and tickets were issued); mechanical rooms; roundhouse and lots of railroad cars. Great signage gives a good idea of the industry and a nice way to spend a cloudy morning (it was 45F outside, too).

I thought the main smokestack looked a little like the leaning tower, so asked Jeff to LEAN while I took his picture!
Tom and Rob were just grinnin' and enjoying the morning!

With some of the railroad works in ruins, and only walls standing, I thought this photo with walls and windows behind walls looked very artsy!

Savannah Part Two: Parks, Spanish Moss, A FlirtingTrolley Guy

(PHOTO: Tom and Rob at a huge fountain at Forsyth Park)
Savannah's streets are built in a grid format, making it easy to walk anywhere. It's also pretty safe to walk around (as long as you're in by midnight we assume). We walked everywhere until around 10pm without a problem.
There are about 23 "squares" within the grid. A "square" is a green area with houses surrounding them. They're filled with "Live Oak" trees (the name of the tree) that harbor "Spanish Moss" that hangs from their trees. Oddly, it is neither spanish, nor moss. It's a member of the pineapple family that propagates airborne. It was named "Spanish" after the long beards of the spaniards that once roamed the area, and "moss" because it resembles a moss. It's also loaded with chiggers, or little bugs, so it's best left alone. (PHOTO: Spanish Moss hanging off live oak trees in Pulaski Square)
We took a Trolley Tour on our 1st full day there. I was in the gift shop with Gary while Tom and Jeff were checking out the trolley tours. There was one for $10 and one for $25. When I got to Jeff, he was talking with a very flamboyant young man (who was flirting with him) and convinced Jeff that we need to take the $25 tour... That was "Old Town Trolley." Well, the black woman who was our tour guide was wonderful. Unfortunately, we got off at stop #3 to see some houses and never wound up getting back on it again (out of 17 stops), so the money wasn't well spent...but that's our fault- we loved walking, and Jeff loved flirting. :)
We did take the trolley to Forsyth Park, which is the southern-most point in the historic district, so it was good. In 1733, the lands around Forsyth Place (now Forsyth Park) comprise much of the designated 5-acre Savannah garden lots of colonial Savannah, Georgia's earliest British and European settlers. During the Civil War, Union soldiers encamped there. The Fountain was created in 1858 and received extensive restoration in 1988. (PHOTO: Gary, Tom and Jeff at the fountain)
A number of the squares have monuments on them of the people the squares a named for. The monuments are either sculptures of the people (always men) or architectural monuments. (Photo: Monument in Wright Square- I think!)
For those who saw the movie "Forrest Gump" - the bench he sat on is at the Savannah History Museum. The bench is actually one of several fiberglass props made for the movie. However, if you go to the northern part of Chippewa Square, that's where it was originally placed for the movie. We stopped there, and Gary took a picture of it, with the church behind it that was in the movie's opening scene. That's where a feather slowly drifts down from the church steeple to the ground. (PHOTO: Forrest Gump on his bench in Chippewa Square- from the movie!)