After never having had a 'real' vacation, I am taking a road trip with my best friend and are going through IN, OH and PA to spend 2 1/2 days smelling NYC (never been to the big apple), then we are going to Niagara Falls, and on up to Toronto, Canada.

Right now I am both excited as all get out and a tad nervous, since I don't always travel well, not to mention my first time out of the country. While NYC will be meeting a fellow dj from WBRN, and once we make it to Canada, will be getting in touch with Iddy.

I noticed he lives in Toronto and so I messaged him. He's never met another CHead, so am looking forward to meeting him.

On our way back, we are stopping in Ann Arbor for a night or two and I'll be visiting my old best friend up there, plus try to look up my old boss. Then we are coming down to Normal, IL for a drum & bugle core presentation, back to home.

I am so excited to get away from here for awhile. Things have been pretty screwed up lately, and to be able to just escape is nothing short of a miracle. At the same time, I am getting ready to send off my registration for the convention with a guest. What is beyond cool is that I was willing to travel wherever the convention was going to be this year - and it is coming to St Louis!  So, that made it even easier to make this trip possible.

So, look out New York and Canada. Here I Come! 
Carl

Quote:



Now don't go scaring him off Carl.  We kinda like Iddy around here.   LOL

  jk....

When are you going Carl?

It would be lovely if it was while we were going to be in NY next month!

Quote:

I'll still see you at the  convention tho.

Anyhoo, just checking in for a minute. Jeff bought a 'web book' - like 1/2 the size of a laptop, for us to use on the road.


On da road again... just can't wait to get on the road again....

Nothing beats a good road trip! I haven't been to "The Falls" yet but it's on my bucket list! Have fun, I'll see you in Saint Louis!

Joe

So far, this has been one amazing trip! I've seen some beautiful sites, and had some wonderous (and some not so wonderous) experiences already. This is our last night in the Villa in the upper tip of PA, then we head out in the morning to Niagra Falls, then onto Ontario (or just outside of it anyways.)  The beast has only bashed my head a couple of times with whallopers, but mostly just shadowing. It's me leg and back killing me - not liking the changes in atmosphere & climate I guess. I have to say - I'll miss the villa. This is an awesome place.

Yesterday we went to NYC!!!  I have always dreamed of going to NYC and now that I've been, I'm over it, lol. No really, it was breath-taking (literally with the smog) and I had a major anxiety attack at one point due to sensory overload, but survived.
Riding the Staten Island Ferry to NYC was awesome, looking at the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Jersey all at once, but what was beyond the coolest was standing in Times Square! I saw Broadway. I saw Radio City Music Hall. I saw things I never dreamt I'd actually see - though we missed the naked cowboy. I DID get my pic taken with Morgan Freeman. saw NBC studios and the 'Today Show' window...

...but out of everything I saw, nothing was as stirring as actually being at ground zero. Seeing the buildings that were effected by Sept 11th and still show some wounds, and also got to see some of the artwork sculpted from actual scrap metal from what remained at ground zero. We were told that the building to fall hardest sunk down 13 floors. I saw the memorials for the firemen and police who lost their lives that day, as well as tributes to those killed. We also got to go through the catwalk to see what is being built right now to replace one of the buildings. It was something I feel very honored to have seen with my own eyes. I was told of a bicycle that was chained to a signpost where a man ran into the WTC to drop off a package. We were standing right next to the same post. The man never made it back to his bicycle - but as a memorial the bike remained there several years, and he said almost every other week there'd be a whole new set of flowers, pictures, cards...   for months signs hang on buildings and street poles with "Have you seen my husband?" and such, it was a long time before people could bring themselves to take these things down.

If you can find a pic of the "Charles Atlas" made out of scrap metal as a 9/11 tribute online, check it out. I took a pic of it, since I forgot to bring the camera charger like a doofus, will have to get a disposable camera, as we still have more to go.. and hope to meet up with Iddy and GSB.

Been an inspiring trip indeed as a much needed getaway. I'll hate having to go back home, but look forward to next month in St Louis. 

Peace,
Carl D

Welcome to Ontario, Canada Carl.

You will really like the Collingwood area.  Lots of water - the Blue Mountains - kind of touristy especially at this time of year.  Sadlyyou will miss the Elvis Festival!!!

I hope you're enjoying your trip.

Carol

Sorry to hear that Iddy. I remember watching it on TV as it happened, but to actually see the site in person, the names of those lost... it was a little more than I expected to be honest - though I knew it'd be emotional.

Canada is beautiful, and Niagra Falls - WOW!!!! We have a room overlooking the falls and can see both sides of it from here - both US and Canada.
We leave sometime tomorrow for Collingwood. Jeff wants to hit the waterpark in the morning, which means I gotta be hitting the sheets and prepare for another big day.

My Net10 phone doesn't work here, but my sprint better. If not, will call ya from wherever it is we're staying, Iddy. In any case, we'll meet up. Gma Sweet Boy - how do I get ahold of you? Lemme know.

Peace & Colourful waterfalls,
Carl D

Carl - check your PM's again, please.

Thanks
carol

So far this has been one incredibly awesome trip. We're leaving for Ann Arbor on wednesday and will be there for only one night.
Looking forward to it, as I got ahold of my best friend from Milan back when I lived in Michigan working for the music distribution company. I haven't seen him since November 1995, so am really excited we get to meet up. .

The only thing that could even come close to how awesome this vacation has been is next months convention in St Louis. REALLY looking forward to that.

We had no problems coming into Canada. I just wonder how hard it would be to smuggle some midgets in my suitcase

Peace & Love,
Carl