We left on our trip the day after the Fourth of July. The Fourth celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on 4. July 1776. Even the gas pump wanted in on the celebration when we stopped to get gas.
We made a detour which would add an extra hour to our trip and stopped at the cemetery to visit my folks. The Fourth of July would have been their 75th wedding anniversary. As is custom, I greeted Ma first and brought a bouquet of flowers. She was the Queen of the family and would get her nose bent out of joint if we said hello to
Dad first.
While at the cemetery, a few rows over from the folks, I noticed a symbol on the headstone I had never noticed before. The Department of Veteran's Affairs only allows approved graphics on the headstone. I thought this must have been the Angel Gabriel, but looking up the symbol, it is the Angel Moroni, the designation for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
We got back on the road and stopped at a Friendly's restaurant for lunch.
I had an unsweetened ice tea and the Young One had a Sprite, a lemon-lime soda.
Turkey sandwich and fries for the Young One and a chicken sandwich and waffle fries for me.
Don't eat!
Hanging on the wall in the restaurant: "A balanced diet is a vanilla cone in one hand and chocolate in the other." Wise words to live by. Back on the road again. We left on a Thursday to avoid heavy vacation/Summer traffic on the Mass Pike. We also decided we wouldn't rush to get where we were going.
The Eldest was working the second shift ( 3 PM - 11:30 PM) at the hospital so we wouldn't get much of a chance to see her before the weekend. The trip to where the Eldest lives is 9 hours without stops. We stopped at the halfway point in Wilkes-Barre (pronounced Barry), Pennsylvania.
Across the parking lot from the hotel is a Perkins Restaurant. We had their Duo Combo. Half a Sandwich and a slice of pie. I had ice tea with lemon, a Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato sandwich and a slice of Lemon Meringue pie. I don't remember what sandwich Himself ordered, but he had the Chocolate Silk pie.
There was a fund raiser for Give Kids the World so I made a contribution and chose this funny chicken duck which reminded me of Henery Hawk from the Warner Brothers cartoons.
In the evening, I like to have a last cup of tea for the day. When I travel, I bring my own fixin's for tea. (I usually carry a couple of tea bags with me in my purse in case I visit friends who do not drink black tea. I'm not a big fan of herbal teas.) For this road trip: English Breakfast tea, cream that doesn't require refrigeration (the powdered creamer makes me dizzy and sick), and bottled water because the Little Princess is spoiled and doesn't like chlorinated tap water. Not even to brush her teeth. I must have left the bottle of liquid Stevia in the car and was too lazy to go out to get it so used a packet of sugar that is left with the coffee machine in the hotel room.
Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.
Sounds like you had fun, and I am happy you didn't go hungry along the way. Why does travelling make us so hungry? Happy T Day, hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteHome or away, we never go hungry :-D
DeleteThat's an attitude I can appreciate!
DeleteSounds like you base your travels around the restaurants along the way....just like we do! Hahahahaha! ;)
ReplyDeleteTraveling can wreak havoc on tummies. it's helpful to know familiar places.
DeleteFun trip! I love Friendly's ... we have them everywhere around here. Thank you for pointing out the CORRECT pronunciation of Wilkes-Barre. You not believe how many folks mispronounce it. Just like Reading, PA ... it is actually pronounced "Redding" not READ-ing as in reading a book! LOL!
ReplyDeleteHave a good day!!
Most of our Friendly's are closing, which is a shame. I learned the correct pronunciation of W-B when I worked for a cement company. The sales manager sometimes made trips out there. There might have been a regional office. I don't remember as it was decades ago. Reading I learned from playing Monopoly.
DeleteThat sounds like a great start to your trip CJ. I think the gap pump was a good omen for a good vacation-not even all that much to fill your tank to get started. have a great T day my friend. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteWe couldn't have planned the gas pump if we tried. Just thought it was funny. Gas prices weren't bad here relatively speaking. Other places like Ohio gas was pretty steep.
DeleteI was referred here by Lady Caer Morganna because of my name. Mary Todisco. Actually that is my married name. My ex passed away in 1996 and I never changed it. The Todisco family I knew all lived in Manhattan, Queens, and Long Island. Just wondering if maybe you had relatives in New York.
ReplyDeleteAs you can see, you and my mother share the same name. (-: I don't know of any relatives that lived in NY. I just may not have found them. One of my uncles lived in New Jersey for a time, but he was a Mottola. My mother also visited her cousins in New Jersey, but her maiden name was Riccio. I don't have info on the NJ cousins because she didn't label photographs.
DeleteI loved the gas pump serendipity lol! I'm hungry now looking at all your food choices :) It's fun deciding where to eat along the way, isn't it! Happy T Tuesday
ReplyDeleteWhen Himself said you have to see this at the gas pump, I just had to take a picture. Too funny
Deletefun road trip- and so nice that you were able to visit your parents' grave sites along the way. Good thing for good food stops on the trip too:) Happy T day!
ReplyDeleteWe usually get to the cemetery twice a year. Once around their anniversary and again at the beginning of December to bring a Christmas wreath.
DeleteWhat a lot of food you shared along the way to your first destination. Starting out with the gas pump entry was some sort of omen.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on that creamer. I don't get sick, but I simply can't stand the taste or texture. I would rather drink black coffee than use that horrible creamer. I like those half and half containers that don't require refrigeration. I always thought they had something artificial in them, but they taste just like the stuff that comes out of my fridge.
I'd never heard of Friendly's and we have no Perkins here. I like how the fries were plated at Friendly's.
Thanks for sharing this first leg of your trip, your stop at the cemetery, your food, and of course, your drinks you shared for T this Tuesday.
The Mini Moos contain milk, cream, a couple of preservatives. Himself (a chemist) says if you boil the heck out of whatever and then seal it quickly, you will protect the contents from bacteria aka Pasteurization. The Mini Moos will stay fresh at room temp. for about 6 mos. I read that somewhere. But don't forget about them in a hot car because they will curdle. Ask me how I know this?
DeleteFriendly's was/is a New England ice cream sandwich shop. Their corporate headquarters are located in Wilbraham, Massachusetts. For some reason, a lot of the restaurants in MA are being closed.
The gas pump made me smile ...lol 😉. You made some great food choices on your travels, the BLT and lemon meringue pie look so yummy! I hope you had a wonderful time visiting your Eldest and wishing you a very Happy T Day! J 😊 x
ReplyDeleteI laughed when I saw the gas pump. The lemon meringue pie was delicious though the meringue slid off the filling. And we had a wonderful visit with the Eldest.
DeleteWe traveled as well over the 4th of July week. Your food looks yummy. I always bring my tea fixings as well. It seems as though restaurants never carry what I like. Hope that you enjoyed visiting your eldest.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tea Day,
Kate
I'm so surprised when restaurants don't have tea.
DeleteIt sounds like you had a good trip and it was good that you could call and leave flowers at your parents resting place.
ReplyDeleteYou had some delicious looking food and I would have taken my own teabags as well.
Happy T day wishes.
Yvonne xx
We had some great food on the trip. More coming up!
DeleteWell CJ that looks like a very nice trip complete with good food!!! Happy happy T day! Hugs! deb
ReplyDeleteFood is always better when you don't have to prepare it!
DeleteHi sorry I am a bit late in the day to visit all the T friends-I needed to go food shopping and then friends stopped by.
ReplyDeleteSounds like the beginnings of a fun trip-we don't eat out any more so I enjoy seeing the restaurant foods-that was kinda neat 1/2 a sandwich with pie-sounds like a good idea too.
Happy T Day wishes Kathy
Usually the portions at restaurants are so big. Since we were pretty much on the go, we weren't able to take doggie bags. I always want dessert at a restaurant, but those large portions, even thought I only eat half leave no room for dessert. The Duo at Perkins is just right. Half a sandwich to fill you up and a slice of pie as a treat.
Deletesounds perfect
DeleteSounds fun. I think I have a stamp similar to the balance diet quote on the wall. Also, I thought it interesting, that I also carry teabags in my purse, because I do not like herbal teas either! :) Happy T Day!
ReplyDeleteLike minds :-D
Delete1776 at the gas pump. Heh.
ReplyDeleteThat was nice that you stopped by to say hi to your folks. Sounds like it was a nice trip. I love Perkins, unfortunately there're none in this area.
I love Perkins, too, but we don't have them around here either.
DeleteClever gas pump, CJ ;-)
ReplyDeleteYou found yummy places to eat along the way. Isn't it fun not to have to cook and clean up? To me that's one of the high points of road trips.
Happy T-day! Hugs, Eileen
Lots of yummy-looking food on your trip! Here in Ohio, some of the Friendlys restaurants have closed, so we don't have any sit-down ice cream places in our town any more...sigh. But we do have a Perkins and it is excellent! really cute duckies...ingenious idea for a fund raiser. hope you had a wonderful visit with your eldest!
ReplyDeleteYou look as though you were lucky to fine some good travelling food on your journey! I love those little baskets for the fries - some places we have visited have had them! Belated Happy T day! Chrisx
ReplyDeleteI love the gas pump picture! LOL! It was very special that you went by to say hi to your mom and dad! You always seem to find the best of food! LOL! I bring tea bags in my purse too!
ReplyDelete