Blogs from Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, North America - page 4

Early Thursday we headed to Tommy Jeffs home Monticello outside of Charlottesville, VA This is our second trip. but Monticello is still amazing. Our tour guide was barely adequate, but touring the grounds on our own was great, Bets was having difficulty on the grades and because we had not eaten needed extra breaks. We had connected with her friend Judy and husband Dave who left from Nevada a day after we did. We played catchup on our trip and where we were headed next. Although Monticello is on many acres, the house is not huge, but there are many interesting parts under the house kitchen, ice house, beer and wine cellar and privies. There are additional walking tours around the grounds and down to the family cemetery. Got Bets back up the hill, on the ... read more

We're leaving tomorrow morning at 5am. GET EXCITED NEW ORLEANS!!!!!! ready for some Little Mermaid VHS woot woot :).... read more

A return to the States is like a regression in time where buildings, roads, and store names have changed while people and old habits haven't. There's a new building on the corner, the highway is a little wider, a little longer before the familiar construction, and that one restaurant where you used to go has closed shop while three chain restaurants have opened in its stead. People have matured slightly with the passing of another year, but most of them look the same, act the same, and surely think the same as they did when you knew them in what seems like a previous life whose tracks you've picked back up. The comparisons are inevitable in the first couple weeks due to the shift in perspective you've gained from living in, experiencing and learning about different ... read more

Yesterday Brian and I started our road trip across the country. We left home at 12:30 pm and started the first leg of the journey to Charlottesville, VA, where I would be meeting his Pop, Aunt Geri, and Uncle Bruce for the first time. Instead of taking the straight shot, police littered HWY 29 all the way into town; we decided to follow Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park. As we entered the park we were pleased to find out the park ranger, Ched, could sell us the National Park Pass we were hoping to acquire early on in the trip…however, we weren’t pleased to find out that the pass had jumped $30 in price since last year, making it $80 per pass. Fortuitously, two names are permitted on each pass, so we were ... read more

Have been a little slow getting another message up, but have been busy traveling, visiting with friends, and trouble getting the wi-fi to work. So let me update you on the trip to so far. We had a safe trip to St. Louis where we got Sarah and Jay at the airport and went to our niece's, Abbey, graduation. The ceremony was very nice with an excellent speaker. Then all the family went to dinner at the Big Sky Cafe (shades of Montana) and finished the evening with dessert at the Chocolate Bar in Lafayette Square. Was great to see everyone and join Abbey (Dr. Kennedy now) in the celebration. The picture is Megan, Dr. Abbey (in the middle) and Sarah following the ceremony. We then took a flying trip back to the Lake of ... read more