Girl Time!!!!

It was that time of year again!  Time to take off and visit Emily for a long girls weekend.  I visited for the first time last October and we decided then and there that we would make this an annual trip.  I had a very busy month, but finished it off in New Hampshire.

I boarded my plane early Thursday morning, with a layover in Newark on my way to Manchester, NH.

I purposefully chose my seat on the right side of the plane so I could watch the sunrise.  And boy was I thankful.  Such a beautiful morning.  The bad part was that as we flew into Newark, New York City and the Statue of Liberty was on the OTHER side of the plane.  Oh Well!

I had a 3 hour layover and wished I could have gone and explored NYC but there wasn't enough time.  The people watching at the airport proved most interesting though. 

I landed in Manchester and Emily picked me up.  We had a late lunch/early dinner and just enjoyed being able to actually talk face to face instead of on the phone.

Late Thursday night we make all the preparations to spend the day in Boston again.  It's much easier to take the public transportation than to try and maneuver it all ourselves.  So Emily checked the bus schedules and I figured out what subway lines we needed to be on.  We woke up early Friday and headed to the bus station feeling much more confident than last year because we had done it before.

 We spend the day wondering all over Boston and finishing the Freedom Trail Tour that we began last year.  This time it took us to the North Church, where the lanterns were lit.  "One if by land, two if by sea!"















Fortunately I didn't miss the Fall colors!  Boston was so beautiful.

Paul Revere's House

U.S.S. Constitution or "Old Ironside"

After a stroll through The Boston Common, we headed back to Cheers.  We ate here last year and it was so good that we decided to go again.

After dinner, we decided to go on a hunt to find Mike's Pastry.  We had been seeing lots of people with boxes from there so we assumed it was good.  We had to check it out for ourselves.  This meant some more exploration on the subways.  Last year, I didn't want to look obvious so I avoided taking pics but this time, having more confidence, I didn't care.

Besides - it's just so cool.  At least to this Florida girl anyway.

And it comes with it's own entertainment while you are waiting!

We made it!!!!  Wonderful Italian bakery!  Definitely a must if you are in Boston!

We found a spot in the park and enjoyed our desserts leisurely.  After all, Emily had checked the bus schedule and we still had plenty of time.

We hopped back on the subway and headed back to the bus station.  We took our time as it had been a long day of walking.  We arrived at 9:35 - a full hour before the LAST bus was to leave.  Or so we thought.  As we checked the schedule on the screens in the bus station, I could not find one leaving for home at 10:30.  I could only find the 9:30 bus.  It had just left. I looked at Emily - she checked the schedule in her hand again and it said 10:30.  We headed to the ticket counter go get it straightened out.  One the way, Emily discovered that she had been looking at the wrong line the ENTIRE time.  UGH!!!  The bus arrives HOME at 10:30 - not that WE arrive at the bus station at 10:30.

We missed the last bus home from Boston!  We were stranded!

All I could do was laugh.

I could totally throw Emily under the bus here - but I can't - it already left!!  She was horrified - I thought it was funny!  But - she won't live this one down for a while!

So - What now? 

We asked the guy at the ticketing counter - he said we could spend the night and catch the next bus in the morning or take a bus into another town.  Hmmmm.

Emily called Bruce.

His first question, "What did you do?"

Ugh - poor Bruce.  He had to come get us.  We two crazy girls stranded in Boston.

We sat in the bus station for over an hour and all we could do was giggle.  I think it will be a long time before Bruce can laugh about it.  We were very thankful for his rescue.  

We arrived back to Emily's around 12:30 am.  It was a day we will always remember!

On Saturday, we took off for Deerfield, Mass.  This time we had Emily's van AND the GPS!!  Bruce had already given us instructions that he was NOT coming to get us!

We were in search of the HUGE Yankee Candle Store there.  We spent the whole day and closed it out at 8:00 that evening and we each took one of these little guys home.

Isn't he cute?

By Saturday night, Russ was calling and telling me I needed to pay better attention to the storm that was approaching.  When we got home that night I got on the computer and realized that I needed to head home early.  My original flight was supposed to leave Manchester on Monday at 5pm - the exact time that the storm was to hit the area. 

I spent 3 hours on the phone - on hold - with the airlines.  No luck.  Never did get through. Sunday morning, I packed my bags and we headed to the airport.  I was willing to take any flight out that day.  They were predicting that Emily and Bruce would lose power and it could be out for days and expecting all of the airports to close.

The lady behind the counter worked and worked.  I got the last seat on the only plane out of Manchester on Monday morning.  The flight would take me over the storm to Charlotte and then home.  

Since I wasn't leaving until the next day, Emily and I hit the mall and made the best of our last day together.  That night, I made cupcakes for the boys.  Yep - I sugared them up and then left the next morning!

Bruce took me to the airport EARLY Monday morning and when I walked up to the counter EVERY flight was cancelled - except mine!  God is good.  My flight left on time - took me up and over Sandy and I was home by 1:00 in the afternoon.  So very thankful.

Emily wound up with cancelled schools, a lot of wind and rain, but they kept their power.  I came home exhausted and with a cold.  But an AWESOME time was had by all.  Well - maybe not Bruce.  Hopefully he will let me come back again next year.