Gas up the car & point it towards Florida! Road Trip, July 2012!...UPDATE 8/5/12

[franandaj]

If the Dr. gave him a Z-pack that should start kicking in immediately. We actually keep one on hand at home, our Dr. gives us an extra prescription so that if we feel like crap we can just pull it out of the cupboard after we talk to her and get started on the recovery instead of having to go pick one up at the pharmacy.

I hope you two have a nice time on your trip away.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Hi there!!! We're back from Foxwoods!

DH still had a fever over 100 when he woke up on Friday morning. We surprised the kids with breakfast out, and they were very happy about that!

DH still insisted on driving. When we got to Foxwoods, at around noon, our room was ready. We weren't anticipating it to be ready before the 4pm guaranteed time. DH was sooooo happy he could rest! He wasn't feeling well, but he said he was glad he drove because if he had to just sit there doing nothing for 2 and a half hours, he would have been way too miserable. So for him, driving was a diversion from being sick and bored out of his mind!

Anyway, we got a room on the 29th floor (the building has 30 floors, so almost at the top!), and it was a corner room. So we were able to see the rest of the property (MGM Grand Hotel is on one end of the property), as well as some beautiful Fall foliage!

I knew that DH had to rest. So I told him to lie down for a while, and I would go walk around and explore, maybe try and get to the spa for a mani-pedi. He seemed really glad I said that, and he asked me to wake him up some time before 4pm so he could take his medicine. And so, I went walking around.

OK, so I got into the elevator and I couldn't resist pressing the button for the Spa Level! I was curious...so I went to the spa and asked if they had any availability for a mani-pedi. They didn't, but then I asked if they had any room for just a manicure. They did, about 45 minutes later! Perfect! So I booked the appointment, and went walking around for a little while. I went into the few shops that are at the MGM Grand, looking for souvenirs for the family, but couldn't find anything that really wowed me. So, I walked over to another part of Foxwoods and went exploring. It was fun, but I also needed to grab a little something to eat before my manicure, and I didn't have all that much time. So I walked back to the MGM Grand...plenty of time for the casino later!

In the MGM Grand, they have Junior's Restaurant (a Brooklyn icon which has been here for decades...they sell their cheesecake on QVC). They also have a small quick-service area run by Junior's, right outside the casino area. I stopped by there and got a small container of chicken salad from their Grab 'n' Go fridge, along with Dr. Brown's Diet Cream Soda. It was very good, and then I headed down to the spa for my manicure.

The spa is very relaxing. My manicurist was very nice. The manicure was great...complete with hot towels and hand massage. I loved it! It took about 40 minutes. Afterwards, I went back up to the room to check on DH...it was about 2:30 by this time. He was doing OK, but still lying down. I told him I was going to do some more exploring and really get to know my way around the property, so that later on that evening, it would be very easy for us to find everything. I told him I would be back in about an hour.

I went to a few of the shops on the other side of the property and I bought a gift for my sister from Crabtree & Evelyn (she loves that!), as a Thank You for watching the boys this weekend. I also looked in some of the other shops, and also made my way into the casino. I decided to sit down at the penny slots...BIG mistake! Yes, it's a penny slot....but yes, you also play 30 lines at a time, with 30 credits per line...multiply that and it's $9 per pull! Within minutes, $20 was gone. So, over to the $1 slots I went. Within 10 minutes, another $20 was gone. So then, it was time to go back to the room and I was all mad at myself for losing $40 before the sun went down.

I stopped into this Asian bakery, called Fay Da. I had read about this place online. I bought a sweet potato filled pastry, and a gouda cheese danish (savory). DH hadn't eaten since breakfast, and he should eat before taking his medicine to prevent an upset stomach. I went back to check on DH and he was up and about and getting ready. He said he was feeling a lot better. He had just taken his medicine, so he didn't get to eat anything beforehand. I cut each pastry that I had bought in half, and we split them. They were delicious! Then, DH's stomach started bothering him...he rested a little while longer and it got a little better. I changed my clothes into what I was going to wear to dinner and the show that night, and then we headed out. DH wasn't all that hungry, but he said he could eat something light.

We walked over to the other side of the property (all indoors by the way, so didn't need jackets!), and we tried to go to the lounge of the steakhouse. It was 6pm by now, and we had an 8pm comedy show that night. The lounge had seating availability at 6:45pm, which we thought would be too late because we would feel too rushed. So instead, we went to another restaurant called the Veranda Cafe. It's more casual, very laid back, but they serve everything on their menu from breakfast all day, to burgers, to filet mignon.

All right, I need to stop for now...DH did not put our pics on the computer yet, so I have not had a chance to put them into Photo Bucket. So, food porn will have to wait a little bit. He's pretty busy doing some paper work (his grades are due tomorrow), and it is going to be a very busy week for him at work...so it might be a few days before pics turn up here. But I did take several food pics, and look forward to sharing them! And yes, DH made fun of me EVERY single time I took a pic of food!

 

[Leshaface]

So glad you made it back safe and sound!

What a bummer that he still wasn't feeling well on Friday. I hope he's better on Saturday and Sunday!

YAY for food porn soon!

How did your kids do? And how did you do without your kids?

 

[franandaj]

So where is this Foxwoods place? Atlantic City?

 

[bangzoom6877]

So glad you made it back safe and sound!

What a bummer that he still wasn't feeling well on Friday. I hope he's better on Saturday and Sunday!

YAY for food porn soon!

How did your kids do? And how did you do without your kids?

Yeah, I felt so bad for Eric that he didn't feel well when we left. But, I was happy that the room was ready because he got to rest. The good news is that the resting helped him...and he did feel better Saturday and Sunday.

Food porn as soon as DH gets around to uploading the pics onto the computer, I promise!

The kids did just fine. My sister said they behaved very well. She said there were only a couple of times when they weren't listening to her, but other than that they were great! I asked her if they fought with each other, and she said no, and that they didn't fight with her girls either! I was amazed...the boys always argue with each other at home. I guess when they are not in their own territory with their own toys, they get less greedy and less annoyed with each other! They had a lot of fun with my sister and my nieces. Yesterday morning they got to bake cupcakes together! And yes, they made some cake for us too!

As for us, we had a great, relaxing time. We missed the boys a lot, but we also enjoyed a weekend away as a couple. I think it was the perfect amount of time. Maybe...maybe...we could do 3 nights and be OK, but I think that would be the limit. There were times when we would turn to each other and say, "Philip would love this...Jonathan would love that"!!

So where is this Foxwoods place? Atlantic City?

Foxwoods is in Connecticut. It's a 2 and a half hour drive from our house in Brooklyn. It's in the opposite direction of Atlantic City, NJ. We have been to Atlantic City a few times, but many years ago. The first time we went was right after we got engaged, in the summer of 2000. We stayed in an all-suite hotel on the Boardwalk, but it didn't have a casino so it was very affordable, especially in the peak summer season. I think we only stayed one night though, but can't really remember for sure. We had a great time, but we felt very uncomfortable at 3 in the morning having to leave the casino of another hotel and walk outside to get to ours...Atlantic City is not the safest area to be at night. Our second AC trip was the following summer. That time, my mom's cousin offered to get us a room (he got them comp all the time) at the Taj Mahal. We stayed for 3 nights, and my mom's aunt and cousin were also there. That was an awesome trip!! My cousin got us the free room, free spa treatments, and dinner at one of the gourmet restaurants. My aunt took us to another gourmet restaurant...they got all of this comp because of how often they went there and how much they gambled. We also got to eat with them at the President's Club, a private dining area for "privileged guests". We felt like a million bucks...and this was a few months before we got married. We couldn't stop thanking my cousin and aunt for all of this...it was so generous of them to offer all of that to us.

A few months after we got married, they had a deal at the Taj Mahal...it was the middle of February, and we were off for President's week. The deal was for a room mid-week, so no problem for us. We decided to go, but we didn't want to tell my cousin because we didn't want him to think we were trying to take advantage of him. We figured we would see if he was there once we arrived. So, we got there, went into the casino, and they were announcing the winners of this sweepstakes...sure enough I heard my cousin's name!! So, Eric and I ran over there to say hello. We sat and talked with him for a while (my aunt wasn't there that time), and then he asked us if we need any comps. We said no, we were fine and just wanted to see how he was doing. Later that evening, Eric and I decided to order room service for dinner...the whole deal, they wheeled in the table with the white table cloth, just like in the movies! Well...the next morning, the charge for room service *mysteriously* disappeared from our room bill...and it had been there the night before. That had to be my cousin who had it comped for us, which was really nice!

So, we had fun on our AC trips. But we both thought that Foxwoods was much nicer. Plus, everything at Foxwoods is indoors and beautiful...you could walk from one hotel/casino to another in minutes, and without putting on your jacket, which is awesome.

 

[Leshaface]

Yeah, I felt so bad for Eric that he didn't feel well when we left. But, I was happy that the room was ready because he got to rest. The good news is that the resting helped him...and he did feel better Saturday and Sunday.

Food porn as soon as DH gets around to uploading the pics onto the computer, I promise!

The kids did just fine. My sister said they behaved very well. She said there were only a couple of times when they weren't listening to her, but other than that they were great! I asked her if they fought with each other, and she said no, and that they didn't fight with her girls either! I was amazed...the boys always argue with each other at home. I guess when they are not in their own territory with their own toys, they get less greedy and less annoyed with each other! They had a lot of fun with my sister and my nieces. Yesterday morning they got to bake cupcakes together! And yes, they made some cake for us too!

As for us, we had a great, relaxing time. We missed the boys a lot, but we also enjoyed a weekend away as a couple. I think it was the perfect amount of time. Maybe...maybe...we could do 3 nights and be OK, but I think that would be the limit. There were times when we would turn to each other and say, "Philip would love this...Jonathan would love that"!!

No worries about the food porn. Whenever you can!

At the bolded - That's something I fear i'll be doing too one day. Then I got to thinking, we'll just go somewhere that's suited only for adults, then realized, we don't like too many of those places! We like Disney!

 

[franandaj]

So, we had fun on our AC trips. But we both thought that Foxwoods was much nicer. Plus, everything at Foxwoods is indoors and beautiful...you could walk from one hotel/casino to another in minutes, and without putting on your jacket, which is awesome.

I've been to places on the East Coast in Winter and I understand why this sort of thing is desireable. The hotel in Hershey is like this but doesn't have a casino, I just love that we don't need this in the west coast. I'm glad you guys had a great time. And I'm glad that we don't need these indoor kind of resorts where we live!

 

[bangzoom6877]

No worries about the food porn. Whenever you can!

At the bolded - That's something I fear i'll be doing too one day. Then I got to thinking, we'll just go somewhere that's suited only for adults, then realized, we don't like too many of those places! We like Disney!

A lot of places we like are also more for families! But, it was nice to go somewhere just the 2 of us...you're so right, if it is suited for just adults it is much easier to go without the kids! We did actually consider changing to WDW for the long weekend, but that literally lasted a few minutes! The only reason we were considering this was because of Food & Wine and Epcot. But, as usual I didn't want to fly, we only had 2 nights, and at this point I can't bring myself to go to Disney without the kids. DH said that maybe we'll end up doing that for our 20th...LOL, in 10 years!!

I've been to places on the East Coast in Winter and I understand why this sort of thing is desireable. The hotel in Hershey is like this but doesn't have a casino, I just love that we don't need this in the west coast. I'm glad you guys had a great time. And I'm glad that we don't need these indoor kind of resorts where we live!

Oh yes, you guys are soooooo lucky to live in a more temperate climate! I always joke around with DH and say we should retire to CA for the weather...NOT Florida (too humid!!).

I have never been to the Hotel Hershey, but we have been to that area many times. We always go either in the summer or the fall though. I have never been around there in the winter. But, I have always wanted to see it all decorated for the holidays...it must be so pretty!

 

[Leshaface]

A lot of places we like are also more for families! But, it was nice to go somewhere just the 2 of us...you're so right, if it is suited for just adults it is much easier to go without the kids! We did actually consider changing to WDW for the long weekend, but that literally lasted a few minutes! The only reason we were considering this was because of Food & Wine and Epcot. But, as usual I didn't want to fly, we only had 2 nights, and at this point I can't bring myself to go to Disney without the kids. DH said that maybe we'll end up doing that for our 20th...LOL, in 10 years!!

I was thinking just the other day, for our 10 year, we should renew our vows at WDW in the Italy pavilion (since by the time we'll be able to afford to go to the real Italy, we probably won't be able to walk ). That would be amazing!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I was thinking just the other day, for our 10 year, we should renew our vows at WDW in the Italy pavilion (since by the time we'll be able to afford to go to the real Italy, we probably won't be able to walk ). That would be amazing!

That is too cute!!

We had some ideas for our 10th also...but what a long time ago that was! When we were choosing our wedding bands, DH said he wanted a plain band, no diamonds. I wanted them to match, so I got the same thing. I told him that we can get each other diamond anniversary bands for our 10th...but honestly, I don't even care about that now! I said to him, let's just go away for a weekend instead!

Tomorrow is our real anniversary! I got DH a Keurig, and a whole bunch of k-cups! Can't wait for him to open it!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Friday was our real anniversary...so we decided to order some Chinese food, have some wine, show the boys our wedding album and watch our wedding video with them. It was too cute...we're looking at the wedding album, and we get to one of the black & white pictures...DS6 Philip gets all excited and says to DS4 Jonathan, "Look Jonny...it's black & white, like in the '80s!" DH Eric and I were cracking up!

Then, we were watching our wedding video, and in the beginning there's some of our baby pics...before that, there is a cartoon stork. Jonathan yells out, "Look, it's the guy from the pickles!" He was talking about the Vlasic pickle jar! It was very funny!

Yesterday, we went out with the family to celebrate. They surprised us, and took us to a South American restaurant! It was amazing! I had Brazil Sangria (made with Cachaca, a type of Brazilian rum as explained to me by the waiter), and a Colombian platter with delicious skirt steak, pork chicharrones, white arepa (corn cake), maduros, fried egg, avocado, yellow rice and red beans with pork...everything was so delicious! But way too much food, I couldn't even come close to finishing it! For appetizers, we shared spinach and mushroom quesadillas, and 4 different kind of empanadas (chicken, beef, goat cheese and domino which is black beans and cheese). We also got an order of guacamole to go with everything, and it came with a few different tasty sauces. Eric had jalapeno grilled catfish with red beans w/pork, and maduros. He had a jalapeno margarita, and then a frozen margarita with sangria swirled into it!

We didn't get dessert at the restaurant because my sister baked a special cake. She made chocolate cake with mocha filling (which is what we had at our wedding), and a coffee whipped cream to top it all off! On the side, she made a chocolate sauce with kahlua in it to put on top of the slices of cake, and a separate non-alcoholic chocolate sauce for the kids! She decorated the cake with green icing, the color of our wedding (my bridesmaids wore green). It was beautiful and delicious!

Eric still hasn't gotten to download the Foxwoods pics onto the computer, but when he does, I will definitely post food porn with reviews!

 

[franandaj]

Bonnie that sounds like a really nice time. I like to get the Capirinia (sp?) also made with Cachaca whe we go to Brazillian restaurants.

Your boys sound really cute and that's neat how you shared you wedding day with them.

 

[bangzoom6877]

Bonnie that sounds like a really nice time. I like to get the Capirinia (sp?) also made with Cachaca whe we go to Brazillian restaurants.

Your boys sound really cute and that's neat how you shared you wedding day with them.

Thank you!!! Last year the boys wanted to know why they weren't invited to our wedding!

My sister had the Capirinia the last time we went to a Brazilian restaurant, the beginning of May for DS4's birthday and her older daughter's 10th birthday. DS4's b-day is May 1st and my niece's is May 2nd!

 

[franandaj]

Thank you!!! Last year the boys wanted to know why they weren't invited to our wedding!

 

[Leshaface]

I'm back and am slowly trying to catch up with all my subscriptions. Man, getting sick really puts you behind on the DIS. I feel like i'm behind on homework or something, and i'm trying with all my might to catch up!

What a great way to celebrate your anniversary! Chinese food, wine, your kids, and your wedding album/video I chuckled when Philip said, "like the 80's" Oh dear, that's a sign i'm getting old.

How did DH like the Keurig!?! I forgot all about it!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm back and am slowly trying to catch up with all my subscriptions. Man, getting sick really puts you behind on the DIS. I feel like i'm behind on homework or something, and i'm trying with all my might to catch up!

What a great way to celebrate your anniversary! Chinese food, wine, your kids, and your wedding album/video I chuckled when Philip said, "like the 80's" Oh dear, that's a sign i'm getting old.

How did DH like the Keurig!?! I forgot all about it!

Eric loves the Keurig!!! And all the k-cups I got for him!

I hope you are feeling better...I get so busy that I feel like I have no time for the DIS most days...that will really hit me in January when we are fully into rehearsals for SING!

By the way, I didn't forget about reviewing Foxwoods...pics are still not on my computer...we have been that busy! Soon though, promise!

 

[Leshaface]

Eric loves the Keurig!!! And all the k-cups I got for him!

I hope you are feeling better...I get so busy that I feel like I have no time for the DIS most days...that will really hit me in January when we are fully into rehearsals for SING!

By the way, I didn't forget about reviewing Foxwoods...pics are still not on my computer...we have been that busy! Soon though, promise!

I'm so glad he likes the Keurig! My FIL came over a few days ago, and was like, "Is that the Kenrig?!" He likes BOLD coffee, so I brewed him 'Wake Up Call' on the smallest setting, and now he's obsessed!

I didn't go into work yesterday. I really needed to nip it in the bud and load up on medicine and sleep. I'm feeling much better today. Now it's just that annoying cough, but i'm not sluggish or feeling gross. Yep, I assumed we weren't going to see much of you once your production got under way. No worries about the pics. I'm patient and will be around for quite a while!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm so glad he likes the Keurig! My FIL came over a few days ago, and was like, "Is that the Kenrig?!" He likes BOLD coffee, so I brewed him 'Wake Up Call' on the smallest setting, and now he's obsessed!

I didn't go into work yesterday. I really needed to nip it in the bud and load up on medicine and sleep. I'm feeling much better today. Now it's just that annoying cough, but i'm not sluggish or feeling gross. Yep, I assumed we weren't going to see much of you once your production got under way. No worries about the pics. I'm patient and will be around for quite a while!

I'm kind of obsessed with the Keurig now too...we have a new one at work, and I am loving it! I drink decaf most of the time though...after my one mug of regular coffee in the morning, if I have another cup of caffeinated, I get too jittery...but I LOVE the taste of coffee, so I drink decaf the rest of the day. I feel kind of guilty that I am enjoying it too since it was a gift for DH...I told him that and he thought it was silly!

Sometimes you need to just rest out a cold...what a difference a day makes. DH had to do that when we got to Foxwoods, then he felt considerably better that evening, and the next day he was much better and really enjoying himself to the fullest. It was just a lucky thing that the room was ready so early, because otherwise he would have had to wait 4 hours to rest.

 

[bangzoom6877]

OK, I know I have been MIA for a while now...over a month on this thread, and 2 weeks on the DIS. My, my, my...besides when I am away on vacation, I think this is the longest I have been away from the DIS and I am going through withdrawal!

As you probably know, things at work have been super busy. Eat-my-lunch-while-standing-up-and-working kind of busy! 11-hour days kind of busy! SING rehearsals are well underway, with just 19 days left until opening night! I have gotten A LOT done already, and yet there is still so much to do. I went into work yesterday and the SING kids had a 6-hour rehearsal. It went very well. Singers have been learning their songs, actors were running their lines (and quite well), dancers are doing great, sets are being built, costumes being sewed. Everything is coming together nicely. I'm exhausted, my days are crazy and long, and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!!

I know that a couple of months ago, I promised to post food pics and a review from Foxwoods back in November. DH finally got a chance to upload the photos onto the computer, and I FINALLY made it to Photobucket...so stay tuned, food porn is on its way!

Also, in just 10 days, I make out ADRs for WDW in July!! I will also post what I will be "asking for"!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Let's go back a little bit in time...to Friday, November 11, 2011. DH had been sick for a few days, with this respiratory infection. The doctor had put him on zithromax but he was still feeling pretty sick, and he still had a fever. However, he insisted that we do things the way we always do, so he had to do all the driving. (He later told me that he would have been miserable if he had to sit in the car as a passenger instead, and driving took his mind off of how horrible he was feeling, plus he was still very awake and alert so he knew it was safe)

Earlier on DH and I decided that we would surprise the boys and take them out for breakfast at our little neighborhood diner before we left. We were due at my sister's house at 9am to drop them off, so we left for breakfast at 7:30. We ended up running into my parents there! They sat at the table next to us.

I decided to order something sweet...and something salty to go with it. I LOVE bacon! I ordered chocolate chip pancakes with bacon on the side! And of course, a cup of coffee! Here's some true Brooklyn diner food!!

And a better, brighter shot of the chocolate chip pancakes!

And a pic of just the bacon...it was delicious!! I ended up sharing some with Philip and Jonathan (they love any kind of meat, especially bacon!).

DH ordered a Spanish omelette with a side of home fries and rye toast. Look at this plate of yummy goodness!

Philip and Jonathan usually share an order of silver dollar pancakes (small ones), but only Jonathan wanted those this time. I missed a pic of them though, sorry. Philip decided to just get a bagel with butter:

And there you have it! Our hearty Brooklyn diner breakfast before heading up to Connecticut for our anniversary weekend! Breakfast was awesome, as it always has been there since I was a kid! Seriously, this place has been here forever and we still love it just as much as years ago.

Up next will be our first night's dinner...a casual restaurant with some awesome food! Stay tuned...