Our local Giant Eagle is now carrying Dunkin' Donuts coffee!!! There is no better coffee, and we look forward to our trip east each year if for no other reason than Dunkin' Donuts coffee.
Thank you Giant Eagle, thank you!!!!
Our local Giant Eagle is now carrying Dunkin' Donuts coffee!!! There is no better coffee, and we look forward to our trip east each year if for no other reason than Dunkin' Donuts coffee.
Thank you Giant Eagle, thank you!!!!
It's the first day of school. Beenie and Keke are at school. Munchkin is napping. Stewie wants me to play house.
My first assignment - pretend clean.
Great. Like I don't have to do that in real life.
My first assignment - pretend clean.
Great. Like I don't have to do that in real life.
We went to the mall today. So, I present, for your viewing enjoyment, Robin Sparkles!!!
We (Ellen, Bubba, the kids, and me) went to the Main Street Creamery tonight after dinner. Everyone got a cone of their favorite flavor (or at least their favorite today). Keke’s raspberry sherbet fell off of her cone right after she got outside to sit down. She got a replacement, but the original was still sitting on the bricks by the leg of the table, melting. She decided that it looked like a little brain that was lying on the ground with blood dripping off of it. Nice.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
While we were sitting there, a fire truck went by and stopped in front of the seed company. It didn’t have its lights and sirens on, didn’t seem to be in much of a hurry, and after a while it rumbled on down the street. We didn’t think much of it, finished our ice creams and started to make our way back to Granny’s house.
As we approached her house, we could see the fire truck down at the end of the street. At first it seemed like nothing, but then we noticed a cadre of firefighters, in gear, walking around the truck as it was slowly backing up the street. As one of them passed by he told us that they were checking the pressure on the hydrants. There is a hydrant in the yard next to Granny’s house, so we stopped to watch them work. I had my camera with me, so I started taking pictures. As I was shooting, one of the firefighters came over and told me that in addition to checking pressures, they also had to check volumes.
The firefighters hooked a hose up from the hydrant to the truck, and then another from the truck that just pointed down the street. They attached a nozzle to the end of that one. When they were ready they turned on the hydrant and the first hose sprang to life. Then they allowed the water to continue on into the second hose. There were two firefighters holding the end with the nozzle and what amazed me was how fast the water filled the hose (instantaneously, it seemed), and how much pressure there must have been. The rapidly filling hose knocked both firefighters forward half a step. One of the other firefighters told me that the pressure in the hydrant was 125psi.
The nozzle was opened and water sprayed down the street in front of Granny’s house. The three older kids ran down to a tree right where the water was being sprayed so they could see better. One firefighter asked me if they should try to spray them, and I said to go for it. Unfortunately, the kids came back just at that point. So, instead, the firefighter asked me if I wanted to take a picture of the kids on the hose line!
Beenie went first and was absolutely thrilled with getting to hold the hose while it was turned on. He commented that he didn’t realize how heavy the hose actually is. Keke and Stewie didn’t want to get in there, but we finally coaxed them into at least having their pictures taken with the firefighters. When we were done, Beenie asked if they would show him how to turn the hose on. He jumped back in and the Lieutenant guided him as Beenie turned the firehose on and then off!
Beenie announced that he now wants to be a firefighter in addition to all the other things he wants to be when he grows up. Great-grandma will be happy to hear that. As the firefighters were packing up the truck, the Lieutenant brought over beenie babies for each of the kids (including Munchkin), so they all have a souvenir to go along with an amazing memory.
It was hard shopping in all the cool clothing and gift stores with all four kids along for the ride, so last night after dinner Ellen and I went back to Hyannis. It was a lot more crowded on the streets than I was expecting, and there were way more families with kids in strollers than I thought there would be. It did, however, remind me of being back in the city and that was nice. I miss the city.
Anyway, we ended up at Seventh Heaven where Ellen bought a really cool skirt. It wraps, sari-style, and kind of shimmers back and forth between red and green. It was really difficult to find a top to go with it, due to that color shift, but she did. We also went to Tibetan Mandala where I bought another shirt to go with the ones I bought last year. And I bought another set of prayer beads - rudrashka beads.
We also had to go to the joke shop. Beenie bought a joy buzzer at another store, but it was a cheap plastic one that broke before we got home. We decided to replace it for him. We found a nice metal one that should last a little longer. Keke also wanted to buy some plastic dog poop, but when we were looking for it earlier in the day she couldn't find just what she was looking for. We found her a nice looking one (is that the right way to describe it?), and picked that up for her. Stewie was having a great time looking around, and couldn't settle on anything he wanted, so we got him a couple of little plastic rats that he had been showing me earlier in the day.
The kids aren't up yet, but I hope they will enjoy them. And Ellen and I had a nice time wandering around the street of Hyannis, just the two of us.
Anyway, we ended up at Seventh Heaven where Ellen bought a really cool skirt. It wraps, sari-style, and kind of shimmers back and forth between red and green. It was really difficult to find a top to go with it, due to that color shift, but she did. We also went to Tibetan Mandala where I bought another shirt to go with the ones I bought last year. And I bought another set of prayer beads - rudrashka beads.
We also had to go to the joke shop. Beenie bought a joy buzzer at another store, but it was a cheap plastic one that broke before we got home. We decided to replace it for him. We found a nice metal one that should last a little longer. Keke also wanted to buy some plastic dog poop, but when we were looking for it earlier in the day she couldn't find just what she was looking for. We found her a nice looking one (is that the right way to describe it?), and picked that up for her. Stewie was having a great time looking around, and couldn't settle on anything he wanted, so we got him a couple of little plastic rats that he had been showing me earlier in the day.
The kids aren't up yet, but I hope they will enjoy them. And Ellen and I had a nice time wandering around the street of Hyannis, just the two of us.
Be Like a Duck
7:15 AM
by bill
Another good day of fun yesterday. Granny took all of us on a Duckmobile ride in Hyannis. The premise is simple:
It was a great time! My favorite story was when we passed St. Francis Xavier Church - "the Kennedy Family Church" - we were told it was a "no quack" zone. Apparently, they were going by one day and decided to quack at what they thought was a wedding. Turned out to be a funeral. Whoops. The church asked them to refrain from quacking in the future. I don't know if the story is true or not, but it sounds plausible, and it one of those stories that I want to be true.
At the end of the ride, Auntie Marilyn bought all the kids "duck whistles". When you blow on them they make a quacking noise. For the rest of the day, that's all you could hear from the kids. We did have to set two rules:
Beenie is becoming quite the prankster. He used invisible tape to tape open the sprayer attached to the sink, so when you turned the water on you got sprayed. Caught Auntie Marilyn. Great fun was had by all!
- climb aboard a Vietnam-era amphibious vehicle (painted blue and yellow)
- ride around the streets of Hyannis quacking at people (let's practice - "QUACK. QUACK. QUACK." Very good.)
- drive into Hyannis Harbor and motor around looking at the ginormous boats, and houses that back up on the water (I'm soooo jealous.)
- listen to the tour guide point out (a few) interesting places and facts, but mostly just go through her goofy patter.
It was a great time! My favorite story was when we passed St. Francis Xavier Church - "the Kennedy Family Church" - we were told it was a "no quack" zone. Apparently, they were going by one day and decided to quack at what they thought was a wedding. Turned out to be a funeral. Whoops. The church asked them to refrain from quacking in the future. I don't know if the story is true or not, but it sounds plausible, and it one of those stories that I want to be true.
At the end of the ride, Auntie Marilyn bought all the kids "duck whistles". When you blow on them they make a quacking noise. For the rest of the day, that's all you could hear from the kids. We did have to set two rules:
- No quacking in stores (except maybe the joke shop)
- No quacking if the car is moving.
Beenie is becoming quite the prankster. He used invisible tape to tape open the sprayer attached to the sink, so when you turned the water on you got sprayed. Caught Auntie Marilyn. Great fun was had by all!
I know I haven't been blogging since we got here. I frankly haven't had the time. But last night we did something really fun and exciting that we had never done before. We went crabbing.
My dad's cousin Betty has been taking her grandkids crabbing for the last ten years or so. Since our kids are of an age where they would enjoy doing this, Betty volunteered to show us what to do. We went to Grey's Beach on the north shore of Yarmouth. Mom brought raw chicken legs, Betty brought twine, and we brought a bucket. After tying the chicken on a long piece of string, the kids would drop it off the boardwalk into the water and wait.
After a not-so-long wait, the crabs would attempt to eat the chicken, and the kids could just lift the chicken out of the water with the crabs attached. Sometimes the crabs were smart enough to let go as they were lifted up, but some were dumb enough to hang on for the whole ride. Those ended up in the bucket.
Beenie and Keke seemed to enjoy it the most. Keke found a great place and had tons of crabs on her chicken, although a lot of them she released before they got to the bucket. Stewie was intrigued, but lost interest quickly and wandered off down the boardwalk. Munchkin freaked out with the crabs so close, but she did regain her composure and enjoyed our time there.
As people passed by, many of them stopped to see what we were doing. The little kids were fascinated by the crabs in the bucket, the parents were interested in showing the kids the crabs, and the grandparents all wanted to know how we were doing it so they could take their grandkids. Beenie proved to be the perfect "tour guide", as he would explain everything to everybody. He would also pick the crabs up to show the little kids. It was like he had been doing it for years.
The kids ended up catching 42 crabs which werea tasty treat released back into the marsh when we left.
As a bonus, we were there for sunset. There weren't too many low level clouds that would have made it spectacular, but it was very nice nonetheless.
My dad's cousin Betty has been taking her grandkids crabbing for the last ten years or so. Since our kids are of an age where they would enjoy doing this, Betty volunteered to show us what to do. We went to Grey's Beach on the north shore of Yarmouth. Mom brought raw chicken legs, Betty brought twine, and we brought a bucket. After tying the chicken on a long piece of string, the kids would drop it off the boardwalk into the water and wait.
After a not-so-long wait, the crabs would attempt to eat the chicken, and the kids could just lift the chicken out of the water with the crabs attached. Sometimes the crabs were smart enough to let go as they were lifted up, but some were dumb enough to hang on for the whole ride. Those ended up in the bucket.
Beenie and Keke seemed to enjoy it the most. Keke found a great place and had tons of crabs on her chicken, although a lot of them she released before they got to the bucket. Stewie was intrigued, but lost interest quickly and wandered off down the boardwalk. Munchkin freaked out with the crabs so close, but she did regain her composure and enjoyed our time there.
As people passed by, many of them stopped to see what we were doing. The little kids were fascinated by the crabs in the bucket, the parents were interested in showing the kids the crabs, and the grandparents all wanted to know how we were doing it so they could take their grandkids. Beenie proved to be the perfect "tour guide", as he would explain everything to everybody. He would also pick the crabs up to show the little kids. It was like he had been doing it for years.
The kids ended up catching 42 crabs which were
As a bonus, we were there for sunset. There weren't too many low level clouds that would have made it spectacular, but it was very nice nonetheless.
If you are ever on Cape Cod and need your Volkswagen serviced, run, don’t walk, to Tracy Volkswagen in Hyannis. This is the best service department of any VW dealer I’ve been to. Granted, this is only the fourth (fifth if you count the one in Connecticut who couldn’t get me in while I was on vacation a couple of years ago). But still, how many dealers do you usually end up dealing with?
We have been having a problem in our van. There has been a hissing noise coming from under the steering column, that stops when you step on the brakes. We decided that we better have that checked before we started driving all over New England this summer. I called to try to get an appointment with our nearby dealer and the only time they could get it in was when Ellen would already be in Vermont with the car. Since I didn’t know for sure when she was coming home, or what our schedule looked like, I decided to call again after she returned.
While in Vermont, the “check brakes” light came on. A year ago, Kevin, at Midas, said to expect it pretty soon, so I guess we were lucky it lasted so long. I called to make an appointment and was told I had to speak to one person in particular, but after two calls where he was unavailable to take my call, I left a message for him to call me. Still waiting.
I called Grammy & Grampy’s VW dealer, even though they are 40 minutes away. I was able to get the car in the day before we were to leave for vacation. They told me that I needed new front brake pads and rotors, rear brake pads and rotors, and a new brake booster (a broken vacuum hose was causing the hissing noise). Unfortunately, he said, they didn’t have any of the parts, and they were nowhere in the state of Ohio. Mmmkay. So, after $76 to not fix the car, I went home weighing my options.
I decided to call Tracy Volkswagen. I explained that I was in Ohio, but that the next day I would be in Cape Cod, and could they do the repairs that my local garage had told me needed to be done. The service tech was very nice, telling me that they could easily get me in the following week, but she would have me talk to the parts department to make sure they could get the parts I needed. Parts said that they had all the brake components in stock, but they would have to order the brake booster and it would be in in two days.
After ordering all the necessary parts, I got transferred back to service where I got voice mail. I left a message saying that I needed to schedule the service, then I pounded back out of the voice mail and ended up talking with another service person, who cheerfully scheduled a time for Tuesday morning.
Less than half an hour later, I got a call from the original service person in response to my voice mail message!
When I brought the car in this morning, the service person asked me if I needed a ride anywhere! I was absolutely floored because the garage where we bought the car (cough...Dave Walter VW...cough...in Akron...cough) insists that I drop the car off for service (so I don’t rush her technicians by sitting in the lobby reading a book) and if I need to get anywhere I can rent a car from them. Just to be sure I didn’t have excessive ear wax, I double checked, and yes, I could get a ride wherever I needed to go (within reason).
While we were at the cottage I checked the messages on our answering machine at home. There was a message from Tracy VW reminding me that I had a service appointment this morning. When the car was ready they called the cottage and left a message with Mom. Then they called our cell phone to tell us that they had called the cottage and left a message with mom.
When we picked the car up it had been washed, including all the brake dust on the wheels.
All of this may be “standard service”, and may be what is supposed to happen at all VW garages, but I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t. And if I know I have a significant repair that can wait until I get to Hyannis, Tracy Volkswagen has my business.
We have been having a problem in our van. There has been a hissing noise coming from under the steering column, that stops when you step on the brakes. We decided that we better have that checked before we started driving all over New England this summer. I called to try to get an appointment with our nearby dealer and the only time they could get it in was when Ellen would already be in Vermont with the car. Since I didn’t know for sure when she was coming home, or what our schedule looked like, I decided to call again after she returned.
While in Vermont, the “check brakes” light came on. A year ago, Kevin, at Midas, said to expect it pretty soon, so I guess we were lucky it lasted so long. I called to make an appointment and was told I had to speak to one person in particular, but after two calls where he was unavailable to take my call, I left a message for him to call me. Still waiting.
I called Grammy & Grampy’s VW dealer, even though they are 40 minutes away. I was able to get the car in the day before we were to leave for vacation. They told me that I needed new front brake pads and rotors, rear brake pads and rotors, and a new brake booster (a broken vacuum hose was causing the hissing noise). Unfortunately, he said, they didn’t have any of the parts, and they were nowhere in the state of Ohio. Mmmkay. So, after $76 to not fix the car, I went home weighing my options.
I decided to call Tracy Volkswagen. I explained that I was in Ohio, but that the next day I would be in Cape Cod, and could they do the repairs that my local garage had told me needed to be done. The service tech was very nice, telling me that they could easily get me in the following week, but she would have me talk to the parts department to make sure they could get the parts I needed. Parts said that they had all the brake components in stock, but they would have to order the brake booster and it would be in in two days.
After ordering all the necessary parts, I got transferred back to service where I got voice mail. I left a message saying that I needed to schedule the service, then I pounded back out of the voice mail and ended up talking with another service person, who cheerfully scheduled a time for Tuesday morning.
Less than half an hour later, I got a call from the original service person in response to my voice mail message!
When I brought the car in this morning, the service person asked me if I needed a ride anywhere! I was absolutely floored because the garage where we bought the car (cough...Dave Walter VW...cough...in Akron...cough) insists that I drop the car off for service (so I don’t rush her technicians by sitting in the lobby reading a book) and if I need to get anywhere I can rent a car from them. Just to be sure I didn’t have excessive ear wax, I double checked, and yes, I could get a ride wherever I needed to go (within reason).
While we were at the cottage I checked the messages on our answering machine at home. There was a message from Tracy VW reminding me that I had a service appointment this morning. When the car was ready they called the cottage and left a message with Mom. Then they called our cell phone to tell us that they had called the cottage and left a message with mom.
When we picked the car up it had been washed, including all the brake dust on the wheels.
All of this may be “standard service”, and may be what is supposed to happen at all VW garages, but I can tell you from experience that it doesn’t. And if I know I have a significant repair that can wait until I get to Hyannis, Tracy Volkswagen has my business.
Well, we made it. And my sanity is still somewhat intact. We piled the kids in the car at 6:45 this morning and hit the road for Cape Cod. Fifteen hours later we arrived.
The trip usually takes 13 hours, if you drive by yourself. Add the kids (and many more potty stops) and it goes up to 14 hours. Today we hit unexpected traffic in Connecticut that added another hour. The traffic backup wouldn't have been so bad if it had come early in the trip, but at the back end when nerves are starting to get frayed it really stunk. Of course the problem really was the rain. It rained or was overcast for the entire trip (except for two minutes of sun in Massachusetts) so the kids couldn't get out of the car and run around at rest stops. Everyone was a little squirrelly by the time we arrived.
But...we made it. A week+ of fun in the sun (I hope), followed by a week in CT, then "back to the grind".
The trip usually takes 13 hours, if you drive by yourself. Add the kids (and many more potty stops) and it goes up to 14 hours. Today we hit unexpected traffic in Connecticut that added another hour. The traffic backup wouldn't have been so bad if it had come early in the trip, but at the back end when nerves are starting to get frayed it really stunk. Of course the problem really was the rain. It rained or was overcast for the entire trip (except for two minutes of sun in Massachusetts) so the kids couldn't get out of the car and run around at rest stops. Everyone was a little squirrelly by the time we arrived.
But...we made it. A week+ of fun in the sun (I hope), followed by a week in CT, then "back to the grind".
"Doctor, I've got a steering wheel in my pants, and it's driving me nuts!"
Thank you. Drive safely. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
Thank you. Drive safely. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
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