Last week we took an unplanned trip to NY before our trip North for Christmas. I didn’t really want to go since we would be going in a few weeks. Pete wanted to visit his mother, he hadn’t seen since last Christmas. She is 86, though you would never know it. She is in better shape than me. More on our trip to Long Island later. First we went to visit my son’s family in Poughquag. That is why I didn’t fight going, any chance to see my grandaughter, I’m going!
This was our second trip with Ellie. This trip was almost double the distance than driving to N. Carolina. We were all packed up and Pete had put Ellie’s treats counted out and all sealed up in a recyclable grocery bag. He packed enough to last for 7 days. He left it on the stool for the island in the kitchen. We woke up the next morning to leave and Miss Ellie had gotten into her treats and ate every last one!!!! That consisted of 7 Dentabones, 14 Glucosanine & Chondroitin, and an unopened bag of small treats. Needless to say, we did not feed her that morning.
I have to point out that I HATE driving North! The traffic keeps getting worse and worse. I was hopeful about the traffic because we left on a Saturday, (no commuting traffic) and it wasn’t for any holiday. Well it didn’t matter, the roads were backed up almost as soon as we got on. It is so stresssful and the EZ Lane, (which you pay more), was going the opposite way. We didn’t listen to Waze, which took us to 495. As soon as we could we exited to 301 North. That has been our go to for awhile now. Instead of the tunnel we do the Bay Bridge. Along the way we had to stop numerous times because Ellie was barfing her brains out. At one stop I ran into Target to get more towels. Regardless it took us 9 hours. Ellie was wonderful the rest of the trip.
Going to my sons, I knew I was entering Trump territory. He still had his sign Trump/Vance up, luckily it was a small one. My way of handling this is that if no one brings it up, I will keep my mouth shut. But look out, if someone brings it up! Anyway, we went to Brylee’s school, dance class and gymnastics. I slept in her room with her and we had so much fun! It was grandma this and grandma that the entire time. We read books, watched movies, and played games. She loves the movie, Ghostbusters, which we watched and then pretended to be possessed and she had the power to get me and Bryan back to normal if she got scared. We both cried when we had to leave. Everyone loved Ellie and she got along with their dog, Rosie.
On to Long Island, exactly 99 miles South of Poughquag. Upon our arrival my mother in law had on FOX News channel. I kept my mouth shut. Waking up the next morning, Pete made sure the channel was changed. She just had to mention what a “genius Elon Musk was and how its going to be fabulous when he straightens out our government.” By the way she is Miss Moral Catholic. Since she brought it up I had to say, “Did you know that he has 8 children with 6 different women?” She thinks that is fake news. We wet shopping at the Tanger Outlet which is five minutes from her home. She came with Ellie too. They let Ellie in every store, even Nathan’s. We did great and were able to get a lot of Christmas presents. Next Pete’s sister Jan and family, Joey and three boys, and his sister Diance came over for dinner.
It was very nice until we were sitting around after dessert and Pete’s mother had to say, (like a woman in love), “We won’t have to worry about anything anymore now that Trump is president.” She opened the can and I jumped in. So did everyone else, except Diane. One of his nephews said he saw a video of someone, a Haitian, eating a cat. Dennis asked him what the hell he was watching. Luckily Dennis was on my side. We, meaning Dennis and I, weren’t talking Republican against Democrats, we have problems with both parties, we were specifically talking about Trump. It all ended and no one was pissed off enough to stop our good feelings about everyone. Next day Pete and I went back to the outlet and did some more Christmas shopping and that night, Diane was having a party for Dennis’s 60th birthday and we went and had a nice time. So much food, I ate like a pig the whole time I was in NY.