Remember those 294 steps up the Bunker Hill Monument? Well, my aching legs sure do! I am so sore today I can hardly walk. Dianna was up and down all day and is doing pretty good, but I worked at my desk for a couple hours at a time. Every time I got up I almost fell back down.
I climbed the monument about 10 years ago when I was in Boston for a conference, and I don't remember being anywhere near this sore. I guess I really need to get back in shape. We went up to the hot tub tonight, and it helped some but I still hurt.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Boston
As we had another gorgeous, warm day today we decided to tour the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). The last time Richard was in Boston it was closed for rehab so we were glad to find it open. They've added another level for touring so it was better than he would have seen had he been able to do so. It was awe inspiring to find ourselves on the decks of a ship that has been used to fight for our country's freedom for so many years. It's the oldest commissioned naval vessel, built in 1793-96. The still take her out and sail her 4 or 5 times a year.
The tour guides are Navy personnel, some in regular uniform, some in period costume. Our guide has had a tour in the Mediterranean, carrying on the tradition of fighting for our freedom.
At Bunker Hill we decided to climb all 294 steps. Boy are we out of shape!
It's been so wonderful to see so many historical places while back here. The east is truly a fantastic place to visit and steep ourselves in our country's early history.
The tour guides are Navy personnel, some in regular uniform, some in period costume. Our guide has had a tour in the Mediterranean, carrying on the tradition of fighting for our freedom.
At Bunker Hill we decided to climb all 294 steps. Boy are we out of shape!
It's been so wonderful to see so many historical places while back here. The east is truly a fantastic place to visit and steep ourselves in our country's early history.
Saturday, April 9, 2005
Road trip across Massachusetts
Since this is our last weekend in the area we decided to see as much as possible in the next couple of days. It was a gorgeous, warm, clear day so we enjoyed our time, some of it outdoors.
Today we went to Concord, MA to see the Minute Man memorial where "the shot heard round the world" started the Revolutionary War. Normally you can walk from the Visitor's Center across the North Bridge to the memorial. But as you can tell from the picture that was an impossibility. With the tremendous snow melt off and rain we've had the river is way over it's banks. Fortunately there's a road that will take you to it.
In the area is Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote his book by the same name and Louisa May Alcott's home. It was also the home of Henry W Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne at one time or another.
Then we drove by Clara Barton's home, the founder of the American Red Cross and on to Old Sturbridge Village, a village much like Williamsburg, set in colonial times with all the shops and homes set in period. It was closing in an hour so we decided not to spend the $40 to see it.
On to the Blackstone Valley where the American Industrial Revolution began. Mills were built along the Blackstone River and they used the water to run them. There's not much left now except for a lot of stores to tempt the tourist. Along the route we visited Purgatory Chasm, a chasm full of rocks to make your way over and around, at times with much difficulty. It reminded Richard of Chochise Stronghold near Wilcox, AZ.
We ate dinner at the Lafayette House, a former tavern built in 1784. The room we ate in is part of the original carriage house. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Lafayette all ate there and some spent the night. Great food and wonderful history.
Today we went to Concord, MA to see the Minute Man memorial where "the shot heard round the world" started the Revolutionary War. Normally you can walk from the Visitor's Center across the North Bridge to the memorial. But as you can tell from the picture that was an impossibility. With the tremendous snow melt off and rain we've had the river is way over it's banks. Fortunately there's a road that will take you to it.
In the area is Walden Pond where Henry David Thoreau lived and wrote his book by the same name and Louisa May Alcott's home. It was also the home of Henry W Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne at one time or another.
Then we drove by Clara Barton's home, the founder of the American Red Cross and on to Old Sturbridge Village, a village much like Williamsburg, set in colonial times with all the shops and homes set in period. It was closing in an hour so we decided not to spend the $40 to see it.
On to the Blackstone Valley where the American Industrial Revolution began. Mills were built along the Blackstone River and they used the water to run them. There's not much left now except for a lot of stores to tempt the tourist. Along the route we visited Purgatory Chasm, a chasm full of rocks to make your way over and around, at times with much difficulty. It reminded Richard of Chochise Stronghold near Wilcox, AZ.
We ate dinner at the Lafayette House, a former tavern built in 1784. The room we ate in is part of the original carriage house. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Lafayette all ate there and some spent the night. Great food and wonderful history.
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Don't try to understand it
After much discussion and debate the company decided to have me return to Dallas. We will be here thru next Friday and leave Saturday the 16th. When we came up from Dallas we made the trip in 4 days. Since it was the middle of winter we had to miss the storms and the window of good weather followed us accross the country. That was really pushing hard . We drove over 600 miles one day. We are going to go back a lot slower than we came. We are going to take the whole next week and be back in the office on Monday the 25th.
Now, here's the part that is hard to understand. There is a lot of work for me to do up here but they want me to fly back and forth from Dallas. I will actually put in just as many hours either way (although much of it traveling and doing no productive work) so there is no difference in the cost of my salary. They will just get less work done.
The cost of my flying back and forth will exceed the cost to keep me here full time, to say nothing of the inefficiency from wasted time travelling and the impact on my family life, but it will cost the company less since they will be able to charge our customers for my travel expenses from Dallas but could not charge them if I was here.
I bet this sounds as stupid to you as it does to me. I just keep telling myself that I only have about 15 months left until I can retire!
Now, here's the part that is hard to understand. There is a lot of work for me to do up here but they want me to fly back and forth from Dallas. I will actually put in just as many hours either way (although much of it traveling and doing no productive work) so there is no difference in the cost of my salary. They will just get less work done.
The cost of my flying back and forth will exceed the cost to keep me here full time, to say nothing of the inefficiency from wasted time travelling and the impact on my family life, but it will cost the company less since they will be able to charge our customers for my travel expenses from Dallas but could not charge them if I was here.
I bet this sounds as stupid to you as it does to me. I just keep telling myself that I only have about 15 months left until I can retire!
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
Warming Up
Today it was over 60 for the first time since we have been here. It's finally beginning to feel like spring.
It looks like we may be asked to stay here through the summer. There is more work to be done than we thought and they are not sure if they want to hire someone permanently or not. So I may need to stay for a while and see how it goes. This will mean a trip back to Dallas to move our stuff out of the space in Destiny so we are not paying for two places. Not sure if we might bring the truck and boat backup up with us.
Dianna went to the National Archives today. She didn't find anything except the National Archives, which is a feat in itself! The nice weather makes it much more enjoyable to get out.
It looks like we may be asked to stay here through the summer. There is more work to be done than we thought and they are not sure if they want to hire someone permanently or not. So I may need to stay for a while and see how it goes. This will mean a trip back to Dallas to move our stuff out of the space in Destiny so we are not paying for two places. Not sure if we might bring the truck and boat backup up with us.
Dianna went to the National Archives today. She didn't find anything except the National Archives, which is a feat in itself! The nice weather makes it much more enjoyable to get out.
Sunday, April 3, 2005
Looking for a new campground
Yesterday we drove over 100 miles in search of a possible new campground. We have to be out of Normandy Campground here in Foxboro, Massachusetts on the 1st of May. We didn't find anything very promising on our tour. It is surprising how few campgrounds there are in this area, and how few of the ones in existence that we would consider living in. And then there's the cost!
Today we went to one more place and found a great spot. It's expensive and does not open until May 1, but that is exactly what we need. It's on a lake and the sites are quite large. We were shown a spot where we will have no problems with the satellite and it is no farther from work than were we are now.
Today we went to one more place and found a great spot. It's expensive and does not open until May 1, but that is exactly what we need. It's on a lake and the sites are quite large. We were shown a spot where we will have no problems with the satellite and it is no farther from work than were we are now.
Friday, April 1, 2005
Normandy Campground
Here's the trailer in Normandy Campground where we are camped. The campground is in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This was before the bigger snows we had. At one time there was over two feet of snow on the ground and there were places in the park where it was piled 15 feet high by the snow removal crew.
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