Jennifer has kept me busy. She came over right after I checked in and took me to dinner at a Buffalo Wing place. Must be one on every corner. It was busy and good. I had Buffalo Wings and Guiness. Great...Jennifer with BBQ Wings and Pop.
She stopping in the next morning for Breakfast at the Original Pancake House...I worked at Uncle John's Pancake house in Pittford N.Y. for 2 years and loved it. My potato pancakes were not even close, Canadian Bacon was good served with 2 small eggs. Every restaurant I have had Eggs in uses small. We always used large. Anyway...Jennifer had the German Pancake that was different than Uncle John's. It was served like a bowl. We enjoyed the place.
That evening Taja, my granddaughter picked me up with a stop at the Wine store for my present...Red Wine. We arrived at her first house that was built in 1910. It has a two car garage out back with a large lawn and above groung pool. 2 bathrooms and 3-4 bedrooms if you count the attic. They will enjoy fixing it up and the children have their own rooms and attend a better school but new for them.
Taja's partner was fixing dinner when we arrived so I got to see the house and talk with the children and Taja until dinner was ready. Very good NY Sirloin with Asparagus and Noodles. Super good! Too hungry to take photos...again. We took some family photos after arriving back at the hotel.
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Jenny picked me up for breakfast at Carbohydrate Heaven...where I ate Buttermilk Pancakes, Eggs, bacon, sausage and ham with Hot Chocolate. Loads of Carbs.
We saw The Long Walk movie which I would not recommend but forgot why I didn't go to movies...I can't hear. I missed most of the dialog which amounted to the whole movie...just dialog while taking this Long Walk where only one person can survive...the rest die.
Remember...BUFFALO.
Excellent Beef on Wick...
Excellent Navy Bean Soup
Excellent Strawberry Rubarb (fresh not frozen) Pie
Good day...tomorrow we visit Attica.
We drove into the Cemetery in Attica and visited the family gravesite. After we went to Twilight Meadows for coffee and pie. Suprise...A man bought the place 5 months ago. The last time I visited, the lady owner told me she was tired of the business. She has owned it for at least 20 years or more and built it up to a thriving business...but it wasn't thriving this afternoon. Only two customers were present when we arrived, and two were still there when we left. I was looking forward to seeing her again. She was part of our family!
We drove on to O Lacy's Irish Pub in Batavia and had a great lunch of Shepard's Pie and a Roast Beef Sandwich with cheese...all as good as ever. I had to have the Corn and Shrimp Chowda and a Guiness. Lacey's was our barmaid. She remembered me from 2 years ago! That's a good barmaid.
We returned and stopped at Charlie the Butcher to get another Beef on Weck, the best in Buffalo, to have for dinner that evening.
Today, we are off to the Albright-Knox Gallery to see what they have displayed this year. We will have lunch there and return to have Alexis pick me up this evening for dinner with her family and Latisha, my other granddaughter.
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Alexis's house was now furnished nicely with a beautiful dining room table and nice living room furniture with a BIG Screen TV. Kitchen is big but cozy. I had to look twice at Cordel...grown an inch or two and lost some weigh and gained muscle! Zari is taller and still full of energy. Xavier still his loveable self all smiles. Alexis is in good shape and they all walk to stay in shape. We had a wonderful meal and nice conversation. It felt good to see the rest of my Buffalo family.
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Jennifer took me to Bob Evans this morning for Breakfast. Good meal and excellent waiter.
She picked me up later that evening for a "Special" dinner. I was surprised when we pulled into a Sushi Japanese restaurant and four black ladies were waiting by a "Happy 80th Birthday" sign with balloons and fancy Napkins around a grill where our meal was being prepared. These were Jennifer's God Mom and friends for the last 20-30 years. They had a bag with some folding hangers for this traveler and cards with money and Amazon gift Certificates. Lasandra sat next to me, then Anjelinca, Barbara, and Selena. Tyra came to wish me well and give me a card, but couldn't stay. Lasandra said I was a Rooster in the Hen House!
We all had a wonderful time, and they even sang 'Happy Birthday' to me while I got to blow out my Birthday wish candle. It was a wonderful surprise and a special Birthday. I really didn't expect anything and don't make a big deal about my Birthday, but this was memorable!
Buffalo, where all the ladies call you honey, and H.S. Football is broadcast on PBS. First morning with sunshine! Off to Albany.
My cousin Helen met me when I arrived and took me to Coxsackie, where her sister Barbara was waiting. I settled in and got a good sleep. The morning was cold but beautiful, as is the property, which is home to deer and wild Turkeys. We ate at Red's Seafood, a well-established place with many fond memories of family dinners.
Monday morning, Helen drove us to Mountainview Grand Resort for our 4-day stay. We stopped in Littleton, N.H., for lunch. Soon after our arrival, Barb and Helen found a corner outside at the end of the porch to smoke, and if I needed to see them, that is where they would be.
The next day, Helen suggested a trip up the Cog Railway to the summit of Mt Washington. Barbara drove us, and we arrived just in time to board the 1-hour ascent. The fall colors were dull, and there was more to come. We settled for the little we had and enjoyed the views. The Summit has some of the worst weather in the U.S. Hot Chocolate warmed me as the cold wind chilled me. We stopped at Granny's place on the return for lunch/dinner. My New England cousin, Dennis, and his wife, Linda, took it over from her Mother years ago after she retired. Dennis, an accomplished Chef whose forte was baking, contributed fresh breads, pies, and pastries. The seafood was fresh, high-quality, and reasonably priced. With breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, it became one of the best and most popular places in the entire area. They sold it and retired a couple of years ago, so it was still popular but lacked the Streeter touch. We enjoyed our meal.
Great view out my window.
Now, find a table to sit at after the rush?
Yes, we have tickets...thanks to Helen.
We arrived at a speed of 5 mph in one hour.
On Wednesday, I booked reservations for eight at 5pm. Then I did a photowalk. At the last minute, I was told they would not be able to open until 6pm. Dennis, Linda, and Patsy, Dennis's sister, showed early, as did Danny, my other surviving New England cousin, with his lovely wife, Priscilla. It gave them a chance to meet and know Helen and Barbara from my Dad's side of the family. We all had a wonderful time, including dinner and an after-dinner chat, before bidding goodbye.
Activity Room...games, tennis, pickleball, cards, etc.
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Helen and Priscilla
Linda
Cousin Dennis
Cousins Danny and Patsy...do I know you?
Terrible photo of our wonderful waitress from Jamaica who gave me a big hug for my Birthday.
Our morning Hostess from Bali who can't wait to return to warm weather.
On our last day, we visited the Mt Washington Grand Hotel, which was really nice. We enjoyed a lunch/dinner there. Helen had a Lobster Club Sandwich, Barbara had a Pastrami, and I enjoyed a Salad with New England Clam Chowda.
First Pay Phone?
Pastrami...hmmm good
Lobster Club Sandwich...Never saw one before. Helen took 1/2 home...to Coxsacki....packed in ice...must have been good.
Good but not as good as Taylor's Chowda House.
This Shrimp Cocktail was, but not better!
We returned, packed, and departed the next morning after the breakfast buffet served by Jamaicans, Indians, and Balinese work Visa holders. They had all been very nice and professional.
Helen and Barbara shared the driving back, and Barbara took me to the Albany airport the next morning for my return to Phoenix via Baltimore. I had a Crab Cake at Obreckies in the airport while on a stopover. Jeannie picked me up at the airport and took me to Anita's, where I got a good sleep.
Chesapeake Bay
Crabcake and Shrimp Salad Sandwich with Broccolli
Tonight, back in Phoenix, Jeannie is treating me to a birthday dinner! I am 80, and she is on her way... ta-ta.
Just as I was finishing my Salmon and Salad, the phone rang. Heather, my youngest, called to wish me a Happy Birthday and sent me a Song with a Video she put together for me. Wow...It was great and I would like to share it with you. Click on arrow and pray.
I arrived back in Oaxaca the next day after Jeannie dropped me at the wrong terminal...OUR mistake. I took the Skytrain to United and got off okay, then connected in Houston and arrived in busy Oaxaca. It took 1 1/2 hours to get from the airport to my home on the Collectivo. Next time a Taxi but traffic was "Occupado". Happy to be Home. I am not proof reading this one...too long.
