Tales from Maryland Rest Stops

Our drive to points north last week taught us two important lessons about the Maryland House rest stop in Aberdeen, MD on Rt. 95 -- which, it should be known, is our favorite of the Maryland rest stop options.

1) Let it be known that Ben feels very sad when Christmas decorations go up before Thanksgiving. He wasn't sad enough to keep from posing with an arm shelf, but he still got very frowny, even though there was lots of free Purell available throughout the rest stop.

And 2) Caro, today's lesson is that everything really did work out for the best. Really. Please to be examining the St. Mary's (official!) Art Exhibition space, which was located upstairs in a highway rest area, near the hidden set of cleaner restrooms. I mean, I think the photo speaks for itself, but I found my jaw hanging slightly ajar as I took this snapshot.

Also, a Prius with a St. Mary's faculty parking sticker nearly sideswipped Finn as we tried to exit the rest stop. So, take that as you will. I still prefer the Maryland House to the lousy Chesapeake House, and was tres pleased to see that the awful Delaware rest stop has been razed. I await a new and wonderful stopping experience, Delaware, considering the price I pay to drive through your measly state.

Laughs and Seafood in the Garden State

Let's play Friday Evening Catch Up, shall we?

We'll begin with a smattering of photos depicting our wonderful Jersey jaunt last month, during which I succeeded in stretching out Birthday Month through November. Unprecedented! Thanks for the help, MJXK! ;-)

Luke gazes longingly at the Princeton U squirrels, dreaming of tormenting and chasing bushy-tailed members of the tamiasciurus family.

The family feasts! While we journeyed to Masti-induced bliss, K-Dawg played us some mean Ravi Shankar. And all Hindi-hell broke loose. Or, rather, we were very peacefully reverent and excited about the best vegetarian food in the world.

Matt got us all tickets to a Jim Gaffigan show in New Brunwick which made me laugh so hard I cried. I will refrain from detailing our pre-show visit to the steakhouse, though...

These two clowns demonstrate how they felt after they learned about the roaches of the sea. You can just hear J throwing up if you look closely enough... That's one nerdy-ass bacon joke. Fun times!

And, of course, Family Nacho Night! No Sunday is complete without a healthy helping.

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Although mostly unrelated to the above, except for Garden State references, those of you who know us well will appreciate this profile of Ben's former dojo-mate in Amherst, Tony. After you read it, just imagine Ben, Tony, and a dozen kindergartners in kiba dashi stance. Ahh, the good old days! ;-)

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Ben says: Christmas is here. Well, almost. A loaf of gingerbread is baking in the oven as we await our first snowfall of the season tomorrow and we're listening to holiday tunes to psych up for our garland-fest of decorating this weekend. Expect pictures a-plenty!