Category: My adventurous self

Virginia is for Bloggers!

We were looking to for a quick getaway from Connecticut this upcoming Memorial day weekend (2018) and Williamsburg, Virginia fit the bill.

 

I lied (smile) here’s what really happened:  just under 2 years ago we attended the Travelers GHO Tournament in Cromwell, CT where my partner James purchased an unlimited golf resort vacation package in Williamsburg, Virginia for us

and we looked up and discovered time was running out…

so we finally just got around to using it (double smile).

 

We flew out of Bradley International Airport on a Sunday morning with another couple we invited – James’s golfing buddy Bill and his gf Kathy.

 

Since we flew (and it was not a direct flight) we departed from Hartford, CT to Charlotte, NC then caught our connecting flight an hour later from Charlotte, NC to Newport News, VA.   From there we rented an Kia Sedona SUV and drove the 40 or so odd miles to Williamsburg, VA.

As I mentioned,  we departed on our 4 day mini-vacation on the last Sunday in May so that it would include the actual Memorial Day Monday holiday and we would use up less of our “vacation” days.

 

By the way, our golf resort vacation package included 4 days/3 nights of unlimited golf, a large town house with 2 full bedrooms, 2 full baths (the master bedroom had an ensuite bathroom with a shower and jacuzzi tub), wall to wall carpeting, a sunroom, open-design kitchen, dining area, living room, wet bar and a BBQ grill outside in the grilling area.   The Kings Creek Plantation resort vacation package had all of the amenities you would expect:  outdoor Adult swimming pools, outdoor Children’s swimming pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs, sauna, indoor heated swimming pool for the family, tennis court, basketball court, take-out restaurant, fitness center, WiFi, golf package, Business Center, Aquatic Center and Trading Company.

The Townes

The Townes, where we were stayed,  were described as such: “…luxury town home living, your home away from home.”   They did not disappoint…

 

Unlimited Golf

 

As luck would have it, Memorial Day Monday turned out (weather wise) to be a perfect golf day for James and Bill.

 

 

You have to squint but here James and Bill are on the beautiful greens –  The Colonial Heritage Golf Club in Williamsburg, Virginia

 

Dining Out (in and around) Williamsburg, VA

As it turned out, it was mostly rainy and/or unbearably humid all 4 days we were there (I’m thinking even Connecticut had better weather (smile).   So our dining choices were utmost on our mind…

 

Yummy Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap and Golden Fries at Ocean and Ale Restaurant

 

 

Delicious wine at Second Street, An American Bistro

 

 

Delicious salmon and green beans
Fat Tuna Grill and Oyster House lives right up to its name (smile)

 

Cocktails and apps in the bar area of Opus 9 Steakhouse

 

Historic Colonial Williamsburg

The hardest part about going to historic Colonial Williamsburg downtown is finding a place to park.  However, once you are situated, everything is within walking distance, including the stunning and beautiful campus of William & Mary, the second oldest institution of higher education in the country.

 

The campus of William and Mary

 

Tour of Colonial Williamsburg

Interesting town
beautiful little cape
carriage house?

 

Felt like I was back in time
Cobblestoned streets and all
perfectly landscaped and easy to navigate

 

Hampton Roads Vineyard & Winery

I was curious to see what the Williamsburg, VA’s wine trail was all about so we chose this particular vineyard and winery partially based on the fact that we had to catch the James River Ferry to get here!

 

Hampton Roads Vineyard and Winery – a picturesque winery – to get here we had to catch the James River Ferry

 

Wine Tasting – 8 tastings (half glasses) for 5 dollars!  To say we were tipsy when we left would be putting it mildly (smile).

 

Loved the layout of the shop on the vineyard. Lots of interesting souvenirs to buy

 

Shopping for Souvenirs

While the men golfed on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Kathy and I went shopping for souvenirs.

R.P. Wallace & Sons General Store (our first stop) just so happens to be Williamsburg’s oldest gift shop.

 

Kathy and I could have spent hours in this gift shop! There was so much to see and buy!

So we blinked and it was Wednesday!

The 4 days flew by as much of our time was spent on travel.   However, what I discovered was that Williamsburg, VA  is still the perfect place to decompress and unwind.   That’s because of its historical character, beautiful topography and back-in-time feel.  In my mind, it is most definitely a must see!

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

Fun Things to do in Connecticut – Part II

There are plenty of fun things to do in Connecticut, no matter what the season, hence why I’m sharing Part II…

 

Low Cost Indoor Event:

Attend the annual Northeast RV & Camping Show at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, CT

The RVs are sweet and much larger on the inside than they appear on the outside!  Also some of them have showers,  mood lighting, ambience – definitely a must see event!

 

 

Free Family Fun:

Go to the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Haven, CT

In March of 2018, I had the pleasure of driving around News Anchor Jocelyn Maminta on the New Haven parade route.  I drove one of the News 8 vehicles – a Range Rover.  Jocelyn had recently sustained an injury and could not get around so i was her driver for the day.  What an incredible experience actually being in the largest parade in Connecticut!

 

What a great sight to see!
Happily driving in the parade
Jocelyn Maminta was born to be in a parade!

 

Loved hanging out in the Range Rover with Jocelyn Maminta, Mark Davis and Keith Kountz in the Greater New Haven 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

Good (One Price) Eating:

Check out a restaurant or two or three at the bi-annual (Spring and Fall) New Haven Restaurant Weeks – New Haven, CT.  There are so many good choices (all with Prix Fixe Lunch and Dinner prices.  We ate at one of my favs:  Pacifico where I had the salmon, a side dish, beet salad, a glass of Malbec and coconut ice cream for dessert- yum!

In past New Haven Restaurant Weeks in the Spring or Fall I have eaten at Harvest Wine Bar and Restaurant where I also had the salmon but this time with julienne carrots and beets, a side salad, a dessert and water with lemon.

 

Brew Baby:

Hang out at one of Connecticut’s most talked about new breweries:  Brewport – Bridgeport’s Connecticut’s Brewery and Restaurant where the only things on the menu to eat are specialty pizzas and gourmet salads…

Yummy Pizza
Me and my girls getting ready to grub!
Delish salad!

 

Connecticut’s Live Theater:

 

Here;s the Six Pack: The Bushnell, Waterbury Palace Theater, The Garde Arts Center, Shubert Theater, The Stamford Palace Theater and the Warner Theater

 

This season you can check out Cameron Mackintosh’s version of Phantom  – Waterbury Palace Theater – Waterbury, CT this season – it’s spectacular!

 

Or Beautiful  (Carole King’s story) at the legendary Shubert Theater, New Haven, CT – a must see!!

 

Or try on Crowns for size at the Long Wharf Theater, New Haven, CT.  It’s a gospel musical celebration which appeals to theater goers young and old alike.

 

Me and my girlfriend Mia at Crowns at Long Wharf Theater

 

That’s it for now.  So remember, there are plenty of fun things to do in Connecticut all year long and some are even low cost or free so enjoy!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

Brace Face

I am sooooo excited because I’m about to turn 56 years old next week and my braces are coming off – wait, what?!?  Really?!?

Like I have mentioned before in previous blogs, I do almost everything backwards (smile) so its’s only fitting that I would be sporting braces during my middle aged years (double smile).

As it turns out, I am in good company…

As a matter of fact, more and more Adults are sporting clear braces (or Invisalign) now than ever before.  In most cases Adults are comprising up to 50 percent of Ortho patients today!  And, according to the American Association of Orthodontics, any age is the right age for ortho care.

By the way, insurance usually does not cover orthodontics for adults over the age of 25…I found that one out the hard way…

However the good news for me was that my braces are light and clear, unlike back in the day when they were heavy metal.  Eeeck!

And I’m proud to say that I only have 8 of them – all on my upper teeth – (4 on each side) which is what my orthodontist suggested.

So here are the top 2 reasons why I decided to get braces (besides my regular dentist, Alan Friedler, DMD recommending them):

  •   Looking to close the gap between my two front teeth
  •   Looking to decrease my overbite.

My Orthodontist told me it would take up to one year to achieve these goals so I figured:  ‘I’m not getting any younger’ and ‘Now is as good a time as any…’ (smile).

 

Me before the braces – with a gap and overbite

 

Me sporting my light and clear braces

 

Here are some helpful tips if you are an Adult considering braces:

Daily Maintenance:

Good news: you may brush with an electric toothbrush – it doesn’t get in the way of the braces at all.

You need to rinse out your mouth and brush after each and every meal.

You need to floss daily and often…

You need to use the wax they given you in your “kit” on a regular basis to keep the wire from the braces from cutting into your cheeks.

Monthly Maintenance:

You have to make appointments to visit the Orthodontist at least once a month for check-up and tightening – look for an orthodontist that first of all comes highly recommended and secondly is convenient to where you live and/or work as those 4 week visits come up rather quickly!

Watch what you eat:

Here’s what I truly enjoy eating but have a tough time with right now:

  • Sushi
  • Pizza
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Steak
  • Popcorn

Here are foods the Orthodontist recommends you eat with braces:

  • Dairy – pudding and soft cheeses
  • Bread – sliced lunch bread, soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins
  • Grains – pasta, noodles, soft cooked rice
  • Meats/poultry – soft cooked chicken, meatballs, luncheon meats
  • Seafood – fish without bones, tuna, salmon, crab and crab cakes

Cost:

It cost me around $3700 but again that was just for a total of 8 braces on my upper teeth…most Ortho offices do offer monthly payment plans which helps…

Post Braces:

When my clear braces are removed next week I have to wear a thin wire removable retainer for up to 8 weeks (full-time) and then another 4 weeks (part-time).

That brings me smack into Summer – free of braces and ready for my next adventure~ Yay!

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

Winter in CT

It’s officially Winter in Connecticut which for the most part makes me feel low-key SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) as it means the weather is extremely cold, the days short and the nights, super dark on my drive home from work…

To compensate, I try my darndest to look for fun, free, enlightening and/or educational things to do just to keep me from participating in my favorite pastime, i.e.,  sitting in my La-Z-Boy to watch TV and eat snacks (smile).

 

So here (in no particular order) are some of the ways (in the past) I have kept myself occupied (and far, far away from the snacks) during the dark, dreary days of Winter in CT:

 

Ice skating – Since I enjoyed this activity so much as a child growing up in Groton, CT  I figured I would try it out again as a full-grown adult – I must admit it was easier said than done (smile).

 

We spent the afternoon at Northford Ice Skating rink – what surprised me the most was the noise level, the coldness of the rink and the fact that I could not easily stop myself from falling (smile).

 

This is a fun and easy activity, especially in the Winter:  taking a hot bubble bath after a long day of work:  Check out my blog post:  Put your slippers on…

 

 

Visiting a local museum – this free activity is not only educational but truly enlightening.

 

Visiting a salt cave – this activity was so enlightening I had to write a blog about it – check out my blog post:  Cave Girl

 

Going to a live taping of The View in NYC – a truly magical day from beginning ’till end:  Check out  my blog post:  The View (from Lajeune)

 

Going to a free lecture at the local university.   I recall the event we attended at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT – Margot Lee Shetterly – the author of Hidden Figures – quickly becoming “standing room-only.”    To me this proved the staying power of the written word…

 

Spending a relaxing day at the spa – this never gets old…

 

Skiing  at a local ski resort – Super fun and exhilarating!  Check out my blog post:   Ski Date

 

Spending time (and money) at the casino…in Connecticut we are lucky enough to have two:  Mohegan Sun Casino and Foxwoods Resort Casino.

 

That’s it.  So whatever activity you choose to participate in this Winter in Connecticut, do try to make it memorable 🙂

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

Rub-A-Tub

I was chit chatting on the phone with my girlfriend Christine the other day and we (two middle-aged women with highly stressful careers) were discussing different ways we relax.   Here’s what we collectively came up with:

  • Full Moon Yoga once a month at the Community Yoga Center in Hamden, CT
  • Zumba classes at the local community center in Hamden, CT
  • Monthly back and neck massages at the local massage center in Hamden, CT
  • Drinking green, black or Chamomile hot tea
  • Listening to relaxing music
  • Reading books, magazines, etc.
  • Cooking and/or Baking
  • Playing with our canine pet(s)
  • Meditating
  • Coloring with crayons in Adult coloring books

True story:  I recall about 17 years ago watching a Paid Program on TV one sleepless night and the next thing I know a Softub arrives at my front door.   I ordered the Softub because I was still working in the same highly competitive stressful broadcast industry I work in today so I figured it would be nice to come home from a super long day of work and soak in a tub that’s not in my bathroom (smile).   I enjoyed my Softub which I had installed on my 3 season porch for about 5 years and only sold it because I was selling my home in Westville, CT and looking to downsize…

Here are some of the reasons why I initially purchased it:

  • stress relief
  • affordable price
  • simple portable unit with easy set-up
  • the simple Hydromatic unit uses a standard 120V outlet (no high electric bills!)
  • hot water is therapeutic
  • exterior of tub is weather resistant (withstands all 4 seasons)
  • Aesthetically pleasing to the eye – in 7 designer colors  (I chose dark blue)
  • Everything is included in the price (Softub hot tub, Hydromatic Power Pak, Sealed High-Density Insulated Cover, Underwater Illumination, your choice of  exterior decorator colors, and a 5-year limited warranty).

A basic 2-person spa Softub (the one I ordered) comes with four Hydrotherapy jets, Hydromatic motor unit, security straps, an accessory bag including a foam connector cover, matching exterior cover, filter, owner’s manual, warranty card, large assembly sheet and water treatment kit.   It costs about $3500.

 

Softtub hot tub

 

However, I checked online, and you can get a CQYG Hot Tub (portable and inflatable) that seats 2 for just $399 from Wal-Mart!   That’s with free shipping and no tax!    Here’s what it looks like:

 

 

Not too shabby (smile).

So if you, like me, are looking for ways to relax, the options range from a simple Adult coloring book and crayons to a Softub Hot tub…

 

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL