OUR VISIT TO LADY LIBERTY

WHAT A DAY YESTERDAY...AS I HAVE EXPLAINED, MY SISTER AND HER FAMILY ARE UP HERE FROM VIRGINIA TO DO WORK ON THEIR HOME IN NEW JERSEY. UNCLE JIMMY (THAT'S ME) VOLUNTEERED TO TAKE MY TWO NIECES TO VISIT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY...AFTER BREAKFAST FOR THE GIRLS AND 2 COFFEES FOR UNCLE JIMMY, WE SET OFF TO JERSEY CITY ON A GRAND ADVENTURE...

WE GOT TO LIBERTY STATE PARK AROUND 11:30 AND WALKED AROUND THE OLD TRAIN STATION, BOUGHT OUR TICKETS AND WENT THROUGH THE FIRST METAL DETECTOR AND X-RAY FACILITY...(MISS THE DAYS WHERE ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS STAND IN LINE, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR SECURITY). THE BOAT GOT IN AROUND NOON AND WE SET OFF TO ELLIS ISLAND (WE STAYED ON BOARD), AND THEN TO LIBERTY ISLAND...(GOT GREAT SHOTS OF LADY LIBERTY AND THE GIRLS). WE WALKED AROUND THE ISLAND, HAD LUNCH (NATALIE WAS FEEDING HER PRETZEL TO THE SEAGULLS) AND WENT INSIDE THE MUSEUM. WENT THROUGH THE NEXT METAL DETECTOR AND BOMB RESIDUE DETECTOR. GAVE VERONICA THE CAMERA TO TAKE PICTURES (WE'LL DOWNLOAD THEM IN VIRGINIA AND SHE CAN BRING THEM TO SCHOOL). WE WALKED UP THE 153 STAIRS INTO THE BASE OF THE STATUE (THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU ANY HIGHER UNLESS YOU HAVE A SPECIAL PASS OR ARE ON THE VERY FIRST BOAT) BUT THE VIEWS OF THE NEW YORK SKYLINE AND THE VERRAZANO BRIDGE ARE GREAT.

WE THEN WENT TO THE GIFT SHOP (I SAID THEY COULD EACH HAVE ONE ITEM) AND I SAW THE SHOPPING GENE THAT WOMEN HAVE IN THEIR DNA COME OUT! VERONICA AND NATALIE WENT THROUGH THE ENTIRE PLACE SAMPLING AND AGONIZING OVER WHAT TO GET. THEY FINALLY SETTLED ON BEARS DRESSED LIKE THE STATUE... BACK IN THE CAR TO GET STUCK IN TRAFFIC (WE PLAYED "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER" ON MY PHONE GAMES) AND ARRIVED BACK AT MOM AND DAD'S AROUND 6 PM. THE GIRLS RAN OVER TO THE NEIGHBORS AND I HELPED CRAIG PUSH A 67 EL CAMINO INTO POSITION SO HE CAN PUT IT ON HIS TRAILER AND TAKE IT BACK TO VIRGINIA (THEY DON'T MAKE CARS LIKE THAT ANYMORE...HEAVY!!!)THE GIRLS WERE GOING TO THEIR COUSINS FOR A SLEEPOVER SO I TOOK THEM AND DROPPED THEM OFF AND THEN MEANDERED DOWN TO DAYTON.

QUICK SHOWER, QUICK DINNER AND EVEN QUICKER DIVE INTO THE AIR BED!! THEM KIDS WORE ME OUT(OR WAS IT PUSHING THE CAR?) BLESS ALL YOU PARENTS OUT THERE THAT DO THIS 24/7...LOVED IT BUT WAS GLAD IT WAS ONLY 1 DAY.