Hopefully, real soon!

2 hours ago, Gerald said:

AND just when do you get out of CAlly for good?

Painting our home now Gerald, just a few more things and she's up for sale, this summer is what we are shooting for.

17 minutes ago, Al B said:

Hopefully, real soon!

Me too hope Al!

I haven't been around much and I haven't contributed much on here but it's like coming back home I know I can always drop by when I want.

Thanks John

John, his family, and best friend Cortland, are always welcome here in Massachusetts!! ( Which might be considered Cali lite). Many thanks for the hard work which keeps this the only WW’ing site I visit.

On 5/14/2026 at 2:20 PM, Artie said:

are always welcome here in Massachusetts!!

Artie, we got back from an east coast tour a few weeks ago, kids sprung for a retirement gift for ol dad and mama to take 10 days and tour the famous sites. We loved Boston! Just loved it.

Here's a few pics from our thousand that we took, Boston. Our son loves the Red Sox.

Fenway, we took the tour and it was awesome.

State House, we did the Freedom Trail.

Paul Revere's home

One of many town centers

USS Constitution

We did so much more, but while in Boston we crammed a huge amount of walking for the two full days we were there. Then on to NY/NJ, Conn, Philly and DC. 10 days total, and man let me tell ya, we saw all the completely awesome sights we've only read about and seen on media, this is the first time we've been in real life. Once we move back there, we plan on doing each location and stay for week at each one to try to soak more of it in.

We bought a family brick at Fenway, last time they were renovating it. You mighta saw it!

Man, I love visiting Boston. Very walkable, even in the winter (at least for me). If you don't want to walk the public transit seems very good - but I have no basis for comparison, I've been on the NYC subway and buses on just one visit since the 1980's and Boston does beat NYC.

The girlfriend and I have a running joke - "it's right next to the Dunkin" Get it? I bet Artie does! 😀

There's way better donut shops than Dunkin of course. The ones I know are all up on the North Shore because that is where she lives.

I took one weekend class at the North Bennett St school. It was good, but being in the city was better really. I don't think I needed the class so much as the incentive to try the method being taught. Still it was fun, and I had lunch both days from an amazing Italian sandwich shop a couple blocks away. About 200' as the crow flies, but a couple blocks walking. Hard to find, down a little alley, but so worth it, better than the donuts in Salem.

Next time I'm there (when done with the horrific re-stucco job at home and when fuel comes down some) I will take some pics of what I'm up to. I certainly enjoyed yours, especially visiting the Constitution. I did that once on a rainy day in 2019. Got to do it again! Anyway, I'll put up some pics so you can enjoy them and relive your memories as looking at your pics helps me relive mine. Thank you for posting them!

Glad you had such a good trip!

WOW! The USS Constitution! Now that's some history.

In Baltimore MD's Inner Harbor is the USS Constellation. I could spend days just looking at the construction.

On 5/17/2026 at 2:58 PM, JWD said:

Man, I love visiting Boston. Very walkable, even in the winter (at least for me). If you don't want to walk the public transit seems very good - but I have no basis for comparison, I've been on the NYC subway and buses on just one visit since the 1980's and Boston does beat NYC.

The girlfriend and I have a running joke - "it's right next to the Dunkin" Get it? I bet Artie does! 😀

There's way better donut shops than Dunkin of course. The ones I know are all up on the North Shore because that is where she lives.

I took one weekend class at the North Bennett St school. It was good, but being in the city was better really. I don't think I needed the class so much as the incentive to try the method being taught. Still it was fun, and I had lunch both days from an amazing Italian sandwich shop a couple blocks away. About 200' as the crow flies, but a couple blocks walking. Hard to find, down a little alley, but so worth it, better than the donuts in Salem.

Next time I'm there (when done with the horrific re-stucco job at home and when fuel comes down some) I will take some pics of what I'm up to. I certainly enjoyed yours, especially visiting the Constitution. I did that once on a rainy day in 2019. Got to do it again! Anyway, I'll put up some pics so you can enjoy them and relive your memories as looking at your pics helps me relive mine. Thank you for posting them!

Glad you had such a good trip!

Congdon’s Donuts in Wells Maine is the best donut shop I know. I’m more of a North Shore guy, My borating days were Plum Island, Newburyport, Ipswich River, Crane’s Beach.

5 minutes ago, Artie said:

Congdon’s Donuts in Wells Maine is the best donut shop I know. I’m more of a North Shore guy, My borating days were Plum Island, Newburyport, Ipswich River, Crane’s Beach.

I've never been to Wells. Spent about half my youth around Bangor, over near Bingham, and a few miserable years in gradeskool in Ashland, way up in the county.

So far the favorite shop is Coffee Time in Salem. They do really good bismarks and paczkis in addition to the usual donuts. I liked Union Square in Boston too, but $$$$. Wasn't impressed with Kane's but they were out of almost everything when we went to the one in Boston. My GF is a little spooked about traffic still and hesitant to drive down to Revere for a donut. We keep planning to go to a place called Ziggy's, also in Salem, but always find ourselves at Coffee Time instead 😀

On the other hand, the worst donut is still pretty darn good!

23 hours ago, JWD said:

I've never been to Wells. Spent about half my youth around Bangor, over near Bingham, and a few miserable years in gradeskool in Ashland, way up in the county.

So far the favorite shop is Coffee Time in Salem. They do really good bismarks and paczkis in addition to the usual donuts. I liked Union Square in Boston too, but $$$$. Wasn't impressed with Kane's but they were out of almost everything when we went to the one in Boston. My GF is a little spooked about traffic still and hesitant to drive down to Revere for a donut. We keep planning to go to a place called Ziggy's, also in Salem, but always find ourselves at Coffee Time instead 😀

On the other hand, the worst donut is still pretty darn good!

I’ve never understood the buzz about Kane’s. Nothing bad, but nothing exceptional, at least to me. Now I’m allergic to coffee so I don’t really frequent the donut shops a lot. Congdon’s does DONUTS, but they also offer full breakfasts, and lunches. Every time I’ve been, the food is exceptional. They also have food trucks from 4:00 pm to midnight (?). different ones for lefty of variety. I have not yet been able to get there for the food trucks. Salem definitely has some serious eateries! (Just kinda need to avoid downtown from mid September till November 1!)

1 hour ago, Artie said:

I’ve never understood the buzz about Kane’s. Nothing bad, but nothing exceptional, at least to me. Now I’m allergic to coffee so I don’t really frequent the donut shops a lot. Congdon’s does DONUTS, but they also offer full breakfasts, and lunches. Every time I’ve been, the food is exceptional. They also have food trucks from 4:00 pm to midnight (?). different ones for lefty of variety. I have not yet been able to get there for the food trucks. Salem definitely has some serious eateries! (Just kinda need to avoid downtown from mid September till November 1!)

Allergic to coffee! Man, that is rough!

I do like visiting the area for the food. In 2019 we stopped at a seafood place in Woolwich ME, and I was very skeptical since it had a huge inflatable lobster on the roof. It was really good. Up in Maine it seems like a much longer drive between good food joints than on the North Shore!

Apologies to everyone for the thread hijack!

Edited May 21May 21 by JWD

On 5/21/2026 at 7:14 PM, JWD said:

Allergic to coffee! Man, that is rough!

I do like visiting the area for the food. In 2019 we stopped at a seafood place in Woolwich ME, and I was very skeptical since it had a huge inflatable lobster on the roof. It was really good. Up in Maine it seems like a much longer drive between good food joints than on the North Shore!

Apologies to everyone for the thread hijack!

I believe that restaurant is The Taste of Maine. We have eaten there before, always fantastic. I do not do seafood, but everyone else in the group does. They rave about the seafood, and I can attest to the beef/chicken meals being excellent. They close for the winter, and deflate the lobster till next year.

1 hour ago, Artie said:

I believe that restaurant is The Taste of Maine. We have eaten there before, always fantastic. I do not do seafood, but everyone else in the group does. They rave about the seafood, and I can attest to the beef/chicken meals being excellent. They close for the winter, and deflate the lobster till next year.

Yep, Taste of Maine it was. I got a sample of my partner's baked haddock over stuffing with lobster sauce and instantly regretted getting my also very good fried fish.

All those years as a kid in Maine and I didn't like seafood. Then 30 years out west and I can finally appreciate it 😀

18 hours ago, JWD said:

Yep, Taste of Maine it was. I got a sample of my partner's baked haddock over stuffing with lobster sauce and instantly regretted getting my also very good fried fish.

All those years as a kid in Maine and I didn't like seafood. Then 30 years out west and I can finally appreciate it 😀

While we’re mentioning all these high class eating establishments, have you ever had a hotdog at Flo’s Hotdogs? Everytime I drive past there they are packed, or closed. Ima thinking the dogs gotta be pretty good to consistently draw a crowd.

2 hours ago, Artie said:

have you ever had a hotdog at Flo’s Hotdogs?

Now you have my attention!!

Hey all! ... while you're slathering your stomachs with all this food... make sure you thank John for all his work! Just sayin! 👍

6 minutes ago, MrRick said:

Hey all! ... while you're slathering your stomachs with all this food... make sure you thank John for all his work! Just sayin! 👍

We should send him a hot dog from Flo's.... or a dozen donuts 😀

4 hours ago, Artie said:

While we’re mentioning all these high class eating establishments, have you ever had a hotdog at Flo’s Hotdogs? Everytime I drive past there they are packed, or closed. Ima thinking the dogs gotta be pretty good to consistently draw a crowd.

No, never been there. I'm not sure I've even driven that part of Route 1, as I rarely got down that far when I lived there and usually fly or take the train in to Portland when I visit. My GF in Salem is a fan of hot dogs, so if we drive up that way I'll check it out.

Yas Chicken in Burlington does Korean style corn dogs. I usually stick to their chicken sandwich but the dogs do look tempting.