In all of the places where we've been, life has been significantly altered by the pandemic. And, as a follower of this blog, you've had to put up with my semi-lame attempts at capturing this photographically. But Las Vegas during Christmas would probably take the cake (if there was a bakery still open to bake it).
Here's my latest photo essay -- Christmas Eve in Sin City, Pandemic Edition.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.
As I write this the first Covid vaccines are being given to front line health care workers. I know we have a long way to go and my mask will not go away for many months yet. But, I feel a tiny trickle of hope. It's a welcome feeling.
Still, it was harder than usual to leave home this time. We will be on the road through Christmas and New Year's Day. It is the first time since we welcomed our first-born, nearly 26 years ago, that we won't be with our kids for the holidays. That makes me sad. But, so far we are all well and doing okay. That's all we can ask for during these crazy, challenging times.
If you've been following this blog, you know that we like to find quirky roadside attractions. Turns out they sometimes find us instead. As we pulled into our Buffalo hotel, I noticed a large sculpture titled "The Battle of the Bulge" seemingly sprouting up from the middle of an adjacent parking lot. The next day I discovered an unlikely combination of monuments, including a mausoleum, which is as yet unoccupied.
Funded by Russell Salvatore, who owns the steakhouse across the street. Patriots and Heroes Park features a miniature Golden Gate Bridge chopped in half, a Statue of Liberty, an Empire State Building, and a Niagara Falls, as well as a replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a statue of the Archangel Michael, a tribute to The Battle of the Bulge (complete with a realistic Nazi tank), a memorial to the victims of Flight 3407, and a reproduction of the flag-raising on the ruins of the World Trade Center.
Salvatore has said that he's not afraid to die because he's been granted permission to be buried among his many monuments.
I'm not gonna to lie -- life on the road has become pretty stressful. As each day breaks the previous record for Covid deaths and the headlines scream about the high level of virus "out there" we find ourselves eyeing maskless strangers at gas stations or in rest-stop bathrooms. Are they positive? Am I far enough away? Will my mask and gloves protect me?
As the weeks pass, more and more of Greg's colleagues have tested positive. We're thankful that most have recovered, although one recently required hospitalization. We hear stories of the spotty mask enforcement on airplanes and are grateful that we, at least, are in control of our own space.
Unsurprisingly, our NFL road trip schedule does not fit neatly around major holidays -- the holidays need to fit around it. So, the Scoppettone family Thanksgiving celebration -- pandemic edition -- involved a time-shifted meal and virtual visiting. The Vermont contingent, Greg and I, along with Anna and her boyfriend, Adam, cooked and ate a lovely traditional meal (complete with two pies, apple and pumpkin) on Wednesday. After dinner, we packed leftovers for friends and neighbors who weren't able to cook or travel. Anna got to play Thanksgiving Santa Claus on the actual holiday, driving around to deliver food while Greg and I were driving to Buffalo, NY, our designated stay-over spot in the journey to Cincinnati.
Thanksgiving leftovers in our hotel.
The next day we were up and out early. Near Erie, Pennsylvania we passed this dramatic roadside sign yet again. Below is a bit of context from Wikipedia.
Cattaraugus Reservation is an Indian reservation located partly in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 1,833 at the 2010 census.[2]
The largest part of the reservation is in Erie County; smaller portions are located in Cattaraugus County and Chautauqua County. This is one of the reservations of the federally recognized Seneca Nation of Indians. The Seneca maintain most of their administrative and public service facilities for the Cattaraugus Reservation in the Erie County portion.
When Nadia was in 4th grade she made the Ohio State candy, Buckeyes, for a class project. They are incredibly delicious. Even though they are rather time-consuming to make, they became sort of a family tradition. So, when I discovered these giant-sized replicas at a rest stop near Cincinnati -- well, I just had to take a picture.
We pulled in to our Cincinnati hotel in the late afternoon. It was literally an art museum -- part of the 21c Museum Hotel group. The lobby was stunning. Here are pictures of some of the art. They don't do it justice. Click on the images to see them better. The one below took up a good-sized wall. It is hard to see it here, but this is a textile piece -- it's quilted!
Inspired by the art. Here's my attempt at a still life.
We passed this on the way home. Despite the special offer, we didn't stop.
On the field: NFL Week 12, 11/29/10: New York Giants @ Cincinnati Bengals. The battle of the backup quarterbacks. Injuries were a factor in this mess of a game. New York eked out a victory. Final score: Giants 19, Bengals 17. Giants are now 4 wins and 7 losses and somehow in first place in the division.
On the map: distance from last week's game at Charlotte to home to Cincinnati: 1,761 miles.
Well, it does not seem possible, but we have been home one month now. Sorry for the long delay in getting this post written. Reentry tasks (...
