Meet The Parents....D.C. Style

I took a break from the road and flew back to Colorado for some business and to reconnect with Knuckles and Nike and for some one-on one time with Josh, it was really nice to have some time to myself as well..
Al and I pigged out at the Montgomery Inn in Cincinnatti

Alan carried on alone and played 8 concerts without my help...hmm they were all pretty good too...so the two week break made me excited to get back out on the road.

Three of my mom's sisters live in New Jersey, and somehow we concocted a plan for me to drive with my parents to the East Coast to meet back up with Al rather than fly. All I know is from the time we pulled out of my parents drive until we arrived to meet Al outside of Washington, D.C. it was foggy, rainy, windy, or a combination of all of the above.

Our plan was simple, see everything there is to see in Washington D.C., and get it done in a day and a half.......not an easy task!

The view of the Washington Monument from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Our first day in D.C. was full of promise...Al was the navigator and having been there before we figured he would jet us in and out of each sight we so badly wanted to see. I had a terrible cold, it started in Colorado and traveled with me....my dad wasn't feeling well either....and then the rain started to fall...first very gently and lightly....then in buckets...did I mention we had only a day and a half to see everything?

Mom and I at the Korean War Memorial

We did the best we could that first day, I chose to wear my Crocs...you know those rubber shoes with the holes in them......NOTE TO SELF: Holes in shoes lead to water on toes which leads to freezing toes which leads to a very cold body which leads to feeling miserable after a day of walking in the rain.
One of these is a solemn statue, one is my mother...can you guess which is which

Our next stop was at the Lincoln Memorial, mom and I hiked up the stairs for these great pictures. Then it was over the the Korean War Memorial, another touching and sobering tribute to those brave men and woman who have fought to give us freedom.


The Washington Mall is beautiful; we were told that when spring arrives and the flowers are all in bloom it is even prettier. We saw the White House next, we were escorted away from the fence by security after taking a couple of pictures...we talked to the security officer and got him to admit that the President was leaving the White House to go to the Pentagon and that is why we were not allowed to be by the walkway.....we felt very small and unimportant about that time.

Mr. and Mrs. Bush did not invite us in for coffee

As mom and I slowly took in more soggy sights, dad and Alan stayed warm by dropping us off....Alan kept entertained by listening to talk radio and my dad was so relieved that he had Ovaltine with him

The U.S. Capitol

Mom and I explored the Washington Monument, we got to ride the elevator to the top of it..my mom is scared of heights but she hung on tightly to the walls and we had quite an experience

Our next stop was the U.S. Capitol. Later we all went to Arlington National Cemetery, what a beautiful and breathtaking place this is....you feel so patriotic when you visit Washington D.C.

Dad and Mom at Arlington National Cemetery...get ready to walk a lot here

The next day the rain stopped, and the wind picked up where the rain ended...but it was a great day as we went to Mt. Vernon Virginia just outside of Washington....the home of George Washington. It was crazy windy, but this place is a must see as it is a working plantation restored back to its authentic working condition. The plantation is amazing and beautiful as it sits on the banks of the Potomac River. A tour of George Washington's home is part of the experience; the brightly painted walls represent wealth. Washington kept nearly 300 slaves on his 8,000 acre plantation, we toured the slave quarters and the magnificent gardens too...it really was an educational as well as a wonderful adventure.

The view from the back yard of Washington's Estate

With our Washington adventure complete it was on to New Jersey for a concert and the Easter Weekend with mom's sisters. My dad wasn't feeling well and he was admitted to the hospital in Hammonton, New Jersey where he spent the weekend having tests done.....he is okay, but it was scary. He insisted that my mom continue with her visit with the family and he also wanted her to see some things....he is a pretty great guy and a great sport....thanks dad for all you do!

"Under The Boardwalk.....We'll Be Having Some Fun"

We enjoyed a day in Atlantic City; nothing is quite as fun as watching a machine slowly suck your wallet dry. We had lunch with mom at the Rain Forrest Cafe. Easter was really nice, mom's sisters and family made a fabulous Easter feast for us....the food was the best we have eaten on this trip. Turkey, mashed potatoes, ziti, pies, cakes, you name it...it was great.
Mom and Jimmy at the Easter Feast...Thanks for your hospitality!


Mom with her sister Laura and two of her daughters at Easter dinner

Mom and dad left for Colorado, Al and I had concerts to play so we said goodbye and headed out. Al told me there would be weeks like this...so let me run it down for you...we left New Jersey for a concert in Wilmington, Delaware. The next day was Fairfax, Virginia for another event....the next day it was 540 miles to West Milton, Ohio for another event (I don't know how Al does this,) the next day it was a concert in Frankfort, Kentucky, the next day it was another concert in Frankfort, Kentucky...that's right, 5 concerts in 5 nights...we traveled 1,000 miles and were in the states of....New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky.....

We left Kentucky for Atlanta where we play tonight...and this week is a lot like last week...moving, moving, moving....we play Atlanta tonight, 200 miles for a concert in Huntsville, Alabama tomorrow night, 250 for a concert in Auburn Alabama on Thursday night, then 400 miles for a Saturday afternoon concert in Charlotte, North Carolina....That's life on the rode!

Al and I are flying home on Sunday....to rest for one week and to celebrate our Gavin's 7th birthday...then it is back on the road heading to Florida and parts beyond....Talk To YOU SOON!

Alan is the only man I know that would pay $6 for a Slurpee.....he really is a kid!