Instead of writing a thousand words, which usually involves a nasty case of Writer's Block, we decided to use what we had on hand to summarize the year, snap-happy tourists that we are. If there is a prevailing theme, it is that we continue to delight in being tourists in our own state, every chance we get. Of course, with Ben and Dan in New England, we've been having our share of adventures there, too. Come join us sometime in 2009, and we'll find some cheap thrills together!
Scroll down to the next post for our ultimate photo offering, a slideshow of images from South Africa.
Music: "Casse Noissette" and "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by La Bande Magnétik
2008 in Review from The Clarendons on Vimeo.
Monday, December 22, 2008
December 2008 - South Africa Slideshow
This video chronicles our trip to South Africa. To watch it in glorious high-definition, click the "HD" button that appears when you hit play, and then follow the Vimeo link. (And stay tuned for our Year-in-Review slideshow!)
Sunday, December 21, 2008
December 2008 - Christmas E-Card
See our other video slideshows for 2008 by following the links below.
2008 Christmas E-Card from The Clarendons on Vimeo.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
December 2007 - Something from Sue
2007 has been a year of transitions for me, and I don’t have any idea what’s next. For ten years, I defined myself as Guardian ad Litem, Voices for Children Board member, and Weight Watchers leader. Now I have let go of the last two and am looking for something new. I did it in each case, because it was time, but I still feel a little wistful about both. The success of my WW members and the fundraising events I chaired for the VFC Board were sources of pride and satisfaction for me and kept me out in the community. I am hoping to find new pursuits that will do the same, relying on that old adage about one door opening when another closes - and hoping I don’t have to stand in the hall too long!
There was another significant ending for us all in 2007. Just before Christmas, we lost both of the “Extended Family Dogs”. They were my parents’ dogs, but the boys grew up with them. At eleven, Daisy the Dane had outlived the breed average by a good five years and was going down slowly. One leg didn’t work, she stayed in her bed, she forgot to eat…. But Samantha, the Australian Shepherd, though stone deaf, was her usual irrepressible Alpha-Girl self at age 13… until early December, when she began to have seizures and pretty much lost her mobility. Perhaps also her eyesight. They were so close to each other, Mom made the hard decision, but the right decision, that they should go out together. Thelma and Louise took their last ride two weeks ago. It was all good and gentle. They loved the vet and even accepted cookies from him, after not eating for days. Then, once sedated, they left us. We are bereft.
Daisy was a bit of a floozy, always loving the Man of the Moment, but few more than the Clarendon guys. (This is a matter of some contention, but most grudgingly agree that Dan was first in her heart… He logged a lot of sofa time with her while babysitting his cousin…) 
She “sat” on our laps by maneuvering her backside into position on the sofa and leaning back as close as possible to, or on, her beloved-of-the-moment, bestowing her searching, soulful gaze and growling her complaints if one’s attention was diverted from her.
Samantha was my favorite – the Utility Dog to Daisy’s Doleful Drama Queen and a first-class Mischief Maker. It was Sam who peed with pleasure when the b
oys arrived, herded them, and gave them sloppy kisses. Sam earned her demonic moniker, “Satam”, over and over again but always wiggled back into my parents’ good graces with her irrepressible spirit.
On to the good things! Topping the list this year: salsa dancing and acupuncture. Rich and I started in a “Salsa Beginner I” class in March and have sweated our way up to “Salsa Advanced II”. It’s totally fun, and pretty darned aerobic as well. I am proud to say we are now doing advanced moves in a se
mi-dorky way, instead of our former semi-dorky basic moves. Whee! Our teachers are proud of us; that must mean something… And we’re often the only Anglos AND the oldest in the class, for what that’s worth.
My second happy discovery is Acupuncture. I had a litany of minor physical ills and, at the suggestion of my friend Jackie, took them to the most wonderful doctor on the planet. She turned me into a voodoo doll (and I DID feel the needles going in!), even wiring me up for electrical current between certain needles. But then I got to lie in a darkened room listening to classical music for 45 minutes or so – pure bliss! After six treatments, all of my petty complaints were history. When my foot (damaged ligaments) started twinging again after a one marathon 4-hour Salsa Saturday, the stresses of Christmas were upon me… and she treated that too, through the Four Gateways (soles and palms). I positively floated out of that office. Wow!
Finally, a little wake-up call for me yesterday. After all of my obsessing about what could have gone better in 2007, not to mention the post-Christmas rush to finish Christmas cards and complete a belated rum ball distribution, we took the canoe to Fort DeSoto State Park, one of the most beautiful beach areas on the planet, for an outdoor adventure with other members of Sustany, the fledgling environmental group a friend here is starting. Just being out on the water was such a tonic, in perfect
I will sign off tunefully, with my favorite home movie of the year, featuring Brown U's Bear Necessities, Ben's friend Jed Resnick, and Ben's knee. May your 2008 be wonderful!
Sue
December 2007 - The Year According to Dan
I don't take nearly as many photos as I should, so, for want of actual photos, I have enlisted my "Sims" to represent me in the following illustrations! But don't worry; I have some real-life photos on display at the bottom of this post.I’m now in the middle of my second year at Hampshire College. Deferring my admission by a year put me a year behind all of my friends, so they’re all getting ready to graduate in 2009. But I don’t really feel left behind, because most of them are going to grad school (as I myself might), so all of us still have a lot of college life in front of us. I am glad that I had a year off, because now I know what to expect for Life After College.
Hampshire is a unique college. For example, it tops the Princeton Review list of schools with the most "Birkenstock-Wearing, Tree-Hugging, Clove-Smoking Vegetarians." (We're also #7 on the "Reefer Madness" list and #10 on the "Dodgeball Targets" list.) I always tell people that I consider myself liberal but I think I'm one of the most conservative people there. In addition to all the Birkenstock-wearing, the tree-hugging, and the clove-smoking, however, it's also a place where you can really pursue whatever field of study. That's good for me, especially since my interests changed a lot this year.
I entered Hampshire College determined to study film production. But now, I want to write for television. I took a film production course this semester, and it was enjoyable, but not as enjoyable as I was expecting -- so I know I'm making the right choice. And there are so many film students at Hampshire, I am glad to be doing something original.
During my first year at Hampshire, I attended a meeting for the college newspaper just on a whim. I left the meeting feeling excited, so I started writing, editing, doing layout—getting involved in every way I could. I guess my enthusiasm impressed the editors-in-chief, because they named me as one of their successors. I was honored to be chosen and excited to start work. It has been a challenge in the months since, however. Since the newspaper is completely volunteer-run, it’s difficult to get committed staff members. And we've had plenty of kinks to work out. But I am proud of the publication we produce, and hope to take it even further in my remaining time at Hampshire. (Oh, and it’s called The Climax, so you can imagine the type of innuendo we use for our flyers and posters!)
And since my passion is television, I feel no shame in watching it for hours per week! (I consider it research.) But it's not like I zone out in front of the tube. I only watch things that engage me completely. And I have to pay attention because most of my favorite shows are serialized dramas, with long, overarching storylines and labyrinthine plots. But I also like a few comedies—but nothing with a laugh track. My happiest discoveries of 2007 were Battlestar Galactica (the new version) and 30 Rock—both exceptional shows. My mom also got me started on Ugly Betty, which is also very fun. Sadly, 2007 marked the end of two of my favorite shows: Veronica Mars and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip—both taken before their time. But the cancellation of those shows reminds me that the television business is a risky one, and job security is hardly easy to find. But I’m enthralled with the prospect, and I’m willing to live as a starving artist if it means I get to do something I love.This is a year when television writers have gotten a lot of press, due to the WGA strike. As a prospective television writer myself, I completely support the writers’ cause. But at the same time, I miss my shows!
I’m happy to say my addiction has rubbed off on my friends as well. Four of my friends became hooked on Alias, my all-time favorite show, which means I get to watch along with them. As someone who can pretty much recite all 105 episodes from memory, it’s fun to watch them experience all the twists and turns for the first time. My friend Pavel came over to the house two days ago, hoping to finish the series. He was 15 episodes away, but we finished a short 12 hours later! (Now, he’s itching to watch my Lost DVDs!)
I have fewer friends than I did during my high school days, I would say. But I'm not complaining, because I'm very close to the friends I do have. It is hard to leave for a college that's a thousand miles away from my friends, but -- thanks to the Internet -- we're able to stay in touch pretty easily. In friend-related news, one of my long-lost friends called me a few days before Christmas. I had all but given up on him, so it was a very nice surprise to hear from him again!In other news, I’m all smiles this month because I have a new smile to show off. After my orthodontist cried uncle when my teeth just would not cooperate, he sent me to a maxillofacial surgeon. The problem was that my lower jaw was canted in a way that my teeth didn’t meet on one side. So I went under the knife in July. Six hours under the knife, fifteen titanium screws, three days in the hospital, and four weeks drinking “food” through a straw later, I could see that my teeth were much better aligned. And a couple of weeks ago, my braces were taken off, and I could unveil my new smile. It’s not picture-perfect, but it’s perfect enough for me. I have a normal smile, and that’s all I could ask for!
That's all of the major news, I think. In smaller news, I bought a laptop this past summer. I knew it'd be useful in college, but I had no idea how much I needed it until I actually had it. Another thing I bought was a round-trip ticket to Chicago to visit my aunt, uncle, and friend. I had a blast -- it was worth every penny.I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season. Here's to 2008 being even better than 2007. I, for one, am looking forward to a great year.
And now for the real photos. Just hit the green play button:
Happy new year, everyone!
December 2007 - From Rich's Keyboard
It seems like just last week we we're ushering in 2007 and already it's gone! How quickly time goes by, especially as one gets older.
Nevertheless, the year had its share of memorable moments, beginning in January when I got the opportunity to become a consultant. I made the decision to go to work for URS Corporation, a large, multi-national planning, engineering and design firm with offices here in Tampa. My official title is "multi-modal planning manager", which essentially means that I am responsible for transportation planning projects involving planes, trains and automobiles. My clients are generally state and local agencies mostly here on Florida's Gulf coast. After a career working for a variety of public agencies, I note some distinct differences in the private sector: some that I enjoy, such as the diversity of projects, locales and clients, and some not so much, such as the finding the right balance generating billable hours today versus the pursuit of future work. My new position entails a longer commute, 45 minutes in each direction, or about 15 minutes longer than my previous commute. Not so much, but over the course of a work w
eek it adds up, and worst of all, makes the occasional lunch date with Sue less frequent. Que lastima! But on the bright side, I am learning the consulting business, and think I am making a go of it.
Other highlights from 2007 include an invitation from our old friend Bill "Zippy the Pinhead" Burger for me to participate in the fabled Rubonia Mardi Gras Parade. I think Bill was getting desperate. This year's theme was "back to your roots", and in keeping with past tradition, Bill's concept involved a bunch of reprobates dressed only in beer barrels, so naturally our parade float was dubbed the "Root Beer Float". Bill made all the beer barrel costumes, each of which featured a sudsy head piece and best of all, functioning beer tap. Needless to say, we were the hit of the parade!
April brought the sad news that Ray Miller, my former boss and executive director of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority died of cancer. He was a great guy, much respected in the community and the transit industry, and a mentor of sorts. Ray was not so much older than me, and his untimely death was a reminder that life is precious and that we should consider each day a gift.
In a moment of weakness, for her birthday last year I rashly promised Sue that I would join her in Salsa lessons. That was almost nine months ago and we're still at it. I find that learning to dance is much like learning a language. You must master the vocabulary and syntax of movements and steps until you become fluent to the point that can sustain a dialogue without even thinking about it. Some lessons Sue and/or I feel triumphant, others not so much, but overall, it's fair to say that we hold our own on the dance floor. Perhaps one day we'll even venture forth to a night club!
We still own our 22' sailboat, the Adelante, although in June, ever-increasing dockage costs finally persuaded me to relocate it from St. Petersburg to Ruskin on the other side of Tampa Bay. This saves us a few bucks every month and another benefit is that getting to it only takes about 30 minutes as opposed to an hour before. Still, we use it less than I'd like to, and if I could sell it for the right price, I would. Make me an offer - no reasonable offer refused!
Another fringe benefit to joining my new company is the opportunity to sail with some of my colleagues. One of my co-workers, Tom Turton (now retired from URS), owns "Team Effort", a Tartan 30 that he races regularly out of the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa. During the months when we have daylight savings, the DIYC hosts a Thursday night race series that we participated in. Some nights we did well, others we don't talk about, but we always had fun and I have gained a lot of experience on the foredeck learning to set and take down a spinnaker.
July was notable because of poor old Dan's jaw surgery, made necessary after years of orthodontia failed to close the gap on one side of his mouth, potentially leading to uneven wear and tear on the other side of his bite. Five hours of surgery and two days of hospitalization resulted in Dan having a much improved bite and a whole new profile, but boy recovery was hard on him! Much swelling, pain, and a liquid diet was necessary almost until he returned to school in August. I think the results are worth it, but Dan should speak for himself.
Later in September, after years of mere talk, I finally rendezvoused with Pete Mendel, another old friend and Eagle Scout, for a marvelous trek in the Grand Tetons National Park. Pete is an avid outdoorsman and marathon runner, and before our trip he tactfully hinted that hiking in the high country with full packs would be strenuous. So what kind of shape was I in? Even though I try to keep myself in shape by running every other day, I was motivated to try even more to shed some weight and get my old leg muscles limbered up. But I am happy to report that I was able to keep up quite well with Pete and two of his friends Jim Howe and J.R. Tomlinson who joined us for three days of hiking and two nights of camping. Our trek was less than 20 miles, but we went up from a starting elevation of about 6,000' to almost 11,000'. Maybe the other guys took mercy on me and were loafing, but fortunately there was not too much huffing and puffing on my part. The pay-off was the magnificent alpine scenery in early fall glory: like God's cathedral spires, the Tetons towered above us while we caught glimpses of forests and lakes below us. We also spent time exploring Jackson Hole: artsy, filled with tourists (like us), but not without its charms.
After parting with my fellow hikers, I drove across Wyoming to spend a couple of days with my brother Chip, his wife Jill, my nephew Jack and nieces Sadie and Maggie Jo. From my perspective, they lead an idyllic life in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains but how different from my own citified existence! I had a taste of cattle ranching, living close to nature and being able to ride the range looking for cows that had been let loose from their pasture. I got to help celebrate Jill's birthday, become better acquainted with my nieces and nephew. I am grateful for to Chip and his family for their hospitality.
And wrapping up 2007, we had a visit from our friends from Spain, Julio and Maria-Jesus (a.k.a. Coi). Last year they gave us the royal treatment when we spent a week at their home in Malaga, so it was our turn to host them for the holidays and show them the best that Florida has to offer. We took them to theme parks, shopping, natural attractions, really just scratching the surface, but they will be returning soon we hope to establish a business here in the U.S. So we hope to see more of them in the not too distant future.
All in all, 2007 has had its trials and tribulations, but we are fortunate to have our livelihoods, health, and friendships. For that I am grateful to my family, my country and to God. I wish the same to each of you in 2008.
Nevertheless, the year had its share of memorable moments, beginning in January when I got the opportunity to become a consultant. I made the decision to go to work for URS Corporation, a large, multi-national planning, engineering and design firm with offices here in Tampa. My official title is "multi-modal planning manager", which essentially means that I am responsible for transportation planning projects involving planes, trains and automobiles. My clients are generally state and local agencies mostly here on Florida's Gulf coast. After a career working for a variety of public agencies, I note some distinct differences in the private sector: some that I enjoy, such as the diversity of projects, locales and clients, and some not so much, such as the finding the right balance generating billable hours today versus the pursuit of future work. My new position entails a longer commute, 45 minutes in each direction, or about 15 minutes longer than my previous commute. Not so much, but over the course of a work w
eek it adds up, and worst of all, makes the occasional lunch date with Sue less frequent. Que lastima! But on the bright side, I am learning the consulting business, and think I am making a go of it.Other highlights from 2007 include an invitation from our old friend Bill "Zippy the Pinhead" Burger for me to participate in the fabled Rubonia Mardi Gras Parade. I think Bill was getting desperate. This year's theme was "back to your roots", and in keeping with past tradition, Bill's concept involved a bunch of reprobates dressed only in beer barrels, so naturally our parade float was dubbed the "Root Beer Float". Bill made all the beer barrel costumes, each of which featured a sudsy head piece and best of all, functioning beer tap. Needless to say, we were the hit of the parade!
April brought the sad news that Ray Miller, my former boss and executive director of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority died of cancer. He was a great guy, much respected in the community and the transit industry, and a mentor of sorts. Ray was not so much older than me, and his untimely death was a reminder that life is precious and that we should consider each day a gift.
In a moment of weakness, for her birthday last year I rashly promised Sue that I would join her in Salsa lessons. That was almost nine months ago and we're still at it. I find that learning to dance is much like learning a language. You must master the vocabulary and syntax of movements and steps until you become fluent to the point that can sustain a dialogue without even thinking about it. Some lessons Sue and/or I feel triumphant, others not so much, but overall, it's fair to say that we hold our own on the dance floor. Perhaps one day we'll even venture forth to a night club!
We still own our 22' sailboat, the Adelante, although in June, ever-increasing dockage costs finally persuaded me to relocate it from St. Petersburg to Ruskin on the other side of Tampa Bay. This saves us a few bucks every month and another benefit is that getting to it only takes about 30 minutes as opposed to an hour before. Still, we use it less than I'd like to, and if I could sell it for the right price, I would. Make me an offer - no reasonable offer refused!
Another fringe benefit to joining my new company is the opportunity to sail with some of my colleagues. One of my co-workers, Tom Turton (now retired from URS), owns "Team Effort", a Tartan 30 that he races regularly out of the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa. During the months when we have daylight savings, the DIYC hosts a Thursday night race series that we participated in. Some nights we did well, others we don't talk about, but we always had fun and I have gained a lot of experience on the foredeck learning to set and take down a spinnaker.July was notable because of poor old Dan's jaw surgery, made necessary after years of orthodontia failed to close the gap on one side of his mouth, potentially leading to uneven wear and tear on the other side of his bite. Five hours of surgery and two days of hospitalization resulted in Dan having a much improved bite and a whole new profile, but boy recovery was hard on him! Much swelling, pain, and a liquid diet was necessary almost until he returned to school in August. I think the results are worth it, but Dan should speak for himself.
Later in September, after years of mere talk, I finally rendezvoused with Pete Mendel, another old friend and Eagle Scout, for a marvelous trek in the Grand Tetons National Park. Pete is an avid outdoorsman and marathon runner, and before our trip he tactfully hinted that hiking in the high country with full packs would be strenuous. So what kind of shape was I in? Even though I try to keep myself in shape by running every other day, I was motivated to try even more to shed some weight and get my old leg muscles limbered up. But I am happy to report that I was able to keep up quite well with Pete and two of his friends Jim Howe and J.R. Tomlinson who joined us for three days of hiking and two nights of camping. Our trek was less than 20 miles, but we went up from a starting elevation of about 6,000' to almost 11,000'. Maybe the other guys took mercy on me and were loafing, but fortunately there was not too much huffing and puffing on my part. The pay-off was the magnificent alpine scenery in early fall glory: like God's cathedral spires, the Tetons towered above us while we caught glimpses of forests and lakes below us. We also spent time exploring Jackson Hole: artsy, filled with tourists (like us), but not without its charms.
After parting with my fellow hikers, I drove across Wyoming to spend a couple of days with my brother Chip, his wife Jill, my nephew Jack and nieces Sadie and Maggie Jo. From my perspective, they lead an idyllic life in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains but how different from my own citified existence! I had a taste of cattle ranching, living close to nature and being able to ride the range looking for cows that had been let loose from their pasture. I got to help celebrate Jill's birthday, become better acquainted with my nieces and nephew. I am grateful for to Chip and his family for their hospitality.
And wrapping up 2007, we had a visit from our friends from Spain, Julio and Maria-Jesus (a.k.a. Coi). Last year they gave us the royal treatment when we spent a week at their home in Malaga, so it was our turn to host them for the holidays and show them the best that Florida has to offer. We took them to theme parks, shopping, natural attractions, really just scratching the surface, but they will be returning soon we hope to establish a business here in the U.S. So we hope to see more of them in the not too distant future.All in all, 2007 has had its trials and tribulations, but we are fortunate to have our livelihoods, health, and friendships. For that I am grateful to my family, my country and to God. I wish the same to each of you in 2008.
Monday, December 31, 2007
December 2007 - Life of Ben (part 2007)
Hi Everybody!
Well, another year flown by far too quickly. Life in Providence goes swimmingly. A good chunk of this year has been spent working hard for Apple and Trinity Rep.
It has been a tremendous year with Apple (and not just because of a new-fangled cell phone). I was able to escape the sales floor to become an official Creative. Most folks know of the Genius Bar at the Apple store; whereas the Genii work on technical support issues, we Creatives are software trainers. I work with up to eight customers a day in one-hour lessons and we cover any projects or questions the customer may have on their Mac. Getting to meet new people and find out about their interests--then showing them the tools they have to enhance their passions--makes the job incredibly satisfying.
With Trinity, I have had to cut back my hours to fit in Apple’s schedule, but I still love to pitch in whenever I can. The company has produced a string of excellent productions over the past year. I encourage anyone visiting the area to come join us for a performance. You will not be disappointed.
Over the summer, I participated one more time in the Brown/Trinity Playwright’s Rep, a summer stock theater company the takes three new scripts into full production. As with years past, I found that working with Michael McGarty, my closest mentor from college, was a very fulfilling experience. We produced an excellent scenic and prop design for each of the three shows over a very short, four-week production schedule.
Outside of work, there’s been a lot of good time for kicking back, finding friends, and working on various creative and comedy projects. Within my own projects, there are quite a few irons in the fire right now--everything from a web-comic to various scripts for stage and screen. I think 2008 will see some of the projects come to fruition--that is quite exciting. In the meantime, I encourage you to checkout conflationary.com, a website I am working on to document the best (or worst) in English-language conflation.
And of course I’m still in love with those roller coasters. In August, I took road trip with Carole Ann through New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania to visit four fantastic amusement parks (for me) and a myriad of awesome children’s and science museums (for Carole Ann). It was awesome trip. For anyone traveling to eastern Pennsylvania, I highly recommend Knoebel’s, a family-owned amusement park with free parking, free admission and free entertainment. It is not your typical amusement park by any means, but it does have an excellent collection of three classic, wooden coaster designs.
In a bittersweet moment in October, Carole Ann admitted that she wanted to take time to live for herself outside of our relationship. So after four wonderful years, we have amicably split. It’s been a challenging couple of months for me since that decision, but I am very optimistic for the new year. I am looking forward to taking some time to focus on me, as cliche as that sounds, and I am definitely enjoying my time finding new friends and re-discovering old friends.
So there you have it. Overall, life is very good! Definitely don’t be a stranger if you happen to be in (or near to) Providence. Happy New Year, everybody!
Much love,
Ben
Well, another year flown by far too quickly. Life in Providence goes swimmingly. A good chunk of this year has been spent working hard for Apple and Trinity Rep.
It has been a tremendous year with Apple (and not just because of a new-fangled cell phone). I was able to escape the sales floor to become an official Creative. Most folks know of the Genius Bar at the Apple store; whereas the Genii work on technical support issues, we Creatives are software trainers. I work with up to eight customers a day in one-hour lessons and we cover any projects or questions the customer may have on their Mac. Getting to meet new people and find out about their interests--then showing them the tools they have to enhance their passions--makes the job incredibly satisfying.With Trinity, I have had to cut back my hours to fit in Apple’s schedule, but I still love to pitch in whenever I can. The company has produced a string of excellent productions over the past year. I encourage anyone visiting the area to come join us for a performance. You will not be disappointed.
Over the summer, I participated one more time in the Brown/Trinity Playwright’s Rep, a summer stock theater company the takes three new scripts into full production. As with years past, I found that working with Michael McGarty, my closest mentor from college, was a very fulfilling experience. We produced an excellent scenic and prop design for each of the three shows over a very short, four-week production schedule.
Outside of work, there’s been a lot of good time for kicking back, finding friends, and working on various creative and comedy projects. Within my own projects, there are quite a few irons in the fire right now--everything from a web-comic to various scripts for stage and screen. I think 2008 will see some of the projects come to fruition--that is quite exciting. In the meantime, I encourage you to checkout conflationary.com, a website I am working on to document the best (or worst) in English-language conflation.
And of course I’m still in love with those roller coasters. In August, I took road trip with Carole Ann through New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania to visit four fantastic amusement parks (for me) and a myriad of awesome children’s and science museums (for Carole Ann). It was awesome trip. For anyone traveling to eastern Pennsylvania, I highly recommend Knoebel’s, a family-owned amusement park with free parking, free admission and free entertainment. It is not your typical amusement park by any means, but it does have an excellent collection of three classic, wooden coaster designs.In a bittersweet moment in October, Carole Ann admitted that she wanted to take time to live for herself outside of our relationship. So after four wonderful years, we have amicably split. It’s been a challenging couple of months for me since that decision, but I am very optimistic for the new year. I am looking forward to taking some time to focus on me, as cliche as that sounds, and I am definitely enjoying my time finding new friends and re-discovering old friends.
So there you have it. Overall, life is very good! Definitely don’t be a stranger if you happen to be in (or near to) Providence. Happy New Year, everybody!
Much love,
Ben
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