My Annual Trip to Philadelphia, PA

Arriving in Philadelphia yesterday morning - I always believe in letting someone else do the driving.  Lots of White Heads in the bus.  Check out the Philadelphia skyline in the distance.  Returning home to my former home!

My visit to the Philadelphia Flower Show was a success!  The flower show was all right.  This year it had a Hawaiian theme.  Lots of color, delightful smells, and beautiful music and lost of crowds too.

Even though the flower show was crowded there seemed to be more room to move around.  At previous flower shows I felt like I was part of a lava flow, moving with the crowd.  This year I actually saw the floor.  Also there were plenty of benches for the weary to rest their feet.

No need for me to rest my feet though.  I moved through the crowds quickly, taking my photos and occasional videos.  This is the first time I've attended the flower show solo which actually turned out to be pretty good.  I could move around as fast as I wanted to and go where I wanted to without trying to keep track of my slower, plodding companions.  I move fast.  I'll take future trips by myself.  Lesson learned.

Me at the Philadelphia Flower Show 2012 - photo taken by a stranger (blurred)

One thing I won't do in the future is take extra cameras.  This time, just in case I needed them, I took my Canon SLR camera as well as my Flip video camera. Guess what?  I took all my pictures and videos on my iPhone!  I didn't take ONE PICTURE OR VIDEO with my other equipment.  Wow. I'm not loading myself down with extra unneeded equipment in the future.  That will make my future trips much easier.  I love my iPhone! I love traveling light!  I move fast!

Color at the Philadelphia Flower Show 20122

After making the rounds of the flower show I left the convention center to meet my long-time friend and former c-worker Don for lunch at Woody's on 13th Street.  I get to Woodys and pull a "George Bush"(remember his famous trip to China when he tried to open up those large red doors as he was exiting the stage only to be stymied?  That was me yesterday.  I looked as foolish as Georgie Boy did then)  and try to open the door and it was locked! A couple of gay guys who were dawdling outside this famous Philadelphia gay bar/restaurant told me that Woody's was closed and wouldn't open until next week.  Okay, Plan B in effect.

I called Don on his cell phone but of course he had his cell phone turned off.  I went to the corner of 13th and Walnut which is where I thought Don got off his bus.  On there way there I saw Don rounding the corner.  Don and I used to work together back in the 80's on this very block.  Now we meet this way on the street for a reunion once a year.

Don suggested a little hole in the wall restaurant a block down the street.  I was a little apprehensive because I had never been in this restaurant before but my fears quickly proved to be unfounded.  I forgot that I was in The Big City, not Gayberry (aka Rehoboth Beach, DE) where almost ALL of the restaurants serve good, reasonably priced food, even the "holes in the wall."  No overpriced Tourist Trap Restaurants in Philly today.  Oh how I was spoiled all those years I worked and lived in Philadelphia.

My friend Don "on the street" in Philadelphia

I ordered Chicken Quesadilla.  The only other place where I have had a good Chicken Quesadilla before was the Brickside Grille in Eagleview, PA.  I've ordered it several times down here in Gayberry at these pseudo Mexican restaurants but what I get is a overpriced wrap of tasteless cheese and rubbery chicken.  Note to Rehoboth area restaurant owners:  A WRAP IS NOT A QUESADILLA! 

The Chicken Quesadilla I had yesterday was prepared properly which is gently friend tortilla, quartered, with TENDER chicken delicately flavored with Mexican cheese.  The so-called "Mexican" tourist traps restaurants in Gayberry should learn how to properly prepared Mexican food but I guess they figure they don't have too since they can fool the touristas.  But I digress from my Philadelphia Trip.  Don and I had a great lunch!

Don and I at lunch yesterday at the "Hole in the Wall" luncheonette which is way better than most Rehoboth restaurants!

After lunch, Don and I parted and I took off for the ten block walk to our former home on 24th and Naudain Streets.  Walking down Walnut Street I saw an Apple store.  I meant to stop in just to take a look at this new way of retailing.  I WAS AMAZED!  I was so impressed.  In fact, I was so impressed that I made a purchase (more about this in a future blog posting.)  In my previous paragraph I was talking about how our overpriced Tourist Trap Restaurants here in Gayberry could learn a thing or two from Philadelphia restaurants, our retailers could really learn something BIG TIME from the way Apple retail stores do business.  I can't emphasize how impressed I was with my Experience in the Apple store.  Of course it helps that I had a cutie waiting on my too.  I am a sucker (no pun intended) for cuties.

Apple Cutie

After "submitting" at the Apple Store I headed down to our former home, taking pictures all along the way.  Our old house looks great from the street.  I was tempted to knock on the door and ask for a tour of our old home.  However I was running out of time so I couldn't spend too much time around the old stomping grounds.  My bus was scheduled to leave at 4 pm and it was already 3 pm. I didn't want to miss my bus!

Rittenhouse Square (on the way "home" yesterday) I used to walk this every day when I lived and worked in Philly!

I had about fifteen blocks to make in a half hour.  Huffing and puffing with aching legs, I made it and caught my bus on time but I am paying the price now. I am sore all over.  I feel like someone "tuned me up."

Our former home in center city Philly - we moved in 1980 but the doors are still red!

Walking around Philly yesterday I'm surprised that I worked and lived over thirty years in that  crowded, noisy and dirty environment.  Maybe it was because I was young and had other "priorities."  I was on The Prowl in those days.  Young, handsome, successful, I had it ALL baby! And I am proud to say I didn't waste any time either.  The crowds, noise and dirt were minor distractions back then, now I couldn't take it.

Broad Street, Philadelphia High Noon - Across the street from the bank where I used to work - I can't believe I dealt with this EVERY DAY for YEARS!

I'm glad I made my trip to Philly yesterday but I'm also glad I'm back home.  I am just too comfortable here at Casa Tipton-Kelly.  I enjoyed my trip but taking this trip also has reinforced my love for where I live now.  Every now and then one has to take a trip away from the comforts of home just to appreciate what one has at home.  And believe me, I DO APPRECIATE WHAT I HAVE!

This is what Bill LOVES!  Actually he doesn't, that's why he stayed home. 

It was good to see Bill waiting for me in the dark at the Delaware Tech campus in Georgetown.  I had a long day, I was exhausted but I am glad I made the trip.  I was home again.

Home in Delaware at the end of a long day

Philadelphia Flower Show 2012 and Agoraphobia

Philadelphia, PA 2011

In about an hour Bill and I will leave for Georgetown.  I will catch the Del Tech bus that leaves at 8 am this morning for the Philadelphia Flower Show.  This year I will be attending the flower show by myself.

Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 2011

I used to live and work in Philadelphia in my previous life.  Once a year I take the opportunity of the annual Philadelphia Flower Show to visit my former stomping grounds.  I also visit my former co-worker and friend Don who lives in Philadelphia.  I don't really go to visit the flower show.  Ironically, all the years (37) I worked in Philadelphia, I never visited the flower show which was only a couple of blocks away from where I worked at Mellon Bank.

Lunch time crowd at Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA 2011

I'll touch base at the flower show, which usually is a disappointment for me.  I've always thought the hype about the Philadelphia Flower show was more than the reality of the flower show.

After making the obligatory stroll though the Convention Center at Market Street where the flower show is held, I'll then take a walk over to the Philadelphia City Hall and see if they finally completed the renovation (which I doubt).  I'll make another stop at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel (which used to be Girard (then Mellon) Bank where I worked in my innocent youth.  Still hard for me to believe that the once venerable bank where I worked is now a hotel.  A beautiful hotel but still a hotel.  Wouldn't it be a kick if I got a front desk job at THAT hotel?  Yeah, sure.

Lobby, Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Philadelphia, PA 2011

I enjoy these annual trips to Philadelphia to visit my old haunts and visit my friend Don but I have to be honest and tell you that taking these trips are becoming more stressful for me.  I don't know how many more I can take.

Philadelphia City Hall, 2011

I worry at time that I am becoming agoraphobic.  Seriously, I think I am becoming housebound.  I know Bill is.  He won't be going with me on this trip.  We both feel more safe and secure in our home than the unfamiliar outside world.

Yesterday Bill and I finished installing my new 32 inch flat screen TV in my home office.  Now I can work on my computer while I have the TV on as wallpaper.  This is the way I like to work on my computer, with MSNBC on as background noise.  I can't just sit and watch TV because I'll fall asleep.

So I think I have everything ready for my big trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show today.  I'm taking my Flip Video camera, big fancy Canon camera, my iPhone (and Bill's as a backup), and my Wash 'n Wipes (in case I have an emergency bathroom visit which is always a concern on these trips for me).  I think I have everything.

To tell you the truth, I probably would rather stay home today and just update my Find a Grave account, update my blogs, and check my blog buddies postings to see what they are posting.

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, PA

Entertainment at the Philadelphia Flower Show

I'm still on the Philadelphia Flower Show theme.  Below is a little video of some of the French flavored entertainment at the flower show.  Now that I've posted it, it doesn't seem that interesting but I found it fascinating that I could record this high definition video from my iPhone.  

Philadelphia Flower Show Entertainment

I arrived at the flower with my Cannon Sure Shot 560 digital camera.  I also had along my Flip video camera.  I didn't use the Flip video camera at all.  I didn't need it.  I used the Canon a few time but I actually didn't need it either.  I can do all my digital and video picture taking with my iPhone!  And it also has a GPS.  Know what else it has?  Something called "Grindr."  I'll let you figure that one out.  It sure does have my interest.

It's raining hard outside now.  I just returned from work at the hotel about a half an hour ago.  I earned my money tonight.  I was only in a half an hour and I got a call from Room 115.  They wanted their room cleaned, "Send somebody over from housekeeping!"  Well folks, that 'somebody' is moi.  Apparently there was a miscommunication earlier in the day and housekeeping got the message that 115 didn't want any 'service.' Well, they wanted it now.  

So I troop over there and there is the WHOLE FAMILY, dog included.  Oh lovely.  Dad gathers the Little Princess up and wifey, and they take off and leave me with the family dog, Bruce.  This is Bruce.

I took this picture while I was making the family bed.  Thank God Bruce was a mild mannered Golden Retriever.  The next tenants are bring their BULLDOG with them.  Oh Lordy, I dodged a bullet on this one.  

Well, I finished the room and smelled like slept in human sheets the rest of the night.  I earned my $10.75 an hour tonight.  

Just another day in the Life of Ron or as my friend Don calls it, "My Life as a Saga" (and he's worried that he's going to run out of things to write about on his blog?)  

HA!

Philadelphia Flower Show 2011

Me by a unique planter at the flower show

Just back from the Philadelphia Flower Show.  I wasn't too impressed with the flower show.  It was a bit skimpy this year but the day was not a loss.  The trip up with friends (Ted, Bob and Miles) was fun and interesting.  Also, I had a chance to meet with my longtime friend and co-worker Don who lives in Philadelphia.  We all had lunch at Woody's, a favorite gay hangout.  

Ted checking out the succulents

On the way back from lunch Ted and I stopped at the former Girard Bank where I used to work and checked out the makeover that is now the Ritz Carlton Hotel.  We were very impressed.  VERY.


Then we went back to the flower show which was much more crowded now.  We didn't swim too much in that crowd so we went down to where the bus back to Georgetown was to depart at 3:30 pm.


We made our getaway to Delaware and here I am now posting this short blog about our wonderful day trip to Philadelphia.  A good time was had by all.  

Friends

The extra bonus for me in visiting the Philadelphia Flower Show is to reunite with my old friend and co-worker Don.




Don and I worked at two banks in Philadelphia during the turbulent 80’s. Our history goes back a long way. Don retired and now lives in Philadelphia. I miss his friendship.



Along the way during our Life’s Journey some of us are very fortunate to acquire good friends like Don. I am one of those fortunate few.



Because of the Internet, I am able to stay in touch with my other close friends. One of those is Bill P. He is retired and lives near Pittsburgh with his wife and two sheltie “children.” I worked with and for Bill for many years at the bank. For many years we went to lunch every day.



Another good friend is one from my high school days. His name is also Bill. We were in the high school marching band. He played the bass drum; I played the Sousaphone (sometimes misidentified as a tuba.) We renewed our closed friendship at a class reunion about thirty years ago and have been in close contact since. His still lives in my hometown of Downingtown, PA.



Yet another close friend is Larry M. I met Larry in third grade. We were best friends until 9th grade. His parents moved and Larry was in a different school district. We maintained our friendship during our school years but it wasn’t as close probably because we weren’t going to school together everyday. After school we lost touch for many years. We renewed our friendship after his mother wrote me in 2001 urging me to contact Larry and offer him support because he had lost his job at the bank where he worked. Larry lives in Claymont Delaware and we’re in almost daily contact by e-mail.



One of the reasons I chose to retire to Delaware was because of the close proximity of my good friend Big Bob. I met Big Bob in the Army in 1960 and we remained good friends over the years. Unfortunately, my friend Big Bob is in the early stages of dementia. It is so sad. Watching my friend slowly deteriorate is like watching someone slowly dying.



Two of my other good friends have passed on. I met Ron H. and Sal D. when I was stationed at Ft. Meade, Maryland in the 60’s. Both Ron and Sal died shortly before I moved to Delaware. I had renewed my friendship with both of them after many years of separation.



Since moving to Delaware I have made new friends. One of those new friends accompanied me to the Philadelphia Flower Show.



Yesterday I read an article about suicide. The article was prompted by two recently suicides of children of celebrities. The article attempted to explain one of the causes of suicide was loneliness caused by our new cyber age and the lack of good friends. I have to disagree. I’ve renewed many of my old friendships because of the Internet.

Maybe I’ll never see some of my old friends in person again during my lifetime but Tuesday was an exception. It was good to see my old friend Don again.

The Philadelphia Flower Show

Yesterday morning Bob and I arrived early at the Delaware Tech campus in Georgetown. We were there to catch the Adult Plus+ bus that would take us to Philadelphia, PA and the Philadelphia Flower Show.

We didn’t have to wait too long until the bus arrived. We were among the first people on the bus. It didn’t take too long until the bus was full and we were on our way to Philadelphia under gray skies and dirty snow embanked roads.



Two and a half hours later our bus was winding its way through the traffic choked streets of center city Philadelphia. Our bus driver was looking for a place to discharge his bus load of senior citizens. We did have one four year old child on the bus. Oh yes, there’s always one grandparent that thinks their darling grandchild wants to see something like a flower show.



We disgorge from bus, which is much like getting off an airplane because you’re standing in the aisle and nobody is moving, and enter the Philadelphia Convention Center along with the other swollen masses of humanity.

Up the escalator to the second level where we hand over our tickets and get the back of our hand stamped so we can go out and then back into the flower show. The entrance of the flower show was crowded with many fine folks like ourselves eager to see, smell and experience the promise of spring after a long, hard, cold, snow slammed winter. This year Philadelphia set a new record for snowiest winter, 78.7 inches. The previous record was 65.5 inches, set in 1995-96.) Delaware also set a new record for snowiest winter. We had 72.7 inches. Our previous record was also in 1995-96.

Entering the flower show we were greeted by a gigantic arrangement of gaily, multicolored flowers. What struck me immediately was the heavenly aroma of the mixed scents of hyacinths, eucalyptus, daffodils and many other scents which I was not able to readily identify. I was lightheaded (more so than usual.)

My friend and I went with the river like flow of the crowd and viewed the many different displays. The theme of this year’s flower show was international. As in year’s past, the flower show was a grand display. Although the flower show was very crowded, this year we weren’t elbow to elbow with the crowd as we made our way past the exhibits.

Along with most of the rest of the flower show attendees, we took many pictures with our digital cameras. I also took several videos with my new Flip video camera to record the sounds as well as the sights of the flower show. It almost seemed like an Obama rally where just about everyone was holding up a digital camera taking pictures.

Just like Cinderalla, before we knew it, the hour was rapidly approaching the stroke of twelve. I had previously arranged with an old friend who I used to work with in Philadelphia to meet him for lunch at a small gay bar/restaurant that I used to go for lunch when I worked in Philadelphia. My friend and I left the Convention Center to traverse the maze of humanity and traffic clogged streets of center city Philadelphia to see if I could remember how to find my way to Woody’s Bar.

Exiting the Convention Center, we entered the world of traffic and pedestrian clogged streets, honking horns, cooing pigeons eating stale bread off the sidewalk someone had tossed to them earlier, and the typical cacophony of sounds of a major metropolitan city. I mentioned to my friend, “We’re not in Sussex County anymore.”

To be continued.

More Snow!

More Snow!




Yes, more snow. Can you believe it? Can I believe it? I am so over all this snow.



The good news is that even though the winds are blowing like a blizzard (up to 50 mph), the snow is light. Unlike the back to back blizzards we had a couple of weeks ago, this snow is more like our usual snow down here on the southern Delmarva peninsula which just a dusting. At the most an inch or two that is gone the next day.



I’ve already made my “milk and bread” run earlier this week so I have nowhere to go today. No need to panic. I do have a slight concern about the power going out because of the high winds but so far I’ve been lucky this winter and having lost power once. Now that I said that watch me lose power.



Next week I began working my regular schedule at the hotel in Lewes. I’ll work Mondays and Thursdays, the 2nd shift (3 pm to 11 pm.) I’m refreshed and ready to go back to work after two months off from work. I’m looking forward to seeing my friends at work and meeting old and new guests to the hotel. I am so ready for winter to end and the new season to begin.



Next Tuesday a friend and I are taking a senior citizen (that’s right, I am a senior citizen now, no getting around that) bus to the Philadelphia Flower Show. I’m looking forward to that trip. We go up on a big, comfortable bus with huge windows. I used to live and work in center city Philadelphia many years. I have many fond memories of my years in Philadelphia. I like to go back occasionally and renew those old memories. The flower show is secondary to the visit to Philadelphia. I’m also going to have lunch with a longtime friend and former co-worker at one of our old gay hangouts, Woody’s. I am very much looking forward to that reunion.



But for today, I’m just hanging out here at the home base. I’ll do some more organizing of my digital photos. Maybe I’ll catch up on my e-mail, which I seem to be perpetually behind. Of course, after lunch I’ll take my daily nap. Then it will be time for my afternoon shows and another Netflix movie tonight. Last night I saw “Michael Clayton.” Oh how I like a good movie and “Michael Clayton” was good. On tap tonight is “The Brave One” with Jodie Foster.



I’ve got my milk and I’ve got my bread. I’m ready to hunker out yet another snowstorm. Bring it on!

Adult Plus+

This morning I passed another milestone. I am now officially and Old Person.




A short time ago I hung up the phone after giving my information (and charge card) to join a local “adult” program. In other words, I joined a program of “active adults.” This could be considered euphemism for “something for the old folk to do.”



While I am 68 years old, I have never considered myself “old” (in spite of what I saw in my bathroom mirror every morning when I shaved.) In my mind I am perpetually a 37 year old, handsome, vibrant (if shallow) gay man. Sure, I’ve seen these buses loaded with old people passing me by but I never considered myself “one of them.”



A couple of years ago a friend invited me to accompany him to the Philadelphia Flower Show. I used to live in Philadelphia for many years and still had a friend there. So I jumped at the opportunity to return to my old stomping grounds (where I used to live when I was in my vibrant 30’s.)



The bus left early in the morning from the local community college. As I expected most of the people on the bus were women but they weren’t that old. There was another gay couple who I knew. I didn’t see one walker among the bunch. In fact everyone seemed to be just as “young” as me and just as vibrant and friendly.



The trip to Philadelphia was delightful. I had a super time at the flower show. My friend and I had lunch with my friend who lives in Philadelphia. It was a wonderful day. Hey, I thought. This “old stuff” might not be so bad after all.



However, I was still reluctant to actually join. That would be confirming that I was old. I wasn’t ready to go there yet. At least not until this morning.



A couple of weeks ago my partner (who is 81 years old) received the Adult Plus+ booklet. I took a look through it and saw some classes that I found of interest. I’ve always wanted to learn how to design a web site. They offer that class. There are other classes that I find of interest. I’ve always wanted to learn rudimentary Spanish. They offer that class too.



Then there are the trips. More interest on my part. I could even make these trips myself if I couldn’t get a friend to go with me. I’m not getting any younger so I might as well make some trips before I am either too old or too bewildered to make trips.



Yesterday my friend asked me if I wanted to accompany him to the Philadelphia Flower Show for this year. I thought “why not?” And I thought to myself “Why not join?” Indeed, why not? So I joined this morning.



There was no pain. It didn’t hurt. And I don’t feel any older than I did yesterday. Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing after all. Yes folks, I have yet again crossed another threshold.

Now if I can just keep those ladies away from me. I’m still not a bad looking guy.