Got off work Friday, immediately went to bed.

back was bad Friday, real bad Friday night. Took some meds and tried to sleep. Went downstairs during the night to get more meds and wasn't sure I could get back upstairs, so slept part of night on couch.

Saturday up and struggling. Cold AF outside so alot of sitting around inside. Not really sure what we did, but I think my wife cleaned the house. I folded clothes and helped with laundry just to stretch out. Took a walk around the hood, 1 mile, but it was too cold to go much farther. Went to dinner with the family and wife wanted to stop by Dick's to look at pants for the kids. Looking at pants cost me $250. She bought MORE pants for the 9 year old who will put holes in the left knee immediately. Luckily my middle kid is in Adult sizes now so the Nike pants aren't $45, they are $65. Eff that noise.

Sunday morning felt a LITTLE better, kids axed when I was going to put together their basketball goal they bought with Christmas money so I felt bad and started that. Got 80% finished and then had to take youngest to soccer practice. Played soccer with Middle Son for an hour then back home for late lunch and grocery store run. Then watched a little football and went to bed.

Middle son has Middle School Soccer tryouts today so we focused alot on getting him hyped for it, he is nervous AF. Decent soccer player, lots of strength, a little finesse, good keeper, decent midfielder, hopefully he makes it. Their team sucked last year so I dunno if that helps or hurts.

Daughter completed her IB application process for High School next year which is weird because I am not old enough to have a kid in High School.

3/10 because cold and backpain, otherwise it was a fine lowkey weekend.

ATL PAW MAN®

Orange Immortal [63758]

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Posts: 38201

Joined: 1998

Northeast-y, Amtrak-y. Still experiencing it.

Jan 13, 2025, 8:57 AM

This weekend will go down in the anals of APM's many life experiences.

We took the Amtrak from Da Noke to Philly and then to NYC. Why? Several reasons. Most importantly, we were taking lilAPMette back to Penn after her Crimmuss break. But APM HATES driving, especially in the northeast and especially after all the weather we have been having, AND lilAPMette and Missus PAW wanted to see the end of the run for several cast members in Hadestown a show they had seen before and loved. More on that later. Anyhow, that's the backdrop. Here's the blow by blow:

Saturday we began our journey in the snow at the station in Roanoke. Given that we had been hit over night with the second winter storm in as many weeks, I was pretty certain we would not make the train, that the roads would be cleared, etc. But to my surprise the train was on time and we began our journey northward aboard the lovely Northeast Regional. We were in business class and it was fine. A long trip, but just fine.

Saturday night we took the subway to Center City in Philly and had a great meal at La Viola Ovest, an authentic Italian joint. The absolute highlight of the entire trip for me was talking to the owner, a guy who was about 5 foot tall and stood at the entrance leaning on his cane. We had to wait for a table and I could have chatted with him all night. He had moved back from Florida after his wife died. He was bored in Florida anyhow. Had a 39-foot boat and lived around Sanibel/Captiva. Now he lives above the restaurant and works the floor most nights. Said he was lonely. APM's therapist vibes must of been apparent. He shook my hand before we took our table and gave me his food recommendation. He said he liked the penne pasta specialty of the house. He liked the energy of pasta. I took his rec and shook his hand on the way back and said we'd be back next time we're in Philly. One of the best connections with a random person I have had in a long time. G-d bless that man.

Sunday it was off to NYC for the show. Stopped at Liberty Bagels for a bite. Allegedly the best in the city (https://libertybagels.com/). Huge line, that's for sure. I got a classic nova bagel. Then it was off to 5th avenue for a little walking around and diving in fancy stores. Then off to the Kerr Theatre for the show. Ho-lee phuque. That cast was as good as advertised BUT the undisputed star of the show was Phillip Boykin, a good old Sakerlina boy who played Hades. My dawg. Standing O's before the show started, throughout at key times, and at the end it went on forever. Homey was crying as was most of the audience and cast. Glad I got to experience it. https://youtu.be/osifaK5H6NM?si=1c9eNllYZM5EuuTu

We had dinner at a highly rated pizza joint in the West Village (https://www.lindustriebk.com/). It was good but that one little slice didn't do sh*t for APM's appetite so we then hit a Salt & Straw ice cream joint. That was good. Then we walked by the Friends exterior because lilAPMette loves her some Friends (what is up with these kids?) and then made our way to the subway to get to Penn Station and take the Acela back to Philly.

Said a sad goodbye to lilAPMette on da skreets of Philly, got back to the hotel and saw the end of the Commies game.

Got up at 0430 to catch the 0537 back to da Noke.

Lessons/Observations:

1) The train was OK. Better than driving and no way was I going to drive again after our Poconos excursion. That said, the quality of the Amtrak experience is highly variable. The Acela full of students and professionals is fine. And fast. The regional was fine on the way up from da Noke but the one we're on today is old and crappy.

2) The commercialized weed experiment should end now. I get so tired of smelling weed in every touristy big city environment I go to these days. And of course it is legal in Virginny and people like to smoke it one the greenway when I go for a run. APM has nothing against weed but I promise it was not a good idea to commercialize it. Every vagrant on da skreet reeks of it, as does a homey sitting behind me on the train as I type this.

3) There are good people errwhere, as evidenced by my experience with the old dude in Philly. That said, if I am choosing lifestyles, give me my home in the Blue Ridge, the Upstate, or Cali a MILLION times before ever asking me to live in the Northeast. I just would not want to do it. Too many people in too small a space. I will say this - the beautiful young people in NYC and especially in the West Village were not fat slobs. Of course that is mostly down to SES. I have phukkin Lizzo sitting across from me on the train dis mawn.

4) APM is a phase of life that is definitely bittersweet. Diddy PAW has done passed and there are precious few of the older generation still around. APM is becoming the older generation. And APM's kids are leaving the nest. In all likelihood this Crimmuss break was the last time lilAPMette will live with us for any extended period of time and lilAPM is already out and doing his Florida Man thing. Sigh. I guess it beats the alternative.

TL;DR - APM had an epic weekend in the Northeast with all the feels.

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Good morning everyone how was your weekend?

About the same

Hunkered down all weekend watching snow Friday

Re: Good morning everyone how was your weekend?

Meh.

Not bad

Thursday: prepare to hunker. Friday: hunker. Saturday: end hunker.

Welp, the Tigers won but I didn't die

Ok

I didn't remember that from the last game I went to, but now I'm

it's a thing

My watch constantly warns me that

Got some of these two years ago and they make a huge difference.

painful

Basketball goal

Ours in one of those that you roll around, not permanent. We have too much

Oh, sorry, I thought this was GreenR

Not exactly sure what was FBCoachSC about my post, but OK then***

I'm saying the rolly basketball goal is the poor kids

Re: Not exactly sure what was FBCoachSC about my post, but OK then***

Basketball goal true stories

uhh yeah...."I don't think your arm used to have that dip in it...

Bro, I have coached at IB schools

And that was just soccer. Imagine trying to

This is not a strictly IB school, but it is a program within a local HS.

You never should have left York

Pro tip: keeper is the catcher of futbol. Meaning, if your kid has talent at

He is 11 and has played keeper for a few years with rec leagues then club and

did I miss something?

Since he has eight kids, I would imagine it was the old

OR

To make a long story short, Greenr suffers from sciatica and it can

Didn't really have a weekend. Took the kids to Asheville to play in the snow

Cold

Lotsa good grub.

That's some serious eats man

Im going to guess that if this post were truly public,

That's some juicy brisket, and t!tties***

cute t!ts***

Thanks!***

Did she grow them herself or have them imported?***

Those are home grown or she didn't get her money's worth***

TU for Tids!***

Its dah jounge... so I was to be expecting the same reaction I had.

Re: Good morning everyone how was your weekend?

Thanks for asskissing....

Northeast-y, Amtrak-y. Still experiencing it.

Upon the Blue Ridge Mountains

Gottam right. GD knew. That said, there's even Dead enclaves in NYC if you

pretty, pretty nice

25th weekend in a row that

oh yeah

Had you been at Mamacita's Taqueria at exactly the right time

Re: Had you been at Mamacita's Taqueria at exactly the right time

I only went to Asheville for a few hours on Thursday night. Was back home

Full of snowy fun.

Re: Good morning everyone how was your weekend?

another fabulous Monday

snowy and football filled

Hit PRs on all 3 major lifts

Stop it!

Sounds like you have High T. But do this when you are 79:

That's beast mode, for sure.

Bro half lifted every one of those. None of them counted.

Cold and sickly...

Florida wintery and busy

Not warm enough

We had pretty much all 4 seasons in one day yesterday***

Yesterday was State Snake Day in Florida.******

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