A Trip to the East

Phew… That is all I can say after spending the past two days recovering from what I can only term as ‘Post Frontiero Withdrawal Syndrome.’ The worst part of the illness comes in the realization that we have to go back to eating “normal” foods, not the amazing 5 star meals (3 a day) that Chef Jim cooked up on a moment’s notice. Man, this guy could make something as inedible as rocks into a “rock soup” that would tantalize even the pickiest taste buds.

If you’re wondering what I’m rambling on about, I’m gloating about our recent driving trip out to Gloucester, MA over this past weekend to visit fell photographer and MarchMommies2003 Joanne and her family.

My wife has been out to visit with the Frontiero’s before and warned me about the amazing hospitality and exemplary cooking (and let me tell you, no billboard sized sign is large enough to fully inform you of the glory of the experience you are about to partake in…). Jenny first introduced me to Joanne earlier this year when I was selling off some camera gear (yes, to help fund more camera gear acquisitions… I have a horrible case of NAS [Nikon Acquisition Syndrome]). We then shared pictures and ideas via email and through our blogs up to the point where Joanne urged me to start my own 365 photo blog to parallel hers and a fellow photo friend from her work named Amy.

I’ve been nothing less than astounded by the affluent prominence of vision presented through her work in photography, and the addition of the tool of a digital SLR into her hands only led to a greater inspiration of her craft. In person, I was able to watch and learn from her during the few days our families spent together.

Oh yeah, I’m rambling again. So, off to Gloucester we went. 14.5 hours of driving (well, it should have been more like 12… but, did I mention we were travelling with 3 young children and a pregnant wife?) landed us at the doorstep of their formidable abode. We got to inhabit the 4th floor (well, 3rd really if you don’t count the basement) loft (much reminiscent of the 4th floor of a mansion in Fostoria, Ohio that my mother and I once lived in) which was encased in beautiful white-washed wood paneling.

The next morning, we were exposed to the first of Jim’s incredible edible creations: “Breakfast Splena Ala Quesadilla”! And amazed I was… so much so that I almost glossed over the Today’s Show episode about the “Gloucester Pregnancy Pact” shock article playing right before our eyes. (if the morning version of this shock wasn’t enough, a 2+ minute monolog about the same event was had on the Tonight Show by Jay Leno)

For the next 4 days, we spent a wonderful vacation of playing in the Ocean, travelling to beautiful seaside towns on the island, and taking about a thousand photos a day.

I learned much… thank you Joanne!!

We returned home via Boston and Niagra Falls on Monday and Tuesday arriving home late at night… exhausted.

Jessamyn has been asking almost non-stop about seeing her new BFF (Best Friend Forever) in Massachusetts: “Mommy, when can I see my friend in Mashsets?”

Well, we really hope they will come and visit us sometime next Summer so we can attempt to repay the royal treatment we were subject to… though, we may come up lacking in the cookery department unless I can convince my wife to fund a chef from the “Big City” to come and help (aka: Brittany Ruth, my step-sister)…

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