Wednesday, February 25, 2026

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the ‘historic triangle’ which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia. 

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What’s one place in America you think everyone should see? If you’re not American what’s one place in the US you’d like to see? 

I have been to all but Boston and Philly. I have been to DC multiple times and NYC just once other than the airports.

I would love to see Boston but probably not when it’s super crowded.

I think everyone should see DC.

Being there for a 250-year celebration would be super cool, but the number of people makes me start to twitch.

My Dad had to go to DC for the military and that was my family’s spring break as a child a few times. We especially loved the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum since my Dad was an Air Force pilot.

Tom and I took our kids to DC for spring break and here we are visiting Mount Vernon during the same trip.

Our kids were very interested in what they were learning in elementary school so the time felt right.

The summer after DC we did Colonial Williamsburg, Yorktown, and Jamestown. They were so much fun on both of these trips.

Here’s how I have all my photos – in albums – I also did captions. My twins loved a hotel room. They would claim their double bed and immediately get in. This was in Williamsburg.

I had been to NYC’s airports, but my first and only time exploring it was when my sister Kate had a summer internship at the Guggenheim. My bestie and roommate Heather and I flew to see her and have her show us the city:

Her original degree was in “Museum Studies” but she went back and got her teaching degree and is now an elementary art teacher.

Heather in the black and me in the denim and it could possibly be JFK, Jr. shirtless next to me? I spot a backwards baseball cap. If that’s not him, Heather and I are sure that he passed us on his bike.

We’re sorry, officer.

Staten Island Ferry

The weather was horrible while we were there. It was cold and rainy in July and we had to borrow Kate’s sweatshirts. We tried to get on tv shows by standing in line in the rain!

We got on the front row of David Letterman because he was in Indiana and we told the staff we were, too. Samuel L. Jackson was on the show.

I think I would love to see Napa, CA. I have been to California and I have seen San Francisco, but I think going north from there to see the northern part would be of interest to me.

2. Three sounds you love to hear?

Baby laughter (is there anything better?), anyone laughing (especially if it’s a really funny laugh), sounds of pencils while kids are taking a test (haha)

3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

Screaming, throat clearing, nose blowing – It’s a real pet peeve of mine when someone full on blows their nose at a dining table. Please go to the restroom.

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips? 

Um, yes! I am quite picky about my chips. They need to be not too thick, perfectly salted, and bonus points for warm if I’m in a restaurant. I love salsa (if it’s not crazy spicy), guac, and queso. Come on, this was a pre-requisite to be a Spanish teacher! Yes, I make chilaquiles sometimes. They are so good! I prefer them with salsa verde.

Also, it’s surprisingly easy to make your own tortilla chips with the thin corn tortillas in the air fryer or the oven.

Here are some chilaquiles I split with my friend Victoria:

5. We March into March with next week’s Hodgepodge…what’s one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

My sister Kate (of Guggenheim fame from the above NYC photos) was born on St. Patrick’s Day, and she is one of the most important people in my life. We are part Irish, too. I have always loved celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. I’m already looking forward to making Jen’s corned beef and Irish soda bread.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Boy, did I take a walk down memory lane in going through my albums for this post. I wish I could squeeze those sweet little twin boys.

I also really enjoyed seeing my 90s fashion. I remember loving my wardrobe in the days of the NYC trip.

I had a LBD – little black dress – that I even wore one of the first times I saw Tom, a chambray shirt, a black floral skirt from Kmart, a denim jumper that I wore a white t-shirt under, a denim dress – all things I think are back in style probably!

I think this was us dropping someone off at college – maybe the baby of the family, Molly, on the right:

This was us at Versailles, I think, on our epic European trip with our mom and dad – Our dad only stayed for half of the time due to work- but we stayed a month!

Look at those chunky sandals!

Well, I think I got off topic a bit!

This was fun!

Amy