A New Season Already?

I can't believe it but it's almost September, meaning that the TV season will be starting again! Usually I'm more excited, but I think due to the writers' strike cutting last season short, I lost that enthusiasm in between the long weeks or months for new episodes. However, I'm looking forward to the return of the shows. I won't recap all the shows I watch, but later I'll find out what you want.

But I will be recapping America's Next Top Model, which starts next Wednesday! I can't wait--they are returning to the two hour season premiere format, so we'll have an elimination right away. Also, I heard that there's an ACTUAL tranny (unlike Dominique, who just looked like one) on the show. First a plus size model and now a possible transgender one? Tyra's making waves!

Does This Show Have Something Against Dads?

So, I skipped two weeks' worth of Secret Life. All I know from two weeks ago is that Amy and Ricky finally talked. Last week, Adrian drove Mr. Molina up a wall trying to get her birth certificate to learn about her real dad. Mimsy came into the picture, but she can't take Amy due to her Alzheimer's. And Madison started dating Lauren's brother.


In tonight's episode, Molly Ringwald is freaking out about sending her daughters to visit their father. Apparently the BIG THING this episode is whether Amy should go back to school or not. But they convince themselves it's a good thing as Amy's Dad thanks Adrian for use of the apartment. He tries to make it homey before his daughters arrive. They are bored out of their minds, with Ashley trying to figure out if they are in dad's girlfriend's house and Amy on the phone with Ben. He races over with a pizza (which is giving a discount to students) with Henry, who refuses to talk about Alice. He spends the night talking with Ashley in a very uncomfortable scene where he tells her she is beautiful. Meanwhile, Ben is trying to convince Amy to come back to school--last week, he was hallucinating about her. He's in bad. Ben and Henry leave as Ricky comes to the door, revealing the truth about the apartment.


Meanwhile, new BFFs Grace and Adrian are staking out a house. It's apparently the house of Adrian's dad--whom I surprised is not already someone in the cast--and she's waiting just to see him. Grace is a little nervous, especially since her parents are out and Tom (who we learned was adopted) is home alone. The man comes home but Adrian remains there. Sometime later, he comes out to confront her. He figures out who she is and tells her to never come to his house again. That's harsh. The girl obviously had issues with men before...she's going to need to start going to counseling with Ricky.


Speaking of Ricky, he needs friends. He calls Adrian, who is on the stake-out and tells him not to bother calling her partner-in-crime Grace. He then visits Tom, who is waiting for someone, before busting Amy's Dad. He ends up talking with Lauren, who is bummed as Madison and her brother go on their first date. She and he end up talking about Amy and the baby. In the end, Madison and the brother spot them kissing.


Molly, lonely, is surprised by a visit from the Sausage King. He brings some food and talks with her. He reaffirms he is all for Ben and Amy's marriage, willing to take care of her. He's also willing to support her in whatever direction she goes with her education. The King encourages Molly to do the same. He tells her essentially that the past is the past and she should just focus on the present, go with the flow. As for Amy's plans, she talks with her dad before Ricky walks in. He says she should go back to her school and walk the halls proudly--it is her school. However, Amy knows how mean teens can be and doesn't want to be the girl everyone gossips about. In the end, the BIG THING--not solved.


Tom, who has been left alone, orders a pizza. He tells the delivery guy, like he told Ricky, he's waiting for a friend--a female friend. And he's waiting with a lot of cash--where did he get that? The delivery guy tells him to be careful. And then Jennifer Coolidge rings the doorbell. I did a double take because I didn't think she would do a show like this! She tells Tom she'll be his friend--for a price. Tom hired himself a hooker! She starts smoking, which he almost tries until she stops him. She asks him for money before a bad man comes and beats him up with a bag of oranges (I kid you not. The pimps in Tom's neighborhoods use ORANGES). Before anything can happen, Grace comes home and breaks it up.

The Jurgen girls return home to their mother and Ashley suspects their mother of having an affair with the Sausage King. Molly looks upset though there were some romantic undertones I picked up on earlier. Okay, from the moment he showed up, I thought, "Great. Now Molly's going after Ben's dad?" Ashley tells Molly that Dad is having an affair with Adrian's mom, which Amy clarifies is over. Then Ashley reveals Dad is living in his furniture store. She and Molly realize it before Amy--Dad's broke. Ashley pleads with Molly to let Dad stay with them. She says she can deal with the cheating, pregnancy and affairs but not with them being poor. Well, someone's got their priorities straight. Molly agrees but Ashley has to tell Dad.

Ashley goes to tell him, but walks in as he is comforting Adrian. The girl is still upset about her father's dismissal of her. Ashley tells Dad he can come home, but she hates him for cheating on her and Amy. Wow. My dad's comforted my friends and my sister's friends--it's the paternal feeling. Anyway, Ricky calls Adrian after dropping off Lauren and she agrees to meet him. Henry says that he's going to dump Alice while Ben urges him not to be so hasty.

And it ends with the question why most of the dads on this show are scumbags in some shape? Honestly, only John Schneider and the Sausage King are good--and I think the Sausage King needs to take off the rose colored glasses sometimes! Hopefully Schneider comes back soon--we need a good father on this show. But there are only two episodes left until the season finale (cable seasons, got to love them). Who knows what will happen, though I hope they decide what Amy is going to do about school by then. And it looks like there's a turning point with Ricky, who suddenly WANTS the baby. I'm confused.

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag...

Well, actually it's a new TV in our basement--which is where I live. Our old one has been wonky nearly all summer--the motherboad went haywire and so did the color. So, if you've noticed when I give my recaps, I don't comment on lighting or outfits as much as I would because I'm actually not sure what the lighting really is or what color that shirt Shailene Woodley is wearing on Secret Life. But now we have a big, LCD screen with Hi-Def color. This, hopefully, will add a new layer to my recaps. And just in time--I can't imagine trying to recap America's Next Top Model with wonky colors!

And when Ghost Hunters start up again, I might be able to make things out rather than just blackness.

Ciao, GHI!

Looks like "Ghost Hunters International" has ended its run (for now). And we still don't know what happened to Shannon or Brian. Oh well.

The finale finds the team in Transylvania, where they first investigate Banyff Castle. The tour is led by a man who speaks very good English and he tells them about some of the hauntings: the ghost of young boy, strange lights, etc. The gang sets up and Robb and Brandy do an EVP session near where the boy is said to be seen. On Brandy, she seems like a good case manager and replacement for Donna. She was just kinda introduced a few weeks ago, quickly replacing Kris Williams mid-episode. In fact, until they put Brandy under her, I thought she was Kris! They do bear a resemblance, especially in night-vision! Anyway, Robb and Brandy hear something and are spooked.

Meanwhile, Barry and Dustin decide to try and debunk the mysterious lights and shadows students at the castle have reported seeing. They debunk the shadows, but not the lights. In fact, they spot more lights coming from the castle--and includes a room that no longer has a floor. That meant no one could be in it. Just to be on the safe side, Barry has everyone report their locations. Brandy and Robb are right where we left them while Andy is command central, trying not to fall asleep. They call him out for some more investigating before Robb orders them to decamp.

Brandy and Barry go over the evidence, but there isn't much I could hear. Robb and Andy go back to report that they think the castle has paranormal activity before moving on to a castle owned by Vlad the Impaler--AKA the inspiration for Dracula. Dustin is especially excited. They arrive and climb an infinity more stairs than my family did at the Bunker Hill Monument to reach the castle. During the investigation, they do an simultaneous EVP session in three different spots--mostly targeting Vlad. When listening back, they find one spot that showed some promise and focused their investigation there. Unfortunately, not much time is dedicated to Dracula's castle despite it being the entire show description on the Time Warner guide. Even my sister, noticing the time, said, "They're not going to find anything."

They found something, but like before, I couldn't hear it. Andy and Robb wrap up the series, saying that nothing will change even once they are back in America: Brandy will find more cases, Barry will want new equipment and Dustin will send more stupid videos to him.

And so, Ghost Hunters International drives off into the sunset, but I figure it'll be back. Not right away, but in due time. Meanwhile, we only have to wait two weeks for the new season of Ghost Hunters, which I will do better in covering. In fact, I'm thinking of experimenting with real time blogging while watching (if I can). Keep your eyes peeled!

Prepare Ye The Way of the Lord

Or not.

As you can see from one of the articles currently lining the side of my blog, a Broadway production of "Godspell" has been postponed due to a backer pulling out. And as the Playbill article states, this is just the latest in a line of other Broadway productions stalled before they hit the Great White Way. At this rate, it'll just be (title of show) and Shrek the Musical up for Tony Awards next year.

I was looking forward to the production of "Godspell"--it's one of my favorite musicals ever. I've seen school productions of it but wanted to see a professional production of it. And I wonder what happened to the old "Let's put on a show mentality!" Godspell isn't a huge undertaking--the set is minimal and the costumes could be found at a garage sale, so I'm guessing the money is needed for the theater and staff.

Here's hoping these shows get back on track!

You Ought to Be In Pictures

Pictures from Boston and Salem!




This fine gentleman is Joseph Warren, who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His statue stands in the memorial, watching the poor souls who decided "Hey, 294 stairs? No big deal!" In life, he was a doctor. Now, he can't do much if you collapse after coming back down those 294 stairs.





The USS Constitution or "Old Ironsides." As you can see, she is not made of iron, just a lot of wood. She is also undergoing some refurbishment.


Fenway Park--one of the smallest stadiums used by the major leagues.

The late Ted Williams, a Red Sox and baseball great.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house, originally a place where he boarded before his father-in-law purchased it. Longfellow's children also bought land across the street from the house and turned it into a park so nothing could block the view to the sea, which their father watched after his wife's death. George Washington also resided here during the Revolution.

Fanueil Hall, still used today as a meeting place and sits in front of the market place where we ate lunch.

And this is where we ate! Now, it's not located in the real bar that inspired Cheers, but it's a good replica of the show. Join in with me now: "Sometimes you want to go, where everybody knows your name..."

The performance artist/moving statue that distracted me when we were on the ranger-led tour of the Freedom Trail.

The old Massacusetts State House, site of the Boston Massacre. From this balcony, the Delcaration of Independence was first read and is still read on July 4th.

Paul Revere's House. Guy in picture not Paul Revere, just some random guy passing by as I took the picture.

The spire of the Old North Church, where the lanterns hung the night of April 18, 1775. The view is from Copp's Hill (which I accidentally called "Cobb's" Hill. I'll be amending that shortly. Sorry, Boston!)

A house by the Charleston Navy Yard. It's probably used by the naval officers who serve on the Constitution. But I just love the design.

And now to Salem, MA. Here's the sign for the museum we went to. You can miss it. It's the gothic church near Washinton Square.

A rare picture of me (I usually don't like to post pictures of myself on a public site) and one of Salem's famous residents. See that little sticker? In Salem, they use it for the museums. It's like your ticket in. I have a bunch of them which are probably strewn across New England and New York.

The Narbonne House, the house of contrasts. You can see the additions made to the house throughout the years.

The Derby House, owned by one of America's first millionaires. A bit more square-shaped than the Narbonne House and not as old. Pretty much the few places where the house isn't green.

The Customs House, built after Salem's Golden Age of Sail as a sign of the government's confidence the trade industry would bounce back. Nathaniel Hawthorne worked here.

The view from the sea front of Salem. This is view is the main reason I told my dad that if I didn't live in a city, I'd live in a New England coastal town.

Would you? Where's your dream place to live?

Silent as the Grave...

As stated, I went on a walk around a cemetary while in Boston. Here are some famous people I found:

Here is John Hancock's tomb.

This one is for the victims of the Boston Massacre.

Their neighbor, Samuel Adams. Note the beer bottle.

And lastly, Paul Revere's tombstone. Pretty simple compared to everyone else's.

Double, Double, Toil and Trouble...

So, time to squeeze two days into one blog post while I try not to blather on!

We drove the half-hour from Boston to Salem. We checked in to the Hawthorne Hotel, a rather swanky place to lay your head. It is furnished in a classic style, evoking a late 19th/early 20th century hotel decor. The room though was small, especially since my family of four was sharing it. The bathroom was even smaller. I like historic things, but not if they make me feel claustrophobic. Those who like staying in such hotels and don't mind small rooms will love it though it is a bit pricey.

We mostly focused on Salem's maritime history on Friday, a time that's greatly overshadowed by the Witch Trials. Salem's maritime area was one of the first national historic parks, still staffed by park rangers. One took us to the Narbonne and Derby houses. The Narbonne house had been lived in until the 1960s and the rangers decided not to restore it. So you have radiators next to fireplaces or a smoke detector in a low-ceiling, 17th century room. It's a great study in contrasts and best illustrates the passage of time. The Derby House was built by one of America's first millionaire, a man who owned the ships who went to sea to get the goods. His ceilings were higher since he could afford to hit such rooms. And his family had an affinity for the color green. In the visitor's center, there was brief video on the history of Salem's maritime might. It lasted from the middle of American Revolution, when many of Salem's ships were used as privateers, to around 1807 when Jefferson ordered an embargo on American exports. Even still, America hoped that Salem's trade would come back so they built a new, shiny Customs House, which we toured next. One of the surveyors was Nathaniel Hawthorne and his job was slow, so he ended up writing The Scarlet Letter. Upstairs, we saw the original eagle that sat atop the house--a replica sits there now.

That night, after a great dinner at Victoria Station (if I were more knowledgable on food, I'd compliment but I don't think you want to read another food comment of "delicious"), we went on a haunted Salem tour. Others in Salem told us we were going on a good tour and they were right. Our guide took us around many places of Salem (the town hall, Joshua Ward house, old jail, etc) and told us the history of the place as well as the ghost story. I would definitely recommend it. It's not something where they stick you in a haunted place for some time nor is it just ghost stories, but history. For instance, we learned about the sheriff who arrested most of the people in the Salem Witch Trials, Jonathan Corwin. Of course, it is believed he still haunts where his house stood (the Joshua Ward house) and he is not a friendly ghost like Casper. We took pictures, but it was raining so we can't tell if they are ghost orbs or the rain. Paging Grant or Jason!

The next day we went to the Salem Witch Museum. We were herded into a small auditorium where they used wax figures to tell the story of 1692, mostly focusing on victims Rebecca Nurse and John Proctor (probably most well known from Arthur Miller's The Crucible). After that, we were sent into another room. We were told the history of the pagan midwife who was morphed by Christians into a witch, told by the stereotypical witch (think Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West in "The Wizard of Oz"). Next we were told about modern day Wiccans. Along the wall was a timeline regarding witchcraft, including the trials and Macbeth (which was written due to the Gunpowder Plot). Strangely, Harry Potter was left off. From there, we went to the Salem Witch Trial memorial, where you walk in a park next to a cemetary. Stone seats appear to line the walls, but when you get close you realize each bears the name of the 19 victims. Rebecca Nurse's stone still had candles and George Burroughs' had flowers.

We walked back to the waterfront to the famous House of Seven Gables. We toured the house, which was built by sea captain, whose grandson lost the house so it was purchased by another sea captain. This one was a relative of Nathaniel Hawthorne, who became close with the captain's daughter. It was she who told Hawthorne of the house's past (and of it's seven gables. It only had three when Hawthorne was alive) and encouraged him to write. When the house was purchased by a woman hoping to start a settlement house, she knew the draw would be for tourists to feel as if they were in the novel. She put the other four gables back on and built the secret staircase Cliff may have used. We climbed up the narrow stairway and stood in the small room. Next door, they had relocated the house Nathaniel Hawthorne had been born in so we went on a tour. It's an average 18th/19th century house, filled with stories about Hawthorne. Apparently, he didn't take criticism well and if any story received negative reviews, he burned it.

That afternoon, we saw "Cry Innocent," a re-enactment of the trial of Bridget Bishop. The show started by a fountain, where the town crier tells us that a warrant has been issued for Bishop. She appears and the constable arrests her. He drags her to town hall while she tries to resist. We follow along to be the grand jury of her trial. We sat in the town hall and various witnesses were called forth to bear witness against Bishop. She wasn't a pleasant woman and often quarreled with her neighbors, as well as been widowed twice--her second husband falling off a roof! We were able to ask questions in between two blocks of testimony before voting. We voted to free her, though in real life, it was decided there was enough to go to trial. She was later found guilty and became the first to hang. The actors were young but very good, particularly the actress who played Bridget Bishop. She conveyed while these neighbors might be afraid or hold a grudge against her. Because of how aflicted the girls were, no actress portrayed them--they were represented by chalkboards with their names written on it. The actress often stared at this wall, as if watching the girls' strange sight, pausing when addressing them and showed great talent to act to something that wasn't there. I suggest anyone who goes to Salem tries to get a ticket to see this.

And thus our vacation ended. We drove back to Salem, arriving at 11:30 PM back here Saturday night. Tomorrow I should post the pictures I toook. I'm the genius who has owned her camera for two years and finally figured out how to use flash just this past vacation.

On the Trail

Another day in Boston! We didn't drive in since that would be suicidal, but drove over to the Wellington station to take the orange line in. A nice woman gave us a TIP that I'm going to give to you: If you go in by train (which may be your best option), then buy the Charlie card. You can put the amount you need for everyone that day and it's $1.75 compared to the $2.00 of regular tickets. I know this doesn't seem much, but if you're a family of four like us, you save a whole regular ticket price for a round trip.

We got off at State Street, which put us near the Old South Church. Nearby is the Visitor Center, where you can pick up a 90-minute tour given by a park ranger. It's free and full of good information. Our guide took us to five different locations. First, we went back to the Old South Church where she talked about the Boston Tea Party. It was from this meeting house that Sam Adams gave the signal for the other Sons of Liberty to board the ship and throw it over board. We next went to the site of the Boston Massace and heard the story. A good visual is the start of HBO's John Adams miniseries. From there, we walked over to Fanueil Hall. Our ranger guide talked about how it was an important meeting hall, but I'll admit I was distracted. There was a performance artist pretending to be a statue as tourists stopped to watch her. Unfortunately, none of them freaked out when she moved like I had seen in Disney and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Now that's funny. As security moved the artist, I returned my attention to the guide, who explained Fanueil Hall was still an important meeting place even with City Hall across the street. We walked from Fanueil Hall to Paul Revere's house, which is the only wood house amongst a bunch of brick ones. And now located in the heart of Boston's Little Italy. Afterwards, we ended at the back of the Old North Church by a statue of Paul Revere. He faces St. Stephen's Church, which was once Puritan and his place of worship. Now, it's Catholic and the Kennedy's.

After we finished with the Old North Church, we crossed a bridge to the Charleston Navy Yard to revisit the USS Constitution. Though first we needed to find something to eat--and lo and behold, there is a place to eat at the Yard. I had a BLT (without tomatoes) and it was pretty good. Maybe not the best I've ever eaten, but filling then. We finished and past through security to visit the ship. There were two options: a thirty-minute guided tour or a ten-minute self-guided tour. If you want to go below decks and hear the history of the ship, go on the guided tour. If not, if you just want to go on the ship, then take the self-guided tour. Either way, it's free. There is a new visitor's center, which traces the ship's history through the 19th and 20th Centuries. We finished off at the museum, going through all of the War of 1812 exhibit. A must-see there is a short video where they recreate the USS Constitution's most famous victory, against the British ship the Guerriere, using the words of the sailors present on both sides.

After our visit to the Constitution, we went back over the bridge where now people had gathered to go fishing in the Charles River. As I walked past, one guy was looking for a measuring tape to measure the striped bass he had caught. And trust me, it was pretty big. We returned to Fanueil Hall so my sister could get some shirts she had seen the day before while my dad got some more ice cream. I got a book about the ghosts of Boston because I couldn't go on a haunted tour.

And then it rained. So we hung out with everyone in the marketplace under the awnings as a thunderstorm rolled through. Three little kids next to us were enjoying themselves, using the storm as a giant sprinkler. As the rain died down, they started chanting, "We want rain!" over and over.

Once the storm passed, we went to two of Boston's cemetaries. The second one, Granary Burying Ground, is a must see for the people buried there. The tomb for Benjamin Franklin's parents sits prominently in the middle of the cemetary so you can't miss that. My dad and I couldn't find Mother Goose's (yes, the Mother Goose) grave, but we found Paul Revere's. He has a big headstone though next to it is a weather-worn, small stone which reads "Revere's Tomb." What it means, I don't know. Hancock's grave is in it's own nook and the second tallest after the Franklin tomb. It is also surrounded by some grave's which read "Servant of Hancock." We found the grave stone for the five victims of the Boston Massacre, including a child whose death started to fan the flames that lead to the night of March 5, 1770. Right next door is Sam Adams' grave. It is surrounded by American flags, marks him as a signer of the Declaration of Independence as well as a Son of Liberty. And sitting on top of his tomb--a bottle of Sam Adams beer. TRIVIA (courtesy of Neil from the tour yesterday): The picture on Sam Adams bottles isn't of Samuel Adams. It's Paul Revere!

We returned to our hotel and boy was that train CROWDED! We were packed in, reminding me of my days on the London tube. Now, we're just sore and resting up.

Tomorrow: Salem, Massacusetts! And my camera's dead, so I need to change the batteries to upload the pictures I took. Also, I need to send the pictures I took on my phone to myself as well. I may post them tomorrow or do a whole post of just pictures. We'll see.

All Aboard

So, we're in Boston! And I'm writing this post in red in honor of the Boston Red Sox (though I walked around in an FDNY shirt and a Staten Island Yankees cap). For anyone going to Boston, I would pay attention to what we did today and really consider it.

We made reservations yesterday to go on a bus tour of Boston. The bus picked us up right outside of our hotel at 9:10 AM. There is a bus that goes to different hotels located in the same area and that makes up your group. Our driver, Neil, took us into the city so he had to navigate the traffic. We started at Breed's Hill, where the Battle of Bunker Hill was fought because the American army official thought Breed's Hill would be a better choice. There is a monument there where you can climb to the top--warning, it is 294 steps and no elevator. The last time I saw a sign warning me there were 294 steps, it was the London Tube telling us the stairs were for "Emergency Use Only" and to take the lift. My family climbed to the top, my fear of heights kicked in and then our legs were like jelly for the next two hours.

We piled back into the bus after most of us climbed the monument and headed over to the Navy Yard. Docked there is the USS Constitution, built in 1793 and still in service, manned by members of the Navy. My family did the museum there, which has a 19 minute movie about what the USS Constitution means to America as well as the history of the ship. The upstairs has an exhibit dedicated to just the War of 1812. After our time in the Navy Yard was up, we continued on a bus tour around Boston. We saw where the Boston Massacre occurred, the Massachusetts State House, City Hall, Beacon Hill (also home to the location that inspired the show "Cheers"), and then, we made a quick stop at Fenway. I'm not much of a baseball fan but even I had to get off to see this legendary park.

After Fenway Park, we went on a college tour over in Cambridge. We visited MIT and Neil told us about some of the pranks seniors have played using the Dome of Knowledge, like when they turned it into R2-D2. After MIT, we drove further into Cambridge until we came into Harvard University. There were many students walking around and I couldn't tell if they were college tours or orientations. Neil told us there is a statue in Harvard with three lies written on it. It is of John Harvard, except it is actually the artist's friend pretending to be Harvard. It says he is a founder, but he just donated his money and books to the school. And the statue says it was founded in 1638, but was really opened in 1636. Harvard just died in '38 and they named the school after him due to his post-homous donation. Our last stop in Cambridge was to the Longfellow House, where Henry Wadsworth Longfellow lived.

After Cambridge, we returned to Boston to Fanueil Hall. It is a market place comprised of the original Fanueil Hall as well as three new halls: Quincy Market, South Market and North Market. Both South and North have stores as well as food places while Quincy is just all food. There are also other stores located in the market place and I saw a Wagamama's. It's a noodle place I ate at in London, which I loved. If they are expanding into North America, I am excited. It is cafeteria style dining and the food is delicious. We ate at Sam's Cafe/Cheers--a replica of the famous bar. I had a BLT sandwich with Italian dressing--very good though the bacon tasted off to me. We finished off with ice cream and returned to the bus.

Our last stop was to Copp's Hill and the Old North Church. Now, throughout the day, Neil has been telling us how Paul Revere's role was greatly exaggerated. While he did make the ride to Lexington, he was one of a few riders and he was the one who told his friend to hang two lanterns. He wasn't riding to warn the countryside moreso to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams, who the British were coming to capture. And he didn't do that--the British got him as he entered town. Fellow rider William Dawes, Jr. got the message through. At Copp's Hill, we saw the gravestone of Robert Newman, the man who lit the lanterns and hung them in the Old North Church. Because of a curfew, the British troops came to arrest him but had to release him due to lack of evidence (thanks to that same curfew). We saw the Old North Church, but since the famous bellfry is 14 stories up and our legs are still angry at us for Breed's Hill, we just viewed the Church and listened to a quick information session.

And that was the end of our day. We returned to the hotel, relaxed our sore legs and then went across the street to Bickford's for dinner. I had one of the best grilled chicken clubs of my life followed by a hot, delicious apple crisp I shared with my mom.

As for the bus tour, I would definitely recommend it for newcomers to Boston. If you like to do things at your own pace, though, you may want to skip this. We were given time limits on how long we spent at each place--Breed's Hill was 20 minutes while the Navy Yard was about an hour, for example. But as a way to get a great tour of the city without walking or fighting traffic, it's a definite. It's also a good way to acquainted with some of the sites you may want to see while in Boston. So if you are staying a few days in the city, definitely do this first.

We're going back to do the Freedom Trail tomorrow, so I'm going to hold off the pictures until then.

I FOUND NEMO!

Or On the Road Part Two

Today we woke in our Best Western...several times. My sister set the alarm for 7 AM and then spent the next two hours hitting the snooze button. Also, we couldn't close the curtains so the sun shone brightly in the room. Our parents went down to the continental breakfast while my sister and I changed before packing up our overnight bag. After checking out, we drove the less than five minutes to Mystic Aquarium Institute for Exploration.

NOTE: The last entry noted that it was cheaper to buy tickets at the Mystic Tourist Info Booth. It is, but what they don't tell you is that you have to redeem what they give you for the actual tickets into the aquarium.

Our first stop was for...some advice on how to tackle the aquarium. The staff at the aquarium are extremely nice and knowledgeable, quickly setting us on a good path. We visited with the beluga whales, watching them swim around and play with some of the things in their tank before moving on to the penguins. My mother loves the penguins, but still remembers that the last time we visited the aquarium, they kept their backs to us. This time was no different and one penguin seemed very interested in a rock wall. These particular penguins were from South Africa, so they were more accustomed to the warmer weather of today than Arctic temps. They were also preening, preparing to dive in.

After the penguins, we walked through a marsh, trying to spot the animals. We found a frog, some tadpoles, fish, a couple turtles sunning themselves on a log and a LOT of lily pads. At the end, was Birds of the Outback. It has it's own separate admission and you can go in to feed birds who are not in cages. So if you like that thing, spring for the extra two bucks. If you're like my family, don't and watch the baby seals across the way for a bit. It's free and they're cute.

The next part was the indoor aquarium, with tanks of many different species--not just fish. We saw bats--I remember being on a church vacation and a bat got into the chapel we were using. We realized it was following the fan in the chapel, so we turned it off and started to strum the guitar by the window in hopes it would follow the sound. It did. We also saw an iguana. There was a shark tank and I jumped every time one passed by me. We saw sting rays, made the obligatory Steve Irwin joke (RIP) and then felt bad. We saw piranha, who had a glittery appearance. And my family being Disney fans, went around and identified the different species in the movie. We just couldn't find a prawn--but we did find a diver, some poor employee who had to clean a tank with a toothbrush. The fish, though, found him fascinating.

We left the indoor aquarium and decided to skip the Challenges of the Deep movie, which is also a separate admission price. From what I've seen, it's also a ride along the veins of Star Tours in Hollywoodland in Disney World and you have to be 40'' to ride. So families with small children or people who might get motion sickness are urged to skip it. You can go straight to the exhibits, which are all about Dr. Robert Ballard's work in exploring the deepest parts of the ocean and the wrecks she keeps. There is a whole section dedicated to the Titanic, whose resting place Ballard discovered in 1985. There are pictures of items on the ocean floor, the ship herself and the first image seen of the Titanic since her sinking--a blury shot of a boiler. There was also two short videos--one about Ballard's exploration of the wrecks in the Great Lakes as well as his return to the Titanic. Also, there was a section dedicated the lost island of the Minoans, an ancient Greek civilization, as well as the Phoenicians. There is an amphora pot in this section you must look into. It's a real treat!

After leaving the exhibits, we made it in time for the next showing of something I definitely recommend doing--Seal or No Seal? It's held in the marine theater, starring a trio of sea lions. It is a fun time, the kids get to answer some questions, get free prizes and learn about sea lions at the same time! The trainers also have demonstrations with the sea lions, who are easy to train. There was an adult, Coco; a teenager, Surfer; and a baby, Boomerang. Earlier, a staffer told us Boomerang's story. He had been nursed in captivity and when released, he kept coming back--he preferred human company (he probably preferred the free fish). So, now he's being trained and is part of the show. He reminds me of the young animal character in those cartoons we all watched as children--eager and energetic.

After the show, we returned to the penguins who were now in the water. They swam around, enjoying all our attention. After marveling at them, my family bid a fond adeiu to Mystic and began our journey to Massachusetts. Note about Masspike: Service areas seem hard to come by, so you might want to make sure you go before getting on or waiting until you get off, as we soon passed about two or three. We're staying in another Best Western, this time located just outside Boston in Woburn. It's a lovely hotel with a refrigerator and a microwave. We chilled in the hotel room, just relaxing before heading down to the restaurant, Spud's. And if you are in Woburn, you need to eat here! The food was delicious! I had country fried chicken, some fries, corn and an orange. I also managed to squeeze an apple crisp in there too! I'm surprised my family didn't roll me back to our room. Oh, and the bread is to die for, especially hot!

Tomorrow: We're taking a van tour of Boston. Pick-up is at 9:05 AM, so I should be turning in soon. I do hope they have a haunted Boston tour...I love a good ghost story!

Pictured: Surfer from "Seal or No Seal"

Pictured: Boomerang (L), Coco (C), and Surfer (R) with their trainer from "Seal or No Seal"

Video: The penguins swimming around during our afternoon visit.

On the Road...Part I

Well, my family and I are here in Mystic, Connecticut. It's almost midnight and my sister is asleep, so I'll try to make this as quick as possible. We're in a Best Western just off Exit 90 on I-95, about a five minute drive from the Aquarium and the Sea Port. It's a nice place, pretty quiet, much like most Best Westerns across the United States. It's also pretty full since it's tourist season, so if you travel to Mystic, I would advise either reserving a room beforehand or making sure checking in is your top priority when you arrive here in Mystic.

We left Staten Island around 11 this morning, under cloudy skies. The roads were mostly clear until the inevitable back up at the George Washington Bridge. We inched along and my mother decided to play a game--a good tip for anyone of any age stuck in traffic in a car. We kept a list of the different license plates we saw, each taking a guess at how many states we would see. I lost out pretty quickly with my guess of 12. We kept track until we stopped in Connecticut for lunch. My dad eventually won with a guess of 20--our final total was 19 states (plus 2 Canadian provinces). After a rather delicious Subway's lunch at a truck stop, we got back on the road. The traffic on I-95 wasn't as bad as it was when we were driving through the main part of Connecticut (past Stamford, Hartford, etc), so it was good we were still playing that game.

So five hours after we left Staten Island, we pulled into Mystic and had checked in. Unfortunately, most attractions here in Mystic close at 5, so we didn't have much to do. This boggled my sister's mind, but I'm pretty used to it. The attractions closed at 5 when we were in Williamsburg, VA. And while I was in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, it seemed the entire city shut down at 5 PM! The only things that remained open were the theater and McDonald's, though the pubs did seem to reopen by 7 PM. It seems bar-crawling is the great English pasttime. Fortunately, we didn't have to do that here (especially since my sister is underaged) as old Mystic Village is opened past 5. It is a series of different stores, something for everyone. My parents went into the Grey Goose Cookery while my sister and I hit Irish Eyes. There was something for the Irish-Italians (Irish Temper and Italian Attitude--Paging Staten Island) and Irish-Germans, but nothing for us Irish-Greeks!

After I showed the store to my parents, we met up with my rather impatient sister in the Christmas shoppe. There were ornaments off all kinds--traditional, Family Guy, Simpsons, M&Ms, Hershey chocolate, etc. We hit the general store, which smelled like popcorn, and browsed for a bit. Afterwards, we got pulled into the chocolate store and showed great self-discipline by not buying anything, no matter how GOOD that fudge looked. For you shopaholics or those who love quaint specialty shops, this place is for you! TIP: Go to the Tourist Information center in the village. You can check out different hotels, look at menus from Mystic's restaurants, pick up guide books, and buy discount tickets for the aquarium and seaport. Also, you will get a piece of paper that will save you 10% on any purchases in the shops in the village. In some stores, it allows for a free gift. And who doesn't like free gifts?

After chilling for some time in the hotel room (where you do not want to watch TV with my sister. You'll never know what happens on a show because you end up watching three at once!), we went to eat dinner in the Ground Round attached to our hotel. We used to have a Ground Round by us, but it's long gone so it was a trip down memory lane that crashed. It was more of a sports bar than the family restaurant we remembered, the one that played movies and gave you popcorn. However, the food was delicious and they gave generous portions. I had chicken tenderloins, though the baked potato fell flat. The mozzarella sticks were also delicious as well. Now, I'm never a member of the clean plate club--my appetite is a third of what they give you at restaurants--but even my father and sister couldn't finish theirs!

We spent the rest of the night watching TV and chilling out in the hotel room. Tomorrow: the Aquarium and arrival in Boston! Hopefully, I'll have pictures to show! And then I'll really have to figure out how the pictures on this thing work!

RIP

This has been one sad weekend for the entertainment world. Today, Isaac Hayes suddenly died. I enjoyed his voice, both speaking and singing. And who now doesn't have "Theme from Shaft" now stuck in their head?

And yesterday, comedian Bernie Mac died from complications due to pneumonia. I've had pneumonia many times over my 22 years on this earth and it's quite haunting to see it take someone. I didn't watch the "Bernic Mac Show" but I loved his performance as Bosley in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." He was a great follow-up to Bill Murray in the original.

The trails these men blazed in their respective fields will never be forgotten. And future generations will always be grateful to them.

I hate to remain a bit morbid, but they say death comes in threes. Who's next?

Federal City

The Travel Channel has dedicated this week to Staycationers, those who are opting to stay close to home for their travel needs due to the economy and soaring gas prices. (There was report a week or so ago saying that auto-related deaths are down across the country. Gee, wonder why?) So, Samantha Brown's Great Weekends fits right in to this theme as she shows us how to have a good weekend in Washington DC.

She arrives in Georgetown and goes for a kayak ride. The river looks incredibly blue and offers a great shot of the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Next, she goes down to a neighborhood known for its jazz. Sam shows off her bar tending skills, making a sangria. Mmm, sangria. There are times I do worry for Sam as she is constantly in the alcohol on these shows. She next visits a restaurant where the people will feed you off their own plates. Samantha jokes that she is always asked for tips on how to save money on trips and this will be a new suggestion--go someplace where people feed you! The people laugh. Samantha visits an outdoor market that reminds me of the one I went to in Stratford-Upon-Avon. She finds a vendor selling books, including some naughty books. Next, Sam finds some interesting key holders and has some competition for one. She tells the other woman they have to duke it out and you can see the other woman thinking, "I can take you."

She goes to an open mic night to listen to some poetry, but doesn't recite any of her own. I'll admit I zoned out at this point--poetry isn't my cup of tea. On Sunday morning, Samantha goes for a popular brunch in Washington. She makes some friends at the buffet line, kinda flirting with the two men. Hello, Sam, you're married! But this isn't your ordinary buffet, no, this one comes with it's own drag queens! They perform songs, deshirt some guy and one is wearing the Jennifer Lopez dress. You know which one I'm talking about. You think these drag queens would update their costumes. Looks like they make enough money to. I once went to a drag show. In fact, we're cleaning our basement and I found the picture my French class and I took while there. It was great, though one girl and I spent the rest of the year debating whether or not one was actually a girl or not. Of course, we also went to Catholic school, so that wasn't part of the Quebec trip we told the administration about.

It looks like Sam had a lot of fun, but I must admit that I'm a history nut. Espcially American history. So while some people may enjoy wandering around these local spots, I'd be at the museums. In fact, I even recommend doing the International Spy Museum. It is a fun day (you need to budget a few hours to do the whole thing) and somethings are pretty interesting to learn. Like the whole section on spy gear you think are just props from a James Bond movie--except that they are actual tools of the trade. The museum also comes with a section dedicated to the history of the "world's second-oldest profession" and some of its most famous practicers. (My sister: "What's the world's oldest profession then?" Me: "Prostitution." Sister: "No, seriously." Dad: "No, it's prostitution.") I also suggest Ford's Theatre, especially if you are able to catch a presentation. We had a park ranger who was well-versed in the story and a gifted storyteller. I sometimes forget that there were no actors involved at ALL in the retelling, that's how vivid he was. And then don't forget to journey across the street to the House Where Lincoln Died. You try to figure out how they fit the tall president on such a small bed.

Oh, and did I mention that these last two places are free? (Sorry, the International Spy Museum isn't).

Well, I don't know where Sam will be going next week. I'll probably pick it up while watching something on the Travel Channel. It'll be a laugh if she's in Boston as I will be in Boston. And I'll be switching to a travel blog for the week--lucky you! And if you've actually been coming for my recaps of "Secret Life of an American Teenager," I'm afraid I'll have to skip next week. Sorry!

Anyone out there reading this? You going on vacation or have been on vacation? Want to tell me about it? Been to Boston? Want to tell me places I simply HAVE to go to? Share! I want to know!

The Play's the Thing

All the world's a stage, William Shakespeare wrote. And now, one of his own has come to life.

Archaeologists in London believe they have found the foundations of The Theatre. This is one of the first theaters built in England, originally by James Burbage and was used by the Lord Chamberlain's Men--William Shakespeare's company. "The Merchant of Venice" and "Romeo and Juliet" most likely had their debuts at this theater and scholars believe a rough draft of "Hamlet" also may have played there too.

The Theatre would lay the foundations of the more famous Globe Theatre--literally. When the group had problems with the landlord and while the theater was closed for the winter (the only theater opened would be the Blackfriars), the company took it apart and floated the wood across the river Thames to Southwark. The South Embankment is just ouside the city limits, making it the Elizabethan era's idea of a "Red Light District." Theaters, bear-baiting, cock-fighting, dog-fighting and other entertainment could be found there.

The Theatre isn't the first Elizabethan theater to be found. Back in 1989, remains of a theater was found during a construction job. Judging by maps, archaelogists confirmed it to be The Rose, a rival theater. The remains are now protected by water in the basement of the building after actors and theatre lovers campaigned for Parliament to preserve the theater while the company wanted to finish their building. See, compromises are good for everyone. If you want to see The Rose should you be in London, a tour guide will take you if you ask at The Globe Theater in Southwark. It was difficult to see in 2005 as it was dark and the water murky, but I believe they have been upgrading the area so it is easier to see.

This a major development for Shakespearan scholars. I've been to London in search of Shakespeare and while he does permeate throughout London culture, it is hard to find places Shakespeare was himself. The Globe is rebuilt and two blocks away from where the original Globe stood, the Rose is flooded and the (actual) City of London burned in 1666, fifty years after Shakespeare died. Another piece of Shakespeare could help gather a better understanding of the theater and the Bard himself.

According to the article, the site will be home to a new theater. So it doesn't look like a campaign will be needed to protect The Theatre. Actually, that would be an interesting PR promotion. Come see a play and then tour an original theater, one where Shakespeare performed!

Now We Are Getting Somewhere!

I've decided not to wait till 24 hours after the episode airs to write my recap. So, I'll warn *Spoilers* down below for "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."

The show starts relatively early in the morning as Molly Ringwald makes herself some coffee. Watching her from the shadows is Amy, looking quite melancholy. Molly finally sees her daughter, jumping a bit. She asks what's up and Amy sobs out "I'm pregnant." Molly makes her repeat this three times and then is convinced that Amy and Ashley are doing this so Molly won't be so upset by Amy's Dad leaving them. Amy swears that it isn't like that. Molly asks who told Amy she was pregnant. Amy says Aunt Julie told her six weeks ago (so, six weeks have past and no one is getting ready to celebrate Halloween yet?), which causes Molly to freak out. She wonders why Aunt Julie didn't call her (Doctor-Patient confidentialty?) and then realizes that the Bowmans now know (so, Doctor-Patient confidentialty doesn't exist in this practice. Great).

Molly calls Amy and Ashley out of school, claiming they had a death in the family and will be in Chicago. She tells her pregnant daughter that she'll try to get her in to see the Ob/Gyn soon and that she left a message for Amy's Dad. Amy isn't too thrilled. Molly and Amy debate over what to do. First, Molly says she isn't going to send Amy away but then a little later, she suggests sending Amy to her grandmother's until the birth is over. Amy doesn't like that and says she's thinking about abortion. Molly doesn't like this idea, saying that it isn't a religious thing but a personal thing.

Molly also learns that Ashley knew (let's face everyone but Molly and Amy's Dad knew) and freaks out on her. Ashley argues back, saying she wants out of the house. She's bitter about Molly and Amy's Dad's breakup, blaming Molly for it (though Dad's the one stepping out). She also says that if Amy goes away, she'll lose the one person she likes in the house. Ouch. Molly looks like she's in over her head. Meanwhile, Amy's Dad calls and talks with Amy, who begins crying. After some beating around the bush, Molly tells Amy's Dad that she's pregnant. Dad quickly hangs up as if he was just caught eavesdropping. Molly confiscates Amy's phone, but she later gets a hold of Ashley's phone and asks for a clinic.

At school, Amy's friends are worried for her. Madison wants to check on her friend since they can't reach Amy on her phone and Ashley tells them off for telling everyone about Amy's pregnancy. Lauren is having none of it as she's told her parents, who have forbidden her from seeing Amy. Madison is determined anyway and when Lauren asks how she's going to get there, Madison is awesome for the first time this season: "It's a large thing with wheels called a bus." Meanwhile, Adrian and Ricky are fighting--again--and Adrian points out that Amy isn't there. Ricky tries to play it off like it isn't his kid, but Adrian knows better but says she's heard "Amy's taking care of it." This is the message Ricky conveys to Grace, whom he has convinced that Amy seduced him at band camp, and she goes uber-Pro-Life on him. Ben pays Adrian to take him to Amy, which is where she is going as Amy has called for a ride.

Back at home, Molly is unsuccessful in getting Amy an appointment. Ashley tells her sister this and Amy tells Ashley is "taking care of it." The show then switches to Ben's dad, the Sausage King, talking with Amy's Dad about the nuptials of their children. Amy's Dad is understandably against it. "She's my baby!" he cries as the Sausage King assures him that Amy will be well-off in his house. You know, this is probably how marriages back in the 18th century were made though the bride-to-be's dad was probably more receptive to the offer. Amy's Dad's assistant busts in to announce that Molly is on the phone and it is an emergency. "Emergency!" he yells again as he leaves and Dad picks up the phone. He learns Ben isn't the father and asks the Sausage King incredulously why he's pushing marriage when it isn't Ben's. The Sausage King just replies they are in love.

While Molly is distracted by Amy's Dad, Ashley helps her sister escape out the window. Amy runs to Adrian's car, while Ashley unsuccessfully tries to convince her mom that her sister is in the bathroom. In Adrian's car, Adrian is all for trying to get Amy to have an abortion while Ben encourages her to think about it some more. Adrian tells Amy that Ricky is never going to marry her, which Amy's face clearly registers "That's not what I was thinking." Ben shoots back that Ricky's not going to ever marry Adrian and that he'll pay her more if she would just shut up. He turns back to Amy, who tells him this is her choice and orders Adrian to drive. Was it just me or was Adrian the ONLY one wearing a seatbelt in that car?

Dad finally comes home as Madison drops off Amy's work in a pretense of seeing her. Dad lies that Amy's sick and possibly contagious. Madison leaves, yelling a "Bye, Amy" into the house. Somewhere, Ashley is rolling her eyes. Dad blames Amy's friendship with Madison and Lauren for her pregnancy, which Molly waves off. I definitely agree that they are NOT the cause of Amy's lack of judgment.

At the clinic, Grace busts in and gets belligerent with the receptionist, who's clearly been through this before. She refuses to confirm if Amy's there (though Adrian and Ben are sitting right there), offers help with family planning and then has the guard escort Grace and Ricky out. Adrian and Ben step in and Adrian says they're there for the free condoms. Ben more wisely suggests they all step outside. Ricky and Adrian start fighting over his relationship with Grace as the receptionist calls Ben over. Someone (Amy) wants to see him, she says and then returns back to the drama in front of her. The argument goes outside, where Ricky definitely has this smug and skeevy feeling as Adrian tries to tell Grace he's only using her to get some sex. And judging by his face, she's absolutely right.

Inside the clinic, Amy cries and hugs Ben. He comforts her and lets her call her mom. At home, Dad and Ashley talk before he leaves. Ben goes back to school where my favorite character on this show, the guidance counselor, tries to talk Ben out of getting married at 15. Ben asks him who broke his heart. The guidance counselor says nobody and it's not his business anyway. The Sausage King comes in and counselor tries to talk some sense into dad. The King asks who broke his heart and the guidance counselor suddenly had new insight into Ben.

The episode ends with Molly's confession that she understands what Amy's going through and the warning not to let marriage be a safety net. She reveals she was pregnant and young once and Amy realizes that she was the result of that pregnancy. Molly admits she and Amy's Dad eloped six months before Amy's birth but they told everyone that it was eighteen months before. So, I don't know why she is so hung up about the Bowmans if Josie Bisset was already a mom by the time Molly married Amy's Dad. Perhaps it's because the Bowmans have a strong marriage and Amy's Dad is cheating with Adrian's Mom. But Molly says she doesn't regret the marriage because it gave her Amy and Ashley. They fade out as Molly asks Amy what she's most afraid of and Amy replies the pain.

I think this is the series' best episode yet. Honestly, the only weak spot was any writing for Grace (who by the by, Jack asks back out but she refuses), Ricky and Adrian. Molly's starting to let her acting chops show and everything just seemed really good this time around. I just wish someone would teach the actress playing Ashley proper inflection, everything sounds one-tone when she delivers it. It works when she's being petulant but feel flat when she was yelling at Molly today.

China

In Samantha Brown's last installment of Passport to China, she goes to visit China's old capital city of Xian.

Samantha takes a twelve hour train ride to the city, where she has a bunk all to herself. She does spend more time in the dining car, celebrating the fact it comes with a bar. If I were on a twelve hour train ride, I'd be at the bar too. She wakes up early for some breakfast while watching the sun rise. Boy, that's early. I'd still be asleep. Actually, the conductor would have to carry me out of the train. I'm not a morning person. But then again, I would try to fly if it was really that far away. She gets off in Xian and has to try to cross the street. Here's a tip I've picked up from crossing Manhattan streets--always cross with a group. Cars are more likely to stop for a large clump of people than they are for one lone peon trying to cross the road.

Samantha meets up with a translator on top of the city wall, where they go biking down the wall. She tells us that Xian was the start of the Silk Road, which probably then stirs up some wheels in your brain as you remember a long-ago history lesson. It was an important city in the ancient world and Samantha compares it to Athens and Alexandria. The guide points out the city part of Xian and the residential area, but Sam's more interested in how the wall protected the city. The translator? Not so much. But as they bike, you see a cloud covering the wall and the city--that would be China's air pollution. It's bad, no wonder some athletes were considering pulling out of the Beijing Olympics.

The guide next takes Samantha to a temple, where they climb to the top. Afterwards, he and Samantha go to a street filled with artists. She learns calligraphy and the man teaching her says that by her handwriting, he can tell she has no knowledge of Chinese culture at all. Samantha looks a bit shamed. Finally, she goes to visit some Chinese Muslims and gets a lesson about how long Islam had been in Xian. He tells her since the traders came on the Silk Road. For a Communist country, China sure is religious. Though I'm surprised no one's mentioned Confucius yet. Samantha asks if she is properly dressed and the Chinese kinda skirt around the issue, saying she is properly dressed as a Western woman. She asks if she should be more covered, but is told only if she were to become a Muslim.

After all that walking, Samantha goes to a spa to get pampered. They put her in something I would only wear if I were pregnant and massage her feet--at one point using their hair! Now, I admit I'm one of the most ticklish people on the planet. That massage? Not for me. But it looks very relaxing and she got tea. All for 17 American dollars. Samantha talks about her hotel for a bit, saying most of the Chinese hotels are Western brands but with a Chinese influence. But I remember the hotel she stayed in while in Sichuan and it was gorgeous! And aptly named Shangri-La.

In the last part of the episode, Samantha goes to visit the terra cotta statues that have long guarded the first emperor of China. They've stood there for over 2,200 years old--older than the Catholic Church! Some farmers found them while digging for a well and now they are housed in an airline hangar. They are a big draw for Xian and what put the city back on the map, according to Xian. Each statute is unique as the faces were modelled on actual soldiers.

Samantha made me laugh with this: she says that if there is a major archeological find, then there must be a gift shop. And she finds a place where they make the soldiers as it would've been done 2,200 years ago. Samantha watches and then asks if she can have one. The man (who speaks English) tells her that he can put her face on a soldier's body if she wanted. Samantha ponders this as a way to scare off her neighbors, but the fact that it would take a month to make causes her to say, "Thanks, but no thanks. "

I must say, China in the World Showcase never really made me want to go. Of course, my dad's the only one who doesn't get motion sickness so it's not like we do the 360-movie there. But after watching these Samantha Brown episodes so many times to accurately recap them as well as the rest of the China Week shows, I know want to go. Kinda. If it's that reasonable, I may brave one VERY long plane ride there.

Would you? Tell me!