Day 29 - 101 Days of Awesome

I ate pretty well in Philadelphia, but we made it to New York today. There's a different energy in New York, and the kids really pick up on it.The first day is usually pretty simple. We hit a bit of 5th Ave (today it was mostly FAO Schwartz), go to dinner, then Top of the Rock. But it still feels like a full day of New York. It's just an awesome city.

Day 28 - 101 Days of Awesome

Adrian!

Philadelphia! I missed out on running the Rocky steps last year, but I was there for the excitement this year. And while that was awesome, it can't compete with the awesomeness of Reading Terminal Market. It's the best place to eat. We ate lunch there today and we'll be back tomorrow.

I enjoy the roast pork sandwich from DiNics (as does everyone else in the world - it's one of the top sandwiches. It is sliced roast pork on a delicious roll with sharp provolone. Then I opted for sweet peppers, though purists prefer the broccoli rab.

Roast Pork sandwich from DiNic's

Also in the RTM is the best cannoli I've ever had. However, it's the only place I've ever eaten a cannoli. Still, it's one of the greatest things in the world. The Amish also sell some baked goods and sweets. The ice cream is amazing. There's tons of other amazing food swarming the place.

Yeah, the history here is incredible. We'll be at Independence Hall tomorrow morning, and we'll see the Liberty Bell and some Benjamin Franklin stuff. But Rocky and great food. That's what it's about right now.

Day 27 - 101 Days of Awesome

I can't remember anyone telling me that the Marine Corp Memorial (Iwo Jima) was their favorite memorial. But I think it just gets overshadowed by the others. People never look up at it then keep walking. Everyone stops to enjoy it. It's pretty awesome.

Day 26 - 101 Days of Awesome

Our morning was filled with a visit to the amazing (and awesome) Arlington National Cemetery. We usually include a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but we weren't able to schedule one this year. Still, it's a part of DC that is essential for any visit.

Day 25 - 101 Days of Awesome

This is the new MLK Memorial. It wasn't open last time we were here. I thought the pictures of it were ok - it's much more impressive in person.

Day 24 - 101 Days of Awesome

The next awesome thing is Easter!

Just kidding. Easter sucks.

Tonight we leave for my eighth DC trip. It all started so long ago in Spring Break 2000. We went to DC for three days then New York for two. We went again the next year. September 11 kept the next trip from happening. So our next was in 2003. We took seventh and eighth graders that year to make sure we had enough people. Since then, we've gone every other year. In 2011, I added an extra day in Philadelphia. I think that got the trip at just the right length. Plus, we get a sweet cheese steak.

So while this installment is on the trip in general, for the next week my Days of Awesome will be live from the trip. I'm sure I can find something pretty awesome each day.

Day 23 - 101 Days of Awesome

Sometimes, it's just as simple as a picture. This is one of my favorite internet pictures ever. It just works.

Day 22 - 101 Days of Awesome

Get it on! This day brings the best of the 70s. You have your horn sections. You have some wahwah guitar. He's singing about sex without saying it nor covering it up. Take a listen for yourself and GET IT ON!

Day 21 - 101 Days of Awesome

I love chocolate. I know I'm really going putting myself out there, but I can't deny it. My favorite chocolate bar, however, isn't readily sold in the US. I can find it in Canada and throughout Europe with no problem. But it takes a bit of a search around here. It's the Aero Bar.

This thing isn't really about the chocolate flavor. It's the bubbles - the air pockets that go through the whole bar, as you can see in the picture. I don't know exactly what it is about it, but it works.

Hershey tried it's own version of this about a year ago. It's in stores. But it's not the same. This is one of the reasons I'm looking forward to heading back to Europe. It's the easy availability of the awesome Aero Bar.

Day 20 - 101 Days of Awesome

The Simpsons! I have to admit first that I don't usually watch first run episodes of The Simpsons anymore. When I do, there's usually a few funny bits in it. It's right up there with most other shows on the air today. But it's not the laugh-every-minute show that it once was.

That fifth through tenth season is filled with some of the funniest stuff ever. I'll put any random episode up against the prime best episodes of Seinfeld or South Park. There's a reason why South Park did the whole "The Simpsons already did it" bit.

The best part is that they have jokes on many levels. When I've shown The Simpsons in class, the dumb slower kids had just as much to laugh at as the rest of us. 

Without the Simpsons, its quite possible that people would still think that you can, in fact, win friends with salad.