Back from Baltimore! A quick synopsis: Met Betty at the Northfield Days Inn about 3:00 on Monday. Because her house is in disarray while the bathroom is being renovated, she suggested we stay over there. We went over to Boscov's, then Muckie met us for dinner at the Shore Diner.
Got an early start on Tuesday, first going to Muckie's to leave my car. After losing our way a a few times, we arrived at The Ritz Carlton Residence, right on the waterfront, by 11:00.
The place is pretty impressive: huge, beautifully appointed, and staffed with a multitude of smiling flunkies. Patrick and Susan, the three children, and the nanny now live in a large rental, but are considering buying a bigger one. They put brother Frank and Marybeth, Betty and me in a first floor suite and, bey, a family of ten could live in it: a big foyer, huge living room, dining room, kitchen, lounge, three bath and every amenity. Susan went out and bought all kinds of breakfast, lunch, and dinner ingredients, as well as wine and beer, to stock the place. She took us across the street to the art museum restaurant, where we had a delicious lunch--pan trout and a local beer for me--and a good time. Kelen, 3 1/2, was at nursery school, and we took Gabrielle, 2 1/2 with us, with Jameson, 9 months home with Nanny Connie. I tried to grab the check, but Susan got to it first (good thing, as it came to over #200).
Back, we awaited Kelan, then his Daddy, who has a pretty gruelling work day at Johns Hopkins. An exciting development there is that he's on the team assembled to perform full face transplants. Interesting, when I mentioned I had just read Roger Ebert's autobiography, he said one of the team members had performed one of the surgeries on Ebert's face. Unfortunately, that failed as had the others.
I went out for a walk along the waterfront after lunch. Frank had planned to join me but, unfortunately, he had thrown his back out and couldn't do it. Got up early on Wednesday and did the same, although it was much cooler and very windy.
Patrick, poor guy, drove to the D.C. airport to pick up Maureen, Swarupp, and the two children (Ezekiel 3 and Leila, 2),coming in from California. Plane was late and they didn't get in until 2 am.
I got up early and walked again, but it was cool and windy and I stayed on the street. We were all together on Wednesday, the adults mostly sitting and talking, the children tearing around wildly. Had good talk and good food. Frank loved the book I made him--that was the project and I'll try to post pictures here later--and so did his children.
We said our goodbyes about 2:00, then went on our way. Called Helen C. from the car and met her at the Crab Trap for an early dinner. Got my car at Muckie's and was home shortly after 7 pm after an enjoyable visit.