Gifts | BenSpark Family Adventures

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. Today we had a Nor’ Easter here in Massachusetts. Where I worked there was snow all day and we got sent home early because of the bad road conditions. At home the weather was warmer and there was rain. However, earlier in the day there was snow and freezing rain. Since we all had work today and the bulk of the snow came after we left there was much to do upon return to the house.

When I got home Tara was already shoveling the driveway (we have a rather large driveway that we usually do with two snowblowers now that Tara and Erik live here and have a snowblower). I changed and got our there to shovel as well. Since it was raining I did not want to wear my winter hat, I wanted to keep completely dry on the top of my head. Well, the only thing I have that is completely waterproof is my ski helmet. So that is what I wore. Plus if I slipped and fell on my ass I would have a safe head. We got the driveway completely clear of snow and slush, just in time for it to freeze over. The driveway will be a slip and slide tomorrow morning.

Today is Valentine’s Day and Allison and I exchanged gifts today. Allison got me the complete series of The Office, The BBC version. I am so eager to watch this. I picked up Allison some lovely flowers because now we have a room where she can appreciate them and the cats are prevented from eating them or knocking them over. I also got her a gift certificate to the Kitting store down the street.

I hope everyone had a nice Valentine’s Day.

Today Allison and I went to Providence to see Dublin Carol starring William Peterson from CSI. Allison got me tickets for our 1 year anniversary. We started the day with lunch at Fire + Ice.

Dinner/Late Lunch at Fire + Ice was a fun experience. At Fire + Ice you pick out the food that you want to have cooked. Then you pick a sauce to go with it. You pile up your bowl of ingredients.

I would not go with crayfish again but the sauce was very good and everything else in the bowl was good too.

We each made two trips up to the food stations and tried a couple concoctions. It was a fun experience. I think it would be a good time with a large group of people as well, but it was equally good with just the two of us.

After Fire + Ice we walked to Trinity Rep to see Dublin Carol. We passed through Waterplace Park and up past the Dunkin Donuts center on the Way to Trinity Rep.

Waterplace Park

The play was very good, dark humor, some of it depressing, but I think that there was hope there at the end. William Peterson was excellent as John. Rachel Warren was Mary, John’s daughter and she was also the lead in the Play Edwin Drood that we saw last year. After the show there was a 20 minute discussion with the Creative Director of Trinity Rep. That was interesting.

We drove over to Derek and Michelle’s to visit them at the annual New Year’s Party. It was low key this year because Nicholas was born 2 months ago and the new parent’s have a lot on their plates. Neil and Andrea were there as well as Matt and Beth. We took turns playing with Derek’s Nintendo Wii. I really want to get one of those things now. I made a Mii character that looks very much like me, we all agreed that I translate well into cartoon. Scary.