NJ/PA/NY

For the first time in my professional career, I flew for work. Big work. Not only was I excited about the opportunity to test my "travelling" skills, but also the opportunity presented itself to see family that I had not seen in 18 years. (I must also admit that this trip helped serve a selfish goal of at least matching, if not surpassing, the number of significant historical sites that my younger brothers have seen. I think at this point the main only serious piece of history that I have seen that they haven't is the childhood home of Ronald Reagan.)

Wednesday, August 17th

My initial impressions of Philadelphia were not good. The only redeeming edifice I saw between Philadelphia International and Mullica Hill, NJ was Citizen's Bank Park. Inspired to experience Americana, I flipped on the radio broadcast of Phils and the Nats. Alternatively, refineries do not make for spectacular scenery. Although I must admit that the refinery stacks amid the carpet of decidous green looked strangely sci-fi, however ugly. Once I entered the Garden State, the scenery improved drastically. The windows came down, the speed increased, and the prospect of cheese steaks got closer. Reaching Aunt Pat and Uncle Butch's was quite honestly, like coming home. It was a home filled with familiar laughter, overt shades of Grandma, and cheese steaks (although Uncle Butch certainly was not impressed with Jim's Pizza steaks for they were a bit dry).

Thursday August 18th

Philadelphia traffic isn't all that bad. . . at 6AM. Once through Philadelphia proper I was very pleased with the scenery on the way to BPC-East in E. Greenville, PA. The actual details of the visit to this potential client are quite boring in print. However, here in the middle of nowhere PA, right next to BPC-East was the Blommer Chocolate Company. The Blommer Chocolate Company [www.blommer.com] in PA is a subsidiary of the same company downtown Chicago (the factory is located just off the Metra on Canal). Interestingly enough they manufacture bulk chocolate, either shipped in tanker trucks or huge frozen blocks to companies like Hershey, Mars, etc. In any event, the remainder of my afternoon was spent in the shadow of the Revolutionary War. I was thoroughly pleased with the feel and history of Valley Forge, PA. I'm happy to send additional pictures if anyone would like to see them. The picture I've included here probably made the most impression on me during my visit. Enscribed with the purpose, "To the Mothers of The Nation", this statue's significance hit me in the sweet spot. In the cause of liberty, sons began giving their lives for our country at Valley Forge. In the cause of libery, sons continue giving their lives for our country in Iraq and elsewhere. Nuff said.