Monday, June 5th

 I slept so good last night, better than I had in years. When we awoke, Bob made coffee and we had coffee and NY bagels on Antoinettes new deck.

Because of the wildfires in Canada, the air quality was very poor. We wanted to relax a bit, so we hung out and caught up. Then, we got in the car and drove past many of my childhood and teenage haunts, like the Grove St home I grew up in, my high school, SUNY Albany, and then the cemetery where our family members were buried. Discovered my father was an army sergeant. Meanwhile, Ana and Matt were attending Albany library sleuthing. I have a half sister whom I have been searching for since 1983. Both my son and his daughter (16 years old) are very good researchers. Unfortunately, although they dug up new info, they are at a dead-end in finding my sister.

At the cemetery, we got to see Lisa, Antoinette's sister. It was wonderful to see her. Serendipity!

Gina and Janine came by to see us. We love these two characters so much

 They cracked us up all afternoon.

For dinner--fantastic chicken fajitas. Some wine on the porch then bed. A full, satisfying day.

Albany has changed while remaining the same. I miss my hometown and the Damianos so very much.

Sunday, June 4, Denver>Orlando>Stewart airport (Newburgh)>Poughkeepsie Amtrak>Albany

 I hate Frontier Airlines. First plane Den>Orlando delayed departure by an hour because cleaning crew did not show up. We had only an hour before our next (connecting) flight was leaving (45 min before door closed). Couldn't pull into our assigned gate because another plane was still there. Now, our next flight to Stewart Airport in Newburgh is delayed by more than 2.5 hours because there is no crew (pilot). So I worried the whole flight from Denver that we'd miss this flight, now there's a possibility we'll miss our Amtrak train to Albany. I've edited our Lyft pickup time twice. We need to Lyft or Uber to the Poughkeepsie Amtrak from Stewart Airport in Newburgh and take Amtrak to Albany. Meanwhile.... what a revolting development this is. LOL! Did I already say I hate Frontier?--Worst-run airline of all.

When we arrived at the Albany Amtrak, Heath (Antoinette's husband) picked us up.

Antoinette had made meatballs (delicious) so we made yummy meatball subs. Up fairly late talking, then to bed in our great guest bedroom.

 June 3, Saturday

We leave tomorrow for another adventure. Since we'll be gone longer on this trip, we are each paying for a carry-on bag. Uber picks us up at 2:40 AM. We arrive in Albany at 7:45 PM (after a flight from Den>Orlando, then Orlando.Hudson Valley Airport, then an UBER to Poughkeepsie Amtrak, then an Amtrak from Poughkeepsie> Albany. Won't this be fun?

Still trying to pick a way home--maybe train from Merrick (LIRR) to PENN (Amtrak) to Philadelphia. Then Philadelphia nonstop to Denver IF we can get a ticket (remember, we can only reserve flight the day before. UGH!

We're both packed and it's only 1:30 PM, Bob is on his way to drop off Sasha with her stuff, then bed early.