Visiting My Florida Family With My Sons - Spring Hill and Tarpon Springs

     My older son Jesse was in Mississippi for some computer training with the US Air Force for four months and would be finishing October 19th and have to drive his car all the way home. Coincidentally, I had that week off from the hospital and thought if my younger son Dakota was up for it, we could fly to Florida to visit my family and Jesse could drive there to meet us for a few days before heading back to New Jersey. Considering I had to pick all of my vacation days for the whole year back in January, I was pretty lucky that I just randomly picked days that set me up for what turned out to be a very nice family get-together😊
   I had flown into Florida 24 hours before Dakota so I could spend a little time in Tampa with a friend. I planned to pick him up at the airport where my mom would pick us both up. When his flight got delayed and wouldn't be arriving until 9 pm, my mom was nervous about driving 45 mins. in the dark by herself to get us. Luckily, the delayed flight turned out to be a good thing because my son Jesse arrived at my mom's house in Springhill just on time to drive with my mom to get us, plus I got to have one more nice dinner at Seasons 52 in Tampa.

     It was so nice getting to see my mom and Jesse again since it had been several months since I've seen either of them. We had time to catch up in the car ride back to my moms and continued talking at her house until 1:30 in the morning. Being that my son and I have birthdays September 15th and my mom on the 29th, we decided that we were going to celebrate all of our birthdays once we were together in Florida.

     The next morning I planned for us to go to Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, home of the historic sponge docks. The atmosphere there is so relaxing and inviting. There are many shops, restaurants, and even entertainment... and the weather was perfect when we went! You can take a ride on one of the tour boats, browse in many of the little shops, stop for a cocktail and people-watch, or enjoy the delicious Greek food in the many restaurants.

     My son Dakota has taken an interest in video editing and been mostly capturing people at concerts, clubs and other events, and sometimes just goes out looking for something worth filming. This was a nice change of scenery for him and his camera. We were fortunate enough to be there on a day when Cal Morris (calmorrismusic.com), an amazing violinist was there performing for the people passing by. By the third time we passed him, and after recording him on my cell several times, I decided to buy his CD and I love it! 

   

 I stopped in one of the shops searching for a pair of sunglasses since I left mine in my car in NJ.  They didn't have them but I was able to pick up little trinkets to bring home for my daughter Tiffany and my son's girlfriend Taylor who were home taking care of the animals. I stopped in one more shop and found the sunglasses (photo by Dakota Aiello) and the clerk mentioned Mama's Greek Cuisine was a great place to get Authentic Greek Food, so that's where we went for lunch.

     My mom is a very picky, bland eater but I figured she would find something there she liked.

The appetizers we ordered were Hummus and Pita Bread and Fried Zucchini with Skordalia (Greek potato and garlic dip)...both amazing! My mom is a typical Irish/German "meat and potatoes" person, and unfortunately doesn't like many ethnic foods or spices. After asking the server if they had any "brown gravy" to substitute for the sauce that came with her meal (and of course they did NOT), she had to settle for ranch dressing. My sons and I thought everything was delicious!

     Since I hadn't seen my sister, her family, or my dad yet, I told them that I would cook a pasta dinner at my mom's that night for all of us. I went a little over board at the supermarket buying everything to try to stick to my "animal cruelty-free" way of living, and yet still making food that everyone would enjoy. Of course I had to make home-made sauce (using vegan Italian sausage) for the pasta, salad, garlic bread,  some snacks and desert for the kids, (non-dairy) cheese and crackers, and I bought meatless meatballs. I did tell my sister to bring real meatballs if she wanted them since her family is just as picky as my mom is. I even made spaghetti squash with meat sauce (vegan meatless crumbles) and didn't even bother putting it out! 

     Until my friend Miriam did my family's genealogy chart, none of us new that my mom's paternal grandmother was part Italian because she grew up in France and my grandfather wasn't close with her to know any better. I always wondered where I got this habit of cooking like an old Italian woman (minus the vegan part). When I decide I'm cooking for other people I am in the kitchen for HOURS and cooking everything under the sun, just to have more leftovers than I know what to do with. Now it all makes sense!.

     None of the food mattered anyway because we were all just so happy to finally be spending a few hours together catching up with each other. My sister Tarra works for Barbizon (modeling and acting agency) and travels a lot, so when I go to Florida to visit I usually only see her for a couple of minutes. My sister and her girls do Barrel Racing with their horses and had a race the next day so we didn't get to see each other again before my sons and I all left Sunday to go back to New Jersey. 

     The next day I planned to go to beach with my mom for a while before meeting up with my sons for lunch. Pine Island Park in Springhill is about 20 minutes away from my mom's house. It was always the perfect place to go when my kids were young since it's part of the Gulf of Mexico close enough to the panhandle that the water is extremely shallow and very warm most of the year. The photo of my son and nephew was taken 5 years ago.

There's a playground, snack bar, picnic areas with barbecue grills, and plenty of sand and palm trees for relaxing and sunbathing. My mom doesn't take nearly enough time to herself to stop and enjoy her surroundings so it was so nice spending a couple of hours relaxing and talking with her on the beach.

       My younger son asked my mom to take us to Steak and Shake for lunch, which is popular down there and I figured I could order a salad. The line was too long so my mom brought us to the Golden Corral Buffet because they have a salad bar for me.  Knowing what I do about the meat and dairy industry (aside from working in restaurants years ago), it is very hard for me to go into these types of places and not be repulsed. They must have to buy the cheapest meats, which are usually from slaughter houses with the most inhumane practices; and then to watch all of the food get wasted as people push their half-full plates to the side, just to get more food to waste. I usually include restaurants that have vegetarian/vegan options in my blogs, but I honestly can't recall going to any "healthy" restaurants in all my years visiting my family in Springhill. Of course there are the typical franchises that have salads,pasta, vegetables, etc...but I usually go straight to Publix supermarket and buy food to cook while I'm there. After all, the only reason I go there is to see my family.
   

 Last December I visited for my niece's birthday and also to see how my dad was doing after being sick for a month. My mom and I surprised Alexis at her bus top after school and took her to dinner and to pick out a toy for her birthday. The weather was only about 70 degrees the first week in December, but perfect for taking my nieces to miniature golf and sitting out on a lounge chair in my mom's yard. I even got to see my Godson for a little while!

   

When my youngest was about five years old and able to swim, my mom and I took my kids to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, part of Buccaneer Bay Water Park, located on Commercial Way in Springhill, Florida. It opened in 1947 with the first underwater theater for people to watch the "Mermaids" perform water ballet using special hoses to breathe into. I've been obsessed with Mermaids since I was little, so of course I was ready to quit my day job to go work there! Since then it has grown into a tourist attraction with water slides, beaches, boating, camps for kids, and much more. I'm sure they're not happy about this photo I found!

     My mom has been trying to get me to move down to Florida for so long. I really enjoy going down to her house, and always feel like it's not nearly enough time spent with my family. Years ago,  I even looked into the local hospitals to see about potential jobs for x-ray techs, and I visited the local gyms to see about personal training and teaching group fitness classes. Besides the lack of fitness motivation in her area, or the cut in pay I'd have to take in all of my jobs, I really just like where I live in Secaucus, NJ. I'm spoiled by the convenience of everything near by. Without traffic, I can be in Times Square in 20 minutes, the Jersey Shore in an hour, and West Milford in 50 minutes. My lifelong-friends and all of my other relatives that I cherish near by, not to mention all of my children being right here in Secaucus. I'm not saying I won't ever relocate, but I am saying that Springhill Florida is going to be one of my regular vacation destinations as long as my family is still living there.


   

Tampa With a NY Yankees Fan - Eat, Shop, Relax, Repeat

     The first 24 hours of my trip to Florida this past week was spent in Tampa with a woman I met about 15 years ago at a gym in Secaucus, NJ when she hired me to train her. She's closer to my mother's age, and although we have little in common, we've remained friends ever since.  Miriam Weiner  is a Jewish genealogist, author, and lecturer who specializes in the research of Jewish roots in Poland and the former Soviet Union. Weiner is considered to be one of the pioneers of contemporary Jewish genealogy through her work to open up archives and is described as a trail-blazing, highly respected guide and leading authority on archival holdings and resources in pre-war Belarus, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, and Ukraine. (excerpted from Wikipedia.org). Although I am not Jewish, Miriam has done an extensive family history chart for me that is amazing. I think she was even a little challenged since my Nana's family history traced back to the 1600's!

 
      I got to Tampa's Springhill Suites Marriott in about 6 minutes by Uber coming from Tampa Airport. Miriam was waiting outside for me so we could make it to our 8 pm reservation at Seasons 52 Fresh Grill on Westshore Blvd. The name is appropriate since they change their menu as the seasons change. I was pleased they are currently serving their Harvest blend through November which means a variety of squash and other Fall vegetables to choose from to go with the Malbec wine I ordered. Miriam said some of the New York Yankees players are occasionally spotted in there. I believe she told me she saw Derek Jeter in there during one of her visits.

     I'm not much of a soup person but the Butternut Squash Soup was very good! We then ordered a couple of appetizers, one being the brussel sprouts which was delicious, but luckily after eating one or two the server told me that there were some pieces of bacon mixed in. Thank God I did not chomp down on a piece to find out! I ordered the Roasted Mushroom Flatbread and asked the server to add tomatoes and remove the goat cheese. It was delicious!

     Of course after all of that delicious food, I felt the need to hit the hotel's gym in the morning after our coffee (free continental breakfast). A little workout is better than no workout!  Miriam is a big fan of the New York Yankees, as is most of my mom's family. I grew up watching the Yankees play in the late 1970's when Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, and Lou Piniella played. The George M. Steinbrenner Field (formerly known as Legends Field) located in Tampa, is home of the Tampa Yankees, the New York Yankees' affiliate in the Class A Advanced Florida State League and also the Yankees spring training home. Miriam wanted to take me to their gift shop since she shops there every time she's in Tampa to watch Spring Training. She even bought me a really cute Yankees necklace. My Aunt Ethel (who recently passed away) was a huge Yankee fan and took me to my first Yankees game when I was a child. I thought of her often during this trip and just had to take a photo of Mariano Rivera's plaque when I saw it since he was one of  her favorite players.

     After getting our fill of Yankees souvenirs, we headed over to Barnes and Nobles to look around for a while. I was ready to hit up the Starbucks in there for my second caffeine fix...Iced Coffee with Vanilla Soy Milk. Although I have two other books I've started reading and have been procrastinating with them, I couldn't resist buying another, "Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Man" by Steve Harvey. I'm reading it with an open mind and have to say I have been enjoying it. I think it's great for women to read to get a little insight as to why men don't love and act the same way most women do. The last book I read that I wanted to give to all of my single girlfriends before this was "He's Just Not That Into You" by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, a funny and insightful book. We purchased our books and decided to get some lunch.

     P.F.Chang's is in the Westshore Plaza and has plenty of vegetarian/vegan options that I would eat. We split some sort of Asian Salad that was healthy and tasty and then ordered two entrees to split...the stir-fry eggplant and some sort of Tofu with vegetables. Both were very good but too much to eat, so we wrapped the rest to-go.

     It wouldn't really feel like a Florida vacation to me if I didn't get to sit out by the pool in a bathing suit and get some sun. I took my new journal and my new book and relaxed on a lounge chair. I had the whole pool to myself! I kept thinking that 86 degrees back in NJ feels so much hotter but I guess it's because there was no humidity. It really did feel perfect! Miriam came down to sit in the shade and we just chatted for a while since we didn't have to be anywhere until 7:30 pm, which is when I had to be back at the airport to meet my son who was flying in from NJ.

 

      Miriam and I looked at some brochures to see what else there is to do in Tampa. The Tampa Riverwalk is something to check out had we more time. Not only is it very "exercise-friendly" with people walking, jogging etc...but there are many shops, restaurants, parks, and museums to keep busy all day. We also looked into some of the dinner cruises such as Yacht Star Ship Cruises & Events, Star Lite Dining Yachts, and a more family-oriented cruise called The Pirate Ship Royal Conquest. 

     The whole reason I was in Florida last week was to visit my family who lives in Springhill, Florida and fortunately I was able to fly in a day earlier to spend the day with Miriam. I planned to have my sons meet me there since it's been five years since my younger son Dakota had been down to see his grandfather, aunt, and cousins. My older son Jesse just finished four months of computer training in Mississippi for the US Air Force and drove to meet us for a mini-vacation.

     I found a photo of my son at the airport from the last trip we took 5 years ago and couldn't resist taking another photo of him sitting in the same spot waiting for my mom to pick us up. The rest of my trip was spent in Springhill and Tarpon Springs, Florida. To be continued...

          

Witches, Goblins, and Halloween Treats in Salem, Massachusetts

     With Halloween right around the corner and decorations in stores and on homes, I was reminded of a trip I took with my kids years ago to Salem, Massachusetts.  Salem is on the north coast above Boston and famous for it's 1692 witch trials, during which several locals were executed for practicing witchcraft. There are several landmarks there to visit to make Halloween extra spooky! The Witch House, was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin who investigated claims of diabolical activity when a surge of witchcraft accusations arose. This house is the only structure still standing with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 (photo from Wikipedia).

     1n 1692 14 men and 6 women were accused of being witches, were tried, convicted and executed. The Witch Trails Memorial consists of 20 granite benches inscribed with the names of the accused and the means and date of execution.

It is located in an area surrounding the old burying point (photo from www.salemweb.com).  If you want to get that creepy, Halloween feeling then you should visit the Salem Witch Museum.  I can't tell you how cool the exhibits were on the inside because my younger son was only about 5 years old and was too freaked out to go anywhere past the gift shop!
     There are many historic sites, landmarks and museums to see in Salem and most are within walking distance. If you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle, then stroll down to the Derby Wharf Light Station which has aided navigation in Salem since it was first lit in 1871 (photo from www.nps.gov).

     After all of the walking around you are definitely going to need some food to refuel for more sightseeing! At the time of my visit 15 years ago, I wasn't vegan and don't remember where I stopped to eat, but I always search for healthy/vegan options now when I travel.  You can stop by Adea's Mediterranean Kitchen on Lafayette Street for a good fast food/take-out lunch. They are vegan-friendly, with Israeli, Kosher, and American choices. Looking for a slice of pizza? Try the Flying Saucer Pizza Company on Washington Street in Salem. It has a unique Alien/Sci-fi decor with vegetarian and vegan options as well.
     Salem Willows Arcade and Park is an oceanfront destination with plenty of games,  kiddie rides, tennis/basketball courts, and beaches with a view of the Salem Harbor and North Shore Coast. It was established in 1858 and named for it's abundance of majestic White Willow Trees planted in 1801 to form a shaded walk for the patients at a nearby smallpox hospital. Salem Willows has a history of Jazz since Duke Ellington played there as well as Count Basie and Louis Armstrong at the old Charleshurst Ballroom, now known as the Willows Casino Arcade. Although there is plenty of food available to purchase, you might want to pack your own food if you're following a plant-based diet or have any food restrictions and take advantage of the picnic area.
     It seems strange that I was unable to locate any of my own photos from this trip, but even if I found them, I'm sure the quality wouldn't be very good. I'll be sure to photograph and share some other cool places during my next trip to Salem. Feel free to comment if you have a favorite place there to explore!

My Birthday Getaway Part 2 - New Paltz, NY

   

     The first time I went to visit Woodstock Farm Sanctuary two years ago with my family we passed through the quaint little town of New Paltz, NY. I thought it looked like a great place to hang out but we had an agenda that day and didn't stop. When I signed up to volunteer with my daughter at the farm for the first time I thought it would be fun to find a room in that area the night before so we could explore the town that I originally found so appealing.

   New Paltz is the home to State University of New York (SUNY), a four-year public liberal arts college in the Hudson Valley region of New York. It is not uncommon on any given day to see college-aged people walking around with book bags or musical instruments hanging out in the coffee shops, music stores and of course the many pubs of the area. Each time my daughter and I visit we try to spend some time in a different store, restaurant, or pub. The sweatshirt she's wearing in the photo under the peace sign was a gift I bought her from Mixture Inc (48 Main St.) during our first visit to New Paltz. Since it was a weeknight and many of the shops close earlier, we decided to keep moving.

     As tempting as it is for many to indulge in an old-fashioned chocolate shop, I don't eating any dairy products and also try to avoid sugar as much as possible...unless it's in a wine glass in the form of red wine! For some reason, I cannot resist going into an old bookstore though. Inquiring Minds Bookstore is open later than most of the other shops, so Tiffany and I always stop in there to browse (and sometimes purchase) at some point during our trip to New Paltz.

   

     As we walked down Main Street we found the Water Street Village, which is like a mini European-inspired village in which all of it's little shops are independently owned and operated. We stopped in Paws of Distinction to get a snack to bring home for our dog, Willie. Apparently Friday nights are "Yappy Hour" for the furry friends, but I'm not sure exactly what goes on since my dog doesn't play nice with other dogs. Some of the other unique shops we stopped into were Eden Boutique, Himalayan Arts, and the Antiques Barn where we spent time looking at so many old collectibles, knick knacks, old furniture, jewelry, and books like the Nancy Drew Mystery collection that I remembered my cousin Lori reading when we were kids.

     Many of the shops were closing by 5 pm so we stopped in Jar'd Wine Pub during Happy Hour. Something about this intimate little funky pub put me in the mood to try one of their Port wines which was very good. Although they do have some snacks to pick on, we decided to move on to the next place to see if we could find something I would eat.  I have to say that New Paltz is a great place to be when you're vegan because many places have meatless and nondairy food options!
   

     Right across the lawn from the Water Street Market is this Bohemian type of boutique called Groovy Blueberry. I thought for sure I'd end up buying an outfit there, but I didn't want to walk around carrying bags.They sell all sorts of Tie-Dyed clothing, toe rings and other jewelry, baby clothes, patches, and many other gifts you don't see in the malls.

 

     A coworker told me about Gilded Otter Brewing Company (3 Main St.) which has a large bar, plenty of tables for eating and a friendly atmosphere. I'm not really a beer drinker so I just ordered a glass of red wine with our appetizer. They had a nice vegetarian platter of hummus with pita and Dolmadokia (grape leave wraps stuffed with rice and herbs).  That held us over while we played a couple of games of pool at Snugs Tavern, also right on Main Street.

   

      For my birthday this year, my boyfriend offered to pay for the vegan B & B I love to go to, so I planned to stay in the Hungry Ghost Guesthouse again with my daughter and volunteer the next day at the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. This  B & B is owned by a very nice couple who are hospitable and keep a very beautiful and clean home. Petra is always trying out new vegan recipes to serve her guests in the morning and accommodates for any food allergies. She was even so thoughtful as to put a birthday candle into my pancakes in the morning! The photo to the right is the back of the house, which we spend most of our time when we're there.
   

     We didn't know the first visit time visiting that there was a hot tub but we made good use of it on a chilly spring night. This last time it was very hot even though it was September 15th so we brought our bathing suits and did some sunbathing on the deck, read magazines, and drank Sangria that I brought with us before heading out for dinner.

     After baking in the sun for a while we decided to go out and grab an appetizer at one of our favorite places, Bacchus Restaurant and Bar. They have these delicious "Tofu Wings" that have a buffalo-type sauce, but if you're looking for the "vegan" version they can make a Thai sauce instead. We walked around and stopped into one of the few shops opened late called Kon-Tiki Trading Co. which sells ethnic clothing/accessories, natural herbal tobacco, sterling silver jewelry, etc...

        After walking around a bit more we stopped into McGillicuddy's Restaurant and Tap House. The bartender gave us a drink menu and the first thing I saw was "The Birthday Bowl"...free drink inside the fishbowl if you can prove it's your birthday. How could I resist that on my birthday? We shared that and a plate of french fries and called it a night!

     Most of our visits have been limited to about 24 hours from start to finish so we still have not seen all of what New Paltz has to offer. Nearby is the Mohonk Preserve in the majestic Shawangunk Mountains, a perfect place to enjoy nature at it best! The Mohonk Mountain House is an upscale resort for golf, dining and a variety of spa treatments available, besides all of the activities offered to their guests.

     My daughter and I have been perfectly happy spending time at the B & B since it is set back in the woods surrounded by nature. Considering my own condo back home is located 15 minutes from New York City, I feel a tremendous sense of relaxation and rejuvenation during my little getaways.  I love waking up and having my coffee out on the back porch and writing in my journal. It gives me time to reflect on all of the good things I have in my life, the amazing family and friends I'm surrounded by and all of the experiences the universe has to offer me...and I got to have another blessed birthday :)

My Birthday Getaway Part 1 - High Falls and Rosendale New York

   

     Two years ago I attended the NYC Vegetarian Festival in New York City for the first time. It was amazing to see so many tables set up selling vegan/vegetarian food, cosmetics, clothing, and other organic and cruelty-free products that do not test on animals in their production. Many of the vendors give free samples to help promote their business.
     One of the pamphlets I took was from the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary which was in the process of moving their location to a larger piece of property in High Falls, NY. They offer tours on weekends during the warmer months and are always looking for volunteers, which I knew I'd want to sign up for! You can go to their website for more information about visiting, volunteering and donating to help support their efforts at http://woodstocksanctuary.org/.

     I had been living a vegan lifestyle for about 8 years at that time because of the cruelty that goes on in the slaughter houses. My birthday is September 15, as well as my first son who had returned from being in Germany for 2 years with the US Air Force. I decided that for my birthday I wanted my kids and boyfriend (none who where vegan at that time) to come with me to visit this farm that had many different farm animals that had been rescued from some kind of cruel treatment and even those which survived what many animal rights activists call an "animal holocaust" (http://ethicalvegan.net/read/animal-holocaust).
     I was so excited for all of us to be going and really hoped it would make some sort of impact on my family and make them think twice before wanting to eat cows and pigs anymore. We brought fruit and vegetables to donate for the animals to snack on. Although we missed the tour, we walked around and heard some of the stories of how one little pig escaped a slaughterhouse and was brought in by a nearby resident that only owned horses. My heart broke when I saw a young cow wearing prosthetic boots on her front legs. I found out that she was born onto a concrete slab in a slaughterhouse, injured her legs, and didn't get proper medical treatment. Somehow she was rescued by someone who cared enough to give her a better life and brought her to Woodstock Farm Sanctuary. Now Fawn is living a happy life on a farm for the remaining of her years on earth.

     When we got to the goats' barn I saw one standing on 3 legs eating some hay. One of his front legs was sticking out to the side, clearly not the way it was supposed to be. Apparently his shoulder was broken from mistreatment wherever he previously was and it was never set properly, but instead just left to be in pain and eventually disfigured for the rest of his life.

When we visited Woodstock Farm we were told that at that point he was not in pain and functioning fine the way he was. There are so many animals with a sad story from the chickens with frostbitten toes from traveling in trucks in freezing temperatures, to the turkeys with their beaks cut so they wouldn't peck at each other while in too close of quarters, to Puddles the duck who was raised as a domestic house duck and then given away like one of the millions of cats in animal shelters around the world.
     I'm pretty sure my family enjoyed the visit and looked at farm animals a little bit differently since then. My older son has been mostly vegan for a couple of years, my daughter has been vegetarian for several years, and my other other is not quite there but only has vegan/vegetarian options when he is home.

I feel that for every bit of effort each person makes to eat less animal products, that's more animals living a happier life. It's all about supply and demand.

       After walking around the property and visiting all of the different types of animals, we asked the volunteers for suggestions of places we could go to eat that I could get a vegan meal. We took their suggestion and went to The Rosendale Cafe on Main Street in Rosendale, NY. Although it was a Saturday afternoon and their was nothing going on at the time, I could tell by looking at the place that it had a lot to offer besides good food with vegan/vegetarian options. I ordered an eggplant sandwich with basil pesto, roasted red peppers, lettuce, tomato and onion with nondairy cheese on a baguette...so yummy!

     Tuesday nights is Singer-Songwriter night from 8-10 pm with performers playing 15-minute sets. Thursdays are Salsa nights with lessons 7:30-8:30 for $10 and dancing until 10 pm. This Sunday, Sept. 24th will be free Celtic music at 4:30 with Sarah Underhill and Ian Worpole starting their 12th season of Sunday afternoon Celtic song & tune. You can check out www.rosedalecafe.com for more a full menu an upcoming events.

     

    I'm so excited that the New Jersey Vegfest will be in my home town of Secaucus, NJ at the Meadowlands Convention Center October 7th & 8th from 10 am to 5:30 pm (njvegfest.com) with several very interesting speakers -Saturday, October 7 Keynote Speakers: T. Colin Campbell & Gene Baur and October 8 Keynote Speaker Dr. Joel Furhman.

I've met Gene Baur, co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary, when I volunteered at the NYC Walk For Farm Animals a few years ago in Central Park, NY.  Gene was one of the pioneers in undercover investigations and was instrumental in passing the first US laws banning inhumane factory farming practices. I found his book Farm Sanctuary to be very heartfelt and inspiring.

     Since visiting the farm on my birthday two years ago, my daughter and I have gone several times to volunteer, including last weekend for my birthday again. We stay over night and make a mini vacation out of it, which I'll be writing about in Part 2 of my "My Birthday Getaway" blog...