The Wormus Family Blogs America

Passing over an inlet

2009-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Boarding back home

2009-05-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

M&Ms - they rot your teeth but make you smile :)

2009-05-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

NYPD Blue + Assault rifle = awesome

2009-05-24T14:29:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Sisters in central park

2009-05-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Central park

2009-05-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Rocking with Black Dog

2009-05-23T20:57:00.000-07:00

Mia by a skinny building.

2009-05-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Fleet week

2009-05-22T16:09:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Coming around after circling Manhattan

2009-05-22T16:02:00.001-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Circle line - so far we've done car, plane, taxi, subway and boat.

2009-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Found some friends

2009-05-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Weeeeeee (this is actually a pretty good ride)

2009-05-22T12:05:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Mia on Ferris Wheel in Toys 'r Us

2009-05-22T12:02:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Nekid Cowboy

2009-05-22T11:46:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Union Square

2009-05-22T09:51:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

We have a landing!

2009-05-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Prepare for takeoff

2009-05-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Words not to use on a plane

2009-05-22T05:16:00.001-07:00

After listening to annie and Mia talk throwing words around like
"CRASH", "SAFE" and "SWINE FLU" I decided trhat it ould be prudent to
do a little writeup about what words are simply not safe for airplane
(NSFA) use.

This list of words is so EXPLOSIVE that as I created my list I felt
like I was doing something wrong by just acknowledging that the list
exists.

Oops we are taxiing so I need to shut my phone off... this blog entry
totally BOMBED.

It's going to be a great flight the rain is clearing up. Nice rainbow
outside. I bet at the end of it there is a leprechaun (sp?) with ONE
HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN GOLD BULLION.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Wormus family does NYC

2009-05-22T04:27:00.001-07:00

Welcome back to "Wormus Family Blogs America"!

This time we are off for a 4-Day weekend in the Big Apple. We don't
have a fixed itinerary, but on the list of things we are planning to
do are:

- Empire State Building (going all the way up)
- 3-hour circle line cruise around the island
- Central park
- Time Square

Want to thank Liz & Ken for putting us up to this. It's going to be awesome!!!

Check back often for updates.

Aaron, Stella, Annie and Mia

--
Sent from my mobile device

Obligatory picture of a random airplane

2009-05-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

Aaron Wormus
Managing Director, HedgeCo Websites

HedgeCo Networks
400 Clematis St. Suite 205
33401 FL

Phone: 561 835 8690
Web: http://www.hedgeco.net

Sound asleep after a long day

2009-04-10T20:24:00.001-07:00

Mia and food

2009-04-10T07:09:00.001-07:00

Mia waiting for her food at Ihop

2009-04-10T07:01:00.001-07:00

Annie's braces

2009-02-19T10:37:00.001-08:00

Waiting for gas

2008-08-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

With hurricane fay on its way everyone is taking the opportunity to tank up.

Here at costco we have 6 lanes and 7 cars in each lane. I bet they are all running their ACs.

Phelps' Mom Rocks

2008-08-16T20:16:00.000-07:00

Whoever had the bright idea to wire her for sound wasn't that bright.

Got back in time to watch the final relay race. Awesome - these olympics have been great (its good being at home and watching in HD).
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And we're back home

2008-08-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

10 days and 2510 miles travelled - its good to be back :)

Will start to upload pictures in the next few days. I will blog about each batch that I do.

Tomorrow we are driving (yes you heard that correctly) down to ft. Lauderdale for a BBQ, so I'm looking at that as a 110 mile addendum to this journey!
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3 hours later

2008-08-16T15:28:00.000-07:00

We are still 10 miles from Jacksonville. We REALLY need to start moving.

Bought a couple shirts, stack of books, coffee grinder, baking trays, and are now in line to pay for 2 pairs of kids shoes.

Annie reminded me that "if we didn't stop here we would be home already." All I can say is "I know."
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On our way back (sorta)

2008-08-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

After a delightful visit with Loxy and Spike (http://www.loxyfady.com) and seeing some of Jacksonville, we started on the last leg of our journey.

Jacksonville to West Palm Beach - 280 miles.

We drove about 10 miles before we saw an Outlet center where we are now. Not exactly sure what we are looking for.
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Jacksonville

2008-08-16T09:08:00.001-07:00

Spent the night in Jacksonville. Wille be on our way home soon.

Dinner with ElizabethN

2008-08-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

This one came a little late. Was a lot of fun.

In Nashville TN

2008-08-14T16:12:00.000-07:00

Started from cincy at 9:30, got to Mammoth Cave, KY at around noon (1pm central time).

We took the 2 mile "historic tour" of Mammoth Cave. Very cool, took a zillion pictures many of which will be out of focus (focusing in the dark sucks). Tried to blog but there were no bars.

Talking about bars the AT&T building here in Nashville is stunning.

Anyway, we're going right through Nashville, will find some place to stay en route to Jacksonville, FL. Probably in 2 or 3 hours.
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US baseball team

2008-08-13T11:24:00.000-07:00

Where did these guys come from? Whoever they are, they are getting their asses handed to them by the Koreans.
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Its almost over

2008-08-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

In a little more than 12 hours we will be starting our long trek back to west palm beach.

Why are vacations always feel shorter than they are?

Having said that, we still have 5 days left and am already starting to itch to get back to work, and get the kids off to school.

In an hour we'll head off for an evening at Kings Island and some time at aunt Julie's then tomorrow we hit Mammoth Caves and Nashville, which will be fun.

My battery is starting to die :(
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I have found a cure from sleeplessness

2008-08-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

Its called "Atlas Shrugged" most boring 650,000 words ever listened to.

Whoever decided that it would be a good idea to make an audio version of the book was sadly mistaken. It's like 24 hours long. The premise looks interestimg, but it is pushing my ADD a bit too far :)
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Mmmmm, Skyline Chilli

2008-08-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

After driving aroung for an hour looking for a place that would satisfy everyone's culinary desires, I made an executive decision and went for Skyline.

Was planning on taking a picture for my non-cincinnati based friends, but the food was do good I didn't think about it till just now.

The kids are outside, and I am about to lay down and succumb to lunch-coma. Hey, I'm on vacation after all.
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Ohio river

2008-08-12T10:08:00.001-07:00

Enjoying the park.

2008-08-12T10:07:00.000-07:00

We had a great day yesterday - after a lazy morning of gardening, reading and olympics we had dinner at Sam and Bobs (who have the most awesome basement ever).

Walking through a consevatory now. Will post the pictures over the weekend.

These are coming out of order because of a loss of signal :)
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Walking with great grandma

2008-08-12T10:02:00.001-07:00

Log from the petrified forrest

2008-08-12T10:01:00.001-07:00

At Eden park

The reason for my silence

2008-08-11T12:33:00.001-07:00

That's a lot of trimming right there.

I finished Colour of magic, which turned out to be pretty good. And got half way through I am America, and so can you which you probably have to be a big Colbert fan to appreciate.

Rendezvous with Rama and Colour of Magic

2008-08-11T04:10:00.000-07:00

Just finished Arthur C. Clark's Rendezvous with Rama, great book - loved it :)

Colour of Magic, not so much.

I am not sure if it is something that I have against audio books. I have never been able to give audio books the time and attention they need, maybe that is why I don't enjoy them as much as regular books.

My first problem with audio books is that I usually read twice as fast as the books are read. I also skim over sections which I don't feel are crutial to the book (usually just a paragraph here or there.

Being a bit ADD distractions are a big issue for me. When reading a book that stimulates the imagination, I regularly find that I have stopped reading and am just thinking about it. If I am not distracted by my own wandering brain, there is a pretty good chance that I will be disrupted by one of the kids running over and asking me to do/get something for me.

All that to say, being easily distractable does not make audio books easy to "read". With dead tree books all I have to do is look back at my page, it's almost impossible to skip back x number of minutes/seconds and try to figure out what was the last thing you remember hearing.

I shouldn't blame Colour of Magic on audiobooks, I did try to read the paperback a couple years ago and gave up on it as well.
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2 busy 2 blog

2008-08-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

Been hanging out with the family - went to a water park today, aquarium tomorrow and Kings Island on Wednesday.

Have not had access to the interweb, so pt no pot pics yet, but I will upload them when i get heme.

Off to dinner now.
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Annie and Mia harvest Strawberries

2008-08-09T06:22:00.001-07:00

Watching the Opening Ceremony

2008-08-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

I'm betting that at least a quarter of the 300 million that they spent was spent on that 230 ft. LED screen.

Very impressive!
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Welcome to Ohio

2008-08-08T13:08:00.001-07:00

1085 miles from west palm beach. Finally in cincinnati now on to Reading.

Welcome to Kentucky

2008-08-08T09:10:00.001-07:00

Had a bit of stop and go traffic in the final foothills of TN but things are smooth now.

Mia catches some z's

2008-08-08T08:17:00.001-07:00

Photo by Annie.

The technology that powers us

2008-08-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

794 miles from West Palm Beach - wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the technology that we're using on the trip.

Blogging: Basic platform is Google's blogger.com. Since I own a server which hosts several blogs, it may seem like common sense to just create a simple Wordpress account and use that. The choice to use blogger was because of the simplicity/speed of the setup as well as the moblogging features available.

Moblogging: Mobile blogging requires both a platform that accepts posts from mobile devices, as well as mobile devices capable of transmitting the content.

For blog entries, like this one, i am using email on my blackberry 8700 and the email-to-blogger interface. For the blog entries that have images, i am using Sella's Blackberry Pearl and the mms-to-blogger interface to post them. I have been VERY happy with the keyboard on the pearl, it is easy to use and i could easily get used to it.

The best part about this platform is that it is totally free (discounting th $20/month internet package on my phone and stellas $5/400 mms package).

Cameras: We already talked about the camera on the Blackberry Pearl, which we are using for moblogging. In addition to that we have our Olympus 790sw which is waterproof (10ft) and shockproof, the perfect amusement park companion. The Olympus also takes fairly good video clips. Our primary camera is the Canon Digital Rebel XT, I wanted to get a couple lenses for this trip but didn't get around to it. Our video camera is a Canon MiniDV camera, honestly I have NO patience for video editing. As i think is fairly obvious I am all about instant publishing, so I doubt that I will be taking a lot of video on this trip. If I do it will be on youtube.
Navigation: This trip would have been exhausting with the TomTom (thanks, for lending it Evan, like always it is a lifesaver). Even though it totally threw us off in Atlanta (to be fair we were reading it incorrectly as well) it makes a huge difference :)

Ok enough blogging, going to enjoy the scenery.
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Welcome to Tennessee

2008-08-08T07:03:00.001-07:00

Real forests in Georgia

2008-08-08T05:44:00.001-07:00

Day 2: Atlanta

2008-08-08T03:06:00.000-07:00

I have always thought that I should make a list of things that exist in the US that don't exist in Europe. When I create the list, item number 243 would be "Coffee makers in hotel rooms."

We spent the night in the Best Western Grenada Suite Hotel in Midtown Atlanta, it's nicer that I expected it to be. Nice building, interesting court yard, valet service, complementary 'happy hour' drinks, clean big rooms. Which leads me on to item number 244 on my list.

Why does everything in the US have to be so COLD? The room was freezing, and regardless of how much we cranked it down, the room stayed freezing. Chick-Fil-A (as well as most other restaurants) are also kept well below our temperature tolerance. Is there a reason for that?

We took the free shuttle to Atlantic Station mall for dinner. We ate at California Pizza Kitchen (always good) and where there around 6:00 - 7:30. Is it normally that empty? We walked back to the hotel and didn't see ANYONE, it was a beautiful area of town, but almost post-apocalyptic in feel.

Time for breakfast - you know where to find me!

Our Itinerary

2008-08-07T13:37:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Atlanta traffic sucks!

2008-08-07T13:18:00.001-07:00

We were told before we started to watch out for the traffic when we got to Atlanta.

We expected this so timed our trip to avoid rush hour. What we got at 3 PM was crazy. The bad traffic was compounded by the fact that the TomTom was driving us around in circles.

Thankfully we finally made it to the hotel and are decompressing after the drive.

Noon - four hours to Atlanta

2008-08-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

After a pitstop we're back on the road.

Not much has changed in the scenery - trees alongside the road are mostly conifers of one varient or another. It's nice to see corn and hay bales.

One thing that has changed is the people - South Florida has so many New Yorkers and latin Americans that the true southerners are few and far between. So much so that you have to drive several hundred miles north to meet real southeners.

Now that stella is driving I may as well take a nap!

It really feels like we're in the south - I am not even
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We're in Georgia!

2008-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

Clocked 361 miles in 5 hours. Taking a break at the information center.

Been pretty smooth so far. The DVD player we got for the trip has held out well, the girls watched all 3 hours of "Sound of Music". I got.in a couple hours of "The Colour of Magic"

Next stop Chick Fil-A.
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On the road again

2008-08-07T04:15:00.000-07:00

The girls slept through the first hour of the drive and are now ready for action.

I need to set up the DVD player.

It's 4am and I am ready to roll

2008-08-07T01:22:00.000-07:00

Good morning friends. It's 4:12 and I'm waiting for the coffee to finish brewing so that - can fully wake up.

At 5 we will be taking off on our 2200-mile "Wormus family does America" 2008 road trip. We are all hooked up so that you will get up-to-the-minute information right on this blog.

Our trip is focused on visiting my Grandma in Cincinnatti, but we will be hitting Atlanta, Nashville, Mammoth Cave KY and Jacksonville FL on the way.

Coffee is ready and girls are waking up so its time to get this show on the road. Later today i will describe the technology we're bringing along and how we're going to be blogging.

Talk to you later.
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Hello World!

2008-08-06T19:15:00.001-07:00

This is a test from my phone!