Following our trip to Washington and a few days at home, Choppy and I headed out to Boston to visit my law school roommate, and then spend a few days in the Northeast. As you’ll see from the pictures below, the title of this post actually makes (some) sense. These pictures are from our drive to Boston, as well as from our time in Boston; more pictures will be coming over the next week!

Something you do not expect to see while driving through North-Central Pennsylvania includes, but is not limited to, a sign indicating you can exit for the Jersey Shore. I did not see any Snooki or The Situation. (For those who want to know, Wikipedia indicates that Jersey Shore, PA is a borough, and its name came because early settlers had come from New Jersey, and a rival city on the opposite side of the river began referring to it as "Jersey Shore" and the name stuck. I cannot tell you how much I love this story).
I can tell you one thing I didn’t expect to see in North-Central Pennsylvania: an exit for the Jersey Shore. I did not see any Snooki or The Situation, which, like this exit, would have been highly unexpected (likely due to the lack of nearby tanning beds).
Actually, for those who want to know, Wikipedia indicates that this is an actual place in Pennsylvania. Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania got its name because early settlers had come from New Jersey, and a rival city on the opposite side of the river began referring to it as “Jersey Shore” and the name stuck. I cannot tell you how much I love this story.
A while ago, I heard about a place called Centralia, Pennsylvania.
A while ago, I heard about a place called Centralia, Pennsylvania. If you don’t feel like clicking on these links and learning about it (a poor choice, as it is certainly more interesting than whatever you might be doing at work), here’s the basic story of Centralia: back in the early 1960s, the coal mine beneath the town caught on fire, and the town has more of less been abandoned as the fire has burned underneath it, spewing toxic fumes and still burning 50 years later. Obviously, when I heard about this place, I knew I had to go there if ever I got near it.
And so, when I realized it was on the way to Boston, Choppy and I made a necessary stop at Centralia, which, it turns out, is not terribly impressive. The city is basically a set of abandoned streets and old lots overgrown with weeds and trees. I didn’t even see so much as a smoke plume to indicate the location of the fire, much less the open pits of fire  I sort of expected to see (even after reading online that this is not what it looks like. At all). So disappointing. And yet, I still took a bunch of pictures.
Choppy and I eventually made it to Boston (but only after realizing that the next trip will involve flying, as Boston is further from Terre Haute than Orlando is (Orlando: 949 miles away. Boston: 1,003 miles away). Here's Choppy waiting at the T station for the subway.
Choppy and I eventually made it to Boston with only a few more side trips. Note to self: next time I go to Boston, I need to fly. Boston is further from Terre Haute than Orlando is (Orlando: 949 miles away. Boston: 1,003 miles away). This fact makes no sense to me. And yet, the Internet tells me it is true, and the Internet would never lie to me.
Another picture of Choppy waiting for the T, which is the subway in Boston. Dogs ride free!
Another picture of Choppy waiting for the T, which is the subway in Boston. Dogs ride free!
On my last night in Boston, we relived our childhoods by attending a New Kids on the Block concert. Note: I have never seen so many pregnant people at a concert, including my law school roommate. The lines for beer were still not short.
On my last night in Boston, we relived our childhoods by attending a New Kids on the Block concert. Note: I have never seen so many pregnant people at a concert, including my law school roommate. The lines for beer were still not significantly shorter, so this fact did me absolutely no good.
I love this sign. I have no idea if it is a warning specifically aimed at senior citizens, or if it is a warning to me that there are senior citizens nearby.
I love this sign and its implication that there are old people randomly darting out into traffic on this street, like a deer crossing.