Let’s see…we left off last week in rainy Erie, PA. From there I went to rainy Ohio, then rainy Chicago, then on to rainy New York and rainy Connecticut.  The good news is: The sun and warm temperatures have finally come. Since Monday it has felt like SUMMER.  Hallelujah!  On another happy note: Thanks to my generous brother-in-law Tom, I now have a brand-spanking-new digital camera. Yeah! This thing is so tiny and so much fun, you can bet I will carry it everywhere, and take even more pictures than before.
 
I will be back in Erie in a month for a book signing, so I’ll write more about it then.  For now, let me tell you about Splash, the incredible water park I went to with my nephew and niece, Johnny and Amanda.  I hadn't been on a water slide in years, and forgot how much fun they are. Holy cow -- this place is not just for kids. It was so cool, I found myself racing Johnny and Amanda up the stairs to who could go first. (Of course they always won!) There was one slide they couldn't go down, because they were too small. It's called the Cyclone, but we called it the Toilet Bowl. You start by flying down a long dark tube. It's so dark you can't see a thing, and you have no idea which way you’re going. Then you get shot into a gargantuan bowl (the Toilet), and spin around helplessly. One second I was frontward, the next backward. I was even sideways a few times. Finally you drop (flop) right into an eight-foot pool. Now I know why there’s a  lifeguard dragging people away. I felt like I just been through the ringer.  Splash Lagoon: Peach Street and I-90, Erie, PA.; tel. (866)-3-SPLASH.

I played a lot with Johnny and Amanda.  Their new favorite game is Airplane!  (flying must run in the family). This is where I grab them by their shirts and pants, and run around the house so they feel like they’re flying. They love it. My back hates it.  
 
Thanks to my crazy second experience within a few days at Greyhound, I stayed an extra day in Erie. Check this story out: At 8 p.m. my sister took me to the station for an 8:30 bus to Cleveland. As usual there were some sketchy people there (including one or two workers). The guy behind the counter was clueless, and by the sound of the conversation he was on the phone with his girlfriend. After a few minutes of me just standing there and he saying “Oh baby” over and over, I asked for a ticket. He said the computer system was down, and he was waiting for a call from headquarters. Fair enough -- just tell me sooner next time. When he got off the phone I asked if I could still get a ticket if the computer stayed down. He shrugged his shoulders, then ignored me the rest of the time. I was about to jump over the counter and break out a can of whoopa--, but I chilled. Headquarters rang, and they walked him through the process. I couldn’t believe they still use a dial-up modem.
 
While the guy was on the phone a lady walked behind the counter in a Greyhound uniform. I asked her if I would be able to get a ticket. She said (with attitude), “I don't know. I don't work here.” “You don't work here?” I said. “Then why do you have Greyhound patches on your shirt?” She ignored me for a few seconds, then she said, “I drive the bus.” Just my luck, I thought.  Then I said – still without attitude – “Does the computer go down often?” She replied: "I don't know. I DON'T WORK HERE!"  I asked if I could just give her $13 cash for a ticket. If you’ve been reading her other replies, you already know her answer. I wasn't about to have these rude, incompetent people control my life. So I jumped back in the car with my sister Carol and said, “Let’s head back to your house.” It was the best move I made all week. 
 
Not only did I get to play more Airplane, but I was interviewed by CBS News. They gave "You Are Here Traveling With Johnny Jet.com" a great plug. (Here’s another plug: If you don't have a copy yet, shame on you. You can Buy it on Amazon it on Amazon for $14.95.

Another good thing that came out of all this: I found a much better alternative to Cleveland airport from Erie (and vice versa) than Greyhound. Would you believe it's only $9.95 to drive 100 miles from ERI-CLE? Amazing! The Anderson Shuttle is now $9.95 thru July 31; after that it's still only $19.95. This is a brand-new route for them, and not only is it a great bargain but a great service too. The seats are comfortable, the workers are professional and they cater to the business travel market (of course, anyone can take it). Other incredible perks: Parking is free -- and so are kids if accompanied by a paying adult.  Anderson Shuttle (814) 456-0888
 
BTW: You can find the Anderson shuttle only a block away from the Bicentennial Tower. It's called the Bicentennial Tower because it was built in 1995 to celebrate Erie's 200th birthday. Because I was early for the bus Carol and decided to go up the 187-foot (14-story) tower that looks out over the bayfront and Presque Isle, at the foot of State Street.  You can take an elevator or walk up; either way it costs $2. The views are well worth the money, and parking is free.  Bicentennial Tower, Dobbins Landing, Erie, PA;  tel: (814) 455-6055
 
On the bus I apologized and made up with Amber Airplane for our little tiff about Cleveland (I hadn’t been very kind about her city). Therefore I changed my plane ticket to the following day and asked the driver if I could get out in Ashtublua (where the shuttle makes its lone 10-minute stop to pick up passengers). Ashtubula is halfway between Erie and Cleveland, and Amber Airplane just happened to be near there visiting her best friend Megan. Amber Airplane, Megan and her husband Sherman were kind enough to make the half-hour drive to pick me up at the bus stop. From there we went straight to dinner. 

In this part of the country everyone loves chain restaurants. I always like to try local food -- but what if the local food is Outback, Chipotle, Bob Evans....You name the chain, they have it. I asked if we could go to a chain I had never been to, so we went to Brown Derby RoadHouse.  The BBQ chicken, sweet rolls and huge table salad was pretty darn good. Brown Derby Roadhouse: 5370 Mayfield Rd., Cleveland, OH 44124-2458.
 
I'm not a huge Ohio fan but I was pretty impressed with Fairport Harbor, where her friends live.  They had told me it felt like a New England town, and I foolishly chuckled, “Yeah, right.” I ate my words: It actually does feel like a New England town (but with better sunsets).  Did you know that Lake Erie is famous for its sunsets? I am told National Geographic once ranked them Number 3 in the world. I fully agree.    
 
The following day I flew from Cleveland to Chicago, then on to LaGuardia. It took five hours, but at least I wasn’t on any small planes. My awesome dad picked my up at LGA, and we drove 40 minutes home to Connecticut.  We went straight to my brother's house to see his pictures from Jordan, but he said I had to wait until his Johnny Jet newsletter article is finished (he's still working on it).  He did, however, give me a gift he brought back.   I'm not exactly sure if I can wear it outside the Middle East or New York City, but at least I now have an emergency backup Halloween costume.  
 
We were all starving, so Frank volunteered to barbecue some fish. He knows I hate fish!  Then he offered hot dogs. I said no thanks. He went outside anyway, cooked a dog, poured hot sauce all over and wrapped it in a flour tortilla. He took one bite and stuck the dog in my face. It actually looked pretty darn good (I love hot sauce and tortillas). I took a bite, he smiled and I said, “What the heck is this? It doesn't taste good.” Frank was laughing so hard he food coming out of his nostrils. He snorted, "It's a salmon dog!”  Don't you just love my brother?
 
The big news back here is that huge amounts of rain have fallen.  In fact, all-time records have been broken for the month of June. But it’s not just one month. It has rained 17 out of 25 weekends so far this year. In addition, it has been COLD. This is why I moved to California. The good news is, the sun has finally appeared. The bad news is, it's 97 degrees. We missed spring completely this year, and moved straight into summer.
   
A day later Amber Airplane flew in for our friend Gerrit's wedding. While she and I were in the grocery store buying food we played a little prank on my dad. He loves to walk around the grocery store eating cherries. I keep telling him he has to pay for them before he eats them, but he says he can have a couple. After he ate one I told him there had been an announcement about not eating cherries until you weigh them. His face turned pale, and he asked if I was serious. I shook my head yes. He said, "Okay, I’m going to the car.  Whatever you do, don't pay by credit card. Here's some cash” -- and he threw me a wad of bills. I couldn't hold my smile in any longer, and told him the truth. Then Amber Airplane took my dad's lead and popped a little Munchkin donut in her mouth. I said, “They’re  watching you.” Disclaimer: We paid for everything, and we never steal. We just like to have fun. (NOTE: If you live in California or any other liquor-lenient state you might find this picture interesting. They do things differently here.) 
 
Back to my buddy Gerrit's wedding. Gerrit and his bride Libby both grew up in the Northeast, moved to California and met each other there. They live in L.A. now, but were married in Waccabuc, NY.  Waccabuc (don’t you love that name!) is a picturesque hamlet about 20 miles from where I grew up. The ceremony was supposed to be outside, but because it was pouring (see weather report above) they moved it to the nearby Mead Memorial chapel which was beautifully lit by candles. I felt like I had gone back in time. It also reminded me of the castle wedding I went to in Sweden with my Mom .  We didn’t feel bad about the rain; it only made the wedding more romantic. It was fantastic: great company, fantastic music and excellent food. (They even had a  sushi bar since they both love sushi so much).  Come to think of it, sometimes a little rain isn’t a bad thing among friends.

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