We had done as much celebrating of Suzanne's birthday as was possible, so it was time to take Jane to her summer program at Smith. We decided on wheels up at 1000 but unfortunately this was our speed IMG_0412 a little late IMG_0413 as we waited for Suzanne IMG_0414 to come into the car. We also needed to stop at Wawa IMG_0415 and get some foods IMG_0416 for the journey Northward. Things went smoothly along the New Jersey TurnPike IMG_0417 and the line at the final toll IMG_0418 wasn't bad, so we were excited when we saw the signs for the GWB IMG_0419 even as the massive merge IMG_0420 to pay our $6 was upon us. We sat on the bridge and on Route 95 in NYC for 2 hours making little progress so that when we finally could stop in Greenwich, we were happy to comply with this sign IMG_0421 and relieve ourselves.

Our next stop was in New Haven IMG_0422 where we saw the street they named after Fred IMG_0423 and headed directly for Pepe's IMG_0424 in the Italian section IMG_0425 of town. After going in IMG_0426 we read the menu IMG_0427 and ordered. Jane feigned tiredness IMG_0428 as Benjamin read IMG_0429 and we tried to catch a glimpse of the kitchen IMG_0430 while also seeing if Benjamin could pose for a picture that was not too bright IMG_0431 or too dour IMG_0432 or in constant motion IMG_0433 or bad posture IMG_0434 all of which made Suzanne IMG_0435 hear something and caused these pictures to be taken of me IMG_0436 IMG_0437 until the pizza came IMG_0438 and looked better with no flash IMG_0439 as the second pizza IMG_0440 had already sacrificed this piece IMG_0441 to Suzanne's plate. In no time, we finished everything IMG_0442 except for this last piece of pepperoni IMG_0443 and recorded our table number IMG_0444 for posterity. Jane was nice enough to capture this sign in the ladies room IMG_0445 since the men's room had no such requirement and so we could take pictures of their massive ovens IMG_0446 with the long sticks IMG_0447 and the neon IMG_0448 and decorations. After lunch, we made our way down the street IMG_0449 to the pastry shop IMG_0450 where my banana flavored Italian ice IMG_0451 was fabulous but the bag holding Benjamin's cannoli IMG_0452 IMG_0453 didn't open for a while and when it did IMG_0454 it took time for us to see him and the cannoli IMG_0455 so we bid a fond farewell to New Haven IMG_0456 and headed further north.

The traffic being simple, we were at our hotel IMG_0457 in almost no time inspecting the bed IMG_0458 and the view from the window IMG_0459 before Ben and Suzanne headed for the pool IMG_0460 and Benjamin described the experience IMG_0461 for all to hear.

En route to dinner, we found the campus IMG_0462 and date of founding IMG_0463 and fortunately, found a car pulling out of its parking space IMG_0464 in front of this restaurant IMG_0465 where we read the menu IMG_0466 and then went in. Jane IMG_0467 forgot that she was posing for a picture IMG_0468 for posterity and Benjamin IMG_0469 had too much light on him but Jane's salad IMG_0470 and Suzanne's (note the yellow carrots!) IMG_0471 and mine IMG_0472 were good accompaniments to Benjamin's noodles and rice IMG_0473 that were probably the best parts of the meal for anyone.

The next morning, we got into the car IMG_0474 and noticed this pizza IMG_0475 in front of this store IMG_0476 confirming that their slices are large (and disgusting the next day) while making our way to Sylvester's IMG_0477 where Jane and Ben waited IMG_0478 while I captured this picture IMG_0479 for the collection and once seated, Suzanne and Jane IMG_0480 studied the menu IMG_0481 while the coffee IMG_0482 shone IMG_0483 with the flash turned off, so that we took another ketchup picture IMG_0484 though of a different brand. The chocolate milk IMG_0485 tasted a little bit odd but the lox and bagel IMG_0486 and breakfast quesadilla IMG_0487 and plain (except that they forgot and put in blueberries) IMG_0488 and coconut IMG_0489 pancakes (topped with strawberries) were quite the treat. The waitress IMG_0490 was happy to be photographed, so we celebrated by going to 7/11 IMG_0491 to gas up the car.

After a swimming break, we returned to Smith where Suzanne studied the map IMG_0492 and I looked out the car front IMG_0493 until we found the main entrance IMG_0494 and the dorms for Jane's program IMG_0495 where the slogans IMG_0496 rang true. They showed us to her room IMG_0497 where Suzanne wrote down the phone number IMG_0498 and Jane, the address IMG_0499 as it got set up IMG_0500 much to Benjamin's amusement. IMG_0501

After a short linner in town where the hot dogs IMG_0502 needed no flash IMG_0503 and Ben's burger IMG_0504 and my veggie burger IMG_0505 kept us going, we dropped Jane off and hit the road making good time back to New Jersey where we stopped at Bennigan's IMG_0506 for dinner. The men's room had this collection sign IMG_0507 as well as a sign IMG_0508 on each soap dispenser so I could have my salad IMG_0509 and Suzanne her chicken Caesar IMG_0510 as my pasta IMG_0511 was world class bad and Benjamin's salad IMG_0512 seemed to keep him going until we got home.