My Epic Weekend In Pictures: Home Sweet Home!

This was definitely an action packed, wonderful weekend that I'll never forget. I'm always beyond psyched when I can go back to Boston and see my family. Just a twelve minute drive away from where the New England Patriots play their home games in Foxborough, Massachusetts is where I grew up, well it's a twelve minute drive without traffic, after a concert or game, it's a 2-3 hour drive. Ah yes Route 1, where we always joke there's only one way in, and one way out. Back in mid March when I visited for my family's annual Saint Patrick's Day party, it would have surprised me looking into the future me taking 3 full months to go back home. The past few months the timing and gas prices just made it too tough. Late April I had a chance to go back for a day, but my family talked me out of it because I was going to be able to see them the next weekend in Punta Cana at the wedding. Between so many events and then some, it's been great to have them back in our community. In June I had a tight window where a visit would have been possible, my parents talked me out of it due to gas prices. They gave me the smart guidance that it made the most sense for me to come back on Fourth Of July Weekend, where we could also celebrate my Grammy / Best Friend Mary Brown's 89th Birthday. It gave me a great opportunity to see all of my family in one place instead of driving to multiple places throughout New England to see them. Win win win!

We will start my Epic Weekend In Pictures with Friday. As of Tuesday, my game plan was to drive up Saturday morning leaving Campus in Vernon at 6am like normal, arriving in Mansfield, Massachusetts around 10am. Wednesday I learned that iHeart was having an early release day Friday! I was able to sneak out of here by Noon, and hit the road! I was very excited at the prospect of surprising my family, granted only a day earlier, but still couldn't wait to see them. Yes, I saw the news reports all week about how 47 million Americans were traveling all throughout the weekend and traffic was a nightmare all over the country. That wasn't going to stop me from seeing my family. I hit the road just after 12 and was off to the races. This trip I used Google Maps. Their software had me take a different path than I normally have these past 8 years, even more of a country trek. It had me go up 23 and turn right in Sussex onto 284 then cut through New York state in the country up until Middletown where I hopped on 84. Normally I don't like this ride, but with traffic being so tough all over, I trusted that the more driving in the country I did the less traffic I was likely to face.

I was on the road by 12:05, and made it to Bog Iron Brewery in Norton, Massachusetts at 5:15pm. 5 hours isn't as nice and quick as the normal 4 hour drive would be, but also not as bad as the 6 or 7 I have had at times. While parking I spotted my Mom Madre's car. YES! Every Friday during Happy Hour, my Dad Padre and sister Suzanne (Zannie,) go to Bog Iron Brewery in nearby Norton. It's a great Cheers like vibe where everyone knows your name. Up there they know me as Mike's son, lol. Even though our Bog Iron team friends watch my Epic Weekend In Pictures, there I'm more frequently known as Mike's son. I'll take it. With Madre's car there, that meant I was going to be able to surprise all three of them at once! Talk about a huge early success!

It's a good thing I didn't do a video of me surprising them, LOL. My parents were legit surprised. So much so they didn't really say much of anything, LOL. Madre defended herself saying "you surprised us it was out of context!" Padre said "I had a feeling he was going to do this." LOL. My sister had her back turned to me and didn't see me. I joked that she was excused. After the initial surprise factor wore off, then they all gave me great, big hugs. We had a great laugh over that one all weekend, with me typically calling them The Cold, Calculated Clowns. I always say there's nothing quite like getting to laugh with those closest to you, even / especially when you're busting on each other. Padre joked he'll shoot off fireworks next time I surprise them. We had a great time together at Bog Iron Brewery, per usual.

Pretty much every time I go back home, Gillette Stadium at Patriot Place is one of my stops. It's always therapeutic for me in my own weird way. Normally when I'm going back home I have a clear cut plan and outline with time frames of when I can see friends and family. Due to the heavy traffic nature of this weekend, there wasn't much of a game plan other than Grammy's birthday party on Sunday.

Saturday morning once I knew that there were was an open window in my schedule, I reached out to my bestie Benvie. Talk about a grand slam home run. I was able to take Benvie, Kristine and Bella my favorite niece out to lunch. It was a great time and the waitress got and appreciated our Seinfeld references while ordering. It feels like when we weren't eating, we were laughing getting all caught up in our worlds. What a wonderful, memorable experience getting to see them. The place we went to in Taunton "Brack's Grille & Tap," was wonderful. It's a sports bar that used to be a Ruby Tuesday's. I couldn't believe how many positive changes and transformations they were able to make. Each of us had great meals, and the ambiance was terrific. If you're in Southeastern Mass, that's definitely a very fun, family friendly sports bar restaurant.

Saturday night I was able to go to Saturday night dinner bunch with my family. (As much as they like to bust on me for being so routine oriented, I'm realizing there might be people I got this nature from LOL.) We went to Geno's in Mansfield, where they have some of the best New England Clam Chowder (Chowdah!) you'll ever have. It's so good there are many times where I have brought it from Mansfield to New Jersey to surprise my Ex-Fiance. It's a terrific spot. Their menu might be a tad on the small side, but what they do offer, they nail.

Sunday I was able to go to Bog Iron Brewery quick and get a pack of Soul Cellar to go. Their New England IPA style Soul Cellar is fantastic. At 6.9%, I call it one of those craft beers that is just about right on everything, and not too much of anything. You'll see I was able to surprise some of my best Jersey friends with it by the end of my weekend.

Sunday afternoon time for Grammy's 89th Birthday party. She's always been one of my best friends from day one. I'm that lucky guy where all of my family, Aunts and Uncles are all also best friends. Like I said to them right before Thanksgiving on my 40th birthday, "There's no better way I can start off the first day in my forties, with the best family I guy could ever ask for." Imagine hours of just relaxing and joking around with some of your best friends, busting on each other all while loving? That's what Sunday was. I had so many highlights, from Aunty Donna giving me a Mansfield T Shirt, to me taking a selfie with her while she was taking pictures of everyone. She's always our official family photographer, and I was able to make her crack up while taking a selfie of her in action!

Monday morning I had a wonderful surprise. My dear friend next door neighbor in Mansfield, Luke was around. I was able to see him and take a selfie with him. His latest kick is taking selfies with people and then asking them for their contact information. He now has my cell phone number and immediately wished me a happy, safe trip back. One of the best Christmas memories me and my family will always have will be last Christmas. Seeing Luke Barry get surprised by Disney World and getting to lead their Christmas marching band across the Magic Kingdom was so amazing. I still often watch the video and cry. You can see it by clicking here, and I put it back in here again below because it's so amazing for us. He was non verbal his first few years, so when you hear him call you by name? That wonderful feeling never gets old. My family and I will always be proud members of The Walnut Street Unicorn Marching Band.

Monday morning it was time for me to hit the road. I was able to hit the road by 10:15 and got home basically around 2:45, with a quick stop in Danbury, Connecticut to stretch out and take a break from driving. I called my family to let them know I made it back to Vernon on Campus safely, cracking open an ice cold Bog Iron Soul Cellar on my deck. I then got a text from my friend Carrie to join a cookout our friend Christine and Chris were having. I look at the 3 remaining beers in my 4 pack and just said to myself "this is perfect!" I was able to impress Christine, Chris and Carrie with my awesome Soul Cellar beers. Success, bringing yummy craft beer from New England to Jersey.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Epic Weekend In Pictures. I hope you had a great weekend too. Time to start planning next weekend!