Kyle and I used to live within walking distance of Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, which meant we could access nearly 200 restaurants without ever having to secure a parking space. 

In the period BC (before children), we probably ate out 3-4 days a week.  But even after that, we still frequented Raku, our favorite sushi place, along with others, such as Austin Grill, Houston’s, Grape Seed, and Cafe Deluxe, mixed in for variety.  

So a long overdue vacation from restaurant sparse Dayton seemed like it was just what the foodie ordered.  Except–it wasn’t.  I really never, ever thought I would say this.  But eating out just isn’t what is used to be. 

And it’s all my husband’s fault.  

We’ve known we needed a vacation for a while.  There just never seemed to be a right time, either because there was some big event at work one of us felt we couldn’t miss or we were just too darned exhausted to go anywhere.  That kind of thinking has kept us homebound since November 2008.  

 Until Kyle’s sister made us an offer we couldn’t refuse: come to Newport, RI with the rest of the family to see her get married.   That’s just one of the great things about family: when it seems like nothing else will do it, they help you get your priorities in order.