TWTW - the one that felt normal-ish

Friday I was up and moving by 6 for a dog walk/feed, picked up laundry at the wash & fold, got OPC and watched some surfing, and put out some work fires right away before settling into a groove. It was a busy day, Thursday was too...but I spent lunch scraping the last of the adhesive off the tile entry of our apartment. Debbie arrived after 7 and Bruce was so freaking excited he could not contain himself for a long time. Like, long. 

Saturday Started early when Bruce woke up at 5;30 and discovered Debbie was still there and could then not go back to sleep out of excitement. I did a little snack prep, then did turnover with help from Debbie at various points, and we hit the beach around 2:15 and lingered late, until after 7. It was a nice day! I started a new book and we devoured caprese when we got back. We did face masks and I painted my nails (Orly Trendy) and we watched Dirty Dancing. Close to a perfect day! MFD arrived late and woke me up trying to watch the TV at midnight. Rage rage rage

Sunday We all had coffee, I battled driveway sand, and then Debbie and I hit the beach at 9 and saw an awesome butterfly on the walk down. We meant to stay until 11:30 and wound up staying until after 4. Debbie got lunch from Farmstand for us, and MFD brought me a book because I finished mine and we rented an umbrella. Which does not have SPF like mine and my face got lit up. Debbie left around 6:30 and I was one with the couch, hiding the shame of my face burn from the world. 

Modest food prep: tuna for sandwiches, caesar salad, cut up veggies, limes for my water, onion dip, cut up cheese, the aforementioned caprese. On that summer food prep flow. 

I drove back to Philly this morning, I have the dentist tomorrow and a freaking hair appointment Wednesday! So I'm disoriented and feeling behind today. It was nice to see the old dogs. It's the longest we've been apart in quite a while. Maybe ever. 

TWTW - the Labor Dayer

Friday I was out and about with my mother in law in the morning. My company shut it down at noon but I worked until about 7:30 since I wasn't working in the morning and got two key projects done before my week "off." Before I started working I had lunch and took the dogs on a long walk, and after work we did another long walk to see the sunset. Nails: China Glaze Too Yacht to Handle. I love the color but the application is streaky and requires three coats. Do not love. 

Saturday Sunrise.

I sat on the porch for a while with the dogs, then went to the library and ran other errands in town on my bike. Debbie arrived around 2 and we hit the beach for a few hours before it got too cold. Debbie picked up fried chicken and sides from Boyar's and we made the long walk to Aunt Betty's for ice cream. MFD arrived with Gus and Mae around 10. 

Sunday Sunrise was a stunner. 

It was MFD & Debbie's birthday so I gave them their gifts. MFD went to a meeting and to fish and Debbie and I people watched on the porch then hit the beach. MFD joined us later before leaving to fish elsewhere. I took the birthday crew out to dinner at Mildred's in Strathmere. The staff sang to them and I wish I got it on video but alas I did not. I think we were all passed out by 10:30. 

Monday sunrise

Coffee and reading and people watching on the porch - finished a book and started another. Debbie left around noon and we went to the North End where I was unpleasantly surprised that my new umbrella sucked so I  had to retreat and sit under the bridge like a troll. We got home and rode bikes up to meet Amanda, Frank, and Eva on the boards for some pizza, candy, and strolling. I finally got my coveted caramel apple. Straightening up and preparing for Tuesday appointments and that's about that. 

We're staycationing here this week - a little house stuff, new weekend check in Friday, and some vacation stuff. Both of us have to work a little too but hoping less than more of that. Maybe I'll blog tomorrow? I don't know. I did this weekend, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. So who knows. Thursday Thoughts are definitely happening. 

How was your long weekend?

TWTW - the one with the Memorial Day

Friday I worked from home because my oven was getting repaired after over 40 days of not working. Hallelujah and amen. I got to zero inbox in work and personal emails. 

At lunch I ran errands to a thrift store and an antique store, gassed up the car, and hit Target. After work I washed couches, packed for the weekend, bagged up clothes I'm donating, picked up around the house, made macaroni salad and chicken drumsticks for the weekend, and a few things for the week. MFD left for a retreat and I got in bed early but didn't go to sleep until after 12.

Saturday 

I was on my way to the shore by 6. Smooth ride until a block from my house when Gus shit in the car, four dogs tracked it all over, I nearly lost my fucking mind on a store owner talking to me about parking (on the street, mind, not in a lot) as my dogs were escaping the shit mobile and being a totally indecent human being. I can't go on I am getting pissed all over again. I cleaned that up, walked dogs in pairs, rode my bike to the library to take refuge there for a bit, then holed up in my apartment with a book for most of the day until Debbie arrived. 

We ate and ordered wine and had an impromptu concert on the porch courtesy of the guy across the street. MFD rolled in around 8. We walked Bruce & Bender far to an ice cream place that had to have over 100 people in line, turned around and went to the one a block from home. 

Sunday 

After coffee on the porch and dog walks, Debbie and I hit the beach and people watched. We did not discuss what people were wearing or how they looked in what they were wearing...we discussed serious sunscreen issues. Lots of weird burns. We have surmised people are applying spray sunscreen on the beach, not rubbing it in, and thinking it's getting everywhere but it's not and the sunburns are getting real weird. I finished a book and started another, we got snacks and refilled drinks in our own cups at The Farm Stand at 14th, and MFD finally joined us. At night we did creepy face masks and watched Wine Country. 

Monday Debbie left after porch coffee and MFD and I hit the beach. 

It was a spectacular day. I finished a book and read half of another. We didn't leave until almost 7. 

Our renters had gone by the time we got back. We jumped right in the car and took the dogs to Dog Beach. Bender did okay. Gus was chasing balls with other dogs like he's not nearly 14 years old. Mae found a group of women with a sweet blanket and umbrella setup and joined them. Bruce was dashing through the sand. It wore them right out. 

We meant to do things when we got back, but we put Billions on, I did this and wondered why I don't live here full time. We had a great weekend. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is breakfast burritos I made Friday and froze. Snacks are power breakfast muffins and bell peppers. Lunch is PB&J and a banana. Dinners are probably grilled chicken and veggies. 

I'm working from the shore today because we're getting a toilet replaced and the exterminator is coming for the annual no ants treatment and MFD is heading home with the dogs. 

Let's make it a good one!

TWTW - the one with the spring block party

Friday Lori and her friends were down and had the dogs occupied most of the day while I worked. They got me these socks on an outing and I freaking love them. The other side says "give no fucks." Take no shit and give no fucks is like two big facets of my personality represented on one pair of socks. I have never loved socks more. Lori's friends also gave me cash and a set of dishtowels hand embroidered even though I said no rent for the weekend. Their generosity is much appreciated and as a bonus they were a lot of fun to be around! 

I hit the beach right after work, which is like an immediate mindset change from the work week. I love working at the shore on Fridays for that. I hung out with the ladies and read at night. Debbie arrived at 11:30 and Bruce was so ecstatic to see her he did not calm down until after midnight. 

Saturday Block Party day! The spring block party stretches from 5th to 14th on Asbury Avenue and we are well positioned to see all the action. We fueled up with pretzels and iced tea early then strolled along. I got tie dye pants from the Tie Dye Man, which was my only must purchase. I also got some soaps, a t-shirt, and an outdoor sign for the porch. The dogs got stuff from Treat Lady and so did I because she's generous as hell. I finally had Chef Charlie's barbecue which was excellent. We went back to the house for some porch time then took Bruce & Bender for the last block. Ben got carried and Bruce ate everything people dropped on the ground. He was in heaven. 

A chilly stroll on the boards after that. I ran down to Manco & Manco to see Marla of Luck Fupus fame (follow her on IG too - May is Lupus Awareness Month and she brings the info) while the ladies were shopping. Dinner at Angelo's after then more hanging out until I could not stay awake and went downstairs. Bruce is a sleep killer. 

Sunday 

Rainy day but so much better for it to rain the day you're heading home rather than the day you plan to be out and about all day. I cleaned up the apartment and the ladies cleaned up upstairs, and we had breakfast at Yianni's before we all went our separate ways. It was a great weekend! I enjoyed my time with them, loved being with Lori as always, and am happy to have spent time with Debbie again so soon after Easter. 

Bruce was so tired from all the good boy walks Lori and the ladies took him on that he slept the whole way home. Praise the lort. I got home close to 2:30 and MFD was painting our bedroom (SW Dishy Coral) and I cooked, did four loads of laundry, hung with Gussie and Mae who were home with MFD this weekend, and read before watching Game of Thrones and sleeping on the couch. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is greek yogurt with granola. Lunch is chicken thighs over veggies. Snacks are pineapple, celery with PB, and bananas. Sunday dinner was chicken enchilada pasta with veggies. I made triple the enchilada sauce and froze two thirds. Tacos are also on the menu for this week. 

Keep a good thought that our slow drain/gurling plumbing issue at the shore is able to be handled by our plumber today on the lower end of the cost spectrum. Old houses, man. 

My weekend was great. How was yours?

TWTW - fall n'oreaster in the house

Friday was admiring how good my dogs have it, reading a book, prepping for Saturday, and painting my nails (OPI My Private Jet).

Saturday Campaigns don't stop for N'oreasters, so I was up baking power breakfast muffins for the crew by 7 (thanks Bruce for being the alarm) and at the office by 9:15. We did some phone banking and eating (thanks Mom for cooking lunch for everyone!) and door knocking in the rain and the five minutes of sun and the more rain. We took a break in shock over the anti-Semitic murders in Pittsburgh. I seriously don’t know what the fuck it will take for some people to see how white supremacy has been given a national stage under this administration and every single official in every single office who supports their agenda. Vote them all out. This is on us.

The shore was under water but we didn’t take any in on the ground floor. Whew. So nice to have someone down there who will check for us! Karen rocks.

Debbie and I went to see A Star is Born, which was really good but depressing AF - Debbie and I were crying, the man next to us was crying, the women behind us, everyone in the damn theater - so we came home and counteracted it with The Hangover because Bradley Cooper. I couldn't tell you the last time I went to the movie theater before this.

Sunday I got eight hours of sleep for the first time in a really long time. I woke up unsure of how to be. Auntie was busy with her adoring dogs who were pissed when we left to door knock. Trees on point near the campaign office.

I was home by 3 to send Debbie back off to NJ and get ready for a VIP work event I was running at the Union League at night. 

Weekly food prep: LOL. Ramen?

 How was yours? My brain is a wet noodle and I have to be firing on all cylinders every day until November 7. 

TWTW - the one with the Labor Day

Friday was working from the shore with a Bungalow Bowl to start things off; hitting the beach and running errands at lunch in insane holiday weekend traffic (post office, library, ice cream place) ; getting pizza on the boards with Stephen, Aubrey, Lola Jean, and Baby Steve; a later arrival of Aubrey's parents; and finishing a book. 

Saturday was breakfast sandwiches; a boardwalk bike ride with Stephen, Aub, and the kids; an overcast but nice beach day; celebrating MFD & Debbie's birthdays with takeout seafood from 16th Street Seafood and ice cream cake from A La Mode; waiting outside of every hermit crab place; riding rides with Lola Jean and getting a bird's eye view of the boardwalk lights. 

Sunday was an early rise for an all dog walk and a sunrise with just Bruce followed by dinner prep: ground turkey and beef for tacos, chicken in the crock for tacos, rice and beans; followed by 

Stephen's perfectly planned day: a Griswold family bike ride through the streets and down the boardwalk and through more streets to breakfast at Dockside Kitchen on the bay; a trip to the playground with Stephen, Aubrey, Lola, Stephen, and Debbie while Dean & Cathy rode bikes and MFD took calls; a nice and hot beach day; a full book read; taco dinner; Debbie's departure; MFD's couch time; and a struggle filled trip to the boards for the rest of us because everyone was just beat. Farewells to Dean & Cathy, strawberry pie a la Aubrey (with a surprise dime in the one Lola Jean mixed, I will tell that story for eternity because I love it) as a night cap and then a hard, deep sleep.

Monday was back to Philly early for the Labor Day Parade for MFD; actual laboring for me until about 8:30; biking to Nauti Donuts; resting in the the AC; hitting the beach a little after 1; reading and relaxing; returning with sand everywhere after playing on the shore line with the kids (so much fun); bidding them farewell; working at night; laundering the upstairs couch covers and towels. 

I will probably work a little today and do some shore chores but I'll also just be livin' down here at the shore this week. I'm not sure if I'll blog or not. I will surely be on Instagram - mine and the shore acct. 

How was yours? 

TWTW - the one that was mostly impromptu

A walk down to 17th & Catherine to see the Marian Anderson art installation after work on Friday.

Then a Subway hop down to the stadiums for an impromptu trip to the Phillies game in my company's awesome seats with my coworker friend. It was a gorgeous night for a game and I had to sprint to get the train that was then...late. We had a great time though.

Saturday I unboxed my gift from Pam that I freaking love and what I got from Prime Day (aside from a camera I can watch my dogs on but we'll discuss that later) then finally used my gift card from Christmas for a manicure and pedicure and picked a few things up from the grocery store (I do eat grocery store sushi and I don't care who knows it) before spending the afternoon with a book and los perros. I also dropped a box off at the post office and did some weeding. Not super fun chores but necessary all the same.

Saturday night vineyard wine concert series with the fam was very fun. The kids were all there too but not pictured. That was also pretty impromptu for me, only figured out I was going a few days before.

Then I got home and Bruce peed on the bed instead of going in the pouring rain. It's fine. I'm fine. The ideal time for your dog to pee through to the mattress pad (pillows included) is NOT when your dryer is still waiting on a part.

Sunday was a slow start for me with no iced coffee in the house and minor rage but then I got some and we hit the ground running with the canvassing. I even saw MFD at the end of the day, which hasn't happened before. People are surprisingly nice at the doors, dems or not. Believe me, going door to door is my worst fucking nightmare and it has not bothered me at all. If you have a few hours to donate to canvass, please get in touch with MFD via his website. If you have a few dollars to donate, please do that there as well. He's got no corporate money. This is a ground game and you need people fir a ground game and money for signs and literature for a ground game.

In between the first and second canvassing sets, Debbie and I dropped the pee sheets off at my mom's (she’s been saving my ass doing my laundry the last week while we wait for the dryer part) and went to the farm market and I made pasta salad. After the second round of canvassing I grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and we had dinner with Dan, Morgan, and Debbie. By 7 pm I was fucking exhausted. We headed to my inlaws’ and got home around 10.

Weekly food prep: breakfast is scrambled eggs and broccoli. Lunch is PB&J or salad. Dinner is leftovers, corn on the cob, tomato sandwiches, and salad. I need to find a minute to make zucchini muffins to freeze too. 

How was yours?