TWTW - the one with the dads

Friday My brain was stuck in neutral after an 11 hour workday Thursday and two morning meetings, so instead of spinning my wheels I flexed time and hit the beach for two hours. I also got a slice of pizza and some soap oh and left my phone on a fucking boardwalk bench THEN hit two stores THEN set up my beach chair so I had to sprint back with no shoes on and hope it was there. It was.  After work I walked the boards on an errand for Aubrey, then walked down to see the sunset. I stayed up until 1 to finish my book.

Saturday I slept in until 8. The people checking out thought checkout was 11 and that threw everything off. We managed to get them out then MFD painted the door and frame their dog damaged and got the new TV we brought from Philly up and running. I swapped out shower curtains and all bedding and someone clearly had some sort of HiC and I had to pull the whole mattress on the top bunk down. It was a lot. We were doing stuff from about 10:40 - 3 since our people coming in were arriving late. I'm thankful we knew that or I would have had a nervous breakdown.

MFD went fishing in the afternoon, and I went to Boyar's to get a few things for a salad and smiled at the Juneteenth greetings along the way, then  rode my bike to the library to drop off and pick up books. I made chicken leg quarters in the air fryer, painted my nails, showered, unboxed Ben's barkbox (he is always so happy and grateful), then walked up to the beach and boards with MFD for a little ice cream. 

Sunday I was on the beach with a book and coffee by 8:30. The sun was insane. Back to the house to walk dogs and load up the car and hit the road before 11. Gus pooped in my damn car but thankfully we were not moving yet so easy cleanup and major disaster averted. I got home and did some laundry, read, rested, made your standard old school cold taco dip, and headed to Aubrey's parents. We have a nice Father's Day gathering with the two families every year and I always enjoy it. This year we tried the TikTok watermelon and mustard phenomenon. It was fine! Home by 8 and I fell asleep on the couch and didn't go upstairs until 5 am. 

Happy 65th to my Mom! Her birthday was Saturday. I dropped cards for her birthday and Rich's Father's Day off at lunch today before hightailing it home for a call.

Today is Prime Day, and even as I move away from Amazon, I always recommend the Kindle Paperwhite for people like me who must wear polarized sunglasses and/or read outside a lot both in sun and shade. It is the only e-reader I can use like that. It's $80 for prime day and normally $130.

Crushed under work deadlines this week. Hopefully see you Thursday! See you on Instagram until then, mainly in stories, which I like to remind myself and others that I said I'd never do and now I do daily.

TWTW - the one with the dads

Thursday night campaign fundraiser for MFD at Tabu with Rep. Brian Sims and Ian Morrison. I got home at 10 something, packed up, and headed to the shore to sit in traffic on 42 at 11 pm. Blah.

Friday morning MFD hand washed the siding and cleaned the deck furniture. I did my final house walk through and took the couch cushions to be cleaned, then we hit the beach for a perfect weather day, reading, resting, and lunch at Crunchik'n before heading home to pick up the cushion covers, shower, feed/walk/sit with the dogs for a bit.

We biked over to meet Melissa, Stephanie, and Alex for dinner at Jon & Patty's, then headed to the boardwalk to meet up with Blane, amble around, do the rides, etc.

Saturday morning was last minute house shit (new sign from RV Metal) before our first weekly guests checked in. MFD was off for home by 10 and I walked the dogs and hit the beach. Big ass slice of Primavera for lunch (Laura's fave, I can't disagree), some food prep, porch time, and cleaning including moving the couch and nearly putting my back out night, reading, and dropping into bed exhausted around 11.

Sunday was not my day. I woke up to no peace, Bruce tripped me and broke my Dyson stick vac I got for a unicorn price in about five places and really hurt my hip (he had the decency to look contrite), I found the bottom of the sofa bed dripping rust, It was hot AF and I was stopped about 50 times on our last walk, horrible traffic so I had to cut through NJ.

At home I dumped the dogs and the cooler, ran to see my father-in-law, ran back home to throw a caprese platter together, threw on some lipstick and got on with it. Debbie brought me a large DD iced to soothe my nerves. I dumped about half of the balsamic/oil on my lap in the car. It's fine. Fine. FINE. We stopped at Mom & Rich's to see Rich then on to a great, relaxing dinner at Aubrey's parents. Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful dads in my life!

Weekly food prep: breakfasts will be egg muffins. I didn't need Monday lunch so I still have today to figure that out but I think it will be chicken and mushrooms over pasta. Dinner is BBQ chicken, steamed veggies, and I'm not sure what else yet. Maybe soup. I know, it's 90 degrees...but it's in the freezer and the air conditioning is on.

I got home close to 8, changed the sheets and put them in the wash, finished a book and started another and was in bed reading before 9:30. We were exhausted in a good way.

Today, calling everyone and anyone - my Senators, state rep, city office, churches, everyone - about this. Resistbotting too. What are you doing on this? I read a quote from Glennon Doyle that was something like heartache without action is basically apathy. Don't do that. Act. Please. Let me know if you need help figuring out what you can do to make a difference here. 

How was your weekend? 

TWTW - the one in shore season

Signs of the season: hell traffic. I went to the shore earlier than normal Friday and returned Sunday midday which are the times I usually avoid.  No sunrises this weekend either - rainy Saturday and I needed the sleep Sunday.

Friday night I met Melissa, Alex, and the Stephanies. My name twins are in from CA and I didn't want to miss them! I rode the Ferris Wheel with Melissa and Alex, which I never do and it wasn't as terrible as my last Ferris wheel experience.

After laying my book down at midnight, I put my sleep mask on and exhaled into a long I'm going to sleep in sleep. Only I woke up at 6, but I did go back to sleep until 7:30 when someone was trying to open my door. Alas it was my mother, I forgot she was arriving early after dropping Rich off to do an ALS fundraising bike ride. We walked to breakfast at Yianni's followed by coffee and donuts at Drip N' Scoop. Then she helped me strip the beds and check the house upstairs. When she took off, I did some outside chores then headed to the beach. I timed it perfectly - I was on the last three pages of my book when it started to rain.

After Rich's bike ride, we all went to the Deauville to have a late lunch outside and celebrate Father's Day and my mom's birthday, which is today. Happy birthday Mom! #poophawk We celebrated them even though they did not let me pay, LOL.

MFD arrived with the dogs close to 8 and promptly left for mummery in Margate. When he got back we got ice cream and paid the beach a visit at 11 pm.

Sunday morning was a slow start after a 6 am dog walk. Porch time, bike ride, beach visit, breakfast at a terrible new place, and I was on the road for home before 12:30.

After some rapid fire hausfrauing, I headed to Aubrey's parents' house for a Father's Day celebration and enjoyed my first burger and hotdog from the grill of the season, topped off with ice cream sundaes. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is egg muffins with baby bellas, green onions, and cheese; snacks are peaches and carrots; lunch is a combo of chicken with rice and broccoli and Greek pasta salad; dinners are chicken thighs owith roasted sweet potatoes and steamed broccoli and lemon roasted asparagus and shrimp. I also made spinach dip for our Father's Day gathering.

Today is also my cousin Ashley's birthday. Happy birthday Ash!

Well that went quickly, didn't it?

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

twtw - the one with the dads

Low-key Friday night: MFD grilled, we ate outside, and watched two episodes of the new season of Orange is the New Black.

Saturday morning breakfast at Green Eggs Cafe in South Philly with my girls Amanda, Michelle, and Amelia. I got the pork roll benedict: pork roll and cheese on white toast topped with eggs and spicy ketchup. It was delicious.

When I got home, I finished a book (Since She Went Away) and started another (Murder in Missoula, finished that Sunday afternoon) outside while waiting for the dryer repair people. The never ending saga of this asshole dryer has my laundry piled up because one only has so much room to hang it like an old time washer woman. A part has been ordered and it should be fixed by Tuesday. If it breaks again someone must die. Nails are Sunday Funday by Essie.

Saturday afternoon was my cousin Ashley's graduation party. She graduated with many honors and activities and is on to life at Penn State main. We're all very proud of her! During the party, I dealt remotely with a screen door issue at the shore...for the zillionth time in the past month. These screen doors are killing me.

Saturday night MFD was at a meeting and I was home alone to catch a nice sunset. Before I headed upstairs for the night, I heard a bang so armed with a knife and my phone ready to call 911, I went to investigate...the uh, soap holder fell. I felt like a well-prepared knife-wielding lunatic.

Sunday morning reading outside followed by changing sheets which the dogs got on immediately. I also started going through my drawers and purging clothes. The spare bedroom looks like a disaster right now as I work my way through.

Sunday was Father's Day and my Mom's actual 60th birthday. I'll see Mom and Rich on Tuesday night for Mom's birthday dinner.

Sunday afternoon MFD and I visited his dad and family, then headed to Stephen & Aubrey's to see my Dad and share a delicious meal around the beautiful table Aubrey and her Dad built. Last I checked, MFD was trying to commission one. It was a lovely evening outside. I love weekends where I can see my precious perfect niece two days in a row.

Weekly food prep

1 - Breakfast is egg muffins with asparagus and cheese with a side of

2 - power breakfast muffins from the freezer

3 - Lunch is shredded buffalo chicken from the freezer combined with quinoa, goat cheese, baby spinach, and grape tomatoes

4 - Caprese skewers for Sunday dinner contribution

Dinner out for my Mom's birthday Tuesday. Quinoa pasta with red sauce and salads the rest of the week.

Today, it's officially summer. And it feels like it. 

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending &

TWTW - the one with the fathers

What better way to kick off the weekend than being ladies who lunch with my friend Tara and wearing my newest Alex & Ani? St. Christopher, patron saint of travelers.

I was out on Friday night - second week in a row. One more and my old lady status gets revoked, am I right? MFD and I had dinner at Talula's Garden. I've been dying to go and it did not disappoint. A little pricey, we had the tasting menu and it was worth it. I really loved sitting outside in the garden.

We jetted over to the Mann to see David Gray and Philly boy Amos Lee. Our friend from high school plays one zillion instruments in the Amos Lee band and it was great to see Andy up on stage. All performances were full of energy and enjoyable, especially from our sweet ass fourth row seats. The Mann is my favorite place to see a concert in the Philly area. It seems homey and small and has a great view of the skyline.

For those who enjoy video, click on these links:
David Gray doing a little Babylon and Amos Lee doing a little Boyz II Men

I got up early as usual Saturday morning, then managed to go back to sleep. Sweet sweet bliss that happens so rarely as I age. When I got up, I did some laundry, hausfrauing, etc. The only food prep I did was power breakfast muffins. It's the week before vacation so breakfast is muffins and yogurt, lunch is salad, and dinner is veggies and salmon or chicken from the freezer. This week is also called the week bitches don't feel like doing anything except going on vacation.

Saturday afternoon Debbie and I took a drive down to Ocean City, NJ, and met up with Sean, my Mom and Rich.

We strolled the boards, shopped, ate boardwalk food, and touched the ocean before heading to Sean's Red Bull game right off the beach on Sixth Street. It was a great family day! Debbie's Fitbit says we walked over five miles which clearly justifies the gelato AND custard I ate. Fatassery at its finest.

Happy Happy birthday mother & Happy Father's day to my stepdad!

Sunday we met my Dad & Carol for breakfast for Father's Day and took Brother's Pizza over to my father-in-law. Previous posts on my dad can be found here and here! We're lucky to have good dads in our lives. I can't wait to vacation with mine next week!

Sunday afternoon was picking up and packing up for vacation. Since it's summer, my obsession with photographing flags has returned.

Sunday night we watched the first three episodes of Orange is the New Black. Now Alex is whiny too? Cripes. Piper is whiny enough for everyone.

Four work days stand between me and vacation. Bring it. 

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending