TWTW - the one with the family for my brother's birthday

Bay skies, first weekend with beach tags, favorite lemon poppyseed donut from Drip N Scoop, creeping on other people's flowers season, pets in the vestibule

Fishing, Friday night pizza from Boyars, Saturday extra large orders at Wawa, China Glaze Planted & Enchanted, Shibumi working, porch sitting, using the pipe to block sandstorms

Worn out dogs, first gyro of the year from Opa on Sunday, stunning beach day Saturday, working on my Coastal Grandmother aesthetic, beach reads are back, the Falconer

Ferris wheels with visible slivers of moon, happiest 39th birthday to my brother, strong resemblances, fence flowers, tiny treasures, peace in a pic

Lumineers in Camden, sliver of moon, top of the hill hang on chairs rented by MFD, the most people I have seen in one place in years, parking lot pees, no one knew the cover they did of Thunder Road

No swings, but I did do the music ride at Wonderland with my niece. Really fun, on the go weekend. Loved spending it with these people as always

I had all the photos done for this by Monday and here we are on Wednesday. 

This five days on, two days off business is fucking bullshit.

Peace in the east.

Thursday Thoughts - Reminded who are we by the girls of wild strawberries

I carried a watermelon. MFD wanted to run and get his camera to capture the moment. 

Pasta salad season. Mine varies but is typically a Barilla veggie pasta base, some type of cheese, and obviously veggies. I lean to cucumber, broccoli (I throw it in with for the last minute and a half of pasta cooking), olives (kalamata in here but open to all), grape tomatoes, a bit of red onion, italian salami, an orange pepper that was about to go down, garlic salt, onion salt, garlic powder, and Olive Garden dressing. It's like a complete meal for summer. 

Getting rental season ready by doing things we could have done all winter. Insert upside down smiley face here. Painting shelves, touch up paint, trim paint touch ups, having powder room sink braced by a local handyman, replacing broken trim pieces, dry wall repair, Mermaid surgery to reattach the hangers to the back, anticipating arrival of new bench and stools that will need assembly. When I paint furniture these days, I prefer the Heirloom Traditions All in One Paint. No prep aside from cleaning needed, dries quickly, and it lasts. This is it after 1.5 coats in Capri on the right, I left it intentionally distressed in spots. It is pretty impossible to fuck up. I am painting two dressers this fall, one in navy and one probably in tea rose. 

Multiple mass shootings since Uvalde - which I wrote at length about last week - we have work to do as citizens. We cannot accept strangled minority rule. We must become ungovernable in the current system, and everyone operating in it holding change back must go, regardless of who they are and what "side" they represent. Follow Emilyinyourphone on Instagram, who is bringing action items as they come. Follow Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand. Moms....demand action here. Please. I am sorry it is falling on you like most things do, but if you just continue the work school after school activity wash rinse repeat nothing will change and we really need it to. We're all being ground down to not have the energy to effect change, but we must. We cannot have kids dying like this in America when it is not happening elsewhere on the globe where there are also guns, mental illness, otherness, misogyny, etc. These shootings and this culture of violence is entirely preventable and all of us are responsible for breaking the broken system. Some thoughts that resonated with me. 

Reminder, especially to women who are chastised for being aggressive or too much when working for something you care about, like kids being safe in schools. 

General reminder.

Analog LOLs

My perfect iced tea is brewed in a maker, and it's Boston Mint-in-Tea with a smidge of sugar and some fresh citrus, whatever is available

Happy happy birthday to my lady loves of over 30 years, KVSR who had her birthday yesterday and Kim who celebrates Sunday. 

What appears beyond the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts titles is what I'm listening to when I'm starting this - this week is Girls of Wild Strawberries by Guided by Voices

Thursday Thoughts - And I'll build me a life in the open, a life in the country

1. I'm burning incense over here like the future version of my 17 year old self's wildest dreams.

2. Less than, now. Time to do.

3. When we were young. From a 2003 boardwalk amusement.

4. John Bender's second birthday was yesterday. Four dogs is a lot but I am thankful every day we got this guy.

5. I am eating blow pops like they contain life sustaining nutrients. Jesus take the wheel.

6. Thanks to everyone who linked up or read Show Us Your Books Tuesday - both the link up and the giveaway are still open. I've finished a book, started another, and am picking up a big ass stack of library books tomorrow.

7. Happy happy birthday to my longtime friend Melissa.

8. Alright. A difference in beliefs is one thing when it's like I don't believe in mixing my food up on a plate before I eat it and you do cool cool vs. I don't believe gay people should marry/I don't believe women should make decisions about their own bodies/I believe black people cry racism/I believe the best place for brown immigrants is in cages...not beliefs I want to sit next to at a table regardless of my relationship to who holds them. Differences are fucking great. They make life interesting and give us so much to talk about. But if the difference is that your beliefs infringe on the rights of others to fucking live as they are, then no...we can't agree to disagree. Racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, all that shit continues to thrive because we (by we I am mostly referring to straight white people) would rather be civil and not ruffle friends than confront it. Fuck all of that. Look where we are after hundreds of years of messages of kindness. Marginalized groups are still getting shit on and fighting to live as we live while bigots smile and still sit at dinner tables. I am all for kindness and friendship too but damn, man. No. That's just letting bigotry and prejudice thrive under the veil of niceness and civility. Do you see the bigots being kind and friendly to the marginalized groups? No, you fucking don’t, but no one gives a shit about that. Sorry you all...this Ellen thing is nice but it’s the easy way out and the privileged way out because our lives are not on the line when we choose that. It allows the people perpetuating all of those isms to hold onto their beliefs that groups that are “other”  are less than because bigots are still embraced as they are like they can’t help the hate they hold inside. Yes they can, but they won’t unless there is a societal and cultural pressure to examine those beliefs. If you REALLY want to live in a kind world where differences are embraced, we have to have hard conversations with people we love about how their beliefs hurt other people. Not a damn one of us is perfect and the kindness comes not in letting “beliefs” that hate on others be, but in challenging those beliefs and then allowing ourselves and others space to change our beliefs and behaviors to ones that don't threaten the lives and humanity of others. Not in just ignoring those beliefs. It’s hard work, but it’s necessary. We want to say we hate politics but guess what? Politics is people in that rulings and laws and acts etc impact actual human beings every second of every day. Don’t you dare attempt to disconnect those things and wash your hands of politics. How we vote has outcomes and other people thrive or wither by them. 

9. Reminder: courtesy of grace.d.art

10. Ecards. 

What appears after the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts is a song lyric to whatever I'm listening to when I start to write the post. This week is Sweet Seasons by Carole King

TWTW - the one before Christmas

Friday I dipped into a surprisingly empty Liberty Place to see the tree before a Festivus lunch at work. At home we did some purging (five bags, a box, and a magazine holder), I took photos of stuff to sell on eBay, I sat with intent for Winter Solstice, we made a trip to Home Depot, and MFD W. Griswold was like an elf overnight decorating for Christmas. 

Saturday I watched my niece and nephew for a couple of hours (most time spent in a makeshift car with Lola driving me, two dogs, and a bunch of babies around), painted my nails (nail art crime scene, while it was happening I told Lola I'd give her dots and after Lola saw mine she said, "aunt steph I not want dots." I understand, Lola Jean.), rambled around the grocery store like a lost child, and did some food prep. MFD cleaned most of the house thank God. We hosted Friendsgivingmas at our house. Everyone brought an app and/or dessert and that is my favorite type of party ever. It is always so easy and great to spend time with friends of 25+ years. Mae was up staring at the door until 2 am because Debbie brought her cat with her and Mae is freaking obsessed with him. 

Sunday I put my Show Us Your Books: Favorite Reads of 2018 post together, changed sheets, did a little laundry, made macaroni salad and iced tea, and threw a ham in the oven. MFD's gram is 90 this week so we celebrated a few days early. The dogs were all up on her immediately, of course. When MFD was taking her home carolers were out front and they sang happy birthday to her before singing a Christmas song. It was awesome! Screenings of Christmas Vacation and Rudolph rounded out the night. 

I thought it was Christmas Eve all day because of how the holiday is falling this weekend. Anyone else?

Happy Christmas Eve!

TWTW - the one with the first birthday

Friday was my work Christmas party, which was fun as always and we made it to the train with about 10 seconds to spare so we didn't have to wait until midnight for the next one, praise the lort. There was an HVAC issue outside of the room that pissed me off as the party organizer but other than that smooth sailing. 

Saturday I took it easy all day - I was only back to work on Thursday and a long day Friday did me in. My energy is not back to where it was pre-walking pneumonia, not even close. I read a book and watched Game of Thrones all day - FINE I WATCH GAME OF THRONES NOW. MFD made monkey bread. We both made separate batches of chili and talked a bunch of shit to each other about which one was better. 

Sunday I did some food prep, moved some stuff around in the basement, took pics of shit to sell on ebay, changed and washed sheets, did a load of towels, and we went to my nephew's first birthday. Aubrey did an awesome job with the theme from the invites as she always does, with real wood centerpieces and a trail mix bar but I didn't get a lot of pics because my phone was playing the music. The birthday boy is the sweetest, happiest, cutest kid (no social media for my niece and nephew but trust me on that) and today is his actual birthday. Happy birthday Baby Steeeeeeve. I love you so much! 

Weekly food prep: scrambled eggs for breakfast, blackberries for snack, tuna salad for lunch with crackers if necessary, dinners are leftover chili and mac and cheese from the party, and I'll make something involving chicken thighs at some point. 

And you? 

TWTW - the one with the 40th celebration

My welcome to the shore moment Thursday night was a full moon over the water. I saw the moon again at 5:30 am Friday, along with a lovely pink and yellow sunrise. The moon was also lovely Friday night, and the strawberry moon Saturday night was amazing. I am a child of the moon.

After sunrise Friday I organized stuff in our apartment with my trusty label maker like the dork I am and hit the Ventnor City Farmers Market for some knish, berries, local honey, soap, and a sweet bracelet.

Six friends with over 25 years of history living in four different states with full lives and responsibilities plus very different schedules means picking a date months in advance and praying it still works for everyone when it arrives. It did, and it was great. At various times with these women I feel 12, 16, 18, 22, 30, 35, 40. They've been there through it all, and Lord do we have a ton to reminisce over and laugh about, past and present, while we ruminate on the future together.

After Laura and I picked Kim up at the AC Airport, we met Melissa and Angie at the house and spent the day on the beach. KVSR arrived early Saturday and aside from the kayakers' foray into the bay, we spent Saturday on the beach as well, simultaneously entertaining and repelling people around us with our always ridiculous conversations. Laura and I walked the boards Friday and Saturday night like we did when we were 13 except instead of dressing up to troll for boys like we did then, we went as we were trolling for old lady flip flops and candy. We had lights and a mic thanks to Melissa. We hung out on the porch and couches, walked for coffee in the mornings, and covered conversational topics that ran the gamut from topical to unsuitable for public. Kim and I stopped for a Kohr Bros on her way out of town. I truly love these women and had a great time.

#respectthegun #Ifeellikeyoudo #wattawattawatta #thekayakers

You cannot put a price on time together with people who know you like that, or the love and acceptance of people who love you, warts and all. Our goal is to reconvene here annually.

After cleaning up and clearing out, Laura hit the road first. Kim, Kim, Angie, Melissa, and I had lunch at Frankie's on the Bay, then KVSR, Angie, and Melissa hit the road too. Kim and I had a rest and got some Kohr Bros. I took her to the AC Airport, then headed back home to make three batches of shower spray, do a final house walk through, paint my nails (wet n wild Megalast in Bite the Bullet), clean up our apartment, load up my car, take the first outdoor shower of the summer season, and chill with MFD and the dogs before making a late trip to the beach. MFD came down to get a new grill (they don't last long in the salt air) and fix a leak in one of the upstairs bathrooms. And go fishing and get sunburnt like a fool. Dinner was a calzone and salad from Piccini.

Weekly food prep, happening tonight: breakfast is breakfast burritos from the freezer; snacks are power breakfast muffins and yogurt; lunch is salads with chicken (making tonight, I don't need lunch Monday), and dinners are chicken breasts marinated in pineapple/hot sauce thanks to My Shitty Kitchen over mashed potatoes as well as enchilada pasta.

 I did manage to finish a book on the beach on Saturday and start a new one Sunday night. Tomorrow is Show Us Your Books with me & Jana! See you back here for that.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

Thursday Thoughts: It's someone's birthday

1. Happy birthday MFD! Wishing you a killer last year in your 30s filled with adventure, peace, abundance, opportunity, biting fish, love, and as much laughter in your life as you bring to mine.

Also celebrating birthdays today: Debbie, AJ, and Griffin. Love to all of my September 1 babies!

2. We are spending some time down the shore for MFD's birthday, and I'm looking forward to sort of losing time and not really having a schedule. In our house, the birthday person makes the call for what they want to do on their birthday so today is entirely up to him! I see some sort of fishing in my future. Good thing books are portable! Hey ohhh.

3. Gus's birthday was Monday and it was...shitty. That night he was crapping blood all over the house and throwing up. MFD came home from the shore Tuesday to take him to the vet and he got bloodwork done. Wednesday I took him back for x-rays. We should know something today or tomorrow, so please spare a prayer for my first puppy. Meanwhile Geege was fretting and Mae was out back tracking and hunting cicadas like Crocodile Dundee. Only with cicadas of course.

4. Have I mentioned that Geege has a stroller now? I am having to carry him at the shore a lot, and I simply can't. It was delivered on Sunday and I'll be that lady soon. Oh, look...she's pushing her dog...in a stroller. He'll be comfortable, my arms won't be broken, and the other two dogs can carry on as they would, so no fucks given.

5. When my friend Catie shared this this week I thought damn it's like the bottom was written by Maisel. Well, Hazel. It made me laugh a lot.

6. I hit the library Monday for the first time in a while. I was getting no love from my hold list. This Conroy is quite possibly a re-read but I couldn't remember so I put it on my to read list and picked it up. Show Us Your Books is on September 13. There should be a new Armchair Librarians dropping sometime today in which Jana and I discuss Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. In future episodes we will be doing a Ruth Ware podcast (discussing The Woman in Cabin 10 and In a Dark, Dark Wood) and The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead. We also have an Instagram account (blank right now but please give us a follow) and are looking for other bookish souls who'd like to take it over for a few days at a time and share your bookish life. Let me or Jana know if you're interested.

7. Seasonal goal people, the Fall Goal linkup with Sara from Journey of Doing and me is on Friday, September 16. Mark your calendars. Feel free to report in on your summer goals too!

8. Well I know ya'll wanted that 808 can you feel that B-A-S-S bass?

9. Reminder. Cultivate your relationship with yourself.

10.  E-card of the week: To MFD today and all of our same aged and older comrades. 

Linking up with Kristen & Gretch