Thursday Thoughts: We were standing on the edge with the sand under our feet

Feels like summer. Do do do do do do do do

I have seen my BFF Kim and her family nearly every day this week and loved it. A sweaty as F Farmer's Market outing Wednesday. 

Brown's donuts are delightful even if they arrive mangled. The combination of a hot off the press and long walk doesn't make for pretty, but their recipe is always delicious. As is Steve's breakfast. 

Lots of time on the boards this week - storm rolled in on Tuesday.

Libby and I met up with Amanda, Eva, and Donna on Wednesday. Then I had a glass of wine with Kim & Steve on the deck. Solid Wednesday night, they are rarely that good. 

Glimpses of nice evening skies, but no super moon on Wednesday. There was a shelf of clouds just off-shore. 

Nail talk. I got gel polish at the nail salon before we went on our road trip vacation. The last time I got gel polish was before I went to Ireland in 2016. I absolutely hate my nails after and that's what I'm going through now. That shit under the lights absolutely weakens your nails and they are bending and chipping and annoying AF right now. And I say that as someone who has almost superhuman strong nails. 

The first month without Show Us Your Books linkup since October 2014. It would have been Tuesday. It still feels like freedom. I'll be posting a what I've been reading post at the end of July. 

My black and white animals frequently conspire.

My Ben and Bruce are much nicer. Bruce, much lazier.

I watched snippets of the Uvalde school shooting video yesterday. This wrecked me for the day. To see police standing lackadaisically in the hallway, getting hand sanitizer. Looking at the freaking punisher screen saver on the phone in their hand instead of rescuing children who were getting shot. The shots are heard clearly in the video. The screams of the children were edited out. Not for those police standing in the hallway though. They heard the screams. And did nothing. So much for the good guys with the guns counteracting mass shooter theories, huh? Hero worship, near blanket immunity from prosecution, a ruling of the supreme court in 2005 that police do not have a constitutional duty to protect people from harm, and back the blue flags have led to this. It is not fixable within the current system. It is not fixable when governors like Greg Abbott fight to not release the videos. And when the Mayor instead of criticizing the lack of response criticizes the media for releasing them. Is this not clear to people, still? 

Local to me abortion supporters: I hope you have followed abortionfunds and signed up for more info - if you have, and you are near me, you should have gotten an email from Abortion Liberation Fund of PA. Please follow them on IG, access/read/share their Post-Roe Tool Kit, and consider making a one time - and, ideally, monthly donation if you are financially able to, and if not share their organization. They were formerly Women's Medical Fund and have been operating in Philly since 1985, and in a post-Roe world protecting and expanding abortion access through direct service and community organizing. With PA state senate having begun the process through the passage of SB 956 to add an amendment to the state constitution that would criminalize abortion and other critical reproductive healthcare - denying the right to abortion care in Pennsylvania even in cases of rape, incest, or life threatening conditions AND pre-empt any state court from protecting abortion care in the absence of federal protections...which is weird since people have been shrugging their shoulders and saying it's not illegal, it's just back to the states...then GOP state senators are passing bills like this out of committee at 11:45 at night, past curfew, and without input from the citizens they represent; federal GOP going after abortion access everywhere for the last 50 years, and democrats not being aggressive enough, we are responsible at the community level to keep each other safe and rely on the networks established abortion funds have built over years. At this time, that mostly means talking about abortion, sharing resources like these, and donating as much as you can. Sharpen your teeth and protect each other.

In the background of everything, an attempted presidential coup it is quite clear the majority of elected GOP officials knew was happening with a false claim of a stolen election and they did absolutely nothing about it. So the attempted coup, then, is not just presidential, but Republican, and now there is a judicial coup in process while republican legislatures in states attempt to limit voting rights and criminalize abortion so that people convicted lose their voting rights. Fascism isn't coming, it's here. What are you going to do now? Nothing, like the DOJ is doing to people who will not comply with subpoenas? Nothing, like the DOJ is doing with the former White House squatter who is attempting to contact witnesses that have not yet testified against him?

To think about, as collected by We the Urban:

Endlessly becoming. I don't know why anyone ever thinks they are done becoming in this life. We are becoming constantly. Done means dead to me. I love this poem by Lucille Clifton. I mean... a changed changer, I continue to continue. How can you not think about that at pop up points always after first reading it 20+ years ago? It is amazing writing.

I'm off tomorrow. Hallelujah & amen

What appears beyond the hyphen in Thursday Thoughts titles is what I'm listening to when I'm starting this - this week is Feels Like Summer by Samuel Jacks

TWTW - a typical July weekend

Friday I was up early to get the shore trash out and had coffee on the porch. I ran a few fruitless errands at lunch, which annoys me, but also did pick up dog flea/tick/heartworm meds at the vet and Gus's CBD oil. I walked down to the beach after work to see the post-Elsa waves and as usual after a storm when the tide comes in, it comes up fast, and my ass was wet on the walk home. I was in bed early reading.

Saturday Coffee, books, dogs on the porch. The people leaving were late leaving by 20 min which seems to be a thing this summer. It's not a long time to them but with only four hours in between guests it's a long time to me. They were super nice people and left the house nice, which I was thankful for since MFD was working and I did turnover on my own. I was a sweaty mess at the the end, so I closed my doors and windows, put the fan and AC on, showered, painted my nails (9th & Maxwell dahlia and aqua-rius - freaking amazing polish, Black-owned company, try it!), and relaxed until MFD arrived. We had pierogies on the beach from The Pierogie Place on the boards (new and good!) then met up with Jenn, Joe, & Katie. It was a fun night! Except for the homemade chipwich we walked all the way to the promenade for that was expensive AF and...not it. Two bites and trash. The cookie was too hard for it to function as a chipwich. 

Sunday was a good mix of productive and relaxing. While MFD was at his meeting and fishing in the morning, I purged and organized some drawers, cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed, did some personal care, walked the dogs, rode my bike to the library to drop off books and pick up a hold, and when MFD got back we ate lunch then headed to the beach for the afternoon. It was sunny then overcast, and we both fell asleep - that is rare for me. I was dead out. We had dinner from Crunchik'n on the boards before heading back to the house. Showered, finished my book, and packed up.

I drove back to Philly this morning and have been fighting with Adobe ever since. It's a system-wide down. Grand.

Show Us Your Books is tomorrow!!

TWTW - the one on beach time

Friday I had off, so MFD and I piled the dogs in the car Thursday night and set off for the shore. I worked until about 11 and put out the new plates we got for upstairs. My brother and Aubrey were down with the kids, and my Dad and Carol and Aubrey's parents were down as well. I ended up working until after noon on Friday, so not really a day off, but still at the shore and it ended on the beach so all good. My dad had to be picked up from the Nissan dealership because his car's transmission went. Thank God a dealership was less than 15 miles away. 

We went to the boardwalk at night and hit the arcade, there was hot sauce tasting in a new store on the boards, rides, and I went out on a limb to get peanut butter and mint. The highlight on the way home was the performance of MFD and Aubrey as they sat in the Virtual Reality seats - they drew a crowd. 

Saturday 

I got up to see the sunrise, but there wasn't one. I made greek orzo salad for dinner for dinner and my dad made a big breakfast, then we took a bike ride on the boards with a pit stop at the beach. I took a snooze and then we hit the beach for a few hours. 

Back at the house we discovered a leak in the shower. Of course, so close to the season. My brother grilled but I couldn't eat because I was stressed out. We sang happy birthday to him and had some ice cream cake from A La Mode. I rallied and we had a fun time on the boards, meeting up with Frank & Amanda & Eva for a little, MFD the talk of the town in his Fart Loading tee. 

We collected nine slices along the way home and Aubrey ran a pizza blind taste test for us. It was fun! Then we had a drawing contest Lola ran and rigged. 

Sunday 

Started with new silverware upstairs and the discovery that my bike was stolen overnight. Not locked up, what can you do. Between my dad's transmission, the leak, and the theft, that's three things so we should be good. My dad’s car is being worked on, we think we have a temporary fix for the leak that will get us through the season, and Carol and my Dadare buying me a new bike. I also misplaced my kindle for most of the day so no beach reading of the new book I started Saturday night. Instead I relaxed and played and after we were done on the beach took an outdoor shower and hit the boards with Stephen & Aubrey and the kids (and sans phone) one more time before heading home with MFD and four very tired dogs. 

Weekly food prep: breakfast is breakfast burritos from the freezer. Lunch is egg salad. Snacks are strawberries, cantaloupe, and bell peppers. Dinners are grilled sausage and peppers and I don’t know what else yet. 

It was another awesome weekend. My niece and nephew are the funniest best kids ever. 

Kimmy Foo Foo's birthday was Saturday, we'll be celebrating together next weekend!

TWTW - the one with the relaxing

Thursday night I cooked food for Geege (he's currently only eating ground beef), made pasta salad, and we headed down the shore. Gus did not realize it was a worknight and was in his usual Party all the Time mode until he got yelled at.

Friday morning I saw the sunrise and started working early...without my computer charger or mouse, which I forgot at home. Thank the lord for Amazon Prime one day delivery.

Breakfast at Clancy's + a Green Fair at the Music Pier before joining my coworkers for work. 

Late afternooning in the North End so MFD could fish followed by dinner at Luigi's. It's that point in the summer where we can go back to places we've stayed out of to avoid crowds. Hurrah!

Saturday morning was unheard of. Gus didn't get up until 9, which meant up, hurry to walk slow old dogs, and do turnover stuff. Last guests of the summer checked in on Saturday. I was really sluggish the rest of the day. Aside from a bike ride and a dog walk, I started three different books and just laid around or sat on the porch. Oh and I filled my shell lamp with my treasures and affixed labels to hand soaps like the personalization dork I am.

It was a slow, relaxing day which I apparently needed. We met MFD's cousins up on the boards for some rides, snacks, and fireworks. It was great to see everyone. 

Sunday sunrise followed by some quiet time puttering, blogging, caffeinating,and reading while MFD was out.

I hit the beach to read and chill. I think I've read this book before. I hate when I can't tell even when I get into it. After a few hours I walked down five blocks to watch MFD's second surfing lesson. He stood up and everything. This was his must do before 40 item and he's done it.

Back at the house by 3:30 to lounge, read, clean up, have dinner, and head home at 10:30. On last night's episode of Will this Marriage Survive?: they were both tired, angry trolls who didn't want to leave...did they make it home without killing each other? Spoiler alert: they did.


Texas, my heart hurts for you. An old friend of mine and her family live and operate their business Native Dave (sustainable landscape solutions) in Aransas Pass and shared this Recovery Fund link on Go Fund Me for the Rockport Fulton Chamber of Commerce to help communities in the rebuilding process. There's a list of physical items needed that is circulating but no ship address yet. You can also text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation through the Red Cross, donate to the Houston Flood Relief Fund JJ Watt set up on YouCaring, donate to the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services, donate to Catholic Charities USA Hurricane Harvey response, and help the animals through Austin Pets Alive.

Hold tight Texas. We belong to each other and even if we can't get there physically we're all coming in some way.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

TWTW - the one with July

The safest time to leave for the shore the Friday of July 4 weekend? After 10:30 pm, which is, of course, after my preferred old lady bed time. By the time I got down and settled in bed, it was about 1 am and MFD arrived even later. The dogs did not approve either. I did manage to get a Target trip in Friday night.

Saturday I got up to see the sunrise at 4:50 only there was no sunrise. I went back to bed but was off all day sleep-wise. So after turnover work, I grabbed some shoe boxes, did a manicure (OPI Cha-Ching Cherry) and pedicure (Cajun Shrimp) and chilled with the dogs until about 3. Then I did some shopping down Asbury Ave.

I met Frank and Amanda, Brian and Michele and the kids up on the boards, which we trolled for about four hours doing rides and eating everything. MFD met us up there after fishing too. Between the afternoon shopping and the boardwalking I walked over five miles Saturday. I dropped dead into bed.

Sunday sunrise was awesome. I processed iced coffee and read in the morning, then we took refuge from the crowds at our beach down at 59th Street. The sun was hot, the water was cold, MFD fished, and I finished a book. We were beat after that, so we lounged at home and ate snacks for dinner.

MFD left around 11 on Sunday night. Monday I got some coffee and reading in at Drip N' Scoop, did some work, cleaned our apartment, packed up what I needed to take home for vacation, dropped off laundry and picked it up, dealt with the popo since someone was blocking my driveway, and drove around for over a half hour looking for parking after laundry pickup. It also took me over a half hour to get out of town. I love the shore, but not the week of the Fourth. I was happy to head home.

On the Fourth I spent time with the dogs, processed even more iced coffee, packed up, visited my uncle and cousin to meet their new dog/see my other cousin's dog/take their leftover crabs, picked up cookies from my Mom that she made for our trip, stopped to buy a stupid beach towel because I left most of mine at the shore, and picked up a few things at Giant for dinner.  I also cleaned out the pantry and fridge and we tag teamed cleaning up the yard when MFD got home from his Fourth mummery parades.

We could not motivate to pack, but we did it and most of the car was packed by 8. Then we settled in for hell fireworks night after giving Mae a benadryl.

 4 am vacation lift off. Let's do this. I don't find it easy to go away in the summer because I am mental about checking over the shore house before someone new checks in - I want it to be perfect. We are so lucky to have our BFF Michelle who is taking that on for us for two check ins. And I don't find it easy to go away ever without my dogs, but we are lucky to have Courtney the dog whisperer staying with them this week. Much gratitude and thanks to both of these women. It takes a village. I always say it and it's true - we'd be nowhere without a solid group of people around both of us.

I'll post if I feel like it, but you'll definitely see me here on Tuesday for Show Us Your Books.

As always, I'll be overusing my favorite form of social media - Instagram. Catch me there.

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending

TWTW - the one with the framily

Friday afternoon traffic sucked the balls again so I took back roads to the shore, sunroof open and Bruce Springsteen wailing away for company. MFD and I gorged on  all you can eat crab legs at Frankie's on the Bay (and their iced tea/lemonade/strawberry fucking amazing drink), then rode up to the beach to see the spectacular harvest moon before retiring to the porch with the dogs.

I finished a book around 1 am which made a 5:50 alarm tough, but Mr. National Geographic insisted that we had to haul ass over to Sea Isle Saturday morning to see a beached humpback whale. It's sad to see a magnificent creature die. The sunrise...not sad. Balloons released into the wild...super sad. They end up in the oceans, river, streams, etc., and they kill the things that live there. Gus sniffed these out and I took them home to the trash. 

I did some chores then met MFD for breakfast outside at Arlene's on Asbury, followed by coffee at Drip N' Scoop, a stop at the bike store for more reflectors, and some porch time with the dogs. Saturday's weather was tremendous.

Cut to a long afternoon at the beach. Jill & Frank & Tebow, Frank & Amanda, & Joe trickled in throughout the day. We missed Lauren & Kenny and the boys and the Diva, but we'll be doing it again many times in the future. I'm on a Manco & Manco strike in their stores but still enjoy it via delivery, which is what we did for dinner. At night there was some boardwalking, leftover cake eating, fishing, and lounging and gabbing. I fell out around 11:30 and slept the sleep of the dead. 

Easy like Sunday morning with coffee on the porch and brunch at Sunrise Cafe (the chip beef is great) in which we had girls and guys tables and handed our check right over to them.  

Joe headed home and the rest of us took in the salt air cure. It was a lovely afternoon on the beach talking, laughing, reading, and eating pumpkin spice froyo to really blend the seasons. 

The backdrop was a corvette show on the boards. Corvettes as far as the eye could see. 

And then there were two. We closed it out at the beach, did some cleaning up at home, then had dinner at Katrina's and rode home along the boards. Out of season = bikes on the boardwalk whenever you want. 

I was supposed to stay over and go to work from there Monday, but heavy rains were predicted and I did not want the agony of that commute so I arrived home at 10:30, put some laundry in and trash out, and called it a day. I'm glad I did because this morning was a shitshow just getting to the train station.

Weekly food prep did not happen. I took some chicken thighs out of the freezer this morning, and I am placing an Amazon Fresh order ASAP. The fridge is bare. So I'm sort of winging it but thinking chicken and veggies for lunches, egg muffins for breakfasts, and tacos and baked chicken with sweet potatoes for dinners. Still exploring restaurants in Ocean City on the weekends, which has me off my not eating out much cooking game.

What a weekend. I love relaxing with my people in a place I love. 

How was yours?

Today is my youngest brother's birthday. Love you Swan! Happy Happy! 

Happy happy to our nephew Drew today as well, and my longest life friend Jen yesterday. 

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending