Weekending second half of August 2024

August 23-25

Coming off of two concerts - two close to 2 am bedtimes in a row - Friday was a struggle. I had to keep repeating to myself, "you can do this" as I worked through noon, put laundry away, packed up food and car and dogs, and drove down to the shore. I hit the beach late. Saturday we were the cleaners as our crew was doing back to college stuff. When we were finished I rode my bike to the library, then hit the beach later in the afternoon. Mozz sticks and ice cream, the dinner of champions. Sunday morning MFD and QV left before 6:30. I painted my nails, made iced tea and french onion dip, cut up veggies, cleaned my birkenstocks, and relaxed. Our niece Maddi and her boyfriend were down for the day so I saw them for beach tags and chairs, and I hit the beach myself in the afternoon. Otherwise lots of walking and reading and relaxing. 

August 30-September 3...long Labor Day weekend 

Summer hours Friday, people checking out Saturday and fam and friends arriving. Nice beach days, a goodbye to Wonderland Pier with a ferris wheel ride, and the 5th Anniversary of the Great American Smokeout with lots of smoke, games, etc. Also celebrated MFD's birthday and Michelle's birthday!

SMD

Snippets of the weekend 9.6.2023

Friday was MFD's 46th! He was out boating and fishing all day while I took care of shit around the house. We went to dinner at the Tuckahoe Inn with my dad & Carol and Cindy and Jamie, froze out back having a nightcap, and went back home for ice cream cake with the fam. 

Saturday Dad & Carol made a big breakfast. Lunch was Farmstand on the beach. Frank and Amanda and Eva joined the crew and we had a grand old beach day. AJ and Kim came over later and we all hit the boards which were crowded AF. I expired early after several nights of shit sleep and nearly murdering MFD for his driveway music volume. 

Sunday was more fab weather. Drew joined the crew, and AJ and Kim and the kids in the afternoon. We stayed late on the beach and had our Fourth Annual Great American Smokeout with driveway party games from our Activities Coordinator Carol and her assistant, my Dad. We all had suggestions for next year as we'll do a Best Of for activities. Jared also did a blind taste test of six foods and he was a great sport about it. 

Monday was another burner with brutal sun, a land breeze, and absolutely ferocious blood sucking green heads even Deep Woods Off could not deter. We packed it in before 4 due to that but a great day for the water and boogie boarding! Everyone took off except Dad and Carol. I did a Target pickup, we got all the trash out, pizza delivery for dinner, and I was in bed by 8:30 pm. 

Tuesday I was off. Even the dogs were beat from the weekend. Dad and Carol and I did our new Tuesday after Labor Day tradition of lunch at Kessel's Corner. 

They headed out and I lay in a dark room all afternoon reading to escape the heat and land breeze, then we went to the beach at 5:30. 

weekending reels on Instagram - current favorite weekend look back mode.

I had planned to go home Wednesday or Thursday but got an email Tuesday night that sent me back earlier than planned, so I got back to Philly around 10 on Tuesday night and slept in the basement since the air was off throughout the heatwave and that was the coolest place once I turned it back on.

Snippets of the long weekend 9.7.2022

MFD turned 45 Thursday! We went out on a boat (his choice obvi) and I did not vomit in the bay. I did ask to get dropped off early though. 

I also got a manicure and pedicure and did some time-sensitive work organization there, picked a wine for a work event (Two Vintners), looked up drone info for a project (click here), and researched funding for start ups for a friend. We hit our beach for a little over an hour, then showered and went to dinner at the Tuckahoe Inn, a favorite of ours. 

Wedding Day for my brother Sean and Nicole on Friday, so we made a work errand for me pit stop in Margate then drove up to Philly. My vertigo was activated from the Thursday boat ride but thankfully I got it under control. We picked up Aub and headed to Malvern. We had a great time! Table 17! Hit the hotel for a bit after then back to Philly.

We were meant to leave for the shore at 8:30 but pharmacy hours were against us, then MFD mowed the lawn, and we hit ridiculous traffic. Finally got to the shore near 1 and did a late beach day - love lingering in that late light - and Aubrey ran the Boardwalk Blind Pizza Taste Test at night. Jared and Stephen were the pizza runners. This year's winner: NY Pizza at the OC Promenade. Roma was second and Manco third.

Sunday a long hot beach day and driveway party with the annual charcoal Great American Smokeout and games a la our activities director Carol - marshmallow gun not included. We had a great time as usual, and it was great to have Amanda, Eva, and Frank come back from the beach for the driveway party too.

More beach Monday including a boat beached by the Music Pier and a drive by beeping and boating by the Commodore (MFD). Stephen, Aub, Jared, and the kids took off Monday, and we did Boyars and porch. There was a shitload of rain Tuesday, when I was also off. We thank it for waiting out the weekend. Dad and Carol and I went to Kessel's for lunch and had a good laugh over being submerged. I had some HVAC quotes and service come through then drove back to Philly.

In addition to snippets here, I've been doing weekending reels on Instagram if you are interested. 

I read a terrible book most of the weekend and my Kindle was back in Philly so no reads. I started one this morning that was infinitely better. 

TWTW - the long Labor Day one

Friday Our last guests of the season checked out. On my lunch I cleaned the house. MFD went to the laundromat and refilled water jugs. Dad and Carol arrived before 5, Stephen soon after, and Aubrey and the kids by 6:30. We got pizzas from Angelo's and had leftover cake from my dad's official official retirement. He "retired" last year, but was still working eight days a month to transition out this year. Friday was officially his last day of work ever. He was with his company for 45 years. Congrats Dad! We were celebrating that and MFD's ability to smoke in his own driveway again.

Saturday We were on the beach early, and my dad and brother biked down to see a high school football game since my brother's school was playing in it. It was a great long beach day Debbie arrived in the middle of followed by a boardwalk night. And my first pumpkin/cinnamon swirl of the season. 

Sunday Aubrey did her chalk art driveway sign for the September 1 birthday babies and we were on the beach early again but hooo boy the winds. It was excessive and untenable but we did last much longer than I thought we would. In the end we left around two and the ladies did some Asbury shopping while the boys did party prep and arcades. 

Driveway Party 2021: Guess what time Mike will be home, rain delay, charcoal grill smokeout, roasting marshmallows, bingo, pin the teeth on the shark (all three Stephens placed), chalk art (Aubrey, family artist), pie eating contest I was sure I would win but Dad won, and prizes for all. It was a great time. Thanks to our family Activities Director Carol for another fun Driveway Party!

Monday We did masks per Lola's request, then headed to another perfect beach day. Debbie left in the afternoon and we did a family photo before my brother had to take off  earlier than planned due to BatteryGate 2021. I went up to the boards with Aubrey, the kids, Dad and Carol and we got curly fries, lemonade, chicken fingers, and Opa for dinner before doing two rides and the arcade and walking back. 

Tuesday The best day off is the day after Labor Day. Carol and I got donuts from Nauti Donuts, we did the beach, Aubrey and the kids and Mike left, and Dad and Carol and I cleaned up, had 16th Street Seafood for dinner and ice cream cake. I was laying down by 9:30. 

Consider this Thursday Thoughts as well? I love our Labor Day weekend time.

TWTW - the last one in August

Friday I stayed in Philly to work and at lunch made breakfast burritos to freeze and after work power breakfast muffins to freeze & give away. I packed up and headed out to the shore with Bruce, Ben, and Mae by about 8 and was up until midnight reading. 

Saturday I slept in until 8:30, did the walking and the feeding of the dogs, cleaned up outside, turnover shit, made daily shower spray refills for upstairs, and MFD arrived around noon to do his stuff. The rest of the afternoon was a washout so I read and painted my nails (OPI I Eat Mainely Lobster and Essie Juicy Details), chatted with my neighbors, made a dozen hard boiled eggs in the air fryer, and sat with the animals. When the rain let up MFD and I walked down to the beach then sat on a bench on the boards people watching. We watched the Bob Ross documentary when we got back. Fuck those Bob Ross grifter people. 

Sunday I thought was going to be fine but a band of rain stayed stationary over Ocean City and we got pounded while other shore points were sunny. We flooded as bad as I've seen it yet this summer. The first photo is our corner and the second photo is from the apartment porch. So it was a reading and lounging and actually a TV watching day. We watched the first four episodes of Nine Perfect Strangers and all of Ted Lasso season one. We really liked both but Ted ugh so fucking perfect this show.

As I have put all over the internet Sunday was Gus's 16th birthday. He enjoyed many meals, a trip to dog beach, and the requisite birthday burger party which everyone attended event though Billy Cat is on a no burger diet. The excitement wore everyone out and we were all in bed by 10. 

Holding good thoughts for all of those in Ida's path. 

Heading into freaking Labor Day weekend already. Let's go.

TWTW - the long one with the 40th

Thursday night shore arrival, Friday half day of work then on to celebrating MFD's 40th birthday with a sunrise, bike ride, breakfast at Ove's, very chilly fishing on the beach in the North End, deep tissue massages and reflexology at Sea Wave, and a dinner at Cousin's. It was a good day aside from Gus waking us up after 4.5 hours of sleep with a shitting escapade. At least it was on the floor? And ensured both of us were up for sunrise? Looking for the positives. 

Saturday our last weekly renters of the summer checked out and left the house immaculate which was awesome. MFD knew her from band and it is always great to have people we know upstairs! I changed the comforter out on the top floor - I have not been happy with any that have been up there so far - picked up shrimp from 16th Street, went to the library, assembled furniture, made pulled pork and Mom's cranberry walnut feta salad, and sat on the porch staring at the relentless rain. Jenny and Evan and crew arrived around dinner and Angie shortly thereafter.

Sunday we did the beach followed by baked ziti, tomato pie, and veggies and dip at home. Amanda and Frank and this bunny rabbit arrived for dinner and homemade ice cream cake from A La Mode which as awesome homemade ice cream cake and cheaper than Carvel. Debbie had arrived by the time we got back from picking up the cake. We sang to all the September 1 babies then hit the boards for rides and more food before we collapsed and crashed at home.

Monday was a truly spectacular sunrise for the unofficial end of summer. I did a lot of food prep in the morning and we all hit the beach early. Nicole and Mark and co. arrived in the early afternoon and Evan and Jenny & co. left late afternoon. Taco night and seeing Angie and Debbie off, then a trip to the boards for more rides and food we didn't need. Frank & Amanda took off when we got home, and we dropped into bed exhausted shortly thereafter. Oh, and Monday morning? I woke up with poop ON MY ARM. Gus is having major issues from the antibiotics they gave him after his dental work. Horrified does not begin to describe waking up with poop on one's arm. 

Fabulous weekend with a revolving door of framily to enjoy the days with. This is what life is about, right?

I'm still off today to enjoy the shit out of a quiet shore town. I'm off tomorrow too but that's for things like visiting a carpet place and cleaning and probably going to the laundromat and measuring dressers. You know. Not super fun but necessary stuff.

Ciao bellas. For those of you lamenting the loss of this season, remember that t's always summer in your heart.

Happy birthday Jamie today! Happy school time to Lola Jean and all the other kids!

Linking up with Biana at B Loved Boston for Weekending