snippets of the weekend 11.20.2023

To wake up on a Friday in mid-November and have it be 60 some degrees is insane and amazing. I had to take a walk down to the beach before work. I had massive tech issues Friday and had to call Xfinity which made me rage. I got my nails painted during that though - this is the red from this year's OPI Holiday Collection - Rebel without a Clause. It's a really good red.

After work walk was a good one. Mr. Rooney ends up in a bag on the way back when we walk far, which we did Friday. We had soup for dinner and watched reruns of The Office. 

We got going early on Saturday for a fun day along Route 9. We hit Treasures Past first, where I picked up two tables for bedsides that have a bookshelf under them. I got one from there last year and was thrilled to walk in 20 minutes after they opened to find these for $12 each. A freaking steal, and they were just dropped off that morning. I will paint them as I did with the one I got last year. 

Next we popped into CoHo Antiques before heading on to historic Cold Spring Village - we thought the grounds were open despite the buildings being closed but that was not the case. We took a quick walk around the perimeter before heading out again to Treehouse Antiques of Cape May. Wonderful owners, great conversation, and two mid century mod dining chairs I am obsessed with. I only wish there were two more! We popped in to Aldi on the way back and that was that. A successful day out!

When we got back, we took a family walk to the beach then came home to watch Beckham. Doesn't Mr. Rooney look like a muppet dog?

Sunday MFD headed back to Philly and I had a nice slow Sunday - lots of coffee, read a book, took a long walk in the afternoon that included a Kohr Bros cinnamon/pumpkin twist, thundering waves, surf watch, and sunshine. I made steamed broccoli and salmon for dinner and stayed up later than normal watching Bakeoff. 

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

Snippets of the weekend 11.13.2023

Friday was raw, and consequently the first time in over a week I didn't hit my 10k steps goal. We had dinner at Jon & Patty's, then home to read, watch Witches of Eastwick, and lounge.

Saturday I did errands on foot to Lisa's Bakery and Bennie's. I did a run through Boyar's but they didn't have the rolls I wanted to off to ACME. I put together a chair for the living room, made veggie soup, french dip, and indulgent mac & cheese from dwardcooks. Friendsgiving was a lot of fun as always - I love being with these people and have for over 30 years. Hallmark Christmas movie bingo happened this year!

Sunday we lingered over coffee and I think Amanda and Frank were the last to leave around 1? I lay down for several hours and didn't move LOL. A walk to the beach, finishing a book, and leftovers for dinner did it for me for the day. 

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

Snippets of the weekend 11.6.2023

My first weekend not hosting or hanging with other people, traveling, or doing turnover shit since well before Labor Day

Friday I picked up some groceries, walked around after work and hit the library and the bay, and finally got Ben to sit on the same couch as Mr. Rooney.

Saturday I did the sunrise with Ben, leisurely drank coffee and had a bagel and read, popped over to HomeGoods, hit the beach in the afternoon, set the house to rights upstairs, and read. 

Sunday I went to another HomeGoods, purged and reorganized MFD's outdoor crime scene of a closet and the under bed tool box, threw out all sunscreen that will expire before next spring, dis some cooking, took Ben to the beach for sunset, showered, did a face peel, and read.

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

Perfect puttering alone time weekend.

Snippets of the weekend 10.30.2023

I was supposed to go to the shore Thursday as Mom & Rich were headed down, but we picked up Mr. Edward Rooney from his foster fam on Thursday. Friday we realized he had an infection and took him to our vet. He did much better after he got some antibiotics. I headed to the shore after work.

Saturday Mom and I walked the boards while Rich was on a bike ride and walked back along Asbury. We waited for him to get back then headed to the beach. Absolutely stunning warm day, and a full moon at night. Just perfect. We  had Durham Deli goods for dinner and sat out on the porch enjoying the weather.

Sunday more hanging and walking - thank God my mom was there because I dropped dog poop bags somewhere and she ran back to the house for replacements LOL - soccer on the telly, MFD arrived in the afternoon, and Mom and Rich took us to dinner at the Anchorage. 

It was a good weekend and a nice visit, much nicer than it would have been if they came down the monsoon weekend in September as originally planned. 

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

snippets of the weekend 10.23.2023

Cousins weekend! Amazing light on Friday night. Everyone trickled in and got settled, and Stephen & Aub made dinner for everyone. Phillies loss but fun to watch

Saturday we ate Courtney's sausage balls for breakfast that were amazing, and trickled out to the boards for a walk, some arcade, saw Santa and dogs in costumes, Brandon bought everyone pizzas for lunch, and back to the house to eat and relax. 

We went out again, me and Mike to the beach and some folks to the not very good Howloween parade, 

before reconvening for dinner made by Stephen & Aub again, parlay, Phillies win probably due to our superstitions - good vibes helmets, Tommy in the kitchen, etc. 

Sunday everyone was gone by 1 and I lay around with my teeth in my mouth for the rest of the day as I spent all of my social capital and was rendered mute. 

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

I'm glad we made this weekend happen spread across states and ages! It was nice. Missed Tracy & fam and Gabby!

Snippets of the weekend 10.16.2023

Friday I did school dropoff and pickup for my niece and nephew, with showering and a work trip to Swarthmore in between. I browsed my work BFF's favorite store for a magic pin and some other treasures, and she gave me my birthday gift. After school pickup we went to the Halloween store, and to Friendly's for dinner, back to my house to watch a movie, then on home to theirs. 

Saturday was lounging, laundry, lazy because it was raining. It cleared up in time for Brenna & Nick's wedding sail on the Delaware. Loved the costume party and the super cool skull thing they made themselves! I got zero photos of them aside from one on the table. It was nice to see everyone.

Mrs. Roper era in full effect.

Good times and home by 11!

Sunday I was back in Old City to pick a few things up from my office before heading home to clear surfaces in the kitchen and dining room, cut up veggies, and lounge and read.

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

snippets of the weekend 10.9.2023

Out of office Friday - nail painting in some fall colors, Asbury shop day and lunch at OC Cafe with Lori and Carrie, a small rest, the Stephanies arrived, boardwalk night for Angelo's and seasonal pumpkin/cinnamon Kohr Bros and The Islander, Melissa arrived. Full and lovely day.

Saturday Block Party Day! A great up and back, moving right along, a few purchases, a delicious hotdog, lots of time to chat together. 

Sunday donuts on deck! To share. The Stephanies and Melissa left, and I worked for a few hours. Lori, Carrie, and I took a beach walk later in the day. They left Monday and the house was spic and span for people coming in this week - THANK YOU Lori & Carrie!!

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

One of my favorite annual weekends to spend time and laugh and chat. 

This week though, this week!

I held many thoughts for Aunt Carrie Saturday, as it was her life celebration. 

Monday was John Bender's sixth birthday. I was missing Mae, we always celebrated their birthdays together. And my forever friend Melissa celebrating her Rocktober birthday Tuesday!

Red October. 

I didn't hear the full brunt of news until later on Monday morning. Just an untenable and unimaginable situation in the Middle East. My head has been down in my neck ever since, and I don't know what to say, just hug emoji'ing my Jewish friends out there and feeling grossly inadequate in my response. The attacks on Jewish people are extremely frightening given the rise of antisemitism globally - and quite shamefully here in our own country where vile people have shown out with Nazi flags and  graffiti and engaging in anti-Jewish hate speech - in recent years. Add to that Holocaust deniers and people who would like to gloss over the real history or rewrite the history of seemingly everything right now in this country and around the globe and what the fuck are we doing here, everyone? What the fuck are we doing. What are we doing. Dehumanization of ANY GROUP OF PEOPLE is not the way and never has been. It never has been. Have Jewish people as a group not suffered enough?

As in all violent acts of terrorism and war, innocent people suffer. Innocent Jewish children. Innocent Palestinian children. To be alive in a time when you can watch the suffering unfold minute by minute is really a mindfuck. The fucking kids! The people parenting and caring for the kids and trying to keep them intact in the face of extreme aggression and violence. I hate feeling helpless as people try to survive unimaginable situations and we sit on screens watching. The naked humanity calls out to the humanity in every one of us as fellow humans. 

War is hell. Terrorism is hell. Oppression is hell. Human suffering is hell. Suffering because of where you happen to be born or live or because of what your government is doing is hell. Our consumption of the human suffering of others on small screens we can watch 24 hours a day is hell. Trying to rationalize shit like this is hell. Sitting with your teeth in your mouth feeling the crushing weight of this violence and instability while your heart breaks for innocent people in the crossfire is hell. 

At this point in our evolution, should we not be past war? Past killing innocent people. Past hating each other because of religious beliefs or culture or looks.  Past oppressing people. It is a deep, deep punch to the gut that leaves me breathless and without any real words when I realize we are not past these things. 

Sending peace and love to everyone who needs it in this world. Stay human. Recognize the humanity in others beyond religion, borders, looks - recognize hearts. Be a soft space when you can and lean into soft spaces when you need to. I'm holding space for the humanity, healing, dignity, liberation, and opportunity for all people to live free from violence and fear. 

snippets of the weekend 10.2.2023

I had a super soul filling up weekend with my BFFs of 30+ years. We ate, drank, made merry, and we even left the house which some years we do not do LOL. That's all about that, because girls' weekend is girls' weekend and it's for us. No one has to be any other role than what they are, and that is just us together for a weekend. And it's glorious.

I wish we had an old old of all of us, but this we think is in 2000 at Melissa's mom's house. There is nothing that replaces someone who has grown with you through all stages of your life. 

All good things must come to an end, including GW. Sunday was out to breakfast and making brownies and the first half of the Eagles game before I said goodbye to the last leavers and headed to the beach to read. 

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

We did not win the powerball but we certainly won the lottery in the friendship department. 

Happy birthday to my niece Lola Jean! Happy Rocktober to Melissa and Jim!

Snippets of the weekend 9.25.2023

Tropical Storm Ophelia made it quite a different weekend than intended. Mom and Rich were supposed to be at the shore for the weekend, and I was supposed to head down Friday night after work but none of that happened. There was so much shit going on through the shore towns this weekend, I feel bad for all the fucked plans.

Friday I was out of the house by 8 for a work photoshoot, picked up some groceries on the way back home, finished out the day, did laundry, and watched my niece and nephew at night. We caught an awesome parking lot sunset and got ice cream. 

I slept 11 hours Friday night and it was fucking amazing. Saturday was a super slow day - I did a catch all blog post for the last month, went to Sam's (fucking kill me in the line after checkout line, for real) and Aldi, filled my car up with gas, ate leftovers, finished a book, packed up for the shore, decided not go to when the flood waters didn't clear in the early evening after high tide, and zoned the fuck out in front of GBBO for hours. Sunday I got to the shore by 11:30, unpacked, went to the library and HomeGoods, and walked down to the beach to see Ophelia leaving.

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

Today is our 13th wedding anniversary, the date we confirmed with each other last week as we are not big anniversary people - we still out here! 22 years together this month, and we've known each other for 33. In the words of Steve Miller Band, time keeps on slipping slipping slipping

Happy happy birthday to our BFF Amanda today as well!