Weekending September 2024

September 6-8

Started at the shore with the always delicious Luigi's special bake on Friday evening, some beach time Saturday before heading back to Philly where we saw the most beautiful rainbow before taking the River Line from Pennsauken into Camden for The Killers concert which was fantastic - both the method of transport and the concert. Despite wearing long pants and long sleeves, I was freezing. Sunday I headed back to the shore to clean after weekend guests left - very late, so that was not that cool - but I did sit on the beach for a bit and ran through the Corvette show on my way back to the house.

September 13-15...long wedding weekend 

Friday we made our way to an ABB rental in Chester, MD. So fantastic to spend a weekend with Gwen and Aaron and Gena and Meem and Doug for Tess's wedding. Friday we hung out outside, got dinner on the water at The Dock House then met Meem and Doug and wedding folks at The Big Owl Tiki Bar before heading home to sit out back for a bit under a lovely moon. Saturday we laid low at the house, Aaron cooked for us, and then we went to the wedding. Everything was beautiful and the food was great. It's sort of nice to be the older people who can leave before the end LOL. Sunday we sat out on the dock before going our separate ways. MFD and I caught some of the Phillies game and after he went down the shore and I headed back to Philly to melt into the couch after a full peopleing weekend.

September 20-22 family shore weekend 

Friday I made my way back to the shore. Mom and Rich were already down there. We hit the beach later in the afternoon. Saturday Mom and I did Asbury and more beach but this time as twins in East Coast tees - thanks Mom! I slept upstairs for the first time in ages as Mark, Sarah, and Harry arrived for an apartment stay. We all hung out on the driveway at night. Sunday Kate, Dan, and the kids came down. Some boardwalking and beaching, a great relaxing weekend all around! 

September 27-29 

Friday I did trip prep and made salmon for dinner. Saturday more trip prep before Frank and Amanda picked us up to finally see Stevie Nicks in Hershey (postponed from June 19). We made an attempt to flip the continuum back to where it should be and clearly failed. We stopped at a great restaurant in the middle of nowhere on the way. We secured VIP parking with a straight face. Stevie was fantastic and has really adapted her music for her voice as its aged. It's been a long ass time since I saw so many people absolutely shitcanned drunk in public. Frank said it was like they started drinking on the original concert date and never stopped. Hilarious and true. Sunday I had to go back and forth to the shore to clean the house after weekend guests since we had people check out Sunday and new people check in while we were on vacation.

SMD

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

Weekending first half of August 2024

August 2-4

Friday I made my way down to the shore and hit the beach around 4. Shore house guests had rented a golf cart for the week - a first for our house. Saturday was an easy turnover - always love that when it's first time guests leaving, you never know what you're going to get - then painted my nails and hit the beach. I walked down to the Art of Surfing from the beach and got linner from the Promenade pizza shop, first time this year. MFD convinced me we had time to go to the boardwalk around 8:45 and be back before the rain at 9:30 but alas the sheets of rain came down at 9. I left him at cinnabon and beat feet home but had to pause under an overhang for about 10 minutes and completely change when I got home. Sunday I went to ShopRite, stopped by the fishing pier on the way back into town, then did the beach for a bit. Sunset was fantastic as it often is after a storm rolls through. 

August 9-11

Another Friday afternoon commute to the shore. It was cold and misty when I got here like I wore my raincoat on my 5 pm beach walk, but the sun did come out. Saturday was a super easy turnover with longtime guests leaving - they always leave the house in fantastic shape and they always leave gifts. It was a great beach day. Sunday I hit the library and the beach to do some more beachcombing and reading and walked down to the bay at sunset.

August 16-18

Do I love a summer Friday, yes. Even when people come to the beach after me and set their chairs right up my asshole until I turn around and stare at them three times to move. If you can touch someone else's chair (that you don't know) and there is available space elsewhere on the beach, you are too close. MFD took all the dogs except Mup home Friday afternoon just as Sarah, Harry, and Liz were arriving. Mup and I couched it with Harry and did turnover which was easy as longtime great guests were leaving - they always leave a gift. I was going to do the beach for a bit but headed back to Philly instead and made quick rounds to Produce Junction for veg and flowers and the grocery store for a few necessities. My first Harris sign came so MFD put that out for me, and he made filets and salad for dinner and I made brownies. Sunday he was working and I went to Mom & Rich's for lunch and a pool day. 

SMD

Weekending second half of July 2024

July 19-22

Friday morning I was a prolonged victim of the dreaded windows outtage. By the time I got back on it was Friday summer hours and I was taking them. Friday night I dropped QV off to her foster's for the weekend and attended a backyard hang for Beth's 40th in Media. Saturday morning we left by 8 for Dad & Carol's and headed into Lewes for a walk around. MFD found a new pipe with a D on it at the antique store so of course had to buy it. We had lunch at Agave, stopped at another antiques store, and hung around outside until my brother, Aub, and the kids arrived from their extended NC vacation. Hotdogs and hamburgers and crushed potatoes and ice cream, the Phillies, and bed. Sunday we had a big breakfast then went to Rehoboth to bop around - MFD went to the beach, I trolled some shops, everyone else did the games and then we had lunch at Rehoboth Ale House when the news hit of Biden dropping out. We headed back to Dad & Carol's before doing sunset on the beach complete with cartwheels and a dog living its best life before heading home and running down to see the Shook fam under the light of a full moon. Monday MFD and I left around noon, picked up QV, and got home around 4. I painted my nails and called it a day. 

July 26-28

Friday I had breakfast with a coworker at Pretty Bird in Yardley and took full advantage of summer hours in the afternoon, lounging around and watching the opening ceremonies. I was in bed before 8:30. Oop. Saturday MFD and I did a quick back and forth to the shore for turnover made awesome by soem gifts left behind by Melissa & Jim. Another trashcan maggot scenario, vomit. At least he was there to deal with them this time. We got back home at 3 something, showered, and headed to the annual Sannelli summer BBQ to catch up with our peeps and covertly root for the hotdog eating beagle BB. We got home around 12:30 and I was up another hour. Whew. Sunday I slept in and then felt off all day. I returned a bunch of shit to Nordstrom Rack, did a quick stroll through Homegoods looking for shore bedding with no luck, picked up a Target order, cleaned up my room and purged two drawers I've been meaning to purge for six months...of course this took 10 minutes. Why do I sit on this. I also cleaned the shower and put up a new organizer in there. We went to MFD's Gram's for dinner with her and his uncle, bringing Mark's fantastic lasagna from our freezer. Another early to bed night.

Weekending first half of July 2024

July 4-7

Lake - pitstop in Philly - shore long weekend that actually felt like a long weekend, which we love. Thursday Lori and I had our annual 9 am Fourth of July hotdog from the fire house at the Montrose celebration and wandered around the green where there were so many more tents this year than normal. I was feeling off and was happy to relax and read the rest of the day. Friday I woke up and knew I had a UTI even though it's been 10 years since I had one. Lori took the dogs, I did telehealth and lay back down, and we headed out to pick up my prescription and went out to Russel Farms where I got delicious peaches and tomatoes. I was operating at about 50% all day so lots of laying down, some snoozing and reading. If you are sick away from home, it's good to be somewhere that feels like home to you. Saturday I set off back to Philly for a pitstop to do a Target pickup and Aldi pop in, make pasta salad, unpack and re-pack my car, and left for the shore around 4:30. It was hotter than the devil's asshole in Philly and I was wearing long sleeves at the shore. Sunday I went to the library to pick up a much anticipated hold and had myself a beach day. Lots of reading and relaxing this weekend!

July 12-14

Friday my mom came over for a visit in the morning bearing the gift of bagels. A fresh everything bagel with cream cheese topped with cucumbers? Can't beat it. I had Friday hours which I ended up working through to get something done and also because I need to flex some time this coming Tuesday. I hastily threw together a bag and Saturday morning I was on my way to the shore solo while MFD held down the fort in Philly with all the pets. I did turnover, then went to the library, picked up a salad and some ice, and strolled down Asbury Avenue and back up the boardwalk, stopping for a Kohr Bros mint cone and people watching. Back at home I read and walked down to see the sunset. Sunday was a beach day, and I was happy to see my oldest friend Jen and Neil for a bit. More reading and nail painting and sunsetting and packing up to not be back for nearly two weeks and then early to bed. 

That'll do it. I still do reels on Instagram with snippets of the weekend and the musical accompaniment of a song I heard at some point...you can always find them here. 

SMD

 

Weekending last half of June

June 14-16

Friday night I did some food prep to the backdrop of music and a downpour, making cucumber salad, devilled eggs, macaroni salad, and marinating chicken thighs in a concoction of ketchup, garlic, soy sauce, W sauce, dijon, and random spices. Dad and Carol were in for the weekend. Saturday my brother and niece and nephew came over for Father's Day lunch. After that MFD and I drove up to Lititz to pick up Frank and Amanda and have dinner at a very MFD type establishment buffet before driving to Hershey for the Stevie Nicks concert which we found out was postponed while we were in line to park. We went back to their hotel and hung out for a bit before driving home - I love a good bathroom like the one in the Rock Lititz Hotel. Sunday was coffee out back, seeing Dad for Father's Day when he came back from golfing, stopping over to see Rich for Father's Day and my Mom for her birthday, and reading out back to cap off the night. 

June 21-23

Friday I did something extremely inadvisable which is run errands. Friday is always a terrible choice of time to run errands at the shore, but add in a ballooned summer population with people zigzagging all over the streets on foot, bike, scooter, car, electric bike, golf cart, and cars and it is like swallowing a beachball of anxiety. I attempted the library summer booksale when it started and it was insanely packed, I didn't even get to peruse the paperbacks. Then on to ACME and finally dropping thrift store donations. We spent the early evening in the North End and it was a beauty. We walked up to the boardwalk to see the full Strawberry Moon and grab cookies from Famous 4th Street. Saturday turnover was very easy which is always appreciated. I painted my nails (OPI Self Made green and OPI Just Lanai-ing Around pink) before heading to the beach for a few hours solo. The sun was brutal so I took refuge inside and on the porch. Sunday was a porch not beach day due to wind. I read, did a crossword, walked Bruce and Ben to the library to return a book. Sunday was a truly relaxing day in which my brain participated in said relaxation which does not happen often after the onset of perminopause - those racing thoughts are insane sometimes am I right.

June 28-30

A gorgeous early morning out back before I started work. Thankfully I was heading to the shore solo, no pets, when I was rerouted off 95 due to an accident and a drive that would normally take me an hour and 15 minutes at that time took me 2.5 hours. Man alive. I finished out the workday there, finished a book, and took a beach walk after work. 

I went into Saturday's turnover knowing a teen had peeled paint off the electric panel cover, but did not know I'd also be patching a wall. Whew. I had to leave it unpainted which I hate during the season. After that I did the beach from 2-7 where I read a whole book and gloryed in being alone and meandering around looking for pebbles. I threw everything in the car and drove back to Philly before 8.

Sunday MFD left for a week-long retreat. I did an at-home pedicure/nails, hit Produce Junction, returned shit and picked up at Target, and popped in to Aldi. I read and watched Grease 2, Dirty Dancing, and The Office to loosen up my brain. Bonus the glorious mammatus clouds at the end of a stormy day.

That'll do it. I still do reels on Instagram with snippets of the weekend and the musical accompaniment of a song I heard at some point...you can always find them here. 

SMD

 

Weekends gone by

Memorial Day Weekend May 23-27

I headed up to Lori's late on Thursday, and man did I need the restful weekend we had. Lots of time reading, a trip to the farmer's market, delicious charcuterie, Cold Creek, a stop at Jack & Lori's. Deep and great sleep. Mr. Rooney's first visit. Perfect. 

May 31-June 4

My family was down for the weekend, and we celebrated my brother's birthday and had a practice smokeout for our 5th Anniversary coming up on Labor Day Weekend. First true beach day, and first mint julep kohr bros of the season. A great weekend long weekend. I was off Monday too, and Tuesday is I woke up with what would be a lyme's tick bite so that day will be seared in memory LOL

June 7-9

I didn't think I was going to make it for this one. Friday morning I was still throwing up and dealing with lyme's shit. Friday night I was supposed to go to see cousins Terri & Leslie and catch up and learn family tree stuff. I could not get off the couch. Saturday morning I was supposed to go to my nephew's all-star game and decided to rest instead in hopes of making it to MFD's cousin's wedding, as his Gram has all of her family in one place so infrequently. It was a nail biter but I'm glad I made it. Sunday I went to the shore and took like seven hours to clean my already pretty clean house. I just couldn't move faster. I could move though, and that was something. Leaps and bounds better by Sunday night.

That'll do it. I've been doing reels on Instagram with snippets of the weekend, you can always find them here. 

SMD

 

April and May weekending

April 19-21

MFD coordinated an Earth Day clean up with multiple participant organizations so I went up there and did the lunch run. I also filled out my mail in ballot and dropped it at a box. Sunday was back to the shore for a major rage clean due to getting my period after over eight months not getting it and then falling into an exhausted sleep at 5 on the couch, waking up at 12:30 am and never going back to sleep. Perimenopause is fucked.

Saturday night we met up with old friends in Lambertville on the tail end of Shadfest for dinner at Under the Moon. Food and company were both great. I loved the name of the restaurant and the ambiance. I wish I had a jacket with me LOL. MFD and I were unintentionally matching yet again.

April 26-28

Friday after work I headed back down to the shore and picked up my most useful, best Freecycle score ever - a plastic gate that we can use in the driveway at the shore so the dogs can be out but not run into the street which they do not do but they surely would run after other dogs. We hit the beach and melted into the couch. Saturday I did some upkeep work outside in the driveway, walked a zillion miles doing my errands, celebrated Independent Bookstore Day by patronizing two of my locals including one of my all time favorites which is a used paperback bookstore, found an awesome new shop that is totally my vibe, more beach walking, read two books, and made a clear out the pantry dinner. Sunday walked a zillion more miles, read another two books, ate cookies until I was ill, and beach dog time.

May 3-5

A doing weekend - HomeGoods, new window ACs for bedrooms, touch up painting throughout the house, sorting and organizing under bed bins and other seasonal prep work.

Saturday we got the stair carpet replaced. It was also the spring block party so I got pretzels and that's about it, as it was a working weekend. 

Otherwise reading, snacky dinners, cute dogs, Shittah's third birthday and May the 4th be with you. And a rainy walk. Imagine, rain.

May 10-12

Melissa and Jim and the kids were down, always one of my favorite weekends. And the dogs too, they get so much attention from everyone and Melissa always puts out a spread which they love LOL. It was sunny enough Saturday to sit in the driveway for a bit, paint my toes outside, and hit the beach, staying up by the dunes to block the wind.

After splitting a bottle of champagne for mimosas with Melissa on the beach I got a wild hair up my ass to paint our apartment bathroom bubblegum pink (SW6583 In the Pink) then Sunday I spray painted the hanging baskets (Krylon pistachio).

Sunday I drove to Philly and back for Mother's Day, which included a pop in to TJMaxx where in a miraculous event I had 15 minutes to get in and out and found everything I was looking for with time to spare to go to Sherwin Williams and pick up more paint. A true unicorn of an event. We celebrated Mom and Rich (his birthday was Thursday) and I got the cutest zen pug from my niece and nephew then stopped in to see Gram before heading back to the shore to hang out more with Melissa & Jim.

May 17-19

Friday I was jamming on work by 6:30 am, at Sam's by 8, and a firedrill of a day from then on. MFD's fam arrived and I made cherry cheesecake dip, brownie batter dip, and took a lovely beach walk. Cheers to the fam for dealing with the oven delivery on Saturday since the initial install date of Tuesday was ixnayed due to damage upon arrival. 

Saturday was a working day, I was headed back to Philly before 8 am, talked to Laura the entire ride, unpacked a zillion boxes, packed a zillion boxes, went to three different shipping places (including one where 10 people yelled at me in russian for having so many boxes and the mail lady was like you know everyone hates you, right? yes I know), picked up a shower curtain from HomeGoods on an in and out trip, filled my car up with gas, thought I lost my credit card, and then headed to a work Phillies game. I got free parking thanks to a pin drop from my work BFF, stood the whole time for fear of falling asleep or zoning out, Phils won, and I made it back to the shore at 10:50. I was wired so up until after midnight. Friday and Saturday were both insane Henry Hill days - which is how I reference the bust when he was running all over on precision timing dealing with jam ups at every turn LOL. 

Sunday I was done done. I went to drop off a Freecycle item, picked up carrot cake for Sarah's birthday (her birthday is tomorrow) and sung to her and Maddi's boyfriend on his actual birthday (he got an ice cream cake), and chilled out reading magazines and watching Parks and Rec. MFD was working Sunday so it was his day for back and forth. By 7 pm my racing thoughts had finally ceased, just in time for work to begin again. 

That'll do it. I've been doing reels on Instagram with snippets of the weekend, you can always find them here. 

SMD