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!

September 2023 reads

The annual Girls Weekend with my BFFs of over 30 years is upon us, so I am quite certain I will not start and finish another book today or tomorrow. 

What I read in September: 

Engrossing Reads

The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl - I've read VERY few nonfiction books this year. Here's one! This was beautiful. I pre-ordered a copy to own before I even finished and plan to read it as in like read that season as we enter the season: it has 52 chapters that follow the natural world through the year. Free advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review, book comes out Oct 24

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll - This was powerful, smart, and very well done. Very different reading experience than her first novel for me. Good writing and characters. A surface good story, and deeper a social commentary on so much! Lots to unpack on feminism and sexuality and violence against women and what is acceptable to society through the arc of the book. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

 I bought the book to own and saw the author in conversation with Kate Baer in September! 

I also saw Jennifer Weiner in September on tour for her latest - The Breakaway - which I had an advance copy of and read in July. Check it out! 

Passed the Time Just Fine

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange - A very passable family drama, quite messy and across the line in some spots, but a good reading experience overall. OCNJ library hardcover

The Summer of Songbirds by Kristy Woodson Harvey - I'm not sure exactly what I thought this book was going to be, but it wasn't this LOL. I ended up liking it, as I do most books about friendship even when one of the friends is possibly in line for several punches. And you romance lovers will surely like it I think. OCNJ library hardcover

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff - Do you ever read an author and recognize their mastery of their craft but consistently do not actually enjoy the books they put out? I think that is me and Lauren Groff - cannot say a bad thing of her writing, but damn I do not enjoy reading her books. This book in particular was hard to swallow - the pain of surviving, the agony of existing is a main character throughout. It is quite compelling, but that comes at a cost. OCNJ library hardcover

Not For Me

The Last Exchange by Charles Martin - I know a lot of you are fans, but his books are not really for me. I was bored throughout, everything was so obvious, and I think I'm the outlier here. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book comes out 10/3

Athena's Child (The Grecian Women Trilogy #1) by Hannah M. Lynn - This was an engrossing read, then a passed the time just fine read, then a not for me read. How far things can fall in one book read within a few hours. Lots of promise, an abrupt change of direction in the middle with literally zero connectors, and a super abrupt ending, like one was needed as an afterthought versus part of the novel, make me not want to read anymore which I assume there will be since this labels itself as #1. This was courtesy of Netgalley, apparently originally published in 2020 and is now out again as a reworking?

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena - I need to stop reading her books. I feel like she has carte blanche to put out stories that aren't even good. OCNJ library hardcover 

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney - I need to stop reading her books. I feel like she has carte blanche to put out stories that aren't even good. OCNJ library hardcover 

One Last Kill (Tracy Crosswhite #10) by Robert Dugoni - I've read all the Tracy books and usually enjoy them, albeit less so once she moved to cold cases. They're typically subtle on the political bend of people. Dugoni doesn't need to introduce talk of wokeness and defunding police, but he leans on it more in this latest. This is the only standard police procedural series that I read that's gone that way, and I hate it. We can have differences in opinion on police funding versus all other community funding, but if you use the term woke like it's an insult the chasm is too wide. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, publishes 10/3

Did Not Finish

Family Lore by  Elizabeth Acevedo - Whew, I wanted to but this was just a no for me. Free advanced copy from Netgalley 

Cities of Women by Kathleen B. Jones - Super pumped by this title. Actual experience, not so pumped. Free advanced copy from Netgalley 

The Lost Girls of Penzance (Cornwall Murder Mystery #1) by Sally Rigby - I tried to give this a lot of leeway to settle itself as what appears to be the first in a series and the interactions between the characters were grating to me Free advanced copy from Netgalley 

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What have you been reading?

Happy birthday to my cousin Tyler today!

Making the most out of a Tampa trip

If the shimmering waters of Tampa Bay or the aroma of Cuban cuisine are calling out to you, you’re in the right place. Tampa is an absolute gem on Florida’s west coast and has quietly made a name for itself over the last hundred years. And for those who know where to go, it’s a cool experience filled with culture, nature, and history waiting to be explored. Here are some travel tips and must-do experiences to remember if you’re heading that way for a trip out of town. 

Via Pexels

Things To Do And Places To See: Highlights

Exploring Ybor City Is A Must

Situated in the heart of Tampa, Ybor City is the embodiment of rich Cuban, Spanish, and Italian influences. When you walk along its cobblestone streets, you are transported back in time. If you’re looking for an interesting activity, you have to check out the Ybor City Museum State Park. It would be a sin not to indulge in a traditional Cuban sandwich at Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest eatery. Remember to take loads of pictures and make awesome memories. If you’re interested in the cultural influences of the Tampa Bay area, then it will be worth your while to visit the Tampa Bay History Center. They have really interesting exhibits that tell the story of the area. 

Strolling The Sands Of Tampa

While Tampa might be more known for its urban allure, its beaches should definitely not be overlooked. If you’re looking to dip your toes in the Gulf Coast’s golden sands, you’ll find a multitude of options. For travelers with furry friends, Tampa has many awesome spots that are dog-friendly; they need to enjoy vacations too. Check out spots like Picnic Island Park; they have a designated dog beach. Thank me later.

Do A Dolphin Cruise 

The waters around Tampa Bay are filled with playful dolphins. Several operators offer dolphin-watching tours, ensuring you get up close and personal with these intelligent creatures. As a bonus, you’ll also witness some of the best sunsets that Florida has to offer. 

Travel Tips To Make The Most Of Your Tampa Trip

Be Weather Wise

Tampa can get hot and humid, especially in the summer. So, plan outdoor activities in the early morning or late afternoon. Remember, the early bird catches the worm, so get up early, don’t miss the sunrise, and make the day your own. If you do visit in Summer, remember that you might face the odd thunderstorm more regularly. 

Pack With Your Destination In Mind

Light clothes, sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and comfortable shoes are the keys to enjoying Tampa Bay. Oh, and don’t forget your sunglasses. The sun doesn’t hide from Florida. Another important thing to remember is bug repellent; you wouldn’t want to be caught without it down south.

Remember To Be Safe

As with anywhere you travel these days, just make sure to have your wits about you when traveling around the Tampa Bay area. Not that there are specific safety issues, but it would be wise to do so nonetheless. 

Tampa is a place well worth visiting; it’s full of old-world charm and modern appeal. Whether you’re chasing its culinary adventures, diving into its diverse culture, or simply taking in its natural beauty, you’ll have a good time. So, pack those bags and set sail for the Gulf Coast.

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This post was written with Life According to Steph readers in mind