The Everyday Project Day 286

So long NJ! It was great seein ya but its time to head on back to the left coast.

We made many memories for Colin, Cara and especially  Andrew. He has grown in so many ways and I am so proud of him. He has never been on a plane except to go to the Philippines when he was little. He really has never been away form home. I am also so proud of Colin for working it out.

I made a 10 minute YouTube video. You can only watch it on a desk/laptop because it has copyright songs. This is the first time I have done this so I'm still working it out.

Look around on the blog as it may have been published via google +  Its called 10 Minutes of Summer It soooo confusing

Big Shout Out to Captain Grandpa aka my dad for his unlimited hospitality as well as to Paula and Farmer Roger and Phyllis. I loved  the bonus day with my OCD Audrey (Oldest, Coolest,Dearest)

Love to all!


It is what it is...
Namaste

10 Minutes of Summer

The Everyday Project Day 285

After a pretty long day of driving around to visit the Great Grandmas and one of Scott's cousins we are back at the Pocher Palace on the Bay aka my dad's house and most definitely my favorite place to be.

I looked in a drawer for the menu to the Chinese restaurant and found a bunch of old recipes and stuff. I KNOW this stuff has not been LOOKED at in at least 3 years since my mom passed.

Gotta love this:

Clean Drawer

Original permit to build the house from 1955 $25

Permit to remodel the house from 1995         $376

An original flyer from the Shore Acres Community - The Venice of the Jersey Shore

The original recipe book from the crock pot they still have and I used this past weekend circa -1973 ( I had to google the model number as there was no publication date.)

And I'm pretty sure my mom meant to save the sweet potato recipe from 2008

And not the ad for the Maxx Adult Emporium that was on the other side of the paper.

It is what it is...
Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 284

What was your summer job?

Live Target on a shooting range on the Wildwood Boardwalk.

And you get tips

Andrew: I want that job!

Cara and I rented the surrey bike. Super fun for us!

It is what it is...
Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 283

I hope yesterday's post came out good. What I was seeing on my iPad was a jumbled up mess. Otherwise vacation= technical difficulties.

Happy 14th birthday to Colin!

I'm sitting on the balcony and someone quite near to me is smoking the wacky weed.
Andrew: someone is smoking pot. It stinks worse than the cancer sticks cigarettes.

We had a good old fashion Jersey Shore thunder storm and the closed the water park we were at. Bummer.  It was great because the lines were short. Dang thunder and lightening. They never reopened. We could see how fast it floods. The water in the street across from out hotel was almost to our knees in about and hour.

There are definitely some funny things on the Wildwood Boardwalk, especially the t-shirts. TWERK is a big one. Scott didn't know what it was and Cara had to tell him. In case you also don't know it's bent over booty shaking. Watch the latest Miley Cyrus video it you dare.

Watch the TramCar Please!

Best hot dog stand name ever...Need I say more???  Oh wait Filthy Filner? Anthony Weiner?

I took more pictures but now the photo stream isn't working. Vacation = technical difficulties.
Cara went to beach yoga with me this morning. No pictures because my phone cord broke so my battery was dead. Had to go off the island to buy a new one. Sheesh, in SD they sell that stuff everywhere. Vacation = technical difficulties.

It is what it is...
Namaste

The Evdryday Projecf Day 282

Minor technical difficulties... We have WiFi but my phone cord broke yesterday so I am saving battery power until I can get a replacement. Therefore no pictures. Maybe I do a picture post.

Update from yesterday. The blue house is down and they were putting it into a giant dumpster truck.

Today they started in on that brown house next door.

I'm sure the White House will be next. ( not that White House, the white house. dang auto correct) It is sooo sad. Although on the bright side, my dads view gets better everyday. Snap, that was harsh....

We are here in Wildwood. The kids were supposed to go on rides for wristband day. I'm not sure where I went wrong with mamma's boy, Colin.

Colin: are you coming with us?
Me: When I was your age...(face it, we all have said it) I had a job as a lifeguard. I rode my bike ALL over the Poconos. No one knew where I was. If I had the opportunity to go alone, with a friend to the Boardwalk. Duh!!!

So at 8pm we sent the 3 of them off as Scott and I watched from the 8th floor balcony. Figure it out and have fun. 8:45 and 2 glasses of wine later, here they come... With bags! Andrew got a skater hat and an I ❤ Booties Bracelet. He already has enough of I ❤Boobies bracelets. Colin got 3 hats and Cara just scoped it out for souvenirs for tomorrow.

They are in the pool now but the night is young. I'm sure they will go back to the boardwalk for pizza at about 11. By Friday... They will own it.

The only bad part about sitting on the balcony overlooking the pool and the boardwalk? The super nice young couple on the balcony next to us who are chain smokers.

It is what it is...
Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 281

This is for all the people who are so "done" with Superstorm Sandy. The ones who are sooooo tired of hearing about something  that is so 9 months ago.

My Aunt Ginny just moved back into her small house 2 weeks ago. It had to be completely gutted, down to the frame and then remodeled. Floors, walls, electrical, siding, EVERYTHING. Her little white house is now yellow. She was my mother's oldest and dearest friend and she lives next door.

This is my dad's house. If you remember it from before, there were 2 lower decks and a pool. Not any more...gone.

Colin and Andrew saw me taking pictures and decided to pose.

This is what is left of the yacht club down the street. We had Colin's baby shower and Cara's christening there.

Here are 2 houses across the canal. I saw some clipboard people over there today. It looks like they will be coming down soon.

This is what it looks like when a house is so damaged that it is being torn down.

The final result.

Sad isn't it? I asked one of the workers if it was a sad job, taking down someone's home. He said, it really is but he tries not to personalize it. This one was especially difficult since he was the one whom worked on the 2nd floor addition 5 or 6 years ago.

Tonight's sunset... Notice the lonely dining room chair...

It is what it is...
Namaste

We are headed to Wildwood for a few days. I'm not sure what the wifi situation will be. I use Google Blogspot and need to be connected to write and post. Don't worry. I'll try my best but it may be Friday...

The Everyday Project Day 280

I'm 51 years old today. That's 18,615 days or  446, 760 hours or 2,6804,600 minutes. Who says I can't do the math???

Namaste - the light and spirit in me honors and bows to the light and spirit in you.

I have made mistakes and bad choices. However as the Prayer of St. Francis says, " it is in pardoning that we are pardoned." As I say, " own it, apologize, move on."

I am not as well off financially as I thought I would be at this point, but I have more than most and I have all that I need:
I have a wonderful, hardworking, loyal and dedicated husband and beautiful family.
I have a house that we own.
I have food on my table.
I have cars to drive.
I have clothes to wear.
I take field trips and vacations.
I am grateful and I am thankful.

I do not work full time yet:
I am a full time volunteer.
I can "run the fun" at Little League, Basket Auctions, fundraisers,opening days, picnics and book fairs.
I substitute in the severely handicapped and special ed classrooms that no one wants.
I tutor the kids who can't read.
I drive my kids and any other kids to where they need to be and invite them to places they may never go.
I write a daily blog complete with photos.
I cook, I clean, I do laundry and I make adult beverages
I enjoy Happy Hour and I am having more fun than ever.

I do not have the body I once had, yet this body:
Birthed 2 awesome children.
Makes love to my husband.
Imagines and creates one of a kind jewelry
Gets me from place to place.
Is strong, yet flexible.
Has no pain.
Does yoga and is zen.
Has more patience than I have ever had.
Can keep up with many half my age in fitness classes and can rock the handstand as well as the headstand.
Fits in my clothes.
Can walk miles for cancer and around Little League Fields
Rides boardwalk rides and water slides.
And is completely dedicated to the 5 o'clock Somewhere Diet

FYI Sports Illustrated and Hugh Hefner are not calling me up for a cover shot anytime soon so...

It is what it is
Happy Birthday to me...

Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 228 &279

Sorry Friends for the delay but today is the first ever Expanded Edition of The Everyday Project. Let's all give a cheer for the DOUBLE POST!!!

I took a field trip on Thursday to the Poconos to see an old friend, Renee. Renee and her sister, Michelle many summers in the Poconos growing up with us.  Her Aunt Janet and Uncle Donnie owned the Thunderbird Gameroom and later built Dominic's Pizza. Their daughter, Nicole, is running the pizza shop now. We had so much fun reminiscing and going down Memory Lane that I just didn't have time to blog.

OK, cocktails were involved.

The first pitstop was the Delaware Water Gap on the way up. There was literally no one there so I had to take a "selfie".

Then on up the mountain to Lake Naomi. We always considered Lake Naomi the Ritzy area. Here's why.

Renee's beautiful home

Lunch at the Lake Naomi Club overlooking the lake.

Then onto the tour of all the old places.

The Forest Glen Community sign

Our old house

Onocop Lake (Pocono spelled backwards) 

The Original Pococo Lake Mini Golf

My new shirt from Dominic's Pizza (30 years in business)

After a delightful brunch back at the Jubilee, famous for the Big Pococno Breakfast (chipped beef on an english muffin with potatoes) , with Nicole and her baby Eva, I hit the road for Atlantic city to spend the night with Phyllis and the kids. Cara and I went on a bunch of rides until the rain shutdown the famous Steel Pier. http://www.steelpier.com 

 Atlantic City

Beach soccer -Colin and Andrew totally killed me and Cara at Keep Away

I did have to check out Jimmy Buffets new venture the Land Shark Beach House. Got myself a few souvenirs. Believe it or not, I was so tired that I missed out on a shot at the big payoff. I didn't even play the pennies. Plus we ALL had to wake up at 4am to get to the Philadelphia airport to pick up Scott. 

My biggest mistake was being so wrapped up in gossiping and catching up that we forgot take any pictures of Renee, Nicole and me. Dang IT!!!!

It is what it is...

Namaste

The Everyday Project Day 277

Thanks Audrey for a great day! We did a little shopping, had some lunch and lots of chatting.

Ocean Grove is an historical town on the Jersey Shore that was started as a Methodist Camp Meeting and is full of colorfully painted Victorian Houses and quaint shops.   The most impressive structure is the Auditorium which seats about 6,500 people.

There is also the tent city which now has about 115 tents, down from 600 in its heyday. The tents are handed down through the generations and there is a 10 year wait to try and rent one.

It is also a "dry" town which explains why we were offered ice tea at out lunch and not mimosas.

Until recently they also observed blue laws which prohibited businesses and the beach from being open on Sunday as well as driving.  Services and other programs are still held in the Auditorium as well as in on the beach.

You can read more about Ocean Grove at this link.
http://www.oceangrovehistory.org/OceanGrove.html 

Who knew????
It is what it is...
Namaste