Arrived up north at 10:00. Hung out with my two darling daughters, had a bite, met the guest from New England, and chatted until time to take El to the airport. We got there without incident, E. driving, and I resolved, as I assured her, not to cry.
Almost, but not quite made it (got a little choked up), and we said goodbye. It's probably good that it's no longer customary to park and go in with the passenger. In my case, the fact that I had to follow my Google directions out of the airport helped get my mind off the parting. So did the fact that we discussed and tentatively decided that I'll go out and visit her when she's on Spring Break at Easter time. I was glad it didn't snow or rain on the way home--cloudy, but clear, which is better then s. or r.
Spent the rest of the day in various pursuits. Packed most of my stuff for the long trip today to the far north. Called Betty, who will be getting home from Chicago today. Received an invitation to a New Year's Eve party from Tonya, of LETCO, and am considering it.
Was sent an e-mail about the article and picture on the FELS readers' theatre group that appeared in The Press of Atlantic City today. Put it on Facebook.
Soon, will be off to upstate Pennsy, for a continuation of what has been end-of-the-year wonderful fun.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Monmouth Museum
Ellen and I met the boys and their Gran at 11:00 at the Monmouth Museum, part of Brookdale Community College. It's a modest one, mostly for children, but we all enjoyed it. They have a craft room and J. made a sword and wall hanging, T. an undetermined "thing" with gold lame and cotton balls.
We had brought lunch--good thing, as there's no cafeteria--and ate in the SUV. By this time, a cold, sleety rain was coming down--nasty. Went back to the museum after for a bit more exploring.
Left about 3:00 under skies so dark and rain so intense, you'd think it was nighttime. I then promptly turned the wrong way onto a main road. (We had turned left onto the campus, but were going out a different way, which I didn't realize.) I drove more than a mile, practically into the woods before I could turn around; did so at the entrance to a farm and another car followed me. It was my daughters and the boys, concerned when they saw me turn right instead of left. I told them I realized my error and we parted.
Got home safely, although it took more than an hour and a half. It was pretty hairy, what with the low visibility and the jammed Parkway, but I made it. Called E. to let her know I arrived in one piece, and was in for the night.
Terrific rainstorm and wind was continuing by the time I went to bed, but it seems calmer this morning. Hope so, as I'm driving Ellen to the airport today--sob!
We had brought lunch--good thing, as there's no cafeteria--and ate in the SUV. By this time, a cold, sleety rain was coming down--nasty. Went back to the museum after for a bit more exploring.
Left about 3:00 under skies so dark and rain so intense, you'd think it was nighttime. I then promptly turned the wrong way onto a main road. (We had turned left onto the campus, but were going out a different way, which I didn't realize.) I drove more than a mile, practically into the woods before I could turn around; did so at the entrance to a farm and another car followed me. It was my daughters and the boys, concerned when they saw me turn right instead of left. I told them I realized my error and we parted.
Got home safely, although it took more than an hour and a half. It was pretty hairy, what with the low visibility and the jammed Parkway, but I made it. Called E. to let her know I arrived in one piece, and was in for the night.
Terrific rainstorm and wind was continuing by the time I went to bed, but it seems calmer this morning. Hope so, as I'm driving Ellen to the airport today--sob!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Chirstmas Day
'Twas Christmas day/Christmas day/Christmas day/In the morning.... And a terrific, albeit unconventional one (maybe terrific because it was unconventional) it was.
Early on, I was thrilled and overjoyed to get the news that grandson Joel and his Noelle are engaged! Couldn't be happier about that, and I talked on the phone with both.
We learned that J.'s two boys would be staying over at their grandma's last night and that posed a dilemma for Christmas dinner at my place. How could the invited couple get down here, then back up in time to receive them? No prob, I immediately decided, we'll just pack everything up and take it there--and we did. I first peeled and cored the dozen apples I had bought the other day, added sugar, cinnamon, and butter, and made applesauce.
Dinner, if I modestly say it myself, was yummy, yum, yum. I had chosen as a main dish, uncooked, vacuum-packed Italian pork formed into a roll and with a kind of crust of Italian seasoning. I've served this before for company and it's wonderfully tender and good. Added baked potatoes, gravy (bought, I'm afraid, not homemade), mixed broccoli and carrots, the applesauce, along with the rest of my birthday cake, and all agreed it was scrumptious. The hostess did most of the little preparation required, which was okay by me and by her, too.
Our very sunny moods may have been the result of the Margaritas we all had before dinner, the ingredients for which I had bought before Ellen arrived. She's essentially a non-imbiber, and that's her drink of choice.
Sat and talked after dinner until the boys arrived with their Mom. It was so good to see those sweet kids, as ever, and Ellen and I stayed a bit longer. Got home at an ungodly hour--it must have been after 10:00--had my usual, then bed to sleep like a log as I virtually always do.
Today: the Monmouth Museum with the boys--yay!
Early on, I was thrilled and overjoyed to get the news that grandson Joel and his Noelle are engaged! Couldn't be happier about that, and I talked on the phone with both.
We learned that J.'s two boys would be staying over at their grandma's last night and that posed a dilemma for Christmas dinner at my place. How could the invited couple get down here, then back up in time to receive them? No prob, I immediately decided, we'll just pack everything up and take it there--and we did. I first peeled and cored the dozen apples I had bought the other day, added sugar, cinnamon, and butter, and made applesauce.
Dinner, if I modestly say it myself, was yummy, yum, yum. I had chosen as a main dish, uncooked, vacuum-packed Italian pork formed into a roll and with a kind of crust of Italian seasoning. I've served this before for company and it's wonderfully tender and good. Added baked potatoes, gravy (bought, I'm afraid, not homemade), mixed broccoli and carrots, the applesauce, along with the rest of my birthday cake, and all agreed it was scrumptious. The hostess did most of the little preparation required, which was okay by me and by her, too.
Our very sunny moods may have been the result of the Margaritas we all had before dinner, the ingredients for which I had bought before Ellen arrived. She's essentially a non-imbiber, and that's her drink of choice.
Sat and talked after dinner until the boys arrived with their Mom. It was so good to see those sweet kids, as ever, and Ellen and I stayed a bit longer. Got home at an ungodly hour--it must have been after 10:00--had my usual, then bed to sleep like a log as I virtually always do.
Today: the Monmouth Museum with the boys--yay!
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas Eve
Got up late today--7:30-- and as soon as I sat down at the computer, got a Skype call from the Tokyo Twosome, then another from the London contingent. My 8-year-old granddaughter got an IPad Touch, for Pete's sake, and the 4-year-old got guitar and a plastic dog that poops.
As for yesterday, it was another fun-filled one. Ellen and I picked up Aline at 8:00 and we had a great breakfast at Dockside Cafe. Enjoyed much convivial talk until we had to drop A. off and get home to prepare for our trip north.
Left at 10:00 and arrived at 11:00. We piled into the SUV and drove to Rob and Lisa's for a late lunch. Terrific food: turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, yams and pecans, cookies, several pies, and all kinds of other goodies. Fourteen people broke bread together, including Lisa's parents, Dale and Betz; her brother and nephew; my son-in-law's ex-wife and her husband; and a few others.
After, we went to the Moravian Church in Riverside and witnessed a lovely service, which included lots of carol singing--Rob and Lisa's two children sang a solo together--in a beautiful old (140 years) church in Riverside.
It was snowing picturesquely when we left the church, but I was glad it slackened off soon and was only raining at my house. Ellen drove and we got home by 9:00.
Merry, Merry Christmas to all!
As for yesterday, it was another fun-filled one. Ellen and I picked up Aline at 8:00 and we had a great breakfast at Dockside Cafe. Enjoyed much convivial talk until we had to drop A. off and get home to prepare for our trip north.
Left at 10:00 and arrived at 11:00. We piled into the SUV and drove to Rob and Lisa's for a late lunch. Terrific food: turkey, stuffing, corn pudding, yams and pecans, cookies, several pies, and all kinds of other goodies. Fourteen people broke bread together, including Lisa's parents, Dale and Betz; her brother and nephew; my son-in-law's ex-wife and her husband; and a few others.
After, we went to the Moravian Church in Riverside and witnessed a lovely service, which included lots of carol singing--Rob and Lisa's two children sang a solo together--in a beautiful old (140 years) church in Riverside.
It was snowing picturesquely when we left the church, but I was glad it slackened off soon and was only raining at my house. Ellen drove and we got home by 9:00.
Merry, Merry Christmas to all!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Good and Better
It just keeps getting better with Ellen here. We met Louise, my pal from Players & Playwrights, at 1:00 at Italian Gourmet in Galloway. Had a terrific time over a two-hour lunch, the girls (they'll always be girls to me) discussing ruefully some of their misadventures with guys, interspersed with lots of laughs.
After saying goodbye to L., we drove down to Long Beach Island to view the destruction. Damage seemed mild after we went over the bridge, but then we headed to the southern end. I specifically wanted to see Holgate, a pretty upscale town, but badly hit by the hurricane.
It was a shock. Even this long after, there are houses tilted sideways here and there, windows covered with plywood, and piles of debris on the sides. But the really startling sight was the sand.
Sand still covers about half of the streets, and great mounds of it are still in so many front yards. There had surely been grass in front of many houses, but now you can see nothing but sand. We were warned not to continue if we weren't residents, but--daring law-breakers that we are--we went on. I was hoping to show Ellen the end of the island with its breath-taking views of waves crashing on the breakwater, but there was a barricade and we couldn't get through.
Drove to the other end, parked, and walked up to "Old Barney," the Barnegat lighthouse--Ellen's idea, with me protesting about the cold all the way. Stopped at Acme on the way home and picked up ingredients for our Christmas dinner. I want to have a pork roast and got veggies and baking potatoes (yes, yes, I know they're veggies, but I consider them in as entirely different category). Got MacIntoshes and will make applesauce, then we'll have the rest of my birthday cake for dessert. Have plenty of wine, both white and red, plus appetizers of grapes and mixed nuts.
Picking up Aline for breakfast in about ten minutes, then it's up north and Christmas Eve, Moravian style.
After saying goodbye to L., we drove down to Long Beach Island to view the destruction. Damage seemed mild after we went over the bridge, but then we headed to the southern end. I specifically wanted to see Holgate, a pretty upscale town, but badly hit by the hurricane.
It was a shock. Even this long after, there are houses tilted sideways here and there, windows covered with plywood, and piles of debris on the sides. But the really startling sight was the sand.
Sand still covers about half of the streets, and great mounds of it are still in so many front yards. There had surely been grass in front of many houses, but now you can see nothing but sand. We were warned not to continue if we weren't residents, but--daring law-breakers that we are--we went on. I was hoping to show Ellen the end of the island with its breath-taking views of waves crashing on the breakwater, but there was a barricade and we couldn't get through.
Drove to the other end, parked, and walked up to "Old Barney," the Barnegat lighthouse--Ellen's idea, with me protesting about the cold all the way. Stopped at Acme on the way home and picked up ingredients for our Christmas dinner. I want to have a pork roast and got veggies and baking potatoes (yes, yes, I know they're veggies, but I consider them in as entirely different category). Got MacIntoshes and will make applesauce, then we'll have the rest of my birthday cake for dessert. Have plenty of wine, both white and red, plus appetizers of grapes and mixed nuts.
Picking up Aline for breakfast in about ten minutes, then it's up north and Christmas Eve, Moravian style.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Delightful
Another delightful day. When I went out to get the paper, I found a big box from C. & C., the florist Mike uses and Ellen and I opened it. We found a spray of beautiful star lilies and put them in a vase immediately. So pretty in the foyer.
Got a return e-mail from Louise and she'll me us for lunch in Galloway today at 1:00.
We arrived up north about noon and the gang of six from the far north came in a half hour or so later. We had a wonderful time talking and admiring the prowess of little T., who's only 5 and in kindergarten, but was able to write various addition problems on the blackboard--and solve them correctly.
N.'s parents blew in with Dunkin' Donuts coffee and--well, doughnuts. With the addition of bagels and cream cheese, we all had lunch. After more visiting and talk, N.'s parents, Joe and Sue, left, taking J. and R. with them for Christmas. An hour or so later, J. and T.'s Mom arrived to do the same with her boys.
Later still, we said goodbye to J. and N., who left for the long trip back north. The four of us then went to a nearby restaurant, where we had Italian-- and very good Italian--for dinner.
We took the gorgeous chocolate cake Ellen had made from scratch and had it for dessert--scrumptious! I was then given some terrific present, including a pretty Christmas bracelet, a lovely soft cardigan, and a wrap in soft shades of grey (hmm...now why does that phrase ring a bell?). Along with the slippers from Betty, magazine subscription from P. an N., and hiking stick from Mike, I made out like a bandit!
Got a return e-mail from Louise and she'll me us for lunch in Galloway today at 1:00.
We arrived up north about noon and the gang of six from the far north came in a half hour or so later. We had a wonderful time talking and admiring the prowess of little T., who's only 5 and in kindergarten, but was able to write various addition problems on the blackboard--and solve them correctly.
N.'s parents blew in with Dunkin' Donuts coffee and--well, doughnuts. With the addition of bagels and cream cheese, we all had lunch. After more visiting and talk, N.'s parents, Joe and Sue, left, taking J. and R. with them for Christmas. An hour or so later, J. and T.'s Mom arrived to do the same with her boys.
Later still, we said goodbye to J. and N., who left for the long trip back north. The four of us then went to a nearby restaurant, where we had Italian-- and very good Italian--for dinner.
We took the gorgeous chocolate cake Ellen had made from scratch and had it for dessert--scrumptious! I was then given some terrific present, including a pretty Christmas bracelet, a lovely soft cardigan, and a wrap in soft shades of grey (hmm...now why does that phrase ring a bell?). Along with the slippers from Betty, magazine subscription from P. an N., and hiking stick from Mike, I made out like a bandit!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Fun Day
Lotsa fun day. Enjoyed birthday phone calls from other D.D., twin sis, two brothers, and several friends, plus was Skyped by both sons and families. While Mike and his girls were on, I opened his gift: a nifty walking staff for hiking--I'll put it to good use.
Received snail mail cards, e-cards, and Facebook greetings from lots of relatives and friends. Ellen made me a scrumptious birthday breakfast of scrambled eggs and sides and, of course, we continued to talk and talk.
Susan and I didn't walk, as there was a ferocious wind and rain, plus she had an early eye doctor's appointment. However, she had left me a present besides the pony tail plant: a sturdy pair of gardening gloves (I had admired hers in the summer).
Went the the FELS Readers' Theatre group at 1:00 and we did a reading of The Browning Version, by Terence Ratigan. It's a somewhat gloomy play involving an English "public" (private) schoolmaster, marital infidelity, dashed hopes, and uprooted lives--oh, just the usual. I was assigned the role of Frank, the lover--our ten-member class is all female, so we take all roles.
A reporter and photog from The Press of Atlantic City came and took notes and pics; not sure when it will be in, maybe today. The rest sang "Happy Birthday" to me, which was nice of them.
Drove directly home to find my birthday cake cooling and it's very nice, indeed. She proposed that we go out to dinner--yessireebob, fine by me--and we went to ScoJoe's. Had yummy liver, she salmon. Back home, Ellen made and iced the cake, which looks wonderful; we'll take it up north for a birthday celebration today.
Opened the front door just now to rescue the cloth Santas I had lolling on the porch (they keep getting blown onto the lawn) and found a big box from C. and C., the outfit Mike always using to send flowers. Will open it when Ellen gets up.
Received snail mail cards, e-cards, and Facebook greetings from lots of relatives and friends. Ellen made me a scrumptious birthday breakfast of scrambled eggs and sides and, of course, we continued to talk and talk.
Susan and I didn't walk, as there was a ferocious wind and rain, plus she had an early eye doctor's appointment. However, she had left me a present besides the pony tail plant: a sturdy pair of gardening gloves (I had admired hers in the summer).
Went the the FELS Readers' Theatre group at 1:00 and we did a reading of The Browning Version, by Terence Ratigan. It's a somewhat gloomy play involving an English "public" (private) schoolmaster, marital infidelity, dashed hopes, and uprooted lives--oh, just the usual. I was assigned the role of Frank, the lover--our ten-member class is all female, so we take all roles.
A reporter and photog from The Press of Atlantic City came and took notes and pics; not sure when it will be in, maybe today. The rest sang "Happy Birthday" to me, which was nice of them.
Drove directly home to find my birthday cake cooling and it's very nice, indeed. She proposed that we go out to dinner--yessireebob, fine by me--and we went to ScoJoe's. Had yummy liver, she salmon. Back home, Ellen made and iced the cake, which looks wonderful; we'll take it up north for a birthday celebration today.
Opened the front door just now to rescue the cloth Santas I had lolling on the porch (they keep getting blown onto the lawn) and found a big box from C. and C., the outfit Mike always using to send flowers. Will open it when Ellen gets up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)