A catching up day, during which I mostly--well, caught up. Did three loads of wash, put fresh sheets in the guest room, cleaned up otherwise, went to Shop-Rite, made myself a big salad, talked to Betty, and pretty much occupied myself with chores until my Sunday Skype call from Ellen.
Can't decide whether to go to Tonya's party or not. I like the idea and hate to turn down an invitation, but not sure if I can stay up until after midnight and there's no sense in going otherwise. Will talk to Aline and see if she wants to go.
2013 coming right up...
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
There And Back
Home again, home again, jiggity-jig, after yet another active, fun day. Got up north about 10 and we left an hour or so later after the boys got there. As ever, it took five hours to get to the far north, but as ever, it was worth it by far.
The higher up we went, the more snow we saw and by the time we got to J. an N.'s, there was--were?--fourteen inches on the ground. Very picturesque, but hardly what we wanted to see.
The boys ran in and were happy to be reunited with their other two "brothers," there with the grandparents, Joe and Sue. All together, we had a wonderful second Christmas. Kids, gifts, and wrappings filled the living room, along with happy chatter and laughs. The two matched pairs--J. and J. and R. and T. were so glad to see each other and Caesar, the big fat hen, was sacrificed for dinner. Our hostess thought he was tough, so put some pizzas in the oven, too, but the guest enjoyed the chicken. (It's my theory that homegrown fowl probably are a bit denser--"tougher"--than store bought because the commercial variety is full of chemicals and stuff to make them unnaturally tender.)
After a riotous time out in the country, we drove into town for the night to the motel we've used before. Slept well, got up and dressed, intending to go back up to more fun with the boys, when we opened the door to--aagh!
More snow, about another four inches already and it kept coming down.
Called to tell them we'd better get on our way and left after breakfast at the Wellsboro Diner.
It was pretty hairy getting home, but my son-in-law is an excellent driver, and we made it, although it took about an hour longer than usual. As we drove south, the snow got lighter and lighter and finally turned to rain once we hit Jersey. I drove home from their place and arrived to find that even the rain had stopped.
What a wonderful birthday/Christmas season I had, one of my best yet. Love being with family, especially the children, and even more especially, my darling daughters. Hope there'll be many more such times to come and I'm confident there will be.
The higher up we went, the more snow we saw and by the time we got to J. an N.'s, there was--were?--fourteen inches on the ground. Very picturesque, but hardly what we wanted to see.
The boys ran in and were happy to be reunited with their other two "brothers," there with the grandparents, Joe and Sue. All together, we had a wonderful second Christmas. Kids, gifts, and wrappings filled the living room, along with happy chatter and laughs. The two matched pairs--J. and J. and R. and T. were so glad to see each other and Caesar, the big fat hen, was sacrificed for dinner. Our hostess thought he was tough, so put some pizzas in the oven, too, but the guest enjoyed the chicken. (It's my theory that homegrown fowl probably are a bit denser--"tougher"--than store bought because the commercial variety is full of chemicals and stuff to make them unnaturally tender.)
After a riotous time out in the country, we drove into town for the night to the motel we've used before. Slept well, got up and dressed, intending to go back up to more fun with the boys, when we opened the door to--aagh!
More snow, about another four inches already and it kept coming down.
Called to tell them we'd better get on our way and left after breakfast at the Wellsboro Diner.
It was pretty hairy getting home, but my son-in-law is an excellent driver, and we made it, although it took about an hour longer than usual. As we drove south, the snow got lighter and lighter and finally turned to rain once we hit Jersey. I drove home from their place and arrived to find that even the rain had stopped.
What a wonderful birthday/Christmas season I had, one of my best yet. Love being with family, especially the children, and even more especially, my darling daughters. Hope there'll be many more such times to come and I'm confident there will be.
Friday, December 28, 2012
More Comings And Goings
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.
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.
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.
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TUESDAY
Slept okay and got up at 7:30. I dressed, got my coffee, then took 45-minute nap until it was time for Bone Builders at 10:15. After, I s...
