Last LBI Day

Fine, fun day.  Picked up my pal, Aline, at the bus stop by Dynasty, as she had stayed over in Manhattan.  She suggested we eat at Ichiban (or something) Chinese, and I acquiesced.
Actually, I'm not crazy about the place, as it's a buffet. The food is excellent--a terrific variety with yummy and fresh selections.  The problem is in the setup itself, combined with my ever-so-slovenly sense of how much is enough.  I invariably overeat; if I don't, I tend to have an aggrieved feeling that I'm not getting my money's worth. Stupid, but there you are.
However, I didn't go too far overboard and it was enjoyable, of course.  Aline asked if we could stop at Wal-Mart after and sure, why not.  (She's leaving tomorrow for an almost month-long trip to Provincetown and Boston.)
Drove to Long Beach Island for the last time, I think.  Even though it was Monday, summer was in high swing and LBI was packed. Went down to the southern tip--Holgate, our favorite place. We sat and viewed the sparkling water and crashing waves, staying for more than an hour.
I reflected that soon, "my" ocean will be the one in the west.  But oh, no, never.  The Pacific will become my changeling child, but I'll love the Atlantic Ocean until the day I die.
Went to drop Aline off about 5:00 and we discovered she didn't have her key and her sister was out.  We looked under plants and so on, but no luck.  Finally, I took her home and she enjoyed some videos of the Terrific Tokyo Almost Two Tot, with peach mango iced tea and cheese crackers.  She insisted I take her home a bit after 7:00, saying she'd happily sit on the porch and read.  I did so and she called a short time later to say her sister had come home and all was well. I'll see her again for breakfast tomorrow, so good, good, good.
Susan called to say she and a group of other friends wanted to take me to lunch at the Old Causeway on Monday, the fifth, and would that be all right?  Damn straight it would, and I'm looking forward to it.
Only recent dark item is the fact that my left knee started bothering me. Don't know why and I'm hoping if I ignore it, it will go away.

Birthdays and Busyness

Yesterday was my older son's birthday and also my older great-grandson's, who became a teenager for the first time--wow!
Working my fingers to the bone, I packed a lot of the paperwork from the study.  Finally completely cleared the guest room closet and put stuff from there in the car to take to the thrift store.  Drove to Manahawkin to pick up this 'n' that at B.J.'s and Bed, Bath & Beyond.  
Brother Jim called and I was so glad to talk to him.  He and Therese are settling in to an extent, but it's still hard for him to adjust.  I think he's lonely.  I wish I had time to visit him before I go.  My big brother--if anyone wants to know what a good and decent man looks like, travel to Arlington, Virginia.
Talked to Betty, Ellen, and my friend.  E. left for home after their reunion and was calling from Arizona.  Friend is still in New Mexico, but will be back soon.
I'm getting nervous about timing now.  I have to get my plane ticket and I need to see that signed contract so I can be absolutely sure.   I'm antsy about getting the things that will be Betty's out of the house, too.  Well, I guess it will all come together eventually...

P.J. Visit

Had a fun day with "P.J." (Paul) S. and his wife, Diana.  P.J. (I'm the only one who still calls him that) has been a friend of my older son's since--middle school?  Fisher Elementary?  I think the former. Both were born and brought up in Ewing and still live there.  They are dedicated hikers and P.J. is a spelunker as well, something that would fill me with dread.
We sat and chatted for a bit, they toured the house, then we went to Cuisine on the Green--yes, second day in a row.  Happily, it wasn't crowded.  We had a fine time reminiscing about the old days and speculating on other members of their group: Chuck (on Facebook), Doug (still in the Ewing area), and Lee (succumbed to a to a heart attack twenty or so years ago).
They filled me in on their children (a daughter, 25 and son, 22) and current lives and I did the same.  After they assured me they'd head to California and look me up within a few years, we drove back to my place, then parted.
Luckily, the terrific storm held off until later in the afternoon and boy, it was a lulu.  Fierce winds whipped up the heavy rain for several hours and I wouldn't be surprised if more tree damage was done. The ones around my house were swaying and bending, practically spinning around on their roots.
Got a welcome Skype/Google Hangout call from Tokyo and was so happy to interact with Baby Boop.  He seems to be getting bigger by the hour and is so droll and funny as he mugs for his Nana, talks, and laughs.  Son backed up my documents via team viewer, but I intend to learn it and do the rest myself.  

Justice, Lunch, and Next Door Neighbors

Early on, I sped over to Justice to exchange for size two things I had gotten the girls.  Accomplished that, wrapped and put both in a big bubble wrap envelope and took to the P.O.
Betty arrived shortly after and I showed her some things I didn't want to take to CA and thought she might want.  She did, and I also gave her some clothes I had--uh, outgrown.
We went to Cuisine on the Green for lunch (one reason I've been outgrowing things) and sat outside.  Very pleasant and we had a good lunch and, of course, talk.  C. on the G. is sometimes spotty--or downright incompetent--when it comes to the wait staff, but we had excellent service yesterday.  I'll see Betty Tuesday when I meet her breakfast group for dinner to celebrate Helen C.'s birthday.
I was surprised and gratified to get an e-mail from Comcast (in the guise of Infinity) saying they would credit me five bucks because of the Internet loss the other day. I guess wonders never cease in Cyberland.
Nothing brought home to me more strongly the fact that I'm leaving than a goodbye phone call I got last night from Frank and Barbara next door. They're leaving today for an Alaskan cruise and I'll be gone when they get back.  I told them they were the best neighbors anyone could ever have, wonderful friends over these thirteen years. That's so true, it hurts.
It hurts a lot, in fact.  Boy, will I miss them.

The Tenth of July and Anne Mary

               The Usual "My Day and Welcome to It"
Okay, this is it: Walter e-mailed me that the contract is being written up and could I live with renting on the tenth?  That's the tenth of July, folks!  That's just two weeks from now.  I wrote back accepting that date, but boy, there's still a slew of things to get done.
Well, I accomplished quite a bit done yesterday, at least.  Spent most of the morning washing, chopping, and otherwise preparing the chard, Chinese cabbage (lots of little green bugs between the leaves), lettuce (three heads), and zucchini, and cooking some of it. Stir-fried the chard, garlic, and onions with leftover ground turkey for lunch and it was pretty good.
Took another carload to the thrift store and dropped it off.  Went to the bank. Got a card for my great-grandson, who will be a teenager(!) on Sunday and two more for the little girls in Singapore.  Bought three place mats at the SOCH thrift store in preparation for P.J.'s and his wife's visit tomorrow. I'm not so sure I'll give them lunch here, though; maybe I'll just take them out.
Betty called to say her breakfast group would like me to join them for dinner on Tuesday when they go out for somebody's birthday. Guess I will, but that's farm day, too; I'll have to get up there early or I might just skip it this time.
I also asked Betty if she could come and take some of my castoffs. I hope she will today, but she said Pat Kennedy H. is in town and she might be seeing her today.
Looked into airline tickets--it seemed very strange to be looking for one way--and saw they're about half as expensive if not non-stop. Ugh, I hate having to go up again, but guess I will.
                               The Anne Mary Section
I understand I'm being discussed as a candidate for sainthood.Why? Because when I came back from the farm on Tuesday, I saw an ambulance and police car outside the home of neighbor, Anne Mary H.  Went there to offer help, but it wasn't needed, as she had others with her.  Left a message yesterday asking how she was, and she called me back at 8:00 pm.  She responded, non-stop, until 8:34.
Unbelievable!  She simply never shuts up.  She has to start from year one and describe her every ache, pain, diarrhea episode, and where her doctors went to school, and how something similar happened to her mother's cousin's friend's manicurist, but of course, not nearly as badly as what happened to her because everything that surrounds her is unique, amazing, and unprecedented, from her salmon tulips to her miniature poodle, and especially her own corporal self, a medical miracle featured in the AMA Journal, and discussed in the halls of medicine from one side of the planet to the other...
To mark my captive audience martyrdom, surely more horrendous than burning at the stake, I'll be featured in prayer books and mass cards from here on in.

Money Makes The World...

"Money makes the world go round, the world go round, the world go round..."
I've always liked Joel Gray's rendition in Cabaret and, in fact, I like money quite a bit, too.  Yesterday, I got more--yay!
First, I loaded up the car with things with which I hope Lighthouse Church Thrift Store can turn into money: lots of ceramics, baskets, framed pictures, doo dads and stuff.  Dropped them off, then headed to Fugetabouit and searched out Tom.  Told him I had some more hot items and why didn't he stop in to see them?
He agreed, and came with his Dad and a helper.  We dickered up and down, of course, but finally agreed on a price for two tables, a side chair, and a few other items, and off they went.  That makes more stuff I don't have to either haul to the thrift store or take with me, and I made money to boot.
Drove over to Justice after lunch and got gifts for V. and V., whose birthdays are both in July.  Stopped at Target for other stuff.  Betty called; she's now home after her extended trip to Chicago and California.  We'll get together one of these days.
Got an e-mail from an old friend (from middle school up) of my Tokyo son; I always called him "P.J.," although he now uses "Paul."  He had contacted me to ask if he and his wife could come and see me before I head west and we decided on Saturday--I'm looking forward to it.

Farm and Storm

It was a "Nature rules" day, that's a cinch.
Went with Aline to breakfast, first at Dynasty.  We were surprised and annoyed that they've changed the menu--now, the only breakfast "special" is a $4.99 egg and bacon that doesn't even include coffee.  Well, the hell with that stuff, we agreed, and we got up and left.
Went to Dockside where we enjoyed their special of omelet, hash browns, toast, and coffee, all for $3.99.  Of course, we went down to view the water after, then I dropped A. off. Home, I went on the computer only to be told I had no Internet connection.
Damnation!  Could my little dearie be sick again?  I didn't wait around to find out, but got in the car and drove the forty miles or so to the farm.  Got beets, lettuce, chard, garlic scapes, Chinese cabbage, and kale in the barn.  I decided to skip the green beans in the field, as it was 94 degrees and I'm not a big fan of them, anyway, so off I went.  Stopped at Whiting to get Chardonnay and some groceries before driving home. I was happy to discover my 'puter was all well again, the problem being Comcast's.
Later, there was a terrific storm.  I had gone to the library, then the gas station where I was when it suddenly descended.  I say "suddenly" although:  Yes, yes, it was covered with breathless idiocy by the media, but I'll be damned if I'll join the bug-eyed doomsday crowd, so was only dimly aware.  (Since I couldn't do anything about it and didn't need to make any special plans, why in the world would I "follow" such "news"?)  It was hairy getting the scant mile home; I thought whole trees would come down and had to swerve around whole tree limbs. I did, though, and all was well until--the electricity went out.
I wonder if there's anything in the world I cherish more than electricity.  Well, maybe my family--but I'm not absolutely, positively sure about that...
Kidding, of course. Nevertheless, I suffer--suffer, I tell you--when the lights go out and the dishwasher stops, and I can't do much of anything.  I did start reading Girl Gone on my tablet, but still, I was miserable for two hours until the power went on again and brought life back to my home.