OCMD Vacation Day 2

Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunny, 82 degrees, light breezes

Monday was a beach day.  On Assateague Island.  Where the wild horses roam freely.


We started off with breakfast at home.  Multigrain Cheerios and watermelon.  And coffee.  Always start my day with nice black coffee, no sugar.  John doesn't do coffee.  Ever.  He had Ruby red grapefruit juice.


I packed a picnic lunch to take to the beach.  Ham and provolone sandwiches on whole wheat bread with mustard and  turkey and provolone on whole wheat with mayo.  Grapes, some Nacho Cheese Doritos, water for me, green tea for John.


A few years ago,we bought this cabana thingy.  It's a pain in the rear to put up.  John insisted I pack it.  It was quite windy on the beach.  We didn't have much luck.  I was getting pissed. I wanted to just forget it and toss the stupid cabana in the trash.  John was getting more determined than ever to put the damned thing up so he could be out of the sun.  Then, one of the tabs that is used to help anchor it to the ground tore off.  It was all I could do not to roll on the ground laughing!   I wish I had my camera out to get pictures of this, but I was supposed to be helping John put the cabana up.


So we set up our chairs and enjoyed the sun.  There were no lifeguards on the beach.  Swim at your own risk.  The riptides from Hurricane Igor made the surf so rough, only surfers were in the water.


That was ok, though.  I don't swim in the ocean any more because fish f*** in it  I have a healthy fear and respect for the ocean.  Plus the lifeguards had to fish me out when I was 15.   I normally don't go past my waist any more.  Now I get my feet wet and that's about it.  The water was certainly warm enough to swim!


We didn't see any dolphins this year.  I think the riptides kept them too far out for anyone to see them.  I was disappointed.


We hung out for a couple of hours, people watching.  I forgot to put sumblock on my legs.  They got burnt.  John didn't.  He wore long pants.  He refuses to wear shorts, ever.  He's stubborn like that.  Still, it was nice to sit and read and watch the people go by.   This picture of me is awful, but there are very few taken of me.  It's also my inspiration to get my ass back on Nutrisystem and stay there!

Once we packed up our stuff, we rode around the island in hopes of seeing some wild horses.  We didn't see any in the State Park, but we drove to the National Park.  We didn't go in because they wanted $15 for the week, and we knew we could hang out at the State Park for $3 a day.  So we turned around.  On the way back, we saw a LOT of wild horses!  Look for yourself!  They were awesome!

 There was also a LOT of herons!  We usually would see one or two, but that day, we found a flock!

We headed on back to the house, took a nap and then went out for dinner.  I asked my friend, Fran some suggestions for dinner.  We were trying to avoid the chain restaurants and wanted to stick with privately owned places.  I'm glad we did!


We ate dinner at a place called The Shark On The Harbor in West Ocean City (aka the mainland).   We really liked this place!  Lots of windows, so you can see the boats in the marina and boats on the water.  It was dark when we went  so you really can't see anything. 

We didn't get an appetizer or salad before dinner, but I might have had room for dessert afterwards.


I had the Granny Smith's Bleu Cheese Topped Filet, a filet
mignon topped with a walnut and bleu cheese pate and 
caramelized Granny Smith apples and red onions.It came with lobster mashed potatoes and zucchini and squash.

I treated myself to a Raspberry Mojito.  It was pretty good.  I bet a margarita would have been better thoughh.


John had one of the Specials of the night, a Voodoo Surf and Turf, which was crab and filet mignon with andoullie sausage in a creamy Creole Alfredo.  It also came with zucchini and squash. 

 Both dishes were excellent (and not inexpensive), but what the heck!  We were on vacation and it was the day before my birthday!


I finished off with a marble cheesecake with a chocolate crumb crust.  Oddly, I didn't take a picture of the dessert.    It was yummiful, though!

So far, each night, we've hit the sheets by 10:30 pm.  That fresh air just kicked our butts!!


OH!  I forgot to add that John tossed a grape to a sea gull who seemed to hang out with us on the beach.  I said, "NO!!!  They'll come from miles around as soon as you give one some food!"  Sure enough, within seconds, there were FIFTY (I counted) seagulls hovering over our heads, calling for food!  Sheesh.  Men.

Tomorrow??  My birthday and a trip to Cape May!

OCMD Vacation Day 1

Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunny, 80 degrees, light breezes


John and I left for Ocean City around midnight, Saturday night.  Why, you ask?  Because John had to work from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm that Saturday. (Hey! He grabs as many overtime Saturdays as he can!! ).  So as soon as he got home, he changed clothes, threw his stuff in my car and off we went!!!  Vacation time, baby!!


We stopped at an all-night diner on the way.  The food was OK, the price was reasonable.  I had scrambled eggs, scrapple, wheat toast, home fries, orange juice.  I left some potatoes on the plate.  John had a gyro, I think.  The man LOVES gyros.  Everything was fine until I went into the bathroom.  I'll never go back there again.   The toilet was moved so it sat facing the corner because the bolts were missing.  And the lid on the back of the tank was missing.  It was not exactly clean.  


Enough about THAT!!


So we continue on our journey.   The trip is approximately 160 miles, and should take us a little over 3 hours (not counting the food stop), and it did.  The rest of the ride was fairly uneventful and we arrived at the house a little after 4 am.

We checked in with the guard at the entrance (it's a gated community) and went to the house.   The house is in a development called Assateague Pointe.  It's on the mainland of Ocean City (aka West Ocean City) and it's not far from Assateague Island (where the wild ponies live and roam freely).


Fran (my friend and one week a year landlady) swapped out the double bed for a queen size bed and she had the bed all made up for us (I had full sheets packed)  I was SO happy that we didn't have to do all that before going to sleep!!!  All we brought in was the refrigerated stuff.  We unloaded after we got some sleep.


We woke up late Sunday morning to sunny skies and 80 degrees with a light breeze off the ocean.  AH!!!  My kind of day!!  Sunday was the last day of Bike Week in Ocean City, so there was an abundance of Harleys roaring all over town!  Some of those bikes were beauties!!


Breakfast was at The Breakfast Cafe in West Ocean City.  We usually eat there once or twice when we're in town.  Food is good, but it seemed a little pricier than the last time we were there, 2 years ago.


Then we did our grocery shopping for the week.  I'm proud to say we were able to use up just about everything we bought by the time we were going home.  


After we put the groceries away, we made a quick trip to Walmart because John forgot to pack socks.  (I thought of you, Garret and Jim when we did our Walmart run!)


Next up was a trip to the boardwalk in Ocean City.  We wandered up and down the boards, people watching and window shopping.  John bought me a new swimsuit in one of the shops (50% off!) for my birthday because I thought my swimsuit was at John's place but it was at home.  And no, there are no pictures of me wearing it!  John also purchased a game and some movies at an old book shop just off the boards.


While we were on the boardwalk, we saw this sand sculpture.  I think the man who does this makes a new one each summer.  It's amazing that it stays in such good shape for such a long time!  It was so long, it took 3 photos to get all of it.

We finished up our first day at Salvatore's, an Italian Restaurant that we went to a few years ago and really liked.  We'll never go there again.  The food was pretty good, when it finally arrived.  I didn't think to bring my camera the first day.  Our waiter was Chip, a Russian fellow (there are a lot of Russian students working in Ocean City).  He was a nice enough guy, and I don't think he was the problem.   We ordered an Antipasto and a Shrimp Cocktail as appetizers.  It took 45 minutes to arrive.  The only dressings they had available were Ranch and Oil and Vinegar.  No Italian dressing at an Italian restaurant.  Hmmm......


For our meals, John ordered Veal Marsala (which he said was good) and I got Stuffed Shells because they were out of Lasagna.  I also ordered meatballs but they didn't arrive because good old Chip told me I didn't order them.  John started shouting that I did, indeed, order meatballs!  I got my meatballs AND a small plate of spaghetti.  


There were only 4 tables in the restaurant occupied and it too forever for everyone's food to come out!  Honestly, I don't know how this place stays open.


We went back to the house and tried to watch the latest Harry Potter movie (in preparation for the 7th movie coming out in November), but I couldn't keep my eyes open.  It took the better part of the week to finally finish watching it!


Lots more to come this week!

Six Word Saturday

Our last full day in Ocean City

Sigh.  Tomorrow we have to leave this lovely little town and get back to our real lives.  I'd move here in a heartbeat!  I do have lots of good stories to tell all next week, though.  And lots of pictures to show you all!




Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate atShow My Face and link up!

I'm here but I'm not really

Today's my birthday (55!! EEK!).


I'm on vacation with my honey.


I'm taking lots of pics and have stories to tell when I get back.


I'm just too darned beat at night (and too busy having fun all day) to write a post.


I'm doing this practically in my sleep.


I promise when I get back to reality (next Monday) I'll start writing blog posts and add vacation pics.


You'll be sick of me!


Ok, here's one picture, taken with my cell phone on the Cape May/Lewes Ferry.

It was a little bit breezy.

Six Word Saturday

Ocean City, Maryland... here we come!!!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

In Honor of Septmber 11, 2001

This is a blog post I wrote 2 years ago about September 11, 2001.  In memory of that fateful day 9 years ago, I think it bears repeating.

Where were you when it happened?

I don't think there is an American alive who doesn't know where he or she was and what they were doing when they heard the news about the attack on New York and Washington DC on September 11, 2001. I was driving to Kutztown, PA to my job at the restaurant my ex-husband and I owned. I was listening to Good Morning America on my car radio when Charlie Gibson reported a plane crashed into Tower 1, the North Tower of the World Trade Center. They didn't know it was intentional at that point. It wasn't long before the 2nd plane crashed into the South Tower and the world knew America was under attack. I rushed into work and put the TV on. The employees and I spent the better part of that day and indeed the rest of the week, absolutely glued to the TV, watching in horror as the government tried to get a handle on this horrific event. Our business took a major nose dive as Americans stayed in their homes, afraid to travel anywhere.

I have a friend who was in the air, flying home from France on business when the towers were hit and his flight was diverted to Canada. He somehow managed to get his hands on a car and he and a colleague drove home. It took hours to get over the Canadian border.

I knew 2 people who died that day. On the night of September 11, we got a phone call from Greg's sister, Rita. Rita's husband, Bryan had a sister named Deborah Jacobs Welsh. Debbie was the head purser on Flight 93 that crashed in Shanksville, PA. She was the first person to die on that flight. Debbie tried to keep the terrorists out of the cockpit and they slit her throat. What a shock it was to get that phone call! We didn't know Debbie well, but we saw her from time to time over the years when Rita would have a christening or First Communion party or something like that.

The second person I knew was Maria Behr. Mia worked as a Securities Trader at Cantor Fitzgerald in Tower 1. She is the sister of Dr. Edith (Delmi) Delmar Behr. Delmi's son was friends with my son, Tim. I remember Tim coming home from school on the 12th and telling me they can't find Max's Aunt Mia, that she worked in one of the towers. I told Tim they probably just can't get in contact with her because communication was really bad at that time. It wasn't long before we found out the awful truth, that Maria was in the Tower and that she did die that day. Mia was a beautiful, vibrant, sort of wacky woman who had so much going for her! She left this world way too soon.

Our restaurant was in a college town, and for most of that week, the place was like a ghost town. No one came out, whether they were afraid of more attacks or just glued to the TV for news. But that Saturday, we were so busy, with families... parents and their college children, coming in for lunch and dinner. You would have thought it was Parents' Weekend, but it wasn't. These kids had just gotten to school 2 weeks before and Parents' Weekend wasn't for several more weeks. It was just parents feeling the need to see their kids and spend time with them.

So that is my memory of September 11, 2001. It is a day that I will never forget. If you get a chance, visit Ground Zero in New York City. Say a prayer for those who lost their lives that day.... all the folks who were on those planes, the brave police and firefighters who entered those buildings, the people who worked in the towers, the brave military men and women who were working in the Pentagon in Washington DC. Pray for those heroic people on Flight 93 who fought the terrorists, knowing they were going to die, but realizing they must do this or many more would perish along with them. Pray for the loved ones left behind. Pray for the soldiers who are searching for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan, that they find him and bring him to justice, one way or the other. Pray that something like this never happens again.

Happy Birthday, Mom

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. She would have been 86. It's hard to imagine what she would have looked like at 86. Mom left this world just after her 75th birthday, 11 years ago.

 Mom, on the left, with her sister, Anna.  Mom was in her 20s then, in the 1940s.

What made me write this today was, when I posted a Happy Birthday, Mom on my facebooks page, my daughter, Gina (named for my mom)  told me that she had a dream about Mama Gigi the night before (not realizing the next day was Mama Gigi's birthday).  And also in the dream was my Aunt Wo.  Gina said she knew no one by that name existed, but she looked just like Mama Gigi!  But I told Gina that I had an Aunt Ro, and she looked just like my Mom!  I wish I had a picture of my Aunt Ro (or Rowie as we called her... short for Rosemarie).  Weird, huh!

Mom, circa 1960s.  I can tell by the old kitchen and the Christmas curtains. 

All the grandkids called her Mama Gigi. The name derived from the fact that her name was Regina, but her brothers and sisters called her Gigi and my oldest sister called her Mama. My sister heard people calling her Gigi, so Anne Marie started calling her Mama Gigi. When Mom became a grandmother, she said she wanted that to be her Grandmom name.... and so it was. 

Mom, circa 1975.  I can tell by the hairdo!  I did her hair for her every week.

Everyone says I look like my Mom. I recently got re-acquainted with a woman from our old neighborhood who told me that I look exactly like my mom (except my hair is brown.....thanks to my wonderful hairdresser and Redken color!)

Mom, far left, with her surviving brother and sisters 

(5 siblings are gone by then.)

Circa late 1980s

So, Happy Birthday, Mom!  We sure do miss you around here!

The Dam Project

These letters are real.  This is Pennsylvania state  government at it's finest. The Dam

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property.   It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania .   This guy's response is hilarious, but read The State's letter before you get to the response letter.   State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries: SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County     Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:       Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.     A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity.. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued  Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.   The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations..  We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.  All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2010. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff.  Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.     Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative and Water Management Division. Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries: Re: DEQ File No.. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County     Dear Mr..Price, Your certified letter dated 11/17/09 has been handed to me.  I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania .     A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.  While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'     I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.

These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking.   As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.

My first dam question to you is:
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?    

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.  (Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several dam concerns.  My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation?  The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer.

The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.    

If you want the dammed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.    

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream.  They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.  If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).    

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2010? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area  It is the bears!  Bears are actually defecating in our woods.  I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.  If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!    

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU,
RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Six Word Saturday

Fifteen days until Ocean City (MD) vacation!!

Want to try your own Six Word Saturday? Go see Cate at Show My Face and link up!

 

 

Places I'd love to visit before I die

This post was inspired by a blog post I just read by The Madtexter about his trip to Mykonos.  It reminded me that someday, I want to visit Greece, among other places.  Thanks, Corey!

There are so many places around the world and, indeed, within our own borders, that I'd really love to visit before I die.  Hopefully, I'll have a good 30 years or so to complete this mission.

Ireland

The land of my ancestors.  I was supposed to go to Ireland with my 3 sisters in 2006.  After a November 2004 weekend trip to New York City with my sisters, we decided to try to do a trip every few years.  So Ireland was chosen and we had a year or so to get the funds together.  A month after we decided this, all the craziness that was my marriage falling apart happened.  A couple of months later, my friend, Tina asked me to go on a cruise with her (therapy).  I totally forgot about Ireland and started saving for a Caribbean cruise (aka best vacation I ever took).  There was no way I could save for 2 trips and the cruise was already booked (Ireland was not booked at the time).  So I missed out  on the Ireland trip.  Someday I'll get there.

Alaska

John spent 4 years in Alaska when he was in the Army.  When he learned he was to be stationed at Ft. Richardson, he did everything he could to get out of it, but to no avail.  Not long after arriving in Alaska, he signed up for an extra year.  John has promised to show me Alaska and I'm holding him to it.  We'd like to do a Cruise/tour and spend 2 weeks.  I'm afraid I won't want to come back (which is funny because I keep saying I'm moving to NC or SC to get away from the cold and snowy winters of PA)

Southwestern United States

Every time I see pictures of Arizona and New Mexico, I fall in love with the sunsets.  .  And Texas and Colorado.  I have no desire to visit Las Vegas though.

Hawaii

Well, it's Hawaii!!  It looks so exotic and lush!  And besides, I might get to meet Pseudo (and learn her real name in the process!)

The Rockies

John would love to take a train trip through the Rockie Mountains.  He saw a show about it on the travel channel once and it sounds intriguing.  I want to see the Grand Canyon.   So maybe after Alaska, we could do this!

Greece

I read a few books in the past year or so that took place in Greece.  And the pictures of Greece that I've seen, with the blue waters and the stark white buildings looks so beautiful that I really want to see it with my own eyes.  I like ancient history too, so seeing the Acropolis and other places would be cool!

Canada

As close as I am to my Northern neighbors (or neighbours as they say), I'm sad to say I've never been there.  After watching the Olympics this past winter, I really want to see some of the places they showed.  That's one thing I love about watching the Olympics.  They do stories about all the wonderful places to visit when you go to a certain country.   And maybe I'll get to meet some of my Canadian blogging friends!

New England

The only times I've been to New England were short weekend trips.  I hung out with online friends in CT, but we didn't really go anywhere.  And my brother got married in MA, and we were too busy to do any sightseeing.

I want to go to Martha's Vineyard and go whale watching.  I want to see Nantucket and Cape Cod.  John's brother lives in ME and we've talked about going to visit his family up there.  I want to see old fishing villages.

(I think I really like beaches now... didn't used to)

The Caribbean

The places I saw on my cruise with Tina (St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Barbados, St. Kitts and St. Thomas) made me want to get a place to live on a beach somewhere.  The ocean breezes, the white sand.  I wish I could retire and just enjoy an easy life in a beach community.  sigh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, there you have it.  My traveling wish list.  I'm sure I can expand on that even more.  I do hope that I can cross many (or all) of those places off my list in the years to come!