Look who decided to come in out of the cold

Yup. Little Miss Yipper.

I have been trying for a long time to get her to come inside. I would pick her up, bring her in (trying to avoid very sharp claws), and set her down next to her brother. She would stay for a short time, then wanted no part of inside anymore and wanted to go out.

Then I noticed that she was staying in longer. One night she was in and so quiet, I forgot she was in. When I went looking for her, she was sound asleep on top of the cushion I have on the dryer.

That night she spent outside, but it ended there.

Her brother Ralphy has spent every night inside since he came back. I guess she got tired of being outside alone at night and she knocked to come in. I went to bed thinking there would be a fight between Yipper and My Baby Girl. No fights. Yipper woke me very early to go out. Ralphy went out with her, but he soon was knocking to come back in to his favorite spot.

Much progress was made trying to get Yipper inside. But I think, being a typical cat, it was on her terms not mine.

My Baby Girl doesn't seem too bother about it.

Stupid question of the day

Back to work after a three day weekend is hard. Especially this time of year. Not to many people coming in my office or calling for that matter.

Anyway, my first and only person of the day, so far, was a contractor. The contractor asked me if I remember a job he did that needed our approval? Why yes I remember that job. It was for a second floor deck. Well anyway, the homeowner didn't pay him for the work, so he filed suit against them for his money. In turn they filed suit against him siting forgery. They are saying that he forged the applications to us. He asked what he could do? My answer was to contact his attorney. His next question was if I or my boss could write a letter that he didn't forge the applications. Did he have too much eggnog? I told him that we couldn't write a letter like that. The only thing I(we) could do would be to copy the approved applications for him. I told him that once I had the applications copied, I would call him.

He also tells me that the owners didn't like the fiberglass deck so he put vinyl over top the fiberglass. He said they didn't like getting wet when on the first floor deck. I now have some bells ringing in my ears.

After he leaves, I look up the application number and pull the file. There were three applications. When reviewing them, the second floor deck was supposed to be open. (We have a rule here in the Township that if you have a second floor deck over a first floor deck, water must be able to get through the second floor deck and get the first floor deck wet. If not, it is considered a roof and it is a whole new ballgame.) Now I'm in a pickle because we didn't approve what was built. Do I tell my boss when he comes back Wednesday? Would he do anything about it? Probably not. Or do I just let the chips far where they may?

Review of last week

Saturday brought us snow. Not fine by me, but I was staying in to make cookies anyway.

Shoveled once in the morning. Then it turned to freezing rain. Then turned back to snow. Shoveled again.

I must say that it was beautiful. Especially Sunday when I was making my way to the grocery store.

Monday night was ceramics. I put Ralphy out around 6:PM, telling him when I got home, he could come in again.

Because of the roads, only five brave souls showed up. It was a fun night, but I was exhausted from all day cookie making on Saturday and Sunday.

When I got home, I went to let Ralphy in. He wasn't there. A bit later, I got his and Yippers dinner ready. Went out and only Yipper was there. This was very unusually, because Ralphy never-ever misses a meal.

I yelled for him, but he didn't show up. I figured he would be there in the morning. No Ralphy. He wasn't around at lunch time either.

I sent out a couple of e-mails to friends in the neighborhood to keep their eyes open for him.

When I got home from work, there was a group of kids on my neighbors steps and one throwing snowballs at the house. I really didn't care about the snowballs because they weren't being thrown at the windows.

Because Ralphy still wasn't home, I thought maybe he was in the shed and couldn't get out. I decided to make my way to the shed. The group of kids was now at my neighbors back door trying to get in. I yelled over asking what they were doing. They took off running and I thought I heard one say 'do you have the key?' I came in and called that neighbor, left a voice mail asking him if he had hidden a key someplace and what he wanting me to do. I was at my front door when I saw two of the kids run into the house.

Ahh! Paula your ass is mine now. I called, told her what I saw and heard. She said that she heard them say something about a key also. Funny thing, they said it in the back of the house and there was no way she could have heard them. Anyway, she said that she punished her two kids because she sees and hears everything. I asked her if she saw her son throwing snowballs at the house. Silence. She told me that they put the key back where they found it. Under the mat. I thought this strange. I told her that I have a call into the neighbor to see what he wanted me to do. She said that she would get the key and keep it. I told her to leave it. Paul would let me know what to do.

Now Paula has her two asses come to my house to apologize to me. I asked them why they were apologizing to me. It wasn't my house they were trying to break into and when Paul came down, they better march their asses over to apologize to him.

Paul called back and told me he had the key hidden in a secret spot in the shed. He asked me to get the key and hold it until he comes down. I told him I would and check to may sure nothing was damaged.

Next thing Paula's knocking on my door telling me that she asked her daughter where they found the key and 'my daughter would never lie to her mommy.' She said her daughter told her they found the key under the mat at the front door. I told Paula there is always a first time for a daughter to lie to her mommy and now is the time. The key wasn't there. It was hidden in the shed. Then she tells me when she looked out, she saw her daughter shoveling Paul's front step. I asked her why. What? Why was your daughter shoveling Paul's front step when he wasn't even down. Why wasn't she shoveling her own steps that haven't been shoveled yet?

She then tells me that she tracked the kids down and told them that they were boarding breaking the law and if they had went in the house they would have been. She tells me she told them the police were called. I said 'whoa. I didn't call the police. And if something happens to any of my property, I was coming after her and it wouldn't be a pretty sight.'

She told me that her son is eight and trying to fit in. No one wants to play with an eight year old. Not my problem. And it seems that he picked the wrong friends and it is your responsibility to teach your kids right from wrong.

She asked if her kids came to apologize to me. I told her they did, but questioned why? I wasn't my house. They, including you, better apologize to Paul when he comes down.

She kept saying how embarrassed she was. I couldn't help myself. I had to ask her if she was embarrassed because her kids were part of trying to break into someones house or because they got caught? I didn't get and answer from her, but that was the answer for me.

So if it wasn't for Ralphy being missing, they may have gotten into the house without my or anyone else noticing.

Then I visited a couple friends house that night. My one friend knew how upset I was that Ralphy wasn't around and told me she would say a couple prayers that he would return safe.

When I got home, I went out calling for him again. I couldn't hear any mewing like I normally would if he was around.

I am not one to pray, but I said to the angels, 'I don't ask for much, but please bring my handsome boy home to me safe and sound. It's been more than 24 hours.'

Laying in bed, I heard a noise out back. I wasn't going to check, but something told me too. When I turned on the light, there was my Ralphy. I don't think that door ever opened so fast. He came running in with me scooping him up in my arms. I fed him. Which he inhaled. He slept in bed, plastered against my leg purring the whole night.

I still don't know where he was. Where ever he was, it was someplace I couldn't hear him. A place where he wasn't being fed. Now, when he hears or sees people, he starts to panic. So I think maybe he somehow got locked in someone shed or somehow someones house. He has been sticking close to home and spending more time inside. Fine by me. I wish he would stay inside all the time.

I have been trying to get Yipper inside too. Little by little I have been able to do so. Hopefully soon, I can get her to be a primarily inside cat.

We all had a good Christmas. Bobbie gave us a PetSmart gift card. I used it today and all my kittens are very grateful to her.

Christmas Day brought me a couple of Tufted Titmouse.

Best Christmas gifts of all.

My Baby Girl (right)

My Ralphy (left)

Yesterday brought us heavy rain for most of the day and the loss of electricity for three hours. At least is wasn't bitter cold, though I had to turn the fireplace on to get the dampness out.

Today is finally sunny and warm. Going to the store showed more flooding.

My friend told me the end of her street is flooded. The Township sandbagged, but there is just too much water.

Please wish us sunny-dry weather.

Our first snow of the season

We woke up to our first storm of the season. When I went out, there was a couple inches.

Later the temps warmed up and we had freezing rain. Now back to snow.

I didn't go anywhere today. Today was cookie baking day.

Woke up earlier then normal this morning and went through my daily ritual. (I am a creature of habit. Change my routine and I'm done for the day. I feel uptight inside.) Make bed. Go to bathroom. Feed Baby Girl. Get cup of coffee. Watch weather channel. Get second cup of coffee. Go fed kittens.

Go out to fed the kittens and they're not there. I call and Yipper comes running. Then I hear a pitiful mew. I call for Ralphy and hear the pitiful mew again. Now every mama knows the sound of her young. And when we hear distress, we kick into action. I grab the flashlight, (because it is before 6 in the morning), and going running in the direction I heard him. I'm calling for him and hearing the mews. I am fighting bamboo, holly tree branches and leaves to try and find him. Can't see him. I jump in my car and drive around the block, (if I ran over or tried to jump the fence, I would probably die before I got to him). I run into the back yard and fighting bamboo and holly again, start looking for him. I don't see him, nor do I hear him anymore. Come back home and can hear the pitiful mews again.

Now I have to get back to my routine. I jump in the shower (one must be clean when on a rescue mission) and rush through that. After I'm clean, dressed and shoes on, out I go again. Now we have some light from the morning sun. In the holly tree I go again calling for him. I part some bamboo and he mews. I look up and there the sucker is on my neighbors garage roof. Here I was thinking he got into a fight during the night and was laying hurt and bleeding. I grab the ladder (it's a four foot number) and back to my neighbors I go. I knew the ladder wouldn't be tall enough, but I thought he would come over to me and I could grab him. What does he do? Runs to the other end of the roof. I try to get around that side, but my neighbor has so much shit there, I couldn't get anywhere. Over to the other side again. I somehow make my way through the tangle of shit. What does my handsome boy do? Jumps into another neighbors tree, makes his way down the tree and runs back into my yard.

I know that he could have gotten down himself eventually, but that damn mama instinct kicked in and I went into protection mode. He's safe and that's all that matters.

Some flooding pics

Library parking lot. Not too bad now. It was higher earlier in the day.

This is Evoy's. They have a lake, but the lake has overflowed. The ducks are loving it.

Again with the weather

Well we got hit with another storm during the wee hours of the morning. High winds and rain. Woke me up a couple times during the night. Woke me up for the last time around 4:30 this morning. I just stayed up made coffee and fed the fur babies.

The ground is so saturated the water has no place to go. Everything is soggy and squishy. The intersection and library parking lot are flooded. A short ride around town showed a couple of properties with standing water. We have been getting quite a few calls in work that properties are flooded. Well no offense, but no shit. What do they expect with all the rain we've had. And what to they expect us to do? Go out there and suck the property dry. Sorry I vent.

I watched the weather channel at lunch and they said the temperatures are going to drop and high winds will start again. Because the ground is so saturated, take precautions for falling trees. What does that mean? What precautions should I take. Cut down my trees? Move my house? Ugh.

Anyway, on another note. I've been watching the food channel. I watch what they make. If the recipe appeals to me, I go to foodnetwork.com and get it.

What I really wanted to say here is - they always taste what they made. How come they always are like ooh-um this is so good. Just once I would love for them to make a sour face and say, 'this tastes like shit. I put too much such-in-such in. That happens when you cook. It can't be perfect everytime.'

Wacky weather

We have had more cloudy-rainy days then sunny. Yesterday was no exception. They were calling for heavy rain and high winds. I must say that this time the weather people were right.

The rain started yesterday afternoon. On and off. I went to ceramics and by the time I left, it was pouring. Ralphy, rightfully so, spent the night inside. Yipper still won't come in, so the brave little soul she is, braved the elements. When the wind picked up, it slammed the side of the house. Nothing like wind driven rain to keep one up. Then later, after I had fell asleep, the gusts started. Now I can sleep through just about anything. Well some of the gusts slamming the side of the house, woke me out of a dead sleep.

I checked the rain gauge this morning. We got three inches of rain last night. Honestly, I thought it would be more. I haven't checked my property yet, but I don't think there was any damage. One house in the neighborhood lost a gutter and down spout. Considering the wind, this was minimal.

One good thing is the sun is shining today. And according to the Weather Channel, we are supposed to have record high temperatures today. Close to 70 degrees. This I can believe. It is already warm. Hard to believe that it is December. However, the temps are supposed to plummet to 36 degrees tonight. More December like temps.

Some things I'm thankful for

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with their family and friends.

One thing I am thankful for today is this.

I know to some this may not seem like any big deal. But here in Cape May County, this is the first blue sky we have since. Since. Well I honestly don't remember the last time we saw blue skies. And sadly as I type this, the gray clouds and dampness has taken over again.

Another thing I am thankful for is my good friends. Bobbie would be top of the list. We have known one another for sixteen years now. Not only do I consider her my friend, she's family. We have been through a lot of bad times, but the good times out weigh the bad.

I spoke with my friend Margie several times today. She tells me she is going to be a grandmom again. I am soo happy for her and her daughter. This baby was not planned. They really don't know yet how they feel about this. I think this baby is meant to be and will bring something special to this world.

I will be going to another good friends house in a bit for Thanksgiving dessert. Karen, I have known for years and Chrissy, just several, but they are the friends that you can count on no matter what.

And lastly, the one friend that I have had the pleasure of knowing, loving and living with for many years now.

My baby girl.

As I have wrote here before, she is getting up there in years (almost 20) and her health is failing.

I am thankful for everyday and every holiday that we have together. She is after all, my best friend and baby girl.

(All the photos of her were taken after she ate her favorite meal. Turkey. And like all of us, she is taking the after turkey dinner snooze.)

Happy Thanksgiving

Priceless, TV & crafts

We all have things in our lives that are priceless and dear to our hearts. For me - earrings. Diamond earrings.

It was more than 20 years ago. My dad gave my mom diamond earrings. For some reason, she could not wear them. Her ears would get inflamed and sore. They thought maybe it was the silver and had the posts dipped in yellow gold. She still couldn't wear them. She told me that when I turned 18, she would give them to me. Well she gave them to me way before that and I had my ears pierced again. Except for cleaning them, I have not taken them out.

This morning I'm taking my shower. My loofah snagged my ear and next thing I hear a 'tink'. I look down and see the back of my earring. I reached up and the diamond earring wasn't there. I hurriedly turned the shower off. I am squeezing the loofah. Nothing. I am squeezing my hair. Nothing. Now I start to panic. I jump out of the shower to get the screwdriver. I take off the drain cover, no earring. I reach in and relief, I feel the earring. My fingers are too big to grab it. I grab the tweezers. Still can't reach the earring. Next, I grabbed the needle nose pliers. I was finally able to get the earring.

What relief this was.

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Tuesday night, I screwed the TV up again. I called my friend Phillip. He came to my rescue and showed me how to work the remote. He showed me an easier way to program the DVR. I can now program the DVR without having to refer to my notes. We changed the background color for the guide from that ugly royal blue to pretty evergreen.

I am loving having the Gameshow Network and AMC back. I love the National Geographic Channel and Encore. I have been "On Demand" for some movies, but they are not all that great. Mostly very old movies. I think one of the best features is pausing a show that you are watching. I'll probably wear that button out first.

I am not intimidated by the remote anymore. I just wish it were smaller.

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I came across a neat craft in one of my magazines and thought it would be a nice Christmas gift for some of my co-workers and the ceramic girls.

You take a smooth clear jar or candle holder and use stain glass spray paint to the outside. Add sticker decals. Then it says to add a votive candle and put sand around the candle.

I know how some feel about candles, so I decided that the battery operated candles would be better and forget the sand. The candles I got at Big Lots on sale. Next was the dollar store for candle holders. I cleaned them out. Next Michaels for decals. Who knew that decals were that expensive. Last item needed was the stain glass paint. Michael's, Lowes, K-mart, Family Dollar and Ace Hardware don't carry this. The only thing Anco had was frosted. I may have to go with that, but feel the colored stain glass paint would look better.

There are a couple of stores left to try. I'll look there and if they don't carry it, I check on-line.

I should have stuck with something I'm good at. Baking.

Digital cable & maybe some sunshine

I have thought long and hard whether I wanted to go to digital cable. Well I finally took the plunge and got it.

The cable guy came yesterday to hook me up. I got a regular digital box for the bedroom and the DVR box for the living room. I asked him if he could also connect my VCR/DVD combo up. He said he could. Then he proceeded to clear a space on top of my entertainment center. I asked him what he was doing and he told me that the DVR box was going to sit on top of the entertainment center. The hell it will I tell him. I asked him if the DVR box can stand on end next to the TV? He tells me it can't and neither can my VCR/DVD. So needless to say, I only have the DVR box until I figure something else out for the other. I guess I'll have to have my friends son do the connection when I finally figure this out.

Anyway, it didn't take him long at all to do the conversion. I asked him while hooking everything up if he was going to show me how to work this. Of course he says. OMG. The remote is very intimidating for someone like me that is clueless about this new technology. He is whipping through the controls on the remote and talking the whole time. I am trying to write some of this stuff down. Finally I said, 'Look. You have to go slower. I cannot comprehend what you are saying and doing.' He was nice about it and slowed down. My one major concern was setting the DVR. He talked me through that and showed me. He told me to just play and I would learn. Easy for him to say. Once he leaves, I'm on my own. And I know I can screw something up.

Off he goes. I start to play and did figure out most of the remote and different menus. I have to say the one thing I like very much is pausing a program and restarting it. See I'm not one to sit for any length of time. I'll get up and go to the bathroom. Or make coffee. Or get something to drink. Or go for a smoke. Or just get up and walk around. So that pause button is very useful.

I think so far my favorite channel is Encore. I watched two movies last night. And yes. Paused both.

I also like having the Game Show Network back.

When I was ready to go to bed, I decided to try the DVR. I go through the menus to program it. The TV program I was trying to set was already in progress. When I went to turn the TV off, a message popped up saying 'in order to record, the TV must stay on.' I scroll down to cancel recording and turned the TV off. A bit later I tried to turn the TV back on. Nothing. Of fuck. I broke it already. I tried doing some things, but still nothing. I ended up calling the cable company. The person I spoke with said she would resend the signal and transferred me to something who could help with the TV. A message came on to leave my name and number and someone would get back to me. I just hung up and went to bed. The only thing I could think of is I broke the TV and now I was going to have to buy a new one. I woke up a little after 3: this morning. I tried the TV hoping that it was just a glitch and the TV would come on. No such luck. I just went back to bed. This morning I put the TV on and still nothing. I knew that it had to be the box and not the TV, so I started playing with the box. Somehow, and I don't know how I did it, but when the TV came on, the box turned off. When I turned the TV off, the box came on. One button push later, I have my TV back. I'm almost afraid to try the DVR again.

All in all, I like digital TV. I think the picture is clearer. And once I figure out the DVR, all will be good in my world again.

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There is a possibility that we will have sunshine sometime today. This is a major event, especially for me. You see, we haven't had sunshine since Tuesday.

We had the remnants of Hurricane Ida that turned into a nor-easter. It started Wednesday with rain. Then the winds came. The winds were so strong that the tide couldn't go out. All of the barrier islands flooded and most shut down with bridge closings. There is a lot of property damage and beach erosion.

I'm lucky where I live. It doesn't flood, but we need sun now to help dry us out. And help lift our spirits.

I'm such a dork

I had line dance class tonight, but before I went I was on the phone with a friend. I got my cell phone out and turned it on. The thing started to ring, I opened it up and it said, 'new message to read.' After I hung up with my friend I checked it out. It was a text message. I didn't even know that the phone could do this. It is a Trac phone. I don't use a cell phone enough to purchase a plan. Anyway, 'it said 'way to go Eagles.' I never text before and it took some time to find out who sent it. My friend in Florida, but for what reason I do not know. She knows I am not a football fan. Okay here is the 'dork' part. I sent my very first text message back. I might have pissed her off though. Mine said, 'What. Who cares about the Eagles. Way to go Yankees.' However, I will probably never figure out how to send another text message again. I'm a dork.

Went to line dance class and had fun as always. On the way home, my radio station was playing a crappy song and I hit the scan button. I came across a song and said to myself, 'self. That sounds like the song from How the Grinch Stole Christmas.' Sure enough it was. Turns out they are playing 24 hours of Christmas music. So I'm singing this song and The Twelve Days of Christmas to my hearts content. When I got home, I just laughed at myself for being such a dork.

When I came in there was a message. Another freaking political message, (I had 10 calls yesterday). I CAN'T NOT WAIT UNTIL THIS ELECTION IS OVER. I thought to myself, I would rather be a dork and listen and sing Christmas music then listen to yet another bashing political message. Delete is a wonderful button.

Disgusting

I was skimming this article in the Press of Atlantic City and read this paragraph, 'The governor spent $23.6 million through Friday, according to the reports, and raised $24.1 million. Christie has raised $11.7 million, including $7.3 million in public matching funds from the State, and spent $8.8 million.' Excuse the language, but what the fuck is this about.

These people should be ashamed of themselves. Raising and spending this amount of money. For what? The fucking title of Governor. A title so they can screw this State up more than what it is already.

Do they realize that there are people out there losing their jobs. Homes. How many people cannot afford health care. People who cannot afford the medications they desperately need. People who cannot afford to put food on their table. As you know, the list just goes on and on.

And what does 'including $7.3 million in public matching fund from the state' mean? I think it means that the good residents of this State forked out $7.3 mill. 7.3 MILLION DOLLARS. For what???

I know I could come up with ways to spend this amount of money. I can tell you it wouldn't be used toward some fucking title. It would be used for the people and for the good of the people

It's raining again. This is getting old. We have a couple days of beautiful sunshine, only to cloud over for several days of rain. Ugh. Grr.

Started the day with making beef stew in the crock pot. Nice comfort food for a rainy day. The recipe is quick and easy. I don't remember if I shared this or not, but here is the recipe. (I cut up the veggies the day before)

2 lbs. beef cubes
1/4 to 1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cup beef broth
1/2 clove minced garlic
4 carrots
2 onions (minced)
1 stalk celery
3 potatoes (diced)
1 bay leaf (optional)

Mix flour, salt, pepper & paprika together. Put beef cubes in crock pot (use the slow cooker bags for easy clean-up), add flour mixture and mix. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Cover and cook 10 to 12 hours low heat or 4 to 6 hours high heat.

I add more celery and potatoes to my stew. Along with frozen peas. I do not use bay leaf. Turns out wonderful every time. Enjoy.

Next stop, pick up fresh rolls. Then a ride along the bay front.

Not really much to see, but I did come across this moored sailboat.

Not very often that we see this in the bay. Was a pretty sight.

The annual luminary walk at Cold Spring Village is next Saturday. On my way to the eye doctor, I stopped to buy my ticket.

Cold Spring Village is beautiful this time of year. Rain or shine.

Hope wherever you are, the sun is shining. If not, I hope you are enjoying your autumn as much as I am enjoying mine.

Day at the beach

Most of the eastern shoreline has been in the depths of back to back nor'easters. Basically that means high winds, rain and flooding.

Friday the Wildwood bridge was closed due to flooding. I read in the paper that many more had been closed.

Ocean City didn't fair well. Speaking with a friend there, she said that most streets were flooded and there was only a very small lane to get on and off of the island.

I didn't go out at all yesterday, so the only thing left to do was housework. Oh joy.

I wasn't going to be kept inside, two days in a row. The winds were high and temps were low. So long pants(ugh), socks (double ugh) and flannel shirt (am I out of my mind? I'll sweat my butt off), gather my shopping list and camera. So first stop, Wawa for gas. When the weather is hot and miserable or cold and damp, I always tip the attendants. I tell them to get something cold/hot to drink. It really is amazing to see the expression (shock at first), then the smile and the heartfelt thank-you.

Anyway, next stop food shopping. Then Starbucks for my Pumpkin Spice Latte'. Then McDonald's for breakfast.

Next was Cape May. They have a pavilion there that blocked most of the wind. I met a very nice gentleman who came down to see the waves. We were both disappointed.

I heard a guy next to me say, 'is that a turtle?' I'm like, 'oh boy. I can take a picture of a sea turtle.'

Well here's the sea turtle.

I explained to the guy that this was a horseshoe crab. And explained to him and his wife a little bit about them.

In the distance was a couple who really knew how to have a good time.

'Kick up your heels and have fun.'

There were a couple good waves.

Next stop Cape May Point.

This clam shell was just sitting there. I thought it looked pretty cool.

The winds were definitely stronger on the bay. It had stopped raining so I took a walk on the beach. (Was I glad I wore the flannel shirt).


When I had enough of being blown around, I turned to walk back to the parking lot. Caught a guy taking my picture from behind. (Not my best side.) Instead of embarrassing the guy, I just grinned and asked how he was doing.

Next stop, Lily Lake. Came across this bird and managed to get a couple bad shots before he flew off. I have no idea what it is. If anyone does, please let me know.

Decided to ride around the Point for a while and came across another pair that knew how to have a good time.

I found a set of steps over the dune and seen a bunch of black dots in the ocean. Again I have no idea what type of birds these are. I zoomed in as much as I could. They kinda look like ducks to me. What do you think?

I must tell you I got lost. Now Bobbie I can hear you saying, "What? How can you get lost at the Point? There's only one way in and out." Well trust me. I got lost. So when your up to it, we'll go for a ride and get lost together.

So weaving up and down different streets trying to find my way out, I came across this path to the beach.

By then I was wind blown enough and ready to get home and put my groceries away.

So I hope the weather is better where you are. And you kick up your heels and have fun.

October happenings

For me it is always a toss up between whether I prefer spring to fall.

I do love spring with everything coming back to life and the vibrant colors all around after a long dreary winter.

But how I love fall. The changing colors on trees. The cooler temperatures (yip-pee). And the activities offered in the month of October.

Saturday offered the annual Oktoberfest in Ocean City. It is a ten block block party. Well really it is a ten block craft show. I like to be there when it starts at 9: AM. Generally not many people up and about then. This year I was wrong. There were lots of people. Too many for my taste.

People tend just to stop right in front of you to chat. Or instead of making their way to a booth, stop where they are. Instead of causing a scene and yell, I cleared my throat. Somewhat loudly. This actually worked. Of course by the time I got to the car, I had a sore throat. Small price to pay.

Anyway, my purchases included candles, (like I need anymore). The best cashew and pistachio nuts around.

I also stopped at a couple photographers booths. They did have some very beautiful pictures, but honestly, (and not that I am being conceited), some weren't any better then some of mine.

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Another happening on Saturday is the annual Lima Bean Festival in West Cape May.

I made my way there, but ooh the people. Parking was basically non-existence. So I decided to scrap that idea and go to one of my favorite places. Lily Lake.

There wasn't much activity around the lake this day. But when I came around a bend, I came upon this beauty.



We were having quite the photo session. When...


They were oblivious of me and my camera. They were taking pictures themselves. How could I be mad about that. But I did want them to move so I could continue my session.

They finally did move and that is when they noticed me. When passenger finally saw me and had the 'Oh shit. I'm soo sorry' look. Had to laugh at her expression.

So anyway, me and swanny resumed our photo shoot.

The 'shy yet coy' look.


The, 'I love the camera and to pose' look.

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Thursday night, I had a Planning Board meeting. The Chairman takes beautiful pictures and we do talk about the pictures we have taken.

He said that he was going to go to Hydrofest in Wildwood Crest. He said I should go. That I could probably get some nice photos of the boats and spray.

So yesterday, over I went. Again, lots of people. I had to park six blocks away and wondered if this was going to be worth the walk.

The first sight I saw.

The Chairman wasn't kidding when he said lots of spray.


Close race.


Another close race and more spray.

Four boats. Neck and neck.

Then there was the occasional break down.

Not a happy camper.

Whoa Nellie.

I wouldn't be standing that close to that boat.

This was their practice lap.

So not a lot of spray, but still very close.

Very close race.

This was the first time I ever went to the Hydrofest. And yes, it was well worth walking six blocks. I will be going back next year. Only I will be taking along a chair.

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Today I am going to a Zumba class. My friend goes and enjoys it very much. I understand that it is a dance exercise class. I also understand that it is non-stop dance for an hour. Hope I can last the full hour.

Well enjoy your Columbus Day.

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Zumba update: If you love to dance, I really recommend trying Zumba dance. It is a great fun workout.