Vacation Days 6 & 7 - New Jersey & Rehearsal Dinner

We didn't have firmed up plans for Thursday. We thought of Atlantic City but there was a big boardwalk fire and we weren't sure where it was. Plus driving in NJ was a little intimidating at first because in the area we were in you cannot do left turns! Cousin Maureen suggested the little town of Mount Holly with quaint little shops and restaurants.

We had lunch at the Robin's nest and did some shopping at a boutique, Christmas store, QUILT STORE, and a couple others. On Friday we ventured a little farther and tried to find a mall using my phone - obviously a misunderstanding of the address because it dumped us in the ghetto of Trenton. Eventually we were back on the road and found the mall where I saw this (below) peanut butter store. You can have any kind of peanut butter sandwich, smoothie, etc.

Friday night was the rehearsal. Let to right, Rory (brother of groom and the best man), Kevin (the groom), Caitlyn (the beautiful bride), and Elizabeth (bride's sister and maid-of-honor). In this photo the priest is signing the license and making sure everything is correct.

The rehearsal night dinner was hosted by the groom's mother (Cousin Maureen) and her Hank. Here's a bride's maid, the bride, and Hank.

Maureen with Hank's parent's Carl and Peg.

Hank with the groom Kevin.

Best man & brother Rory with his girlfriend Jackie.

Couple views of the venue. It's not a restaurant but a venue for catered events. The food was really good.

Tomorrow, the wedding!



Vacation Day 3 - Philly & New Jersey

Nice start of the day!

First stop - the Liberty Bell! Truth be told, I was itching to see the bell from the moment we landed. It was very hard to wait until day 3. It was very moving.

And there's Independence Hall. We didn't get the inside tour - save that for another trip. I do hope to come back to Philadelphia sometime and visit the museums. The city is polluted with them! lol

Mom wanted a ride via horse carriage since the sound system and the view on the double decker bus wasn't so hot on the lower level.

Love the houses.

So many nice flower boxes too. Philly was much greener than I expected.

Saying goodbye to our horse.

A cement and tile park across the street from Reading Terminal Market.

It's ALL candy. It's the only inside photo I took of the market but it was awesome.

Nachos at Hard Rock so I could buy a shot glass for a work friend.

Organ inside Christ Church

That night Cousin Maureen and her Hank came and got us and took us to a restaurant in New Jersey called The Library 2. Food was good and company even better. Amazing how you can cross into different states so quickly and easily - in Florida we have to drive about 8 hours just to cross the state line! Me and Cousin Maureen (below).

After dinner we had a quick trip to Audubon to Hank and Maureen's house. I spied this HUGE sunflower across the street. Hank is standing by it so you can tell just how tall it really is.

The Weekend

Friday night, before the Daisey emergency, Jerry's visiting cousin Maureen came over and we went to see the movie Julia/Julie. Enjoyed the movie & seeing Maureen. This photo was taken just moments before Daisey hurt herself. (Don't worry - all is well now.)
Saturday night we went to Al Fresco in Dunedin. They have the BEST chicken parmesan although I had the Alaska halibut ;) Maureen and Marge enjoying the best seats in the house.

Jerry at the restaurant. Hard to believe looking out the windows that only moments before it was raining. LOL

Before we left Jerry bought desserts to go and we went to my mom's for coffee. I split the desserts into multiple pieces so we could try a little piece of several ;)

All around the table at Mom's. Jerry, Marge, Maureen, and mom.

Cousin Maureen

Cousin Maureen and her friend Hank are here visiting from the Philadelphia area. First time to meet him - nice guy DESPITE the Phillies World Series cap, LOL.

Mom & Marge waiting outside of PJ's. Our 35 minute wait took an hour!

Maureen & Hank - I know, a jacket???

Finally got seated. Marge & Hank. Notice the walls are covered in dollar bills?

Cousin Maureen's Visit

Jerry's cousin Maureen visited Marge this week. She is alot of fun - lots of energy and really fast northeast talker (Philly/New Jersey). Her plane for home leaves in about an hour. These photos are from Sunday when we all went to the Colonnade and then for ice cream at the The Cone Cabin.

Maureen with Eddie. She's a dog lover too.

Maurenn, Marge and Eddie with sunlight coming in from the window above the front doors. Funny what it did to Ed in this photo.

Daisey with her after-dinner ritual of wanting to smell your breath to figure out what you ate. First she got Maureen and then was on her way to sniff Marge.

Daisey standing on Maureen ensuring that Eddie couldn't get back up.

Finally a photo of me in my new sundress. I got smart in trying to photo myself - do it in front of the bathroom mirror then you can see the camera screen reflecting in the mirror and know if you are in the shot. Dah!

The Olympics

Tonight I watched the opening ceremonies of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Bejing China. I missed the beginning because Jerry and I went to dinner with his mom and cousin Maureen who is vitising from New Jersey. I've always loved the Olympics, both winter and summer games, and was considering my favorite/strongest Olympic memories.

1 - Being a volunteer for the Anchorage Organizing Comittee. I lived outside of Anchorage at the time (circa 1987) and helped with mailings and answering phones for the committee trying to get the winter Olympics in Anchorage for 1992 or 1994. France and Norway ended up hosting those years and while I never truly thought a "remote" town of the size of Anchorage would be awarded the games, it was fun to participate in that dream.

2 - The 1972 Munich games. In case there is anyone on the planet that doesn't know about this tragedy, eleven Isreali team members died as a result of a terrorist attack. We (Americans) were looking forward to seeing our Olympic hopeful March Spitz and, even though he had an amaizing performance at the games with 7 gold medals (a record still held today), there was a tarnish on the games for me. I grew up with years of hearing about death and the Viet Nam war and the Olympics would have been a nice respite from the killing.

3 - Romanian Nadia Comaneci and the first perfect 10 score in gymnastics (1976 Montreal summer games). That was the year I graduated from high school and the bicentenial of the United States but I was more excited about this tiny gymnast that seldom smiled despite her accomplishments. She transformed the sport for me - previous to Nadia I liked watching Gymnastics, after her I loved watching gymnastics. You can see her performances on You-Tube.

Well, those are my top 3 personal Olympic memories. What are yours?

P.S. I could care less about medal counts. I just like to watch the athletes perform at their peak. Sure a little national pride but for me it is more about reaching your goal or potiental than it is about the win.

Weekend is Almost Over

The only good thing about Sunday night is that tonight at 8pm there is a movie about the Green River killer on Lifetime. Yes, I still have that morbid obsession with that whole story from when I lived in the Seattle area while it was happening.

Great weekend! Jerry's cousin Maureen was done from New Jersey/Philadelphia for a visit and stayed with Marge. On Friday night we went for Pizza and Working Cow ice cream at the Cone Cabin. It was a nice visit and interesting to hear about her trips to New York for plays and to meet her boyfriend's famous cousin Tina Faye - sounds like Tina Faye is a nice and intelligent woman. Getting to Marge's was another story - terrible wreck on the bayside bridge took over 20 minutes to cross a 3 or 4 minute bridge. The cars pulled over didn't look too damaged but plenty of emergency vehicles and lane closures. Saw some twisted metal in front of a van. Most interesting thing was that I was waved through by the police officer who pulled me over, but didn't give me a ticket (thank you), when my Dad was here. I was tempted to wave and say "remember me?" LOL

Next morning Jerry and I stopped at 7-11 and he parked next to a County Sheriff car and went inside. Shortly after that same officer came out and was getting in his car right next to me and I couldn't help myself this time - I did say "Hi, remember me?" He didn't but I told him that I saw him at that accident last night and he said it was a motorcycle and the fellow died. How sad for his family and friends. Too wierd to think that one minute you are alive, you attempt to change lanes, and then you are dead.

Mid day I drove Maureen and Marge to DSW - a HUGE shoe store (mom had to work). I bought two pairs because it's like the Home Depot of shoes. That night me, Jerry, Marge, Maureen, and mom all went to Spotos Steak Joint in Dunedin (attaching photo fro their wen site). Erica and Lee were suffering from alergies plus little Sarah cutting teeth with fever. Fabulous Filet Mignon as usual but someone tried to sneak sour cream into my garlic mashed -I didn't eat them.;) Better luck next time Chef! Last night sat on screen porch and listened to my radio shows on NPR by candlelight. Had nice long chat with friend in Seattle before calling it a night. Oh, and Eddie is backoutside and eventually forced Daisey out. The trauma of the bark thing mus tbe wearing off.

Today mom came over and we did her taxes and the majority of mine. Yuck even if you do get $$ back. We ran some errands, played around a little, and then when Jerry got home from work the three of us picked up Marge and Maureen and went to a family restaurant in Safety Harbor. Cute little downtown area and famous for it's Spa. I have "borrowed" a photo of the gazebo we could see out the window as we ate. I don't have batteries for my digi so no photos for me right now, too bad too, I have orchids blooming and bought two new ones last Monday but mums the word!

Oh, can't forget. Got a floating toy intended for the pool today at the Dollar Tree and it's been fun watching Eddie try to get that thing out of the pool. He won't go in and swim but he will get down on the steps. He did get it once but mostly as he paws it the things flips away. I want to get photos of that. Oh, and I can't leave you without a doggie photo from Ratbone Rescues.

Vickie

Commencement

Guess who's going to attend a graduation ceremony?!? UOP is going to hold a commencement ceremony in Tampa about a month after I complete my coursework. I'm told they hold regional ceremonies and as luck would have it, Tampa is one of the venues. Not only am I going, but my Dad is gonna come too! The plan is for him to spend a week with us and a week with Aunt Flossie in Arcadia - she'll be 91 next month. Since it is an early morning ceremony and we want to go out to lunch after and maybe have a glass of champaign, plans are to rent a limo since Mom, Dad, Margie, hubby, me & Cousin Erica will be attending. There's probably room for another person or two if anyone is interested ;) I ordered my cap & gown this week and have attached a photo of it.

My friend C has a date tonight! You go girl. It's been a dating desert for almost a year and now she has several interested parties. I guess when it rains it pours. He's cooking for her so it will e interesting to see how it goes.

Watching the movie Disturbia as I type. If you haven't seen it, it's worth it. Interesting concept and well made in my opinion.

Chloe the evil chihuahua is having episodes again. Not sure what is going on but it appears neurological to me. Walking backyard, wild stare. She's had this sort of thing before and no clear indication as to what it is. She's old so I think I will leave her alone unless she appears to be in pain.

I gotta get a wreath on the door or I will ruin my reputation as the wreath lady. Thinking its a little late for my St Patty's so I'll just go straight to the Easter wreaths. Oh! Jerry's cousin Maureen is coming during spring break. She's staying with Marge. Am looking forward to her visit. She's fun.

V