A Beautiful Day at the Shore

It was a beautiful summer day at the shore.

My best friend's first niece was just born on the 30th of June and is doing well after a day in natal intensive care to help her with her breathing. 6lbs 2oz & 18 inches long. Welcome to this wonderful world Molly Ann ! I have been praying extra hard for this little one.

My PSU roommate, Bonnie and husband Paul rode their bikes on to the Lewis to Cape May Ferry (over the Delaware River) -brought two friends (Denny and Claudia) approx the same age as we all are, and we all met up in Cape May, at the Bandstand. Parking is now metered and $1.00 per hour for max three hours at a shot. The meters accept credit cards. Sweet. Everyone threw their helmets and backpacks in my car and off we went. We had a nice lunch at the Ugly Mug on Washington Street Mall and then trolled for a free sample of fudge and toffee popcorn (yes I cheated )-being given away on the Mall.

Bonnie and Claudia had never been to Cape May and want to come back. They compared it to other places in the world. I could only add -it was similar to Key West. But surprise, Bonnie had bever been there either. I would go again, if she wanted to drive thru the Keys. But I do not think I want to do the speed boat ride from Ft Myers again -once was enough.

We loaded Bonnie's bike into my SUV (I really like my Honda CRV-ex) I was going to drive her back to the ferry while the other three rode. Bonnie's bike was a no speed -what we call a beach cruiser -they all had those fancy multi speed bikes. Bonnie was having knee problems -they were seasoned bikers. NOT fair.

We stopped at the Lemon Tree and got a Philly Italian Water Ice (Mango) well Bonnie did -they didnt have any sugar free for me-they gave her a sample spoon and she said it was really good. She bought it and It was so much -she split it into two cups and ate her cup there, and we got spoons and napkins for the others and then drove to the ferry to wait for them. They also liked it! It takes about 30 minutes or less to bike ride from West Cape May -Seashore Road- to the Ferry. I am glad we had a little special time to talk. I really miss old friends. Bonnie is also downsizing and ready to sell her house in a couple of years -so compareing notes is helpful.

The Ferry ( www.CMLF.com) was starting to get crowded ; motorcycles, cars and Motorhomes and walk on people waiting to board , today i even saw a cab!-While we were talking to one of the ticket Ladies -she said the Garden State Parkway was , well a Parking lot (that darn light in Middle Twp) and people were calling to say they were worried about making the last Ferry (which today was 6 pm) , YIKES ! -what would they do? , asked Bonnie. The answer -Drive around -which means =up to the closest bridge over the Delaware River - which is approx 2hours North and West -the Delaware Memorial Bridge over to Wilmington, De. It is a two lane road and if traffic is going the speed limit -it could be three hours or more. Not a pleasant trip -but it will save you big bucks. The Ferry aint cheap. As much as $42.25 for the car and driver one way at Peak times. Bikes and passengers are less and passangers with the shuttle,( to shop the Tanger outlets outside Rehoboth.) are $21.00 round trip.. It use to be a fun trip -but I havent done that since the fare was $8.00 -a long time ago. The ticket lady said they will not sell tickets after 1 pm to shoppers -not enough time. (smile) When I visit friends on that side, I usually stay over and then we shop!

As we waited for them to walk their bikes up the ramp a very cute Port Police held up a helmet from the bench we had been sitting on, I had been carring Bonnies' helmet -while they were gathering all their stuff -whoops- sorry Zi.

I stayed to wave goodbye and then took every back road I could find to get home -Hello? -I encountered no traffic on Rt 47 -sweet -I could have stayed in Rio Grande and shopped!!!

But wait , I just remembered, I dont shop to buy any longer -I am downsizing and retired. The pressure is off.

I may just buy a round trip walk on fare -the poor woman's cruise. A three hour round trip cruise (sing it Gilligan Island fans).

Now if I can stay out of the gift shop on board ship...................:))))

Shred Day in Dennis Township, NJ

MARK THIS DAY _JUNE 13 -I took 6 Trash Bags full of 31 years of old checks /receipts and INCOME TAX returns to my towns free shredding DAY.

I retired two years ago from the Federal Government after 31 years, and well lets just say I had to keep all my tax returns and canceled checks and receipts while I worked there. Or, I was compulsive enough to make sure I had them.

Anyway, I got there about 10:15 am -and ONLY the two men running the program were there. Apparently, it had been quite busy with folks arriving before the 10am start so when I arrived =I pulled right in no waiting.

I had called the day before and spoke to Mr. Ryan , who was running the event, and he said get here early -when the truck is filled -we will turn people away. It was from 10am until 1pm. I had a Creative Writer's group from 10 to noon -should I go to shred day -after? He suggested NO. I talked it over with my best friend, who also suggested I be there when it started. I agreed. (Yes, I was late because I was on the computer.)

The truck was parked at the back of the lot across from Township Hall. Secure Shredding. I was asked to sign a clip board , name /my township address/number of bags to be shredded. The list had two other names (maybe not the first page?). The other two people had two bags each to be shredded. Amateurs. When I had said I really had no idea how many bags -I had just kept filling up the back of my car. He said; estimate the number of bags -So I guessed -SIX.

He pulled over a hugh rolling trash can =and I started to swing the heavy plastic bags -out of my CRV's back and empty the contents -less plastic bag- into the rolling can. 1-2-3-4-5-6 YEA I guessed right. AND, I had filled the HUGH can. I felt Very Proud of myself. He rolled it over to the side of the truck and said Goodbye.

NO ! wait!

I want to see my stuff shredded. I have such little thrills in my life. LOL and my brother in law said to make sure they shred it in front of me.

The hugh rolling can was shoved up under a shoot next to the side controls. A small viewer was above the controls. As i watched; the can and the contents were sucked up. The contents -31 years of my life -were shredded in about 10 seconds. One piece escaped -I dont know what it was -and a couple were still in the bottom -so -Back went the can to the shoot and what was left was re-sucked up and shredding again took place.

I asked the Twp employee, Clarence Ryan, when the next shredding would be -I have one more room to go through and I have burned out two shredders so far. He said that would depend on the township response and the budget. It cost $400.00 per hour for the shredder truck. WOW.

For me it was a lifesaver in a cleaning frenzy that was long overdue. But now what? He suggested -"a little at a time? call the township office and maybe they will shred it in the office for you." What a nice man.

Maybe they will or maybe not. But I am glad I was able to take advantage of the shredding truck -today.

I should write a thank you letter to my township-by e-mail, no sense wasting paper that would eventually need to be shredded.

It was a good day.

Monday I load the car up again -this time with stuff for the thrift shop.

Cleaning and shredding and Downsizing is fun -

now if I could just get rid of my excess weight that easily.

Company's coming I need to clean!

I am cleaning out my guest room for a cousin that is coming to visit for a few days. truthfully, I told her not to come. She would be better off renting a hotel room. I know, rude. But my cousin loves me and said -"clean the room so i can walk to the bed and stop worrying about it." originally she was bringing her daughter and a friend -but the friend fell thru.

I really needed this -to get me moving. Retirement is so relaxing and I have gotten so lazy in the two years since i stopped working full time. It is really wonderful -but i am so unmotivated to clean out this house. So far I have found cash in a Christmas card from my parents/gotten 7 bags of shredding (all my old checks)/30 years of Income tax returns/At least that many bags of trash/ a sewing machine serger/gifts brought and never given because they were lost in the mess/a scanner/copier/fax modem/VCR movie camera/savings bonds/boxes of pictures and got rid of craft stuff I was really into at one time. I now know why I have no money. smile :)). I would gather up all the stuff off my kitchen table and throw it into a bag and toss it in the back room -when anyone came over -thinking I would go thru it later -I never did.

I also threw away years of Christmas cards I saved -except -what do you do with all the pictures people send with their cards? I have some pics that i would never even recognize -if i hadn't saved the envelopes with return addresses.

I would like to sell my house in two years. Maybe rent around the country -six months here and there. I always wanted to live on the west coast in Oregon. A storage unit near my brother for stuff I want in my old age but can not lug around the country. I know i will have to get rid of a lot then -but I am trying to reduce my clutter now.

i seriously think I may be doing it backwards. I should take out the stuff I want and then let the rag man (recycle guy?) go thru what is left and give me cash. It might be better in the long run. Less drama. But I never did anything the smart or easy way. :)) This way is sort of fun and very, very rewarding. I just found four scratch off lottery tickets in the Christmas cards. I will not scratch them off until I find out if they are still good!!!!!

The thrift shop of the ARC in Rio Grande -is the beneficiary of all my downsizing frenzy. I was spreading the stuff around. But i decided to concentrate on one shop.


It makes it easier -if i need to buy something back. :(((((((((((((

The Greatest Generation

Happy Memorial day Veterans. Thank you all.

This weekend i stayed home and tried to get some more cleaning done. I did get the front windows cleaned inside and out and put the screens in. It took me all day. I was just so tired. Finished a book -and did not start a new one.

Spoke to family and got updates on my mother's brother, 83. He is very ill in the hospital. His children and grandchildren have all come in from their homes to support their mother and youngest sister. She and her family, still live in the hometown and have been wonderful thru out this whole illness. In fact, my cousin tells me, everyone has been so supportive. Especially their church friends. The family has lived in the same town for at over 40 years. Something to be said for small town USA. We are also worried for my aunt -who is fighting her stage four Ovarian cancer with chemo, every few of weeks. No fears of death, we are all strong in our faith. Just love for the family and saying goodbye.

I asked my mother ,79, if she wanted me to drive her up to see her brother and say good bye. My brother also offered to take off work and drive her up. My sister has no days off -or she would have offered also. But my mother said she wanted to remember her brother as she last saw him . I was a little shocked. She hadn't seen him since the memorial service for their youngest brother, Years ago. But it is her decision.

Their sister, age 85 June 3rd, does want to go up -but has broken her foot and is in a boot cast for four more weeks. She isnt driving anywhere -it is her right foot. She also cares for her husband, also 85.

Except for my Uncle's wife and my mother -all of them were WW II Vets. My Uncles the Army, my Dad and Aunt the Navy. My mother's dance school used to dance for the boys in VA hospitals. She said she still has nightmares about all the young boys so maimed from the war. I guess she can say goodbye -however she wants.

Their generation is pretty tough.

But so is mine.

Graduation Weekend!!!!

I haven't written in a while -so say some fans(?) -but my life is , well -sort of boring. My cousin and her daughter are coming in June for three days -my house is a disaster -i have given fair warning and they still want to come and visit. Go figure.

My niece Rachel, graduated from college on Saturday, YEA. Delaware Valley College, Doylestown, Pa. I rode up with my brother and sister in law and after the graduation and informal reception (very nice finger food and beverages) WE proceeded to empty her dorm
room.

Well, actually, my sis in law and niece did and my brother carried boxes up and down the stairs. Her roommate , also a senior, was also moving out and her parents were there helping. It was way to crowed for me. I waited at the bottom of the steps -on door duty.

My brother had brought a dolly that folded into a cart. The first load he pushed. The next load I pushed -alone- it seemed difficult -but I kept pushing . Got to the parking lot curb and two of the layers of boxes fell off. Disgusted with my stupidity and weakness, I refused the help of college students standing around and loaded up the boxes back on the cart. I then proceeded to dump them again. This time the college males no longer listened to my refusals and reloaded the cart. By this time my brother came back to me -having loaded the boxes he carried in his car. He gave me the 'LOOK' only a male can give a female and said 'i thought i showed you how to lift the cart over the curb?".

He had , I thought i could do it better. I was wrong.

Then my niece told me :"Aunt Robin , maybe you better guard the car". I hadn't planned it , honest, Tom Sawyer. I really did want to help.

Later we went out to dinner. Niece , Heather , living in Texas, the grandparents and my sister and husband, hadn't been able to make the graduation, but, my sister, was able to join us for dinner -along with my brother's mother in law. I was starting to feel the pain in my lower back. Yep, I hurt my back. I don't know how my brother did all those stairs and carried all the boxes. He even helped carry, Rachel's roommates' heavy computer ,down to her dad's car.

What a good man is my brother.

He knows how to lft carts over curbs, too!

A nice weekend

This weekend I traveled to my parents home 2 hrs West. They are still snow-birding in Florida. But I check on the ghost and remind the house it is still loved.

This was a special weekend, my first niece was home for 48 hours from Texas. She is maid of honor in a friends wedding this May and was here for the bridal shower. I was able to see her for about 2hrs on Saturday for dinner. It was NOT long enough but it was very gracious of her to include me in her busy time home. My sister was also with us. Then, because her car is in the shop, borrowed mine until Monday.

This worked out really well for all, because my second niece had her Choral Concert on Sunday. My brother and his wife picked me up at my parents and we all went to the concert except for first niece who had to catch her flight back to Texas. She is a second grade teacher. My sister, with my wheels , was able to take her to the airport. My brother usually does the honors, but this was his youngest daughter's last concert in College. She graduates on May 16th. I am glad we all were able to go.

After the concert . the four of us went out to dinner at a chain restaurant called Bertucci's. I didn't enjoy the food much but the conversation and my niece talking about her courses was perfect. Then we dropped her back at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, where she had a 7:30 study group meeting. She is very busy these last few weeks.

I had hoped to meet her new man friend, but he was not able to join us. He works for a zoo in the area, and gives outreach talks and lectures with his zoo animals. He also helps in raising some of the baby animals. I think he has a kangaroo now. He did have a baby bear. My second niece, who never met an animal she didn't want (and brought home lots of them -her favorite being snakes) seems to get along well this new zoo man. As long as she is happy. We talked a little bit about jobs and resumes. I would not like to be looking for a job in this economy.

I am sitting here in my parents home watching the rain and listening to Classical Music on their TV. It is weird I only get one local TV channel at home, but here they get over a hundred channels and nothing is really perking my interest, So I listen to music without commercials. Even the Sci Fi Channel is boring. Soon my sister will be here to get me and we will pick up her car. I will probably drive home tomorrow in the sun. I like the rain just not to drive in.

It was a nice visit but we all have our own lives now and it is time for me to go home.

Basket Weaving Workshop

I had the best time today -I signed up for a Basket Weaving Workshop at the Cape May County Main Library. It cost $10.00 and was taught by an ex Coast Guard Laurie Schiffelbein. It was a six hour workshop and except for a 5 min bathroom break -we worked the entire time. The workshop had 10 people sign up but eight showed up. The eight finished baskets were all amazing. Mine was the best -:))

but I liked them all -each woman picked her own colors and size of splint to weave. Yellow and white/red white and blue and yellow/purple and white/red and white/green and light purple and yellow flooded the room. It was Easter and baskets were everywhere.



Those who know me, know I have lots of baskets -all kinds -but this is the first one I ever made myself from start to finish. I think the key is same day workshops. That way I am forced to finish and don't have time to get bored. I really like baskets -I would like to learn to make them from native South Jersey materials -these are made from imported bamboo from China. Suppliers are H.H. Perkins Co. in North Haven, Conn. The problem with native plants, is I have trouble identifying poison Ivy and Sumac -and man, am I allergic! The teacher Laurie -once offered a workshop with native plants -no one wanted to use them and she got -yep-poison Ivy reaction.



Laurie is holding another workshop at the end of the month -the 'advanced basket' she is teaching is a magazine basket with a U-handle. I have already checked it out and think I can adapt it while I am making it.



My new bike needs a basket.