Day Feels like Days

You know you have had a successful day when you get home and realize that stuff you thought you did for the last few days actually took place over the course of the past few hours. The fact that I accomplished/traveled as much as I did in the past 24 hours is still not quite settled in. I am impressed with how this weekend has gone.

Today I woke up with the plan of taking a train from north Jersey into NY to run some errands and buy something items before heading to central Jersey for a few hours. After the train mishap got straightened out and I ended up having to drive to the Bronx, things just got better. First, I was finally able to get my package from the Bx and give Alex his birthday gift. I got my hair cut, we visited a very cool comic shop and I bought a Scott Pilgrim t-shirt. We headed to Times Square and got to check out the brand new Pop-Tarts store. It was great.

We headed to Bryant park and jumped on the 6 down to Washington Square Park. Walked over to Thompson and grabbed lunch at Boyd Thai. I love this place and lunch was delicious. We then went next door to Generation Records and I picked up two gems - The Decemberists' Crane Wife and Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise. Then it was on to the train and back up to the Bronx for a quick and delicious slice of University Pizza (for old times sake). Got in my car around 4 and went to Chris' to pick him up. Then it was back to MontClaire to get Mike's car and then down to Central Jersey to a friend's house who lives by the beach. We got there around 6 and spent some quality time hanging out with friends. We had a delicious train shaped cake and ended then night hanging out on the beach. I got in my car around 11 and just got home.

For anyone who thinks driving 2 hours to see people is absurd - this is proof that it is not. Not only was I able to visit friends that live 2 hours away today, but I was also able to accomplish all of those other things and still be in bed by 1 am. No excuses!

Spend It With Family

I woke up today and had a debate to settle, internally. Do I spend 5 hours (round-trip) driving to and from the Ocean City - New Jersey beach and see my relatives. Or do I spend the day lounging at home. Typically, I would take the opportunity to do nothing all day in an empty house, especially on a Sunday. The twist is that today is my birthday. I did not want to spend my birthday alone, necessarily. Also, my parents were upset that they might not get to see me on it.

Ultimately I packed up and took the trip. It was a very strange day. I got more birthday wishes than expected (and from some people I would not have expected) and yet it did not feel like a birthday. We did not go out to dinner, there was really no gifts, and there was almost not even a cake. I spent as much time on the road as I spent down there, and until yesterday I was barely even aware that it was my birthday in 24 hours.

I can't decide if this was just an off year, or if this is another casualty of getting older. Regardless, almost as unenthusiastic as I was about today being my birthday, I am pretty much the same about telling people I am 23. For everyone older than me - I know you think I am being ridiculous thinking that 23 is so old but there is someone a few years older than you who feels the same way about you complaining about your own old age.

(This is the site every year where all of my relatives walk down to the water, convince a passerby to take our 19 cameras and take a picture of all of us. If you go back to around this time last year on the blog, you will see our last year's picture.)

'i told you so' but still wrong

hello all. since starting this project i have had the unfortunate upturn of activity. what makes it unfortunate is that dpicting something meorable ive done in the past 24 hours a week ago would have been easy and soon will be again as i do very little, but im now on a mini vacation and doing a fair share of things which makes taking a picture encmpasing the events of the day more difficult. as such today im posting a few because i couldnt decide.

if anyone saw my away message today it was clear that i was upset that my family despite the thunderstorm/flood warning scrolling across the tv - decided to go to the beach with all my extended fam anyway. needless to say it was torrential within an hour. but even so - we all went back to one house, ordered subs and hung out. so despite my hohum-ing, it was a good day. following pics are the annual family on the beach, followed by the chaos of gathering around the 4 person kitchen table trying to get snacks. (not apparent in the second picture but everyone from the pic on the right was in the house)



after all this we came back only to head to sea isle to meet up with some long time family friends for a get together/celebration of my older sisters engagement. i spent some time just relaxing on their deck.
finally - i d/l an app called doodlebuddy on my phone today and in between here and there drew a little picture that i decided to share.
thats all. tomorrow we head back to sea isle with those friends to spend the day on the beach. then its back to Ocean City for a shower and dinner before heading home.

adios