Have Fun Bitches

Due to obligations up North, I won't be joining the masses at the beach this weekend.  I'm not saying that I'm going to miss the traffic, the crowded beach, the crowds at the restaurants and grocery stores, and parking challenges.  I will, however, miss just being at the beach.

The summer season is over.  My trunk is filled with sand.  Although I still look forward to many more adventures by the sea before the weather turns bitter cold, I know that I must focus my attention on my real life in Wilmington. 




Another awesome OCMD sunset

The beach has given me an escape from the everyday.  It has allowed me to be in a place isn't tainted by the stressors that are making my life more and more challenging.  It gives me an excuse to not be home when, sometimes, maybe I should.  In other words - I shouldn't live with my toes in the sand and my head in the clouds.

Salt air and vivid sunsets have softened my edges. They have brought me peace and made me slow down.  They make me stop and ask myself if I am really doing the right thing for myself and others.  The beauty of the beach is so enormous to me sometimes that it is hard for me to remember that there is another world beyond it.  But, alas, there is.  And, sometimes, I have to do some very real things in that very real world beyond the beach.

I did take advantage of the beautiful weather this past weekend to try something that I've always wanted to do:  Eat a pizza on the roof at Tony's Pizza on the boardwalk in OCMD.  The pizza was good (not great) and was waaaayyyy expensive ($30 for medium pizza and a beer), but I did enjoy the view from their HUGE rooftop dining area. 

Expensive pizza on the roof at Tony's

While I was on the boards, I also had the chance to check out the sand sculptures created for OC Sandfest.  There were some really cool entries, but I honestly thought that the guy that creates the religious sand sculptures did the best job.  Seriously - some of his stuff is amazing and he created a new, special sculpture just in time for Sandfest.  The sculptures took on a new life after dark, when they were lit with colored spotlights.  It was really pretty and I'm glad I had the chance to see them.



Sandfest sculpture and a beautiful sky

I'll be back on the sand on September 10.  I'll try to post before then.  I wish you all a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!!







And In The End...

I guess you could say that this weekend will be the last "real" weekend of the season (Labor Day doesn't count).

There is a certain change in the air in the DE/MD resort towns.  More parking, shorter lines at Uber Bagel in OC, and school bus sightings indicate that fall is most certainly on the way.

In Ocean City, it's Jeep Week.  Though we haven't had much rain this summer, I'm sure they'll be making mud somewhere in town.  Some of the photos I saw from last years events looked pretty cool.  I was down for the week last summer and the crowds were pretty cool and respectful.

Ridin' Dirty - Jeep Week in OC

Also in Ocean City this weekend is the Sea Glass Festival at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center.  Admission is $5 (under 12 free) on Saturday and Sunday from 10 - 5.  It features collectors exhibits, shard identification, sea glass crafts, and educational presentations. 

Sea Glass Festival in OC

In Rehoboth, a pretty cool exhibit opens this weekend at the Rehoboth Art League (12 Dodds Lane, Rehoboth Beach).  "Courage Unmasked" is a silent and live auction to raise money and awareness for head and neck cancer.  Artists from all over the country used radiation masked that were worn by actual head/neck cancer patients to keep them immobile during treatment and created works of fine art out of them.  These masks will be auctioned on September 19, but are on display until then.

"Courage Unmasked" exhibit is at Rehoboth Art League 8/28/15 - 9/19/15.

I will be heading down on Thursday night to spend a relaxing weekend at my beach house and be gone before the Labor Day madness begins.  

I'm thankful for this summer's beautiful weather, star-filled skies, warm ocean, and great memories.  Another awesome season is now in the books. 

G Rated Beach Weekend Ahead

I'm excited to be hosting my brother and his wife and kids this coming weekend.  That means that I probably won't be taking my weekly walk to the Tiki Bar at Harpoon Hannas and all meals will consist of hot dogs, pizza, or chicken fingers.

It has been so long since I've been at the beach with anyone under the age of 12.  I know that there are a million things to keep them occupied down there.  I just need to find the ones that offer the quietest volume and highest chance of making them tired!  Seriously, I'm sure they'll have a blast and I'm really looking forward to it.

Rides on the OC boardwalk

Here are some things I'm thinking they might like:

1.  Old Pro Golf

There's a location at the end of my street on 136th St. This would be a perfect late night activity and there is an arcade across the street.  All kids like mini golf, right?

2.  Jolly Roger Amusement Park

Ummm....maybe not

3.  Live Animals at Golf Down Under (Fenwick Island)

I saw a sign for this last weekend, so I checked it out on Facebook.  Educational animal program, Barn Hill Preserve is offering kids the chance to meet some of their fuzzy guests from 5-10 PM on weekend nights.  There is a kangaroo named "Roodini" and ....oh my....a hedgehog!

Yeah.  I may actually have to go see this little guy

4.  Netflix

When they're not on the go or, in case of rain, I'm loading up my queue with lots of kid friendly movies and tv shows (even though they may actually be fans of Orange Is The New Black).  I just don't want to be responsible for them learning any new words this weekend.

It is so amazing to see how quickly summer is winding down at the beach.  The drop in the crowds on the sand over the past two weeks has been clearly visible (no - I am not complaining).  While we are sweating through 90 degree temps, the peak vacation weeks are officially over.

The events at the DE/MD beaches are not so plentiful this coming weekend.  If you're hanging around OC on Sunday night, you can catch fireworks at Northside Park and the laser show on the beach next to the boardwalk.  Other than that, we're entering the season of 5K runs for charity and craft fairs (which I could tell you all about, but it's too hot today to even think about running or walking around a dusty craft fair).

Wish I had more to chat about this week.  For now, I'm just waiting for everyone to clear the sand so that I can get a bit closer to the water and not have to listen to my sand neighbor's country music.

Until then, stay cool and hydrated.

August 15-16 Beach Weekend

Receipt Tape Tales

Sometimes, when I use the self-check at the grocery store, I find other people's receipts stuck to the corner of mine.  This week I had two of them dangling from my receipt when I went to the Harris Teeter in Selbyville.  Whenever this happens to me, I like to imagine what the people who left these receipts were up to when they bought their items, then walked out without waiting for their receipt to print.  Perhaps the person who purchased the blueberries was expecting her kid and grandkids to come in to town this weekend and she wanted to make them some blueberry pancakes for breakfast.  Maybe the person who purchased the breakfast sandwich and the donut is simply...depressed.  It's probably because I'm a bit voyeuristic, but I like these little glimpses in to other peoples lives so that I can let my imagination fill in the blanks.

I had a pretty quiet beach weekend.  The weather was a bit gloomy, but I took advantage of the breaks in the rain to take some nice walks in Northside Park and enjoy small glimpses of sunlight and rainbows like this one that hung over my backyard on Saturday morning:

I also found this adorable Little Free Library by the bay in Northside Park.  No graffiti AND a copy of Flowers for Algernon?  I have a feeling that we're not in Wilmington anymore.

The weather this coming weekend looks like it's going to be beautiful.  Here are a couple of things I would like to check out while I'm there

• Ocean City, MD is offering summertime sunset horse and carriage rides every night from 6-11 PM.  Rides start at De Lazy Lizard on 1st St. and the Bay and travel 15 blocks. Price is $10 for adults.  Kids under 3 are free.   For reservations or more info, call Randy Davis at 443-783-1409. 

• The Carousel Hotel in OCMD is offering a FREE ice skating show again this summer.  Performances are every night at 6:30 PM. 

• The OC Beach Ultimate Classic Frisbee Tournament is this weekend on the beach at Somerset St.  Tournament runs from 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday and Sunday with a showcase game at 6 PM on Saturday night.  Might be cool to see this while strolling the boards.

I'm guessing that this weekend will be one of the last really busy ones.  School is starting soon for many kids and, pretty soon, those of us who love the shoulder seasons will be free to drive and walk without traffic and crowds.  Until then, I'm looking forward to a few warm and sunny days on the sand.  

I leave you with this photo that I took on Friday night while standing on the pier in Northside Park.  No vibrant sunset that night, but choppy water and beautiful clouds can be just as breathtaking.  I'm in love with this place.

Burnt Soles and Gratitude

The sand on the beach last Friday afternoon was so hot that I'm pretty sure it melted part of my flip-flop.  It was, seriously, the hottest sand that I have ever walked on in my life - and I've walked on a lot of sand.  This past weekend's 90+ temps and clear skies made it a great weekend to take a dip in the ocean or enjoy any activity on or near a body of water.  It made my yard work miserable and prompted me to spend the afternoon in my air conditioned house on Saturday.

I offered to drive my daughter in law and a couple of her friends to Dewey Beach on Saturday night.   While they were there, I headed to Dogfish Head Brew Pub in Rehoboth Beach to check out The Toasters.  It was fun to see some hard core fans come out to skank.  It was good energy and I was thrilled to be a part of it.  It was a ska-filled weekend that started with English Beat on Thursday night.  

The Toasters at Dogfish Head Brew Pub 8/1/15

After the show, I patiently waited for a nasty thunderstorm to end under the safety of the Rehoboth Beach City Hall awning.  Just after midnight, the rain seemed to have stopped enough for me to take a stroll down the avenue.  I saw some really interesting sights.  Let's just say that Rehoboth at night is a little edgier than Rehoboth during the day.  It was all good though and it was cool to see the passing storm light up the sky over the ocean.

There are times during these busy and beautiful weekends that I find myself smiling because I am having so much fun.  I'm experiencing things I never did before and I'm finding joy in small things (like walking down a very wet Rehoboth Avenue alone after midnight).  Sometimes, I feel like my heart is so full of gratitude that it will burst into a million pieces.  I am thankful for silly things -  like the delicious corn I found at Harris Teeter on Friday, morning, the vibrant pink blooms on the Crape Myrtle trees in my yard, the rainbow that hung over the ocean on my way in to town on Thursday night, and even sand so hot that it burns my soles.  

There are a few happenings this weekend:

On Saturday and Sunday (this week and next), the Rehoboth Art League is holding their 42nd annual Fine Art & Craft Show.  This event is rain or shine.  Be sure to check their web site for parking info.

In Ocean City, artists will take to the streets during the Art League of OC's annual Plein Air event (August 6-9).  You can check out the competition at their new home on 94th St. and purchase works before the paint dries.

Tickets are still available for Graham Nash at the new Performing Arts Center in OC.  Prices range from $41 - $56.

Rumor has it that Dave Grohl is vacationing with his family in the Delaware beach region this week.  

This coming weekend promises to be a quiet one.  The weather is looking iffy, but maybe we'll finally start think about our house painting project.  Maybe...