Nostalgia - Jersey Shore Style

Last weekend was spent at the Jersey shore, soaking up the sun, getting my fist pump on, and watching the first of C's preseason games. It was a fantastic weekend. Two of my three roomies came to experience life that is the real Jersey Shore, where I set up a PTA (Proper Tanning Angle, for you beach amateurs) for both of them via oversized beach towels, let them discover the deliciousness that is Surf Taco and later introduced them to the infamous D'Jais.

Ah, Belmar. How I miss you.  

Jill and Sarah had an awesome time at D'Jais, needless to say. They were in slight culture shock, I think. Jill mentioned a couple times that "people are just...bigger here." and Sarah was determined to find at least one surfer boy -- difficult mission indeed. If you know my roommates, you know they were more than pleased with the immediate rage-factor that smacks you in the face as soon as you walk through the door. I think they have a new love for RBVs and air horns. And I think Sarah is still wearing her D'Jais hat. We may have walked out of the bar that night with significantly less money, without Jill's car keys and slightly less dignity, but it was so worth it. 

A text message from Jill this afternoon prompted me to write this post. Although I got the same message already sent twice directly to my phone, she forwarded me a mass text from D'Jais: "2Day We're Open! Pre Hurricane Party! Happy hour 5 to 9 tonight after 8P GSP Alt Route to DJais is Exit 100 to 33 east to 35 South..."

Yearning for some J-Shore, Jillie? 

A little background - all exits south of 98 on the Garden State Parkway are closed today in evacuation mode for the hurricane. AKA, D'Jais is that hardcore.  And I kind of want to go... tonight. 

... If Irene gets in our way there's always next weekend. And I just know College Park will be rage-tastic tonight. I have my house music blaring from my laptop already either way ... soooo ready for the weekend!

Happy Friday Everyone!!!!!!!!!! 

Rock N Roll @ Hollywood

Of all the unexpected things that could happen within the limits of a PG County School Day with 40 hormonal sixth graders, a 5.9 level earthquake was probably one of the least expected.  

Among some of the other unexpected events at Hollywood Elementary today:

- I discovered the inner-Jersey Boy in one of my little guys. He admitted his favorite song was "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi. When asked why, he stated "Because when I'm down it cheers me up." =] 

I also caught him fist pumping during an ice breaker yesterday:

 "You know who I am Ms Y? ....The Solution."

I think you mean The Situation, bud. 

"Yeah. Whatever, you know. But this is how he dances."

As unexpected as it was to find a Jersey Boy in PG County, I do not hate it. 

- A student confessed her favorite color to be purple because it is "mysterious and vicious."

(Remind me to stay away from you, girlfriend.)

- Desk throwing a la Jersey Housewives over an allegedly stolen sticker. 

- A wall in the main hallway is now cracked as a result of the afternoon's earthquake.  And we were in "evacuation mode." Oh, lawdy.

Hollywood's school-wide theme this year is "Rock 'n Roll." I'm beginning to think this school takes their themes a little bit too seriously. And that was Day 2. Can't wait to see what Day 3 of Student Teaching has to offer. 

Rules of the Road: Garden State Parkway Edition.

I remember my first time driving south on the parkway as a rite of passage. Being able to drive on it, alone, with the top down, meant freedom.

 No matter the time of year, driving Parkway South evokes a feeling of elation and the burning desire to wear dark sunglasses while pumping obscenely loud music from the radio. Even if the ultimate destination isn't sandy, Parkway South still means driving "dts:" a true slice of Jersey Girl heaven.

For those of you following who are Jersey foreigners, the "Garden State Parkway" is referred to by natives simply as "The Parkway." It connects Cape May (exit 0) up to where North Jersey meets Chestnut Ridge, New York (exit 172). It hits all the shore points, and the exits are numbered according to at what mile it is located. A lot can be inferred from what exit you get off on the Parkway. When I meet someone from Jersey at Maryland, the instinctual question is always "What exit?"  If it's anything under 82, I give an apologetic head nod. If they give me an exit off the Turnpike I feel even sorrier... they must be a Westerner.

There is only one bad thing about driving southbound on the Parkway. And no, Friday rush hour traffic isn't it (at least for a convertible driver - more traffic means more sun exposure.) The only bad thing about driving Parkway South is that inevitably, eventually, you must drive Parkway North. Away from the beach, further from heaven.

Some advice for the Parkway South amateur or naive at heart: 
- The Parkway ranges from 4 lanes (damn South Jersey) to 10 lanes (thank you Central Jersey) total in both directions. Please never take the express route if you are trying to get to the beach. The expressway always only has two lanes. If there is an accident, you're screwed.  If there is a cop, you're screwed.  There is literally nowhere to go and my GPS indicates there is only one trivial minute of a difference in travel time from exit 105 to exit 131. Not worth the potential traffic.  Unless it is 3 o'clock in the morning and you are certain you are only one of five drivers within a 5 mile radius, take the local.

- Moreover, the expressway is for BENNYs and people who don't frequent the shore enough to understand the expressway is for BENNYs.  If you're a seasonal beach tagger, you take Local. Because you fit in and you know your sh*t. You're not racing to get home an hour and half away in New York, you follow traffic patterns and get home quickly in the left lane.

-Ah, the left lane. Only drive in the left lane if you are going at least twelve miles over the speed limit.  It is not for the faint of heart, nor out-of-staters.

- If you see a cop pulled over, writing some D-bag BMW driver a ticket, DO NOT SLAM ON YOUR BRAKES. Just because you are going 71 in a 65 the cop will not, I repeat, will not, drop everything he is doing to veer out into the middle of the highway and pull you over.  He is busy, and I have places to go. Carry on.

- Get an E-Z Pass.  Again, I have places to go.

- Before crossing the Verazzano, never, never, never drive in either of the outermost lanes.  The immense merging is a death zone waiting for Staten Islanders to skip five lanes (because they insisted on driving the Expressway) to get over to one of the three lanes that splits off at exit 127.  Stay central and alert. Being on the outskirts of the merger is asking for someone to cut you off at 85 mph.

See you on the Parkway - I'll be the blonde in the red convertible in the (local) left lane with the black sunglasses and blaring music. 

*Please take no offense to the rants of this proud Central Jersey Girl. This post was written all in good fun after an enjoyable drive home from the shore. Much love. 

"Happiness is...

...sand in your toes and a sunburn on your nose." 

Do you know what my absolute favorite part of summer time is?

The way the moments just before the sun begins to set begin to cool the sand and calm the sea. The romantic backdrop of a pink-orange sky and the way it warms you no matter how chilly the evening breeze may be. The beach at sunset is definitely my favorite thing about summer.

Just ask Chris, he claims I told him this fact about me twelve times over a span of four days. I say he's exaggerating, but probably not by much. All four days spent in Cape May I got to savor my favorite summertime feeling because he let me swoon over the beach at sunset no matter what the rest of the night's plans entailed. For four evenings straight my toes were cold and I was happy.

Before we even got ourselves settled on Beach Avenue, C and I were on the beach cruisers scheming ways to avoid our departure 3 nights later.  There is an ever-present peaceful sort of excitement in a beach town that makes you never want to leave its simplicity. We rode into town, did some window shopping and ate a nice outdoor dinner.  

Coca Cola Display at the NutHouse

The store made just for me: 'Glitter Girl'

Friday's breakfast was a home-cooked joint effort. I made the pancake batter, set the table, prepped the eggs, while C flipped and scrambled. He even helped clean up. Reason #48 I am in love with this boy. 

The rest of the day was spent bronzing on the beach before going out to dinner (where we got our picture taken for the local magazine, yes we are now local celebrities) and walking the boards of a deserted Wildwood (where both of us were graced with the droppings of a single seriously ill Seagull.)

Special shout-out thanks to Aunt Doe & co. who treated us to a delicious breakfast at Uncle Bill's famous Pancake House on Saturday morning.  What a coincidence to be in CM the same day!

Saturday night included some experimentation. Sangria Slurpees were blended and enjoyed on the front deck to the sweet sounds of Bruce Springsteen Radio on Pandora. (Our Slurpee concoction will not be released to 7/11 just yet, some recipe adjustments are still to be made.)

Sunday came entirely too fast. We did our best to make the day last as long as possible, but the inevitable snuck up on us like we knew it would. With a long goodbye to the ocean at Sunset Beach, we set off in the White Knight headed north on the Parkway - coincidentally my least favorite place to be in the summer.

Can't wait until our next trip. For now I am thankful for the memories - and my front porch with which I can substitute the sand. Right now on my white rocking chair I write this post, smelling the sweet scent of approaching summer rain and it's not so bad to be at home.  

**Special thanks to Christopher for making this weekend so special for me. This was a birthday present to definitely remember forever xo Love you