Local Summer

Maybe you know, maybe you don’t. But September and the still warm part of summer is known around these parts as “Local Summer.” It is surely the best. People go away and you can enjoy all the good parts of summer life without the crowds. This year, both regular summer and local summer took me all around. Here are some of the best parts:

A fun yoga photoshoot in Tom’s River. I’m slowing expanding out to see other shore towns. I’ve loved Point Pleasant and Asbury Park. There’s so much more to get to know.

Glad life has brought me back to my old stomping grounds at the University of Delaware. I got to visit my favorite ice cream shop of all time (Woodside Farms Creamery). And I’ve eaten a lot of ice cream, so that’s saying something.

No summer is complete for me nowadays without a couple of trips to Harrisburg, PA. My sister lives there (she’s engaged now!!), and I appreciate being near enough to visit her for a weekend.

Central PA frequently exceeds my expectations. We tubed down the river at Sickman’s Mill.

I made a quick stop in the Hudson Valley to celebrate my dad’s birthday, retirement from IBM after 40 years (!!!), and my cousin’s wedding. We went to the Dutchess County Balloon Festival.

Back in Jersey, I walked around Stockton University’s pretty campus for the first time.

Oh yeah, and there was another dead whale.

That’s all the update for today.

Summer Favorites (LBI)

My favorite season has come to a close. I always say I’m going to try new things, but often wind up going to the same places. It’s a seasonal town, and some options are only open May through October. This year I was extra good about branching out. These were a few of my favorite LBI things:

Lobster rolls from The Local. These aren’t new, but I live for them. Let’s carry on.

Poke nachos and fried oyster deviled eggs from the Old Causeway. Also technically not new since this is my place of choice any time someone asks where I want to go to dinner, but I tried the neighboring restaurant with the same owners, Mud City Crab House, and it did not disappoint.

Engleside sushi, always and forever. This year I also tried Shell sushi, which was almost equally delicious.

Oh my gosh, I’m spoiled. I went to Parker’s Garage three times, three weeks in a row. If you know it, it’s kind of expensive, kind of far (from where I live), but always amazing. Somehow I attended a regular night out, a birthday party, and a family gathering here on back to back weeks. Other delightful restaurant surprises were: DaddyO’s rooftop bar, Delaware Oyster House.

Jeffreeze Ice cream is technically off the island, but it’s a new favorite and not a far drive. We loved seeing musicals at the Surflight Theatre. This year, they were outdoors:

And I guess that’s a wrap on summer! It was a fast one, but a good one.

A New Home

Ok, I’m in El Salvador teaching yoga this week, but since I’ve been gone for a while, let me keep catching you up! I “moved” over the summer. Only 30 minutes away, but out of my mom and stepdad’s island beach house and onto the mainland. I’m still living and loving in New Jersey— testing the limits of the old adage, “Never fall in love at the Jersey Shore.” It’s impossible not to.

I moved to my own apartment. It was a little earlier than expected—July versus October, but it’s hard to find one-bedrooms around here (and everywhere at this point??) so I got off a waitlist and jumped on the opportunity. I have some friends who live in the same complex, so I generally knew the area, but it keeps pleasantly surprising me.

I’m still very close to the water. There’s a little bay beach just under 2 miles down the road. If I run there, I pass a forested trail and some protected wetlands. I love all the nature here! Totally unexpected when I used to drive down the NJ Turnpike on my way from NY to the University of Delaware. Never in a million years did I think I’d be living so close by.

I’ve got nature, more to explore, and beach life is not too far away. I’m happy! It makes a good home to come back to.

Springtime in New Jersey

This is really just a photo dump of sunsets and flowers before I forget! And who could leave out a lighthouse pic…

I might say that I liked winter here better than Spring? Of course, there are the random 65-degree days that are everyone’s favorite because they smell like summer. But in general, I could leave behind the blustery 40-50 temps when the calendar says it’s supposed to be April.

At least in winter you know it’s going to be cold. You’re prepared and expecting it, so you can only be pleasantly surprised when it’s above 30. But Spring… I never know what to wear and I’m just riding it out til June.

We still have the best sunsets for every season, of course.

And my friend Ashley and I went to u-pick tulips at Holland Ridge Farms.

They were everywhere and in every color!

I accidentally picked 11 instead of 12. But I can get behind Spring if there are flowers involved.

I tried my first pork roll of almost two years living here. It wasn’t bad and tastes like ham to me, but I’ll stick to my usual bacon, egg, and cheese.

Or maybe breakfast at home.

Had some yummy pizza up in Brick.

And here’s one more sunset for the road:

Easter in Long Beach Island

Even though I got a new job, I’m still working weekends at the restaurant. Mainly because I enjoy it and love the friends I’ve made there. The extra cash on the side doesn’t hurt either!

I spent the full Easter weekend working. I didn’t mind too much, since we got some good sunsets and busy crowds on the island.

I did miss going home or to my sister’s for brunch. Everyone was sending me photos of their yummy meals throughout the day, so I had to make due with deviled eggs off the work menu. Luckily, I like all the food there and these were quite tasty. That’s a fried shrimp on top.

It was a nice weekend to stay put after a couple weeks of traveling (and knowing I’d be traveling again the following week). I was glad to be home.

February Photo Dump

In February, we finally FROZE here in central/south Jersey (I never know where it begins or ends)!

The end of January brought the first snow that actually covered the ground. Then there was a Super Bowl blizzard that at least brought some excitement to the day. And another snowstorm that forced me to break out the shovel.

I’m happy about it all. I can enjoy one or two good snows per season. Any more than that and I’m out of here.

There was a Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day partner yoga workshop (Hot or Not Yoga).

I ordered myself some special treats from a new local businesswoman (One Board Blonde).

I hadn’t eaten all day until 1pm, so I ate the whole charcuterie tin in one sitting and I have ZERO regrets!

I took some chilly beach walks.

And met my dad and sister for skiing in PA.

The winter sunsets continue to be a humbling reminder to stay present and grateful.

And now we’re on the cusp of another month. Winter in LBI is much more lively than I expected. I’m frequenting How You Brewin, The Local, the new Agnello Market, and occasionally The Port Hole. The swarm of people staying on the island all year (including me!) is apparent. And, of course, I’m still waitressing at Kubel’s where we’ve had a steady pace of regulars and travelers… and a few back-to-back Covid testing experiences that are getting to be an eye roll, but which I’m still reminding myself to take seriously!

I’m always missing summer, but I haven’t hated the winter here much at all. I just completed the opening ceremony of a March challenge that I’m doing with my friend Pixie, so I’m planning to be focusing, writing, and posting a bit more on here in the coming month. It feels like a fresh start.

<3

The Whale

Like for many families, Covid interrupted our normal plans for holiday gatherings this year. We skipped the annual pierogi-making when we would spend a day at our Cousin Debi’s house making Polish pierogi for Christmas Eve dinner. She spends weeks drowning in flour, making them for family, friends and coworkers, so we pretend to be helpful and join for the day—but we probably require more help and time than she could do it expertly on her own!

In fact, there would be no family Christmas Eve dinner at all this year. We usually go to my dad’s cousin’s house and join multiple generations in a traditional feast, and recently added less-traditional jello shots. Some of us have skipped a year or two (me for gallivanting in Nicaragua or Australia), but we always come back. When I missed last year, I had no idea it would be two years before we reunited again. 2020 was the first year since my grandma started the holiday gathering that the whole family would not be together on December 31st.

I made the decision to go to my hometown to my dad’s house. We’ve all kept pretty isolated in our communities, for the most part, so it was a low-exposure risk as far as the virus was concerned. My sister, on the other hand, had to skip for the first time ever since her boyfriend is a doctor working with coronavirus patients. My uncle, too, a regular member of the household at Christmas and in the summers, decided to stay down south and avoid the travel and higher case numbers in New York.

This year was different, and didn’t feel completely like Christmas, but we made it work. My dad and stepmom put together awesome meals; we saw some snow before the rain melted it away, and we opened presents from under the Christmas tree.

Back at my other home (in LBI), I used the downtime and cold as an excuse to do three rounds of cookie baking. I gathered the few decorations that my mom left here and that I have saved from various apartments combined with the pre-lit tree my sister lent me to create a little bit of holiday spirit.

On Christmas Day, a whale washed up on the beach near where I work. Leave it to a small island town to let everyone know about a beached whale in a day by word of mouth. Of course, I had to trek out past the light house to have a look.

It’s always sad and disheartening to see any deceased animal, but I’ve never seen a whale alive or dead, so it was also cool and felt like a once or maybe twice in a lifetime opportunity to get so close. It almost didn’t look real. They’ve since buried the whale in time for the new year.

Fall

Hello! I’m here, more quiet and still than in a usual year. But, as we know, this is not a usual year.

They tell me island life is busier than in most years. I’ve never been here for this long, so I’ll have to take their word for it. The temperature has dropped, but things feel… strangely normal.

I’m lucky now, because the past 9-10 months have been anything but normal. Somehow we’ve been allowed to keep operating and I’ve managed to build a sense of routine that feels steady, but could always be gone in the blink of an eye.

Yoga has moved from the beach and the turf to indoors (thankfully for me, because I can’t handle the cold). Restaurants and gyms are still open, so I can continue life as it was going in the summer. That gives me a nice sense of stability and I’m sorry if you’re wanting to do those things and cannot.

I’m still dreaming of kicking off a Zoom yoga class before the end of the year so that we can all practice together if you’re not here.

I’ve started teaching at another studio here, and there still has been time for restaurant life, sunset views, and a quick trip back home to take in the fall foliage.

And a small-sized Thanksgiving with my sister and her boyfriend. And when I say small, I mean the number of people; the menu was most definitely regular-sized.

We enjoyed making the most of a weird and distanced holiday.

I’ve officially become a New Jersey resident (gasp), which include not one but TWO trips down to the shortest line DMV in Cape May. The first time I was turned away for not having all the right materials, but I turned it into a beach day instead. The second time was more successful, and I visited Lucy on the way back:

This is the longest I’ve stayed in one place for a while. It feels safe and like some sort of a home. I’m waiting to discover next steps, but right now I’m happy to be here. And the sunsets have still been amazing, in case you were wondering.

Life in LBI

Now that we’re all caught up on Spring quarantine and visits to Harrisburg, PA, that bring us back to here, Long Beach Island, where I’ve been somewhat safely planted as of May. It feels wonderful to be back, and I’m going to need a whole carousel of sunrises and sunsets to show you what each day has been like (see below). I’m working at the same restaurant as last summer, and it almost feels normal despite wearing a mask and gloves for sometimes ten hours a day. Customers have been mostly friendly and generous, although I’m selfishly glad they’re not allowed inside yet, so we have less cleaning side-work and don’t stay open as late. Oh, and the health factors, too.

I like my job and the people I work with, so it has felt more like a blessing than a burden to be working again. I’ll update you more on all the restrictions sometime this week! But since May, we’ve been slowly starting to peel back the layers of lockdown. It started with solo walks on the beach, and life on the island began to pick up speed. I’ve done yoga distanced in parks and I’m teaching weekly classes on the beach with Yoga Bohemia.

I’ve found it relatively easy to be socially distanced and outdoors, since we have the whole ocean and bay to entertain us. Fourth of July was a little more spread out than usual, but we were still able to gather with friends on the beach. I’ve played beach volleyball with a mask on and gone surfing with friends.

I still get most of my meals from The Local Market (and my sister makes fun of me for it), but I’ve added a new neighborhood coffee shop to my repertoire.

It’s certainly been a stranger summer than most, but is there anything more I can ask for than for 2020 to feel slightly normal? The sun keeps rising and setting just as before.

A Quick Return to Normalcy

Hi friends! Wow, I think this is the longest I’ve ever gone without posting. But, truth be told, this spring and so far into summer have been wild and loud enough as it is. I’ve been doing a lot of sitting and reflecting (and now working), trying to process everything without adding more content to the noise. There was a lot that I liked about this spring, namely getting to visit with family and a few longtime friends, a chance to slow down and stay on one coast of one country for a bit. And on the other hand there was and continues to be a lot of confusion, frustration, sadness, and anger at why our world is the way it is and what’s coming next—both on a personal level and a societal level.

So I’ve stayed pretty quiet on the internet. I’ve cooked, crocheted, read books, and taken long rejuvenating walks in nature, just like everyone else. Sometimes those are the only things to do. I began to visit with friends outdoors and visit my sister in her new home (more to come on that!)

As summer arrived, I settled back into Long Beach Island, NJ and life has started to feel somewhat normal again (more to come on that, too!). It’s a magical place, and I’m secretly glad for all my failed endeavors to be back in California at this time. LBI feels like exactly the right place to be.

When I first got back, I was pleasantly surprised to find a protest here for the Black Lives Matter movement— I was surprised and a little nervous about going by myself since New Jersey can be very red and LBI is very white. I reached out to some friends to see if they wanted to come and, of course, most of the friends I know here were already planning to go. It made my heart happy to arrive and see people of all ages and skin colors in the crowd.

It felt reassuring to know how many people care, and at the same time it feels like not enough to march with a sign when elsewhere people are struggling and losing their lives. I hope you’re sitting and reflecting too, and that it sparks the changes that we all need to act and make.

I’ll be here wishing you and all of us well.

LBI in Springtime

I’m writing this a few weeks later now that I’m down in Long Beach Island, NJ “permanently” (not sure if I’m ever anywhere permanently at this point!) But in early May I came down to the beach for a little getaway. Being here before summer kicks off is very peaceful and relaxing. It’s not exactly bikini weather, but there was enough sun to go for walks on the beach. I forget how much nature is all around this normally busy island. The scenery is filled with gulls, crabs, dolphins, turtles, and all sorts of sea creatures. I ran into a family of geese down at the end of our dock that were guiding their new goslings by the water.

My sister joined me for the weekend and we did all of our favorite things, in quarantine style. It was different than your usual visit to LBI, sure, but we were able to check off some of the traditional activities. We had coffee and split a strawberry poptart by the fire at The Local. They’re open for full service with masks, distancing, and a limited number of guests.

We walked on the boulevard and onto the beach. There weren’t many people around before Memorial Day, but Mother’s Day brought a few families out.

The restaurant takeout scene was already busy before the summer rush. We called our favorite breakfast spot, The Sandbox, and were told there would be an hour wait. That seemed manageable since my sister doesn’t get to come down here very often. For dinner, we ordered sandwiches from Black Whale on the south end of the island. They had almost a two hour wait, but the server shortened it to an hour when she found out we were only getting crab cakes. Both meals were worth the wait since they provide reassurance that our beloved island eateries are surviving these wild times. I hope they stay busy and can do good business this summer in spite of it all.

On Sunday, my sister had to hit the road to go back to work as an essential employee, so I made us oatmeal bowls at home. The whole weekend was a fun girls’ trip and gave me some nice company for island hermit life.

Hi, I'm in Delaware

Since my mom is possibly one of the few regular readers of my blog, she addressed my last post and said that she was feeling sorry that I’m lonely at the beach. She wondered how I could say that I don’t have a social life when I have her. True, I am lucky to have her to hang out with and to accompany me on expeditions. And while having a mom is not the same as having friends, I did convince her to join me on a long, random Tuesday adventure upon which we had a lot of fun.

The length of the trip for one day may scare some people off, but it was all broken into two hour chunks, so it didn’t feel like too much to us. We started off with morning yoga class at Yoga Bohemia, then we set off for my old stomping grounds at the University of Delaware.

We started off with the best bagel place, which was so sadly closed the last time I passed through Newark. We brought them up to arguably the best coffee place and ate them on the deck. I felt only slightly old, but mostly wise and experienced as we walked around campus. Almost everything looked the same, except for the area of my freshman year dorms which has been drastically improved.

We took a tour of the houses I lived in—home of many good times and drunken endeavors. I remember one year after a blizzard when a four foot blanket of snow covered the street, and I lost my phone trotting from one house to another. Someone picked it up, put it in rice for me, and returned it a few days later! Oh the joys of pre-smart phone days. I reflected on the fact that I haven’t lived in single place for more than two years since 2006, so… that’s something.

Next, we drove all the way down Delaware (ie. not very far) for the true purpose of the trip, a visit to the Dogfish Head Brewery near Rehoboth Beach. I learned that Milton, DE is wonderfully cute with enviable Southern-style front porches and the charm of any New England town. I also learned that the steampunk treehouse at the brewery originally came from the Burning Man festival in Nevada. The owner bought it for $1 and had it shipped all the way across the U.S.!

We took the ferry from Lewes, DE to Cape May, NJ just in time for sunset. It was my first time taking my car on a ferry and will probably remain the best time ever, because we saw a group of dolphins diving in front of the boat! It was so surreal!

We grabbed ice cream at the alleged * best ice cream parlor in New Jersey * and who am I to argue with that title? We both had black raspberry with chocolate chips.

Mom was full of treats and ready to end the adventure at that point, but you know me and you know I am usually jam-packing all of the activities into each and every day of this lifetime. So we added in a stop in Atlantic City at Dock’s Oyster House because I had found this article about Anthony Bourdain’s (R.I.P.) New Jersey food trail. Fun fact: the restaurant I’ve been working this summer is on the list. I’d love to hit some more while I’m in the area. The oysters were very delicious and the bartender was very friendly and yoga-knowledgable. A worthy pit-stop!

We got back home late at night, and it was really a dream of a day! Remember, travel doesn’t have to be a big huge deal to give you an escape. You can create your own adventure wherever you are.

Beachy Brews

Although living in a beach town in September can be one of the best things, I must admit to you guys that living in a place where you don’t know anyone can become a bit draining to the spirit. I’m thankful that I like my main job, because it’s a bit strange to get out of work and know that you have nowhere else to go or anyone to meet.

I’ve been powering through the days, trying to grasp onto work-life balance. I realized last week that I haven’t had a whole day off since August 26th. But then someone at work said she hadn’t had a day off since May, and another guy said he’s been working seven day weeks for the past ten years. Good grief! Let us remember that life is not a contest to see who can work the most! However, I can happily say that I’ve met my financial goals for this pre-Australia summer of money making.

It was nice to slow down for an afternoon when my sister came to visit. She’s a vet, and she only gets one day off at a time, but she was willing to drive down the night before to hang with us. We did some morning shopping, because what else are girls going to do when we get together for the day? After that, we took a little Manahawkin adventure off the island to the ManaFirkin Brewery. We brought our own soft pretzels, played a rousing game of Jenga, and I fell in love with the Oatmeal Coffee Stout. Hooray! Another point for New Jersey.

Unfortunately, Elayne had to head back up to NYC that night, but we slipped into the Hotel LBI to graze the rooftop and eat an early dinner. I was grateful for the visit.

Off the Reservation

Woo hoo! I went from being a girl who didn’t leave the island for two to three weeks to a girl who leaves every day. Since the summer traffic is gone, it takes me only 16 minutes to get to this yoga studio that I really like:

And twenty minutes to go to the gym. Yup, you read that right. I’m back to the gym. I thought I could survive off yoga and some Pilates classes for the summer, but I really missed lifting weights and having access to all of the equipment. There’s something about working out in a gym around other people that makes me train harder. And I like making my own schedule, so it’s nice to have the flexibility to go at different times in the day. Most of the exercise classes on the island take place between 8 and 10 am, so if I can’t make those, I wouldn’t be able to go at all.

Bonus: I signed up for a one-month pass this week, and the manager gave me back $10 since I’ll only be here for three more weeks. Thank ya!

Both of those places are in Manahawkin, NJ. It’s the nearest town right over the bridge, and I’m starting to quite like it. New Jersey as a whole has surprised me this summer, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know it better. I’m learning that you don’t need to live in a big city to find awesome people, good yoga, or a juice bar. I’m not sure if it’s true for every town, but I think the stuff you’re looking often finds its way to you.