Christmas #2

    Ned & Debi host a wonderful afternoon filled with delicious goodies to celebrate Christmas with the cousins and to celebrate Aunt Joanne's Birthday!

Christmas Eve Dinner at CHOPS!

Our Christmas started in Philadelphia with a wonderful dinner with my Mom at CHOPS . The bone-in Cowboy Ribeye ROCKS as do the curly onion rings and lamb chops! And the service is Superb!

The Tents of Ocean Grove-Wintertime

Hard to believe these wooden structures house entire families during the summers!

Snowstorm 2009, Ocean Grove, NJ

Our little town was hit along with the entire East Coast in one of the biggest blizzards in decades. They say we only had 18 inches but with snow drifts we measured some spots up to 3 feet!

Empire State of Mind

Thanksgiving weekend offers a wonderful Broadway day! Marseille with cousin Leeds where we lingered over lunch with a delicious salad and then off to meet Diane at the Schoenfeld Theatre to see the stellar "Steady Rain" with Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig. After a riveting performance we head to Blue Fin at the W Times Square. Hopped on the bus and home by 10! What a day!

More DC visitors

Reina, my youngest goddaughter, now 6 years old, with her mom and my dear friend Regina stop by on their trip home to DC from NYC. Although they arrived after dark, we bundled up and let the moon guide us to the Ocean while collecting seashells. It was a short, but very sweet visit.

Orlando

While attending the American Heart Association Conference in Orlando, FL., we finally find a section in Orlando that offers food better than an Outback Steakhouse! Pointe Orlando, the outdoor Mall features the usual suspects but we found this upside down building amusing. It even creaks as if it is going to fall further. The clever decorations added a touch of whimsy. One restaurant in particular we found appealing was Cafe Tu Tu Tango

More Marley!

Marley & Poppi share a quiet moment

Marley makes a splash in Asbury Park Water Park

Auntie Thea loves her Marley!

      

Marley visists OG

Marley & Brooke make their first excursion to Ocean Grove! Dad and Debi join us and we settle in for some of the worst Thunderstorms in years! But we find a little sunshine by visiting the Mayor of Ocean Grove, aka B.J. The Bijan and to indulge in mani-pedis...Marley's first!

Barcelona 2009

Our second and last trip to Barcelona for 2009. Sadly, it looks like the cardio conferences have moved to other cities for 2010 so I took in as many Gaudi sites as possible and Tom downed as many Patatas Bravas as possible! Adios Espana!

Christopher's Birthday in Ocean Grove

Christopher celebrates his Birthday in the Grove and after 24 hours with la familia Bowers/Wallick he gets why we love it here so much! He won't wait three years before the next visit!

The Tents of Ocean Grove-Summertime

From Memorial Day until Labor Day, summer dwellers adorn their wooden structures with colorful canvas and ornamental flowers.

Tenting is still a treasured way of life in Ocean Grove. Today, 114 tent structures can be seen nestled around the Great Auditorium. Descendants of the early families continue to carry on this special tradition. Some tents have passed from generation to generation. Life truly slows down during the summer in Ocean Grove.

Thailand bets on Ocean Grove

Oy makes his way from Washington, DC to place some bets on the Haskell races at Monmouth Park. We meander along the Ocean Grove and Asbury Park Boardwalks observing the flurry of activities. A delicious meal the first night at Stella Marina (although not quite worth a 2 hour wait) and then a mediocre meal the second night at Bistro Ole. Even though the last day it rained, Oy at least felt the sand between his toes!

A balcony with a view

After our big move, we sit back to relax and take in the view of the Atlantic from our balcony.

The Big Move, Ocean Grove

After 2-1/2 years on Main Avenue we had to move. This was huge as our entire life's furnishings were still in Tom's Mom's basement where we left them in 2006 (see first posting of this Blog). So, over the July 4th weekend we relocated to our new digs, just 8 blocks away. Three weeks later, as the last painting was being hung, we received notice that our apartment sold...but we didn't have to go too far! We moved upstairs to The Penthouse, the top two balconies are ours!

Christian Graduates, Fairfax, VA

As the proud Godmother I had the pleasure of seeing my eldest and most handsome Godson Christian graduate Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia gives the Commencement speech and then celebration at Konomi!

Glorfields in DC

How great to come back to DC at the same time my dearest friend is visiting from California. And, Bistrot du Coin in Dupont is the perfect rest stop for libations, foosball and some Ooh la la!

Scotty's BLT Birthday, NYC

Old friends find a way to get together no matter what. This perfect storm brings Scotty, Christopher and me to NYC right in time to sing Happy Birthday to Scott at BLTFish.

Baldwin Reunion, Bryn Mawr, PA

Could we really be old enough to attend our 30th High School reunion at Baldwin? Dining in the lunchroom somehow peeled the years away, except for the fact that we had red wine to accompany our meal!

Marley in Delray Beach, Florida

Happy Birthday

to my niece Marley

as she turns the big Three!