SISTERS' WEEK DAY THREE (MONDAY)

This morning I actually got around to changing out the flowers in my pot at the front door.  Better late than never.  I think they look really nice.

The weather held out today and we headed for Ocean City.

The beach was really crowded.  We didn't have beach tags, so we didn't go on the beach.  But it was very windy and the sand was blowing all around.  I don't know that it would have been all that pleasant if we had.

Quite a difference from last year when they were still cleaning up from Hurricane Sandy.

The first thing we did was get Polish Water Ice.  It's not like Italian which is chopped up ice with flavoring over it.  This is like a cross between ice and gelato.  And as Elaine pointed out the flavor goes all through it like sherbert.  So very good!  It's the best thing to eat ever!

Elaine had cherry.  It was the exact color of her top!

I had my favorite -- mango!

 There were lots of kites out.  It was hard taking a picture of them.  The sun was so bright that I couldn't see anything in the viewer.  I just sort of aimed in the general direction and hoped for the best.

We loved looking out at the ocean.  But it was so windy!  I was glad I had pulled my hair back so that it wasn't flying in my face all the time.

I had a hot dog for lunch at Botto's Sausage Express.  Joe and I along with our friends Bud and Karen and my brother Henry and his girlfriend Lena were there on their opening day last year.  Their food is so good.

Then we headed for Jilly's Arcade.  You know we couldn't leave without playing some pinball and skee ball.  I was surprised that I did really well at pinball.  I mean REALLY well.  But Elaine did FANTASTIC at skee ball.  We were playing the same lane, taking turns and trying to beat each other.  But at the same time trying to beat the house.  If you made 280 points or more, you got a free game.  Elaine got 270 points!  Neither one of us could get to that magic 280 mark.  However, a little boy a few lanes away got over 300.  And another lady got over 400.  Just saying.

The boardwalk was crowded with both people and sea gulls.

We decided to have dinner before we left to come home.  We looked at a couple of places and decided to try a new place called Ike's.

Elaine had a green salad with crab meat.  I had fish and chips.  It was served with sun-dried tomato tartar sauce and the chips were homemade potato chips.  Oh my, how good.

It was starting to get late so we took one last view of the ocean.  It was still really windy and the waves were rough.  You could see a cloud of sand flying in the air in the distance.

Another shot of the boardwalk.

 We went to Fudge Kitchen before we left.  After all, what's a visit to the shore without fudge?  I also got some of Joe's favorite sugar free dark chocolate almond bark.  He was really happy when we got home.

I actually found the way home without getting lost.  I almost always drive around looking for the right street on the way back, but this time it was easy.  Elaine's a good navigator.

I was really tired by the time I got home.  But it was a wonderful day!

 On to Lancaster tomorrow!
--Kathy

SISTERS' WEEK -- DAY THREE (MONDAY)

Today headed out to Ocean City, NJ.  Joe went with us because he wanted to get a haircut and will go only to the barber in Ocean City.  He is very good and very nice.  His name is Andy and he said he will look forward to seeing us when we return in September.

Remember the beach as it was in May?

Here's what it looks like today:

 

Joe and I were amazed at how much it has changed for the better.

Of course we saw the ever present seagulls.  They would let you get right up to them without flying away.

 Who are these lovely women?  Joe took a nice shot of us.  You can tell how windy it was by how horrible our hair looks.

 And here's another couple. Aren't we cute?

We ate at Del's and Joe finally got his "Big Mis-steak".  He was one happy man.

After we ate we headed for Jilly's Arcade where we played skee ball and pinball.  Lots of fun.

We turned around and started back to where the car was parked five blocks away.  You know we had to stop for Polish Water Ice.  Oh so very good!  

And Elaine caught a picture of this!  Imagine kissing by the ocean!

We stopped in a few stores but really didn't buy anything.  I got a couple of 3-D bookmarks at Mia's Christmas Gallery, but that was it.

Before we left, though, Elaine and I had to go into the ocean.  We had to wait until 5:30 p.m. when the beach was free.  Earlier than that you have to buy a beach tag in order to go onto the beach.  Some people think this is unfair, but the city uses the money to maintain the beach and boardwalk.  And it's only a few dollars to buy one.

Joe waited for us on the boardwalk and Elaine and I went down to the sand, took off our shoes and walked into the surf.  We were both wearing capris, so didn't go in too far.  At first the water was cold, but by the second wave we had gotten used to it and it was pretty warm.  We were saying to each other how much we love going into the ocean and how we had been doing this together since we were very little girls.  It's so nice to have a sister.  Especially one close in age to you who shared your life experiences.  

We both took lots of pictures.

The waves were really high and the ocean was rough because of the high winds.  But I didn't feel much of a current.  That was good.

By this time we were all beat.  We wanted to head home but first Joe had to stop in Fudge Kitchen.  It's the only place he can find sugar free chocolate almond bark.  I got fudge.  When we came out I couldn't find my sunglasses.  I went back in and there they were.  Someone had found them on the floor and turned them in.  There really are nice people in the world.

So we headed home and made really good time getting here even driving with the sun in my eyes almost the whole time.  I hate that.

I started writing this post over two hours ago, but I keep falling asleep.  I guess that tells me something.  Like "go to bed, Kathy" maybe?  More travels coming later this week.  But I'm going to end today with a video of the ocean (if I can get it to load).  Until later...

HOME AGAIN

We slept in some today.  Walking the boards all day and staying up so late last night did us in.  But it was worth every minute because we had such a great time.

We just went to Fresco for breakfast again.  The food and service is so good there.  We both had eggs and homefries.  I had bacon and Joe had ham.

As we were going back to the room we met Karen and Bud who were just getting up.  They were headed for Fresco.  They were up earlier but thought we had already left for breakfast.  We were waiting for them to get up.  We could have had breakfast together.  Oh well.

We packed everything up, loaded up the car, and checked out.  Karen and Bud were going to walk the boards for awhile, but Joe was beat.  He just wanted to go home.  I wanted to go to Fudge Kitchen to get some stuff to bring home.  It was right at the top of the ramp where we were parked, so Joe stayed in the car and I went up to get the things and take one last look at the ocean.

It was a lot more crowded today.  It seems a lot of people had come down for the weekend.  The lady at the front desk of the hotel said that the entire first floor was sold out and almost all of the second.  The machines on the beach were gone and part of it was open to the public.

The boardwalk was really crowded.  There were these yellow pendants hung along the side of the boards.

There was a large kite being flown.  The tail was like a corkscrew going around and around.  I tried to get a picture of it but this was the best I could do.

We used the GPS and ended up going home a different way than we ever had before.  It turned out to be easier and faster.  Hmm....

By this time it was about 2 p.m. and we were both hungry so we stopped in Sonic when we got home.  Yum.

I unpacked the car and we both ended up taking naps.  We are beat!

When we got up we went to Target to get Joe something to wear to church tomorrow.  He has lost so much weight that his clothes are all too big for him.  His pants keep falling down!  Not good for church.  He got a black pair and a gray pair and saw a black and gray tie that he really liked.  I saw a dress I liked and he got that for me too.  It's a pretty blue with tiny white polka dots.

We just had hot dogs for dinner.  We are both so full from lunch.  Joe has gone to bed and as soon as the wash is done, I will be joining him.  It has been a fun weekend.  And there is still more to come.

DAY TWO IN OCEAN CITY

Well, friends, my idea of getting some sunrise pictures was a bust.  By the time I got down there the sun had already risen, and I couldn't get anywhere near the beach because of the construction.  This was the best I could do for a "sunrise" picture.

I did get some nice pictures of the beach, though, shooting around all the equipment.

 

A lot of the boards on the boardwalk have been replaced.  The wood has not had time to weather yet.

 

 Here is where we are staying.  It has a nice pool, but it isn't open yet.  They are still sprucing it up for the season.  If we had come down here two weeks later, everything would have been open and the beach should have been done.

Joe and I get up earlier than our friends Karen and Bud.  So we went to the restaurant attached to the hotel for breakfast.  It is under new management and the food is so good.  I cleaned my plate which is very unusual for me.

It has a Mexican theme and is decorated so cute.

The sign says: Spice a dish with love and it pleases every palate.

Grapes hanging from the ceiling at the windows.

 After breakfast we walked across the street to the bike shop to see what they had.  When we left, we saw Ocean City Barber Shop.  Joe needed a haircut badly, so we went in.  The guy there was great and gave Joe the best haircut he has had a long time.  And friendly too.  He told us all these great places to eat.  He had a purple heart medal displayed on a table.  I asked him if it was his and he said it was his father's from when he served in the Korean War.  It was a great experience.  Joe said he's going back there every time we come down here.

By this time Karen and Bud were up and had gone to get breakfast.  So Joe and I walked the boards.  My back and hip are bothering me a LOT so we stopped every block and sat down.  While we were resting Mr. Verizon came out, started waving to everyone (including us) and dancing around.  It was so funny.  I had to get a shot.

Mr. Verizon...

... and Joe.

 We watched the guys still trying to restore the beach.  It is a big job.  Hurricane Sandy did a number on it, that's for sure.

Further down the boardwalk we stopped and got a couple of waters and a container of sweet potato fries to share.  I always want to stop at "Curly Fries" and never have.  Now I did!  They were good!!!  They gave you toothpicks to eat them with.

We stopped in the dollar store for a couple of things.  Yes, there is a dollar store on the boardwalk.  Across from it was a building with this sign on it.

It says Ocean City Church Development 1911: Lots for sale -- Ocean $750, Bay $500, Inland $100, Ready to build up to a 100 x 100 property.

I told Joe we had enough money to buy ocean front property and we should jump right on that.  Ha, ha!

Look how much more crowded the boardwalk was today.

The beach was really crowded too.  It must have been high tide because usually there's a much bigger beach than this!

On the way back to the room we stopped for some mango Polish Water Ice.  It was yummy.  We sat on a bench facing the ocean, watched the waves, soaked up the salt air and sunshine and ate the water ice.  Does life get better than this?

We met up with Karen and Bud.  They were going to the beach for awhile.  We wanted to, but I was beat and I could tell by looking at Joe's face that he was exhausted.  So we opted to go back to the room and take a nap.  I slept about an hour, then got on the internet and looked at some stuff.  Joe slept for over three hours.  The guy is not used to walking around so much.

My brother Henry lives down here at the shore in Egg Harbor township which is nearby.  Every time we come down he comes over and we hang out.  So he called that he was out of work and was on his way.  We met up on the boardwalk.

Bud, Karen, Joe and I were eating in this great new restaurant called Botto's Sausage Express.  (Yes, I know it sounds like we are always eating.  It's that good salt air -- makes you hungry!)  Henry and his girlfriend Lena met us there and had dinner with us.  Let me tell you, if you are anywhere near Ocean City, eat at this place.  It's at 10th and the Boardwalk.  The place is brand new and so extremely clean.  The service is outstanding.  And the food is good.  They are having their grand opening on May 24.  All the news media and some politicians will be there.  We had our picture taken to be part of the ceremony!  Cool!

Lena and Henry.  No, that's not a crown she is wearing, it's the lamp post behind her.  We all got a good laugh from it though.

Me and Henry

We, of course, ended up at our favorite place -- Jilly's Arcade.

My brother, the pinball wizard, won so many free games.  He is the only one I know that can play one ball for 20 minutes.  He gets his money's worth out of that quarter.  I played pinball and skee ball.  Joe bought 11 games for $1.  So did Bud and Karen.  I played most of Joe's games.  But my back started hurting.  Like Karen said, "Eleven games is a LOT of skee ball.  You don't realize it until you actually play it."  Her back was hurting her too.  I ended up giving my last game to a guy who was waiting for us to finish so he could play with his wife in the next lane.  He tried to pay me the 10 cents for the game.  NO!  I told him don't be ridiculous, it's a dime!

We all came back to the hotel afterwards.  Bud, Karen and Joe ordered Mexican food from the hotel restaurant and we sat out in the courtyard and ate.  Well, they ate.  I couldn't eat another thing!  It was really nice.  They put candles on the table.  Aren't these pretty?  I'm going to steal this idea for home.  It's sea glass with a little tea light.

We all sat around eating and talking.  It was getting cold so I ordered a cup of hot tea.  And I did steal a little piece of Bud's flan.  I love flan, but I just couldn't eat any more.  These pictures are a little dark, but they show just how nice and relaxing it was.

Bud and Karen

Joe

Henry and Lena

Joe and me

So that was the end of another fun filled day.  One more day to go.  We have enjoyed being here so much.  I had no idea how much I needed a vacation.  On to day three and home later today.  Lots more to do before we leave.