Beach

I also enjoyed some quiet time at the shore. I walked around Point Pleasant Beach. I checked out some shops, walked the boardwalk and the beach. Here are a couple of my beach pictures.

Halloween Party

Saturday night, I attended a Halloween party with Matt and Allison. Robin came too. Here are some funny pics from it. The first is Allison and I. Can you guess what I'm dressed up as? You won't guess what Allison was. Some dorky woman she knows. The second pic is Matt kicking some guys balls.

Happy Halloween!

I have not posted in over a week, golly geez. This past week marked the passing of another year...a year since I started dating Rich...a year since I almost lost my father. A lot happened in a year.

1. Rich and I began dating October 22 of last Fall.
2. My father fell off his horse and almost died on October 26, 2004, my Grandma's birthday. He spent 4 months in ICU then 2 different rehab facilities. He finally came home in February. He didn't begin working and driving again until September...and is still recovering and going to rehab.
3. Karen's father passed away this winter. It was devastating to all who knew him. He was a wonderful, generous, giving man. He is missed by his family and friends..he touched many lives.
4. For 26 yrs, I'd been a non-practicing Jewish woman. Jewish in name only. This year, I began the exhilirating process of learning about my religion and culture. Its been fascinating and wonderful! I've been taking classes, attending study groups, services...I gave up bread for Passover and fasted for Yom Kippur. For the first time in my life, I can identify with what it means to be a Jewish woman.
5. Engagements. Lots of them. Ryan and Lauren (yay, I'm going to have a sister-in-law!). Karen and Chris. Joanna and Brian. Gene and Jennie. Matt and Allison. Andrea and Frank. And I'm in three of those weddings--Ryan and Lauren's, Karen and Chris', Andrea and Frank's.
6. Shayla, our dear golden retriever was put to sleep, over the summer. She was a good, sweet pup.
7. Rich and I broke up.

And, a year later...life goes on. This year, Grandma didn't have to celebrate her birthday at the Au Bon Pain at the Morristown Memorial Hospital. I am spending time discovering myself...spending time with friends...growing up and putting my life back on track. And this Halloween...I'm not spending it pacing the ICU waiting room...dreading those moments when I'd have to see my father attached to millions of tubes and machines...I can spend it laughing and smiling with laughing, smiling children, chocolate, my dog and my family. Ahhh...new beginnings...relationships end...but friendships begin...seasons change and we all grow.

Knitting Away

Knit, knit, purl, purl, knit, knit, purl, purl...and so it goes...will I ever finish this scarf in time for Grandma's birthday? I think not. Oh well, it may just become a Chanukah gift. I am knitting and purling like a madwoman to complete this ribbed scarf from the Stitch and Bitch Knitters Handbook. If I ever complete my projects, then perhaps, I will be able to knit the alligator mittens that I'm dying to knit!

New Beginnings

It's time for new beginnings, isn't it? The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur is over--its a new year. Its now Sukkot--a harvest holiday (supposedly, the very holiday that our Thanksgiving was based on!). But the fun part of Sukkot involves eating outside in a hut called a Sukkah. In this season of Autumn, I am blessed with many things...good friends...family...my health...a chance to reconcile with an old friend. Deep breath. Sometimes, we need to stop and smell the daisies. Its always good to appreciate whats good in your life.

Funny story...

This morning, I'm getting ready for work and all dressed in cordoroy pants. Dad says to me in surprise, "You can wear pants to work????!!!!!" Me: "Duh. Its not the 60's."

Guys don't Get why...

Cosmo came out with their Cosmo Men issue this month! Yippee!! Something in it cracked me up--it is in the 10 Things Guys don't Get about Women article...

#7 "Good Guy Games"
Women complain that all guys are jerks, but if one calls too soon after a date, you get freaked out and tell all your friends he's a stalker.

Its sooo funny but so true...

Autumn

It finally feels like Autumn. Its sunny with a cold breeze--it was perfect dog park weather today. Norton and I enjoyed an outing to Petco and then the Echo Lake Dog Park. I enjoyed chatting with another fellow dog mommy while Norton ran around with his doggy friends. Now I'm attempting to prepare for Fall by taking out the long sleeves and packing away the sandals. Aaah...next dimemna? What to be for Halloween?

Pugnacious

Misty morning
Rain drizzles
Sleepy eyes
Pontiac Vibe leading my Matrix
down the soggy Parkway today
I see a silhouette of a man and dog
A little puppydog
They snuggle up and share eskimo kisses
Explorer dog!
Struts to the back of the vehicle and sniffs
Oh! He's a pug!
Back to the front of the car
He's on his hind legs with his paws on the windshield.
Nothing to see, Pugster.
Kisses his Mr. Master once again.
Can I get some of that sugar please?
On this cold, dreary Friday morning.

L'Shana Tova!

L'Shana Tova! Happy New Year! As many of you know, it was just Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Lucky me, it fell on my birthday, so I had the day off from work! I spent much of the day at services at the temple then a lovely service at the local park. I visited with my grandfather--and enjoyed a lovely family dinner for my birthday and the holiday. My friend Subash also came over to have dinner with my family. My father, always being the strange character, gave Subash a few nicknames. Poor Subash, who is now "Shoebox" and "Superman" to my father. Oy vey! All in all, it was a great day!

Apples and More Apples

This weekend found me with a terrible case of pharyngitis. My throat was scratchy, my head was pounding and I felt yuckier than I had felt in a while. Saturday morning, I ended up at the doctor--I was convinced it was strep throat again. Lucky for me, it was only pharyngitis but I got a referral for a throat specialist so I can see about getting these damn tonsils out once and for all!

Later on Saturday, I ended up in the City with my familia for dinner at Carmine's in Times Square. We walked around, checked out the huge Toys R Us, Sephora, and Virgin MegaStore. Then, I enjoyed a Girls Night In with my sister and future sister-in-law.

Today, I picked plenty o' apples at Battleview Orchards in Freehold. Then Robin cooked me supper and we walked around the Freehold Mall. It was a fun weekend and I think I'm ready for my upcoming birthday and the Jewish Holidays. Yippee!!!