Random Thoughts at the End of July

 


It seems like it was just the 4th of July and yet here we are at the end of the month.  "They" say time flies; they are not wrong!  So as we wrap up the month, here are some random thoughts on rambling around in my head.  (Because I can't remember important "stuff" because all of the below is clogging up my brain.)

  • This will be the first July in my memory (and who knows how reliable that is?) that I have not visited the Jersey Shore.  My family officially started going in July of 1972 (that's a long time ago!) when my mother was pregnant with my brother.  Before that we headed to Cape Cod.  But we still spent time at the shore because my Great Uncle had a house there and we would often go down for a day or so.  (That is if I am remembering what was told to me correctly.)  This year, and I'm guessing in the years to come, there will be NJ shore for me.  It's sad and I'm wistful, but I don't think I could go back.  It's not "mine" anymore.  Honestly it never was.  I loved it, but I never really felt like I was part of the community.

  • I DO (somewhat) feel like I am part of the community in PA where we now live.  (Not completely, but...) 
    I love our little library and often go to take out books, even though I have a Nook full of them.  (It's easier to read a book outside in the sun in the summer; it doesn't overheat.)  The local community center offers some cool classes and when I can, I try to attend.  (They have several during the day which just doesn't jib with my work schedule.)  I adore the monthly Reiki and Meditation class.  (I wish it always would fall on a day when I was there.)  I've joined the local historical society, although I have not been able to attend any of their events yet, I did finally get a chance to go down to the railway museum last week.  It's small, but there is some cool stuff and more importantly I got the docents talking/telling stories and that's what I like the best.  We go to the local bar and grill when our friend performs there monthly.  I try to shop locally as well.  Making friends isn't always easy, but I'm definitely getting my "face" out there.  
    • The one thing I have yet to do in PA is buy gas!  It's not that Jersey Girls don't pump gas...or maybe it is a little bit.  I'll admit it, I've only done it once or maybe twice and I'm pretty sure it was before my son was born.  However, the main reason I haven't bought gas in PA yet is because it's cheaper in NJ and I've never gotten to the point where I've needed to fill my tank.  Since I'm back and forth between the two states, I'm definitely going for the cheaper (although not cheap) and easier way to go.  Someday I'm sure I'll have to...and I'm sure that will be an adventure as well!
    • Since I took the Wednesday before my husband's birthday off as well as his birthday (which was the following Tuesday) and the next day (also a Wednesday), I stayed in PA for nearly two weeks without going back to NJ or to the office.  That was pretty awesome.  Even though it was (and continues to be) incredibly hot (it’s only a degree or two "cooler" at my Pocono Mountain home than it is at the house in NJ), I was able to enjoy my coffee most mornings out on the patio. That is the way to start your day!  Of course there have been plenty of days when I couldn't because of the rain.  (This has been the summer of heat and rain.. and rain and heat), I've taken advantage of it as much as I possibly can.  I can sip coffee, check out the fish (who act more caffeinated than I do in the morning) and do the NY Times puzzles while birds chirp and roosters crow.  (Ok, the occasional truck plunders by and there is often the sound of landscape work throughout the day.)  The Poconos are (for the most part) peaceful and I need that.
  • As I've said, most things in my corner of the Poconos are peaceful.  Part of that might have to do with the fact that we live on a private drive where the road is not paved (except for a very brief patch...If I ever win 10 BILLION dollars I will rectify that).  As I've mentioned plenty of times before, you CAN'T get to Spruce Cabin Drive directly from my home.  The road ends at my drive, then there is a little gravel "track" that leads to my neighbor's driveway (to the east).  Then just past her driveway (which like ours is a horseshoe shape), it picks up again.  GPS will mislead you (although I've tried and so have countless others to rectify this) and recently we've had more than our share of people who drive down, only to hit my neighbor's driveway and have to back up and turn around.  We put up an official looking pole and sign (which was a little too small in my opinion), which helped somewhat, but not enough.  So I went and bought two lawn signs to stake in the ground.  (Not an easy task as the ground is very rocky.)  Both are now up, one right before the sign on the pole and one right as the street ends and goes into  the track.  It's too early to tell if this will help, but my neighbor's daughter loves it.  Fingers crossed that it helps.


    • All good things come to an end, which is why I headed back to NJ on Monday evening.  I thought I might have dinner with my son (who has been on his own and LOVING it), but he was out with his girlfriend.  When I got in, I unloaded all my "stuff" and noticed a grocery list on the kitchen table.  Then I looked in the fridge and pantry.  Both were pretty much empty.  So, it was off to the grocery store after a long drive and day at work.  I called my son and told him I found his "gift" for me (the list).  He insisted he was going to go shopping tomorrow after work (and I do believe that was the case) and that I didn't have to go.  But I was already on my way.  And I did wonder why he didn't go on Sunday.  Add to that that he had no bread to make a sandwich to take to work the next day and... So, I ended up spending approximately $70 at ShopRite.  As my husband pointed out, at least my son is making lists and planning.  (Although I wish he planned better.)  He was on his own for nearly 2 weeks, so I guess that's the price I have to pay.  And again, he did make a list which was pretty well thought out.  (Although he can't spell Worcestershire, as in Worcestershire sauce, but then again, most people probably can't.)  At least I know he's got enough food to make it until I come back (with my husband) on Sunday.  (My "baby" turns 20 next week!  How did that happen?  You know there will be another post on that topic.)
    • Final thought, as I always do, I took public transportation to and from work.  Since the new traffic light was installed I am feeling much more confident about taking the bus that gets me closer to home.  (Especially when it is 100 outside.)  Let me be perfectly clear, I LOVE this new traffic light.  There are plenty of people who are complaining about traffic and how this light is backing things up.  Maybe it is.  Maybe it isn't.  Traffic is always a nightmare in the area, particularly at rush hour.  However, now I can cross the street without running or waiting and praying that cars will stop when I try to cross.  While I was driving home (from the aforementioned grocery trek), the light turned red, so I had to wait before turning and I saw two men cross the street.  So clearly I am not the only one who are helped by it.  I just wish this darn light had been installed earlier.  (Like in the last century when I was working in Newark.)

    And I think that's all I'm thinking about.  At least for now.  A new month is almost here and I'm sure I'll be having more thoughts as the calendar turns.

     


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