Round Trip Pics

I took a roundabout route to the boat today to
continue varnishing, and dropped my sails off at

my favorite loft, Moorhouse Sails in Lumberton,
to have my main, jib, and main cover mended
and re-stitched as needed. Then I meandered
my way down to rt. 70, and headed east
to the shore. I knew there were several
landmarks that I'd pass and grabbed my
camera so as not to miss any opportunities.
Has anyone taken rt. 70 east to the shore and not
stopped at the Evergreen at least once?

Or at least not noticed the Hub Cap Superstore?

Up at the crack of ten, as my Father in law would say.
Dang, and Wendsday was my only window

of opportunity this week!

Another Jersey institution. The Red Top has got it
down. The place probably hasn't changed since

the first day open. Thank God.

100 yards east is the Green Top. They've been

there a long time as well, but compared to Red Top,
they've got a lot of work still to do.

A quiet, safe environment for your beloved pet.

Across the street from the American Legion Post,
Lacey Road, Bamber Lakes.
Do we need more information?

One of seemingly thousands of bogs in South

Jersey, full of bass, pickerel, and lily pads.

New Egypt. More like 2000 feet,

Emery's pies are never not ready.

Cream Ridge. Winter wheat feeling its oats.

Sudden Death Overtime

The New York Giants organization is one

of the most succesful professional sports

franchises in the entire world.

Many Giants fans spend half of a lifetime on

the waiting list for the opportunity to buy

season tickets. Imagine the poor fool who climbs

all of the way up to this seat, in this brand

new stadium, only to find his

line of sight is slightly encumbered.

He is certainly not beaming about his view.

Eli's comin'

The new home of Jimmy Hoffa and also of the

2010/2011 Super Bowl Champions,

the New York Giants.

The demolition is underway. Man, think of all the

championships, the mediocre play, the legends,

the bathroom brawls, the stinkin' rude, pot-smokin'

Jets' fans, fans throwing snowballs at the San Diego Chargers,

and that Ed the fireman dude who whips up the frenzied

J-E-T-S cheer. We saw Springsteen there,

Pink Floyd, U2, Springsteen, The Police, Peter Gabriel,

and of course, Bruce Springsteen among others.

Hypothetically, if we had season tickets,
this might be our view.

The Gridiron Club, which is accessible from some
of the best seats in the stadium. Indoor and warm in
cold weather, cool in the hot weather.
How ever do they keep track of the game while
getting their snacks?

This is where I'd spend most of my money,
at the sushi bar. Hamachi, Uni and Toro.
That's all I need. I might as well eat it in
the parking lot, because this is probably as close
as I will ever get to this sushi bar again.

And this is my pick for the best seat in the house.
Not too close to field level, not too high. Right on the
50 yard line. Also the last time I will probably
ever be here.

Fish and ships

No surprise by now my interest in boats.

This was my attempt, at 13 or 14, to shape

a half-tonner out of pine. She's a little chunky

in the mid-section and the keel may be a bit

too thick, but good effort. The mast might appear

a touch short and the shrouds are detached

and fouled. Reminds me of Grimalkin, a little.

This E-scow was rasped and planed by memory ,

and I do believe I did a bang-up job on it.

My only regret was not being able to put a crown

on the deck for authenticity. Oh well.

The crown jewel. This must have been fashioned

in the late 40's. My dad shaped this

Jersey Speed Skiff at 829, no doubt.

Back in his day, these were THE fast boats on the

water. Never mind scarabs and cigarettes and bajas.

The Jersey Skiffs were the bees' knees.

Apparently this little beauty was painted

powder blue at one time. I think I'd like to be

cremated with this when the time comes.

It seems like half of the time my wife eats at Masa,

I'm at work. She is a thoughtful person, however,

and brought me home a spicy tuna roll.

(Our plate) I love her an awful lot

Our house, in the middle of our street

When in doubt, give 'em driveway chalk.

Kids love to map out neighborhoods,

find their inner graffiti artists,

be goofy. Go figure.

P.S.- Could you tell I was wearing shorts?

There's no place like home..........

CSI Lawrenceville.
I always think of Bert the chimney sweep
when I see my kids' chalk drawings,
and when it rained on all of his sidewalk art.


Love goes where my rosemary grows.

We got the table top replaced.
Luckily at about half the price expected.

We had to soften the round plastic umbrella

ring in boiling water before inserting it in the

umbrella hole. Kinda like molding your kids'

mouthpieces for field hockey and lacrosse.

The trees were all cleaned up.
Thank you neighbors. Alot.

Check out the long late-day shadow of the chalk pail.

The peace sign points almost dead north,

just about the same bearing where I find the

north star off the rim of the big dipper's bucket

every night when I take the dog out to do her thing.

Bright Ideas

What else would you rather do while gardening?

Vegetables and beer. Two major food groups.
And so close to the marina!

Who was it that thought of having wood on a boat?

I must admit, I do enjoy painting my toerails occasionally

Spring clean for the May Queen

My wife and I dedicated this weekend, not without

stress and anxiety, to readying our old girl for the summer.

Kidless and loaded for bear, we spent two long days

polishing, buffing, sanding, taping, brushing and rolling.

It's amazing what some paint on your bottom will do for you.

Remind me to go sit in the roller pan.

P.S.- Way to go Lefty!

Georgia on my mind

I started watching golf again today.

Not that I condone his misbehavior,

his severe lack of good judgment, his infidelity,

the damage he's done to his family.

Personally, I think he's the most exciting thing

that's ever happened to golf. Many long time

golfers and most non-golfers would probably

agree with me. I could go on and on, but I won't.

Phew!

However, what did prompt me to enter this post is what I heard the English-sounding commentator say regarding Irish golfer Padraig Harrington. "Padraig Harrington tacked his way up the fairway like a yachtsman". Did I need an explanation? He could have so easily said "zig-zagged", but he chose a nautical term instead. I guess I did miss watching golf. No doubt I'll tune in tomorrow.

Forecast: Snow

Flowering Pear Trees

Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ

When the petals fall, it's blizzard-like.

Wrappers delight

Who doesn't love late night gyoza?

The other thirteen that I made were on

another plate out of the way.

It's a good thing I moved the smoke alarm

out of the kitchen!

A Great Friday

We started the day at THE best thin-crust pizza joint

in NJ, Pete and Elda's, (The pizzeria part of the place

is known as Carmen's, but everyone calls it Pete

and Elda's Pizza). Located on Rt. 35 in Neptune,

it's about as Jersey Shore as you can get.

It must get crazy there on summer nights, because

there are three neon signs lining the door jamb

on the way out proclaiming, "No bar drinks beyond this point!".

My beautiful wife who orders a Guinness about twice

a year, hoping that it will taste as good as it did in

Dingle and Ballycastle

This is the main event. Crust so thin it resembles

Matzoh, but thinner. No need to fold the slice lengthwise

before taking a bite..it's so rigid that it will stab the back of

your throat if you're not careful. The slices disappear before

your eyes and you'll be wishing you'd ordered more!

The Circus Drive-In on Rt. 35 south, Wall Township,
on the way down to the Point Pleasant Boardwalk
from Neptune. This place has been here since my
parents were young. Great slice of Jerseyana,
and nice to see them catering to the " Fish on
Friday" crowd. Cod continues to be a staple
in fishmarkets across the country but at a noticeably
higher price, due to catch-phrases such as
"Line-caught" and "Dayboat". God Bless America.


By far, seemingly the most popular ride at the
boardwalk. That damn great white whale.
Starbuck: "To be enraged with a dumb brute that
acted out of blind instinct is blasphemous."
Ahab: "Speak not to me of blasphemy, man;
I'd strike the sun if it insulted me. Look ye, Starbuck,
all visible objects are but as pasteboard masks.
Some inscrutable yet reasonable thing puts forth
the molding of their features. The white whale
tasks me; he heaps me. Yet he is but a mask.
'Tis the thing behind the mask I chiefly hate;
the malignant thing that has plagued mankind
since time began; the thing that maws and
mutilates our race, not killing us outright but
letting us live on, with half a heart and half a lung."

Dude, it's only a ride.

Man o' War

Another Jersey Shore institution. Kohr's has
been serving frozen custard since, well, for a
hell of a long time. Best of the best, no doubt.
Orange and vanilla twist in a regular cup is
all you really need. Trust me.

She who prefers it in a cone instead. The twisting
mechanism on the machine was not working today,
so we settled for top and bottom. She hardly
noticed the difference.

Dinner was seared local sea scallops and wild-caught
local shrimp with a broccoli-parmesan mash
turned out of a ring mold, and served with
vermouth butter sauce flavored with cilantro and
lemon zest. Jersey fish at its finest.
Good to be home after a long but great Friday.

A great little boat

Dad's Hurley Silhouette, circa 1965.

Note the "Boom!" height in relation to my head.

I thought my English friends would appreciate

this slick little sloop. He also had a 2hp

British Seagull. Loud as hell, but reliable.

Dad and I would occasionally do overnights

down bay near Barnegat Light. The only food

I clearly remember eating on board was, oddly

enough, eggs and Spam! Good times.