Inspiration Fridays: Long Beach Island

New Jersey.  Ah, the different thoughts that come to mind when you hear the name of that state.  New.  Jersey.  Some people think of Snooki.  Others think of pollution.  Some think of the pine barrens, or Jersey City, or Princeton, or Hoboken.  Camden.  Trenton.  Cape May.  To me, Jersey means vacation.  Jersey means Long Beach Island, which is one of the best places in the world.  It also happens to be where I am going tonight.

 

 

 

My grandparents own a house in Beach Haven, on Long Beach Island, or LBI, which is a barrier island right near Atlantic City and Manahawkin.  18 miles long, and just under a mile wide at its widest point, this place is just perfect.  It's so pretty.  Relaxing, nice, fun places to eat, good stuff to do.  For many summers, I had the pleasure of working at a theatre in Beach Haven, Surflight Theatre, and I worked one fall and winter there as well.  Great venue- it's changed hands a few times recently, but I have so many fond memories of the place.  I've lived in Beach Haven, and consider it one of my homes, it is such an integral part of who I am.  Danny and I met there while we were working at Surflight, and fell for one another on the beach under the stars.  Yes, really.  It felt like something out of a romance novel, but here we are, almost three years later!  Beach Haven will always hold an incredibly special place in my heart, for most of the important events of my life occurred there.  

 

 

 

 

This weekend, though, will just be a little vacation.  And boy, is it needed.  I've been busy lately, what with yoga teacher training, work, martial arts, parents visiting, etc.  Once again, it's all been good- but, I've been stretching myself in a few too many directions.  Crazy?  A bit, yes.  But, it's almost done now.  I'm sure that I'll replenish my schedule with some new crazy soon enough, but, at the moment, I have only a few more weeks of insanely booked schedule until things look as if they might clear up a bit, and I  might have time to do things like hang out in the park with a friend.  Or Danny.  You know, that guy.  His dad is visiting all next week, which should be very fun.  He's cool.

I just can't wait to stand on the beach at night.  That's my favourite part of Beach Haven.  Though the town is fairly bustling during the summer, the beach, at night, is very quiet, and you can barely see the lights from town.  It's pitch.  Or, well, way, way, wayyyy more pitch than Brooklyn ever gets.  You can see stars.  It's amazing the effect stars have on me- maybe it's because I've been living in cities for the past five years, but stars are gorgeous.  They are awesome, in every sense of the word.  Awe inspiring.  They are balls of fire in space!  Millions of miles away!  There they are!  Shining on us.  When I see stars, there's an instant decompression in my mind and body.  

 

 

 

 

Plus, this weekend, I get to hang out with my marvelous grandparents, who are like a second set of parents to me, and with my sister. 

So psyched.  This weekend is going to rock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beach Haven and Holgate, New Jersey, USA

It's the Little Things You Do Together

There's this song in the musical "Company" that might be the catchiest thing ever.  Stay with me- I know I'm talking about a musical.  But I'm also talking about Elaine Stritch, and the revival of it where the actress played the triangle... and mostly, I'm talking about those tiny moments in life that make everything worth it.  That laugh with a friend, sibling, parent, significant other, cousin, puppy, whatever.  Those seconds of your day of pure, unadulterated joy.  They are fleeting, and they are wonderful.  Those moments you capture in your brain and keep with you.  The feeling of his hand on yours.  The smell of a rose.  The taste of a particularly well-made meal, or your first meal in hours, or even days.  The cool feeling of a glass of water or a shower after a hot work out, or a sweaty day outside in the heat at work.  Those moments.

Those moments you cherish.  Love them.  Honor them.  Make more of them.

It's those little things that make your world beautiful.  Then, they make the whole world beautiful.

Here are a few captured moments of Danny and I having a silly, fun moment while visiting my family at the beach this summer.  They were taken with my phone in a moderately dark room, so they aren't good quality.  They aren't the most attractive photographs of either one of us, as a matter of fact we look pretty distinctly unattractive in a few.  But, they make me happier than the most photoshopped, angled, styled photo of myself I've seen, because I know what was happening.  We both look joyful, full of an unquestioning felicity that swells my heart every time I look back at them.  

I love this man.

Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA

Things from Long Ago

These photographs were taken at the beach in early September.  I totally forgot that they existed.  

WOW.  

I miss the warm weather.

I miss being able to wear sundresses, and walk on the beach in bare feet.

Right now, I have to walk on the beach in boots and a heavy coat.

Bring on the snow, December.  Bring it on.

Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA

Pinecones and Fuzzies

The colors of fall.  So pretty, so serene.  I'm

These are some photos I've had lying around on my hard drive for forever, so I thought I'd finally share them with all of you!

I'm back in Beach Haven now, working on a Christmas musical!  It feels so great to be singing and acting again.  The holiday spirit has become ingrained in my soul.  

It's marvelous :)

Speaking of which... Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow 'Muricans!

Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA

The Mighty Monarch

Ooh, pretty butterflies on butterfly bushes.  

I definitely walked all over a person's lawn while taking these photos, but this sight was too gorgeous to resist.  Tresspassing has to happen sometimes, when beautiful photos are on the line!

These are definitely old at this point... I took them in mid-September, which doesn't feel like very long ago, but was actually two monthes ago.  Wow, time flies.  This blog is almost a year old!  Ridiculous.

ALSO.  Kudos to all of you who caught the Venture Bros. reference in the title.  I'm so excited for the season 4.5 finale it's preposterous.  For those of you who haven't ever watched the show, check it out.  It's a bit of Adult Swim brilliance wrapped up in more cultural references than South Park and The Simpsons put together.  But, like, seriously.  Venture Bros and Archer on FX have replaced the aforementioned as the funniest shows on TV, in my opinion.  If you value my opinion, you should check them out...

"Butterfly kisses.  I learned them in prison."

Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA

Bagels and Coffee at the Shack

So, I know that this is kind of an unusual post for me.  I mean, coffee and bagels?  That was the coolest thing that I could think of to put on my blog?  Really now?

Well, no, it's not the coolest thing, but it's what I felt like putting here.  I've been trying so hard to cater to readers on this thing... and frankly, it wore me out.  I don't have very many readers- the ones I have seem to be fairly loyal, but it got to the point where I was sometimes getting less than fifty page hits a day, so I tried to ask you guys what you wanted.  And, well, no one talked to me.  I had this poll on the side bar for like two weeks, and got four answers.  One of them was me.  

This is NOT meant to be a rant about sucky readers- you guys rock!  Really, you do.  What I realized, which is my point, is that my posts are the most successful when I post what I want to post, not what I think you want me to post.  Y'all started reading this cause, I don't know, I take cool pictures or you think I'm funny or quirky or clever, or something.  I don't know.  In any case, seriously, thank you for reading and being amazing.

So, YES.  This post is about coffee.  And bagels.  And... orange juice.  In Beach Haven, there's this nifty little shack that sells all of the above plus muffins danishes sandwichesetc.... It's great.  The best part?  Building is hot pink.  Hilarious.  Danny and I were sitting, enjoying a late breakfast one morning, and, you know me, zhoop!  Out came the camera.  It was nummy.

Beach Haven, New Jersey, USA