Archives for September 2011

September 23-25

It’s been an interesting September.  I have only been home for 1 weekend and all the rest have been Facebook weekends.  Or at least had Facebook elements to them.

September 23 was Girls Weekend in Ocean City, MD.  My girlfriend Terri’s boyfriend lives in Ocean City and we took advantage of him going to a Penn State Game in Happy Valley.  Terri, Gretchen, Lisa (Facebook friends), Sally, Julie and I spent the weekend doing girl things.  “What happens in Ocean City stays in Ocean City.”  And since I’m not in Ocean City… well, I don’t think I can say much more.

Terri and I have known each other for 16 years.  WOW!  She started in our office in August and I started in November.  I still don’t like the music she listens to.  Well, most of it.  We call Terri Blonde & Bossy in the office, and when she’s away, I try to fill her shoes.  She’s been an incredibly good friend.  We’ve been through 2 divorces (her & mine) and all sorts of other trials and tribulations.  And… I still don’t like her choice of radio station.   Gretchen & Lisa have both been at the office longer than Terri & me.  Lisa was in the basement in the computer department … and we tease her that when they brought her up into the light she bloomed.  Gretchen is an auditor in our office and is always up for fun. Sally is our Payroll Manger and Julie is the big boss.  We had a great weekend… despite the rain.

Soooo…. since I can’t really talk about it. That’s the end of this story other than it was fun to bond with my co-workers.

Every year, the 3rd weekend in September, 3 things happen: My David has a birthday, it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day and it’s the Wings & Water Festival in Stone Harbor.  It is the 3rd which has become an annual Facebook Adventure with Michelle.

Michelle and I went to high school together, and to be honest at best didn’t hang out together.  All I really remember about her is she hung out with the brainy kids, which equals she was one of the brainy kids in my memory.  Facebook is an amazing thing.  We have become buds on FB and in real life.  Michelle is a hoot.  She always makes me laugh on FB.  So now she has become part of the Wings & Water weekend.

This year Chef was working and “5 Star” (son #1) is off to college so “Mini Einstein” and “Daddy’s Little Girl” came along.  I will freely admit, a full day with kids can some times be trying.  Especially when they are whiney little brats.  That being said, it just wasn’t the case.  Michelle’s spawn are both delightful and well behaved.  Last year “Daddy’s Little Girl” came a long and we had a good time then too.  Even when Michelle and I spent almost an hour just chatting, both kids didn’t make a fuss or whine or even get restless.  They must take after their father (JUST KIDDING!).

Mom & I have been coming to the Wings & Water Festival for years.  And it’s fun to have someone my own age to hang out with and have fun.  This year the W&WF was a lot smaller than previous years.  They really don’t advertise like they should.  But the Wetlands Institute is a neat place, and every year I find something that I didn’t see previously.

Michelle is the proud Dog Mom to Lily. Lily is a retriever of unknown linage.  She could be full bred.  Perhaps not.  But every year there is a Retriever Demonstration.  The dogs are put through their training paces.  I love it.  And it’s now part of the FB W&WF tradition.  Just to compare what Lily COULD do if she weren’t spoiled rotten.  And of course there are the cinnamon almonds.  After that it’s up to the group to what we do and see.  Except for the quilts.  Mom didn’t have one in the show this year, but “Mini Einstein” & “Daddy’s Little Girl” seem to like them anyway.

Then it’s off to Springer’s for ice cream. Another part of the tradition.  This is the last weekend Springer’s is open.  And they have the BEST homemade ice cream (they were voted #2 in the country in a poll, but I think it was rigged and they should have been #1).  In the summer they are so busy it’s hard to get in, but with this being the last hurah – it’s not hard to get in to get a cone, or a cup or a cone in a cup.

And so, that has become the FB W&WF tradition and I know I will get to see Michelle at least once a year.

It turns out that my Fantasy Football draft was a Facebook dinner as well!  I even picked up two friends at dinner.

We had our draft at Rock Bottom Brewery in King of Prussia.  It was fun. It’s pretty much the only time I see Brenda and Lori-An.  Lori-An had just adopted the most adorable little boy.

I met both Lori-An & Brenda through Nealla.  Nealla and Carissa work with me.  And finally my two new friends are County employees too –  Stacey & Marilyn.

The draft is always fun. We get together for dinner before we started the draft.  Carissa, Marilyn & Stacey were new to our league this year.  I always get lost getting there. I have this stupid mental block of where Rock Bottom is.  It’s got really good Mac & Cheese.