back to the beach

what is there not to love? the sun, the water, the people watching? as far as I am concerned, pretty much everything about the beach is right up my alley, and today was another perfect day for celebrating the sunshine.

we stopped to grab some snacks on the way, then headed for the train out to long beach. we amused ourselves by taking a series of self-portraits, all intended to diversify the repertoire.






















when we arrived we were happy to find the beach much quieter than on saturday and set up camp in a nice little spot down the boardwalk. we passed the morning with some reading and some sunning. unfortunately the ocean was out to get us, so we were forced to move back several times after having our feet and towels soaked.

the afternoon passed much the same way as the morning. i couldn't help but be reminded how wonderful it is to have friends with whom you can communicate wordlessly--with a nod or a gesture, or a raised eyebrow, or a smile. i had forgotten how comforting and reassuring that is. there isn't much better than being able to look at a very close friend and know how her sentence is going to end. and she knows you know it, and knows she doesn't have to finish her sentence, so she doesn't.

it has been very interesting to note consciously how, while you can be so different from someone, you can be so similar. there are not many blessings more wonderful than the blessing of understanding and being understood.

eventually i decided it was time for a cold drink, so i headed back to the boardwalk. on the way, i saw the two most entertaining things of the day. the first was margaritaville, as i lovingly refer to it. there near the boardwalk entrance, a group had decided to really make a party out of their beach day. they brought palm trees, low lying shrubs, astro turf..the works, and they were set to party.

the other entertaining oddity was the giant bicycles that passed me on the boardwalk. i just love the scenery the beach has to offer.

eventually, it was time to call it a day. we rinsed off and hung out on the boardwalk for a bit while we dried off. the dead time yielded additional self-portraits.











after we returned to the city, we got cleaned up and headed to a great little mexican place for dinner. jen joined us and we stuffed ourselves silly.

then we decided to walk off some of our dinner, but not before we made a stop at tasti d-lite.

then it was off to central park. i love central park, and it seemed to be a perfect evening for a stroll. the temperature was wonderful and there were fireflies in abundance, and tavern on the green looked absolutely stunning in the twilight with all it's lanterns hanging from the trees.

it was about that time however, that the park decided it was going to get us. never before have i experienced what was about to take place. it seemed that no matter where we went, there were swarms of gnats so thick that you couldn't help but eat some of them. the swarms had us running through the park trying to find the quickest exit, and there were times it felt as though we were trapped in a nightmare.

eventually though, we made our way out, and headed up to the lincoln square theater, where we settled on a showing of the lake house. we had some time to kill, so we stopped in duane reade and barnes & noble before heading back for the movie.

i have to say, i enjoyed it. i am no keanu reeves lover, but i thought he did a good job. and it wasn't overly cheesy for my taste. i was hoping i would like it, but i afraid i wouldn't. i did and i was glad.

after the movie, we parted ways with jennifer and deb and i headed back. we were up until the wee hours of the morning just talking about life and love, and all of the things that girlfriends talk about. and we eventually called it a night.

for all the pics, click here.