Time & tide wait for no man.
“
What a difference a year makes!
Wow - hello out there my fellow beach lovers. It has been almost a year since I last posted. What a year it has been at that! Here is a brief recap of some of the last 12 month’s greatest moments.
1) Mr. Sandy Toes and I tied the knot back in October. Where you ask? None other than the beautiful beach town of Cape May, New Jersey, of course. It was a magical day filled with the love and support of our closest family and friends. The weather was sunny and 75 - a truly beautiful fall day at the shore.
2) We traveled to the Dominican Republic for a week of relaxation. Mr. Sandy Toes spent the week sipping mojitos and puffing on Cuban cigars. I spent my time reading novels and enjoying the local cockatil, Cocoa Loco.
3) The Phillies and the Eagles did not win a championship. So I guess that one really isn’t so new or different, but I think it still warrants mentioning. Here’s hoping the 2012 seasons will be better!
4) We bought our first Christmas tree! Neither of us had bought a live Christmas tree in our adult lives. We found a beautiful Douglas fir that after only a few adjustments fit perfectly in our apartment.
5) “Our family is a circle of love and strength. With every birth and every union, the circle grows. Every joy shared adds more love. Every obstacle faced together makes the circle stronger.” We have been fortunate to have so many members of our family and family of friends become blessed with new babies and unions. Celebrating and sharing in these milestones has been a truly amazing. Our love and congratulations to all of those that have let us share in their joys - you know who you are!
All Aboard!
As you can see, I am a commuter of the train taking variety. To me, public transportation, specifically the regional rail, is one of the best parts of working/living/playing in a city. My commute time is such a valued part of my work day. I can literally sit down next to someone with absolutely no expectation to talk, chat or even acknowledge the person. In most other social situations this would be odd or even rude. But not on the commuter train.
In total, I been commuting via train for about 5.5 years. The train commuting culture is really fascinating. There are a number of folks that commute along side me and yet we all act like we don’t know or recognize one another. Seriously, train cars aren’t that big! I know that every morning when I get on the train there will be this cute little blonde boarding in front of me. I love her sense of fashion and yet I’ve never even said “Hi.” At the next stop, a couple gets on and sits very close to one another, even though they are sitting in a three seater. I’m not even sure they are a couple, other than the fact that they sit close…too close. I could name about 10 others that I see every day.
It’s not just the passengers either. The train conductors are the same. Every morning, they stand on the platform as we board and yet there is no acknowledgment that we recognize one another.
So even though I value the fact that I can retreat inside my head during that train ride, I do question how it became this way. Has it always been like this? Do other commuters outside Philadelphia experience this?
So I meant to post this on Monday but this has turned out to be a chaotic week. I find myself saying that more and more often! This is a picture I took at the beach this past weekend. I spent the weekend doing errands related to wedding planning our wedding. After a long day of wedding related work, Mr. Sandy Toes and I headed to a local Cape May establishment, the Ugly Mug. We met there in 2005. After our engagement, we commissioned a mug to be made with our new initials and wedding date. The tradition is to hang your mug on the ceiling of “the Mug” as it is lovingly called by locals. Your mug remains hanging so long as you are alive. When you pass, they hang your mug in the opposite direction, facing the ocean.
We hung ours over the spot that we first met.
The Ugly Mug
Cape May, NJ
Today is gorgeous and sunny - 70 degrees! I’m sitting in my office and counting the minutes until the clock hits 5pm. Most days I am grateful for my wall of windows, but today they are taunting me and saying “Come outside, Sandy Toes!”
This picture is a photo from the dock across from my fiance’s beach house. It was taken in August of this past year and I love looking at it! We are taking a trip down to the beach this weekend in order to spend some time with my parents. It should be a good weekend…wine, Irish soda bread, a long run, and good conversations.
33 minutes…until freedom!
