Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Ocean City, NJ, Part 2


The weather is supposed to be sunny and hot for the rest of this week. We were off on our bicycles by 8:30 a.m. yesterday, but it was very hot and sticky despite the early hour. When we returned at 10 a.m. we needed an hour to recuperate before setting out on foot to experience what they call Market Day here in Ocean City.


Alex left to workout at a gym he joined nearby. The best deal was a family membership for $80 for a month and they have an indoor pool, so we have a definite backup plan for a rainy day. Market Day, which occurs every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a clever ploy to draw people on vacation at the beach and boardwalk to the quaint, 6-block long Asbury Avenue shopping district. The town provides all types of entertainment along the street for families with children including, a group of strolling Mummers, a magic show and juggler, a puppeteer, a man in costume on stilts, face-painting, and balloon animals. Our girls had their nails painted in flourescent pink for Izzy and chartreuse for Sami, colors their mother would never let them choose if she were paying for a manicure. We called on Mom’s cell to see how she was doing and reached Randi, who had just taken her for a doctor’s appointment. So far, everything seems to be okay.

We stopped into a craft shop for children where the two of them spent 40 minutes painting the projects they chose: a piggy bank for Izzy and a jointed wooden snake for Sami. Each was $10. There was also an interesting doll shop, so we stopped in to look around for unusual items for Faith, who has a rather unusual doll collection. Alex met us for lunch at the same restaurant, Scully’s, where we had had dinner the previous evening. We really found a winner here on our first time out! The food was just as delicious. They are serving the same types of dishes as everone else in the neighborhood, but doing them really, really well. As we were leaving, I overheard a man saying to his mother, “Hey, Mom! This is Scully’s--the place the mailman told us about.”

Saul and Alex took the girls home for their nap while Jess and I investigated the variety of Naot available in the local shoe store and shopped for clothes. We didn’t buy anything. It was one of those days where nothing was quite right. The walk back was hot and sticky and I napped afterwards for about 2 hours.

When Saul and I awoke, about 5:30 p.m., we found that Jess and Alex had gone shopping at the local supermarket to replenish our supply of fruits and vegetables. They also picked up a wiffle ball set and some sand toys for the girls. After a dinner of brisket (which I had prepared ahead) and leftover rice or pasta and string beans, the four of them set out to the beach to play wiffle ball for a while. Saul and I were still tired and remained behind. He spent the evening on the computer, while I cleaned up and organized around the apartment and did some laundry. The kids returned before dark and I helped the girls shower off the sand before bedtime.

I think I let myself get too dehydrated yesterday. I had various aches and pains and some stomach problems in the evening. I must remember to drink more water today!

No comments: