anitaama's Journal

Hi Ladies,

Well I am back from my whirlwind vacation in NJ.  Here is a little synopsis.

Arrived Saturday the 13th.  My brother John picked me up at Newark airport.  Took my to my cousin Barbara’s where I would be staying.  My cousin Lorraine (Barbara’s sister) was up from FL. Along with her daughter Lauren and her son Robert and his wife.  It was quite a house full but Lauren left Monday and Robert and his wife left Weds.  Lorraine is staying till after the 4th of July.  They will be going to NYC to Barbara’s son’s apartment to watch the fireworks at the Statue of Liberty from his balcony.  I wish I could have stayed for that.  Anyway Sat. night we stayed up late looking at old pictures and taking pictures of ourselves.  Lorraine was setting the timer and running into the picture.  We laughed so hard we almost peed our pants.  Sunday, Barbara had a get together.  It was mostly her father’s side of the family, on am on her Mother’s.  Our Mother’s were sisters.  The only ones from my family that made it were my Brother John and my two nieces.  It was fun though.  Everyone played Bocce Ball (an Italian game) and the kids all ran around and had a lot of fun.  On Monday I met Lindaheff.  She picked me up around 10:00.  She first took me to her beautiful condo on the water, where you can see the marina from her balcony.  Then we went down to the boat where we went on the boat and took some pictures that I posted.  After that we went to Seaside Heights which is just over the bridge from Toms River, and walked on the boardwalk.    It was very nostalgic for me.  When I was growing up I spent a lot of time going to Seaside and the boardwalk.  Then we went to have lunch at a great buffet.  Linda had to be back by 2:40 to meet with the caterer for her daughters wedding.  I wish I could have spent more time with her.  Tuesday Barbara, Lorraine and I went to Jersey City, where we all grew up, to see how much the old neighborhoods changed.  I trip down memory lane.  We also went to the cemetery where my parents and grandparents are buried.  I planted an Azalea.  Then we were hungry so Barbara put in her Garmin to find an Italian restaurant.  As it turned out it probably was the most expensive restaurant in JC.  The name was Casa Dante.  It was great, but very expensive.  It was right next to one of the best Italian bakeries in NJ Monteleone’s.  I bought some canoles.  An Italian pastry.  Delicious.    On Weds.  I had lunch with my cousin Kathy, who is Barbara’ sister who they have not talked to in years.  Long story.  But I am not mad at any of them and love them all the same.  We went with another Cathy and my other cousin Delores, to Applebee’s.  Then back over to Kathy’s house and chatted for hours. On Thursday my niece Irene took my up to my Aunt Nancy’s  It poured cats and dogs.  My ousin Nancyanne was there and two of her boys.  My Aunt made eggplant parmesan.  She makes the best in the world.  After that we went to my niece’s house.  I wanted to see her new deck.  She lives right on the bay and has a gorgeous boat.  From her deck you can look across and see Seaside Heights.  It was pouring and cold, so we could not sit out on the deck  That evening my brother George and sister in law Marion came over for dinner..  On Friday we went to visit my Aunt Angie and Uncle Joe who recently moved to an assisted living place.  It was very lovely and they seem happy there.  We had lunch with them in a special dinning room they have for guests.  My cousin Joanne (their daughter) came also.  It was wonderful to see all of them.  Joanne is going through chemo now for breast cancer.  She is doing well.  Then we went to Seaside again and I picked up a couple of little things for my grandchildren.  Then in the evening I went to my brother John’s for pizza and mussels.  My niece Karen was there.  Then Saturday I came home.  Wheeeeeeeeeeew.  Sorry to bore you with all the details.  But that was my trip.  I enjoyed it very much.  The weather was very chilly for me.  60’s and 70’s and it rained quite a bit.  But it was fun.