Tag Archives: beach life

Living

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“Summertime and the living is easy” sums up my sunny season.  Not to age me however saying I think of these lyrics done by Ella-not Sublime does so.  My leisurely summer has been way different than past summers and included some firsts-like doing consulting work and acquiring a beach condo.

Fall moves into view with gardens looking dried out and weary, leaves starting to fall, and produce piling up on countertops.  The produce has provided lots of good eating and putting food up, I will make another batch of salsa and some hot pepper jam.  The fall garden got off to a rocky start, the pests almost wiped out the napa cabbage and broccoli, The snap peas are coming up, and the lettuce is trying to through the last of the summer heat.

Caught August’s full moon while at the beach on a late night stroll.  It was a very windy night, the surf was up with the tide.

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The next day proved absolutely gorgeous, low humidity, and later in the day during low tide, I took the following photo after I awoke from a long nap.

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We ended up the summer seeing Los Lobos at  The Hamilton.  It was sold out, and a great show!   And heres the setlist.  Enjoy

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  1. Will the Wolf Survive?
  2. Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes
  3. On Main Street
  4. Chuco’s Cumbia
  5. Come On, Let’s Go
    (Ritchie Valens cover)
  6. (Set Me Free) Rosalie
  7. Gates of Gold
  8. Papa Was a Rolling Stone / I Can’t Understand
  9. Evangeline
  10. My Baby’s Gone
  11. The Neighborhood
  12. Dream in Blue
  13. Maricela
  14. Kiko and the Lavender Moon
  15. Let’s Say Goodnight
  16. Volver, volver
    (Vicente Fernández cover)
  17. La Venganza De Los Pelados
  18. Don’t Worry Baby
  19. She’s About a Mover
    (Sir Douglas Quintet cover)
  20. La bamba
    (Ritchie Valens cover)
  21. Good Lovin’
    (The Young Rascals cover) (with “La bamba” reprise at the end)

Summer Lineup

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Grateful Dead and their reunion tour in California and Chicago in late June and over the fourth of July weekend garnered tons of attention.  We watched the July fourth Chicago show via pay-per-view, I enjoyed the show though not as much as hubby and missed some of it as I was outside shooting off fireworks.  I don’t consider myself a deadhead, having been to 2 shows in early 90s both at RFK.  Not the best shows I have ever been to, and after the second one I swore off any more GD shows with hubby. Even after Jerry passed away, I skipped opportunities to see the Other Ones or the Dead.  I did go to see Phil Lesh and friends in 2010 and enjoyed the show.  We know folks who made the trek to Chicago and heard good reports back on the experience.  Here are a couple of reviews, the first one – NY Times review is more mainstream though I enjoyed this next one, Alex Bleeker’s Dead shows review, as it is from a deadhead.  We have joked that we can buy the entire string of shows on DVD.

Since we are still trying to buy the beach condo, we haven’t seen a lot of shows.  We have tickets to see ZZ Top at Wolf Trap in August.  If we can, will go to the Hot August Music Festival in Cockeysville, MD.  Love the line up for this one with Railroad Earth, Shaky Graves, Infamous Stringdusters in the lineup and Cabinet, who I haven’t seen in person yet but have heard they are great.

Also on our must see list in September are Los Lobos at the Hamilton and Sturgill Simpson at the Lincoln Theater.

Christmas Jam

Los Lobos @Christmas Jam

I would love to go to LOCKN Festival however the cost is a bit excessive.  A friend purchased the VIP package for 2 and a “glamping” package and now can’t attend, given the beach condo purchase don’t want to commit that much money.  So will miss out on Tedeschi Trucks Band, Govt Mule, Little Feat, NMA, Phil Lesh and friends, String Cheese Incident, Robert Plant and Steve Earle.  Have heard from friends who attended in the past that it is a crowded scene though worth it.

Switching subjects, I did get my Nikon 3100 repaired.  I can take photos however the flash still does not work.  So thrilled that it is working again and lesson learned on taking care of it!  Will invest in a water proof bag.

Enjoying some beach time as we await closing on the condo, the fiasco continues though we are on to Plan D or E, I have lost track.  Once we close will have a post on how not to buy real estate.

Just Zippy!

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It seems I have a lot on my mind however when I try and put it down on paper… pffft! its gone.  This will be a disjointed and rambling post as I write about the stuff filling my days.

I have a consulting agreement and have been helping a company with proposal development.  I have found it interesting, challenging, tiring, and rewarding.  I have established my own LLC, set up the accounting, generated invoices, ordered business cards, and am in process on my resume, business plan, paying taxes, so I have more work to do.  I also have to figure out how to get more work!  I definitely am “busy learning on the learning curve” as Jeb in Donna the Buffalo sings in “Conscious Evolution”.  One of my favorite DTB songs, I once wrote a paper on the song for one of my classes at American University.

On the Beach condo front, we should close on Friday though I am not convinced we will.  What a cluster this whole transaction has been.  I started to write down all the craziness but think I better not.  Suffice to say I will be so glad when this is done. I plan to go to the closing and then stay at the beach for 2 weeks, something I have dreamed of doing for awhile.

I do love to make lists so have lists of all the things that I will take down to the new place.  Also saw two good book lists in the Post this weekend.  From this article on Heres what to read this summer if you are entering law school, several books caught my eye – In Cold Blood, To Kill a Mockingbird, the Federalist Papers.   I have read the latter two before but am sure they are worthy of a re-read.

Another book list comes from the Post’s Book World, 23 books we’ve loved so far this year, several on here caught my eye, Delicious Foods, Not what you would think, more of a thriller than anything, The Green Road and The Whites look intriguing also.

I am reading How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free, lots of good ideas and advice.  And I felt wild and free in June when I went zip lining for the first time.  A bit scary for sure, I admit to shaky legs on the first one or two jumps.  I will definitely do this again.IMG_8445IMG_8519 IMG_8595

Just Beachy

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I have dreamt and planned to live near the water some day.  Preferable coastal, not necessarily beachfront. And then kind of spur of the moment yesterday, we put an offer on a condo at Ocean Isle Beach, one block off the beach.   After a little negotiating, we have a deal and will close on it in July. Buying it with my sister-in-law, I told hubby this am that he is now in a partnership with BOTH his wife and sister.  He doesn’t think he stands a chance!

We love this beach community and go every year, its very laid back, not too touristy, and family oriented.  DSC_0035

The community has boat docks for fishing and tieing up when the tide is in.  Lovely sunsets too! During low tide, you can go to the western point and find all kinds of shells and sealife in the tidal pools.

I don’t quite have the hang of adding photos in wordpress.  I will keep practicing for sure.

On the work front, I hope to be re-employed within the next couple of weeks, lord knows will need the extra cash now!  I have been talking to a consulting firm and think I may have my first gig!

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I really wanted that shark’s eye however a hermit crab beat me to it.