a long story from long island.

So its pretty late but I just want to tell you quick about our time in New York. We woke up early in Harrisburg, PA after a fun night of catching up with Rach's family and went through Newark to NYC. We actually had to drive through the city without stopping because that day, we were heading out to Long Island to see my Aunt Judy. Aunt Judy has been like my second mom since I was little so we were really excited. We waved to the city and promised we'd be back the next day as we continued for the island. Over an hour went by and finally we had only a few turns left until we'd be pulling up the driveway and met with my first "welcome back to NY" hug. We pulled up, got out of the car and stretched. We'd made it! And what a beautiful day! What will Aunt Judy have planned for us today? It's always something fun! We walked around the back and peeked through the window. I've always gone in through the back since I was a kid. We didn't see anyone inside so we let ourselves in. Little dog Roxy greeted us first. Surely Aunt Judy's voice would soon be bouncing off the corners of the house and into the kitchen. "You're here! Is that my god daughter!?". We played with the dog for a moment and anxiously waited for the voice. Another moment. What's with this dog's haircut anyway? And where was Aunt Judy. Perhaps she's hard at work in her office? I ducked into the office expecting to find her at the computer wrapped up in whatever she was doing. I was disappointed to find her assistant (jeez, wasn't she alarmed that people just walked in?). Her assistant looked up at us. "She's at the beach with her friends." I smiled and said "oh okay, thank you." I turned around and walked to Rachel in the kitchen. I was still in ear shot to the office so I used my secret secret voice. "She's at the beach with her friends!" "What?" "I don't know thats what she said, she's at the beach with her friends." "Aunt Judy's at the beach?" "Yea" "Why did she go to the beach?" "I don't know." "Did you tell her we were coming?" "I texted her this morning we'd be here around one but she didn't text back". "Well did you call her?" I looked at Rachel a moment. "No." We were both still using secret secret voice. "Joanna why wouldn't you call her?" "Because I texted her." "But she didn't respond." "No" "So then why didn't you call her?" "Well if she didn't respond to her text why would she be around her phone to answer it?" Rachel stared at me now while she tried to make sense of my logic. "Joanna I don't understand why you didn't just call her, now what do we do?" We stepped outside and stood by the pool contemplating our next move. "We could wait here. Do you want to play in the pool?" Sometimes my unwillingness to grow up in endearing. In situations like these I think it makes me frustrating. Rachel didn't seem thrilled about entertaining me pool side all day. We both know I can't lie still by a pool for more than five minutes. I need someone to throw things to the bottom so I can retrieve it and then they have to throw it again. "I guess we could. Do you even have your bathing suit?" Her question made me realize that no I do not. It was packed somewhere deep in who knows which of the ten suitcases compacted into our car. I thought for a moment. The longer I had to think the worse I felt about not just calling Aunt Judy to begin with. I tried calling Aunt Judy. No answer. At least so far, my theory was right. "Are you hungry?" "I guess I could be hungry." "Want to find somewhere to eat and then we'll try Aunt Judy again?" "Ok I guess." So back into the car we go. As long as I've been coming to Aunt Judy's house I couldn't think of a single place to go get food. We hit the "food" button on the GPS and chose the place that sounded most like a bar. We needed some bar food and a beer. We took the first few turns toward the mystery restaurant. As I looked around I realized that this was the way we would go when we go to the beach. "I think this is how we get to the beach. You want to go try to find Aunt Judy? We have nothing better to do." There was a touch of excitement in my voice about this perspective treasure hunt. I knew which beaches Aunt Judy hung out in. Rachel typed in everything we could think of into the GPS that would possibly bring us to the beach. Nothing worked. Using my "extra special" sense of direction I managed to get us to some sort of bay. Ok, well at least we made it to a coast. We chose a direction and followed the coast. After fifteen minutes I decided we should turn around and try the other way. After another ten minutes, my phone rings. Aunt Judy! "Where are you?! You're here!? I didn't know you were coming so early! Come to the beach!" "We're trying Aunt Judy! We're trying!" She gave us directions and told us she'd meet us so that we could park our car and she'd take us to the beach. Turns out a was right the first time and we turned around again. I just hadn't gone far enough. Finally we saw Aunt Judy waiving to us in her pink beach skirt and sunglasses. I finally got my big hug and we all set off to the beach. Aunt Judy's friends were there waiting for us and we immediately sat down to mudslides and chicken fingers. Perfect. We had a great time at the beach taking walks up and down the water, running to the waves and running back up and finding cool shells to play with. Aunt Judy gave me a pair of spandex pants and a sweatshirt to wear in the car since my clothes were drenched by the end of the day. While we were walking to our car the decision was made to go to a nice dinner. Umm...hello? I'm in spandex. Everyone thought it was funny and told me I "looked fine". I was so happy to be among family that I accepted the fact that I looked like a 10 year old little boy and we went to a beautiful sunset dinner on the bay. We came home, sat outside and drank wine, woke up and went back to the beach! Oh I love Long Island... After some time at the beach, unfortunately, Rachel and I had to leave the island and meet our friends in NYC. Long Island, as always was amazing. -lj (gyl)

makers and gingerale

Where to begin... well we really do love Boston. We're pretty surprised about it since Boston was never on our "wish list" of cities in the first place. Its absolutely beautiful. Since we finally have jobs we figured it was ok to go out on the town Saturday night. We went to the Prixe Fix dinner at Aquitane, a restaurant on the south side a few blocks from South End Buttery (Rachel's restaurant). After an extremely disappointing meal (still a good time because we judged it together) we decided to keep our night going and to go to Buttery for a drink. Partly because we wanted a drink and partly because I wanted to see the place. It really is adorable. Almost as if Rach and I would open it ourselves. It's elegant but homey with a fire place in the downstairs dining room. The primary color of the restaurant is brown which we always like for some reason. We sat at the bar and I met all the new coworkers, all of which seemed super sweet and really fun. We ordered a round of drinks for ourselves. While we were sipping at chatting with each other, Liz came upstairs and I finally met the Columbian lesbian who has been training Rachel. She's hilarious and a huge smart ass. I liked her immediately. She said it was a little slow tonight and she'd try to get cut so we could all go get a drink elsewhere. With the perspective of our first friend on the horizon, we decided to stick around and have another drink. As this drink is sipped the restaurant and our spirits begin to pick up. Liz comes over and mentions going out again when they're done. Well we like our seats here at the Buttery so why would we wait for her at another bar where we know no one? Another round. And just to be clear... we're not drinking beer or wine. We were probably at that bar for a good four hours. Wow, looking back it didn't seem that long. We were having a really great time with each other. Rachel and I haven't been out just the two of us in a very very long time. It was nice to be reminded that we can sit and talk for five hours straight with no effort or pauses. Well finally the servers are done and the two of us, Liz and another server Whitney go down the street for a few drinks. We play "get to know you" and have a great time. We go outside and get ready to leave when someone Liz knows shows up. "Let's have one more drink!" says Liz. "Hey! Why not! Let's go! Everybody in!" We stand at the bar and watch Liz order for us. I've been very careful all night to stick to one liquor. Three shots of tequila show up on the bar. Rach and I stopped talking and stared in horror as flashbacks of college nights flickered behind our eyes. "Welcome to Boston" Liz raises hers to toast. Down they go. People really ought to stop drinking tequila shots after twenty two years old. Rachel and I locked eyes and we used the remaining strength and balance we had to keep the shots in a downward path towards our stomachs. It was a rough battle for both of us but luckily, the fermented agave obeyed the laws of gravity and settled into our bodies with promises of torture in the morning. At that moment the lights in the bar came on. It was 2 o clock. Lovely, our first night out and we close a bar. We all decided it would be a safer and less expensive plan that the two of us sleep at Liz's house. We stop and get some random, open-late Chinese food and bring it home. We eat the greasy food and climb into the extra bed. Liz has to be at work at 8:45 so we get up around 8, tequila keeping it's promise and ride the train home. When we got home we plopped into bed for three hours and woke up in time to go to the Bills back bar at Fenway to watch some football. Even though I felt much better after sleeping, I didn't drink and sipped on water while I watched the first Sunday football game of the season while gazing out onto the Red Socks baseball field. It was pretty nice. After the game Rachel and I decided to go grocery shopping. We were in the store for over an hour. We LOVE grocery shopping. We've been on a pretty healthy kick lately so we promised each other that we wouldn't get that drunk again and we looked at the nutrition label of everything we bought. Back on track! Tonight I have to leave poor Rachel home while I go to work at Clio. I have a few more days of training, which doesn't bother me since I don't know what I'm doing, and my first day of official work is Saturday. Saturday. Are they nuts? The busiest night? I better train hard till then! -lj