Coffee Break?

"Slow down, we move too fast

Got to make the pleasure last, now

Kicking through, the sandy beach

Singing a song and playing...hookey!"

Hahahhh..KW decided to take half the day off and away we went.  Not far, just to Ocean City.  Sunday, we were invited to share Father's Day with our "best friends, more like family".  Dinner was around four...a wonderful spread of filet mignon, grilled to perfection by my "own" KW, corn on the cob (a little chili-lime pepper gives it such zing!), potatoes, bread, salad followed by a strawberry Boston cream pie and...of course...coffee.  Well, that was enough for me to retire to the verandah, just enjoying the breeze but the two wild women (without giving anything away that I ought not, both over fifty) decided to first play frisbee.  I was conned into it but, as they say...I'm such a wuss!  That disc comes sailing across the lawn and all I want to do is duck and run...the other way.  Besides, I don't trust either of THEM...they had too much fun with me at the egg toss and with a frisbee...nothing to splatter me with except, possibly, my brains.  And they would, you bet they would.  I gave up, one went indoors for something which left KW to play by herself.  Would you believe she did?  She had me rolling on the pebble-dash of the verandah as she flung the frisbee and went chasing after it, time after time...trying to make me feel sorry for her, I know.  Obviously in the mood to be running around, darting here and there...no wonder she is disgustingly svelte.  Anyway, woman #2 returns with a brilliant idea...fly a kite.  She had one, had it for years but said she'd never gotten it airborne.  That's all KW had to hear...off to the garage and back they come with this huge Mona Lisa of a kite...beautiful colours, I might add.  Within minutes KW had given it freedom.  Up, up and away!  We figured it had to be about 200' up.  The ospreys and gulls were swooping around her, curious and possibly cautious about this "big new bird".  The two women and one lone husband all took turns guiding and swooping Mona and the wind was wonderfully co-operative.  Me...I sat back in the chaise having a blast watching them.  Once we had the 'girl' back down to earth we sat talking about kites, should get at least one more and Ocean City was mentioned.  Our friends have been here six-seven years and never been to OC (that's the one in Maryland, folks) so it was decided we should all four go...visit the sand sculptures (they are amazing!) and see the kites the kite store keeps airborne throughout the summer.  I KNEW we would come back with one..on the other hand, if we find a model shop down there I suspect we will also return with a couple of RC boats to race on the creek (as if the pontoon wasn't trouble enough...).  

KW did mention this Tuesday...today...but it's so unlike her to take time from work for anything but a dire emergency and it was suggested that since she is taking a week's vacation the first of July, maybe just wait until then.  Apparently excitement and kites got the best of her.  She calls me this morning and asks "How's this afternoon?  I can take off around one-ish..."  Uhh...okay, then.  That scuttles my plans for the day...of course it was just getting the office finished, setting up new file systems and folders, very mundane but I had PLANNED it (and I don't PLAN often...).  Oh, well...there is always Thursday...maybe next Monday...or Tuesday...whenever the mood takes me again.  Thank goodness, yesterday, I did a major cleaning for a couple of  days.  I guess...!!  I'm very happy to be a hermit...take care of chores...(somebody has to, albeit with an attitude), putter around on the pc, read, research all the daft questions popping into my head every time I turn around.  And when I also have a PLAN...whoa, don't distract me for I'm already the worst procrastinator I know.  So why didn't I just say "Nope...I already have a schedule today"?  Maybe because I need to lighten up...LOLOL!  Maybe because a hookey day like today happens so seldom it feels deliciously wicked.  Could be the thought of funnel cakes, late lunch at Phillips or Harbour Watch, buying a humdinger of a kit for KW, kicking up the sand in bare toes, my inner child pushed this 'self' aside with glee.  Most likely it's the fact that KW not only was up for half a day off but eager to get amongst the annual summer throngs, strollers, skateboards, bikes, the seething mass of humanity the Peninsula is this time of year.  Usually, it's like pulling her teeth, one by slowly one...without anaesthesia of any sort...to get to just drive into Rehoboth Beach for an afternoon or evening.  And if successful, it's because I've promised to partake and participate in her numerous projects for the "next six weeks".  But to be fair, having spent seven summers and 'second seasons' operating a business there, fourteen hours a day, seven days a week...can't say I blame her.  Me...I got over it...lol.      

"I took my shower

Threw on jeans and sandals with a polo shirt

Grabbed my stu-uff

Shoved it in my pockets and began to skip

Dust in the wind...we were gone like dust in the wind"

And we were off!  Nice drive down there and the weather couldn't have been better.  It was overcast but warm, low humidity so very comfortable for the boardwalk hike.  We parked down by the pier and walked up through the carnival area to 21st. Street and Phillips where we partook of their tasty buffet.  I had snow crab legs...two clusters, twice...clams on the half-shell, oysters on the half shell, steamed clams, shrimp, a little dilled salmon, a sliver of Mahi-Mahi.  Oh...ummm...actually everything was "twice".  None remembered having seen me eat so much food but...aaah, seafood, shellfish.  Wonderful!  The only thing I needed after that was a good breve so went in search of a coffee shop.  Found one but the barista didn't know a breve from a chai so I settled for a latte with two shots (espresso, that is!).  Funny, but I was the only one ready and willing to walk the 21 blocks back to the end of the boardwalk...me whom they insist on having six monthly checks on the lower arteries because "they are not in good shape".  HAH!  One didn't want to walk any more, one's knees were giving problems and KW...well, her knees are not the best either.  I mean, they are beautiful knees but gosh, are they wrecked!  And today her back went out on her...oh, joy!  Bus it was.  But get this...when we get to the end of the boardwalk she spends an hour trying to talk one of us into doing the bungee drop with her!!  Moi??  I'm beginning to suspect she's after the life insurance money!  I did feel badly, though...nobody took her on.  We played the overpriced, under-rewarded games of skill, friend and I had a HUGE blue cotton candy...the old fashioned kind, NOT bagged in polythene but fresh of the spit.  Mine covered my entire face...both literally and 'stickily'.  Her husband and KW shared the funnel cake.  And I bought KW her kite...a beautiful bi-plane.  We had asked the guy in the store about the pirate galleon kites...they were really something but we needed to know how difficult they might be to fly.  He said it took a lot of skill.  When we saw the bi-plane he gently tried to explain we should just get a simple, run of the mill flyer while I'm telling him...indicating KW...oh, she's experienced (and she's drawing me daggers while nudging me to stop...hahahaha!).  We got the plane...and a winder...and 1,000' of 'strang'.  Whoo-hoo...can't wait until Sunday...hahaha.

And as we reached the parking lot I turned around to see the most glorious of sunsets...liquid gold, candy pinks edged by pewter grey of the clouds.  We stood in awe before thanking each other for sharing this wonderful, feel-good day. 

So now we come to the end of a perfect day...unexpected, unplanned, unbelievable.  The only thing left for me to add...well, two things.  I didn't get a chance to visit the blogs for the Tuesday Challenge until very late this evening so I offer my apologies for that.  Secondly...if the reader should happen to recognise the parody of songs (#1 from Feeling Groovy and #2 (a bit more obvious...Dust In the Wind) and feel like singing along could you do so under your breath?  I can't afford to be sued for copyright infringement. 

Tags: cotton candy, Feeling Groovy, Ocean City Maryland, Phillips Seafood House, Playing Hookey