Dear Blog

dear blog, I just returned to work after a fabulously long, restful w/e. Saturday afternoon, Steve picked up Simba & I, we drove to Taconnelli’s for take-away (Steve’s first experience), and dined at his place. After our fine dining experience, we went to Marlton (that’s right – NJ) to see a play about F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. It was an interesting story and the director worked film into the set in lieu of elaborate back-drops. Early the next morning, the 3 of us departed for Cape May. Mom tells me I was there when I was “younger” but I had no recollection of it whatsoever. It is truly beautiful. The historic Victorian homes are all intact. The gardens & trees provide much needed shade & the beaches (with showers & umbrella rentals) were clean. There are 2 pet-friendly beaches and several pet-friendly hotels. Much to my surprise, Simba was not at all interested in the water. I carried her out into the ocean, talked to her the whole time, dipping her slowly into the cool water. The second I let her go, she hastily paddled her way back to shore as fast as she could. Then ran over to Steve for protection against her insane mother. I made a second attempt about an hour later (thinking that she'd have fond memories of her first foray) but she repeated her hasty paddle to shore & mad dash to blanket / Steve). I did not repeat the insanity. It was odd to see the majority of dogs running into the ocean, as happy as could be whilst my Princess lounged on her beach towel (and our blanket) under the umbrella. She really is her mother’s daughter. Sun night, we went to "the Quarter" @ the Tropicana casino in Atlantic City. The Quarter has a bunch of well-known Philly / NY restaurants (32 degrees, cuba libre, carmine's, pf chang, etc.). We dined at 'Red Square' - the Russian-themed, Jeffrey Chowdorow restaurant chainlette w/ the “ice bar” (original located in the Bellagio in Las Vegas). We had a very good / expensive dinner and sampled some nice vodkas from the motherland. Dinner was enjoyable but it was distressing to sit in such a fab. restaurant, eating good food, soaking up the atmosphere whilst surrounded by older folks (sorry to be cruel) & people wearing shorts & sneakers. At one point, I saw a couple come in with 2 little girls. I found it appalling. There should be a dress code. After dinner, we taxied over to the Borgatta (new casino) for the Black Crowes concert. The Borgata is GORGEOUS (for an AC casino, that is) & very similar to the Bellaggio. They both have the hanging glass lighting sculptures (from the same artist), separate hotel entrance, upscale shopping arcade, art gallery, fancy casino area, etc, etc,. but again, I was horrified by the sneakers, sweat socks, tee-shirts and plastic cups – truly horrified!! The show was in a huge banquet room. There were about 35 rows of 'stadium seating' set up against the back of the 'hall' while the area in front of the seats (about 2 times the size of the seated area) was all standing room. We sat in the first row of seats smack in the center. The stage was neat but rather boring (lots of tall / standing candelabras w/ candles burning). The smell of incense made me absolutely nauseas after about 5 min. & I literally felt sick the entire time so I was not a happy camper. The Black Crowes played all (new?) stuff that I never heard so I couldn't really get into the music. I think that may have been my last concert; I didn’t have much patience for all the young, noisy people who seem to have no manners whatsoever. We went back to the beach Monday & the weather was perfect. (I did not force Simbalina into the water.) Steve dropped us home @ 6:30ish & I was fast asleep by 10 pm after reading several chapters of Wuthering Heights. Once again, those “Literature experts” were right about the classics – it’s nice to finally read them.