Choppers Sound Like Rock 'n Roll

Caught the (still) birthday boy going over the menu. #CubanPetes #Birthday #Dinner #Instamood #iphone4 #iphoneography #family #memories #2012

Doing my last-minute checklist of things to pack for our drive up to Maine later this morning.

My brother will be attending Bates College but first we have to get his stuff to campus. Then attend some pre-planned activities, and then drive back to NJ.

I tend to overpack, but in lieu of forgetting some essentials, I wrote them down on an index card.

I get to visit some states in the US that I’ve never been to. Plus, I’ll be putting my new portable DVD player to work.

What a car ride this shall be!

This picture of my sister and myself is from her birthday back in January.

(I’m only taller than her here because I was wearing really sexy heels.)

Oh and shoutout to Delisa for taking the picture! lol

So my younger cousin who is about to graduate from high school is going to MED SCHOOL!!!!!!! (He’s doing an 8 year program)

I’m so happy for him! Apparently being in healthcare just runs in the family. His parents are nurses, and his older sister is studying to be a pharmacist.

Meanwhile over in my household, we’re all students of THE ARTS! We’ll be starving artists, but we’ll look good while doing it.

; )

My godmother didn’t want me to post her picture, but since she’s surrounded by her nieces and nephews here, this picture technically doesn’t count!

My Brooklyn babies celebrating my cousin Marc’s birthday.

I spent my weekend with most of them, catching up on how much they’ve grown up!

So my god-mother who spoils me, but who I never get to see, invited me to spend the weekend with her. I haven’t even been in this apartment complex for a number of years, but when it came time to ring the doorbell It was like we never left.

Before my sister was born, we lived in Brooklyn, then when she was born we moved to Jersey. I think it’s cool that a whole cluster of my family tree is available in different combinations in the same place.

My aunts and uncles and little cousins have maintained the same residence for over 20 years. It’s cute that my cousins go back and forth between guardians throughout the day.

My aunt Mo came over to my god-mother’s and made sure I knew that she was expecting me back at her place when we got back from the beach. Then I saw my cousin Emmanuel and his sister Natalie randomly came over to grab sandwiches. (so cute!)

So since there was no parking at our first attempt at the beach, we headed to Coney Island. I’d never been and I have to say that although the New Jersey shore can get crowded, Jersey-crowded pales in comparison to Coney Island. I think if I came back without the kiddies, I’d have so much more fun. Today was family-friendly fun, but there were many opportunities for 21 and older activities right on the beach!

Almost every five minutes there was a new Corona vendor coming by! (They don’t do that in Jersey) And some vendors even had random ass jewelry! I felt like I was in a whole new world! Who knew the beach was an opportunity to make money? (sarcasm)

I had a good time rolling about in the sand and surf. My hair got really wet when a rogue wave caught me off-guard, but I spent most of the day laid out and watching the many people around me. Maybe I’ll have to get some city folk together to do some of the attractions available.

Right now I’m in a room with 5 little cousins and my brother waiting for them to go to bed.

Church in the morning, then back to the beach before getting back to Jersey in the afternoon.

Oh I can already feel that I’m going to sleep well! My feet are killing me, but I’ve got that rolling wave sensation in my legs, which means good sleep!

I’m happy for the welcome change because I feel as though I’m making the most of my summer, which I’ve been neglecting to do. So yeah, good times!