I called my dad at home to get alternate directions to the GWB since my GPS was adamant I take the Queens-Midtown Tunnel even though the NYPD felt differently about me doing that. As soon as I dialed my parents home number on my iPhone 5 (aka battery sucking hand-held device) it warned me that I had 10% battery life left. For those of you with an iPhone you know how quickly 10% becomes 0%! My Dad confirmed that I should backtrack from the diversion point and take the Triboro Bridge to 87, pass Yankee Stadium and make my way back to the GWB. I was feeling good as I got a green light, made the necessary U turn and headed towards the Triboro bridge. As I paid the toll and veered to the right to get on 87, the NYPD was once again diverting traffic. This time, I couldn't get on 87. I had to merge onto Harlem River Drive. I wasn't concerned at first because this is a route I am very familiar with - I knew I only had 2.5 miles on this road until the on ramp to the GWB would be on my left. Well, after 1 hour I had gone 1/3 of a mile and after 2 hours I had gone another 2/10 of a mile. I called my dad again with the precious seconds of battery life I had left on my phone and he informed me that due to recently discovered damage from Hurricane Sandy there were closing the GWB. Since most of the other Hudson River crossings were already closed due to flooding, my options were limited (and so was the gas supply in my car and battery life on my phone). Pause. Those of you familiar with NYC are probably starting to feel sorry for me at this moment. I was at 155th Street when I had to find an alternate route across the Hudson River. My dad suggested I get off Harlem River Drive, cut across to Broadway and make my way all the way up to 230th Street so I could get on 87 again, go all the way to the Tappan Zee Bridge and come down the Garden State Parkway. This is so far out of the way that it normally wouldn't make sense, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I eventually made my way across 3 lanes of stand-still traffic on Harlem River Drive onto 155th Street and across to Broadway. One hour later I had only made it 19 blocks to 174th Street on Broadway. I had 56 blocks left to go and at this rate that would take me another 3 hours. It was clear I might not make it out of NYC. As I sat through light after light with no movement, I watched the gas slowly drain from my tank. A small miracle occurred when I passed 178th Street and things started to clear up a bit - I actually made it through full intersections in a single traffic light cycle. I eventually made it to 87 and then the Garden State Parkway where I came across a gas station that had a tanker truck filling it's underground tanks as I approached. When I put the car in park at the pump so I could fill up, my car indicator said I had 34 miles left in my tank before empty. My parents house is 18 miles from that gas station. I pulled into their driveway just about 5 hours after I left my cousin's apartment, which again is 21 miles from my parents house! :) I'll be taking the train next time I go visit my cousin Emily!
By the time I got to my parents house the election results were rolling in and Obama had all but been declared the winner. I scarfed down a cornish hen and some water and hit the sack.
The next morning I was heading up to Chester, NY to see my friend Christine again. We had plans to tour some wineries near her house and even though another storm was brewing (Nor'easter Athena) I decided to take a chance and go. I got up there by 10:00 am and we headed off to the wineries! The wine was so-so, but the apple/pear hard cider and apple/pear/raspberry liquors were exceptional. We each bought some and headed to lunch at a lovely Italian place in the center of Warwick. YUM! As we sat at lunch it started to snow and continued to snow through the afternoon, evening and overnight. It didn't bother us in the least as it meant the kids could play in the yard after school and make a snowman while we ordered take out for dinner! That's just what we did. We brought in firewood from the backyard, got the kids from school and hunkered down to play some dominoes, drink some wine and enjoy the view of falling snow from her picture window. Again, just about a perfect way to spend an evening. Christine decided to go pick up sushi for dinner and my car was blocking her in the driveway so I gave her my keys. The kids and I watched her get in the car, then saw the headlights go on-off and then on-off again. Then the car move back about 10 feet and Christine get out of it again. I texted her to ask if she had trouble finding the windshield wipers and she responded with "Your car has outsmarted me! I couldn't find the wipers. And the push button transmission is too complicated. I am taking my car!" We laughed and laughed and laughed as she pulled her own car down the driveway.
School was not cancelled the next day (presumably because it had been cancelled the entire week before because of Hurricane Sandy) so the kids went outside to sled before school because we knew the snow would be completely melted by the time they got home that afternoon. I chose to stay in my jammies inside as 7:00 am is a bit early for me to play in the snow on a Thursday. :) Nate and June enjoyed it and came back in to finish breakfast and get dressed for school. Christine and I did some shopping and grabbed a quick bite for lunch before I headed back to my parents for the night.
On Friday morning my parents and I were driving to the Jersey Shore to visit my Grandmother's grave and stop in to check on her last surviving neighbor, Teresa Burget. We had no issue getting to Brick Township, but saw tons of downed trees and powerless buildings 11 days after the storm. We placed some flowers at the grave and fondly remembered my Grandmother with a few tears. We headed directly to Teresa's house only to find it empty. My parents had seen her last Fall and knew she would be turning 100 years old in August so when we saw an empty house we were concerned. We went up to the clubhouse of the community to ask if they knew anything about her whereabouts and they had little information to share other than the house was still in her name and the monthly membership dues had been paid for the entire year. I pulled out my iPhone and did a quick search which resulted in the sad news that Teresa had passed away on May 8, 2012, a few months shy of her 100th birthday. She was a wonderful woman who was not only a good friend to my Grandmother, but a kind and gentle spirit who loved to garden. I will remember her (and her husband, Tom) fondly and carry them with me in my heart. It was a sad day.
After leaving Brick Township, we made our way to Spring Lake for lunch and to see if the ocean front home of one of my Dad's friends had survived the storm. We were surprised to see that nearly all the homes were still standing, although most had suffered some damage from either wind or water. The most shocking scene was the area where the boardwalk used to stand. The entire boardwalk and beachfront was gone. The only evidence of what used to be there were the cement pilings that held the boardwalk up. It was unbelievable to see. On our way back to the highway we were stopped by local police so the Governor's motorcade could pass. There were about 15 cars in the motorcade and we assume they were inspecting the damage in Spring Lake?!? Hard to be sure.
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On Friday night I had dinner with 9 of my high school friends at a local Italian restaurant. We had coordinated it when I was in NJ the first time around and all met up at Nicola's. We chose a BYOB since JB is now a big-wig at a Terrlato Wines and he can provide as much of the good stuff as we want. He didn't disappoint with an endless supply of delicious wine options. We all got caught up, laughed a lot, chatted about our 20 year high school reunion and promised to do it again at Christmas. We bribed a waiter to take a group photo and headed to the wine bar next door for a night cap. It was a fun.
Since I leave on Sunday to start my journey back to Atlanta, I had to do some shopping on Saturday. I was able to find a 40th birthday present for my sister-in-law and some Christmas presents for my Mom and nephew which will save me from having to ship them up later. One last dinner at a French restaurant with my parents and I am off to Philadelphia to see Jay. More on that in the next post.
By the time I got to my parents house the election results were rolling in and Obama had all but been declared the winner. I scarfed down a cornish hen and some water and hit the sack.
The next morning I was heading up to Chester, NY to see my friend Christine again. We had plans to tour some wineries near her house and even though another storm was brewing (Nor'easter Athena) I decided to take a chance and go. I got up there by 10:00 am and we headed off to the wineries! The wine was so-so, but the apple/pear hard cider and apple/pear/raspberry liquors were exceptional. We each bought some and headed to lunch at a lovely Italian place in the center of Warwick. YUM! As we sat at lunch it started to snow and continued to snow through the afternoon, evening and overnight. It didn't bother us in the least as it meant the kids could play in the yard after school and make a snowman while we ordered take out for dinner! That's just what we did. We brought in firewood from the backyard, got the kids from school and hunkered down to play some dominoes, drink some wine and enjoy the view of falling snow from her picture window. Again, just about a perfect way to spend an evening. Christine decided to go pick up sushi for dinner and my car was blocking her in the driveway so I gave her my keys. The kids and I watched her get in the car, then saw the headlights go on-off and then on-off again. Then the car move back about 10 feet and Christine get out of it again. I texted her to ask if she had trouble finding the windshield wipers and she responded with "Your car has outsmarted me! I couldn't find the wipers. And the push button transmission is too complicated. I am taking my car!" We laughed and laughed and laughed as she pulled her own car down the driveway.
School was not cancelled the next day (presumably because it had been cancelled the entire week before because of Hurricane Sandy) so the kids went outside to sled before school because we knew the snow would be completely melted by the time they got home that afternoon. I chose to stay in my jammies inside as 7:00 am is a bit early for me to play in the snow on a Thursday. :) Nate and June enjoyed it and came back in to finish breakfast and get dressed for school. Christine and I did some shopping and grabbed a quick bite for lunch before I headed back to my parents for the night.
Nate getting ready to throw a snowball at me (I am behind the sliding glass door)
Pretty good aim for a 5-year-old. Thank goodness for the sliding glass door!
On Friday morning my parents and I were driving to the Jersey Shore to visit my Grandmother's grave and stop in to check on her last surviving neighbor, Teresa Burget. We had no issue getting to Brick Township, but saw tons of downed trees and powerless buildings 11 days after the storm. We placed some flowers at the grave and fondly remembered my Grandmother with a few tears. We headed directly to Teresa's house only to find it empty. My parents had seen her last Fall and knew she would be turning 100 years old in August so when we saw an empty house we were concerned. We went up to the clubhouse of the community to ask if they knew anything about her whereabouts and they had little information to share other than the house was still in her name and the monthly membership dues had been paid for the entire year. I pulled out my iPhone and did a quick search which resulted in the sad news that Teresa had passed away on May 8, 2012, a few months shy of her 100th birthday. She was a wonderful woman who was not only a good friend to my Grandmother, but a kind and gentle spirit who loved to garden. I will remember her (and her husband, Tom) fondly and carry them with me in my heart. It was a sad day.
After leaving Brick Township, we made our way to Spring Lake for lunch and to see if the ocean front home of one of my Dad's friends had survived the storm. We were surprised to see that nearly all the homes were still standing, although most had suffered some damage from either wind or water. The most shocking scene was the area where the boardwalk used to stand. The entire boardwalk and beachfront was gone. The only evidence of what used to be there were the cement pilings that held the boardwalk up. It was unbelievable to see. On our way back to the highway we were stopped by local police so the Governor's motorcade could pass. There were about 15 cars in the motorcade and we assume they were inspecting the damage in Spring Lake?!? Hard to be sure.
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Cement pilings that used to hold up the boardwalk in Spring Lake, NJ
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One of the Spring Lake, NJ homes that was damaged in Hurricane Sandy
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Governor Christie's motorcade making it's way through Spring Lake, NJ
On Friday night I had dinner with 9 of my high school friends at a local Italian restaurant. We had coordinated it when I was in NJ the first time around and all met up at Nicola's. We chose a BYOB since JB is now a big-wig at a Terrlato Wines and he can provide as much of the good stuff as we want. He didn't disappoint with an endless supply of delicious wine options. We all got caught up, laughed a lot, chatted about our 20 year high school reunion and promised to do it again at Christmas. We bribed a waiter to take a group photo and headed to the wine bar next door for a night cap. It was a fun.
My high school friends post-dinner at Nicola's in Totowa
Since I leave on Sunday to start my journey back to Atlanta, I had to do some shopping on Saturday. I was able to find a 40th birthday present for my sister-in-law and some Christmas presents for my Mom and nephew which will save me from having to ship them up later. One last dinner at a French restaurant with my parents and I am off to Philadelphia to see Jay. More on that in the next post.
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