07.01.05 On Friday July 1, Jane, Ben and I drove to the Verizon Store IMG_0345 and approached the Verizon Store IMG_0346 only to decide that it was too crowded to handle before lunch so we went to Chevy's and started with chips and dip IMG_0347 as Ben posed IMG_0348 I took this self portrait IMG_0349 and Jane posed between trips for tortillas IMG_0350 and then the food came -- Ben's burrito IMG_0351 my combination plate IMG_0352 and Jane's quesadillas IMG_0353 all nicely brought by our waitress IMG_0354 who didn't comment when Ben brought half his massive lunch home IMG_0355 and I went to get this sign for my collection IMG_0356 so that we could return to Verizon where this woman (and her co-worker) IMG_0357 took care of everything and this woman activated Ben's new number IMG_0358 so that he'd be ready for the new school year.

07.02.05 Saturday July 2 started with breakfast with Edwin Jr. IMG_0359 and Edwin Sr. IMG_0360 as they ate cantaloupe IMG_0361 and berries IMG_0362 and Sarah IMG_0363 and Ed IMG_0364 and me (in this self portrait) IMG_0365 and Suzanne IMG_0366 discussed the different routes they might take as they brought their baggage IMG_0367 and loaded the car IMG_0368 as Ed and Sarah IMG_0369 were amused by the dent in the car IMG_0370 and they headed off to Martha's Vineyard.

Later that day, the other 4 of us walked in town and Suzanne and Jane powed in front of the church IMG_0371 and then Ben IMG_0372 Suzanne IMG_0373 and Jane IMG_0374 did individual poses that could be edited together should the need arise. We left Suzanne IMG_0375 to get her lunch and headed to the bagel/sushi place for ours IMG_0376 where Jane chose the OJ IMG_0377 and not the coffee IMG_0378 and Ben settled for Snapple IMG_0379 while I went next door to Zorba's and took this picture of my server IMG_0380 before joining Jane IMG_0381 and Ben IMG_0382 and opening my Greek salad IMG_0383 as Suzanne returned with her sandwich IMG_0384 and Suzanne took a bite IMG_0385 as we took pictures of the drinks -- Suzanne's water IMG_0386 and Jane's orange juice IMG_0387 and then Ben's ice cream IMG_0388 and Jane's frozen yogurt IMG_0389 from Thomas Sweets. We watched these people get their baby IMG_0390 and took many pictures of Suzanne IMG_0391 IMG_0392 IMG_0393 IMG_0394 IMG_0395 and Ben IMG_0396 IMG_0397 IMG_0398 IMG_0399 IMG_0400 IMG_0401 IMG_0402 IMG_0403 IMG_0404 and me IMG_0405 Suzanne IMG_0406 and Jane IMG_0407 not the mention the people at the next table IMG_0408 before heading to The Piccadilly IMG_0409 where they had a massive collection of Vera Bradley bags IMG_0410 and the owner posed with Jane and the Vera Bradley bag she chose IMG_0411 while telling us a false history of Vera Bradley. Our next stop was CVS where Suzanne found a magazine IMG_0412 that had a picture of the kitchen she wanted IMG_0413 and Ben studied his magazine IMG_0414 until we ran into Nancy Malkiel getting drugs for her mother IMG_0415 and then Cindy George in the false teeth section IMG_0416 as Jane and Suzanne helped Ben choose a magazine IMG_0417 and we headed down Nassau Street noting that the March for Social Justice was coming soon IMG_0418 even as we went into the Athlete's Foot where Jerome Silbergeld IMG_0419 showed us the shoes IMG_0420 he could not replace as Suzanne and Jane IMG_0421 helped Ben IMG_0422 chose the shoes he should get. My next stop was the men's room at Starbucks where I found this instructive collection sign IMG_0423 and saw a very nice soap dispenser IMG_0424 before we stopped in Palmer Square to see the Kramer's brick IMG_0425 and then went into Ralph Lauren where this woman explained why 50% off is not 50% off IMG_0426 even as I tried on a seersucker jacket that didn't fit. IMG_0427 As we moved down Nassau Street, first we saw Andrew Black and his father IMG_0428 then Albert Einstein IMG_0429 to whom I lifted Ben IMG_0430 IMG_0431 IMG_0432 before letting Ben read the caption IMG_0433 and then our friend reading the newspaper and Suzanne, Ben and Jane posed IMG_0434 IMG_0435 IMG_0436 IMG_0437 IMG_0438 and then we recorded the newspaper IMG_0439 and then Jane, Ben and I posed IMG_0440 IMG_0441 IMG_0442 IMG_0443 IMG_0444 before we came home for a rest.

That evening, Hank and Sue Farber IMG_0445 came by and we went to Hannah and Mason's for dinner. They were nice enough to bring the wine IMG_0446 IMG_0447 IMG_0448 and the appetizers IMG_0449 IMG_0450 were quite impressive as were the main courses IMG_0451 IMG_0452 and the dessert choices IMG_0453 which were my prelude to seeing their first dollar earned IMG_0454 and this collection sign IMG_0455 before I posed with Suzanne and the chef IMG_0456 then, the chef, the waiter, Suzanne and me IMG_0457 and after coffee IMG_0458 and dessert IMG_0459 the chef and the owner IMG_0460 IMG_0461 posed for us.

07.03.05 Sunday July 3, 2005 was the day for the beach so Lucy IMG_0462 and Fred IMG_0463 arrived and joined Jane IMG_0464 in the search for the sun IMG_0465 as the clock showed we were 7 minutes ahead of wheels up time IMG_0466 so we stopped at Maidenhead Bagel and this server IMG_0467 took our order as Fred, Lucy and Jane IMG_0468 waited and this waiter IMG_0469 kept them amused until Fred, Lucy and Jane IMG_0470 got their bagels and we were on our way until we hit the traffic IMG_0471 and the people in the back of the car IMG_0472 didn't realize I was taking this self portrait IMG_0473 as we followed the sign to Point Pleasant Beach IMG_0474 and found our way to Bradshaw's Beach which we had visited in 2002 Suzanne got directions and quarters IMG_0475 and then the beach was there IMG_0476 as we came back from the parking meter and everyone IMG_0477 IMG_0478 went past the facilities IMG_0479 to the beach where the life guards IMG_0480 were in charge as the girls sat IMG_0481 and Ben played IMG_0482 and Fred posed with this girl from flute camp IMG_0483 as we made a Poland Springs bucket IMG_0484 and the first of many air advertisements flew over Rachel's head IMG_0485 as Ben and I IMG_0486 enjoyed the scenery before we decided to walk along the boardwalk to look for lunch past this bench giving a philosophy IMG_0487 as we followed the woman with the hamsa ink IMG_0488 and saw the first greasy food IMG_0489 as Lucy, Jane and Fred marched along the boardwalk IMG_0490 past the greasiest spoon IMG_0491 until we settled on indoor eating and Jane studied the menu IMG_0492 as we got a medium cheese fries IMG_0493 and I had a Diet Snapple IMG_0494 and salad IMG_0495 as Jane brought back 2 hot dogs IMG_0496 one for Ben (which made him sick for 2 days) IMG_0497 and one for Jane IMG_0498 and Lucy had her burger IMG_0499 and Fred had her chicken fingers IMG_0500 as it took two tries to record the sausage and onions sub of the lady at the next table IMG_0501 IMG_0502 even as I took this self portrait IMG_0503 and these pictures of Suzanne IMG_0504 Ben IMG_0505 Jane IMG_0506 Lucy IMG_0507 and Fred IMG_0508 before we went back to the boardwalk for games of chance. Ben shot IMG_0509 and made his second shot IMG_0510 and so Ben posed with his prize IMG_0511 as the carnival barkers watched IMG_0512 and then the whole gang tried the water gun races IMG_0513 with Suzanne having some trouble getting any action IMG_0514 as her tube was on empty IMG_0515 as the other tubes rose IMG_0516 and Fred won but the whole group posed with the barker IMG_0517 before we went to the photo booth and Lucy, Jane and Fred posed IMG_0518 IMG_0519 IMG_0520 IMG_0521 IMG_0522 and I was able to produce this photo strip PhotoBoothStrip just like the professionals do. After watching a few games involving cranes IMG_0523 IMG_0524 IMG_0525 IMG_0526 we walked back down the boardwalk IMG_0527 IMG_0528 and I went to feed the meter for the car IMG_0529 so that we could enjoy some more beach time IMG_0530 as the advertisements flew by IMG_0531 and Jane and Ben found their way to the ocean IMG_0532 IMG_0533 IMG_0534 IMG_0535 even as a series of ads for a car dealer flew over IMG_0536 IMG_0537 IMG_0538

07.04.05 As we had done in years past
June 14, 2003
July 4, 2002
July 4, 2001 and
July 4, 2000 and
it was time to celebrate July 4 with the McKeon/Williams family.

Ben brought Ben Strauss IMG_0539 and we were greeted by Lucy and John IMG_0540 as Carolyn made a drink for Suzanne IMG_0541 and Michael appeared IMG_0542 as the chips IMG_0543 and implements of celebration (some once alive and some about to explode) were ready IMG_0544 even as our drinks IMG_0545 were poured IMG_0546 and this toy was given to the Bens IMG_0547 as Kaylen arrived (in her new vegetarian mode) IMG_0548 as did the Szabo parents IMG_0549 so that we went outside to admire the new yard with the tomato plants IMG_0550 and many potted plants IMG_0551 IMG_0552 along with the decorations IMG_0553 as the Bens tried to decide what to do IMG_0554 and the hors d'oeuvres IMG_0555 were ready along with more decorations IMG_0556 and karmic writings IMG_0557 IMG_0558 on the walls that inspired the horse shoe pitchers IMG_0559 as Lucy and Kaylen stared in the direction IMG_0560 of the drinks IMG_0561 as Robby George IMG_0562 and Cindy George IMG_0563 and Kevin Manley and Rosie IMG_0564 arrived and Carolyn oured a drink for IMG_0565 Karen Manley IMG_0566 as the teenagers gathered IMG_0567 and Cindy and Karen compared notes IMG_0568 even as Alessandro and Lucy IMG_0569 watched Kaylen shake up and down IMG_0570 as the adults talked IMG_0571 and Rosie IMG_0572 got ready for food from the grill IMG_0573 as Jane and Kaylen posed IMG_0574 as did Rosie and Kevin IMG_0575 and Andrew IMG_0576 as more smoke arose IMG_0577 from the cooking meat IMG_0578 and Kaylen IMG_0579 IMG_0580 and Jane IMG_0581 enjoyed their meals. I made my way through the condiments IMG_0582 to assemble this plate IMG_0583 which looked differently in the dark IMG_0584 and to consider some wine IMG_0585 IMG_0586 to help me reach the clean plate club IMG_0587 as Kevin and Rosie said farewell IMG_0588 and fruit IMG_0589 and cakes were served IMG_0590 to make this dessert IMG_0591 IMG_0592 for me as it became time to release the balloons IMG_0593 and the Bens were ready IMG_0594 IMG_0595 as some balloons were gathered IMG_0596 and launched IMG_0597 IMG_0598 but could still be seen in the distance IMG_0599 IMG_0600 as everyone watched IMG_0601 and Ben IMG_0602 and Suzanne IMG_0603 stood together IMG_0604 as Ben Strauss talked with Karen Manley about Littlebrook IMG_0605 and Sam Haim IMG_0606 and Wendy Young IMG_0607 arrived as we said good bye to Jane's gang IMG_0608 and to Jane IMG_0609 and headed home after another happy July 4th weekend.