It was time for a pilgrimage to Asbury Park. Along the way, we stopped in
Hightstown to go to the Hights Bohemian Cafe
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where Dr Len
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ordered the oatmeal drink
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and I had the Inca Kola
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in pineapple flavor. The corn meal cakes
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were followed by the fried sweet plantain
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which showed better without the flash
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and then I had my salad
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and Len had his pork
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that fueled us for the journey ahead. After getting this picture
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for the collection, we drove on.
Our first view of Asbury Park was of the last attempt at redevelopment
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which seems to have failed. While recording the Paramount
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this truck asked to be recorded
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as we aimed for the HoJo's
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and the convention center
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which still operates
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and has a boat on top
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from which closeups
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can be captured. While Dr Len checked the door
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I looked down the beach
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because Howard Johnson's didn't seem open
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despite the sign that said otherwise. The beach warned about swimming
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and the beer was probably cold
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but Howard Johnson's
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has seen its better days
as we looked at the beach
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and down the boardwalk
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and even Madam Marie
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showed no signs of life. The boardwalk
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didn't seem to need this usage sign
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but the Stone Pony
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seemed to be alive as we ambled on to the antique store
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and then captured pictures of the worn down rotunda
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as Dr Len demonstrated the 4 foot rule
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for which he overpaid. Back to the rotunda
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and adjoining buildings
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and the old salt water taffy shop
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by the pizza store
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none of which gave any sense of life. But, we saw our goal
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the greatest wall neon anywhere coming into sight.
We recorded the long view
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and then the windows of the rotunda
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before getting closer
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and zooming
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and getting closer
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and zooming
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until we were almost there
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and could record the size sideways
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and work our way
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to head on views
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from broader angles
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all of which amused Dr Len
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who was still happy to have his four foot rule
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we recorded the local environment
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and then zoomed in on the major face in this great sign
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which is no longer an inviting locale
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possibly because there is no one buying beach badges
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these days. On the way back to the car, we passed the senior citizen center
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bid farewell to Madam Marie
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and the Salt Water Taffy shop
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before heading downtown to see Sonny's
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in the midst of a snow covered street scene
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where Louis Farrakhan
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is too present and toys
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and sinks
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line the sidewalk.
When I got home, Suzanne was knitting
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as the kids gathered
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and Daniel Suo
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promised that he would win in Utah while Ben watched Justin and Ned
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get the chess game to this situation
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while Rosie, Kevin (birthday boy) and Stephent
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watched the basketball game
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and Jane and Lucy made weird faces
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and Lucy watched
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the birthday boy
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negotiate the crowd
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as the laptop ran fsck
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the chess game continued
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and Jane got up
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to serve the pizza
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and brownies
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and everyone wished Kevin a happy birthday.