a fantastic long weekend still in the works

ok, so today is Sunday (love this day) and my NEW CHOIR sang at church today. We did wonderfully, the message was on bitterness which was good cause the diva in me was REALLY annoyed when the old lady that sits next to me in choir sang my one-note solo at the end of the song along with me. Can you believe it? That I would be annoyed at such a little thing? But in my mind she's built up as some kind of choir arch nemesis and so today she crossed me again. Plus she's really old so no one's going to tell her to leave the high-note singing to the youngsters. But I'm not bitter, cause I learned about that today :)
So my trip to Jersey was wonderful.
I cannot say enough good things about the fine company I kept there,
the beautiful sights that were the New Jersey coast,
and just the whole time.
It WAS, however, funny to spend time with committed blog- READERS who would comment throughout the weekend of things that should make or be censored from the blog. Cindi was just having the hardest time knowing that the Cindy at home (mom, for all you newbies to the blog) would be hearing about the bar-fight we almost witnessed. (for the record- did not actually WITNESS a bar fight, just heard some people yelling.) haha. I told them don't worry, guys, I won't write anything bad about New Jersey. Unless we get shot at then I'm putting it in. The gloves are coming off at that point. But we didn't, and that was very nice. I cherish my bullet-free space, you know.
So a great time was had there, and I just loved their little community, felt so homey. I fully plan on A. going back and bringing friends- ones I already have and new ones to make and B. MAKING friends with the kids that live in those huge gorgeous lake homes so they'll invite me to come hang out in the summer. we'll see if this happens! :) It was really great to be able to meet someone (Cherie) who instantly recognized my mom's resemblance, who marveled at how I acted so much like a Smith (fake last name- see mom I AM getting street-smarts! haha) but also so much like my mom. It was great to talk to people who knew my family, and we could tell stories and jokes about back home. I think that's one of my favorite things- being part of a family that is so widely loved that I can walk into the home of someone simply from my town and already be loved, just by them knowing my family and my roots. Pretty cool. Then, of course, coming back to home sweet home Port Chester, where I had to walk around the duct-taped hood of a car that had made it's way onto the side-walk while I was gone for the weekend. Eh, what you gonna do? Oh well :) ALSO we went to a real crab shack. not like Joe's Crab Shack the chain. An actualy shack. that serves Crab. Like they go boating and get the fish, then they sell it and also cook it up into amazing food. I had a crab cake sandwich and shrimp that I had to peel (didn't know Shrimp even had to be peeled?) It was awesome, and I bet it's the place to be in the summer, since it's just down the road from the beach.
Today after church I went out to brunch with my new friend Regine. you know those people that you become friends with that you just think, yep, we are totally meant to be friends, you don't even have to think about it? It just happens? That's how it was with her. We both just knew! She's from Yonkers (just N of the Bronx) so she talks like those Bronx people from the movies. It's great, I think i sort of try to steal her accent and pick up little pieces here and there so I sound cool when I come home. Is that lame? Oh well :) So we've been trying to get together outside of bible study for weeks, and it finally worked out today. We chatted for an hour or two over a huge breakfast for me, hot tea for her (this may be the one fault in the friendship, I will have to do some investigating in future meals to make sure she's not a small eater) and it was so fantastic. We laughed and joked and talked about our history with God. Really, really great. God is totally blessing me with her friendship which is totaly amazing.
I'm actually heading back to the city today- Jodi Kneisel and I are hanging out. The way our relationship works is we make plans as far as a day, then meet up whenever and do whatever. SO NICE to have such a low-maintenance friend! Of course, I spend hours looking up fun options of things to do in NYC on the internet (as Megan and Tina can attest, I like to have options when I go a new fun place- whenever we go on vacation together I put together a huge book filled with stuff to do, including possible itineraries, Jane think you could have a job for me? :) ) so we've got some fun possibilities including a jazz club, a comedy club where her friend's performing, and a huge clothing swap meet tomorow which I am FULLY planning on attending. It will be my first time to Brooklyn so that'll be one for the books. :) tomorow is some holiday so I have the day off so I plan to really live it up and have an amazing free time in the city. The free NYC type websites are getting a LOT of business with me in town :)
ok, love you all!

mini-sunday Sermon-
Bittnerness destroys you and poisons your soul. You can't wait for the person to apologize cause they might never do it and you will end up getting ruined in the process. Let it go for the sake of your relationship and because we are told to forgive quickly and completely. What are YOU holding onto?