Under the boardwalk

Ocean City and Atlantic City both have boardwalks along the ocean, and are only about 30 miles apart. But they're totally different worlds. I can't say one is better than another, it all depends on what you're looking for.

Some things you'll find at both - boardwalk fries (Ocean City's were better), ice cream, salt water taffy, pizza stands on every block, beaches and souvenir stands. It's the anchors on every other block that make the difference. In Ocean City, you'll find amusement parks and arcades. It's all about beaches, food, and family entertainment. Atlantic City's boardwalk is anchored by casinos and nightclubs and tattoo parlors. Yes, there is a large amusement park jutting out over the ocean (see the photo from 2 entries ago) but it's really meant for adults. Ocean City has not a single bar along the boardwalk. Atlantic Casino has them with every casino. Plus you can get your souvenir tattoo or piercing to match each one.

There's a more diverse crowd walking along the AC boardwalk from a variety of cultures and countries. More people are seeking your money (and not just the one-armed bandit types.) For every 10 pedestrians, you'll see a pushcart with someone trying to sell you a ride to the next casino. Not one person was begging for money in Ocean City (unless you count the trio of boys who were singing with their guitars and drums and cool harmonies - but since their tip bucket was barely visible and their smiles were contagious, I think they were doing it mostly for the opportunity to perform.) In Atlantic City, there was the occasional beggar, and some rather odd "performers" with prominent tip buckets marked $$$ in bold colors. I must admit, I've never seen a "stone dancer" before - a man with his face painted grey while he did some pretty pathetic robotic dancing. Or the Invisible Man "performer" - an empty chair with a large tip tub next to it and a sign that said "Invisible Man Act." I bet a very visible man would have come running if someone tried to raid the unguarded money bucket.

Despite the overcast skies and fog that rolled in both evenings, both were uniquely beautiful experiences. I've got salt water taffy from both places (can't decide which is better of those either) and pleasant memories to bring back from each day.

Being

So the second month of my sabbatical comes to a close today. And I'm just now learning how to actually do this sabbatical thing. The first month I was racing through the Northeast so I could see as much as possible in what felt like limited time. I re-learned how to relax during my ten days at Emerald Isle, but still always under some self-imposed pressure to be planning, writing, producing something. My week of writing class was excellent, but again compelled in me the need to produce something (which I did.)

Today while writing my morning pages, I realized that sabbatical is not about where I've been or where I'm going. It's about where I AM. Is it any coincidence that when Moses asked God's name, God answered "I AM"? We find God where we are, not in the planning or the remembering. The only way I can find myself is in the being, not in always looking forward or keeping a foot in the past. Now we'll see if I can finish out my last few weeks with that awareness. I doubt it. Sometimes I'm a slow learner.

A Day without Rain

No rain today! Yippeee! But the rain is still messing up my potential plans for the beginning of my return west this weekend. Everything along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border is flooding, even down into Delaware. I'd have to go back up to New York to get around it all, and that ain't part of the plan at this point. I can't stay here because it's all booked up for the holiday weekend, unless they have cancellations due to people not being able to get here because of the flooding. I have a place potentially reserved in PA, but who knows if I'll be able to get there. Can't worry about it right now though.

I took advantage of the break in the rain here to spend hours on the boardwalk in Atlantic City. Yes, the skeptics talk about how run down this place has become, which it has. But there's still nothing like walking the boardwalk, eating an ice cream cone, watching the diverse mix of people enjoying the day. I'm still trying just once to get through ice cream cone without dripping on whatever shirt I'm wearing with no success yet. What's up with that?? At least the seagulls didn't drop any bombs on me, which HAS happened before. I was here in AC with friends about 10 years ago, but I think I enjoyed it more today, just observing it all.

Right now I'm just way too tired to write all my observations of the day though. Perhaps tomorrow I'll reflect some more on my day - before I head down to Ocean City to compare boardwalks... or shopping... whichever the spirit moves me to do. Or if it rains again, as they're predicting, I may spend my whole day writing!

Something's rotten in the Beast....

There is a stink in here I can't find. This morning I noticed a slight odor - or at least it seemed slight at the time. Since it had been raining NON-STOP for days, I thought maybe it was mildew forming from everything damp that can't dry.

So today I stopped at Target to buy a new vacuum cleaner (the old one burned out - guess a dust buster isn't meant to vacuum a whole floor every week) and a big can of Lysol. I try to keep the Beast clean anyway, but something is amiss.

Getting back in the Beast after my Target stop the odor was much stronger. As soon as I set up camp tonight I did a thorough cleaning and have sprayed every part of this Beast with Lysol. But the odor still persists. I changed the pad under the litter box and sprayed Lysol there. The odor is still here. I checked the fridge, because the odor seems stronger. Nothing is spoiling, and no visible mold. I still sprayed Lysol there. Now I don't know if I'm smelling stink or Lysol.

I have been emptying the holding tanks regularly and using chemicals to counteract the stink of the tanks. So I would hope it's not that. The rain has stopped, the windows are open, the fresh air better do its job!

Or could it simply be that living in here for 2 months solid now is taking its toll?

Rain, Rain Go Away

I cannot believe how much rain I've encountered on this whole trip - especially the last few days. Yesterday, I went to Lake Nockamixon State Park near here with my friend Jeff. We were going to take a walk around the lake but it was raining so much we took a drive instead. Last night it rained almost non-stop through the evening and much of the night. This morning I woke up yet again to the sound of the rain on my RV roof. All morning it's been growing increasingly heavier, and the sound of the rain beating on motorhome is becoming like Chinese Water Torture. My tv volume is up so high it's driving me crazy, yet I still can't hear Charlie Gibson well enough to understand him. There are no signs of it letting up either. We haven't had flooding yet in this part of PA where I am, but if this keeps up it may happen soon.

Rain is predicted for the entire week for the entire Eastern area, so I can't even move to get away from it unless I want to drive through the night to get somewhere far, far west of here. I keep telling myself that this is perfect writing weather, which it would be if not for the Chinese Water Torture aspect. Sanity, don't leave me now!!!