Just got back from Sandy Hook. Spent the day at the beach with Annemarie and Earl. I was up at about 7:45 this morning. Most of my Saturday chores were done last night, so all I had to do was get the papers and bagels. Annemarie wanted to leave closer to 9:00, I was aiming for 10:00 but ready for 9 just in case. It worked out that she didn’t start moving until 9:00 so I got the beach things together at my leisure.

I even had enough time to get my monthly haircut at Mr. L’s. I’ve been going to Mr. L’s for a while now, once a month get my hair chopped off. It grows thick and is like a helmet during the summer. Plus short hair is no muss and no fuss. I sat in the chair while Tony clipped and shaved and buzzed, giving me a decent fade, which I think is sexy. And he takes the time to try to clip out the white hairs in my goatee while he trims it into a workable shape. Sort of like landscaping on my face.

He earns a good tip after wielding a straight razor and not slicing any major arteries or ears. I was able to have a good breakfast, the weekend special, eggs, coffee and bagels. Not so humdrum, I enjoy it. Puttered about and did my thing, reading the papers. Chatted with Juan online, eventually the buzzer buzzed and it was Earl. They made it to Hoboken and soon enough we were on the road.

I wasn’t really sure Sandy Hook would be open but it worked out fine. We got there around noon, having stopped off for sandwiches and liquids for the beach. Nothing alcoholic, since Annemarie couldn’t drink since she was driving, Earl was too young to drink and Julio wasn’t around. I could’ve bought and finished a six pack on my own for sure, but opted not to. I really haven’t been drinking much lately. No one to drink with anyway. And since you can’t smoke in the bars anymore, well forget it.

We headed toward North Beach, next to Gunnison Beach which was featuring the wrong people on the nude beach. Keep in mind I sometimes like to have sex, almost fully clothed, so I’m certainly not singling out any particular body type or genitals. Gunnison is such a draw that a lot of people will park a mile away in the North Beach parking lot and walk so they can lose their clothes. This fills up the North Beach parking lot and made us have to walk a mile to get to the proper beach.

It was nice, not crowded like Sea Bright was on June 18. A few families, but enough space between umbrellas and beach blankets to afford some privacy. It was a gorgeous day, sun was bright and warm, it wasn’t humid and there was a nice light breeze. Earl, Annemarie and I threw the Frisbee a few times. Jumped in the water with Earl, Annemarie thought it was too cold. It was initially but within a minute your body could acclimate to the temperature.

Had a lot of fun swimming and playing with Earl. He’s such a good kid. Great imagination and a good student to boot. And he’s creeping up on me in height. He passed his mother years ago when he was eight. We left the beach around 5:00 and decided to head to Red Bank to a vegan restaurant called Down to Earth which for me was alright. For Annemarie and Earl who are vegetarians it was perfect. Annemarie would’ve been willing to go to a place where I could probably get a burger, but I was game for something new, and when she comes back east, they really don’t have many veggie options. I knew that there would be SOMETHING for me to eat on the menu. I settled on Soba Noodles with Peanut Sauce. Thai-esque, but I wouldn’t have minded some chicken. It would’ve been fantastic with chicken.

Here it is a few hours later, just got off the phone with Annemarie who is back at Brian’s house. I joked with her earlier that I would go home and make a burger for dinner, but the noodles were enough. I’m still full. But maybe it’s the chocolate chip mocha latte ice cream we all had while walking around Red Bank. Before we had the ice cream Annemarie and I checked out a men’s clothing store. Oh it was great to be looking at suits again. Oh how I miss them. It was fun to be looking at suits with Annemarie. I don’t think I ever did that before.

And here are some pics