My Wolfeboro Summer

Despite the fact that I feel a bit like I'm cheating on Katie by deciding to continue this blog without her (I'm sorry Katie!  I love you!), I'm going to do it anyway.  Because you know what?  I'm not done traveling.  Nor am I done telling you about how much fun I've been having.  So take that...person that I am angrily addressing.  :)

Anyway, back to the point.  After Katers went back to Cali to take teacher classes, and after I recovered from what turned out to be strep throat, or something (after three weeks of dealing with a nagging sore throat, I finally went to the doctor where I paid $100+ in ER fees and got some meds to mend me), I was having a ball.  (Actually, I was still having fun even when I wasn't yet 100% better, because that's just the kind of girl I am!).  Anyway, aside from getting settled in Wolfeboro, my first order of business was to find. a. job.


My Job
Obviously I found a job, which happened to be conveniently located at the Corner Store, which is a convenience store conveniently owned by my cousin Mary, who I was also conveniently living with for the summer.  It was all very convenient.  Actually, my uncle Ralph is the one who started the current-day version of the corner store like 35 years ago, and Mary bought it from him about 5 or so years ago, so it's been in the family for a pretty long time.  I was thrilled that it worked out that I was able to work at the store with Mary for the summer.  Not only did we get to spend lots of time together, I also got to meet all the locals (especially the drinkers and the smokers, our biggest clientele), I learned a LOT about cigarettes, learned how to count back change (don't make fun of me, I always had a machine that told me what change to give!), and made a bunch of friends.  Also, as a side note, if you've ever considered working at a convenience store because you think it's so easy and you just stand around all day, you'd be dead wrong.  Turns out, there is always something to do, clean, stock or someone to help, at least at the Corner Store :)  Here are some pics from my time at the shop:

Me and my girl Melissa; co-worker extraordinaire and hilarious person (the things that girl says, oh my!)

Davie, Davie, Davie.  Genuine nice guy who referred to me as "blondie," was always ready to hang out at Joe Green's (on Karaoke Thursdays), and repeatedly told me that nobody wants me back in Cali so I should just stay in NH.

Dwight.  Gun enthusiast (used to own a gun shop and is always packing), healer, and exorcist.  Really.  Upon hearing I'm a Cali girl, started referring to me as CC - California Commie :)  Always fun to chat to when he came in the store.  

This is Weston, whose real name is Rich, but who I referred to as Weston b/c he owns Weston Auto Body.  I actually met him for the first time when he fixed my car tire for like $12 when it got a gigantic screw stuck in it.  He is hilarious and crotchety and would throw pennies when he came into the store. :)

Nackie is the sweetest.  She owns Huck's Hoagies which has the most yummy sammies, pizza and more!  Always so nice to catch up!

Me and my girl Mary hanging out at the store.  Best boss ever!  Love you Mar!!!!

Check out this girl workin the cash register like nobody's business, counting back change and generally being a pro.

Karin.  My favorite.  Karin and I bonded basically day one because she lived in the bay area, so we chatted for days about Nor Cal.  Over the course of the summer, she took us out on the lake in her old, beautiful wooden boat and taught me how to golf.  Yes, I learned how to golf.  How cool is that?!?

Showing off her mad muscles while lifting up her 20 oz. coffee....She keeps in shape by obsessively picking weeds and weed-whacking :)

Livin the Life
First of all, New Hampshire is beautiful.  The highways are lined with trees, there are lots of beautiful lakes and quaint little towns abound.  So basically, I just loved driving around NH whenever I got the chance.  And I loved jumping into living a small town lifestyle with my East Coast family.  That meant attending Morgan's preschool graduation, t-ball games, getting drinks on the lake with the cousins, watching the 4th of July parade, bbq-ing, beach days, poker nights, boat rides, shopping, etc.  Here are some random pics from my fun fun summer:

Can't get enough of the Lake Winnipesaukee view!  Drinks on the deck!

Morgan in all her t-ball glory!!!  So fun!  Sadly I missed seeing Tyler play due to my marathon case of strep throat :(

Drinks on the back bay with Ralphie, Mary and Joy!  Beautiful!  But we did have to move inside once the crazy mosquitoes came out!  Itchy!!

Hung out at Johnny's kick-ass house one weekend and we went cruising in his awesome old chevy!  So fun!

Mary's cottage in the woods where I got to spend my summer!  So pretty and peaceful!

Happy 4th of July!  Gotta love small towns on holidays!  We definitely don't get full on parades with floats in Pleasanton!  Really enjoyed partaking in the day's festivities!

Jules and Uncle Ralph

Jeremy and Morgan

Me and Ty

Ty and his buddy

Aunt Dee marching for Romney in the parade, officially out of candy.  Yes, Romney has a vacation home in Wolfeboro and he actually did march in the parade, and gave an impromptu speech afterward.  I, of course cheered for the showing of Obama supporters, but it was interesting actually seeing a presidential candidate in the flesh; they're usually just talking heads on TV!

Even though I'm not a Romney fan, I still love my Aunt Dee! :)

Post parade bbq, smores, beers and sparklers.  Anything better to celebrate the day?  I don't think so.  And followed by great fireworks...even though it was a little smokey from all the fireworks displays around the lake!

Just a typical, glorious day at Rhye's beach.  Went with Aunt Dee, Uncle Ralph, Tyler and Morgan.  We made sandcastles, cow pies, and jumped over the ocean waves.  Such a super great day!

It wouldn't be a true trip back east without some poker-playing time!  We got the girls together at Elaine's house for some delicious food, drinks and lots of poker playing.  I'm not much of a contender, so I was glad we were just playing penny, nickle, dime, and quarter poker.  Still, I may or may not have lost ALL my money by the time the game was over.  wah-wah.  But who cares about winning when you're having so much fun?!?!

This picture doesn't do it justice, but I saw some incredibly beautiful sunsets while in NH!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY JOHNNY!  I was so lucky and excited to be in NH for Johnny's 30th bday.  The whole fam turned out for a delicious dinner and most of us stayed out for drinks afterwards in old Portsmouth.  We bar hopped to our heart's content and just had so much fun!  The craziest part?  It was pouring rain when the last bar closed and the bouncer still kicked everyone out.  Our hotel was just about two blocks away, yet we were soaking wet by the time we got back indoors.  It was actually really fun, and almost liberating to get soaking freaking wet while walking around Portsmouth.  Definitely a night I'll always remember!!!

Gooooooo RedSox!  Miss Mary has bomb Red Sox ticket connections so she, Ralphie, Joy and myself all met up in Boston to enjoy the game.  We were sitting literally two rows back, between 3rd base and home, and it was SO amazing to be sitting in such an iconic/historical stadium with such great seats.  The only down side was that, again, it started raining and was pouring by the middle of the 6th inning, when they called the game.  Because we'd already made it five innings, the game was considered finished.  And I ended up soaking wet.  Again.  How weird is that????  Still, those first six innings were beer and hot dog filled greatness!

The girls all rocking our new Sox shirts before entering Fenway!  We so cute!

"Break Time" on the Lake, with Mary, Lorie and Karin in Karin's beautiful old wooden boat!  So fun!  And a great way to see all the pretty houses around the Lake!

Shopping!  Or more specifically, back to school shopping with Morgan, Julie and Aunt Dee.  There was no mirror for Morgan to check out her outfits in, so I volunteered to take pics so she could see what she looked like.  Boy did she LOVE that.  She's such a little ham! :)

A busy day in downtown Wolfeboro...but a great moment to run down to the Lake for some ice cream, dontcha think?

Before I left Wolfeboro, Aunt Dee and I spent the day together at Strawberry Banke, which is a historic neighborhood in Portsmouth.  You basically get to tour all these wicked old houses and get a glimpse of life in the area at different times through US history!  Pretty cool.  And they have "home-owners" who "live" in the houses and stay in character as you tour their homes.  Pretty fun!  After roaming around Strawberry Banke, we wandered around Portsmouth and met Johnny for a yummy dinner!  Such a great day!

Why yes, I would love some tea at this little fairy tea table!

Nothing says summer like a trip to the drive in movie theater.  The Sprinces joined Mary and I for a viewing of ParaNorman, and then Mar and I stuck around to watch Dark Night.  Fun double feature.  The best part, turning our cars into comfy couches, and pigging out on candy and popcorn.  Yay!

And did I mention the wildlife???  Aunt Dee and Uncle Ralph were dropping me off at Mary's house one night when Aunt Dee spotted two Deer in the meadow right across the street from Mary's house.  First of all, gotta love how much beautiful space surrounds the houses, and you also gotta love seeing so much wildlife.  It's pretty great!!!

Stay tuned for info. on my fun day trips!
ENCM