Hurricane Sandy Photos

I've made a decision regarding the sharing some of my post Hurricane Sandy photos here publicly:

I will wait.  It's too soon.  Especially for those who have lost so much.  And there are certain areas/towns where I haven't taken any photos because I've been too upset upon seeing them to do so.

I thank you in advance for your understanding.

Advice Regarding Helping Sandy's Victims

I have been asked many times how folks can help Sandy's victims and this has been my husband's advice from the get-go.  (He is Commander of a local American Legion Post and a Marine). I've tried to add more specific details to put you in the right direction:

To make sure all donations get to those who need it in affected areas, go through *your* local communities!

(ie: Church/ Veterans Organization (American Legion, VFW etc)/ food bank/ schools/ library/ EMS-Fire-Police/ Community Organization (Elks, Moose, Knights of Columbus etc).

Have them contact their counterparts in affected areas (by contacting local municipalities as some locations for our local organizations have been damaged or lost) regarding specific needs for an area and where donations can be shipped.

If you follow me on twitter, I've been re-posting information regarding local communities in our immediate area that have been affected which could help you with specific places to get in touch with as well.

I've heard of folks in states like Florida and Louisiana collecting truck loads of donations which they're bringing here next week.  (One happens to be one of my sisters.in.law and her husband; I've seen through fb what they've been doing and the other has been updating through our local ems - so these are not just rumors).

Nothing against large organizations, but donations to them are used throughout the organization and for overhead, even if you're making a donation for a specific disaster.  And with needs literally from the most basic all the way up through temporary & permanent housing, Sandy's victims need all the help they can get ASAP.

I hope this helps those who've asked or who've been wondering what they can do!

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Moving Forward. Again.

I'm writing to you, dear friends, as the sun sets beyond the hills that shelter and shadow us here at our coastal home. I realize I don't normally post writings here as this is more of a 'show don't tell' blog but, I'm trying to work through what's happened and writing has always been the start for me.

Yesterday, for the first time since Hurricane Sandy devastated NJ, things started to feel oddly normal again. "Oddly normal" because around us things are anything but "normal."

I'm still dazed and stunned. Numb. But, there's more and I really don't know how to begin explaining to you how I feel. Heartbroken? I'm not sure that covers it honestly. Or does justice to it all. Sadness? I'm definitely sad, but I just cannot, as of yet, find any word or words that begin to express how I feel about what's happened to my beloved home state of NJ.

Maybe this will give you an idea:

The place where Hubbs and I watched our first thunderstorm & waited out the rain together, where we didn't have our first kiss but our second, third & forth... Gone. The place where he first took me out to dinner... Gone. The home where we first said, "I love you..." Gone. The home where we had so many very first firsts, mundane & intimate... Gone. (Granted it was his place and shortly after getting together he moved into mine, but still). My favorite spots to stop and sit awhile at the harbor... Gone. Our friends restaurant, in our sister town, a favorite breakfast spot... Gone. (Again! Hurricane Irene wiped them out last August & they rebuilt. This time they won't). One of my/our favorite places in the whole world, especially in the off season (Autumn and Winter) the barrier island of Sandy Hook/Fort Hancock isn't gone but I can't even imagine when folks will be able to get on The Hook again.

Gone. Or forever changed.

So many memories.  A lifetime.

I'm still shaking my head...

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Yes, a week after Sandy...

We had a Nor'easter yesterday through last night that brought snow. And by Monday we could reach 70*.

I can't figure it all out either!

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I have never loved my state of New Jersey more than I have since Hurricane Sandy turned us upside down and left so much of the state, especially our coastal & barrier island communities, in ruins.  I've always loved my state, but often we don't know how much until something like this happens.

As much as I love my New Jersey, I don't know if I can do this anymore.  2 hurricanes in 14 months.  One worse than the last.  The stress of preparing and going through these storms is too much.  Seeing what's happened is too much.  I've lived near water my whole life, river, bay, ocean.  But, it's not safe.  Not here anyhow.  Like many others, I think we'll be going back inland.  (When, I don't know, but we have to try).

We, right here, fared with Sandy better than we did last August with Irene and for that we are incredibly thankful.  (Hopefully I can say the same after the Nor'easter that's supposed to hit tomorrow & Thursday). Literally a mile away, closer to the bay, all along the coast, it is not the same case.

I really have no words for what I've seen first hand, through video and photos. I'm stunned and utterly heartbroken.  We all are.  (And in NY as well, as many of their coastal communities are in ruins).  It's so awful.  The New Jersey I've known my whole life, that so many of us born & raised here have known our whole lives is GONE.  Gone.

Wordless Wednesday

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Autumn In Northwestern NJ

Our annual October week at our 2nd home has begun and these are just a sampling of the photos I've taken today! Imagine how many I'll have by the 28th?! For more Autumnal shares be sure to stay tuned to Diggin' Around as well.
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On The Water: Looking Towards Home...

Taken October 6th, a quiet, cold, Sunday morning before the rain started.

Forgive my long absence here.  To find out what I've been up to, click here.

On The River

At sunset, this area of the Navesink is just about the most peaceful place I know. Only a few miles from where I grew up, but worlds apart it seems. Wednesday hadn't been the best of days (I'd had yet another awful migraine) and I was glad to see such a beautiful end to the day.

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Weekend Scenes

15 acres of Sunflowers.

Breakfast time!

So many out & about with the delightful Autumn-like weather!

Because it's so odd...

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A Local "Icon"

Otherwise known as "the creepy clown".

It's been here for as long as I can remember (and longer than that!).  Originally a Food Circus supermarket mascot, this one is maintained by the liquor store chain that has long had the property (or so I've heard) and it was recently re-painted. I rather like him now with his vibrant colors! Hubbs said he read somewhere in the local paper that it's rumored to be haunted. Why the creepy clown would be haunted is beyond us!  (Just noticed I cut off the top of his hat!)

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Weekend Scenes (Part 1)

What did you do this weekend? Mine looked like this:

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Scroll down to the next post to view Sundays photos!

Weekend Scenes (Part 2)

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Weekend Scenes

We lost my father.in.law a few days after I last posted here.  There have been many tears & much to do since then and I'm only now just getting back into the swing of things, finding another new normal.  Thank you for sticking with me.
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Beautiful End To A Hotter Than Hot Day

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My Favorite Spot For Sunsets

Weekend Scenes

I have a few weekends to catch up on but in the mean time, enjoy this weekend's scenes:

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I've been trying to get a photo of at least one of the Scottish cows on this local farm for what seems like eons. Today everything aligned when we caught a red light and I happened to have my (cell) camera in hand. (Hubbs was driving). Just after I took this, the cow switched to a skinny birch tree behind that large one and was finally able to scratch its' ears!

Coastal Wordless Wednesday

If Ever There Was A Haunted House...

This should be it.  (Click on photo for larger view).

The River Of My Childhood

Click on pics for larger view.

Unfortunately what brings me back to this side of the river today, specifically to this view of the river, is the hospital again, today for my mom. (Visit my (Not So) Wordless Wednesday post on Diggin' Around for a full update about mom by clicking here). In the top picture, centered at the horizon, is a tower mostly obscured by fog and rain. Very close to that tower is home. It is a beacon for me now when I'm here, as a patient or as a daughter for her mother. I'd be very happy never to see this view again and stay on that side of the river.

Weekend Scenes

Click on pics for larger view.

1) Arriving in Atlantic City on Saturday.
2) Inside The Golden Nugget Casino (where we watched The Kentucky Derby)
3) Sunday morning, ready to leave AC looking at Absecon Lighthouse
4) Bye bye AC!  (Looking from Route 30)
5) Favorite breakfast spot on the way home from AC
6) Tuckerton Lighthouse

Weekend Scenes

Click on pics for larger view.

In our northern town. Top photo was taken early yesterday evening when we went into town to pick up dinner. Few cars on the streets, few people in the three restaurants that were still open. Quiet & shut down for the weekend. Reminded me of the town I grew up in on the Navesink River. "You can't go home again" but it's nice to find home again elsewhere.