Sorry for the delay due to some technical difficulties (someday soon we'll be able to transition from my work dinosaur desktop to my brand new laptop, someday soon.)
To quote the movie "It's A Wonderful Life," Clarence the angel gently reminds George, "Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends." For my nearly 40 year old life I am so blessed to have the amazing friends and family I do. I had quite a memorable Fall weekend with so many of my wonderful friends here in Jersey. I have always said there's nothing quite like Autumn here in the Northeast. I was spoiled growing up in New England with all of the beautiful, rich fall foliage. To then live here in Northwest New Jersey where you see fall foliage basically multiplied on steroids is such a treat.
Friday I kicked off my Epic Weekend In Pictures giving a Behind The Scenes tour of Heaven Hill Farm's Great Pumpkin Festival in Vernon. They were PACKED for the big holiday weekend whenever I drove by them. Heaven Fill Harm's Great Pumpkin Festival is a monster of an attraction. Martin and his large team (it HAS to be large,) do a fantastic job of making this family friendly event happen every year. The food always smells fantastic and you can learn so much about animals on top of the fun carnival rides. Between you and me? I was so grateful to be there on a Friday, because the Ferris Wheel wasn't running until the weekend. My fear of heights got the best of me enough when I was merely starting off my Facebook Live video at the top of their highest haystack. Yes, seeing all those bales of hay gave me flashbacks from my Facebook Live video at Space Farms Zoo & Museum, where while trying to learn how to be an assistant zookeeper with my friends Parker and Hunter Space. The result? Me failing and floundering while attempting to throw my first ever bale of 80 pound hay over the fence, where it would come crashing down on my face falling apart. When I was able to successfully throw more hay over the fence to buffalo, I accidentally hit him in the face. I bet not many can say they have accidentally thrown a bale of hay accidentally hitting a buffalo in its face.
1 of 6 Photo: I thought it would be cool starting at the top of Great Pumpkin Festival
2 of 6 Photo: Nice victory beer where we critique how well we did with our video
3 of 6 Photo: Me, Brad and Steve
4 of 6 Photo: Bring on the ribeye!
5 of 6 Photo: Medium rare always because redder is better!
6 of 6 Photo: They were slamming!
Friday later afternoon after our Great Pumpkin Festival, work bestie Shawn and I enjoyed an ice cold beer at Penning's Farm. When Shawn and I do Facebook videos together, as much fun as we have doing them, we have almost as much fun watching our videos together over a beer and critiquing how well we did. It's just one of those friend traditions we have always loved, and definitely don't take for granted after the last 2 years.
After we were pleased with our video, time to meet up with my friends for dinner. I usually don't have an appetite to eat at night, but thanks to my allergies it wasn't too tough to not eat and keep open space. Seriously, is this the worst year for allergies or what? I hate to say misery loves company, but it does make me feel like a little less of a freak when I see so many allergy medications out of stock at pharmacies.
I met up with besties Brad, Steve and JG for dinner at Sylvio's Italian Villa in Warwick on 94. JG made reservations ahead of time for outdoor dining, which ended up being a fantastic decision. The weather was still gorgeous, and their outdoor patio setup is beautiful. I honestly like their outdoor setup even better than their indoor ambiance. I ordered the ribeye. They did a great job nailing my medium rare request, as we know I always say the redder and juicier the better, even if the steak was a little dry. Yes, feel free to bash me like my family and friends do for ordering a steak at an Italian restaurant. I think because I've done decent grilling burgers and steaks on my grill the past 3 years or so, it's made me slightly a beef snob I guess. When you know you'll tend to like something on your grill better than most restaurants it's a surreal feeling. That being said, as much as I tend to do well on my grill, still can't scramble eggs to save my life. I'm sure that keeps many local diners and delis happy, LOL.
Afterwards we swung by Kite's at Minerals in Vernon to have a quick nightcap. At first it was just us, we were a little tired. Right when we were starting to wrap up, a wedding party showed up all happy and filling up the dance floor. Living on Campus in Vernon during wedding season never gets old for me!
1 of 7 Photo: Me, Julia and Brian
2 of 7 Photo: ANOTHER BEAR!
3 of 7 Photo: They were psyched to be on my Weekend In Pictures
4 of 7 Photo: Carl is psyched he won a Weis Gift Card
5 of 7 Photo: Me with Store Manager Peter Contino
6 of 7 Photo: The Team at Weis in Newton are psyched for their new gas station
7 of 7 Photo: Me with Nat enjoying Kilhaney's Spicy Garlic Pickles
Saturday morning I took my show on the road for quite the adventure. Growing up in New England, we have many grocery stores with gas stations attached to them. This is a major win win for everyone involved. I'll admit when grocery shopping up in New England, every single purchase and dollar I spend hurts a little less. Why? Rewards! Gas points! Woohoo! We all love getting more value with our money, right? Weis Market in Newton on 206 is now officially the first grocery station with a gas station attached. WOOHOO!
Store Manager Peter Contino and the whole team at Weis Market were fantastic. All good people, who you can tell are all very excited about the huge new advantage they just built. Everyone in every single department at that grocery store were all smiles. And that was even before they knew I was putting them in my Epic Weekend In Pictures.
Saturday afternoon I was able to successfully accomplish some errands after of course grocery shopping at Weis for a few items.
Saturday night I had a much long overdue night at my friend Sally & Doug's house. Then getting to see Turbo their dog who they adopted after he was my Adopt A Pet Of The Week? They are among the first few friends I made here almost 8 years ago, and to this day they're still among my best. I'm a very lucky person to have the family and friends on my Team, always there for me.
1 of 3 Photo: Yay Pats!
2 of 3 Photo: My fantasy football team did okay!
3 of 3 Photo: In honor of Boston's Marathon Monday
Sunday Football Funday Time at The Irish Cottage! I joked that I had way too much action going on and conflicting all at the same exact time. Sunday I got there early, and Bartender B-Rad was able to get my Patriots on one TV, and Tampa with Brady on the other TV. (Yes, I am well aware of how high maintenance I'm sounding right now, LOL.) I enjoyed a great football Sunday with Patriot/Tampa Fan Friends Lou, Jess, Stacie, Kim, Mark, and then several other regular Cottage friends.
We were all stunned when Fox Sports made the decision to switch over right before the game winning Packers field goal. Switching over before a game winning field goal in a thrilling Packers-Bengals game, to watch Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants players warming up before the game even starts? I'm sure there have been several tense meetings with Fox executives after that one.
Somehow both of my Fantasy football teams won their games. Then I switched over to the Red Sox playoff game. I figured "this is great, they're starting at 4pm, no way I'll be up past my bedtime and cranky like I was last Sunday for the Patriots vs Brady game, right?" Per usual, I was wrong. LOL.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my Epic Weekend In Pictures. Time to start planning my next weekend. Black Bear's Bourbon & BBQ? Sign me up!