Well this was definitely an Epic Easter Weekend, for sure! Holiday weekends are tough when I can't make it up to New England and see my amazing family. My first year here in Jersey, I did make the trek up to Mansfield, MA for Easter weekend. It was great seeing my family, but the ride home wasn't. If there's no traffic and everything goes right, the drive from Mansfield, MA to here in Vernon, New Jersey is approximately 4 hours or so. That Easter Sunday it took me 7 hours to get back here. I called up my parents in tears explaining as much as I love them, I couldn't justify driving 7 hours for one single day.
The past two Easter Sundays I have tried to embrace being a single, free agent. Last year I went to Rails Steakhouse and treated myself to a filet mignon there. As much as I love Rails Steakhouse, my experience there last year on Easter Sunday was less than fantastic. They kept asking me repeatedly if I was waiting for someone else to join me, no matter how many times I explained to them that I was good as a party of one, solo. After repeated questioning, one of their waiters removed the placemat and silverware across from me on the table. I remember joking with my friends thank goodness that happened to me who's totally fine being solo dining alone, many of my friends have admitted they would've been mortified had this happened to them.
This Easter I wanted to switch things up a smidge and treat myself to a steak at The Industry in Sparta.
We'll start my Epic Weekend In Pictures with Friday night. Friday after work you could sense everyone's excitement over The New York Mets winning their home opener. I met up with my friends Teresa, Ed and Artie for happy hour at The Cottage in Franklin. Artie was on cloud 9 fresh back from taking in the Mets win at Citi Field. I enjoyed Happy Hour with them and then went home, curled up on my couch watching Friends reruns. If that's wrong to spend your Friday night, then I don't want to be right! It was a nice, chill night in for sure.
Friday night I didn't sleep well at all. This allergy season has been brutal on me. If you're battling like I am, god bless you! It's been a tough allergy season for me and so many others. Mine are basically bad all year round, but these last couple of weeks have been especially interesting.
1 of 7 Photo: Friends
2 of 7 Photo: This bridge is frightening!
3 of 7 Photo: In Loving Remembrance
4 of 7 Photo: Hi Cassie!
5 of 7 Photo: Hi Morgan! Thank you to my Aunty Donna and Uncle Paul
6 of 7 Photo: Hi Team!
7 of 7 Photo: Happy Gilmore on Masters weekend!
Saturday afternoon work bestie Shawn and I went up to Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania for a Celebration Of Life. We went for a friend who's mom just passed away. The clubhouse on the lake up there was absolutely beautiful with gorgeous views. My friends did a wonderful job posting so many wonderful photos of her as well.
The ride up there was interesting. This was my first time ever going over the bridge to go from Jersey to Dingmans Ferry. This wooden rollercoaster, err, I mean bridge, is definitely something else. Fortunately Shawn and I had some cash on us for the $2 tolls each way. Talk about driving on a bridge where you have literally zero margin for error. I couldn't believe that their are still bridges like that here in 2023. I joked "we just payed a toll for this bridge? They should be paying us to drive on this!"
On the way back from The Celebration Of Life, I received a message from my friend Cassie who I first met this time a year ago. She was working an event at Wine Country in Franklin, and invited me to go see her. Perfect! She's a good friend and it was great catching up with her.
My friends Steve, Tory and Kyle were around in town and celebrating Steve's recent birthday. They were taking Steve out to dinner at Old Stone House in Warwick for his birthday. I knew driving around that I had to keep on going, one of those feelings you know once you're on your couch, getting up won't be happening. I drove straight from Franklin to Old Stone House in Warwick. Even though I texted them warning I was crashing / joining them for a drink, it felt like I was crashing the party. All good. We enjoyed our drink together and it was terrific to see them. One thing led to another, and we ended up at Kite's in time for the DJ to crank fun throwback songs that we were dancing and singing along too. Saturday night was a much later night than expected, for sure.
1 of 5 Photo: Nice walk with bestie Jennifer
2 of 5 Photo: Haha she made my day!
3 of 5 Photo: Smoke and Embers!
4 of 5 Photo: Here we go Filet all day!
5 of 5 Photo: Yeah buddy!
Sunday morning my bestie Jennifer invited me to join her for a walk at Maple Grange in Vernon. The weather was brisk, but beautiful. It was great seeing her in person and catching up. One of those fun activities I could do due to being an Easter free agent and single. We walked two laps at Maple Grange and called it a day. It was a perfect warm up before my big steak Easter dinner.
I went to Industry and the weather was beautiful. My filet mignon steak was fantastic and I drank a bourbon drink called "Smoke and Embers," that they light on fire and make it smoky. If you enjoy one of those drinks there, it's a guaranteed conversation starter. I'm sure it usually is when you see a drink on fire.
I was happy to report this was easy, and I wasn't shamed for being solo/single like I was at Rails Steakhouse last year on Easter.
It was great getting to be Facetimed by my family while they were all together. Even though I couldn't be with them in person, it was a terrific feeling seeing them all happy and together.
Overall I had a great weekend and hope that you did too. Thank you for taking the time to read my Epic Weekend In Pictures. Time to start planning next weekend!