Pieces of New Jersey

The time has come for the list. What list, you ask? Why, it's the list of things that are classic New Jersey that I wanted to experience one more time before leaving the east coast for a year. The list is in no particular order and there are a few things that made the list but didn't get photographed so they are going to start off the list.

• Say hi and bye to friends and family (if I didn't make it to you, consider this my personal virtual hi and bye)
• Take a dip in the ocean/beach it up
• WAWA!

Stuffing my face with delicious hoagie!

Peach tea, smokey turkey with honey mustard and spinach, and of course pickles on the side

• Have dad make french toast! This one was made with peach bread from the Amish market, thanks to Kim for the bread!

• Ride my bike and watch the sun set over the bay.

• Surf Taco! Baja bowl as modeled by Jamie with Kevin in the back using the magic new soda machine (it's touch screen and has magical selections)

• Eat some pork roll! Yeah, I enjoy a piece every once in a while so I officially got my one piece a year in, the rest of the pan was for dad.

• Get stuck in traffic on the bridge while it opens! Okay, that wasn't really on my list of things to do but as it turns out, it did in fact happen in the last few days and is pretty much a standard of living on the island, so here it is none the less.

• Go Kayaking down to the lighthouse. The current was crazy strong but we made it all the way.

  

  Look, we're holding the lighthouse in our hands, sort of...

Just chillin' in the back bay

Dad and I managing to pose nicely for a photo.

• And last but not least, by any means - Go to Sonic with Jamie. Seriously, it was delicious. While I realize there are Sonics around the country, it just won't be the same without Jamie or a nuclear power plant in the background.

I've come to realize that a lot of things on the list involved food, and you know what, I'm okay with that. Food is delicious and I'm not apologizing for enjoying and savoring both it and the people with whom I got to experience the joys of eat these amazing foods. With that, I leave you with a picture of my last dinner at home - Roy Rogers biscuits with honey, scallops, and tofu noodles.

Also please note the awesomeness that is my dinosaur pasta scooper from Ikea.

As my time winds down until I leave for orientation (down to hours in fact), I am so excited to be starting my journey that I am sure will be filled with epic adventures as well as God's love, wisdom, and guidance.  Colleen and I leave tomorrow for orientation in NY where we will spend a week before parting ways on Monday when I will fly out to Montana and she will be driving to New Orleans so please keep our travels in your prayers. 

PS Just thought you should all know that I am also super excited to be spending a full week with Colleen before we depart.  You are all probably jealous of me that I get to spend a week with her (and if you are not, you should be) but I have to get my Colleen time in too before we leave. So here's to one last road trip!