In case you didn’t notice I was away last week. Actually I didn’t go away but had my first full-week vacation in just over a year which was badly needed.

While I truly believe a real vacation is one where you are gone from home this one was actually very nice and very relaxing. Here’s how I spent my summer vacation which spanned nine days if you count weekends. Of course the highlight was not setting my alarm clock for 2:40AM. But anyway here goes:

Early in the morning on North Avenue Beach in Seaside Park
Early in the morning on North Avenue Beach in Seaside Park (Kevin Williams, Townsquare Media NJ)
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  • I spent 5 1/8 days on the North Avenue Beach in Seaside Park. The 1/8 represents the very early departure this past Saturday due to a west wind and ravenous flies. We salvaged the morning by having a nice breakfast at Klee’s “Next Door Café.” Bumped into Klee’s co-owner Butch Anderson who is recovering nicely after undergoing double-knee replacement in June.
  • Had a great anniversary dinner with my wife Jane and our good friends Joe & Darlene Gomulka at Café Italia in Toms River.
  • Spent Wednesday in New York City which despite the 95 degree heat was truly wonderful. Saw a very funny show, “It Shoulda Been You” starring Tyne Daly which is actually closing next weekend but was really good.
  • Met our children Brandon and Alex along with Brandon’s girlfriend Jill for dinner afterwards and they picked up the check!
  • Kevin, daughter Alex, wife Jane and son Brandon in New York
    Kevin, daughter Alex, wife Jane and son Brandon in New York (Kevin Williams, Townsquare Media NJ)
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    Went to the moves twice. “Southpaw” is good because Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance is worthy of an Oscar nomination. “Vacation” is one of those movies in which you’re almost embarrassed to laugh. It’s rude, crude humor. The best part for us was we saw it in the AMC Metroplex at the Freehold Raceway Mall with the lounge chair seats. Very, very comfortable.

  • Re-connected with friends we had not seen in some time at Pub 1850 in Toms River which is co-owned by Jesse Goldstein, a former Olympian who was denied a chance to compete in Judo by the U.S. boycott in 1980 of the Moscow games.
  • Spent a day walking around the downtown areas of Manasquan and Asbury Park…it was clearly not a beach day.
  • Spent a lot of quality time with my wife although I don’t know if Jane felt the same way.
  • While my vacation week is over I do have a few days off in August which will allow for three extended weekends so that’s something to look forward to.

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