Passport Progress

Because I recently got a passport application, today I went to the nearest Walgreen’s on Long Beach Boulevard, to get the necessary photograph.  The woman asked for my name and telephone number.  

 

 

Once I’ve gotten a few more necessary details taken care of, I shall be ready to fly.  Up until now, I’ve never traveled any farther than to Florida, Michigan, and Illinois.  The only other country I’ve been to is Canada, and now even they require a passport.

 

 

Over the past few years, I’ve been working at the local soup kitchen, giving coffee, cold drinks, and Sandwiches to poor people.  While I’m there, I often listen to people’s tales of their trips to various foreign countries.  Soon I shall also be able to spend countless hours soaring through the Clouds to various tourist traps.  Although I have every reason to believe I’ll never exactly qualify as a living Legend among globetrotters, at least I shall be able, starting, soon, to make a bit of a contribution to those kinds of conversations.

 

 

Here’s yet more about my attempt to get a passport.  Please join us all daily.  Today’s words are sandwich, cloud, legend .

Annunci

Everyone Knows It’s Windy

Ever since slightly before Christmas, 2013, I’ve been living in the city of Long Beach.  It’s a major well~known hub, with one of the most popular beaches in New York.

 

 

Often I really enjoy walking along the boardwalk or Seashore to get exercise. If the wind doesn’t get me crazy I can have quite an exceptionally nice time there.

 

 

It’s time for another of Sammi Cox’ Weekend Writing Prompts.  This one is something fairly easy for me since I live so close to the seashore.

Time To Start Traveling?

This afternoon I finally got up the spunk to get a passport application from the Long Beach Post Office.  On Tuesday night, Frank, a regular at the St. Mary of the Isle men’s bible study meetings, asked me if I intended to go on an upcoming trip to Ireland. I  explained to him that I don’t have a passport.  Today I made the big move to get the application.  Once I’ve filled it out, I shall have to Report to the post office with all the requisite paperwork, have a few pictures taken, and I shall be set.  I may or may not end up going specifically to Ireland, but at least I shall be ready for whatever comes up.

 

 

That was the highlight of my week.  Lately things have been happening in quite an ordinary, predictable manner for me.  Life for me typically involves listening to 1960’s music by bands like the Zombies, and watching old T.V. shows like ‘Nanny and the Professor’.   I really should start widening my horizons quite a bit.

 

 

I’ve decided to try the Three Things Challenge.   Here is the link for it, using the words report, nanny, zombies.

 

 

 

Fr. Brian P. Barr’s Anniversary Party

Saturday evening, after 5:00 p.m. Mass at St. Mary of the Isle in Long Beach, New York, was Father Brian Patrick Barr’s big party for the twenty fifth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Here is just one of the highlights of the momentous occasion.

John’s and Fran’s Wedding

I recently went to John’s and Fran’s wedding, where everyone was, like me, Irish and from Queens.

It was an animated night with a wide variety of  loud music, including some songs by the Eagles.

 

 

I was careful about the bar, not wanting to get drunk in the company of their family.

 

 

 

I should suppose I shall have a long wait for the day when I shall be able to keep my anxiety about crowds and noise in check.  Until then, though, I can at least have a good laugh about it. For now I can keep on winning people’s hearts with my distinctive charm.

 

 

 

This is me first attempt at Sunday Whirl . Click the link to find out what it’s all about.  Brenda Warren is in charge.

 

 

 

an escape from claustrophobia

A few years ago I joined the Monsignor Cass Council 2626 of the Knights of Columbus in Long Beach.

So far it’s a nice place but I have certain objections.

The parking stinks and the Knights’ Pub is too loud and crowded.

I’ve recently found a respite from the noise and crowds though.

Before each meeting I always hide out in the storage room in the back.

During the meetings we have our own brand of unavoidably necessary aggravation anyway.

Why add anything extra to it?

If only each of life’s problems could have that easy a solution, Oh how perfect!

Each week Rochelle Wisoff~Fields leads us in Friday Fictioneers, an attempt to write a hundred~word story based upon a photograph. This week’s photograph was supplied by Shaktiki Sharma.

reginald and rachel

While visiting family in northeastern Pennsylvania, Reginald and Rachel took a walk on the local boardwalk.

“Isn’t this such a nice change from Long Beach’s boardwalk, honey?” Rachel pointed out.

“If we were there now,” her husband reminded her,”we’d be surrounded by teenagers with surfboards, Hasidic Jews in traditional black garb, and maniacs on bicycles.”

“It’s the perfect cure for our claustrophobia,”she couldn’t help noticing.

For countless hours they stayed there, enjoying the absolute silence and privacy, occasionally passing comments about the enigmatic triangle on the horizon.

“Too bad we don’t have one of those in New York”, she complained.

Adam Ickes provided our weekly photo prompt. Rochelle Wisoff~Fields is our Friday Fictioneers fearless leader.

coming down fast but I’m miles above you

look up

dancing in infinite cerulean blue

look up

allison’s written words

the everyday photographer

hopeful boy

I spent a few hours this past weekend at the Long Beach, New York, annual Arts and Crafts Fair on the boardwalk.  Yesterday I wanted to try to take a picture of a plane with either a banner or skywriting. Unfortunately I wasn’t quite fast enough.

make a wish

Each year, on a Sunday afternoon, some friends, relatives and I go to the nearest boardwalk and jump into the Atlantic Ocean.

This year was no different.

I always take my camera, careful not to get the pretty girls in bikinis too paranoid.

As I pass by countless concession stands, I greet people I recognize, having lived in Long Beach for a few years. The locals are friendly and welcoming.

“The Polar Bear Club is a good organization, Blanche,” I overhear a neighbor tell his wife. “Spending Super Bowl Sunday on the beach is obscenely painful though.”

This week’s photo prompt has been provided by Rochelle Wisoff~Fields who is also our weekly Fairy Blogmother at Friday Fictioneers.

the cats at the soup kitchen

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “An Odd Trio.”

The Kitchen on Pine Street can often be quite an exceptionally interesting place. Its official name is the Long Beach Food and Friendship INN. Having no previous experience with soup kitchens I don’t know what I could possibly compare it to but there’s always something distinctive going on there.

When I work there I’m expected to bluff my way past all kinds of characters and to put up with a wide variety of eccentric obnoxious behavior and circumstances.

One of the jobs I typically get is giving out a bowl of soup to each guest as he asks for it. Besides soup we always have a full, hot meal, salad, as well as drinks (always non-alcoholic), dessert,fruit and miscellaneous other kinds of things to keep people happy. The food is good. We get it from Trader Joe’s, Waldbaum’s, King Kullen and other nearby food stores.

Because in our neighborhood there are many factories, as well as a public school across the street, we have a lot of dumpsters in our general vicinity. One problem with this is that there’s always a steady supply of stray cats which each of us must bluff his way past. Unfortunately we’re constantly forced to throw away a lot of food. This inevitably attracts all those annoying creatures. At least so far they haven’t made any real trouble for anyone, as far as I know.

Considering that it’s Long Beach, there are a large number of beaches nearby. I feel like showing up at the soup kitchen with a beach towel one of these days, winding it up, and swinging it at all those obnoxious cats in order to chase them away. I know there’s no way that can possibly solve the problem but it would at least dispel any immediate trouble.

https://adorablyobnoxious.wordpress.com/2014/11/10/daily-prompt-trio-no-3/
https://willowscottling.wordpress.com/2014/10/30/there-are-times/
https://chaabaanov.wordpress.com/2014/11/02/continuing-my-habit/
http://basicallybeyondbasic.com/2014/10/30/daily-prompt-trio-no-3/