At the shooorrrrre...

I spent four days at the Shore... two in the Wildwoods and two in Ocean City, MD.

My earliest memories as a child are being in Wildwood in 1977. I've been going back every year for the past five years, either to stay or just drive through and enjoy the sounds of the surf, the cooling ocean breeze, or the excitement of the Boardwalk. Stewart's built a new restaurant at Magnolia Av... you can eat on the roof and look out over the humungous tract of beach. I'd say it's a good 3/8 mile walk from Boards to Shore.

We were on the Wildwood Boardwalk for most of Thursday. After spending the evening getting eaten by bugs in Rio Grande, and a subsequent trip to Shop Rite for bug spray, we played our 7th round of minigolf for the day... in West Wildwood. It's a neat little place. I think the only businesses in town are a few marina, a bait shop, and the minigolf course. There's one way in and one way out... Glenwood Avenue. Take a drive around the island and see how many homes you can't afford ;)

One part of Friday was spent finding one of my friend's lost cell phones. Despite not finding it, everyone was friendly among whom we asked, including the Wildwood Police Department. If you go to the Olympic Arcade at 24th & Boardwalk in North Wildwood, they still have Fascination, and still 20-cents a game. I finally won two games, after going 0-for-the year. It's $6 for an entire hour at 11AM and 4PM.

Next was a trip down to Sunset Beach. They built a minigolf there, plus have two nice souvenir shops and a snack bar. Obviously, it was crowded. We then drove around Cape May Point to look at more houses that we couldn't afford.

Even though our trip on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry wasn't until 8PM, we got to the boathouse a little after 6PM. They have a neat cafeteria and outdoor patio, and an awesome view of the horizon. As our boat departed, we sailed toward the sunset. The skies couldn't have been more beautiful. Pictures don't do it justice.

The trip itself is only 17 miles, but lasts about 75 minutes. If you aren't used to riding on a boat and feeling the swaying up and down, take dramamine. If you take either the early morning or 8PM trip, you save a few bucks, too.

We got to Ocean City, Maryland late Friday night. If you've never traveled into OC by way of Delaware Route 1, you better have good brakes. OC itself runs about 150 blocks north to south, and much of it is only two to three blocks wide. I swear there was a minigolf every 10 blocks... including two or three up in Fenwick Island, Delaware.

There is a boardwalk, about 30 blocks long, running from the inlet at the southern tip, up to around 25th. We stayed at the HoJo on 12th. I've always enjoyed rooms where you can open the patio door, and there's the shore. Such a breathtaking feeling... and kinda neat to look out your window and see the sign for the Bad Ass Cafe.

The best places to eat there are Dough Roller, Phillips, french fries from Thrashers, and popcorn from Fishers. No shortage of t-shirt places, either... Sunsations, T-Shirt Factory, etc.

My favorite minigolfs there were Lost Treasure on 141st and Viking Golf in Fenwick Island.

There are only three roads into town... Route 50, Route 90, and Delaware Route 1... all of which get crowded on the weekend. I was shocked when I had less than 10 red lights going south from 142nd to 8th.

We went to Ocean Downs racetrack in Ocean Pines on Saturday night... lost a few bucks but still had a good time.

Coming back through Delaware, I realize why some people used to call Lower Delaware "Slower Delaware"... there's hardly anything between OC & Dover.

Yes, I want to go back... but high school football starts Friday night. Can't wait.

Buckle up,
TS

First jobs...

As I work at my desk, I suddenly had a flashback to one of my first jobs.

I'm sure you all remember you first workplace-setting job...

I did work for a day with my Mom at what was Peoples' Drug Store. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, 1988, I worked 10a-6p. I had to wear a tie and dress up... that was a lot for me back then. The term "Business Casual" didn't exist in 1988.

I straightened shelves before the store opened, then spent the day bagging orders as they were checked out. I got $25 for the day. One of my favorites memories growing up was going to the mall on Fridays, having pizza with Dad, and visiting Mom at work. I loved when she let me help her put price tags on merchandise. Those price guns were cool.

Everytime I walk through a CVS, I always look around and think of what Mom would think of the store's appearance and operations.

I'm that way as well when it comes to listening to radio stations from out of town. I'm finicky when it comes to music. When I was in Ocean City, Maryland last weekend, I was quite disappointed. Lots of country, lots of rock, one hip hop, and nothing that sounds like us at T102. I listened to Ocean 98 because they play just about anything. They were the station that hired one of my favorite DJ's, Don Geronimo (see previous postings). Then I heard he got fired from there after just a month. Oh well...

My first job in an office setting was EdMediaTec (Educational Media Technologies). I worked with my Dad and a few teachers from the Wilkes-Barre Area in putting together companion sets of filmstrips with elementary school science books. It took me 18 years to make the connection, but what I do now with commercial production resembles what I did back then. My co-workers would file orders for what artwork and slides needed to be produced. Today, my co-workers files orders for what commercials need to be produced.

I guess I made the connection when I saw the mess on my desk... and realized how much it resembled my work area at EdMediaTec. Nevertheless, that was a productive 22 months that I spent there working on that entire project. Luckily, as I was wrapping that up, I got a job at Stanton Lanes, where I worked weekends for the next four years before getting my first radio job in 1996.

Later this month, it's 11 years that I'm here at T102 and WPPA... longer than some of you have been alive. What a long, fun trip.

Buckle up and don't be allergic to life.
TS