Friday, June 27, 2014

Hot Dogs On Dowager Duchess Day

After the Kid Brother and I finished cleaning the balcony Wednesday, we all went to Nathan's for lunch. Judy was a Nathan's virgin and, according to her, the first time was not a disappointment. The Dowager Duchess hasn't had a Nathan's hot dog in more than 20 years.

We had gotten a late start to the day and the Kid Brother, a stickler for his schedules, was fairly fed up with us all by the time we left for Nathan's ... at 1:20 instead of his usual noon. When we finished our hot dogs and fries, the Kid Brother was more than ready for skee ball — and he let me know it. As he himself would say, "Sheez, what a grouch!"

But wait! San Geraldo spotted a photo booth. So, we all crammed in for souvenir photos. Well, all but the Kid Brother, who paced nearby. That probably wasn't a bad idea. The Kid Brother is not one for close physical contact and, well, as you can see by the photo strip, there was no way to avoid it.

Judy then, finally, got her first taste of skee ball. She played a game (maybe two) and then joined the Dowager Duchess and me in the spectator's lounge/peanut gallery.

San Geraldo played 14 games. I've always known San Geraldo had balls but that was ridiculous — 126 balls–worth of ridiculous. He was trying to keep up (and didn't) with The Kid Brother who played 31 games — 279 balls. By the end of game 14, San Geraldo's balls (his SKEE balls) were dragging on the floor.

We checked out some of the rides (from a safe distance) and then San Geraldo drove the Dowager Duchess and the impatient Kid Brother home while Judy and I took a walk on the boardwalk. We could see rain in the distance but made it back without getting drenched.

Thursday afternoon, San Geraldo, Judy, and I bid a fond farewell — until next time — to The Dowager Duchess. We arrived home in Fuengirola this morning around 11. The adventure continues... once the jet lag wears off.

THE DOWAGER DUCHESS ON HER 87th BIRTHDAY.
ENJOYING A NATHAN'S FRENCH FRY.
JUDY GLEEFULLY READY TO BITE INTO HER FIRST NATHAN'S HOT DOG.
AFTER LUNCH, SAN GERALDO OFFERS TO SHARE HIS CONDIMENTS.
(THE KID BROTHER WAITS IMPATIENTLY.)
THE CONEY ISLAND SIDESHOW. WE BELONGED INSIDE.
JUDY STUDIES THE EXPERTS WHILE THE DOWAGER DUCHESS LOOKS ON.
(NOTE: DESPITE THE ODD PHOTO, JUDY DOES NOT HAVE A MOHAWK.)
LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.
BACK ON THE BOARDWALK.
A BARGE AND A TUG.
CONEY ISLAND BEACH LOOKING EAST TO BRIGHTON BEACH.
SITTING IN THE SURF. THEY LOOKED LIKE VINTAGE BATHINGS SUITS,
BUT THEY WERE JUST TANK TOPS AND BASKETBALL SHORTS.
THE COMING STORM... WEST TOWARD STATEN ISLAND AND NEW JERSEY.
NORTH TO THE PARACHUTE JUMP AND BROOKLYN CYCLONES BASEBALL PARK
FROM NEW CONEY ISLAND PIER (EARLIER PIER DESTROYED BY HURRICANE SANDY).
A WEDDING PHOTO SHOOT BELOW THE PIER.
CASTING A SHADOW ON THE WEDDING?
(THAT'S JUDY'S BELOW THE BRIDE'S TRAIN.)
AS JUDY AND I STROLLED, THESE GUYS FLEW OVER OUR HEADS.
WE AT FIRST THOUGHT SOMEONE HAD FALLEN OFF A RIDE.
A CONEY ISLAND SLUSHEE.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY... AGAIN... TO THE INCOMPARABLE DOWAGER DUCHESS.

28 comments:

  1. At times I wonder about the point of selfies, but the last photo is just brilliant.

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    Replies
    1. Andrew:
      I never thought of those photo booths as "selfies," but I guess they were the original selfie. And thanks. We all love that last photo!

      Delete
  2. What a trip! The Dowager Duchess looks happy. :) San Geraldo looks so fit and trim!

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    1. Michelle:
      Thanks! The Dowager Duchess was happy to have us there... and to celebrate her birthday for more than a week. And San Geraldo DOES look fit and trim AND he's THE BEST!!!

      Delete
  3. Everyone looks happy, healthy, and chockful of vinegar! (And Nathan's)

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    1. Jacqueline:
      It's a wonder we all managed to fit in that booth. I was in the mood for another hot dog, but it would have definitely put me over the edge.

      Delete
  4. What a special birthday for the Dowager Duchess! Hope I'm as healthy as she is when I'm 87. I love the last picture. Glad you both arrived back home safely.

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    1. Jo:
      The Dowager Duchess told me today she hates seeing pictures of herself because all she sees is an old lady. I told he she IS an old lady, but she's an amazing one who looks and acts a lot younger than her years.

      Delete
  5. Mitchell, Dowager Dutchess looks perfectly and she is in a great shape. Coney Island looks nice and interesting and you can do a lot of interesting activities there.

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    1. Gosia:
      Coney Island is a great place for tourists (and locals). And, yes, the Dowager Duchess is incredible.

      Delete
  6. Your mom is amazing. Seeing her outside and enjoying the special day you planned for her birthday is just wonderful. My own mother just turned 89 and she refuses to leave her apartment or celebrate in any way. Like I said, your mother is amazing.

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    1. Stephen:
      My mother still keeps up with us (and wears us out). And she didn't mind at all having several birthday lunches and cakes with candles to blow out.

      Delete
  7. Mitch, such beautiful moments (and hot-dogs) to cherish!
    That last photo tells all.....
    Rest up and 'see' you soon.

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    1. Jim:
      A very happy time and great day. Judy made the trip even better.

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  8. San Geraldo DOES look slim and trim! Wow!
    I've had a great time enjoying your trip to Brooklyn :) DD, if you're reading, hope your birthday was fun-- it looks like it was!
    Yuummm for Nathan's!

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    1. Judy:
      San Geraldo looks and feels so good. It warms my heart. Thanks for the good wishes to the DD (she does try to read the comments, too).

      Two lunches at Nathan's in one visit. What a treat!

      Delete
  9. Simply wonderful! Happy Birthday to the Duchess and happy return home to Espana for you both.

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    1. Laurent:
      Thanks so much. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate birthdays together this year. Difficult to leave but, at the same time, great to be home.

      Delete
  10. what delightful photos ! they made me smile.

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    1. Spo:
      So glad. There were a lot of smiles that day, and I'm really glad San Geraldo made us get inside that photo booth.

      Delete
  11. Happy Birthday, Ms. Duchess! You all look great, and wonderfully relaxed and happy. My first glimpse of the Atlantic Ocean was Rockaway Beach (NY or NJ?) when I was 16 in 1956.... your photos brought back lots of memories. I don't think we had hotdogs, but I remember buying salt water taffy to take back to Ohio. Hope your flight back home went well.

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    1. Sharon:
      There's a Rockaway in New Jersey, but it's not a beach. So you must have been to Rockaway (Beach), a peninsula in Queens (New York). Lots of beaches, a boardwalk along part of it. My grandparents lived there for a number of years... and so did a cousin.

      Delete
  12. I've been gone with no internet access, so it has to be a belated Happy Birthday to the Dowager Duchess who looks absolutely wonderful!

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    1. Kristi:
      Thanks. The birthday wishes are still appreciated, I'm sure. I'm so far behind on my reading.

      Delete
  13. I see you're like me, getting east and west mixed up whichever side of the Atlantic you're on. I think it has something to do with having lived in California. The ocean's on the wrong side. :) Welcome back!

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    Replies
    1. Walt the Fourth:
      Oh, groan! Thanks. I fixed the captions. North and South drove me crazy when we first moved to California. The ocean is on the left? We must be heading south.

      Delete
  14. The Dowager Duchess is looking pretty fabulous!

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