Today

Today was perfect. The weather was about 85 degrees and a small group of us went to Long Beach. It was only the second time I've been able to make it to the beach in New York this summer. As I've mentioned, I've had plans almost every weekend all summer to be out of town or have friends in town. Luckily I was able to make it to the beach twice in California earlier this month as well. I feel sufficiently tanned for the summer.

I have to admit, even though I was totally anti until last summer, I like the beach here more then back in California. I really didn't love the beach that much growing up. It just all seemed like such a hassle. Drive all the way down to San Clemente (where we always went growing up) try to find parking (and pay for it), schlep all your stuff down the beach, and then get all sandy, bring about half the beach home with you in your car, and go home. I'd much rather just go to the pool.

It's not as if going to the beach is the easiest thing ever here, but it just doesn't feel like as much as a hassle to me. Get yourself to Penn, buy a ticket for the LIRR, and sit on the train and chat with your friends for 40 minutes. Then it's a 5 minute walk.

One of the reasons I used to be a hater of beaches here is you have to pay to get in. Who pays to go to the beach? After experiencing the beach here (at least Long Beach) I totally don't mind. I think a combo ticket for the train and beach is like $14 and it's totally worth it. The beach is considered a state park, and the money goes towards keeping the beach nice. It's totally worth it. The sand is clean, which is so nice. No cigarette butts or wood chips or rocks. Just nice pure sand. I love it.

Not to mention, the water's warmer here! It makes no sense to me, but it is.

Lastly, and another reason why I love New York itself, is the public transportation. It's really nice that anyone can leave whenever they want. There's a train going back to the city basically every half hour. I love it.

Usually when we go to the beach there's a huge group, which is fine, and fun, but today it was just four of us, and it was really nice. The weather was perfect and the group was great.

When we got home the water was out in our building so we had to wait around for an hour or so to shower. That was a huge bummer but not the end of the world. After I finally could shower I just spent the evening at home alone, which was so nice. I didn't feel like going out so I just stayed in and got my laundry done and watched a little tv. It was perfect.

Oh yeah, also, while riding the 1 train to Penn this morning I noticed Jodi Foster get on and sit right across from me, right next to Britt and Brad. I've seen a lot of pictures in Us Weekly of celebrities in subways but I've never actually seen one. She looked great and was in really good shape.

Happy weekend!