Daytona 500 week has come and gone, and on my run today, it seemed like the last of the holiday weekend crowds are slipping off the island. My best comparison is that the whole thing felt like Memorial Day Weekend but with a stock car race: a surge in visitors who got very sunburned very fast, lots of noise and partying (though none that I could hear from my Airbnb, thank goodness) and then goodbye except instead of driving up the Atlantic City Expressway, they're on planes home.
I didn't mind it. I didn't really like all the cars on the beach, though. I know it's a Daytona tradition, but it's weird. Also: the smoking. A lot of Daytona restaurants have "outdoor" smoking areas that are just inside spaces with really big windows, so I know I shouldn't be surprised. People smoke in the beach bathrooms here after all, and yesterday's beach time was punctuated by a guy who decided the perfect place to smoke his cigar was at water's edge.
A bunch of New Jersey beach towns have banned smoking. I hope that trend continues.
I had two big stories drop last week on the same day. I turned them both in at completely different times, but that's the way it works sometimes.
Recent Bylines
"A pilot program allows Walt Disney World resort guests to check in with Fido" for The Washington Post
"A Challenge Race Shakes Up the Running Routine" for The New York Times
"Is Running Really Fading" for The New York Times
What I'm Reading
Highland Master by Hannah Howell is the second to last of the romance books I bought while working on the romance novel piece. Because who doesn't want to try out a non-Outlander Scottish warrior type. I liked it! If I saw some of her titles in another used book store, I'd probably pick up at least one. Now I'm onto The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, as recommended by Connie of Connie's Bookshelf (and bought mostly by selling back the romance novels). This is an epic to sink into, which is great for my last week here. I'm going to save this one for my mom so she too can have the perfect beach read.
What I'm Watching
Father Brown! When I started this, I thought Netflix only had one season. No, it has five! What a delight! I think I've seen enough of these cozy murder mysteries (thanks Pop Culture Happy Hour for that term) that the stories are starting to repeat themselves. How many plot lines are there for post World War II crime solvers in England? My favorite cozy murder mystery, by the way, is Rosemary & Thyme. They're english gardners who solve crime. English gardners!
I'm heading back to N.J. on Saturday (taking the long way). So…
Until next time,
Jen A. Miller
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