I’m up at 7:56 this morning, luckily early enough to be included on the only pot of coffee made (errand #1: get more coffee).

On the deck, as others wake up and join us, we’re reading the news of Obama’s running mate, Joe Biden. Cell phones are clicking on news sites and political commentary video plays from the laptop.

Breakfast Buffet: the kitchen is crazy busy, Jeff cooking up breakfast for thirty, although there are only seven of us in the house. Bagels, yogurt, grapes, another pot of coffee, fried eggs, bacon, two kinds of sausage and yet one more pot of coffee.

The overcast clouds are breaking apart, blue skies coming through and shadows being cast throughout the yard. It’s almost time to pack up and hit the sand!

Time: 5:55. We’re back from the beach, what a day! The sun finally broke through and we got some really good sun. I’m a little pinker but I’ve just dunked my entire body in lotion so I should do okay.

Three of us found three different dollar bills today, one of them floating in the ocean! So we took the floater and bought a ticket for tonight’s lottery with a prize of $54 million. Our lucky numbers are 15, 22, 39, 45, 46 and Powerball 02. Cross your fingers.

We’re energized for a night out and start it off by going to Blue Moon (which was dead) where I noticed their calendar had Pamala Stanley performing just about every other evening, all summer long, but unfortunately she was not performing tonight. A little history of Ms. Stanley: one-hit wonder singing the club hit “Coming Out of Hiding”, a staple at Lost & Found in 1984.

All of a sudden, Ms. Stanley’s name is called out (not by me) and I turned around and there she is walking down the sidewalk! I excitedly went over and talked to her and got some pictures taken. She was gracious and only a little tipsy but a good sport about the adoring fans.

After the Ms. Stanley happening dinner was in order and Chris wanted us to go for seafood at Fin’s Fishhouse. I opted for the North Carolina swordfish steak with broccoli and the best mac-n-cheese that I’ve had in my life. Everyone else’s meal was equally fantastic and included shrimp, scallops, mussels, oysters, clams and just about everything else under the sea. We were all so full from out meal that it was almost painful to walk the four blocks to the car. Needless to say, there was no late-night chit chat on the back porch, we all wanted to get in bed and be asleep as quickly as possible.