Now that the mad rush of the holiday season is over and the days are slowly starting to grow longer, my mind is firmly set on summertime. I know that winter is just beginning and we still have plenty of snow and wind and cold ahead of us, but a girl can hope, right? I long for days on the beach, fireworks, rum coconuts on the boardwalk, and quick dips in the ocean. Living four blocks from the shore is a pretty sweet deal. I feel like I didn't make the most of my first full summer in Asbury Park. I worked a lot and lazed about my apartment fairly often, as well. Not this year – mark my words. I will be on that beach or at least outside in the sunshine as much as humanly possible. When I was younger, my family would go on vacation to Jamaica. The resort we stayed at had all these crazy fun water activities. My mom used to "force" us to play, even though my sister and I would much rather have napped under a palm tree ("You can sleep at home!" she'd yell.) Thi
