So I really meant to blog during my vacation. Truly. I brought my laptop, took a ton of photos, and had the best of intentions. But there's something about the Shore - or vacation in general, I suppose - that saps the urge to do work right out of you. So instead of dispatches from Sea Isle, you're getting a dispatch from my desk at Philly.com. (My excuse is that there was rarely a wireless signal, but really, it was Vacation Brain.)

I spent nearly two weeks in a rented house in Sea Isle City. For that stretch, I lived with my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, and my niece. I have an army of aunts and uncles and cousins, and lots of them were there. (Some rented a house a few blocks away, others camped out in the house directly behind the one we rented.) And yes: it is expensive to rent a house, upwards of $1,500 a week for any sort of place at all. I could have gone to an all-inclusive resort for cheaper. And yes: I did share a room with my two-year-old niece, and shared a bathroom with several other people. And yes: we did cook most of our meals, so that meant that we were not immune to chores, even on vacation.

And yes: there were seaweed and shells and murky water, and I swam in it, just the same. Loved it, even.

And yes: summer wouldn't be summer without a trip to the Shore. And not a daytrip, mind you. You need at least a week to properly relax, and to eat enough Mack and Manco's Pizza to satisfy your cravings for a while, until you get the urge in the middle of winter and drive back just because.

I know it's corny, but I feel lucky to have grown up with this particular tradition.

Here's a view from the deck of Aunt Jane's bay-facing house. Boy, it's hard to be back at work today.

After a two-year hiatus, the Philadelphia 76ers' “Beach Bash” will return to the Jersey Shore on Saturday, Aug. 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. The event, to be held at La Costa Lounge at Landis Avenue and JFK Boulevard in Sea Isle City, will benefit Sixers Charities, which assists organizations that focus on youth recreation, health and education.

The fun will include outdoor carnival-type games, inflatables and appearances by Sixers mascot Hip Hop. Inside La Costa Lounge, fans will be served by celebrity guest bartenders like Hugh Douglas, Marc Zumoff, Tom McGinnis, Big Daddy Graham and Keith Jones. Sixers alumni will be on hand to sign autographs. A yard sale and silent auction is also planned.

At the same time, the Sixers organization will unveil its 2007-08 Sixers Dancers, who will show fans what they can expect during the season.

So where can you see fireworks on the Fourth of July at the shore? Philly.com has compiled a list for you:

Atlantic City: Fireworks after the Atlantic City Surf baseball game, which begins at 7:05.

Cape May: Fireworks shot off on a barge on the ocean, visible from the beach, no charge. For tickets to an All-American picnic to be held on the lawn of historic Congress Hall, held before the show, contact Congress Hall at 888-944-1816. Tickets $20.

Lower Township: Fireworks at the Cape May Ferry Terminal Grounds, 9:30 p.m., with live music, and food available for purchase beginning at 7:30.

Ocean City: Fireworks after a kite-flying contest and other entertainment, beginning at 9 p.m., at Carey Stadium, 6th Street off the Boardwalk.

Sea Isle City: Fireworks at 9 p.m., JFK Boulevard and the beach.

Stone Harbor: Fireworks and band concert at the 80th Street Fields, 9 p.m.

Wildwood: Fireworks at 10 p.m., Boardwalk at Pine Avenue.

Ventnor: Fireworks at 9 p.m., raindate Saturday July 7.

For a list of fireworks displays scheduled throughout the region, see our Fourth of July guide.

It was a beautiful day on the beach in Sea Isle City on Saturday. Blue skies. Hot sun. Cool breezes. Still, on the first weekend after the official start of summer, the beaches weren't packed.

From today's Press of Atlantic City, a great story by Martin DeAngelis. It starts:

"He woke up Monday morning in a no-newspaper, no-TV, no-Internet sweat.
He had to know what happened, now. But even though he's a three-newspaper-a-day guy, he couldn't know yet, couldn't take the risk of seeing a headline or hearing even a snippet of news — anywhere.

It's a long story. But it starts at the end of “The Sopranos,” the long-running Mob hit's series finale Sunday night."
Read the full story.

The 4100 block of Landis Avenue in Sea Isle City will be closed to traffic beginning at 9 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday (June 11-12) for a building demolition, according to a notice on the city's Web site.

From Belmar to Cape May, shore towns and organizations will honor the memory of those Americans who have died in military service to our country. A list of services scheduled for Saturday and Monday follows.

Jersey Shore communities have a whole bunch of crazy rules about what you can and can't do on the beach, the Associated Press reports. Did you know you can't draw dirty pictures in the sands of Belmar, or ride a camel on the beach in Wildwood? And keep your ruler ready if your kids are digging in the sand on Long Beach Island.
Read the full story.