My friend Martha

In the early months of 1990 I was hired at the CT. Historical Society. This is everything CT you would want to know, see and hear.  I had no idea it existed until I was hired as a museum assistant. It is there I met Martha and the place where she met her husband. 

In my book, Survival in the Unemployment Line, I mention Martha as the woman who so wanted to help me she got married and had children just so I could babysit and she could pay me. BUT the woman is more than a friend.  She is a saint! She has put up with her husband Jay for over 20 something years...and I know what a handful he can be, as I am a handful too. Jay and I were born one year and one day apart.  Many times over the decades Martha has remarked to me, "Jay does that too." or "Jay thinks that too." So, I know. 

Also Jay and I stopped talking to each other after our first dinner together.  Because of the snide comment I made about his pricing.

Fast forward 20 something years and finally I said I'm sorry to him in person---after Martha told me what I had said--his prices were too high and I was shocked I said it to him. No wonder he didn't want to be my friend.  But, Martha has been all of these years.  I wasn't invited to her home, and I understood- but we managed to get together at least a few times a year and have a meal. 

Finally, after 20 something years I invited Jay, his daughter Alex and Martha to my home for dinner and I apologized to him again. He was amazed I did that.  (Yeah--people are amazed by me) LOL. We are a family again--since they have the coolest kids around--and their kids are Beautiful!  Model material--but they are too old to model--both children being in their mid 20s. LOL

Martha has been a true friend to me and I'm thrilled Jay and I are back on great terms.  He even liked my birthday present to his wife. But it has been Martha who has been like a sister to me and has helped me MORE than she knows.  Happy Birthday my dear friend,  Lets do coffee in London this year!

"Judy Brown is rolling around in her grave Screaming."

If you grew up in New Britain you knew the publisher of The New Britain Herald was Judith Brown.  Her family owned the paper for decades.  Then after she died the paper was sold. Now it is in the hands of Michael E. Schroeder. He published an article about a judge in Las Vegas who is ruling on a case that Billionaire Sheldon Adelson is connected with. 

Schroeder then had an article, (written by whom? We don't know for sure) published in the paper.  This article has nothing to do with anything in CT. only the courts in Las Vegas--and as a citizen of New Britain, CT.  I don't care about the courts in Vegas.  What I do care about is why a publisher of my hometown paper is doing this---and why he feels he can get away with it.

Yes, I know about freedom of speech, freedom of the press--but when the Publisher tells his editor of the paper to go pound sand---there is no journalist ethics with this publisher---

 According to the editor of the Bristol Press paper (the sister paper of New Britain Herald) who resigned this week because the publisher is "guilty of journalistic misconduct of epic proportions."

Yes, I could have told you that The New Britain Herald (sister paper to New Britain Herald) is a very Republican Paper.  In fact, I believe if it wasn't for the papers in New Britain (there is another Republican led paper) we would not have had the upset in the Republican Party this Democratic town did in 2013 and in 2015.  When you have a few local papers that only cover the GOOD side of the Republicans--its hard NOT to lose. Congrats New Britain Herald--you have made Mrs. Brown very upset.

Goals and David Cassidy

Most mornings I wake up around 7 am and before I can make my Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Spice coffee I am thinking about this blog.  My goals are to make this blog relevant. How do I do that?  I only know that being grateful works. Its a learning process, as I still get upset at events outside my domain and complaining is not being grateful.  But, I realize as I complain to Stop complaining and just take a breath and say--BUT I'm grateful for...and then I list reasons: my home, my family, my friends, my next door neighbors.  (Truly wonderful people-and everything I am not--they are Born Again Christians, gun owners and Republicans.) I am a left leaning regular Christian who doesn't go to church as often as I did in my younger years.

My desire is to be rich and famous (as it has been my desire since I was five years old) and to take care of myself and others with my money. Through this---I am grateful.

And to meet David Cassidy. My childhood idol from The Partridge Family. I've shook his hand at EFX in Las Vegas.  I shouted to him (I had front row seat) You are Fabulous.  He thanked me.  I was in heaven. But my goal is to share a meal with him. Interview him and just thank him for making my life interesting.

My little purple Christmas tree.

This is my yearly purple Christmas Tree. It is filled with angels and The Grinch only.  But this year, I have decided I have too many ornaments, so after Christmas--I'm only going to box up my TOP Favorites and ones that fit on the tree.  I have so much to be grateful this year. I have my health, and I have a job.  These two gifts I am so blessed to have and I am grateful for the people who read this blog.

Being Grateful Makes Life More

When I first saw these Inspirational Burlap Placemats from G.U.S. Greatusefulstuff.com I thought how good could they be?  They are Fabulous! The quality is top notch and the fact I am reminded to be grateful every day has turned my life into some wonderful moments.  I don't know if because I am reminded to be grateful by the placemats or the fact I'm grateful has changed my life for the better.

As you can see from the photo, I used a red napkin to make the placemats "pop" with color and I receive daily compliments from my friends and family who have stopped by this month.

I hope in the coming months there will be more "Grateful" reminders for the home as people realize being grateful gets you more out of life than being grumpy.

These placemats and napkin rings make great hostess presents, house warming presents and just a nice thought to give to people. 

These days it makes waking up and making my coffee brings a smile to my face when I read the words on the placemats: Grateful, Bountiful, Sustaining and Nourishing.  It makes my soul happy and what is better than that?  

Happy Thanksgiving

What are you grateful for? 

My New Neighbors

I have been so blessed living in my house with my neighbors.  If you have read this blog for more than a year, you know that my other great neighbors moved---and now I have new ones.  They are equality as wonderful--and have two sons and two daughters.  The two sons live next door with their parents. They also have two daughters, one is married and one is at college--whom I'll meet at the Holidays.

Last week I was asked to watch the boys (ages 13, and 15) while the parents went away--so I did what I do best--having fun while spending other people's money.  For dinner last night it was Pizza Pal's supreme which was a great hit--then we went to the movies (and the 15 year old actually joined us!) We saw The Peanuts movie.  I enjoyed the moral of the story and reliving my childhood through the movie--as they hit all the high points of Peanuts--Oh and Please stay during the credits--you will be happy you did.