A Delightful Mother's Day in Boston!

It seems like all of us Widows make our solo trip straight to the comfort of our children and friends. Back home visiting with children is a safe haven with fewer unknowns. The visit is always consoling along with the security of being enclosed in caring arms.

My flight up to Boston was a flight from hell with a three hour delay and a very turbulent flight. Yes, I had my rosary beads in my hands!

There is something about that New England air that makes me sleep like a baby!

I had a wonderful Mother’s Day! I was showered with beautiful gifts. Rhonda prepared a fabulous dinner for all of us. She is the Hostess with the Mostess!

My son and daughter have so much energy and I think they forget I’m getting older and can’t keep up with the pace! LOL My son, daughter and I spent a great day that included a picnic on the beach in Salem. We discovered Winter Island located in Salem which we had never been before and there were very narrow trails….up hills and down steep hills…scary for me….these old bones can’t chance a fall plus my lower back was hurting.

However, it was very enjoyable even for the fainthearted like me that thinking of doing something a little more courageous is usually not in my daily schedule. Most times, I sit on my duff and feel safe or get off my duff and feel scared! I guess we all have our own level of courage when we get older. My son claims that since I live in Florida, I’m used to walking on flat ground all the time! No inclines whatsoever. LOL This is true if you think about it.

Winter Island is the type of place to spend a sunny afternoon exploring. It's got enough nooks and crannies and so many trails........one was too steep for me to travel so I begged to take another route back........I'm a wimp!

We also took in a short movie featuring the historical Salem! Walking in and out of quaint little shops with Saks Fifth Avenue prices! Gosh, I lived in Massachusetts for 44 years and I have never had the time to visit these places when I lived there! It is a warm feeling instead of the huge Malls we are accustomed to today. But, they all have those strong scented potpourri in each store…….wasn’t great for my allergies.

We enjoyed many restaurants, so many laughs creating a recipe for a wonderful trip.

I also had the pleasure of having lunch with my former classmates that I have not seen many of them since 1962. They wanted to thank me for creating and maintaining a separate Blog for our class! I was flattered with the wonderful speech a dear friend recited with such kind and complimentary words. Of course, I was fighting back the tears!

My flight home was so pleasant…small world…I was sitting aside of my girlfriend’s sister. The company and conversation made the flight pass by quickly. But, my luggage was damaged and a note inside stating they checked the contents of my baggage! Oh, the thoughts of someone rummaging through my personal belongings makes my skin crawl. So, the germ-a-phobic me washed everything……even articles of clothing that I didn’t even wear during my stay.

I did report my damaged luggage to the Airlines. I’m sure that will be a long drawn out claim form, etc.

My children keep me on the go everyday in Boston.......now that I'm back home.........sigh! The slow pace of life is back and makes me lazy again. I enjoy being on the go even with my bad back.

I hope all Mothers enjoyed their special day like I did.

P.S. I feel younger with my new hair color and cut............Jimmy, you are the best! I received compliments from total strangers in the Wharf Restaurant where the luncheon was held with my classmates. The Hostess at the restaurant asked me if I was a hairdresser because my hair looked so fabulous.....she also asked if I had a business card to hand out...which of course I did have and proudly handed my son's card to her.

PSSSSS. I just got an email from Thommy:
"Rose, I think you missed someone out of your nice to sees!!!!!!" Forgive me Darling! I guess the caffeine didn't kick in when I was composing this entry. Of course, I always adore seeing you..........you know that don't you???? Yes, you do!

This Pandemic is giving me the crazies!

The News is reporting that the situation continues to evolve rapidly. Scary!

They stated that there are officially reported 257 cases of influenza infection. Yikes! The United States Government has reported 109 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death. Mexico has reported 97 confirmed human cases of infection, including seven deaths.

The following countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases with no deaths - Austria (1), Canada (19), Germany (3), Israel (2), Netherlands (1), New Zealand (3), Spain (13), Switzerland (1) and the United Kingdom (8).

Every News station that I watched all are saying for people who are ill to delay international travel and for people developing symptoms following international travel to seek medical attention, in line with guidance from national authorities.

There is also no risk of infection from this virus from consumption of well-cooked pork and pork products. But, I don't know about you but I'm not going to eat pork anytime soon.

The only advice they are giving us is to wash hands thoroughly with soap and water on a regular basis and should seek medical attention if they develop any symptoms of influenza-like illness.

Well, germ-o-phobic me, went everywhere to purchase some face masks. CVS, Walgreens, etc were all sold out. Then I thought of Home Depot in their Paint Section and they have plenty on their shelves as of yesterday. I guess most people were thinking of going to drugstores. The drugstores all informed me they are all waiting for another shipment. N95 style is recommended if anyone is interested.

I met the girls for Happy Hour last night and I must have used the liquid sanitizer several times throughout the night, after reading the menu for some appetizers, then again after I ate, then again and again. Yikes! This Pandemic is giving me the crazies!

I've noticed signs all over Palm Beach County here in Florida to "Be secure in an unsure world".

The stores are now selling emergency kits including disaster supplies that will help you be secure in any natural or man-made disaster including hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, flu pandemics, fires and other emergencies. The prices for these kits and fancy suitcase style compartments with wheels are quite pricey. I'm sure you can obtain all the necessary supplies and put them in an overnight type suitcase. Most all the kits contained the face masks and sani wipes and water tablets.

Stay safe my friends and let's pray this will all be under control. Why don't they kill all the pigs like Egypt did? It will take some fears away.........not all but perhaps some. Let's all keep this pig off of the Internet and out of our countries! Swine!

Spring is in the Air!

It is hard to tell what season it is living in Florida!

When I grew up and lived in New England....yes you can actually smell Spring in the Air!


I was sitting out in my patio enjoying my coffee this morning admiring my orchard plant that has grown three new shoots......looking forward to seeing it bloom. I love orchards but I have never had the luck of having them rebloom for me....I have high hopes for this one! My daughter purchased this orchard for me during her last visit.

Did you ever notice in nature, the color palette never clash. The beautiful green lawns and the streets lined with palm trees and all the beautiful flowers in various colors. Something very pleasant to wake up to each morning. That is one plus for Florida!

Yet, I do miss the change of seasons up north. The beautiful foliage, the trees covered in snow, the tulips blooming during spring time. Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring.

Hey, wasn't that the name of the Indian Princess that was on Howdy Doody children's program?

Spring Cleaning!

I said to myself this week "The heck with housework"....the dust bunnies can dance around all they want until next week......I just plain refuse to lift a broom! There is more to life than constantly cleaning.....I was always such a "Clean Freak".......yes, it's nice to have a sparkling clean house but lets face it....how much of a mess can one person make in a small condo? Hey, plus there is no "Spring" in Florida! There is no seasons! Just hot and hotter!

Hey, I still need to do my laundry.....you need clean bloomers and clean sheets on the bed! But as far as the rest of the house....I'm on strike this week and grabbed an interesting book to read and got comfy on a lounge chair by the pool sipping on my "Bottled" water and munching on "Soy" chips.....yeah, it's on my diet. I would have preferred a Pizza and Scotch on the rocks instead! Where is Johnny Walker?

Well, perhaps I will catch up with Johnny Walker later this week, as I plan on going out for a change and check out the nightlife once again. I'm getting cabin fever and I need to dance! I miss mingling with ease and allowing gentlemen to flatter me in their effortlessly charming way! Well, I'm remembering way back when a gentleman could still do that! Charm me that is! LOL Perhaps, it's just because it's "Spring" that I want to go out.............LOL Or maybe I'm just getting jealous that Sully is having a blast in Miami and I'm further up in Boca bored out of my mind! I need to find my own "Area 51"! All the good hangouts closed.

A special thank you to Sully for sending me some great music!

To Rhonda, glad you took the first step to stop smoking! You go girl! So proud of you. Just hang it there, no one said it would be easy!

Is it Easter Yet??????????

Hi Everyone!

Happy Easter and hare's hopping you find eggsactly what you're hopping for in your Easter basket! You know, after all of these years something finally dawned on me. Bunnies don't lay eggs! No one ever heard of the Easter Chicken......It's the Easter Bunny!

Sending love and candy kisses to all of you on Easter! Hope you are all enjoying your colored eggs...chocolate bunnies...baby marshmallow chicks...Treasure hunts....and a seat at the bar at Area 51! That one was for you Sully! Oh and Rhonda too! LOL

Social Networking!

Wow, I can’t believe that there are so many social networking sites out there now. It’s hard to keep up. Some I like and some I just don’t feel comfortable with.

Let’s see…in my research I naturally found the most popular network site which is Facebook (www.Facebook.com) which gives you the opportunity to share and stay connected with friends and making new friends. Users can join networks organized by city, workplace, school and region to connect and interact with others. Once you become a member you can add friends, send messages and upgrade your personal profile to notify friends about yourself. I personally don’t like this site for some reason. Maybe, it’s because I don’t care if someone is eating an apple right now or just got through brushing their teeth with sensitive toothpaste! I get many emails inviting me to join their Facebook and half these people, I don’t even know.

Then I found Eons (www.Eons.com) Eons is a social networking site for baby boomers. Once you become an Eons member, you’ll find like-minded people on the site and the Eons team is eager to answer questions, respond to comments and help you get started quickly. This site like all others, allow you to express yourself and share your life and your passions and interests, yes your photos and videos and play games to build your brain and challenge others. I think this site is for the real elderly that is just learning the computer world. A good place to start if you are new to the computer.

I also found another site called LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com) which is a business-oriented social networking site. It is mainly used for professional networking. When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional expertise and accomplishments. You can then invite trusted contacts to join and connect to you and I emphasize the word “trusted”. Your network consists of your connections, your connections’ connections, and the people they know, linking you to a vast number of qualified professionals and experts. I personally think this site can be very useful if you are still employed or looking for employment.

I feel the older generation like myself who are past 60 use and enjoy the benefits of new technology. I find a lot of my friends get frustrated easily trying to learn how to navigate through our increasingly digital world. If it requires more than one click…….they will not step up to the challenge and will not make the effort. They are satisfied with just a simple email back and forth and will stop at that. They also refuse to read a manual to find out how something works or do some troubleshooting! Perhaps, just lazy or simply lack of interest????

Well, there are some high tech stuff that simply does not interest me either like an MP3 Player or Texting Messages. But I love my computer and graphics and writing and I do spend hours and hours per day on my computer which I am self taught because I had to learn it in order to survive in the world for my jobs that I had.

Just when I thought I was caught up with all the new digital devices…..up pops Twitter which is a social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 bytes in length. Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. Do you believe I learned about this by watching the Dr. Phil Show.

How many devices do we need? So, what is your favorite high tech electronical digital device?

I’m happy with my Blogs and feel more comfortable with it than Facebook or any of the above listed sites. This electronical world is getting a tad complicated with way too many gadgets.

Don’t fret, I manage to get my exercise in during the day and clean my house and I still cook! Hey, I’m Italian….we all cook and partake of the vino!

Everybody's Irish on St.Paddy's Day!

I never downed a pint of green beer nor have I ever got pinched for not wearing green on St. Patrick's Day! I'm Italian so I wore Orange! LOL P.S. I hate beer!

I have a friend that is from Ireland and she says it is a religious holiday and the first thing that the Irish do is go to church. She claims that here in America, March 17 is a day of beer-fueled frivolity for many, a secular holiday filled with visions of shamrocks and leprechauns more than penance and prayer. I personally think they are partaking of the green beer in Ireland and she is not admitting it! LOL

She said they never ate corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy's day either. Really????? Nor is Dublin's River Liffey tinted green, she said, referring to Chicago's tradition of dying its river green.

This year, thousands will celebrate at Irish pubs and festivals throughout South Florida, including parades in Hollywood and Delray Beach as well as the Irish Fest on Flagler in West Palm Beach and the Irish Fest on Atlantic in Delray. And is there a more Irish city in the United States than South Boston?

The festivals are a way to celebrate Irish heritage, its music, food and dance.

"Everybody's Irish on St. Paddy's Day."

Daylight Savings Time

One of the biggest reasons we change our clocks to Daylight Saving Time (DST) is that it reportedly saves electricity. Newer studies are being done to see if that long-held reason is true.

Adjusting the Clock-shifts Affect Risk Of Heart Attack

Adjusting the clocks to summer time on the last Sunday in March increases the risk of myocardial infarction in the following week. In return, putting the clocks back in the autumn reduces the risk, albeit to a lesser extent, according to research in the New England Journal of Medicine.

So, why do we bother to switch the time back and forth every year if it even has a fraction of truth that it could cause a heart attack??????? dah!

Some states do not even change their clocks so what gives???????????????

Where Did I Put My Mind?

Did you ever feel like you are experiencing the “crazies” where you spend a maddening amount of time looking for things you had in your hand only minutes ago or had logically filed away for safe-keeping?

I know many of us multi-task and our minds are on overload. I know on one level I am doing and performing demanding tasks and making decisions and on the other level, I’m confused and upset that just because I’m a widow and alone now doesn’t mean that I cannot take on a challenging task without having to hire someone to do it for me, as I was always an independent woman even when my husband was alive.

I know it is very important to develop interests or hobbies and staying involved in activities that stimulate both the mind and body. I try giving careful attention to physical fitness and exercise as I know it will go a long way toward keeping a healthy state of mind.

I have a bad back now so; therefore, lifting heavy objects leaves me at the mercy of a neighbor or a handyman and having to pay a fee for all these things I used to do on my own in my earlier years. I used to paint and wallpaper….climb ladders, drive through blizzards when I lived in New England and now I turned into a wimp and terrified of driving on I-95 here in Florida. LOL

Yes, I guess I have reached that age where I have to write things down and create my own To Do List otherwise I surely would forget. My memory used to be perfect….now hmmmmmmmmm! Sigh! Gosh, I’m making myself sound ancient but when you feel your memory is starting to fail…….it certainly becomes a serious concern.

I know I have envy lurking in my bones when I see a married couple in a restaurant but at times like that I am better able to relish my unencumbered single-hood as many years has gone by now. I’ve noticed that a little reality goes along way toward restoring a balance between the poor me and the new me. I’ll look over at my girlfriend and realize we don’t have to rush home or be home at a special time after a day of shopping and stopping for a bite to eat.

This same particular day, I joined my friends for lunch and one of my friends who is also widowed looked at me from across the table after I was starring at the same couple I was admiring and she said: “You know, as much as I loved my husband I could not marry him today……not since I found that I have a mind of my own.” That coming out of her mouth took me back a bit. I guess if you were totally dependent upon your spouse and you grew to a new person, perhaps I can understand her feelings. I, on the other hand I had a career and was always capable to taking care of myself and raising my children and my house. I then realized that my friend and I were both missing two different things about being married. I was missing the love and affection and missing being a couple and my friend was cherishing the new found life she was deprived of as a married person by being so dependent upon her spouse. She said if her husband could come back to life, he would not recognize the woman she has become. Interesting how women take different paths after a life changing event.

Life's Good

I've been patiently waiting for the sales on TVs during the President's Day Sales. I can't believe I have been squinting my eyes trying to watch a 13" screen TV in my bedroom for 30 years! Well, these eyes of mine couldn't handle it anymore so I took the plunge.

Wow, I'm impressed with the slick and simple design which is a pleasure to say goodbye to the bulk old TVs. It's hard to imagine there is still more room for improvement with today's picture quality. The resolution is unbelievable. I'm extremely pleased with my decision to purchase an LG.........Life's Good!

My TV is actually a gift from my children. I received monetary gifts from them at Christmas time, as they knew I wanted a new TV. We live in different states and they wanted me to select my preference in a TV. Someone told me to wait until after the Superbowl game and another said to wait until President's Day for an even better sale. It was well worth the wait.

I got a 32" inch with a built in DVD player and I'm thrilled with it. I'm sure the Marilyn Monroe's of today are not pleased with the new technology because it shows every flaw, pimple, blackhead, vein on a person's face..........Yikes.........talk about clarity and great resolution! Unbelievable! I got free S&H and a good $100. off the original price.

I did pull my back out taking the TV out of the double reinforced box it was shipped in within two (2) days! I did have to attach the TV to the swivel stand it came with which is a nice added feature. Not easy trying to put something together all by yourself when the size is big and awkward for one person to handle! It was worth watching HSN that day! I missed the crowds in the store, I didn't have to lug and carry this huge box home and I didn't have to pay for delivery.

Well, I felt like I was at the Movies tonight watching a big screen. The only thing missing was the popcorn!

A special thank you to my wonderful children for such a lovely gift.

The only thing that spoiled my excitement of my new TV was that I thought I'd give my old small TV to the maintenance man here in my condo. He can barely speak English and he was so delighted to be able to take this TV home. It made me happy to make someone else happy.

Well, we have a Bullie here as the President of our Association, you know those "Condo Commandos"....Oh and by the way, he is a snowbird too. He screamed and hollered at the meek poor guy in his late fifties I'd say, that he took the time to walk up my stairs and take the TV and put it in his car. The guy later knocked on my door and said the Bullie fired him. I was livid! The Bullie said he should have waited until 4:00 PM when he was off work to put the TV in his car. Oh, dear Lord, it took him less than five minutes to do this. What was the big deal.

I wrote to the Board Members, the management company, personally spoke to the subcontractor that this poor guy works for, also wrote to the Tallahassee Condo Associations of Regulations.........you name it, I wrote to them........next was going to be a letter to Channel5 and even Oprah! This big buffoon needs a "Cousin Vinnie" to pay him a visit! You know what I mean? This moron yells and swears at everyone even the ladies. I've experienced his razor tongue last year. I'm not afraid of him, he just makes my blood pressure rise and he is not worth getting sick over. I don't want a heart attack over an idiot.

I did vomit from nerves because I was so upset over this poor man Juan that lost his job! I'm a unit owner, therefore this maintenance man, legally works for me as well.....we all pay for his paycheck, so who is this Bullie to fire him because he took all of 5 minutes to put a tiny TV in his car that I gave to him..........It took the pleasure out of watching my brand new TV tonight because I couldn't get this incident out of my head. It will rent space in my head until I can help this poor man get his job back.

The Bullie said that he should have taken the TV after he was through working at 4:00 PM. Poor Juan told me that he asked the Bullie for permission first beforehand............so go figure...........Why do people spend precious hours of their life making others miserable? All that energy can go to good instead of evil.

Mind you, this Bullie is in his late 60s and about 6 ft 4" tall. There were always Bullies in school when we were young but as adults???...........this is ridiculous!

I believe in Karma and I hope what comes around goes around for him.

My husband used to be President of this Association before he passed away and he was a kind, wonderful, perfect, gentleman. So, for all the Bullies out in this world, I hope there is a "Cousin Vinnie" around to knock your teeth out!

Boston is such an amazing city!

Boston is such an amazing city.....I was always enchanted with it even as a young girl growing up in the North End. With the elderly Italian ladies yelling from the window to another neighbor in their Italian language....and the grocery shopping with my mother purchasing the freshest of fruits and vegetables sold from the wooden carts in the middle of the street.....all the coffee cafes with their own unique character....a place to read the newspaper and enjoy a cup of cappuccino and a cannoli.

Wow, the flashbacks of some fond memories. The little old storekeeper across the street...Charlie was his name....I would buy those huge sour pickles from the wooden barrels.

Playing marbles on the sidewalk or hop scotch....the streets were so narrow....didn't have to worry about someone speeding, as most of the kids played in the street or a nearby park.

As a child, I never realized that I lived in such a historic area of Boston. I could view the steeple of the Old North Church where two lanterns were hung, prompting Paul Revere’s famous ride and the start of the Revolution. The Old State House where the Declaration of Independence was first read to the people of Boston. I was an adult when I actually took the tour of Paul Revere's house. Never took the Freedom Trail walk.

Boston and adjorning towns serves up slices of history and culture at every turn, it's America's mother city with all the amazing Museums...The Museum of Fine Arts, The Museum of Science....Oh and the Italian Feasts in the middle of the Streets of the North End....Those were the days!

Can you tell I'm missing home? I miss strolling through the Boston Common and Public Garden, watching the Swan Boats. Follow Beacon Street to Charles Street for antique and boutique shopping, and wander through the maze of narrow streets on Beacon Hill. Lunch on Cambridge Street, then take the Red Line into Cambridge to explore Harvard Square. In the evening, take in a show in the Theater District or dance the night away on Lansdowne Street in Kenmore Square.

Filene's Basement in downtown Boston....where I accumulated all my designer clothes for a fraction of the cost. It was worth the hussel and bussel shopping in the Basement!

You can take the T to the Back Bay, where you can browse in designer shops, as well as consignment stores. If your feet get tired, take a break at an outdoor café. End your day with a traditional Boston seafood dinner or an ethnic meal on Boylston or Newbury Street, then catch a concert at nearby Symphony Hall. Or, if the Red Sox are in town, head to Fenway Park for an old-time ballpark experience and a dinner of Fenway Franks.

What in the world made me think I would love the sun and sand in Florida?....and the frightening hurricane seasons! Look at all that I'm missing in beautiful Boston! And, most importantly my children and family and dearest friends.

How many of you still live in the towns that you grew up in or even the same state for that matter? And, has anyone visited Boston? I’d move back in a heartbeat!

Thank You to Sugar Shack for the Awards!

Thanks Sugar for both of these Awards!

Hugs, Rose
P.S. I feel all of our wonderful Blogger friends deserve these Awards, so feel free to snag them for your sidebar and enjoy!