Letters From New England

The last day...

Sunday

September 23, 2007

Hi,

Well, the last day of my vacation is upon me.   It's around 8:30 a.m. and I have about 14 hrs left to "play". 

I wish I could tell you that I got all of the things done that were on my list.  Truth is, I spent the first 3 days doing nothing more than laying around,  reading.  Ah, I guess that's not entirely true.  Over last weekend, I cleaned my place top to bottom...the usual...mopped floors, dusted, vacuumed, laundry, etc.  And, I made a small pile of jewelry as well.

What I didn't complete was the weeding out of the cellar stuff and posting it on Freecycle.  I went through all of the boxes and put a pretty good size pile of things aside.  I just didn't make a list and post it.  I think I'm going to call my friend, Beth, and see if she will pick it all up instead.  She is going to school in Keene at the moment, and the college has a room that the students use to "freecycle" items.  She offered to take anything I couldn't get rid of online, but I'm going to ask if she'll bring all of it there.  There are coats and sheets and pots&pans, silverware, cookie cutters, tea pots, a small table fan, and (hold onto your hats, kids), I'm giving away some of the "bags" I have...totes and purses and so forth.  Yikes...  This is all I was able to "release" this time around.  Next time, I might be ready to let go of some books.  Wait... no. :)

I never tackled my spare room, either.  I guess, in the back of my mind, it's because I never got the bookcases that I've been waiting on for nearly a month now.  Gave the woman who offered them the benefit of the doubt to see if she would contact me during my vacation after I emailed her about them, but nope.  So, I was going to go and buy a couple myself on Thursday.  Then Linda said she would take me to The Mill Store, where I could buy an unfinished REAL wood bookcase instead of the pressboard/contact paper crap I was going to pick up.  So, the spare room didn't get done.  I wanted to get all of the books off the floor, then empty the closet, which is filled with stuff that I just threw in there to get it out of my way when I moved in.  I want to reorganize it so that I can put a few more boxes of items I don't want in the damp, smelly basement.  Like my cross-stitch stuff and 4 more boxes of books (which probably already smell musty).  This project will have to wait for another free weekend.  OR, my next vacation, which is the last week in October.

Tammy arrived for the weekend on Friday afternoon.  She met me at The Olive Garden in Leominster for lunch.  I went to Kohl's to do some clothes shopping for work (blech), so it was nice to sit and catch up with her for a bit.  We came back to my place and then she took off to spend the weekend at Beth's camp.  I envy her and can't figure out why I didn't ask if they had a couple of free days there this past week.  Oh yeah...it's because I was going to be busy in my apartment.

We went to The Bolton Fair with some friends yesterday.  It was too hot and too much time on my feet (damned sciatica!), and at 2:30 (we'd been there since 11), Tammy and I left.  I jumped in the shower and put on some cool, comfy clothes and sat in the living room with her until she headed back to camp. 

Watched a strange movie last night called "Keeping Mum".  It starred Maggie Smith and Rowan Atkinson, as well as Patrick Swayze (in a really weird role...got a rocking body, but man...he looks old these days).  Anyway, I don't know whether I liked it, hated it or am completely indifferent.  Although I love Smith and Atkinson, I can't say that I would recommend this movie to anyone.  So, of course, you will all watch it now, right?

This afternoon, my cousin, Donna, is having some family over to see her parents now that they are back from their 8 week, cross country, motorcycle trip!  They live in Florida, but own a condo in Gardner, where Pat has spent most summers for years now.  Ray finally retired earlier this year (he's 70, but looks and acts about 50 and Pat is in her late 60's and...yeah, same thing :), so this is the first time he's had the whole summer to play.  I missed having Patty around to take bookstore and bead store field trips with me.  Looking forward to seeing them, and hearing their stories.  They seriously ought to consider writing a book of their adventure.  They went with another cousin, Annette, and her husband, John (both in their 60's).  I know Pat took a journal with her.  This definitely needs to be preserved for family to pass down.  Hey!  Maybe we could get Giselle to do a scrapbooking day with us when you come back next May?  Annette must have photos too... That would be fun.

I hope everyone had the opportunity to do something on the Solstice and on Peace Day (9/21).

Oh yeah... Ronni Bennett from As Time Goes By and The Elder Storytelling Place is going to publish Smokin' In The Garage on her website.  :)

Since it's back to the rat race tomorrow, I need to savor every minute of today.  The temps are back down and I hope they stay there.  Gotta make something to bring to the bbq.   Or...more than likely...gotta BUY something to bring to the bbq. :)

Peace,

Kay

Here a hug, there a hug, everywhere a hug...

FRIDAY 

September 14, 2007

Hi,

I went to see Benjamin Zander speak at Monty Tech last night.  He was funny and inspiring.  Really enjoyed his program, called The Art of Possibility.  If you are interested in hearing more about his work, (he is, by trade, the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and a music teacher), you can check out his website:  http://www.benjaminzander.com/  I bought one of his books, which he autographed for me.  Then he looked me in the eyes for a couple of seconds, leaned over and pecked me on the cheek, then gave me a little squeeze. J

I ran into several people that I knew, which made the evening even more enjoyable.  Diana K., a teacher of Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindful Meditation program (and a cancer survivor).  She is one of the sweetest people I know.  She gave me a big, ol' hug and told me she loved me.  She's the best.

I also saw Laura L., a former co-worker, recently diagnosed with breast cancer.  Her hug nearly crushed my bones….she is the BEST hugger in the world!  Her first chemo treatment is on Monday.  I'm going to make her a "chakra bracelet" this weekend (will just be using Swarovski crystals in the colors of the chakras), do some reiki on it and bring it in for her to wear during her treatments.

And…I ran into my wasband's second ex-wife too.  Got another hug and we chatted for a few minutes.  I hadn't seen her in a long time.  She had a heart attack a few years ago, but she looked good last night. She remarried, but lost her husband to cancer about a year ago.

Last, but not least, I saw Reed A.  I've know Reed since I was first married and he and his (then) wife lived in the same apartment building as us.  He was heavily into drugs and alcohol back then.  About 25 years ago, he turned his life around.  Got clean and sober, became a vegetarian, is committed to his well-being … He's in fantastic shape…runs every a.m. and goes to the gym a few times a week.  Also drinks carrot juice religiously, so he always looks tanned.  J He was with a couple that I didn't know, but the guy knows my wasband and said, Oh.  I thought you looked familiar".  His name was Dave.  I have no clue.  Anyway, I was surprised to see Reed with is former girlfriend.  They split about 7 or 8 yrs ago, I think.  So, I got a hug from Reed too.  It was a very huggy, smiley evening.

Before the program, Lisa, Melissa, Gayle, Kay L and I went to The Old Mill for dinner.  We were fortunate to get a table near the windows so we could see the water and the ducks.  And, as women are wont to do when gathered together, we got a little silly and well…once you begin to laugh, the minute you THINK you have calmed down, all you have to do is look at your partner in crime and you burst into laughter once again.  My stomach was beginning to hurt, which means the muscles got a good workout.

So, about 2 ½ hours into my vacation, I started with a cold… scratchy throat, running nose, general feeling of blah.  I really cannot be sick on my vacation.  I have an agenda, dammit.  I doctored myself up last night and again today.  I don’t feel awful at the moment, but I know it’s festering in there.  I hope I nipped it in the bud.  Last time (wasn’t it just a couple of months ago???), I got really sick.  What the heck?

Peace,

Kay

 

Happy Anniversary, Baby...

Wednesday

September 12, 2007

Happy (non) Anniversary to me!  I would be celebrating my 37^th wedding anniversary today, had I married someone I could live with for 37 years.  But that's okay.  I'm happy.   He's happy.  And, I got 2 great kids out of the deal.

Sunday is his 56^th birthday.  We were SOOOO young (and naïve).  Made a bazillion mistakes with each other, with the kids, with ourselves.  Live and learn, no?

So, wrote my abundance check around 9:00 last night.  Got a call from Tammy today saying that the salon in Freeport, ME that has some of my stuff had a envelope with $45 in it.  Also got an email from a co-worker requesting a anklet for a friend, which I'll charge $18.  Today, I'm $63 richer than I was went I went to bed.

Two and a half more days and I'm on V~A~C~A~T~I~O~N!!!  I'm so looking forward to the time off.  I hope the days are comfortable and the nights are cool.  I'm cleaning and straightening and ridding my life of stuff I don't need.  (Freecycle, here I come).  I'll be physically and mentally lighter when I return to work.

Found out today that I can use a co-worker's Cape Cod cottage at the end of October (when I am on vacation again).  Linda is going to take a day off and go out there with me.  Jackie's place (in Dennisport) is spitting distance to the ocean, which I will love at that time of the year.  Unlike Sandy 's house (in Hyannis), we will have to travel a bit to find any shopping.  If memory serves me correctly, several years ago when Linda, Judy and I were at Jackie's, they took off to find a salon and I drove myself from Jackie's to Hyannis and shopped while they got haircuts.  If I can do it alone, I can get Linda and I there. J

Tim kindly brought me an heirloom tomato from his garden this morning.  I'm going to cut it up and have it with my lunch.  I'd love to have fresh veggies all summer, but I don't think I'd be all that happy about actually gardening.  Dirt and bugs and worms, oh my!

This reminds me….I would LOVE to go to Boston to see "Wicked" while it's here.  They extended it to mid-November, I think.  We (my book group) read the book this year.  It was way different than The Wizard of Oz and most of us struggled to get it done, but I'm hearing that the musical in fantastic.  I wonder if I could get someone to go with me.  I think I'll ask around.

Skipping the gym tonight to go food shopping.  How exciting is MY life? J

This post is boring me to tears.  Adios!

Peace,

Kay

Frustrated...

Tuesday

September 11, 2007

Hi,

First, of all...just taking a moment to acknowledge the anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center.  Still hard to believe...

Also, a gripe about how Typepad can't "read" MS Word documents and the mess it made of yesterday's post.  I can't fix it.  Sorry, folks!

Last, but not least...go write your abundance check RIGHT now, while I'm reminding you of it.  And may all you need come your way soon.

Peace,

Kay

In Memory of September 11, 2001

Monday

September 10, 2007

Hi,

My memoir group meets tonight.  It was decided at the last gathering that we would write an essay about 9/11/01.  I wrote mine yesterday and am sharing here for my blog entry today.

Don't forget that tomorrow is ABUNDANCE CHECK DAY!

In Memory of September 11, 2001

9/10/07 - Bin Laden has reappeared.  What does he want…what will he do now?  Why isn’t he dead or in prison?  He is laughing at us, and with good reason.  Oh, the places I could go with my rant if I were to let myself.  What keeps me from heading to

Washington

to do the deed myself is the hope that someday the truth will be learned.  Someday consequences will be wrought.  Someday he will pay.  In the meantime, I count down the days until we are free to elect new leaders.

Reading through my journals during the week of the attacks on the World Trade Centers, I recall the sadness over the event itself, and the angst I was feeling while in the grips of a relationship with an alcoholic. He got more time on the pages then Bin Laden, which is testament to what my mind was mostly wrapped around.

However, I wasn’t without fear from the scariest event I’ve witnessed in my lifetime.  I was right beside the rest of the world, wondering where the next attack would come from and where it would land.

I haven’t been a fan of summer vacations since I was in school and got all of that time to play.  These days, the heat and humidity make me stay inside with the air conditioners running and popsicles dripping on my t-shirt.  So, for a good long time now, I’ve taken my vacations from work in the spring and fall.  September of 2001 was no exception.  It was my second day of languishing in bed past 6:00 a.m. and I’d just sat down, freshly showered, coffee in hand, when my phone rang.  I looked at my caller ID and saw Tammy’s name and number.

9/11/01 - “Mom!  Are you watching t.v.?”

“No, I’m reading…why?”

“A plane just crashed into the

World

Trade

Center

in NY!”

I turned on the t.v. and, minutes later, we watched the second plane hit the south tower together.  It was then I was sure that this wasn’t pilot error and the “tragedy” from minutes before became a million questions.  Our shock silenced us for a minute.  Fire and smoke was pouring from windows, bodies were tumbling to the ground.  I told her I needed to hang up.  I had reached a point where sitting there was impossible and I began to pace from room to room, trying to internalize what was going on.

As I walked back into the living room, tissue box in hand, the first tower collapsed. Street cameras picked up the voices of the hordes that were running, covered in dust, questions of what in God’s name was happening, interspersed with screams.  And then, the second tower follows the first to the ground.

Where the hell is Bob?  I haven’t heard from him since Friday morning.

My friend, Nora, was to fly to CA that morning from

Logan

.  I have no idea if she was on either of the hijacked planes.  I don’t know her daughter’s phone number.  I can’t reach her by cell phone.  All I can do is wait.  .

I leave Peter Jennings on, his demeanor calms me.  He begins to fill in the holes, to answer the questions.  I listen and listen for something that makes sense, but it never really comes. Then a scrolling marquee tells me that The Prudential Center and The John Hancock Building in

Boston

have been evacuated.

My son works for John Hancock, and oddly enough, his office is in The Pru.  The television pans over to a hotel across the street from my son’s office, the street closed off with police tape, uniformed officers everywhere as a handful of people of middle eastern descent are led outside.  I try frantically to call my son’s office, but I can’t get through.  I call his cell phone.  No service.  I call his home.  He’s not there.  But he knows me, he knows I will be out of my mind with worry, and as soon as he can, he calls to tell me he’s safe.

I barely moved from my sofa for 3 days.  Bob finally shows up and I have someone to commiserate with, but we are on shaky ground of our own.  Peter hasn’t left my t.v. screen for longer than it takes to put on a fresh shirt.  He is my lifeline to NY, his dark circles match mine.  Bob shows concern for the state I am in and suggests we get away for the night…no television, no newspapers, no other people if we can help it.  We throw some of my things into a bag, stop to get his overnight shower kit and clean clothes, and head to the ocean. 

It’s Sunday and I’m in front of the television again.  Bush has said the W word.  Is this, then, to be the catalyst to WWIII…the event that Nostradamus once predicted to be the end of the world as we know it?

Back at work on Monday, I hear from a volunteer in the mail room, that her neighbor’s daughter was killed in the

North

Tower

.  She tells me her name.  It takes me back to the day, in 1976, we moved next door to her parents.  Carrie was only months old at the time.  We shared the same duplex for a couple of years, then went our separate ways.  The last time I saw Carrie, she was a 3 year old with sparkling blue eyes and strawberry blond hair.  And, even though I didn’t like her father, I feel deeply sorry for them and her brother, Matt.

I FINALLY hear from Nora, who was shaken from her near miss, but alive and well.  Her trip to CA, which was for work, was one challenge after another, but the conference took place and she came home.

Everywhere, people band together…it’s neighbor helping neighbor once again.  Every conversation is peppered with words like terrorist, homeland security, weapons of mass destruction.  Where is the master mind behind it all? 

9/11/02 – the sky is supposed to be clear of planes today, but (on vacation once again), I hear the roar of jet engines over my head early in the morning.  I run to the window to see only the last of them head toward

Boston

.  I call Den in his office.  I’m nearly hysterical thinking that this time the planes have been hijacked in NY and are heading to

Boston

.  He answers the phone and in tears, I plead with him to leave work.  He reassures me that OUR military is in the air today, keeping the skies safe from terrorists.  I hang up, but don’t feel any better.

9/10/07 - Tomorrow is the 6^th anniversary and I find myself asking the same question.  Where is the mastermind behind it all?  He’s sending us taunting tapes and threats of more tragedy.   I know it my heart it’s never been about Bin Laden.  Since the moment it happened, it’s been about avenging his father.  It’s been about control of the oil.  It’s been about anything but the security of the

United States

. As I write this, Bush has 498 days, 20 hours and 58 minutes left in the White House.  Make that 498, 20 hrs and 57 minutes…

Peace,

Kay

Catching up is hard to do...

Thursday

September 6, 2007

Hi,

It's becoming difficult to think about this blog now that I can't write directly into Typepad from work.  I have so little time in the evenings with getting home at 5:00, going to the gym and all different hours to catch a class, and trying to get email read (of which I get lots of everyday due to some lists I belong to).  I also have been reading for book club and beading for my sale, and having company and so forth.

I'm not ready to give up my blog, but I feel like it's becoming a chore…one more "something else" I need to remember to do.   I realized last night that I never posted the entry I wrote on Aug. 31, which I will do tonight along with this one. 

Pavarotti died….what a loss.  I'm not a huge fan of opera, but I can appreciate what he brought to the world of music with his incredible talent.   Another RIP for Luciano.

We had a vendor sale at work today.  Shaker Kitchens, who brings a variety of jams, jellies, chutneys, mustards, and dips.  I don't know that I've ever walked out of one of their sales emptied handed, despite the fact that my cupboards shelves are full of there stuff already.  Today I bought some maple pepper (they tell me it's great on veggies like squash and zucchini, or fish like salmon, which was my first thought.  I don't eat fish, but am always looking for ways to disguise salmon so I can choke its' goodness down.  I also bought some pumpkin spice mix to put in cream cheese and a jar of horseradish Dijon mustard, also for the salmon.  Now, I just need to buy some salmon.

I've been such a good doobie about going to the gym since I committed to all that money.  I've been going Mon-Thu with just a couple of exceptions…the movies with Jennie and tonight, dinner with Linda (who has lost 10.8 lbs!  Go, Linda!  - she's my incentive).   Anyway, I've been doing Body Step which I didn't do before.  I'm still at a point where it's a huge challenge for me and I have to moderate some of the program because my heart rate goes too high.  Not only is it scary when it's flopping around in my chest like a fish out of water, when you become anaerobic, you are no longer burning fat.  Plus, when I leave Body Pump, I'm glowing with sweat and a little flushed.  When I leave Body Step, I look apoplectic.  It is NOT attractive.

The local natural food store is having a big festival this weekend.  I planned to go to a bead show in Marlboro, but luckily, a couple of other beaders convinced me that I can get the same stuff at lower prices if I just get online and order.  They're right, of course, but I like to be able to SEE what I'm buying, which is the big pull in going to the shows.  This time, however, I think I'll stay away and save about $300 this week.  And, I'll get to go to the festival now. 

The grandkids are back in school.  Emma has started 5^th grade (how DID that happen??).  She has been telling everyone that she wants a digital camera and a Furby (yes, they're back).  I told her she needed to earn the money and said that I would play "Are You Smarter Than a 5^th Grader" with her once a week.  She has to pay attention in school and come up with one question  from her lessons that week that she can ask me.  If I get it wrong, she gets a $5 coupon toward the purchase of a Furby.   

We took the kids to Marshall Farms last weekend.  A complete rip off, if you ask me. And, camels and zebras and emus don’t belong in cages in Fitchburg , MA .  $11 per person to get in, regardless of age.  Well, I think babies get in free.  That place has changed a LOT in the last few years and I'm not liking it too much.  Despite the fact that it's a longer ride (but in the western part of the state, which is beautiful in the fall), I'm going to start going back to Hamilton Orchards in Amherst .  Maybe after that I'll just keep heading west and go to Whole Foods Market and make a day of it.  Lots of stuff that way…college towns always provide the goodies. 

The nights are much cooler now.  I am LOVING it…it's so comfortable for sleeping.  I am SO ready for fall.  We need some rain…it's been a pretty dry summer (and last winter too!).  The leaves have already started to change, which was a bit early.  But I love autumn so much that I don't even care.  There isn't a thing about it that I don't like.  Autumn in New England .  There's nothing like it!

Peace,

Kay

Another month bites the dust...

Friday

August 31, 2007

Hi,

Wow, the last day of August already.  Before we know it, AUTUMN will be here.  Yippee!!!

I thought today would never get here, but at last…it's the Friday before a long weekend!  Another round of  Yippee!!!  :)

Today is also the 10^th anniversary of the tragic death of Princess Diana.  I remember first hearing the news like it was only yesterday.  I was babysitting Emma…then only 8 months old.  WOW.  We were in the living room, playing on the floor, the t.v. on in the background.  I was stunned, as was the rest of the world.  I still think it's a terrible loss to mankind to have had her taken from us so young.  Her personal life aside (which I don't blame her for at all!), her humanitarian work was wonderful.  Had she lived, Godde only knows what good would have come to the lives of many.  There's been so much controversy surrounding the accident that's it's difficult to know what's true.  RIP, Diana.

I have a couple of Netflix movies waiting for me.  Winter Passing and Vanity Fair.  Looking forward to sitting with them and a cup of tea over the weekend.

I started a new cross-stitch project last night.  It's a Christmas one…and not very detailed.  It shouldn't take too long.  I want to work on some earrings and book marks too.  Bead show next weekend!  I'll have to get really busy after that.   

My son's bike was stolen.  It was an expensive racing bike from his days with a bike club back in Massachusetts .  He did a couple of triathlons with it.  He discovered it missing yesterday, and doesn't know how long ago it was taken.  He's had a lot of loss from theft since he moved to Phoenix .  But, as he says…he's also had many good things come his way.  I've seen/heard about the good, but since I'm not a direct recipient, I'm having a hard time getting over what he's lost, especially the coin collection he started when he was young, and the necklace crosses that belonged to his grandmother.  Curses on the person/people responsible.

Did I tell you that Mr. Bean's Holiday was a funny movie?  I think I did…

Back to work…

Peace,

Kay