Cape Cod ... I miss you!!!

Well, folks, I just came back from a wonderful vacation … getting to spend time with my daughter. We went into Boston on the first day and ate a fabulous dinner at the Harbor Hotel. What a ritzy place and the food was delicious, if not different. I had what I called shrimp stuffed with spinach “Jello”. It wasn't Jello but I've never seen spinach quite like that … very good though.
Saturday I got to meet my little friend Hazel. She is now walking all over the place and is very cute. I finally got to meet Hazel's Daddy, Michael. Kelly, Erica, Michael, Hazel and I went to several yard sales in their neighborhood. It was fun.
After Hazel, Kelly and I drove to Cape Cod. It took us awhile but we finally arrived to find our motel on a large hill with a beautiful view. It was very nice. The people on the Cape are much friendlier than Bostonian's and the motel was very clean. We unpacked and then went to find some lunch and drove around sightseeing. We came back to the motel and conked out for a couple hours. Then we went into downtown Province town and had a wonderful dinner (lobster potpie) and looked around a little. Sunday we spent the entire day in P-Town looking in and out of stores and visiting the beach a couple times. We then went back to our motel and tried out the pool. Kelly did some swimming but I just soaked my aching feet. We then went to an Italian Bistro for a nice dinner and back to our room for a good night's sleep.
On Monday we got up and headed “one more time” around the area, and then headed up to Cape toward home. It took us the entire day as we did a lot of stopping at stores, beaches, restaurants, etc. We also stopped at a Heather Farm, but it wasn't in bloom yet. We never made it back to Jamaica Plain until late in the evening. Of course, we relaxed and then went to bed because I had to be at the airport early the next morning.
The stay was short and went fast but we had a great time. I can't wait to go again!!!

LEAVING ON A JET PLANE

Well, fellow bloggers, I will be away from the old computer for a few days. I am flying out of BWI tomorrow to visit my daughter in the Boston area. Kelly lives in Jamaica Plain and I will be heading there tomorrow afternoon. On Friday we plan to visit her work site ... the library at Simmons College ... and then we are heading into the city for some lunch along the bay with her friend, Megan. Whatever else we do will depend on the weather. Saturday we get to visit her friend Erica and her little girl, Hazel. We might even take Hazel for breakfast.

Later Saturday we are heading on a road trip to Cape Cod and spending a couple days in Provincetown. I am hoping it will be warm enough to partake of the motel's heated pool; but you never know in New England.

I'll catch up with all you fine folks next week. Until then .....Adios Amigo's!!!!!

A SWEET LITTLE BOY

I just want to write a short blog to tell you about a sweet little boy. The picture above is my little kittie, Minxie. Now I have three cats >> two females and this little male. Minxie is an old cat but he still has the heart of a kitten. He has been my bed partner for many years. He is a Manx cat, which means he has no tail and longer back legs -- more like a rabbit. When he runs, he sort of hops like a little bunny. He is a lap cat and loves to give kisses and is constantly by my side. Now don't get me wrong, I love my girls too but I've found that they are more independent and don't have as much time for me. They have more important cat things to do, rather than follow me around. I don't mind because I always have my little boy. Isn't he cute???

I am the Queen

Today I'd like to toot my horn a little bit. You see, where I work, we are doing "The Biggest Loser". It was the brainchild of our Human Resources Department to get folks to lose a little weight and get healthy. We have a "Wellness" program whereby you collect points throughout the year on your "wellness scorecard" and then at the end of October you hand it in. If you get the required number of points, you can get a nice discount on your health insurance on your paycheck the following year. Last year was the first that Pinnacle supported this program, and come January, it was really nice to see a reduction in my insurance rate. Now this year, everyone wants to get in on the savings!!!

Hence, the Biggest Loser program ... patterned after the TV Program, if you participate in this, you can receive a whopping 10 points. Now, that is a lot and all you have to do is participate. Of course the goal is to lose weight; but if you do not, you still get credit for participating.

Well, I decided to start a team. Teams had to consist of ten members, and you could pick a pseudo name. I knew the ladies I worked with would participate, but I invited one person's husband for our token male; whose name happened to be Jack. We call ourselves "Nine Queens and a Jack" and each of the ladies has taken a queen name for reporting purposes. Each week we weigh in on Friday and then report our team's progress. Queen Bee won the first two weeks but guess what ... Queen Mother won this week. Guess who Queen Mother is??? ME

Yes, this week I was the biggest loser and I am happy because next week I will be on vacation and probably will eat like a pig.

Each Monday as team leader, I send out a little history on each of our queens. We have Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Bee, Queen Nefertiti, Queen of the Nile, Queen of Hearts, Queen Mother, Queen Guinevere, and of course "Jack". I went to the Dollar Tree and secured a lovely crown, scepter and some gorgeous one-of-a-kind gifts for each week's winner. Everyone is trying hard to win one. Fun, you bet ... makes work more interesting and we just might get a little healthier!!!!

Double House; Double the Family????

I grew up in a double house. It was a structure where two families lived under the same roof; however in different living areas. The house I grew up in was not originally designed to be a double house, but before I was born, someone decided it cold be turned into one. Hence, the Utt house in Lightstreet was born. It was a big stately house with a large wrap-around porch that sat on the corner of Main and Easy Streets. My parent's side faced Main and the Easy street side was a "rental" (of sorts). I was born in December of 1947, and I think my Uncle Fred and his various wives lived on the Easy Street side when I was a baby. My earliest memory of someone living in that side was when I was seven. My sister, Barbara, had gotten married and she and her husband started their married life in that house. We had a door in our living room that connected to their kitchen. I remember when their first daughter, Linda, was born, she used to pack a little bag and "run away" via that door over to Grannie's for awhile.

Later Barbara and her husband took a job in a nearby town that came with housing, so they moved away. Hence, my sister Joan and her three little ones came to live in that house. Their oldest daughter and I were pretty close in age so since I was being raised as basically an "only child", it was fun to suddenly have two nieces right beside me. (although they only lived two doors down the street anyway). Joan and her family stayed there until she remarried and moved to the great state of California -- never to come East again.

My parents at that time decided to rent out that side of the house. Renters came and went. Some were good and some were not. The last renter that lived in the house was in 1972, and they litterly ruined the place. My mother and father were so discouraged because they had just lost their second home to Flood Agnes and did not want more fixing up to do. They had since both retired and decided to purchase a motor home and winter in Florida. What a good idea to have a family member living on the other side of the house to "take care of things" when they snowbirded to the south. Hence, when my son was about six months old, my mother and I worked and worked and fixed up the house for my husband and I to move into. During our stay we did a lot of remodeling and fixing, putting in a brand new kitchen and making one large bedroom into two smaller ones for our two children. We stayed until my Father died in 1982. My mother started making noises like she was going to sell the house, and we got an opportunity to purchase our own home, so we left Lightstreet for the Danville area. The summer of 1982 my mother and I took a month-long road trip out west to visit my sister and her family, who had since moved to Las Vegas. On the way home, we stopped in Little Rock, Arkansas and looked up my long-lost brother.

Well, as fate would have it, about two weeks after we got home, my brother and his entire family showed up on my mother's doorstep. Wasn't it convenient that the old house on Easy Street was once again vacant; hence he, his three children, two grandchildren and one soon-to-be son-in-law moved into that house. Near the end of 1983 my brother became very ill and was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He died in February 1984. Shortly thereafter, my widowed sister-in-law and her children became very dependent on my mother and she decided the best thing she could do is sell the house and once and for all get out from under the burden of owning a large property. The house sold very fast and she moved to Danville into a senior high-rise to be close to me and my family.

My niece told me recently that she has visited the house a couple years back and that it was strange walking through a house where her mother grew up. That house had changed drastically since the time her mother was a young girl, giggling in twin beds with her sister Barbara, on the Main Street side. But oh, the memories...if those walls could talk.

All my parent's children lived there except Jane, the oldest, who was married before they moved to Lightstreet; and therefore never made the move north. She lived her entire life in Delaware County, also dying of terminal cancer in December of 1984.

Once again, Roxanne, this memory is for you. More to come later...

PS--As my son-in-law, Tom, has said previously, it would be nice to have "real" pictures to accompany my blogs. However, digital cameras were not available back then and I do not have the equipment or expertise to put old pictures on line. You'll have to excuse the ones I use; but I do try to find "believable" ones. Enjoy!!

WHO DECORATES THE TREE? IS IT SANTA?

I haven't had too many blog subjects in my mind lately but I was asked by my niece in Ct. to write more about my memories of growing up in the tiny village of Lightstreet, PA. Specifically, she wanted more stores about her mother. Unfortunately her mother was 16 years older than me and my memories of her were as an adult and not that exciting. However, I promised I would do my best so today I am delving into my memory bank and trying to come up with a few interesting subjects. Roxanne ... this one is for you.

My sister was divorced and left with three small children. Me, being a "change of life" child, was 16 years her junior. Her oldest daughter and I were really only five years apart and more like sisters than my actual sister. However, because I was the Aunt, there were times when I had to act like the "big girl". One time that I clearly remember was at Christmas. I think I was probably only 11 or 12 but I was helping my sister get ready for the big day.

Now in our family, we always were taught that Santa Claus decorates the Christmas tree. Therefore we would go out as a family and get a nice tree the week before Christmas and stick it in a bucket outside until a couple days before the big event. The Sunday before Christmas the tree would come into the house but for at least one day it had to sit and "warm up" or as my Dad would say, for the branches to "fall out". Then the next day the lights could go on, but that was all. The decorating was done by Santa.

This means that on Christmas eve, if the mother didn't already have enough to do, she had to play Santa and decorate the damn tree. Well, I finally was old enough to know there wasn't a Santa (although I don't think I helped decorate a tree at my own home until I was well into my teen years). My mother had a problem breaking tradition I guess.

This particular Christmas, for the very first time in my life, I was getting to play Santa and help my sister (who lived next door) decorate her tree for the little ones. Well, as Christmas Eve approached and dinner time came, I was so excited that I couldn't wait for them to go to bed. Finally after bath and much excitement, into bed they went. My sister and I then drug out the decorations from the basement and she got a small ladder and we were ready to start. Also hidden in the basement were some Christmas items that (on her very small budget) she had been fixing up for Christmas ... like a play table and chairs, doll cribs, etc. Well, before we started our decorating, we hauled all the bigger gifts into the living room. Finally we were ready to start. We were doing a pretty good job, but from time time we would hear little noises from up the stairs. The kids were so excited they just couldn't settle down. We went out on the porch and made big footsteps and came in and Ho-Ho'd, hoping to scare the little rascals to sleep. It got real quiet and we thought we were in good shape. Back to decorating. About 1/2 hour later, as my sister was standing on the step stool and I was handing garland to her, we heard a noise behind us. There stood three little urchins watching us. My sister (much to my dismay) let them stay up and help decorate the tree. That was the end of Santa doing the decorating in that house!!!!

A Plug for James Patterson

This will be short, but since I keep telling you that I am an avid reader, I had to share another new reading experience.

My newest summer fiction love is reading the Women's Murder Club series of books by James Patterson. I know it was a television series that I did not watch this past season; however I am really enjoying the books. So far I've read the first one (1st to Die) and am half way through the second one (2nd Chance). They are really easy to read and exciting.

The only problem I have found with this series is that I stay up too late at night and then can hardly drag my ASS out of bed in the morning. The chapters are short and you keep saying "just one more". But, it's all good!!!

Oh yeah, he just published number eight. Guess I won't be getting much sleep this summer!!!!

Blood Thicker Than Water??? You Decide!!

I've been on this Earth for almost 62 years. One thing I've learned is that people cannot survive alone. My Mother often said to me "I don't need anyone." Do you realize how much that statement can hurt a person? Anyway, she did end up needed someone, and I think I was that person was me -- more often than anyone. But she was my Mother; that was my duty --being there for her. I wouldn't go back and change that for anything.

That being said, time has taught me a few things. Some people say blood is thicker than water. Some people disagree and say you can pick your friends, but not your relatives. Well, maybe both statements are true. In my life I've had an abundance of friends. I have a small family and I came late in life so my relatives are few and far between. I was the youngest of five siblings and 13 years spanned me and the next offspring. This made for a lonely existence ... sort of an only child; but not. I know this much -- I would have traded with anyone to have a sibling my own age both growing up, and now. This is certainly why I'd never advocate an only child. It might seem like a wise decision financially; but is it always in the best interest of the child? I have a relative who is an only child and she is now very convinced that all of the burden of "being there" for her parents has come down to only her. She has no one to turn to. I may have only two children and they may be worlds and miles apart in both distance and thoughts...but one thing I do know; when times are really tough, they know they have a sibling somewhere on this Earth.

I was the only remaining child in the geographical area when my Father became very ill. My "independent" Mother never learned to drive. Who do you think she depended on? After battling Alzheimers Disease, my Father took a gun to his head. Who do you think my Mother depended on? And late in life when dementia took what was left of her independence away, who do you think she depended on?

Now, like I said, I've had lots of friends. They come and they go. But relatives are still there whether you like them or not. Nine chances out of ten, you can depend on them when the going gets rough. Yes, blood is thicker than water. (it has platelets - LOL) BUT, the point I am trying to make (and I do include in-laws as relatives, too) -- is that your family should always be important to you. Hold them close, pray for them, and even if you are miles away or across the street, keep that relationship nearby in your heart. Some day when you are 61, you'll yearn for it.

Take care, and God bless.

Alcoholic? I Don't Think So - Week End Drunk? Maybe

Now people that don't know me very well, or have just met me in recent years, will not know that I've had my share of good times. Back in the 90's, right after my divorce and moving into Harrisburg, I was quite the party animal. I ran with a rather large group of gay men (yes, I was the token "fag hag") and we partied hardy. My one friend, Steve, and I were out on the streets every single night. There is (was) a place in Harrisburg that was fondly known as the "fruit loop" because Gay men solicited for "friendship" or what have you. It is a street that loops down from the Capitol building to the river and back. It was a couple blocks of fun back in those days. The center of the loop was planted with beautiful flowering trees, there were tulips everywhere, and it was really pretty. In the evening you saw cars parked in just about every slot and would hear music, laughter, see dancing, and what have you. We'd stay until the cops would have enough and send us packing. There are also several churches on this street -- old stately buildings with majestic facades. Steve and I used to go to the local sub shop and get a sandwich and eat on the church steps. We often called it the "State Street Cafe". We would undoubtedly run into a group of our friends and be there until the wee hours.

Then came the weekend. (Ours started on Thursday night and ran until Monday morning). We didn't want to miss out on anything. It would consist of club hopping, starting at what we fondly called the "troll bar" and then work our way up the street, ending at Stallions ... the local gay hot club. (They are still all there ... just not nearly as hot or as much fun.)

Now, this was the days before everyone had a cell phone, could text, and the Internet was only in offices. Homes didn't have computers so if you wanted to solicit a little "fun", you did it on the street. My friends all did it. I was the "innocent" fag hag ... just there for the fun and drinking.

Many Friday mornings I stumbled into my job, barely awake but made it through. I never missed work and have to tell you, I am still at the same job all these years later. On Sunday night we often travelled to State College for a dance and a couple drinks. After the club closed at 2:00, we dwould travel to one of the local eateries and continue our fun and then have to head the couple hour drive back to "The Burg". There were a few times when I got home on Monday just long enough to take a shower, (wash the smoke out of my hair), and go into work an hour later. Obviously, Monday night I went to bed pretty early.

In later years ... late 90's and early 2000's, a bunch of us got together and had huge Halloween parties. Actually, we had little parties every weekend at some place or another ... we had to start off somewhere since the clubs didn't "hop" until midnight. At Halloween, a bunch of us would put together about $500 and have a theme Halloween party which all the town would eventually wander into. We did such themes as "Studio 54", just to mention one. We spent months preparing. We even had notes, meetings and newsletters. Come every October, it was the place for all the local hot guys, drag queens, and everyone in between. We had a blast.

Of course, parties meant drinking. I hardly ever drank before I moved to Harrisburg. I wasn't a "tea-toatler", but alcohol was reserved to holidays or special occasions. Once I met the gay crowd, drinking was a part of everyday life. My friend Carl and I would do shots of Jack Daniels like it was mouthwash. He would say "Nancy, are you a big dog?" Damned if I wanted to be left on the porch. I still have my "Big Dog" t-shirt. I would hate to see the gallons of beer and alcohol we devoured over the years. However, Carl was always adamant that we were not alcoholics. We fondly called ourselves "weekend drunks". And that we were. My roommate and I fought over the china throne many a weekend morning.

But was it fun ... yes. I cannot remember the last time I had a drink. I surely don't remember the last time I was at a party. Carl and I now spend hours on the phone talking about the old times and how great they were. Nostalgic. I couldn't do it now; but I wouldn't trade those days for anything.

Some folks would judge me and I surely don't care. My children were raised and out on their own. We never hurt anyone and we had fun. I never missed work and my bills were paid (as well as they are now ... I've never been a financial genius). BUT, I did not spend the rent money on alcohol. I worked two jobs to pay for my fun times.

But when they close the lid on me, I'll be able to rest knowing I had fun in my life. By the way, I don't want to go into a coffin. I think being cremated and put in a Coor's Light bottle on the back of Stallion's Bar would be a fitting resting place for me.

Now, wait until you read the next Blog ... you'll think ......my God, who is this Bitch?????

The Shack

I haven't blogged in awhile. I haven't really had anything to say (can you imagine that?); but tonight I am going to talk about a book I read recently and just cannot get out of my mind. Now I am an avid reader with usually at least two books going. I belong to a book club and love to discuss different types of "reads". Recently ... on my own ... I selected a book by William Young called "The Shack". Our book club read this book awhile back and I was absent for one reason or another that month so never got into the real discussion. After reading it "on my own", I just can't get it out of my head. What a thought-provoking book.

I simply cannot tell you about this book because you really need to read it for yourself. I am sure you can get it anywhere as it is on the best seller list and has become "the book" for everyone to read and discuss.

Now, don't be turned off if you read the cover or a review and think "I don't want to read any religious mumbo-jumbo. This book is NOT religious. However, if you believe in God (how couldn't you ... just look outside at the flowers, the sky, look at your children, look at all the beautiful things) ... this book is spiritual. I have to tell you ... I've done my time as a Sunday School teacher, attended church EVERY Sunday (just ask my kids ... I even made Kelly wear dresses), and was the president of the church council at one time. I attended Bible studies, read scriptures, did the whole "nine yards" of religion. Lately, I have been really turned off by listening to people who are so hung up in "organized religion" that they -- so to speak -- cannot see the forest for the trees. In other words, they are so hung up on man's version of what religion is supposed to be and all the church rules, do's and don't's, that they forgot about God and what it would feel like to be spiritual and "one with Him".

This book also explains the Trinity. I would hope my kids know exactly what that is. I may quiz them one day. I am amazed at adults who have spent their whole life going to church (especially ones schooled in Catholicism), and tell me they never understood the Trinity until they read this book. WOW, is all I can say. Young does an excellent presentation of the Tri-Three.

I just discussed this book with someone today at lunch. We are both in our 60's and have both had trials and answered prayers in our life. We've both had enough reasons to know their is a God and both agreed this book just "blew us away".

I wonder about these young people on Facebook who put "atheist" in their religion column. Do they really know what that means? I guess I am naive but I cannot believe that you can travel this world, see the miracles every day, and not believe there is a Supreme Being in charge. I do not know if I came from the "Big Bang" theory, from Adam and Eve, from an ape (I am thinking Adam was an ape of sorts), but I do know that where man started, it was the result of a Superior Existence much greater than you or I.

Please, try to read this book. You may not agree with me in the smallest sense. BUT, I will guarantee you that it will make you think.

And if you ever want some proof of miracles, just call me. I can quote a few that no "Big Bang" can explain. Mothers, just look at your children; if birth isn't a miracle, then life isn't worth living. I rememeber the first night I held my first-born and with tears streaming down my face, I thanked God for the miracle he gave me. The second was no different. It still gives me chills.

Have a great day!!!!