TWO HOLIDAYS....ONE DAY

Seems like the football season just started and now it will be concluding this weekend.  Sunday the Super Bowl will be played in the Meadowlands in New Jersey.  Many consider Super Bowl Sunday a holiday.  Many will celebrate with hoopla by either hosting a party or attending one.  The sports bars will be crowded as football fanatics will gather for the last game of the season.  Beer will flow from the taps; wings, pizza, nachos and other party delights will be eaten. 

This year Super Bowl is being held on another holiday.  February 2^nd is Groundhog Day.  Usual Punxsutawney Phil is the main hero of the day by coming out of his Gobbler's Knob home to make his prediction.  If Phil sees his shadow then there will be six more weeks of winter; if he does not see his shadow there will be an early spring.  It is always the hope that Phil does not see his shadow making Phil the hero of the day; cheers and hurrahs all around for the little groundhog.

Of course with all the hype this week about the Super Bowl, Phil may be a forgotten personality on Sunday.  He will be replaced with cheers and hurrahs for Peyton Manning and the Broncos or Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.  Football fans will be glued to the television to see if Peyton Manning will be the first quarterback to win two Super Bowls with two different teams. 

Oh poor Phil, he may not be the lead story on the news.  Of course, he may be fortunate in case he does see his shadow as he may be jeered by those who gather for the celebration held each year in Punxsutawney. 

It is hard to predict what the lead story of the day will be; but I do hope Phil gets his fifteen minutes of fame come this Sunday. 

I will be among those celebrating February 2^nd.  My day will begin early in the morning as I watch the news to find out what Phil predicts.  I will drink my yearly toast to the little guy; then if one of the channels is showing the movie “Groundhog Day” I will watch it.  Around three in the afternoon, I plan to get ready for some football by watching the pre-game show on the FOX network.  All that as well as the big game, the half-time show and the great commercials will make Sunday a very long day for me.

Until next time, I am getting ready for Groundhog Day/Super Bowl Sunday; making my list of drinks and snacks I plan to consume.  Go Phil; please don’t see your shadow. 

Season of Snowbirds

‘Snowbird Season’ has arrived here in Florida.  Wherever I go, I see license plates from places up North, such as New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana.  The community where I reside, mostly I see Ohio, Michigan and a few from Pennsylvania.  Having the winter residents’ return to my gated community, makes for more traffic.  More people are out walking and enjoying the Florida weather.  I see more people driving golf carts on the road; many drive as if they are in a NASCAR race and not going the posted speed limit.  There are more bicycles going past my house as well as more cars and trucks.  With the ‘snowbird season’ in full swing, within my gated community the games have begun or sports as our newsletter refers to them.

During this time of year I don’t need a calendar to let me know the day of the week.  All I have to do is look out my window and I know if it is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc… I can see most of the games/sports being played.  A few years back, I wrote a poem about the croquet players called “Adults at Play”.  I dedicated it to them (of course I don’t think they know this).  No matter how cold it is, there they are out in full force, bundled up in jackets, hats, scarves and a few are wearing gloves.  I watch as I sit at my computer working on my latest writing endeavor while sipping a warm beverage.  Sometimes I wonder, should I set up a concession stand to make a few extra bucks.   Sure some out there could use a hot cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate to take off the chill.  When it is warmer, I can offer bottles of water, Gatorade or a ginger ale.  It is nice to see adults acting like children.  No doubt it keeps them young as it keeps me young just watching them.  One drawl back for me, backing out my driveway; I have to look both ways at least three times before backing out onto the street.  There are times when out of nowhere a golf cart comes barreling down the road, a bicyclist pedals from somewhere and a car or two also appears suddenly. 

I do welcome all those who come to the ‘Sunshine State’ during the winter.  They spend money which helps the economy.  Once they migrate home, I again have to consult my calendar to find out what day of the week it is.  Oh well, that is why I have one handy.  Until next time…..I hear the whacking of the croquet mallets upon the wooden ball which means today is Monday. 

ADULTS AT PLAY

(Dedicated to the croquet players from Orange Manor West and Orange Manor East of Winter Haven, Florida—March 2008)

©Scottie-ann Murphy

A whacking noise

  A crashing blow

Wood hitting upon wood

Cheers

  And jeers

Of those at play

  On lush green grass

    Laughing like children

In the noon day sun

   Under a cloudless blue sky

The sounds

     Penetrate into my ears,

Behind darken window panes

     Silently I watch…..

                 A peeping Tom peering out into the world

Croquet day has arrived once more

Baked Delights

The Christmas holidays of 2013 are now a memory.  This past season made my tenth year of celebrating the holiday in Florida.  I found that this year I had a few things I missed about Christmas in the North;  no not the thought of a “white Christmas”.  This year it seems I missed certain foods I always associated with the holiday.

Growing up in Chicago, my step-grandmother always made walnut roll and poppy seed roll.  I am not a fan of poppy seed roll.  When I moved to Northeastern Pennsylvania in my twenties, both walnut and poppy seed roll were big items for not only Christmas but Easter as well.  There is nothing better than a slice of walnut roll, or nut roll as some call it, and a cup of coffee in the morning or even in the afternoon.  Unfortunately, I can not get this item here in the Sunshine State.  The area where I reside has no family owned or privately owned bakeries that would produce such a delicious bake good.  Most baked goods are purchased in the bakery departments of the local grocery stores.

This year I had what you would call a ‘hankering’ for nut roll.  I began my search early in December by approaching the bakery departments of the grocery stores.  None made or sold it. In fact one person told me straight out that she had been doing baking for this store chain for over 20 years and never heard of such a thing as nut roll or walnut roll and does not even think it existed. 

Not only did I have the craving for nut roll, but also for homemade kielbasa.  The stuff we get is made by a large company pre-packaged and can be picked up in the same location as hot dogs.  No doubt missing certain items is the price one pays to live in sunny Florida.

What I don’t understand is with all those who locate to Florida, why none of the store owned bakeries do not make nut roll during the holidays.  I am sure if they did, they would make a nice tidy profit.

Since I wanted nut roll, I ended up calling a family member in Pennsylvania who has finally gotten around to sending it to me.  Okay I did not have it for Christmas but will have it in time for Orthodox New Year which will be January 14^th.  One thing I already plan to do; take a photo of the walnut roll before it is sliced, then another photo after it is sliced.  I plan to take these photos to the baker who told me she never heard of such a thing and show her it does exist.

Well time to go now, my lunch is ready.  My husband made pork barbeque sandwiches like we get up in Pennsylvania.  I hope we have enough relish to put on them.  Bon Appetite. 

ANOTHER YEAR BEGINS

A new year has started once again.  On the last day of the previous year or the first day of a new year, many will make resolutions they hope to keep.  Personally, I make a list of intentions that I hope to see through.  For some reason I do not like the word ‘resolution’; not sure why just my thought.  But when I use the word ‘intention’ it says to me, “I intend to do this or do that.”  No matter if you call them New Year’s Resolutions, Goals for the new year, Intentions or List Plan for the new year, it all comes down to the same thing doesn’t it?  Seeing each goal through and trying hard not to break them.

Last year, I intended to begin a blog, which I did.  Unfortunately my good intention of doing one per week fell by the wayside after my post in September.  I have no excuse as to why this occurred, but it happened.  Going back over my New Year’s Intention list for 2013, I saw a note I made about keeping my aspirations for the year.  I wrote that if I fell from grace in trying to keep one, I should not abandon the goal, but make a note in my journal and begin anew.  A few who confessed they had broken their resolutions were given the advice to just begin again; yet I find I did not follow my own words. 

This year, I intend to do so.  I already made my list of aspirations for 2014; if I do not keep one goal, I will take my advice and start again.  Of course, we all should realize, goals should be realistic so we can see them through.  In short, take things in stride and one day at a time.

I do plan to write a blog each week, and if I do fall from grace and miss a week, I will just begin again.  This year I do not plan to be a failure. On a lighter note, I did complete a few of my intentions for 2013; not all but a few so I should be satisfied with myself.  As you make your goal list for 2014, take a few moments to review your list for 2013 to see how many goals you did keep. 

So until next time….HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY, PROSPEROUS, HEALTHY AND WONDERFUL NEW YEAR.

This poem I wrote in the middle of January 2012.  As I re-read this today, I am going to keep it handy so I know if I break a goal, to begin again.

GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR

(January 2012)

The ball drops in Times Square each year at the stroke of mid-night

  one year ends……another year begins

To ourselves we make New Year’s resolutions

 promises to change….to make our lives better

 or to do something we may have wanted 

   but never took the opportunity

We may decide to loose weight,

  begin an exercise routine

   save more money….spend less

    or take time to stop and smell the flowers

These good intentions we begin on the first day of the year

 hoping each day to see them through

 Unfortunately by February first, many have been broken

Aspirations made on January first seem attainable at the time

The objectives we begin at the start of the New Year

  give us feeling of accomplishment 

We begin to eat healthy, start the exercise regime

  take up the hobby and make life changes

    these objectives are long term

When we break one or two….we become defeated

  failing in our Big Plan

Instead of abandoning our new goals

   we should pick up the broken pieces….

     and begin anew

Each year I make goals that I hope to accomplish

My intention this year will be to re-start those I break

Then again….maybe long terms goals should not be in my plan

 Perhaps I should make a list of intentions….

       then try to conquer only one each month

My first goal for the New Year…. I will write in my journal everyday

Today, the sixth day of January……

    Item one on my list has already been broken

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL???

Labor Day arrived with fanfare as usual.  Now September is upon us.  Of course September always means back to the classroom for students and educators; but for me September means one thing:

THE RETURN OF GRIDIRON PLAY

Football returns with the high school and college season beginning over the Labor Day weekend; the NFL season kicks off the following week with a game played on the Thursday after Labor Day.  Personally for me, the NFL season begins on the Sunday following Labor Day. 

I am a football fanatic.  I have favorite college and professional teams for which I cheer and jeer.  Saturday mornings find me glued to ESPN’s Game Day show.  The best part is always the last ten minutes when they have a guest giving predictions along with the sports announcers.  I just laugh when Coach Corso will say “Not so fast” when he disagrees with a prediction.  Of course I also love to see whose headgear Coach Corso will don for the day.  Three times out of five I guess correctly, but there are times he does pull a surprise.

Like most fans of the game, I have my pre-game routine.  I must wear my team shirt and do my pre-game cheer.  I do a cheer for each safety, field goal and touchdown.  There is a cheer I have for interceptions and sacks also.  If my team wins, I do my post game cheer and if they are defeated a post game jeer.

Sundays I am usually glued to one of the pre-game shows on one of the networks.  I have my favorite show (won’t mention the network in this blog but Terry Bradshaw is on that show).  Like with college I will wear one of my teams’ shirts.  Since I am a fan of an AFC team and NFC team, I switch off between the two.  I have penned cheers for each of the teams which of course are shouted throughout the game.

One thing I hate when both my favorite NFL teams are on at the same time.  I have to switch channels between the two.  Don’t get me started when they play one another.  Thank goodness it is once ever so many years.

Since I am such a vocal person when it comes to football…..my husband will not take me out in public to watch the games. (Most of the time I can catch my college teams on television and as for my NFL teams, he invested in the Sunday Ticket).

Could the reason be I would have to bring along my pom-poms, bad call brick and air horn? Guess he doesn’t want to be embarrassed by my antics.  Recently I have learned there are others like me out in the world.  One bartender told me there is a man who decorates the area where he sits with his team colors and puts a team poster on the wall near him. one woman comes with teddy bears reflecting her favorite team and a few people arrive bearing the ‘terrible towel’ for their team.

Perhaps I should just take a visit to this particular bar some Sunday to watch my team(s) and see how other fanatics enjoy their game.

Yes FOOTBALL IS BACK.  Games can be seen on Thursday, both NFL and college; Friday nights, one can attend a local high school game or watch either college or high school on the sports channel; Saturday brings college games; Sunday afternoon and evening and don’t forget Monday night football.  That leaves Tuesday and Wednesday nights for other television entertainment, but us football fans can’t have everything.

Until next time, cheer on your favorite team. 

I have to run out to the drugstore now.  My fingernails need polishing with the colors of my AFC team.  Just hope I can find black fingernail polish; the gold is sitting on my make-up stand.

TRASH AND TECHNOLOGY

I recall from my younger years a girl telling her friends she had missed the bus but got a ride to school in a garbage truck from her neighbor.  Evidently the neighbor’s father owned his own refuse business.  Someone said to her well if you ever get serious about this fellow he at least has job security picking up trash.

Ten years later, I heard a similar statement.  While I had been out and about, I overheard a conversation between two friends.  The one buddy asked his friend why he was not working in a business type job since he had his degree in business, as opposed to the job he currently held.  The friend remarked that a job in the business field can be replaced by some type of technology but his job as a sanitary engineer will always be safe as there will always be garbage to pick up.

I thought of both incidents a few days ago while my husband and I traveled on Lakeview Drive in Sebring, Florida.  We had stopped behind a garbage truck.  As a kid growing up in Chicago, I recall that three men picked up the trash in the alleyways.  One man drove the truck while the other two tossed the garbage into the back. Currently in my neighbor, we have garbage pick-up twice a week and recyclable pick-up once a week.  One would think there is no doubt job security.

What I witnessed that day behind the trash truck in Sebring made me re-evaluate my thoughts. When the truck stopped in front of a residence, no one threw the garbage into the truck.  Instead some sort of mechanical arms came out, picked up the trash receptacle. dumped it into the truck then placed the receptacle back on the ground. 

It hit me; TECHNOLOGY HAS NOW ENTWINED ITSELF INTO THE GARBAGE INDUSTRY. 

What would have been a two man job (driver and trash thrower) is now down to one person….truck driver.  Someone seems to be out of a job, replaced by technology.  No doubt the start-up cost for this new way of trash pick-up is not cheap; there are those special trucks to purchase; trash containers to deliver to each resident in the community; but I am sure overtime they save money.

Of course what happens when there is glitch with the mechanical arms? What if they don’t retract to pick up the container?  Does the driver have to stop, get out, do it manually, get back into the truck and drive on to the next residence?  Do they call in a temp for the day?  Then I only saw one container per residence.  What if someone has more trash than the receptacle can hold?  Do they have to keep the overflow until the following week?   Weird thoughts whirled through my brain that day about how technology has taken over a job that I always thought secure. 

With technology now entering the garbage world, what will be next?  Will our friendly bartender be replaced by some type of mechanical device who can pour, mix and serve us our favorite beverage?  If so….then it will be time to stay home and just pop a cold one. 

Travel Observances

I like animals as much as the next person but there is a limit I feel in how one should treat their pet.

Recently while traveling on Interstate 95 North, I came across an interesting observance.  We have laws against driving while intoxicated, driving while on cell phone (in some places), and no texting while driving and then there is that law about buckling your seat belt.

I must say there has to be some law on the books about the incident I came across.  The car in front of us was traveling at 70 miles per hour and seemed to be weaving a bit in the lane.  My husband passed the vehicle and I looked over at the driver in the car; that is when I saw what I had not expected.  On the driver’s lap was their family pet.  The driver held the dog while trying to steer the car; the dog’s paws were also on the steering wheel.  Now I don’t mind people taking their pet in their car; it is after all    their prerogative to do so, but I do not feel Boxer or Bootsie should not be sitting on the driver’s lap helping them drive.

We passed this car safely without incident.  It made me think about what others are doing as they travel the highway.  I decided to look inside other cars as we passed them and I saw yet another driver with their small dog sitting on their lap.  It made me wonder if there was not an obscure holiday called “Let Your Pet Help You Drive Day” or “Teach Your Pet To Drive Day” that I knew nothing about. The organization MADD and their cause came to mind, I thought about someone starting a new cause called PAPOL (People Against Pets on Laps).  This is just as dangerous as someone driving intoxicated or even sending a text.  The animal could easily jump down on the floor at the driver’s feet, move one way or another on the driver’s lap causing them to get distracted. 

As we continued our travels, I kept my vigil on those we passed.  My favorite car we passed had to be the one with the driver trying to eat the hoagie.  Now I don’t know about you, but when I eat a hoagie (or submarine sandwich or gyro as some call them) I need both hands.  This driver had the thing in his hands while trying to steer the car with his knees it seemed.  An accident waiting to happen no doubt.  So I came up with yet another cause PADE (People Against Drivers Eating).  Many of the interstate highways have rest areas to pull into where a nice section is designated with tables for those wanting to have a bite to eat.  Just pull over people; don’t cause a accident trying to eat and drive. 

Maybe it is me; perhaps I am just being cynical about the traveling public.  After all it is your car and you can do what you want, but remember you are not the only one on the roads.  Some of us want a safe trip to reach our destination.

It was an interesting first day of travel on Interstate 95 North.  Day two seemed to be incident free until we hit the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.  Don’t get me started about the speed limit there.  Since a good portion of the road was under construction, the speed limit was at 55; my husband traveled at 60 and was passed by those going at least 70 or more.  We felt like snails as we were passed by everything under the sun including the birds. 

Traveling the interstate system is an adventure; never knowing what you may encounter or what you may see in the vehicles or at the rest stops.

As I think about the animals on the laps of the drivers, I came to the conclusion that perhaps these drivers were teaching their pets to steer so they could have both hands free to enjoy a snack. It sure is an interesting thought to ponder when you are behind the wheel of your vehicle.