For all the Sensitive Tootsies!

Nice day, but if you want to get depressed really fast, watch the forecast for the upcoming week(my vacation week by the way)!  Canadian air mass surges south!  Just because forty percent of the neighborhood is from Canada, it does not mean they want a visitor, nor do their warm, sun-loving neighbors.  As of the moment, temperatures are fore casted to stay in the forties for Monday.  All this less than desirable weather arrives on Sunday, the first day of my vacation.  After speaking with old friend Dave Seatter this morning, my optimistic nature tells me, "it ain"t that bad!"  Dave announced it was five degrees this morning in Connecticut, I reiterated "has dementia set in, Mr. Seatter?"  Looking at the calendar, this is STILL Fall, those temps are not allowed for at least another month!

Today's local newspaper, chocked full of Christmas ads, a bit of daily normalcy around here, has a FAKE palm tree, at least six feet tall, decked out with holiday light!  Some how I can't bring myself to give up the traditional tree.  Yes, businesses go above and beyond when it comes to holiday lights, decorating every kind of tree, plant life or structure that will support those lights.  Don't get me wrong, it is absolutely gorgeous, but they also go to great lengths to create the atmosphere of the cold, snowy landscapes most often associated with Christmas.  So, why buy a FAKE palm tree decked out in lights...a no-brainer!

As for me, if we are talking Christmas trees, I love the real thing.  After having a conversation with another northeastern transplant today, I understand why she drives to HOME DEPOT, LOWES or WALMART and strolls through the live Christmas tree department.  Ahh, the scent of pine!  Thirty bucks for a "Charlie Brown" tree!  Keep the tree, I am heading to YANKEE CANDLE for pine scented candles!  Maybe, I"ll pick up cinnamon scented, cookie dough scented and apple pie aroma as well, no weight gain guaranteed!

Although, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the real deal concerning Christmas trees, artificial became the way of life during the Fred's News years.  Living upstairs from the business, totally convenient, but  for those who lived with me, a total understanding of why we chose artificial...heat, heat and more heat!  I hate cold weather, being cold or even thinking I might be cold.  The average yearly temperature in our Baltic, Connecticut home, a toasty, comfy eighty degrees!  Good for me, not the Christmas trees.  If Guinness has a record of how fast a fresh cut Christmas tree can drop it's needles.....we far surpassed the record.  Oh, under normal conditions you say....that was normal for us!

Picking pine needles out of the rug, even with daily vacuuming, until at least May or June was not uncommon.  Many household member wincing in pain as a petrified dry needle, penetrated a shoeless foot, strolling through the "HOT HOUSE"!  Sooooooo....to correct the issue, artificial trees, complete with "snow" adorned our home.  Yes, the cold weather "electrical shocks" we all experienced increased, but better than a stab to the sensitive soles of the barefoot.  Fred the Dog, being most affected by the "shock" from the artificial decor.  Poor dog walked around the house, his fur standing on end with electrical charge, just waiting to be petted by some unsuspecting friend!  Fred looked like a baby chick with that fur all charged up! A good rub-down with a couple of clothes dryer sheets,  help rid him of that deranged charged up look.

As the holiday's passed, the tree and ornaments packed away for their long winter's sleep, out came the vacuum, ridding the rug of tinsel, fake snow( that crap not the easiest to pick up) and yes, those stupid little wire hangers for the ornaments.  At least now, that was the only thing that MIGHT remain in the carpet, attacking a  unsuspecting barefoot stroller.  May be I should set up the sewing machine in the same area, see if we can loose a couple of pins and needles..... what an evil woman!!! 

Questions Please!

Yesterday, I left work early, wanted to go with the Egg-Nazi for his second chemo treatment.  We were in an out in thirty minutes. Mr. Bill always asks me to let him ask questions...I know what he means...I don't always feel his questions are exactly what he wants to ask.  However, he is the patient and I must have patience!   By encouraging him to ask, it avoids him asking me a couple hours later..."What do you think the Doctor means when she says........had he let me ask, I could of answered his questions.  Ironically yesterday, the Doctor, nurse and myself were laughing about something and each made a comment, but we were all talking at the same time.  Mr. Bill, quickly turning his head from side to side, trying to tune in to each conversation, finally says, "one at a time please, I can only listen to one conversation at a time!"  We all laughed, saying "sorry, we forgot you are not one of us....we all know what the other was saying....it is called multi-tasking."  As he groaned and conceded, in an almost inaudible tone he says.."go ahead Annie, ask away!"  That look of defeat crossed his brow...never argue with a woman...let alone three of them!

As we left the Cancer Institute Mr. Bill looks at me and says "Oh boy, I feel different!"  "Like how?" I question.  "Sort of hot and burning."  To relieve his fears I explain, "the Doctor says that is normal."  A look of relief crossed his face..for now he fine.  We receive a call from a Connecticut letting us know friend, Ward is out of surgery, in the recovery room, everything is okay.  Mr. Bill signs with relief.  Conversations then turn to Ward.  When is he coming home, what will he experience, how will he feel, when will the final pathology tests be available?   For now, his mind preoccupied with his friends health and recovery, Mr. Bill is fine.

Cooking dinner together, he says "maybe tomorrow I will go with you, while you take care of your few obligations at work, then you can meet me at the Magic Kingdom."  Excellent Mr. Bill, good job keeping yourself occupied.  As we discuss the days activities over dinner, I wonder, will this be another week without the side effects from therapy?  As the evening continues, Mr. Bill seems to be heading to the bathroom more often than usual...Do I question him?  If he thinks, I am worried, he too will worry.  Hard to believe but I stay quiet.   I will worry in silence, I know another hard to believe statement.  When is the last time I kept my  mouth shut!

Ten o'clock, the night of the dreaded side effects is in full swing.   Mr. Bill laying on the couch...freezing.  He tells me, "everything hurts".  I remind him, some of the effects are flu-like symptoms,  he rattles off a barrage of questions in rapid fire succession.  I answer all to the best of my ability.  What I really want to say is "Sweetheart, why the hell didn't YOU ask the Doctor those questions?!"  Again I remain silent...I will remind him of that when he is feeling better.  It is not an "I told you so moment" but he needs to understand information isn't going to be given unless it is asked for...sometimes a tough pill to swallow.  About midnight he is hallucinating.....says he can't breathe and he is having a rapid heartbeat.  I check his blood pressure..NORMAL....heartbeat...NORMAL!   Hmm Mr. Bill is on bad drugs!  I did feel so helpless, it is not like me not to have an answer.  This continues for a few hours, by six o'clock he is asleep, I am awake.  He does not take the trip with me to Orlando.  The side effects are waning but he is exhausted...go tell!  I;m not my usual peppy self either....next Thursday we can count on HIM asking questions or I will.  He did learn a good lesson...I can handle it if I relax and there are more GOOD days than bad!  God love him!  Take a nap Mr. Bill!  

"Ice Possible!"

Okay enough is enough of this cold air crap.  Headed to work shortly after 4AM this morning, the car thermometer warning "ice possible"!  You have got to be kidding, I live in central Florida for God's sake, it isn't suppose to get this cold.  This will be our fourth winter down here.  I remember the first one...a frost early, but we were told, " not to worry, the first one in five years!"  Well four winters later and guess what, we have had numerous frosts ever year since our arrival.  Point being, either global warming is not happening in Florida, possibly people have no concept of time, maybe they don't know what the hell a frost is.  In any event, it is G-damn cold, flowers are covered, some will survive others not so lucky.  As the saying goes "survival of the fittest" or better yet "location, location, location!"

In Baltic, one expects cold, it is New England.  At least work was just down the back stairway...no car thermometer warning, "ice possible!"  Now that I think about it, we should have had a danger meter rigged to the back stairs.  "Ice possible" would have prevented the numerous injuries that occurred during our twenty three years up and down the stairs.  Luckily, none of those injuries, major, just embarrassing!  Amazing, you could tumble down the stairs at 3AM in the morning, someone seeing you, the silence of the darkness shattered, "whoa, hey lady, you okay?"  "Sure you idiot, it's quicker if I come down the stairs on my ass any way!"  "Of course not you fool, my pride is devastated!"  Mr. Bill and I tried to remember the trips, slips and outright falls by either us, the kids or family and friends.  It has always amazed me, how people, myself included, laugh as soon as they see you pick yourself up from a fall.  Is there some inner feeling, they know you are okay, or do you just appear that way.  If you laid at the bottom in a crumpled pile of bones, would they still frigging laugh?  Honestly, I don't know.  I know the evening, Grammy and Grampy Hastings attempted to leave a holiday celebration, macho Grampy says, "Edith (Grammy), let me go first, the stairs are slick, that way if you slip I will catch you."  Next thing we know Grampy's at the bottom, hitting his ass on every stair tread on the way down. "Grammy carefully selecting her words, "no, no Bob I'll be okay!"  This was after we all crammed back in the kitchen so Grampy wouldn't see us or hear us laugh! Grammy was the first one to snicker!  By the way Grampy was okay, just the usual sore ass, that resulted from this unplanned exit ride.  We'd all been there, done that!.  An "ice possible" warning would of prohibited this. 

One morning as I rushed around the kitchen, baking muffins, pies and preparing the soup for the day, Mr. Bill just exiting the bathroom, I decided to bring the food downstairs to the restaurant in small batches.  The thought process behind this...it is cold, stairs look frosty...why ask for trouble.  I grab the bowl of steaming rice (to be added to chicken stock for soup du jour), heading out the door.  I know I heard Mr. Bill laugh uncontrollable, as I bounced on my fat ass all the way down the stairs, hitting the drain pipe on the side of the stairway, it too making the ride down along side me.  Actually, I think it won the race to the bottom.  Was I hurt...f#*k no, my ass hurt, I was covered with steaming rice, my husband meekly sticking his head out the door..."Annie Potts (his endearing name for me), are you okay?"  "I heard that snicker you asshole, yes, I am okay!"  That not being enough...Stacy the fisherman, next door, just arriving home from a drunken brawl,  "hey Diane are sure you weren't out drinking with me?!," he manages to say, at the same time laughing like a fool.  What a complete idiot!!

However, what goes around comes around.  During construction of the new addition, Mr. Bill attempted to carry a hot bucket of potatoes down the back stairs.  I did not see the fall, nor did I hear the fall...I was witness to the results of the fall.  I arrived home from picking up product on a snowy winter afternoon.  As I parked the SUV next to the loading dock, the piles of snow that lines the driveway, from the hard and snowy winter, looked...different.  First of all these pile had to be at least three feet high.  I slowly peered into the top of the piles, numerous holes melted into the piles.  Upon further inspection, potatoes appeared to be in the tube like holes bored into the piles of snow.  This has got to be good, I assumed.  As I carefully ascended the slippery stairs, Mr. Bill appears, "careful Annie, those frigging stairs are slippery!  Of course, I laughed as he described how quickly the events unfolded...  this resulting inmore potatoes were cooking on the stove!  About fifteen minutes later he questions, "you didn't even ask how I was!"  More hysterical laughter on my part. "ice possible" would have prevented this and saved twenty five pounds  of potatoes as well!

It wasn't always the "big" stairs that caught people off guard.  One morning as Todd comes in the back door of Fred's News, he announces..."You should of seen the flip Mark just did off the back porch. When he landed, I think all of the air came out of his lungs!"  "My God  Todd, is he okay?!"  I guess so, he just laying there gulping for air!"  Mark appears at the back entrance, purple and really pissed off...yes he's okay!  "Ice possible" definitely would of been a plus!

There is a Story Behind Each One!

Yes, the house interior is decked out for the holidays.  Although the tree is small, it is decked out with our most precious ornaments, the keepsakes from Fred's News.  Ornaments given by patrons young and old, all carefully unwrapped,examined and remembered.  Still looking as lovely as it did on it's first Christmas, Mary and Scott Turner's handmade ornament made a successfully journey to Florida.  Styrofoam snowmen, thanks to Jordan and Taylor Nute, are now complete with their new twig brooms, their handiwork is still being admired. Pat Olsen and Mrs. G. also have ornaments on our tree.  Of course, our family has their special ones, even Fred the Dog still being represented and admired. Some have tarnished a bit, all have the gorgeous patina that only comes with age, but the memories hold firm in our minds and hearts.

Of course there were a few ornaments left at Fred's News.  One was a little snowman, his battery lasting almost ten years.  You simply pushed the button to on....."We wish you a Merry Christmas" plays loud and clear.  Funny, no matter where we put that ornament on the tree, youngsters never had any trouble finding it. That snowman, because of the noise factor and the hopes it would see many more Christmases, was the reason we left it behind.  Kids young and old looked for that ornament year after year.

Kathleen's burnt toast ornaments never made the Florida expedition.  It seems the second year of their existence was cut short by a nibbling mouse during the warm summer months.  That mouse probably could of dropped any "Fat Cat" after his summer of nibbling toast ornaments and four ears of carefully packed away Indian corn.  Little Bastard!! Some of my most precious handmade ornaments, are all hand-carved and painted by Kathleen.  These adorable Santa Clauses, all different, were a labor of love by Kathleen,  Every year, I received one,and yes I always felt so grateful to be on Kathleen's list. Such an artist, yet so humble.

One year, artist in residence, Kathleen decided to make a pineapple upside down cake for the annual Fred's News holiday party.  As her and Don entered the kitchen, hellos and hug exchanged, Kathleen showed us the gorgeous cake.  As she was handing it to me, she tripped, the cake flying to the floor, when suddenly , through fits of laughter, we realized the cake, a fake, had been made of foam and other materials.  The "icing on the cake", confectioner's sugar made it look all the more authentic.  God, that was a great joke.  During the course of the evening, Kathleen asking another party goer, "would you care for some cake?"  If the answer was affirmative, she hurled the cake at the unsuspecting Guest.  Screeches pierced the loud the din of the crowd, Kathleen, uncontrollably laughing!  It was great, we were just lucky, some of the invited old farts didn't have a heart attack!

No talking...I draw the line!

Looking back at my reasons for moving to the sunny state of Florida, I must say one of the biggest reasons was warmth.  I am not a cold weather person.  Yes, snow and ice can be beautiful, but it is the damp, bone chilling New England weather, we no longer wished to experience.  Today as I look around the yard, Mr. Bill's beautiful flowers are all in bloom.  I have just come from the Walmart winter wonderland, filled to the brim with exciting new products and plants for the holidays.  Poinsettias are only three dollars, but the impending cold forecasted for this week, makes me think twice.

I just finished cleaning the porch, decorating the table for the holidays, but thirty degree forecast for the next three to four nights mean....petunia, impatiens, geraniums, and tender tropicals will be crowding the porch and covering the table tops and shelves.  Any available spaces will soon house Mr. Bill's flowers.  It also means, spiders and ants, get out the bug spray!!!!!  Take out the bin of old material and sheets, time to cover the immovable ones...Mr. Bill grumbling at the thought.

We have had a frost every year we have been here, just that last year the entire winter was one big frost.  On the flip-side...last weeks' cooler morning temps has allowed the late maples to start showing their colors.  The reds fitting in with the season!  Hopefully, the covering of the flowers, will allow the floral garden to remain in bloom through the New Year.  Just like the Flowers of Fred's News, Mr. Bill, spends many hours preening and pruning "his lovelies"!  Neighbors ask, "what is the secret to your success with these flowers and plants?"  Mr. Bill, totally devoted to his flowers...."they are a living thing and need to be feed, watered, loved, touched and talked too, just as we humans thrive with the same TLC."  Okay but I stop at the talking thing....who would of thought, "No I am not talking to the flowers!"  I see some of the old farts out here talking as if there were someone right along side them...no they do not have beautiful flowers, I think they carry on with themselves.....so, I stop at the talking thing.  Wonder what Mr. Bill is getting at when he tells me this crap?  Hmm...interesting.

As I drove home last night or should I say this morning, arriving at 3:00am., just for the record I did not drive with the window opened, radio blaring, and soaking up the serenity of the late night sky...Instead, windows closed, heat on, soft Christmas music drifting through the airwaves.  The warmth of  heater, the coziness of the closed windows, the peacefulness and beauty of the stars shining in the almost winter sky....a slice of heaven after the crush of the crowds!!!!   Life is good, even with the Egg-Nazi's "bump in the road", our friend Ward says..."even with one upsetting season...there is beauty in ever season!" 

Red Bows, Red Lights and Red Heads...Love 'um!

Thinking of the holidays, that warm snugly feeling of everything good, invades the mind and body, allowing those special memories and moments to flow from the heart, if only for just the few weeks during the holiday season.  Once the days pass, these vivid moments retreat back for their long sleep, waiting to burst forth in time for the next season.   It is those little things that keep us united as family and friends, and yes, help us keep our sanity during the holiday rush. 

Although this year, has been jolted a bit because of Mr. Bill's illness, it has given us a time to re-think.  We love the hustle and bustle, the sights, sounds and aromas but suddenly without warning it is simply the most poignant and even trivial moments, that mean the most.  Yes, we've talked of Fred's News and friends, how it has affected ours and our childrens' lives.  Some stories outrageous, some heartwarming, some need to stay put in "the backroom" or in Mr. Bill's words "that memory is much like the "red-headed step child"...yuk"  Not fair Mr. Bill, I love red hair.  On that note...I am truly amazed at the redheaded young children I see daily.  Yes, my visitors are from all over the world, but these fresh-faced young children, with the numerous shades of red hair still truly fascinate me.

Recently, a young child, fascinated with the holiday decorations, wanting to touch everything, smiling and laughing, suddenly his face turned rigid.  I turned as he ran for his Dad, wanting comfort.  Dad, laughed, trying to soothe the child, assuring him Mickey Mouse dressed as Santa was truly a friend.  However, the young boy believed otherwise. ..yet his fascination for the character was genuine.  As I walked up to Santa Mickey, a high-five first, then a kiss on the cheek, the young child's death grip on his Dad, loosened.  Although, Santa Mickey and the young boy never made contact, a goodbye wave suggested perhaps a change of heart.  Later that evening Dad offered an explanation, his child, loved Mickey Mouse but was petrified of any character with a face mask....It did not have to be Disney, just any character, Smokey the Bear, Big Bird and so on.    Ah yes, I know a young person, Mrs. G's grand daughter, Jordan felt much the same way.  "Ain't no way, I am going to talk to them or shake their hand" Jordan adamantly would say.  One holiday season, the girls, Jordan and Taylor performed in the "Nutcracker".  Other students from their dance studio performing as well.  Jordan knew all the fellow dancers and the parts they played.  Yet, one was dressed as a mouse, which required the big face mask over the head.  Jordan, could be seen backstage speaking with her friend dressed as the mouse, minus the head gear.  Soon Jordan arrived at our side looking slightly disturbed....her friend was now a "complete" mouse, Jordan was now completely gone from her side.  Amazing those little memories, how they stick with us...one opening the door, allowing others to enter.. 

Party Time...Fred's News Style

Today Mr. Bill asked if I had thought much about a small Christmas party.  Not really, I didn't think he would really be up to it!  All this led to conversations of past holiday parties at Fred's News!  It started out as a small party for our employees, but as the years passed, it evolved into a massive gathering of food, fun, stories, more food and definite laughter.

These parties required weeks of planning and cooking, always worrying someone would be left out. Then of course, in New England, the weather also had to be factored in.  One particular party night, we had weathered a snow storm most of the day.  As the weather cleared in the late afternoon, the next issue, cleaning up the front and back area for parking.  Todd and his trusty old plow truck to the rescue.  Soon snow was piled high along the sides of the driveway, the area scraped clean.  The front sidewalk, shoveled and sanded as well, beckoned all into the warm, comforting dining room with its shimmering holiday lights and the aromas of all the foods ready for the hungry Guests to arrive.  It was a wonderful night, allowing all to forget the massive amounts of snow that had just been dumped on this small New England village.  I am sure the following morning, reality hit, as the winter wonderland turned to messy roads, salted and sanded, making every car look as though it hadn't been cleaned since it left the showroom.

I don't really remember the number of holiday parties we hosted, but oh, the highlights, we remember them well.  Son Mark along with Jamie and Jordan Jones. always decorated the tree, usually with Christmas Carols blaring in the background.  I sometimes wondered if we'd be ready on time for the Guests to arrive, but always, everything in it's place or at least hidden under or behind something else, out of the public view.  Of course after the party was over, we always went looking for something that had been hastily thrown out of sight.  One year, son, Chef Matthew made a gorgeous castle, entirely of sugar cubes, glitter, complete with it's own forest of evergreens, it was breathtaking.  He had thought about an ice sculpture or ginger bread holiday house, but the castle, so unique and so beautiful, it was photographed and talked about for weeks!

Of course the food...no party complete without an array of mouthwatering dishes.  Prime rib, turkey, holiday ham, lasagna, homemade baked beans, pork pies, luscious salads and cheeses, dips and oh the desserts, absolutely decadent.  As a gift, each Guest was always sent home with a plate of holiday cookies...a tradition at Fred's News.  Now I am beginning to understand why Mr. Bill thought of a party....the food!