Thanks for helping out with Holidailies, Saturday 9! Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) In this song, Madonna refers to Santa as "baby," "honey" and "cutie." What's the most recent endearment someone called you? Joe calls me "Baby" several times a day. 2) At the top of her list are a fur coat, a new convertible and a yacht. If you could receive any of those luxury items, which would you choose?... Read more →
Yes, friends, the collection continues to expand. Most of these beauties are from small - even tiny - pen companies. Shall I tell you about them? Why yes, I shall. So, from left to right in the picture, we have: Narwhal Schuylkill. Given that I live about 100 feet from the Schuylkill River, I had to buy this one. It's quite beautiful, with shades of blue swirling about and very nice chatoyance. (I had no... Read more →
It took a couple days, but the tree is up and decorated! Should we put a traditional star on top? Or maybe the big angel? No, wait! Here is the perfect finishing touch! Read more →
We did not go to Ocean City this year. We didn't want to risk it - we knew people would not be diligent about masking and social distancing. I miss it. My first memory is of turning down the long driveway to the oceanfront cottage we rented on 48th Steet. I think I was four or thereabouts. My parents rented the bottom floor of a larger house; the owners lived upstairs. At this point, Ocean... Read more →
The last time that I worked in my cubicle at the office was March 9. Our company lockdown began on March 10. It ended on October 5, when we were given the choice of going into the office on a staggered schedule or continuing to work from home. Well, that was a no-brainer; I chose to continue working at home. Because of the surge, though, we are now 100% working from home again. I did... Read more →
As soon as my Pop heard about Pearl Harbor, he was determined to join the military. The Army didn't want him, so he joined the Navy. Because of his age, education, and experience, he started his service as a Lieutenant JG Gunnery Officer, and was in charge of the Navy Armed Guard on cargo ships. He served on the SS Esso Concord, the SS Trevilian, and the SS William Pepper. My Mom kept a scrapbook... Read more →
Okay! Two memes in a row! I promise to get back to more original posts tomorrow. 1. What is the craziest, most outrageous thing you want to achieve? Retirement. 2. Have your parents influenced what goals you have? Not really - they mostly gritted their teeth and let me do what I wanted to do, from majoring in drama to joining the circus to marrying a man 10 months after I met him. 3. What... Read more →
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 1) The bridge that inspired this song is The Queensboro Bridge in New York City. Are you near a bridge right now as you answer these 9 questions? Yes indeed - it's the Route 422 bridge across the Schuylkill River. It's a new version of the bridge, too! When we first moved here, the bridge was old and pocked with pot holes. Construction on the replacement bridge... Read more →
Last night I attended a Zoom gathering of folks I used to work with many long years ago. I hadn't seen some of them in a zillion years. Some of them probably didn't know who I was. On the other hand, some of my good friends were there. We filled each other in on when we worked there and what we had done since and what we're doing now. I also get together with my... Read more →
I've been messing around with Ancestry.com and finding out some pretty remarkable things about my forebears. Allow me to introduce you to Captain John Francis, my fifth great-grandfather. He was born in the colony of Connecticut on June 20, 1744, and died in the state of Connecticut on May 30, 1824. He married at age 20 and had one son. He served in the American Revolution, too! Here is the story of his service, which... Read more →