It's Officially Fall in New England

Well, it's finally Friday. I didn't think this week would ever end. It seems like lately weeks are getting longer. I think it's because "days" are getting shorter. It's cooler in Connecticut these days, windows are closing a little more every day and the leaves are changing. Fall is definitely here and it's beautiful, but what lies ahead is somewhat less than beautiful. I'm not a winter person! Actually, if it must be said-I HATE WINTER. I don't mind snow, it's beautiful when it's falling and you can curl up with a big cup of coffee on the couch with a great book and a BLANKET, but when you have to go to work, and all the other daily stuff in it, it stinks!

I'll tell you a funny story, my Maryland friends will love this, and some will even remember it! When Mark and I first moved to Maryland from Tampa, I hadn't lived outside of Florida since I was, oh, I dunno...six or seven, and at that, I lived in Virginia Beach! Anyway---we moved to Maryland in February and I started working at the local State Farm agency. Well, it was probably March (and it was FREAKIN COLD, or so I thought at the time) and when I woke up it was 'snowing', now think, sprinkle, drizzle, spitting precipitation, but yet, white :-) and it was accumulating on the ground (maybe 1/2") but to me it was a TON!

So, I called Greg (my boss) and asked him if we were open because of the snow---he proceeded to laugh hysterically at me and said, yes, we indeed were going to be open. I don't think I'll ever forget that, I was so afraid to drive to work, it was 20 minutes away and it was SNOWING (sorta!). Mark laughed at me, Greg laughed at me, and even though Laura (my office-mate) and I didn't really "click" at that time, she laughed at me. I have to say they all laughed AT me, because I wasn't laughing...I was dead-serious....do we go to work in the snow?? OMG-it was awful.

When I moved to Connecticut and had my own State Farm agency, when it snowed, Greg asked me if we were open...guess what?!?! YUP! We're open, we're frequently snowed in for my birthday, and those of you who know me well, know I don't do NOTHING well....so those snowed in days are tough, especially during my birthday month!!

Soooooo, it's Fall in New England and while this is probably the best time of year here, it's certainly bringing on what is the worst in my opinion. In the fall in New England there is soo much to do. There are town fairs, festivals like crazy, a big fair that encompasses all of the New England states is held in Springfield, MA (about 40 minutes away) every year. That fair (The Big "E") is HUGE and a lot of fun. The leaves are beautiful and apple and pumpkin picking opportunities are plentiful. The grapes have been picked and the wineries are bringing out the new vintages, it's fabulous if you're a wine fan. I love fall. It's the season that Tom and I picked to get married just for the pumpkins, mums and leaves, the color scheme is just awesome.

Weather tonight-Clear Cold, frost possiblities??!?! Low around 40!!! I'm ready to pack shorts and t-shirts for my trip to New Orleans next week and I'm certainly ready for shorts for Florida. Can't wait til I don't have to re-pack the "winter" clothes anymore when we're back in Florida permanently. Clothes that are wearable all year-whoda thunkit?!?! :-)

Alas, it's Autumn, and I'll leave you with this

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.
~Albert Camus

Until next time~All the best~

The Mayonnaise Jar & 2 Cups of Coffee

Today was a pretty uneventful day, so I thought I'd share this story with you, I got a copy of this while I was in an agency appointment today:

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life."

"The golf balls are the important things, God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions-and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you."

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first-the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented, the professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked! It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Please share this with someone you care about....I just did

Until next time~all the best~

Okay, so I'm new to this whole blogging thing and I'm not exactly sure where to start. Everyday I read a blog from my friend Tina in Florida. She has so much to talk about because there is so much that she is doing that's great in her life. She's an amazing woman with a huge heart. It's thanks to Tina and her inspiration, that I will attempt to share news with all of you.

So, that being said, my life is actually pretty quiet compared to some. However, our family doesn't live local, so this should be a great way for them to know what is happening in our world and to keep in touch with our family and friends all across the country.

Right now the big-ticket-topic is that I'm getting ready to go on a community service trip and thought this would be a great place to share the experience. Unfortunately, Tom's not able to attend, gotta love the bread business, there's no vacation in that! Luckily (for me) I get back early in the afternoon of our 2nd anniversary :-)

I am involved in the Junior League of Greater New Haven. The JL is a non-profit women's volunteer organization. We do several community service projects in our area, work with underprivileged children and families and try to do great things in the area. Well, the JL of New Orleans has put together a service project to rebuild areas in New Orleans that are still feeling the devastation from Hurricane Katrina, over one year ago. The project will encompass 487 volunteers from all over the United States, Canada and London. It's a week long event of rebuilding, assisting and fellowship. There are five members from our JL going on this trip and we will use this blog to update people as to our experience there.

Much thanks to all of you who read this who are praying for the trip, the recovery efforts and our safe travels. Many thanks to those of you who have donated to the Junior League of Greater New Haven Team for the project. Your assistance is appreciated more than we can say.

Next Wednesday 10/4 we leave for our trip. We arrive just after dinner on Wednesday night and will be back in Connecticut on Sunday early afternoon (HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US). I'm sure the rest of the group is as excited as I am to head south and do some good for our sister community and our sister Junior League.

Other than that trip, I have a trip to Florida (home for me!) coming up the week after the return from New Orleans, I'll be going to Melbourne to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday. We're having a party for her and it should be a great time. It'll be nice to see everyone and only make my desire to move back 'home' that much greater! The weekend after that, I'll be missing my 20-year High School reunion. I just couldn't be gone three weekends in a row......ya know?!

Speaking of our upcoming anniversary, here's my opportunity to shout-out to Corey & Jenny and Chad & Janine, the fabulous couples we met on our honeymoon cruise two years ago. It was so great to spend a fantastic week with you both, even though, remember the time Corey almost got hit by a bus in France?! Congratulations to you all, and Happy Anniversary # 2 to you as well. Also, hugs and squeezes to both Baby Henry and Baby Sophia...man, Tom & I need to catch up! How will the kids all share THEIR honeymoons if we don't get this whole child-challenge fixed!! :-)

Wow, that's a topic for a whole other blog--our child-challenge! Maybe that can be tomorrow's post! Gosh, maybe I will find things to write about.


For now, I'm going to call it a night. It's late and hopefully Tom will be home soon, he was in New Jersey tonight for a Masonic Lodge meeting.

Until tomorrow~
All The Best!