Things to remember as 2020 comes to a close

I know I have not been very faithful to my blog. 

And yes I am hanging my head in sadness (and shame).

I have been in hit or miss mode, and unfortunately it has been mostly miss. 

It has been a difficult year for all of us, and of course I want to apologize to my blog and to you for being so missing.

Today is the end of 2020, the year that has been the most difficult in my lifetime and perhaps in yours.

When I saw this one I knew I needed to share.

I am thinking that I will go back to what I really started this blog for oh so long ago.
I am going to be posting things that show support, or kindness or make people smile or laugh.

I want to go back to posting things I don't want to forget ... whether it is a picture, or quote or recipe. You know those things that I started doing when I first thought a blog would be a great idea. I'm not sure how I got so off track, but its time to go back to where it all began. 

I think I was happier with the blog as a whole back then.

Hopefully you will be too.

Another example of why Socialism shouldn't be allowed to get a foothold here

I have seen something like this before, I think I've even posted something like this years ago.
I did see this particular post on a friends Facebook page and thought it needed to be put here too.
But 
I think this needs to be re-shared again and again and again ...  Tell me what you think.

Rose Marie Doyle

AtfSeppsroonislt 1fiosrae3dd

TEACHER FAILS ENTIRE CLASS: 

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that she had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on this plan". All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all the students).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy. When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

#socialismhasneverworked

Happy Mother's Day

I know this is not the "normal" Mother's Day for us ...
But that doesn't mean it isn't as special as it has always been.

A mother is a special individual.

Think about it
Where would we be without a mother?

For most of us, she was the first we showed us unconditional love.  Who would do anything for us and probably already has a time or two or three.

Don't forget to spend at least a few moments thinking about that and then thank them for being the best they could be.

Happy Happy Mother's Day Mom

Don't give up

I know this has been difficult for you....
It has been for everyone, just some have it worse than others.

The essential workers who don't have the ability to stay home.
The doctors, physician assistants and nurses, firemen and women and EMTs, as well as our police, who are in the thick of things EVERY day and night!  We need to be thanking them for all they are doing or trying to do.

We need to stop looking to put blame on someone, God knows there is enough blame to pass around.  We need to start taking some responsibility for our own health and well-being and start (or hopefully continue) doing those things that may help to combat the current issues.

But for a little inspirational help ... 

I am hoping that you and yours will continue to be safe and healthy and those that are effected, I hope that they recover speedily.

It's that time again ...

Don't forget ...
It is that time of year again, so before you go to sleep tonight (or tomorrow morning)

We wouldn't want you to be late!

Women over 30 ...

Everyone seems to have an idea of what you should be doing at any given time.
You are either too young to do something or you are too old to be doing something.

Personally there are times that I want to know who died and left them in charge.

Now I know that I would be the first one to be beating the band when children or the elderly or those who can't advocate for themselves.
I would also be beating the band when it involves animal care/welfare.  

But once you become an adult and are "old enough" to take care of yourself, you should be making good decisions for yourself without someone else telling you what to do.  This doesn't mean that you could never ask for help and get that help, if it is truly needed, but if you are an adult it is time to act like one.

This however is something that I think every, and I mean EVERY, woman needs to hear.  

Now that's not to say that it only applies to those women over 30 because it definitely doesn't, but by the time you get to the age of 30 it is time.  Let's face it, most of us have expectations of ourselves that are pretty high and God knows we can be pretty self -judgmental.  

I hate to say it, but I wish I had seen this before I got to 30, because I really think it would have been one of the best pieces of advice I could have been given.  

Why you need to surround yourself with special people

Reminders abound this week ....

these are the people who will help you be the best that you can be.

Don't allow yourself to be drawn into the drama of others that make you less than what you know deep down that you are and can be.

Make that dash very full.

Make that dash something that your family can look back on with pride.  This doesn't mean you won't make mistakes .. we all do .. but you need to be able to learn from them and teach others where you went wrong.  Even if that teaching moment is showing that you can rise above those mistakes.

Make that dash the BEST it can be, so that when YOU look back on YOUR life, YOU will be proud of where you have come and what you have accomplished.

How you make others feel ...

I've been seeing/hearing a lot of "disagreement" over the half-time show during the Super Bowl.

Now I know that everyone has their own opinion and that we have the right, at least in this country, to our own thoughts and opinions about everything.  We also have the right to express them.  
And of course I am ok with that.  It is part of what makes this country great.
Silly me, I thought that others were good with that too.

I have never heard so many unkind comments, many were rather vulgar and/or vicious, when someone expressed how they thought the performance was not "family friendly" or didn't show the performers in the most favorable light, among other things.  

Have we gotten to the point where no one can have an opinion that may be different without being told just how stupid or idiotic they are or ... well even worse comments.   
Some of those comments were pretty vulgar and some reminded me of those from high school cat fights.  And I have to ask myself .. how old are these people??

And then after those types of comments, folks actually noted that this was really no different than what can be seen everyday in school or on the street or and I loved this one ... it's just like the rest of the Super Bowls of the past few years so what's the big deal?  

Really??  That makes it ok and your comments abusing the original commentor is also ok?
I really felt bad for those folks.  

Now I bet you thought I was feeling bad about those folks that were being called those horrible names.  And I did.
But in reality I was feeling even more for the folks making those comments.  

Think about this ...

How bad do they have to feel deep down to have to try and make someone else feel bad about themselves?  Does that make them feel better?  Does it make them feel happy because they upset someone else.

Have we really become a nation that believes there is ONLY one way to think and if you don't think like them on EVERYTHING then YOU are the one that is wrong?

I hope not ... cause I may just have to be wrong constantly.
How do you feel about it all?

It's Groundhog Day!

Happy Groundhog Day

Yes this furry little guy's day.

Did you see him?

Did you watch as he proclaimed what was going to happen for the next 6 weeks?

Unfortunately for me ... I will be watching, maybe, because well even though it is Sunday and I could have slept in (at least for a little while), its also Super Bowl Sunday.  

So I will have a ton of things to get done before we go party with everyone, whether it is to actually watch the game or check out what all that money bought in Super Bowl Ads!

Anyway ... that is for another post.

Do you have a "Phil" where you live?
We have the infamous Punxsutawney Phil in Gobbler's Knob, but I know they have had comments of so many other's around the country.  If so what is his (or her) name?

What is the weather suppose to be like this year? 
Do you believe it?
Are you happy about it?

Some interesting New Jersey Facts

Many of my readers know that I am from New Jersey, wasn't born here (Philly) but since my family moved to Jersey when I was 12 (yes a very long time ago) I have never moved out of the State.  Even when I went "away" to College, I was still "In the State".

New Jersey has a lot of unique qualities and some rather interesting facts that I am afraid most no longer know about .. so when I saw this I just had to "borrow" it and share it with you.  If you've ever lived in Jersey...you'll appreciate this!!! 
If you live somewhere else, you might find it interesting:

New Jersey is a peninsula.
Highlands, New Jersey has the highest elevation along the entire eastern seaboard, from Maine to Florida.

New Jersey is the only state where all of its counties are classified as metropolitan areas.

New Jersey has more racehorses than Kentucky.
New Jersey has more Cubans in Union City (1 sq mi.) than Havana, Cuba.
New Jersey has the densest system of highways and railroads in the US.

New Jersey has the highest cost of living.
New Jersey has the highest cost of auto insurance.
New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation.  (definitely not something we want to be the highest in!)

New Jersey has the most diners in the world and is sometimes referred to as the "Diner Capital of the World."

New Jersey is home to the original Mystery Pork Parts Club (no, not Spam): Taylor Ham or Pork Roll.  Oh come on, Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese on a hard roll ... yumm!

New Jersey is also home to the less mysterious, but the best Italian hot dogs and Italian sausage w/peppers and onions.

North Jersey has the most shopping malls in one area in the world, with seven major shopping malls in a 25 square-mile radius.  I think even as Malls seem to be dying off, we still have the most.

New Jersey is home to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

The Passaic River was the site of the first submarine ride, by inventor John P. Holland.

New Jersey has 50+ resort cities & towns.  Some of the nation's most famous: Asbury Park, Wildwood, Atlantic City, Seaside Heights, Long Branch, Cape May.

New Jersey has the most stringent testing along our coastline for water quality control than any other seaboard state in the entire country.
New Jersey is a leading technology & industrial state and is the largest chemical producing state in the nation, when you include pharmaceuticals.

Jersey tomatoes are known the world over as being the best you can buy.  Most definitely!

New Jersey is the world leader in blueberry and cranberry production (and here you thought Massachusetts?)  I believe the land that Rider University was built on was once a huge Cranberry Bog!

Here's to New Jersey - the toast of the country! 
In 1642, the first brewery in America opened in Hoboken.

New Jersey rocks! 
The famous Les Paul invented the first solid body electric guitar in Mahwah, in 1940.

New Jersey is a major seaport state with the largest seaport in the US, located in Elizabeth. Nearly 80 percent of what our nation imports comes through Elizabeth Seaport first.

New Jersey is home to one of the nation's busiest airports (in Newark), Liberty International.

George Washington slept here. 
Several important Revolutionary War battles were fought on New Jersey soil, led by General George Washington.

The light bulb, phonograph (record player), and motion picture projector, were invented by Thomas Edison in his Menlo Park, NJ, laboratory.

We also boast the first town ever lit by incandescent bulbs.
The first seaplane was built in Keyport, NJ.
The first airmail was started from Keyport, NJ, to Chicago.
The first phonograph records were made in Camden, NJ.
The game Monopoly, played all over the world, named the streets on its playing board after the actual streets in Atlantic City.

And, Atlantic City has the longest boardwalk in the world,
Not to mention salt water taffy.

New Jersey has the largest petroleum containment area outside of the Middle East countries.
The first Indian reservation was in New Jersey, in the Watchung Mountains.
New Jersey has the tallest water tower in the world. (Union, NJ)
New Jersey had the first medical center, in Jersey City.
The Pulaski Skyway, from Jersey City to Newark, was the first skyway highway.
NJ built the first tunnel under a river, the Hudson (Holland Tunnel).

The first baseball game was played in Hoboken, NJ, which is also the birthplace of Frank Sinatra.

The first intercollegiate football game was played in New Brunswick in 1889 (Rutgers College played Princeton).
The first drive-in movie theater was opened in Camden, NJ, (but they're all gone now! So sad).
New Jersey is home to BOTH of "NEW YORK's" pro football teams!

The first radio station and broadcast was in Paterson, NJ.
The first FM radio broadcast was made from Alpine, NJ, by Maj. Thomas Armstrong.

All New Jersey natives: 
Sal Martorano, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Jason Alexander, Queen Latifah, Susan Sarandon, Connie Francis, Shaq, Judy Blume, Aaron Burr, Joan Robertson, Ken Kross, Dionne Warwick, Sarah Vaughn, Budd Abbott, Lou Costello, Alan Ginsberg, Michelle Kelly. Norman Mailer, Marilynn McCoo, Flip Wilson, Alexander Hamilton, Whitney Houston, Eddie Money, Linda McElroy, Eileen Donnelly, Grover Cleveland, Woodrow Wilson, Walt Whitman, Jerry Lewis, Tom Cruise, Joyce Kilmer, Len Twist, Bruce Willis, Caesar Romero, Lauryn Hill, Ice-T, Nick Adams, Nathan Lane, Sandra Dee, Danny DeVito, Richard Conti, Joe Pesci, Joe Piscopo, Robert Blake, John Forsythe, Meryl Streep, Loretta Swit, Norman Lloyd, Paul Simon, Jerry Herman, Gorden McCrae, Kevin Spacey, John Travolta, Phyllis Newman, Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Eva Marie Saint, Elisabeth Shue, Zebulon Pike, James Fennimore Cooper, Admiral Wm. Halsey,Jr., Dave Thomas (Wendy's), William Carlos Williams, Ray Liotta, Robert Wuhl, Bob Reyers, Paul Robeson, Ernie Kovacs, Joseph Macchia, "Uncle Floyd," Kelly Ripa, Francis Albert Sinatra, Rick Toscano.  Pretty awesome list right?

You know you're from Jersey when . . .

You don't think of fruit when people mention "The Oranges."
You know that it's called Great Adventure, not Six Flags.
A good, quick breakfast is a hard roll with butter.
You've known the way to Seaside Heights since you were seven.
You've eaten at a diner, when you were stoned, or drunk, at 3 A.M.
You know that the state isn't one big oil refinery.
At least three people in your family still love Bruce Springsteen, 
and you know the town Jon Bon Jovi is from.

You know what a "jug handle" is.
You know that Wawa is a convenience store.
You know that the State isn't all farmland.

You know that there are no "beaches" in New Jersey - there's the shore - and you don't go "to the shore," you go "down the shore." 
And when you are there, you're not "at the shore;" you are "down the shore."

You know how to properly negotiate a circle.
You knew that the last sentence had to do with driving.

You know that this is the only "New" state that doesn't require "New" to identify it (try . . Mexico . . . York .! . . Hampshire-- doesn't work, does it?).

You know that a "White Castle" is the name of BOTH a fast food chain AND a fast food sandwich.
You consider putting mayo on a corned beef sandwich a sacrilege.

You don't think, “You’re from Jersey? What exit?," is very funny.

You know that people from the 201 area code are "a little different."
Yes, they are!
You know that no respectable New Jerseyan goes to Princeton--that's for out-of-Staters.

The Jets-Giants game has started fights at your school or local bar.

You live within 20 minutes of at least three different malls.
You refer to all highways and interstates by their numbers.

Every year you have at least one kid in your class named Tony.
You know the location of every clip shown in the Sopranos opening credits.
You've gotten on the wrong highway trying to get out of the mall.

You weren't raised in New Jersey -- you were raised in North Jersey, Central Jersey or South Jersey.

You know that people from North Jersey go to Seaside Heights, 
and people from Central Jersey go to Belmar, 
and people from South Jersey go to Wildwood. 
It can be no other way.  
Ok its a little different now but early on ... this IS the way it was - ALWAYS

You don't consider Newark or Camden to actually be part of the State.

You remember the stores Korvette's, Two Guys, Rickel's, Channel, Bamberger's and Orbach's.

You also remember Palisades Amusement Park.
You've had a boardwalk cheese steak and vinegar fries.
You start planning for Memorial Day weekend in February.

And finally…
You've NEVER, NEVER pumped your own gas.

You have to learn how to pump your own gas if you travel outside of NJ ... yes I did learn but it is still nice to not have to get out of your car when it is snowing or raining while someone else is pumping that gas FOR YOU!  

So tell me ... where are you from and what interesting "Facts" can you share with us?

Happy New Year!!

Just wanted to jump in here and wish you all a very 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Can you believe it is now 2020?
I can't believe that we are now in another decade!  
I know this is going to sound pretty lame, but WHERE the heck did the time go?  

Did you get to celebrate with a bang and lots of people?

Did you get to see the ball drop wherever you are?

This one?

I know now its more like this one in Times Square ... but was it white or colored pieces like this one?  Or did it have the pieces that had pineapples etched into the glass?

Or this one?

Or was it another one from another part of the world? 

My 2019 was filled with lots of pretty wonderful events and I can't wait to see what 2020 will bring.
Hopefully it will be equally as exciting as 2019 was.

How about you?
How was your 2019?
What are you hoping that 2020 will bring?

I do have to apologize to you all.  The last 2 years my blog posts have been limited, very limited.  I know, I know I had said at the beginning of last year that I would do better than 2018 ... and I did, sort of, but I will definitely, I PROMISE, do better in 2020.  

I'm going to see about finding more things to write about and not just events of the day.  I'm going to go back to finding things that will bring a smile to your face (and mine) and get back to doing reviews of products that I have used and liked (or not).
I have missed doing this, so although I don't do New Year's Resolutions anymore .. I will resolve to do more blog work in the coming year.

Thanks for staying around these past 2 years with so many things going on in my life that weren't blog worthy.  Hope to see you here more often too!