CHICKEN SOUP


I have always enjoyed chichen soup but today this soup is different, it's not the one you eat, it's quotes from the book "Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul (Chicken Soup for the Soul)" by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Jennifer Read Hawthorne and Marci Shimoff.

Enjoy every spoonfull -

A woman is like a tea bag. You never know her strength until you drop her in hot water. - Nancy Reagan

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments. - Helen Keller

The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work. - Patrica Clafford

Imagination is the highest kite one can fly. - Laureen Bacall

You gotta have a dream. If you don't have a dream, how yu gomna make a dream come true? - Bloody Mary in the movie: South Pacific

As soon as you feel too old to do a thing, do it! - Margaret Deland

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. - Jeanne Moreau

Love yourself first and everything else falls into place. You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world - Lucille Ball

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. - Mother Teresa

AND MY FAVORITE

You don't stop laughing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop laughing! - Michael Pritchard

Bonus Video: Millie's Yiddish Class: Chicken Soup

posted by millie garfield @ 7:45 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 7 comments

 
A BUILDING AND MEMORIES
The other day I rode by part of a city that I haven't seen in a long time. It brought back a flood of memories that I hadn't thought of in ages.

When I married into the Garfield family I not only got a husband, I got a mother-in-law, a sister-in-law, many uncles, aunts and cousins. My family is very small so it was a bit overwhelming to become part of such a large close family.



"The Garfields" had a club which met once a month at a family member's home. They were supposed to take turns hosting the meetings but for one reason or another, "they couldn't have it at their home because it was being renovated." Another relative couldn't have it because they were going to be out of town at that time and so it went.

Not to long after we were married, it was our turn!!! I was working full time, had a new house that needed to be furnished and I was adjusting to a whole new life. And would'nt you know, it was our turn to host the meeting!!

What do you serve thiry -five people - I sure wasn't going to cook or bake. My mother-in-law came to my rescue, she made lots of delicious pastries and I supplied the bagel, cream cheese and coffee They loved it!

Time went by and before you know it, it was my turn again!! Not fair, but what's a girl to do. The aunts were getting older and finding it difficult to entertain. The younger cousins were always coming up with some reason they could not take the meeting.

At one of the meetings my husband made a suggestion, since we were having such a hard time finding people to host a monthly meeting he suggested we meet every other month. I thought that was a great idea but a die hard relative spoke up and said, "no way, we are going to continue to meet monthly. There was no vote taken, her word was the law.

At that point the meetings could not be held on a regular basis because we were still having difficulty finding a place to meet. Well the die hard relative came up with a solution, we would rent a room at the "Girls Club" in downtown Lynn. No one said a word and that's what happened. She and another die hard relative took care of all the details.

We rented the place for a few months but things were changing, meeting in a hall just wasn't the same as getting together in someones home. After a while we only met on special occasions.

So, when I rode by the "Girls Club" I thought about all the Garfields (even the die hards) and the good times I had when we were together..

posted by millie garfield @ 1:53 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 10 comments

 
BROOKSBY VILLAGE
Would you believe I have already booked my December flight to Florida and made arrangements for the shipment of my car? It seems like I just came back and here I go again.


JetBlue image by Drewski2112

I was dragging my heels, didn't want to even think about it, but when I spoke to friends that go down every winter, they had already booked the plane and transport company. I had to take action!

Once I made those arrangements I started to think more positively about it, even bought a pair of shoes with velcro closures so I wouldn't have to unlace and lace my sneakers at airport security.

I've been going to Florida for many winters now and it gets harder and harder to go back and forth. There's going to come a time when I just won't want to do this anymore or just won't be able to do it.

While I was thinking this way, this is what happened.....

About a month ago I received an invitation from Brooksby Village which is an Erickson retirement community. I was invited for lunch and a tour of the facilities.



You name it, this place has it: A Bank, pharmacy, hair salon, grocery store, library, chapel, computer room, swimming pool, health club, planned trips and many classes... and that's just off of the top of my head. I was so impressed I wanted Steve to see this retirement community.

Well last week we had an appointment with the Brooksby councilor. When we approached the security gate, the guard greeted us with a hardy smile and gave Steve directions to the main building. That smile seems to be contagious because whoever we spoke to, wherever we went, everyone was very friendly and helpful!

As soon as Steve walked into the lobby he had a positive feeling about the place and asked, "How old do you have to be to move in?"

After our conducted tour, we took a trolley to explore the grounds on our own. Even the bus driver was very jolly and friendly. While on the trolley we got to talking to two ladies, both came from out of state. They have lived at Brooksby for over a year and are very happy there. One night for dinner they had filet mignon and another night it was lobster thermador. I don't eat that well!!



What amazed the two of us was that everyone we spoke to was very happy working or living at Brooksby. It reminded me of the movies "Cocoon" and "The Stepford Wives."

This visit has given me a lot of food for thought. Maybe...

posted by millie garfield @ 5:14 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 19 comments

 
AM I MISSING SOMETHING?
What has happened to TV? Why don't we have writers like we had years ago? Why do we have so much violence on the tube?



Just a few years ago we had "Everybody Loves Raymond" and Jerry Seinfeld. Before that we had "The Golden Girls" and way back we had "Mash", "I Love Lucy" and "Leave It To Beaver." Those were just a few of the great shows that the general public could enjoy.

Today with all the channels we have available to us, try and find a show that does not have sex, murder, or drugs.

What has prompted this post is that recently I received the opportunity to have a months free trial of Channels that I do not subscribe to. I find myself sitting on the couch and going from one channel to another trying to find something worth watching. On occasion I have found a movie that I find enjoyable. When the month is up - no way will I pay an addition $11.95 for "WHAT?"

Two TV Shows That I Enjoy



Monk
On my regular subscription I have been watching "Monk" on USA, Friday nights at 9:00est. Adrian Monk, played by Tony Shalub is an obsessive- compulsive detective. Because he is so observant, he notices the slightest detail and gets his man.

I love it when Monk visits Dr. Kroger, his psychiatrist, played by Stanley Kamel. In one episode Dr. Kroger is shown having trouble controlling his own son. We all have our problems!!



Mad Men
Last Sunday I was fortunate to stumble onto a marathron of a new show, (new to me)," Mad Men." I watched it all afternoon and loved it. Since than I have seen it on TMC AMC, Thursday nights at 10.00pm, est.

It takes place in New York City in the 60's at an ad agency. The men smoke, drink, are unfaithful to their wives and have no respect for "the girls" in the office.

That was the time that women were still fighting to come into their own. I was working in an office in the 50's and 60's and could relate to many of the goings on. It was all so real to me down to the clothes and jewelry " the girls" were wearing.

I hope they don't cancel "Mad Men."

Now my question is "are there any other good shows on TV or should I just read more books?"

Steve adds:
You can watch two new videos from my mom.


I Can't Open It - Lemon Pepper and Roll On Deodorant.


Yiddish Class: Beautiful, Moon, Black Coffee, Blue, Book.

posted by millie garfield @ 7:37 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 26 comments

 
CONTESTS AND PRIZES
Over the years I have won a few contests and been the lucky recipient of some prizes. I'm sure that some you have gone to a function where you win things like the center piece at the table, a scratch ticket, a coupon for free groceries at a supermarket, free dry cleaning, a tee shirt or even a free day at a salon. Well, I've won all those things and then some!!



A number of years ago I won a special prize - it was a weekend for two at a summer resort.

This is what happened:

I was chairman of a major fund raiser in my community. In order to entice people to support this event the committee approached local merchants restaurants and even resorts out of state to contribute to this event. That year we had wonderful support from far and wide.

Since I was chairman and wanted this event to be a financial success I worked very hard to obtain as many prizes as I could. Among the many letters I sent out, one was to a resort that my husband and I went to every summer. We were very friendly with the owners of the resort, in fact my son wanted to know if they were relatives of ours! Sure enough they were kind enough to send my organization a complimentary weekend-end for two.


Well the night of the event, the raffle prize was drawn and what do you know, I was the winner of a weekend for two at Grand Lake Lodge.!!! At first I thought, "how could I accept this prize", what should I do - I didn't think about it to long and when the time came we went to Grand Lake Lodge and had a grand time. It did cross my mind that the owners might think I just kept the prize for myself. They knew me well enough to know that I won't do that.

A CONTEST WON
One summer evening at Grand Lake Lodge they were having a dance contest. I'm an ok dancer but not great. For some unknown reason when the MC asked for contestants to come on stage, I WENT. There were about six of use up on stage. He danced the Cha Cha with each of us and then asked the audience to choose a winner.



I WON - Not because I was the best dancer but because I knew more people in the audience than the other contestants. After all, I had been going to Grand Lake for years and between my friends and their children I was a shoe-in.

It's not what you know, it's who you know!!

posted by millie garfield @ 5:58 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 21 comments