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Hello All, 2020 continues to be overwhelming. Fires continue to ravage the West coast. It is the second most active Atlantic hurricane season on record, behind 2005. It is only the second hurricane season to run out of names (I am still struggling to pronounce Isaias) and feature the Greek alphabet, once again behind 2005. I think we are on target for this season to become number one! It is also the first time I have ever heard of a “zombie storm”. Paulette went from hurricane status to tropical storm to just a storm…..but when she reinvigorated to tropical storm status again, she became a zombie storm. Who knew? Everyone is hurrying to get this…

Hello All, One of my greatest heroes has died – actually she is many women’s hero and idol – a true icon. A woman who was a role model of courage, conviction and commitment.  A champion for “equal means the same” – for women, for the LGBTQ community, for the disabled. A true giant wrapped in a tiny frame. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Notorious R.B.G. Abbe Gluck, Yale Law School Professor and former clerk of Justice Ginsburg said this – “For women, she was the most important legal advocate in American history. She changed the way the law sees ‘gender’. The United States Supreme Court did not even recognize that…

Hello All, I must start by sending many thanks and prayers to the thousands of first responders who are battling the elements – from the horrific wildfires out West to these brutal storm systems (hurricanes and tropical storms) – all in the midst of an ongoing pandemic. They are working 24/7 to keep others from harm. My thoughts and prayers also got out to each and every person impacted by these events. I am praying for their safety and ultimately their peace. I can feel Autumn in the air! My favorite time of year! Actually my favorite time of the year is from Autumn to New Year’s. I love the…

Hello All, Well, I have discovered that one must be selective about where one frolics and cavorts! A lesson I certainly learned over this past ten days. So I am writing this as an educational blog – but mostly it is to make you laugh! I will call it a non-love story about bugs. I will be the first to say that I am not a creepy crawler girl. Bob tried to get me to garden one time, until I saw bugs and worms. Aiyiyi – I like to look at flowers, but I don’t want to plant them. The only two things I really know about bugs are when…

Hello All, Thought I would lighten up a little bit this week! Especially now that I know that the asteroid streaking towards Earth is not a cause for immediate danger! Honestly – the “celestial object known as 2018VP1” is coming close to earth on November 2nd, the day before the election. (Somehow that seems like an appropriate day in this crazy year.) The asteroid is evidently very small – only about 6.5 feet in height – and would burn up entering the atmosphere. Thank goodness for “small” favors! And evidently nursing has a new pain scale. Gone is the “How would you rate your pain on a scale of 1 to 10?”…

Hello All, 2020 continues to be a year that I believe we will never forget – though perhaps we would like to. As I type this, my heart goes out to all of the people impacted by the wildfires in California and Hurricane Laura. The monumental losses, the monumental damage, the monumental pain. I pray for their comfort, strength, and energy. I pray their needs are met. I pray that if there is someway we can collectively help, that we find a way to do so. I am also praying for our country to heal from the civil unrest. I am praying that we can find a way to live together,…

Hello All, Well, I have learned not to ask “what’s next?” in 2020! There are now counties in New Jersey that are not in quarantine because of Covid 19, but because of the spotted lanternfly! The spotted lanternfly is both an exotic insect hailing from China and South Korea and an invasive insect that is detrimental to fruit trees, vegetables and vines. The spotted lanternfly is evidently an “excellent hitchhiker”, so residents have been asked to check their cars before traveling to ensure they don’t have these insects along for the ride! The officials there are working on controlling the situation. Oh my! To make matters worse, there is now a nationwide shortage of…

Hello All, The excitement continues! This week there has been an earthquake and the potential for more named hurricanes (aiyiyi -we have already had a record number of hurricanes). The Midwest experienced a derecho – which I had never even heard of! (I had to look it up! A derecho is a “line of intense, widespread and fast moving windstorms and sometimes thunderstorms that move across a great distance and is characterized by damaging winds”!) And, much to the chagrin of poor Bob, a nationwide shortage of Fresca and Dr. Pepper! If you are a woman, regardless of what your political affiliation may be, you should be excited about this week.…

Hello All, August started with a tropical storm and tornadoes. 2020 continues to be a year that tests us – individually, as families, as friends, and as a society. This made me think about how incredible the human spirit is. We endure even as parts of us are hurting and scared. We endure even when we are tired and discouraged. We endure even when we think we cannot. It made me think of a quote written by Catherine DeVrye, author, in The Gift of Nature: “Like tiny seeds with potent power to push through tough ground and become mighty trees, we hold innate reserves of unimaginable strength. We are resilient.” We are…

Hello All, I hope this blog finds you safe and healthy! I was hoping by now we would be spending less time talking and worrying about Covid 19, but that is not to be…..yet! So remember to wear your mask – stay 6 feet apart – socially distance. Protect your social bubble! Have you ever had weeks where there seemed to be a theme? Maybe it was all good things that were somehow related. Maybe it was a person you haven’t heard from or seen in a while, and all of sudden it is all about that person! For me this week has seemed to be about memory and memories.…