Bella vs. Peanut

Bella still comes by every day to spend the day with us. Chris leaves his home in New Milford, drive to Danbury to drop Bella off and the goes to Sandy Hook to spend the day at work. Bella has been the center of our attention for almost two years so bringing home a kitten can be a big deal.

The first day Peanut hissed as soon as Bella was in her view. Three days later Peanut is tolerating Bella and Bella is trying to get closer.

Bella on the water Spring 2015

2nd day at home

Peanut has settled in quite well. She slept with us the first night, cuddling into Butch. He was afraid to move through the night. The next day she was raring to go. She is an amazing eater, I'm already afraid she is going to be fat.

Bella came over at 7:30 a.m. and greeted her. Butch and Bella dropped me off to work and returned home for the morning. Peanut was no where to be found. The two of them looked for her a bit but then let her sleep or hide, whichever she was doing.

I arrived home at one, called out a "Peanut, where are you?" And there she was, at the top of the stairs waiting for me to come up and join her.

This has happened every time I've left the house, and Sunday night, after spending the entire afternoon at the pool, I got absolutely nothing done because she sat on me or with me for the whole evening, oh well, life is good.

Peanut - black on black - very difficult to get good pictures

Time for a new Cat Story

As Winnie, the black cat explores the bedroom with
blankets protecting my ivory colored bedspread

I have been asking for another cat for at least six months. Butch asked what I wanted for Christmas last year and I said a kitten. I also wanted a kitten for Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, the first day of spring, Butch's birthday, Memorial Day and Arbor Day, even though we do not celebrate any of them. Butch asked what I wanted for my birthday this year and of course my answer was a kitty. Chris then asked me the same question, and I gave the same answer adding that Dad does not want a cat.



Midnight escapes from Bella

Birthday plans for 2015 include a trip up to New Hampshire to visit with Richie, Jenna and 4 year old Tristan. We got on the road at 7:00 a.m. and ware about halfway there when Chris called to say Happy Birthday. He asked to be put on speaker phone. Butch and Chris then informed me that my gift from the both of them is that I could pick out my own cat.

From that day on, Chris and I started looking at cats online. We found Kitten Associates and the next day we saw an ad on Craig's List for 12 kittens. Kittens Associates and the ad were the same kittens. We made an appointment to stop by on Wednesday, July 22 (10 days after my birthday) to meet the cats and possibly bring one home. I emailed back and forth with Michele for a few days leading up to our visit.

Baybrook Farm is in Sandy Hook, almost on the Shelton line. We brought Bella with us and she was in her glory, visiting with the rabbit, the goats, the calf, the cow and the sheep. She saw the small horse, heard the two horses up in back and Butch held her tight when Michele's dog cut through the yard.



Peanut checks out the living room

I met Chris there and we went in to meet the cats while Butch and Bella enjoyed the beautiful day. We were brought into the house and led to a closed door. Michele opened the door a bit and asked us to be careful as we went in. The room was full of cats, gray cats, tan cats, black cats and multi colored cats. We sat on the couch and some of them jumped up to visit, while others played with the hem of my dress.

Michele explained that she gets her cats from Tennessee and goes down there three times a year. She picks out only kittens she feels would be good house cats, brining them back to Connecticut, fostering them until they find a good home. The kittens have all had their shots and that is the only cost she asks for. She added that this batch is hard to give up because they are all so friendly. Her daughter has one picked out that she is hoping to keep and her husband sits to watch TV in the cat room because he enjoys the fun of all the kittens. 



Peanut finally looks at the camera

As I sat down, one of the black cats sat on my lap. Others came up to join her, but she never left. I explained that I've always admired black cats but never had one. Winnie was a love and I decided almost immediately that I wanted her. There was also a gray cat that never left my side and I felt bad leaving him. Once I made the decision, Winnie got up and played, it was like she knew she found a home and had to say goodbye.

Winnie came home with us and we discussed a name during the ride home. Butch decided Midnight was a great name and I agreed it was appropriate, but I promised Tristan he could name the new kitten. When I got home I texted a picture of the new addition to our family to both Richie and Jenna, explaining that the kitten now has had two names and it is up to Tristan to make the defining decision and name the new all black cat.

I got an audio message from Tristan that night, "I think the cat should be called Peanut."

So our new baby is now Peanut.





At the Amber Room

I arrived at the second wedding of the evening expecting to perform the ceremony and go home within thirty minutes.

The best laid plans never work out...

The wedding was set out at the lower gazebo, very pretty, but also down a hill. Silly me decided this was the evening to wear heels. I went down the hill to speak with the DJs. I asked if they have seen the bride or groom, and the answer was no but they are both here. There are some pictures being taken up the hill, so I trudge my sore feet back up the hill. I find the groom and we chat. I get the license and my payment, move my car closer to the ceremony location and return to the gazebo, down the hill.

I returned to the gazebo and talked to one of the DJs about a mike, knowing that an outdoor ceremony needs sound assistance to allow the guests to hear my words of love. I put on my robe and got wired. And waited, the guests started to arrive and we waited, time passed and we waited, and while we waited, my back was soaked, and then my hair started to drip, and then my hair was soaked.

As the guests arrived, I waved to the many of them that I knew. I stood in the front of the array of chairs as I saw my hairdresser join the small crowd. Although I never join the guests, this time I had to talk to Diana just to let her know that I did not start out like this and my hair looked great earlier in the evening. I love her, she said I looked great anyway!

The ceremony was beautiful, the newly married bride and groom were happy and I stayed until the guests were sent up to the cocktail hour at the main building. I then took off my robe, went to my car, and took off my shoes. My dress, dry clean only, was as wet as my robe.

I got home, poured myself a glass of wine and reflected on what a special evening it was as I appreciated how much I enjoy being a JP. <3

Two weddings in one very hot July evening

I have worn my robe for all weddings for a long time now. After this evening, I am questioning my choice.

Saturday, July 11, I had the honor of performing two weddings for two beautiful brides. The first at 5:30 at a home, the second at 7:00 pm at the Amber Room.

At 5:00 pm I arrived at the home of Bianca's parents. Carrying my robe, I was greeted in the yard by a young man. I introduced myself and we chatted about the many cars and the tent set up across the street. "They are always having a party," was the response. I was ushered into the house by the dad, with the greeting of, "I am so glad she is getting married before the baby comes, she is my only daughter." Bianca was very, very pregnant and the baby was due any day.

Bianca was marrying the love of her life and even joked that she hopes to say I do before her water breaks. The young lady had on a beautiful short white lace dress and her family was surrounding the couple with love and support. She asked that we wait for a few more special people and of course I did.

I stood there with the program in my hand, the sweat poured down my back. Thirty-five minutes later I'm in my car with the air conditioning blasting, the radio blaring and mentally preparing for the next wedding forty-five minutes later.

I stopped home for a few minutes, combed my hair, reapplied my lipstick and got back in the car.

Rita

My sister Rita was a strong woman but everything around her touched her heart. She felt any slight deeply and I am the total opposite, protecting my heart from the cruelties of the world around us. Rita was an adventurer and tried to keep up with Sharon. She jumped into a project with both feet and if the time spent did not live up to her expectations, she felt the agony of defeat. 

Back at the Gym!

 

TRX training

I continue to go to the gym three times a week. One of the contraptions we use is the TRX training straps. Although there are many ways to use this contraption, each of our trainers only used them to strengthen our arms. The main exercise we do is to lean back and pull our body weight up in a reverse push up. The lower you start, the heavier your weight and the better the results.  I have also had to use the straps for stability as I do lunges. Some days the stability is just not there, even with the straps and I use a stationary source to hang on.

Cat Tales continue

Bailey and Iesha spend time on the bed. These two beauties belong to Chris. Chris got Bailey when he was living in Jersey and she has moved with him to Danbury, then New Fairfield and now to the home in New Milford, now at his home in New Milford.

Chris lost Iesha to an illness a few years ago. Bailey is on medication for thyroid problems, which was discovered when she lost a lot of weight and was down to under 5 pounds. She is now under control and weighs more than 7 pounds.

time goes by so quickly

With the new year, I've been reflecting about all I've done, the many wonderful people who have touched my life and how much I love my family. I've decided to write my timeline, including all the touchstones and so much more. I will be adding the dates to this same posting as I think of them and have time.
08/68    first job at meat department of A&P
01/69    job at New York Bake Shop, an iconic bakery in Danbury
06/70    graduation from DHS
07/70    began at mailroom, Grolier Ext., moving on to "new orders"
07/72 Turned 20
04/73    married the love of my life, Butch
10/75    first born, Chris
09/77    second son, Rit
06/79    lost my dad at age of 53
01/80    lost my father-in-law, just as devastating, at age of 56
05/80    taught my first exercise class
09/80    became a certified exercise instructor
02/81    lost my grandmother, still have the memories of Spring St. Bakery
07/82 Turned 30
06/85    returned to school, began with a calculus class
01/88    Internship at State Capitol
05/89    graduated BA, political science
06/89    began working for State Senator James H. Maloney
08/89    began my first political campaign
11/89    won my first election, Danbury Common Council
07/92 Turned 40
05/96    received MHA from WCSU
04/99    began as a University Assistant at WCSU, working via a grant on an art project
03/03    lost my sister-in-law, Kathy, my maid of honor and dear friend at age 50
07/02 Turned 50
10/04    began the many trips to Jersey to see Sharon and enjoy time with her
02/05    lost my sister Sharon to cancer, valiant fight, aged 51
01/11    love of my life, Tristan was born to Rit and Jenna
02/12    worked at Alumni Relations office
07/12 Turned 60
08/13    turned down full time position as Assistant Alumni Director
04/15    sister Rita passed away unexpectedly at age of 55, bigger loss for Krysta and Rachel