#TheFab50s – Page 2 – The View from Lajeune

My current situation…

I don’t even know where to begin. All I know is I woke up one day 2 weeks ago and my life as I knew it had changed.

First, after many closed door meetings between our sales managers at work, we Account Executives were all told to pack up our important files and such as we would now be working remotely.

How long?!?

For an “indefinite” period of time…

Granted, working from home was not foreign to any of us as we had all been networked several years ago and had even recently received brand new laptops. What I was I having a hard time wrapping my head around was the idea that I would be working from home every day, as opposed to from time to time or on occasion.

I’m not gonna lie, at first being at home every day was exciting because I no longer had to get myself up at 430am to kick box at the gym, figure out what I was going to wear to work, apply my make-up, style my hair, deal with crazy distracted drivers on the road, etc.

All I had to do now was roll out of bed at 6am, wash my face, put on my workout gear, find a good 30 minute cardio workout video on YouTube, shower, eat breakfast, put my lounge-wear on and start my work day.

Oh the irony, being home every day but not having the luxury of going out to dinner, visiting family or friends to socialize after hours, going to the matinee on the weekends, and so on. It seemed like everything, for the most part, was now closed.

It’s no surprise that things started to get real old after about a week and a half. Being home all day long working on my laptop took away that feeling of joy I used to get when I walked into the house after a long tough day at work. I felt my home life and work life were now starting to collide. To compensate, I started taking long walks at lunchtime to break up my day and to change the scenery.

And going to the supermarket or Target on the weekends was starting to get more and more complicated. Trying to shop without getting too close to the other shoppers, trying to find certain items like toilet paper or Lysol or thermometers, remembering to wipe down and sanitize all of my purchases after I took them out of the plastic bags…

And I really cannot forget to wash my hands (for at least 20 seconds) for what seems like a million times a day…

Or forget to keep my hands off my face…

But the kicker, not being able to kiss, embrace or spend quality time with my family members and/or loved ones.

Hey, I guess there’s always air hugs…

As you TVFL readers know, I always try to find the silver lining. So after today, 2 weeks in, I would say one of the positives that has come out of this Covid 19 madness for me is that all of the things I said I didn’t have the time to do, I now do. For me that’s reading. I used to devour books (especially in the Summertime) and now all I do is scan the daily newspapers for sales leads or read an occasional magazine article(s). Guess it’s time for me to hit the books once again (smile).

Yes, life as I once knew it is changing day by day and week by week. It can be dizzying. All I can do to stay sane is pray without ceasing, count my blessings daily Count Your Blessings… and leave it all in God’s hands. Without forgetting to stay healthy, helpful and calm.

Sincerely,

TVFL

20 Things I do not want to give up in 2020

With the arrival of Lent it got me thinking of what I would like to give up this year. But before I get to that, here are 20 things I do not want to give up in 2020 (in no particular order):

Kombucha – I discovered this delish drink during Dry January at the beginning of the year when I was purposely seeking out cool refreshing drinks with a kick (smile). Kombucha hit the spot and the fact that it is Gluten Free and Dairy Free is an added bonus.

Red Wine – It’s no surprise that this one made my list before: 9 things I do not want to give up in 2019. My new favorite reds are Pinots and my new favorite Pinot (discovered on my recent trip to Fort Lauderdale, FL) is Meiomi.

Kickboxing – I joined the specialty gym I Love Kickboxing this month because I needed something that was going to challenge me and kick my butt all at the same time (smile). So far…so good.

Golf – It’s still cold here in New England (at least for another month or so) but once it warms up I will be back with my ladies hitting the links in Golf Fore Women 401.

Hot Green Tea – I like to order hot green tea when I eat in or out of a Japanese restaurant. It not only tastes good but it’s extremely good for you.

Speaking of Japanese, I def do not want to give up Sushi this year, it’s become a regular part of my bi-monthly cuisine and just thinking of it makes me want to call in an order or two (smile).

Love me some sushi with edamame and hot green tea – delish!

Staycations – what a novel idea – discovering fun things to do in your own state. I feel like when we staycate in Connecticut the time to go back to work moves slower (smile). Check out my blog post: Vacay in CT

Bikini Waxes – Summer is not the only time to get a bikini wax (Vacays count too!) and Tommy K’s Wax Center offers your first bikini line for free, if you are a first time customer – check out my blog post: Brazilian bikini wax for my Mexico vacay!

Blueberry Ale – I’ve never been a big beer drinker but Elm City Market in New Haven has this delish brand from Wachusett Brewing Company that tastes more like something you eat than drink.

Oysters – I can eat this delicacy any season of the year but I have to admit that they taste infinitely better in the Summer than they do in the Winter.

Homemade Soups – I love soups made from scratch especially in the Winter so I’m truly enjoying the likes of homemade Lentil, Split Green Pea, Red Kidney Bean, 16 Bean Soup and more~

Candles – I like burning things in a safe way (smile) so scented candles are high on the list – check out my blog post: Put your slippers on….

Bananas – I buy and eat bananas on a daily basis as the potassium and fiber help me out during super intense workouts – and I buy organic so I don’t have to worry about pesticides.

Salad – This was on my list before because it is also something I can eat any time of the year (as long as it contains protein). Cafe Java in New Haven has my all time fave Bosco Salad which I probably eat at least once a week…

Love me some Bosco Salad at Cafe Java in New Haven, CT

Spinach and Mozzarella Pie – New Haven, CT has the best Spinach and Mozzarella Pizza I have ever eaten – I love veggie pizza and this does it for me!

Edamame – Steamed lightly salted soybeans are my favorite appetizer before a japanese meal. They are high in protein and fiber and relatively low in calories so for me they are an obvious snacking choice.

Trail Mix – I might have hiked maybe once, maybe twice in my lifetime but if you saw me eating raw trail mix you might think I was an avid hiker (smile).

Sirius (XM) radio – I love listening to music and happen to have eclectic tastes so my satellite radio (at just $6.99 a month) puts Terrestrial radio to shame and keeps me entertained (smile).

Netflix TV and Movies – I just love the original content of the re-occuring Series on this channel as well as the Movies. It takes binge watching to a whole ‘nother level for me…

My Iphone – I won’t leave the house without it, I won’t sit still anywhere without it nearby, I won’t rest knowing that it needs re-charging, am I addicted (the answer is a resounding YES!! Check out this blog post: An Apple a day…

Sincerely,

TVFL

No Shoveling Sunshine

Me and my man just returned from a 6 day 5 night vacay to the sunshine state of Florida. We chose Pompano Beach in Fort Lauderdale on the East Coast for this trip because we had most recently (back in May of 2019) traveled to the West Coast and stayed on St. Pete’s Beach in Clearwater.

My 58th birthday was another reason why we chose this destination. Instead of taking turns shoveling snow with our teeth chattering in the wind and/or dealing with the super drab Winter blahs, we opted instead to celebrate my Valentines Day Birthday in 80 degree weather along with the cool breezes of the Atlantic ocean.

Besides, there’s no shoveling sunshine right (smile).

Our travel agent Karen made all of the arrangements once she learned of our needs: namely warm sunny weather, cool ocean breezes, nearby golf courses, outdoor music, a decent nightlife, good restaurants, sightseeing and shopping.

We stayed at the Marriott Pompano Beach Resort and Spa in a standard King room with ocean views.

You could literally see the ocean from our small balcony…

A view of our hotel through the swaying palm trees

And the Concierge James truly lived up to the reputation of his position.

Pompano Beach time – Day 1- soaking up the Sun is one of my fave things to do at the beach

Nice and hottt – 80’s perfect beach weather

Loved the resort lounge chairs all set up for us at the beach and on prime real estate

On our first night (of Day 1) we dined at And Fish Kitchen and Bar (the Marriott Hotel Restaurant and Bar)

Our waiter Chris at And Fish Kitchen and Bar was spectacular!

Our Waiter rocked and he introduced us to Meiomi wine which we loved!

Day 2 – Carlucci’s Trattoria – a Pompano Beach Restaurant – I was famished after walking a couple of miles and this place hit the spot!

We enjoyed al fresco dining on the street while under a big umbrella

Seaside Grill – a Pompano Beach restaurant (night of Day 2)

Our Concierge James recommended this restaurant which was quite literally up the street from our hotel

We were not disappointed as the ambience was comfy cool and the food and wine delish!

Day 3 – 9Face Sushi – another Pompano Beach restaurant – dining al fresco – out here it seems as if everyone and their grandmother owns a dog (smile)

By the way, even though we were on vacay we still took the time every day to work out in the hotel gym

The fact that the hotel gym faced the ocean was a pleasant surprise

On Day 4 we Uber’d over to Nauti Dawg Marina Cafe in Lighthouse Point – a restaurant my friend and former News 8 co-worker Terri recommended.

Couldn’t go all the way to the East Coast of Florida without looking up my good friend and former co-worker Terri Guerra and her husband Paul Guerra. We all met for a fab lunch at the Newt Dawg Marina Cafe – a must try restaurant 😎

Sun Surf Sand (S3) – Fort Lauderdale Beach (night of Day 4)

S3 came highly recommended by another News 8 former co-worker – we were late to the party so to speak so we could not get inside but we still enjoyed drinks and apps in front of the restaurant🥰.

Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course – on Day 5 it was not as windy as the first half of the week so we decided to borrow clubs, buy balls and tees and go golfing up the street at the municipal course

Rusty but ready to play – not used to golfing with borrowed clubs either (smile)

Speaking of weather – It was in the mid 70’s the first half of the week with strong winds and the early 80s the second half…

This is what weather looked like in South Florida (smile)

Traffic – It wasn’t really a concern for us as we Uber’d everywhere (smile)

This is what traffic looked like in South Florida (smile)

Day 5 – Delray Beach – this town was highly recommended by Karen our travel agent because it offered up the type of vacation lifestyle we were seeking – so we ended up spending the entire day here…

This strip reminded me of California with the palm trees and all

We had just missed seeing Coco Gauff play at home by a week!

We love, love, love oysters so City Oysters was an obvious choice for drinks and apps

For dinner we decided on Italian at Vic and Angelo’s – it was decent

Our last night in Pompano Beach…

Cocktails outside on the moonlit deck of the Marriott hotel tiki bar and later, a warm inviting hot tub.

The End (sigh…)

Getting my game on: Golf Fore Women 201 & 301

Yikes, it is hard to believe that it’s November already and 2019 is coming to a close. I feel like this year flew by and the top 3 goals I set for myself in the month of January were stabbed at but not completely realized…check out my blog post: .My Top 3 Goals in the New Year

I do, however, have something I’m particularly proud of this year: namely improving on my game of Golf.

Thanks to the Lyman Orchards Golf Center I spent the majority of my Summer and more than half of my Fall golfing. And Summer started late this year in Connecticut – remember the month of May?!? I had to count it out for starting play as it was rainy and miserable. Consequently I did not pick up my clubs until mid-June but then I made up for it by playing until the last weekend of October.

I learned a lot this year both on the course and off. I had previously taken Golf Fore Women 101 (last September 2018) so some of what I learned this year felt like a refresher course but in a good way – check out my blog post: Ready Fore Golf

However, the majority of what I learned I took and turned into real application on the course. And I had the added benefit of being taught and supervised by the award-winning LPGA Class A Teaching Professional Marissa Kulig Crow as well as her 2 trusty teammates Dan Hannibal and Andra Frappier…

LPGA Class A Teaching Professional Marissa Kulig Crow and her trusty teammates Dan and Andra

June

Ladies bonding over the game of golf (smile)

The Fab 4 – Jill, Lajeune, Mary Ann and Tina plus one- Amy (smile)

July

Golf 4 Women 201 with LPGA Teaching Pro Marissa Kulig Crow in black

Club selection with LPGA Teaching Pro Marissa Kulig Crow

I’ll never forget this day – the hottest day that Summer (Saturday July 20th) and we were playing 9 holes on Apple 9 and dying!

Another successful day on the Apple 9 course!

Ending the day with my old starter set of golf clubs – they served me well

August

Golf Fore Women 301 – the Apple 9 golf course is our classroom now (smile)

Coincidentally my workplace (News 8 Television) had a client golf tournament in August which I had the distinct pleasure of playing in with my own clients as opposed to driving the beverage cart (smile).

Me and Elisabeth

Evie, Elisabeth and me

Our golf cart at the News 8 golf tournament

Me and my bf at Sleeping Giant – I did not play the Apple 9 on this particular day as Sleeping Giant golf course in Hamden is mere minutes away from my house and therefore now considered my “home course”

September

Loved Practice with a Pro with our trainer Dan Hannibal because we had the opportunity to work on our golf weaknesses

In the game of golf, it is not uncommon for the club to pair you and your golf mate with another 2 some so that you become a 4 some and keep up with the pace of play. Especially 9 hole courses like Apple 9 where you get a volume of players in a short span of time. We made fast friends with this 2 some and found we had a lot in common – you never know who you are going to be paired with and they could concievably become lifelong friends (smile)

October

My golf partner today is Mary Ann (a fav of mine) and one of the Fab 4 (smile)

The Fab 4 (Lajeune, Mary Ann, Jill and Tina) finally together again and ready to play for real on The Players course at Lyman

It was a very light day on The Players course so Fab 4 had a chance to cut up (smile)

Me and my neighbor Margot and Jill (of the aforementioned Fab 4) on the very last day of golf for the season (October 31st). In New England its still sunny in the Fall but there are so many leaves on the ground it makes it difficult to find your ball – not counting the chilly weather!

Sooooo…I finally broke down at the end of October and invested in some new clubs. And I actually played with them the last 2 weekends of the month. I must admit that my game has improved with my new set of clubs (smile). Not trying to rush time but I sure can’t wait ’till next Summer (double smile).

My new set of Ping golf clubs custom made for me

Sincerely,

TVFL

Fun Things to do in Connecticut – Part III

There’s lots to do in the state of Connecticut during the Summer, especially when the weather is cooperating. It is truly ‘hotter than July’ so there is really no need to travel anywhere, we have sun filled days and long nights right here in CT (smile).

Here is a short list of annual events that occur in the Summer months and involve food, fun, music, festivities, entertainment and more! The good news is that most are free to attend and some even offer free parking.

A Taste of Mystic (New London County)

This annual event takes place at the Olde Mistick Village (OMV) around the second weekend in June (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) and involves food and drinks, live bands, loads of entertainment, merchant specials and more!

Admission is free (parking is also free). To participate in The Taste you buy sleeves of tickets for $1.00 each to be exchanged for food and drinks from the vendors.

Joyce Reskinoff the owner of Olde Mistick Village being interviewed by News 8’s own Co-Chief Meteorologist Joe Furey

And the OMV Merchants offer money-saving specials as well! Here’s a PSA: Be sure to support these Connecticut based small businesses.

Garden Specialties

UNA

Bestemors Imports

Franklins

Smiths Boutique

Kitch

Sticky Situations

Munsons Chocolates

New Haven Music on the Green (New Haven County)

In New Haven the unofficial start to Summer kicks off with Music on the Green!

Ryan Kristofer and Teresa DuFour of CT Style along with Jo Jo Pastors and her gf on the New Haven Green

In Summers past we have been entertained (in our VIP seats) by such notable acts as Ronnie Spector, Debbie Gibson, Taylor Dayne, KC and the Sunshine Band and En Vogue, just to name a few.

And this year we had the pleasure of seeing Lisa Lisa on Saturday 7/20/19 and Morris Day on Saturday 7/29/19!

Morris Day is 61 years young – a real talent for sure!

The Hamden Free Summer Concert Series (New Haven County)

Beginning late June on Friday nights at 6pm at the Hamden Town Center Park, live bands play to diverse crowds made up of singles, couples, families, dogs and more! This free annual outdoor event truly features something for everyone. There’s no VIP but at the same time there is truly not a bad seat in the house. And if you come hungry you can feast off of the nearby food trucks or better yet, pack your own picnic complete with adult beverages. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and make a space on the lawn as happy people jam to the music.

Plenty of room at the free Hamden Summer Concert Series at the Hamden town green. Long lines at the ethnically diverse food trucks

This year (2019) on Week 4 The Wailers, featuring Julian Junior Marvin, delighted the Friday night crowd.

The Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz (Hartford County)

Jazz is alive and well outdoors at the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz at Bushnell Park in Hartford! This free annual event takes place over an entire weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) in mid July. There are food and retail clothing vendors and folks completely covering the Bushnell park lawn with their blankets, lawn chairs, coolers and sun umbrellas. Big screen TVs on both sides of the stage ensure that everyone gets a decent view. It’s a thing!

The line-up of jazz musicians is awesome and the party lasts all day long and well into the night.

Having a blast in Hartford – jazz is everywhere – love the energy here!

Although this is a free event donations are gladly accepted…

New London Sailfest (New London County)

This coastal city comes alive during the Summer with its signature event, the New London Sailfest!

July is the month and the entire mid-month weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday) offers something for all family members.

From tall ships to face painting to patriotic costumes and more, there is truly something for everyone.

Speaking of which, there are amusement park rides, face painting, delicious food options plus sailboat and people watching.

The food, the rides, the atmosphere, the fireworks at night…

So that’s my short list of fun things to do during Summers in Connecticut – Staycate and enjoy!

Sincerely,

TVFL

Category: #TheFab50s

My current situation…

Like this:

20 Things I do not want to give up in 2020

Like this:

No Shoveling Sunshine

Like this:

Getting my game on: Golf Fore Women 201 & 301

Like this:

Fun Things to do in Connecticut – Part III

Like this:

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this:

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this:

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this:

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this:

Be Sociable, Share!

Like this: