It’s Hotter than July in the smallish state of Connecticut and right now the residents are inhaling smoke from the Canadian and Minnesota wildfires. Chief Meteorologist Gil Simmons from News Channel 8 in New Haven, CT has been delivering the “Smoke Index” all this week so folks will take the dimmed sunlight seriously. When I’m outside my eyes feel like I am wearing yellow rose colored glasses (smile). But seriously I would much rather be in this position where we are only mildly affected by the smoke as opposed to living in a part of a state or country that’s quite literally on fire…yikes!
Are these sunglasses really yellow rose colored?!?
The other strange phenomenon this month is that suddenly eating lettuce, some fresh produce, vegetables and herbs has become risky business. Wait, what?!?
I live for my once-a-week salad with protein (smile)
By consuming these foods you may come down with Cyclosporiasis which is caused by a parasite that is found in the above mentioned foods. To combat catching Cyclosporiasis, we are being asked to wash our fruits and vegetables thoroughly or cook our vegetables at high levels of heat to kill the parasite. Otherwise we may wind up on the toilet for an inexplicable amount of time (smile).
My iPhone goes with me everywhere (smile)
Gas in Connecticut is a tiny bit below $4.00 a gallon which is not saying much considering it averaged just $3.15 a gallon this time last year. The job market is dependent on what industry you are in. Healthcare is booming but in the media industry jobs continue to fall by the wayside due to mergers and acquisitions. I am so thankful and blessed that I have been working in the media industry now for almost 40 years so things for me are starting to wind down…
Health wise I just found out from my new APRN (no more Primary Care doctors now, just APRNs as apparently they are more plentiful in Connecticut) that I have high blood pressure so she prescribed Amlodipine (5mg a day for 30 days) at the end of which we will see whether I can stop taking the pills altogether or continue on for an indefinite period of time. This diagnosis came out of an Echocardiogram test that I received as part of my full physical a month and a half ago. It showed that I may have leaky heart valves. Keep in mind that this is no doubt a family medical history diagnosis as this girl works out 5 days a week at Orangetheory Fitness Center in Hamden, CT, she quit drinking wine 6 years ago, she doesn’t indulge in drugs, she quit smoking cigarettes 30+ years ago and she eats clean most days (smile).
My heart feels fine to me (smile)
Here’s where I’m at hobby wise: In my last blog post I mentioned that I had taken up reading non-fiction books for the Summer and after reading Elin Hildebrand’s Paradise series I promptly booked a trip to St. Thomas, USVI with my partner in love (smile). So now I just finished reading Kennedy Ryan’s Hollywood Renaissance series and I could not, for the life of me, put these books down! Ryan’s writing is so relatable and I learn so much about a new health issue every time I read one of her books. She is truly an award-winning author!
Reading is still my jam!
Other than that I am living my life, trying not to take myself too seriously and keeping in touch with my loved ones as no one is promised anything, most of all time.
November 2025 was the last blog post I entered in this Current Situation series. What’s been happening since then? Here’s the update – it’s April of 2026 and gas prices have spiked through the roof, home heating oil prices are extremely high, my 401K is up and down and up and down and the job market in general is sketchy.
On the flip side I am still gainfully employed as a Media Sales Professional by News Channel 8 (ABC) in New Haven, CT and I’m nearing retirement. By the way, the Media Industry as a whole looks starkly different then what it looked like almost 40 years ago when I started my career so I consider myself blessed to be in the position I am in.
These boots were made for walking…
As I mentioned before it’s mid-April in the state of Connecticut and this New England changeable weather has recently taken a turn for the worse. Last week I was wearing sundresses and sunglasses, this coming week I’m pulling out long sleeves and heavy stockings. Winter is back – Waaaah!
On the bright side health wise I am doing extraordinarily well. My pap smear was normal, my vision was normal and I was recently told at my annual physical exam by a new Primary Care Doctor (a young woman in her 30s) that I should continue doing whatever it is I am doing because all of my labs were great. Not to be funny but I was not that surprised because I gave up alcohol 6 years ago, totally cleaned up my diet, and as for drugs, I don’t indulge (smile). For exercise I work out 5 mornings a week at Orangetheory Fitness Center in Hamden, hydrate a lot and strive to get at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Working out is my form of physical therapy
Family wise my almost 93 year old father, Jonie B. Hollis, was recently (through the collective efforts of my sister Casandra who lives in Nashville, TN, myself in Connecticut and my brother Michael also in Connecticut) presented with a Quilt of Honor (citation and actual quilt) for his 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy. It was a total surprise to Jonie B. — the ceremony as well as my brother Michael’s heartfelt tribute left him teary eyed and proud. The Old Saybrook Nursing home where he resides showed up and out – it was a beautiful affair and one for the record books.
Jonie B., his son Michael, daughter Lajeune and the 2 lovely women who hosted the program
Other Blessings: Two babies were born into the Hollis family tree this year – my nephew Jacob who lives in Florida had a baby boy in January of 2026 and my nephew Jasper who lives in Arizona had a baby boy in February of 2026.
Happy Great Aunt
One of my New Year’s goals for 2026 was to take up something I left behind years ago. Reading. And reading is my jam! I am currently reading the trilogy of Paradise stories by Elin Hilderbrand that I am loving so much I cannot put the books down. She’s an awesome writer and puts the reader right into the thick of her stories – I’m on the last book in her trilogy series now – it’s called “Troubles in Paradise” and it inspired me today to book a return trip to St. Thomas for our upcoming June vacation (smile).
Reading is not foreign to me. As a matter of fact back in the early 1990s I was hosting an African American Book Review radio show with my co-host LaMonda Williams called ‘The L & L Book Review’ on AM1340 WNHC Radio while simultaneously hosting an African American monthly book club in person at Barnes and Noble bookstore in North Haven, CT. As luck would have it, I made connections with publishing houses in New York City that started sending me hardcovers in the mail for free in the hopes that I would include their books in my reviews! I also interviewed African American authors at the radio station as well as in person at Barnes and Noble bookstore. It was most definitely a labor of love for I was not getting paid to do either of these gigs (smile).
Feeling real good about reading at night because it exercises my brain (smile)
And that’s all I have to share for now – until next time.
My most recent mini vacay was to San Antonio, Texas which is located in South Central Texas with a population of 1.5 million people. San Antonio is 150 miles from the Mexican border and to say the Tex Mex influence is strong would simply be an understatement (smile). Why San Antonio? Well, because my fraternal twin nephews, Marcus and Marshall who will be 40 this year, have been living there for well over a decade and up until this point, I had yet to visit them. Their sister and my niece, Dimitrica, who will be 46 this year and resides in North Carolina with her husband and son, arranged to meet me so we could share a hotel room. This was to be a short trip but one where we planned on lots of family fun, bonding and catching up on lost time.
La Fogata with L to R: Marcus, Me, Marshall, Dimitrica
Our very first meal when we arrived was at a restaurant called La Fogata. Dan Fenyn, my sales manager Jocelyn Fenyn’s husband, highly recommended it. Dan was not wrong, not only was the food we ordered delish but the ambience spoke to a highly authentic and true Mexican experience.
Standing in the doorway of La Fogata
My dish at La Fogata – Cheese quesadillas with specially seasoned shrimp and spinach
Canopy by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk
This is the hotel I booked for our 4 day, 3 night stay. I purposely chose this hotel because it is across the street from the Riverwalk plus it is right in downtown San Antonio where all the restaurants, shops and outdoor activity were located. Plus we needed a place that we could easily walk to and from. It’s amazing what you can do in a 4-day weekend (Friday – Monday) trip when you travel from another coast and are given an extra hour to work with (smile).
Canopy by Hilton San Antonio RiverwalkClean room, comfy beds, nice showers and strong coffee
Modes of transportation
We noticed there were may different modes of transportation for those people who were not driving. Scooter rentals, Electric bike rentals, even Segway rentals lined the downtown streets. I could not help but notice the very large, very loud pick-up trucks flying up and down the downtown streets adding to the traffic congestion.
Electric bikes for rent
Scooters for rent
And I was blown away by the carriage rides populating downtown streets – so many at once and all decorated in different seasonal themes and colors! It seemed like everywhere we turned we would come upon a family or a couple or a group of friends on a horse drawn carriage ride! At nighttime it was super cool to see because the carriage was now brightly lit with different colored lights and music played throughout. I looked at what it cost to take a ride on the horse drawn carriage: $75 dollars for 1 person and $35 dollars for each person thereafter for a 20 minute ride. $100 dollars for 1 person and $50 dollars for each person thereafter for a 30 minute ride. And one child rides free with each paying adult.
From daytime to nighttime, these horse carriage rides suited everyone’s wish lists
The Alamo
Aptly described as an “18th century Spanish mission preserved as a museum.” We could not leave San Antonio without at least visiting The Alamo. It was just as I expected…
The Alamo
The Canopy hotel restaurants
Another reason me and Dimitrica enjoyed staying at the Canopy was because you did not have to leave the hotel for good breakfast food. We ate hearty breakfasts every morning at Domingo Restaurante and for nighttime mocktails, the rooftop deck at Otro was the place to hang out and relax after a fun-filled busy day.
Domingo Restaurante by day
Texas sized bowls of oatmeal for breakfast at Domingo!
Otro on the rooftop at night for mocktails and apps
The Riverwalk
We discovered the San Antonio Riverwalk on our second day. It had become a source of conversation to me by so many people the very second I mentioned I was visiting family in San Antonio. The Riverwalk is just like it sounds. It’s a miles-long pedestrian walkway with a river running through it. It is truly underground so you have to get to it by taking steps down from the street. The river is surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bistros, shops, retail clothing stores, boutique hotels and the like. Every time we walked down the steps to the Riverwalk, (for short cuts or to find a new shop) we would see masses of people browsing around, shopping, eating and/or sight seeing.
My niece at the top of the stairs
Me at the top of the walkway from The Riverwalk
Go Rio
While walking around the Riverwalk, we kept seeing river boat cruises filled with tourists passing us by. We were told by the hotel staff that if we decide to take a river cruise we should to catch one at night as it’s cooler in temperature, the boat is well lit and decorated and music is played throughout the promenade. We finally took them up on it on Day 3 of 4 – the 35 minuted guided tour was so fun and festive and the cost was a small $14.00 per person!
Our young and very comedic Go-Rio tour guide kept us in stitches the entire ride!
Passing another passenger-packed Go Rio cruise boat while on our own tour
La Cantera Resort and Spa
We purchased a Resort Day Pass for $65 (Marshall’s brilliant idea) to the La Cantera Resort and Spa. This luxury resort and spa is known for its private villas, fine dining, wellness spas, championship golf and celebrity sightings. By purchasing a Resort Day Pass we were able to have access to the pool side of things. So on day 3 we spent half the day poolside where we enjoyed the infiniti pool, delicious lunch and laying out on lounge chairs. We also took advantage of the hot tub where we met a loud and raucous middle aged man who was pretty accurate at guessing our personality traits (smile). At the lazy river pool we played pool games with floaties and then rode down what were kiddie slides just for Ha Ha’s.
Well maintained Infiniti pool
Pool games, fabulous food and lots of fun
Making memories poolside at La Cantera Resort and Spa
Marshall (my nephew and our unofficial tour guide) told us about an African-American owned bookstore-cafe downtown which collaborated on space with a natural plant based beauty, cosmetic and personal care shop. We were so impressed when we stepped into this cute shop which had a nice collection of goods and a real positive vibe. I enjoyed meeting the owners (who have now become good friends) of both of these shops as they complement each other in the best way. Be sure to check them out if you visit San Antonio as you will not be disappointed.
I had a Deja Vu moment when I met Barbara Thomas the bookstore cafe owner – I can’t explain it – I just felt like that scene had already played out…Enjoyed meeting and chatting with the owner of Pure Aloha. She is a wife, mother, and now small business owner living the dream
Bohanan’s
Bohanan’s (another Marshall pick) was a place Dimitrica and I had walked by during our daily recreational walks throughout downtown. The storefront truly did not do it any justice as when we entered the jazz supper club and restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised by piano bar and the funky vibe. I ordered a mocktail garnished with jalapeño peppers and Marshall and Dee each had a specialty expresso martini drink.
The exterior of Bohanon’s
Mocktails and Cocktails at Bohanon’s Jazz club
Marcus’s family home
My nephew Marcus, his wife Asuka and kids live in a house in the suburbs of San Antonio. His wife was gracious enough to offer up a traditional japanese meal made from scratch. We had the best time at their house that day. It rained for a spell so we stayed inside and ate handmade Sushi and Sashimi and Tofu Salad with sesame seed dressing and a deliciously prepared thinly cut beef ribs and chicken. I ate 2 plates and then understood why Marcus said he does not eat out at restaurants anymore (smile). We also played games with the kids in the game room which featured game chairs for Street Fighters, a basketball net and more.
Family pictures – making memories in San Antonio
This is all homemade Japanese cuisine – courtesy of Marcus’s wife Asuka – can’t blame him for not wanting to eat out anymore (smile)
Historic Market Square
Ironically the evening Dimitrica and I decided to walk to this collection of restaurants and shops in an indoor space, mostly all of the shops were closed. Not too surprising though because it was a Sunday night and it was about 10pm…However the much talked about Mi Tierra Cafe and Bakery was still open which pleased Dimitrica, who was in search of the authentic Mexican Hot Chocolate and a sweet treat to go with it. The lively decor featured live Mexican music, mariachi dancers, a fun atmosphere, costumed staff and instagram-worthy photo backdrops! Oh and Dimitrica said the hot chocolate was delish!
I feel like me and Dimitrica were right inside of a festive carinival!
Mi Tierra is known not just for their delish authentic Mexican cuisine but also for their lively atmosphere
Centro San Antonio
One of the most interesting things I discovered during my quick trip to San Antonio is that there are a group of uniformed ambassadors called Centro San Antonio who are based downtown and work to keep it clean, safe and welcoming for the merchants as well as City visitors. Whether you are looking for directions to someplace or need assistance or information, they are trained to help. As it turns out, there are a number of homeless people in this large City who live downtown so another very important part of Centro’s mission is to offer them a safe place to live, food to eat, clothing to wear, a drug free program if needed and a safe space where they feel welcome. Sixto or “Six,” as he is referred to on the street, was a welcoming source of information to me and my niece while we walked around downtown.
Centro Ambassador Sixto
This Centro Ambassador set-up is for the homeless when they are thirsty and looking for a free bottle of cold water
TV News station
I work in local sales at an ABC affiliated TV news station in New Haven, CT called WTNH News 8 so whenever I travel, I always look to see what the local news looks and feels like. Here is a snapshot of what I saw in in San Antonio:
Good Morning San Antonio
And finally, if you are looking for an affordable place to live and work, my nephews (who both work in IT) tell me that San Antonio fits the bill. Housing is cheaper, jobs are available, ethnic food is plentiful, there’s lots to see and do and the residents are friendly. I am so glad I finally made the trip.
I can’t believe it’s August already which means that Summer is almost over, Boo! To add insult to injury, the changeable weather in Connecticut has me feeling kinda blah…If you too are finding yourself feeling some kinda way and are looking for solutions, here’s my list of ways to shake it off (smile).
First things first, Count Your Blessings. I’ve been known to throw a pity party and not invite anyone but myself and that never ends well. The quickest solution is to start counting my blessings no matter how large or small. Works like a charm…
Take a Mental Health Day – sometimes you just need to forget about work and take the day off, strictly for the purpose of resting and relaxing your mind…
Get organized – Declutter – Put things back where they belong – sometimes just getting organized takes a load off your mind and makes you feel accomplished (smile).
Surround yourself with positive people. Life is too short to be made miserable by another person(s). You can truly ‘do bad all by yourself’ as mama used to say (smile).
Listen to music that you absolutely love – the 70s is my Go-To decade so you’ll find me listening to one or more of the following musical genres: Soul, Rock, Pop, R & B or Disco. It instantly puts me in a good mood.
This is not necessarily going to be easy but try turning off the desktop, the laptop, the cell phone, the iPad, etc., for even a few half hours at a time. You’ll be amazed at how good you feel.
Read a book by your favorite author or grab a self-help book. Either one will do the trick.
Take a power nap – quick, short naps not only rejuvenate you but they improve your mood, alertness and performance.
Exercise for life – make working out a part of your daily life – not a dreaded thing to do. Whether you belong to a gym, or work out at home, it’s one of the best ways to stay in shape, be healthy, combat stress, reduce fatigue and improve your sleep.
Get involved in a sport that you have not played in years. I used to be able to jump rope for hours at a time as a child so trying it again recently brought back some fond memories.
Play with pets – whether they are your own, your friends or your neighbors – pets can easily bring a smile to your face and make your worries go away.
And finally, Count Your Blessings, again…if you have a sound mind, good health, family, faith, friends and work, you’re already ahead in the Game of Life.
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