Category: The things that $$ can’t buy…

Me and Baby Brother

I have been thinking about my baby brother Shawn a lot lately.  Even dreaming about him.  It’s been 20 years since his death and although the pain has subsided, it still feels like a dull ache that never quite goes away.

 

Baby brother Shawn

 

Growing up Hollis my father Jonie B. was very strict.  He joined the United States Navy when he was just 19 years of age so I imagine a lot of what he learned in the Navy from a discipline standpoint, he imparted onto his own family.  Shawn and I were the youngest of 7 children (5 girls, 2 boys) so we bore the brunt of it.  My mother was a “housewife” at the time and was always there to make sure our childhood was as pleasant as possible.

 

Jonie Benjamin Hollis

 

Shawn was the youngest of us 7 Hollis children and the true ‘baby of the family’.  I remember being quite jealous when he was born because I was just 2 years old and no longer the baby of the family.  It reminds me of that song, “Lonely Boy,” by Andrew Gold because this baby boy, being an “only child,” was doted on by his parents until 2 years later when his baby sister came along and suddenly all of the attention and focus shifted to her.  This obviously does not perfectly apply to my situation since I’m a girl, Shawn’s a boy and there were 5 other children born before us, but I can certainly relate to that little boy’s pain (smile).

 

6th from left to right and no longer the “baby of the family”

 

Shawn had a wonderful personality and a smile that could light up a room.  The fact that he was “easy on the eyes” didn’t hurt either…People naturally gravitated towards him because of his friendly demeanor, sensitive nature and kind ways.  As I mentioned before, Shawn and I played together as siblings do but to be honest, I was more concerned with hanging out with my 4 older sisters who I looked up to and emulated as best as I could.  Being the baby girl, they didn’t want me around so I started forging my own friendships with girls my age at school and at home.

 

Shawn was smart as a whip from day one and also very sensitive by nature.  As he got older his sensitivity became more and more of a liability as people tend to equate a gentle nature and kindness with weakness.  Still it did not seem to faze him, he did not try to change his personality, he just lived out his truth.

 

Like a lot of boys at the time, Shawn joined the Boy Scouts to fit in.  This ended up  backfiring on him though because most of the activities were father-son related and our father was out to sea a good portion of the year living on submarines to build his Naval career.  In other words, not able to be there for Shawn like the fathers of the other boy scouts were there for their sons.  My mother tried to help out but it wasn’t the same…

 

My mother Jean with her 2 sons Shawn and Michael

Shawn was gifted with a creative mind so he became a self-taught musician – he taught himself how to play guitar at a very young age and drew on inspiration from a relatively unknown Indie musician at the time named Prince (smile).  I remember hearing Prince’s music coming from his bedroom and thinking, who in their right mind could listen to that mess (smile).   When Shawn graduated from high school he applied for and was accepted into the prestigious Berkelee School of Music but dropped out after a few semesters due to financial issues as well as feelings of loneliness and isolation.

 

Shawn also had a short stint in the U.S. Army but the service life did not agree with him.

 

When Shawn passed, I had just started working months before as an Account Executive at WTNH TV News 8.  As it turned out, learning my new gig (broadcast television sales) felt like learning a whole new language.  However this learning curve turned into a blessing in disguise because it acted as a good distraction for me after the heartache of losing a loved one.  I was having a difficult time processing the loss of my baby brother and to be honest, I even felt a little guilty about what more I could have done as his sister who was closest in age to him and probably understood him more from our shared experiences in childhood and such.  The funeral was surreal, people from our childhood in Groton, CT showed up, as well as family, friends, and member of my Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church family.  My News 8 sales managers and sales colleagues showed up in full force which meant the world to me, a mere newbie at that time.

 

Little Brother with Big Brother
Left to Right – back row – Dana, Shawn, Michael, Elena, Lajeune front row – Casandra my mother Jean, Joandra

 

As what usually happens after a funeral, a flood of memories arrived of our brief time together.  Relatively speaking, I have way more memories of our short lives together growing up Hollis than I do of our lives after high school and college.   Shawn became somewhat reclusive in his last 10 years on earth.  And it was hard to reconcile.  Life hadn’t turned out the way Shawn expected so most of the news that I received about him was from my dear mother Jean when I swung by to visit her over the weekend.   Growing up though Shawn and I, being the youngest in the family, got along pretty well.   We had fights like brothers and sisters do but for the most part we played nice.  Shawn was so easygoing and likable it was hard not to get along with him.   My mother also made sure that we kids were all involved in some kind of activity after school as well as during the Summer months so there was always something going on.  As we got older and started high school, the other kids had moved out so it was just me, Shawn and our mother at home.  My parents had separated by then.

 

A collage of Shawn that truly captures his spirit – thanks for putting this together Big Brother Mike

 

Looking ahead, what Shawn’s short time on this earth has taught me is to be kind, you never know what someone is going through or has gone through.  Be compassionate as compassion is free and show empathy to those people who may be different from you.  Life is too short to not appreciate it as and for the gift that it is.

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

 

 

 

 

SAT, A surprise to me!

San Antonio, Texas (SAT)

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 Riverwalk
Clean 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

 

Pandora’s Bookstore & Coffee Bar/Pure Aloha Bath & Beauty

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.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

A 9 Hour Tour

 

I should have known that our planned vacation to Costa Rica was destined to be unpredictable as soon as our driver didn’t show up at 5am on the Sunday morning we were to depart for JFK International Airport.  We didn’t know this at the time but apparently the night before that said driver (a friend of a friend) entered 4pm instead of 4am on his smart phone.  What we did know was that we were 85 miles away from Queens, NY and neither of us were in the mood for nor possessed the inclination to take on New York City traffic that early in the morning.  What ultimately pushed us forward was our original idea of flying outside of the country to enjoy a stress-free (and news-free) week in a dream destination.

 

The prospect of vacationing in Costa Rica, or “rich coast,” a relatively small country in Central America was super exciting to me because zip lining, mud bathing and Hot Springs would now be checked off my bucket list and James was thrilled mostly because of his keen fascination with all things nature.

 

We chose the month of October for our Costa Rican vacation because the hotel resort rates are very attractive during the rainy season so you can get more for your dollar.  Also we figured it would not be as crowded as it is during the so called “dry season” which runs from December to March.   We were at the end of Costa Rica’s ‘Winter’ where it rains off and on in this Southern Pacific Coast between the months of May through November.   On our week there it typically rained every single afternoon between 3pm and 6pm but sometimes we were caught off guard with a quick and hard downpour early in the morning or later in the evening.   The upside was that all this pesky rain created beautiful lush greenery and scenery seemingly out of a postcard once the bright sun came back out.

Feeling like we are in the middle of a postcard (smile).

 

We stayed at Secrets Papagayo Resort in Guanacaste on the Southern Pacific coast.  The promotional video reeled us in with the Bungalow Suite King room and picturesque ocean views.

 

A picture of the Bungalow Suite King Room with peekaboo ocean views (smile).

What we discovered when we got to our room and immediately pulled back the sheers and stiff curtains to the deck were what could only be described as peek-a-boo views of the ocean.   James promptly got on the phone and worked his magic with the concierge so much so that by the very next day we had been moved from our room in the 300s down to a room in the 100s.  This room was identical to our other room but now we were not only closer to the action but more importantly, looking out we had the expansive view of the ocean that we were drawn to in the promotional video.   If vacation were a man, he was now starting to resemble a tall, strong, muscular creature with long angular arms and crooked fingers, beckoning me to take refuge in the comfort of my new surroundings…

 

Now that’s what I’m talking about!

 

We took a guided 2 hour Jet Ski tour on the Pacific Ocean our second day there.  We stopped at 3 different beaches during this tour.  The first beach where we stopped had a dark cave like area where we took turns with the other couple we were on the tour with taking silhouette pictures.

 

2 hour Jet Ski tour

The second beach featured a cliff that we had to climb up to.  Once there we stood just close enough to capture great photo ops.

 

I refused to look behind me as we were standing on a cliff…

 

The third and last beach featured a woodsy area with white faced monkeys – those sneaky little thieves that steal your sunglasses and hats right off your head – these mischievous monkeys boldly rejected the other couple’s healthy peaches in favor of salty rich Doritos that some kid had dropped (smile).

 

You can’t be mad at him, he likes what he likes

 

The ride back on our Jet Ski was fast and furious as now we were heading directly into the high winds causing me to cling that much harder to James’s waist.  I couldn’t avoid the cold ocean water spray either as it spit all over my face and bare arms.  Brrrrr, it was cold!

 

Back on the resort I was not at all impressed with the cuisine.  However Market Cafe, which featured a buffet of international cuisine, was surprisingly good.   I’m not a buffet person but their daily breakfasts, lunches and dinners carried a a lot of weight in their food choices.   We both looked forward to eating at Himitsu, a Pan-Asian Fusion place, because we love sushi and Asian food in general.  As it turned out, Himitsu did not disappoint.  Our favorite entree was the pork bellies – we literally ordered them on three separate occasions!

 

Date Night at Himitsu – Pork Belly Dish with fresh broccoli and jasmine rice was so good we came back 2 more evenings for more!

 

Portofino,  the fancy Italian restaurant  featured 5 courses as well as a dress code (which meant that men had to wear pants and if they showed up in shorts, they were offered a pair!).  We understood Portofino was known for its wine list but since I gave up wine at the onset of the Pandemic back in 2020,  I sipped on cold bottled water.

 

Fancy 5 course dinner at Portofino – I chose linguini with pesto sauce and James chose lasagna but i ended up eating his lasagna because it was so tasty and delish!

Speaking of giving up alcohol, my favorite non-alcoholic drink was the Green Monster – it was healthy, refreshing and delish!  One afternoon I drank 4 Green Monsters poolside simply because the waiter kept refilling my glass (smile).

 

The Green Monster – I drank 4 of these non-alcoholic totally healthy and delish Smoothies made with almond milk, kale or spinach, frozen banana, almond butter, chia seeds, cinnamon and protein powder!

Seaside Grille was the seafood restaurant at the resort – during the day they piled fried seafood on platters and served them poolside and at night they offered fancier entrees where you dined in their cool, air-conditioned interior.

 

Seaside Grille by night – James ordered the Ribeye steak – I wish I had because my salmon was underwhelming…

 

All in all we do love resort life (especially the All-Inclusive’s) because you don’t have to worry about what you are going to do for the day, your bed is made and room is cleaned every day, there are planned activities posted daily, food is everywhere whether you are looking for something fast or casual, and there are plenty of things to do on and off the resort.  If you come as a couple you have the opportunity to meet and hang out with other like-minded couples.  We met this wonderful couple named Randy and Rachel from Nashville, TN over dinner our second night at the resort.  We were dining at Himitsu – seated outdoors – and since we were sitting so close to them, we could not help but strike up a conversation.  James said it reminded him of a Sienfield episode.  Suffice it to say, we kept bumping into our new vacation friends until they talked us into joining them later on in the week on a 9 hour mega tour.

 

They caught us at the right time too because we were just getting ready to book the remainder of tours for the week with Amstar (since we enjoyed the Jet Ski tour so much) when they told us about this young man who was tucked away unseen on the resort but not too far from the Preferred Members club where we were meeting for drinks.  They took us to him and it turned out that his tours were so cheap because they were Costco tours.  Suffice it to say, we got a 9 hour mega tour (horseback riding, coffee cultural tour, sugar cane cultural tour, mud bath, hot springs, giant water slide, zip lining, bus ride to and from and lunch(!) for just $150 dollars.  We met them and 4 to 5 other couples on the Thursday morning at 745am for an hour and a half bus ride to the our  first leg of the mega tour, horseback riding.

 

Horse back riding was interesting because the horses were so well trained that we really did not have to do anything but hold on to our straps.  They basically took us on a long walk down a muddy dirt road where the horses each comically took turns pooping all over the place and then stepping in each others messes (smile).

I felt like we were in an old timey Western movie

 

The next tour was the sugar cane cultural tour  where we were offered delish expresso, cornbread, a sugar cane, and goat cheese on small plates.  Here we sat in hard backed chairs and listened to the guide as he gave us the history of the sugar cane.  Afterwards we walked down the hill (where it suddenly started to rain!) and met the star of the day, the oxen.  This oxen (with the help of 2 volunteers – James and Randy) walked around and around in circles to produce fresh sugar water while James and Randy stuck the canes in a tree like opening.  It was delish!

 

James and I posing with the very patient Oxen

 

The next tour was zip lining.  I was feeling a little under the weather that day so the trek up the mountain to the zip line quite literally took my breath away.  Once I was strapped in and felt secure, the rest was a breeze.  We went on 5 different zip lines so I did not have time to think about whether I could do it or not – it was  exhilarating for sure!

 

One of the most exhilarating tours on our vacation – this 9 hour tour was by far my favorite and zip lining was my greatest adventure – especially since I was zip lining in Costa Rica with our new “Vacation Friends” Randy and Rachel from Tennessee

 

Some people on the tour bus said that this was the best part of the day – lunch!  We were fed healthy portions of authentic Costa Rican cuisine including rice and beans and spicy chicken.  We sat in large room with wooden tables and got in much needed rest while we inhaled our delish hot food.

The last part of the tour involved the big water slide which we skipped because I did not have it in me to walk up another mountain to get there.  Then came the mud bath and hot springs.  I loved the hot springs because the water was extremely hot.  The mud from the bath had to be taken off in a cold outdoor shower so that was not so much fun.  And I slathered the mud on in all the crevices not realizing that I would would need to use cold water to remove it.  Had I known…The hot springs (5 in all) were awesome and felt like heaven on earth with the heat rising from the water.  Each hot spring we entered got a little cooler than the one before so by the 5th one, it was like being in a lukewarm bathtub.  A wonderful and fitting ending to our day.  And a beautiful end to an unpredictable vacay (smile).

 

Who knew what laid behind that smoke…

 

Sincerely,

 

TVFL

My Current Situation – Part X (Goodbye 2021!)

 

I’m sure this comes as no surprise to anyone that on this Friday, December 31st,  I am happy to see 2021 Simply. Go. Away. (smile)

 

I am cautiously optimistic though that even when the 2022 pandemic brings its own variants, we will all learn to effectively work around them so that we can resume a somewhat “normal” life.

 

 

I have already noticed the following habits in my own life as I head into 2022:

 

  • I still wear a face mask practically everywhere I go

 

 

 

  • I’m still working 50% hybrid (one day from my home office; the next day from my work office and so on…)

 

 

 

  • I am still washing my hands multiple times a day even when they’re not dirty

 

 

  • I am still waddling around in yoga pants and baseball caps on the days I work from home

 

 

  • I still have not travelled outside of the U.S. and/or drove more than 300 miles  away from home for personal travel

 

 

I’m also still counting my blessings every day that this dreadful disease does not directly impact any one of my family members and friends.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

TVFL

 

 

 

My Current Situation Part IX

It’s the season of what we like to call “Fall” in New England.  The days are short, the air is brisk and the leaves are “falling” from the trees.   I happen to like this season because the temperatures in Connecticut tend not to be too extreme plus it’s a great time to enjoy backyard bonfires.

 

It’s also cold and flu season so I scheduled my flu shot this coming week at my place of employment.  I was advised by my Primary Care Physician to get the Shingles shot this year which by the way comes in two separate doses.  I’m well over 50 but for some reason was advised to take care of it this year.  Our local pharmacy (Walgreens) made it real simple for me.

 

The drawn-out Covid pandemic (which could easily turn into a “Twindemic” with the upcoming Flu season upon us) is still causing me to pause as to what activities I should or should not participate in.  For instance, I went to see Erykah Badu a few weeks ago at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, CT because the people in charge were asking all attendees to be fully vaccinated and wear their masks.  However, I skipped going to an outdoor festival in Hamden, CT because there would be children there under the age of 12 who, at this time, cannot be vaccinated.   Decisions, decisions…

 

And as far as work goes I am currently in month 15 of working hybrid for the News 8 local sales department and I’m not mad about it (smile).  You see I enjoy working from home every other day because it keeps me in the practice of dressing up to go into work in the first place (smile).  I am forced to put on a nice dress or blouse and skirt every other day.  Otherwise I would just live in yoga pants and baseball caps (double smile).

 

I also get to touch base with my fav co-workers and experience a change of scenery from the home decor.  But working from home also has its perks:  those aforementioned yoga pants and baseball caps, no commute, noontime walks and healthy lunches.  Truth be told I actually work harder when I’m working from home as I still get up at the same time every day but on those days can begin at least an hour earlier, multi-task at lunchtime and end whenever I feel like it (after quitting time) since I’m already home.

 

 

Being a true fan of  Social Media, I am noticing more and more posts of people in general spending quality time with their families and their friends.  In my opinion the notion of Family is back in a Big Way and it is very apparent.  If nothing else comes from this pandemic, it will have shown us that Family and Relationships are truly what we all have been missing.

 

 

TVFL readers, have a Great Week.