We are now entering the 6th month of living in a pandemic and needless to say, things have changed for me in Connecticut… here’s what I’m noticing:
Masks are still required when you walk into any workplace/school/retail store/restaurant/bank etc. (which, by the way, is not a problem to me…)
Gyms continue to operate at 50% capacity which forces me to work out from home on an online app 3 days out of the 5…and go to my gym I Love Kickboxing (at 5am) the other 2 days..
We Local Account Executives at News 8 continue to work from home every other day in a team hybrid fashion and to be honest, I’m not mad about it (smile).
Zoom calls (the way we now converse with each other and with our clients) are beginning to feel “natural” and “the norm.”
And I just returned from an actual vacay in Delaware where we drove to visit family and because I brought my latop with me, I did not miss a beat on my work load…
Virtual church is becoming “a thing” now, I can hear ‘The Word” from Pastor King at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church right from the safety of my living room…
As far as golf goes, social distancing was already in place so other than having an electric cart all to myself, not much has changed there…
Self Care is becoming extremely important during this anxiety-ridden time…I am not feeling guilt at all about taking out quality time for myself as often as I need it…
And finally, my father and sibs mean the world to me so catching up with them via consistent family Facetime chats has become the best part of my week (smile).
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.
Remedy Kombucha – best in the biz!
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.
The Fab 4 hitting the links!
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.
Hot Green tea is def a fav of mine!
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, ifyou 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.
Yummy!
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~
Yummy lentil bean soup
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!
New Haven pizza gets it done!
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…
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
One on one make-up session with Marissa
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 good, good work friend and fellow Connecticut blogger, Jamie Taylor (jamieeverafter dot com) inspired me to write this blog today when she recently posted about the things she was not willing to give up in the year 2019. I “liked” her Instagram post because this kind of thinking is the polar opposite of what you expect to hear from anyone in the early days of a New Year.
At any rate, it got me thinking about my own will not give up list for 2019 so here is that list (in no particular order):
Coffee
I cannot leave the house without my coffee – nothing fancy, just a dark roast, completely black with natural sugar does the trick – I tried leaving the house without coffee once and it wasn’t pretty – I seriously thought I was coming down with something (smile).
Edge Strong workouts
I cannot imagine doing what I do for a living without the benefits of a good workout each weekday morning. It is not only a stress reliever but it also keeps me physically fit: Check out my blog post: LJ: Stronger than before…
Social Media
Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, Yelp, you name it – I’m on it and loving every minute of it. Check out my blog post: R U Social?
Pampering (hair/feet/nails)
It’s no secret that I have a weekly standing hair appointment at the salon every Saturday morning so getting my nails and/or feet done on a monthly basis is par for the course: Check out my blog post: Put your slippers on…
Wine
I make my living as a TV/Digital/Social Media Account Executive in a highly competitive, pressure-cooker work environment. I do this all on 100 percent commission so a nice glass (or two) of red wine is more than welcome on the weekends – Check out my blog post: 10 things I cannot live without today
Movies
As I’ve posted about before in TVFL, Growing up Hollis my mother Jean would take her 7 children to the movies on Saturdays armed with candy and snacks: Check out my blog post: MovieBuff To this day watching movies on TV, Mobile tablets or even at the theater is a regular pastime.
Salad (with protein)
I absolutely loooooove salad any time of the year – not just the Summertime and I pile my salad with some or all of the following ingredients: romaine lettuce, spinach, kale, fresh veggies, mixed nuts, cheddar cheese, hard boiled eggs, sesame seeds, chick peas, grilled chicken, homemade croutons and low fat dressing. The low fat dressing is a semi-joke considering what goes into building my salads. Check out my blog post: New Haven, CT Fall(ish) eats!
Golf
I finally learned how to play Golf last Summer at Lyman Orchards Golf Center in Golf Fore Women 101 and I must say I’m truly looking forward to the Summer again so I can hit the links with my newfound lady golf friends! Check out my blog post: Ready Fore Golf
Beauty Sleep
Over the years I have alternatively read or heard that a good night’s sleep is overrated and you really don’t need that much rest for your body to function at its best. I disagree. When I get at least 7 hours of sleep at night I tend to be more mentally alert and better able to handle multiple tasks at hand the following day. Check out my blog post: What it means to be a woman of a certain age…
So that’s my list for 2019, how does your list compare?
So glad I finally got off my duff last summer and signed up for golf lessons for women (smile).
Here’s what happened: I was leafing through the Hamden/North Haven Adult Ed catalog when I happened upon a course listing in the Enrichment Class section called Golf Fore Women 101. It felt serendipitous as I have been talking about taking golf lessons for what felt like ages so I promptly called to register for the Saturday morning 5-week session.
Then I called my girlfriend and broadcast industry colleague Ginger, who, like me, owned her own set of golf clubs but still did not know how to play. Ginger was grateful that I thought of her and I felt lucky to know her (smile).
Me and Ginger on Day 1 of our lessons and the women we met in Golf 101
The reason why I felt so lucky was because I actually bought my own starter set of golf clubs 11 years ago but for some reason or another, nothing ever seemed to come together for me in terms of taking golf lessons or being consistent about actually wanting to play. Here’s the rundown:
2007
I purchased my own set of “lady” golf clubs for $105 dollars (down to the shoes, hat, gloves, pink golf balls, etc.) and although I initially had good intentions, this set sat in my garage year after year collecting dust…
My starter set of lady golf clubs
2011/2012/2013/2014
Since by now I stillhad not learned how to play, I spent multiple years volunteering as a “Beverage Cart Driver” at our News 8 annual golf tournament where we invited our clients out for a day of golf.
2015
I finally took two private lessons (a gift from my bf) at Lyman Golf Center in Middlefield, CT with John Wilson, who came highly recommended from a former News 8 co-worker and female golfer.
At the annual Travelers Tournament in Cromwell, CT (one of my fav live golfing events and spectator sports)
At the annual Traveler Tournament in Cromwell, CT. Always a good time. Turns out my cousin Bear from Rhode Island was working there that week
2018
By now I was so desperate I even fake caddied for my boyfriend last Summer while he enjoyed ‘the game’ (smile).
And it was right after this fake caddy momentwhen I happened upon the Enrichment course listing in the Hamden/North Haven Adult Ed catalog…
Golf Fore Women 101
The Saturday morning Fall classes I registered for ran from September 15 – October 13 (10am -11am) and consisted of about ten women. Our first session was mostly in the classroom where we talked about ourselves and what brought us there and then learned about Golf from a theoretical perspective.
My Saturday morning classmates – I’m gonna miss these ladies
Let me tell you, there is a lot to learn here. Golf is truly a game of and for life… Throughout our introductory 5-week course Marissa Kulig Crow, our LPGA Coach and Club Professional, very patiently taught us the following:
Essentials – equipment selection and appropriate golf attire
Golf Clubs
Golf Course Layout
Golf Terms
Golf Scores
Forms of Golf Games
Golf Shots
Networking
Stretching and Yoga
Golf Etiquette 101
Lesson 1– The Driving Range
Here we are lined up and on our way to the driving range
Lesson 2 – The Full Swing
The full swing – one of my favorite golf swings
Lesson 3 – Chipping/Pitching/Sand
Chipping Pitching Sand Wedge was probably one of the most difficult lessons we took – here is me and Mary Ann – one of my favs
Lesson 4 – On the Putting Green
Today’s practice will be on the putting green – the short game – where a lot of golfers struggle
Lesson 5 – The Apple 9 Golf course
It felt so funny because today’s lesson #5 (final lesson of Golf Fore Women 101) was actually golfing on the Apple 9 Golf course. We played 3 holes during our last lesson. It was so fun! I am looking forward to next Summer and Fall so I can take Golf Fore Women 201 and 301 and work on perfecting my game!
Me and my girls – enjoying our last day of Golf Fore Women 101!
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