Transformation Complete

Massachusetts teachers pay into a private retirement program. When they retire, their pension is paid from that program versus Social Security. Makes sense. Unless you become a teacher as part of a mid-life career change, as I did. There is legislation that prevents a Massachusetts teacher from collecting both their Social Security and the pension unless you’ve worked thirty years in the private sector. This was the dilemma I faced two years ago. Continue teaching and lose the social security benefit or leave and return to the outside world. Because I went into teaching so late in life, I’d be 105 years old before being eligible for full retirement benefits in the private teacher retirement system. The difficult decision to leave teaching became a reality in 2019.

With three graduate degrees, more than thirty years of work experience, and side hustles that make for an interesting resume, finding work outside of teaching seemed like it would be a walk in the park. Who knows if being in my sixties, an employer thinking my salary requirements might break the bank, or trying to break into a new field with fundamental skills made the search more challenging. Looking for appropriate work became my full-time job for about nine months. It was time well spent as it gave me an opportunity to focus on how at least of third of my day could be most productive, mentally stimulating, and socially engaging.

Bob has a real estate business that includes two other related businesses. I’ve posted before on my work lettering the warehouse, developing an advertising campaign, and setting about organizing the physical office and creating an administrative infrastructure. That morphed into a half time position. It meets all of the personal requirements noted above and the work schedule dovetails nicely with my supervisory work for Springfield College.

I liken my work with Springfield College to being a grandparent (I’m not a parent of any kind but am able to care for my dog and feed Bob on a regular basis). I get to go into classrooms manned by new teachers, interact with students, and provide feedback to the teachers to facilitate their development as professionals. Grandparents get their grandkids all sugared up and drop them off at home to work it off. Similarly, I get to leave the classroom when it’s time to do lunch duty or, my favorite, bathroom duty. This year, of course, all supervision has been done remotely but you get the point. There were two final pieces to add to the transformative puzzle: Reactivation of my realtor license and opening an Etsy shop.

Over this past summer, I decided to explore a variety of products that could be made with the Cricut machine and sold online. The entire universe, with varying degrees of success, began doing the same in light of the pandemic. It sounded so alluring and the You Tube videos made creating a product look so easy. How hard could it be?! Well, either I’m a slow learner or haven’t dedicated enough hours each day, but I continue to trudge up the learning curve. A few products have been developed, mocked up, priced, and produced for the holidays (gift tags and decorative elements to add sparkle to the home). They’re now being modified for other occasions and coming holidays. It will be a few more months before that Etsy or Facebook shop is up and running, I’m sure, but the feedback and limited sales experienced to date have been inspiring.

The real estate license is in hand and I’ve started working with customers. I’d sold property for fourteen years when I first became a teacher. I’d start with a customer as the school year wound down just after the testing season and would continue until returning to the classroom in August. With occasional help from Bob, should someone need to view a listing during the school day, it went pretty well. Because I only sold in the summer, I had more customers than I could handle from a referral source and I never had to work up leads. Now that it’s a full on focus, I’m learning how to use social media to promote myself and Kushner Realty. The side hustle of making things will benefit from developing my virtual skills and marketing as well.

It has been an interesting process and the fact that two years have passed is unthinkable. If there’s any wisdom to impart, it would be that knowing what you want to do when you grow up can be a moving target. Evolving from a human services professional, to educator, to realtor/maker over the last thirty plus years has been made possible because I never realized reaching that time of being grown up; it’s still happening, one molt after another. Here’s to thirty more years of evolution!

Recipe of the Week:

Who of you buys fruited yogurt? Have you ever read the ingredients list? It’s so easy to cook down fruit to be used as a topping. Hardly any time is needed and you can make it just the way you like it. I often buy the bag of mixed fruit from Costco. It has black and blue berries, and red raspberries. Throw it in a pan on low heat, toss in some cinnamon, vanilla if you like, and squish in some maple or agave syrup, or maybe some honey. That’s it. Let it cook a bit and it’s ready to eat as is, over yogurt, or dribble onto sponge cake for a low-cal delicious dessert. Doesn’t get any easier than that and there’s not a lot of extra anything in it, including calories.

A DIY project that’s easy, delicious, and good for you!

Tip of the Week:

Ice cubes are a versatile item and perfect for slowly adding moisture to plants, especially orchids. You’ve seen them. The orchid sold in the grocery stores. Maybe you brought one home, only to have it die because you didn’t read the card. The card told you to put a few ice cubes on the plant each week. That’s it.

I didn’t read the card and watered the plant a little bit. Well, when I transplanted it, I found rotted roots. I thought there was plenty of drainage at the bottom, but not sufficient for this plant. It’s thriving now, no thanks to me. This type of watering system, if you will, is useful for any plant that needs a bit of moisture over an extended period of time without taking the chance of overwatering it.

This is a stock image as one of mine has just started budding. The other is just sitting there. Can’t tell if it’s alive or not, beyond the leaves are green. Yes, I used ice cubes as the water delivery system!

Onward and upwards into a new week!

Wook at the Weaves!

Peg Bracken, a humorist and cookbook author, wrote a book entitled, “A Window Over the Sink” in the early 80’s. There’s an eight foot wide window over my sink that provides endless entertainment as I observe the walkers, joggers, traffic and the like passing by. The street is tree-lined with numerous maple trees that are just starting to turn color. It reminds me of the story told about my brother who, as a small child, was looking out at the falling, colorful leaves and shouted out, “Wook at the weaves!”

An article in today’s paper talked about the leaves changing colors earlier than usual this year and a number of different reasons were considered. The theme running through the article pointed to changes in climate that may be a heavy contributor. I know our weather has fluctuated from the 40’s to the 80’s throughout the last month, which must be really confusing for plants trying to shut down for their winter snooze. The science behind the vast differences in temperature is complicated and more than likely, climate change is at the top of the list of offenders.

Regardless of the reasons behind the changes, the colors of the foliage still makes me smile with anticipation. There’s nothing like the chilly nights and warm days of Fall to put some pep in your step when out for a jog. A s’more isn’t just for a warm weather campfire and is the perfect companion to hot chocolate, especially after raking and bagging leaves. I don’t have a wet suit, but I do love to carefully take the kayak out onto a lake ringed by the flaming colors of the foliage and get the double treat of seeing their reflection in the water. The reds, oranges, and greens against the blue/gray sky of October, with sunshine streaming through never gets old.

Many trees have dropped their leaves which now lay browned and curled on the sidewalk. Crunching through them when walking Arie, or watching them swirl around our feet when a breeze picks up is a simple pleasure. I noticed an enormous wasp nest in a neighbor’s tree that had been hidden by the leaves all summer. My neighbor used to sit under that tree and read, enjoying the shade. She’s lucky she didn’t get stung.

Within a few weeks all the leaves will be down and the smell of bonfires will permeate the air. Firepits will be put to good use as neighbors eke out a few more days on their patios. Fairy lights add their twinkle to the stars that are stand out brilliant at this time of year. Fall is here and brings with it a final blast of color as we move into a winter snooze.

Recipe of the Week: This was in the newspaper the other day and looked like it would go together easily. Totally necessary one night where it was a pedal to the metal day and suddenly it’s time to throw supper together. It’s a simple meal of buckwheat soba noodles and can be made a day ahead and served at room temperature. I would think any kind of pasta would work, it’s just the buckwheat soba type has a good amount of protein in it. A nice plus when eating pasta.

1/4 soy sauce or tamari, 3 T rice wine vinegar, 2 T sesame oil, 1 C frozen edamame (don’t bother defrosting), 9 1/2 oz. dry soba noodles (our local Big Y had them; it can be tricky to find them), 2 pints of cherry tomatoes (I cut them in half).

Combine the tomatoes, soy sauce, vinegar, and sesame oil, stir and let sit while edamame and noodles boil (Next time I plan on quickly roasting the tomatoes first so they’re really jammy and soft).

Boil some water, throw in the edamame and noodles and cook 4-5 minutes (al dente, not mushy is my fav). Drain. Throw pasta in the marinade you set aside and enjoy! You could ad sesame seeds as a garnish if feeling fancy. It’s that easy. Enjoy!

Tip of the Week: I was thinking about the toilet brush and how it drips back into the holder. It’s a little gross cleaning out the pot every so often, so then I thought about leaving the brush between the seat and bowl for a bit to dry out before putting it into the holder. Totally works, decreases the ick factor and the frequency of cleaning out the brush holder.

Only takes a few minutes to dry out before storing in the cute cat receptacle!

Onward and upwards!

Bots, Bats, and Delegation

There has been a lot written about artificial intelligence and, as with any new invention, the unknown is often viewed skeptically, even fearfully. Advances in any area of life can yield positive or negative results and may be used to improve or detract from the world; it’s all in the intent of its application. One advance that has had a positive impact on my cleaning routine is the floor washing robot. Readers of this blog know a robot vacuum is used to pick up the dog fur and other bits around the house and it has now been joined by the Braava Jet (no plug, just a fact).

I’m not a lazy person and, in fact, find that having those two tools increase productivity. While they work, I’m able to focus on other tasks, be they creative or work related. On any given day, the whir of those machines plays against the sounds of other tools that allow me to work from home, complete creative projects, or simply make a hot cup of coffee. Of course, just as when any task is delegated, the results or manner in which the job is done may not meet expectations, but that’s a small trade-off.

For instance, the Braava Jet takes forever to wash a floor and, really, it’s a once over. On the kitchen tile, it doesn’t deep clean the grout. I still pull out the steamer every few months to go over high traffic grout lines. However, the same would be true regardless of the cleaning method employed (a house cleaner didn’t vacuum under the bed for weeks; I could NOT clean for $65, which led to getting the robot vacuum). Having said that, the job gets done more frequently than if done by me and the overall quality is good enough to keep the grubbies at bay. The result is a generally clean environment.

The ability to let go of control when delegating a task is huge and not easy for some of us. Bob has a famous story about his mother not letting let anyone operate the washing machine because only she knew how to work the dials and settings for an optimal cleaning experience. He will tell you I insist I’m being helpful when micromanaging a job rather than moving on to something else with the new found time he has saved me (he’s right).

Slowly but surely I’m relinquishing control to people who offer to help or incorporating “smart” tools. I’m looking for ways to use AI creatively and on a day-to-day basis to free up time for activities that are more interesting and engaging. Like anything else, it’s a learning process and this old dog has a few new tricks to learn.

Tip of the Week: Turn your phone face down and have a more peaceful day as well as increased productivity. I don’t spend a lot of time on social media but I do respond RIGHT AWAY at the sound of a swish or ding dong, as every message is VERY IMPORTANT. Time is often of the essence in the real estate world but that doesn’t mean leaping to respond within a nanosecond is necessary. So, I’ve begun turning my phone face down and picking it up to check messages throughout the day (the current buzz term is picking the phone up with intention).

Such a simple, small action that has made a difference in my day. I check the phone on the hour during the work day and when I think of it, otherwise. Haven’t missed anything earth shattering as of yet and the world has continued on its axis.

The phone is resting comfortably, as am I!

Recipe of the Week: A tip, versus a recipe: Bagel Seasoning. Use it. Boy is this little jar of seasoning a tasty treat. Sprinkled on quacamole (avocado toast), over a salad, on hot, roasted vegetables goes a long way to adding umph to a meal or snack. Give it a try!

Such an easy add in!

Onward and upwards to new taste delights and a day of peace and accomplishments!

Everything Old is New Again

I’m returning to the classroom a few hours a day as an interventionist after having left teaching four years ago. A local college hired me to supervise new teachers in the classroom the soon after leaving teaching and, a few months later, Covid upended the world. Watching and experiencing its effect was compounded by the struggles my teachers and their students endured

The pandemic had a tremendous impact on learning as classes were hastily moved to an online format. Distance learning has been around for a long time and there are providers who do a fantastic job of delivering an engaging curriculum, but being thrust onto that platform with no heads up is much like walking a tightrope, while balancing elephants, wearing stilettos. Local school systems got through it but the collateral damage to academic growth is evident. In addition, many classrooms are still without teachers in response to the strain of working through overwhelming challenges.

Returning on a part-time basis leaves the best parts of teaching front and center. Small group work has always my favorite as you work closely with students for an intense, short period of time. You zero in on the need area like a radiation oncologist targets a cancer cell and, “Zap!” a strategy is employed that will hopefully get the student over the hump that’s interfering with their progress in reading. This year I’ll be working with students in Kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. This brings to mind a recurring nightmare I had year two in the classroom.

I was working as an interventionist and, mid-year, was given the assignment to run the computer lab in the afternoons due to a sudden opening. Mind you, the computers were ancient and (early 2000’s) used CD’s for programs. Many of the discs were damaged, as were the computers. In comes a Kindergarten class.

Computer programs at that grade level are really loud and involve a LOT of music. Chirpy tunes that sound like they would come from a calliope. In this case it was like two trains screaming toward one another and the brakes aren’t working. Children are calling out my name as I race around the room fixing computer glitches, the music is throbbing louder than that you’d hear at a disco, snot is oozing (not mine, thankfully) and I’m pretty sure someone had an accident.

It wasn’t long after enduring those first few days with the ankle nippers that the nightmare occurred. I saw myself bursting free from the school, hair standing on end, mouth pulled back into a gaping hole with a soundless scream caught in my jet stream. Kindergarten children are running after me holding up foam ABC letters and numbers, yelling like banshees, chasing me around the building. Actually, that dream was calmer than some of those afternoons in the computer lab.

I survived the rest of that year and, more importantly, every Kindergarten child advanced to first grade. Not one was lost or killed in the lab and, for that, I am proud.

Tip of the Week: Command hooks have innumerable uses and I was happy to see this straight one. A dish drainer beside the sink never seems to get put away but it doesn’t annoy me enough to actually stow it under the sink, probably because there isn’t room; the trash can lives on the other side of the cabinet, limiting space.

These drainers that lie flat on the counter are meant to go across the sink so your dishes can drain directly into the abyss, which is a great idea. I found that putting it on the counter and laying a drain mat on top to be more effective and I don’t accidently knock a glass onto the floor while working.

In two shakes, the mat is put away and the rod drainer is hanging on the straight hooks under the sink after a sink session. Minimal space is needed for either item.

Recipe of the Week: I enjoy a pasta dinner but often decide to cook it up when it’s very close to dinnertime. A slow cooked pasta sauce is unbeatable but not practical when you have minutes to spare. Well, pull out the olive oil and saute a bit of onion and garlic. Throw in a small can of diced tomatoes (you really should keep these on hand) and turn the heat down. In a few, short minutes you’ll have a light, fragrant, jammy sauce with tomatoes that can be left in pieces or squashed to your liking. Yummy!

In this photo, the chef added a bit of oregeno. Either dried or fresh would be wonderful, as would basil (my fav).

Onward and upwards!

Matchy, Matchy

I love watching You Tube videos, as mentioned in previous blogs. Whether it be useful or questionable information, it’s entertaining at the very least. One type of video that’s prevalent addresses organizing the home. The number of videos on this topic is only outnumbered by the scores of organizational bins, boxes, bags and what-have-you, color-coded to the contents of the holder with matching tags dangling from a piece of jute. You breathe easily while gazing at the row of baskets lined up on the shelves and close the cupboard door with a gentle sigh, knowing everything is in its place.

There has been quite an evolution in storing our things. Not so long ago we used to take an unused box and write on it with a marker. As the contents changed, the title would be scratched out and a new one written underneath. A real go-getter would wrap the boxes in pretty wrapping paper. With the proliferation of home delivery services, our homes are flooded with cartons of all sizes that could be put into use at a significant cost savings over buying containers. Plus, they’re all the same warm brown, if monochromatic schemes are desired. Landfills would be slightly less mountainous.

Regardless of the type of container used to store things, is it necessary to have row upon row of them in our cupboards, refrigerator, garage, and basement? Is there no room for simply placing something neatly on the shelf in it’s original, non-matching box? I’m not anti-organization or containers and have a secret love for boxes of all stripes. It’s only with great effort my cart, physical or online, isn’t filled with the cutest, most useful storage bins available. Boxes that come to the doorstep are carefully evaluated for their next possible purpose before being recycled. But. Do containers have to match and march across the shelf? Is there something wrong with free-range cereals and crackers?

It’s so interesting to see food products transferred (the current term is decanted, which is a word I thought was reserved for wine storage) from a clearly labeled box and put into a container. In case you don’t recognize the contents, the bin is labeled. Same for a variety of cookies or crackers. I don’t know, they seem to stack easily in the cupboard in their original cartons and the nutrition label is readily available for handy reference.

One blogger uses uniform jars to store herbs and spices. They fit into a drawer next to the stove, which is really useful. Contents are clearly marked and it looks like she never has something like olive oil on her fingers when she grabs the oregano for a quick shake. She also has a bin in the cupboard with the original bottles and herbs that wouldn’t fit into the smaller bottle. So now, she’s using up twice the real estate. That wouldn’t work in a kitchen where space is at a premium.

The explosion of storage bins, tags, and decorative container covers (the front of the bin has a pretty piece of paper hiding what’s inside so you see a homogeneous image with labels in matching fonts) has spawned a thriving business for crafters large and small, as well as the general marketplace. Some of you may have wandered the aisles of houseware stores imagining how your cupboards would look if you employed a few containers. The cost of a cupboard renovation could be prohibitive, but you can economize by spending $1.25 per item at the Dollar Tree on baskets of all shapes and sizes.

Admittedly, there is something satisfying about having drawers and cupboards organized. Calming, even. You’re not scrabbling through detritus trying to find that binder clip or sock that escaped its mate. The time saved in such pursuits adds up by the end of the week. Also, when you take time to sort through a disorganized drawer, you find there are a surprising number of items you don’t need, forgot you had, or maybe there are duplicates. Those are probably things that could be sold/gifted online or simply dumpstered if there’s no life left to them.

Personally, my drawers/closets/cupboards have always been pretty well organized but I’ve benefitted from watching a variety of videos. My containers and dividers are an eclectic mix of boxes, handmade dividers, inexpensive bins (many from my days as a teacher and still colorfully decorated with errant marker swipes or smelling of Crayolas), and ready-made separators. Corralling things has been my focus versus aiming for a uniform presentation when the cupboard door is opened.

The dividers were created by cutting plywood to size and hot gluing them into place. The boards were purchased online at the JoAnne’s Fabrics site (not a plug, just a reference). Not fancy, but it’s easy to find what’s needed and I’m no longer digging through containers and tops when some leftover egg salad needs to be put in the fridge. This picture may have been featured in a previous post.

Whatever your approach to organization, there’s no lack of ideas or bins to make quick work of finding those running socks or curry for tonight’s dinner. Free-range or otherwise, you’re covered and containered!

Recipe of the Week: A tip, versus a recipe. If you don’t already have an Instant Pot, you might want to consider getting one. I have three, by accident (too long a story to tell right now), and have found myself using all three when hosting a crowd. Two 6 quart pots are only for vegetables/vegetarian purposes. The 8 quart pot is for meats. The time saved when cooking vegetables, is crazy. There’s no watching for boiling water, stirring while cooking, or worrying whether or not the item is done. If you don’t know how long to cook something, just Google it. I recently typed in “beets in ip” and found 18 minutes worked like a charm. Yes, it takes a few minutes for the pot to come to pressure and that time is added to the cook time, but who cares? I’m working on another food item while that’s happening. I have to say, the vegetables really taste so much better than being steamed or boiled on the stove. While I often roast veggies, a rival to what comes out of the pot, I don’t always have space in the oven for that. There’s a 3 quart pot as well, I believe, if the 6 quart seems too large for you. Here are some cook times/”recipes” for a few favs: Green beans – 2 min. on high pressure and then quick release. Basmati rice – 1 C rice and 1 C water, 6 min. on high pressure and then 10 min. natural release. Broccoli – 2 min. on high pressure and then quick release (so sweet tasting cooked this way).

These may not be as popular, now that we aren’t at home as much as before, but still a good investment in my opinion (again, not a plug).

Tip of the Week: Get yourself some chalkboard vinyl and write yourself handy reminders (shameless plug: I do make/sell them along with the chalk marker. Contact me if you’d like a few; three is usually enough). They’re removeable and useful as messages can be wiped off and modified as needed. I stick them to the inside of cupboards here and there.

The “Recipes” above came from this label. This has been stuck on the door for a few years. The fact that it’s reusable makes it cost effective!

Onward and upwards into Fall!

Not Me! Somebody Should.

Bil Keane is a cartoonist and one of his strips centers around a family of five who have a dog, Barfy. Years ago, the “Not Me” character was introduced. “Not Me” was an outline shape with its name across its belly. It looked a little ghost-like, like a child dressed in a sheet at Halloween. The mom or dad would be seen speaking to the kids about an incident, wondering who was responsible while “Not Me” was running away from the scene. I think of that character from time to time when working around the house or walking outside, except the character would be named, “Somebody Should.”

“Somebody Should” get this closet organized so we don’t get bonked on the head every time the door is opened. “Somebody Should” pick up that discarded face mask ground into the dirt at the edge of the sidewalk. You get the idea. There are only two “Somebodies” in this house and, depending on the task at hand, I’ve got the S emblazoned on my t-shirt; I often don’t recognize that super power right away. There are numerous “Somebodies” in the world who put on their t-shirt with the big “S” splayed across the front before brushing their teeth every day.

One “Somebody” that comes to mind is a woman who lived in my old neighborhood. She and her husband took a daily walk, chatting amiably with anyone who happened to be working in their yard or getting some exercise with their dogs. Whenever trash was spotted, my neighbor picked it up in a matter-of-fact manner. It wouldn’t occur to her to leave it for somebody else to remedy.

If you were a passer-by, you wouldn’t know he was a well-known attorney and mayor of the city while she provided the support that allowed him to pursue his commitment to public service. Seeing a prominent pair care for our neighborhood because they were exercising their super powers and not waiting for “Somebody” impressed an important message in the mind’s of us all.

Another “Somebody” is a teacher who had a friend that died of an undiagnosed cardiac disorder as a teen. Through this experience, she and his family learned that thousands of young people between 15 and 34 years of age die annually from “Sudden Cardiac Arrest” due to an enlarged heart. They partnered with a lot of Somebodies and organized a foundation that raises money to provide children and young adults the necessary screenings to rule out a previously undiagnosed heart condition. In addition, AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are made available in public spaces when needed, but funding may be limited.

I had the privilege of participating in an annual fundraising event several years ago and saw this educator marching around the hockey rink ensuring the schedule went off without a hitch, merchandise and concession items were in place, and remembering her friend to fellow hockey lovers. She went on to apply her talent for bringing the best out in people through education when working for the Junior Achievement organization. This teacher knew that Somebody Should do something about early detection of a cardiac defect and did it. Her t-shirt is donned every day.

You probably know a number of people who say, “Somebody should….” It could be they need to be conked on the head a few times before they, like me, realize the ideal candidate to get the job done is themselves. When that happens, hand ‘em that t-shirt with the big, red S emblazoned across the front, put on your’s, and get the job done.

We’ll, at least the jelly wasn’t sucked out of a donut…..

Tip of the Week: I recently changed vehicles and almost forgot to take the transponder out of the old one. It wouldn’t have been a disaster if I’d driven off without it, but the salesperson did remember and his extra effort to make the switch was appreciated. This got me to thinking about how we sometimes lose sight of simple things that could lead to greater problems. One is moving with your pet.

Before the moving van arrives and your pet is crated and stashed in the back seat, check their ID tags. Does it have an up-to-date phone number for you or your vet? Unfortunately, pets do slip away when we least expect it and if that tag is current, the chances of recovering your best friend goes up exponentially.

Credit a Chewy.com ad for this image. Tags can be purchased at many local pet stores or online from your favorite handcrafted!

Recipe of the Week: In my last post, a marinade for chicken was shared and I seem to be in sauce mode. This isn’t to be confused with hitting the sauce, mind you! Veggie Pad Thai is a terrific recipe because it tastes great and uses up odd bits of veggies you have laying around. No real recipe needed for the food part beyond sautéing this and that and then stirring in cooked noodles (I usually use brown rice ones). The sauce os the key.

3 T fish sauce (vegetarian fish sauce works and, quite honestly, I totally left this out because vegetarian sauce wasn’t to be had in my market), 3 T brown sugar, 3T chicken or vegetable broth, 2 T white vinegar, 1 T soy sauce, 1 tsp chili paste (I use Sambal Olelek). Stir everything together and pour over the noodle/veggie combo. Throw on some chopped peanuts and scallions, a squeeze of lime juice, and you’re good!

I may have featured this dish before, but the sauce was a little more involved, hence a do-over. Totally worth it!

Onward and upwards to being a Somebody!

Boob Tube to You Tube

I’m sixty-five and can remember when having a single television in the house was the norm. On the weekends, we kids would gather on the floor of our grandparents’ living room to watch bowling competitions and football games. Grandpa was in his favorite chair savoring a cigar, a carpet of smoke hovering over our heads (second hand smoke wasn’t a worry then). The images were black and white. Colored television came into being in the mid-sixties and not terribly affordable when it first came out. We were firmly in the black and white camp.

A second vivid memory is sitting on the floor of my father’s apartment watching the entertainment shows like Ed Sullivan or Bob Hope. The hoofers, singers, and comedians trotted across the screen while Daddy sat in his easy chair and worked on a piece of needlepoint. Occasionally he’d hop up to mimic the dancers on screen and maybe add an extra step or two. This was one of his favorite ways to unwind after teaching dance classes. That chair has been reupholstered and is in my family room. Funny side note. I always remembered the chair as being a channel back chair. When I got it, it was tufted with three buttons across the back. My upholstery teacher, John, assured me it could be made over to match my mind’s image. Bingo, we made it happen!

Filling the channels was like stuffing a sausage casing!

One of the funniest things that happened to my brother, I believe, was when my mother cured him of staying up late to watch television. At that time, the box was in the basement. He’d get up and watch scary movies while the rest of us slept. My mother rolled a coconut down the stairs and he came running up wide eyed and open mouthed. She laughed herself sick. Then, without a word, the television vanished. When we asked about it, she said it was out for repairs. We spied it months and months later sitting in our grandparents’ garage. She was concerned about us forgoing other activities for time in front of the tube. A kid’s life in the sixties was often spent outdoors, reading a book, or playing with friends.

Today, there are two televisions in my house; one in the family room and one in the bedroom. They are both huge flatscreens with streaming capabilities and the like. The color and definition is so good on one of them it makes me a little queasy to watch it. What’s a little bizarre is I tend to fire up the iPad rather than watch the television in the bedroom when looking for a little laughter before getting some shut eye. What’s one of the apps on screen? You guessed it. You Tube.

I’m not yet a You Tube sensation, but I can pull up my channel (Ryder’s Reality) to view the three videos currently uploaded that address home buyer issues. Home seller and new agent videos are in the line up to be produced (give a girl a smartphone, a mic, and a ring light and she’s ready for her close up!). I don’t know that I’ll ever become an influencer or sensation, but I’m having fun in the meantime.

It’s amazing to see the amount of content that’s uploaded every day. You can learn how to do most anything, including start your own channel, or be entertained, get tips and hacks to create a more organized home. One lady learned how to build her own home with very limited assistance from professionals. It’s endless. You’d think that it would be daunting to start my own channel but, hey, how many McDonald’s are in one city competing against X number of Five Guys, or Burger Kings?! There’s always room for one more voice. Give mine a listen, if you have the time. I’d love to hear what you think about it! As with all channels, you can leave comments or subscribe.

Tip of the Week: Credit You Tuber Liz Fenwick DIY for this one. Liz (Sounds like we’re friends, right?! Only in cyberspace can this happen!) is a very successful content creator that began her career as a photographer. I don’t know how she morphed into the DIYer she is now, but am glad she did. This is a simple way to close up your bread without one of those twist ties that are always falling on the floor and being gobbled up by the dog. Check out this video!

Thanks again, Liz Fenwick DIY!

Recipe of the Week: It’s called Chicken Barbecue Sauce in the Fanny Farmer cookbook, but doesn’t appear at all barbecuey in the sloppy sticky way I think of and love. It is one of those recipes one forgets about and comes across in the folder as a happy circumstance.

This marinade is so easy to prepare and has a bit of zing that can be brushed on before putting the chicken on the coals or the chicken can be soaked in it for a while before cooking it in the oven.

1 well beaten egg, 1/2 C veg oil, 1 C cider vinegar, 1 T salt, 1 t crumbled sage, and 1/4 t ground pepper. Throw everything into a jar and let it sit a spell before using. So good.

Onward and upwards into the You Tube world!

Orientation of Mind

In a previous blog, a character played by Shirley MacLaine was quoted as telling a mentoree she should fail spectacularly because you learn through failure. Rather than avoiding risk throughout life, celebrate and capitalize on the results of decisions that didn’t work out. Figuring out what didn’t work and why will propel you to greater successes in the long run as you have to really understand a problem in order to develop its resolution.

The most recent issue of Card Player magazine features a poker player who is our friend’s son. He is recognized for becoming one of a few people who have won three World Poker Championships and is the only person to have won the same World Poker Tournament twice (2015 and 2020). Brian’s story, like many of yours, is fascinating. He went to college and earned a doctorate of pharmacy but, through a series of decisions and events, pursued professional poker knowing he had a backup plan. Over the last ten years Brian has developed an impressive resume, especially when you consider the relatively short length of time in this arena. He points out that despite the size of a winning bankroll, a poker player loses 80-85 percent of the time; nothing is gained in return for the money spent to play those losing percentages. Brian goes on to say he processes the loss of any individual event and then moves on.

Brian continues, saying he’s process versus goal oriented. This is foundational to looking at each lost hand or game analytically to see what went wrong and how the misstep can be mitigated or avoided in the future. The focus is to work each segment of the process as a means of deepening one’s learning and ability to problem-solve the situation. Winning a game or mastering a difficult musical passage will happen eventually as proficiency increases, and is almost a side note to the process. Greater understanding of what is being learned will lead to a higher level of performance over time.

When you’re only focused on the goal there’s an inherent understanding that there are steps to take to achieve that goal. Yet, focusing solely on the goal may cause you to take short cuts. It’s more about another discrete action that will hopefully result in achieving the goal. Distinct processes strung like pearls rather than growing incrementally and developing a broader base of knowledge from which to launch another attempt at success as with the process approach.

Brian has lost games in a spectacular fashion that would’ve made Shirley MacLaine’s character proud. As a result, he is successful over the long haul.

I would like to add that it’s also important to know what went well and why it did so. If you can’t identify what strategies were effective, be it when playing poker or teaching a math concept, you won’t be able to replicate them or determine what tweak would yield even greater success. It’s challenging to identify what went well when blinded by the glow of success, but it’s necessary to do so. Recognizing and taking credit for what contributed to your success is important to insuring a positive outcome whether that success comes sooner or later in life .

Recipe of the Week:

This carrot souffle is so easy to make and tasty too! You could throw it together and then pour it into a pie shell, like a pumpkin pie. My preference is to simply pour it into a baking pan. You’ll need 2 pounds of carrots (I left the skins on; just lopped off the crusty ends), 1/2 C of sugar (maybe a tad less as carrots are sweet), 1 t of nutmeg, 1 t of cinnamon, 1 stick of butter (you can use something like Earth Balance if you want it to be dairy-free), 3 T of flour (regular or gluten-free), 6 eggs.

Preheat the oven to 350, steam the carrots (I used the Instant Pot, which made it so easy). Throw all the ingredients, including the steamed carrots into a food processor and give it whirl. Pour into a greased baking dish and bake about 45 minutes, until set but not dry.

Yummy. I plan on trying it with curry added in, or maybe some cayenne pepper, to make it a little more savory.

Notice it isn’t dried out! Deeeelish!

Tip of the Week:

I seem to have a little bit of a thing about organizing cords and have another idea you’ll see below. Take a toilet paper roll, cover it with some kind of paper (or don’t) and, voila! Instant cord organizer! How easy is that?!

The TP roll works well for bulkier, harder to coil cords.

Onward and upwards to making, celebrating, and learning from our mistakes!

Dreams are Ageless

You’re never too old to dream, Ed.

One of the attributes I love about my husband is that he always moves forward with a new idea or a tweak on a project that’s in the works. He’s in his mid-seventies but works like a person decades younger. Not only that, he continues to learn about things of interest through live classes, going to trade shows, or participating in learning groups. He just goes about his business with the only thought in mind that X, Y, or Z needs to get done and how will he make it happen. He doesn’t sit around talking about how it’s time to slow down or step back because he’s of a certain age. Each birthday marks the passing of another year but it doesn’t dictate his place on the lifetime continuum.

Not too long ago when moving from one yoga pose to another I noticed the skin on my knees continued to wrinkle like an elephant’s. I thought to myself that the lack of elasticity was pronounced for someone who was middle aged. It took a few seconds to remember that I was solidly into my sixties (65 in October, to be exact) and middle age was a distant memory. I’ve been so caught up in living, I forgot I was getting older.

When leaving the classroom to become a supervisor of new teachers/realtor, I remember thinking of it as my third career and idly wondering what would come next. I averaged twenty years each in human services and then education, which means I’ll be ready for a change along about 85. The options aren’t worrisome at this point as there’s plenty of time for ideas to percolate before choosing the winner. What’s important to me is knowing that hours will be whiled away daydreaming about what might be, given the talent, training, and interest. Never has it occurred to me that age could be a mitigating factor; that once I’m age X I’ll be doing whatever it is stereotypical olders do. Not dreaming about the future is unthinkable and would constitute cruel and unusual punishment if it were forcibly taken away from me by aliens.

I would counsel Ed Crankshaft that while this past year has been challenging and the coming months will continue to test us, we’re never too old to dream.

Tip of the Week: Take a Tip from the Declutter Queens

Decluttering is all the rage at the moment and that’s not a bad thing. As with anything else, it can go too far and before you know it, you’ve thrown out the two youngest kids! However, many of them suggest a number of effective ways to clean/maintain your home efficiently. Less than twenty minutes, total, will leave you with a tidier home and a sense of accomplishment.

One tip that I mentioned a year or so ago is to make your bed every day. It takes about two minutes and instantly makes the room look neater.

A second tip is to take ten minutes and walk around the house picking up this and that and putting it away at the end of each day. Don’t clean the whole place. Why aggravate yourself? Those ten minutes will add up throughout the week and you’ll soon have a neat house that’s easy to maintain in small chunks of time.

A final tip is to shine your sink. This comes from the Fly Lady. Clean your dishes, or throw them in the dishwasher before you go to bed, and shine the sink. It’s an instant pick-me-up in the morning.

Bottom line is, these three tasks take less than twenty minutes a day. You spend more time than that on social media. Re-purpose a small chunk of your day and invest it in your personal space. It’ll be time well spent.

Recipe of the Week: Instant Pot Potato Salad

If you don’t have an Instant Pot, this recipe alone is a reason to get one. I have to tell you that as a person who frequently cooks for ten or so people, this gadget has been a lifesaver for the vegetables as it’s quick and they are done to a turn. Even a small three quart would be a good investment for veggies (although it costs almost as much as the six quart, so splurge). I hate to tell people how to spend their money…….(I get no reimbursement from IP because I still rave about this product long after it became a “thing”).

Back to the potato salad. Usually you cut up the potatoes, boil them and the eggs, if you use them, let them cool and then mix with Mayo, scallions, a sploosh of whatever mustard you have on hand. Don’t forget burning your fingers while peeling said eggs.

Well, with the IP you toss the potatoes (I leave the skin on) into the steamer basket, pour in a cup of water, lay the eggs on top, turn the cooker on for 4 minutes, quick release. Pull the basket out and spray on enough cold water so you don’t burn your fingers when peeling the eggs.

The eggs peel like a dream, the potatoes are done perfectly where they’re soft and creamy enough to bite into them without their falling apart, and you don’t have to keep checking to see if the potatoes are done, getting steam up your nostrils etc. It does take a few minutes for the cooker to build up pressure, but the total minutes are less than waiting for the water to boil and completing the recipe the usual way. Plus, the kitchen isn’t heated up and you can tend to the rest of the meal. Yummy. I’ll never prep for potato salad on the stovetop again.

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This picture is from the site, Tastes Better From Scratch, and it’s their recipe I loosely followed. OK, I just followed how to use the IP part. Anyway, if you have an IP, give it a go!

Easy Money it Ain’t

Who doesn’t love the smell of hot dogs wafting over from the cart. Salivary glands working overtime and you’re drooling like Pavlov’s dog at the thought of that first bite. Onions, ketchup, and mustard meld together to add a mild spiciness to the seasoned beefy tube held in the bun.

You order up and start talking with the vendor, noticing how cool the cart is with its compartments and self-contained ability to cook and hold icy cold drinks. Your wandering gaze takes in the chips and cookies hanging from the umbrella. You heave an appreciative sigh thinking that it’s probably pretty sweet hanging out in the warm sunshine, dishing up dogs, and talking to people pleasantly as the day unfolds.

That scenario played out thousands of times over the years my cart was parked on a busy street just outside a bank and CVS. I’d been invited to participate in the local farmer’s market and found that it was possible to earn a couple hundred dollars over six hours or so. When the occasional event rolled around, thousands of dollars were made throughout a weekend. That usually involved getting volunteers and renting a grill for the hamburgers and hot dogs that augmented the menu. A small ice cream cart rounded out the offerings. Bob lit the Easy-up and straws on fire a few times, but the fires were extinguished before the firemen needed to be called.

What people didn’t see was the lugging of five gallon pails of ice up out of a basement twenty or so times a day to fill those huge coolers that crowded the back of an SUV when you have two of them. Shopping for cases of soda and water that needed to be transferred to a Costco cart and then into the back of the vehicle. Pulling the fully loaded coolers out of the vehicle, shoving them into place at a venue, and manipulating them to drain off the water be they on the ground or in the vehicle. Cheerfully selling despite inclement weather. By the way, give it up in slanty rain. Another story for the near future. Similarly, while it’s possible to earn a substantial living as a real estate agent, it’s not like what’s played out on television.

I reactivated my license eight months ago and the first offer to be accepted just happened the other day. Like many agents, I use a referral service and have approximately 30 clients. In the current seller’s market, it’s very challenging to find homes. A lack of options is mostly because there are almost no homes for sale, burn outs and rehab. projects aside. Houses that are available receive an average of twelve offers and only one can be the lucky winner.

Showing houses is the glamorous and fun part of the job. However, like lugging the ice pails up and down the stairs there’s heavy lifting in the form of hours on the computer, clients and agents calling/messaging you from the wee hours of the morning into the late evening, offers to be drafted, and the coordination of inspectors etc. While there may be a slow day marked by paperwork, most days run ten to twelve hours long, with your time broken up between the office and open road. Unless you create a structure, meals are forgotten, workouts completed infrequently, and your family time can be non-existent.

Actually, the hardest task in this seller’s climate is supporting the buyer. Some have been rejected four or more times. It’s akin to being the least-likely-to-get-a-date person in high school hoping for an invite to the prom. On occasion, a person will get discouraged and decide they need a new agent like teams that fire the manager following a losing season. Some just give up on their dream of owning their own home. Putting that goal aside and waiting is a proactive strategy as the market will right itself at some point in time. Giving up, feeling dejected and rejected is reactionary and requires an agent to work with the client to modify their mindset. It’s not like when your date says, “It’s not you, it’s me,” and they really mean it’s you. The buyer is not the unwanted banana in the bin, it really is the crazy market.

Those who don’t sell real estate imagine it’s like the shows they see on television. Spandex, sky high heels, and decisions made while the realtor looks on with eyes wide open. Lots of zeros on the offer line and a hefty commission check that comes faster than a Maserati on a race track.

It is exciting when a buyer finds the home that they respond to and crafting an offer that will lead them to realizing a long-held hope is an honor. Researching home options takes the skills of a sleuth and curiosity of an archaeologist. Finding one that may fit your buyer is like winning the bear at a fair. Being able to make that phone call to relay the acceptance of the bid brings a satisfying end to the day. Was that commission earned easily? Hardly. Worth it? Definitely.

Tip of the Week: I just love those shoe storage pockets for everything BUT storing shoes. Walk into many elementary classrooms and you’ll see them employed as student mailboxes, to hold head sets, or simply organize materials used throughout the day.

This is a picture from the internet, so I don’t know who to credit, but it is an idea I’ve utilized in the past. It’s so easy to see what you have, you don’t have to dig around the back of a cabinet, or paw your way through a tub under the sink.

Recipe of the Week: Olive Orange Vinaigrette

This is so easy to throw together and you don’t have all those annoying stabilizers, added sugars etc. that just get in the way of a tasty salad. There are some delicious dressings and vinaigrettes in the shops that aren’t loaded with this and that, but you pay for them dearly. It’s really easy to add a few items to a jar that results in a taste as fresh as the salad itself. What’s more, if you’re one who bores quickly with condiments and dressings, you can make them in small batches and enjoy a variety as you see fit.

This one is stupidly simple. 1/2 C olive oil (EV),1/4 C OJ, 2 t minced scallions, 1 t minced pitted Kalamata olives, and 3/4 t salt. Give it a shake! Something about the briny taste of the olives up against the citrus flavor makes me smack my lips in anticipation, and I’m not a huge olive fan. Like most dressings, it’s better when you make it ahead of time and let the flavors meld.

Dreams and Aspirations

Years ago, a waitress at the local Friendly (a local sandwich shop in MA) wore a gray cotton/poly dress with white collar and cuffs and crisp white apron tied smartly around her waist. How, as a very small child, I wanted to wear that uniform, take customer orders efficiently, and deliver a mouthwatering meal to a famished audience!

By the time of hire the dress was a blue and white houndstooth double knit polyester that guaranteed you’d be a sweaty mess in no time, but the apron was still snappily secured around my waist. Waitstaff got paid pennies compared to the cooks and dishwashers. Tips were negligible. When the company policy changed so that said offerings were shared equally amongst all the staff, I left for a position that paid a steady $2.75 an hour.

Another yearning I had was to have a hot dog cart. While working as a rehabilitation specialist at Mercy Hospital, I wrote a proposal to use a cart as a therapy tool. Physical and occupational therapists could implement a variety of modalities with patients in an unexpected and fun venue. The proposal wasn’t approved as there was a no compete clause with the McDonald’s that was holding court on the Mercy campus at the time. However, when I became a teacher twenty years later, a shiny new cart was delivered to a friend’s loading dock and Moe’s Dogs became a reality.

Not all goals have to be lofty and earth shattering. It can as simple of starting a walking program or cleaning the kitchen sink before going to bed at night. For me, it’s about have something to work toward, learn about, and result in a newly developed skill or way of looking at and understanding the world around me. Continuous improvement was a thing in the business world years ago, still is under some buzz phrase or another I’m sure. It is a reality that, in and of itself, constitutes a worthy goal.

Tip of the Week: Do you have a robotic vacuum that gets stuck under your furniture? Pool noodles to the rescue! They’re a little squishy, so can be jammed under the furniture without damaging it and the vacuum bounces off unharmed. Now that I know it’s effective, it will either be covered in a piece of fabric or spray painted to match the couch. Not sure the paint can withstand the bumping without needing to be touched up from time to time. Of course, the fabric will attract the dog hair. The paint may be the lesser of two evils and I’ll post a follow up assessment in a few months.

Pool noodle to the rescue!

Recipe of the Week: Because of dietary restrictions, I don’t mix milk and meat when cooking. One of my favorite recipes is green bean casserole, which is made with cream of mushroom soup, served at Thanksgiving. Now, this particular soup isn’t high on my list of soups to sip as it tends to smell like old sweat socks but, when used as part of a recipe, it’s really enjoyable.

I just happened upon this vegan cream of mushroom soup recipe and I have to say it’s delicious as a casserole ingredient AND as a soup that’s sipped and slurped. Wowzer. I couldn’t believe it. You have to try it.

Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup (credit holy cow again.net): 1t EVOO, 1 med. white or yellow onion sliced thinly, 1 lg. clove garlic, 1/2 lb button mushrooms (I had portobellos on hand and used those and it was fine), 1t thyme or sage, 3T flour, 3-4C veg stock, S&P to taste, 1/4C cashews (I used the unsalted ones from Costco as that’s what’s always in the cupboard).

Blend the cashews with 1C stock and set aside. In a saucepan,heat the oil and add the onions and garlic; sauté until translucent but DON’T BROWN. Throw in the mushrooms and a splash of white wine if you want and sauté for 5-8 minutes. Add the herb and flour, mix well (you’re making a roux, basically). Now add a cup of the stock and stir vigorously to avoid lumps. Add another cup of the stock and whisk like mad. Turn the heat up a bit so it comes to a small boil and then add the cashew milk. You can also add 1T of soy sauce if you want (I did) and once it’s boiling turn it off and serve. Souper great!