This article from the New London Day caught my attention, due to I have kept a diary since I was 12 years old, I am now 43 and still have a journal/diary. I have kept all my diaries and admit, I have always thought it would be wonderful to turn them into a book. After reading this article, I know it would be so much harder than I imagine and my life seems somewhat boring compared to this wonderful woman.
Diaries are personal yes, but they also can see you through daily lifes ups/downs and downright strangeness. It is fun to look back and see who you were at that time, and how you have changed or not changed...
'A reporter never knows where a good story will turn up.
Lily Koppel unearthed one in a rather unlikely spot: a Dumpster. The then-22-year-old writer saw one filled with about 50 steamer trunks outside her apartment building on New York's Upper West Side in 2003.
”I'm not the kind of girl who usually Dumpster dives,” she says, but she couldn't resist this collection of things, culled from a dusty basement that the building owners were cleaning out. The trunks were covered with stickers announcing the places they had been: Paris, Monaco. Koppel describes them as treasure chests, and, in a way, they were.
”To me, this just looked like an absolute message in a bottle,” Koppel says in a phone interview. “I had the notion that each box was going to contain many more stories than I would ever be able to tell.”
It turned out to be one story in particular. Among the Bergdorf coats and flapper dresses was a diary written by someone named Florence Wolfson, when she was a teenager from 1929 to 1934 in New York City.
”It was like my story and Florence's crossed,” Koppel says. “Although we were two young women separated by 57 years, I felt so drawn to her, her search for love and meaning in her life. ... (The diary) was like the
best novel I had ever read. But it was all true.”
Koppel had moved from Chicago to New York City, where she was working as a metro and celebrity reporter at The New York Times. She wanted her life to be like “Breakfast at Tiffany's.”
She saw a semblance of that kind of life in Wolfson's diary. Wolfson wrote every day about her life: going to the El Morocco nightclub, meeting friends for tea at Schrafft's, starting a literary salon in her parents' apartment. She travelled, by herself at age 21, to Europe, where a member of the British Parliament took her to tea. She wrote in the diary about losing her virginity and about her romantic relationships with men and women.
Koppel says that Wolfson, who was a writer and a painter, created diary entries that were each “like a little piece of poetry.”
Through a private investigator, Koppel tracked down Wolfson.
”It was a surprise, to say the least” when Koppel contacted her about the diary, Wolfson says in a phone interview. Reading the entries, she recalls thinking, “Is that me? Was that me? Things change, but I kind of enjoyed it as I read it over because I had a lot of wonderful experiences in those days that are not available really now because New York isn't what it was. It was a town you could roam in. You could skate in Central Park. Nobody molested you.”
Koppel ended up writing an article and then a book about the diary and her experience meeting Wolfson. She will speak about her book, “The Red Leather Diary,” Monday at Waterford Community Center.
Wolfson, who divides her time between Westport and Florida, won't be there - “I am 92, almost 93. There's a limit to how much I can gadabout.”
The diary does contain some very personal information about her early life, but Wolfson says, “I did not really blush. I kind of admired my willingness to pursue what I wanted. ... I'm far removed in reality, but mentally I certainly empathized with what I used to be.
”I know it's a little off the mainstream, but (there was) nothing that I feel was anything but wonderful experiences. I had no negative thoughts, and neither do my daughter or granddaughters.”
When Koppel came calling, Wolfson says her life was rather dull. Koppel recalls Wolfson's saying to her, “How did I end up living this ordinary life?”
Wolfson wed - her husband died in 2007, after 67 years of marriage - and settled down, raising two daughters. She wanted the normalcy of family life and to be financially secure, Koppel says.
Now, though, she is gaining some fame and plenty of attention, even appearing with Koppel on the “Today” show.
Wolfson says, “This is the kind of thing my younger self would have said, 'OK, go ahead and do it.' “
Who: Author Lily Koppel
When: 7-9 p.m. Monday
Where: Waterford Public Library, 49 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford
Admission: Free
Call: 444-5805
'Dear Diary ...'A tossed-out journal sends author on an adventure of a lifetime
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
I do not usually get political, but I was wondering why no matter what Obama does, the media does not harp on his inaccuracies as they do for every other candidate.
on May 9, 2008: He stated he thought he had gone to all "57 states" , hello what world are you in? I thought the US had only 50 states?
May 27, 2008: Less than 24 hours after Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama mentioned how his uncle helped liberate the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War Two, Republicans were all over him — since it was the Soviets rather than the Americans who freed the camp.
The Obama camp owned up to the mistake, saying the Illinois senator meant to refer to Buchenwald, not Auschwitz.
The move by Obama to try to bring up military service came after likely Republican presidential rival John McCain blasted Obama for his lack of military service as the two candidates sparred over legislation to increase education benefits for veterans. Obama supports the measure and McCain does not.
Let's not forget his spiritualleader James Meeks:
Described in a 2004 Chicago Sun Times article as someone Barack Obama regularly seeks out for “spiritual counsel”, James Meeks, who will serve as an Obama delegate at the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, is a long-time political ally to the democratic frontrunner.
When Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in 2003, he frequently campaigned at Salem Baptist Church while Rev. Meeks appeared in television ads supporting the Illinois senator’s campaign…
Since that time, not only has Meeks himself served on Obama’s exploratory committee for the presidency and been listed on the Obama’s campaign website as one of the senator’s ‘influential black supporters’, but his church choir was called on to raise their voices in praise at a rally the night Obama announced his run for the White House back in 2007.
Interestingly, the Chicago Sun Times has also reported that both Meeks and Obama share a history of substantial campaign contributions from indicted real estate magnate Tony Rezko.
“We don’t have slave masters. We got mayors. But they still the same white people who are presiding over systems where black people are not able, or to be educated.”
“You got some preachers that are house niggers. You got some elected officials that are house niggers. And rather than them trying to break this up, they gonna fight you to protect this white man.”
This man appeared in Obama campaign commercials. He served on Obama campaign committees. Obama campaigned at his church. Obama sought him out for “spiritual counsel” and political support.
Is Obama going to tell us, again, that he had all this interaction with Meeks but didn’t know the man was a bigoted, race-baiting homophobe? Is the media going to give Obama another pass for associating, closely and repeatedly, with a cretin like this?
How many hateful “crazy uncles” have to come out of Obama’s closet before we can say that there’s a reason why Obama sought these people out? And that reason is he agrees with them?
WHy is this not all over the MEDIA????
on May 9, 2008: He stated he thought he had gone to all "57 states" , hello what world are you in? I thought the US had only 50 states?
May 27, 2008: Less than 24 hours after Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama mentioned how his uncle helped liberate the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War Two, Republicans were all over him — since it was the Soviets rather than the Americans who freed the camp.
The Obama camp owned up to the mistake, saying the Illinois senator meant to refer to Buchenwald, not Auschwitz.
The move by Obama to try to bring up military service came after likely Republican presidential rival John McCain blasted Obama for his lack of military service as the two candidates sparred over legislation to increase education benefits for veterans. Obama supports the measure and McCain does not.
Let's not forget his spiritualleader James Meeks:
Described in a 2004 Chicago Sun Times article as someone Barack Obama regularly seeks out for “spiritual counsel”, James Meeks, who will serve as an Obama delegate at the 2008 Democratic convention in Denver, is a long-time political ally to the democratic frontrunner.
When Obama ran for the U.S. Senate in 2003, he frequently campaigned at Salem Baptist Church while Rev. Meeks appeared in television ads supporting the Illinois senator’s campaign…
Since that time, not only has Meeks himself served on Obama’s exploratory committee for the presidency and been listed on the Obama’s campaign website as one of the senator’s ‘influential black supporters’, but his church choir was called on to raise their voices in praise at a rally the night Obama announced his run for the White House back in 2007.
Interestingly, the Chicago Sun Times has also reported that both Meeks and Obama share a history of substantial campaign contributions from indicted real estate magnate Tony Rezko.
“We don’t have slave masters. We got mayors. But they still the same white people who are presiding over systems where black people are not able, or to be educated.”
“You got some preachers that are house niggers. You got some elected officials that are house niggers. And rather than them trying to break this up, they gonna fight you to protect this white man.”
This man appeared in Obama campaign commercials. He served on Obama campaign committees. Obama campaigned at his church. Obama sought him out for “spiritual counsel” and political support.
Is Obama going to tell us, again, that he had all this interaction with Meeks but didn’t know the man was a bigoted, race-baiting homophobe? Is the media going to give Obama another pass for associating, closely and repeatedly, with a cretin like this?
How many hateful “crazy uncles” have to come out of Obama’s closet before we can say that there’s a reason why Obama sought these people out? And that reason is he agrees with them?
WHy is this not all over the MEDIA????
Norwich - Juan Torres was the kind of student who just didn't show up. He didn't do his homework. He started things and never finished them.
Then, he said, he woke up.
The thing about failing classes and not showing up for school, said Torres, is it means going to school even longer.
”You don't want to be here another year,” Torres said. “When you're in high school, you don't want to be here anyway. But the thing a lot of people don't seem to understand is, you're not going to graduate if you don't come.”
Next month, Torres, 18, will graduate as president of his class at Thames River Academy in Norwich. He's college-bound to Three Rivers Community College and hopes one day to be a graphic designer.
Staff at the approximately 75-student regional alternative high school - which caters to students facing emotional problems, poverty and other life struggles - said it is students like Torres who keep them going.
”My hope is that he just takes it and runs with it,” said teacher Nancy Watrous.
Torres grew up in Holyoke, Mass., and came to Norwich in seventh grade. At Norwich Free Academy, Torres said, he didn't feel like he fit into the larger school environment. He had trouble concentrating and was having difficulties at home, he said.
When he came to Thames River Academy his sophomore year, Watrous said, Torres didn't come to school and didn't do his work. His brother also had gone through the school but dropped out before graduation, Watrous said.
Torres said that same year his mother, Rosa Powell, and his stepfather, sat him down and told him that he couldn't succeed at the rate he was going.
At the same time, Watrous said, Torres' older brother had started taking adult education classes.
”I think he saw his brother struggling and said, 'I don't want to go there,' “ Watrous said.
Torres said he did a 180-degree turn. He'd always imagined himself going to college, and he still wanted to fulfill that dream. He dropped the friends he hung around with, who weren't going to school or doing their work, and made completely new friends, he said, other “gamers” like him, who enjoy using computers and Anime.
”It was a really big change,” Torres said. “... That used to be 'cool' not to do my work.”
Torres said the smaller classes at Thames River Academy helped.
”If you have problems, you talk to teachers for assistance,” he said. “They don't want kids to fail.”
Every student at the school needs to complete 100 hours of community service in order to graduate. Several days a week, Torres walks one and a half blocks to Greeneville Elementary School, where he assists teachers at special classes like gym and art.
”They call him 'One,' like O-n-e,” Watrous said of the kindergartners.
Greeneville School physical education teacher Melissa Moore put Torres in the middle of the gymnasium and lined the kindergartners up at four colored cones. One pint-sized youngster in a Superman T-shirt squealed as he ran from one cone to the other, with Torres shuffling toward him - one step for every one of his four - arms outstretched like a monster.
Greeneville kindergarten teacher Kendra Turo said some volunteers just like to run errands for the teachers but don't really enjoy interacting with the kids. But Torres, she said, is wonderful with the children.
Laura Wraight, social worker at Thames River Academy, said someday Torres would be great working with youngsters or teenagers dealing with the same kinds of problems as those at Thames River Academy.
In Watrous' social issues class of just five students, including Torres, they discuss race, poverty and other issues that often affect the students personally.
”If somebody doesn't show up. He's usually the one saying, 'Where have you been? You have to come to school,” Watrous said.
j.wernau@theday.com
Then, he said, he woke up.
The thing about failing classes and not showing up for school, said Torres, is it means going to school even longer.
”You don't want to be here another year,” Torres said. “When you're in high school, you don't want to be here anyway. But the thing a lot of people don't seem to understand is, you're not going to graduate if you don't come.”
Next month, Torres, 18, will graduate as president of his class at Thames River Academy in Norwich. He's college-bound to Three Rivers Community College and hopes one day to be a graphic designer.
Staff at the approximately 75-student regional alternative high school - which caters to students facing emotional problems, poverty and other life struggles - said it is students like Torres who keep them going.
”My hope is that he just takes it and runs with it,” said teacher Nancy Watrous.
Torres grew up in Holyoke, Mass., and came to Norwich in seventh grade. At Norwich Free Academy, Torres said, he didn't feel like he fit into the larger school environment. He had trouble concentrating and was having difficulties at home, he said.
When he came to Thames River Academy his sophomore year, Watrous said, Torres didn't come to school and didn't do his work. His brother also had gone through the school but dropped out before graduation, Watrous said.
Torres said that same year his mother, Rosa Powell, and his stepfather, sat him down and told him that he couldn't succeed at the rate he was going.
At the same time, Watrous said, Torres' older brother had started taking adult education classes.
”I think he saw his brother struggling and said, 'I don't want to go there,' “ Watrous said.
Torres said he did a 180-degree turn. He'd always imagined himself going to college, and he still wanted to fulfill that dream. He dropped the friends he hung around with, who weren't going to school or doing their work, and made completely new friends, he said, other “gamers” like him, who enjoy using computers and Anime.
”It was a really big change,” Torres said. “... That used to be 'cool' not to do my work.”
Torres said the smaller classes at Thames River Academy helped.
”If you have problems, you talk to teachers for assistance,” he said. “They don't want kids to fail.”
Every student at the school needs to complete 100 hours of community service in order to graduate. Several days a week, Torres walks one and a half blocks to Greeneville Elementary School, where he assists teachers at special classes like gym and art.
”They call him 'One,' like O-n-e,” Watrous said of the kindergartners.
Greeneville School physical education teacher Melissa Moore put Torres in the middle of the gymnasium and lined the kindergartners up at four colored cones. One pint-sized youngster in a Superman T-shirt squealed as he ran from one cone to the other, with Torres shuffling toward him - one step for every one of his four - arms outstretched like a monster.
Greeneville kindergarten teacher Kendra Turo said some volunteers just like to run errands for the teachers but don't really enjoy interacting with the kids. But Torres, she said, is wonderful with the children.
Laura Wraight, social worker at Thames River Academy, said someday Torres would be great working with youngsters or teenagers dealing with the same kinds of problems as those at Thames River Academy.
In Watrous' social issues class of just five students, including Torres, they discuss race, poverty and other issues that often affect the students personally.
”If somebody doesn't show up. He's usually the one saying, 'Where have you been? You have to come to school,” Watrous said.
j.wernau@theday.com
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Good Afternoon readers. This weekend was quite stressful for me. My family arrived on Saturday at the resort, and even though I was at work, they kept coming into my office for things. I really do not mind, even though it sounds like I am complaining, it is just so nerve racking for me. I always feel I am inferior to my sisters and their lives, and this was the 1st time they have ever come to the hotel I work at, and everyone came.
My oldest sister is the center, she has a great marriage, 2 wonderful kids 20 and 18 and a good job selling mortgages, so she can pick her schedule. Her husband and she have been married for 21 years. I still can remember their wedding, I was in my 2nd year of college, and from the beginning you could see the love they have for each other, and what they want their lives to be for themselves. Lynne has so many friends, and even though she loves our family, her friends are more family for her, and then we are or ever will be. She moved away from Norwich, CT her first year of college and never came home again.
My other sister Gwynne, her and Lynne are 1 year apart, and have always been close, which has always made me jealous. Gwynne is divorces and has two children a 13 year old girl, who is going through the lovely signs of puberty, and then a 10 year old boy who is so smart it is scary sometimes. He has his own monologue and rules inside his head, and they might not agree with anyone else’s rules. He took a golf cart for a ride by himself, and when I questioned him and tried not to yell, he said, “The keys were in it.” That was his explanation, it was embarrassing when my bosses had to come up to me and tell me what my nephew did. He really is a loving kid, he just needs rules and chores and he is happy.
At the picnic on Sunday, my husband gave him a chore and it kept him busy all afternoon, my nephew loves little kids, he played with his cousins 2 and 4 years of age most of the afternoon. My brother felt left out; because my sisters did not include him in anything they were doing on Sunday morning. I felt so bad for him, we of course invited him over but he wanted to go to the beach.
My lips have blown up, it is so disgusting, when I get stressed my body reacts by having my lips have big a** sores on them to make them even more attractive. This has happened to me so many times over the years, but it is mainly when I am with family that brings them out lately.
Even planning and helping with weddings does not stress me out like my family. I know it is because I feel as if I am 12 years old, and my older sisters will not let me participate in their lives, and the fact I am 30lbs overweight and they are so thin and beautiful and I am the fat sister.
Sunday night, after it was just my sisters and my older niece, at the fire pit those 2 hours was the best of the whole day. We had music on, and were dancing and laughing. Lynne made a comment in our family none of us take ourselves too seriously, we laugh at ourselves, why not? In our family, someone will call you out on it, so why not start it yourself?
How was your Memorial Day weekend?
My oldest sister is the center, she has a great marriage, 2 wonderful kids 20 and 18 and a good job selling mortgages, so she can pick her schedule. Her husband and she have been married for 21 years. I still can remember their wedding, I was in my 2nd year of college, and from the beginning you could see the love they have for each other, and what they want their lives to be for themselves. Lynne has so many friends, and even though she loves our family, her friends are more family for her, and then we are or ever will be. She moved away from Norwich, CT her first year of college and never came home again.
My other sister Gwynne, her and Lynne are 1 year apart, and have always been close, which has always made me jealous. Gwynne is divorces and has two children a 13 year old girl, who is going through the lovely signs of puberty, and then a 10 year old boy who is so smart it is scary sometimes. He has his own monologue and rules inside his head, and they might not agree with anyone else’s rules. He took a golf cart for a ride by himself, and when I questioned him and tried not to yell, he said, “The keys were in it.” That was his explanation, it was embarrassing when my bosses had to come up to me and tell me what my nephew did. He really is a loving kid, he just needs rules and chores and he is happy.
At the picnic on Sunday, my husband gave him a chore and it kept him busy all afternoon, my nephew loves little kids, he played with his cousins 2 and 4 years of age most of the afternoon. My brother felt left out; because my sisters did not include him in anything they were doing on Sunday morning. I felt so bad for him, we of course invited him over but he wanted to go to the beach.
My lips have blown up, it is so disgusting, when I get stressed my body reacts by having my lips have big a** sores on them to make them even more attractive. This has happened to me so many times over the years, but it is mainly when I am with family that brings them out lately.
Even planning and helping with weddings does not stress me out like my family. I know it is because I feel as if I am 12 years old, and my older sisters will not let me participate in their lives, and the fact I am 30lbs overweight and they are so thin and beautiful and I am the fat sister.
Sunday night, after it was just my sisters and my older niece, at the fire pit those 2 hours was the best of the whole day. We had music on, and were dancing and laughing. Lynne made a comment in our family none of us take ourselves too seriously, we laugh at ourselves, why not? In our family, someone will call you out on it, so why not start it yourself?
How was your Memorial Day weekend?
Saturday, May 24, 2008
My family has arrived at the Resort today.. I have gotten alittle work done, but now they seem to be on my case about everything. Not happy, upgraded only 1 family and not the other. Drives me insane. Then asking questions as if they have never stayed at a hotel again.
My associates have been wonderful, but it is driving me insane. I did let my boss know I was planning on leaving at 4pm today,part of me thinks he was not happy and the other part knows he understands why it is important to me. My last appointment was at 11am this morning and my phone has not rung all day.
This is the first time, my whole family has descended on a property I work at, even my wedding was only 1 night for my guests and that was a snowy day in March. I am completely stressed out, I am happy they are here, but part of me wants to tell them to please be respectful of me and my time until I am off the clock.
I saw my boss and told him I was stressed out because of my family, he seemed to laugh at me. I hope he knows, my family is the only one that gets me stressed out, not anyone else. Maybe he can see, why I can handle brides and their families by looking at my crazy butt family.
Will let you know how this weekend pans out...
My associates have been wonderful, but it is driving me insane. I did let my boss know I was planning on leaving at 4pm today,part of me thinks he was not happy and the other part knows he understands why it is important to me. My last appointment was at 11am this morning and my phone has not rung all day.
This is the first time, my whole family has descended on a property I work at, even my wedding was only 1 night for my guests and that was a snowy day in March. I am completely stressed out, I am happy they are here, but part of me wants to tell them to please be respectful of me and my time until I am off the clock.
I saw my boss and told him I was stressed out because of my family, he seemed to laugh at me. I hope he knows, my family is the only one that gets me stressed out, not anyone else. Maybe he can see, why I can handle brides and their families by looking at my crazy butt family.
Will let you know how this weekend pans out...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Do you ever feel disconnected? I admit I stress out when I can not please a client, and feel as if my clients think I am not thinking of them. I am working for a client now, and do understand their frustration with not being able to give them a answer right away.
It is hard to give them a answer when the people I need to talk to are out for two days, which they should be, I admit when I am home, if my phone rings from work, I stress out even before I answer it to find out what is wrong. Everyone deserves their time off from work, and clients have to know this is true.
My one issue with my new property is there is no SOP’s, which are Standard Operating Procedures in place for Sales. What we can sell, what are the black out dates, what are maximums are for guest rooms. I know it is all about revenue we are a business, but if I am getting different people telling me to book, then when I do giving my clients are hard time, it makes me look like I lied to them and I never do that, I am very honest, sometimes too honest and the clients get a bit scared.
Prime example, when I ask people during their wedding if there is a problem whom do I talk to? I do not mean that something is going to go wrong, I just want an in case number and person. It can be as simple as we are running a few minutes late, how do you want to handle it to make up the time? Or as elaborate as your Uncle so and so is drunk, and we are shutting him off, want you to be aware. I am being proactive so the day of your wedding we are not running to the bride and groom, I want you to enjoy your day.
Sometimes it is obvious on whom that person is, while other times it is not so obvious. I get angry with work, but not at one person, it is just the business, but my biggest anger factor is I hate to look like an idiot and even as a sales person, I think the client has every right to know everything up front so they can make an informed decision on if they want to book here or not.
I tell every bride, you will like and dislike something from every property, no place is perfect, it is what can you live with and what can’t you live with. Guest rooms seems to be the biggest concern for brides and no matter how many times you explain to them, your guests are adults they will make their own arrangements, you do not have to be so specific, they want to 2nd guess myself and their own friends and family.
When I got married I blocked 7 rooms and let me guest call and make their own arrangements and some upgraded and it didn’t matter, it worked out for the hotel and the wedding, why stress myself on the rooms, I have other things to worry about then where are my guests staying? As long, as there are enough rooms on property or near it, they are adults and can take care of it themselves and if they do not read my save the date information on when they have to book by that is their own fault.
Brides are stressed enough, why add to it?
It is hard to give them a answer when the people I need to talk to are out for two days, which they should be, I admit when I am home, if my phone rings from work, I stress out even before I answer it to find out what is wrong. Everyone deserves their time off from work, and clients have to know this is true.
My one issue with my new property is there is no SOP’s, which are Standard Operating Procedures in place for Sales. What we can sell, what are the black out dates, what are maximums are for guest rooms. I know it is all about revenue we are a business, but if I am getting different people telling me to book, then when I do giving my clients are hard time, it makes me look like I lied to them and I never do that, I am very honest, sometimes too honest and the clients get a bit scared.
Prime example, when I ask people during their wedding if there is a problem whom do I talk to? I do not mean that something is going to go wrong, I just want an in case number and person. It can be as simple as we are running a few minutes late, how do you want to handle it to make up the time? Or as elaborate as your Uncle so and so is drunk, and we are shutting him off, want you to be aware. I am being proactive so the day of your wedding we are not running to the bride and groom, I want you to enjoy your day.
Sometimes it is obvious on whom that person is, while other times it is not so obvious. I get angry with work, but not at one person, it is just the business, but my biggest anger factor is I hate to look like an idiot and even as a sales person, I think the client has every right to know everything up front so they can make an informed decision on if they want to book here or not.
I tell every bride, you will like and dislike something from every property, no place is perfect, it is what can you live with and what can’t you live with. Guest rooms seems to be the biggest concern for brides and no matter how many times you explain to them, your guests are adults they will make their own arrangements, you do not have to be so specific, they want to 2nd guess myself and their own friends and family.
When I got married I blocked 7 rooms and let me guest call and make their own arrangements and some upgraded and it didn’t matter, it worked out for the hotel and the wedding, why stress myself on the rooms, I have other things to worry about then where are my guests staying? As long, as there are enough rooms on property or near it, they are adults and can take care of it themselves and if they do not read my save the date information on when they have to book by that is their own fault.
Brides are stressed enough, why add to it?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
I am getting so excited to see my family this weekend. On Sunday, we went to 4 different stores to get all the necessary equipment and food for this weekends picnic. I never realized how much stuff you need to make a successful event.
Our lawn was mowed yesterday and it is raining today, suppose to be a beautiful weekend. Today, is a bit sad for me, so I am trying to think of the positive. My friend Thomas who passed away in August, would be 39 years old today. It is kind of creepy that he always said he would not make it to 40.
In our house, at the bottom of our stairs in the living room, we have a table behind the couch with pictures of family and friends. Yesterday, while getting ready for work, a picture jumped and fell down twice, I did not think much of it, until I realized it was a picture of Thomas and I. I did tell him if he is haunting me, I know it is his birthday and still very much missing him.
For his 30th birthday, I had taken him to Savannah, GA for the weekend, we had so much fun, starting with getting on the plane, Thomas hates heights and hates to fly, so I did give him some drinks to calm him down. Even the Flight attendant slipped us a few bottles of vodka to keep him under control. We had just both read, "Garden of Good and Evil" and loved it, so we enjoyed our time there. I had not been back until last St. Patricks Day.
I miss Thomas so much every day, but today is harder than usual for me. My poor husband has been very supportive and understanding of my mood swings. I talked to my brother today and he mentioned that his wife is bad this week because it would be her mom's birthday and she passed away in November. She did not tell Jon about this, so he admits he has not been very supportive, I am very honest with my husband and tell him what is bothering me, so he can be prepared and not be shocked.
Yesterday, I told him about my bad day at work, but before I started, I told him I did not want his advise, I wanted him to listen. Men like to solve problems, and when I need him to solve it or help I will let him know, but if I just want to vent,I tell him up front it helps our communications. I admit it is new to me looking at my past relationships where I thought the man should know what I am thinking.
Anyway, Thomas you are still in my thoughts...
Our lawn was mowed yesterday and it is raining today, suppose to be a beautiful weekend. Today, is a bit sad for me, so I am trying to think of the positive. My friend Thomas who passed away in August, would be 39 years old today. It is kind of creepy that he always said he would not make it to 40.
In our house, at the bottom of our stairs in the living room, we have a table behind the couch with pictures of family and friends. Yesterday, while getting ready for work, a picture jumped and fell down twice, I did not think much of it, until I realized it was a picture of Thomas and I. I did tell him if he is haunting me, I know it is his birthday and still very much missing him.
For his 30th birthday, I had taken him to Savannah, GA for the weekend, we had so much fun, starting with getting on the plane, Thomas hates heights and hates to fly, so I did give him some drinks to calm him down. Even the Flight attendant slipped us a few bottles of vodka to keep him under control. We had just both read, "Garden of Good and Evil" and loved it, so we enjoyed our time there. I had not been back until last St. Patricks Day.
I miss Thomas so much every day, but today is harder than usual for me. My poor husband has been very supportive and understanding of my mood swings. I talked to my brother today and he mentioned that his wife is bad this week because it would be her mom's birthday and she passed away in November. She did not tell Jon about this, so he admits he has not been very supportive, I am very honest with my husband and tell him what is bothering me, so he can be prepared and not be shocked.
Yesterday, I told him about my bad day at work, but before I started, I told him I did not want his advise, I wanted him to listen. Men like to solve problems, and when I need him to solve it or help I will let him know, but if I just want to vent,I tell him up front it helps our communications. I admit it is new to me looking at my past relationships where I thought the man should know what I am thinking.
Anyway, Thomas you are still in my thoughts...
Friday, May 16, 2008
I am so excited for next weekend, my family is coming up to Maine, my sister and brother and their families, my mom & her husband. My Aunt and Uncle, I am happy beyond belief.
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
I am so excited for next weekend, my family is coming up to Maine, my sister and brother and their families, my mom & her husband. My Aunt and Uncle, I am happy beyond belief.
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
I am so excited for next weekend, my family is coming up to Maine, my sister and brother and their families, my mom & her husband. My Aunt and Uncle, I am happy beyond belief.
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
You may ask why? Well, for my career, I plan other people’s weddings and family reunions but my husband and I have always lived in small apartments or in North Carolina, so besides our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife where his family came and my mom and her husband came down to Charlotte, NC, we have never entertained my family.
My sisters for years have switched off and hosted Christmas Eve, and my Aunt and Uncle a summer picnic around July 4th, and of course, growing up, my mom has always entertained family and friends.
This year, my work had put out a family and friend rate for May, so I informed my family to come up and take advantage of it, and then on Sunday we will have everyone over to our house ( 5 minutes away) and have a picnic for everyone, we went out last weekend and bought picnic items, because I have to be color coordinated and matching, priced out a grill which we will most likely pick up this weekend. We bought croquet and boco ball, we are ready.
The house we rent has a huge yard, so it is perfect for a picnic, and we are so close to Popham Beach, I told my family if it is a beautiful day we can push back the start time for everyone to hang out at the beach and then come over afterwards for a cook out. I have set up our wicker furniture and firepit, and am getting ready for the big day.
My family is very important to me, I never realized it until we moved to North Carolina and I feel I have missed so much during those two years, even though it was a good time to really work on our relationship without my family getting really involved because my family does, and I am no exception, if someone has an issue in the family, my husband likes to make fun because it is like a phone tree, you hear from one and then we are on the phone with the others discussing and trying to figure out a way to help the other one.
I admit, I am excited to show them the property where I work and for them to experience it as a customer and give me feedback. I have been in hotels for 15 years, and to be honest besides my wedding my family has never really been to a property I have worked at, and this one is so special so I can not wait until next weekend.
How are you planning to spend Memorial Day? What is your family like?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
This is from the New London Day, what do you think? It is definately and interesting ruling, and it might make a few people think.
"Sarah E. Turner would like to get married, but the justice system has put her and her fiance asunder.
The 25-year-old New London woman is under court order to have no contact with William D. Sinclair, and the probation department has been working hard to ensure the two are staying apart.
Turner and Sinclair were arrested on drug charges after police raided their apartment on Lincoln Avenue in New London last year and seized a scale and a package of crack cocaine.
Both pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics, a felony. Both were given suspended prison sentences and three years of probation after completing drug rehabilitation programs.
When Judge Susan B. Handy sentenced Turner in October 2007, she referenced Turner's 4-year-old son before imposing the conditions of her probation.
”I would assume you want him to have nothing to do with drugs or people that use drugs or sell drugs?” the judge asked.“Correct,” Turner responded.
”So if I do a no-contact order with them, that's not going to be a problem?” the judge continued.“No,” Turner responded.
The judge ordered Turner to have no contact with Sinclair or any other known drug-users.
Turner said she had no idea the order would include Sinclair and sought to have it modified. She said she and Sinclair went through rehab together and are both clean, and that Sinclair has been like a father to her son.
Turner hired attorney Brian J. Woolf, who has petitioned the court to modify the no-contact order. While the motion was pending, Turner was charged with violating probation when the probation department received information that she and Sinclair were in contact. In February, Handy told Turner she would continue to monitor her for a couple of months before considering the motion.
On Tuesday, Handy denied the motion after Turner's probation officers informed the judge that Sinclair was seen walking toward Turner's car at a school he attends.
When a probation officer confronted her, Turner said she was there to pick up somebody else. Turner said she was not aware that she was under surveillance by the probation department, but insists she was doing nothing wrong.
”I spoke to Sarah,” said Woolf, her attorney.“She's trying hard. She swore there was no pre-arrangement to have contact.”
The judge said the violation-of-probation case is to continue. She said she was also disturbed by the fact that Turner has been in therapy for two years and“Mr. Sinclair's name has yet to come up.”
”When I made the order, I made it because I felt it was in Ms. Turner's and society's best interest that there be no contact,” Handy said.
Woolf said he is checking to see if there is another avenue for appeal.
“It's a constitutional right,” he said,“to marry and associate with whom you want.”
"Sarah E. Turner would like to get married, but the justice system has put her and her fiance asunder.
The 25-year-old New London woman is under court order to have no contact with William D. Sinclair, and the probation department has been working hard to ensure the two are staying apart.
Turner and Sinclair were arrested on drug charges after police raided their apartment on Lincoln Avenue in New London last year and seized a scale and a package of crack cocaine.
Both pleaded guilty to possession of narcotics, a felony. Both were given suspended prison sentences and three years of probation after completing drug rehabilitation programs.
When Judge Susan B. Handy sentenced Turner in October 2007, she referenced Turner's 4-year-old son before imposing the conditions of her probation.
”I would assume you want him to have nothing to do with drugs or people that use drugs or sell drugs?” the judge asked.“Correct,” Turner responded.
”So if I do a no-contact order with them, that's not going to be a problem?” the judge continued.“No,” Turner responded.
The judge ordered Turner to have no contact with Sinclair or any other known drug-users.
Turner said she had no idea the order would include Sinclair and sought to have it modified. She said she and Sinclair went through rehab together and are both clean, and that Sinclair has been like a father to her son.
Turner hired attorney Brian J. Woolf, who has petitioned the court to modify the no-contact order. While the motion was pending, Turner was charged with violating probation when the probation department received information that she and Sinclair were in contact. In February, Handy told Turner she would continue to monitor her for a couple of months before considering the motion.
On Tuesday, Handy denied the motion after Turner's probation officers informed the judge that Sinclair was seen walking toward Turner's car at a school he attends.
When a probation officer confronted her, Turner said she was there to pick up somebody else. Turner said she was not aware that she was under surveillance by the probation department, but insists she was doing nothing wrong.
”I spoke to Sarah,” said Woolf, her attorney.“She's trying hard. She swore there was no pre-arrangement to have contact.”
The judge said the violation-of-probation case is to continue. She said she was also disturbed by the fact that Turner has been in therapy for two years and“Mr. Sinclair's name has yet to come up.”
”When I made the order, I made it because I felt it was in Ms. Turner's and society's best interest that there be no contact,” Handy said.
Woolf said he is checking to see if there is another avenue for appeal.
“It's a constitutional right,” he said,“to marry and associate with whom you want.”
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
I know it has been awhile since I have written, been busy with work and around our house. On Sunday, May 25, 2008 my husband and I are hosting our first family function at our house. Since, we had moved to North Carolina when we got married, we only had about 10 people for our 1st Thanksgiving and that was it for functions.
This is a Picnic, with my family coming up from CT and staying at the Resort, I am so excited. I am now getting a bit nervous, our Banquet Manager has decided not to stay throughout the whole season, so we are on the look out again, we will be fine for at least 2 months we have enough people on property who can step in, but it is a bit frustrating. They are looking at my husband for the position, now I love him to death but our styles are so different for functions it will definitely be a test of our relationship if he does take the position if offered.
When he came in today, I showed him my BEO for our first Wedding, to make sure if he takes the position it is what he wants to see. He can be very critical when it comes to my work, when we got married, he critiqued my BEO and was not impressed. Of course, he will bring up again and again about the darn HOSPITALITY SUITE, GET OVER IT HONEY!!! He has a long memory when it comes to people slighting him, or upsetting him so I know whenever I bring up our wedding the one of his points was the HOSPITALITY SUITE and I did not follow through enough for him. It will be an interesting season with us kind of working together.
This is a Picnic, with my family coming up from CT and staying at the Resort, I am so excited. I am now getting a bit nervous, our Banquet Manager has decided not to stay throughout the whole season, so we are on the look out again, we will be fine for at least 2 months we have enough people on property who can step in, but it is a bit frustrating. They are looking at my husband for the position, now I love him to death but our styles are so different for functions it will definitely be a test of our relationship if he does take the position if offered.
When he came in today, I showed him my BEO for our first Wedding, to make sure if he takes the position it is what he wants to see. He can be very critical when it comes to my work, when we got married, he critiqued my BEO and was not impressed. Of course, he will bring up again and again about the darn HOSPITALITY SUITE, GET OVER IT HONEY!!! He has a long memory when it comes to people slighting him, or upsetting him so I know whenever I bring up our wedding the one of his points was the HOSPITALITY SUITE and I did not follow through enough for him. It will be an interesting season with us kind of working together.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Living on a Penisula:
On Sunday, I was leaving my house in the rain to go to Brunswick, to shop at TJMAXX, my husband was in Chicago and I did not want to stay in the house all alone, all day long.Especially since the power went out at 10am and I had no idea when it would be back on. On 209, we had to detour up and around through the backroads of Phippisburg. No one had power, I found out that some little car hit a telephone pole and it was across the road, which was why there was a detour, luckily there is one, since it is a penisula so even though it is 12 miles, it takes at least 30 minutes, with the twist, turns and the speed limit going up and down.
I remember being in a car in 1997, with a drunk man who hit a telephone pole it cost him $900.00 for the pole, so I wonder how much they are now,do you still have to pay for it I wonder.
I shopped and got chinese and then came home around 1pm, and no power until 4pm, which was not so bad except due to the rain it was a little dark and dreary to read and such. On Monday, I met up with my mom and we had a girlie day, pedicure and manicure, shopping at Target and then lunch it was so much fun. I will see my mom again this Sunday, for lunch/brunch with our spouses, I love hanging out with my mom she really is my best friend. I am looking forward to the family coming up to Maine over Memorial day weekend, we are having a picnic at our house, and they are all staying at the Resort. They have not all seen it, or if they have not when it is open, so I am looking forward to showing it to them.
The resort opened this weekend and it was a success. The clients loved it and want to already re-book for next year, YEAH!!! A TV show the Chronicle came up from Boston, this week and we will be featured, so look out for it.
On Sunday, I was leaving my house in the rain to go to Brunswick, to shop at TJMAXX, my husband was in Chicago and I did not want to stay in the house all alone, all day long.Especially since the power went out at 10am and I had no idea when it would be back on. On 209, we had to detour up and around through the backroads of Phippisburg. No one had power, I found out that some little car hit a telephone pole and it was across the road, which was why there was a detour, luckily there is one, since it is a penisula so even though it is 12 miles, it takes at least 30 minutes, with the twist, turns and the speed limit going up and down.
I remember being in a car in 1997, with a drunk man who hit a telephone pole it cost him $900.00 for the pole, so I wonder how much they are now,do you still have to pay for it I wonder.
I shopped and got chinese and then came home around 1pm, and no power until 4pm, which was not so bad except due to the rain it was a little dark and dreary to read and such. On Monday, I met up with my mom and we had a girlie day, pedicure and manicure, shopping at Target and then lunch it was so much fun. I will see my mom again this Sunday, for lunch/brunch with our spouses, I love hanging out with my mom she really is my best friend. I am looking forward to the family coming up to Maine over Memorial day weekend, we are having a picnic at our house, and they are all staying at the Resort. They have not all seen it, or if they have not when it is open, so I am looking forward to showing it to them.
The resort opened this weekend and it was a success. The clients loved it and want to already re-book for next year, YEAH!!! A TV show the Chronicle came up from Boston, this week and we will be featured, so look out for it.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
It is now the third day of being on my own here in Maine. Luckily, I worked on Thursday, Friday and today, but it is hard being at home alone. I have been eating Chicken and Pasta every night, mostly because it is all I know how to cook. The resort opened for our first group of the season on Friday and then on Monday, open to the public.
It is wonderful to come to work and see all these people around, golf carts zooming around, everyone in the lobby it is so exciting to me. I had two site visits today for weddings, neither was the bride it was parents of the bride, due to the bride is out of state right now. For me, it is harder sometimes to deal with the parents, because yes they want everything for their little girl, but also because to them it is an expense.
I talked to my husband and the SOBC conference is going wonderful, he is networking and learning how to improve his blog. He is so excited, part of me is jealous while the other part of me, knows if I was there, I would not be having as much fun, because yes, I love to post on my blog, but is not for a business it is just to get my own thoughts out into the world and a lot of times it is just my own ranting and ravings.
Lately, I have been watching the news on the huge fires taking place in CA, the one in my hometown of Norwich, a huge apartment fire that displaced 150 people. I wonder if they had rental insurance, fire protection, when you lose everything how do you start over? We have all heard about Feng Shei and purging of material things, everything should be scaled back, does this count? Do you really have a choice? Would those boxes in my basement that I have not unpacked, how bad would it effect me if they were suddenly gone? If I didn’t have the option anymore?
My biggest fear is fire, always has been. When I was a bartender and at the end of my shift, I would empty all the ashtrays ( yes, at the time people could smoke inside),and then dumb water in the garbage can to make sure nothing was lit. I would triple check everything in the kitchen to make sure every flame is out and nothing I could of done, could cause a fire. I have never been in a fire, and no place I have ever worked has gone up in flames.
Even today, I always double and triple check before I leave anyplace. Yesterday, I was going to leave my dryer on while I came to work, but I ended up turning the car around, because I read somewhere never leave a dryer working when you leave the house. I have been burned by a cigarette or match at one time or another in my life and that was painful, so if it was a full-blown fire how much pain would it cause?
I think, or believe I can handle anything life deals me, but I am not so sure when it comes to fire, what is your biggest fear?
It is wonderful to come to work and see all these people around, golf carts zooming around, everyone in the lobby it is so exciting to me. I had two site visits today for weddings, neither was the bride it was parents of the bride, due to the bride is out of state right now. For me, it is harder sometimes to deal with the parents, because yes they want everything for their little girl, but also because to them it is an expense.
I talked to my husband and the SOBC conference is going wonderful, he is networking and learning how to improve his blog. He is so excited, part of me is jealous while the other part of me, knows if I was there, I would not be having as much fun, because yes, I love to post on my blog, but is not for a business it is just to get my own thoughts out into the world and a lot of times it is just my own ranting and ravings.
Lately, I have been watching the news on the huge fires taking place in CA, the one in my hometown of Norwich, a huge apartment fire that displaced 150 people. I wonder if they had rental insurance, fire protection, when you lose everything how do you start over? We have all heard about Feng Shei and purging of material things, everything should be scaled back, does this count? Do you really have a choice? Would those boxes in my basement that I have not unpacked, how bad would it effect me if they were suddenly gone? If I didn’t have the option anymore?
My biggest fear is fire, always has been. When I was a bartender and at the end of my shift, I would empty all the ashtrays ( yes, at the time people could smoke inside),and then dumb water in the garbage can to make sure nothing was lit. I would triple check everything in the kitchen to make sure every flame is out and nothing I could of done, could cause a fire. I have never been in a fire, and no place I have ever worked has gone up in flames.
Even today, I always double and triple check before I leave anyplace. Yesterday, I was going to leave my dryer on while I came to work, but I ended up turning the car around, because I read somewhere never leave a dryer working when you leave the house. I have been burned by a cigarette or match at one time or another in my life and that was painful, so if it was a full-blown fire how much pain would it cause?
I think, or believe I can handle anything life deals me, but I am not so sure when it comes to fire, what is your biggest fear?
Friday, May 02, 2008
From the New London day, another great restaurant in Mystic, well worth the trip...
"Seafood supreme at Go Fish in Mystic
By David Collins
We had a hankering for fish one recent Sunday afternoon, one of those spectacular early spring days when the sun is warm and the air is still cool and it seems like you almost might be able to watch the leaves unfurl from the tree limbs.
Still, with a cool wind rising off the water, we weren't quite ready for an outdoor picnic table at a clam shack. We settled instead on the idea of Go Fish, the seafood yin to the Steak Loft yang at Olde Mystick Village. We were not the only ones, apparently, to have the same idea.
We got there early for dinner, so early the dark lighting was a shock, coming in from the bright April evening light. We were surprised, once our eyes adjusted, to see such a big place already so busy so early in the evening. And by the time we left there were the makings of a small wait for a table.
We were planning to work from the interesting tasting plates menu, small dishes of appetizer portions, the sushi bar and the raw bar, so we decided on Go Fish's most casual venue, the bar. This, like the grand lounge space at the Steak Loft, is sprawling. It's so big there are two levels, and a service bar in the pit looks like it could take care of a thirsty, war-worn army.
We had good fortune in a bartender that kept her cool, and kept pace with our rounds of food orders with a remarkable calm, given that it was the start of her second shift of the day and one of the other bartenders was out. The manager was pitching in, though, and the entire wait staff was slugging it out like professionals.
All around us - in tables around the bar, on into the busy dining room, and even further away, in the separate sushi bar - it looked like a happy crowd. It was a good night out for seafood.
We started with a plate of littlenecks, $1.25 each, served ice cold, with some horseradish, cocktail sauce and an array of plain crackers. They were perfect. We followed them up with a selection of oysters, including a few from Watch Hill, $2.10 each, big and plump and sweet, then some from Wellfleet, Mass., salty and also meaty, good, and some from Noank, $2, which we found a bit small and bland in comparison.
While perusing the menu again, poised for another round, we nibbled on the warm house bread that came with a nice crock of dip, white bean and roasted tomato.
We made a segue from the raw bar to the rest of the menu by way of sushi, namely the sansei roll, which was recommended by our bartender. This was a good-sized, fresh-tasting roll, $8.50, featuring spicy crab and drizzled with a sweet Thai chili sauce. It sufficiently satisfied our sushi itch, leaving us free to order the mussels with grilled sausage, $9.
This was a big order, and the plump mussels, cooked in a chunky and sweet marinara, were mixed in with big slices of spicy sausage. We liked the sauce, and we thought we recognized it again later, atop the crusty garlic bread on which our three plump scallops, served nicely browned from the grill, were staged. This was a favorite of the visit.
One of our least successful tastings was a lobster salad roll, $15, which was uninspired, served in an ordinary brioche roll, a little bland tasting and not especially meaty. Did some wise man once say that the first lobster roll of the season is never the best?
We had eyes for more from the tasting menu, like the clam and sausage roast, $11, tempura shrimp with guacamole and salsa, $11, or peppered tuna ciabatta with smoky onion relish and garlic mayonnaise, $11.50. But after so many rounds, our appetites were failing.
The tasting menu does have some choices for those who don't want seafood. There's grilled pizza, and a chicken Caesar wrap, but I have to assume that those people really should have corralled their party to Steak Loft, or split up.
The main entrees section of the menu is also, naturally, weighted toward seafood, with selections like baked sea scallops, $24, lobster ravioli, $28, or baked cod. There is steak, chicken and prime rib, though.
We did find room to try dessert, a smooth sweet and almost sour key lime tart, on a moist graham cracker crust, drizzled with a mango coulis.
It was still almost as bright outside when we emerged, swimming against the traffic from the parking lot, people headed in for their own spring seafood delight.
"Seafood supreme at Go Fish in Mystic
By David Collins
We had a hankering for fish one recent Sunday afternoon, one of those spectacular early spring days when the sun is warm and the air is still cool and it seems like you almost might be able to watch the leaves unfurl from the tree limbs.
Still, with a cool wind rising off the water, we weren't quite ready for an outdoor picnic table at a clam shack. We settled instead on the idea of Go Fish, the seafood yin to the Steak Loft yang at Olde Mystick Village. We were not the only ones, apparently, to have the same idea.
We got there early for dinner, so early the dark lighting was a shock, coming in from the bright April evening light. We were surprised, once our eyes adjusted, to see such a big place already so busy so early in the evening. And by the time we left there were the makings of a small wait for a table.
We were planning to work from the interesting tasting plates menu, small dishes of appetizer portions, the sushi bar and the raw bar, so we decided on Go Fish's most casual venue, the bar. This, like the grand lounge space at the Steak Loft, is sprawling. It's so big there are two levels, and a service bar in the pit looks like it could take care of a thirsty, war-worn army.
We had good fortune in a bartender that kept her cool, and kept pace with our rounds of food orders with a remarkable calm, given that it was the start of her second shift of the day and one of the other bartenders was out. The manager was pitching in, though, and the entire wait staff was slugging it out like professionals.
All around us - in tables around the bar, on into the busy dining room, and even further away, in the separate sushi bar - it looked like a happy crowd. It was a good night out for seafood.
We started with a plate of littlenecks, $1.25 each, served ice cold, with some horseradish, cocktail sauce and an array of plain crackers. They were perfect. We followed them up with a selection of oysters, including a few from Watch Hill, $2.10 each, big and plump and sweet, then some from Wellfleet, Mass., salty and also meaty, good, and some from Noank, $2, which we found a bit small and bland in comparison.
While perusing the menu again, poised for another round, we nibbled on the warm house bread that came with a nice crock of dip, white bean and roasted tomato.
We made a segue from the raw bar to the rest of the menu by way of sushi, namely the sansei roll, which was recommended by our bartender. This was a good-sized, fresh-tasting roll, $8.50, featuring spicy crab and drizzled with a sweet Thai chili sauce. It sufficiently satisfied our sushi itch, leaving us free to order the mussels with grilled sausage, $9.
This was a big order, and the plump mussels, cooked in a chunky and sweet marinara, were mixed in with big slices of spicy sausage. We liked the sauce, and we thought we recognized it again later, atop the crusty garlic bread on which our three plump scallops, served nicely browned from the grill, were staged. This was a favorite of the visit.
One of our least successful tastings was a lobster salad roll, $15, which was uninspired, served in an ordinary brioche roll, a little bland tasting and not especially meaty. Did some wise man once say that the first lobster roll of the season is never the best?
We had eyes for more from the tasting menu, like the clam and sausage roast, $11, tempura shrimp with guacamole and salsa, $11, or peppered tuna ciabatta with smoky onion relish and garlic mayonnaise, $11.50. But after so many rounds, our appetites were failing.
The tasting menu does have some choices for those who don't want seafood. There's grilled pizza, and a chicken Caesar wrap, but I have to assume that those people really should have corralled their party to Steak Loft, or split up.
The main entrees section of the menu is also, naturally, weighted toward seafood, with selections like baked sea scallops, $24, lobster ravioli, $28, or baked cod. There is steak, chicken and prime rib, though.
We did find room to try dessert, a smooth sweet and almost sour key lime tart, on a moist graham cracker crust, drizzled with a mango coulis.
It was still almost as bright outside when we emerged, swimming against the traffic from the parking lot, people headed in for their own spring seafood delight.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
From the New London Day my question is this, was Eminent Domain worth it?
'New London - Citing“turmoil” in the national lending market, New London Development Corp. President Michael Joplin said he has“grave doubts” that the Corcoran Jennison company will meet a crucial May 29 deadline to secure financing for its long-delayed Fort Trumbull housing development.
”It's almost impossible, so we have to start dealing with reality,” said Joplin, who broached the“most difficult topic” at Tuesday night's annual meeting of NLDC's full membership in the Crocker House Ballroom.
If Corcoran Jennison doesn't meet the deadline, the Boston-based developer would violate a December extension document in which it agreed to secure a loan and enter a construction contract for an $18.7 million, 80-unit development of rental apartments and townhouses.
The project, whose uncertain groundbreaking could now be delayed months if not years, would represent the first new, ground-up construction since eminent domain cleared portions of the peninsula for redevelopment.
Joplin's announcement of yet another blown deadline by Corcoran Jennison could renew calls for the NLDC to sever ties with the company, which is currently redeveloping the former Naval Undersea Warfare Center into an office complex - an $18 million project unaffected by the delay of the housing proposal.
Joplin said the NLDC“is very close” to parting with the company on the roughly 3-acre housing project. In fact, by failing to secure the financing alone, the developer forfeits its right to develop the parcel, and Joplin didn't rule out letting the development agreement simply expire next month.
”The question is on the table,” said Joplin, who, at the time of the December extension agreement, told The Day:“It is time for them to perform. At the end of six months, there is no tomorrow.”
But Joplin said his overriding goal is to see housing come to the peninsula in 18 months - a task that, in the current economy, no other developer would be willing to take on, he said.
”If you simply dispose of Corcoran Jennison out of frustration or the history, you could really be shooting yourself in the foot,” Joplin said.
Despite the history of delays, Joplin said he believes Corcoran Jennison remains truly interested in building the rental housing.“That's why she's here,” Joplin said of Corcoran Jennison President Marty Jones.“Otherwise, she would have stayed in Boston and gone to dinner.”
Jones told the NLDC members,“We're not ready to fold our tent and cut our losses and walk away.”
Between the office complex and preconstruction work on the housing project, the company has roughly $5 million of its own money invested in Fort Trumbull, according to Joplin and Jones.
”We have been in New London for close to eight years now,” Jones said in an interview after the meeting.“Our intention here was always in a comprehensive development,” not only a commercial building, she said.
”We are not walking away,” Jones said.“We want to complete all parts of the deal.”
But barring a sudden economic upswing, any deal on the housing project will rely on what both Joplin and Jones referred to as“creative” options - possibly government-backed loans - to close the widening“financing gap.”
Based on a recent assessment, Joplin said the company is looking to receive a $11.5 million loan and is willing to put up as much as 20 percent of the $18.7 million project cost, or nearly $4 million. Those sources combined leave a roughly $3 million to $3.5 million gap.
”We are trying to fill that gap through creative thinking and creative financing. I'm not sure that we'll succeed. I'm just putting it out there,” Joplin said to NLDC members.
He said securing the additional money will be a“tremendous task” that will take months of application paperwork for lenders and any state programs that could help close the gap.
When asked if the company would be willing to boost its share above 20 percent, Jones said,“We have to negotiate what make sense for everybody.” She said the project's financing will have to incorporate“other sources that are not on the table right now.”
Jones said she understand that“people are very frustrated that it's taken a long time to get something done. I hope that New London is willing to continue to work with us to make the deal work.”
New London Mayor Kevin Cavanagh said he was assured by his conversation with Jones Tuesday night that Corcoran Jennison wants to bring the housing to Fort Trumbull.
When asked if it may be time for the city to part with the company, Cavanagh said:“I'm sort of like, 'Take it one step at a time.' The onus is on Corcoran Jennison to come up with a solution - no doubt about it.”
'New London - Citing“turmoil” in the national lending market, New London Development Corp. President Michael Joplin said he has“grave doubts” that the Corcoran Jennison company will meet a crucial May 29 deadline to secure financing for its long-delayed Fort Trumbull housing development.
”It's almost impossible, so we have to start dealing with reality,” said Joplin, who broached the“most difficult topic” at Tuesday night's annual meeting of NLDC's full membership in the Crocker House Ballroom.
If Corcoran Jennison doesn't meet the deadline, the Boston-based developer would violate a December extension document in which it agreed to secure a loan and enter a construction contract for an $18.7 million, 80-unit development of rental apartments and townhouses.
The project, whose uncertain groundbreaking could now be delayed months if not years, would represent the first new, ground-up construction since eminent domain cleared portions of the peninsula for redevelopment.
Joplin's announcement of yet another blown deadline by Corcoran Jennison could renew calls for the NLDC to sever ties with the company, which is currently redeveloping the former Naval Undersea Warfare Center into an office complex - an $18 million project unaffected by the delay of the housing proposal.
Joplin said the NLDC“is very close” to parting with the company on the roughly 3-acre housing project. In fact, by failing to secure the financing alone, the developer forfeits its right to develop the parcel, and Joplin didn't rule out letting the development agreement simply expire next month.
”The question is on the table,” said Joplin, who, at the time of the December extension agreement, told The Day:“It is time for them to perform. At the end of six months, there is no tomorrow.”
But Joplin said his overriding goal is to see housing come to the peninsula in 18 months - a task that, in the current economy, no other developer would be willing to take on, he said.
”If you simply dispose of Corcoran Jennison out of frustration or the history, you could really be shooting yourself in the foot,” Joplin said.
Despite the history of delays, Joplin said he believes Corcoran Jennison remains truly interested in building the rental housing.“That's why she's here,” Joplin said of Corcoran Jennison President Marty Jones.“Otherwise, she would have stayed in Boston and gone to dinner.”
Jones told the NLDC members,“We're not ready to fold our tent and cut our losses and walk away.”
Between the office complex and preconstruction work on the housing project, the company has roughly $5 million of its own money invested in Fort Trumbull, according to Joplin and Jones.
”We have been in New London for close to eight years now,” Jones said in an interview after the meeting.“Our intention here was always in a comprehensive development,” not only a commercial building, she said.
”We are not walking away,” Jones said.“We want to complete all parts of the deal.”
But barring a sudden economic upswing, any deal on the housing project will rely on what both Joplin and Jones referred to as“creative” options - possibly government-backed loans - to close the widening“financing gap.”
Based on a recent assessment, Joplin said the company is looking to receive a $11.5 million loan and is willing to put up as much as 20 percent of the $18.7 million project cost, or nearly $4 million. Those sources combined leave a roughly $3 million to $3.5 million gap.
”We are trying to fill that gap through creative thinking and creative financing. I'm not sure that we'll succeed. I'm just putting it out there,” Joplin said to NLDC members.
He said securing the additional money will be a“tremendous task” that will take months of application paperwork for lenders and any state programs that could help close the gap.
When asked if the company would be willing to boost its share above 20 percent, Jones said,“We have to negotiate what make sense for everybody.” She said the project's financing will have to incorporate“other sources that are not on the table right now.”
Jones said she understand that“people are very frustrated that it's taken a long time to get something done. I hope that New London is willing to continue to work with us to make the deal work.”
New London Mayor Kevin Cavanagh said he was assured by his conversation with Jones Tuesday night that Corcoran Jennison wants to bring the housing to Fort Trumbull.
When asked if it may be time for the city to part with the company, Cavanagh said:“I'm sort of like, 'Take it one step at a time.' The onus is on Corcoran Jennison to come up with a solution - no doubt about it.”
Saturday, April 26, 2008
1943 Guide To Hiring Women
Wanna see how far we've come when it comes to women in the workplace? My friend Kate just forwarded around a clipping from a 2007 issue of Savvy & Sage Magazine (which doesn't have a working website with articles, or I would link to it) in which they reprinted a 1943 Article on how to hire women that ran in Transportation Magazine.
For your reading pleasure, with no commentary from me because there's really nothing to add. Priceless.
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some point in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves, and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special examination – one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibility of a lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time, that a minute or two lost here or there make serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack the initiative in finding work themselves.
7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and was her hands several times a day.
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman – it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
Wanna see how far we've come when it comes to women in the workplace? My friend Kate just forwarded around a clipping from a 2007 issue of Savvy & Sage Magazine (which doesn't have a working website with articles, or I would link to it) in which they reprinted a 1943 Article on how to hire women that ran in Transportation Magazine.
For your reading pleasure, with no commentary from me because there's really nothing to add. Priceless.
1. Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and deal with the public efficiently.
2. When you have to use older women, try to get ones who have worked outside the home at some point in their lives. Older women who have never contacted the public have a hard time adapting themselves, and are inclined to be cantankerous and fussy. It's always well to impress upon older women the importance of friendliness and courtesy.
3. General experience indicates that "husky" girls – those who are just a little on the heavy side – are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters.
4. Retain a physician to give each woman you hire a special examination – one covering female conditions. This step not only protects the property against the possibility of a lawsuit, but reveals whether the employee-to-be has any female weaknesses which would make her mentally or physically unfit for the job.
5. Stress at the outset the importance of time, that a minute or two lost here or there make serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across, service is likely to be slowed up.
6. Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instructions every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but that they lack the initiative in finding work themselves.
7. Whenever possible, let the inside employee change from one job to another at some time during the day. Women are inclined to be less nervous and happier with change.
8. Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and was her hands several times a day.
9. Be tactful when issuing instructions or in making criticisms. Women are often sensitive; they can't shrug off harsh words the way men do. Never ridicule a woman – it breaks her spirit and cuts off her efficiency.
10. Be reasonably considerate about using strong language around women. Even though a girl's husband or father may swear vociferously, she'll grow to dislike a place of business where she hears too much of this.
11. Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
It is 70' today and sunny. The resort is being spruced up for the season we open for our first group in 1 week, and I am so excited, since the long winter, it looks like the spring and summer could be amazing up here on the coast of Maine.
We are spring cleaning and all the buildings are open, and letting the fresh air in, the golf course is coming along, and the boats go in the water in May. I love seeing the boats on the water, and the pool all clean and operational. My ideal would be to work here until the end of my career, because once I have gone through a winter and watching it come back to life, it is so exciting.
We are looking at houses, not that we can buy for atleast 2 years, but I love to look, my ideal would be either in Freeport, or Brunswick, closer to a town, being on the penisula is quiet but in the winter, it would be nice to in town. Freeport is really out of our price range, but you never know what will happen in 2 years. My husband's business could take off even bigger.
I was watching Maria Shriver last night in and interview, and she admitted when she stopped working she kind of lost her identity. I can so relate to that, as I have stated my career seems to be my identity these days, for bad or worse. She has written a book, which I do want to read, because I am sure there are so many people out there, this has happened to, and no one talks about it.
As, I was upset this week, I decided to start booking our hotel rooms, car rental for our trip out to Illnois and Wisconsin to take place during Thanksgiving week this year, it amazes me the price of airline tickets during this time period, at the moment we are looking to fly into Milwaukee and spend a day in Madison, go down to Rockford ILL, for Wednesday and Thursday(Thanksgiving) then drive to LaCrosee, WI for Friday and Saturday ( Wedding of sis in law) and then fly out on Sunday afternoon, so we have 1 day before we have to be back to work which happens to be my husband's birthday.
It is a quick trip, but none the less, I am looking forward to it very much. Once we buy the airline tickets, I will start planning our March 2009 trip to London, England. I love planning our trips, to get the best deals and to find hidden treasurers and surprise my husband. He is so sweet to let me do all the planning, he believes in my ability to find things we both will enjoy doing, and being the food snobs the perfect restaurants.
Where is your next trip and what special treats did you book? or Find?
We are spring cleaning and all the buildings are open, and letting the fresh air in, the golf course is coming along, and the boats go in the water in May. I love seeing the boats on the water, and the pool all clean and operational. My ideal would be to work here until the end of my career, because once I have gone through a winter and watching it come back to life, it is so exciting.
We are looking at houses, not that we can buy for atleast 2 years, but I love to look, my ideal would be either in Freeport, or Brunswick, closer to a town, being on the penisula is quiet but in the winter, it would be nice to in town. Freeport is really out of our price range, but you never know what will happen in 2 years. My husband's business could take off even bigger.
I was watching Maria Shriver last night in and interview, and she admitted when she stopped working she kind of lost her identity. I can so relate to that, as I have stated my career seems to be my identity these days, for bad or worse. She has written a book, which I do want to read, because I am sure there are so many people out there, this has happened to, and no one talks about it.
As, I was upset this week, I decided to start booking our hotel rooms, car rental for our trip out to Illnois and Wisconsin to take place during Thanksgiving week this year, it amazes me the price of airline tickets during this time period, at the moment we are looking to fly into Milwaukee and spend a day in Madison, go down to Rockford ILL, for Wednesday and Thursday(Thanksgiving) then drive to LaCrosee, WI for Friday and Saturday ( Wedding of sis in law) and then fly out on Sunday afternoon, so we have 1 day before we have to be back to work which happens to be my husband's birthday.
It is a quick trip, but none the less, I am looking forward to it very much. Once we buy the airline tickets, I will start planning our March 2009 trip to London, England. I love planning our trips, to get the best deals and to find hidden treasurers and surprise my husband. He is so sweet to let me do all the planning, he believes in my ability to find things we both will enjoy doing, and being the food snobs the perfect restaurants.
Where is your next trip and what special treats did you book? or Find?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Let me start this post with a fact about myself, I am basically a happy person, and can let almost anything rub off my back. On the other hand, when my personal life has taken so many ups and downs, I have always been a shining star within my career. I admit, I thrive on the fact people come to me, even if I am not the boss and ask my opinion and guidance. I have always taken my career very seriously.
Every move has been made with a purpose and leading to the next promotion. So, when it is not going gangbusters then I am harder on myself than even my bosses realize. I try everything I can to help the situation, I may say, NO I am not working on a Sunday or late is not true, I need to verbalize and then turn around and give in to my client.
Wherever I work, I must like the people I work with and love the property, believe in it to sell it. If I do not believe in it, I can not sell it. I love the property I am at, and love the way the staff caters to each client, and it is not phony, we really want them here year after year.
Lately, I feel as if I am a major disappointment to all the higher ups, and it is getting me down. It is affecting my home life, I have been awful crabby to my husband because I need an outlet to take out my frustrations, because being a WASP, I do not confront the person who is making me feel this way, for a few reasons. The main one being I am a big baby, and if I ask they may say something I don't want to hear, so its easier to be in denial then actually deal with it head on. The 2nd I am just plain scared, I am going to lose my job for poor performance.
I am not one to make excuses, about the economy, the weather etc. I am now working on better my sales pitch, and finding out what is going to work, because what worked a few years ago, is not working now for me. I am getting back to basics and going through all my sales books and back to basics on what to ask and in which order. The last few weeks, the few weddings that have wanted to book, have backed out for various reasons, and none are money or myself. Actually, two have asked me to help with their wedding even though they are not here, I had to decline obviously, but it was nice to be asked.
1 was because they wanted to be closer to a town, 1 was because they did not want to sign and attrition clause on guest rooms and another was because they have decided on having it in Wisconsin their home state. These are all legitimate reasons but still so hard for me to grasp when I believe I did everything I could to close the deal or did I? Now, I am starting to doubt myself and that is not going to help me in my future endeavors. What do you do when you hit a brick wall?
Every move has been made with a purpose and leading to the next promotion. So, when it is not going gangbusters then I am harder on myself than even my bosses realize. I try everything I can to help the situation, I may say, NO I am not working on a Sunday or late is not true, I need to verbalize and then turn around and give in to my client.
Wherever I work, I must like the people I work with and love the property, believe in it to sell it. If I do not believe in it, I can not sell it. I love the property I am at, and love the way the staff caters to each client, and it is not phony, we really want them here year after year.
Lately, I feel as if I am a major disappointment to all the higher ups, and it is getting me down. It is affecting my home life, I have been awful crabby to my husband because I need an outlet to take out my frustrations, because being a WASP, I do not confront the person who is making me feel this way, for a few reasons. The main one being I am a big baby, and if I ask they may say something I don't want to hear, so its easier to be in denial then actually deal with it head on. The 2nd I am just plain scared, I am going to lose my job for poor performance.
I am not one to make excuses, about the economy, the weather etc. I am now working on better my sales pitch, and finding out what is going to work, because what worked a few years ago, is not working now for me. I am getting back to basics and going through all my sales books and back to basics on what to ask and in which order. The last few weeks, the few weddings that have wanted to book, have backed out for various reasons, and none are money or myself. Actually, two have asked me to help with their wedding even though they are not here, I had to decline obviously, but it was nice to be asked.
1 was because they wanted to be closer to a town, 1 was because they did not want to sign and attrition clause on guest rooms and another was because they have decided on having it in Wisconsin their home state. These are all legitimate reasons but still so hard for me to grasp when I believe I did everything I could to close the deal or did I? Now, I am starting to doubt myself and that is not going to help me in my future endeavors. What do you do when you hit a brick wall?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
You might be in the hospitality industry if...….
* You sat at the same desk for 4 years and worked for 8 different Managers
* Food left over from a banquet or meeting is your main staple diet
* You get really excited about a 2% pay increase
* You sit in a cubicle smaller than your bedroom closet
* You get a strange twitch in your right eye when people say the word wedding
* When you get married, it will be in the wilderness where rounds mean shots fired with a gun
* You smile and say 'good morning' to total strangers in the street
* It's dark on your drive to and from work
* Communication is something your 'group' is having problems with
* You see a good-looking person and you know it's a visitor/guest
* You forget what you look like in anything but a suit
* All the work you were hired to do gets done before 9 and after 5
* You're already late on an assignment you just received
* Your boss's favorite lines are
a. When you get a minute....
b. In your spare time...
c. I have an opportunity for you...
* 50% of the people in your company don't know what you do
* The other 50% of the people in your company don't care what you do
* Vacation is something you roll over to next year, if you are allowed
* Change is the norm
* Nepotism is encouraged
* Six months is considered to be substantial longevity
* You dial '9' before the number no matter where you are calling from
* When you are walking in public, you have to fight the urge to pick up scraps of paper and rubbish on the floor
* Your toilet paper at home is folded in a triangle on the first sheet
* You answer the phone at home 'Hello this is...., how may I help you?'
* You eat in hotel restaurants for fun
* You inspect your hotel room when traveling
* You call your spouse or partner your "added value"
* You correct people when they use the word free, saying it's complimentary
* When friends visit you at home, they wonder why you always take them on a "site-tour"
* You've been found rocking yourself in the employee bathroom during RFP season
* You sat at the same desk for 4 years and worked for 8 different Managers
* Food left over from a banquet or meeting is your main staple diet
* You get really excited about a 2% pay increase
* You sit in a cubicle smaller than your bedroom closet
* You get a strange twitch in your right eye when people say the word wedding
* When you get married, it will be in the wilderness where rounds mean shots fired with a gun
* You smile and say 'good morning' to total strangers in the street
* It's dark on your drive to and from work
* Communication is something your 'group' is having problems with
* You see a good-looking person and you know it's a visitor/guest
* You forget what you look like in anything but a suit
* All the work you were hired to do gets done before 9 and after 5
* You're already late on an assignment you just received
* Your boss's favorite lines are
a. When you get a minute....
b. In your spare time...
c. I have an opportunity for you...
* 50% of the people in your company don't know what you do
* The other 50% of the people in your company don't care what you do
* Vacation is something you roll over to next year, if you are allowed
* Change is the norm
* Nepotism is encouraged
* Six months is considered to be substantial longevity
* You dial '9' before the number no matter where you are calling from
* When you are walking in public, you have to fight the urge to pick up scraps of paper and rubbish on the floor
* Your toilet paper at home is folded in a triangle on the first sheet
* You answer the phone at home 'Hello this is...., how may I help you?'
* You eat in hotel restaurants for fun
* You inspect your hotel room when traveling
* You call your spouse or partner your "added value"
* You correct people when they use the word free, saying it's complimentary
* When friends visit you at home, they wonder why you always take them on a "site-tour"
* You've been found rocking yourself in the employee bathroom during RFP season
You might be in the hospitality industry if...….
* You sat at the same desk for 4 years and worked for 8 different Managers
* Food left over from a banquet or meeting is your main staple diet
* You get really excited about a 2% pay increase
* You sit in a cubicle smaller than your bedroom closet
* You get a strange twitch in your right eye when people say the word wedding
* When you get married, it will be in the wilderness where rounds mean shots fired with a gun
* You smile and say 'good morning' to total strangers in the street
* It's dark on your drive to and from work
* Communication is something your 'group' is having problems with
* You see a good-looking person and you know it's a visitor/guest
* You forget what you look like in anything but a suit
* All the work you were hired to do gets done before 9 and after 5
* You're already late on an assignment you just received
* Your boss's favorite lines are
a. When you get a minute....
b. In your spare time...
c. I have an opportunity for you...
* 50% of the people in your company don't know what you do
* The other 50% of the people in your company don't care what you do
* Vacation is something you roll over to next year, if you are allowed
* Change is the norm
* Nepotism is encouraged
* Six months is considered to be substantial longevity
* You dial '9' before the number no matter where you are calling from
* When you are walking in public, you have to fight the urge to pick up scraps of paper and rubbish on the floor
* Your toilet paper at home is folded in a triangle on the first sheet
* You answer the phone at home 'Hello this is...., how may I help you?'
* You eat in hotel restaurants for fun
* You inspect your hotel room when traveling
* You call your spouse or partner your "added value"
* You correct people when they use the word free, saying it's complimentary
* When friends visit you at home, they wonder why you always take them on a "site-tour"
* You've been found rocking yourself in the employee bathroom during RFP season
* You sat at the same desk for 4 years and worked for 8 different Managers
* Food left over from a banquet or meeting is your main staple diet
* You get really excited about a 2% pay increase
* You sit in a cubicle smaller than your bedroom closet
* You get a strange twitch in your right eye when people say the word wedding
* When you get married, it will be in the wilderness where rounds mean shots fired with a gun
* You smile and say 'good morning' to total strangers in the street
* It's dark on your drive to and from work
* Communication is something your 'group' is having problems with
* You see a good-looking person and you know it's a visitor/guest
* You forget what you look like in anything but a suit
* All the work you were hired to do gets done before 9 and after 5
* You're already late on an assignment you just received
* Your boss's favorite lines are
a. When you get a minute....
b. In your spare time...
c. I have an opportunity for you...
* 50% of the people in your company don't know what you do
* The other 50% of the people in your company don't care what you do
* Vacation is something you roll over to next year, if you are allowed
* Change is the norm
* Nepotism is encouraged
* Six months is considered to be substantial longevity
* You dial '9' before the number no matter where you are calling from
* When you are walking in public, you have to fight the urge to pick up scraps of paper and rubbish on the floor
* Your toilet paper at home is folded in a triangle on the first sheet
* You answer the phone at home 'Hello this is...., how may I help you?'
* You eat in hotel restaurants for fun
* You inspect your hotel room when traveling
* You call your spouse or partner your "added value"
* You correct people when they use the word free, saying it's complimentary
* When friends visit you at home, they wonder why you always take them on a "site-tour"
* You've been found rocking yourself in the employee bathroom during RFP season
It was a beautiful weekend here in Maine. On Sunday, my husband and I did our grocery shopping for the week, which may not sound all that exciting to most people, but for us, we enjoy planning our meals for the week and picking new recipes for him to try ( I DO NOT COOK), and then shopping together.
I am sure people make fun of us at the store, we look excited walking in, and have our clipboard, calculator and coupons and hit the store running. This weeks special meal was seafood in a puff pastry, shrimp, oysters, scallops in a lobster sauce. Due to fish has to be fresh we always plan our fish meals on Sunday or Monday, so nothing smells or goes bad. The husband was not used to cooking with phyllo dough but he did a great job and it was delicous, unfortunately on Monday morning I woke up sick so my taste buds were off. He did a wonderful job of taking care of me on Monday. It was so beautiful out I felt guilty for getting sick.
On Sunday afternoon, we went to brunch at Blintiff's and while we were at the Brunch,
They had a kid talent show, the first girl was wonderful, and then after that it went down hill. I was amazed at the parents pushing their children into it, and some not having any talent. It was a lot of fun, and I kept my mouth shut, which is hard for me, but no need to make fun of children, when I really blame the parents.
I am sure people make fun of us at the store, we look excited walking in, and have our clipboard, calculator and coupons and hit the store running. This weeks special meal was seafood in a puff pastry, shrimp, oysters, scallops in a lobster sauce. Due to fish has to be fresh we always plan our fish meals on Sunday or Monday, so nothing smells or goes bad. The husband was not used to cooking with phyllo dough but he did a great job and it was delicous, unfortunately on Monday morning I woke up sick so my taste buds were off. He did a wonderful job of taking care of me on Monday. It was so beautiful out I felt guilty for getting sick.
On Sunday afternoon, we went to brunch at Blintiff's and while we were at the Brunch,
They had a kid talent show, the first girl was wonderful, and then after that it went down hill. I was amazed at the parents pushing their children into it, and some not having any talent. It was a lot of fun, and I kept my mouth shut, which is hard for me, but no need to make fun of children, when I really blame the parents.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Do you ever daydream about your "DREAM JOB"? Over the years I have asked people what there dream job would be if you did not need to actually make money?
One boss told me, she wanted to drive the Beer Cart on the Golf Course, another has told me, to be a crew memember on a sail boat, not racing just sailing the world. The problem is this man has never been on a boat, kind of hard.
I have a friend of mine who actually is a Captain of a Sailing Yacht, he used to call me in the winter and tell me which exotic port he was in, especially when it would snow in Connecticut. He is 45 years old and never married, he has had many relationships with his female crew, but then they are usually in their 20's and end up leaving and settle down. I believe my husband's dream job would be to be a author, he enjoys working at home and making his own schedule.
My job I do love, it is as a Wedding Sales Person at a Resort. Funny, I listen to people and there are alot of women out there, who think what I do would be their dream job, you watch the wedding shows and it looks fun, seriously it is hard work, especially trying to get the sale. Pinning a bride down, and her mother is not an easy task. Also, once the sale is made it is so not over, you have a year to deal with all the stress of their wedding, and if you are a good sales person, there are about 10-15 weddings you are dealing with to take place in a 4 month period, it may be there only (1) but not yours.
My Dream Job? Well, in my 20's it was to work at a Huge Hotel in downtown NYC or Boston, of course, ( I would be in charge), in my early 30's it was to be General Manager of a little bouquet hotel. In my mid 30's, it was to travel the world working at hotels to improve them and move on. Late 30's opening my own wedding consultant business and get out of the hotel business. When I turned 38, it was to open a bookstore/coffee shop and make incredible sandwiches, Soups, Salads on a small island, and become part of the community, and leave the wedding business all together, of course, it was after a really hard year, I left the Hotel/Resort, I loved and went to the Holiday Inn pit of the world, hated my boss, and realized I would never get married. Everything changed 3 weeks later, I met my husband, got a new position back in the Bouquet/Resort business, and had a new boss who actually respected me.
I am a social person, and love meeting people and I think the Bookstore/Coffe Shop is still my dream job, believe me, I know it would be tough work, but truly think it would enhance my life. You may wonder why I am talking about this, it is because, I feel I am not helping the resort I work out right now, I am at a stand still on where to go to bring in business. I have done the bridal shows, word of mouth, going to after hours to network, short of opening the telephone book and cold calling people, as if "EXCUSE ME ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY GETTING MARRIED? FAMILY REUNION? CELEBRATION?"
I love where I work, and enjoy everyone I work for and with, and I want it to be a success, part of me, thinks I could lower my prices but then as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. We are only open 6 months of the year, and in a resort, you need to make your money by the Guest Rooms, ACTIVITIES AND THEN FOOD AND BEVERAGE. An empty hotel room, can not be resold the next day, it is like a airplane seat, once the plane leaves and that seat is empty you can not get the revenue back from it. Yes, I am feeling sorry for myself, but I see my bosses faces and I feel I am letting them and everyone down. I think every sales person, believes this at one time or another in their careers.
Today, is a beautiful sunny day on the coast of Maine, and my two appointments rescheduled later in the week, I am disappointed on the other hand, can you blame them it was a LONG WINTER!! On such a beautiful day, wouldn't you want to be out and enjoy the day?
What is your Dream Job? Are you in your dream job?
One boss told me, she wanted to drive the Beer Cart on the Golf Course, another has told me, to be a crew memember on a sail boat, not racing just sailing the world. The problem is this man has never been on a boat, kind of hard.
I have a friend of mine who actually is a Captain of a Sailing Yacht, he used to call me in the winter and tell me which exotic port he was in, especially when it would snow in Connecticut. He is 45 years old and never married, he has had many relationships with his female crew, but then they are usually in their 20's and end up leaving and settle down. I believe my husband's dream job would be to be a author, he enjoys working at home and making his own schedule.
My job I do love, it is as a Wedding Sales Person at a Resort. Funny, I listen to people and there are alot of women out there, who think what I do would be their dream job, you watch the wedding shows and it looks fun, seriously it is hard work, especially trying to get the sale. Pinning a bride down, and her mother is not an easy task. Also, once the sale is made it is so not over, you have a year to deal with all the stress of their wedding, and if you are a good sales person, there are about 10-15 weddings you are dealing with to take place in a 4 month period, it may be there only (1) but not yours.
My Dream Job? Well, in my 20's it was to work at a Huge Hotel in downtown NYC or Boston, of course, ( I would be in charge), in my early 30's it was to be General Manager of a little bouquet hotel. In my mid 30's, it was to travel the world working at hotels to improve them and move on. Late 30's opening my own wedding consultant business and get out of the hotel business. When I turned 38, it was to open a bookstore/coffee shop and make incredible sandwiches, Soups, Salads on a small island, and become part of the community, and leave the wedding business all together, of course, it was after a really hard year, I left the Hotel/Resort, I loved and went to the Holiday Inn pit of the world, hated my boss, and realized I would never get married. Everything changed 3 weeks later, I met my husband, got a new position back in the Bouquet/Resort business, and had a new boss who actually respected me.
I am a social person, and love meeting people and I think the Bookstore/Coffe Shop is still my dream job, believe me, I know it would be tough work, but truly think it would enhance my life. You may wonder why I am talking about this, it is because, I feel I am not helping the resort I work out right now, I am at a stand still on where to go to bring in business. I have done the bridal shows, word of mouth, going to after hours to network, short of opening the telephone book and cold calling people, as if "EXCUSE ME ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY GETTING MARRIED? FAMILY REUNION? CELEBRATION?"
I love where I work, and enjoy everyone I work for and with, and I want it to be a success, part of me, thinks I could lower my prices but then as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. We are only open 6 months of the year, and in a resort, you need to make your money by the Guest Rooms, ACTIVITIES AND THEN FOOD AND BEVERAGE. An empty hotel room, can not be resold the next day, it is like a airplane seat, once the plane leaves and that seat is empty you can not get the revenue back from it. Yes, I am feeling sorry for myself, but I see my bosses faces and I feel I am letting them and everyone down. I think every sales person, believes this at one time or another in their careers.
Today, is a beautiful sunny day on the coast of Maine, and my two appointments rescheduled later in the week, I am disappointed on the other hand, can you blame them it was a LONG WINTER!! On such a beautiful day, wouldn't you want to be out and enjoy the day?
What is your Dream Job? Are you in your dream job?
Friday, April 18, 2008
I have written about my friend and amazing Chef Guillaume Burloin, he was last at Diamond Head Resort in Hawaii, every few weeks I google him to see where he has landed next. Well it seems LA is the lucky city now, he is at the Sunset Marquis and Villas. This was on line at the Bizbash, LA March 8, 2008.
"Eighty-four of the media types and up-and-comers celebrated in Paper's pages gathered for a seemingly endless buffet of salads, paella, cold salmon, and desserts, served in the patio restaurant by the French-fusion kitchen of the West Hollywood hotel's Paris-trained chef Guillaume Burlion. Indeed, the Sunset Marquis's spiffy new design was all the decor the party needed, save for the infusion of peonies, poppies, and roses in springy shades of coral and yellow."
I wish him the best, and if I make it out to CA will definately stop by and see this amazing chef.
"Eighty-four of the media types and up-and-comers celebrated in Paper's pages gathered for a seemingly endless buffet of salads, paella, cold salmon, and desserts, served in the patio restaurant by the French-fusion kitchen of the West Hollywood hotel's Paris-trained chef Guillaume Burlion. Indeed, the Sunset Marquis's spiffy new design was all the decor the party needed, save for the infusion of peonies, poppies, and roses in springy shades of coral and yellow."
I wish him the best, and if I make it out to CA will definately stop by and see this amazing chef.
It has been a very long winter here on the Coast of Maine. We have had a few days of spring, but still with a chill. On Monday, the husband and I went for a picnic on the Beach at Hermit Island. As long as we sat on the blanket the wind blew above us we could pretend it was really spring.
This morning I woke up to "Woody Woodpecker" on our house, and birds above singing, when I stepped outside, I did not need a coat at 7:30am this morning it was 42' no wind!! I love Spring!! Living in North Carolina the last few years, Spring was barely a blip. It was already 75' in March last year, so being up here I remember loving the season changes. I know Spring Officially started March 21, but for us up here not until today. Things are turning Green, and the resort opens in 13 more days, for our first group.
I love coming to work and seeing more than the 7 people who made up the winter staff, the grounds department working on getting everything pretty, the housekeepers airing out the guest rooms and opening everything. I am especially looking forward to the Restaurant the Pilot House opening for the Season. We have a wonderful new chef Sebastian Carosi, I look forward to having his vision carried out in the restaurant. He is the first chef since Chef Guillaume Burloin that I worked with, that I am actually excited about, and I worked with Chef Burloin over 10 years ago, so even though I have been in the business all that time, I am really happy about Chef Carosi.
My husband is going to the SOBE conference in Chicago on May 1, and he has not stopped talking about it, I am happy for him, but a bit jealous that I can not make the trip this year out to Chicago but it is the first weekend we are open here at the Resort. I am going to Boston for 1 night with my best girlfriend, we are meeting half way for both of us. We will do girlie things, window shop, laugh, eat drink and be merry.
Happy Spring Everyone!!
This morning I woke up to "Woody Woodpecker" on our house, and birds above singing, when I stepped outside, I did not need a coat at 7:30am this morning it was 42' no wind!! I love Spring!! Living in North Carolina the last few years, Spring was barely a blip. It was already 75' in March last year, so being up here I remember loving the season changes. I know Spring Officially started March 21, but for us up here not until today. Things are turning Green, and the resort opens in 13 more days, for our first group.
I love coming to work and seeing more than the 7 people who made up the winter staff, the grounds department working on getting everything pretty, the housekeepers airing out the guest rooms and opening everything. I am especially looking forward to the Restaurant the Pilot House opening for the Season. We have a wonderful new chef Sebastian Carosi, I look forward to having his vision carried out in the restaurant. He is the first chef since Chef Guillaume Burloin that I worked with, that I am actually excited about, and I worked with Chef Burloin over 10 years ago, so even though I have been in the business all that time, I am really happy about Chef Carosi.
My husband is going to the SOBE conference in Chicago on May 1, and he has not stopped talking about it, I am happy for him, but a bit jealous that I can not make the trip this year out to Chicago but it is the first weekend we are open here at the Resort. I am going to Boston for 1 night with my best girlfriend, we are meeting half way for both of us. We will do girlie things, window shop, laugh, eat drink and be merry.
Happy Spring Everyone!!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Its about time, someone from the inside has come clean on this made up religion. I applaud Jason Beghe for coming out and telling people the truth...I have never been a fan of Tom Cruise, love John Travolta, and believe anyone should be able to have their own religion it is when you are using your celebrity status to tell people about it, I do not agree with it.
"Jason Beghe is the bravest actor in Hollywood. He’s come clean about his 14 years in Scientology, the religion that Tom Cruise reveres. He says the purpose of Scientology is to create a "brainwashed, robotic version of you."
He also says that he spent about $1 million to work his way up the Scientology ladder to become what’s known as an "OT5 auditor," or someone who listens to new members and teaches them the ropes.
He was so successful as a celebrity auditor, he says, that David Miscavige, the head of the sect, referred to him as "the poster boy for Scientology."
But now that Beghe and his wife have left the sect, the actor has concerns. They can be, he says, a vicious and vindictive group. When he asked for money back that he had banked for future study — some $60,000 to $70,000 — it was returned and he was banished.
Once you ask for refund and repayment, that’s what it’s called, you’re not allowed to take another course or speak to another Scientologist ever again," Beghe says.
On Tuesday, I told you that Beghe had posted a three-minute "teaser" video explaining a little about his exit from Scientology. A second, longer video will be going up on YouTube Wednesday or Thursday. It’s not to make money or to get publicity for himself, Beghe says, and I believe him. "If it helps people, that’s what’s important."
And that’s because Beghe says that most Scientologists are completely insulated from the criticism that we all read or publish. All the jokes, the "South Park" stuff, anti-cult stories, real data about people who’ve suffered inside the sect largely go unnoticed by the Scientology community. "They just say, 'You don’t understand.'"
Beghe is just beginning to comprehend what an impact his announcement has made. It should rock the world of celebrity Scientologists, the people Miscavige has counted on to carry the sect’s message to the outside world and make it seem plausible.
But Beghe says not all the celebrity Scientologists are completely "in." Kirstie Alley, he says, is a friend and "could be gotten out." Tom Cruise, he says, was out for several years.
"He was brought back in around the time of his divorce from Nicole Kidman. And then they put him through something called Ethics Cycle after Penelope Cruz left. That’s when you make amends for having not been in it for a while."
Cruise’s Ethics Cycle, Beghe thinks, would account for the campaign Cruise went on while filming "War of the Worlds," through the meeting, courting and recruiting of Katie Holmes, the fight with Matt Lauer on "Today" and telling Diane Sawyer what kind of Scientologist he was on ABC — not to mention the couch-jumping on "Oprah."
Beghe, for one, says he was not a good celebrity Scientologist. "They would ask me to come to parties for Tom or John (Travolta); I would say 'yes' and not go."
Indeed, Beghe says he’s spent the last eight years trying to leave Scientology. "It was good for the first three years or so. But then I got nothing out of it."
"Scientology," Beghe says, "delivers what it promises under the guise of tearing away falsity, neuroses, psychoses. It creates a brainwashed, robotic version of you. It’s a ‘Matrix’ of you, so you’re communicating with people all the time using Scientology. So we’re seeing you ‘via’ Scientology. And it creates an addiction, so you come back for more."
He says that he initially was recruited through acting teacher Milton Katselas’ class. Katselas has been cited in many publications, including The New York Times, for exerting pressure on his students to join the sect.
"He gets kickbacks," Beghe says. Among Katselas’ students have been at least half a dozen celebrity Scientologists, including Giovanni Ribisi (who is thought to have recruited "My Name Is Earl" star Jason Lee and, in turn, Ethan Suplee) and his sister, Marisa, Leah Remini and Anne Archer.
Beghe was brought to the Scientology center in Hollywood by Bodhi Elfman, husband of actress Jenna Elfman, who was in Katselas’ class. His appointment was for 10 a.m. He wound up staying at least 12 hours, as the sect’s auditors embarked on their "brainwashing." It was just before his career was taking off with a role as Demi Moore’s love interest in "G.I. Jane."
"David Miscavige loved me. He took me to Hemet" — the Scientology fortress in the California mountains — "and he came with me to the premiere of 'G.I. Jane.' He let me do voice-overs for Scientology instructional videos, which was unheard of. And it would take a year to do a 15-minute video; he was that meticulous."
But in a short time, Beghe saw that things were not going so well. "I was unhappy and depressed. They would say it was their fault, the way they were handling my ‘case.’ And I’d flip out another $50,000 for another course."
Beghe says the biggest question at Scientology is where all the money has gone. "You never get any answers about it," he says. "And it’s all about money."
It took Beghe and his wife, Angie — whom he’d brought into the sect and who also achieved the high level of OT5 — more than a year to negotiate their way out. (Their first child even endured the Scientology "silent birth" we’ve heard so much about.)
Beghe says during that time his relations with his family and friends — like childhood pal David Duchovny — were strained. "Things are much better now with everyone," Beghe says.
"Jason Beghe is the bravest actor in Hollywood. He’s come clean about his 14 years in Scientology, the religion that Tom Cruise reveres. He says the purpose of Scientology is to create a "brainwashed, robotic version of you."
He also says that he spent about $1 million to work his way up the Scientology ladder to become what’s known as an "OT5 auditor," or someone who listens to new members and teaches them the ropes.
He was so successful as a celebrity auditor, he says, that David Miscavige, the head of the sect, referred to him as "the poster boy for Scientology."
But now that Beghe and his wife have left the sect, the actor has concerns. They can be, he says, a vicious and vindictive group. When he asked for money back that he had banked for future study — some $60,000 to $70,000 — it was returned and he was banished.
Once you ask for refund and repayment, that’s what it’s called, you’re not allowed to take another course or speak to another Scientologist ever again," Beghe says.
On Tuesday, I told you that Beghe had posted a three-minute "teaser" video explaining a little about his exit from Scientology. A second, longer video will be going up on YouTube Wednesday or Thursday. It’s not to make money or to get publicity for himself, Beghe says, and I believe him. "If it helps people, that’s what’s important."
And that’s because Beghe says that most Scientologists are completely insulated from the criticism that we all read or publish. All the jokes, the "South Park" stuff, anti-cult stories, real data about people who’ve suffered inside the sect largely go unnoticed by the Scientology community. "They just say, 'You don’t understand.'"
Beghe is just beginning to comprehend what an impact his announcement has made. It should rock the world of celebrity Scientologists, the people Miscavige has counted on to carry the sect’s message to the outside world and make it seem plausible.
But Beghe says not all the celebrity Scientologists are completely "in." Kirstie Alley, he says, is a friend and "could be gotten out." Tom Cruise, he says, was out for several years.
"He was brought back in around the time of his divorce from Nicole Kidman. And then they put him through something called Ethics Cycle after Penelope Cruz left. That’s when you make amends for having not been in it for a while."
Cruise’s Ethics Cycle, Beghe thinks, would account for the campaign Cruise went on while filming "War of the Worlds," through the meeting, courting and recruiting of Katie Holmes, the fight with Matt Lauer on "Today" and telling Diane Sawyer what kind of Scientologist he was on ABC — not to mention the couch-jumping on "Oprah."
Beghe, for one, says he was not a good celebrity Scientologist. "They would ask me to come to parties for Tom or John (Travolta); I would say 'yes' and not go."
Indeed, Beghe says he’s spent the last eight years trying to leave Scientology. "It was good for the first three years or so. But then I got nothing out of it."
"Scientology," Beghe says, "delivers what it promises under the guise of tearing away falsity, neuroses, psychoses. It creates a brainwashed, robotic version of you. It’s a ‘Matrix’ of you, so you’re communicating with people all the time using Scientology. So we’re seeing you ‘via’ Scientology. And it creates an addiction, so you come back for more."
He says that he initially was recruited through acting teacher Milton Katselas’ class. Katselas has been cited in many publications, including The New York Times, for exerting pressure on his students to join the sect.
"He gets kickbacks," Beghe says. Among Katselas’ students have been at least half a dozen celebrity Scientologists, including Giovanni Ribisi (who is thought to have recruited "My Name Is Earl" star Jason Lee and, in turn, Ethan Suplee) and his sister, Marisa, Leah Remini and Anne Archer.
Beghe was brought to the Scientology center in Hollywood by Bodhi Elfman, husband of actress Jenna Elfman, who was in Katselas’ class. His appointment was for 10 a.m. He wound up staying at least 12 hours, as the sect’s auditors embarked on their "brainwashing." It was just before his career was taking off with a role as Demi Moore’s love interest in "G.I. Jane."
"David Miscavige loved me. He took me to Hemet" — the Scientology fortress in the California mountains — "and he came with me to the premiere of 'G.I. Jane.' He let me do voice-overs for Scientology instructional videos, which was unheard of. And it would take a year to do a 15-minute video; he was that meticulous."
But in a short time, Beghe saw that things were not going so well. "I was unhappy and depressed. They would say it was their fault, the way they were handling my ‘case.’ And I’d flip out another $50,000 for another course."
Beghe says the biggest question at Scientology is where all the money has gone. "You never get any answers about it," he says. "And it’s all about money."
It took Beghe and his wife, Angie — whom he’d brought into the sect and who also achieved the high level of OT5 — more than a year to negotiate their way out. (Their first child even endured the Scientology "silent birth" we’ve heard so much about.)
Beghe says during that time his relations with his family and friends — like childhood pal David Duchovny — were strained. "Things are much better now with everyone," Beghe says.
Reality CHECK:
Rock of Love 2: Bret picked Ambre and not the Slut Daisy. I was quite shocked, but not as shocked as Daisy looked when it happened. I am glad that he picked someone who is closer to his age, and very stable in her own life. Daisy is 25 and not stable at all, did you see how she acted in Mexico? I am looking forward to the reunion.
The Hills: Heidi get a life, Adrianne may feel bad about losing your semi-friendship, but you are no real friend, you dropped her because of Lauren. Lauren is the one the whole show revolves around, and if Adrianne wants to stay on the show, she should realize that Heidi is not the one. Since, I don't really believe this show is reality it is more scripted than people realize.
The Beauty and the Geek: Poor Greg, went on the chopping block due to Randi and so did Tara because of Joe, it would of been nice if those two could of stayed together and the other two go home, Joe and Randi both deserve each other. I admit I did not watch the end of the show, so I have no idea who went home, but I felt bad for Greg when it was announced he and Randi would be go into the room against Joe and Tara.
Is Project Runway moving to Lifetime really? I hope Bravo holds on...
Real Housewives of NYC: I do think it is great for Alex and Simon to be away from each other for awhile these two are way too attached at the hip. Bethanny is so straight forward I really like her and wonder if Jason is finally going to pop the question.
Flavor of Love 3: The fact it is his 3rd try should explain something, I am so glad to see Thing 1 finally go home, the twins are bizarre anyway, it will be interesting to see how this will change the house.
Rock of Love 2: Bret picked Ambre and not the Slut Daisy. I was quite shocked, but not as shocked as Daisy looked when it happened. I am glad that he picked someone who is closer to his age, and very stable in her own life. Daisy is 25 and not stable at all, did you see how she acted in Mexico? I am looking forward to the reunion.
The Hills: Heidi get a life, Adrianne may feel bad about losing your semi-friendship, but you are no real friend, you dropped her because of Lauren. Lauren is the one the whole show revolves around, and if Adrianne wants to stay on the show, she should realize that Heidi is not the one. Since, I don't really believe this show is reality it is more scripted than people realize.
The Beauty and the Geek: Poor Greg, went on the chopping block due to Randi and so did Tara because of Joe, it would of been nice if those two could of stayed together and the other two go home, Joe and Randi both deserve each other. I admit I did not watch the end of the show, so I have no idea who went home, but I felt bad for Greg when it was announced he and Randi would be go into the room against Joe and Tara.
Is Project Runway moving to Lifetime really? I hope Bravo holds on...
Real Housewives of NYC: I do think it is great for Alex and Simon to be away from each other for awhile these two are way too attached at the hip. Bethanny is so straight forward I really like her and wonder if Jason is finally going to pop the question.
Flavor of Love 3: The fact it is his 3rd try should explain something, I am so glad to see Thing 1 finally go home, the twins are bizarre anyway, it will be interesting to see how this will change the house.
Another Home Invasion in CT, and this one closer to where I grew up, SCARY!! What right do these people have to think they can do this? I am glad justice has been served, and that CT, now has a "Law" on the books against home invasion. I am so upset and appalled by this, where do you feel safe anymore?
'Sean Dowden grew up on the Gold Star Highway in Groton, living with his grandparents until he was 8 or 9 years old.
A decade later, police say, he returned to the neighborhood and robbed and killed the 94-year-old man who lived next door.
Then he allegedly stole the victim's car, which eventually led police to the crime scene.
Dowden, 20, of Groton, told town police in a videotaped confession that he had planned a robbery ahead of time and on Monday had specifically targeted Charles Lovendosky, of 400 Gold Star Highway, as his victim, according to court officials.
The cause of death is unknown, though Dowden allegedly entered the home armed with an unloaded handgun and a scalpel. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to perform an autopsy today.
A burly, dark-haired man with a mustache and goatee, Dowden appeared in New London Superior Court Tuesday in baggy jeans and a black and white T-shirt. He had been held overnight on a $2 million bond.
Dowden had been released from prison in January after serving a two-year sentence for stealing a car, according to court records. He had served a “flat” prison sentence and was not on probation or parole.
Judge Kevin P. McMahon ordered a police report of the incident sealed for two weeks but recited some of its contents.
“He prepped for this,” the judge said. “He knew who the victim was going to be. He specifically chose him and (in the confession) he describes what was going to happen.”
Prosecutor Peter A. McShane asked the judge to impose a $5 million bond, saying the case contains “the most egregious facts I've seen in some time.”
“You'd have to live in a cave ... to not know home invasion is not going to be tolerated in this state,” McShane said.
The judge ordered Dowden held on a $500,000 cash bond and continued his case to April 28.
Dowden is charged with murder, felony murder and a long list of other crimes that could earn him a prison sentence of more than 100 years. He also is thought to be the third Connecticut defendant charged with home invasion under a new state law that took effect March 1.
The General Assembly enacted the law in response to the brutal murders of three family members in Cheshire during a home invasion last summer. Home invasion carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.
A spokeswoman for the judicial branch said that as of April 12, two defendants in the Litchfield judicial district had been charged with home invasion.
Public defender Jennifer Nowak had asked the judge to keep the police report sealed because, she said, making it public could prejudice potential jurors against Dowden.
McMahon said he was sealing the file temporarily, because to release it “would not only put this case in jeopardy, it would put his life in jeopardy.”
Other inmates of the state Department of Correction have expressed anger toward those accused in home invasions because last year's high-profile crimes resulted in a temporary ban on parole and sparked talk of other tough reforms.
The other charges against Dowden include first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, criminal use of a firearm, first-degree larceny, possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school, public housing or day-care facility, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, public housing or day-care facility, driving with a suspended license and engaging an officer in pursuit.
Dowden's girlfriend, Star Smith, said police arrested Dowden at her house on Central Avenue Monday. Smith said she was unaware of the crime that had allegedly taken place and could not provide police with much information though they detained her for questioning and searched her home.
Smith, accompanied by a few friends of Dowden, waited several hours for him to appear in court. She said her boyfriend is “a good guy” who needs a mental-health evaluation.
Dowden had once lived next door to the man he is accused of killing. Theresa Bonn, his grandmother, said Tuesday she raised him until he was 8 or 9 in her home at 406 Gold Star Highway.
“I'm terribly disappointed,” Bonn said. “I have no idea what happened. He was a sweet child when he was with us. I don't think he knew Charlie. He never had contact with him.”
Before she knew her grandson was involved, Bonn said, she had noticed Monday that Lovendosky's white Cadillac was missing from his driveway. That same day a Groton police officer tried to stop a car that was operating erratically in the area of Midway Oval, but the vehicle eluded police.
The car was later located — parked and unoccupied in the Poquonnock Bridge community — and the subsequent investigation led police to 400 Gold Star Highway, where Lovendosky's body was found. The investigation then took officers to Central Avenue, where they encountered Dowden, who they believed had been driving the car earlier.
Bonn said she raised Dowden starting soon after his birth because his mother — her daughter, Caroline Demontigny — was in prison at the time. She said Dowden's father, Thomas, also spent time in jail.
Bonn said her grandson left to live with his mother in New London when he was 8 or 9 years old and attended the Jennings School and Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. He never completed high school, she said.
“This is shocking,” Bonn said. “We never had any problem with Charlie. I will miss him terribly. We really felt safe with him as our neighbor.”
Sean Dowden was released from prison Jan. 3 after serving a nearly two-year sentence for first-degree larceny and engaging police in pursuit. In January 2006 he led police on a chase in a stolen car that ended when he crashed the vehicle into a garage.
In that case, police began following Dowden after he committed several motor vehicle violations in the area of Williams and Manwaring streets in New London.
Dowden traveled at high speed through the city and onto Interstate 95. He left the highway at Exit 88, where members of the Groton town police joined the chase. He was captured when he crashed into a garage on West Shore Avenue, damaging the building, police said.
Officers found a knife in the car, police said.
Lovendosky's family members could not be reached to comment Tuesday. Bonn said Lovendosky was a proud and private man whose longtime companion, Violette Littlefield, died last December.
Bonn, who was Lovendosky's neighbor for more than 15 years, said he was bothered by arthritis and other ailments and had stopped cooking for himself. She said he took many of his meals at nearby restaurants.
Bonn said she and her husband were glad to see Lovendosky coming and going because they would have been uncomfortable knocking on his door to check on him for fear of invading his privacy.
She said police told her Lovendosky had become weak and frail. She said his efforts to maintain his dignity included using a broom as a cane.
“I saw him using it to walk,” she said. “He was very proud, you know? But it was hard for him to walk to get his mail, so he used the broom. When he would see me he would start sweeping, pretending. He didn't want people to see him.”
'Sean Dowden grew up on the Gold Star Highway in Groton, living with his grandparents until he was 8 or 9 years old.
A decade later, police say, he returned to the neighborhood and robbed and killed the 94-year-old man who lived next door.
Then he allegedly stole the victim's car, which eventually led police to the crime scene.
Dowden, 20, of Groton, told town police in a videotaped confession that he had planned a robbery ahead of time and on Monday had specifically targeted Charles Lovendosky, of 400 Gold Star Highway, as his victim, according to court officials.
The cause of death is unknown, though Dowden allegedly entered the home armed with an unloaded handgun and a scalpel. The state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is expected to perform an autopsy today.
A burly, dark-haired man with a mustache and goatee, Dowden appeared in New London Superior Court Tuesday in baggy jeans and a black and white T-shirt. He had been held overnight on a $2 million bond.
Dowden had been released from prison in January after serving a two-year sentence for stealing a car, according to court records. He had served a “flat” prison sentence and was not on probation or parole.
Judge Kevin P. McMahon ordered a police report of the incident sealed for two weeks but recited some of its contents.
“He prepped for this,” the judge said. “He knew who the victim was going to be. He specifically chose him and (in the confession) he describes what was going to happen.”
Prosecutor Peter A. McShane asked the judge to impose a $5 million bond, saying the case contains “the most egregious facts I've seen in some time.”
“You'd have to live in a cave ... to not know home invasion is not going to be tolerated in this state,” McShane said.
The judge ordered Dowden held on a $500,000 cash bond and continued his case to April 28.
Dowden is charged with murder, felony murder and a long list of other crimes that could earn him a prison sentence of more than 100 years. He also is thought to be the third Connecticut defendant charged with home invasion under a new state law that took effect March 1.
The General Assembly enacted the law in response to the brutal murders of three family members in Cheshire during a home invasion last summer. Home invasion carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.
A spokeswoman for the judicial branch said that as of April 12, two defendants in the Litchfield judicial district had been charged with home invasion.
Public defender Jennifer Nowak had asked the judge to keep the police report sealed because, she said, making it public could prejudice potential jurors against Dowden.
McMahon said he was sealing the file temporarily, because to release it “would not only put this case in jeopardy, it would put his life in jeopardy.”
Other inmates of the state Department of Correction have expressed anger toward those accused in home invasions because last year's high-profile crimes resulted in a temporary ban on parole and sparked talk of other tough reforms.
The other charges against Dowden include first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, criminal use of a firearm, first-degree larceny, possession of crack cocaine, possession of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a school, public housing or day-care facility, possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana within 1,500 feet of a school, public housing or day-care facility, driving with a suspended license and engaging an officer in pursuit.
Dowden's girlfriend, Star Smith, said police arrested Dowden at her house on Central Avenue Monday. Smith said she was unaware of the crime that had allegedly taken place and could not provide police with much information though they detained her for questioning and searched her home.
Smith, accompanied by a few friends of Dowden, waited several hours for him to appear in court. She said her boyfriend is “a good guy” who needs a mental-health evaluation.
Dowden had once lived next door to the man he is accused of killing. Theresa Bonn, his grandmother, said Tuesday she raised him until he was 8 or 9 in her home at 406 Gold Star Highway.
“I'm terribly disappointed,” Bonn said. “I have no idea what happened. He was a sweet child when he was with us. I don't think he knew Charlie. He never had contact with him.”
Before she knew her grandson was involved, Bonn said, she had noticed Monday that Lovendosky's white Cadillac was missing from his driveway. That same day a Groton police officer tried to stop a car that was operating erratically in the area of Midway Oval, but the vehicle eluded police.
The car was later located — parked and unoccupied in the Poquonnock Bridge community — and the subsequent investigation led police to 400 Gold Star Highway, where Lovendosky's body was found. The investigation then took officers to Central Avenue, where they encountered Dowden, who they believed had been driving the car earlier.
Bonn said she raised Dowden starting soon after his birth because his mother — her daughter, Caroline Demontigny — was in prison at the time. She said Dowden's father, Thomas, also spent time in jail.
Bonn said her grandson left to live with his mother in New London when he was 8 or 9 years old and attended the Jennings School and Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School. He never completed high school, she said.
“This is shocking,” Bonn said. “We never had any problem with Charlie. I will miss him terribly. We really felt safe with him as our neighbor.”
Sean Dowden was released from prison Jan. 3 after serving a nearly two-year sentence for first-degree larceny and engaging police in pursuit. In January 2006 he led police on a chase in a stolen car that ended when he crashed the vehicle into a garage.
In that case, police began following Dowden after he committed several motor vehicle violations in the area of Williams and Manwaring streets in New London.
Dowden traveled at high speed through the city and onto Interstate 95. He left the highway at Exit 88, where members of the Groton town police joined the chase. He was captured when he crashed into a garage on West Shore Avenue, damaging the building, police said.
Officers found a knife in the car, police said.
Lovendosky's family members could not be reached to comment Tuesday. Bonn said Lovendosky was a proud and private man whose longtime companion, Violette Littlefield, died last December.
Bonn, who was Lovendosky's neighbor for more than 15 years, said he was bothered by arthritis and other ailments and had stopped cooking for himself. She said he took many of his meals at nearby restaurants.
Bonn said she and her husband were glad to see Lovendosky coming and going because they would have been uncomfortable knocking on his door to check on him for fear of invading his privacy.
She said police told her Lovendosky had become weak and frail. She said his efforts to maintain his dignity included using a broom as a cane.
“I saw him using it to walk,” she said. “He was very proud, you know? But it was hard for him to walk to get his mail, so he used the broom. When he would see me he would start sweeping, pretending. He didn't want people to see him.”
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Tax Day: Let me be honest, my husband and I have not done them, he is working on them as I write this, then he will come to work for me to sign and then off they go. We are so bad at getting them done, since I have being doing my taxes, I have always waited until the last minute, it must be a mental block or something.
I am positive we will owe money, yet again. All this moving around has not helped us either, we are going to be in Maine for at least another 18 months. 1. We can not afford to move yet again and 2. Where is our next stop? My dream Key West, my reality stay in New England.
I love watching HGTV, House Hunters, and Open House, the thing about Open House it tells you where the best prices are around the country for living and getting more for your buck. Personally, my favorite places are soooo expensive, San Francisco, which according the the Weather people the next big Earthquake will happen before 2037, so helpful right? Boston, Cape Cod, Narragansatt, Newport. Who can afford to live in these places without making a zillion dollars?
I love House Hunters, to see the prices of the 3 places and to figure out the couple in a half hour of their choices, which by the way, I am pretty good at. Open House, has mentioned some of the best prices in the US is Louisville, KY, Detriot, MI, but I need to be near the ocean, I tried living near the Mountains thinking that would be fine, since I grew up on the Coast in Ct. It is not, to me water is soothing to me.
I am positive we will owe money, yet again. All this moving around has not helped us either, we are going to be in Maine for at least another 18 months. 1. We can not afford to move yet again and 2. Where is our next stop? My dream Key West, my reality stay in New England.
I love watching HGTV, House Hunters, and Open House, the thing about Open House it tells you where the best prices are around the country for living and getting more for your buck. Personally, my favorite places are soooo expensive, San Francisco, which according the the Weather people the next big Earthquake will happen before 2037, so helpful right? Boston, Cape Cod, Narragansatt, Newport. Who can afford to live in these places without making a zillion dollars?
I love House Hunters, to see the prices of the 3 places and to figure out the couple in a half hour of their choices, which by the way, I am pretty good at. Open House, has mentioned some of the best prices in the US is Louisville, KY, Detriot, MI, but I need to be near the ocean, I tried living near the Mountains thinking that would be fine, since I grew up on the Coast in Ct. It is not, to me water is soothing to me.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Do you remember being 12 years old? Do you remember all the insecurities that come with it, and the drama? When I was 12 years old, I was the 3rd child to go through this time, I had two "cool" older sisters who did not want the "kid" tagging along.
My sister Gwynne was 15, and Lynne 16, to them it felt like I was a lifetime away from them, since then we have grown closer. Recent events have made me try to remember those feelings, that time in my life. I did of course, go back to my diaries from that time period.
BOY WAS I DRAMATIC!!! If anyone commented on my hair, I would be running up the stairs in tears and of course, slam my door to make a point and throw myself on the bed to have a huge cry. My first real crush, "Albert" would call and we would talk, but he never asked me out, when he ended up going out with Suzie F. my life fell apart, anything would set me off.
It seemed my emotions were running over time, and I do believe no one thinks they are "cute" at that stage, if you do your self-esteem must of been off the charts. My parents were divorced, but we went to my dad's every weekend, not that we could talk to dad but he was putting in his time, luckily he lived in a basement apartment at his mom's so we did spend alot of time with both grandparents. This was the 70's, there were a lot more divorces out there, and were beginning to be more excepted.
For me, attention grabbing was my tears, for my mom she was a pleas er, who only wanted her parents to like her, she is still a pleas er today, wants everyone to like her. To be honest, my mom is the sweetest person in the world, and would never hurt anyone intentionally. Even my grandmother would say, your mom was a little mom, and always took in strays. She just revealed to me she cut herself with razor blades, I don't think she realized it is a stress relief.
"1.9 million Americans do these things, and do them repeatedly, some for years at a time, according to one conservative estimate. 1 Another source says 750 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. self-injure. 2 These people are NOT CRAZY. These people are NOT SUICIDAL, although a third of them expect to be dead within five years. They suffer from what is called by some "Deliberate Self Harm Syndrome," by others "complex post-traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD), "Repetitive Self-Harm Syndrome" or "multiple personality/dissociative identity disorders" (MPD/DID). Many of these people simply call themselves "cutters," and some simply call what they do SI, or self-injury, and use SI as a verb, as in "I SI once a month".
Recently, we have found out that my 12 year old niece is cutting herself, depressed and her little boyfriend may be hitting her. My heart goes out to her, she does not realize how great she is, and the fact her mom has given everything to her, emotionally. My sister has not dated, and after many years after her divorce has just started a healthy relationship, her ex-IDIOT, is blaming her, of course, never looking at the fact he is never there for his kids..
Being a 12 year old girl is tough enough, and then to have outside forces bigger than yourself to contend with makes it overwhelming. I admit when I heard the school counselor called the EX out and put alot of the blame on him, I smiled, we have been saying this for years. My husband was so mad last night, if we were not 5 hrs. away, I think my EX-brother in law, and the little boyfriends parents would of gotten a not nice visit.
Part of me, is glad it finally is all out in the open and came to a head, now the family can pull together and work to help my niece. My family, is not perfect far from it, but we all pull together in a time of need, that is our way. My mom, told us alot the other day of her child hood which we knew nothing about, is it hereditary? I do believe depression is, all of us in my family, have gone through it, besides myself everyone is on some sort of medication. Ironically, I was the one who first got on medication when my 5 year long relationship ended, I could not pull out of the funk. I think if you need it, take it especially if is going to help you. Life is tough sometimes, and you need alittle help. I love my niece and hope she realizes we are all here for her, and will never give up on making her healthy.
Try to remember back to when you were 12 what were you feeling?
My sister Gwynne was 15, and Lynne 16, to them it felt like I was a lifetime away from them, since then we have grown closer. Recent events have made me try to remember those feelings, that time in my life. I did of course, go back to my diaries from that time period.
BOY WAS I DRAMATIC!!! If anyone commented on my hair, I would be running up the stairs in tears and of course, slam my door to make a point and throw myself on the bed to have a huge cry. My first real crush, "Albert" would call and we would talk, but he never asked me out, when he ended up going out with Suzie F. my life fell apart, anything would set me off.
It seemed my emotions were running over time, and I do believe no one thinks they are "cute" at that stage, if you do your self-esteem must of been off the charts. My parents were divorced, but we went to my dad's every weekend, not that we could talk to dad but he was putting in his time, luckily he lived in a basement apartment at his mom's so we did spend alot of time with both grandparents. This was the 70's, there were a lot more divorces out there, and were beginning to be more excepted.
For me, attention grabbing was my tears, for my mom she was a pleas er, who only wanted her parents to like her, she is still a pleas er today, wants everyone to like her. To be honest, my mom is the sweetest person in the world, and would never hurt anyone intentionally. Even my grandmother would say, your mom was a little mom, and always took in strays. She just revealed to me she cut herself with razor blades, I don't think she realized it is a stress relief.
"1.9 million Americans do these things, and do them repeatedly, some for years at a time, according to one conservative estimate. 1 Another source says 750 of every 100,000 people in the U.S. self-injure. 2 These people are NOT CRAZY. These people are NOT SUICIDAL, although a third of them expect to be dead within five years. They suffer from what is called by some "Deliberate Self Harm Syndrome," by others "complex post-traumatic stress disorder" (PTSD), "Repetitive Self-Harm Syndrome" or "multiple personality/dissociative identity disorders" (MPD/DID). Many of these people simply call themselves "cutters," and some simply call what they do SI, or self-injury, and use SI as a verb, as in "I SI once a month".
Recently, we have found out that my 12 year old niece is cutting herself, depressed and her little boyfriend may be hitting her. My heart goes out to her, she does not realize how great she is, and the fact her mom has given everything to her, emotionally. My sister has not dated, and after many years after her divorce has just started a healthy relationship, her ex-IDIOT, is blaming her, of course, never looking at the fact he is never there for his kids..
Being a 12 year old girl is tough enough, and then to have outside forces bigger than yourself to contend with makes it overwhelming. I admit when I heard the school counselor called the EX out and put alot of the blame on him, I smiled, we have been saying this for years. My husband was so mad last night, if we were not 5 hrs. away, I think my EX-brother in law, and the little boyfriends parents would of gotten a not nice visit.
Part of me, is glad it finally is all out in the open and came to a head, now the family can pull together and work to help my niece. My family, is not perfect far from it, but we all pull together in a time of need, that is our way. My mom, told us alot the other day of her child hood which we knew nothing about, is it hereditary? I do believe depression is, all of us in my family, have gone through it, besides myself everyone is on some sort of medication. Ironically, I was the one who first got on medication when my 5 year long relationship ended, I could not pull out of the funk. I think if you need it, take it especially if is going to help you. Life is tough sometimes, and you need alittle help. I love my niece and hope she realizes we are all here for her, and will never give up on making her healthy.
Try to remember back to when you were 12 what were you feeling?
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Reality Check:
Big Brother 9: Shocker, they have backdoored James for the nomination against Sharon, I feel Natalie should go, she has not played this game, she was playing for revenge on Matt. I would love the final two to be Ryan and Sharon, or Ryan and Adam, these 3 actually played the game. Sharon because I like her and Joshua played her so well, she deserves it. About time Ryan won POV, if Sharon can win HOH she might be able to get Natalie out of the game.
Rock of Love 2: It is down to the final two, we said goodbye to groupie Destiny this week, I truly believe Ambre would be best for Bret especially because she is 37 and more stable than Daisy. Daisy, wants a rock star and she does look like a Rock Star girlfriend but way too much baggage, I feel he will pick Daisy because she is built, (FAKE THEY ARE), and looks the part, but he will not be happy.
Beauty and the Geek: MAKE OVER last night, they all look great, and more confidant, Joe needs to get over himself, it was a make over for gosh sake not a stripping of your soul. He is hurting his partners chances, and Tara does not deserve that. It was Tiffany's fault for picking the wrong man at the end, and switching the way it should of happened, so she really did deserve to go home last week. Matt, is coming out of his shell and I think his partner doesn't like it, because he is no longer under her spell. It looks like he had a great time at the Premiere party of "Prom Night."
The Hills: Heidi get over yourself, Stephanie actually seems to like Lauren, and that should not reflect on you and Spencer but then again is Brody right, are they playing Lauren? Are they that smart and devious?
Big Brother 9: Shocker, they have backdoored James for the nomination against Sharon, I feel Natalie should go, she has not played this game, she was playing for revenge on Matt. I would love the final two to be Ryan and Sharon, or Ryan and Adam, these 3 actually played the game. Sharon because I like her and Joshua played her so well, she deserves it. About time Ryan won POV, if Sharon can win HOH she might be able to get Natalie out of the game.
Rock of Love 2: It is down to the final two, we said goodbye to groupie Destiny this week, I truly believe Ambre would be best for Bret especially because she is 37 and more stable than Daisy. Daisy, wants a rock star and she does look like a Rock Star girlfriend but way too much baggage, I feel he will pick Daisy because she is built, (FAKE THEY ARE), and looks the part, but he will not be happy.
Beauty and the Geek: MAKE OVER last night, they all look great, and more confidant, Joe needs to get over himself, it was a make over for gosh sake not a stripping of your soul. He is hurting his partners chances, and Tara does not deserve that. It was Tiffany's fault for picking the wrong man at the end, and switching the way it should of happened, so she really did deserve to go home last week. Matt, is coming out of his shell and I think his partner doesn't like it, because he is no longer under her spell. It looks like he had a great time at the Premiere party of "Prom Night."
The Hills: Heidi get over yourself, Stephanie actually seems to like Lauren, and that should not reflect on you and Spencer but then again is Brody right, are they playing Lauren? Are they that smart and devious?
Friday, April 04, 2008
As we all know I am in the Hotel/Resort business and I sell Weddings and all social events. I do concentrate on weddings because lets face it there is money there.. Believe me brides are not as happy planning their weddings as some people may think, seriously watch, "Bridezillas" and "Who's wedding is it anyway?".
Well, I love the new resort I work at on the Coast of Maine. We are a small resort, and a small staff year round, due to being a seasonal property. Lately, DRAMA!! Now, I have been told I am a drama queen over my life, and my career. When I worked in Mystic, between myself, Thomas and Claudette we either were involved in the Drama or at least knew about it and helped it along. Not a smart move. So, as I have gotten older, I try to stay away from Drama at work so not professional.
I had being doing a good job here, until recent events. A woman who has worked here 7 years, today is her last day. Now, I have only worked with her for 5 months, and appreciated her attention to my wedding groups, but did notice her inability to go with the flow of the new way of doing business. Granted, this resort was treated like a big family, but it made no money. We were brought in the new management team to bring in money, and keep this business growing.
She feels pushed out by her direct boss, and the new GM. They gentlemen are both amazing at their jobs, and only want the best for the property, they did not force her out they are taking the resort into the 21st century and into making it a profitable place, and she could of stayed, but in a different capacity. Well, since she has given her notice, there has been gossip, backstabbing and down right awful things said, about some people on the property.
The other day, we had a meeting on this subject, and my heart went out to the GM for him having to make it understood that these decisions are not made lightly and to quote a cliche, "It is Business, nothing personal". Myself, my direct boss, the Front Office Director are basically, known as the teachers' pet. Part of me is happy, but the other part does not like the fact of the division. I agree with everything that has been done on the property. I got caught up because I was talking to another employee who was bad mouthing my direct boss, and I made a comment on the end, and the HR director heard me and thought I was bad mouthing too. NO, that is not what happened, you only heard part of the conversation, if you are going to eavesdrop, please do it correctly.
I did have a disagreement with my boss yesterday, I don't usually stand up for myself, but I had to, she was not understanding and neither of us would back down. It came down to, she thinks I am doing double work and I am not, I just am very detailed on this one subject. Even our co-worker who was in the meeting could not believe what happened between the two of us. Believe me, I am not the type to push a point, but I was correct and she wasn't' this time, and I am not apologizing our disagreement, we are WASP"s after all we will ignore it and hope it goes away.
I am stressing because of the Drama of the people who have worked here for years and the newbies, everyone likes to be liked, but reality is it is business, and we all need to be productive in order for the business to succeed. So my question to the universe, is when is business more personal?
Well, I love the new resort I work at on the Coast of Maine. We are a small resort, and a small staff year round, due to being a seasonal property. Lately, DRAMA!! Now, I have been told I am a drama queen over my life, and my career. When I worked in Mystic, between myself, Thomas and Claudette we either were involved in the Drama or at least knew about it and helped it along. Not a smart move. So, as I have gotten older, I try to stay away from Drama at work so not professional.
I had being doing a good job here, until recent events. A woman who has worked here 7 years, today is her last day. Now, I have only worked with her for 5 months, and appreciated her attention to my wedding groups, but did notice her inability to go with the flow of the new way of doing business. Granted, this resort was treated like a big family, but it made no money. We were brought in the new management team to bring in money, and keep this business growing.
She feels pushed out by her direct boss, and the new GM. They gentlemen are both amazing at their jobs, and only want the best for the property, they did not force her out they are taking the resort into the 21st century and into making it a profitable place, and she could of stayed, but in a different capacity. Well, since she has given her notice, there has been gossip, backstabbing and down right awful things said, about some people on the property.
The other day, we had a meeting on this subject, and my heart went out to the GM for him having to make it understood that these decisions are not made lightly and to quote a cliche, "It is Business, nothing personal". Myself, my direct boss, the Front Office Director are basically, known as the teachers' pet. Part of me is happy, but the other part does not like the fact of the division. I agree with everything that has been done on the property. I got caught up because I was talking to another employee who was bad mouthing my direct boss, and I made a comment on the end, and the HR director heard me and thought I was bad mouthing too. NO, that is not what happened, you only heard part of the conversation, if you are going to eavesdrop, please do it correctly.
I did have a disagreement with my boss yesterday, I don't usually stand up for myself, but I had to, she was not understanding and neither of us would back down. It came down to, she thinks I am doing double work and I am not, I just am very detailed on this one subject. Even our co-worker who was in the meeting could not believe what happened between the two of us. Believe me, I am not the type to push a point, but I was correct and she wasn't' this time, and I am not apologizing our disagreement, we are WASP"s after all we will ignore it and hope it goes away.
I am stressing because of the Drama of the people who have worked here for years and the newbies, everyone likes to be liked, but reality is it is business, and we all need to be productive in order for the business to succeed. So my question to the universe, is when is business more personal?
Thursday, April 03, 2008
REALITY CHECK
Flavor of Love 3 : Bad enough, I got sucked in the first two seasons, but this one, even without NEW YORK is packed full of women who are awful. Prancer went home this week, she seriously thought she was going to win, and when the 4 new girls showed up is she kidding? They are beautiful, and actually have some class. The Twins, I am glad they are splitting them up!! Tweedle dee and dum is what they should be called..
Seesinz get over yourself, your directing was nothing but bossing around...
Rock of Love 2: Jessica left, due to her niceness, I don't think she is a rock chick, but if he was looking for real love then Daisy the slut should of left, she is still living with her ex-boyfriend in a 1 bedroom apartment, you can not explain that away..Destiny- GROUPIE!!! Ambre, actually 37 not 32 as she told Bret, but still the best one for him, get over yourself Bret you are in your 40's why not date someone your own age you might actually find something worth it. Personally, I think he should ask Heather back and get with her, they are great together.
Big Brother 9: James won POV, and Joshua was sent packing, even though he tried his best to manipulate people to vote Sharon off, he was good. Give him credit, now Adam won HOH, if he was smart he would put Sheila and Sharon up then back door James otherwise if he puts James up then he will most likely win POV again and come back yet again. Personally, I want Natalie and Sheila gone, they are manipulating Adam and I hope he is aware of the situation. He really is not dumb he is playing that card to get into the final 2 which should be him and Ryan they have played the game well.
Class Reunion: Heather came on and her and Mike went on a date, boy was Lana upset, please you divorced him in 2004 due to your affair with Steve the Backstabber who no one is talking to. Justin watch out, Deanna has been married 4x, do you really want to be number 5? Matt and Yvette, I was upset she has a boyfriend, because I love them together, maybe it is not too serious, but then again, is Matt ready for a full time relationship now so soon after his wife's death? Glenn and Jason seem to be getting along great, especially since Jason was the vain of Glenn's existence in High School sometimes you do grow up.
Top Chef 3 missed this week...
Real Housewives of NY: Alex and Simon make me sick, I kind of liked them at first, but now they are showing that they are social climbers and I hate that more than anything. Luann I like her more and more each week, her and Jill seem to have fun and generally care about each other. Bethany honey, don't ask questions you don't want the real answer to, he had every right to tell you he does not know if he will be ready in 2 years, what do you do? Look at the 6th season of Sex and the City and see Carrie and the Russian on the same subject... Ramona stop being a stage mother, your daughter is wonderful and she needs you to listen to her on what she wants and what she does not want to miss to get there...
I am waiting for Work out 3 on Bravo, for some reason I love this show and all the drama...
Flavor of Love 3 : Bad enough, I got sucked in the first two seasons, but this one, even without NEW YORK is packed full of women who are awful. Prancer went home this week, she seriously thought she was going to win, and when the 4 new girls showed up is she kidding? They are beautiful, and actually have some class. The Twins, I am glad they are splitting them up!! Tweedle dee and dum is what they should be called..
Seesinz get over yourself, your directing was nothing but bossing around...
Rock of Love 2: Jessica left, due to her niceness, I don't think she is a rock chick, but if he was looking for real love then Daisy the slut should of left, she is still living with her ex-boyfriend in a 1 bedroom apartment, you can not explain that away..Destiny- GROUPIE!!! Ambre, actually 37 not 32 as she told Bret, but still the best one for him, get over yourself Bret you are in your 40's why not date someone your own age you might actually find something worth it. Personally, I think he should ask Heather back and get with her, they are great together.
Big Brother 9: James won POV, and Joshua was sent packing, even though he tried his best to manipulate people to vote Sharon off, he was good. Give him credit, now Adam won HOH, if he was smart he would put Sheila and Sharon up then back door James otherwise if he puts James up then he will most likely win POV again and come back yet again. Personally, I want Natalie and Sheila gone, they are manipulating Adam and I hope he is aware of the situation. He really is not dumb he is playing that card to get into the final 2 which should be him and Ryan they have played the game well.
Class Reunion: Heather came on and her and Mike went on a date, boy was Lana upset, please you divorced him in 2004 due to your affair with Steve the Backstabber who no one is talking to. Justin watch out, Deanna has been married 4x, do you really want to be number 5? Matt and Yvette, I was upset she has a boyfriend, because I love them together, maybe it is not too serious, but then again, is Matt ready for a full time relationship now so soon after his wife's death? Glenn and Jason seem to be getting along great, especially since Jason was the vain of Glenn's existence in High School sometimes you do grow up.
Top Chef 3 missed this week...
Real Housewives of NY: Alex and Simon make me sick, I kind of liked them at first, but now they are showing that they are social climbers and I hate that more than anything. Luann I like her more and more each week, her and Jill seem to have fun and generally care about each other. Bethany honey, don't ask questions you don't want the real answer to, he had every right to tell you he does not know if he will be ready in 2 years, what do you do? Look at the 6th season of Sex and the City and see Carrie and the Russian on the same subject... Ramona stop being a stage mother, your daughter is wonderful and she needs you to listen to her on what she wants and what she does not want to miss to get there...
I am waiting for Work out 3 on Bravo, for some reason I love this show and all the drama...
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
FOX NEWS:
LONDON — Some of England's most sacred soil was disturbed Monday for the first time in more than four decades as archaeologists worked to solve the enduring riddle of Stonehenge: When and why was the prehistoric monument built?
The excavation project, set to last until April 11, is designed to unearth materials that can be used to establish a firm date for when the first mysterious set of bluestones was put in place at Stonehenge, one of Britain's best known and least understood landmarks.
The World Heritage site, a favorite with visitors the world over, has become popular with Druids, neo-Pagans and New Agers who attach mystical significance to the strangely shaped circle of stones, but there remains great debate about the actual purpose of the structure.
• Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Archaeology Center.
The dig will be led by Timothy Darvill, a leading Stonehenge scholar from Bournemouth University, and Geoffrey Wainwright, president of the Society of Antiquaries.
Both experts have worked to pinpoint the site in the Preseli Mountains in south Wales where the bluestones — the earliest of the large rocks erected at the site — came from.
RelatedStories
Homeric-Era Harbor Town Found in Greece Pre-Inca Temple Found in Peruvian Andes American Indian Ancestry Traced Back to Six Women Signs of Brain Surgery Found in Ancient Greek Skull Mysterious Pits May Be Signs of Modern Witchcraft Photo Essays
Stonehenge Excavation They will be able to compare the samples found in Wales to those at Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain.
"The excavation will date the arrival of the bluestones following their 153-mile journey from Preseli to Salisbury Plain and contribute to our definition of the society which undertook such an ambitious project," Wainright said. "We will be able to say not only why, but when the first stone monument was built."
Scientists believe the bluestones were first put in place about 2600 B.C., but they concede the date is only an approximation at best.
The original bluestones were removed about 200 years later and scientists hope to find bits of them embedded in the earth.
Darvill said the excavation marks the first opportunity to bring the power of modern scientific archaeology to bear on a problem that has taxed the minds of so many experts since medieval times: Why were the bluestones so important to have warranted bringing them from so far away?
The excavation goal is to find remnants of the original bluestones, or related materials, that can be subjected to modern radiocarbon dating techniques to establish a more precise timeline for the construction of Stonehenge, said Dave Batchelor, an archaeologist with English Heritage, which oversees the Stonehenge site.
"We have to find the material that will give us a good date," he said. "That's where the luck comes in. We could get an absolute blank or we could get something magnificent or we could get something in between."
He said bluestones have an "inky, bluey, black" appearance and come from the Preseli Mountains in South Wales.
About 6 feet tall, they are the smaller stones that make up part of the monument, alongside the larger sarsen stones, which are about twice as tall and were added later.
It is hoped that fixing the date of the start of construction with more precision will allow scientists to finally grasp how and why the monument was built. They also may learn more about how the stones were transported.
Research shows the bluestones, weighing an estimated five tons apiece, may have been dragged from the mountains in south Wales to the sea, put on huge rafts and floated up the River Avon.
Archaeologists believe that before the bluestones were put in place, Stonehenge consisted of a circle of wooden posts and timbers built in approximately 3100 B.C.
The research that began Monday with the digging of a trench marks the first time ground inside the inner stone circle has been excavated since 1964.
The area, revered as a powerful link to England's pagan past, is so sensitive that Cabinet approval was needed before the work could begin.
Renee Fok, a spokeswoman with English Heritage, said the project was okayed only after experts were convinced of its potential value. She said the project represents "the logical next step" after the two professors located the source of the bluestones in Wales.
"It's the culmination of their work, it makes sense to go back to the stone circle and get a date," she said.
"We want to strike a balance. We want the best research, but we can't just say go ahead and dig as you like, it's a very fragile area. Even the Druids are happy with this project, we've spoken to them and they don't object."
She said tourists will be able to visit Stonehenge as usual and will also be able to watch live video coverage of the excavation in special tents at the site.
LONDON — Some of England's most sacred soil was disturbed Monday for the first time in more than four decades as archaeologists worked to solve the enduring riddle of Stonehenge: When and why was the prehistoric monument built?
The excavation project, set to last until April 11, is designed to unearth materials that can be used to establish a firm date for when the first mysterious set of bluestones was put in place at Stonehenge, one of Britain's best known and least understood landmarks.
The World Heritage site, a favorite with visitors the world over, has become popular with Druids, neo-Pagans and New Agers who attach mystical significance to the strangely shaped circle of stones, but there remains great debate about the actual purpose of the structure.
• Click here to visit FOXNews.com's Archaeology Center.
The dig will be led by Timothy Darvill, a leading Stonehenge scholar from Bournemouth University, and Geoffrey Wainwright, president of the Society of Antiquaries.
Both experts have worked to pinpoint the site in the Preseli Mountains in south Wales where the bluestones — the earliest of the large rocks erected at the site — came from.
RelatedStories
Homeric-Era Harbor Town Found in Greece Pre-Inca Temple Found in Peruvian Andes American Indian Ancestry Traced Back to Six Women Signs of Brain Surgery Found in Ancient Greek Skull Mysterious Pits May Be Signs of Modern Witchcraft Photo Essays
Stonehenge Excavation They will be able to compare the samples found in Wales to those at Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain.
"The excavation will date the arrival of the bluestones following their 153-mile journey from Preseli to Salisbury Plain and contribute to our definition of the society which undertook such an ambitious project," Wainright said. "We will be able to say not only why, but when the first stone monument was built."
Scientists believe the bluestones were first put in place about 2600 B.C., but they concede the date is only an approximation at best.
The original bluestones were removed about 200 years later and scientists hope to find bits of them embedded in the earth.
Darvill said the excavation marks the first opportunity to bring the power of modern scientific archaeology to bear on a problem that has taxed the minds of so many experts since medieval times: Why were the bluestones so important to have warranted bringing them from so far away?
The excavation goal is to find remnants of the original bluestones, or related materials, that can be subjected to modern radiocarbon dating techniques to establish a more precise timeline for the construction of Stonehenge, said Dave Batchelor, an archaeologist with English Heritage, which oversees the Stonehenge site.
"We have to find the material that will give us a good date," he said. "That's where the luck comes in. We could get an absolute blank or we could get something magnificent or we could get something in between."
He said bluestones have an "inky, bluey, black" appearance and come from the Preseli Mountains in South Wales.
About 6 feet tall, they are the smaller stones that make up part of the monument, alongside the larger sarsen stones, which are about twice as tall and were added later.
It is hoped that fixing the date of the start of construction with more precision will allow scientists to finally grasp how and why the monument was built. They also may learn more about how the stones were transported.
Research shows the bluestones, weighing an estimated five tons apiece, may have been dragged from the mountains in south Wales to the sea, put on huge rafts and floated up the River Avon.
Archaeologists believe that before the bluestones were put in place, Stonehenge consisted of a circle of wooden posts and timbers built in approximately 3100 B.C.
The research that began Monday with the digging of a trench marks the first time ground inside the inner stone circle has been excavated since 1964.
The area, revered as a powerful link to England's pagan past, is so sensitive that Cabinet approval was needed before the work could begin.
Renee Fok, a spokeswoman with English Heritage, said the project was okayed only after experts were convinced of its potential value. She said the project represents "the logical next step" after the two professors located the source of the bluestones in Wales.
"It's the culmination of their work, it makes sense to go back to the stone circle and get a date," she said.
"We want to strike a balance. We want the best research, but we can't just say go ahead and dig as you like, it's a very fragile area. Even the Druids are happy with this project, we've spoken to them and they don't object."
She said tourists will be able to visit Stonehenge as usual and will also be able to watch live video coverage of the excavation in special tents at the site.
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