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october zinnia
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germinate shawl on rocks
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field of flags 2
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color affection with edge
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cedar leaf shawlette 2
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Monday On My Mind

April 12, 2021 By Carole

Alternative title: Sometimes Mondays show up before you’re ready.

And still, I want to tell you that I won my reelection to the Board of Selectmen in my town. I was the only one to take out nomination papers and turn them in, so I was the only one on the ballot. However, I had a challenge from a last minute write in campaign which pitched me into high gear last week. I’m happy to say that I rallied my troops, which resulted in a good turn out and I have secured 3 more years.

So. I spent all day Saturday at the polls, greeting voters and doing lots of socializing … something I haven’t done in over a year. And yesterday, Dale and I drove around town for several hours, picking up all my campaign signs. It’s a great thing to have wonderful support. It’s also maybe a little exhausting. And it also means maybe Monday shows up a little sooner than I’d prefer!

All of this is to say … I’m tired this Monday . . . but in a very satisfied way.

Filed Under: Monday On My Mind, That's Life 17 Comments

Monday On My Mind

March 29, 2021 By Carole

I want to talk about the importance of reaching out to someone who might be on your mind. Perhaps you know they are going through a rough patch . . . an illness or loss, an injury or a hard time at work. Perhaps you just randomly thought of them. Not to get all woo-woo, but I believe that when this happens it’s a sign that you should check in with them. A phone call, a text, a message on Facebook . . . something to just say hi, hello, I’m thinking of you and I want to know how you are doing.

I think a lot of times when we think we should reach out to someone .  . .  we don’t. We ignore our intuition, we tell ourselves we don’t have time, we convince ourselves we would be bothering them, we give a false narrative that it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. I call bullshit. Those are excuses we make to let ourselves off the hook. It’s our own junk, whether it’s fear of rejection or just being an introvert, and it’s getting in the way of making connections with other humans. And those connections are so important. They are the bright spots in a world of drudgery. They create magic out of daily life. They make us feel whole and loved and needed.

Consider this: when you don’t reach out, when you don’t check in, when you don’t make the effort, what is the message you are sending? It’s not that you don’t want to bother them. It’s not that you think they might be too busy. It’s not that you think you might be intrusive. Nope. The message being receives is you don’t care about them. You have forgotten about them. You don’t need them.

I think we all know and recognize that we need each other. This year has taught us that, at least. Sometimes, we need to have a friend ask us how we are doing so that we can come clean and share our crap. Sometimes, we need to be the one who asks so that we can get out of our own head and think about someone else.

I urge you this week to consider who is weighing on your mind, who are you being called to reach out to, who are you missing. And when you identify that person, get in touch with them and ask how they are. The expression sharing is caring is corny, but true. Sharing means we aren’t alone. Sharing means we can go to the darkest, scariest thing our mind can conjure up and acknowledge it and release it. Sharing means love. And at the end of the day, love is what life is all about.

Filed Under: Monday On My Mind 13 Comments

Monday On My Mind

March 15, 2021 By Carole

I read something the other day that was about how right now we (you, me, the world) are in this sort of in-between stage. We know we aren’t going back to the way things were but we also don’t know what the new reality is going to be. The article referred to this as an in-between stage, where things can can feel scary and uncertain. But the article went on to point out that this is also a stage of opportunity. A chance to reinvent ourselves and decide who we want to be and how we want to impact the world.

It’s pretty cool, right?

I think it’s why so many people, at least in my circle of influence, have retired since last March. The pandemic stripped away the frivolous stuff, it forced them to contemplate what really matters and how they really want to spend their time. Not only did I have two people who work for me choose to retire, I also witnessed the retirement of many colleagues, and it made total sense to me. Some friends realized they were truly enjoying being home all the time. Others decided they didn’t need the stress of working in a pandemic. The change was initially forced on them but they embraced it and changed direction.

I can’t retire yet and truthfully, as delightful as it sounds, I know I’m not ready. But I wonder, what has the pandemic stripped away for me? What have I realized really matters and what can I drop by the wayside? What can I do to reinvent myself to be better?

Heavy questions for a Monday, right? But so important and I hope you’ll think about them, too.

Filed Under: Monday On My Mind

Monday On My Mind

March 8, 2021 By Carole

I was 15 the first time I experienced sexual harassment at work. I was wearing a sweater with an applique of Mickey Mouse on it. Mickey is standing with one hand on his hip and one hand upraised in a wave. That upraised hand landed almost directly over my left breast and the custodian at the library asked me, with a wink, if he could shake Mickey’s hand. It was gross and creepy. And I told . . . no one.

I wish I could say that was the only time a man said something inappropriate to me at work but it was just the start. There was the probation officer who invited me to a Super Bowl Party at his house and when I got there it was only him and one other man in attendance. They were both married, by the way. There was the summer I worked in the Mayor’s Office and, when asked what I did there, the Mayor replied that my job was to make the office look pretty. There was the time I got a summer job as a secretary at an armory and I was told not to dress cute for work since it might distract the soldiers. I’ve had my ass grabbed and my head patted. There has been an incident at just about every job I’ve ever had, including my current one where, several years ago, another department head told me I was fat but he’d still “f**k me.”

I have never reported any of those things. Some were so subtle that I didn’t even realize they were harassment until later. Others were blatant but I didn’t want to risk disapproval from my colleagues by getting someone in trouble. All of them made me feel ashamed.

I’m not sharing this now for sympathy or attention, nor do I think my stories are unique. I’m sharing it because sexual harassment is once again in the headlines and it’s disturbing. I’m sharing it because I’m very certain that every woman has stories like mine. We need to give women the support they need to come forward. We need to empower women to stand up and speak out and tell their truth even if it damages someone’s reputation.

This needs to stop.

Filed Under: Monday On My Mind

Monday On My Mind

February 22, 2021 By Carole

Happy Monday, friends! I’ve got a couple of things on my mind to share with you today.

The 100 Day Project has been just thing ticket to push me into using my iPhone to take a photo every day. I have completed Project 365 for years and years but late last year I just . . . ran out of steam. And I stopped. It felt weird but also freeing. At the same time, I knew I was missing out on recording moments in our daily lives. I also knew my skills would slip without regular practice. So, I haven’t missed a day since January 31st and I’m glad.

I decided yesterday would be a good day to cook a whole turkey breast and do yet another mini Thanksgiving dinner. The turkey itself is easy, I love the old meat-in-a-pan thing. But I went with my usual assortment of sides: mashed potatoes, stuffing, turnip, brussels sprouts, and gravy. Even with just the two of us it’s not a small amount of work and by the time dinner was ready I had been in the kitchen for . . . a bit of time. Our deal is that I cook and Dale cleans up. Yesterday was a lot, though, so I helped by getting all those planned leftovers put away, and then I went into the living room and settled on the couch. I was feeling a little guilty about leaving Dale with all of that mess to clean up and thinking that maybe he was resenting it a bit. And then I heard him whistling. As he cleaned up. And I thanked my lucky stars for this man who is cheerful at all times.

Finally, a bit of housekeeping. Our Read With Us discussion of Leave the World Behind is coming up next Tuesday, March 2nd. Kym and Bonny and I will each by sharing a question on our blogs that day and then that evening we will be hosting a Zoom discussion of the book. If you’d like to join us just leave a comment on this here blog and one of us will send you the link for the meeting.

And that’s what’s on my mind this Monday. Let’s hope it’s a good week!

Filed Under: Monday On My Mind, Read With Us

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The final @aliedwards Pieces of Us prompt was refl The final @aliedwards Pieces of Us prompt was reflection. Here’s current me reflected in the frame of a picture of Dale and I from our honeymoon 24 years ago. I’ve always loved this photo of us, it captured our joy so perfectly. And I’m still filled with joy every time I look at it. #aepiecesofus #reflection #piecesofme
The @aliedwards prompt for today is a full body sh The @aliedwards prompt for today is a full body shot and I have the perfect photo for it. Here I am at the polls today with my friend and State Representative Alyson Sullivan. It was a great day out there in the sunshine. And I won my re-election to the Board of Selectmen! #aepiecesofus #eastbridgewaterma #iwonagain
My take on @aliedwards today’s half face prompt My take on @aliedwards today’s half face prompt ... half of mine and all of Jackie’s. It works for me because his is cuter! #aepiecesofus #halfface #nanalife #attaboyjack
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These hands. They are 55 years old and they show t These hands. They are 55 years old and they show the wear and tear of those years. The washing and moisturizing, the attempts to hold the approach of aging at bay. They’ve held and comforted so many loved ones, they’ve changed diapers and checked out books at the library, they’ve typed countless words, they’ve cooked and cleaned and done everything I’ve expected and I appreciate every bump and age spot and ... they are mine. #aepiecesofus #piecesofme #myhandstellmystory
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Daffodils from my garden and Easter decorations fr Daffodils from my garden and Easter decorations from my childhood = an explosion of spring! #daffodilbouquet #frommygarden #igrewthemmyself #easterdecor #easterceramics #happyspring
Friday night plans: crescent pizza rolls and Jesus Friday night plans: crescent pizza rolls and Jesus Christ Superstar. Happy Easter weekend! #fridaynightsnacks #crescentpizzarolls #martinitime #easterweekend2021 #eastertraditions
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Spring! #crocus #springcrocus #springflowersmakeme Spring! #crocus #springcrocus #springflowersmakemehappy #springishere #welcomespring #purplecrocus
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I sure was happy to come home from work and find t I sure was happy to come home from work and find the deck furniture set up and ready to go. He might be pushing the season but I’m not going to complain! #springisintheair #onmydeck #pushingtheseason #60degreesinmarch
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I didn’t order groceries today so our snacks are I didn’t order groceries today so our snacks are from the larder, summer sausage, Swiss cheese, some crackers and hardboiled eggs. Even without the fancy snacks I’m still celebrating that the weekend is here! Happy FriYay! #fridaynightsnacks #happyfriyay #martinitime #cocktailhourathome #cheeseandcrackers
Ms. Pajama Party amaryllis is definitely having he Ms. Pajama Party amaryllis is definitely having her moment. #amaryllis #pajamapartyamaryllis #100daysofiphonephotos #the100dayproject
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