Ring-a-Ling

It was rather windy the other day and our windchime was singing a song that brought to mind a sweet memory. The sound of the Good Humor truck calling out to all the kiddos on the block that dessert was now being served.

The Good Humor man knew not only our names but also our favorite icy delights. We were also friends with the Fruitman and the Milkman, who both made weekly deliveries to our house.

My favorite delivery truck however was the Dugan’s Bakery man, who delivered my all-time favorite cupcakes. Each box contained six vanilla cupcakes, which meant that my two sisters and I each got to devour two. No cupcake I have ever tasted since, as ever been as good as Dugan’s. The secret was the frosting. It was one inch thick and tasted like a chocolate candy bar. Nirvana.

Tonight we had TJ’s Red Velvet Chocolate cupcakes for dessert. Yes, they were decadently delicious, but not as good as Dugan’s.

 

Kennedy #1 

I was in 9th grade when JFK ran for President. It was an exciting time, and life was filled with endless possibilities.

My boyfriend at the time – and all through high school – was Mark S. He was not only dreamy looking, but also smart as a whip. Truly, my first love.

Anyway, back to the story. Mark and I went to the JFK headquarters in Elizabeth and managed to score a stack of free bumper stickers. We then spent the afternoon going up and down our neighborhood sticking bumper stickers on every car parked on the street. To our relief no one caught us in our act of criminal mischief. 

I remember the night JFK won the election. One of my school friends was a gal named Julia. She had long brown hair and she told me that if Kennedy won, she was going to dye her hair red. On November 9th she walked into class with bright red hair. It was temporary dye so eventually her brown hair returned.

We may have been too young to vote, but together our voices mattered.

 

Treasure Hunting

The other morning, I needed to pick up a few things at the mall. First stop was Sprouts, and as I walked there, I was surprised to see a line forming at the store FIVE BELOW. It was not even 9AM and FIVE BELOW doesn’t open until 10.

When I left Sprouts, the line had grown and curious as to why this was happening, I asked one of the gals who was in line. She shared that everyone was there early to buy a popular viral stuffed animal. I just laughed, shocked that anyone would arrive one hour early for a bit of fluff. And then I remembered.

The year was 1985 and the must have toy of the moment was the Cabbage Patch doll. The only place to find one was at Toy-R-Us and I, along with every other mom in the neighborhood, would stand outside the store before they opened in our quest to find this chubby cheeked doll. By the end of 1983, nearly 3 million dolls had been adopted, making it the most successful new doll in toy history.

Unfortunately, I was one of the unlucky moms because I never managed to adopt a doll for Cassandra. I don't think it scarred Cassandra for life, but me? That's another story. 

Third time is a Charm – No Kings #3

Two days ago, and just 1.2 miles from our house, thousands convened to express our opposition. Some like me have been protesting since last April, but for many, this was their first protest. All ages attended, from babies in strollers to seniors in wheelchairs. Democrats, Republicans and Independents were welcomed with open hearts.

There were signs, music and a strong sense of comradery. Eight million people around the world in 6 continents spoke with one voice. We the people stood together to proclaim the United States of America is a Democracy, not a Monarchy. 

 

When Life Gives You Tangerines Part Two

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." Henry Ford

After much thought and careful consideration, I decided to begin my Tangerine Dream by making glazed tangerine muffins. Sounded yummy and with an easy recipe I figured I'd have them in and out of the oven in no time flat. No pun intended. 

The first step was to cut the tangerines into small pieces (skin included) and blend until liquified. This is where the easy peasy did a U-turn. The reason I had a problem was because these tangerines were very tiny and overflowing with very tiny seeds. So, when I removed the seeds there was little left of the tangerine segments. Obstacle, yes. But I was determined to not let this minor (or so I thought) inconvenience ruin the inaugural Tangerine Dream event.  

After about a half-hour of prep, and since there were no raw eggs in the mix, I tasted the batter. Sadly, all I could taste was the sugar, so I added more tangerines. Cut and blend. Cut and blend.

Shall we cut to the chase? In the end, I was left with a sink full of dirty dishes and a dozen rather awful tasting muffins.

Moral of the story...dreams can become nightmares or use larger tangerines.

 When Life Gives You Tangerines...

Tangerine Jam. Tangerine Marmalade. Tangerine Tarte. Tangerine Cheesecake. Tangerine Sorbet. Tangerine Cake. Tangerine Pudding. Tangerine Jello. Tangerine Cupcakes. Tangerine Muffins. Tangerine Upside Down Cake. Tangerine Pound Cake. Chocolate Dipped Tangerine Slices. Tangerine Mousse. Tangerine Cookies.

???????

 

Purple - The Royal Color

Back in January, I went through angst over the red glasses I eventually purchased. But it was a good decision, because I wear them every day and simply love them. So, when my new insurance entitled me to a pair of glasses as long as I capped the cost at $250, off I went to the America's Best Eyeglasses for a new pair of distance glasses.

My first frame color choice was green, second was blue, and last but not least was purple. I searched and the two gals working there searched, but we couldn’t find anything that fit the bill. And then I spotted them. A bright purple pair in my price range. They were perfect, except for one teeny tiny thing. They were not women’s frames, but youth frames.

Could I get away with it even though I was 79 and not 9? In my defense I am young at heart. So, in the end, I figured these are the perfect pair for me. Just call me Queen EllenBee.

UPDATE - I hate to admit it, but the frames were so small that I couldn't wear them more than a few minutes before they screamed, "Take me Off or I will pinch your head!" They won the fight and I sadly exchanged them for adult women's glasses. 😞😢I have been dethroned. But the good news is they are BLUE! Hey, second place ain't too bad.