Where Were You When World Trade Center Went Down?

*Originally posted on September 11, 2011

I was 30 years old. I had my first child, Joel, in June of 2001. We were on a pattern of waking up around 8:30 or 9 and then he would fall back to sleep soon after nursing on me while I watched "Live With Regis and Kelly."

So on September 11 we got up, got some breakfast and turned on the TV and prepared for a relaxing day at home. Oh, man, where was my TV show? Why was there news and stuff on? Wait, what blew up? Is that New York City?

We had just been to WTC in October of 2000 for our "New England Vacation" and have a couple of pix taken right there. We wanted to take our children back someday.

But now one of them was on fire. Why would a plane be flying so close to it? Some drunk pilot or something probably. Then BAM, there goes another plane into the other building.

What the hell is going on? I'm holding my new baby and watching hell on television. How will people above the fire get out? I am nowhere near this scene and yet I am traumatized. I can't wrap my head around why it is happening and what will happen to all those people on all those floors. What if my husband was working there then and I had to wonder forever how exactly he died? It would haunt me forever.

I called Aron at work to see if he knew about it. They were watching it on a TV at work.

Then we heard about the Pentagon and the other plane going down. WHAT IS GOING ON? I went outside to look into the sky and saw smoke ... are we going to be bombed next? Is this the end of time? It feels horrible.

My mom came over soon after because it was her day off work. My garage door was open and she walked on into my family room and made a joke right away to lighten the mood. She says, "I could've been Osama bin Laden coming into your house." We still say it sometimes because sometimes all you have left is to try to laugh so you don't go crazy wondering why things are the way they are.

I think that night we went to my dad's for something we already planned. My grandparents were there, and we just watched the news coverage. I think I was given trouble about Joel not sleeping in his own crib yet and all I could think was, "Who freaking cares right now? I'm sure as hell going to keep my kids as close to me as possible after something like this because it's a free-for-all in this country."

Where were you on 9/11?

Make Memories with Your Kids!!!!

 It is a Friday in September. 

Homeschooling during coronavirus is going better than most years and we have a rhythm going and I don't want to interrupt it. Just kidding. We are like 2 weeks in and already a little bit "behind."

It is kinda chilly. Maybe rain is coming.

It isn't my husband's Friday off, so he can't come with us, but it had to be THIS DAY ONLY (you know when your schedule is so full as a parent and there is NO OTHER DAY to do something?).

We already had the budget done and I forgot to put this as a line item (when we go to this place like once a year, we have to eat at a heavenly spot called Burrito King). What if we could not live without something from The General Store or The Nature Center Shop?

I am swamped with proofreading projects.

The Rona is rampant on the college campus, where we are heading to see Julia, who lived with us for five months this year.

My wonderful and talented husband had the big van torn up, working on the timing system, so the 6 of us will cram into the truck and drive an hour each way.

My daughter has a sleepover later today to be dropped off at, so also crammed in the truck with 6 decent-sized people would be a pillow, blanket and suitcase. Oh, and the plans changed as far as drop-off time turning into LATER, so I had to pivot.

It's the time of the Rona, and unexpected things happen, which sometimes make me nervous, but mostly make me surly. I don't like to be surly. For instance, we are going to avoid the Natural History Museum this time because of all the mask stuff (the potential for workers and volunteers to bark at us for having them below our nose or whatever). I'm not getting into a debate about masks with anyone, but just know that I do not want to kill anyone with my germy breath, but we are not pro-mask for various reasons that I will not go into here (although, hey, I do have a pretty good platform for a blog post on that someday). That is all.

I've done this a lot over the years, where I waffled on going somewhere, packing up all the diapers, snacks, juice pouches and sippie cups, keep a trash bag in the car at all times, stop by the side of the highway to nurse a baby or toddler. There were other things we needed to be doing, other things we wanted to be doing, but we did this thing anyway.

You know what? My kids are now 10, 12, 15, 17, and 19, and the things they talk about fondly are some of those very things I had to force myself out of the house to do.

Loading up a bunch of bikes and snacks and sunscreen and waters back at the end of March for eight people and taking two vehicles to drive 30-plus minutes to ride one of the most beautiful trails in the city was a pain. Especially since the entire world had our same idea because there was nowhere else to go but OUTSIDE back in the spring of 2020 so even finding parking at the parks was difficult. But we did it ... twice. And the kids still talk about it fondly. We will probably do it again next year.

So there are a bunch of reasons why I wanted to just cancel today. Just forget it. Let's try another day (although we'd been doing that for a year and it never worked out).

Be we are going anyway. Because there is never a PERFECT DAY. There is today. So just jump. Just go.

Come back for an update on our day!

2 Ways to Increase Your Deli's Business

 

In the world of deli ownership, one thing's for certain. It's essential that your deli is unique; that it's got something special setting it apart from competitors. How's your deli doing? If things aren't quite as busy or successful as you'd like, it's time for a professional tune-up. Keep reading for two ways you can increase your business and give your deli the "It" factor it needs to succeed. 

Start With the Menu

If it's been a while since you've last gone through your menu with a fine-toothed comb, now's the perfect time to do just that.

Is there something that you're known for, that customers are always asking for? If yes, you're on the right track. If you don't, consider polling your customers as they come in. Find out what's a hit, what's a miss. Honest feedback is invaluable to success. Don't be afraid to ask for it. 

In today's market, there is a huge demand for natural, organic or other healthy options. Does your menu hit those marks? The good news is, there's help available. You don't need to prepare everything in house, especially if you're running a larger deli catering to a wide-spread demographic of customers. Connecting with distributors such as Culinares Foods is a great way to increase the variety of your offerings while also ensuring consistency in quality.

Make It Interactive

When it comes to boosting your business, your customers hold the key to your success. Getting them involved is essential, whether it's through a contest over social media naming your newest sandwich creation, starting up a rewards program or by setting up an after-hours cooking class series. Whatever you can do to interact with your community will be beneficial, so don't hesitate to be bold.

Make it a priority to be as welcoming as possible. Training your staff (even the ones who won't interact much with customers) to be polite, hospitable and professional will go a long way. This will also ensure you've got a strong staffing model, providing everyone with the knowledge to cover for others without skipping a beat. And that means just one thing — excellent service that gets noticed by customers.

Your deli's success depends on your hard work and dedication to your business, the brand you're creating and to the customers who keep it going. Fine-tuning along the way is the key to keeping it all together.  

Why You Should Never Stop Learning

 

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One of the most extraordinary things in life is the ability to learn new things. Unfortunately, when we leave school and gain the qualifications we needed for our chosen career, most of us don't push our brains to maximize its full potential beyond this. Instead, we settle into a routine of doing the things and tasks we know well. 

Whether you're 23 or 62, here are a few reasons why you should never stop expanding your mind. 

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever. ― Mahatma Gandhi

Build Confidence 

Getting to grips with a new subject is challenging. At times you may want to quit, let go, and forget it altogether. But, if you persist, something extraordinary happens, your confidence in your abilities grows. Giving you the motivation to continue branching out and trying new things. 

Be Happier

When you've overcome every obstacle during your med school journey, for instance, you'll feel on top of the world. Accomplishments make us feel happy in our lives and about ourselves. To be a happier person, learn more, and stretch your knowledge. 

More Opportunities

With new knowledge and experience, you'll open up the realm of possibilities for yourself. Additionally, by continuously pushing yourself to learn more, you'll always be in demand in the workforce. Options in life are good to have. An education, which continues into old age, opens up a whole world of possibilities for you.

Every day is a new opportunity to change your life and be who you want to be. — Demi Lovato.

Be A Role Model 

Children look up to their parents. Younger children, in particular, want to be just like their Mom or Dad. This means if you demonstrate an eagerness to learn and try new things, your children will most likely follow. If you want to be a great role model to your kids, don't just tell them to never to stop learning, show them! In turn, they'll pick up this way of thinking and carry it with them through the rest of their lives.

Increase Attraction

As you learn new things, you'll undoubtedly become a more engaging, well-rounded person. When you're in a relationship, if you continue to learn and grow, you'll be more attractive to your other half, and vice versa, and not just on Valentines day either. Taking time to understand more about the world can help your relationship step out of the familiar territory and into unknown territory. Which can be useful to add mystery back into your lives. With a higher intelligence, your conversations are bound to be more enjoyable too.

Great things happen to those who don't stop believing, trying, learning, and being grateful.― Roy T. Bennett

Choosing to learn more will positively impact multiple areas of your life. For instance, you'll feel good about yourself and more confident. And it can also boost the relationships you have with those around you, such as your children and other half. 

3 Wedding Gift Ideas That Will Never Feel Artificial

 

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Weddings are often symbols of great joy, offering a union and new direction for a family to feel pride in. They can also get quite expensive. Even those focusing on a minimal wedding with little fanfare will no doubt find themselves spending on something to do with the celebration, even if that’s just investing in their own honeymoon for the weekend.

That being said, we can often forget that wedding gifts can be very hard to think up and buy. Not only do we have a million things to take care of, but it’s not always clear just what the bride and groom wish for. It’s becoming the norm for lists and even Amazon wishlists to make an appearance to make it easier for the invited guests, but that can sometimes feel a little artificial. What if you hope to make a real difference with your gift, or put a little more thought into it? You are also offered that opportunity.

With the following advice, we’ll see how this can be the case:

A Beautiful Decorative Item

A beautiful decorative item can serve as a token of your appreciation for the couple, and it can serve as a symbol of their union and love to commemorate the day. Some might opt for an antique or ornament, while others may opt for a fixture that can be used now and help define their life going forward, such as a selection via Murano Chandeliers library. This can help you purchase something that will last some time, while also reminding them of you, and one another, and of their special day. That’s a nice offering to give.

An Experience

Of course, it can be nice to provide an experience for the special couple to enjoy, rather than a possession they must make use of in some way. However, you must be careful about how you gift them this. An experience is not just a gift, but also an obligation, and that in itself might incur further costs. To use an example - if you know the couple are absolutely blown away by theatre shows, you may give them a personal token to purchase any set of broadway tickets (with travel included) you can, redeemable at any time. This can be a great alternative to something physical, as it provides them with a memory they won’t forget.

A Custom Gift

A custom gift can truly be a worthwhile option to curate. For instance, you may decide to have a tailored suit or other dress designed for the cloth anniversary. A custom gift can mean speaking to a craftsman, or a woodworker, for something that can represent your union. When you have something that no one else in the world possesses, even if that comes at cost, you’re even more sure to cherish it. If you have any technical talent yourself, applying this to the creation of such a gift, such as molding a new ring, could be a wonderful idea.

With this advice, we hope you can find a better and more appropriate wedding gift for your spouse.