Ice Cream Girl Walking....

Today I jogged past a happy young gal who proclaimed as I went by her that she "was going to get ice cream, and was walking to get it....and that was precisely why she was walking, so she could eat the ice cream..." She was still talking to me when I was well out of ear shot, so I can't confirm the rest of what she said. I imagine she might have been telling me her flavor choice...

...Perhaps it was The Farmer's Cow Heifer Nutter Peanut Butter Cup or Cow Barn Chocolate or .... well you get the idea. You can check out all of the Farmer's Cow flavors at this link.

All I could think of was "Ice Cream Girl Walking".

I circled up the hill, around WINY Radio, past the roaring Cargill Falls, through Rotary Park, and came across this same smiling gal. We high fived each other, as we crossed. The "Ice Cream Girl walking" was closer to her ice cream treat.

Did you read Stephen King's The Green Mile??

Did you read it all at once...or each section as it came out originally?

Today the "Ice Cream Girl Walking" made me think of how much I love reading...and ice cream, and of how the simple things like ice cream and reading really improve the quality of life! 

I am a Putnamaniac because you always see someone enjoying the simple things, just like the "Ice Cream Girl  Walking" did today!

Consider us lucky after Irene left us in her dust (well....in her rain and wind)

Putnamaniacs were straight up lucky the last couple of days.

Only about 50% lost power in Putnam (and I was a lucky one that did not lose it at all)!

CL&P (Connecticut Light and Power) shows outages on their website of:
100% out in Brooklyn (just 2 towns south of Putnam, and about 15 minutes away)
100% out in Plainfield (just 3 towns south of Putnam, and about 20 minutes away)

Thank goodness it is summer so no one is freezing, but think how much we need electricity for all things... water (if you have a well), cooking (if you have an electric stove), any sort of communication (if your cell dies, how do you charge it??), no internet or land line services in a lot of places, too... ATMs and credit card services are not working in many places, so you can't buy gas or food...

We really rely on technology a lot...Maybe a little too much.

What is your opinion on it?

I am one lucky  Putnamaniac who has enjoyed all that technology and electricity has to offer when others haven't -  and you are welcome to come shower here at my place until you get your electricity back!

Putnamaniacs know how to entertain themselves during weather events!

You can't control or know what Mother Nature will really do when it gets right down to it.

Irene threatened us along the east coast yesterday and today, and surely gave some folks a lot more trouble than others, but we prepared ourselves and hunkered down for her visit.

I consider myself extremely lucky once again. The lights flickered twice this morning, but I never even lost power. I stayed put as the rain and wind hammered down, and like all folks in our area, found ways to entertain myself.

WINY Radio's juke box gold entertained me as it does most Sunday mornings. Great music and great local info as I cleaned my already clean condo!

As I settled in to do some reading, I kept listening to WINY Radio for reports of what was going on in other neighborhoods not as lucky as mine, where lots of trees are down and they'd lost electricity early on in the day. But in spite of their situations everyone found ways to stay safe and entertain themselves. Listening to their stories of past and present storms entertained me.

The afternoon rounded out here on Sabin St with my annual summer viewing of Jaws. That movie is a summer favorite of mine since I first saw it in the movie theater years (and years) ago.

Good times during bad weather were enjoyed by me. I hope you stayed safe and entertained, too!

I am a Putnamaniac because we know how to entertain ourselves during bad weather!

Every creature is ready for the hurricane, including Earl's chipmunk friend!

It is a natural reaction for everyone to get crazy before any predicted natural weather occurrence.

The supermarkets are pummeled the moment snow events or hurricanes are predicted. Personally, if I am going to be cooped up for a few days, my choices are not to stock up on milk and bread.

Today was the calm before the proverbial storm. It was absolutely gorgeous out.

The birds and squirrels however, seem to know that something was headed our way. They were chittering away in the tree tops, most likely making fun of all of the humans rushing out to fix that generator that hasn't worked in two years or buying countless ounces of water.

The best story of the day, was from my coworker. We have a gigantic machine shop, and way in the corner of this huge shop, far away from any door to the outside world, is Earl's office. Somehow a little chipmunk made it not only into the shop, but all the way into Earl's office and onto his desk! I think Chippy was checking up on Earl and the guys, making sure they were prepared for this weekend's weather! What do you think??

I hope Mother Nature is gentle to us this weekend.

I am loaded with yogurt, raspberry water, and even a frozen pizza that will last me a few days. Although I missed the library by 15 minutes and didn't get a new book, luckily I have a good collection of my own. I think it might be time for another reading of The Stand, by Stephen King...   Good times!

What will you do???

I'm a Putnamaniac because even Earl's chipmunk is prepared for the hurricane predicted for this weekend!

The Freedom of riding a bike as a kid

Can you remember when you learned to ride a two-wheeler all by yourself?
With no one hanging onto the back of it running along to keep you steady...
With no training wheels...
Just riding with the wind in your pony tail...

I was always (and still am) a nervous ninny about most things. Never a big chance taker or a fan of possibly getting hurt made learning to ride a bike a very worrisome ordeal.

What a thrill and sense of freedom when I accomplished the skill and rode (for the most part) without fear of falling down and getting any boo-boos. All by myself!!

Tonight I was flashing back to those days of enjoying such freedom as two little boys of about ten years old went peddling by me while I was out jogging. One kid rounded the corner, peddled half way up a little hill, then turned and shouted with glee to his friend "I'm coming down - with NO brakes!!!". He was so excited to accomplish this!

I felt the wind whistling through my ears as he came down, remember back to days long ago when I went up my first hill, and then came down with no brakes!  Ahhhhhh - the good old days.

Do something to make yourself enjoy that freedom and joy as much as you can.

I am a Putnamaniac because little kids on a bike bring back memories of good times!

Putnam Recreation Department is top notch!

The last River Fire of the season was enjoyed this past Saturday night. It wound up at about 10:30 or so.

There were all sorts of people in attendance. Lots of people, gathered where food and drinks are welcomed, in the dark, generally lead to lots of garbage and a big mess when all is said and done.

However, once again the Putnam Parks & Rec Department did a top notch job.

My Sunday morning jog through the park at about 8am showed full trash can, but otherwise a spiffy looking park.

This evening, my 6pm jog through the park produced a pristine park.

I don't know how they do it. Not only do they arrange so many great activities, but they do the clean up afterwards. They do great work and make me proud to be a Putnamaniac.

I am a Putnamaniac because our Parks & Recreation Department is top notch!

Hope the weather holds out for River Fire tonight! (the ducks could go either way)...

The River is ready, filled high with lots of rain lately.

Lots of ducks were swimming around early this morning in anticipation of the activities to come.

The Arc Duck Race is scheduled for a 5pm start. Last year the Rubber Ducks were independent minded and swam the wrong way! Clearly the Rubber Ducks as well as their fine feathered friends could go either way; literally in the River, and figuratively when it comes to the weather. 

Then later tonight is the last River Fire of the year for Putnam, with music by The Little  Big Band, so you can dance under the stars, all starting at 7pm.  Keep your fingers crossed for Mother Nature's cooperation, too.

I am a Putnamaniac because the River will be very busy and lots of fun tonight!

The Producers produced so much entertainment!

Place: The Bradley Theater
Time: Tonight, Friday, 8/19/11

For some reason, I did not sit in my usual place...

Then the largest person in the world sat next to me, encroaching immensely into my personal space.
Her long, creepy hair kept scraggling off of her and onto me, and it was making me a bit edgy.
Next her boyfriend puts his arm around her, and since she is already filling up a lot of my air space, I get to feel the back of his hand rubbing against my arm.

I was close to losing patience, and then THE SHOW began. Thank goodness!

We've all heard of The Producers, and I even know that Nathan Lane starred in the Broadway version. Other than that, I had no clue what it was about, or that Mel Brooks originally did it in movie form.

Tonight The Producers was performed spectacularly at the Bradley Theater in Putnam. It instantly returned me to my happy world. Funny, with great characters, singing, dancing, and lots of foolishness!

What more could a girl ask for?? In my opinion, nothing!

There are two more shows left, tomorrow night at 7pm, and Sunday afternoon at 2pm. Catch it if you can.

I am a Putnamaniac because the Bradley Theater's Producer's produced a great night for me!

Renegade Frogs, present and accounted for!

 A few frogs have hopped into the Renegade Garden. These are the ones that I could snap a picture of. The 3 others hopped away so fast, I could not catch a picture of them... 

Now if I could figure out how to "un-invite" the slugs. Apparently they thought the invitation for "frogs" was for "slugs", too. Easy mixup  - they are both 5 letter words that end is "gs".

I am a Putnamaniac because I have so many frogs in the Renegade Garden, and I wonder which one is the Prince???

Weekend fun - The Bradley, River Fire and Fort Hill Farms Corn Maze!!!

Of course it is only Tuesday evening....

Of course I am already excited about the upcoming weekend....

Living in Putnam will do that to you!!

On my list as of right now:

**The Producers at the Bradley Playhouse on Friday night. The reviews have been outstanding, and I can't wait to sit in my favorite seat and enjoy!

**River Fire on Saturday night - music by The Little Big Band - I predict I will LOVE IT, as always!!!

**Fort Hill Farms Corn Maze opens!! I was there a few weeks ago, and the corn maze growth was in full swing. Fort Hill Farms is a gorgeous setting, with so much to see, smell, and to breath in the fresh air, Then get lost in the corn maze...your reward upon exiting is to go and treat yourself to an ice cream cone! Fun and delicious!

Will I see you there??? I hope so!

I am a Putnamaniac because I am looking forward to weekend fun on Tuesday night!

Still stuff to do on a rainy Putnam day!

Rain is much needed lately, so I will never complain that it is raining on this Sunday...even though there were lots of fun outdoor activities planned for today that had to be postponed.

The 6th Annual Car Cruise was rained out and postponed to Sunday, October 2. Looking at it in a positive way, I figure it gives me something to look forward to!

Since Uncle T (a life long car lover and owner of a '67 Camaro) and Mom were coming up for the car show anyways, we kept our plan to visit, but trekked off to other adventures.

Morse Farm Stand, on Rt 169 in Southbridge, MA, just out of Woodstock, is one of Uncle T's favorite places, so off we went.  Great produce and baked goods! T got a huge hunk of cheese, Mom got some dates!

Next stop was another of Uncle T's favs (and mine, too, of course), The Courthouse Bar & Grille, in downtown Putnam.  T loves the fried scallops, Mom got a chicken salad melt, and I got a veggie burger wrap without all the frills. DELICIOUS!!!

So, even on a rainy day, Putnam is a destination, with places to visit, and plenty to taste!

I am a Putnamaniac because there is always something to do, even on a rainy Sunday!

Scott Deslongchamps translates to Scott The Long Distance Champ

As I have mentioned lately, one of the big events in Putnam this weekend is the 22nd Annual Day Kimball Healthcare Deary Memorial Race, Walk & Ride. It starts out at 6am with the early walk tomorrow morning. I will be there!

However, there is someone that will have been running LONG before all of us early morning walkers.

Scott Deslongchamps will start running tonight at midnight. He will run the five mile course nine times before the regular run begins at 9am. Scott will then join in the other runners and complete his 10th lap as they are running their one lap.

I am no accountant, but I can quickly calculate that this means Scott will be running FIFTY miles!!

This is not the first time that Scott has done this feat with his feet. His appreciation for the great cause this annual race supports, the Deary Memorial Cancer Fund, is close to him since cancer has touched people close to him. The funds that Scott raises and that this annual run bring in go directly to local people who need it.

Please cheer Scott on in your dreams tonight, as he will be hitting the pavement all night long, while we slumber comfortably. 

I am a Putnamaniac because there are many local heroes like Scott "The Long Distance Champ" Deslongchamps, and he is aptly named!

I don't want to brag, BUT I live in the best town ever!

Simply because today was a typical sort of day, filled with fun - and nice people wherever I went in Putnam, I will brag just a bit.

Early morn had me out for the daily jog, and even a coyote crossed the road in front of me. Apparently he is an early bird, too!

Some  "thank you" muffins were dropped off at WINY Radio on my way to work. WINY focuses on our local area, activities, and on positivity. That attitude is so appreciated by me!

Spent the day at CCI, a place full of work to do, great people to work with, and just about a mile away from my home. I was lucky enough to get a chance to go back to work here recently after a two year absence.

After work, I stopped at WINY Radio again, this time to buy my Rubber Duckies for the Arc Rubber Duckie Race  this Sunday. I got an added bonus in getting to talk to "Karen O" for a bit about books. Great recommendations were swapped and noted!

Next, it was time to hit the Putnam library, where I was greeted by my librarian friends! I asked them for "Dewey", and they led me right to it.

These may seem like run of the mill things, unless you like a life filled with good people and no drama. When your days are so full of nice folks and activities, you are bound to brag about how great your town is!

I am a Putnamaniac because I live in the best town EVER!

Non-Stop Fun coming up this weekend!

Take your pick, or come to all these fun events coming up this weekend!

The Producers is playing at the Bradley Playhouse, Friday & Saturday @ 7pm, and Sunday @ 2pm.

The 22nd Annual Day Kimball Healthcare Deary Memorial Race, Walk & Ride is Saturday morning. (6:00 a.m. - Early Bird  Walk,8:00 a.m. - Fun Walk, 8:15 a.m. - Bike Ride ,9:05 a.m. - Road Race, 9:15 a.m. - Kids Fun Run). I'll be there at 6am, and will be jogging the 5 miles through Putnam! Join me if you want to. 

 

The Divas Concert is being held on both Friday & Saturday night. Check them out. Beautiful ladies, great costumes, and outrageously talented voices! 

The 6th Annual Main Street Car Cruise will take up all downtown on Sunday, from 11am - 5pm, with registration beginning at 8am. I will be attending for my second time this year, and I was astonished by the cars last year. Plus they have drag races, motorcycle stunts, and so many classic cars that you can't even imagine it until you see it. If you are a car lover, this is a must attend event. 

 

The 14th Annual Arc Rubber Duckie Race will also be held downtown on Sunday, at 1:30. This is cool, too. A payloader dumps a bucket full of little yellow rubber ducks over the side of the bridge and into the river. Every duck is numbered, and is associated with the person who bought the duck. There are 50 great prizes awarded to the first 50 ducks over the finish line. It is for a good cause, and the fun alone is worth the $5 ducks!

Wait till you see what we've got going on next weekend! Is there any wonder that I am a Putnamaniac?

 I am a Putnamaniac because there is non-stop fun coming up this weekend!

Relationships...much better on the stage - especially at The Black Box Theater!

Whenever leaving a show at the Black Box Theater or the Bradley Playhouse, I am beaming with pride and joy!

(It is not like I had anything to do with the marvelous talents and performances that are within my grasp at any given time here in Putnam, but I am so proud none the less).

Always a fan of theatrical productions of any size and sort, from the elementary school shows my little brother & sister were involved in, to seeing Phantom for the first time on the ginormous stage at the Wang Center in Boston, I am now so thrilled to live in Putnam, where live theater is rampant!

The Black Box and the Bradley have become "THE PLACES" for me to see shows.

Why?

They both put on top notch quality shows. All the seating is great. You can actually see the stage, and the actors faces. The sound is great. The costumes are great. The settings are great. The acting is great. The singing is great. The music is great. Everything Is Totally Great. (Actually it is better than great, it is great on steroids). Both Theaters are within a mile or two from my cozy home.

The Black Box is now putting on "I love you, You're perfect, Now change."

It is a great musical & comedic look at relationships, from the early courtship days, to the drudgery of daily life as a couple, to passage into old age. The humor is right on, and the music is great!

Even though I opted out of relationships and decided to stick with myself over the years, I can still appreciate the humor of what relationships can put people through. It is great to view such things with a sense of humor, because let's face it, we people can be pretty funny!

And talk about relationships...the father and son team of Carl & Alex Mercier both starred in this great production. Talent is in their genes, and again I am so proud of that talent (although I have nothing to do with it but to cheer them on).

The Producers is also playing now at the Bradley - I am there in 2 weeks, and there are more shows coming up at both places as the year moves on.

I urge you all to enjoy local theater. If you are not lucky enough to have a place in your hometown, remember that Putnam has TWO great theaters. You are always welcome here. I warn you that you will soon be tapping your toes, humming a tune, laughing, crying, or emitting some other sort of emotion beyond your control. That is just how good it is!

I am a Putnamaniac because I love my relationship with local theater in Putnam!

If your name is (fill in the blank) - get a free rose from Lililum Florist!

Lilium Florist, with locations not only in Putnam, but Danielson as well, has this great marketing idea.

Whomever originally came up with it was pure genious!
I am a very big sucker for packaging and marketing that is not run of the mill. Who isn't?

Lilium has a sign out every day that says:  "If your name is --------, stop in for a free rose today"

How awesome is that???!!! I look at the name every day when I go by just to see if I might know someone who has gotten that free rose that day.

Lilium has also made some arrangements for me to bring as gifts to dear friends, and they have also delivered flowers to me on special occasions.

Lilium does a top notch job, and is nice enough to give out free roses if your name is -----------.  

I am a Putnamaniac because Lilium Florist gives out free roses and does marvelous arrangements, too!

Next 3 days have fun and events packed into them!

Can you boast this much entertainment coming up in your local area in the next 3 days??

1) Thursday night will bring me to Thursday Night Thunder at the Thompson Speedway. The number 3 seems to be a lucky number in this blog, since when I get to the track, I'm expecting 3 hugs from 3 different Kingsbury family members! Will any #3 cars win??

2) Friday night will take me to my first Putnam First Friday event gathering! Since I had missed the previous months, I am pumped to witness my first First Friday. A fire dancer will be entertaining, along with a plethora of other artistic choices. All taking place in downtown Putnam!

3) Saturday night seats me in The Black Box Theater to see "I love you, You're Perfect, Now Change". Local theater is abundant in Putnam, so I enjoy it any and every chance I get!

So, if you can enjoy as much diversified fun within just a few miles of your own cozy home, make sure to take advantage of those opportunities.

If you DON'T have such great options, take a spin up to Putnam, CT. You just may become a Putnamaniac, too!

I am a Putnamaniac because the next 3 days are packed with outstanding events!

It is amazing what you can see when you get out and look around!

There is a cool company based in Putnam (M&M Transport Services) that I recently learned about and was going to blog about today...

However....that will wait for another day.

After work I went out for a nice little jog. The usual loop, but there is a lot more action going on in the early evening than there is at pre-6am.

The rec field was loaded with little pee-wee football hopefuls (and I do mean pee-wee), along with their cheerleading mini counterparts. Whistles blowing, hand clapping, drills run, coaches encouraging.

A young mom and her daughter of about 5 years old peddled by slowly on their bikes with matching pink helmets. They laughed when I mentioned that I might need a ride later.

Two older gentlemen were sitting out in lawn chairs under a tree chatting and laughing it up.

The ice cream truck rolled by slowly, tinkling out its merry little jingle, reminding me of chasing down a similar truck in days of old.

A group of bikers, serious bicycle riders, flew by, pushing themselves and loving it.

When I arrived back home, one neighbor was out walking her little doggie, so I got a lot of wet doggie kisses, and another neighbor showed me his tomato plants he was growing on his porch.

It was so nice! And to think that I would have missed it all if I just went home and stayed inside. Get out and see what you might be missing. The simple things can really make you smile!

I am a Putnamaniac because getting out and seeing my neighborhood makes me smile!

Pizza, pizza, pizza

Early this morning, jogging past all the recycle containers set out on the sidewalks, the idea for today's blog hit me.

PIZZA!

There were pizza boxes in every recycle bin! All sorts of restaurants and boxes of all sizes!

So, if you want to try out some awesome pizza, come and visit Putnam, and check out:
Someplace Special
Zoe's Pizza
Giant Pizza
Palmieri's Pizza 
...just to name a few!

I am a Putnamaniac because I can get delicious pizza from so many places, so close to my house!