For more information, call 888-978-6261 or email info@twincitiescdc.org. Class reservations are required.

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holstee manifesto (Photo credit: Leif (Bryne))

I like reading inspirational pieces and watching videos that keep my mind in the right place. It is so easy to get derailed and have your focus disrupted by the millions of unimportant annoyances that surface each day. I constantly need a nudge – and sometimes an outright boot – to keep me on the path I want to walk.

Humor helps too. You can’t control everything that happens to you, and some days it feels like you can’t control anything. But you can try to control how you react to what comes your way.

So here are 3 inspirational quotes, 2 videos that I love, and 1 funny thing. If you are having a bad day, or a day when it is hard to keep on the path you want to stay on, I hope these help.

If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.  - Jim Rohn

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.  Epictetus

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. -Margaret Mead

I have always loved the Holstee Manifesto and really love seeing it in video form. Take the three minutes out of your day today and watch this, if you do nothing else.

“Some opportunities only come once – seize them.”

And I love this one:

“Do one thing every day that scares you.”

and here’s something funny- you can follow this link to 10 best autocorrects. Warning – they are not for the weak at heart :) .

Bonus quote – one of my favorites:

If you ask me what I came into this life to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud.  - Emile Zola

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Snowball Viburnum Viburnum plicatum Flower 1 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Even before I planted any of the annuals and perennials I talked about yesterday, I put shrubs and small trees into the garden. I tend to like scented plants, and love finding more unusual varieties. I like the plants that you don’t see every day – it makes a trip to the garden seem like finding little treasures.

1. I have planted many types of Viburnum. I love the sweetly scented ones that blossom in the spring. My two favorite types are Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum ‘Mariesii’ (not scented but very pretty) and the Koreanspice viburnum.

2. Deciduous Azalea: I like the Knapp Hill ones, and the native azalea that bloom in the summer best.

3. A small tree, the Japanese Tree Lilac is one of my favorite summer-blooming trees. Some do not like the scent, but maybe it varies from shrub to shrub – I like ours, and so do the bees. (Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory silk’)

4. Japanese Snowbell (Styrax japonica) is a really pretty large shrub/small tree. It grows into a very graceful plant.

5. One of my favorites, because it is so pretty and is such a workhorse, is the Buddleia alternifolia or Fountain or Weeping  Butterfly Bush. This is not the typical butterfly bush that you see that dies to the ground each winter or needs severe pruning in early spring. This one blooms on last year’s wood, is taller, and can be pruned to be pretty tall and arching. The butterflies and bees love this one as well.

Bonus shrub that I can’t leave off: Summersweet (Clethra alnifolia) or Sweet Pepper Bush. Absolutely the prettiest scent in the garden in late summer. My favorite is the pink variety.

Clethra alnifolia, Clethraceae, Sweet Pepper Bush, Inflorescence. Botanical Garden KIT, Karlsruhe, Germany. Deutsch: Clethra alnifolia, Clethraceae, Erlenblättrige Zimterle, Infloreszenz; Botanischer Garten KIT, Karlsruhe, Deutschland. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Lamprocapnos spectabilis (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Number 10 in the 21in21 Blogging Challenge

I used to garden a TON – the garden was beautiful. At one time, I had elaborate plans written out and the plantings still provide color over the entire growing season. Also, most of my favorites impart an exquisite fragrance to the garden.

These are my favorite flowering plants. For the perennials, I have listed one for each month of the growing season. My 5 favorite annuals are listed at the end.

April/May, depending on the year: Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis). We always had these when I was growing up – both at my house and at my grandmother’s. Old fashioned flower that means spring to me.

May: With the name Lungwort (Pulmonaria), you would expect an ugly flower, but this pretty little plant offers a bright blue counterpoint to the yellows and reds that you see so much of this time of year. The flowers are small, but my favorite one here is a gorgeous bluebird color, and the leaves are speckled, as if splashed with sunlight.

June: Lavender – it blooms earlier too, and has a pretty long season, but I love the look and the scent. My favorite type is Lady Lavender but it seems less reliably hardy around here, for me, anyway. Also, the lilies start blooming this month. I like the ones with scent – my favorite are the trumpet lilies.

Hemerocallis 'Frans Hals' (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

July: The Daylilies are in full force now. These are not the typical orange flowers that you see growing next to the road – they come in all shades of red, yellow, purple and apricot, and have a pretty long season.

August: I love the daisy-shaped flowers that bloom at this time – the true daisies, the purple coneflowers, and asters. Not really one choice – but who could pick? Flowering sage makes a nice counterpoint to them.

September: the garden is winding down. Probably my favorite flower at this time is Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’.

Annuals: Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana): These plants have a lovely haunting scent. I prefer the less showy Nicotiana alata, which blooms at night. For several years, I had a Moon Garden with mostly white flowers and silvery plants, and this plant was the highlight, for me.
Mignonette – grown only for the scent – but what a scent! The name means ‘little darling.’
Not really an annual but planted like one around here, pansies are great for early color. You have to love them.
I also love nasturtiums. Directly sow the seeds, and you will have edible color all summer long. I love how the leaves look like little water lilies.
Sweet Alyssumis a small flower that is useful for edging. The best varieties smell like honey and will keep the bees busy during their bloom.

Tropaeolum aka Nasturtium from Lalbagh Garden, Bangalore, INDIA during the Annual flower show in August 2011. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Related articles

• 5 Easy Flowers to Start from Seed in Your Garden (treehugger.com)
• Cultivating Beauty (notdabblinginnormal.wordpress.com)
• Plant annuals with no apologies (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

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MASS MoCA - Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Photo credit: finnsland)

And all that jazz – I love this time of year. Things start happening – not just in nature, but this time of year is when you start planning to go to the tons of festivals and events being planned. I love our town commons – most of them have weekly band concerts through the summer – and there are bigger music festivals planned around the state too.

Here are some Jazz Festivals in Massachusetts, arranged by date:

May 18: New Bedford Jazz Festival, Custom House Square order tickets … on Facebook

June 22, 23, 24: Paulies New Orleans Jazz and Blues Festival, 226 Chandler St Worcester order tickets …  on Facebook

July 9- 29: Bang on a Can Festival at MASS MoCA, North Adams daily schedule … more info on the Mass MoCA site

July 21: Onset Beach Jazz Festival their site

August 10, 11: Merrimack Valley Jazz Festival, Lowell Heritage State Park: “Enjoy live jazz outside at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell on the 10th and on the banks of the Merrimack River at Lowell Heritage State Park’s Sampas Pavilion on the 11th. Free.”

What’s your favorite summer festival?

See MassJazz for more.

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Bad idea machine lolcat. Caption added with roflbot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am borrowing this good idea for today from Diane Haley Brooks, and excellent real estate agent and blogger with whom I work. Okay – I guess the real term would be stealing because, well, that’s what I am doing, but it’s a great idea. A couple of things that happened with Jenni today made me think about how much we have, even when we maybe don’t feel like we do.

As we were driving in to school, Jenni was talking about getting something or other, and I said to her, “Jenni, our discretionary spending budget is pretty small.” She said to me, “Mom, you just got me scones at McDonalds. We are doing okay.”

And we are. We do NOT have everything we want, but we have never been hungry.  Beyond the THINGS, we are all relatively healthy. We have so much, really.

And we make each other laugh. I think this is so important. Jenni and I have the best time doing the mundane stuff, like going to the grocery store. We were there today, and I picked up a box of soup. She said, “What is that?” I replied that is was soup (which she was used to seeing in a can), and she said, “Put that back – we will have no witchery like that in our house.”

I think a sense of humor is maybe the most important characteristic to have. It can help you get through all of the other trials with your soul basically intact – and there will be trials. That is what life is all about, I think – not wish fulfillment, but, as a twitter friend put it: another opportunity for growth.

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• The History of Lolcats (laughingsquid.com)
• Thankful Thursday 4/5/12 (spilledmilkshake.com)
• Thankful Thursday (dreamingahome.wordpress.com)
• Thankful Thursday {5} (godsgirlz1.wordpress.com)

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We love the Museum of Fine Arts.

When Jenni was little, I had a series of art picture books. Her favorites were Van Gogh and Gauguin, and of all of the paintings her favorite was this one:

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?

so I took her to the MFA to see it, because it was exhibited there.

Last night, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage held their awards ceremony at the museum, and most exhibits were open for viewing. The venue was really cool – food was good, huge turn-out, and I just love the museum anyway. Here is a slideshow of the art from last night

If you want to go check it out, the MFA is open every day (hours vary – check the site). Admission is $22 for adults, free for kids under 17, but many of the area libraries have passes available to borrow. Jenni wants to go again :)

• Leominster Public Library: Admits two $7 each
• Fitchburg Public Library: Admits two $7 each
• Hazem Memorial Library, Shirley MA: Admits two $7 each
• Lunenburg Public Library: Admits two $7 each

Enjoy!

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Ridiculously Photogenic Guy

Kind of the dream we all have – to be running in a race, have someone snap a picture of us, and we look FABulous.

In that spirit, here are some road races being held in and around Central Massachusetts. Get someone to take your picture – maybe YOU will start a meme.  Just smile, and don’t sweat that much :)

From Cool Running

Good Times 5K Series, Lowell MA: “The Good Times 5K Running Series runs every Tuesday night at 7:00 from at the Hookslide Kelly’s located at 19 Merrimack Street, in downtown Lowell, MA.” April 10 to June 12

April 11 (second in a series) – Devens 5 K, Devens MA : “NMC Spring Devens 5K/1M Series
Devens, MA 6:15PM Rogers Field, 55 Buena Vista St (Weekly and Series Prizes! 2.00 NMC/4.00 non NMC/1.00 under 18. 6:30 start in May) This event is the 2nd part of a weekly 9 part series.
Contact: Kevin Fallon (North Medford Club) nollafnivek@yahoo.com”

April 22 – 5K for Little Feet: “Fitchburg, MA 1:00PM Fitchburg High School, 140 Arn-How Farm Rd. (Proceeds used to donate sneakers to local youth. Kids Races and Walkers)
Contact: Run For Little Feet (Fitchburg High NHS). 1-508-331-8330 5kforlittlefeet@gmail.com”

April 23 – Fiddlers Green Not Quite 5K: “Worcester, MA 6:30PM 19 Temple St, 19 Temple St (Free self timed (bring your watch) 5kish urban run. Reasonably priced pub grub)
This event is the 5th part of a weekly 52 part series.
Contact: Scott (CMS member). 1-508-829-9889 anculiathcityrun@charter.net”

April 29 – 21st Annual Groton Road Race: “Groton, MA 10:45AM Groton Middle School, 344 Main Street (10K, 5K, 2K, Tots trot!) Contact: Race Director (Squannacook River Runners). 1-978-794-2520 racedirector@grotonroadrace.com” More info and T-shirt design

More on the Cool Running site

Related articles

• The ridiculously photogenic guy goes viral (examiner.com)
• Mr. Ridiculously Photogenic Guy (randomdeviations.wordpress.com)

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Easter eggs (Photo credit: StSaling)

Below are some Holy Week (Easter) schedules for churches in and around Leominster MA (2012). Did we miss anything? Please add it in the comments.

Leominster MA - Our Lady Of The Lake :

Lunenburg MA - St Boniface Church:

Lancaster MA - Immaculate Conception: Good Friday, April 6^th, 7:00 PM, Easter Vigil, Saturday, April 7^th, 7:20 PM

Sterling MA – St Richard of Chichester: Good Friday – 7pm, Easter Vigil – 7pm, Easter Sunday – 7:30am – 9:00am – 11:00am

Shirley MA – St Anthony’s, and St Mary Ayer:  April 6, Good Friday – Stations of the Cross @ 3pm @ St. Anthony’s
Passion of the Lord – 7pm @ St. Mary’s
Saturday, April 7 – Easter Vigil – 8pm @ St. Mary’s
April 8, Easter Sunday – 8am & 11:15am – St. Anthony  9:45am – St. Mary

Fitchburg MA – St Anthony of Padua:  Saturday Vigil 4:00 PM & 6:00 PM, Sunday 8:00 & 10:30 AM

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facebook (Photo credit: sitmonkeysupreme)

I would have to say that I am so grateful for the time I am living in. I remember my parents lamenting about changing times, but frankly, I love waking up to see what is new and interesting. This online stuff – Facebook, twitter, Youtube – it makes my day so interesting, and connects me with people who I never ever would have a chance to know even existed. My best friends, many who I only connect with online, drag me through the difficult times of my life and share the best times with me too. They aren’t afraid to hit me virtually over the head with a two-by-four when I am being stupid, either, and for that I am eternally grateful. And we have a lot of fun together [two words: secret groups!]

Here is a video exchange that happened recently between me and some of my friends on the other coast:

Got that package, and a second one arrived a few days later:

It actually did come with that big bag of chocolates :) – thanks, Rafael! And thank you to all of my friends, who make my world so much brighter. I couldn’t live without you!

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thumb|right|150px|Concord Minuteman English: This is a photograph of the statue representing Captain John Parker sculpted by Henry Hudson Kitson and erected in 1900. This statue in Lexington, Massachusetts is commonly called "The Lexington Minuteman." It is often confused with the Daniel Chester French statue The Minute Man in nearby Concord (shown at right). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

History – that is one of the things I love about Massachusetts. To me, a green belongs at the center of every town, and I love the look of the old buildings and their gardens. I really feel at home here.

We have visited historic areas in many of the towns around us. In Shirley (the most historic small town in the nation), where our kids grew up, the Historic District has some beautiful homes, an old graveyard, and the Town Pound still stands- very pretty no matter what the season. We have also frequented Fruitlands in Harvard and Orchard House in Concord, coinciding with reading Louisa May Alcott’s biography and a Little Women viewing. I still get upset that Louisa didn’t end up with Laurie, but that’s my issue.

Patriots Day weekend is a great time to check out Lexington and Concord. You can see the schedule of events on the Battle Road site. There are three days worth of things to do beginning with this:

Battle Road Event at the Hartwell Tavern historical area – Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Minute Man National Historical Park, Route 2A, Lincoln. This is the largest Battle Road event and features hundreds of British and Colonial re-enactors encamped at the Hartwell Tavern and Captain William Smith house, both part of Minute Man National Historical Park. There will be drill and musket demonstrations, 18th century artillery demonstrations, crafts, games and more! This event offers you a chance to get up close and talk with the re-enactors about 18th century life. The highlight of the day will be a massed tactical weapons demonstration running over a half-mile of the original Battle Road starting at 11:00 am. Parking is at designated National Park sites along route 2A and at the Lincoln North office park, Old Bedford Road.

and culminating with a recreation of the Battle on Lexington Green and a Parade.

More information on the National Parks site. This year, I am going to try to make it!

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Yes, that was frost all over the car. I couldn’t help but feel badly for the poor spring peepers that have been singing their hearts out for the past couple of weeks. But this is New England – wait a bit and the weather changes.

In anticipation of warmth, I checked out the schedule of events on the Mount Wachusett site.

There are a couple of runs coming up – check these out!

Saturday May 12: Music for Life/Rock & Run starting at 10:30. 5K walk or run… with music after!

May 16-18: Reach the Beach Relay starting at Mount Wachusett and finishing at Horseneck Beach.

And it’s a ways out, but pencil in the Wachusett Valley Folk Festival (from their site):

Scheduled Performers:

Joan Osborne

John Gorka

Mustard’s Retreat

Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli

The Rafters

Showcase Performers:

Perry Desmond-Davies

Mark Mandeville and Raianne Richards

Ticket prices:

$40.00 Early Bird General Admission

$45.00 April – July General Admission

$50.00 August General Admission, $30.00 Children 6-10 Children under 6 Free, $85.00 VIP

Looks like fun! Now, off to scrape the ice off the car :)

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Stock up!!! (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am selling my home.

I am well aware that real estate agents can be the worst people in the world to deal with when selling – we tend to question all advice and think we know it all. After all, we ARE in the business. I don’t think that being an agent prepares you for the emotional elements of selling your own home, though.

I was actually considering keeping a daily journal about the process, in hopes that it might be helpful. Guess what? I decided early in NOT to do that. It would have ended up reading too much like some kind of wild roller coaster ride-  the sky-high feelings you get when showings are set up, more waiting, and the disappointment of not getting an offer. And this is just the beginning of the ride.

Just in starting the process, I am realizing that there are (at least) 5 things to remember when you are selling your home, at least in this market.  When the market shifts – and it will; markets always do – these things won’t apply. For example, when I first started in real estate not that long ago, agents were still advising their buyers to sweeten the offer on properties by not bothering with the home inspection. You don’t see that any more, here anyway, for properties that do not have multiple offers.

Here is my list of 5:

1. Don’t blame your agent for the list price. Market determines the price. I hate the price that my home is listed at! There are not a lot of sellers who are happy in our market right now, and there are none that are ecstatic. Different agents will bring slightly different suggested prices to the table, but the determining factor in hiring your agent should be the service you will get: the marketing exposure and the negotiation expertise.

2. Try not to get emotionally attached to the process. This is so hard. Take a shower, take a drink, go work out – when you find yourself getting upset about how it is taking too long to get your home sold, find some way to get rid of how bad you are feeling, then re-evaluate. Have you taken care of staging or repair items, if you can? If you can’t, are those items taken into account in your list price? If your home has been sitting on the market for a few months, check online and see what is new to the market – there is no reason that you shouldn’t be doing that anyway. If four homes come on the market and are similar to yours but are priced slightly less, you need to re-evaluate your position. Period. Then buy some (cheaper) wine.

You need to look at your home NOT as if it is your home but as if it is something you are trying to sell. Buyers will want to see it with little notice. They will not feel the same attachment to it that you do. They will think it is just one of maybe 5 or 6 houses they see that day, and they will not appreciate everything that you know is special about it.

3. Ask for buyer feedback, and don’t take it personally – but DO take it seriously.

4. When you get that offer, don’t get attached to it. In some areas, up to 30% of all offers don’t make it to  the closing table. If that happens to you, dust yourself off and get your home ready for another offer.

5. Don’t be insulted by a low-ball offer. They happen all of the time, and you need to look at it as an opportunity to begin negotiations, not as a slap in the face.

I hope I remember that last one.

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Funny Panda Bears (Photo credit: amygwen)

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Tax (Photo credit: 401K)

If you follow me at all, either here or on Facebook, you probably know that one of my goals is to give blood as often as I can. I always feel good just doing it – I am the type of person that gets annoyed by how long it takes, but I know that it is for a good cause. And there are frequently little perks associated, like tshirts and food.

This month, however, the Red Cross has come up with a great idea. Give blood and get your taxes done for free from Liberty Tax Services:

Every two seconds someone needs blood. Do you need another good reason to donate blood this month? All presenting donors in Massachusetts and Rhode Island will receive a coupon for FREE tax preparation from Liberty Tax Services. That’s right, FREE tax preparation…just in time for tax season!

The Red Cross is asking healthy volunteer blood donors to make a difference in their communities by giving blood for patients in need and we’ll thank you with a coupon for FREE tax preparation that you can redeem between March 1st and March 31st, 2012.

Please make an appointment to donate blood today. Visit redcrossblood.org or call us at 1-800-RED CROSS.

Look, you are going to give blood one way or another this tax season. Why not do some good through the process?

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Image by @Doug88888 via Flickr

There is always something to do in Central Massachusetts.

The Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley always has a calendar of performances on its site. Among some of the highlights coming up are The Roomful of Blues Dance Party,  Rusted Root,  and Rust Never Sleeps:

02-18-2012

RUST NEVER SLEEPS is a unique, live rock show that celebrates the music, and musical career of Neil Young.
Capturing the spirit, the sound, and the feel of what can best be described as a “dream come true” concert experience; you will hear selections from The Buffalo Springfield as well as Young’s early 70′s folk-rock gems.
You will savor the sweet harmonies of Crosby, Stills, and Nash as well as the raging guitar duels between Stills and Young.
You will feel the high voltage snap of Crazy Horse as well as the plaintive beauty of “Heart of Gold”.
Based in the Greater Boston area, Rust Never Sleeps pays “tribute” to Neil Young and his music the best way they know how… with integrity.
While some groups in the tribute-band genre are content with a note for note replication of the original recordings, a Rust Never Sleeps show is infused with the passion and truth that comes from musicians using their own unique, creative energy to present these great songs.

More info: www.rustneversleeps.net/

For a list of Bull Run Restaurant events click here.

It is funny how you can live near to a place, yet be totally unaware of its existence. That was me and Main Streets Market and Cafe. Good food, great desserts (I could live on desserts alone), and music as a bonus! Fun and comfortable place. Check out their schedule of musical events here.  They even have open mike nights- heaven help us.

Another Main Street place, The Main Street Cafe in Groton, sponsors Acoustic Cafe with a variety of different performers and jazz on the first Friday of the month. Check out Main Street Cafe’s calendar here.

Do you have any favorite places to hang out and listen to music?

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Image by Christopher S. Penn via Flickr

Trying to think of some cheap ways to keep the kiddos busy during Winter Break? Going to the library is always fun in and of itself, but most local libraries also offer passes for free or discounted admission to museums in the area and other places of interest.

Shirley Public Library (Hazen Memorial)

offers the following passes:

Boston Children’s Museum (617) 426-6500
Tues, Thurs or Saturday, 4 Admissions @ $6.00 per person, 0-12 mos. free. Maximum 4 people allowed. $1.00 Fridays from 5-9 pm.

Davis Farmland (978) 422-6666
6 Admissions @ $14.95 Per Admission
Maximum 6 people at discounted price. Card valid once per weekday at Davis’ Farmland or Davis’ Mega Maze (Mega Maze in August only). Card NOT VALID on weekends or Monday holidays. Open 7 days April 17 – Labor Day, then Thursday – Sunday until October 12, weather permitting.

Fruitlands (978) 456-3924
2 Adults with 2 Children OR 1 Adult with 3 Children Free. Good for the Fruitlands Museum during the season and access to the grounds and trails year round. Cannot be used for Museum Store, Tea Room, Concord Band or Special Events.

Ecotarium (508) 929-2700
2 Adults ($6 each) and 2 Children OR Seniors ($4 each) in One Vehicle. Max. 2 children/seniors
Passes good for one visit. Pass does not include admission to the Explorer Express Train, Planetarium, Tree Canopy Walk or discounts on special Ecotarium Programs.

Museum of Fine Arts (617) 267-9300
2 Admissions @ $7.00 Per Admission Each pass allows GENERAL MFA ADMISSION for up to 2 people. Children ages 7-17 admitted FREE on weekdays after 3pm, weekends and public school holidays. Pass entitles each visitor to upgrade to a special exhibition ticket for an additional $8.00 (total $15), same day only, subject to availability. Coupons DO NOT allow for any discounts for: MFA SHOP/CATALOGUE, PARKING, DINING, FILMS, CONCERTS or LECTURES/SEMINARS. Museum is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.

Boston Museum of Science (617) 589-0100 4 Admissions @ $5.00 Per Admission One pass available each day of the year. Present coupon at the Box Office (non-member/red) for admission of $5 per person at the Exhibit Halls. Limit 4 people/coupon. Not valid towards purchase of Omni, Planetarium, or Combo tickets.

Mystic Aquarium (860) 572-5955 2 Adults @ $20.00 per Adult and 2 Children @ $15.00 per Child Two passes available each day. Present coupon for discounted admission. Limit 4 people/coupon. Pass cannot be used for special events and programs.

New England Aquarium (617) 973-5200
4 Admissions @ $10.00 Per Admission. One pass available each day up to June 30, 2012. Not good towards discounts on parking, at the IMAX theatre, cafe or gift shop, and cannot be applied toward Whale Watch or Harbor Tour tickets.

Wheelock Family Theater (617) 879-2300 Call the Library for Availability / buy one get one free Fri. night performances.
Make reservations in advance: box office: 617-879-2300 or tickets@wheelock.edu Tickets held at box office.

MA State Parks Pass
Free Parking for 1 Car Load at Most MA State Parks- 2 passes avail.
Free parking at over 50 facilities in the MA state parks system that charge a day use parking fee. Maps of Park system available at library or www.massparks.org.

USS Constitution Museum
(617) 426-1812, 2 passes available.Free admission for parties up to 9 people.

Fitchburg Public Library:

Children’s Museum, Boston
Pass admits 4 for half-price.

Davis Farmland, Sterling
We are not subscribing to this pass this year due to cost to library and small savings to patrons.

Discovery Museums, Acton
Admits 3 for half price

EcoTarium, Worcester
Admits 2 adults and 2 children per vehicle for half price

Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg
Admits a family free

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Admits 2 adults for $7 each

Museum of Science, Boston
Admits 4 for $5 each

New England Aquarium, Boston
Admits 4 for $10 each – Not available in July/August

Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston
Admits a family for free. NEW!!

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We chose NCCES because I wanted a more relaxed environment for her. Parker Charter was closer to us but she didn’t make the lottery to get in. NCCES was our other choice.

To say that we are happy with the supportive environment would be an understatement. Jenni bounces out of the car every morning so happy to be heading off to school. The following video culled from a slideshow presentation that was given at the school underscores the wonderful job they are doing there:

If you have any questions, check out the NCCES website here.

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My open house – multifamily Leominster MA! Sunday October 9 open from 1:00-3:00

Can’t make it? Call me at 978-537-6401.

Two family on the West side – 5/5 on each level. Beautiful 2 family recently updated- and looks like new! Updated kitchens and baths. Recently redone inside. 2 new gas furnaces to be installed prior to closing. A quick close possible. On Dead End St. Separate utilities. Ready to rent!  $194,900.00

16 Walnut Ct., Leominster MA

Check out one of the kitchens:

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This whole attitude shifted when my kids entered school. Halloween was suddenly really important, to the point of a parade at the school and a huge party afterwards. There were prizes for the best costume, and rivalry was a little heated. One year Meg won for her Johnny Appleseed costume, one year Rebecca won for a Statue of Liberty costume (these were all hand-made, by the way) and one year Peter won for his costume “Boy Inside a Shower” made with a clear shower curtain, a hula hoop, a pipe, and I forget what else.

Anyway, I guess the point is that the holiday is important, and has gained importance to me over the years.

Locally, my kids have gone to the Shirley Halloween Parade as well as trick-or-treated around town.

I will post local Halloween times as they come in, but yesterday I came across an adult Halloween event: Halloween Zombie Apocalypse – here is the Meetup site for Shirley. I read it and thought – whoa, three days? Here is their disclaimer: “We are not liable for any injury, illness, damage, mayhem, chaos, disaster, insanity or an “actual” outbreak of zombies brought about from this event.”

Wish I could carve out three days! Here is the link to the official Zombie Apocalypse site.

Other things to do at Halloween:

Witch’s Woods, Westford

Salem MA Haunted Happenings

SpookyWorld

What places do you go to for Halloween fun? Add them to the comments.

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Image via Wikipedia

My kids grew up a stone’s throw from Holdenwood.  We had a house on Parker Road and used to go for walks through this area. What a great spot for a run!

A fundraiser in a beautiful area – what more can you want?

from the Facebook Page:

Annual fundraiser to support the Ayer-Shirley Educational Foundation.
The Holdenwood Trail Run/Walk is truly unique for its beautiful setting and sense of community. The idyllic Holdenwood trails offer a mix of stone lined meadows, wooded trails, and several interesting features along the way including the Stone Crossing that make this event unique.

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There I am, sandwiched between Lady Gaga and Kim Kardashian. Honestly? I have no idea what that means, except it’s funny :)

Check me out here if you want to follow me on twitter!

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Image by scazon via Flickr

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”

-Hunter S. Thompson

I have always hated the term Bucket List. It just sounds so unexciting. Even when I was little and picked blueberries, I always put them into a pail, not a bucket, so I sure wouldn’t put a dream or a wish into one.

So, anyway, inspired by Mr. Thompson, I think that Skid List is a better term for that list of things I want to do before I die.

So – here goes. My List of Ten Places I Want to Go and Things I Want To Do:

Burning Man – the event, not the action

Florence, Italy – particularly want to see some of Bernini’s work. (aside: I did a paper on The Ecstasy of St. Teresa a long time ago :). Very interesting saint.)

Bus across America - I don’t care where. I have not seen enough of it!

Go back to Kings Falls NY and see if I am brave enough to jump off the cliff into the water again, like when I was 17. (Yes, I really did.  Would I do it again?)

Parasailing  just because

See New Orleans. This part of the post would have been longer except I got distracted watching Big Easy video clips.

Take a steamboat ride on the Mississippi River.

Go to the Big E. 

Whale watch! I have never been!

well, except for this one...

Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum

I guess it is not too crazy a list. I have no great desire to, say, conquer Everest. I kind of feel like there is so much conquering going on on a day-to-day basis that extreme challenges like that hold no real excitement for me. I just want to see new things, beautiful things… even the hang gliding idea is less to do something daring and more to experience more of the world, from a different point of view.

What’s on your Skid List?

Oh, and if we have time later on we could always go catfish noodling: 

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I am getting the house cleaned out so I can put it on the market. Jenni goes to school in another town and it would be closer (and cheaper) to live in that town, and maybe she could even take the bus.

So I have bags and bags of stuff that needs to be thrown out. To me, it seems amazing the amount of things we have. As soon as I can find out what week out of the next few is good for everyone, I am getting a dumpster.

As I was sorting the books into “Keep” piles and “Donate” piles, I came across an old road atlas. For those that are not familiar with these, they are like GPS devices in book format. This particular atlas, together with Mapquest printouts, was our guide for when we took our driving trip from Massachusetts to Windsor Falls, Canada.

The trip was a real departure for me. I seldom drove more than 25 miles at a time and was usually a nervous driver. At that time in my life, I wouldn’t drive in Boston because I was too scared. But the kids had met and really hit it off with some cousins that lived over the Michigan border in Canada, so I decided it would be nice for them all to hang out some more. They were constantly in touch by IM and were very excited about the prospect.

We drove and played games for the entire trip, and spent a lot of time at Niagara Falls (Little Vegas), which the kids loved. It was a fantastic trip. We saw a bald eagle, and got soaking wet on the Maid of the Mist.

So the atlas. When we were looking through it we noticed State mottos. Some of them are really different and unusual, and so we started seeing which state motto would apply to each family member. When I leafed through the atlas I saw that Rebecca had written them down:

• Alabama – Kids – “We Dare Defend Our Rights”
• Kentucky – Kids & Parents – “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
• Idaho – Mom – “It is Perpetual” (she added: “referring to us and the long long long road trip”)
• West Virginia – Dad – “Mountaineers Are Always Free” (he used to like mountain climbing and had wanted to do the entire Appalachian Trail at one point)
• Oregon – Meg – “She Flies With Her Own Wings”
• Maine – Rebecca (who was writing this down) – “I Direct”
• Washington – Peter – “By and By”
• Virginia – Jenni – “Thus Always To Tyrants”

Okay, they were a little harsh with Jenni.  But overall the trip was great, except for the one time that Becca stated firmly that if you checked out a hotel ahead of time that ruined the adventure. We decided after that night that there is such a thing as too much adventure :) .

Things I have learned -

1. Check out the hotel before you go there.

2. Any more than one day spent visiting attractions in Niagara Falls geared towards children is time you can never ever get back.

3. When a child says to Border Patrol, “This is not my father. I don’t know this man,” they take it seriously. (true story- happened with this cousin we were visiting and his father)

4. It is silly to be afraid in anticipation of anything.

5. I get too distracted when I clean house. But I am keeping this Road Atlas.

L to R: The Director, The Tyrant, and Destination Peter

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...On Facebook where you can access a home search
...All of my online links
...On LinkedIn
...Email me at diane@realtyman.com
...or call 978-840-4014

Image by thinkpanama via Flickr

Down and back!  I know how to do it now – I know the train, bus and subway route in to the airport :)

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On returning home from my trip to Florida to attend and present at REBCORL and the Florida Realtors Convention, I had some time to think. Meetings like this are always chock-full of energy and ideas. Inspiration!

I was talking with Debbie Kirkland who was a key organizer of the events, and one thing that she said struck me hard. It is one thing to hear and agree with the information shared, but if you don’t actually act on it, your business will not grow because of it. And this is true no matter what you do for a living. You may have the best local real estate advice or know the most about an area but if you have no way to share how valuable is the information? If you create the best artwork, if no one knows about it you are not bringing beauty to the world.

I really think that the information that you get at these events is wonderful, but without the inspiration to ACT, the information is not worth as much. If you heard 10 great ideas at the event that just happened, go home and make a list of three things you are going to do. Now to find a way to accomplish that!

Say you decide to blog. Go to Weebly or WordPress and set up your account. What if you get stuck? Either contact someone through the Facebook page for REBarcamp Orlando or tweet your question using the #REBCORL hashtag.

Once you are set up, you will not be comfortable creating a post for the first three or four times. Like anything new, you need to practice. Partner up with 3 or 4 other people who have the same goals and hold each other accountable to writing a couple of posts a week. Then read each others’ posts, comment on them and share them to Facebook. Even if you are writing from the same locale, your content will probably be targeting a different audience. Sharing good content, even if it is created by other people, will help those whose posts you are sharing and will help you look like more of an expert in the eyes of the people you are sharing with. And it is more fun when you are creating as a group than trying to push through it on your own!

Zig Ziglar said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.” Hearing this for me was one of those Ah-ha! moments that you read about. It is really easy to leave an event pumped up, excited and full of ideas. Then you come home and the hard work starts, and often the best of intentions are forgotten. Create a group and work through it together!

Inspiration and perspiration – you need both.

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Welcome! This page is set up with links to my slideshow presentation

Your link to a Google + (Plus) invitation

Link to Twitter List… follow the list at REBCORL: http://www.rebarcamporlando.com/ then click “cool! Who’s coming?”

Some twitter hashtags to follow: #Twitterqueens   #retechchat  - information and great people to stalk  follow

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Interested in finding me on the social networks? Check out my updated About.Me page – click on the pic below to go directly there. A link to my page on Google + is there as well as the to the new Tumblr blog I am setting up. Or if you want, you can set up your own page – easy, free and fun!

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This Sunday, July 17, I will be holding 305 Sixth St., Leominster, open from 2-4. Come check out this home, now listed at $114,900. Interested in more information? Call the office at 978-537-6401

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