Friday, September 25, 2009

Oh For the Good Old Days--Not!

The other day, I got a phone call from a dear old friend, Steve Bull. Steve lives in Lynne, Mass. Apparently at my retirement party in June, Steve and my Mom got into a conversation about when she and her best friend, Betty worked painting dials for a company in Swampscott during the war. Steve now works at a law firm in that area, and came across an article he thought Mom might "enjoy". It is from the July 1943 issue of Transportation Magazine, and is called "The 1943 Guide to Hiring Women". It was written for male supervisors of women in the work force during World War II. It features eleven "tips" for getting more efficiency out of women employees. It begins with the line,"the most important things now are to select the most efficient women available and how to use them to the best advantage". (Use them??? I guess this information would be very useful for men--just like if we went to work today with orangutans working next to us!) **Please note--the remarks in parenthesis are mine!
Here are a few of my "favorites"
**Pick young married women. They usually have more of a sense of responsibility than their unmarried sisters, they're less likely to be flirtatious, they need the work or they wouldn't be doing it, they still have the pep and interest to work hard and to deal with the public efficiently. (Right, because God knows the men would never be flirtatious!! I'm sure it was the secretary chasing the boss around the desk!)
**General experience indicates that "husky" girls--those who are just a little on the heavy side-are more even tempered and efficient than their underweight sisters. (Maybe because the underweight sisters are freaking starving to death!!)
**Give the female employee a definite day-long schedule of duties so that they'll keep busy without bothering the management for instruction every few minutes. Numerous properties say that women make excellent workers when they have their jobs cut out for them, but they lack the initiative in finding work themselves. (Sure, because they must have had sooo much free time when they were homemakers doing everything by hand!)
**Stress the importance of time the fact that a minute or two lost here and there makes serious inroads on schedules. Until this point is gotten across service is likely to be slowed up. (Tell that to the guys who are out drinking their 3 martini lunch!)
**Give every girl an adequate number of rest periods during the day. You have to make some allowances for feminine psychology. A girl has more confidence and is more efficient if she can keep her hair tidied, apply fresh lipstick and wash her hands several times a day. (Maybe some of the guys should wash up a bit, too)
**Get enough size variety in operator's uniforms so that each girl can have a proper fit. This point can't be stressed too much in keeping women happy. (Even with tidy hair and fresh lipstick, there's nothing like a properly sized uniform to keep you happy!)
Look--here come some of those happy workers now!!



All I can say is tonight, when I go to bed, I'm going to thank God that times change--maybe the good old days aren't always so good---just old! Any thoughts?
Nancy

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Happy Birthday, Nancy!



Andrea, Nancy & Cheryl... Wells Beach, 1955



with Kit, Kennebunk, Christmas 1981


Nancy, Cheryl, Mom in Andover, 1988


Nancy & Aaron's Wedding Reception, Summerplace, 1996


Sisters Road Trip to Seartsport, 2007


A No Hair Day


Chemo... 2008


Halloween in the Wizard's Forest...2008 (yup...that's Nancy!)


Survivor's Lap...Relay for Life, 2009


Moody Beach...July, 2009


Andi and nancy...2009


Nancy today...strong and beautiful!!! Happy Birthday...We love you!


Up, Up and Away!!

Friday, I took Mom for an appointment at the doctor's office. Now, ordinarily this wouldn't be "blog-worthy", but you need to put that in perspective with how we went to the doctors. As you know Mom lives at Chandler's Wharf condo complex on Commercial St. in Portland. Since this complex was built before the law on handicapped accessibility, she has to walk a long way, and two flights of stairs to get to the car. Usually though, we can drive up the ramp to her door, and away we go! However, for at least the fourth time (by my count) the association has ripped up the mezzanine to fix the bricks. So for the next month, Chandler's Wharf has become "The Big Dig".
Getting to the car, (going down) Mom was able to do fine, with just a couple breaks to catch her breath--it was getting back up that would be much more taxing on Mom. The complex manager had assured Mom that they were aware of her (and other residents) needs and had arranged an "elevator". Think of that word VERY loosely! The attendant at the guard house couldn't have been nicer, and after only one phone call to another attendant to get the details right, we were on our way! I think I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! This is how we do elevators in Maine--we are hardy stock!
Step 1: Climb the easily accessible stairs

Step 2: Enter our well appointed "car":

Step 3: Wait for the kind attendant to make a quick cell phone call to find out "How the Hell this thing works"

Step 4: Arrive at your destination--first floor "Ladies hats, lingerie, fine perfumes and Unit 310"

Step 5: Right this way! Please watch your step exiting the vehicle!


Now, that's how we get it done in Maine!! Just think--only a month of this!!
Mom, you're going to be mad at me, but you're a darn good sport!
Nancy

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Kristen's Special Day

Whenever Hank and I take Kristen out for the day, she calls it her "special day" because she gets to choose where we eat lunch and what we do. Today it was lunch at Applebee's, shopping at WalMart (she always picks that!) and a trip to the pumpkin patch. Kristen wouldn't be Kristen if she did not dress up for an outing...here is she is heading out this morning with her Cabbage Patch Kid, "Cabbie". Note that Kristen and Cabbie have matching outfits! And...Mom will be happy to know that Kristen has finally given up her "nascar" cap for a pretty pink one:-) We haven't found a pink cap for Cabbie yet but I'm looking!



Kristen's house is all decorated for Halloween. Here is the "29 house gang": the Witch (notice the purse!), Janet (staff), Sean and Kristen.



Kristen picked out this pumpkin for the "29 house".




And here is the 29 house pet..."Timmy" the squirrel. He is well fed so he makes himself right at home!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Boston Cream Pie

Just a quick note to let you know this weekend I tried the Parker House recipe (posted below)for Boston Cream Pie. Aaron had me take a picture of the results! The recipe works! Reports from Aaron, Kit, Erin, Mom and Andisay it taste great, too. Buy lots of eggs if you decide to try it--it takes 13! Bon apetit! Nancy

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Ovarian Cancer Flyer

Here is a link to a printable Ovarian Cancer Awareness flyer that you can print off and post or distribute in your workplace or community for Ovarian Cancer Month:
http://www.ovariancancer.org/_images/uploads/2009%20September%20Flyer%20Color.pdf

Go Teal in September!

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month!

  • Ovarian cancer is the deadliest cancer of the female reproductive system and fifth most deadly cancer for women because there is no early detection test and no cure.
  • Each year approximately 22,000 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer and about 15,000 women will die from the disease.
  • When detected and treated early, the five year survival is greater than 90%. But, fewer than 20% of women are diagnosed in the early stages of ovarian cancer because the symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
  • Until there is a reliable early detection test, awareness of ovarian cancer symptom is a woman's best defense.
Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer may include:
  • bloating
  • pelvic or abdominal pain
  • difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
  • urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)
If you experience these symptoms for more than few weeks see a doctor, preferably a gynecologist!

  • Know your Body!
  • Know the Symptoms!
  • Help Spread the Word!
  • Wear Teal ( the color for ovarian cancer) during the month of September!
For more info go to www.ovarian cancer.org, or contact me!
Teal there is a cure,

Nancy

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A Great Weekend in Boston!

Saturday, Aaron and I went to Boston for the wedding of the son of friends from college. We decided to make a weekend of the event and had a great time! The wedding was for the son of Kathy and Eddie Maguire from Bucksport, Maine. Kathy roomed with another dear friend of mine, Ellie Magee, from Bangor (now from upstate New York). Kathy and Ellie lived next door to my best friend, Betsy Seavey and I in the dorms for about 2 years. We've been friends since, and have tried to get together about once a summer, but we haven't been together with spouses for at least 6 years. It was great catching up, and really getting a chance to reconnect. The wedding was at a church in Arlington, MA, with the reception at the Omni Parker House in Boston. Since we all decided to stay at the Parker House, we really got time to spend together. Here's a picture of the "girls", together again-I'm sure we haven't changed a bit since 1972!

The wedding reception at the Parker House was unbelievable--amazing food and service from white-gloved waiters and waitresses. The meal was 5 courses with wine for each course and an open bar from 6:30-2:00 AM (glad I wasn't picking up the tab!) After dinner and dessert there was dancing then about an hour later they announced the dessert bar was open! I've never seen so many wonderful desserts in one place! They even handed out homemade whoopie pies as each guest left for the way home! If anyone left there hungry I couldn't imagine how! As you may know, the Parker House chef's were the originators of both Parker House rolls and Boston Cream pie--as a new twist to the blog, I'm going to try to include a link at the bottom of this post to the recipe for both-both of which we had this weekend, in case you'd like to try them at home--keep your fingers crossed!

On Sunday we all attend the matinee of the 2006 Tony award winning musical, "Jersey Boys"! It is playing at the Shubert Theater until late September, and if you can find a way to get there, by all means go!!! It is the story of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It tell how these four blue-collar kids from the streets of New Jersey became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. Some of the the 30+ songs included in the show are: "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "My Eyes Adored You", "Dawn", "Stay", "Rag Doll", "Walk Like a Man", "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You"---etc. etc. This list could go on and on but you get the idea--In my mind's eye I could see my sister, Cheryl, dancing around to many of these 45's when she was a teen--she loved all those groups! I saw an interview with the kid (he looks about 20 in real life) who is playing Frankie in Boston, and he said every night while performing he notices that about half way through the show the audience seems to forget that they are watching men portraying the 4 Seasons and seem to feel that they are actually attending a concert by the original Four Season--a credit to the believability of their transformation. An interesting side note is the "real" Frankie Valli is also playing a one night only concert in Boston in November--and by the way he's 75!! Time does fly, doesn't it?
Nancy
To get the recipes, paste this link in your browser box, and you will see Boston Cream Pie and Parker House Rolls written in red--click either and it's recipe will come up!
http://www.omnihotels.com/FindaHotel/BostonParkerHouse/Dining.aspx