Cathy Burnham Martin's Blog, page 86

Reconnect and Celebrate!

Al, Bill, and Ron

 

 

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.”

— Walter Winchell (1887 – 1972)
American columnist

 

 

 

We have digressed into a very disturbing and dangerous “cancel culture” in America. I get it. It is difficult to NOT cancel some folks who seem screamingly “off base”… aka not parallel with our beliefs of what is right and logical. We are all mere humans. Give yourself a break.

Jim Lurvey

 

 

Challenge: If you’ve ever hit the “Cancel” button on someone because they think differently than you do, let today be the day to become a real friend and reconnect.

If you have not canceled someone… or even if you have… celebrate a real friend today.

 

 

Jim & Janice

 

 

I celebrate James Lurvey on this day. He has been a real friend for many years, along with his beloved Janice for the past 11 years. AND today is his birthday! Happy Birthday, Jim!

Ignorance or Knowledge?

Photo by Christine Sponchia

“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge; it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.”

— Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
English naturalist, proposed the theory of natural evolution

National If Pets Had Thumbs Day!

If our furry, 4-legged friends had thumbs, I think they could paws-itively give us a run for our money when it comes to many skills we may presume are out of their range. They would change the TV channel to “Animal Planet” or “Woof World.” They could hold their water dish or reach for a goblet instead. They might choose to play the piano or the guitar. They could snap a selfie, send you a text message (with a few typos, of course), or speed dial the ASPCA if we held out on treats. I’m barking to the choir here… they’d simply open the box and take out their own treats.

Just imagine the purrrrfectly amazing new tricks they could do. They could hitch a ride, play poker, and thumb wrestle to see whose turn it was to walk the human.

Our Newfie (Miles) tried to write letters to his human while she was away at school. That lack of thumbs thing was troublesome, until he convinced me to hold the pencil for him. Then, of course, he could simply dictate.  He did this so often that his letters evolved into chapters, and he published his first book. This is true.  “Dog Days in the Life of the “Miles-Mannered Man” by Miles Martin is a collection of tall tales, wagging tales, and tantalizing treats.

 

A must-read for all dog fans, the “Miles-Mannered Man” dishes up “bone-i-fied” servings of poignant, relatable observations, hysterical antics, and purely canine philosophies we all can follow. Miles captures hearts with his first-paw accounts of Life as it is and always should be.

In digital and paperback formats, his book digs up 40 chapters of warm, furry fun. Plus, Miles insisted on including 4 free bonuses in every book. (He says that you deserve these treats because you’ve been good.)

For the month of March, the paperback (ISBN 978-0977071135) is marked down by $7 to $12.99. The $5.99 ebook on Amazon (ASIN B00MR3I4NI) is just $2.99 all of March.  So, fetch a copy for the pet fan you love in celebration of National If Pets Had Thumb Day… and just think of the paws-sibilities. (More book titles and audiobooks can be found on my website GoodLiving123.com.)

American Citizenship Day

Image by John Hain

 

“Remember, remember always, that all of us, you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.”

—  Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 – 1945)
American politician & lawyer
32nd president of the United States

“Nearly all Americans have ancestors who braved the oceans – liberty-loving risk takers in search of an ideal – the largest voluntary migrations in recorded history… Immigration is not just a link to America’s past; it’s also a bridge to America’s future.”

—  George H.W. Bush (1924 – 2018)
American politician, diplomat, & businessman
41st president of the United States

Photo by Ana Toledo

March 2nd is the day each year on which we commemorate the day that Puerto Ricans born after April 25, 1898, were granted U.S. citizenship in 1917. President Woodrow Wilson signed the Jones-Shafroth Act on March 2nd.

Puerto Ricans had been Spanish nationals until the Spanish-American War in 1898. Spain ceded the island to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris.

Photo by Fabian Fauth

This day also serves as a reminder to all of us to appreciate the value of our citizenship. Among other rights, citizenship entitles people to vote in Federal elections. It generally provides priority when petitioning to bring family members permanently to this country.

Most of us live so readily with freedom, that we may give it little thought. Those working hard to come to this country know we would be foolish to take our freedom for granted.

“You who have been born in America, I wish I could make you understand what it is like [to] not be an American – [to] not have been an American all your life — and then, suddenly, with the words of a man in flowing robes to be one, for that moment and forever after. One moment you belong with your fathers to a million dead yesterdays — the next you belong with America to a million unborn tomorrows.”

— George Magar Mardikian (1903 – 1977)
Armenian-born American restauranteur, chef, author, and philanthropist

“I received a letter just before I left office from a man. I don’t know why he chose to write it, but I’m glad he did. He wrote that you can go to live in France, but you can’t become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Italy, but you can’t become a German, an Italian. He went through Turkey, Greece, Japan and other countries. But he said anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to live in the United States and become an American.”

— Ronald Reagan (1911 – 2004)
American politician & actor
40th president of the United States

National Peanut Butter Lovers Day!

If you love peanut butter, it can become its own food group! Enjoy it creamy or chunky straight out of its jar. Or add it to smoothies, snacks, sandwiches, or Asian stir-fries.

One of the first recipes I recall Mom teaching my sister and me to make was peanut butter cookies. She was teaching us basic techniques of measuring ingredients and, in particular, how to cream ingredients together. For our little arms, I remember thinking we would never get the butter and sugars smooth. Of course, in our rush, we had forgotten to bring the butter to room temperature. Yup, she taught us a good lesson in planning and preparation.

Back in college, I then worked up a Super Simple shortcut. It’s still great today for folks who don’t bake enough to keep the standard ingredients around their kitchens or have tiny kitchens, as in college apartments.

Do remember to bring your butter to room temperature first! And if peanut butter is not your “thing,” you can also do this with almond butter or any other… but this is Peanut Butter Lovers Day.

Super Simple Peanut Butter Cookies
¼ c butter, softened to room temp
½ c packed brown sugar
1 large or ex-lg egg
12‑oz jar peanut butter (chunky or creamy)
1 vanilla or yellow cake mix

Combine ingredients in order given, blending completely after each addition.  Shape into 1″ balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Flatten with a fork in a crisscross pattern.  Bake 8‑10 min at 350°F.  Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

Happy 80th Birthday David Zamichow!

Anyone in New Hampshire in the mid-1980s may well remember local television exploding into a new era. New York television advertising executive, David Zamichow arrived as WMUR-TV’s new general manager in 1983. Smart, determined, and as visionary as they come, he then began orchestrating Channel 9’s transformation as skillfully as the finest symphony’s conductor. WMUR grew from a station that often had ABC wishing the network could disassociate completely into a station they touted as an example for all affiliates to follow.

David Zamichow launched many young careers into journalism and beyond, encouraged staff to be their best, and involved the station in many charitable and cultural endeavors. He sent teams to cover major events from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA, covering Presidents and Popes… and internationally, from the Panama Canal to the opening of the Berlin Wall and the Superpower Summit in Moscow. His tenacity and team leadership developed programming that lifted WMUR from 4th to 1st place in New Hampshire over the bigger Boston market stations.

Named 1988’s Broadcaster of the Year, David Zamichow led Channel 9 into a solid first-place NH viewership that soon topped all Boston stations’ combined viewership in the Granite State, and ultimately into 3rd place in Boston itself, previously unheard of from an “out-of-town” station. After a decade in New Hampshire, he then charged full steam ahead for the next 2 decades transforming Toledo, Ohio’s WTVG to similar success.

David Zamichow was both the toughest and finest boss I ever had. He made miracles out of a minuscule budget. He knew management, sales, production, engineering, and news. He could challenge us to the point of great exasperation, although I am certain that we caused him far more fathoms of infuriating frustration than we can imagine. But he believed in us, our team, and our potential. Unlike most managers, he could also lift us to be the very best we could be. Sure, he made us work CRAZY hard, but he also helped us sparkle and shine. He often shouldered the blame for big messes and gave us all the credit for super successes. David Zamichow has a heart of gold.

Few people positively touch so many lives so profoundly. We will never forget. Thank you. Bless you.

 

Happiest 80th Birthday wishes from us all to you, David Zamichow!

 

Love, Strength, and Courage

“To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.”

— Lao-Tzu (571 BC – trad. 5th century BC)
Chinese philosopher

Liberty!

Photo by Jon Tyson

 

“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

— Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Founding Father of the United States; inventor, publisher, political philosopher
written in Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759

Belief & Hope

“Believe it is possible to solve your problem. Tremendous things happen to the believer. So, believe the answer will come. It will.”

— Norman Vincent Peale 1898 – 1993
American Protestant clergyman and author
quote from “Positive Thinking Every Day”

This is National Tortilla Chip Day!

For National Tortilla Chip Day, I decided to share my Super Simple way to make nachos. I love them to be extra cheesy, and I will gleefully eat them at any hour of the day or night. Yes, nachos for breakfast are superb!

My favorite “go-to” style is a single layer of tortilla chips on a foil-covered pan. (Never do I mound layers of chips on a platter.) Sprinkle shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or a blend) over each chip. Then drizzle medium-hot taco sauce or picante sauce over the top. Bake for 5 minutes at 375 – 400°F just till the cheese is melted. Consume!

I also do this on a regular plate for 1 minute in the microwave. Or on foil in a hot BBQ grill.

Making cheese the bottom layer prevents the chips from getting soggy. Adding other toppings is optional, but desirable. Choose items that suit your taste buds and add interesting textures. Chopped avocado, finely diced bell peppers, mango salsa, fresh pineapple bits, pulled pork, sliced fresh or jarred jalapeños, pulled pork, bits of chorizo sausage, sliced olives, green onions, ground beef, roasted peppers & onions, chili, grilled corn, black beans, or shrimp. After they’re cooked, some great add-ons for nachos can include shredded lettuce, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Or put all your “goodies” on a platter or in bowls. Simply dip your tortilla chips to your heart’s content!