Life & Family

Summer Months Be Gone

fall leaves
Bring it! Photo by Pixabay

 

I’m ready to say goodbye to the summer months – I’m always ready. I’m one of the few New Englanders whose least favorite season is summer. I sometimes feel guilty that I dislike the very time of year that so many others worship and wait patiently for the other nine months of the year.

It’s not that I completely hate the summer months; I just much prefer other seasons over it. Fall, in particular, is my favorite. Spring takes a close second and winter and summer run a photo finish for positions three and four.

I thought I was alone until I read this fun, little post on Facebook.

 

seasons

 

Here’s my deal, I don’t like extreme temperatures, whether they are hot or cold. This summer was hotter than usual. My lawn was burnt, my dog was unwalked and I felt trapped and claustrophobic inside the comfort of any air conditioned space I could find.

I could blame the weather entirely, but I know my distaste for the summer months has much more to do with the disorder it introduces to my life than the hot and humid climate. My desire for organization and structure is what really puts summer so low on my list of seasons. And it’s not about having the kids around, in fact I love spending more time with my girls.

Rather, it’s not knowing what’s going to happen from one day to the next, one hour to the next, one minute to the next. Whether it’s on their social calendar or mine. It seems that even my best laid plans always result in some unexpected turn of events. The beach, a concert, a pool party, a weekend get-away, the movies, a Red Sox game and many more great things all seem to pop up on a summer’s whim, no matter the day of the week or time of day.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE doing all of these things, but boy do I get tired. I’m not twenty anymore and I sure feel it when I’m out dining and drinking on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. When I’m there, these are the best of times, but my recovery time is so much longer these days. As much as I try, it seems I can’t quite keep pace with the carefree nature that the summer months introduce.

And so, as cooler air breezes in, I breathe a sigh of relief and prepare to welcome the moderate temperatures of fall and the Monday through Friday, back-to-school routine that seems to suit this forty-something lifestyle so well.

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Food & Drink

Mike’s Magnificent 3 Olives and a Twist Martini

Mike and his perfect martini
Always served with a smile!

 

Lately, I find myself telling the story of how this blog got its name. I haven’t always been a martini drinker. There was that one time in my early twenties when I first experienced the thrill of a good martini. I enjoyed the taste so much, I somehow managed to drink five in one night (such an amateur). This little feat earned me the nickname of “Martina” for at least a year. My overindulgence also managed to turn me off from the sophisticated cocktail for twenty-five years.

I slowly reintroduced martinis to my repertoire about three years ago. As I slowed down, I began favoring the slow sip that a perfect martini encourages. I also enjoyed the soothing state of mind it delivered – I find myself very relaxed at the first sip of a good martini. I don’t really need more than one, but I often have two. Depending on the type I order, they can satisfy a sweet or savory craving.

While Cosmopolitans and Appletinis are nice, they are a rare choice for my palate. I most often gravitate to a classic martini. Upon ordering, typical questions follow:

  • Gin or Vodka? Vodka please!
  • Shaken or stirred? Shaken and very, very cold.
  • Olives or a twist? And here’s where I’d always pause.

Can’t I have both? I love olives, but I also love the crisp, freshness of lemon. And so my order became – a Grey Goose martini with three olives and a twist of lemon – emphasis on the “and.” I’d often get quizzical looks from the server followed by, “You want both olives AND lemon?” “Yup, that’s right – oh and can you be sure it’s 3 olives – I just like it that way.”

While this became my standard order, it was not until Mike Moffet, of North Andover Country Club, made my signature drink, did I know this should be my blog name. How he does his perfect 3 olives and a twist martini differently, I do not know for sure. But, I always know when Mike has made my cocktail it is smoother, colder and crisp with just the hint of lemon that I like.

Making the perfect 3 Olives and a Twist martini
The process!

 

My blog was intended to be a place where I write about things that I like and make me happy. That’s exactly how I’d describe Mike’s Magnificent Martini.

 

3 olives and a twist Martini with grey goose
Perfection

 

There you have it – a 3 Olives and a Twist Martini. I hope you enjoy it here as much as I do in a glass.

What’s your favorite martini and who makes it best? Share in the comments below!

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Life & Family

Dr. Tom Ferlito of Bradford Orthodontics Makes Braces a Breeze

braces with blue bands by Dr. Tom Ferlito
Ally’s braces

 

In honor of “Throw Back Thursday,” today I thought I’d share an old article, Brace Yourself. Back in 2012, I’d written this featuring one of my favorite people, Dr. Tom Ferlito D.M.D.

The Bradford Orthodontics Experience

I first got to know Dr. Ferlito when I decided to straighten up with adult braces. The memorably, positive experience was less about the braces and more about Dr. Ferlito and his wonderful orthodontic practice. When it comes to adult braces or orthodonture for any age, Dr. Ferlito knows his stuff and is fun and friendly. He puts every client who walks through his door at ease, and his entire team is unsurpassed in graciousness and professionalism.

Today, my 13 year old, Ally, is in braces and never complains about going in for a check. She is totally happy and comfortable in her colorfully banded braces. My good friend, Karyn, is in adult braces and she raves about Dr. Tom Ferlito as much as I do.

But, the story I always tell when talking about why I admire Dr. Ferlito is about the time I brought my oldest daughter, Julia, in for an evaluation, twice. Each time Dr. Ferlito said he couldn’t find a reason to put her in braces – her teeth were fine! To me, that’s the ultimate sign of a true professional with integrity.

Thank you Dr. Tom Ferlito, and everyone at Bradford Orthodontics, for making braces a fun thing to do.

Check out my story, Brace Yourself, in North Andover Patch.

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Life & Family

Oscar’s Travels – Our Pet Friendly Stay at The Wolfeboro Inn

gazebo at the pet friendly Wolfeboro Inn
The Gazebo

 

Leaving your pet behind when you vacation is never easy. My situation with Oscar got more complicated last year when he was diagnosed with diabetes. Now, he requires two insulin shots a day and while he is doing very well, I worry about him much more than before. So whenever possible, I like to travel with him.

We’ve rented a house with him before and that was pretty seamless. This past weekend, however, we decided to try something new and checked into a pet friendly hotel. On a whim, I called The Wolfeboro Inn on Lake Winnipesaukee and, by chance, they had a pet friendly suite available for just one night. We took it! The ground level room was very spacious and its patio door led us right out to the property’s grassy lawn. It was perfect.

 

my daughters and dog on the dock at the Wolfeboro Inn
A walk on the Inn’s dock

 

Oscar was certainly nervous and excited. He’s a Schnauzer; by nature he’s rigid with his schedule and routine. I knew it would take him time to adjust to this new situation. I made no plans to rush out for the first few hours and planned nothing where he couldn’t come along. In the evening, we dined in the hotel’s, Wolfe’s Tavern, so that we could check on him frequently. He never made a peep.

During the day, he joined us for lunch, a little shopping, a lot of walking and, for the first time since we’ve had him, swimming. We adopted Oscar when he was seven in 2013 and since then I’ve always wondered if he could swim. What better place to test the waters than the lake. I’m happy to say, he pulled off a doggie paddle like a pro.

 

oscar's first swim in lake winnipesaukee
He did it!

 

I really enjoyed this experience with Oscar. It brought a new dimension of fun to our travels and it certainly encouraged conversation. So many nice folks stopped to talk and give Oscar a pat on the head. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t tiring – for the both of us.

 

my dog oscar sleeping
Wiped out!

 

There were so many new things for Oscar to experience and for me to take into consideration that we both crashed on the drive home. The funniest experience was when we walked into the hotel lobby in the morning for coffee and he began barking at all of the people who he seemed to think were invading his space. I imagine his mindset was, “why are all these strangers here in my big new house?” Well, that certainly woke me up.

The best part – no one so much as flinched. The hotel receptionist was obviously accustomed to the pet friendly environment and just smiled while a lovely couple, who were staying at the hotel with their two Maltese, came right over to say hi and calm Oscar’s nerves.

I think, for Oscar, a few more five-star stays would be just what he needs to get more comfortable. I would love to try the grand Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle, NH and The Woodstock Inn in Vermont – both of which offer pet accommodations.

Do you travel with your dog? Any suggestions or recommendations?

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Writing, The Blog, The Book

Writing a Travel Book: My Never-Ending Story

pictures and pages from Beth's first travel book

So, I’ve written a travel book. Well, some might call it a travel book, a travelogue or a travel memoir, but really what it is, is a travel experience. I like to call it “Eat, Pray, Love” meets “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” I started it in 2012 and here I am in 2016 working on what I hope to be a final revision.

The process of sticking with it has sometimes, most times, been tough. I know some fellow writers who will understand this and I wonder; why do I, why do we put ourselves through the pain?

The book is about my summer 2012 journey to Greece, Italy and Turkey. My parents, sister and her family, and my own family unit traveled together for our first, big family trip. The experience was so hilarious, momentous and memorable that I left the Mediterranean thinking, I could write a book about this. So I did. I call it “Musing Mediterranean.”

When I began MM, I didn’t have my magazine column, “Matters of Life & Beth” nor did this blog exist. My writing style was very different then. Over the years, I have found and come to enjoy the writing voice I use here and in my column.

Now, after going through multiple revisions and having the book professionally edited, I am starting over from chapter one to take what I have and rewrite it using the conversational voice that suits me now and the writer/author I want to be.

There are days when I feel like the edits will never end. There are always changes to be made and after reading and re-reading the story, what feels like a hundred times, I feel like it will never be done.

I have never been so dedicated to a personal passion so much as this. Tony will often say, “I can’t believe you are still working on that.” Honestly, neither can I. I am more of an immediate satisfaction type of person. If don’t see short term gain, then I usually move on to something where I can.

My book is different. I believe in it and I enjoy immersing myself in it even when I dread and severely procrastinate opening the file to get started. It’s a strange contradiction. I sometimes worry that if I dread working on it so much, maybe I shouldn’t be doing it; but I keep going. There are also days when I fear that it is boring or stupid; but I keep going.

If ever I understood a labor of love, I think I can fairly say that this book is mine.

I don’t know what the end game for this book will be, but for now I am going to work through this final, or near final, phase and hopefully soon revel in the glory of completion.

Do you have a labor of love?

To learn more about my travel book “Musing Mediterranean,” visit my website.

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