My evening at Raffael's hosted by Walpole Recreation.

Walpole Recreation recently hosted their 9th annual Taste Of Walpole at Raffael's in Walpole, Massachusetts. I was invited to this function which was held on February 9, 2012. I decided to attend the event wondering what types of food they would be serving. I went over to the three following Restaurant tables where my two favorite foods pasta and pizza were situated. I sampled the Broccoli pizza, Mushroom, pizza, Plain pizza and pasta with cheese and onions. For dessert they had Dunkin Donuts munchkins two kinds chocolate and plain. My favorite would be the chocolate. I was surprised that there were no chairs for people to sit down and eat. They had small tables setup where people could eat and stand. There were some adults and children who chose to sit down on the rug. The pasta and pizza tasted absolutely delicious. I would recommend this event to anyone who is interested in participating. You will not be disappointed in tasting many different varieties of food. The admission price is $5.00 for each person. They also have a raffle where you are eligible to win prizes for example, gift certificates to the local Restaurants in Walpole. The musical entertainment provided that evening was a lady singer performing songs while playing her guitar. I would like to thank Walpole Recreation and Raffael's for their hospitality.

My New Year's Eve 2012

In 1974, Dick Clark created New Year's Rockin Eve which aired on the ABC network. This show has become one of my annual traditions since 1980. There were numerous music performers featuring the most popular music performers during the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000 era. It is so exciting to see hundreds of people gathering at Times Square in New York City. The highlight of the show would be the famous ball drop displaying different colors with the current year. You are also able to observe other countries celebrating New Year's Eve at different times. My favorite portion of the show would be the musical performances whether it is pop or rock music. There are two different types of New Year's parties taking place in two different locations California and New York City. May all of us find happiness, love and peace in 2012! May all of our dreams and wishes come true!

My Favorite Holiday Christmas

The best time of my childhood was receiving Christmas gifts each year from my family and friends. I was so excited when Christmas morning finally arrived. I would proceed to go into the living room where the Christmas tree was situated. I had all of my presents opened within a matter of minutes just ripping every shred of Christmas wrapping. There were numerous boardgames and dolls over the years. The toys that were the most precious to me were the many types of different dolls I had received. I also had a variety of boardgames but two games in particular Clue and Life provided hours of entertainment. My Christmas stocking which was hung by the fireplace contained chocolate candy and Life Savers. We had an artificial green Christmas tree. My mother did an outstanding job decorating the Christmas tree year after year. We had a wide assortment of ornaments to choose from. The Christmas lights went up first, then the ornaments, the gold garland and lastly the angel on top of the tree. My Aunt used to have an annual Christmas party at her house. The family members would bring their gifts placing them in the hallway. The relatives congregated to the living room and exchanged gifts. She had an artificial silver Christmas tree in the corner near the fireplace. The gifts were neatly arranged under the Christmas tree. My grandmother's apartment included a miniature Christmas tree. On the buffet table many Christmas cards from family and friends were displayed. I remember traveling into Boston to see the famous Enchanted Village at Jordan Marsh. Christmas time is so festive and magical everybody including family and friends come together to reflect on past memories. Christmas is an important celebration of  life and love. The most joyous occasion for adults and children. For me Christmas will always have a special place in my heart.

My Annual Thanksgiving Tradition

Every Thanksgiving day as a child I would watch Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Now as an adult I prefer to watch The Best In Show sponsored by the Purina Dog Show. I also enjoy viewing the Thanksgiving cooking shows on the Create channel. I usually prepare all of my favorite Thanksgiving dishes which include chicken, green bean casserole, squash casserole, cranberry sauce, apple, cherry or blueberry pie. We don't have too many  family gatherings at our house. I would much further spend a quiet evening at home. This holiday is a day to give thanks for family members that we cherish and to be grateful for the annual feast. My heart goes out to the individuals who are not able to receive their Thanksgiving dinner. The homeless shelters do provide Thanksgiving dinners to anyone that enters their establishment. The food pantries also have volunteers that help distribute meals to low income individuals. These people deserve to be treated to a hot meal once a year. It's nice to see people working together as a team and contributing to a worthwhile effort. The volunteers are caring and compassionate who take the time out of their schedule for an excellent cause. We must communicate to family and friends that they hold a special place in our heart.

My Favorite Season Fall

I like the change of seasons especially the fall when the fall foliage on the trees starts to change color. The fall weather is beautiful, cool and comfortable. It is a perfect time in the fall to go apple picking. I remember traveling to the Big Apple Farm in 1982 toWrentham, Massachusetts. The Big Apple sells a variety of baked goods and fresh cider. They recently added a new Ice Cream Shoppe. I always enjoyed their candy apples which were so delicious. I would recommend the Big Apple because it is family friendly and worth the trip. I remember dressing up for Halloween in a variety of costumes over the years. I went to a friend's Halloween party back in October 1978. I decided to go as a gypsy. I had a good time we played the game Twister and danced to the Grease record in the downstairs basement. Then later on everyone was gathered in the Family Room watching the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The next morning I was getting ready to leave my friend's house when my classmate threw my pillow into the closet. My response was gimme my pillow back I have to leave. My friend went to the closet retrieving my pillow. The same year I was trick treating with a friend from Junior High who lived in my neighborhood. The best part of Halloween was getting to eat the candy that I had collected. I couldn't wait to devour those chocolate candy bars.

My Favorite Soap Opera "All My Children"

 I have been a fan of All My Children since the late 1980's. My favorite characters include Dixie Martin, Tad Martin, Ryan Lavery, Greenlee Smythe, Kendall Hart, Zach Slater, Adam Chandler, Angie and Jesse Hubbard, David Hayward, Amanda and Jake Martin, Brooke English, Erica Kane and Jackson Montgomery. I also like the new characters that were incorporated into the show in 2010. I like the new cover shots that show the character's pictures much better than the old cover shots with the black background. I like the theme music for the show because it is catchy and uplifting. The best change that All My Children made was to hire new writers and bring fresh characters into the show. The smartest move was the return of Dixie Martin. The storylines have become much stronger and exciting to watch what happens next. The show only has one more month to go before it goes off the air permanently September 23. I'm sure there will be plenty of dramatic scenes between the characters. I would like to see Dixie and Tad Martin reunited. The couple that should remain together would be Ryan and Greenlee. The biggest question is will Erica Kane really marry Jackson Montgomery considering her track record with men. Now that Zach Slater has come back from the dead will Kendall choose to stay with Zach or leave him for Griffin. The character of Angela Hubbard played by Debbi Morgan is leaving the show for the Young and the Restless. This pair may be broken up forever or written off the show. What will happen to the devious Dr. David Hayward who seems to be too busy drugging and kidnapping the members of Pine Valley. Then there's Amanda and Jake Martin whose marriage appears to be solid until his ex-wife showed up. I am eagerly awaiting the return of two beloved characters Adam Chandler and Brooke English. Adam Chandler has two different sides he can be nice but also a control freak. Brooke English knows Adam Chandler well since she was once married to him in the show. How will Adam Chandler react when he discovers that Dixie is alive. I had a feeling that Marisa would fall in love with Bianca. Marisa's ex-husband J.R. wants revenge because his wife left him for another woman. All My Children's current gay storyline will most likely have its usual twists and turns. I have been recording Friday's episodes which are the best. I will miss not watching All My Children at its regular hour 1:00 p.m. The last episode which airs on September 23 will close out the show. It's been fun watching the people of Pine Valley deal with life's ups and downs. This final episode should prove to be a memorable one in soap opera history. I commend the cast and crew of All My Children for being on ABC for 41 years.

My Dream Vacations

There are two vacation destinations that I would like to visit someday including New York City and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I am interested in seeing the famous sites which lists the following: Central Park, Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, Museum Of Modern Art, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, The Metropolitan Museum Of Art, The Statue Of Liberty and Times Square. The tourist attractions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that appeal to me would be Beach Activities, Festivals and Events, Live Theater and Shows, Nightlife and Live Music, Shopping and Water Parks. The beaches look so beautiful especially the blue water and the seashore. I look forward to this journey hopefully sometime in the future traveling to my chosen locations.