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.

My One Of A Kind Dog "Corky"

In April 1980 my family and I went to Holiday Kennels in Brockton, Massachusetts. The lady in the shelter showed us this one dog that was up for adoption. She was just a puppy whose breed was half Welsh Corgi/Terrier. We decided to adopt her and my brother's remark was "I promise I'll take care of her" but he never followed through. I remember my brother had a rabbit's foot somewhere on the floor in the car. Apparently she had eaten the rabbit's foot including the bone. I was the one who fed her and gave her water when she was panting. In the summer of 1980 I was giving her a bath when suddenly she took off while the soap was still on her. I ran after her and went back to the hose to rinse her off. She literally would start to tremble the moment the water was put onto her. The most embarrassing time was at the Vet's office when she encountered another dog. She went right up to the dog and started snapping. I was surprised the other dog did not snap back. In September 1980 I was dropped off at the bus stop while walking up the street I heard this dog barking from far away. I finally reached my house when I realized that it was my dog who was barking inside the house. I went downstairs into the basement and noticed that my bicycle was knocked over. She became so hyper that it took me an hour to try to calm her down. My dog must have had separation anxiety because she could not handle being alone. In the summer of 1981 I was going bicycling to my friend's house. The minute I stepped outside she started crying because I was leaving. In the summer of 1982 she had her first litter of puppies. I was responsible for taking care of them. In the summer of 1985 she had another litter of puppies. I also took care of these two puppies. I made a decision to have her spayed. On two occasions in 1987 I saw her running out of the driveway and called her name. She ran away numerous times in 1988 and a neighbor would bring her back. In June 1988 she had taken off for good and nowhere to be found. She was an excessive barker and whiner. She broke many chains, leashes and ropes. She would dig several holes down in the valley. She snapped at me, my father and mother. She demanded constant attention whether she was inside or outside. A few people would attempt to pat her but would back away because of the way she acted. She was cute, over friendly and too trusting. My mother would take care of her while I was in school. Then it was my turn to take care of her for the remainder of the afternoon. She was a handful to say the least. She would make such messes in reference to chewing or digging. She was oodles of work. She never listened to commands and relentlessly pulled on the choke collar when being taken for walks. There are moments that I miss not having a dog but I will always cherish the good memories.

My Favorite Hobby Is Gardening

Alongside my driveway there are a variety of flowers and plants. I have two Asiatic lilies with striking red coral flowers. There are two ground cover phloxes on each side with light blue flowers. In the middle of the garden is a tall hyacinth which has deep purple flowers. On the outskirts of the garden lie an abundance of many green and variegated hostas. The hostas bloom into pink flowers. The inside of the garden has two different types of sedum. One sedum does have pink flowers and the other sedum remains green without flowers. The two phloxes are on opposite sides with multiple purple flowers. In different areas are several euonymuses spread throughout various locations. The two large day lilies on each side with bright orange flowers. There are numerous plants toward the foundation of the house. In front of the living room window stands a huge rhododendron with spectacular scarlet red flowers. On the opposite sides there are two green hollies and two small boxwood's. To the left of the foundation in front of my window is a medium rhododendron with scarlet red flowers. On the opposite sides there are two green hollies, one medium sized boxwood and one small boxwood. In the corner location is a tall rose of sharon with pretty pink flowers. To the right of the rose of sharon sits an azalea with pale orchid flowers. The left side of the house near my side window are four mock oranges with magnificent white flowers. Towards the front are three cascading weigelas. One variegated weigela with small pink flowers. Two green weigelas with small red flowers. I enjoy gardening because it is so much fun.

My Weekly Visits To Grandma's

 I remember as a child and teenager traveling to my Grandmother's apartment every Saturday and Sunday. I would cross the parking lot to get across to the walkway. Every time we approached the living room window she would greet me with her beautiful smile. She always made me feel welcome and I enjoyed my visits. My family and I would eat dinner there on the weekends. Her apartment was neat and spotless. Her English wasn't quite perfect but she still made an effort. She spoke Greek fluently. She was extremely proud when she became a citizen of the United States. As an adult she immigrated from Greece to New York. I couldn't wait to get to what I called "my favorite chair" which was so comfortable to sit in. She was such an easy person to talk to no matter what the conversation was about. In junior high school I was criticized for being too shy and quiet. My grandmother's reply was "Why can't they leave her alone" in reference to the teachers comments. One teacher in particular told me "I was too emotional" well I was thinking I just can't turn my emotions on and off. I appreciate the fact that my grandmother was the only one on my side during this complicated time. She was the most caring and generous person who would go out of her way to accommodate anyone. She passed away in April 1986 I miss those moments that we had spent together. My favorite recollection was her garden in the front showcasing the many different types of flowers and their brilliant colors. My grandmother was the most important person in my life.

My Life As An Adopted Individual

I found out that I was adopted back in the 1970's. My biological mother had given me up for adoption in the 1960's. I never disclosed to anyone that I was adopted until 1996. During the summer of 1996 I received a letter from my biological mother who had located me at my current address. On one particular day I came home from work my father conveyed to me that my biological mother had called in the afternoon asking for me. She wanted me to come to Florida so I could meet my half brother and two half sisters. I was unable to make the trip because I had just started a new job. I remember how difficult it was writing that first letter. I felt like this person was a stranger to me. The best word describing this situation would be overwhelming. After a while it became much easier to correspond with her. She sent me pictures of my half brother and half sisters. She sent me numerous gifts for my birthday and Christmas. I have indicated to a couple of people that I was adopted. I was terrified to let anyone know I was adopted because of the type of reaction that I would receive. I had a fear of rejection so I never mentioned it to anyone.

I Have Always Dreamed Of Becoming An Actress.

Ever since I was a little girl I would write out the dialogue for plays. I would perform these plays downstairs in my basement. In 1976 I auditioned for the role of Eliza in the Boston Tea Party school play. The teachers at the school responded "she's too shy and quiet" to stand in front of an audience. I was determined to prove them wrong. I memorized all of my character's lines. When opening night approached I was not nervous. I made eye contact with the members of the audience. The teachers were shocked and surprised that I was so composed on the stage. I became a different person while performing onstage. It was fun dressing up in old fashioned clothes and pretending to be someone else. My classmates and I received a standing ovation for our performances. This is my favorite childhood memory that I will treasure for a lifetime.

My Favorite Rock Concerts

In September 1986 I attended my first concert the Monkees reunion tour at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. I remember watching the Monkees television show back in the 1970's.They sang all of  their classic songs from the 1960's. I enjoyed the concert which featured several performers from the 1960's. My favorite Monkee was Davy Jones because he was cute and charismatic. In June 1988 I went to my second concert at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts the popular sister group Heart. They sang all of their well known songs from the 1970's and 1980's. I had a great time listening to Ann Wilson whose voice is incredible with a wide range of vocals. Then Nancy Wilson sang the ballad "These Dreams" which is an outstanding song. In March 1989 I went to my third concert at Worcester Centrum in Worcester, Massachusetts the main  performer was Bonjovi. They sang their most famous songs from the 1980's. Jon BonJovi's performance was electrifying and energetic. You could hear his voice as well as the musical instruments. In August 1989 I went to my fourth concert at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts the main performer was Stevie Nicks. She sang all of her classic hits from the 1980's. She is known for her distinctive style of singing. She is one of my favorite artists especially when she was with Fleetwood Mac.
Stevie Nick's stage attire would be her trademark long cascading dresses. In June 1990 I went to my fifth concert at Providence Civic Center in Rhode Island the headliner was Billy Joel. I was disappointed with his band because the drummer was drowning out his voice completely. You could not hear the guitar or the piano just drums. He sang his hits from the 1970's and 1980's. In September 1990 I went to my sixth concert at Great Woods in Mansfield, Massachusetts the featured artist was Bruce Hornsby. I did not care for his selection of songs. I was expecting him to sing his signature songs. This was another concert where too much bass was incorporated. In August 1992 I went to my seventh concert at South Shore Music Tent in Cohasset the main attraction was Alabama. They are known for their trademark country songs from the 1980's. The melody seemed to flow so seamlessly. The lead singer Randy Owen has a distinguished voice along with superb backup vocals. In August 1992 I went to my eighth concert at Foxboro Stadium in Massachusetts the dynamic group U2. I was pleased that they chose to sing most of their unique songs from the 1980's and 1990's. Bono sang the songs extremely well while entertaining the audience. In July 1997 I went to my final concert at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts for the second time seeing U2. The group from Ireland sang their famous songs from the 1980's and 1990's. Bono was exuberant from the beginning to the end. I was so excited to see U2 because I had been a fan since the Joshua Tree record from 1987. The two U2 concerts were outstanding especially the special effects.

My Summer Vacations

My first trip was to Philadelphia I saw the Longwood botanical gardens, Liberty Bell, Gettysburg, Old Colonial Williamsburg Virginia and Luray Caverns. I visited George Washington's home in Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson in Monticello. The second trip was Washington D.C. which included the following attractions Abraham Lincoln, The Capitol, The Smithsonian Institute, Treasury Department and Washington Monument.  The third trip was Pennsylvania Amish Country where people dress up in Amish clothing. The fourth trip was to Disney World in Florida, Busch Gardens in Tampa, St. Augustine and Tarpon Springs. The fifth trip was to New Hampshire to see the famous site The Old Man Of The Mountain, The Alpine Slide and Weirs Beach Waterslide. The sixth trip was to The World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee where they had exhibits from many different countries. The most impressive exhibit was the one from China. The seventh trip was to Busch Gardens in Virginia. The eighth trip was to California which included Los Angeles and San Francisco. I went to the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Wax Museum, Tour of the Stars homes, Melrose Avenue and Universal Studios. Then it was off to Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The only drawback was the vagrants who would come up to people while they were waiting in line for the cable car. I remember one of the vagrants asked for money at least 10 times to the people in front of us. The final destination was the Grand Canyon in Arizona. This was the most spectacular site I have ever seen in my life. During summer vacation from school my family and I would travel to Cape Cod and Provincetown on the weekends. My favorite place would be traveling to Old Silver Beach in Cape Cod. My favorite eating establishment is Sandy's Restaurant whose clam plate I would highly recommend.

My Life After High School

In September 1983 I was enrolled in a Secretarial program for one year. I received my Certificate in June 1984. I remember how difficult it was trying to find work. I applied at a temp agency who found me an assignment that fit my qualifications. I worked for one year at a Medical Supply company as a Medical Secretary got laid off in December 1985. In March 1986 I received and accepted a job offer from a Medical billing company. In August 1989 I decided to leave to pursue other interests. I took some correspondence courses which did not pan out. I worked for two different temp agencies in the 1990's. I have also worked as a Retail Sales Associate for a major retail chain. I made a decision to go back to school in September 2008-2010 attending a Community College. I was registered in the required Liberal Arts courses. Then I enrolled in the Insurance Billing Specialist Program. I graduated in June 2010 and received my Certificate. I have been actively seeking either part-time or full-time employment. This economy started going downhill in 2008 has become much worse and never fully recovered. I have registered with two temp agencies who do not have any assignments. I also registered with Monster.com and SnagaJob.com. I go to the Sun Chronicle online classified job section. I have applied for several positions but received no response. It is disheartening, frustrating and the never ending job search. It just feels like this economy is never going to get back on its feet again. I try to be optimistic about the future. There are times when I feel like moving out of Massachusetts in order to find a job. I am a hard worker, dependable, reliable and detail oriented. I believe that I deserve the chance to utilize my talents.

The High School Years

I remember my first day of High School as a sophomore in September 1980. It was totally overwhelming and different from Junior High. My favorite moments would be the fun times I had in cooking class. I met two classmates from the Class of 1981 who were friendly and nice. I enjoyed ceramics because I was able to sculpt my own clay figures and glaze them. In gym class November 1980 they had this program called Outdoor Ed. which meant everyone was to participate by venturing outside in the middle of winter. The gym teacher wanted the whole group to sled down this steep embankment. Then there was the piggyback ride up and down the hill. We all did a cross country run for 2 miles. We stopped to take a short break. The gym teacher said "I will make you run two more miles if I pass you"  The worst part was crossing over the dam on this long metal bar while trying not to look down. I had a fear of heights. In cooking class December 1980 we all baked a gingerbread house and decorated it. In the 10th grade English class the chosen book was the Old Man and the Sea. In my opinion this was the worst book I have ever read. In cooking class people were assigned to make certain dishes in reference to French cooking. I made a white cream sauce which came out very good. I disliked the weight training class because you had to lift these weight machines up and down. One Friday afternoon of exerting myself too much I made my way to my locker. I felt lightheaded and dizzy ended up dropping an English book. I did not realize it was missing until I got home. The next day my homeroom teacher said someone found my English book and gave it back to me. In May 1981 there was an awards ceremony in the auditorium I won the silver medal for Cooking class. I was standing in the lunch line along with another classmate. She commented to me that people liked me, wanted to get to know me but I was too closed off or guarded. I always had this fear of being rejected by people. In September 1981 I returned to school as a junior. I was self-conscious because I had a deviated septum. I decided to have plastic surgery to correct it. I was playing over a neighbor's house back in the 70's when his foot landed in my face. This was not an easy process because I had to have packing put inside my nose. Then I was coughing up blood until I asked the nurse for an injection. I was having difficulty breathing after this operation. I concentrated on my makeup school assignments and homework. My favorite classes were Family Living and Social Studies An Economic View. In January 1982 I took American Literature during the second semester. I enjoy reading the assigned books and also consider this to be one of my favorite classes. In May 1982 I won two certificates for American Literature and Social Studies An Economic View because I received two A's in both classes. Our Family Living class went to Charlwell House Nursing Home for a barbecue cookout. I will never forget that was the best time I ever had. I was talking to the elderly people sitting at the picnic table. I remember that they were very happy to be outside and socializing with other people. In September 1982 I returned to school as a senior. I was taking Writing For Seniors, Social Studies, Math, Typing and Shorthand. The instructor who was teaching Shorthand said "Don't worry it will come to you" in reference to reading shorthand. She was right when I returned home I was able to read the shorthand. I also took a Reading Improvement class where the instructor would conduct speed reading tests. I was nominated for Student of the Month in December 1982 for Consumer Math. I was shocked when a teacher approached me and congratulated me for being nominated. In May 1983 I attended the Senior Prom which was held at the Canton Country Club. I wore this long blue gown with a full skirt with high heels. My classmate and I walked into the country club. I noticed that there was a long staircase which went up to the second floor. I found this to be quite challenging because the gown was extremely long so I had to be careful not to lose my balance. This was definitely one of my favorite moments enjoying the dancing and music. In June 1983 my graduation ceremony took place on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. I celebrated this momentous occasion with my family, aunt and uncle. We all went out to dinner. I was invited to my classmates Graduation party at his house. My classmate and I were downstairs playing "Pacman" a popular game from the 1980's. My classmates and I went with a group of people to Riverside Park in Agawam. This trip turned out to be a fun day. The only two rides I wanted to avoid were the Ferris Wheel and Roller Coaster. I was so glad that the first day of high school was over and sad when it finally came to an end.