The ups and downs of daily newspapering

So...two days ago I interviewed a 91-year old World War II veteran. He served in Alaska in 1942-43 in what has been called "The Forgotten War," and in Ie Shima, an island off of Okinawa, after that.
I thought he was going to tell me about his war experiences, but he told me so much more. He has had an interesting life, and I hope the article I wrote (that has not yet been published) does him justice.    
 
Yesterday I covered the sentencing of a man who drove drunk and struck a local police officer, who was a Vietnam veteran and beloved member of the force, as he was directing traffic. The officer died several days later from his injuries.
A dozen of his fellow police officers showed up in the courtroom to witness the sentencing. It was an extremely sad story and not the kind I normally cover.


Today I made up for dealing with a story about such a tragedy by writing about an 85th birthday party. It was an open house for a wonderful woman who used to run a downtown luncheonette.
People from all walks of life turned out to honor her. I quickly learned she was beloved by many, many people who got to know her over the 19 years she ran the restaurant.


It was wonderful to see all the love being bestowed on her from family and friends. Although she had no children of her own, she treated the young people who used to frequent her place after school as her own kids, the now-middle-aged partygoers told me.
"When Millie yelled, you listened," one woman recalled fondly.

Today I also interviewed a woman who grew up on a farm. She has opened an old-style general store that sells antiques and will carry only Connecticut-made and Connecticut-grown foods, from ice cream, maple syrup and organic bread to fresh produce in season.
She will be serving light meals on weekends and live music will also be performed there on occasion. It's a lovely spot and I'm sure she will succeed in her new venture. I plan to return there soon with Ralph. Sounds like fun.

So that's my world as of now...thanks for reading. 

My follow-up on saga of the abandoned cats reprinted here

(P.S. to fellow cat lovers: the blind kitten seems quite healthy and happy, as do the mama and the other kitten)

Three abandoned cats nearly ready for adoption

SEYMOUR — The three abandoned cats that ended up at Dr. Tara Nanavati’s veterinary office last month are doing much better and will soon be ready to be adopted.

Nanavati said he performed surgery last week on one of the cats that had lost both of its eyes and was left only with eye sockets. The kitten is healing well, he said.
The cat may be blind, but it doesn’t know anything different, Nanavati said.
“When they are blind I think they have a sixth sense,” he said. He tested the blind feline and found that it easily jumped into a cage with a raised edge to reach a food bowl.
Nanavati said the three cats, a mother cat, the blind kitten, and a kitten from another litter, will be ready for adoption by the middle of next week.
“I hope that they will be adopted by someone from the younger generation,” he said. “If an older person takes them, the cats could outlive them.”
He recommends that whoever does adopt them should keep them indoors to guarantee a long life. “The blind one would have to stay inside or else it would become somebody’s meal,” Nanavati said.
Publicity about the felines’ plight last month generated widespread interest among people wanting to help, Nanavati said.
The cats had been thrown from a car along Route 8. They were found in a box, and a good Samaritan took them to Ansonia Animal Control Officer Jean Roslonowski.
The surviving cats are in Roslonowski’s custody. They are being boarded at Nanavati’s veterinary office at 876 S. Main St.
“People are enthusiastic when they first hear about (animals with problems) but I need someone who is serious and ready to give long-term care,” Nanavati said. He said anyone interested in adopting a cat needs references.
For information about the cats or adoption, call 203-735-9915.

(This story appeared in the Oct. 24 New Haven Register.)

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas?

Yesterday I wrote my third story in as many years about a well-shaped evergreen tree from Shelton, Ct. being cut down for use as a Christmas tree. (You can read it under the link above)

Coincidence? I suppose. Unless there is something in the soil in this southern Connecticut town that makes evergreens flourish and grow to more than 60 feet high. I wonder if someone would want to investigate that possibility?

It's interesting to watch the work crews ready the trees for transport. It's quite a process.

Have a great fall weekend. We have rain in the forecast here. Not fun.

Experimenting with night mode

This was the moon at about 6:15 a.m. today. Getting a good shot of the moon is difficult. I think it's the camera ... It couldn't be me, could it?

~

Today ended up being an extremely busy work day for me. There was a breakfast meeting that celebrated the 80th anniversary of National Child Health Day, in which I learned how the sagging economy is having a huge impact on thousands of children in Connecticut; then I took a short train ride with two Congressmen and local officials who want to increase commuters' use of the rail line; and I also talked to several neighbors of an 84-year old man who died in a house fire Friday.

The neighbors, grownups and children, created a sidewalk memorial for him, and I took photos of it. They all said he was the nicest man in the world. He cared about all the children and always had a smile for everyone who passed by.

This poor man saved his disabled wife from the fire, but he didn't make it. She is recuperating in the hospital. The neighbors told me she is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair and cannot speak. What will become of her? It's such a sad story.

Internet-less

We were without the Internet for 21 hours. It was almost a day.

We just got it back a few minutes ago... there was a broken wire down the street, the phone guy said.

I felt completely lost without it, that's for sure. No phone service either. Thank goodness for cell phones.

Today will be a better day. I can blog again! And read my e-mail, and do what I need to do for my job.

Linus the nosy

My editorial assistant gets all wrapped up in his work. Or should I say my work!
Second photo is blurry, but he was in motion, traipsing across the computer desk.

A messy desk means a creative mind, right?? Hope so.

Week that was: busy is the word, yes I'm a nerd

Paczkis, preschoolers, pets, pens, nutrition, heart disease, and more.
My week has been a diverse one, that is for sure.
Oh well, that almost rhymes.

I finally revisited a wonderful blog written by The Curmudgeon (sorry it took so long!) and wouldn't you know this Chicago-based lawyer and blog friend (I hope!) also had Paczkis on the brain this week.
Sad to say I had them in the stomach as well. I told myself I wouldn't, but I did. I'm bad.
What are Paczkis, you ask? Let's just say they are HUGE Polish doughnuts. See The Curmudgeon's Fat Tuesday post for further important info. A person could gain five pounds just by being near a box containing six of them (two were for co-workers).

On Fat Tuesday I wrote about a Paczki-eating contest, an event in which I competed (and finished poorly) last year.
The reigning champ, a professional eater, held onto his title, and beat his own record by downing a baker's dozen of the doughy delights in five minutes.
Preschoolers: I wrote about a grant to aid those involved in early childhood education in our four-town region.
Pets: Did a story about a new pet supply store that sells toys and supplies and natural and organic food. We adopted our felines, Linus and Rigby, from one of the owners of the store.
Pens: Covered a presentation by the president of BIC Corp., who addressed the local Chamber of Commerce at a breakfast this morning. (I didn't eat, just had coffee).

Et cetera, et cetera. Starting to bore myself now.

Thank goodness it's Friday!