Bfth's Boring Blog

2025 was a s***** year. There's no two ways about it. We have division in our government meaning that nothing gets done. We have division among people which has only brought ugliness and anger in both word and deed. We had historical buildings desecrated. We had citizens of the United States deported despite proof that they were citizens. We had boats blown out of the water with no proof that those in it were committing a crime. It seems to me, and this is only my opinion, that the United States government no longer cares for the people it works for and only for themselves. Selfishness does not begin to describe what is going on in this world. It is disgraceful. It is disgusting. With all that said, even in the darkness that we have plunged into, there is still some light.  And when icy cold darkness surrounds us, we need to see the light.  We need to appreciate the light.  And yes, we need to be the light. So as horrid as 2025 was, here are a few things that I appreciate...

It's that time of year again, remembering some of the best books I read this year.   I've been doing this since 2017, when the editor/publisher of MyVeronaNJ.com   asked me to put together a list since I read so much.  I've been happily doing so every year since then. But I also like to share here so... Surprisingly (at least to me), there was quite a bit of non-fiction on my list.  (I'm much more of "fun fiction" reader.)  I've read a lot of great books this year and have pared this list down to 20; 12 fiction and 8 non-fiction.     Fiction: A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage  by Asia Mackay:  I flew through this one because it was so darned good. Killers meet and fall in love? How could they not? They are meant for each other, even as they have completely different backgrounds. But then they start a family and have to settle down. Or do they? After Life  by Gayle Forman:  I read this earlier in the year and q...

December 26, 2025 and I am sitting here eagerly anticipating the snowstorm that is to come our way today.  Okay, maybe it shouldn't be "eagerly", but anxiously.  I have to drive back to NJ with my son today. (He was supposed to work/volunteer at the food pantry this afternoon and tomorrow morning, but it's been postponed due to the snow forecast, however, I still need to get him back and the two of us can work together to dig out over the weekend which is better than just one person.  Hubby will stay in PA and let the plow guy dig us out when it's all over...This will be the 5th time we've seen him this month and that's more than we saw him all of last year!  His wallet will be happy. Mine will not.)  I am hoping to "outrun" the storm and get to NJ before it hits.  I also need to hit a grocery store as there really isn't any food back in NJ (because no one was there) and my son is going to need food.  I'm sure it will be nice and calm at ...

  The weekend...time to relax and renew.  Or at least that's what we hope or maybe dream of.  But its holiday time and I, like I'm sure many of you, are cramming as much into the (cold and often dark) days as we can.  This weekend, particularly Sunday, was no exception. (Who said Sunday should be a day of rest?  You think I'm listening to God?) While Saturday might have been somewhat "calm" (I did bake several dozen chocolate cinnamon cookies, but had prepped much the night before), Sunday was a slightly different story. Sunday morning I woke up at 3:30ish (ugh) and couldn't get back to sleep.  (It figures.)  I gave up at about 5:30 (which depending on the day is either late or the "normal" time for me to haul my butt out of bed) and got ready for church.  (Church #1)  I headed over a little earlier than usual, as I wanted to speak to some people before the service. (Church #1 has made me feel welcome as a newcomer and I so app...

 It's been a hard week (again).  Every time I wanted to write something "fun," there was more bad news. The shooting at Brown University, massacre/terrorism at Bondi Beach in Australia, the murders of Rob and Michelle Reiner... That's in addition to the rising unemployment rate, rising cost of living, lack of affordable healthcare...let's just stop at that.  It's been a long, cold, depressing winter, and it's not even officially winter yet. But today, despite the cold (and often very cruel) world, I'm going back to light, fluffy and upbeat because I need to.  Maybe you need to as well.  So... In 1995 (are you old enough to remember) I got engaged and the following year I got married (and I still am).  My husband and I moved into what was my maternal grandparent's house (which is what my college aged son now considers "his" abode).  It had furnishings, but of course my husband and I wanted to put our own touches on things which we did over...

 So it's Dick Van Dyke's 100th birthday.  Hallelujah that this treasure is still around to bring us joy.  (If you can't find joy in  The Dick Van Dyke Show ,  Mary Poppins  or  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang  there is something wrong with you.)  Although I never got into  Diagnosis Murder  (it's never too late though, right?  There is a Pluto channel that seems to be dedicated to it) and Mr. Van Dyke's episode of  Columbo  is not one of my faves (he's a really good bad guy, but who wants him to be a bad guy?), I'm still a huge fan.  (How could you not be?)  I've seen  The Runner Stumbles  and think it's a really good film.  (Though I haven't seen it in a long time...I need to try and find it.  It's not your "typical" Dick Van Dyke film, although is ANYTHING about Dick Van Dyke typical?) So what does Mr. Van Dyke's 100th celebration have to do with today's (supposed) blog post topic?  Noth...

  Every year I end up with days that I need to take off or I lose them.  I get a decent amount of days off since I've been with the company (or at least the company that was bought by the company that is owned by the corporation) for nearly 10 years.  (How did that happen?)  I can carry over just a few days so I need to use them up.  But it just so happens that the end of the year is the craziest/busiest time of year, so while I'd love to take a bunch of days off for the holidays, it doesn't happen.  (And I usually end up losing a few hours of time every year.  Not a whole day, but...) My son finished his exams, papers and presentations on the evening of the 10th.  He would be ready to come home on the 11th.  So despite that being the day of the departmental holiday lunch AND the company (corporate) after work holiday party, I took the day off.  (Part of me is sad that I missed it, and part of me is happy that I don't have...

 I'm sure you're a good insurance company.  According to your website, you've been around for over 110 years.  That's pretty impressive.  You don't have a mascot or a jingle.  In today's world, that's pretty  rare.  Your website says:  We pride ourselves on being committed to our customers. That’s why J.D. Power has presented NJM with their Auto Claims Certification, eight years in a row.** Because at the end of the day, NJM will be there for you to provide great insurance, without gimmicks."  Again, impressive. But let me tell you what's not impressive, your mail.  Or rather your mailing list. When I got home today, this was in my mailbox.  It wasn't for me.  It was for my grandfather.  The man who lived in this house from 1924 through about 1983.  (I'm not 100% on that.)  That was when he developed dementia (most likely Alzheimers) and was moved into a local care facility.  (Back then we called them nursin...

 I am good at many things.  (I am, aren't I?  I AM!  Aren't I?)  One of the things I'm not so good at is baking.  I can cook a good meal, but baking... Now this may have something to do with the fact that I've got an egg allergy which has made baking a bit of a challenge.  For years I've been using egg replacer (specifically Ener-g Egg Replacer:  "Ener-G Gluten-Free Egg Replacer Is a Natural, Healthy and Delicious Alternative to Eggs. Made With Natural Ingredients, This Flour Is Free Of Unnatural And Unnecessary Additives. This Product Is Gluten-Free, Sugar Free and Kosher.")  It worked...sort of.  Or maybe it was just me.  (For years I didn't realize that you were supposed to mix the powder with warm water...I was just using water.)  And now I understand that the company is no longer around, so... With Vegan products becoming more of a thing, who needs to bake?  Well, I despite the fact that I am challenged when ...