Author: MichelleMcHatton

I'm a writer. I'm also a wife and a parent who works too much and lives too little. In addition to writing I also love to read, listen to music, travel, cook, I enjoy looking for bargains at flea markets or thrift stores, Christmas, football and of course writing! How did I come up with the title of my blog? Two things: 1. I live in New England (duh) and 2. Canadian singer Alan Frew once arrogantly told me to "get a New England life"--again--DUH! I already HAVE one!
What I Learned in 2015

What I Learned in 2015

by MichelleMcHatton

Not to sound like an episode of “Seinfeld” but I really wonder why they call it “First Night”.  Since we are celebrating the new year after midnight, shouldn’t it be called “First Morning”?  To me “First Night” would be the evening of January 1, meaning after dusk.  Just sayin’…

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With that aside, in the past on the final day of the year I have often done a run-down of current events from the past year, including noteworthy passings, births, what-have-you.  I’m not doing any of that this year.

Instead I’ve decided to reflect on what I’ve learned in 2015.  Not that I’ve never learned anything during any other year.  I’m always learning something new.  But 2015 just seems like a year where I learned more than I have in the past.  Maybe it’s just because I’m getting older.  I don’t know.

I learned that with one fell swoop fond childhood Saturday morning memories can be tarnished forever.

I learned that the phrase “if you put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig” can refer to music as well as politics.

 

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OINK! EVEN WITH LIPSTICK ON IT STILL SOUNDS THE SAME…

Just because someone is a legal adult doesn’t mean they’re going to act that way.

Most people don’t know how to mind their own business.  Especially when it comes to social media.

I learned that although someone may not like what you say or do, they’re going to read, listen, follow, or watch you any way they can.  Even hire “techies” to scan your every computer move.  See not knowing how to mind their own business above.

I learned that people don’t always tell the “entire truth” so they will look better in the eyes of their followers.  Then they try to cover their tracks when they realize you’re on to them.

I’ve learned that people don’t like it if you’re wise.  They want you to be as “dumbed down” as most others are that associate with them.

I’ve learned that it’s better to just let go than to keep wading in the bullshit.

Most people will never tell you what they really think.  They will, however, kiss your ass to no end.

Everyone has an opinion about something.  Not everyone is going to agree with everything.  If we all agreed, that would be boring.  Then there are the people who go through life kissing ass and will agree with anything.  See above.

OPINION

Chances are if someone comments on a Facebook post, there will be spelling errors in it.  To me that just pushes credibility out the window.

There is more dirty laundry on Facebook and Twitter than in my washer.

laundry

Trump uses Aqua Net.

DUMMYTRUMP

No matter what happens to them, some people will never stop talking about themselves.  Only in death will they stop being egotistical.  And even then I wonder.

Steve Harvey is human

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Gronk is a beast

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Brady is the best QB we will ever see

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The last two statements I already knew.  I just wanted to throw them in here.  GO PATS!

 

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I learned you can get an AARP card when you turn 50.  But I’m not 50.  I also learned that you can get a senior discount if you are 43.  But I’m not 43 either.

Charlie Brown will never change.  Thank God.  And everything Pixar touches turns to gold.

CHUCK

You can grow potatoes on Mars.  Who knew?  Only Matt Damon.

MATT

The Pope is hip.

I learned that I can make my deadlines, even when I think I can’t.

The older he gets, the better Springsteen is.

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Canoe is a very expensive restaurant.

I know I’m in better health now than I was at the start of the year.

Terrorists are nuts and guns kill people.

Speaking of people, SURPRISE!  We are ALL people, no matter what color our skin is.  Imagine that!

Lastly, everyone should read Mitch Albom’s new book “The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto”.  Especially musicians.

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With that, my fellow bloggers, readers, snoopers, watchers—whatever—I wish you a safe and happy New Year.  May 2016 be full of more learning experiences for us all!

 

HAPPY

 

May The Music Always Play On

May The Music Always Play On

by MichelleMcHatton

“One must indeed test the strings to this life, bounce the bow, wet the mouthpiece, prepare for the deeper music that follows.”
― Mitch Albom, The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto

I think if Frankie ever had the chance to meet John Lennon, they would’ve made some great music together.

Thirty-five years since we lost the legend John Lennon.  May his music and his memory live on for generations to come.

“Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be as one.” – John Lennon

 

So You Want To Be A Writer

So You Want To Be A Writer

by MichelleMcHatton

Yes, despite the cynicism of this poem, I still certainly DO want to be a writer!

So You Want to Be a Writer
By Charles Bukowski

if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it for money or
fame,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don’t do it.
if it’s hard work just thinking about doing it,
don’t do it.
if you’re trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.
if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.

if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you’re not ready.

don’t be like so many writers,
don’t be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don’t be dull and boring and
pretentious, don’t be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don’t add to that.
don’t do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don’t do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don’t do it.

when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.

there is no other way.

and there never was.

Being An Illegal American

Being An Illegal American

by MichelleMcHatton

One thing I’m tired of hearing people complain about is “illegal” citizens living in the United States.

Well, guess what, people?  Unless your direct descendants were Native Americans, we are ALL “illegal”!  Our ancestors hopped on a boat almost 400 years ago, leaving their home land because things weren’t going so well between them and the King.  They landed on a rock in what is now called Plymouth, Massachusetts.  And then they met the people who already lived here:  the Indians–the Pokanokets and Wampanoags, among others.  Yup.  These foreigners from England “illegally” stepped foot on the land where these Indians had been residing for eons and BOOM!  Yes they had come here for a better way of life.  But soon these illegal immigrants decided to start taking things over.  They even took it upon themselves to bring smallpox and other fatal diseases with them to the new land and pass them around to the innocent, original residents.  How nice of these illegal immigrants called the Pilgrims.  They managed to single-handedly kill off a great deal of the native population.

Considering all the things the illegal white man did to the Native Americans and their country, many were trustworthy individuals and let the white man stay.  Sure there were incidents.  But the Indians didn’t sic their government on these new settlers.  Instead the white man created a government which eventually dictated where the Indians would live.  How is that for some turned tables?

So the next time you start complaining about “illegals” in this country, just remember where you more than likely originated from.  You illegal American, you!

 

Parenthood

Parenthood

by MichelleMcHatton

Nine years ago I took on a job that will last the rest of my life.  I became a mother.  A parent.

Nine years ago my husband took on a job that will last the rest of his life.  He became a father.  Also a parent.

Before we became parents, we were just ordinary, imperfect people like everyone else.  Then once our daughter was born we became ordinary, imperfect parents.

I’ll be the first to tell you that my husband and I are not perfect as people or as parents.  In fact, we don’t know ANY perfect people or parents.  However, we have been perfect people and parents for our daughter and that’s all that matters.

In the nine years we’ve been parents we’ve made a lot of mistakes and I’m sure we’ll make many more.  Anyone who is a parent knows that kids do not come with instruction manuals.  You give birth, go home with your baby and you’re on your own.

Despite the fact we are not perfect people nor perfect parents, our daughter has survived the past nine years.  She has not only survived; she has strived.  She has gone from a six month old in Early Intervention for low muscle tone to a very active almost nine-year-old.  She is loved very much, she is very healthy, she is very intelligent and imaginative.  She makes us laugh every day and we love being her parents.  We really wouldn’t have it any other way.

Considering all I’ve just said I’m baffled by other parents (and non-parents) who feel it is their obligation to criticize both my husband and mine parenting skills.  Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we greatly respect that, we laugh at these opinions that others have about our parenting skills and move on.  You know why?  Because as the imperfect people and parents that we are, WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK what you think we’re doing wrong with our child.  We are not abusing her.  She is well fed.  She has all her needs taken care of.  She is very happy and as I said above, we love her very much.

If you don’t like what you think we feed our child or if you don’t like that our child may still sleep in our bed on occasion, WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK!  You don’t live here.  You don’t know what I feed my child and you don’t know where my child sleeps or how she sleeps.  You know what else?  It’s really NONE OF YOUR FUCKING BUSINESS!  I don’t care how you are raising your child.  So why are you so interested in how I’m raising mine?

The other parents need to take a good hard look in the mirror.  Before they start judging another parent, they need to judge themselves as a parent.  Things may seem great now but you know what? Kids are people and just like any other human being THEY CHANGE!  So beware.  Just like yourselves as parents, your kids are not perfect either.

I could do the same as the parents who think it’s their privilege and responsibility to ridicule us as parents, but I won’t stoop to their level.  Trust me.  There is a lot more I could say about their parenting skills than they can say about mine.