What's the Buzz?

The Dreaded Snow!

Code Red. It’s official – we’re under attack. Everyone knows the drill…run, hide, the snow is coming! Ok, call me crazy, but I believe we’re over-reacting just a little bit. Agree? There is a slight mention that snow may be coming, not totally confirmed, but the TV news stations are warning us that maybe, just maybe, we might get an inch, possibly several, could get nothing or we’ll have a complete white-out. Everyone panics.

Ok, so last week a lot of the country did experience some weather that was clearly unheard of in those parts, so I guess they had something to crow about. Technically, we could drop the alert levels, since DC was closed down for a week none of those bureaucrats could get into the office so our country might have been inflicted with less damage! Isn’t it funny how some people got so delighted because they equate snow as proof that there is no such thing as global warming, not knowing the difference between climate and weather? Not that funny.

I live in New England, where guess what? It snows! Usually fairly regularly, not breaking news. So back in ’78 we had this little blizzard that did bring us to a stand-still for a week or so (I was stuck in the Virgin Islands for an extra week - I know, what a bummer, I missed all the fun). Here it is, 30 years later and that blizzard still sparks panic and fear. People tell their children stories about being trapped, not having cable TV or video games. It was like the big one, WW2, on a scale of storms. I’m sure if you ask, you could find a lot more stories about how great it was having a week snowed in with your family and neighbors and how much fun it was. But because of the media we go into shear panic mode when there is even a mention of snowfall. We run to the grocery stores. We agonize about driving. We‘re not sure when we’ll ever get to Zumba class again!

The threat of the storm last week caused widespread panic. We got a call in the morning that a local concert was cancelled, restaurants actually closed, schools were closed, government offices closed (good thing) and snow emergencies were in place. This, all before one snowflake had appeared. Unbelievable.

I’ve decided the business to be in right now is selling “snow shelters”. I believe back in the 50’s they sold bomb shelters quite successfully, didn’t they? Think about it. How great would it be to have a shelter all set up and ready to go. No last minute runs to the market. Everything right there in your snow shelter just the way you want it. We could offer different packages; “Gourmet”, “30-minute meals”, “PG or R Rated Movies”, whatever the needs are, the important thing is that it’s there and ready for use. The “Exercise-Addicts” shelter would come equipped with free weights, yoga videos and cabinets stocked with Power Bars and Vitamin Water! The “Tech-Geeks” shelter would have a laptop connected to a huge generator, along with an X box, video games, iphone, ipod, blackberry, blueberry and snozberry!

We may offer a “Neighborhood Package” or “Friends and Family Package”, although this could get tricky when it comes to who you want in your shelter. We’d have to have a disclaimer on the side “this shelter could cause some family turmoil”. You might decide to keep your snow shelter a secret, so as not to get people lining up when “storm central” starts hitting the airwaves. I really think I’m on to something here and when I’m done buzzing I’ll be making calls to some venture capital guys to see if I can get some financing. I think I’ll talk to some furniture designers as well about a piece that can be used as a dining table, sofa and bed all in one, for my “custom shelters”.

Here’s my advice. Enjoy the snow. Spring is just around the corner…

P.S. One last thing networks need to know when they call emergency snow days - we don’t want to watch the weather on TV! Just give us Regis and Kelly. The View. Ellen. Rachel. Martha. In fact, give us anyone except a roaming reporter in a snow bank, just not that entertaining!

How Many is Too Many Valentine's?

I know, it's a Hallmark holiday...that has the power of throwing people into a dark depression, or better yet, just a night on the couch with a pint of Haagen-dazs® watching a Lifetime movie about betrayal and revenge. Valentine's Day comes only once a year, but yet it seems to creep up on us slowly and methodically, not to mention, it lasts far longer than it needs to. What's interesting is that it's not just my single friends that are annoyed by all the love in the air, but my married friends complain too. "He didn't get me flowers!", "We had no reservations!", "She didn't book a babysitter!", "Why did he buy me chocolates when he knows I'm on a diet?".You know we've all gone through this. Sometimes we get in a rut where it seems like everyone else is walking on much, much greener grass!

This year I ended up going to the MFA with a very sweet boyfriend* and then hitting our favorite Mexican restaurant, Sol Azteca, in Boston/Brookline. {If you haven't been, please drop everything and head to Beacon Street, order an 1800 Margarita and the steak fajitas - I promise you, the best fajitas you've ever had!} Anywho...So I count myself very lucky to have someone to spend this Valentine's Day with...but that's not where my luck ended.

About 4pm yesterday, I stopped over my sisters house and it was, as they say, like a zoo. The noise alone was astonishing! The kids are on vacation, my brother and his family were visiting, my parents were spending the night. So many people. So much noise. So many little kids. The running. The screaming. The "almost smashing their little heads on the bannister" kind of day. So much chaos. So much love. So many hand-made Valentine's given out. So many heart-shaped cookies eaten. Lots of laughter. Lots of "Will you be mine?". I think, all told, I had, between friends and relatives, probably 20 Valentine's.

Love is everywhere...certainly not just in a bouquet of flowers or a delicious dinner. It is everywhere in our lives, you just have to stop, revel in the "chaos" and enjoy the ride. So I ask you, how many is too many Valentine's? I think it's infinite, don't you?


* Very sweet boyfriend, a.k.a. very talented photographer...note image above!

Last Night...

I admit it. I didn't watch a second of the Superbowl. Don't get me wrong; I had every intention of watching the game. In fact, all throughout Sunday I was day-dreaming of the chips and dip, the guacamole, the chili, the cold beer, and oh, yes, the game. I have relatives in New Orleans...you know, the kind of relatives you really adore? So, of course, I was rooting for those Saints. I was looking forward to a crazy night of eating, drinking and screaming my head off to support the Saints!

About 5pm I got a text reminding me I was invited, and expected, at a friends house for a dinner party. Whoops! There goes the game. Immediately I sadly said goodbye to those visions of warm chili and beer. Well, I thought, maybe my dinner hosts will have the game on in the background. Of course they will, right? Wrong. My friends are from the Netherlands and not that into our football and had no interest in the game what...so...ever.

Not a problem. As soon as I entered their hallway I could smell the home cooking. As I opened the door to the apartment I was greeted with huge bear hugs and kisses and a nice glass of red wine. Some other friends had just gotten back from a month-long road trip throughout the States, so there was much to talk about. We all stayed in the kitchen for at least an hour just catching up on our lives. My Dutch friends had just discovered fluff over the weekend, but did not know that you could mix fluff with peanut butter so I had to set them straight. I created a fluffernutter and cut into 8 tiny triangles...Voila ...appetizers. They were hooked!

As we ate dinner and had some laughs looking at their photo albums I was reminded that this really is what it's all about. We always say at Circle Furniture that our furniture is "made for real life" or that it's all about entertaining in a comfortable atmosphere. We want people to love our furniture, to live in our furniture, but mostly to make memories while sitting at their dining room table or relaxing on one of our sectionals. You house truly becomes a home when you add comfort, warmth, friendship and family.

So although I did not get to watch the Saints momentous victory, I had an awesome night. The food, wine and conversation was just what the doctor ordered on a cold, wintry Boston night. For a girl who does not like to cook (besides the occasional fluffernutter), having someone make you dinner is like feeding a stray cat...you'll have a friend for life! I'm just saying, I'm always open to invitations!

Congrats New Orleans, you deserve it big time!