Mary Reddick Family Reunion in East Windsor, CT 1999

East Windsor, CT

Riverside Park will be missed but not forgotten. Riverside became Six Flags in 2000.



We had just got done with our Family Reunion in Atlanta, GA in 1997 and we voted to have the next family reunion in Connecticut in 1999. My mom, me, and my cousins from Springfield, MA would plan for the next family reunion. This family reunion was going to be in East Windsor, CT. Me, my mom, and my cousins would meet up at Best Western hotel in East Windsor to discuss our plans. The Continental Breakfast would be at the family reunion and the family reunion would be from July 29- August 2. Some of our family reunion would be in Agawam, MA where then Riverside Park was (now Six Flags). Tickets was not too pricey when you go in the summer time. Food was included and me and my mom was checking out a good place that make t-shirts for the family reunion. I do believe the very first letter that was sent out was back in October of 1997 to all the families in Florida, Georgia, and my big brother from Los Angeles, CA.

Meanwhile, my mom had quite an embarrassing experience when we went to a t-shirt place in Glastonbury. There was a t-shirt store owner, a woman, and her chubby chocolate lab. The chocolate lab barked and this dog was definitely a hugger and ran up to my mom and licked her. My mom hollered because she didn't expect to be greeted in a place of business like this by someone's dog. This place was not the right place anyway because the price for family reunion t-shirts was too pricey at this t-shirt place. My mom would go to a t-shirt place in East Hartford, which was not too pricey and their motto is "if you like our store tell a friend about us but if you don't like our store tell us." This was a business oriented t-shirt store that thrived on the satisfaction of their customers. We made sure to send out letters to families in Florida, Georgia, and California ever few months because we were all about getting things done and over with. This was also giving the family time to come up with the money for the t-shirts, banquet, and Riverside park. Family got on the ball sending their money in advance. My Uncle paid $500 for family who didn't have their money in and some family paid their money on the very first day of the family reunion. What really was fun about Riverside was that everyone got to go on the rides, play games, and eat food for free because it was included when tickets were purchased at a discount that summer of 1999. Some of my mom's friends who were like family came to the family reunion, too and they paid their money like everyone else. There is always stuff you get for purchase at concession stands and that was the case at Riverside park. The banquet was held at Best Western hotel in East Windsor and there was fish or chicken that you got to choose to eat. I've been at so many banquets, so fancy food is what I'm used to eating at them. 

I have to mention to y'all about the 2 crazy rides that I rode on at Riverside park. I'm a risk taker, meaning I will try out stuff from time to time that I know I will regret doing later on, lol. I took it upon myself to go on 2 of the craziest rides at the Park in Agawam because in 2000 Riverside is going to be a Six Flags. Y'all don't know about my fear of riding Roller Coasters. I remember riding a crazy Roller Coaster back when me and my family went to Disney World back in 1990. My older brother wanted us to go on this Roller Coaster. I remember they had a water fountain and some people who were nervous like myself drank water just before we rode this particular ride. All I can remember saying was, "I want to get off of this ride!" and hollering. My older brother wanted to ride the Roller Coaster again after were going down it very fast. For the most part I've always rode safe rides but like I say I will take a risk and do things out of my comfort zone from time to time. So I decided to go on 2 of the craziest rides at Riverside Park to try and prove a point. I rode Hellavator & Time Warp. I want to encourage you if you are scared to ride Roller Coasters, Hellavator and Time Warp is not recommended for you to try. When I rode Hellavator the ride was cool and whenever you go up in the air you went up slowly. Now when you come down that ride you went down very rapidly and it's goes faster when you go up and down the longer you are on the ride. Just imagine you're on an elevator and go up to the top floor but picture that same elevator when it goes all down to first floor how rapidly the elevator is, that's what I've experienced. My eyes were open when we went up in the air on Hellavator but my eyes were closed when that ride went down on Hellavator. Time Warp on the other hand, starts off fast, and goes rapidly. Picture yourself being on a ride spinning very fast in the air and looking like you flying over the whole park. You can't really see anyone because you are spinning so fast but you can tell that people are watching you ride that crazy ride. I had my eyes closed the whole time that I was on Time Warp up until that ride came to a complete stop. Hellavator had me hollering a little bit but Time Warp had me hollering the whole time I was on that ride and even after the ride finished. Lesson learned is never ride crazy rides like Hellavator and Time Warp that make Roller Coasters that you are scared to ride on look like riding a Ferris Wheel. 

Anyway, I had a regular Gameboy that I was playing, the game was Home Alone. I told one of my little cousins that I could beat the game. He played the game and got beat like in the 2nd level. My cousins told a lot of little cousins that came up to CT from down south and my cousins were bugging me to play my Gameboy and beat Home Alone on my original Gameboy. This was the only system that I had left after I traded in my Regular Nintendo and Super Nintendo. I played this game after all of the events were over. I let my cousins that crowded around watch me beat Home Alone and I told them all step by step how I was beating each levels. In order to beat Home Alone the game, you have to blow up the furnace or else Marv and Harry capture Kevin. In the movie, a neighbor knock Marv and Harry out with a shovel. The results with Harry and Marv going to jail is the same in the movie and on the game. My cousin, and my Aunt stayed a little longer because my little cousin had his birthday August 4 and he had just turned 5. We went to Fun Zone in Wethersfield and celebrated my cousin's birthday. It was fun because his older sister and eldest brother were playing the games with their tokens. This family reunion till this day is still talked about. We had our family reunion in CT one time and family from down south said that it was very well organized and family in Florida and Georgia was glad to get away from the slower pace and hot and humid weather. 

What's best with different cakes (a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream)

Have anyone ever had a piece of cake and thought about if having that particular cake is best with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream? I know that I've probably got my readers and fellow bloggers thinking about this for a little bit, especially after the appetizers blog that I wrote before, lol.😋 Anyway, in order to tell if the piece of cake that you are eating is best with milk or ice cream, it all depends on how rich or how sweet the cake is. For example, the richer the cake is the more sweeter the cake will be and milk is good with that particular cake. The less rich the cake is the less sweet (meaning it's just right when it comes to being sweet) that particular cake will be and ice cream is good for that particular cake. Listed below I will list some cakes that is best eaten with milk or ice cream.

German Chocolate Cake

I've had this cake a few times and I must say that German chocolate cake is rich. German chocolate cake is really good with a glass of milk.

Chocolate Mousse Cake

The very first time I had this cake was when I went to the WIHS 104.9FM radio station (Middletown) banquet at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield back in 2002. I must have had like 3rd's and 4th's because the people kept bringing these chocolate mousse cakes at tables. This cake is not that rich and the sweetness is just right. Chocolate Mousse cake is really good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Red Velvet Cake

Red Velvet cake is very rich. This cake is best with a glass of milk.

Strawberry Shortcake

As much as I've had this cake, I know that delicious cake is just right in sweetness. Strawberry shortcake is really good with a scoop of ice cream.

Mocha Chocolate Cake

This is my absolute favorite cake. This cake have both the right sweetness to it and it's rich. Mocha chocolate cake is both good with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream.

The cake challenge is fun to try especially when you think about it in that way. I've actually tried this without even thinking about it like that. I've just experimented what is best with the different cakes whether if it's with a glass of milk or a scoop of ice cream. If my readers and fellow bloggers feel that what I've written is worth experimenting for themselves, then I will say go for it! I hope that all of my readers enjoy!💭🎂🍨🥛

Some really good appetizers

If you're like me and enjoy eating appetizers, then like me you enjoyed them as part of your lunch and dinner. For some of us, who are not a big eater but eat a lot of little meals then appetizers can be eaten as 2's or 3's for lunch and dinner. Delicious appetizers sometimes can be the main course without eating what is considered the actual main course. Some of the finger foods are just fine and can fill you up just the same if you ate a big lunch or a big dinner. Below I will have a list of finger foods that are good for lunch and dinner. These foods are good processed food, good to eat a cookouts, good to eat at sporting events, and good eats when you're eating out at restaurants.

Onion Rings

I have not had onion rings in ages. I remember eating processed onion rings back in the late 90's at then Waldbaums (Now Big Y) at Bishop's Corner in West Hartford. The onion rings were delicious! Made in beer batter, I remember ordering the food at the deli. I really miss Waldbaum's great memories and great experiences at that grocery store. This appetizer is not thought about as much anymore when people have a taste for appetizers. When people think about onion rings, they thing about the potato chips which are really good, too. Onion rings are really good with french fries.

Chicken Tenders

A popular appetizer that is also really good with french fries. Chicken tenders is good with barbecue sauce or honey mustard. I've had this appetizer so many times eating out at different restaurants. I've always enjoyed barbecue sauce but I must say honey mustard is delicious, too! Finger foods like chicken tenders are a must be on a menu list whenever anyone is trying to choose between all of the great appetizers at restaurants.

Potato Skins 

Have you ever pictured how something would be really great eating before you even tried it before? In the case of potato skins that is what happened to me when I tried it. I remember when I tried potato skins for very first time back in 2004. It was my 26th birthday; me, my mom, my sister-in-law (my older brother's first wife), my niece, and nephew went out to TGI Friday's in Enfield when they used to live in CT (now Maryland & Georgia). I remember it was during the time the NCAA tournament started for college basketball and TGI Friday's had TV's where people could watch the games. Anyway, we must have waited for like 25 minutes until they finally brought what we ordered for dinner to our table. You want to talk about something that was worth the wait. Those potato skins not only were delicious but they were better than what I thought that they would be when ate them!

Hot Wings

I've had these appetizers so many times at cookouts that it is had to keep track, lol. Hot wings or Buffalo wings are delicious appetizers! You have to serve these appetizers with carrot sticks, celery sticks, bleu cheese dressing or ranch dressing. Excellent appetizers to have at parties, too. I know I've had hot wings at a restaurant or restaurants, too. 

Nachos

I can't count how many times I've had these appetizers. Too many to count to remember how much I've had nachos at sporting events, eating out at restaurants, cookouts, and parties. I've had regular cheese nachos, deluxe nachos, supreme nachos, etc. I remember the way WB Cody's then (now Cardone's) at Wintonbury mall in Downtown Bloomfield used to make nachos. They used shredded cheese instead of cheese sauce for the nachos and that's what I loved about WB Cody's. I've had nachos with cheese sauce most of my life up until I went to WB Cody's back in the late 1990's and early to mid 2000's. If there was ever an appetizer that can order off of the menu with hesitating and eating it for lunch and dinner, it would be nachos.

Angel City Chorale: Amazing Choir Earns Golden Buzzer From Olivia Munn -...

I had a chance to look at this act and it was Golden Buzzer worthy. Guest Judge Olivia Munn said "Can y'all hear me because my mic is messed up. Can you hear this!" Olivia Munn gave Angel City Chorale the Golden Buzzer. What is so unique about this choir is that it's made up of 160 people and 145 people performed last night. Angel City Chorale is made up of diversity. Can this choir win on America's Got Talent (AGT) that remains to be seen but  they are Top 10 material and proven that last night. This choir performs in Los Angeles and the choir director have expressed "there is none like us" meaning they have a shot at winning just like any other act on AGT.  This choir was even shocked that they even got the Golden Buzzer. The Comedienne woman from San Diego followed the Angel City Chorale act really good with her jokes but the Golden Buzzer was already used. Olivia Munn did say, "If I had 2 Golden Buzzers you would have gotten the other Golden Buzzer. There is a lot of great acts but like they say there is only one who will win the $1,000,000. 😲😤

Roseanne Barr Angrily ‘Explains’ Racist Tweet: ‘I Thought the B**** Was ...

Roseanne Barr used "poor choice of words" on Twitter when she said what she said about Valerie Jarrett. In this interview, Roseanne look like she was in a room being interrogated like someone who committed a heinous murder crime like on Dateline and 48 Hours. For those who think Roseanne is racist, hear me out when I say this. Roseanne is at a low point in her life. Roseanne reboot is canceled and the show will likely continue without Roseanne. Laff TV canceled 1980's and 1990's reruns of Roseanne when they heard about Roseanne's Tweet to Valerie Jarrett. The show will be referred to as being called the Connor's, which I personally will not watch since Roseanne won't be on it. Roseanne immediately apologized for that poor choice of words tweet that she said about Valerie Jarrett yet ABC decided to fire Roseanne anyway. I will say this, what someone says in a blog or on social media both good or bad I will not judge him or her unless I see how they treat people in public. You can delete what you say in a blog or on social media but you can't change what you say publicly once you said. We can honestly say we have said things that if we could "turn back the clock" we would have chosen our words carefully and I am a prime example of that. I know I've said things that if I would have really carefully thought about what I said, I know that I would have said things better. The media is constantly beating up on Roseanne and it's because she is a proud Trump supporter. The media brush off things that Joy Behar says, Samantha Bee says, Michelle Wolf says, etc., which is by far more offensive than what Roseanne said. None of these women apologized genuinely or apologized at all for things that they have said, yet they get to keep their jobs while Roseanne is labeled a bigot, disgraced, and out of work. My 2 Cents.  

Home Decors

Probably what people would be surprised to learn about me is that I'm into Home Decors. I like the finishing product of the home when it's done by professionals. Growing up being plain and old-fashioned, another thing people would be surprised to learn about me is that I'm into Country Homes. We all have similarities and differences in taste even in homes, too. On the pinning website Pinterest where you can pin anything from Bible verses, hobbies, food, books, etc., it's all about your favorite preferences and there will be people who share the same preferences as you do and you will noticed recipes on Pinterest, too. Those who have Pinterest will see the Home Decors board on my Pinterest. Y'all Pinterest is a really easy social media website and anyone can join, it's free. You create your board or boards and the title you want your board or baords to be and pin them by sharing them from YouTube, Vimeo, Google, etc.

Great looking home!!! Country Homes are in all 50 states. 

Grandmother Recounts Desperate Escape During WWII Allied Invasion in Italy

Grandmother who was 10 years old when World War II broke out in Italy is a survivor. 75 years later Cecilia Maltempi 85, recalls how she was able to escape and come to the US from Sicily, Italy. Italy is another one of our Allies. Amazing story how the grandmother came to the US to start a better life. Mrs. Maltempi remembers how her family struggled and how the war took the life of her brother. I learned a little about Benito Mussolini when I took History my Freshmen year of high school. Please see link about Mussolini, it's Mussolini's biography. https://www.biography.com/people/benito-mussolini-9419443  This is a country I always wanted to visit and I felt that I learned some history and was schooled big time. I'm glad that I shared this story from Inside Edition on my blog. Inside Edition have really great stories on their YouTube channel. I highly recommend that my readers and fellow bloggers check out the link to Inside Edition. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9k-yiEpRHMNVOnOi_aQK8w 👍👍

President Trump, UK PM May hold joint press conference

President Donald Trump and Prime Minster Theresa May may have disagreed with one another on some of the issues. The US/UK can agree that they are allies and that their relationship is stronger than ever before. The mainstream media tries to paint a picture that President Trump and Prime Minister May are "at odds" with one another. "Fake News" will have you believe that Prime Minister May and President Trump have been harsh critics of one another. I trust Fox News, that's one of the reasons why I have their RSS feed on my website. Watch a fantastic video and you will not believe a whole lot of what the mainstream media say. My 2 Cents.

Bride Plans Missouri Hospital Wedding So Dying Father Could Attend

Bride has wedding in Missouri hospital so her dying dad can see his daughter walk down the aisle. Crystal Adams had planned on marrying Jonathan Harrison next year. Crystal Adams father has terminal cancer and do not have that much time to live. Crystal and Jonathan decided to get married at the hospital because if they would have gotten married next year like they originally planned, Crystal's dad Curtis Adams would have passed away. In many cases like this where there is a parent or parents whose last wish is to watch their children graduate from school or get married the children's parents were glad to be alive to experience their children's big special day. Also, there is some cases where the child's or children's last wish before they die is for their parent or parents to be there at their children's graduation from school or at their children's wedding. It's one of these things you can't help but to shed tears like this could have been one of your closest friends that experienced this and that was what I thinking when I shared this video.😭😂

Some Recommended Games at Parties

In a previous blog, I wrote about different food platters that are at parties & events. When you're at a party or parties, it's cool chatting with each other. To make things more entertaining while chatting with family, friends, relatives, etc., it's always good to play games. Time not only flies by fast but playing a game or games while chatting at parties are fun. People entertain family, friends, relatives, etc., in their own way. Whether it's listening to some music, watching TV, or watching movies, etc., people want to do worth while things. I'm going to mention some really fun games to play at parties below. Some of y'all may agree or disagree with some of my game choices at parties. It's cool because we have some of the same taste and we have different taste when it comes to games played at parties.

UNO

A party would not be the same without playing the card game UNO. UNO is a fun challenging game to play at parties! What is probably more fun about playing UNO is when it comes down to two people playing. One person may have 20 cards while the other person appears to have the game locked up with 1 card saying "UNO." The person who have 20 cards could have a hand full of Draw Two's, Draw Four's, Wild's, Skip's, Reverse's, etc. The person who had the 1 card, who thought that he or she was going to win sometimes be the one who gets beat. That's what I really like about this game, especially the person who is drawing consecutively sometimes he or she draws a lot of good cards while having a crappy hand.

Dominoes

The key is to not get a lot of doubles when playing dominoes. I remember I used to play with a group of friends back in the early 2000's in Tulsa, OK in dominoes. The rule was called "hold your man" and dominoes were referred to as "bones." If we have 4 or more doubles in dominoes we had to turn the dominoes in so the dealer can reshuffle the dominoes. People tend to have little or no chance at winning in dominoes when they had too many doubles. This game was complicated and I have not played this game with people in 8 years. Playing for points in dominoes is a really good online game but I find it to be boring playing dominoes for points in real life. Dominoes is fun to play at parties when it is played for fun!

Scrabble

Scrabble is a really good test your wits game! Fun game at parties especially with friends, family, and relatives. The bigger the word the more points a player or players tend to have. From time to time he or she will spell out a word or words and if the other person playing against him or her feel like it's not a word they will challenge them. Normally, he or she will say it's not a word or they will look it up in the dictionary to determine if what the person spelled is a real word. 

Twister

Twister is an old skool game that is fun to play with family at parties! If you're having a birthday party and want to have family time twister is that kind of game. Twister is a really cool activity to do. Even when people are looking like they are tumbling over each other it's good company. Every one is having fun and enjoying themselves.

Monopoly

Monopoly is a really fun negotiating game to play with other people at parties! For example, someone may have Park Place and you may want to buy it from them. He or she may offer Park Place to the person if the price is right. My older brother used to spank me in Monopoly when we were little kids. In a lot of ways, the game Monopoly prepared you for when you wanted to buy a house. "Go directly to jail," "Do not pass go," Do not collect $200," is what kids hated to get for a card. It was all a part of the game and Monopoly 'till this day is my favorite childhood board game. 

Platters at Events & Parties

Whether you like going to parties or events, fancy or casual, and even both, there are common platters that are being served. We all have preferences of the food that we love at these parties and events. Some of us have similar taste in the food that we love and some of us different taste in the food that we love. Listed below will be common platters that are being served. Readers and fellow bloggers, y'all will see what I'm talking about when it comes to us having some of the same taste and some of the different taste when it comes to our favorite foods that we love in the platters listed below.

Vegetable Platter

Common food served at parties or events are the vegetable platter. You know how when you go to get your favorite veggies and discover that there are veggies that is not your "cup of tea?" What I do is get veggies like the following: Carrots, celery, tomatoes, and cucumbers. I make sure to use ranch or bleu cheese dressing to dip my veggies in. If you ever noticed at the vegetable platter the olives, green pepper, red pepper, yellow pepper, or orange pepper, and mushrooms tend to be left at the vegetable platter, unless people take them home with them for whatever the special occasion is.

Sandwich Platter

Sandwich platters are another common food served at parties or events. Catered parties or events have subs. Sandwiches such as the following are commonly served: Roast beef, turkey sandwich, tuna sandwich, ham sandwich, etc. Sandwiches tend to come with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise on them. We like all sandwiches the way we want them!

Cheese & Crackers Platter

Cheese & Crackers platters are always at parties or events! Events or parties would not be the same without cheese and crackers. My favorite crackers are Ritz, Keebler Club Crackers, and Keebler Town House Crackers. Easy cheese, cheddar cheese, swiss cheese, white cheddar cheese, etc., is really good on crackers. I always put a hand full of cheese and crackers on a paper plate at parties or events. Cheese & Crackers are irresistible! 

Fruit Platter

Fruit platters is another common food at parties or events. Get you a bowl of fresh fruit and enjoy! Catered parties or events feel that fresh fruit is a "must have" in order to have really good events or parties. Food for thought; I'm thinking of making blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and raspberries with frozen Greek yogurt topped with strawberry sauce! Readers and fellow bloggers, I probably have given y'all some ideas, lol!

Dessert Platter

What is good at parties or events and it does not matter what platter you have of it? Why it's the dessert platter! You can have anything from cupcakes platter, cannoli platter, brownies platter, cookies platter, tarts platter, chocolate covered strawberries platter, cheesecake platter, and the list goes on and on and on. Dessert platters are awesome to indulge a little at parties or events. This is coming from someone who will help himself to desserts from time to time. 

Readers and fellow bloggers I'm sure that I gave y'all some food for thought ideas, lol! Don't hesitate and tell people about my Platters at Events & Parties blog. I'm PauliePaul AKA Paul and you can mention me if you want. I just wanted my readers and fellow bloggers to engage with food recipes and perhaps food for thought ideas that y'all may want to share with me and other bloggers and readers online. Well, I hope that all of my readers enjoy some really good grub!

How Patriotic Are You?

very patriotic

You are the first one to put your hand over your heart when the national anthem is played, and know all the words to it. You are extremely proud of your country, and aren't ashamed to show it. https://www.quibblo.com/quiz/hi02ms7/How-patriotic-are-you