Author: Nichole S.

Poor turkeys. “Something’s Up. The farmer just unfriended me on Facebook.”

So, as we near the holidays, here’s a question.  And, let me start by saying this is not necessarily a “who’s generous?” and “who isn’t?” question…… it’s more of a what would be the social norm in the following situation question.  And…it’s about scratch tickets.

Do you share?   The question is not, “If you win big do you do nice and charitable things with your winnings?”…..that is a very different question.  

Here’s a scenario…. I’ll use my own family as an example…and this is completely hypothetical….because we’ve never won enough to justify a fair split.  

Often at the holidays my dad’s girlfriend will hand out scratch tickets to us all.  So, let’s say as you look around the room and it is no winner, no winner, no winner, little winner, no winner, little winner, and suddenly BIG WINNER.

If you’re, in fact, the BIG WINNER…..what is the expectation?  Or, what do you do?

Do you immediately realize that it was obviously complete luck of the draw and it could have easily been anyone else in the room who won and, so, split your winnings evenly with all other adults present?

Do you throw everyone a bone and give them each a lesser portion as a token of unsuckiness?

Do you keep it all yourself?

Let’s mix it up a bit….. What if the people in the room are not your immediate family? What if you are in a small group with decent acquaintances and friends, but not your absolute ride-or-dies

Not too long ago I stood in a local convenient store with a friend as we made a pitstop after a hockey game.  We stood at the counter at the same time each purchasing a bottle of water…..and then both decided to buy a couple of scratch tickets.  We got the exact same ones (an important piece of information in the decision making process I think).  Back in the car she scratched faster than me….and didn’t win.   As I continued to scratch I had already made the decision that if I were to win big, I would split the cash…. I mean it could have EASILY been her instead of me.  The clerk simply could have handed them out in a different order.  I’m guessing, if I know my friend the way I think I do, she would have refused.  I would have explained why it should be an even split, she’d argue, and we’d settle on me splitting it like 60/40 or something like that.  

Now, I realize that there are MANY different scenarios! Many different ways the scratch ticket game could unfold… so, feel free to comment with personal experiences or tell us what you would do in slightly different situations.  

In regards to the situation mentioned in this post, however, please take the following poll.  
So, again: You’re at a small gathering and someone hands out scratch tickets to everyone present. You win big. You know and enjoy the company you’re in, but they’re not your immediate family.

Do you, 

1.  Decide to split evenly with all other adults present

2.  Give each guest some of your winnings, but keep a sizable portion to yourself

3.  Keep it all

Keep calm and carry on……as the saying goes.

I was struck by how the tangled web of branches and trees was still pretty.

I definitely can’t count how many photos I’ve taken of the Man at the Wheel over the years, but yet…..whenever I walk by, I always take more.

There are so many beautiful nooks and crannies to explore on Cape Ann.

What a beautiful spot to sit and rest, reflect, and appreciate the view

I’m not necessarily a fan of all things pumpkin once the cold weather turns….but, pumpkin martinis are one of the things that scream fall to me.

This one at Tonno did not disappoint!

Back in March, April, and May….when we were not doing anything or going anywhere…. my 13 year-old (who I guess was still 12 at the time) and I would go for long drives in the afternoon. My younger son was content to stay home, but Thatcher is a lot like me….and needs a good field trip each day. Sitting still is not a strength of his. Fast forward to November and he’s still home each day for school and by 2:15 is itching to do something. When the weather is nice he hops on his bike after his last remote class, but with the weather getting colder and the daylight disappearing earlier, that isn’t always ideal. So, on Tuesday we hopped in the car after I got home from work and took a very familiar trip around the Cape. The sunset was spectacular, but equally nice was grabbing some of that one-on-one time that has been a bit more absent these days.

It was nice to stand back and watch him enjoy the sunset. It reminded me of a day several years ago…. (second photo)…when I watched both boys appreciate the sun setting in Ipswich after leaving Russel Orchards. Our days are strange right now….but, they are still going by way too quickly. I’ll miss moments like this.

We watched as this fishing boat left the harbor, went past the breakwater, and by the skyline of Boston.

I did a photo shoot in Boston a while back for some Sam Adams products. Here’s my red, white, and blue. Get out and vote….and then maybe grab a beer.

What a difference 4 days makes in New England.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being present as Warren Waugh and the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group met with students and staff at Gloucester High School to award the second installment of a three-year commitment of $150,000 ($50,000 a year) to the Gloucester Education Foundation to support the Automotive Technology Program. The gift has made it possible to add an additional educator to meet the needs of increased enrollment in the GHS Auto Tech program. Thanks to Lyon-Waugh’s support, even more students have been able to benefit from this program and pursue careers in the auto technology field. A field that continues to thrive and grow.

In addition to the monetary donation, Warren Waugh has also provided state-of-the art equipment and automobiles for students’ use in the Automotive Tech shop for hands-on practical learning. Lyon-Waugh Auto Group has hosted Gloucester High School students at several of their dealership service departments and has also sent auto technicians to GHS to share their vast and ever-current expertise.

A press release from the Lyon-Waugh Auto Group also added,

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We were able to sneak in a last dinner at the Studio on Saturday night. Unfortunately they have now closed for the season, but we wanted to thank them for their work and diligence to their customers safety during these weird times. Dinner was delicious, my pumpkin martini was phenomenal, and listening to the live piano music was a much needed respite from the every day normal.

So many of my favorite fall trees have already started to lose their leaves. I was happy to find time to take some photos of the beautiful fall foliage that surrounds us before it was too late.

Always beautiful no matter what the season or the weather.

I had to pullover and take these photos of the fog over the Essex River. The rainbow was pretty cool as well and the boaters on the Any Given Day (I think that was the name) were an added bonus. If you know who those guys are maybe share this with them. I hope they made it back down the river and through the fog safely!

Well, here’s a place that I haven’t been to for breakfast. Enjoy Pratty’s new breakfast special.

FREE BREAKFAST with the purchase of your first drink from 8:00 am – 11:00 am for just one week only. So, get in there between now and October 24th.

Check out their Facebook Page HERE

I have been meaning to get to the Brown Dog in Ipswich for quite some time now. With tickets for the Marini Farm Corn Maze in hand, we decided to stop there for dinner. I am so glad we did. Seven of us enjoyed some chowder, delicious appetizers, and some burgers….and a beer and/or pumpkin martini.

You can check them out here

The new GMG die cut stickers are too pretty to stick just anywhere. They gave me good reason to treat myself to two new YETIs. My coffee YETI and my water YETI are looking extra sweet with their GMG bling.