Masks have become part of our everyday life. Before you leave the house you grab your phone, your car keys, your glasses, your purse and hopefully, your mask. It’s the new dress code whether you match it with your outfit or not.

The CDC says cotton is the best material since it will keep your face cooler and is more likely to reduce the spread of the virus.

Try to keep it dry and watch out for “maskne”, a combination of mask and acne, caused by the friction and moisture rubbing up against your skin.

Our Governor says, “if you have to ask, wear a mask”. Just as a reminder, everyone can get the virus, so everyone should wear a mask, even though it is uncomfortable in this heatwave. Maybe together, we can prevent the second wave.

– Danny Lyons  July 6, 2020

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You may be reading that nearly 10,000 New Yorkers are changing their addresses to the more suburban zip codes of our beautiful State of Connecticut. Our property taxes are lower than NY and the view outside a home office window is much more serene and picturesque.

Mortgage rates are near record lows and inventory is limited so it is a sellers’ market as prices in the suburbs are rising faster than in the cities.

Lynne and I like to watch those home improvement shows where beams are added to carry the load for open floor plans. That certainly is the trend. Here is something new that buyers want: their own zoom room for videoconferencing. Something to consider if you are planning to do any renovations around your home.

There’s no place like home, and for many of us in 2020, there’s no place like working from home. Now you just have to get the kids to go back to school.

-Danny Lyons  June 29, 2020

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Summer is here and it’s time to take the family vacation. Fewer of us will be taking off to far away destinations this year and opting to travel by car. Gas is cheaper than it was last year, but it won’t look the same.

You will more than likely be packing hand sanitizer, masks, disinfectant wipes and paper towels. You may consider taking your own food and be careful of what you touch in rest areas. That was probably good advice even before this.

When we were kids, it was fun to travel to Cape Cod where we rented cottages right next to our aunts and uncles and cousins. When we got older, we continued that tradition with my brother and sister and our kids. It was the time of our lives!

If you are headed to the Cape this summer, all beaches and bike trails are open as well as the ferries to the Islands. Half of Main St in downtown Hyannis is closed to traffic to allow for more outdoor dining. Try the food at Columbo’s. Then of course there’s mini golf at Pirates Cove and ice cream at Sundae School. You may want to catch a summer flick at the Wellfleet Drive In. There is still lots to do.

We’re almost there kids, you can see the Bourne Bridge. Let the memories begin.

– Danny Lyons  June 26, 2020

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I always feel it is easier to get through tough times when you have something to look forward to. If you love Christmas and always look forward to seeing the tree at Rockefeller Center, the good news is that, according to the NY Post, the beloved annual event WILL go on this year.

The iconic tree is going up although it may not look like years past with celebrity performances and the oohs and ahs of hundreds of wide-eyed spectators filling the plaza when the 30,000 lights come on for the first time.

The tradition started in the 1930’s when workers gathered on the Rockefeller Plaza construction site to get their paychecks during the height of the Great Depression. It became a symbol of hope and renewal.

A number of the trees over the years have come from Fairfield County, so it is time to check your back yard to see if you have the perfect tree that will be a beacon of hope during the upcoming Christmas season.

The statues around Rockefeller Center are covered with masks and more than likely, you will be wearing one when you visit the City this winter, but I know you will be smiling underneath. O Christmas Tree.

-Danny Lyons  June 24, 2020

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There was no rhyme or reason for what became hard to find in the supermarkets in the past 3 months. Now, there seems to be a good supply of paper products, flour and even parchment paper. For some reason, I am still finding it difficult to find decaf coffee. The newest thing we’re running low on is pocket change. Some people are still paying with cash, so stores and banks are running low on nickels, dimes, quarters and even pennies. Banks are rationing supplies to retailers and store owners are unable to make change, so they may have to round up the prices. Every penny counts when times are tough.

In the spring, the mint printed fewer coins to protect employees, plus coins sat in cash registers of unopened stores, nightstands, pants pockets, couch cushions, car seats and vacuums.

If you have loose change in a jar, you may consider wrapping them up and cashing them in at your local bank. It adds up quickly and you may be surprised to find that you could fund a night out.

By the way, last year the TSA collected almost a million dollars of unclaimed coins from fliers who left them after going through security and it can use that money on other security operations. So the next time you travel, remember this. A travel writer recently recommended putting those coins in your shoes and you won’t forget them, guaranteed!

– Danny Lyons  June 22, 2020

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