I, like most people in my generation, have an eclectic array of TV Programs I enjoy watching: crime shows, comedy shows, late night, dramas and, of course, reality TV.
Which show I watch often depends upon my day and my mood.  I grew up, however, with a limited number of TVs in a six-person household (two parents and four children) and so, we watched the “agreed upon” TV show.  Back then, we only really had three channels to choose from, four if you counted PBS, and so our choices were limited and simple.
Today, TV is much more complicated, with not only premium channels, but also, since TVs are now somehow “smart” devices, there is Netflix and Hulu and Apple TV… yielding about a million programs to choose from.   I was a young adult when people started handing out roses and voting others off the island and also, when the premium channels started giving the major broadcasting networks a run for their money with amazing drama programming like The Sopranos.  These drama series, free from commercial interruption, became an hour-long escape from everyday realities.  They felt more like mini movies and, on a production scale, I would imagine, felt that way to the producers as well, resulting in a season of 12 episodes with a full year, or even more, in between seasons.  
Like millions of others, I am a fan of the HBO series Game of Thrones.  Unfortunately, it is about to air its final season.  Even more unfortunate is the fact that I, again, like millions of others, had to wait about a year and a half to find out “what happens next”.  So much can happen in life in a year and a half—isn’t it a risky programming move to make audiences wait that long? Not that I like it, but I think it is BRILLIANT! Not only does the long delay in between seasons keep me interested, it keeps me invested by making sure that I continue to subscribe to the channel so that I, like millions of others, can see what happens next.  And since there is such a long delay in between seasons, I find that I need to re-watch the prior season so that I can actually remember what happened.  And then, of course, why start re-watching just the last season when I can start with the first season? If I can’t remember what happened 18 months ago, I certainly can’t remember what happened eight years ago!
In the end, these types of shows are one of my favorites simply because I can go back and re-watch them, discovering things I missed the first time around. I begin to feel nostalgic for a time gone by in my life and then happy that, no matter what has changed in my life, I can still hold on to that piece of me that started enjoying the show in the first place. I, particularly, also have to remember to remember this feeling…when the cable bill comes!
FINALLY! FINALLY!

Kathy Naumann, possessor of NATURALLY curly hair and the understanding that you can’t control everything!

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Wed. April 3
Art Show
THOMPSON --- The Friends of the Thompson Public Library will present its 16th Annual Thompson Community Art Show through April 26. Coordinated by the Thompson Community Art Show Committee & the Thompson Recreation Dept. www.thompsonpubliclibrary.org

Sat. April 6
Finnish Breakfast
CANTERBURY --- Finnish American Heritage Society Annual pancake breakfast will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Finnish Hall, Route 169. $8 adults; kids 3-10 $5, under 3 free. 860-546-6671.

Intro to Fly Tying
POMFRET --- The Pomfret Public Library will present a Fly Tying Open House, including demo, display, basic instruction and Q & A with Derek May from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the library. pomfretlibrary.org.

Spring Fair
ASHFORD --- The Ashford Senior center will hold a spring fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the center on Tremko Lane. Bake sale and lunch available for purchase. Crafters sought --- call. 860-428-6502.

Performance
The American Classics Repertory Company will present “A Raisin in the Sun” at 7 p.m., April 6 and at 2 p.m., April 7 at the East Congregational Church and at 7 p.m. April 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. April 14 at the Complex $20; $10 for students and seniors $10. 860- 928-3178.

Mon. April 8
Exercise Group
WOODSTOCK --- The Woodstock Senior Exercise Group will meet from 9 to 10 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday in the Woodstock Town Hall large meeting room on the lower. Minimum fee. Local seniors welcome. Please check the town website www.woodstockCT.gov for current schedule or call 860-928-6595.

Wed. April 10
Warner Program
PUTNAM --- The Aspinock Historical Society of Putnam will present “Celebrate Gertrude Chandler Warner” at 7 p.m. at the Putnam High School’s Joseph Pempek Conference Room Mary Ellen Ellsworth, author of “Gertrude Chandler Warner and the Boxcar Children,” will do the presentation. All welcome. Free.

Thur. April 11
Notable & Notorious Luncheon
EASTFORD --- The Eastford Senior Citizens will host a learn-at-lunch program at 11 a.m. at Eastford Town Office Building’s Lower Level. About 11:30 AM, Chief Ranger Bill Reid will present “Notable & Notorious: Historically Interesting People from The Last Green Valley.” $7, & includes lunch. RSVP by noon April 8. 860-538-8868.

Fri. April 12
History Program
CANTERBURY ---The Canterbury Historical Society will present a program, “WHAT: “This Business of Fighting: a Human Face on World War II,” presented by historian Arnie Pritchard, following the 7 p.m. business meeting, in the Community Room at the Town Hall. Free. All welcome. Refreshments.

Sat. April 13
Food Drive
KILLINGLY --- The Northeast CT Food Pantries of Access will be joining with NBC Connecticut / WVIT, Telemundo Connecticut / WRDM and Stop & Shop from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the third annual Feeding Our Families (or Alimentando a Nuestras Familias in Spanish) food drive. The food collection drive will take place at all local Stop & Shop locations throughout Connecticut. Access will be collecting non-perishable food and personal hygiene items.

Art Exhibit
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Printmaking with Nature” through May 15  at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. Reception and artist demo from 2 to 4 p.m.  860-928-4948.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Invasive Plant Program” at 9 a.m. at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Clean Up
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Spring Cleaning: Trail Wood Work Day” at 9 a.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Bring gloves/rakes, etc.    $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Bottle Drive
KILLINGLY --- Pet Pals Northeast, a local animal welfare organization, will be collecting redeemable bottles and cans from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Killingly Town Garage on Rt. 12. Dry cat food urgently needed, Purina brands preferred. Cash donations always welcome. 860-317-1720.

Meatball Supper
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Emanuel Lutheran Church on Main Street will hold a Swedish meatball supper from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the church. Family style. Takeout available. $12.

Sun. April 14
Book Club
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Trail Wood Non-Fiction Book Club” from 2 to 4 p.m. at Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Free for  CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. For info, the book, call: 860-928-4948.

Fishing Derby
N. GROSVENORDALE --- The Valley Springs Sportsman’s’ Club will hold its spring fishing derby starting from 7 to 11 a.m. Registration prices vary. 860-771-1992.

Concert
CHEPACHET --- The Music at the Meeting House Series will present the Music of Holy Week at Chepachet Baptist Church on Rt. 44 at 2:30 p.m. Refreshments. All welcome. Free, but a freewill offering will be taken.

Mon. April 15
Magic Show
EASTFORD --- The Eastford Public Library will present magician Ed Popielarczyk at 4 p.m. This is a free show for children during school vacation week. No registration required. For more info, call 860-974-0125.

Tues. April 16
Tag Sale Donations
POMFRET --- Donations of antiques and gently used household goods, furniture, toys, electronics, tools, books, decorative items, are welcome from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 30 for the 65th annual Windham County 4-H Auction & Tag Sale on May 3 and 4. No clothing. 860-974-3379 to schedule delivery at other times or to arrange for item pick up.

Thur. April 25
Nature Program
HAMPTON --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Trail Wood Bird Walk” at 8 a.m. Trail Wood on Kenyon Road. Free  for CAS members; $5 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

Fri. April 26
‘Hello, Dolly!’
PUTNAM --- The Bradley Playhouse will present “Hello, Dolly!” through May 12. www.thebradleyplayhouse.org.

Nature Program
POMFRET --- The Connecticut Audubon Society at Pomfret will present “Virginia Rail Bird Walk” at 6 p.m. starting at the Grassland Bird Conservation Center on Day Road. $5 for CAS members; $10 for nonmembers. 860-928-4948.

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Donation
DANIELSON —  Bailey’s Team for Autism has awarded $676 in grant funds to The Arc Eastern Connecticut to support autism training and awareness. Items to be purchased include weighted vests, calming sensory lights, an audio sedation system, therapeutic sand, kinetic sand, and various books regarding autism.  

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