American’s are yelling foul. The man who insulted and threatened their way of life is the most powerful man in the nation, with that comes fear. Has learned from mistakes? We can only hope. This isn’t a political article. It’s about women. All women, who mother, want to mother, are in the workforce and those who stay at home.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Say What? Pink Tax, Less Pay It’s All in a Day
American’s are yelling foul. The man who insulted and threatened their way of life is the most powerful man in the nation, with that comes fear. Has learned from mistakes? We can only hope. This isn’t a political article. It’s about women. All women, who mother, want to mother, are in the workforce and those who stay at home.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Players Guild Ends Year on Hilarious High Note with Holi-Daze
![]() |
photo credit: Anne Mulligan |
![]() |
Jennifer Lawler photo credit Anne Mulligan |
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
School Bus Driver Appreciation Week
- Stand at your bus stop with a ‘Thank You’ poster
- Have all the children at your stop make and sign a card
- Give a basket of muffins and a to-go coffee
- Bake a plate of cookies or brownies
- Fill a thermos with steaming hot cocoa
- Fill a gift basket with a mug and coffee or tea goodies
- Give a gift card that can be used for breakfast or lunch
- Fill a basket with dollar store snacks and a tumbler cup
- Review the bus safety rules with your child and ensure he or she understands why they are important
![]() |
Tracy Kitchens, Vicki Pinkard, Tammy Bush, Teresa Hughes, and Rick Littlefield are some of the drivers who participated in bus safety last week. Photo Provided by Buford Elementary School. |
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Proposed Amendment 1, State Privatization of our Public Schools
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
What are They Trying to Say?
Assertive; Self-assured, confident without being aggressive. they are willing to speak their mind and be less likely to allow themselves to be taken advantage of. They often seem to intimidate those who are less self assured and are not well liked when they call someone out on their crapola.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Don't Dress for Dinner Review
Gypsy Theatre Company pleases again, with the wildly funny high quality reproduction of the wildly funny Tony award winning, “sort of sequel” to the Broadway’s smash -hit Boeing-Boeing at the Buford Community Center.
Opening night, August 25th we enter the Sylvia Beard Theatre, to be greeted by an open stage and lovely set, both rustic and elegant as a renovated French farm house with a prominent and unusually long couch from 1971. There was no change of set during the show as it was performed in the main living room of the country house somewhere outside of Paris, The design was meticulous in every detail down to the rustic sliding barn door to the piggery and cow shed as married couple; Bernard played by Davin Allen Grindstaff and his wife Jacqueline played by Julie Trammel, affectionately named the 2 guest rooms on each side of the stage complete with, appropriately labeled cow and pig wooden cut outs which I might add, become quite helpful to aid the audience in keeping the revolving bed room assignments straight as the play’s complex relationship statuses continue to change which both confuses and delights the audience.
Our story begins with Bernard, who hopes to send his wife, Jacqueline, to her mother’s for the weekend, so that he can be alone with his mistress, Suzanne, a Parisian model, played by Alessandra Scarcia. Bernard has hired a Cordon Bleu cook, Suzette, played by Rachael Endrizzi and invited his friend Robert played by Aaron Gotlieb to dinner to be his alibi .
Jacqueline cancels her plans to be with “her” Robert after she learns Robert is also spending the weekend. This causes Bernard to panic, and he tells Robert of his affair with Suzanne. who is to arrive at any moment. Bernard begs Robert ,against his will to pretend that “Suzy” is his girlfriend.
Bernard and Jacqueline leave to buy groceries, Suzy arrives — but it’s the caterer, not the mistress un-beknownst to Robert who then introduces Suzette as his girlfriend upon the couples return. Bernard is furious because of the mix-up, and Jacqueline feels betrayed thinking she was Robert’s only mistress.
Suzanne with a very authentic French accent finally arrives, learns she must now play cook is outraged but, reluctantly agrees to play her part. All in the first 15 minutes of the show.
The lies continue to grow, Suzette the cook, with the brash and truly entertaining cockney accent , is the winner of the cast as she cashes in by being coaxed repeatedly to pretend to be different players in the twisted schemes of deceit, orchestrated by the cheating lovers to keep their lies intact and everyone’s temper at bay. The cast did an amazing and professional job but, Robert and Suzette won my heart with their animated expressions and difficult tongue twisting monologues. Don’t dress for dinner was a truly hilarious lesson of what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive. If you haven’t gotten tickets yet you still have time what are you waiting for, It plays though September 11th, 2016.
Original Article Buford Weekly Illustrated September 2, 2016
Departure, Journey Tribute Band, Transports Audiences Back to the 70’s & 80’s
Departure, the Journey Tribute Band, returned to the stage for the 3rd time and magically sent its audience well those over say 40+ back to the late 70s early 80’s for the 3rd time at The Buford Community Center, Friday August 27th, 2016. Although, there were a few millennial and younger who danced and swayed in the theatre, a majority of the audience knew every word to every song.
I realize that because I am true Journey fan my review could be somewhat subjective. Journey was, in fact my favorite band in high school. I played their albums over and over again, turned the radio up when their tunes come on and am not ashamed to admit, have the Escape CD in my car and still play it regularly. I will for the sake of professional journalism remain objective, yet will also say I set my Journey tribute band standards particularly high.
It would be an understatement to simply say Departure was not a disappointment, with eyes closed you weren’t simply transported, Departure is the musical essence of Journey. I wasn’t the only one transported back. The audience participation was complete with cell phone flash lights that apparently touched the members of the band who recorded us waving to “O Sherry with lights out and cell phone flashlights on. A far cry from our lighter from the 80’s but still honored the joy the band gave to us.
The band who have been perfecting their craft for the last 9 years together, took the stage and the Journey transformation was almost immediate, not attempting to be Journey look a likes the band definitely took on the look and feel of rock bands from the era. Lead vocalist Bryan Williams with waist length long hair sporting white tails with his jeans and black T-Shirt. Keyboard player Joel’s long 80’s rock band esque wavy tresses began blowing wildly from a fan under his keyboard as he stepped onto his pedestal creating a true rock band feel started the show with; Anyway You Want It, other songs included; Be Alright Without You, Steve Perry’s Foolish Heart, Wheel in the Sky with keyboard player Joel taking over the leads on guitar.
Lead Vocalist Bryan Williams has true stage charisma. Engaging regularly with the audience stepping across the side boxes like steps tapping heads and twirling the ladies in the audience on the first row. The entire band was entertaining to watch and although unique were the essence of Journey and many rock bands of the era.
Williams , lead the ladies in a friendly woo hoo contest, against the upper balcony and ground floor as the band honored the ladies with their rendition of Girls Can’t Help It. By the time, they announced their last song the audience of course true children of the 70’s and 80’s, whistled and cheered until Departure returned to the stage with our favorite Journey encore songs including Open Arms, Stone in Love, Faithfully and finally ending with Separate Ways. We know this 3rd performance in Buford won’t be their last. Get your tickets early when they do because they always sell out quickly.
Original Article Buford Weekly Illustrated August 17,2016
Sunday, August 14, 2016
It's All Fun and Games Til It's Not.
Wear Your Own Guilt
Parents feel guilt if they want some me time, when they can't help with homework, your expectations are too high or too low. It is a no win situation isn't it? How about the guilt you feel in relationships maybe you aren't spending time with your significant other. Anytime you stand up for yourself to do what you want to do you run the risk of feeling guilty about it. I love to read but will admit, sometimes when read for pleasure I feel guilty about it. I feel like there is something else "more productive" that I need to be doing.
Don't even get me started about religious guilt? It can be a major part of the experience and issued in big doses to keep you on the straight and narrow path of morality. Parents can in turn use guilt to ensure their children follow the rules. How do our friends use guilt? If we just don't feel like going out with friends how can they possibly have a good time without us? Our friends may lay on the guilt because you decided to stay home. What if you'd like to be out with friends but feel guilty if you leave your loved one at home alone? Is it because we believe that if we leave them they can't survive without us? Who is responsible for the guilt? Did the significant other make you feel bad by hanging their head low, wrapping their body onto your leg and begging you not to go? Did they cry and scream like Nellie Olsen from Little House on the Prairie, "You hate me, You hate me." That may be the story guilt put into our heads.
Have you ever felt guilty for leaving a pet at home? Seriously our entire family is whipped. We all feel guilty leaving our dog alone. We pick up the keys she begins happily wagging her feathery little black tail, sure she is about to go for a ride. The ritual starts with "You have to stay," then promptly followed up by, "We'll be back" Why do we feel compelled to tell the dog we'll be back. Her tail immediately stops wagging as she stops dead in her tracks and then slowly looks up with the those sad little hound dog eyes. Ah, there is it, the guilt. Now, did the dog set out to make us feel guilty. Was it a manipulative attempt on her part to make us change our mind and do her bidding? Of course not. The next time someone makes you feel guilty be it a parent friend, boss or colleague, take a moment and evaluate the intent. Is it really guilt they are trying to evoke or are they just expressing a need and we heap our own personal guilt? It could be a bit of both.
So, is guilt emotion or a learned skill? We are taught from a very young age to feel guilty to correct bad behavior. The key word there is "taught" Have you ever witnessed a baby feeling guilt. Um, No! Guilt is a learned response. Guilt exists because we allow it to. So, wear your own guilt , take responsibility for your own reactions to it. Let the available lesson serve you, then let it go just like a pair of old jeans.
From the Other Side
I know you are thinking this is going to be one of those articles about the afterlife. We’ll save that for another day. Today I want to speak to those who are in the depths of a struggle. When trauma and heartache happen to us may it be; a breakup or a divorce, or perhaps you are in a career that isn’t working for you anymore or some overwhelming financial crisis.
Whatever it may be, all you know is that you are in pain and what your friends and family know is that you cannot think clearly. You literally can’t see the forest for the trees. Your heart just aches. I have experienced some pretty significant personal losses and traumas. I have had to completely start over more than once and ask myself the question through the anguish, how will I survive this? Can I tell you a secret from the other side?
You will survive it. It will take time and it will also mean that you have to make the choice to move past the pain, and often you have to learn to forgive and let the past go. Then you make a decision to put a new plan in place and start again. We are all so much stronger than we give ourselves credit for. The key for me now is to know that although some of the things that I feared would happen did happen yet I not only survived them, I learned from them and came out stronger on the other side.
After my worst fears came to life, I mourned the losses sometimes wallowing in them for a while, then slowly the pain and the discomfort of hardship or sadness settled. I learned to appreciate what I have, Then developed a new plan and started over again. Each and every time becoming more peaceful, stronger and a happier version of myself. So from the other side let me assure you that you will be ok.
Choosing the simple things over the complicated ones is better and when you are ready, learn the lessons from the experience. Don’t sweat the small stuff, no really don’t! Things are just things and do not make you happy. Healthy relationships can replace unhealthy ones, that is provided you learned your lesson. We all have a road to travel and each experience is unique. You are not alone please remember that we, your friends and family want to be there to help you through it, so let us. Look out, because you are gonna love the new you.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Sister Knowitall: Introducing- Dear Sister Knowitall Column at the G...
So very excited about this. 4 years of blogging and now so many people will get to benefit from my 12 years of real life experience. This is one of my dreams coming true. Thank you Gwinnett Citizen. You are awesome!
Sister Knowitall: Introducing- Dear Sister Knowitall Column at the G...: by Cindy Pitts Gilbert Gwinnett Citizen July 2016 Permalink Sister Knowitall Just wanted to say Hello Gwinnett. Sister Knowi...
Post Pages
Cherish the now, It's the Moments that Matter
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Pick Your Battles, Are we focusing on all the wrong things?
![]() |
photo credit: mosiacprep.com |
Monday, June 6, 2016
Customer Service: Do You Have Unrealistic Expectations?
![]() |
photocredit:wpclipart.com |
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Summer Gardening
Monday, May 9, 2016
Gwinnett County Celebrates Earth Day
![]() |

Cartridge World Buford Gets a New Owner
Cartridge World Buford has been proudly serving the residents and businesses of Buford at 2725 Hamilton Mill Rd, Buford , GA 30519 across from Walmart behind the Chili's, for the last four years and before that they spent five years across from the Mall of Georgia. Mary Hines the previous owner decided to pursue other interests in December of 2015 and sold the Buford Location Nancy McGill owner of Cartridge World Lawrenceville to the oldest and largest store Gwinnett County.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016
What's Happened to the Service in Customer Service?
![]() |
photo credit: www.sandiegocaproperties.com |