Let’s Ring in the New Year with Amanda Gorman’s New Years Poem

December 31, 2021

A lot of us couldn’t agree on a lot of things this year. If there is anything we could agree on, maybe it would be that a 22-year-old black female poet was the surprise hit of the 2021 Inauguration. Well, it wasn’t a surprise to me, but prior to Amanda Gorman’s appearance at the Inaugration, … More Let’s Ring in the New Year with Amanda Gorman’s New Years Poem

National Do Something Nice Day is Tuesday, October 5

October 4, 2021

Did you know that Tuesday, October 5 is National Do Something Nice Day? It is an unofficial holiday to encourage people to do some act of kindness for a friend, loved one, or stranger. I’m assuming most people drawn to a blog encouraging bliss would do nice things for other people on a regular basis. … More National Do Something Nice Day is Tuesday, October 5

We Are What We Eat

September 28, 2021

That is the name of the book I’ve just finished reading, the latest publication by Alice Waters, the chef and founder/owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California (a pioneer in the farm to table restauarant concept). It’s full title is actually We Are What We Eat: A Slow Food Manifesto. It is her latest attempt … More We Are What We Eat

What We Really Need to Remember from 9/11

September 12, 2021

It may not surprise you that George W. Bush is not my favorite of the living US ex-Presidents. Except for yesterday. Yesterday, he was ex-President #1 in my opinion. Yesterday, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in New York, Pennsylvania, and the Pentagon building outside Washington DC, all the living Presidents/ex-Presidents attended memorial services … More What We Really Need to Remember from 9/11

Having Ethical Questions around COVID Vaccinations? Let’s check in with NYT, WaPo, the Mayor, and the Dalai Lama.

August 28, 2021

On Monday, Wake County (NC) students on the traditional calendar went back to school. Like many city/suburban areas, the school board mandated masks for everyone inside school, despite some intense protests by some parents. Last week, my city, Cary (a town outside Raleigh, NC), also imposed a mask mandate within city buildings. That, too, has … More Having Ethical Questions around COVID Vaccinations? Let’s check in with NYT, WaPo, the Mayor, and the Dalai Lama.

Meatless Monday: Pupusas (with a Side of Social Justice)

August 10, 2021

NOTE: Today’s blog post comes courtesy of the UNC-Duke Area Studies Centers, which sponsored a series of WONDERFUL live webinars showcasing recipes and food traditions from other countries in a Cultural Kitchen Series. More on that later. First, I apologize for the break in posts. I was taking advantage of summer opportunities and the relatively … More Meatless Monday: Pupusas (with a Side of Social Justice)