Cooking the NYTimes and Other Assorted Retirement Activities

  I chose this clip art because it seems to me the type that the MAGA crowd would favor, thus a reminder that the American flag and eagle stand for EVERYONE, ya boo boo heads. Frequent, heck even infrequent readers of my social media posts, including this blog, know that it doesn't take much for me to work up a lather about the current state of affairs primarily in the good old USA (though the remainder of the world surely doesn't get a free pass). Precipitating event earlier today was my completion of the Election Judge training, necessary for all election judges in the great State of Minnesota.  (NB: T raining is not mandated by one nationwide rule, but training requirements are very common, and most jurisdictions require at least some election workers to receive training before serving . Federal legislators and DJT, take note of what is to come because you may wish to amend your precious SAVE Act.) Now, I knew this already as I would not be surprised to discover that not on...

  + heart. Leader: "God is Good." People: "All the Time." Leader: "All the Time." People: "Good is Good." Usually when I/we travel, I blog every night as a way to commit to memory what happened that day. On this most recent trip, the Faith and Democracy Pilgrimage to Philadelphia and New York City, our days were so jam packed that by the time we finished our daily itinerary, all I could think of was crawling into bed since the next morning's early call would be coming all too soon.  In fact, on this trip, I believe I saw more combination sunrise/sunsets than I have in years due to the 7 a.m. departures and 8 p.m. returns.   Thus, no daily blogs.  Now, a test of my recollection of where we went, what we saw and did and impact of same over the past week. So, a Pilgrimage.  By definition, a pilgrimage is a journey to a place associated with someone or something well respected.  It also can be seen as a journey to a holy place leading to a person...

  I haven't been blogging much lately, taking out my frustrations and anger primarily at the political slice of our world through what I consider pithy comments on Instagram.  If you are so inclined, you can follow me at Bigtenmom2000, the moniker harkening back to the turn of this century when we had three collegians at three separate Big Ten (then only the Big 11) institutions of higher learning.  Their respective educations have proven to serve them relatively well, important I believe to point out since the value of certain fields of study is currently being raked through the coals.  Anyhow, enough about that. Over the past nine years that we have Snowbirded in Florida, our time has taken on a relatively distinct rhythm.  The earliest 6 weeks can be chilly by Florida standards, disappointing by a Snowbird's measure.  If you're parking your butt approximately 1400 miles south in a place advertising itself as the Sunshine State, you're expecting to see po...

  I've been spending a not insignificant amount of time trying to breathe deeply while watching the birds at the deck bird feeder. One might think our feathered friends would be taking refuge in their tree hidey holes during this obscenely cold weather Minnesota is experiencing, but no.  In fact, they have been emptying the feeder almost daily.  According to ChatGPT, this is why: T hey burn more energy. Birds have to keep their body temperature high, and cold air + wind drains heat fast. Shorter days = fewer feeding hours. So they pack in calories whenever they can. Food is harder to find. Insects disappear, plants go dormant, snow covers seeds—so when food is available, they don’t waste the chance. Regardless, moments spent viewing the birds visit the feeder are proving to be a source of soul soothing. I loved this from Kate Bowler's Everything Happens that landed in my email inbox today. January has been…long. Not just cold and busy and noisy (which, yes, definitely...

  Yesterday I taught a Getting Ready to Downsize class and found, not to my surprise, that one consideration many 'older folk' have as they prepare to downsize is that much of their stuff--which they know their children do not want--has stories attached.  We discussed the importance of sharing those stories because the generational history carries with it significance that once it passes, cannot be retrieved.  I know many who regret not asking parents and grandparents to talk in detail about the lives they led before they came into them.  Personally I mourn the holes in my family history, on both sides, that I didn't pursue in conversation with those who came before me.  They are lost forever.   So, allow me to encourage you to peruse your 'stuff' before heading to the Thanksgiving table.  Is there one particular item that carries with it a story you feel is of critical importance to share with those following in your footsteps?  Might you br...