2021 got off to quite a start. I didn’t expect the pandemic-style New Year’s Eve celebration, with the bit of optimism we all tried to muster, to give away to a full-blown government insurrection less than a week later. But it did, and that crisis on January 6 has led me to shuffle around my […]
Hospitality in a pandemic: What your server wants you to know
In early March 2020, when the realities of COVID-19 were just dawning on the US, 32% of consumers said they planned to eat at restaurants less often, according to Technomic. Fast forward to January 2021, and we now know the realities all too well. In December, CNN reported that 10,000 restaurants had closed in the […]
Some things can’t be fixed
“Tell us about a news story that has captured your attention” is one of Kat Bouska’s prompts this week. I spend every workday reading a variety of news stories as I prepare eight different nonprofit sector newsletters at SmartBrief, so I scanned my memory for something that stood out. In the process, I went to […]
A laugh, a “hi,” and two kisses
A laugh How do you feel about Pringles? Wayne called me over to his office (these are COVID times, so that means walking about five feet to the other room) on Friday to watch comedian Lewis Black’s Rantcast about Pringles. (This is relevant because Wayne and I have spent quite a few late afternoons during […]
In December, I met Noor and Aziz
Here’s something good about 2021: Vaccinations against COVID-19, which began in the US on December 14, continued to be administered around the world. Here’s something frightening about 2021: An insurrection took place at the US Capitol on January 6 and divisiveness is rampant. Before we can properly start to process what 2021 may hold, it’s […]
100 miles in December
If you have ever been exposed to an ultra race before, you have seen an event that stretches the participants physically as they attempt herculean distances. The Tallahassee Ultra Distance Classic, a tradition in our area, involves runners attempting to complete either 50 miles or 50 kilometers (around 31 miles) before a time cut-off. I’ve […]




