Women Work

Friday was International Women’s Day, an event whose origin goes all the way back to 1909 in New York City.  This served as a catalyst for me to reflect on the many strong women in my life, those with whom I have crossed paths over the years, and the gradual ascendance of women in our society throughout my lifetime.

Last year, undergraduate students in U.S. colleges and universities skewed 55% female.  The ratio of women to men in college started tilting toward women in 1980, and has steadily increased since then.  This appears to translate to at least some increased gender equity in leadership positions.  U.S. News and World Report reports that women now hold about a third of the executive positions in the U.S.  However, the Women Business Collaborative offers that only one in five of the highest “C-Suite” leaders are women, with nearly 80% of U.S. women executives holding posts in HR, finance and legal departments, not the operations roles more likely to lead to CEO opportunities.  Pew Research Center reported that the share of women CEOs of Fortune 500 companies reached an all-time high in 2023 of 10.6%. 

A 2019 McKinsey report revealed that companies with more women in executive roles generated 21% higher profitability.  Women get things done.  I would assert that, all other factors being equal, selecting the female candidate for a leadership role is a better bet.  Women have responded to the extra societal friction that they face in numerous ways that have made them collectively more resilient and high-performing. 

The U.S. has done a better job than some other countries at closing the gender gaps, but trails behind others.  The 2023 Global Gender Gap Report of the World Economic Forum reports on the Global Gender Gap Index, a benchmark of gender parity across 146 countries, looking at four key dimensions:  Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment.  The U.S. ranks 43rd of 146 countries when these dimensions are combined.  Nordic countries of Iceland (1), Norway (2), Finland (3) and Sweden (5) lead the list, with New Zealand at number 4.  You can access the entire report here. 

While we have more collective work to do, I see high-performing women all around me. Whether it’s Sally Heckman leading First Federal Savings, Amy Albery leading Wallick Communities, or my own brilliant wife, Lori Fuhrer, as a Director at her law firm, Licking County has no shortage of impressive women.  You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone like Kathy Patton, who has coached athletes at 5:00 am for going on two decades and runs Iron Heart Consulting.  (Why would anyone want to swing a dead cat, anyway?  That’s gross.  It turns out this phraseology originated in reference to swinging a cat-o’-nine-tails in the tight confines of a ship at sea.)  Lori’s close childhood friend and my graduate school colleague, Holly Walters, has ascended to the top echelon of Toyota North America, where she currently serves as Chief Information Officer, through incredibly hard work, dedication and intellect.  These women inspire me and give me hope for our future.

Here’s to Women! Do something extra nice for a woman in your life as a small thank you, OK?

Sunday Supper
This week’s Sunday Supper recommendations works both as a time-intensive dinner plan, but will also yield ample leftovers to carry you into the week ahead.  This is what I’ll be cooking today, too.  First, let’s braise some Barbacoa, a spicy Mexican approach to chuck roast.  While we’re at it, let’s put on a pot of Black Beans and let them simmer all day.  Fire up a pot of long-grained rice, and sauté a bunch of bell peppers (any color) and onions.  The next thing you know, you will have produced all the elements for making some fantastic tacos, or burrito bowls, Ala Chipotle (but even better).  Obviously, supplement with your preferred toppings, like salsa, shredded cheese, guacamole, or whatever else appeals to you.  To satisfy my sweet tooth and welcome our son home for a Spring Break visit, I’m making this simple Baked Lemon Pudding for a sweet finish.  Enjoy!

Sunday Music
I’ve shared this performance by Aretha Franklin at the Kennedy Center’s honors for Carole King previously, but given this week’s theme it feels like a two-for-one special, acknowledging two amazing women at once.  Similarly, here is a performance by Dolly Parton & Olivia Newton-John of Parton’s classic song, Jolene.  Is there any woman more at the top of their game right now than Taylor Swift?  I think not…this drop-in performance of her song Better Man at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville back in 2018 shows just how much talent she has paired with amazing skill development.  And lastly, for no particular reason besides it caught my eye, is Olivia Dean performing her song, Dive last year.

If you know anyone who might like this essay, please send them a link to this page. 

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

The Work Never Ends

“Sir, is this your bag?” The TSA officer asks you.  “Yes” you answer, your mind scanning for what could possibly have drawn notice.  You remember that you had a Nalgene water bottle in the bag on Monday when you traveled to Dallas.  You tell the agent that this is probably what the sensors detected.  He empties the water out of the bottle and returns it to you, while you struggle to put the boots you shouldn’t have worn to the airport back on your feet.  An old friend, and many new friends stand waiting as you wrap up this amateur traveler interlude.

It is 1:00 am by the time you pull into the driveway.  You thank Uber Jack for shepherding you home, and tiptoe into the house.  While brushing your teeth, you hear Nova shake her head, flippetyflappityflip, and know that this probably woke Lori.  Momentarily they both greet you in the bathroom.  You hug and chat and crawl into bed.  You conk out by 1:30 am or so.

The alarm rings at 6:30 am.  You rise and dress, take the dog downstairs and start a pot of coffee.  When it’s ready, you and the dog jump in the car and drive to the kennel.  On the way back through town, you stop at Station, order a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich, then sit down with your crew and catch up a little bit. 

You’re home by 8:15 am and Lori is in the shower.  You packed your bag for North Carolina on Sunday, because you knew you might be brain-dead by now, too mentally gassed to do it properly.  (You were right.)

You hit the road by 9:00 am.  Lori drives, because you are sleep deprived and hope to catch a few winks on the way down.  But you’re chatty at first, discussing the week as you head down State Route 37 toward Lancaster.  You hang in there, knowing that it’s easy to get off course while taking the back way to I-77 via State Route 33.  In fact, your chatting throws you off course, but you make it to I-77 South eventually.  You recline the seat and try to zonk out.  It’s nice to close your eyes, slow your breathing, and let your mind wander.  Perhaps you drift in and out, but this is not the sleep you need.

You pull in to the Tamarack Center down around Beckley, bladder full.  Aunt Rachel has texted you to let you know that she’s already there.  You hug, and excuse yourself for a bathroom break.  Then you see that she’s brought Uncle Paul with her, which is a great surprise.  You order some food, sit and chat.  Catch up on things, especially the various aches, pains, and diseases being managed all across the family tree.  You hug your goodbyes and return to the car.  It is 38 degrees and raining now.

Lori resumes her role in the driver’s seat, and you quickly return to slumber.  This time the sleep is deeper, thanks to the empty bladder, the food in your belly and the white noise of the rain hitting the windshield.  You’re in Durham a little before 6:00pm.

You text your son as soon as you arrive at the AirBnB.  He appears in about 3 minutes (he lives very close by).  There he sits, 24 years old on this very day.

You look at him, and you see the little baby you brought home from University Hospital in 2000.  You see him toddling around in an Ohio State onesie, fat rolls creasing his legs.  You see him playing with toys on the floor, while the Twin Towers fall on the television screen.  You see him dressed as a bumblebee, a costume of his own design and construction using nothing but duct tape.  You see him singing in the high school choir.  You see the picture he texted you from his seat in the auditorium the day he graduated from Butler.

You take him in, and all of these memories, and for a second you think “My job is done.  Look at this guy.  He doesn’t need me any more, and he’s turned out pretty great.”

And then you remember who you were at the age of 24, and who you are now at 55, and you know that the good work never ends.  You helped get him to 24, but he’s taking notes on how to get to 55.  He may not know it, but you are leaving him breadcrumbs.  Just like your father did for you.  You need to show him what 70, 80, 90 looks like - if only so you can continue to bear witness to this amazing life standing before you.

Sunday Supper
This Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup spoke to me.  It said “I should be featured in your weekly newsletter, Neal.”  This Shredded Kale with Pine Nuts, Currants and Shaved Parmesan will knock your socks off, too.  It is reminiscent of something we enjoyed from Pizzeria Toro on Friday.

Sunday Music
If you haven’t seen Joni Mitchell’s recent performance of Both Sides Now on the Grammy telecast, you should check it out.  It hits a lot differently now that she is 80 years young.  This nearly 2-hour long live performance in Boulder, CO some 31 years ago by Jazz greats Pat Metheny (guitar), Joshua Redman (saxophone), Christian McBride (bass), and Billy Higgins (drums) is also some great Sunday listening (though this is a YouTube link, it is audio-only).

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Winter’s Last Gasp

Driving home from a meeting in Columbus this past Thursday afternoon, dark clouds were piling up in the distance.  Beautiful bolts of lightning ripped out of the clouds, though I never heard any thunder.  This activity must have been very far away for the sound not to have reached me.  It made me think that maybe Spring was here.

It was another week of focused, gratifying effort.  The later part of the week, a portion of my energy was focused on baking Freddie the birthday pie that he had requested, then delivering it to him in Cleveland before taking him out for a celebratory dinner Friday night.  Duty had called Lori elsewhere, so we drove into town separately.

By the time we sat down at L’Albatross, a French brasserie and bar located on Case Western Reserve University’s campus, I was ready to let my hair down, relax, and bask in the glory of my now 21-year old progeny.  Hearing him recount his comings and goings of the semester was wonderful.  So much of it whizzed smoothly over my head, beyond my ability (or desire) to grasp.  This young man is smart.  His capacity for knowledge and the voraciousness with which he is accumulating it is a joy to see.  I was too spent to even try and stay in-sync with some of the things he was enthusiastically sharing.  I’m just a pie baker, what can I say?  The point for me wasn’t the details.  It was the enthusiasm, and there was plenty of that.  My most significant contribution to the conversation may have been to offer “Dr. Frankenstein had a small lab, too.”

After dinner, Lori and I returned to Granville, each in our separate vehicles, connected via cell phone the whole way home.  We de-briefed on our respective weeks and reveled in what we had just witnessed over dinner.  Pleased as punch for how thing are working out for both of our boys.  We hit the hay later than usual Friday night.  I slept like a six-year old after his first day at Disney World.

Waking after sunrise (a rarity) on Saturday, I was surprised to see how much snow had fallen over night.  I immediately looked at the near-term weather forecast to see when temperatures would climb above freezing, and was glad to see I wouldn’t need to shovel.  Mother Nature made this mess.  We can let her clean it up.  I appreciate it when it works out this way.

Next week will be another busy one.  I have plenty of preparations to complete this weekend.  I’m glad that shoveling snow is not one of them.

Sunday Supper
I was pleasantly surprised to see pork and sauerkraut featured on the menu at L’Albatross Friday night.  It didn’t occur to me that the Alsatian region of France would produce cuisine that I associate with Germany, but it made sense once I thought about it.  This recipe for Choucroute Garnie à l’Alsacienne from Serious Eats will produce a very similar meal to the one I enjoyed Friday.  If you lack the four hours this recipe requires, these Maple Pork Chops, paired with this Braised Sauerkrautwill accomplish something similar in less time.  Wear your lederhosen while cooking to get the full experience.

Sunday Music
You probably know that I often lean on NPR’s Tiny Desk concert series to uncover interesting Sunday music offerings to share.  Every year NPR welcomes open submissions from bands interested in performing in the series.  The submission deadline for 2024 was this past week.  It has become a normal part of bands’ promotion of their work that they share their submissions via social media.  So here are five such submissions for this year.  Let’s see if any of them get invited to perform at NPR headquarters in the year ahead:  REBBY, Scott Li, Blimes, Mumblebee, and Bandits On The Run.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Renewing My Vows

Well, Mother Nature dumped five inches of white, fluffy exercise on my driveway Friday night.  Lori and I had it cleared in time for me to make my standing 9am Saturday appointment at the chiropractor.  There are worse ways to start the weekend than getting one’s back straightened out.

A couple of follow-ups to recent essays:

First, a reader kindly sent me this article from the New York Times regarding the slow progress in venture-backed business ventures focused on producing lab-grown meat:  

Second, I stumbled across this very interesting article regarding news media business models, and what might be the most sustainable way forward.   

You might find both of these articles enlightening.

Some time ago, probably more than a year, I injured my left ring finger at the gym.  Something popped, and I quickly removed my wedding band, for fear that my finger would swell and be constricted by the ring.

It has sat in a little cubby of my office desk.  Every once in a while, I would try to slip it on, and it was just a bit too snug to trust that I could remove it if I needed to.  So it continued to sit there.

I had some errands to run in Columbus on Saturday, and I finally had the forethought to call the jeweler who made our wedding bands and explain that I needed to get the ring re-sized.  We set an 11am appointment.  I arrived at the appointed time, and was glad to be greeted by the jeweler (Bill).  Bill made our rings twenty-seven years ago, but  I’ve seen him at least a couple of times since, thanks to a purchase of earrings that I made for one of our anniversaries a few years ago.

Of course I know virtually nothing about the craft of jewelry making, or metallurgy, or welding, soldering, materials science…I walked in thinking that Bill could heat up the ring, stretch it out a bit, then cool it down and hand it back to me.  No such luck.  It turns out my finger has grown more than a couple of sizes, so there is a more elaborate plan now in place to accommodate my plumper digit.

Bill’s son Andy works with him, and they both talked through different scenarios, some of which went straight over my head.  But in the end I am certain that we landed on a smart, enduring solution that will get this ring back on my finger.

A lot of things have changed in the world of jewelers since 1997.  Bill and Andy showed me a laser welder that they now use, and the tiny filaments of gold that they use in that process.  No matter how the tools change, their craftsmanship remains unimpeachable.  As they were mulling over their proposed solution, I looked through the various display cases at the many beautiful pieces, all classic, avoiding the ostentatious.

It was impossible to fully grasp just how good an artisan Bill was when we initially chose to buy our rings from him.  But this weekend, standing in the same showroom where we made that choice many years ago, I felt extra good about working with someone who has stood the test of time so well as a craftsman and an entrepreneur.

It will feel good to have the ring back on my finger.  I don't go out or travel a ton, so haven’t really worried that some people might notice its absence, and draw inferences as to the strength of my marriage.  But certainly the thought has crossed my mind from time to time.  It’s time to get it back on my hand, and remove all doubt.  The only thing that has endured better than the ring is my marriage, and for that I am immensely grateful.

Sunday Supper
After proposing numerous recipes from the genre of “Football Food” last week, I promised to return to the traditional go-to of the Sunday Supper section:  A large hunk of roasted meat.  This one is a doozy:  This Braised Brisket from the New York Times Cooking section (it is a gift link, don’t worry about a paywall) evokes memories of my childhood.  

It uses the flat portion of the brisket, braising it for six wonderful hours in a sauce composed of fresh ginger, onion, garlic, ketchup, red wine, soy sauce, cider vinegar, honey, Coca Cola, ground cloves and black pepper.  I made it Saturday, so that it could cool and I could then skim the fat off the surface of the braising liquid before serving it to guests tonight.  

Entering the house after the evening dog walk, the smell from the kitchen was absolutely divine. The plan is to serve it over mashed potatoes, whipped as thoroughly as Secretariat in the home stretch at Churchill Downs with optimal portions of butter, salt and cream.  Add a little green salad, and that’ll be a fine Sunday Supper.

Sunday Music
I learned last week that musical pioneer Mojo Nixon, welder of roots music with punk rock died on February 7th at the age of 66.  There was no one like this chaotic, anarchic inventor of the “psychobilly” sound.  Here is his performance of Elvis Is Everywhere on the Arsenio Hall Show back in 1987.  And here he sings Don Henley Must Die on a show called Random Acts.  Rest In Peace, Mojo.

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Be More Thoughtful

Mother Nature gave us a Spring Preview this week, and it was nice.  The snow drops on the hill by that dilapidated old house near the golf course popped wide open by Thursday.   An early reminder that the plants in my flower beds and yard will soon spring forth, pulling me out of the house to tame them.

A couple of weeks ago, two different friends sent me a note suggesting that I watch a Netflix series titled You Are What You Eat.  So, I watched all four episodes.  

The premise of the program was built around a research study conducted by a scientist at Stanford University.  In it, the researchers took 22 pairs of identical twins, feeding each twin either a vegan diet (no animal products whatsoever) or an omnivore diet (which included animal protein, and dairy items like butter, cheese, etc.).  In terms of things like calories and macronutrients, each diet was virtually identical.  

The series is worth watching regardless of the non-surprising spoiler I’m about to share with you:  The people who consumed the vegan diet lost more weight and had healthier blood markers for things like blood sugar, insulin, etc. - despite the similarity of macros in each diet.

So eating a vegan diet may result in healthier people.  I can buy that.  The series also served as a reminder that the large-scale systems that produce most of the meat, poultry and fish for society are pretty darned nasty.  

The close confinement of the animals leads to a steady dosing of antibiotics, which leads to more drug-resistant bacteria in the world.  And the math behind large-scale animal production’s environmental impacts, including waste run-off, deforestation and carbon footprint do not pencil out in terms of feeding an ever-growing human population.  We simply can’t keep doing things the way we are currently doing them.

The scale and seriousness of the challenge requires us to approach it from two sides.  Consumers need to modify their consumption choices, and producers need to modify their production methods.  I generally feel that consumer choice drives producer action.  So near-term change largely hinges on our individual purchase decisions.

The Netflix series does point out some hope for new technology that either mimics meat, or literally replicates it in a sterile, high-scale laboratory setting.  Across a sufficiently long time-scale, I expect humans will be eating lab-produced proteins that are indistinguishable from today’s status quo, avoiding the high-density confinement feedlots, animal cruelty, and greenhouse gasses produced today.

I end up landing in a spot where I often land when I take the time to think about this stuff:  Less is more.  Eat less meat, but make sure the meat you do consume is of the highest quality.  Maybe someday I will become vegan - or take a tech-enabled offramp that allows me to eat lab-grown proteins that make sense.

It’s just a matter of time.  As we bridge the gap between now and then, this documentary series is a good reminder that we can and should be more thoughtful about how we select our foods.  Occasionally we should give some of these newfangled options a try, to support those efforts at innovation.

In general, more thoughtfulness can benefit us in so many ways.  Let's consider shaking up our auto-pilot patterns and thoughtfully re-imagine our choices from time to time, shall we?

Sunday Supper
Well, the Super Bowl is being played tonight…you don’t have to be a fan of football to be a fan of football food, though.  Why not indulge in some Frito Pie, Baked Buffalo Chicken Wings, or Baby Back Ribs with Sweet & Sour Glaze?  Next week we can roast a nice hunk of meat and make some mashed potatoes…

Sunday Music
This Sunday I share with you this wonderful performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk featuring Joshua Redmond and a new-to-me vocalist, Gabrielle Cavassa.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Citizens’ Agenda

After weeks of cloudy, gray days, the sun finally reappeared in our part of the world this week.  The air is still crisp, but the birds’ songs hint at Spring.  Personally it was a week of great productivity and focus.  Regardless, most things take longer to accomplish than my mind can imagine.  I got lots of things done, with much more still to do.

I continue to be a “good boy” in terms of diet, exercise and weight loss.  I wrote last week about avoiding sweets. I continue to be disciplined on this front - but I need a little bit of help from you to maintain this, I think.  Our youngest son’s 21st birthday approaches, and I offered to make a dessert of his choosing to celebrate.  We’ll be visiting him in a few weeks.  After our visit, he will be hosting some friends at his apartment, where they will enjoy this dessert that I prepare.  He chose Christina Tosi’s Gooey Butter Pecan Pie - a cake/pie hybrid that involves multiple components, and a recipe that I have no experience making.  To be certain that I deliver a well-executed dessert to the birthday boy for his party, I’d like to make a test pie some time in the week ahead, and I’d like one of my readers to eat it and offer feedback.  If you are interested in receiving a free pie, baked by yours truly, simply send me an email and you’ll get your name entered into a random drawing.  I’ll select the winner early in the coming week, and we can mutually arrange to get the pie to you.  Sadly, this contest is limited to people who live within a thirty-minute drive from my house.  So, my Finnish readers are unable to participate.  :-)

This being a presidential election year, coverage of the primaries and the likely re-match of Donald Trump and Joe Biden are taking up a lot of the oxygen in the media these days.  I saw a post on X (formerly Twitter) recently that I feel is worth sharing.  Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu), journalism professor at New York University, posted about how coverage of city elections in Dublin, Ireland followed the “Citizens Agenda” model that Rosen has championed these past few years.

Rosen rightly suggests that the public is better served by the press when it covers political candidates in terms of their alignment with the priorities of the electorate, rather than the typical “horse race” type coverage, citing polls indicating one candidate is leading over another.  To translate my understanding of Rosen’s central point, who cares which horse is leading the race if neither horse is interested in the priorities of the electorate?  

So here was the Dublin Inquirer’s explicit approach to covering the 2019 city elections:

“So here it is, our list of issues our readers want us to ask candidates about, known as our readers’ citizens’ agenda.

Readers tell us they want us to ask candidates what they would do to:

1. Increase the supply of social and affordable homes.

2. Make the renting of a home in the city more affordable.

3. Improve public transport.…” 

The list was somewhat long, but you get the idea.  

By diligently covering candidates based on their interest in engaging with the issues of the electorate, rather than their relative status in the polls against their opponents, journalists are in a much better position to cover the stakes of the election, rather than just trying to predict the election's outcome.  (Rosen calls this "Covering the stakes, not the odds.")

As we wade into what are likely to be murky media waters this year, I encourage you think deeply about what your personal version of a Citizens’ Agenda might look like - then seek out and amplify journalism that addresses that agenda.

Be warned - this is quite a bit more thoughtful an exercise than simply re-tweeting something you see in social media that jibes with your personal mental map.  Lord knows there will be plenty of shareable echo-chamber items, as there always are.  I’m talking about issues that you view as important, the extent to which each candidate has views/policy plans around those issues, and how those candidates’ positions match with your personal preferences.  This is what I hope to see more of in the weeks and months ahead.

As voters, we have a job to do.  Let’s do it well.  

Sunday Supper
I made this White Chicken Chili this past week, and it was great.  Pairing it with this salad would get some vegetables into your life:  Warm Kale & Caramelized Mushroom Salad.

Sunday Music
Today I share a throwback performance by Broadway performer Carrie Manolakos - her cover of Radiohead's Creep made her a viral sensation back in April of 2012.  In addition to this song, check out this video overview of Manolakos' career thus far.  There is so much talent everywhere.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Sugar Low

Before I ruminate on sugar’s effect on my life and the lives of my fellow humans, I wanted to mention a couple of new television shows involving David Chang.  I watched both of their premiers, each of which came out this past week.  Dinner Time Live, with David Chang premiered at 7pm this past Thursday.  It is Netflix’s first live-streamed cooking show.  The second show, Chrissy & Dave Dine Out, features Chang and his co-hosts Chrissy Tiegen and Joel Kim Booster, along with celebrity guests that change with each episode.  The first episode’s guests were late night comedian/host Jimmy Kimmeland his wife Molly McNearny.  They dined at Pizzeria Bianco.  I enjoyed both shows, but am a bit more interested in how the “live” aspect of the live show on Netflix plays out over time.

Since returning home from Texas on 1/9, I’ve done a great job instilling some new eating habits.  I’m cooking almost everything I consume, avoiding sugar, and limiting my intake into an 8-hour window each day.  I’ve found that food journaling, counting macros, etc., drives me bonkers and I can’t stick with it.  But I’ve been able to stick with this simpler approach. Its yielding some positive results - I’ve lost some weight, and have been sleeping really well.

But I do miss the sugar.  If I’ve ever been addicted to anything, its probably sugar.  Sugar intake spikes dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps us feel pleasure.  Cocaine spikes dopamine too, to a much higher degree.  I’m not sure whether neuroscientists agree about sugar’s addictiveness, but its effects on my own biochemistry seem to qualify.

I’m not alone in this love of sugar - 38.4 million Americans have diabetes, with another 97.6 million classified as “pre-diabetic.”  Together, these two groups make up 41% of the U.S. population.  This is an oversimplification.  I know that multiple factors are driving diabetes in humans, not just sugar intake.  Still, all one needs to do is walk the aisles of any retailer (not just grocers) to see that candy is for sale everywhere.  This is not un-related to the diabetes epidemic.

Increasingly, walking through a grocery store reminds me of walking through a casino.  The entire environment of casinos is designed to attract one’s attention toward gambling, and to entice us to spend a lot of time engaging in it.  A massive portion of grocery stores is devoted to selling candy, sugar-laden beverages, cookies, pastries and frozen treats. In casinos, the house wins more often than not.  I wonder what percent of grocery store visits include a processed sugar-centric item in their basket...

There was a brief moment when I considered starting a home-based dessert business.  I enjoy making desserts, and am pretty good at it.  I thought it might make for a good side hustle.  There is plenty of market demand for such things.  Upon reflection, I chose not to pursue it.  Spending more time around sweet treats wouldn’t be good for me.  And I wouldn’t feel great about making money selling them.  It feels akin to selling cigarettes.  I don’t want to profit off of others’ ill-health.  

There is a quality argument to be made for my home-made hand pies, versus something highly processed liked a box of Pop Tarts.  But at the end of the day, that buttery, flaky hand pie is still packed with sugar.  For me at least, such treats should be a rare indulgence.

I’m not sure when I will enjoy a nice homemade dessert again.  I know I won’t hold out forever.  If you know me, you know that I’ll share pictures when it happens.

Sunday Supper
While home for Winter break, our youngest son requested Mexican Egg Rolls for supper.  This is something I made quite often while he was growing up.  I was glad to reinforce this childhood sense memory for him.  The egg roll is a great vehicle for different delicious fillings, of course.  So in addition to the Mexican version, here is a Reuben Egg Roll option, Buffalo Chicken, and Cuban style recipe.  Perhaps something to enjoy while watching the NFL conference championship games today.  Now that I think about it, this is basically the Stuffed Bread lineup that we used to offer at Maamos Kitchen!  Man was that good.

Sunday Music
Its possible that I have shared this concert previously, but a friend reminded me of it recently and I feel compelled to share it today:  The late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn performing with his band, Double Trouble on Austin City Limits back in 1989.  We lost Stevie in a helicopter crash August 27, 1990.  What an amazing talent - enjoy!

One last publishing note:  I'm in the midst of rearranging some of my online subscription services - so be on the lookout for an email from me that looks a bit different than this one.  I will be testing an alternative email service soon.  I'm unsure whether I will ultimately take the leap, but am considering it, and will likely deploy a test soon.

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Bounce Back

I did, finally, get around to making that cassoulet recipe that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  It was fantastic.  It's use of pureed onion, parsley, thyme and salt ensures maximum flavor throughout the dish, and is a technique I will likely use as I improvise soup making in the future.  It was a great dish to cook last Sunday.  The reheats carried us deep into the week.

After the variety of the holidays, and my recent trip to Fort Worth, I now crave a few weeks of consistency.  What a great week this has been in those terms.  I worked with focus, slept well, ate well - did all of things I intended to do.  This is not to say that I accomplished everything I set out to accomplish.  It is a rare week when I do that.  I mostly overestimate what I can get done in a week.

Last year taught me the value of simply hanging in there - getting back to “normal,” however one might define that, as quickly as possible after straying.  For example, I added the daily practice of Morning Pages to my routine last year.  As with all new habits, there were fits and starts.  If I fell out of the routine for a day or two (or more), I didn’t beat myself up. I didn’t try to write extra pages to atone for my lapses.  I simply wrote my pages for that day, with the intention of doing it again the following day.

Somehow I was able to quiet my inner-critic.  Rather than all sorts of harsh, negative things, I told myself “Everybody slips.  Get back on the horse.”  I got better at treating myself the way I try to treat other people - with kindness, and generosity of spirit.  It has been really helpful - and sneaky.  It’s only recently that I sensed a noticeable difference between today’s inner reality, and that of one year ago.  It has taken time to create observable improvement.

In professional golf, there is a statistic called the “Bounceback Percentage.”  It measures the rate at which a golfer makes a birdie immediately after scoring over par on the previous hole.  If you know anything about golf, you know that birdies are quite rare, at least for amateurs.  To me, bouncing back really means getting back to par at the next opportunity.  You have to be pretty thoughtful about how you set “par.”  It is easy to set the bar too high.  In my experience, this is a recipe for disappointment.

The good news is that this is all iterative - set goals, translate them into daily measurables, and see how it goes.  Eventually you will develop a sense for your capacity - and perhaps more importantly, you’ll develop a sense of what really, truly matters to you.  Many goals I have set were based on vanity, or on what I thought other people might expect or value.  When push comes to shove, we can only be consistent at the things that are truly important to us.

I’m not really into New Years Resolutions anymore.  But I do set annual goals, translating them into daily and weekly measurable behaviors that will carry me in the direction of those goals.  Now that we are about three weeks into the New Year, some of us may be fading a bit in our commitment to whatever changes we have articulated for ourselves in this New Year.  If this describes you, please believe me when I say keep going.  Building new “normals” for yourself does not have to be heroic.  It can be boring.  It can be simple.  Just start doing new things, abandoning some old things along the way.

Last year I wrote 554 journal pages - far from the 1,095 I would have written had I been "perfect" every day of 2023.  But if you had told me last January that I would write 554 journal pages longhand by the end of the year, I can assure you I would have been pleased by the prospect.  Page count is now kind of secondary.  What matters is that the practice of journaling is now available to me whenever I want it.  I fully appreciate its benefits, and can feel its absence.  Whenever I drift away from it, I am drawn back - not out of shame, guilt or self-criticism.  But because I know how it will benefit me.

So, it was a good string of days.  Let’s have another good one today.

Sunday Supper
This Sunday, French Onion Soup is calling to me.  As with so many good Sunday recipes, this one requires a fair amount of time, but not a ton of active work.  This Roasted Root Vegetable Salad would be a great accompaniment, and these Black Sesame Rice Krispies Treats look amazing to me as well.

A quick kitchen note:  For Christmas, Lori arranged for an early January sharpening of all our knives by Lou, owner of The Finest Edge.  His truck serves as a mobile sharpening shop.  He paid us a visit, and does great work.  Check out his website to see his schedule (he offers lots of different drop-off/pick-up options).

Sunday Music
This week I’m pleased to introduce you to a new singer-songwriter named Kat Eaton.  Based in London, it feels like I’ve discovered her work on the early edge of “breaking through” into the mainstream.  I could not find any long form videos of her performing, but I offer you these individual songs to enjoy this fine day:  Both Sides Now (cover of the Joni Mitchell classic), Bad Advice (original song from her latest album), and Addicted.  You can find more of Kat’s work at her YouTube page, or her personal website.  When her career explodes, we'll know it's because she landed on our cultural radar.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Wild And Free

This week found me in Fort Worth, Texas, for the quarterly gathering of my entrepreneurial peer group.  We each laid out our goals for the year ahead and talked through whatever obstacles we see on the horizon.  We also ate some amazing food.  The chicken enchiladas at Paloma Suerte were ridiculous.  The sauce was so delicious, I was looking for extra rice to soak it all up after the enchilada was long gone.  Lonesome Dove was even better.  The Elk-Foie Gras Sliders, Hamachi Tostadas and Blue Corn-Lobster Hushpuppies were all outstanding starters, followed by a shared bowl of Texas Red and then the Butter Lettuce salad.  I ordered the Berkshire Pork Chop, with the express understanding that I would share it with my friend, in exchange for some of their Roasted Garlic Stuffed Beef Tenderloin.  It was all just so great.  I learned later that the same restaurateur owns both establishments (Tim Love).  Well done, chef!  This was a truly impressive one-two culinary punch to experience on back-to back evenings.  I highly recommend visiting Fort Worth.  Hotel Drover makes you feel like a Dutton.  We even visited the World’s Smallest Honky Tonk (it was really more of a hinky tink).

On Friday Lori and I had the good fortune to see Nate Bargatze perform his deadpan absurdist style of comedy at Nationwide Arena.  It was truly special.  Seeing him on stage, performing in the round, reminded me of how Mark Twain used to travel the country, speaking to large groups, making them think and laugh.  I sometimes think of comedy metaphorically in terms of the martial art of judo - once a comedian gets you off-balance, they can just keep you laughing and laughing.  Bargatze had us laughing throughout his set, but it was different than when we saw Dave Chapelle perform five years ago.  Chapelle bowled us over, held us down and barely let us breathe.  Equally talented, just different styles.  In my opinion, Bargatze is at the pinnacle of the craft right now.

Then last night, we had the privilege of seeing the great American troubadour Martin Sexton perform at Union Square Music Hall (formerly 31 West).  We have seen Sexton perform many times, and keep coming back for more.  His shows often feel like gathering around a campfire for a communal, hootenanny-style singalong, with a little bit of church choir thrown in.

Being surrounded by my amazing friends, and able to witness the greatness of artists like Bargatze and Sexton all in one week…it really charges up my batteries in a profound way.

These lyrics from Martin’s song Wild Angels captures how it all makes me feel:

We are born with all this music in our heart
We tend forget a little each day right from the start
In a dream I rolled on back the clock and found another way
To remember the words

That we are wild angels
Believing in our childhood dreams
We’re just trying to find our way back to
The source of the stream
We are wild and free

Sunday Supper
On this cold, blustery January day I see no reason to not lean into the flavors of the week and offer this recipe for Texas Red Chili for my Sunday Supper recommendation.  This Butter Lettuce Salad w/ Avocado Buttermilk Dressing would be a great complement.

Sunday Music
Before I get to the music, I feel compelled to share this recent skit from Saturday Night Live, when Nate Bargatze hosted the show.  It is the perfect melding of Bargatze’s style into the SNL sketch format.  As for the music, this performance by Martin Sexton from last May will let you see what you missed yesterday in Newark.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

A Novel Approach

I’ve been reading a very interesting book:  Why Greatness Cannot Be Planned, by Kenneth O. Stanley and Joel Lehman.  The authors' research in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has yielded new perspectives on what it takes to achieve important breakthroughs in terms of innovation.  I think they also apply to decision-making in life.

What they have learned basically boils down to this:  Trying to “train” an AI to become better at a specific task yields inferior outcomes compared to allowing the AI to simply wander around.  Eventually the “wanderers,” who haven’t been steered in any particular direction stumble upon superior solutions compared to those who received some direct “coaching.”  I can’t really do their technical work justice, so I won’t try.

The book offers a couple of general frameworks that are easy to understand, though.  The first is a metaphor.  Think of life as a journey across a river, in a fog.  The fog limits your vision - you can’t see all of the stepping stones across the river, but you can see a few.  As you step on one stone, new options are revealed.  In this metaphor, all we can do is choose the best option available to us, based on our current location.  This should thaw any “analysis paralysis” that we might experience.  Make a choice and keep moving!

The second framework is one of perspective.  It compares two modes - the first is the comparison of the status quo (now) to our desired end-state (future), and selects options that move themselves toward their goal.  In the second mode there is no target end-state, no specific desired future that we are driving toward.  In Mode 2, we simply choose the most novel options available to us (when compared to the status quo).  So in Mode 1, all of our choices are intended to move us toward some "North Star."  In Mode 2, we are simply trying to maximize the novelty of each choice.

Intuitively, I like what this implies, and it jibes with my own life experience.  The person who is fixated on creating some future state is always experiencing some degree of dissatisfaction until they arrive at their destination.  The person with no "North Star" hops to the most novel available stone, enjoying the ride to whatever new options that may appear.  This speaks to the eastern philosophical notion of non-attachment.  By not attaching one's self to a particular outcome, it is harder to be disappointed.  The authors go further - they believe that the end state tends to be better for the Mode 2 operators.  They both enjoy the ride more, and arrive at a superior destination.

Consider the story of Johnny Depp - he was a musician, playing in a band, with no aspirations of becoming an actor.  His girlfriend was a hair stylist, doing this work on movie sets.  As he became more familiar with people in the movie business, he saw it as a novel stepping stone, and jumped onto it.  You can’t pre-plan or engineer Johnny Depp.  Johnny Depp just happens - and is far more genuine and interesting than someone who is currently dreaming and scheming of replicating Depp’s accomplishments.

To whatever extent this more intuitive, seemingly aimless approach to life is superior, it is not prescriptive for everything.  Companies can and should still do annual planning, striving for 10% growth, or cost reduction, etc.  Refining existing systems incrementally is perfectly rational, and should still be done in most instances.

I can see this Mode 2 approach applying really well to young adulthood, when one is embarking on their life’s journey.   They have a nice long time horizon to let this approach play out.  This allows me to ease up on any  “Tiger Dad” tendencies I may have, and adopt the likely approach of someone who has a bumper sticker on their car that says “Not All Who Wander Are Lost.”  Who am I to say what stones my adult children should be selecting as they cross the river of Life?  Why not let them choose the stones that are intrinsically more interesting?

At a minimum, I think it will always be beneficial to take a moment and appreciate how far we've come, even if we are far from our desired destination.

Sunday Supper
I purposely chose not to stand on a scale during the holidays.  I indulged with the full intention of reigning things in after the first of the year.  Well, here we are - so this Brussels Sprout Salad w/ Anchovy Tahini and Za’atar Chickpeas is right up my alley this week.  It's a pretty convenient sheet pan meal - if you are looking for additional protein, you could easily add in some boneless chicken thighs, adjusting your cook time to accommodate.

Sunday Music
This Sunday I am pleased to share this live performance by Carlos Santana at the House of Blues in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I had the privilege of seeing Santana perform in Las Vegas many years ago with dear friends - a great memory!  Enjoy.

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Every Second Counts

What a nice Christmas it was.  The holiday gave me the time to indulge in a cooking project that has interested me for a long time - making fresh pasta, by hand.  I had purchased some dried pasta to have as a “Plan B” if my efforts came up short.  Fortunately, it all turned out well.  I used this recipe I found on YouTube.  In addition to wide, pappardelle-type ribbon noodles, I also created some ravioli stuffed with a filling of ricotta cheese, smoked salmon, lemon zest, dill, parmesan, salt and pepper - similar to the filling in this recipe.  We sauced the ribbon pasta with a meaty red sauce and meatballs.  The ravioli was sauced with this simple alfredo sauce recipe.

In the quiet of the evening on Christmas, I stayed up late to re-watch two episodes of some of the best television I have seen in a long time - The Bear, available on Hulu, a digital streaming service.  It tells the story of the many dysfunctions influencing a ragtag group of people trying to re-launch a restaurant in Chicago.  The first episode I re-visited was episode 6 of season 2, titled Fishes.  It is set on Christmas Day, a few years in the past.  The mentally unstable matriarch (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) is frantically trying to cook the Italian-American classic Feast of the Seven Fishes for a large gathering of family and friends.  Rather than accept help from her highly-talented chef son, she insists on doing everything herself, leading to a major meltdown.  The ensemble cast brought together for this episode delivers a transcendent performance - the tension of the day ratchets up and up, finally crescendoing as the viewer knows it must.  I was able to enjoy this despite the inherent tension in the story.  It is just so darned good.  

Episode 7, titled Forks is as quiet as episode 6 was loud.  It tells the story of cousin Richie, who does a one-week “stage” or internship at a critically acclaimed Chicago restaurant.  The restaurant is unnamed in the episode, but I later learned that it was in fact Ever, a Chicago restaurant featuring the artistry of Curtis Duffy, who grew just down the road in Johnstown.  The series’ lead male character, Carmy, arranges this experience for Richie as a way to broaden his experience in the industry, as they prepared to re-open their renovated restaurant.  Richie begins the episode thinking that Carmy has sent him on this adventure as some sort of punishment, only to later realize that Carmy is genuinely trying to help Ritchie to grow in his role at the restaurant.  A key aspect of the high-end restaurant where Richie spends his week is the highly disciplined, regimented way that the entire team approaches each day.  Beneath a clock in the kitchen is a plaque reading the phrase “Every Second Counts” and this phrase serves as a mantra for the staff.  It is (I think) a less-than-subtle message from the show’s writer for all of us to consider. 

As I look back on 2023, I am pleased with how I spent my precious time.  I increased the time I spent reading and writing.  I also got into a regular routine of volunteering my time to a couple of elderly people who could use some companionship and assistance - a way to honor my mother, by extending the same type of care to others that I was able to do for her.  

Looking into the New Year, there is one significant new initiative in the works.  I’m not ready to share it just yet, but am open to the changes it will likely require of me.  I’m excited by the possibilities that lay ahead, and welcome whatever adversity that might present itself.  I’m not inviting the universe to dump on me…just acknowledging that we can't anticipate everything that comes our way.  We might as well welcome it rather than bemoan it, or wish it were otherwise.

Tomorrow is our annual New Year’s Day pork and sauerkraut feast.  The menu never changes, and it always blows me away.  Probably because we only enjoy this food one day out of three hundred and sixty-five (we actually get an extra day this year, as it is a Leap Year).  Tonight we will sip some wine, watch a movie and turn in early so that we can start the New Year with energy.

Here's to enjoying our remaining down time, and starting the New Year strong!  Cheers.

Sunday Supper
Like last week, I imagine we will be enjoying some sort of takeout or other convenient food as we prepare for tomorrow’s big meal.  This simple White Chicken Chili would be great to enjoy either today as Sunday Supper, or in the week ahead as we return to less indulgent fare.

Sunday Music
I'm not sure why, exactly, but I find myself thinking of the great jazz pianist Keith Jarrett today.  At this link, you will find a beautiful 46-minute improvisation that he performed in Norway in 1972.  Jarrett is one of a kind, able to do things as an improviser that no one has ever attempted.  Perhaps that makes his music extra appropriate as we head into a New Year.  Life is improvisation, isn't it?  His ability to perform was stilled by two strokes that he suffered in 2018.  Thankfully there are many, many hours of his wonderful performances recorded for posterity.  Enjoy! 

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Plenty

Compared to Thanksgiving a few weeks ago (a well-oiled machine, in terms of planning and execution), Christmas has not gone according to plan.  One of the boys got stuck at school a bit longer than expected, which slowed down our purchase of a Christmas tree.  Lori and I have socialized a bit less, preserving our energy for family matters.  And my eldest son decided to make and give focaccia bread as gifts to friends for the holiday, forcing me to revise my own kitchen plans and setting a new record for the number of household fire alarms triggered by smoke from the oven (3).

For a little while, these curveballs had me feeling kind of bent out of shape, a bit grumbly.  So I took the dog for a walk, and called a friend.  As good friends often do, she reminded me of the obvious:  The holiday plan is just something in my mind.  I can revise it, and no one will really know, or care.  It's a good thing that Henry likes to cook, even if it requires a fan to remediate the smoke, and a counselor to calm the dog made anxious by the fire alarms beeping.  This conversation, as well as time spent with good friends Friday night set me straight.

We have it so good.  And being together is really the only point these days.  The boys are no longer boys, Santa no longer holds sway.  There’s no snow this year.  It’s relatively warm, but wet and grey.  It’s not going to be the romantic, snow globe version of the holiday this year.  So what?

Rather than cooking a big, expensive protein and fancy side dishes we are keeping the food more casual - pasta bar and salad, at the ready all day.  We’re keeping it simple.  Let’s just hunker down, mangia and read a good book or watch a movie.  How many people around the world would love nothing more than to do just this?

Maybe it's the weather.  Maybe it's missing my parents.  Maybe it's just the Sunday blues, given a Monday holiday.  This isn’t a big, deep depression.  It's just a blasé, “meh” kind of feeling this year.  It turns out that every month has at least twenty five days.  If you're not bursting with joy on December 25th, it is perfectly OK.  It is not only hard, but probably counter-productive to try and manufacture feelings that you think you're "supposed" to have for the holidays.  

Anyway, I’m counting my blessings.  They lift me up.  Counting yours too is never a bad idea, you lucky son-of-a-gun.  I hope the holiday is whatever you need it to be, friend. 

Sunday Supper
Given that we are prepping for tomorrow’s eating today, I can tell you that we are ordering takeout tonight.  But here are three solid recipes for heavy appetizers that might serve you well:  Pepper Jelly Meatballs, Conecuh Sausage Pigs In A Blanket (FYI - Ross' Market carries this brand of sausage) and Cacio e Pepe Cheese Puffs.

Sunday Music
Renowned NPR interviewer Terry Gross sat down with musician David Byrne this week to discuss some of his favorite Christmas music.  The interview and playlists of the songs in your favorite streaming format can be found here.  This NPR Tiny Desk concert from The Polyphonic Spree will get you in the spirit, too.   Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Little Blue Dots

What a fast week this was.  Work deliverables kept me hopping, and I must admit that a portion of me is starting to plan out the logistics of the holidays.  The grass is still largely green.  I wore shorts on Thursday while walking the dog.  Between now and Christmas, our high temps will be well above freezing.  Should I make a tee time on the 25th?

It looks like our boys will both return home some time next Tuesday.  So I better get our bathroom put back together, having had the shower re-grouted and sliding glass doors installed.  If we get through the holidays with all four of us showering regularly and no leaks, I will feel confident in repairing the first floor ceiling that has long been suffering from whatever the source of this leak has been.  Fingers crossed.

Littleton's Market in Upper Arlington opened its doors a week ago Saturday.  Lori and I snuck over for a quick visit on Tuesday, trying to avoid a crowded bunch of looky-loos (we succeeded, there were plenty of customers there, but we were able to comfortably explore everything).  Littleton's is a relaunch of sorts - it is in the Tremont Center where the former Huffman’s Market was located, but they expanded the footprint by about 50%.  It is very, very nice.  They have leaned into preparing lots of ready-to-eat foods for it clientele, but they still have wonderful produce, meat, poultry and fish for those who choose to cook for themselves.  We found a new brand of peanuts from Centerville, Ohio that may become a regular in our pantry.  If you are looking for a unique protein for the holidays, you should definitely visit the Littleton's meat or fish counters.

One item that I was looking for while at Littleton's Market was any sort of unique dried bean.  I was recently inspired by this episode of The Splendid Table, a long-time NPR radio program and podcast about food and cooking.  The episode focuses on the French baked bean dish, cassoulet.  It was a great reminder to me.  I hadn’t thought of cassoulet in quite some time, but it makes for a wonderful cold weather dish.  Lori and I took the boys to Paris in 2012.  The cafe next to our hotel knocked our socks off with their cassoulet - so much so that I abandoned my efforts to cook it upon returning home.  I couldn’t come anywhere close to replicating the dish.  I’m a more experienced cook now, plus the family has had plenty of time to forget just how good it was in gay Puh-ree.  The podcast inspired me to take another run at it, and the holidays will be a perfect time to do so.  Oh, and I found some good beans - Rancho Gordo seems to be one of the most legit online providers of legumes that I have come across (I always welcome referrals, though - let me know if you’ve got a source that you like).

So, the hustle and the bustle is starting to ramp up.  Cleaning, organizing, cooking, socializing.  I’m looking forward to it, and also wary of it.  It’s easy to overdo things, but this isn’t my first rodeo.  Come Tuesday, Lori and I will be looking at the little blue dots in the “Find My” app on our phones - each dot representing one of our children, making their way home.  Checking back in to Hotel Bell.  I just hope we can retain our 4-star rating.  Fingers crossed…

Sunday Supper
I’ve already tipped my hand, haven’t I?  This cassoulet recipe would make for a wonderful Sunday Supper - give it a go.  Here’s a nice Fall Salad to complement things.  No dessert recommendation this week.  I’m sure the cookies and candies are starting to pile up.

Sunday Music
This Sunday I am pleased to share this NPR Tiny Desk featuring the artist called Laufey (pronounced Lay-vay).  Her full name is Laufey Lín Jónsdóttir, she is from Iceland, born of the union of her Icelandic father and Chinese mother.  She is just 24 years old, but amazingly poised and richly talented.  See for yourself!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Minimalist Manger

At last weekend’s Candlelight Walking Tour, I witnessed something subtly striking.  

Two people that I know, both a bit older than me, members of the same choir, were performing with the choir as a part of the tour.  The concert was wonderful, the moment special in the way that the holidays are often special in our little town.  Talented people sharing their talents to a group of people who feel privileged to witness it.

Both of these people I was watching sing in this moment had experienced the loss of a loved one not long ago.  For each of them, this is the first Christmas without those loved ones.  Yet there they were, singing beautifully, joyful songs of the season.  If you didn’t know them, you would have no idea how they might be feeling in that moment.  To be fair, even I don’t really know what they were feeling.  But I know they were there, actively engaging in that wonderful communal moment, not long after suffering great losses.  It was beautiful, and poignant.

The term “the holidays” conjures so many emotional memories.  Christmas was magical in my youth, kind of boring in my teens and young adulthood, then re-animated when I had the chance to experience it vicariously through my children.  Today the holidays function as a great time of reunion for family and friends, with a thin but growing veneer of bittersweet remembrances of those who are no longer here to share these times with us.  

Life and food are similar, in that both use the full range of flavors in order to be fully realized.  The sweet is nice, but especially so when balanced with the bitter.  Salty moments born from extra effort are balanced by the savory umami interludes, where everything just feels right.  We need it all, though we wouldn’t always seek some of it out.  That’s OK.  Life delivers it to us, whether we want it or not.  The only question is:  How are you going to incorporate it into the recipe of your life?  I aim to be like those choir members who, although no doubt hurting, lean into the season, understanding that joy and sorrow can operate together and that, if we live and love long enough, our human hearts learn to hold both.

Lori and I have been discussing what to get the boys for Christmas.  The more we talked, the more clear it became that what they needed most, in addition to just being home and nurtured by us, was cold, hard, cash.  So, Christmas morning, as we are eating breakfast casserole, sipping fresh-squeezed orange juice and freshly brewed dark coffee, we’ll have a few small gifts for them to open, and their bank balances will get a little love.

They don’t need more “stuff.”  Neither do we.  We are in Marie Kondo purge/sort/reorganize mode, whenever we can muster the time and energy.  No, this year we’re going to hang out together, eat well, read books, get plenty of sleep, and nibble on some cookies.  I am primed and ready to enjoy the holidays.  We’re keeping things simple this year.

Sunday Supper
This Mushroom Stew is a hearty cool weather menu item that Lori and I enjoyed earlier this week.  Pairing it with this Green Goddess Chopped Salad would work wonderfully.  

Sunday Music
This Sunday I share with you an NPR Tiny Desk performance by the Italian composer and pianist, Ludovico Einaudi.  It is a lovely listen - enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Blank Check

Greetings!

I hope this message finds you well, easing gently into the holiday season.  We have slid into the classic grey Ohio winter mode - moderate temps with plenty of clouds and varying degrees of rain.  Thankfully things were dry and warm for yesterday's Candlelight Walking Tour.  I'm not sure it has ever been so well-attended.

Three recent local restaurant experiences:  The Birria Tacos at Pochos were delicious.  The chocolate milk shake at Seven 4 Zero was yummy, and the Indian food at the Shan E Punjab Dhaba food truck is fantastic (if you commute via I-70, you can call your dinner order in and pick it up on the way home).  All of these operators are wonderful additions to the local food scene.

This past Thursday I had both an endoscopy and colonoscopy.  Ooh, gross, right?  Yeah, whatever.  Get over it.  Both of my parents died of cancer.  Anything I can do to prevent the Big C from getting the jump on me, I’ll do it.  I have the pictures to prove it.

Over the summer I began experiencing some persistent heartburn symptoms, a first for me.  Given my family history, it made sense to take a peak into my stomach to see what we might learn.  This also synced up with the timing of my second colonoscopy.  In terms of convenience, it made sense to do them both in the same session.  To be clear, I feel fine and this was a pro-active attempt at screening for problems.  If you are male, over the age of 50 and have not yet had colonoscopy - get off your ass and have it scoped!

The week of Thanksgiving, I received a call from an administrator at the facility where the procedures would take place.  The purpose of her call was to let me know that I would be responsible for paying a portion of the facility fees.  I asked her how much this would cost, and her answer was…fuzzy.  She made it clear that she could only share the costs associated with using her facility - kind of like a room rental fee.  But these costs would not include the amounts to be billed by the doctors, or possibly the laboratories that might need to analyze any tissue samples that arise out of the procedures.  She also suggested that I call my insurer, to get more clarity on my financial obligations. She even gave me the diagnostic and procedural codes, info the insurance representative would likely need.

I won’t drag you into the minutia of the whole thing.  It will suffice to say that I, a reasonably responsible and intelligent human being, after spending the better part of an hour on the phone, have absolutely no idea what I’m going to have to pay for these proactive, prevention-minded procedures.  If I can’t get clarity regarding the costs of this relatively well-defined situation, how messy would it be if I were really ill, with fuzzier symptoms?  Of course, we all know the answer - I would be screwed.  So would you, probably.  Yet we all just whistle through the graveyard, hoping circumstances don’t call for us to wrestle with this reality.  And if we are in an actual health crisis, we'll just start the meter running and figure everything out later, right?

This 4-year old article from CNBC suggests that 2/3rds of all bankruptcies declared in the U.S. are due to people being buried by the costs of healthcare.  It may not be fully accurate, but it has the ring of the truth to me.  I saw a version of this play out with a friend many years ago when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer.  They pulled out all the stops fighting it, which pulled him away from work…the double-whammy of massive unplanned expenses and reduced income so that he could oversee her care did not drive him into bankruptcy, but it certainly could have.  No doubt he is working harder today because of this massive life event.

Little old Neal can’t revise the entire U.S. healthcare system all by himself.  But if I could, one feature of it would include a cost preview for patients - with dollar amounts and probabilities.  If we can get an estimate of the cost to have maintenance work done our cars, we can get something similar for healthcare.  Famed investor Charlie Munger passed away this past week at the tender age of 99.  He is credited with the quote “Show me the incentives, and I’ll show you the outcome.”  The incentives most here certainly are not aligned in favor of the consumers of health care - you and me.  Our calcified system has rent-seekers charging fees at every turn, without adding value to the process of delivering care. 

I believe that Lori and I have good insurance in place, but it certainly leaves open some range of financial doomsday scenarios.  Unlikely scenarios, but not impossible.  The market will gladly sell us more insurance, but I’m skeptical that we can fully eliminate all chances of being wiped out.  There is no such thing as a risk-free life.  We just have to manage the risks as best we can.

As humanity digitizes its information, we are able to see much more clearly so many disjointed patterns.  The U.S. spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country, yet our life expectancy is less than that of many comparable countries.  Obviously something is wrong.  The only question is what should we do about it - but the institutions that benefit from the status quo will fight like hell to maintain it.  I’m sure it’ll all get worked out in 50 or 100 years.  Until then, don’t get sick.

Sunday Supper
Let your oven do all the work this Sunday - this sturdy roasted Oregano Chicken and roasted Asparagus w/ Crispy Leeks and Capers is a wonderful one-two punch.

Sunday Music
I stumbled across this artist recently - Gregory Porter is an incredibly soulful singer, songwriter and actor.  Born in Bakersfield, California, his musical career took off after he moved to Brooklyn, New York in in 2004.  This full concert in Basel, Switzerland was recorded a little more than a year ago.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Carmen Ohio

Hello, Friend.

I hope that your Thanksgiving was whatever you needed it to be.  It sure was what we were looking for in our home - our boys were back under the same roof for almost a week, friends and family gathered on Thursday and we enjoyed some of the best food I've ever cooked.  One of the keys this year, I believe, was the decision to purchase a smoked turkey breast from Ray Ray's here in Granville.  That turkey was as flavorful and juicy as anything I've ever cooked - and didn't require any oven time or space!  This, plus extensive prep work done in the days leading up to Thanksgiving made hosting the event so much more fun.  It was basically an exercise in topping off everyone's beverages and acting as the Oven Traffic Controller, making sure the different items went into the oven on schedule.  Lori made the mashed potatoes and I made the gravy (using turkey stock I prepared on Monday)...other than this, everything else was prepped in advance.  I loved sitting at the end of our driveway at 9:30am, watching much of the community parade by as they ran and walked the five kilometer Turkey Trot route.  I saw so many people that I know streaming past our house - it was fun to chat everybody up.

On Friday we welcomed long-time friends to the house, where we decorated holiday cookies, took Nova for a walk and enjoyed a bonfire in the back yard.  Some pizzas from Harvest added variety in addition to the Thursday leftovers we continue to enjoy.  Saturday had two significant events - the first being the annual rivalry football game between my alma mater Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Wolverines of the University of Michigan.  The second was a wonderful holiday gathering hosted by our friends, featuring the traditional Nordic mulled wine/cider beverage called glögg.  My Buckeyes lost a hard-fought game, and the glögg gathering was superb.  Despite the loss on the gridiron, I enjoyed both immensely.

As I sat down to watch the game, I reflected on how unattached I have become to the outcomes of Buckeye football games.  If they win, great.  If they lose, oh well....  This was not how I felt about Buckeye football as a high-schooler and undergraduate, or as a young adult graduate of the institution.  Buckeye losses would make me sad.  Today, I view it as great entertainment and little else.  It turns out that my attachment to the outcome of the game doesn't influence it one bit.  Kind of like having a flight cancelled - you can yell at the airline employee, but you're still not going anywhere right away.

I attended two Ohio State home games this year - the Penn State and Michigan State games.  The weather was favorable for both, and I enjoyed them.  Walking across campus definitely sparked all sorts of memories.  But I have to admit, I don't feel deeply connected to Ohio State as an institution.  I did a lot of growing up on and around that campus, learned some important stuff, and made a few life-long friends.  But for some reason I don't give OSU much credit for this.  There is something special about young adulthood - we all grow significantly at this time in our life, experiencing lots of "firsts."  Somehow these things are etched a little deeper in our synapses.  For me, they just happened to occur at THE Ohio State University.  :-).  It is curious that I don't feel closer to my alma mater.  Maybe it's a response to all the fanaticism that I witness around the football program - from people who never even attended the university.  I'm not sure...it seems like there may be more to unpack here.

While I marvel at the physical prowess of football athletes, I view the massive compensation earned by the pros and the CTE risked by all who participate in the sport as problematic.  I don't need people shortening their lives, incurring brain injuries for my entertainment.  And I'd rather see school teachers earn more for their contributions to society, as opposed to top draft picks.  I know these two things have nothing to do with each other - false dichotomies are not a new idea for me!  The world's not entirely fair - professional athletes are going to earn more than school teachers, regardless of how much they contribute to the greater good.

This morning we will hug the boys and send them back to school.  In a few more weeks they'll return for what I hope will be a wonderful Winter break.  Have a restful day, and a good week ahead.

Sunday Supper
I have to have something light and healthy after all the eating I've done these last few days.  This Kale Tabouleh Salad, and Salmon with Cherry Tomatoes will make for a great one-two punch.  Give them a try.  

Sunday Music
This week I share with you a live performance by the great jam band, Phish.  Formed in 1983 in Burlington, Vermont, they enjoy a massive following by fans all over the country.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Flow State

Howdy, Neighbor.

I hope this message finds you well-prepared for the holiday week ahead.  The warm weather of last week allowed local farmers to plant their first-ever crop of Winter sweetcorn.  I’m told that with staggered plantings we will enjoy the harvest from Valentines Day all the way to April Fools Day.  I heard a long screech from a hawk, flying high overhead yesterday, and thought back to the baby hawks that were fledged across the street this summer. 

Monday evening I was watching TV with Lori when I received a text message from our friend Denise, who owns Ghostwriter Public House.  It read: “Crazy, but we are celebrating four years this week at GW!!  Would love to offer free cake to all guests Wednesday and Thursday this week.  I’m behind the 8 ball on planning…can you help?”  I love Denise and her husband Dennis, and jumped at the chance to help.  But it was an interesting question…how to quickly produce 200+ servings of cake to offer as a thank-you to patrons?

Denise thought that a German Chocolate Cake would be fun, so I researched recipes and found a couple that looked interesting.  I suggested baking one of each for us to review on Tuesday, and she agreed.  Instantly, I had to clear my calendar to allow time for this.  Not just cooking, but shopping, cleaning, measuring, taking notes, etc.  Tuesday morning I did a two-hour sprint on work for my advertising clients, then drafted a shopping list and went to the store.  As I absorbed more information from the recipes, I realized that I did not have time to cook both, so I focused just on the one that required two 8-inch round pans (the other one required three layers…I only have two pans).

The test cake was delicious, but I identified some issues with it, both from a production standpoint and an allergen standpoint.  Denise and Dennis came over to sample it, and talk further about how we might pull off a larger-scale production of it.  We nixed the toasted pecans to accommodate those patrons with nut allergies, and decided to go with a single layer cake layer rather than two-tier.  Eventually, Denise asked:  “So, are we doing this?”  

It was a bit of a sprint just to get to this decision point.  Saying “yes” meant that Wednesday would be an even bigger sprint.  Of course I took the leap.  From this point forward, I could feel the clock ticking down to Wednesday evening’s dinner service at the restaurant.  On such short notice, we couldn’t order ingredients from Ghostwriter’s established suppliers, so I went back to Ross’ Market and bought 12X the ingredients that I needed for a single recipe (you’re welcome, Nancy).  With so many variables changing (new oven, different baking pans, etc.), at least I would be using the same ingredients.  I also stayed up late, completing an important client deliverable, which I would deliver first thing Wednesday morning.

I was at the restaurant by 9:40am.  When I walked out at 4:40pm, there were nearly five full sheet pans of cake, and more than two gallons of German Chocolate icing, along with fifteen cups of toasted coconut for garnish.  The time flew.  The staff of the kitchen were amazingly supportive and helpful, though I suspect they wondered why I was in their workspace.  I desperately wanted to make something delicious, as efficiently as possible so that I could get out of their way and let them return to "normal," whatever that might mean.  

I won’t drag you down the rabbit hole of all the details of this little production run, except to say this:  I was in a complete flow state.  I had to have complete focus, so as to stay one step ahead of the process, and increase the likelihood of a good outcome.    This way of being continued through Thursday and Friday - my focus on productivity on work and domestic tasks kept rolling.  It was a great week.  I got so much done - not dissimilar from the type of productivity one sometimes experiences in the days leading up to a vacation.  My energy level never crashed, either.  I slept like a rock each night, waking refreshed and ready to go again the next day.  I’m not sure how long this can be sustained, but I got on a roll.  It was great to find that extra gear again.  It’s good to know it is still there when I need it.

Denise was just crazy enough to offer me this opportunity, and for that I am very grateful.  It is a perfect example of growth happening outside of our comfort zones.  And how about Ghostwriter, celebrating four years of operation?  Opening just before the pandemic, improvising so completely, and thriving today.  What an accomplishment.

Now its on to Thanksgiving meal prep!  I put sixteen apple hand pies in the freezer yesterday, and a quart of cinnamon spiced honey syrup (a key ingredient in these Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned cocktails) in the fridge.  Thanksgiving is going to be great.

Sunday Supper
With extra friends and family in this week, it might be good to make something that can feed a crowd.  Andrew Zimmern’s Tater Tot Hotdish is a Midwestern classic. I once heard that the night before Thanksgiving is one of the biggest nights for ordering takeout, allowing people to preserve their kitchen for prepping the big meal.  Don’t hesitate to order out, if that makes more sense for you.  

Sunday Music
I heard this band playing in Ghostwriter kitchen Thursday, and it sparked memories from my college days - here are the Brand New Heavies performing live in 2013. Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Homecoming

Hey, you!

I hope you are well.  My week has been fantastic, but required a lot of extra energy.  This morning I am pooped.  On Wednesday I attended a gathering of entrepreneurs, many of whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.  Trying to have meaningful catch-up conversations with so many folks was an impossible task, but it was fun to try.  On Friday morning I met a friend at Black Hand Gorge for our monthly walk and talk.  We covered seven miles, and many topics.  After the hike, I needed to do leaf collection because my Saturday would be spent with friends from college, attending the Ohio State football game.  Friday night I met seldom seen friends for food and friendship in Dublin.  We all spent much of yesterday at Ohio State's main campus, culminating in last night's tromping of Michigan State.  So, so fun, but today is mostly about re-charging my battery.

In less than a week, our oldest child will return home for Thanksgiving, followed soon thereafter by his younger brother.  We are hosting this year, so I am planning the menu in earnest now.  For the first time ever, both of our boys have stayed put at school for the entire semester prior to Thanksgiving.  It's going to be a real family reunion.  It’s wonderful to see them so fully engaged in their lives. 

For Thanksgiving dinner, I’m torn between purchasing one of Copia Farms’ great turkeys, and just buying some smoked turkey breast from Ray Ray’s (they also have some wonderful looking side items for sales).  Ordering deadlines for both are coming up soon.

For sides, the mandatory items include my mom’s fresh cranberry sauce.  It uses the same ingredients as this recipe, but instead of bringing everything to a boil and simmering for a while, we throw it all into a food processor, blending it together (we simply throw the whole orange in…the bitterness of the rind is balanced by the sourness of the cranberries and the sugar).  It's almost like a chutney.  A classic Sage & Sausage stuffing is really hard to beat (I’ll use 7/10 Bread if I can get some).  Green Bean Casserole is a must.  This Brown Butter Mashed Potato recipe seems like a fine thing to try…not too avant garde for this traditional meal.  Remember, friends - don’t experiment on Thanksgiving, or Auntie Carmel will be mad at you (this humorous video contains some strong language).  

For dessert, I’m going with fresh-baked apple and cherry hand pies, topped with Jeni’s Vanilla ice cream.  The recipe I use freezes extremely well, making it easy to prep them in advance, popping them in the oven just as you sit down for the main meal.  Then they are hot and ready for dessert.  I have not tested the freezability of a gluten-free version, so I will either prep a few gluten-free hand pies Thanksgiving day, or possibly make a Gluten-Free Apple Crisp instead.  Hopefully you find some of these recipes helpful in your own menu planning.

As I was blowing leaves on Friday, I noticed that the smallest rock of a little rock sculpture that my mother created years ago had fallen off the top of the sculpture.  This happens often, as the rocks are merely balanced on one another and not glued or anything.  Always on the lookout for my little buddy (the rock), I made sure to put him back in his proper place.  And every time that I do, I think of Mom.  So many little reminders of those that are no longer around, but still with us.

As we enter the holiday season, I hope that you are able to reconnect with old friends, enjoy some good meals, and have fond memories of lost loved ones warm you on cold evenings.

Sunday Supper
Before we slide into traditional American foods, like those enjoyed by the pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving gathering, I offer this Spicy Tuna Salad on Crispy Rice for Sunday Supper, along with this Korean Cucumber Salad.

Sunday Music
This Sunday I share with you this wonderful 3-song set performed by Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Batali Boomerang

Hello, Friend!

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour today.  Walks with the dog will happen before dinner now.  No sense walking in the dark afterward.  Yesterday was a perfect Fall day - warm and dry.  I was able to schlep a whole bunch of leaves out to the road.  Not my last round of leaf collection, but probably the biggest of the season.  The canopy of the trees in my yard has thinned out quite a bit.  It feels nice to have the yard tidied up, without having to wear extra layers and endure freezing temps while working.  I’m sure those low temps are coming, just not yet.  Something for which to be thankful.

A couple of weeks ago, while mindlessly scrolling Instagram, a post from chef Mario Batali’s account hit my feed.  It was a picture of rigatoni in sauce, accompanied by the following text:  “Mario Batali Virtual Events Coming soon…"  I wasn’t sure what to do with this.  Batali’s last post was Halloween, 2017 - two months before allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault were levied against him in the press, and eventually criminal charges of indecent assault and battery were filed in Boston.  A few more posts, teasing different dishes, have steadily dripped out from his Instagram account these last few days.

Batali was acquitted of the criminal charges in Boston, and his former restaurant company paid a $600,000 settlement to 20 former employees as a result of a civil investigation led by the Attorney General of the State of New York.  It seems reasonable to say that Batali has been a “bad guy,” however one might define that term.  Perhaps he got off easy, but he was forced out of the restaurant industry, and into hiding from the public eye for the past six years.  Now he wants to come back, in some capacity.

I’m wondering how I feel about it.  And in a larger sense, when should society allow those of us who have strayed to return?  Batali was forced to sell all of his business interests to his former partner, primarily.  It is fair to guess that he doesn’t need to work anymore.  Now 63 years of age, should we just put him out to pasture?  Sitting at age 54 myself, this idea bothers me.  I don’t like the idea that I may be 8+ years away from floating adrift on an iceberg somewhere.

I have to think we all have contributions to make to society.  We’re all here for such a short time, every day we’re not contributing to the greater good feels wasteful.  People released from prison typically do not have the resources that Batali likely commands.  As such, they have to find a way to re-integrate.  Sadly, I believe there is a fairly high rate of recidivism, resulting in a return to their more familiar prison environs.  

How much of a penalty is “enough” for Batali?  I’m sure there will never be unanimous agreement on this.  Given that, perhaps now is an acceptable time to try something, and see how the world receives it.  Besides owning one of his cookbooks and seeing him on television in the past, my only other interaction with a Batali business was a wonderful lunch in early April, 2012 at Otto Pizzeria Enoteca in New York City - one of many great experiences during Spring Break, while we were hosting our dear friend Fanny from Finland for the school year.  Fanny is thriving in Helsinki today.  Otto closed during COVID.  I won’t be taking virtual cooking classes from Mario, though.  I already know how to cook reasonably well, and have no shortage of free learning options in this realm.

So, welcome back, Mario…I suppose.  Helping people to cook and enjoy food is something I can’t really object to.

Sunday Supper
All this Batali talk has me thinking of Italian food.  So top your favorite pasta with Michael Symon’s Yia Yia’s Sunday Sauce, and Mario’s Sicilian Meatballs.  Here is a simple Roman Mixed-Green Salad if you feel compelled to have some vegetables.

Sunday Music
This Sunday I share with you a couple of wonderful performances by Rufus Wainwright - the first is a 30-minute show performed in his home during COVID, and the next is a recently-released duet of Cigarettes & Chocolate Milk, with the dazzling Rachel Price from Lake Street Dive.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal

Moderation

Salutations, Earthlings!

I hope this week’s essay finds you well.  I suspect that we have just wrapped up the peak Fall in Ohio, in terms of warm temperatures and vibrant foliage.  “Warm Fall” is over, making way for “Brisk Fall.”  It's time to shift to soup-making, stews and warm beverages.  It's hard to believe that our last day for the outdoor version of the Granville Farmer’s Market wrapped up this weekend - with the grass still green, no meaningful frost having yet touched area plants.  Starting next week, an indoor version of the market starts at the Universal Church of Granville Annex Building, 9:30am - 12noon on Saturdays.  It looks like our first hard frost arrives this coming Tuesday, the very last day of October.

Friday marked the one year anniversary of Elon Musk’s acquisition of the social media platform Twitter (now renamed “X”).  From my vantage point, it seemed like Musk made his purchase offer on a lark.  Then Twitter’s board called his bluff, forcing the sale even after he had second thoughts.  Given that he was leading the world’s most disruptive and successful electric car company AND the world’s most disruptive space transport business, taking on this additional responsibility seemed to be something of a lower-priority distraction.  But he took it on, and I had high hopes that it would result in significant improvements to Twitter and its role as a real-time digital public square of sorts.  

Thus far, those high hopes have not been realized.  The quality of my personal feed has dropped rather dramatically, with many of my favorite “follows” abandoning the platform.  Since it is now a private enterprise, the key metrics of the platform are no longer made public.  Outside observers make a strong case that they have moved in the wrong direction.  Hopefully efforts in the year ahead reverse the company’s trajectory.

In this week’s edition of On Being, computer scientist and professor Latanya Sweeney talks about the challenges of moderating online content at a global scale.  We haven’t yet figured out how to screen out misinformation, disinformation, and garbage content spawned by “bots” and the like.  This is a key challenge that must be overcome before humanity can get on the same page and have a more productive dialog in the "digital commons," I believe.  As we head into another U.S. presidential election cycle, I encourage you to be mindful of the questionable nature of much online content and its sourcing.  

On a different front, moderation appears to be gaining ground.  I saw a report this past week that non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirit sales have jumped 32% this year.  This appears to be reflective of consumers’ desire to be more moderate in their consumption of alcohol.  Sales of this category over the last fifty-two weeks total $524.3 million - a drop in the ocean when compared to total beer/wine/spirit sales across the same timespan of $67.6 billion (growing just 1% this year).

94% of those purchasing non-alcoholic beverages are also purchasing alcohol.  So it appears that the new “pro move” when it comes to socializing is to mix in some non-alcoholic drinks along with alcohol in order to better enjoy time spent at gatherings (and reduce/eliminate the hangovers that come with overindulgence).

This is something to keep in mind as the holidays approach.  My own sampling of non-alcoholic alternatives has been very fruitful - when socializing, I still get to sip away and chat, safe in the knowledge that my sleep won’t be disrupted and I’ll be higher-functioning tomorrow than I otherwise might be.

Sunday Supper
I cook this Texas-Style Chili once or twice a year.  I like the meaty texture provided by cubed ground chuck rather than ground beef. Dried chiles and unsweetened chocolate to give it a totally different character than what we are accustomed to here in the Midwest.  This Fall Harvest Salad is a great complement to the chili.

Sunday Music
This week I am pleased to introduce you to Gregory Alan Isakov, a Colorado farmer-musician (possibly musician-farmer…either way, an interesting hyphenate).  This performance and interview is a wonderful way to spend some time this Sunday morning.  Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead!  Offer support to others.  Make good use of this day.  And let me know how I can help.

Peace & Love,

Neal