Where I’ve Been The Last Few Months

My last post, back on January 7, was the oath to the Constitution that every Federal employee and military officer takes. It feels like a long way from that dark day to this summer when things seem more hopeful, though storm clouds and rumbles of thunder keep me concerned on a number of horizons. The…

“I Do Solemnly Swear…”

This is the oath that I took. Every Federal employee, member of Congress, and military officer takes the same oath. It has been mentioned many times today. I have mentioned it intermittently in other places for four years. It is important. "I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the…

What Comes Before Losing Weight?

I've been thinking more about "Covid weight." More importantly, I've been thinking about health and vitality in a time of enormous upheaval. With downturns in my own life, I gain weight. I am an emotional eater and yes, food has magical powers of comfort, particularly when presented in the form of oatmeal raisin cookies. When…

Maybe “Lose the Covid Weight” Isn’t the First Thing To Do

I hope everyone had a safe, healthy Thanksgiving. We had 8 virtual gatherings for the weekend, each 60 to 90 minutes long. It's a lot. And it's not nearly as much work as traveling to see family, cooking for many more people, eating in restaurants and (ugh) airports. I had less alcohol, no nachos or…

Disinformation And How To Assess Sources

There is a lot of disinformation out there in the world.  If I really want to know the best answers, I need an expert. How do I find a good one and decide they're trustworthy? You might talk to this person about cooking greens and sausage. But maybe she isn't the best crane operator. And who…