An Ode to my Grandma

My late maternal grandmother was born in 1922, just two years after women acquired the right to vote in America.  I may have witnessed the transition from the days of AIM to iMessage, but she was present for a much more drastic shift.  Whenever I was stressed or anxious about an event, obligation, or interaction, she calmed me down.  Her dominant personality traits were intellect, charisma, and verve, and she had a quiet wisdom about her that grew more pronounced in her later years.  I knew, after all that she had lived through from great personal loss to traumatic world events, that her advice was well worth absorbing.

Good Food, Good Drinks, Good Vibes

506 On The River Inn in Woodstock, Vermont, has a restaurant hidden inside.  It is a relaxed and delicious place.  As a guest at the inn, I ate there for breakfast in addition to dinner.  The breakfast is complimentary with an overnight stay, but it is not your average subpar continental breakfast.  It's classier.  My eggs were made to order (this is not always an option) and even the oatmeal is quite tasty.  I'm not a foodie, but I really appreciate well made, healthy fare.

Christmas in Vermont

I frequent this town so often that it feels like my second home.  Woodstock morphs every season.  Now, in the cold (I'm talking literally 0 degrees), it is a different town than in the summertime.  Woodstock comes alive in the winter.  It is so cheerful, charming, and well lit, even in the ice, that I could almost smell gingerbread cookies baking in the air.

Book Review: The Hopefuls

By page 5 I knew that I loved this novel.  Great title, even better cover art.  In The Hopefuls, Jennifer Close weaves a captivating and engrossing story with insider information about the Barack Obama 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

A Career's Impact on One's Personality

Lately, I have been reflecting on the qualities that certain jobs enhance in different personalities.  This idea makes a lot of sense...if we spend a large fraction of our time doing particular tasks and relating to others in a specific way, it will undoubtedly affect other areas of life as well.

When in Woodstock...

Vermont is a magical kingdom: local shops, fresh maple syrup, clear blue skies, and crisp mountain air... Despite my aversion to the bleak midwinter, I would not say no to moving northward.

How to Treat Yourself to a Perfect Day When All Your Other Plans Go Awry

Recently, a trip that I planned fell through at the last minute.  The weekend I had scheduled was going to be relaxing and meditative: it would have provided the space to get away and heal.  But I had postponed finalizing certain details and at the last minute plans for my accommodations went awry.