Strange(r) things have been happening lately. For example, did you know that such a thing as Green Bean Casserole Pizza exists? And that it is actually tasty? And that it comes from Aldi? Weird, but true. Another example: a coworker asked me how I know for sure what I believe (referring to my faith). ThisContinue reading “Strange(r) things”
Tag Archives: COVID-19
Pine warblers, migraines, and job cuts
Friday was noteworthy because we spotted a pair of pine warblers at our feeders. As far as I know, I have never seen this type of bird before as they are not common at all around here. The pair at our feeders was likely migratory, and they didn’t stay long enough for me to getContinue reading “Pine warblers, migraines, and job cuts”
Obliviosity
Absence from writing here lately does not equate to lack of eventful days. Really, it just means that my mind is preoccupied with many other things and the thought of writing a blog post is somehow far from it. Recently, I coined a new word: obliviosity. My definition: a state of not being aware orContinue reading “Obliviosity”
The last rose of summer
Yesterday evening, I went for a walk and happened upon a rose bush still in bloom. It was a cheerful sight in the midst of the usual autumnal flower colors of yellows, golds, and whites. Another flower color that I enjoy seeing in the Fall is the rich, deep purple of wild asters. On myContinue reading “The last rose of summer”
Ready or not
Ready or not, here comes the Fall. I’m not. Ready, that is. On my plate today, among many other things, is to finish grading final papers for my summer class. When I looked at enrollment for my Fall class, I found to my surprise that there are 22 people on the list. That’s more thanContinue reading “Ready or not”
Family vignettes
The pandemic has enabled me to spend more time with my family than ever before. For that, I am thankful, although it is not all peaches and cream. By that I mean that we have bad days and good days, bad interactions and good interactions. We continue to learn how to be with one another,Continue reading “Family vignettes”
Cumulative impact
The many ongoing uncertainties we face are having a cumulative impact. You know the saying, “once bitten, twice shy”? I think there’s a similar principle at work with the pandemic, economic conditions, injustices, poor government leadership, and more. Uncertainties tend to reshape our regular, “healthy” view of life in ways that we may not evenContinue reading “Cumulative impact”
Secrets and lies and photographs
Fifty years ago, a split happened in the Christian fellowship that my family was a part of going back at least two generations. The split was catastrophic, literally and figuratively tearing apart and destroying families all over the world, separating husbands from wives, parents from children and grandchildren, siblings from siblings, frequently by force. InContinue reading “Secrets and lies and photographs”
Free range childhood
Each day, one of our kids goes for a run, walk, or bike ride in the early morning as a way to keep busy and try to feel less anxious and depressed. That’s a good thing, of course, but I worry constantly about safety, and I keep looking at the Find My… feature on myContinue reading “Free range childhood”
An update on Fall planning
The picture of what is ahead for Fall at my institution is gradually becoming less opaque. As noted before, I am not a fan of a “we’ll all be together again” spin on what is to come. The fact is that there is even more hard work ahead this summer than previously realized, and withContinue reading “An update on Fall planning”
The OW Factor 