BROWSING:  Columns

We are entering an exciting time of year. Angst, excitement and the sweetness of dreams in the making fill the air. Before you reach for your brackets, you should know that I am NOT talking about March Madness.

When you think of St. Patrick’s Day, images of shamrocks, leprechauns and lively celebrations probably come to mind. But no celebration of Irish heritage would be complete without the mesmerizing spectacle of Irish step dancing. From the rapid-fire footwork to the stiff upper bodies, this traditional dance form has captivated audiences for centuries.

If you are a statistics person, love and marriage go together about like divorce and marriage do. Around half of all marriages in this country end in divorce. Not very romantic, is it?

During the final days of 2024, a good friend and I were chatting about our concerns regarding the upcoming year and its many unknowns. She very wisely stated, “There is nothing we can do except take care of ourselves, and always be kind and generous to those who need it.” I wholeheartedly agreed.

Are you ready for one of the most exciting sporting events of the year? This year, Super Bowl LIX will take place on February 9 in one of my favorite cities: New Orleans. And while it is not known at the time of this writing what teams will play for the coveted Lombardi Trophy, it is always exciting to watch the best of the best do battle.

Last month, I discussed the Median Voter Theorem and how voter concerns with the economy pointed to a Trump win. This presented a puzzle, as economic indicators leading up to the election were strong. Economic growth was a healthy 3%, the unemployment rate was below 4% and inflation was 2.4%, which was above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target but falling. Why did the economy dominate voters’ concerns, which spelled trouble for the incumbent Democratic Party?

In the post-COVID world, everyone had their eyes on Europe – clamoring to buy that transatlantic ticket to attend a wedding in an exotic locale. Since we returned to our regularly scheduled programming, the event compass has shifted, and 2025 will be the year of the “at home” wedding weekend.

This Valentine’s Day, surprise your sweetheart with these easy, homemade peanut butter cups! With just four ingredients, the maple-sweetened filling is a bit healthier than the traditional Halloween fave, as is the rich, dark chocolate coating. You can go with the darkest chocolate you can find. They’re so good, you’re sure to get a little “sugar” in return!

Valentine’s Day – a day traditionally dedicated to grand romantic gestures, candlelit dinners and heartfelt cards. But for many, it’s also an opportunity to flip the script and focus on an often-overlooked kind of love: self-love. Un-Valentine’s Day, as it’s affectionately called, is a growing trend that celebrates individuality and prioritizing oneself.

January 4 is National Spaghetti Day. While it shows up on the National Day list, it isn’t a “real” National Day, which takes an act of Congress, and no one knows who invented it or when it was first celebrated. But I don’t care! I love spaghetti and will happily celebrate it!

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be,” Abraham Lincoln once said. The first time I saw that quote, I was confused. It implies that happiness is a choice.

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