For the past 54 years, not an August has gone by without my thoughts drifting to the Woodstock Music Festival, and the hippie movement in general. I wanted to go to Woodstock on that August weekend in 1969 and to this day, I am still bristling that I couldn’t.
The Federal Reserve has increased the federal funds rate from 0% to 5% to reduce the inflation they created during the pandemic. The federal funds rate is the interest rate set through monetary policy and is at a 16-year high. Members of the Open Market Committee, the committee that sets monetary policy, anticipate at least two more 0.25 percentage point rate increases. This would push this interest rate to 5.75%, a 23-year high.
This summer, my fiancé and I had two big trips planned: one to Spain to celebrate our birthdays – a long-anticipated jaunt across the Atlantic, an escape from our normal lives and an introduction to international travel for my life partner.
Usually, the only time the word “resolution” enters my mind is at around 8:30 pm on December 31. I try to come up with a sweeping life change I will make over the next 365 days. It is always a worthwhile pursuit, like losing weight or being kind to everyone. You know the drill. By February 1, my lofty goals collide with donuts or bad drivers. I declare myself a failure and pledge to give it another go next year.
With the new school year fast approaching, the never-ending packing of lunches looms large. As the mom of kids who don’t eat sandwiches, I’m always scavenging for new main dish lunch ideas. One of our go-to favorites is a version of a healthy charcuterie tray: cheese, meat, crackers and lots of pickles and olives!
This summer has flown by so fast! Now, the lazy, hazy days of August are upon us and it is time to enjoy all that the month brings. Being a foodie, I look forward to the abundance of locally grown fruit and vegetables. I recently picked up some sweet corn from Eichelberg Farm in Linden for the first time this summer – so delicious! Genesee County has many veggie stands offering a bountiful array. But there is nothing better than picking a sweet, juicy tomato right out of your own garden. Don’t forget about the always over-abundant zucchini that’s just waiting to be picked and turned into yummy zucchini bread.
A milestone is defined as “a significant event in your life.” Milestones often begin a new leg of our life’s journey. I recently enjoyed one such significant event – my 70th birthday! I am celebrating this milestone by taking a road trip to Maryland and will be having lunch with some of my high school classmates. The Mt. Savage High School Class of 1971 will all turn 70 this year!
The deal recently reached by Congress and President Biden suspends the debt ceiling until January 2025 in exchange for modest limits to increases in discretionary spending over the next two years. The deal will do almost nothing to reduce the federal deficit, guaranteeing that in January 2025, we will go through this charade again.
Whew! Looks like it’s going to be a hot one this year and as summer heats up, the local beach becomes a popular family attraction. Enjoying a few hours in the sand and the waves is a beloved pastime for kids and adults alike and to do it right, there are many essentials. Towels, radios, inflatables, a football or frisbee, sunblock and cool shades are definitely on the list. To truly enjoy the beach properly, however, you can’t forget a pail and shovel. These simple tools are absolutely a must for the construction of an amazing, well-fortified, moat-surrounded, finely-detailed, triple-decker sand castle.
As a child, this frequent exchange with my dad while traveling in the car drove me to tears and sometimes clenched fists. It’s not fair!
