Suppose a President of the United States proposed raising taxes on everyone, rich and poor, by 8.5%. And suppose this would not be a one-time 8.5% tax increase; taxes would be increased by 8.5% every single year. Such a plan would be hard to take seriously, as the standard of living would quickly fall if
The first time I visited Spain, I went with my mother. She had been before, one stop among many on a European cruise. She had only gotten a glimpse of Barcelona, though, just the slightest taste of what the city had to offer, so when she mentioned the idea of venturing back, this time with
The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) was included in the 1975 Energy Policy and Conservation Act and intended to hold up to 700 million barrels of oil in the event of an emergency. The SPR was created following the 1973 Middle East Oil Embargo, when the price of crude oil tripled over six months, leading to
As I lay on my couch in a sinus infection stupor, my husband blasted through the back door, shouting, “Call the police! Lucy is missing!” I sat up, stunned and not quite certain I’d heard him correctly. Lost? How can Lucy possibly be lost? My husband was in the yard with her. We have an
Imagine if you will a city down on its luck – holding on to the grand days of its past when parades filled the streets with cheer and every hand was full, now left forgotten, abandoned by prosperity to fend for itself. For the people in this city and its hard streets, hope is hard
On an April 12 podcast by Goldman Sachs called “Rising Stagflation Risks Are Changing the Investment Climate’’ their global head of asset solution stated, “I would say that the playbook for investments and portfolio construction, of the period since the financial crisis, may not be relevant anymore. We have entered a period of higher inflation,
After such a long winter, we are all looking to enjoy spring flowers in every way possible! This includes incorporating the edible varieties into recipes to make them extra special. Pansies are a traditional edible flower and their lovely faces are so spring-like. Many other varieties are available to explore, as well. Culinary herbs have
One of the best things about living in Houston, TX is being within driving distance of New Orleans. And one of the worst things is being within driving distance from New Orleans. It’s just close enough to drive to, but far enough that the drive is tedious and taxing. During this past Spring Break, we
When my daughter Melissa found out her son (my grandson) Mack had decided to join the United States Marine Corps, her life was forever changed. He had just turned 18 and hadn’t yet graduated from high school when he made the commitment. The two have always shared a special bond but no matter what Melissa
Mother’s Day has always been one of my favorite holidays, when my sons show their love and appreciation for me in special ways. It’s a day when I know how truly blessed I am. As much as I love this day, my heart goes out to our sisters struggling in Ukraine on this Mother’s Day.
Spring is in the air. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, people are venturing outdoors and flowers are blooming. For humans, it’s easy to know when spring has arrived. We feel the warm temperatures, we hear the birds, smell the flowers and see the changes all around us and it must be much
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” Charles Dickens Can you imagine a world without laughter? I can’t. Several years ago, I was visiting my parents at their Annapolis, MD home. We were sitting in the sunroom catching up on what was going on in our lives
