It happened. I adopted a cat. For three decades, my home has been filled with big, slobbery, goofy dogs and suddenly – slam on the breaks – I found myself driving home with a cat in a carrier in the back seat. I am not trying to say I was in some sort of blackout
Strange things start happening when your passport is basically useless. Check any travel map, and it appears that the world is blacked out if you hold an American visa. Stay out. Not welcome. Scram! Vacations are delayed or cancelled, working from home and living at work start to become the same thing. Memories of holidays
As we continue to press forward into what I have branded as “the year of uncertainty,” we continue to navigate markets in an environment of extremely high volatility. The volatility index, often referred to as the VIX, or the “fear index” is currently trading at around 30. During normal economic environments, when not dealing with
COVID-19 and the wave of shutdowns that followed resulted in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Had the pandemic not occurred, 2020 would have been a lot like 2019, a year of peace and prosperity. Certainly, there are reasons to be pessimistic. What are some reasons to be optimistic? A major source of optimism
“Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds.” ~ Regina Brett Summer is in full swing and boy, has it been a hot one! I usually love
Too hot to cook? Summer meals don’t need to be complex – but that’s not a reason why they shouldn’t be delicious! If you need some fresh ideas, it’s really hard to go wrong with cheese and fruit. Don’t know where to begin? I have a few suggestions for interesting combinations. A good, sharp cheddar
Concerns have been raised by some that the COVID-19 recession will lead to economic deflation, while others say inflation. Which outcome is more likely? Deflation stems from a collapse in the money supply while inflation stems from a rapid expansion of the money supply (i.e. “printing money”). The money supply collapses when there is a
Unfortunately, the last four months have brought quite a bit of turmoil. U.S. unemployment numbers were at a historic, record low of below 4% for 23 consistent months, only to be destroyed by a nationwide stay-at-home order that decimated our workforce. It is estimated that over 36 million people lost their jobs between the end
During the recent quarantine, my family and I took time to relax, enjoy some frozen pizzas and popcorn and catch a few “under the radar” movies and episodic Netflix series. Sure, there are other things to do, but it’s all about how you like to decompress, right? On one such adventure, which included a pepperoni
Are you a hot dog lover? National Hot Dog Day is celebrated on the third Wednesday in July. And the beloved sandwich deserves a special day because it is one of America’s favorite summer foods! The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council created this day and holds an annual hot dog lunch in our nation’s
Where do travel writers go when travel is closed? Nowhere, really. It’s a strange time. A scary time, a sad and lonely time. The world is effectively closed and for someone who is used to treating every city they venture to as a second home, it’s only natural to feel a little lost. Just before
In the summertime, supper goals include quick and easy meals that don’t involve turning on the oven. Pasta salad is one of my favorite options – not only does it allow you to take advantage of seasonal vegetables that are becoming available at local markets and create new flavor combinations, but it’s also delicious and
