The grieving process holds many lessons for those who are willing to share them, and I have one to share. Our son died suddenly on the Friday before Christmas this year. After a sleepless night of tears and sorrow, we both realized that we had no funereal attire.

In recent… Read full post »

In the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook, it happened. I lost my son to a gun. I lost him to a careless accident that should never happen to an expert on guns, but it did. When you are really, really good at something, I guess you can decide to… Read full post »

Newtown, Connecticut’s grief is our grief. The horror visited on Sandy Hook Elementary School has been visited upon us all. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters are all able to relate to this all-encompassing sorrow. And, I can’t think of a single hard-bitten, gun-totin… Read full post »

I have resolved to stop taking this election seriously. For one thing, the campaign is not about leadership; it is about showmanship. Every debate team in every high school in America knows that you need to be able to argue any point from any angle to succeed at debating, and hyperbole,… Read full post »

I enjoyed F.G. Haghenbeck’s book, “The Secret Book of Frida Kahlo, A Novel” very much. I knew little of this artist other than her paintings, and now I know some of her recipes as well.  And, I am grateful that the author interpreted the recipes in Kahlo’s notebooks for t… Read full post »

During the first months of the year, it seems like everyone is on a diet. People who find flipping the buttons on the television remote taxing are suddenly monopolizing the ellipticals, treadmills, and spin classes at the local gym, and eating this and that trendy item (this year it appears to… Read full post »

Gosh, where has the summer gone? It seems like school just let out, and here we are already facing the dilemma of what to put in those shiny new  “Cars” lunch boxes.  Not only that, but given the fat-content of restaurant meals, seems like more and more of us are/… Read full post »

The Historian in Me

While I do not claim to be anything as grandiose as an historian, I am a lover of history—the good and the bad. Unadulterated truth appeals to me and revisionist history offends my very soul. For this reason, I am appalled at the hubbub… Read full post »

Of course The War Between The States/The War of Northern Aggression /The Civil War -- whatever you call that great slaughter that allegedly began with the firing on Ft. Sumter 150 years ago today -- was about slavery. But, it didn't begin at Ft. Sumter; it really began with the United… Read full post »

In my childhood, my mother who often recited "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me" also parroted Thumper's father and said, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Our politicians would do well to heed the latter and ignore the… Read full post »

I am sick to death of the Right Wing Lunatic Fringe, under any of their various names, playing with words they seem not to understand. It annoys me when I hear our President, elected to lead a REPUBLIC through the DEMOCRATIC process being called a socialist.  That is grossly inaccurate, and… Read full post »

I work part time for a branch of the YMCA, a non-profit organization known for its mission.  It is nice to have a mission, and for the YMCA it is a serious mission indeed. It makes a lot of sense to me because it feels right to me. Does that mean… Read full post »

We are officially into fall today as the Autumnal Equinox occurred in the night, and my hometown is anticipating a high temperature of 99ºF this afternoon. We haven’t seen a drop of rain in weeks and, all over town, shrubs and trees are shriveling up and dying.  This time it seems… Read full post »

Kentucky Derby Brunch
Copyright (c) 1992, Liz Waters

In spite of the copyright, this menu is copied  (polite for stolen) all over the internet. It is, however, mine, and I share it again here. Have a great Derby Day 2010

On… Read full post »

It is Spring Break for most of the schools in Louisville, KY this week, and the weather is wonderful Still, I am seeing lines of cars at the local fast food drive-through windows every afternoon as I make my way home from work.  For Pete's sake, Moms and Dads, cook dinner… Read full post »

Traditional Italian Cuisine

Italian cooking is much more than most Americans give it credit for. We picture an endless array of pizza and spaghetti, lasagna, and other heavy tomato-laden dishes, accompanied by a salad, garlic bread, and a bottle of Chianti.

While delicious, that sce… Read full post »

It is a simple dessert, easy-to-make and traditional! My mother made it with lemons, but the traditional recipe calls for limes, and Key limes to boot!  Historically, this recipe was created in the Florida Keys by a woman who tossed together a dessert for dinner from what was in her cupboard… Read full post »