It’s been a while since I have written anything, mostly because nothing feels funny. I've been spending a lot of time alone in the garden, wrestling weeds, dodging skinks, talking to chickens. My chickens have had a lot to say. One bird, in particular, has way too much to say. "Cock-a-doodle-doo," to be specific. Roosters … Continue reading We All Need to Vent Sometimes
NASHVILLE—A research study led by three middle-aged women with no relevant scientific background has identified a COVID-adjacent syndrome with an infection rate likely more than 1000 times that of the underlying coronavirus. Patients infected with the novel 3SW syndrome present with sudden bouts of panic, manifesting in trembly lip, goosebumps or uncontrollable weeping. The study … Continue reading ICYMI in the Medical Journals
I strolled into the 12-foot orbit of my neighbor this morning and asked him how his family was passing the time. "We're just trying to find ways to help," he said, from a generous social distance. This is my extremely handy neighbor, the one with lots of tools. You may remember Philip Huizinga from Buttercup's … Continue reading HoPPE for Health
The word essential is rattling around in my brain these days. On one hand, I’m prioritizing essential groceries; on the other hand, the Safer at Home order is enumerating essential services that can still operate in Nashville during this two-week lockdown to flatten the curve. Coffee, dark chocolate and toilet paper comprise one list, while health … Continue reading This Time is of the Essential
The world is never going to be the same. I know this for a fact, because my mother just asked me how to use Zoom. But there are other indicators—some good some bad. I'll start with the bad ones so I can build to the good ones. (I need something to look forward to, even … Continue reading The World as We Know It
Depending on when you're reading this, you could toggle over to ShopGoodwill.com right now and purchase a red Sunbeam stand mixer for $7. Or the price already may have gone up. You never know with an online auction. There's also a tennis racquet stringing machine, power tools from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, et al., gold and … Continue reading Goodwill Treasure Hunting
Reese Witherspoon is hiring a librarian for her Hello Sunshine Book Club, to curate selections, chat with authors, and engage a global audience of bibliophiles in conversation about stories. Dream job for a book person. Jennifer Puryear, founder of Bacon on the Bookshelf literary blog, is a book person nonpareil, and Hello Sunshine's want ad … Continue reading A Little Help From Our Friends
As my teenage sons encounter poetry in school, they greet the imposter with more hostility than hospitality. In an effort to persuade them that poetry is a gift and not a conspiracy to siphon GPA points, I recently talked to them about one of my favorite poets, William Carlos Williams. WCW first won my affection … Continue reading Poetry in Motion
Like so many paths to hell, my road to kombucha addiction was paved with good intentions. I started hanging out with some cool girls. They grew vegetables and raised chickens. They composted and crafted. I wanted them to like me. When one of them led me to her pantry and lifted the cheesecloth from a … Continue reading Mothers & Sisters: Ode to Kombucha
I've got a lot of trashy friends. I say this because a lot of my conversations lately revolve around garbage. I've been yammering about composting for years, in blog posts like this one and this one on BuildMeUpButtercup, not to mention in my relentless portraits of leftovers on Instagram. But I'm not the only trash-talker. More … Continue reading Waste Not: Bea Johnson to Visit USN March 31
Build Me Up, Buttercup 