• stonehenge sunrise

    First suffering and then hope

    June 20, 2024 / 4 Comments

    The solstice has arrived. And Summer’s big debut comes with heat, humidity, migraines, insomnia, late-night fireworks and extra loud motorcycles, bug bites, sunburns, sweat and misery.

    Yes, Summer is my least favorite of the four seasons. It is the one time when I refuse to live in the moment. Instead, I focus entirely on the future.

    For there, I see hope and I’m holding onto it. While this is the longest freakin’ day of the year, and while the temperature today is going to be a brutal 103 degrees, I just need to keep reminding myself of one simple fact. Starting tomorrow:

    THE BLESSED DARKNESS IS COMING BACK.

     

    autumn countdown

     

    I can’t wait.

  • Tombstone cat

    My latest project is ready for primetime

    June 3, 2024 / 2 Comments

    Remember that blog post I wrote back in April where I said I wanted to drop the Bloggess of Death moniker in favor of the Grande Dame of Good News?

    Well, after much thought, I’ve decided that I contain multitudes. Why not be both?

    And so, this morning I launched a new project on Substack. The End Files is a weekly newsletter featuring curated stories about death, grief, funerals, graveyards, mourning and, of course, obituaries. There will be interviews with people connected to the death industry as well as interesting quotes and lots of cemetery- and death-related art.

    Check out the debut issue here. And if you like it — which I hope you will — let me know. Also, subscribe!

  • Steak and cheese sandwich

    To bite or not to bite

    May 19, 2024 / 1 Comment

    When is a sandwich not a sandwich? Are two slices of bread required? Is a bun allowed? What about tortillas? Well, last week, an Indiana judge ruled that tacos and burritos are, in fact, “Mexican-style sandwiches.”

    The ruling was in direct contrast to one made by a Massachusetts judge, who in 2006, determined that burritos, quesadillas and tacos were not sandwiches. That case inspired the brilliant headline in the Cape Cod Times: “Panera’s battle vs. burrito is toast.”

    Thanks to my 2020 fainting spell — and the damage it caused to my face — I haven’t been able to bite into many foods for three and a half years. Now that the extensive, painful and expensive dental work is nearly complete, I’ll soon be able to do so. Apples, cheeseburgers, bananas, tacos, corn on the cob, pizza, ribs, chicken and, of course, sandwiches are all going to be featured prominently on my future menus.

    As for sandwiches, here are my top 10s:

    Hot:

    Steak and tons of mozzarella cheese
    Grilled cheese (American or cheddar, sometimes with ham)
    Moon over my hammy
    French dip
    Breakfast sandwich (egg, cheese and either sausage or bacon on a roll or croissant)
    Meatball and tons of mozzarella cheese
    Montreal smoked meat and cheddar cheese
    Pulled pork
    Subway melt (turkey, ham, bacon, extra cheese and extra lettuce)
    Patty melt

    Cold:

    Ice cream sandwich (h/t Ryan Gosling)
    TLC (tuna, lettuce and cheese)
    PBJ (Peter Pan creamy and apple jelly or grape jam)
    Hard salami with cheddar with lettuce
    Roasted turkey with cheddar and lettuce
    Black forest ham with cheddar and lettuce
    Peanut butter with banana and cinnamon
    Egg salad
    Ham, cheddar and apple
    Victoria sandwich

    What are your favorite sandwiches?

  • Skeleton at a typewriter

    Quote of the Day

    May 7, 2024 / 2 Comments

    “Tuesday. The day you realize that nothing can stop you, because you are a magic skeleton packed with meat and animated with electricity and imagination. You have a cave in your face full of sharp bones and five tentacles at the end of each arm. You can do anything, magic skeleton.” –Chuck Wendig

  • Vermont landscape in autumn, as seen from a hot air balloon.

    Got my head in the clouds

    May 6, 2024 / 4 Comments

    My bucket list is long and full of adventures. But like writing, the process of generating ideas for future activities always begins the same way: Dreaming.

    One of my dreams is to ride in a hot air balloon. Preferably when the leaves are in peak color.

    In my imaginings, M and I climb into the basket, clasp hands and kiss as the balloon gently departs terra firma. The quiet of the dawn is punctuated by the occasional hiss and roar of the heated air that encourages the balloon to soar. Once in the sky, we’ll enjoy the unique experience of seeing the land that we love (Vermont) during our favorite time of year (autumn) from an entirely new perspective (way up there). Although we might take a photo or two, I expect we will spend the majority of the flight just seeing the sights and making a memory.

    This trip would have come true long ago if not for the cost. A private balloon ride for two people is more than $1,200, which is a lot of dough for an hour in the air. Why for that same price, I could take a plane to Scotland (you know, if I still flew in planes). However, I remain hopeful that one day we’ll come into a bit of mad money and splurge on such a excursion. Also, that’s it everything I always dreamed and more.