UNTAMED FORESTS AND CURIOUS BROWN BEARS
Not many families would hike through the wild woods of Estonia, clouded in humidity and mosquitos to observe brown bears at the height of summer in August. But mine did.
THE SOAP OPERA from The Foreigner
As a teenager I thought my strict Portuguese parents’ aim was to make me look as ugly as possible. But their ultimate goal was getting me to the altar, still a virgin.
They failed miserably.
A PANDEMIC COUNSELOR’S ADVICE from The Haven
As we approach the end of the pandemic, we may need some tips on how to reenter the in-person world. Here is some advice.
MARCH 10, 2021
Good morning! It has been such a pleasure to wake up and not feel as if yet another bomb has dropped. This is certainly due to having a new president and administration, but also to having control over the Senate. There’s always someone who wants the limelight and the power, …
Parents.com article “What a Juvenile Arthritis Diagnosis Really Means for Kids and Family
Juvenile arthritis (JA) affects nearly 300,000 children in the U.S. From symptoms to treatment, here’s everything parents need to know, including how my family found support while raising a child with JA.
The Picnic Table from Pages Penned in Pandemic
PAGES PENNED IN PANDEMIC is a collective that brings together poetry, short stories, flash fiction, essays, and more-tangible reminders that something can always be made out of nothing, that transforming the tribulations and trials of the everyday into art is not only enough, it’s everything. All earnings from the print …
Day 1561
Good morning! Almost 4 years to the day, a group of us from Belmont traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the Women’s March on Washington. On the recommendation of our daughters’ former Girl Scout leaders we stayed at the Hotel Harrington, an old, modest hotel with family rooms that …
Boston Globe Magazine How the pandemic brought life back into our living rooms
They were where we played games, read, and performed music before TV took over. As a piano teacher zooming in, I see family life thriving there once again.
DAY 1426
Good morning! Poll workers in Georgia are mainly Black women are being harassed and threatened on Facebook . Facebook offers additional privacy and safety features to journalists and politicians but refuses to protect election workers. Action No. 1 Color of Change has a petition you can sign: Ballot counters who …
DAY 1411
Good morning! On this last day of Native American Heritage Month, we can raise our awareness about the language we use when we talk about Native Americans. Action No. 1 This is a list of 100 changes we can make to honor Native Americans with simple changes in our vocabulary. …
DAY 1406
Good morning! In the spirit of Thanksgiving, let’s thank the first Republicans who stood up to Trump by acknowledging Biden’s win. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) https://www.romney.senate.gov/contact For House or Representatives look up their contact information at https://www.house.gov/representatives Rep. Fred Upton (R-Michigan) Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) Rep. Tom Reed (R-New York) …
DAY 1376
Good morning! Free or discounted rides to the polls are available in a variety of offers. Public transportation in many states will be free, and community groups are offering free rides. Lyft and Uber are also offering free/discounted rides not just on transportation by car, but also on bikes and …
DAY 1369
Good morning! Florida is a key state in every election, particularly this one. You can help with ballot curing there (contacting a person who has submitted a ballot that contains an error, which prevents it from being counted.) Sessions will be held from 5-8pm starting Monday, October 19 and continuing …
DAY 1364
Good morning! With early voting well underway, voting groups are focusing on “chasing” (asking the voter to complete and submit the ballot) and “curing” (contacting a person who has submitted a ballot that contains an error, which prevents it from being counted.) This is an important step to make sure …
DAY 1359
Good morning! Over the next weeks I will be focusing on actions we can take to protect the integrity of our votes, after we have voted. Action No. 1 Volunteer to photograph precinct totals. Precinct totals have been seen to change between precinct totals and county totals, which can trigger …
DAY 1325
Good morning! We All Vote’s online rally yesterday inspired me to do something out of my comfort zone. This week I will contact 10 friends to make sure they are registered to vote. I am taking a step further and doing the uncomfortable act: asking them to vote for Biden. …
Day 1317
Good morning! Some days are just so full of bad news that it’s a temptation to ignore it all. Yesterday was one of those days for me. The climate disasters, police brutality with impunity, 45’s administration’s blatant breaking of laws, not to mention the coronavirus catastrophe. . . But today …
Day 1292
Good morning! Today is the first Monday of August so it’s time to check out Breitbart and report to Sleeping Giants. There is a new twist to the Sleeping Giants campaign however. Nandini Jammi, the woman behind the FB site for Sleeping Giants is leaving. Her co-founder, who runs the …
Day 1286
Good morning! Launched by the League of Women Voters Education Fund provides nonpartisan information to the public with both general and state-specific information on the following aspects of the election process: Absentee ballot information Ballot measure information (where applicable) Early voting options (where applicable) Election dates Factual data on candidates …
DAY 1268
Good morning! The Center for Voter Information is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that provides unbiased information about candidates and their positions on issues. It’s a good source to keep in your back pocket as the election draws near. Action No. 1 Save this link: https://www.centerforvoterinformation.org/about-us/ TGIF! Betty
Reverence and Resistance
What child would think of connecting God with Santa? Yours truly. And the results were life changing.
DAY 1059
Good morning! Last year the Center for Biological Diversity sued the Trump administration for failing to issue habitat protections required by the Endangered Species Act. After a court-ordered agreement in April 2019 the federal government proposed a new rule expanding critical habitat protection along the West Coast for endangered Southern Resident killer whales, …
A Rheumatologist and a Rose
No one wants the journey of chronic illness but if you choose your travel companions wisely you will find comfort, courage and care.
DAY 1012
Good morning! Ed Stack, CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods has received a lot of flack for his decisions to a) stop selling assault weapons and b) destroying their stock of those weapons. As politicians continue to stonewall any progress on gun law reform, we need private business owners like him …
DAY 987
Good morning! Many of you have asked me how to stay sane and have some peace of mind in the midst of the continuous political storms. My month off from politics in August showed me that it is unnecessary to take in the daily barrage of news about the Tangerine …
DAY 777
Good morning! Teaching Tolerance is a program for classroom teachers, staff developers, librarians, school counselors and administrators who are active in K-12 education, including people working at the university level in teacher preparation programs. Read more about this organization here: https://www.tolerance.org/about Action No. 1 Even if you don’t fall into the above …
Can-cer-vive
Surgeons are tough. But so am I. I would not be bullied into compromising my post-cancer care.
Day 634
Good morning! If you are looking specifically for political candidates who are pro-gun-safety, there are some links that have done this work for you. Take a look. Action No. 1 You do not have to be a member (or admit to being one!) to look at aarp’s site: https://www.aarp.org/politics-society/government-elections/info-2018/midterm-candidate-guide.html?intcmp=DC-POL-ELC-R1C1 Action …
DAY 586
Good morning! Remember when we were aghast at the prospect of the Sinclair merger, which would have increased the conservative right increased control of the media? Your calls to FCC Chair, Ajit Pai, paid off. https://www.cnet.com/news/sinclair-broadcast-group-merger-with-tribune-media-is-dead/ The merger is off the table. Good work everyone!
DAY 509
Good morning! It’s two-action Tuesday : Action No. 1 Continuing yesterday’s well-received action, let’s write to Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzō Abe, to apologize for Trump’s insolence, ignorance and impudence. Action No. 2 Writers unite at this weekend’s Writers Resist event: http://bostonlitdistrict.org/event/greater-boston-writers-resist-2018/ Have a great Twos-day! Betty
DAY 508
Good morning! This is one of those mornings when I’m glad I’m in the U.S. and not in Europe so that I don’t feel personally obligated to apologize to every European I know for 45’s ignorance and insolence. I can only think of one act to let the G6 countries …
DAY 417
Good morning! 45 continues his attempts to defund educational programs that support what he isn’t—scholars. Action No. 1 The Fulbright Exchange Commission is looking at a 71% budget cut. Established in 1946, the organization provides approximately 8,000 scholarships a year to scientists, artists, historians and teachers. The Foreign Student Exchange …
DAY 239
Good morning! It’s two-action Tuesday on Day 222 Action No. 1 Take a look at upcoming resistance events through this link. You can choose the date and plug in your zip code. https://www.resistancecalendar.org/ Action No. 2 Here is a site where you can give your anonymous opinion about confederate statues …
DAY 222
Good morning! It’s two-action Tuesday. Action No. 1 Take a look at upcoming resistance events through this link. You can choose the date and plug in your zip code. https://www.resistancecalendar.org/ Action No. 2 Here is a site where you can give your anonymous opinion about confederate statues. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/americamagazinestatues Enjoy your …
DAY 81
Good morning Friend! Here are some easy actions to take this Monday: Action No. 1 It is a rarity when we agree with this man. Let’s take advantage of this unusual opportunity and thank Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) for his public reprimand of Trump for ignoring the Constitution and taking …
DAY 41
Good morning! Before the NYTimes ran the tv ad about “Truth” during the Oscars on Sunday night, they posted this full-page statement in Sunday’s paper (Feb. 26, 2017) I found it much more powerful than the tv ad and very inspiring. I hope you will, too. Betty The Truth is …
Pockets of Resistance in Consequence Magazine
Sometimes what you find in your pockets is unexpected.
Donald Trump is Cancer
You can’t treat a political tumor with radiation or chemotherapy. But you can stop its spread with resistance and courage.