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Author: James Snyder

Fall Food Trends 2020: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Fall Food Trends 2020: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

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Food trends come and go (remember when everyone was excited about fondue?) and 2020 is no exception – even with all of the stress involved with the pandemic.  There have been a lot of new food trends this year, so it’s time to take a look at them (and of course, give my totally biased opinion about each one). Flexitarians You had your meat eaters, you had your omnivores.  There were vegetarians, pescatarians, and vegans.  Now comes the “flexitarian” –…

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Autumn is Here – Let the Rejoicing Begin!

Autumn is Here – Let the Rejoicing Begin!

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Ahhhh, fall – my favorite time of the year, and October is my favorite month. We kicked it off right with a full “harvest” moon (and will be treated to a second full “blue” moon on Halloween this year).  There’s even an extra hour of sleep built in to the last weekend of the month, as we’ll be “falling back” to Standard Time.  Temperatures in my neck of the woods have settled into the low 70’s during the day and…

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Living in the Moment: A Travel Mindset to Embrace

Living in the Moment: A Travel Mindset to Embrace

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I’ve had the good fortune recently to be able to reconnect with my younger brother and his wife (who live on the West Coast).  He and I have shared some good conversations, and one of the topics that has come up is future plans and what we think the next five, ten, or even twenty years will bring to our lives. We’re both at the age where friends in both of our personal circles have unfortunately started to pass away,…

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The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

The Outdoor Theater Experience: Cheaper Than You Think

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Nothing beats being able to combine two good things and turning them into one great thing.  Chocolate and peanut butter, Crown Apple and ginger ale, or Steve Martin and Martin Short are fine examples.  For me, that means cool, autumn evenings and watching classic movies.  Since movie theaters are still mostly closed due to the pandemic (or just starting to reopen at limited capacity) and drive-ins are all but extinct (but making a comeback in some areas), the next best…

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‘Tis the Season – For A Bonfire

‘Tis the Season – For A Bonfire

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I do love fall.  In addition to the dropping evening temperatures, which allow me to open my windows wide and take in the cool breezes as I slumber, the long and dark evenings allow me to partake in another favorite pastime that highlights the season. A bonfire. There’s plenty of ways to have one, from fancy store-bought fire rings, outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, or just a simple circle made out of rocks.  Pile in the wood, light it up, pull up…

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Summer’s Over – Will Fall Be Any Better?

Summer’s Over – Will Fall Be Any Better?

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Wow, this week marks the beginning of September.  I know summer doesn’t “officially” end until September 22nd, but when the kids are starting back to school – let’s face it, summer is over and fall is here. I don’t know about you, but the summer of 2020 will be memorable only in the fact that I’d like to forget it.  Due to the “C” and “P” word (“COVID-19” and “pandemic”, respectively), the last three months have been quite the slog,…

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Summer Tomatoes: A Seasonal Treat

Summer Tomatoes: A Seasonal Treat

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I love to eat “seasonally”, which means enjoying the fruits and vegetables that are in their prime growing and harvesting months.  In today’s society, we’ve become so accustomed to having everything available to us at all times of the year that we often miss out on enjoying nature’s bounty when its rewards are at their most fragrant, flavorful, and in most cases, economical. For example, let’s talk tomatoes (which are in their prime as we speak). Sure, you can buy…

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My Plant-Based Diet – A Nine Month Check-In

My Plant-Based Diet – A Nine Month Check-In

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If you’re a frequent reader of this blog, you may recall that I switched to a plant-based diet back in November of 2019.  To be clear, I did this for my own personal health reasons, as the data I’ve looked at shows that a meatless/dairy-free diet has some significant health benefits.  I don’t go around shaming other meat-eaters, waving signs, or attending PETA rallies.  I’ll also still eat meat from time to time (if it’s the only option available or…

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The End of an Era: My Local Poker Game

The End of an Era: My Local Poker Game

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They say time changes everything.  Sadly, I lost a friend this past week.  Her name was Nell Simmers.  She was 81.  For many years, she lived in a small house behind mine – just across the alleyway.  Nell was the kind of grand lady whose personality instantly made whoever she was with feel at ease, and she’d talk to you as if she had known you her entire life, even if she just met you.  A true local gem.  As…

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College Visits in a COVID-19 Era

College Visits in a COVID-19 Era

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My youngest is entering her senior year in high school this year, so that means that we’re well into the planning and preparations for gearing up for her post-high school education.  SATs have been taken (multiple times), high school classes have been chosen with care, and it’s now time to start narrowing down the field for colleges.  I’m a big proponent of physically visiting a college BEFORE signing one’s name on the dotted line.  Sometimes, a campus will just click,…

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