Before breakfast today I assembled the ingredients for limpa, a spicy rye bread that epitomizes Swedish artisanal bread. The sharp fragrance that emerged from the mortar as I crushed the fennel seeds and aniseed brought me back to childhood memories. My Swedish grandmother served limpa for ceremonial family dinners and special occasions. Limpa is a […]
Entries Tagged as 'Back to Basics'
Swedish Bread and Childhood Memories
April 21st, 2012 · 5 Comments · Back to Basics
Tags: storytelling
Choosing Yoga Teachers Mindfully
March 27th, 2012 · Comments Off · Back to Basics, Yoga
While yoga can embody poetry and grace in motion, there’s a risk when the instructional language is too evocative. To avoid injury students need unambiguous instruction and skillful demonstrations. But yoga teacher training is uneven and communication skills often lag behind. How can we improve this situation?
Tags: yoga teaching
Cultivating Silence, For Better Writing
January 17th, 2012 · 9 Comments · Back to Basics, Creativity, Tools & Technology
The question is, in this amped-up, caffeine-fueled, Twitter/SMS-littered world of constant distractions, is there a place for silence in business? That is, can a more silent environment lead to better writing? In this post I explore OmmWriter, a zen-like tool for writing…
How to Survive a Summer Cold
July 31st, 2011 · Comments Off · Back to Basics, Bookshelf
A few days ago a new VitaMix 5200 arrived on our doorstep, followed within hours by the onset of a bad summer cold. Perfect timing. The quest for wellness Since then I’ve been living on fruit smoothies and roasted garlic soup. The VitaMix has offered a refreshing way to deal with the unpleasant side-effects of […]
On Love and Miracles
April 21st, 2011 · Comments Off · Back to Basics
My brother and his family are battling cancer again: the third time for his 19-year-old stepdaughter, Lauren. Just over a year since my brother recovered from his own bout with tongue and throat cancer. Theirs is an inspiring story. Lala, The Warrior Princess They fight back with love and hope, with prayerful blessings from thousands of […]
Tags: fighting cancer
Tangled Up in Green
April 21st, 2011 · Comments Off · Back to Basics, Creativity
Over coffee last week I was reminiscing with a friend who’s passionate about music, particularly Bob Dylan and other artists from the folk-rock era. While sipping lattes, Dave told the story of what inspired Dylan’s song, Tangled Up in Blue — a recent foray into painting. Apparently Dylan adapted a remark from his art teacher: […]
Watch Those Service Fees!
April 6th, 2011 · Comments Off · Back to Basics
I was on the verge of buying 4 concert tickets today, but abandoned my shopping cart when I saw how outrageous the “convenience fee” is for this online transaction. For a single purchase transaction of 4 tickets at $68.00 each, the ticket processing service will impose a $38 fee ($9.50 a ticket). Relative to value […]
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On Photo Booths and Identity
January 29th, 2011 · 2 Comments · Back to Basics, Tools & Technology
When I lived in Paris, it seemed there was a photo booth on every corner. The French, quintessential bureaucrats, required photo documentation on all kinds of permits and applications. Perhaps they still do. The police required a photo on my carte d’identité, a document to be carried at all times (or risk deportation). It was not […]
Where Has the Magic Gone?
January 28th, 2011 · 2 Comments · Back to Basics
While wading through family records, I’ve rediscovered travel documents from my time as a student in Paris. They have triggered fond memories, and led to shared stories over dinner and a glass of wine.
Now that so much of the world has gone digital, some of the nostalgic magic of foreign travel has been lost. Does this imply our personal histories will be less rich, less redolent of memories triggered by old documents?
Taxes: Get Ready to Waste Lots of Time
January 21st, 2011 · 1 Comment · Back to Basics, Tools & Technology
It was ironic that 3 local accounting firms called me today to pitch their services, just as I was wrestling with the 1099 forms to file regarding payments to independent contractors. At this time of year, there are millions of small businesses facing similar time losses due to tax filings. Print PDF