Words & Banter

RED & BLACK … Summer Hours Are Ours

Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash


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I know that ribs are one of your favorite foods, and I made, as always, way too many of them, so would you like me to run some in to you? It’s not a problem.


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Sure. Especially after you teased me with the photo you sent last night. But, you should save that photo in case we ever do a cookbook.


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WE do a cookbook? You never cook, so what recipes could you possibly include?


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I have recipes. Two of them. Noodle pudding and wild rice soup. But, I could include recipes from my favorite restaurants. Or, cooking tips from their chefs. Regardless, I am curious how your barbecued ribs look so evenly browned. Was it the lighting or Photoshop?

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Neither. It’s because they were baked in the oven. However, I barbecue the fresh corn. I used to microwave it, but years ago, I decided to try something different. Now, it’s one of my favorite things – whether eating it on the cob or using the kernels in one of my “concoction” salads.

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Ribs cooked inside and corn outside. That seems backward. Especially since many people barbecue during the summer to keep the house cooler by using the kitchen less. Although standing over a hot barbecue during the unbearable summer heat in Houston is not appealing.

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We barbecue year-round but do it more over the summer because the days are longer. When it’s dark by 6 p.m., you don’t think to “fire up the barbie,” to quote Mick “Crocodile” Dundee.

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Did you know Paul Hogan first used the phrase “on the barbie” in a commercial for the Australian Tourism Commission? It was before he made the Crocodile Dundeemovies and promoted their culture and love of the outdoors.

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I never knew that! But it makes perfect sense. There’s something special about cooking outside. Besides being casual and relaxed, it can make a simple meal more delicious, as the barbeque flavor makes everything taste so much better. It’s part of what makes summer so wonderful.

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Yes, there is a summer “mindset”. Without doing research, it might be related to summer breaks and vacations, or even the extra sunlight and Vitamin D. But, it is real.

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I don’t need research to know that as a parent, I equate summer breaks with the need to find ways to “entertain” children. Regardless, for us “mere mortals”, summer means longer days with more sunlight, so more time for leisure activities. And the heat always slows me down, so life feels a little less hectic and more laid back. But for you, I’m guessing summer’s no different from any other time of year.

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Well, I do appreciate summer fruit, especially watermelon. And, it impacts my workouts on the balcony as I wait until dusk. It also means scheduling errands or any in-person meetings in the morning before it gets too hot. But, since that is usually my most productive time to work, and those are things I would normally do later in the day when I am “brain-dead”, summer can wreak havoc on my productivity.

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Years ago, I used to get up early on Saturdays to do all my grocery shopping and errands before the stores got crowded. Then, for some reason, I stopped doing that. But maybe I should start doing it the “old way” again.

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As someone who has always been an early riser, I love how much I can get done before others, like you, have even started the day.


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Which is why I cringe when I check emails in the morning, regardless of the season. But I’m only talking about starting my Saturdays early. Especially since the extra daylight already makes the days feel longer, so I feel pressured to squeeze more into my day.


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Days are 24 hours long. Full stop. But, if you do certain things during daylight hours – you now have more hours. Whether to do more or do things more leisurely. Simple math.


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Well, given a choice between tackling my overflowing daily “to do” lists or relaxing and enjoying the long days of summer, it seems like a no-brainer.


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It is not either-or … if you have more daylight hours, you have time to do both.

Want to read other columns? Here's a list.

Photo by alzay on iStock

It may seem odd to talk about footprints in the snow when most of us are experiencing record heat. But, as we all go through our busy days, it is easy to overlook how the steps we take in life, whether intentional or unplanned, good or bad, lead us to where we are today. And, while it is easy to focus on the past, the future is an untrodden path, waiting for our next step …

Back in 2004, I met an older couple participating in a Ferrari rally, and after a deep conversation over a long lunch, they became dear friends. It was an event that would change my life in many ways, and several months later, shortly after my husband “surprised” me with a divorce, the husband sent me an email that so moved me that I put it in my “Blue Book”. (A Circa planner with a blue leather cover, hence the name, that includes not only my calendars but also a section with a few things I re-read on a regular basis.)

Last month, he passed away. I always made a point of letting them know that “Footprints” had become an important part of my life. They are words to live by. And, in honor of my dear friend, who is loved and missed, I want to share that email. With no edits … as we do not get to edit our lives …

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Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

To say that this summer has been hot is an understatement, but summer has always been a season to enjoy longer days, the slower pace, and summer eating. And just because we’re being bombarded with pumpkin-flavored everything, indicating Fall’s just around the corner, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the summer way of life.

When the summer started, Red struggled to balance the feeling that she should be getting more done with the “extra hours” vs. wanting to enjoy more leisure time. Of course, Black couldn’t resist pointing out,

There are 24 hours in a day, regardless of season. The extra daylight makes you feel like you have more hours. Regardless, summer is a great time to rethink how you spend those “extra” hours.

So, even though the calendar may indicate we only have a few weeks left of summer, it’s not too late to think about summer hours … and how you can adjust your mindset. Which can last, well, forever.

To read our full conversation, which includes Black suggestion of possibly doing a cookbook (was she serious or merely being her typical sarcastic self?), click here.

Design by Sawyer Pennington, Underlying photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash


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I know it wasn’t your kind of movie, but I can’t stop thinking about the Barbie movie.


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It is if I look at it as a “research project” versus pure entertainment.


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Of course, you did. But I do understand. I know Sawyer was very excited about going to the sneak preview the night before it officially opened, not only to be entertained but to watch it through the lens (pun intended) of her classes at Belmont since she’s majoring in Creative & Entertainment Industries.


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I know she was excited to see it again with us. It is one of those movies where you will pick up on different things with each viewing.


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So, does that mean you’re going to see it a second time?
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