Banter Bites

The Eyewall: Weather … whether you’re more like Red or Black

NOTE: This is NOT a paid ad … in fact, it’s the opposite; we’re sponsoring them!

For those of you who may not know us, we’re real sisters who grew up in the same house in New York with the same parents, but that’s where the similarities end. We even took very different paths to live in Houston (one as a corporate wife and stay-at-home mom – the other as a corporate businesswoman). And when Red had a crisis, Black turned it into a book – a brand – a business. (What are big sisters for?!)

What does any of that have to do with weather? And hurricanes? And sponsoring The Eyewall’s 2024 hurricane season? Well, we’re both avid readers of Space City Weather and The Eyewall. And while we know the value of reliable weather reports to help us make informed decisions, our perspectives are very different,


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Ever since you helped me drive through some totally unexpected, and very frightening, high-water years ago, I have a serious fear of storms. Then, having to evacuate due to Hurricane Harvey only made it worse.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

But, you now understand why you need to be pragmatic and as non-emotional as possible when dealing with serious weather events. Being safe means being prepared and staying informed.


red headred head assets.rebelmouse.io

Me, unemotional? Easier said than done, but you’re right. Which is why I love, and count on, The Eyewall and Space City Weather. Matt Lanza and Eric Berger always present everything in a way that balances my need to understand what’s happening and respects that some of us react emotionally to bad weather.


Black's HeadBlack assets.rebelmouse.io

They describe it as “hype-free forecasts.” Which, after following them for years, I can attest to that. And, is why we are sponsoring The Eyewall.

P.S. – If you’re curious about what started Red’s “weather PTSD,” check out, Come Hell Or High Water … Or Both?

weather
Words & Banter

Adult Education Lessons … From The Racetrack?!

The last time I was in Indianapolis, I became the first woman to race the road course at Indy (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) — in a Ferrari Challenge support race on a Formula One (F-1) weekend, no less. Although I did not know it at the time.

So, when I heard about a national conference of adult educators being held in Indianapolis, I thought it was the perfect location.

Are you wondering, “What is the connection?”

In racing, people focus on the driver. The one in the car. The one who crosses the finish line. But, that is not how racing works. No driver is alone — there is always a team with us. Plus, we are constantly learning — from coaches, from other drivers, from trying something new. And, adapting — to changing conditions, new technology, more experience.

There is an old racing axiom,

To finish first, first you must finish.

But, even more basic … you cannot finish if you do not start. And, for many adult learners, starting is the hardest part. Some are doing it for the first time. Some are trying again. All are stepping into something uncertain. For some, it is scary. For others, it is exciting. Often, it is both. No different than when I go to a new track.

There are many similarities between racing and adult education. So, if I could provide adult educators with just one takeaway, it would be this,

You are an integral part of the student’s “crew” … You are often the reason people start. You make sure they are not alone when they do. You help them get to the finish. And, without you, they might never get out of neutral.

So, throttle on.

adult education

Shop, Social Media & Site — UPDATE!

RED & BLACK SHOP

We’re excited to announce we’ve finally opened the store and will be adding more items over the coming months. But it’s not about selling “stuff” … it’s about combining inspiring and entertaining messages (what we like to call “merchandise with meaning”) with items that are both practical and fun.

And, following a commitment we made years ago, everything is Made In The USA.

Please check it out at www.RedandBlackShop.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Not to brag, but our social media followers are growing faster than expected (except on Facebook, but that might be because we lost 4,500 followers … on purpose).

For those of you who use social media, we’d love it (well, Red would "love” it — Black would greatly appreciate it) if you could check us out — and if it’s not too much trouble … help us spread the word!

  • Instagram: Follow us and share in your story
  • Facebook: Follow and join in the conversation by commenting
  • LinkedIn: Follow, comment, and repost

WEBSITE

It seems we keep saying our new and totally revamped website is about to launch. Well, we’re about to finalize all the library topics, which is the last major piece. That was a major project, and I’m sure we’ll tell you all about it, as it showed both the strength and weakness of artificial intelligence (AI) to review lots of data. But we’re almost there.

Want to be one of the first to find out when it goes live? Go to the bottom of this page and sign up for our Saturday newsletter. (We promise we won’t inundate you with lots of emails.)

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE …

The world is changing — and we’re all being inundated with opinions, politics, and misinformation. Add in AI, and more than ever, people are looking for authenticity and human intelligence. Or, at least, human connection. So, when it comes to Red & Black … what’s more “real” than real sisters?

We’re going to stay true to ourselves and continue to focus on content that will (hopefully) help people laugh, learn, and build community alongside us. (OK, there may be some eye-rolling at Black’s unexpected comments or Red’s “cluelessness” at times.) On social media. With our merchandise. In our newsletter. On this site.

authenticity
Learning For Life

Tools To Help You Take Control

Design by Sawyer Pennington

Over the years (and much to our surprise), we’ve found that many of the ideas and approaches Black shared with Red to help her deal with an assortment of topics are resonating with people of all ages. (Red will be the first to tell you that Black sees things differently than most people … while Black just sees herself as extremely pragmatic.) It may be because many are what Red describes as "instantly actionable" items or “duh” moments. Others may simply get you to stop and think. But that, too, is a good thing. So, we created this LEARNING FOR LIFE section.

LOTS OF LISTS

Red will be the first to admit that she’s learned that lists for the sake of having lists is not productive. But over the years, we’ve been told our lists are often valuable checklists. Some were ones Black created for Red when she was going through her “crisis” (Red’s word, not Black’s), while others were created when we were teaching at KIPP Houston High School. But over the years, we’ve developed ones in response to conversations we’ve had with people, although Black may come up with lists just to get you thinking.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

People told us they’re using our sisterly banter to start conversations with others — family, friends, at work, and even in classrooms — so Black created CONVERSATION STARTERS. Each provides our perspectives but then lists some “leading questions” to get the conversation started.

We all have those days when we feel life is out of control, so we’ll continue to provide you with information and tools that we hope you’ll not only enjoy and find useful, but also want to share.

Technically, they’re weekly newsletters, but readers have told us they get them thinking — get them talking — get them taking action, so sign up on the "sticky bar" at the bottom of the page.

lifelong learner