Sedate me until the election ends

read more…: Sedate me until the election ends

But we, liberals and conservatives alike, should never dehumanize each other. We need to keep in mind—regardless of the result on Tuesday, or Wednesday morning, or two weeks from Tuesday when all of the votes are finally counted—that ideological differences don’t make us enemies, at least not in a democracy. 

The Soapbox: Why Kelly Ayotte has my vote

read more…: The Soapbox: Why Kelly Ayotte has my vote

We are fortunate to live in a state that seems to make a top ten list with each new survey that’s published. This is no coincidence. After 8 years of successes under Governor Chris Sununu, Kelly has pledged to continue to build upon this record of achievement and take New Hampshire to the next level. She has the background, the skills, and the ability to bring people together and do just that. 

The Soapbox: Pitfalls of prediction – for candidates and the country

read more…: The Soapbox: Pitfalls of prediction – for candidates and the country

Christmas is two months away as I write this. When the holiday nears, many children, excited with anticipation, will pick up a box from underneath their tree and shake it to arrive at their best guess at what’s inside. As wishful thinking is human nature, many a child will joyously decide it’s exactly what they want and will later have to conquer their disappointment when it turns out to be a sweater. (Mom, if you’re reading this, I promise I liked the sweater you got me last Christmas.)

The Soapbox: Double standards in pay raise politics and why Ayotte’s critique of Craig rings hollow

read more…: The Soapbox: Double standards in pay raise politics and why Ayotte’s critique of Craig rings hollow

The charter revision was never adopted, but the city’s Board of Mayor and Alderman did subsequently approve a long-overdue salary bump for the person who captured the mayoralty in 2023, a bit of nuance the Ayotte campaign fails to note in its TV spot, thereby intentionally creating the false impression that Craig was feathering her own nest despite never receiving a raise as mayor.

Dancing on the edge of retirement

read more…: Dancing on the edge of retirement

I feel I am dancing on the edge of a knife (the unsharp side, of course) where one side is retirement, and the other side is work. I’m playing the middle at this point as I garner the benefits of each side: I work as a nurse on my terms, not constrained by full or part-time work, but being available as a substitute nurse or for working full-time for a specific period of time. (Look out, I may be administering flu shots at your CVS!) At this point in my life, I need that structure, collegiality, and the ability to work with the public. Okay, and the money doesn’t hurt.