What's in a name?

I am writing a final exam with a question about the basic precepts of Buddhism including the concept of Nirvana and I remembered this story from my life. I wrote it in the exam to amuse the professor, but I thought it might tickle your fancy as well:

I was once camping in upstate New York with my husband and some other couples. One couple, Chuck and Debbie, arrived later having driven a few hours from Buffalo across the state. They told us that on their drive they drove through the town of Minerva. As they did so, Chuck had said to his wife, “well, Debbie, we can now say that we’ve finally reached Minerva.” Debbie said to Chuck, “Chuck, I know what you’re talking about but I don’t think it’s called Minerva, I think it’s called something else.” For the rest of the camping trip (and indeed to this day), we talked about what it would take to finally reach a “state of Minerva.” I’m sure the goddess of wisdom would be most amused, and the Buddha would love it, because, after all, what's in a name?

Gluten Free Store Booming in Midtown

The Gluten Free Specialty Market in midtown on J street opened last year in the middle of the current economic restructuring and has continued to grow and thrive. Every time I go into the store, owner and sole proprietor, Melanie Weir is beaming about a new display case or refrigerator she's added or a new line she's ... Read More »

When we protect do we deprive?

Today I walked with my almost 13-year-old daughter from our Southside Park neighborhood a few blocks to the Downtown Shopping Plaza to buy a birthday present for a friend of hers. Our route retraced the steps she takes several times on the way home from the bus she takes after school. As we walked along, she pointed ... Read More »

Why am I blogging all of a sudden?

The answer: I decided it was time. I used to blog daily. Then for a long time, largely because of my reactions to my son's extended illness, I have only blogged very occasionally. Now, though my son is still recovering and could be for months, I feel it is time to start again.

Soon, I may even twitter.

How viable is K-8 in Sacramento Area Schools?

Posted by SaraSNichols at 11/26/2009 4:25 PM PST on The Sacramento Bee
For a while I've wondered how viable K-8 schools really are, and lately I think I'm getting my answer: they're not, at least for 7th and 8th graders. What makes me say that? Midtown-based Courtyard Private School has elminated its 7th and 8th grades, reverting to the K-6 that it used to be, while ... Read More »

Whither the Wagon?

Recently my husband and I shopped for a new (to us) vehicle. We wanted a recent model car that was reliable and got decent mileage for a family car. Oh, and we wanted a wagon. I looked up reliable new or slightly used vehicles/wagons on Consumer Reports and found that the Mazda 5 "wagon" is a "Best ... Read More »

Sacramento Opera is for the Masses (Only they don't know it yet...)

Two things:

1) yesterday the Sacramento Bee Sunday paper printed the last NorCal blog I wrote on Local food, so check that out if you haven't.

2) This is my post on NorCal voices today:

Yesterday I saw the current Sacramento Opera production of Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti. I can honestly say that it was hands-down the best production of this opera that I have seen. Okay, prior to yesterday I had not heard of Donizetti or this opera, but I think it was a solid production. ...