I spent the final days of 2022 in quiet reflection of the incredible year of travel I had. I spent the first week of the new year reconnecting with family and sharing our discoveries from our collective end-of-year reflections.
I’m in awe of the year I had.
Seriously, what was this past year?
It was nothing short of a whirlwind of red letters. This year I did exactly what I wanted. I went where I wanted. I got what I wanted.
Usually, I make do. Like…(metaphor time), “Here are the ingredients the universe has handed you; make the most of them.” And I do. The meal turns out good enough.
However, this past year was different. Good enough wasn’t the goal. This year, I knew what I wanted to whip up for myself. This past year, I went to the market. I sourced the exact ingredients I needed to make the meal I wanted to eat. And it was a buffet. And we’re not talking after church, Golden Corral buffet. We’re talking continental smorgasbord. It was everything and more (Charles Dickens reference).
And that’s what’s got me so pumped up. Endorphins flowing. Dopamine surging.
I kept trying to figure out why this particular year differed from the rest. After days of mental back-and-forth, it all boils down to this: This year was the best for me because I chose it. I didn’t settle for it.
The autonomy to make choices for yourself is really something. And I’m not talking about the freedom to settle for the good enough out of the limited options. The ability to choose your own path is so exciting and refreshing. I wish I had taken the helm sooner.
And maybe everyone has already figured it out, and I’m late to the party. I always saw those platitudes about going after what you want, and I was like…” Yeah, yeah, I’m doing it,” without assessing whether I was actually going after my dreams or just settling for good enough. Now the “ah-ha” light has gone off. This is what those motivational quotes have been talking about all along.
Charge For Next Year
I’m serious when I say I hope everyone can feel the way I’m feeling right now. I hope everyone can have a year where they choose what’s best for them and their life.
If you haven’t already, take time for your own end-of-year reflections. You could reflect on whether you are living the life you dreamed of. Maybe your reflection doesn’t involve travel. Maybe your dreams aren’t travel-based. Really assess if you have lost sight of your dreams. And remember that they are still possible. Is your life getting you closer to your dreams? Let me know what 2022 taught you in the comments.
When you’re regularly jet-setting to exciting, new settings, focusing on the career that funds your lifestyle can be a low priority. Being a digital nomad means being able to concentrate and produce quality products from anywhere. When trying to stay productive and focused as a digital nomad, I can share what has helped me.
For the past four months, I’ve joined the 35 million strong digital nomads across the globe. For the bulk of that time, quaint coffee shops in Antigua have served as improvised offices. I’ve taken conference calls from a beachside co-working space in Honduras. Bungalow desks overlooking Mayan jungles in Belize have been my headquarters.
1. GET YOUR MIND RIGHT
It took a while to wrap my head around the concept that, while temporarily living in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, I am not on vacation. I am not a tourist. I’m a woman on an extended business trip. My mindset needed shifting. Yes, I may be steps from an ancient Mayan cultural heritage site. However, I am here to do a job. Once I shifted my mentality, I was better able to stay productive and focused as per usual for all the other (boring) business trips I’ve taken before.
2. SET UP YOUR OFFICE RIGHT AWAY
Before booking a place to stay, I filter my search for places with Wi-Fi. Although not required, I look for places with a dedicated workspace. I also check for the proximity to coffee shops, co-working spaces, libraries, and universities with wi-fi nearby, just in case.
When I touch down in a new place, the first thing I do is check Wi-Fi speeds, service, and the noise level of the area. I unpack my laptop and supplies to get my makeshift “office” set up right away. That way, all I need to do in the morning is sit in the chair and log in. Setting up early provides time to pivot if I need to figure out alternatives.
3. CREATE DAILY ROUTINES
I get it, the point of nomad life is to get away from the ordinary. However, that only applies to your environment. I thrive on structure. When none exists, I create it for myself. The best part of remote life is that I get to determine what makes sense for me instead of trying to conform to other people’s preferences. I’m constantly tweaking the practices that cater to me. Of course, these routines might change based on the atmosphere and the rhythm of the local community.
My morning routine and first 30 minutes at work remain consistent. I’m most productive and focused when I use workflows. My workflow includes tasks that need attention outside of work, too.
Curate structures and experiment with routines until they are perfectly tailored to you.
4. Make Time for Fitness and Food
A well-nourished body is essential to concentration. As part of my routines, I keep a set time for getting outdoors and making sure I eat lunch. Even if my fitness consists of 15-minutes of calisthenics on the hotel balcony, I accomplish it before lunch. It’s easy for me to power through the day without food. By 4 pm I feel starved and beige of chips and banana bread. That’s not the best way to go! Also, be intentional about getting veggies in.
5. Flock to Other Digital Nomads
Honestly, I hated staring at my computer while my new resort buddies went off to enjoy a 4-hour Caribbean reef dive. To avoid feeling left out, find folks who have a similar work-play schedule. Even if your residence has excellent Wi-Fi, now and then, use the local co-working sites — if only for networking. Building a community with groups like Salena Hostel, Remote year, or Noma Collective can help you stay productive and focused as a digital nomad (even when you’re not officially part of the group).
6. Embrace Slow Travel
Ask those who have ever traveled with me — I am known to cram a lot in a day. However, digital nomad life isn’t a vacation —even in a recreation destination. When I’m obligated eight hours a day; leisure mode waits until after 4 pm. That doesn’t yield well for a three-day, mid-week getaway. I’ve found the longer I give myself in a place, the less urgency to do and see things immediately! That takes a lot of pressure off. Give yourself plenty of time to explore a place before jaunting off elsewhere.
When you’re location independent, you exchange traditional office distractions for a new set of challenges. I hope these tips and tricks I’ve shared help you stay productive and focused as a digital nomad. Let me know what works best for you!
First Trip of 2020: Black Ski Week in Breckinridge, Colorado
I just got back home from a glorious, long weekend in Colorado. The Annual Black Ski Week takes place at various slopes across the US and abroad. This year, we hosted our own mini Black Ski Week, separate from the official events. Last summer, a group of single, Army officers planned a weekend ski trip. That small group continued to grow. I’ll get to writing the travel essay ASAP but for those planning future trips to Breckinridge soon, here’s the logistical breakdown to help you plan a group trip of your own.
Altitude
First things first, that high altitude is no joke. You may think you’re all tough and in shape, but the lack of oxygen in Breckinridge, Colorado will get you. Be sure to prepare for high altitude like a pro.
Human bodies start to react differently to the changes in oxygen levels at altitudes around 4,921 ft. The base of Breckenridge, Colorado, is 9,600 feet. The summit of some ski resorts is upwards of 13,000 above sea level. To put it in perspective, the Altitude of Cusco, Peru is 11,200 feet. The altitude of Colorado Springs is 6,035 feet above sea level and Denver’s Altitude is 5,130 ft above sea level.
And just for kicks, the altitude of Boston, where I’ve resided for the past three years, is 141 feet above sea level. The elevation of my hometown in Owensboro, Kentucky, is 394 feet above sea level. For whatever strand of reasoning I applied, I was under the impression that since I adapted to Cusco’s altitude (three years ago) and since Denver and Colorado Springs didn’t bother me, I’d be unphased by a couple thousand more feet. That was a terrible assumption.
Carrying my luggage up the steps had me wheezing like I just sprinted a 100-meter dash. I avoided unnecessary trips to the next floor because it was a workout. If I left my phone charger upstairs, that’s just where it was going to have to stay, and my battery was going to have to die because my lungs were put to the test. Walking a flat surface wasn’t much better. We rented another cabin four houses down. However, walking my normal pace of 140 steps a minute might as well have been a performance mile run. I was always out of breath by the time I got to the next house about 300 feet away.
High elevations cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, bloody
noses, headache, fatigue, and just overall unwellness. The symptoms should be
over within three days. Overall, your body will adapt and you can just deal
with the discomfort and do nothing. But if you’re short on time and need to
press through the symptoms quickly, here are a few tips:
I’d suggest taking it easy on the physical
activities before then so you have time to adjust. I slept a whole day, waking up only to eat. Rest is a good thing.
If you smoke or have cardiac problems, check
with a doc before you travel.
Alcohol doesn’t help anything. Now, I’m not
going to tell you to avoid turning up, but just know, high altitude already
feels like a hangover when you’re sober. High Altitude hangovers are on another
level of discomfort.
They say drinking water helps. I drank hella gallons
and was still sick for three days.
In Cusco, the indigenous people used coca plants
to fight altitude sickness. Not sure how legal that is in the US, if you can
get it in the US, or if it’ll show in urine tests. Sorojchi pills were
recommended in Cusco. Goody’s powder and standard pain relief is good to have
on hand to deal with the headaches.
Oxishot! All the sporting stores in Breckinridge
sell Oxishots. It’s a can with 8 liters of oxygen. It costs about $16. It’s
fast acting and pretty awesome.
*** I have never had a bloody nose ever in life, and I didn’t have one here. But apparently, dang near everyone else did. So, if you’re a nose bleeder, expect it. ****
Black Ski Week Meals
City Market (at 400 North Parkway) is actually a Kroger with
an alpine facade. They deliver, so plan your menus and pre-order your ingredients
on-line. If feeding a crowd and you have some chefs (southerners) in your
group, this is your best bet. The town square does have plenty of satisfactory restaurants
(albeit a challenging parking situation).
We were fortunate enough to arrive with a van of phenomenal home chefs. Here’s some of the menus we ate:
One of many trips to Kroger.
Breakfast: Omelets & scrambled eggs (our house of 14 ran through 18 eggs in one morning), bacon (two pounds a day), sausage, muffins, french toast, grits, & coffee
Lunch: sandwiches, pizza (3 per day)
Dinner: Gumbo, BBQ lamb, smoked sausages, ribs, southern mac & cheese, hot chocolate, tacos, grilled corn on the cob
Late night: Baked ham & cheese sliders, whipped cream
Oh, and remember that high-altitude air pressure not only has an effect on humans but also on baking. You’re going to need to adjust the temperature, time, and ingredients for any baking you’re going to do. Check out King Author Flour for cooking guides. You’re going to need cases and cases of water. Bring plenty of Sharpies so people don’t take a sip and forget which bottle is theirs. Colorful ponytail holders around the bottle work in identifying the bottle as well.
Lodging
Our group of 35 chose Paragon Lodging, a luxury vacation rental agency, to house our group for the long weekend. Chelsea House and Claire’s Cabin were gorgeous homes outfitted for entertaining. Chelsea (where I slept) had 6000+ square, 6 bedrooms, and 4.5 baths feet giving all 14 of us elbow room and quiet spaces for us introverts to recharge from time to time. It was tucked away with a driveway set from the main road with gorgeous woodland mountain views. The kitchen (although illogically organized) was a foodie’s dream, and the collection of books located around the home was also impressive. The house also has maintenance workers come shovel snow from the drive and deck (around the hot tub). There’s no lifting a finger.
The rental company gives you a starter supply of toiletries but you will need to put toilet paper on your shopping list. Factoring in the amount of water hydration everyone will need to acclimate to the altitude, bloody noses, and alcohol consumption, I’d suggest no less than two rolls per person per day (Start off with two 24-roll packs). You’ll likely also need dish detergent, trash bags, and laundry detergent.
Both met my bougie expectations. The homes did not exceed my expectations only because none of the exterior doors were locked. That’s kind of a security concern…hopefully, the company gets that maintenance issue taken care of. But I’d definitely recommend it. It was a perfect choice for the weekend.
I can’t personally vouch for these. However, other luxury properties that appear to be similar in styling in the area include River Ridge Rentals, Majestic Breckinridge Lodging, and Pinnacle Lodging.
Packing
Of course, we overpacked. Just about everyone prepared for the arctic apocalypse. Just remember, everything that everyone packs will need to fit in the trunk of a car. Even with bulky snow gear, I am confident everything you need for a four-day weekend ski trip can fit in two carry-ons.
Fitting all our luggage & all the people in cars was a logistical feat.
Here’s what you need:
Socks, gloves, hat & Undies – self-explanatory. Go for a couple of pairs of wool socks if you can because once cotton socks get wet, it’s over for you.
Thermals/waffles/under armor— Just a dry-wick base layer to keep you warm
Sweater/Sweatshirt to wear over your base layer.
Ski Jacket & Ski pants (1 each). If you’re military and don’t have snow gear or don’t want to deal with checking it oversized luggage, check out the MWR or Outdoor rec to rent it. I never considered renting because I just thought it would be crappy gear. It’s not! For $5 per day, you get well-maintained and fashionable ski pants and ski jacket. Don’t worry about packing it either, Ft Carson and Peterson, AFB are located near the closest Airports to Breck. Check out 21fss.com.
Snow boots. Sorels are my favorite but since I’ve yet to have my boots returned from my trip to Germany this time last year, there are some other more affordable options.
Comfy clothes – for loafing around the cabin. Pants/leggings, shorts, onsie, tees, tanks, jammies. Don’t go overboard here.
Shower shoes/flops for the walk from the deck door to the hot tub. I mean, I did it barefoot and it didn’t bother me but, flip flops would have been nice.
Something to look cute at the bar if you choose to go. Do not bring stilettos to a snowy mountain. Life will not go well for you.
Toiletries – You’re going to be ashy. Your lips are going to be chapped. Your nose is going to be dry and maybe bleed. Be prepared.
Hot Tub Attire
Games. No Black Ski Week Apres Ski is complete without Uno. Spades. Taboo. Black Card Revoked. Bring on the Games!
This is the type of winter weather gear the 21st Force Support Squadron MWR rents to service members. Photo by @thefinalkutphotography
Transportation
You have a couple of options for transportation. Breckinridge is about two hours from the Denver Airport (which is on the far side of Denver from Breckinridge).
A couple of shuttle companies charge $40 per passenger for a one-way pick up from the airport to the cabin. Summit Express (855.686.8267) and Peak 1 (970. 724.7241) are both shared shuttles that provide this service.
Black Mountain Limo is a luxury private service that charges
$400 per trip.
If your flight lands at a time that allows, you can take the A-train to Union Station, switch to the Bustang, and then to the Summit Stage, which will take you from the Denver airport to downtown Breckenridge for less than $20 per person.
An Uber or Lyft typically costs $150 per person one way if
you want to consider that.
Depending on the size of your group and flight schedule, it
might be more economical to rent a tricked-out soccer mom van for the duration
of the time on the mountain. Hotwire.com tends to have phenom deals.
Activities
Even though it’s Black Ski Week, it doesn’t mean all your time has to be spent on downhill adventures. Breckenridge offers so many other winter activities to experience! We had a blast using Good Time Adventures as our one-stop shop for snowmobiling, tubing, and dog sledding through the Alpine trails. They also offer horse sleigh rides.
Y’all, I cannot stress enough, that those little, cute huskies run as fast as the mountain wind does blow. Those six little dogs run 30 miles per hour. Utilize the break on the sled. If you fly off the sled, they will keep running and your partner is going to be sitting there enjoying the view, not even realizing you’re no longer driving the sled. Use. The. Break.
Breckinridge, of course, is the
local ski resort, super close to the cabins.
Their lift passes work at Keystone (about 40 minutes away). So you can
ski Breck during the day, take a break, then do night skiing at Keystone all on
the same lift pass.
Horseback riding- I didn’t even try to go riding because it was cold AF. But Breckinridge does offer several stables in operation during the cold months. Keystone’s ski resort also has stables.
Just remember, all physical activities are harder to do at high altitudes. Regardless if it’s dancing, skiing, dog sledding, or any other physical activity (raised eyebrow, to hint at a euphemism) — ALL physical activities are harder in high altitude.
Lastly, the best time you’ll have
is the time you spend in the company of good friends. Keep the conversations flowing,
the music bumping, and the vibes high. Just enjoy being young, wild, and free.
Two love birds met on an annual trip a few years ago and still traveling together today.
Black Ski Week is a time for camaraderie and enjoying winter sports in a culturally nurturing way. There’s not one way to have an epic Black Ski Week. I think that covers everything you need to host your own Black Ski Week in Breckinridge, Colorado. Let me know if I didn’t cover something.
Before I get into the Spicy Pumpkin Lobster Bisque talk, let me say this. I know it’s late Oktober, but I am still in denial that summer is over. I kept seeing Facebook stories about folks in Kentucky talkin’ bout how it’s still 90 degrees. So I go down from Boston to visit my family. Let me tell you, It wasn’t that warm during the entire week +1/2 I spent there. Everyone kept saying how it just all of a sudden got a cold spell as soon as I came home. Serious bummer. And now that I’m back up north, New England won’t even let me pretend it’s still summer. I’m cold, y’all!!!!
Anyway, I made some spicy Pumpkin & Lobster 🦞 Bisque to help me come to terms with the weather. I first got fell in love with this creamy soup at a little hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant off Maybachstraße in Stuttgart about eight years ago. I’ve been tinkering with my own imitation of it ever since. I think I got it right! The soup gets its spicy kick from Harissa. You can try to find it in stores on your own or make your own. It’s so delish.
Spicy Pumpkin & Lobster Bisque
(makes 4 bowls)*
Ingredients
4 Tbsp butter
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 (15-oz) can of pure pumpkin OR 15 oz of fresh sweet pumpkin
1 tsp Harissa (can be substituted for cayenne pepper)
3 cups vegetable broth
Coconut milk
5 pounds of lobster meat
Directions
If using fresh pumpkin, be sure to use sugar pumpkins. These cannot be substituted for jack-o-lantern pumpkins. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut the pumpkins in half and drizzle with coconut, butter or olive oil. Place on a cookie sheet and cover with foil. Bake until tender (about an hour). Once cooled, scoop the pumpkin flesh out of the shell and puree in a food processor. Skip this step if you’re using canned pumpkin (and be sure you’re using pure canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie in a can).
Boil your lobster if using fresh lobster. Maintain the shells.
Next, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
Then, add onion and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned, about 12 minutes.
Stir in veggie broth. Boil broth with the lobster tails. Be careful not to allow the broth to boil, as you will cause it to evaporate and reduce your serving size. Remove lobster shells after about 5 minutes.
Add pumpkin to vegetable broth. Stir as you bring to a simmer.
Add coconut milk.
Then Add your lobster meat.
Finally, Sprinkle in harissa, salt, and pepper to taste.
**Disclaimer**
All of these measurements are estimates (please note my cultural cooking practices). I actually used a hand-full of frozen chopped white onions and about a little less than a whole abnormally large garlic glove. My original recipe used a can of creamy coconut milk, a big can of pumpkin, and a whole box of veggie broth (of which, I boiled a good amount out on accident — learn from my mistake). I’m not really sure how many pounds I used but, I spent about $18 on lobster meat from Wegmans. That was enough to taste in every spoonful. Try out my recipe and give me feedback on how it worked for you.
Although in America, watermelon is most often served as a dessert, there are so many ways to make watermelon savory. This Kongo-inspired watermelon with cilantro-lime peanut sauce recipe is just in time to make it on your Juneteenth celebration menu!
If you haven’t already haven’t learned the historical significance of watermelon and emancipation, you’ll want to check that out before adding this recipe to your Juneteenth menu.
More Background on Watermelon
Watermelon is native to Africa. It grows naturally from sea to sea across central and southern Africa. Watermelon is 96 percent water. It serves as a water source in arid environments. So it makes sense that they’d be most commonly associated with Arabs — at least until America’s Reconstruction.
As far as fruits go, watermelon offers few calories — only 46 calories per cup. Although it’s low in sugar and sodium, watermelon is high in minerals (magnesium, potassium vita A, C, B6, and B1). Watermelon was essentially the 19th century Gatorade—an electrolyte replenisher.
Certainly, for people performing manual labor all day in the Southern summer sun, there’d be few things better than breaking under a shade tree and snacking on watermelon.
Check out the recipe for this savory, Nigerian-Inspired watermelon dish.
Cultural Background on Peanuts
Now, folks from the Kongo may or may not serve a dish like this. I don’t know. I doubt it. But I attach this dish to the Kongo because of their influence in introducing American and Europeans to the peanut. Peanuts, like watermelon, okra, rice, and others are native to Africa. After Europeans kidnapped and enslaved by Europeans, Africans from all over West Africa smuggled these foods and seeds to America. Europeans didn’t have a name for peanuts yet, so they adopted the Kingdom of Kongo’s Bantu language word for it. “Nuguba” devolved into gooba, then goober. Southerners still use “goober” as a nickname for peanuts and often an insult.
Consequently, based on the prevalence of peanuts in certain regions of the south (Georgia), and the common use of the Bantu word for them as opposed to another African language’s name for peanuts, one could use this as a clue to trace Kongolese ancestry.
Lastly, a popular Civil War song celebrates (or mocks eating goober peas depending on which side you’re on) goober peas. My Kentucky fourth grade class sang the Goober Peas song daily for half a semester. Did everyone else do that? You’ll still find folks selling boiled peanuts on the side of the road across the south but mostly in Georgia.
Savory Kongolese-Inspired Watermelon Slices
Still working on getting the colors right post-production. These savory Kongo-inspired watermelon slices are glowing!
Ingredients
Half a seedless watermelon, sliced into wedges
Juice from one lime (2 tablespoons)
¼ cup roasted peanuts, chopped (I used sriracha seasoned peanuts)
1 minced garlic clove (Approx 2 TBS)
Fresh cilantro
Crunchy peanut butter, melted
half a red onion, thinly sliced (others prefer it diced)
brown sugar
Honey
Pinch of black pepper to taste
Optional: red pepper flakes or sliced jalapenos or sliced red peppers of your choice (I skipped this option).
Instructions
1. First, in a bowl, whisk lime juice, cilantro, brown sugar, honey, and garlic until sugar dissolves. Stir in melted peanut butter and onion. Set aside.
2. Next, arrange wedges on a platter and drizzle with dressing. Garnish with additional crushed peanuts. Serve and enjoy.
Notes: If you’re made uneasy by my lack of specific measurements, please see my comments regarding that on this recipe (hint: it’s a cultural practice). The exact measurements depend on your preference and fondness for the ingredients.
Admittedly, I could have sliced these onions a little finer. These savory slices are succulent & juicy!
If you’re wondering what to do with that unused watermelon half, check out these recipes:
The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI promotes a scholarly examination of the collection of anti-black strategic propaganda produced in the United States. One hateful image repeatedly displayed is the racist stereotype of black people with watermelon. Watermelon has historical significance as a symbol of freedom and economic independence for Americans. What I took away was the power of images and the deranged mental state that would allow a people to become so obsessed with creating them.
The stereotype emerged post-Civil War with a specific political purpose. Some newly liberated Africans chose to grow and sell watermelons as an avenue to economic independence. They “picked themselves up by the bootstraps” following emancipation. Watermelons became a symbol of African liberation.
As a result, whites, threatened by this hard-earned freedom, responded by racializing the fruit. They pathologized the new African-Americans as having an insatiable appetite for watermelon. Instead of a mark of independence, watermelon became the pictogram of uncleanliness, laziness, childishness, and simple-mindedness.
America witnessed resentful former enslavers upset that their livelihoods crashed. The cause of that crash was picking up the pieces and doing something productive with their lives. Of course, The South structured its entire economic system around the institution of slavery. Even if one wasn’t an enslaver, careers like overseers, auctioneers, deliverers, bounty hunters, steamboat industry, construction industry, banking industry, the fashion industry, and railway industry depended on enslavement. Even doctors and lawyers lost work due to abolition. Misery loves company, and if former enslavers we hurting finically, they wanted to ensure the former enslaved were too. The disgrace associated with the produce intended to shame black people from their business enterprises. As a result, it hurt business sales and prevent financial success.
Check out the recipe for this savory, Nigerian-Inspired watermelon dish. Link at the bottom of this history lesson.
In recognizing the historical context of the racist stereotype, we better understand what the trope says about its intended target and those who created the hateful image. We document that liberated Africans farmed and sold crops as honest work to sustain themselves and provide for their families. They continued their hard-working, industrious, resilient character with an entrepreneurial spirit into freedom.
By mocking honest work, resentful former enslavers mocked financial independence. They scorned the very foundation that America claims—freedom. They ridiculed hard work, initiative, and business enterprises.
We can take a scholarly approach in examining the phycology of the creators of the image. The caricature created illustrates how they view people hard at work. The amount of time focused on going out of one’s way to create such a hateful image indicates something peculiar, irrational, obsessive, and debased about their psychological condition.
While these images began during Reconstruction, they continue to propagate a century and a half later. All during President Obama’s presidency, the fruit was used to harass and undermined his qualification. Most notably were the images made in 2014 by the Boston Harald, Kentucky’s Obama and watermelon statue, and a related image circulated by Dean Grose, the Mayor of Los Alamitos, California. Just a few weeks ago in May, a staff member at the Boston Fine Arts Museum told a group of 7th-grade students from Dorchester (code for mostly black with some Latinos sprinkled in) “No food, no drinks, and no watermelon.”
The Destructive properties of the imagery extend beyond insult. Even today, black people are underrepresented watermelon consumers representing only 11% of watermelon consumers (13% would be right on target). I’ve also made a point not to eat watermelon because of the stereotypical depictions. Can you believe that? Something some hateful people began in the 1800s, who are long dead, has influenced the choices of a millennial in the 2000s. I’m not alone. Both Malcolm X and James Baldwin refused to eat watermelon in a mixed company.
Disassociation from watermelon continues to give power and influence to those, now dead enslavers who sought to dehumanize. There is no shame in any symbol of freedom. Freedom is something worth celebrating. By remembering the history and tradition of the entrepreneurship of liberated black farmers and black business owners during Reconstruction, we celebrate the achievement of resilience and hard work. We also draw a spotlight to how the racist depictions began in the first place—from actual lazy, salty, jealous haters.
Celebrate Juneteenth with watermelon dishes served three ways:
Savory watermelon with Nigerian-Inspired Groundnuts (aka peanuts)
When doing any type of travel, having a history and cultural context about the place you’re visiting ahead of time enriches the experience. So I curated a list of 22 books to accompany any trips out in the American West. These books were selected because they provide diverse perspectives, a comprehensive overview, and an introduction to the uniquely American way of life. They cover all age groups and reading levels. Let me know what you think and if you have any reading suggestions that you think should be on this list.
Although black cowboys are often missing from the prevailing narrative, black men made up as much as 25 percent of cowboys of the Old West. The word cowboy conjures up vivid images of rugged men on saddled horses—men lassoing cattle, riding bulls, or brandishing guns in a shoot-out. White men, as Hollywood remembers them. What is woefully missing from these scenes is their counterparts: the black cowboys who made up one-fourth of the wranglers and rodeo riders. This book tells their story.
If one out of every four cowboys of the Old West were Black, why aren’t they part of the cowboy narrative? This history book provides context to the history that is often overlooked.
The
brave pioneers who made a life on the frontier were not only male—and they were
not only white. The story of African-American Women in the Old West is one that
has largely gone untold until now. The author reconstructs the stories of ten
African-American women from historical documents found in century-old archives.
They were laundresses, freedom advocates, journalists, educators, midwives,
business proprietors, religious converts, philanthropists, mail and freight
haulers, and civil and social activists.
Professor
Emeritus at California State University at East Bay, tells the story of black
men and women of the old west. These cowboys include drivers, foremen,
fiddlers, cowpunchers, cattle rustlers, cooks, singers, wranglers, riders,
ropers, bulldoggers, and bronc busters. They came from varied backgrounds.
A
historical account of the forty-year battle between Comanche Indians and white
settlers for control of the American West, centering on Quanah, the greatest
Comanche chief of them all.
A love story, an adventure, and an epic of the frontier, Larry McMurty’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, Lonesome Dove, the third book in the Lonesome Dove tetralogy, is the grandest novel ever written about the last defiant wilderness of America.
The
national bestseller and the first volume in Cormac McCarthy’s Border Trilogy, All the Pretty Horses is the tale of
John Grady Cole, who at sixteen finds himself at the end of a long line of
Texas ranchers, cut off from the only life he has ever imagined for
himself. With two companions, he sets
off for Mexico on a sometimes idyllic, sometimes comic journey to a place where
dreams are paid for in blood. Winner of
the National Book Award for Fiction.
A New York
Times Notable Book of the Year by a New York Times Bestselling novelist.
“Lasso the Wind is like a good road trip across the West. You drive, you
stop to camp, you fall in love, and then you decide to stay. Egan’s words are
helping to settle the political chaos of this changing landscape. Alongside his
sharp eye for details and clarity of mind is an ethical spine that is helping
to shape the new West. I’m so glad he’s here.” –Terry Tempest Williams
Photo courtesy of Paintbrush Adventures in Absarokee, MT. Yes, the place really is this beautiful and one of my all time favorite American adventures.
Narbona could not have known that “The Army of the
West,” during the longest march in American military history, was merely the
vanguard of an inexorable tide fueled by a self-righteous ideology now known as
“Manifest Destiny.” For twenty years the Navajo, elusive lords of a huge swath
of mountainous desert and pasturelands, would ferociously resist the flood of
soldiers and settlers who wished to change their old way of life or destroy
them.
ritten
in 1958, the author’s condescending sexism, racism, and superficiality are
nonchalantly reflected. The author rarely references primary source writings of
women, but more commonly newspapers or the recollections of men. He spends
considerable time documenting ondescending remarks about women’s clothing and the
author can’t seem to write enough about prostitutes. The title is misleading in that it excludes
all women with the exception of white women. This book is included on this list
as a contrast between the other diverse works and this perspective which is the
most prevailing of cowboy life in the old west.
When orphans Aiden and Maddy Lynch first meet trail rider,
Jefferson J. Jackson, in the spring of 1865, they’re struggling to survive on
their family’s drought-ravaged Kansas farm. So when Jackson offers an escape –
a 2000-mile journey across the roughest country in the world – Aiden knows it’s
their only choice.
Set in modern-day Montana, captures the essence of the
west with wide open spaces from the perspective of a sixteen-year-old
experiencing his last summer of childhood without his mother. A 2009 Best Book for Young Adults.
This is a six book series of the triumphs and struggles
of a nine-year-old Swedish immigrant to America who moves to the Minnesota
territory in 1854 and starts her new life in America as a pioneer in the
plains. It touches on historical topics like manifest destiny in addition to
timeless lessons of American girlhood like friendships, family, and growing up.
The true sweat-and-dirt tale of the feisty
cowboy-child who became the most famous black rodeo performer who ever lived.
The picture book includes a note about the history of the black West and a
bibliography. Supplement this reading by
following it with a video of the real Bill Pickett in action from the 1922
silent film, The
Bull Dogger.
Bill Pickett is the most well-known of Black American Cowboys. This children’s book tells some of his adventures.
Charro is the Mexican term
for “horseman.” However, a charro is much more than a cowboy. More
than showing their horsemanship charros show off their pride for their
country–because to be a charro is to be a Mexican. Female charro competitions are called
escaramuzas. You can start exploring their elegant yet fierce horsemanship on
this Youtube
video.
The tale of the
Southwestern cousins of the Three Little Pigs and their troubles with the Big
Bad Coyote. It also comes in a Spanish version. You can observe it read
out loud here on YouTube.
The western, lady cousins of the Three Little Pigs have Big Bad Coyote troubles of their own.
Black Frontiers chronicles
the life and times of black men and women who settled the West from 1865 to the
early 1900s. In this fascinating book, you’ll meet many of these brave
individuals face-to-face, through rare vintage photographs and a fascinating
account of their real-life history. You
can hear the book read
out loud here on YouTube.
Although this rhyming alphabet book targets younger
learners, it does provide useful vocabulary and detailed informational
paragraphs on Western history. It’s versatile and informative across all age
groups. Read along with the YouTube
Video.
No study of the American cowboy is complete without being intimately familiar with the legendary epitome of cowboys, Pecos Bill. You’ll find no shortage of children’s picture books on this epic American Tall Tale hero. You can watch Walt Disney’s Merrie Melodies version on YouTube. Let his tall tale segue into a complete study of tall tales, an classically American storytelling art form.
“Rose was the first child born free and easy to Jackson and Millicent MacGruder. I recall most vividly the night she came into this world. Hailing rain, flashing lightning, and booming thunder pounded the door, inviting themselves in for the blessed event.” Cowgirl Rose grows up to be a force to be reckened with.
In American Tall Tale fashion, this children’s book tells the story of a little cowgirl named Rose, who is a force of nature.
In addition to travel, consider pairing this study of the American West with culinary exploration and movies. Don’t forget to let me know if you have any other book suggestions in the comments!
While road tripping in 2016 to complete my “All 50 States” tour, I pulled over along a desolate highway. The sunset views against Arizona’s Painted Desert deserved so much more than a passing glance as I drove through. I got out of my car and stood amidst absolute, complete silence and watched nature take place.
I’d never seen anything like it. Iridescence cascaded into/like an overture/coloratura across the sky. The sun painted murals on rock formations. Fallen, petrified trees from the late Triassic period, 225 million years ago interspersed throughout the barren landscapes soon gave way to majestic silhouettes accented by stars that seemed close enough to pull right out of the sky.
There I stood, somewhere between, “the bright blessed day and dark sacred night” that inspired Armstrong’s crooning and led him to rejoice, “What a wonderful world.” Wonderful world, indeed.
Engulfed in awe of the creator’s innovation, my heart overflowed with gratitude that the composer saw fit to share this masterpiece with me. At the moment, an elucidation that captured this experience from Forest Gump, long buried in the depths of my mind, rose to the surface, “In the desert, when the sun comes up, I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped, and Earth began. It was so beautiful.” At this moment, I too struggled to distinguish Heaven from Earth. For the first time, I understood.
Surrounded by both vast nothingness and the density of significance at once, all of the people I love came to mind. I wanted them to have a moment like this. I wished they could witness this. I craved for them to feel all of this.
I want you to know how these colors feel.
I view the world through a historical lens. Whereas an engineer may look at something and ask how it works, I look for clues left by previous generations to learn the story of why and document to provide clues for the next. I travel in order to cover as much ground as possible to increase the probability that I trace the steps of my progenitors but also, lay a path for descendants. I try to have many unique experiences so when others experience the same, it bridges a gap of understanding in a way that it couldn’t by being explained.
For example, I grew up in a military family. Saturday mornings often started with a G.I. Party (the military community knows, this is not an exciting event) and getting ready for school came with the expectation that it only takes three minutes to do the Three S’s. After 22 years of growing up in that environment, it wasn’t until I experienced military training for myself that I learned it is indeed possible to get ready in three minutes (which is 90 seconds more than what’s actually needed). That experience helps me relate to every American warfighter that has come before me in a way I couldn’t before. Visiting Charleston, I was filled with an enormous sense of family connection. Although I don’t know for sure, the statistics make it highly probable that someone from my family’s past walked the same streets centuries before. Even after reading Little Women multiple times and watching both versions of the movie, it wasn’t until visiting the March family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Mass that I felt that I really got to know the family. Tracing the steps of James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and Lois Mailou Jones in Paris’ Latin Quarter helps to understand their muses and inspires creativity of one’s own. The same goes for visiting the homes and frequented localities of all historical figures. It gives a snapshot of the surroundings of the historical figure, how they lived, and what influenced their thoughts. It helps to understand how they worked through some of their decisions and thought processes. I know, from visiting the Kennedy Library and Museum that Jacqueline took a cruise to Paris with friends while in college and it was the best year of her life. But I don’t know any such information about anyone in my family.
I’d like to able to know and connect with my family in the same way, but so much of my family’s history went undocumented. I do have some say over the documentation prepared for the future of my family to be able to know and connect in the same way that I do historical figures.
So I travel. I do things. I search out a diversity of experiences, not only so I can find some commonality with people I come in contact with today, and so I can relate to people of yesteryear, but also for those who come next will be able to identify with me in some way.
Regardless of France’s past and current transgressions as colonizers, and irrespective of the more impactful uses of contribution money, Notre Dame’s burning is a loss. The losses of St Mary Baptist, Greater Union Baptist, and Mount Pleasant Baptist in Louisiana and the several mosques also burning at the same time does not detract from the loss of this Catholic Church in France. It is a loss of history — literary history, architectural history, religious history, cultural history, and personal history. And it is a loss of a future. Three generations of women in my family explored this site together during a wonderful summer trip, and now, our future generations will not see it as we saw it.
I can only imagine what it would be like: To be going about my day, look up, and see the smoke, then realize it’s Notre Dame burning.
In the wake of the devasting fire to Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral, social media users flooded their timelines with the nostalgia of Paris vacations. Criticisms grew that this act was merely bragging. When we grieve the loss of a pet, it is common to remember by showing pictures of the memories with them. When we mourn the loss of a loved one, we do the same thing. When a home full of warm memories is lost, we often use pictures to help us remember those memories and grieve. And in the most heartbreaking occasions, when a dream is lost, one of the ways we grieve is by looking at pictures of that dream. Have we gotten so cynical and disconnected from humanity that we confuse the human emotion of grief for bragging? And really, isn’t that the central focus on social media? A platform to draw attention to yourself?
The places we travel become the setting for the story of our lives. Perhaps, my progeny won’t give their ancestors a second thought, but at least if they do, the more places I travel, the easier it will become for those who come after me to visit and find a connection if they so wished. When they find themselves randomly out in the middle of the desert, witnessing all its glory, and they’re longing for someone to share it with, they’ll know they had an adventurous ancestor who sent everywhere and saw everything and likely witnessed it and felt the same way too. Perhaps, if the Earth is still around, four generations from now, my offspring will visit France’s capital. Perhaps they’ll respond just like me and marvel at finally witnessing the architecture discussed in classes first hand. Perhaps they’ll be like some of my travel companions and be underwhelmed. Perhaps, if it is rebuilt, they’ll climb the tower. Perhaps if restored properly, they won’t have to climb the steps and take the elevator instead. Maybe my future offspring will see the cathedral for the first time with friends. Perhaps they’ll make their mark on eternity and get engaged right next to the Charlemagne statute, under the shade of the trees. At the very least, perhaps those scions will at least have the primary source document that shows four generations of women in their family have gone to Paris, strolled the narrow alleyways, delighted in the cuisine, and had their picture taken in front of La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.
They say, there isn’t a Kentuckian who isn’t headed home or thinking about home. These extra boozy, chocolate bourbon balls will have you doing both.
My great-grandma was buried in Hardin County, Kentucky when I was in first grade. Consequently, I don’t remember her. All I have is a picture of her holding me at eight months old and her legacy, passed down from my mom. That legacy is that her traditional Kentucky bourbon balls were extra boozy and burned going down.
Bourbon and chocolate slow dance together in an authentically Kentucky, Bourbon Ball recipe
Flash forward to my young adulthood:
I was working at my first duty station in Montgomery, Alabama right after college. Feeling a little homesick during the first week of May, I decided to experiment in my kitchen and came up with the perfect mix of chocolate and booze for Kentucky Bourbon Balls.
Since the military brings folks from all over the globe together, it’s standard to share our regional traditions. So I decided to share my Kentucky traditions and brought my concoction to work for my co-workers. It wasn’t a whole five minutes that my bourbon balls were on the free-for-all table that my outlook started blowing up with e-mails:
“OMG, it burns!” “I’m going to be driving home drunk!” “These cookies are like taking a shot.” “Keep em’ coming!”
Oh, maybe bringing balls of bourbon was not the best idea. Didn’t think that one all the way through. Or perhaps it was the best idea ever! Depends on your perspective. It was even mentioned at my going away, the time I set the whole office drunk. Whoops! I’m not sure exactly how Mama Claire made her bourbon balls, but they seemed to yield the same effect. I just chalk any differences in recipe up to generational evolution. Most recipes out on the interwebs today call for ‘Nilla wafers. I nix that. Instead, my balls go for max chocolate flavor dancing with maximum bourbon flavor.
So, if you find yourself hosting a Kentucky Derby party this spring, or just longing for home, make sure this recipe is used to keep it authentically Kentucky.
Mama Claire’s Great Grand Daughter’s Bourbon Balls
Prep: 1 day (Yes Really, a whole day) Yields: 75 balls
INGREDIENTS
1 cup chocolate graham crackers finely crumbled in a food processor 1 cup Oreo cookie crumbs (Oreo makes 8-inch pie crusts that measures out to be 1 cup of cookie crumbs, or you can scrape the icing out of the cookies then use a food processor, they cost about the same using Oreo brand) 1 cup Bourbon (Wild Turkey Honey, Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Buffalo Trace Four Roses…I used Makers, just make sure it’s from Kentucky) 1 cup Chopped pecans (or sliced almonds or ground walnuts) 5 0z package of dry chocolate pudding mix 1/2 cup Cocoa powder 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup Brown sugar 4 TBS unsalted, softened butter 1 TBS vanilla extract
Notes: You might take people’s nut allergies into consideration and make a nut-free batch. Although most of my recpes follow my cultural tradition of seasoning until the ancestors say enough, I actually tested this recipe for measurment accuracy.
I love these beautiful shades of brown from the different types of chocolate plus, brown sugar.
DIRECTIONS
In a covered bowl, soak one cup of finely chopped pecans in a cup of bourbon for hours. HOURS!!! Try eight. Soak the nuts in the morning, go to work, come back that evening and start mixing. Or soak overnight.
In a mixing bowl, combine your cookie & cracker crumbs, cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate chips, and brown sugar. Mix.
Add pecans & bourbon soak to the dry chocolate ingredients bowl. Then add the rest of the wet mix ingredients and mix together until the mixture is moldable like damp sand. If you overdo it and the mix is too runny (it won’t be) add powdered sugar. If it’s not mixing enough, add hints of more bourbon.
Using a mini cooking scoop, roll the batter into 1-inch balls. Sit them in mini cupcake cups for individual servings or let sit on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for an hour.
To decorate: Roll balls in powdered sugar, ground nuts, chocolate sprinkles, cocoa powder or drizzle with sweetened condensed milk or icing for garnish.
The scent of pecans soaking in bourbon is how I imagine Heaven will smell when I get there…especially if Mama Claire is already there in the kitchen.
Store in an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator. These taste best two days later after bourbon has had time to permeate. They also freeze well. You know you made them just right when you get the enthusiastic reaction and have folks telling you it burns going down like a shot of bourbon in cookie form. These extra boozy, chocolate treats will have you back in the bluegrass in no time, if only in your heart.
While you’re in a Kentucky state of mind, head on over to my Hot Brown recipe and make it a Kentucky kind of day.
When last-minute trips happen, I’m so grateful for pre-planned city guides. I let Lee Tumbe’s 24 Hours in Miami guide my itinerary when I didn’t have time to plan my own trip. However, I did some tweaking for some personalization. I booked my first time in Miami less than a week in advance. This is my Miami itinerary to have an action-packed 24-hours in Miami. You may want to spread out the activities across two days and schedule more time to relax. Here’s what to do during a weekend in America’s hottest Beach town To get the Budget Breakdown, check this article out.
The Generator is known luxury hotel popular in Europe and making its way across the USA.
The Generator is a luxury hostel, yes, a luxury hostel that’s just 100 feet away from the beach and a 20-minute drive from the airport. The spot offers several sleeping options with the cheapest being a co-ed bunk room shared with 8 people. You could go upscale with a king to yourself. I opted for an all-girl bunk room. It could be fun to book an entire bunk room for a group of friends for a hen or bachelorette weekend. This hip hostel chain is popular across Europe an making its way to America. I totally recommend it. The arrangement offers a great way to socialize in a way that traditional hotels don’t offer. This hostel also has a cafe that makes a great brunch. If you’re short on time & money during your 24-hours in Miami, I highly recommend it.
If you’re not short on time and money, head on over to…
When I arrived, my only option was to sit so close to another couple that I could have been mistaken as part of their party. The little shop only has seven small café tables. The cafe was hot and humid. The door was left propped open. I guess the air conditioner didn’t work. Miami is the worst place to be AC bereft.
The space cleared out quickly. Of course, the spot by the ever-popular flamingo wall was taken by four athleisure-clad hotties dishing the scoop in Spanish. As soon as they left, a couple with a tall red-headed man relocated from their tiny table to the flamingo seating. For a bit, only the three of us were in the shop. When they left, I posed for my instagramable moment. The staff is made of photography pros. They understand that their setup was meant for photography. Heck, it’s the whole reason I went.
The Food
As Lee noted, the shop is out of the way and expensive, but they do offer a 10% military discount (that I forgot to ask for). All this highfalutin’ food set me back $45. The #28 Salmon & avocado sandwich ($16), #5 Smoothie berries, banana with almond butter ($11), and #22 dragon fruit bowl ($16) were all delish. But I paid $16 for a bowl of fruit.
It’s easy to eat vegan and gluten-free here but questionable if you have nut allergies as all the dairy is replaced with nut milks. I ate from an environmentally friendly, decomposable bamboo spoon. Even the takeaway bottles are made of reusable glass. Perhaps the lack of AC was intentional for environmental sake.
The food, although overpriced, was tasty and healthy. The setting is charming. I still maintain that I would not go out of my way to eat here, but it’s a nice option if you’re near Miami Beach Botanical Garden or the pedestrian-only Lincoln Ave Shopping Center.
Head over
to Miami
Like LeBron James illustrated when he said, he was, “Taking my talents to South Beach,” most people don’t realize Miami and Miami Beach are two separate cities with different Mayors. I just thought Miami Beach was the name of a beach in Miami. Miami is a coastal metropolitan in southeast Florida (population of 453,579). Miami Beach (population 91,917) is an island about 10 miles away and connected by bridge freeways.
This place was free for me with my military ID general adult admission is $22. The estate offers discounts to children, people with college IDs, and guests in wheelchairs. It’s closed on Tuesdays. The house was gorgeous but the gardens steal the show. You’ll spend plenty of time outside. You’ll want to get there as soon as it opens for the best lighting, avoid photo bombers, and beat the mid-day heat.
1030 Historic Black Police
Precinct
I’m a history buff so of course, I’m going to seek out the history of a town. Located in the heart of the historic black Overton neighborhood, the former courthouse and police department stands as a reminder of how segregated and divided this country has always been. The museum closes at 4 pm.
1130 Lunch at Jackson Soul Food
Just a 5-minute walk away. You’ll walk under an overpass that a community of people uses as shelter. I did it. You can do it too. Just don’t be surprised. Call the restaurant ahead of time because the hours can vary based on events.
This museum is free for military members. General adults pay $16. I strategically planned this museum after Vizcaya Museum and Gardens because it opens later and stays open. That gives me more time to enjoy each. The Perez Art Museum closes at 6 PM every day except Thursday when it extends its hours for three extra hours and Wednesday when it’s closed.
If I had to pay to see this museum, I’d probably also pass. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the modern art here far more than say the Guggenheim in Miami. However, it’s not the Louvre, which charges the same price. Plus, there’s so much free art in Miami that paying Louvre prices isn’t necessary. Now, the grounds outside the museum make a beautiful setting for a lovely stroll.
1400Frost Museum of Science
The science museum is right next door to the Perez Art Museum which is also free for those with military IDs. Otherwise, it’s $30 for “adults” over 12. Since I’m not overly sciencey and the science displayed here is juvenile in nature, I’d skip it. The planetarium shows, which costs military members an additional $5 could be a cool date idea. I was able to browse through both museums in an hour.
1500 Wynwood Walls
Speaking of free art…Wynwood Walls is an outdoor exhibit but all of Wynwood is full of art all over the walls. This is a legit outdoor museum with an indoor museum at the end.
Before the gentrification of Wynwood, things were affordable. Then the artists came and made the neighborhood cool and trendy. Then came the investors and priced the artists right out of the neighborhood.
1630 Azucar & Domino Park in Little Havana
Rounding out the day during your 24-hours in Miami, I went to the iconic Azucar Ice Cream Company. It’s on Calle Ocho. You cannot go to Miami without visiting the street PitBull, “Mr. 305” raps so nostalgically about!
Right across the street from the sugar shop you’ll find Domino Park. It’s beautiful to see dozens of people from across a diaspora come together, unite, and play dominos. It’s the culture that draws tourists to witness and observe. The action clears out around 6 pm.
Once the sun goes down, Little Havana is the place you’ll want to be. I ended up in ____ocho. It’s a Cuban restaurant that didn’t serve Cuba Libres. I settled for sangria and asked for the food menu. The waitress must have forgotten (or didn’t understand) because when I asked for the menu the third time, she present me with the check. I can’t vouch for the food but the live music and dancing set the ambiance. Oh well, back to Miami Beach.
2100 Night Life
You cannot spend 24-hours in Miami without dancing until dawn. After a shower and an outfit change, it’s time to rally on South Beach! Voodoo Rooftop Lounge & Hookah – This place is great. You can grab a meal, chill while smoking hookah, dance, and drink all in the same place. There’s no cover but they do ID. IT stays open until 3 am. Take a stroll down the strip and see where the night takes you.
