Skip to main content

No Complaints



I feel the need to inject some positivity into the mix this morning. We all know that there’s plenty to be concerned about. Why not pause for a moment to talk about some good things?

This weekend we ordered take-away from Grille Chick’n Pollo in Hickory Ridge. It was delicious. My husband is a huge fan of the white sauce that accompanies the orders. He maintains that a similar sauce is served with fries in the Netherlands. Who knew? Even though cole slaw is probably not a Peruvian staple, theirs is delicious and pairs well with the Peruvian chicken flavors. And the portions are so generous! You will definitely be enjoying leftovers the next day. I’m happy to see that this mom and pop business is chugging along during the pandemic.

Yesterday my new recliner from La-z-boy arrived. They had a bit of trouble locating our house (doesn’t everybody?) but since they were in communication with my husband via text, I was able to go outside and flag them down. The gentlemen who handled the delivery and set-up were polite and efficient. Both wore masks. They made sure I was completely satisfied before they left. It’s amazing how a pleasant interaction like this leaves such a lasting impression. 

The old recliner was close to ten years old. It probably would have lasted longer had I not basically lived in it for the last seven months. Sleeping in it night after night following surgery was probably the last straw. I felt a bit of a pang as my husband and a friend broke it down and took it off to the landfill. On the other hand, I felt grateful to have a friend with a vehicle large enough to transport a recliner and the willingness to pitch in and help us out.

One last moment of positivity. I’ve frequently been amazed by how many really good amateur photographers we have in Columbia/Howard County. During the pandemic and its subsequent long stretches of isolation their posts on social media have been a lifeline. Whether sharing snapshots of locally well-known landmarks or a sampling of nature shots from their daily walks, these folks give the rest of us a window onto our community that makes our own tiny worlds feel less small, somehow. 

While we all are facing challenges right now, we also have opportunities to see goodness in our daily lives if we are willing to stop and recognize them. What about you? Can you think of some Columbia/HoCo goodness worth sharing? Let us in on it and share the love. 

Comments can be posted here.



 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Getting Fresh

One of my favorite days in the Spring comes when this year’s list of Farmer’s Markets is released. That happened this week. New this year are markets in Old Ellicott City and the “Merriweather Market” which, according to the address, will be located here . I mistakenly thought at first glance that it was in the new-construction part of the Merriweather District. I find the name confusing considering its actual location. I’m going to guess that this market is an initiative of the Howard Hughes Corporation because the name seems chosen more for branding purposes than anything else.  Alas, the market in Maple Lawn is gone. The thread on the markets on the County Executive’s FB page will provide you with quite the education in who actually runs the Farmers Markets vs what people often think is going on. Short answer: they are not  chosen nor run by the county. Each market is an independent entity, sometimes started by community volunteers, other times supported by local businesses...
1 comment
Read more

They Can Wait

This is not a typical Saturday post. That’s because, in my community, it’s not a typical Saturday.  Oakland Mills High School, after years of deferred repair, needs massive renovation. It’s pretty simple: when you don’t fix a problem it gets bigger. The school system itself said the the OMHS school building was  "no longer conducive to learning" back in 2018.  2018 .  But Thursday the Boad of Education voted to push it out of the lineup of important projects which will be given the go-ahead to proceed soonest.  In my opinion it’s a terrible decision and sets a dangerous precedent. To explain, here’s the advocacy letter I sent in support of Oakland Mills High School. I was rather proud of it. I am writing to ask you to proceed with needed renovation at Oakland Mills High School in the most timely and comprehensive manner humanly possible. I have read the letter sent to you by the Oakland Mills Community Association and I am in complete agreement. You are extremel...
1 comment
Read more

What Kids Are Thinking

  It’s a Monday in February, and if you guessed that a lot of Howard County students have the new cell phone policy on their minds, you’d be right. It will mean big changes and it will be stressful, no matter how much good we hope it will do in the long run. But on this particular Monday cell phones might not be top of mind, as amazing as that seems. Some kids will go to school wondering if they or family members will be seized by ICE. Some will fear that their parents’ employment will be purged by the ongoing rampage of Elon Musk and his cronies through Federal Government. Some fear heightened and renewed racism as programs that supprted Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vilified and destroyed.  Some worry that it soon won’t be safe for them to use the bathroom in school anymore. It goes without saying that some kids fear going to school every day because of the prevalence of school shootings.  And look! Here’s something new to fear. That old hate group, Libs of TikTo...
1 comment
Read more