Friday Donuts

Dear members and constituents, Today, I would like to talk about Carbon. Sure, with only six electrons you might not think much of it, however I find this particular element fascinating. It is, after all, the primary building block of life (sure it gets a little help from Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen). Carbon is also making a bad reputation for itself as a member of the greenhouse gas gang (again with some help from his buddy Oxygen) -- not to mention the workhorse fuel that has gotten civilization where it is today. It is this double life Carbon has been leading lately that captivates me. You could think of Carbon as the Dr. Jekyll (and Mr. Hyde) of the periodic table of elements. Carbon makes life possible, yet is a big part of the reason for global warming (which can make life impossible). One might say you can't live with it and you can't live without it. I must admit I find some of the terminology used somewhat amusing ("carbon diets" to reduce your "carbon

Dear members and constituents, It dawned on me this morning. I love this time of year! Watching the bright horizon seamlessly transitioning from orange to blue to gray (while simultaneously trying to keep my car on the road) was awe-inspiring. Stepping out of my car and feeling the cool breeze against my skin, gently coaxing me to take a deep breath, made me feel truly alive. Walking from the parking lot, I closed my eyes to hear the leaves rustling in the crisp fall air and paused to let it all sink in… Of course, I should have opened them before reaching the stairway, however that's a story for another time. Obviously, this potpourri of sights, sounds and sensations is complemented by the smell and taste of sweet donuts. Jeff Martin makes his debut in the Friday Donut Club today with three dozen glaze Krispy Kremes. So bundle-up, grab some hot cocoa and come on down to enjoy one (or two) of these thirty six amazingly light identical pastries. Happy Friday!

Dear members and constituents, Half-way through my drive into work --the point of no return-- I realized my badge was conspicuously absent from my hip. As I pondered doubling my 18 minute commute to 36 (and decided against it), It occurred to me badges are just another mechanism to keep the unwanted out and allow access to the wanted. Keys, SecureID Tokens and passwords also fall into this category, providing mechanical, magnetic, digital or data access filtering. I suppose donuts also fall into this category by allowing happy memories in and keeping unwanted feelings out. Think about it, when is the last time you felt sad while biting into one of these delicious circular keys to a good Friday. And thanks to Monisha, one of our newest members you don't have to wait until 8:00 to enjoy this feeling I was pleasantly surprised to see three boxes of Winchell's donuts waiting for me in my office this morning. So open up wide and access your inner child with one of these sweet treats

Dear members and constituents, Cruising in my convertible this morning, the thought of fresh donuts was at what some might argue were unhealthy levels. I could almost smell the sweet aroma when suddenly I noticed the red and blue lights flashing behind me. Apparently (according to Trooper Warren, badge #9226) I was doing 60 mph in a 45 mph zone. If only he knew the reason for my exuberant driving, perhaps he would be more understanding. Aren't donuts, after all, a staple of the law enforcement diet? Upon reflection, I thought better of it and decided any mention of donuts might backfire. So I bit my lip and smiled, looking as contrite as one can at six in the morning. What followed was a brief exchange of pleasantries, and what seemed like ten minutes of separation anxiety from my license and registration. Would I loose more points on my license? Fortunately, Trp. Warren let me off with a warning. Close call. Speaking of close calls, TimeWise cut it close to the wire this morning a