Friday Donuts

Fr iends, When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to have a three day weekend so as to overindulge in hot dogs, beer and fireworks, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should also consume more than their fair share of donuts. I leave it up to you to determine which truths you hold to be self-evident. H appy Friday the fourth! Nothing shouts "America" louder than Metallica at Mile High

Friends, Adjectives are powerful diagnostic tools. They serve to identify any ailment, real or imagined. Whether you’re green, gleeful, or glamorous, there’s a modifier for your condition. Can’t find the right adjective? Recruit a noun to play the role. Nouns moonlighting as adjectives expand the palate of possibilities. When people call me “donut boy”, the pastry in their diagnosis describes my disorder. What adjective (or attributive noun) best fits your momentary malady? Whatever it is, I hope the prognosis is positive. Happy Friday!

  Friends, Want to feel smart? Tell ChatGPT to change something it wrote. Not only will it agree with you like a sycophant, but it will also tell you all the reasons you're right. I must admit that after a couple of hours one begins to wonder how sincere the feedback really is. To paraphrase the new generation, Chat is a sweat that likes to glaze – and no, the term has no connection to delicious, glazed donuts. But I digress. Getting back to smart, one of the smartest people I know – my youngest, Rafael (4.0 GPA at Mines), is doing an internship in Tokyo and sent me a photo yesterday of the donuts he brought in to work today – no, he didn't time travel, there's just a 14-hour time difference. Fortunately, it’s still early in Colorado, so I think I’ll go get me one before I get too busy and forget. 'Bye now! Happy Friday!

Friends, I don’t consider today to be unlucky. Of course, I’m open to changing my mind should evidence to the contrary surface. When I was younger (I won’t admit how old), I espoused some beliefs that have proven wrong over time: There was a non-zero chance that when you flush an airplane toilet somebody 10,000 feet below you might get offed by a frozen turd. It seemed reasonable that the loud sucking flush sound was due to the contents being dumped from the plane. Ham and hot dogs were synthesized from chemicals, and as such, “factory meat” was an acceptable part of a cruelty-free "vegetarian" diet. Their homogeneous consistency and packaging seemed to support this hypothesis. Vampires could be deterred from biting me in my sleep by wrapping a blanket around my neck. At a minimum, their attempt to unwrap the blanket would wake me and give me a fighting chance to ward them off. Countless misheard lyrics I sang with so much conviction. For instance, “… you’ve got a tub, I see ...

Friends, The desire to be right can close our minds to divergent (and, heaven forbid, superior) points of view. We build echo chambers, carefully curating views that support our own and dismissing differing voices out of hand. When opinion is mistaken for fact, inconvenient truths are easily discarded. And so, we dig in our heels and trade healthy debate for hate. Ironically, it is quite possible no two people would agree on everything. I think maturity and respect are the key to growth. Leaving the comfort of one's own biases and deeply held beliefs and truly listening is not easy, but it's a necessary start. Of course, a raspberry pistachio donut always helps. Happy Friday! A healthy exchange of ideas – and a raspberry pistachio donut

Friends, I was 24 the first time I was offered a penny for my thoughts. At the time, the novel expression brought me back from my musings and it has stuck with me ever since. Today, as I remove Penny Lane from my playlist and replace it with Nickelback, it occurs to me that now may be a good time to binge watch Penny Dreadful on Paramount Plus. I ponder the penny pinchers’ move, perhaps these bad pennies are penny wise, pound foolish. Let's hope it doesn't drop a penny on prices. Meanwhile, all I can do is bite into my donut and close my eyes. Mmmm… worth every penny. Happy Friday!

Friends, Context drives behavior. Dancing at a party is a lot less awkward than dancing at the office. Singing in the shower is a lot less intimidating than singing on stage. Eating a beignet sounds so much fancier than eating a donut. Lately, I find I enjoy standing at the very edge of the jet bridge before stepping onto the plane. Imagining what it would be like if the plane were not there. My body tensing-up as self-preservation kicks-in. My fear of falling preventing me from getting so close to that edge. Same air bridge, different context. I pause long enough to look through the tiny crack and take that step on board – can’t hold-up the line too long. No big deal. Happy Friday!

Friends, Remote work can be isolating. Despite back-to-back meetings, you wonder whether some folks on the screen pretend to share while others pretend to care. Gathering in person breathes fresh air into the modern work dynamic. Without the sterile electronic interface acting as a barrier, the human connection can flourish. It’s the difference between looking out your window and going outside. And, if you and your colleagues get a chance to share pastries from Flakey Cream Café and Donuts in scenic Healdsburg, California, even better. Who knows, you might even run into bigfoot. Happy Friday!

Friends, On this first Friday of Leo XIV's papacy, there’s a lot we still don’t know about the new pope. As we learn more, I’m sure there will be many tomes published on the visible head of the 1.4 billion strong Catholic Church. Here are a few possible titles for books and articles to come: From Chicago to Chiclayo: an unexpected journey to Rome Leo is a Virgo, and other fun facts LEO: not just for Low-Earth Orbit anymore How White Sox became part of the papal regalia One Leo, two Leos… the Count counts popes I was going to throw one in there about his favorite foods, but it seems nobody knows. Here’s hoping the first US-born pope loves donuts (that would be a great omen for things to come). If not, Sophie Carrigan's classic, Leo's Lost Donut , would take on a whole new meaning. Happy Friday! Photo Credit: Sophie Carrigan

  Friends, When tempted by dispair, I find hope is always the best strategy.  Stuck in airpots for nearly 48 hours trying to get home? Enjoy the amenities and think of the family I am about to see. Lured by the intentionally chaotic reality show I call  The Apprentice: DC ? Watch Pangolin on Netflix, this heartfelt documentary about saving these unique creatures was phenomenal! Feeling existential angst? Remember the angst is not possible without the existence, focus on the latter, not the former. And remember, the weekend is almost here, so have a donut and enjoy! Happy Friday!

Friends, Remote work can be a tad isolating. This is particularly true if your temporary base happens to be 3,400 miles away from home. Despite back-to-back virtual meetings, the house grows lonely. Fortunately, there’s an itsy bitsy spider whose adventures across my wall have been keeping me amused. Crawling up, down and around my office wall she sure covers a lot of ground (or wall, as the case might be). As I look up from time to time and try to spot her progress, I imagine her travel log. “Day 2, the white expanse seems endless. Without any landmarks, I fear I may be going in circles. As I traverse the featureless void, I’m glad for the endless supply of sweet, fried pastry. Each of these so-called donut crumbs can feed an army for a week...” While I do enjoy the freedom of working far afield, I’m glad to be saying goodbye to Itsy Bitsy and heading home this week and be reunited with my family. Happy Friday! 

Friends, When they say every cloud has a silver lining, the implication is that clouds are somehow bad. I tend to disagree. Not only do they give us shade and life-giving rain, they also serve as a scenic backdrop for landscape pictures, not to mention the soothing effect of falling rain when you're all snuggled-up. Sure, it can be uncomfortable to walk around in the rain, but why focus on the negatives when there are so many positives. Same goes for donuts. they may not be the healthiest of treats, but they sure do taste good once a week (everything in moderation). Happy Good Friday! Here comes the rain!

Friends, One of my favorite juices in Ecuador is made from a fruit we call tree tomato. If you're thinking V8, you're way off. Tree tomato has the right balance of sweet and tart along with a subtle bouquet that makes it oh so delicious. There's one caveat, I only like it raw. Many restaurants cook the fruit before making the juice. While the process helps increase shelf life and get more juice out of the fruit, it also changes the taste. When I ask whether the juice is raw or cooked, I am often told it is raw, only to find myself drinking disappointment. So, now I ask whether I can have a sip -- which they are usually happy to oblige. It turns out getting the right answer often comes down to asking the right question. I'm sure the wait staff doesn't want to deceive me, they just don't know the answer and hate to sound uninformed. By asking for a sample, I remove the embarrassment from the equation. Now if only they'd let me sample a couple donuts before I p...

Friends, Watching the U.S. economy implode while the executive branch uses a fake war as a pretext to usurp the legislative branch’s taxation power is frustrating. As we turn from benevolent big brother to back yard bully, squandering our nation’s global goodwill, I can’t help but wonder how long it will take for our constitutional checks and balances to kick-in. I also wonder what all those poor penguins on  Heard and McDonald Islands  must be thinking. All I can do right now is bite into my donut, sip my coffee and hope for the best. Happy Friday! What's a tariff?

 Friends, In a divided world with a myriad points of view and sensitivities; a world where anything you say can cross a secret line or trip an invisible landmine, how do you keep your words from being taken the wrong way? At the risk of sounding corny, I believe that when your heart is in the right place your words will be well perceived and well received. A well-intended message, like a fresh donut made with good ingredients, may not always be pretty, but it usually hits the spot. So, enjoy a hot cup of Joe and a fresh donut, and try to worry less about what you should say. I know your heart is in the right place (behind and slightly to the left of your sternum—now that was corny). Happy Friday! Now that's corny!

Friends, Despite writing about donuts (sort of) for over 20 years, I don’t believe in sugar coating, after all, honesty is the best policy. Gilding, on the other hand I’m good with. Take the church of the Society of Jesus in Quito, (AKA La Compañía). Built in fits and starts between 1597 and 1765, the volcanic rock baroque facade conceals a spectacular interior. I had the chance to go inside this week and although I had heard about the gold leaf work inside, the descriptions had not done it justice. The details from floor to ceiling transport you to another world, perhaps that’s the point. If you’re ever there, be sure to visit. And while you’re there stop by one of the many panaderías … if you’re lucky they might even have a donut. Happy Friday!

  Friends, Last night, I planned to watch the lunar eclipse. The clouds had other plans. Fortunately, this realization came to me before bedtime, so I only missed the show, not my beauty rest. With 23 years until the next big one, there’s plenty of time to plan. If I’m still around on New Year’s Eve 2048, I might try purchasing some Broadway Donuts from Long Beach, California to watch the cosmic event. Somehow, the real-life Sadie’s Donuts of Dexter fame feels like an appropriate treat to watch a blood moon. For now, I guess I’ll settle for some Dunkin’ and photos of the real thing. Monday's moon... no blood. ​Happy Friday!

Friends, Photons, the embodiment of pure light, travel so fast they don’t experience time. And yet, a group of scientists at the University of Birmingham have produced a visualization of a single photon … a snapshot of the fastest thing in the known universe. If the images flooding the web are to be trusted, it resembles a yellow frosted donut (I favor my description over the paper’s “membrane-like shell of a hollow cylinder”). In hindsight, it just makes sense. Donuts taste like pure sunshine. They brighten your day and bring a smile to your face. They warm your soul and make you feel good all over. So, take a bite (hopefully you haven’t given them up for lent) and let the light fill your being. Happy Friday! A single photon. Photo Credit: Phys.org

Friends, Remember that time I had  AI write the Friday Donut blog ? That was two years ago, a more innocent time when ChatGPT was a novelty. I remember the mix of amazement and fear while experimenting first-hand with the object of all that hype on this very medium. While I have reluctantly embraced GenAI for work, I have not used it as a writing aid for this blog. It feels like cheating – besides, I don’t need to increase my productivity, and I regularly meet my extravagant adjective quota. I have, however, given some thought to the role of AI in society. The way I see it; the bottom line is AI is acceptable as a tool at the service of humanity. So long as AI is attempting to make it faster and more convenient for us. So long as the content it produces is for humans to consume. So long as there is a person at the end of the line, I’m OK with AI. The minute AI starts creating content for AI, that’ll be the time to start worrying. In the meantime, enjoy your donut and be nice to you...

Friends, Do you ever find yourself starting to say a word, realizing it’s the wrong choice and trying to change it while speaking — making it worse? For me, it’s happened more times than I care to admit. A recurring faux pas for me occurs at the part of the mass where the congregation says “when we eat this bread and drink this cup we proclaim your death, o Lord, until you come again”. For some reason my brain wants to say “profess” instead of “proclaim” — which would essentially mean the same thing. Unfortunately, in my clumsy attempts to fix my mistake mid-word, what comes out sounds like “profane” — totally the wrong vibe. Good thing the entire congregation is saying the same thing in unison. If someone heard me they might think the priest was consecrating a donut, instead of the host. Happy Friday!

Friends, The older I get, the more elusive a good night's rest has become. As a naturally light sleeper, it doesn't take much to wake me -- and even though my Apple watch may claim I get eight hours most evenings, I find that claim suspect. Lately, I've been starting to see the small interruptions to my slumber in a whole new light. In a way, I am grateful for them. Let me explain: A table lamp and low volume real crime show past my bedtime are a welcome sign that I don't have to sleep alone. That sore shoulder waking me up at midnight makes me glad I'm in good health. Two spoiled dogs scratching the door to be let out at 2 are a small price to pay for the unconditional affection they give us. That forgotten task my mind inevitably remembers at 3:21 makes me grateful I have a job I enjoy doing. The low battery beeping in the smoke alarm at 4 reminds me I am fortunate enough to have a roof over my head. The door slamming shut before dawn brings a smile to my face, kn...

Friends, All the hubbub about memecoins might $TUMP some and $MELL-ANIA a little funky to others. Personally, it dragged me down a rabbit hole — “research” is way too generous a word — that crash-landed on a site called pump.fun. This site lets anybody with cash to burn buy into a gazillion available offers. You can even start your own memecoin, if you’re so inclined. As I perused the potential portfolio, a few things struck me. It takes zero talent or taste to launch a memecoin. Way too many people have way too much time and money to burn. Donuts are a surprisingly popular meme. As you get your morning started, may I suggest a hot black coffee, a sweet, flaky cronut — and if you’re tempted to “invest” in a meme, come on down to my place, you can save some time and flush your money down my toilet. Happy Friday!

Friends, As we slither into the new lunar year I’ve decided to tune out the new brood of vipers on Capitol Hill and tune into the little things that make me smile. The magical frost turning ordinary branches into fairy tale forests. The spectacular sunsets painting the cloud canvas shades of gold leaf, blood orange and coral pink. My granddaughter’s joie de vivre, generosity and spontaneous laughter that melt my heart every time. And of course that first bite into a raised chocolate frosted donut. Mmm … that’s what I’m talking about! Happy Friday!

  Friends, From the Premier League and F1 clique to the College Football and NASCAR crowd, we all share the human experience. Whether our mustard is yellow or Dijon, we all feel love, enjoy learning and experience loss in our own way. We have highs and lows, ups and downs. We’d like to feel immortal, yet we are limited, and time is our most precious asset. We are all alone and all of us need to live with ourselves. So be kind, don’t take yourself too seriously and don’t forget to laugh. Laugh at misunderstandings and silly mistakes. Laugh with friends and family. Laugh ‘till it hurts. And remember to have a donut –whether it’s Dunkin’ or Krispy Kreme or anywhere in between. I’m doing my part by heading to We Knead Donut and meeting with my good friend and former colleague Marilyn. What’s yours? Happy Friday!

Friends, There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just gonna blurt it out: I can’t stand Facebook avatars and stickers. There, I said it! Before you get upset, I understand and respect that folks post these cartoon images as a way to share their good wishes and show they care. I also acknowledge that as we get older, we tend to grumble about silly things. Yes, this is a silly thing to be writing about. Yes, I will grumble under my breath if I see you post one. Yes, I would prefer you write something instead of picking a cheesy image. But no, I won't unfriend you if you do. I realize taste is subjective: take the   donut shop in New Hampshire  fighting for their right to keep their mural depicting a mountain range made of donuts. Is it free speech? Is it a zoning violation? One thing I think we all can agree on is that it's beautiful -- as are the donuts they sell. 

Friends, Letting go of the people, places and passions that have shaped our lives is tough. Each is different and any analogy feels like comparing apples and origins – you read right, oranges felt too similar for such an analogy. People are obviously more important, but some places hold a special tug on our heartstrings. There is comfort in the sense of permanence they bring, shielding us from the passage of time. Which makes the void they leave behind unfillable – no matter how many donuts you eat to try to fill it. Still, life goes on and we find a way to move forward. Change is, after all, the only constant. Happy Friday!

Friends, I’m not much for using arbitrary dates to make life changes – you can do that at any time. I am, however, very much into building and burning effigies to close out the year – an Ecuadorian tradition we call Año Viejo. The theme we chose to represent 2024 was Steamboat Willie, the Disney movie whose copyright protection had been extended through the end of 2023 by the 1998 “Mickey Mouse Protection Act”. Now that he’s in the public domain, Mickey has been rebelling and doing things his parent company would not approve (a nose ring, two earrings, smoking, a public domain tattoo and an Iron Maiden logo on his hat – a nod to Paul Di’Anno’s passing in October). Despite losing his head a few times (literally, it kept falling off) we proceeded to read his last will and testament (a playful roast of the party’s attendees), pouring accelerant and lighting a match at the stroke of midnight (after the obligatory countdown, of course). If you’re curious, you can find this year’s Año Vi...