Dear Ones,
Today we bring you some good news and some – I’ll just say it – a loss.
First, let’s deal with the loss. It’s with mixed emotions that we report that Thom Gabrukiewicz’s outdoors columns (with us since August) will soon disappear from Food for Thought: A News Cafe.
Thom broke the news to us a month ago. And maybe you saw the writing on the wall when you read last month’s post on his blog site, Surface Tension, in which he said he’d rounded a corner and moved on to his new life.
We put off telling you as long as we could. But we knew you’d catch on eventually if weeks and months passed without a word from Thom G. Maybe you’d wonder if something was wrong.
Nothing’s wrong. Quite the contrary. In fact, Thom says that everything’s just right.
As you recall, Thom shared his outdoor stories with Food for Thought: A News Cafe from his new home in South Dakota, where he has a new newspaper job, a new home, new friends, and well, a new life, far away from the North State he once called home.
Kelly and I knew this day might would come; when Thom’s life became so full and rich that he’d start pruning excess demands. That’s exactly what happened. We’re happy for him and wish him the very best in South Dakota. Personally, among Thom’s columns I’ll miss most are those about his dogs, Shasta and Trinity, such as the one he wrote here about canine first aid.
From here on out, if you crave a Thom fix, you can visit his blog among myriad bloggers here on Food for Thought: A News Cafe.
To Thom, we say thank you. Thank you for providing our site with outdoors content, even while you were deep into building a new life in a new place.
Farewell, Thom. Godspeed. See you online!
Hello, New Friends & Features
OK, now for the good news.
In the coming weeks, watch for some interesting features here on Food for Thought: A News Cafe:
– We hope you’ve met Jennifer Jewell, our new friend, a talented garden writer who lives in Chico where she produces a delightful, interesting and informative weekly feature, In a Northstate Garden. (Looking for holiday gifts? We love Jennifer’s In a Northstate Garden calendars. You can find them on her website.)
– Watch for “Dear J” – an advice column by a local therapist. J’s upcoming answers address:
• How to stop falling victim to conversation monopolizers.
• What to do about a neighbor’s barking dog.
• Two sons: one’s responsible, one’s not — equal treatment?
• How to find holiday joy despite job losses and a depressed economy.
• Remedies for post-election blues.
• Ways to politely juggle and navigate multiple party conversations.
– Stay tuned for The Dish, a weekly column in which Kelly and I reprint highlights of our personal online chats. About what — you might ask? Everything you might imagine two women, journalists, friends and business partners might chat about: Kids, journalism, husbands, food, news, gossip, thrift-shopping, writing, food, politics, movies, hair, sex, work, outrageous things we’ve overheard, pet peeves. Everything.
– Ooh, and wait until you meet our new friend at Food for Thought: A News Cafe: Karen McGrath, a professional garden designer whose mission is to bring people outside, which she accomplishes by designing custom-fitted, outdoor spaces for their homes. She also volunteers her time and expertise at the McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Redding. Check out Karen’s website at karenmcgrathdesign.com.
– We’ve got other wonderful things in store for you in the coming weeks and months. We hope you’ll enjoy them as much as we do. As always, we work for you and because of you, which is why we welcome your input, ideas, suggestions, criticisms and observations about Food for Thought: A News Cafe.
In the meantime, check back often.
You won’t want to miss a thing.
See you online!
