The Literary Corner: Renegade Writer’s Guild

The Literary Corner: Renegade Writer’s Guild

Published 11:24 am Friday, February 6, 2026

Not What I’d Hoped, But …
By Felicia Browell
But I’m sticking with consuming actual meals. I’m 4 weeks into this and hit a kind of plateaus, that setpoint sticking level, early. I did lose one other pound in comparison with two weeks in the past, however that doesn’t put me even near my purpose.
I may blame the climate. Being in a digital lockdown from Winter Storm Fern’s snow, ice, and sleet whiteout is difficult for me. I like to bake and prepare dinner, and observing a kitchen and my meals reserves makes me need to bake and prepare dinner. I don’t suppose I’m alone on this. In different years, I merely made certain I didn’t have any tempting meals round that may preserve me from sticking to my plans. But this 12 months, I didn’t filter out the pantry earlier than launching into my actual meals plan, so to talk.
For instance, for National Chocolate Cake Day (January 27), I made my Chocolate Zucchini Cake – in cupcake type so I may at the very least attempt to restrict myself. But three cupcakes and one “it has a vegetable in it” rationale later, I knew the subsequent day’s weigh in wouldn’t enhance my outcomes. And I used to be appropriate.
Then, after I spent virtually three hours hacking the three-inch coating of ice from 4 fifths of my sidewalk, I consoled my aching arms and shoulders with ache killers and a cup of scorching chocolate. That soothed my ache ravaged mind, however didn’t assist my weight reduction or well being plan outcomes. The entire driveway remains to be coated, and the sunny days are simply making the ice glaze over right into a treacherous compacted ice sheet. My automotive handles it effectively, however strolling could be very hazardous. There is not any manner I can clear a pair hundred ft of driveway, so I’m trying ahead to February’s warmup.
So right here I sit, with two weeks of my dedication left, and regardless of the subsequent storm’s arrival and extra lockdown forward, I’m going to maintain making an attempt.
I’ve found that I can eat many extra eggs at one sitting than I assumed I may. Four eggs and two strips of bacon is now a minimal for my breakfast. I’m going to up that to 5 eggs beginning tomorrow, after which have one other three or 4 later within the day. I’ve discovered that if I eat these meals nearer collectively – all in the identical six hour block of the day – I are likely to cheat much less, and drink extra water and tea as a substitute. Another factor I seen is that if I drink espresso very first thing within the morning, I actually need to snack and cheat much more. I’ve to surprise if that’s as a result of after I labored in a company job, that was what I did there. Coffee with breakfast, then lunch, some gentle munching throughout the remainder of the workday, then house and make dinner. Work offered the stress, and rest revolved round cooking and consuming after I labored full time.
So on to the subsequent two weeks. I’m going to attempt to do higher, and persistently eat the protein-laden meals I stated I might. I additionally must get extra sleep. I do know from private expertise and analysis that if I don’t get sufficient sleep, I crave carbs and sweets the entire subsequent day. Not good for my plans!
For now, again to homework and analysis for my farm. Planning what to develop, when to start out it, and the place to develop it’s extra sophisticated than I assumed it will be. But I’m actually trying ahead to constructing the varied themed herb gardens in my entrance yard. I’ll let you know about these one other time, when I’ve one or two of them planted and might have fun.

General Nathanael Greene
By Linda H. Barnette
General Nathanael Greene was a army officer and plantation proprietor who fought within the Continental Army through the American Revolution. President George Washington appointed him because the commander of the Continental Army within the Southern Area. In that capability, he took half in a number of battles within the South. Greene was a grasp strategist who fought in opposition to General Cornwallis, the chief of the British Army.
Greene grew to become a commander beneath Washington and arranged in opposition to the British rule that the colonists opposed. The American Revolution, which we’re celebrating this 12 months for its 250th anniversary, began with the battles of Lexington and Concord. While Washington was named the commander of all of the colonial forces, Congress additionally appointed 16 generals to work beneath him. Greene was appointed a brigadier common within the Continental Army.
By October of 1780 the Continental Army had suffered a number of defeats. General Greene, a gifted strategist, slowed the advance of the British troops into North Carolina. In this case, he labored with Henry “Lighthorse” Lee, the Marquis de Lafayette, Daniel Morgan, and Francis Marion, the well-known “Swamp Fox” from South Carolina.
Perhaps essentially the most well-known native battle of the warfare was the Battle of Guilford Courthouse. Although the battle was misplaced by Greene’s military, the British misplaced many troops each there and on the battle of Yorktown, which was a disastrous defeat for the Brits.
After the warfare, Greene resigned his fee, and relocated to his plantation, “Mulberry” exterior of Savannah. In June of 1786, he died as the results of a sunstroke.
History regards him because the second finest American common through the Revolution, second solely to Washington. This 12 months is an efficient time to recollect those that secured our freedom so way back.
Many of you had ancestors who fought within the Revolution. It may be enjoyable to analysis to see who they had been. If you have an interest, you may apply to hitch the DAR-Daughter of the Revolution or SAR-Son of the Revolution.

Reflections
By: E. Bishop
By now, most of you most likely know that my final occupation was as a mail service and that I’m fortunately retired now. Especially completely satisfied that I’ve not needed to get out on this horrible latest winter storm. Recently had a pleasant meal with a brand new discovered buddy and inevitably, the query arises about “what did you do for a living?” And then, they ask “Do we really still need the Postal Service?”
My reply will all the time be a convincing “yes” as a result of it stays important as the one supply service reaching each single deal with throughout our nice nation. It acts as a common, legally mandated service that operates with out tax {dollars} for operations. It’s assured that even essentially the most distant, much less worthwhile, areas have entry to mail which non-public corporations like UPS and Fedex could not cowl. In many areas, the USPS is the ‘final-mile’ supply associate.
The Postal Service, (and greater than possible, UPS/Amazon/FedEx) has a demanding excessive strain work atmosphere typically resulting in burnout, is quick paced, might be harmful and infrequently has work-life stability points. Oftentimes, the unrelenting bodily calls for and the “do more with less” atmosphere takes a toll. Speaking of bodily calls for – this time of 12 months is particularly troublesome for many individuals in lots of occupations, the acute chilly, snow, ice, driving situations; take time to thank and admire all those who get on the market it doesn’t matter what.
While typing this up, I’m pondering again on my postal profession and questioned how I managed to maintain going. Starting out thirty plus years in the past in Greensboro, coming house to Winston-Salem at three within the morning in a snowstorm – sliding into the medium with a tractor trailer doing the identical proper behind me, having to remain in a resort room in an effort to get to work the subsequent day; slipping on ice knocking myself out for a couple of minutes after which getting as much as proceed my mail route; sliding towards these mailboxes and simply barely lacking them, going to excessive lengths to get to work to solely discover out the truck bringing the mail couldn’t get there, having downed timber in our driveway plus extra on up the highway and my pricey coworker coming to choose me up anyway – (run on sentence I do know), however I may go on…
Major storms I’ve witnessed whereas working on the submit workplace – and do not forget that phrase “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Add ice too! March 1993 was referred to as the “Blizzard of the Century”; this was proper after we had constructed our home, energy was out for days and we put quilts over the doorways in our lounge the place the hearth is. Blizzards of January 1996, January 2000, and December 2009 had been no picnic both. But one of many worst ice storms ever was “Fran with Ice” in December 2002. It’s trying as if “Fern” could also be headed in that course as effectively. ICE just isn’t welcome right here!!