Recommendations - January 2018

1. Urvigor anti-fatigue mats for your kitchen - I got two, one for where I do my food prep/making and one for in front of the sink. I use the dishwasher but I hand wash a lot too...it's one of my thinking spots. These provide a lot of comfort for cheaper than many of the gel mats. 

2.  The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn - It's unusual for me to recommend one book in my monthly recommendations because I tend to do that in Show Us Your Books (two weeks from today) but I ripped through this and it feels like a book that would have broad appeal and might be liked even by people who don't love to read. 

3. This is for you PA folks: Please check out John Fetterman who is running for Lt. Governor in the May primary. I voted for him in his run for Senate a few years back, and wholeheartedly support his run for this office. We saw him speak in person Saturday night and I cannot say enough about him. He's down to earth and knows what public service means. This is the kind of person I want in all government offices - someone smart, articulate, and humble, who realizes that very often the circumstances of birth are what put us on the path we're on, and if inequality was not a thing, we'd be living in a very different world. He's willing to do the work not just talk the talk but when he does talk he sounds like a real person. I love following him and his wife Gisele (a fierce and intelligent woman, an immigrant, and founder of several food and clothing nonprofits to benefit the community) on Instagram. 

He shows up as he is - in a button down short sleeve shirt and jeans. If elected as Lt. Gov, he will not live in the mansion because it's inconsistent with his beliefs. He's progressive and real. His life is a story of realizations based on what he's seen, then figuring out how to turn that into service. He left a six figure job to join AmeriCorps in its second year, tutoring high school dropouts for their GED in Pittsburgh before moving to Braddock, PA - a small, forgotten, run down steel town - to continue that work. He won his first election for Mayor of that town by ONE vote.

As Mayor he's revitalized the community - bringing jobs and businesses back and reducing gun violence. He has the zip code tattoed on one arm and the dates of every murder that have happened on his watch as Mayor on the other. Braddock has not lost a life to violence in over five years. He lives in the forgotten communities we talk about constantly - and knows how to make a difference there. I want him to have the opportunity to do that across this state. Please check his page out and if he's speaking at an event near you, go see him in person.

Anything you care to recommend?

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