About this site
Welcome to Stirring the Pot, my attempt (with the acquiescence—though not quite the explicit approval—of my wife Anastasia) to write about what I know. What exactly do I know? I think we're gonna have to figure that out as we go...
Here’s the plan: I aim to serve up a couple of articles a week, keeping them short, sweet, and worth your time. My inspiration comes from a long list of experiences and musings (and actually ideas from a lot of you), spanning topics like:
- Work and Workplace Humor: From leadership lessons to the occasional (or more than occasional) absurdities of office life.
- Living Abroad: Tales of cultural quirks, diplomacy, linguistic muddlings, and the "joys" of global exploration.
- Food and Drink: Anastasia is a chef, so naturally, food is a centerpiece of our lives. Expect culinary insights, travel-inspired flavors, and perhaps the occasional recipe.
- Shenanigans and Positivity: My father was a serious military man, but he was also a huge goofball. He knew when to be serious, and when to lighten things up. For those of you who know me, that might sound a bit familiar. I'm an absolute believer that a life well-lived includes laughter, optimism, and a bit of chaos (some self-created).
- International Development and Career Reflections: Drawing on my years in international development and diplomacy, with a quick break in the middle to "find myself" and work a bit in the private sector, I have some tall tales to tell, some of which I'll try to sprinkle with a bit of helpful hindsight and career advice.
So, what I'm telling myself is that this space is as much for you as it is for me. I want to dig into a wide range of topics that hopefully you'll find amusing, possibly insightful, and maybe even a bit helpful in some way. Eventually, I’ll take requests, so feel free to steer the conversation toward topics that intrigue you (or stories you've heard me tell before, if we know one another). Think of this as an evolving dialogue—a shared table where ideas, stories, and laughs are passed around freely.
So pull up a chair, grab a drink, and let’s stir the pot together.
Added Bonus (or Reason to Hate Me)
I'm going to be throwing in some pics of Anastasia's culinary creations...you know, mostly to make you jealous. Don't hate me.
Full Disclosure...and Start Your Own Thing
I'm fully embracing the use of ChatGPT, when appropriate, for these stories. No AI would write like I do (well, yet), but it can be super helpful in coming up with ideas, structure, and helping identify possible mistakes (like I'd ever make any of those...).
Also, if (or when) you start enjoying the experience, consider setting up your own website or blog...and if you do, using Ghost, the same platform that powers this website, would be a good way to go. Thanks, Ghost!
