Opinion

Nov. 20, 2012 — Thanksgiving is a holiday that has incorporated a variety of traditions during the years that are now part of the way many Americans celebrate. For example, family gatherings are common, which makes it the busiest travel day of the year.

Also common is cooking a turkey dinner. According to the National Turkey Federation, 95 percent of the American population eat turkey on Thanksgiving. Americans don’t always prepare their turkey the same way. While roasting is popular, Hawaii produces coffee rubbed turkeys; New England, salt encrusted; and the deep-fried method is southern.

Nov. 13, 2012 — Those of us who work at the Lassen County Times believe we’re your first and best source for local news, and we’re not ashamed to say so. After all, we live right here in Susanville and Lassen County with the majority of our readers. We shop at the same markets, eat lunch at the same restaurants, our children attend the same schools, play on the same sports teams and we’re influenced and concerned by the same events that affect our readers.

Nov. 13, 2012 — All’s fair in love and war, they say. After this year’s contentious and hard-fought primary and general elections, I have to wonder why whoever made up that saying didn’t add politics to the list when they put pen to paper and created it.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to criticize any particular candidate with my comments here. In fact, I want to honestly thank and acknowledge all those who ran for office this year — those who were elected and those who were not — for their interest in and dedication to our country. Each of you offered your own personal perspective to the voters and gave us an opportunity to consider the issues and set the course for our future.

Nov. 13, 2012 — Thirty. The big three-O. As one might guess, I recently had a milestone birthday. I turned thirty and honestly, the prospect was simply terrifying.

  I know it is just a number and I honestly don’t feel any different than I did a week ago, but it’s just the idea of being in my 30s that kind of freaked me out a bit.

  The number just seems so big. I’m sure all the old-timers reading this are chuckling to themselves, thinking 30 seems so small, but this is still new to me.

  I got many opinions on 30: some helpful, some not. My colleague, Debra Moore, told me her 30s were the best years of her life. This was encouraging, since I was viewing the milestone birthday as the end of my life.