Our story (only slightly embellished)

At the beginning of 2020, I had big dreams: Like most people, most of the time, I dreamt of getting in shape.
I dreamt of writing a book.
I dreamt of helping people improve their lives.
I dreamt of getting back to my agrarian roots.
I dreamt of making something unique to help my people overcome our collective fear of seasoning.

Then the pandemic hit hard, and I funneled all of my worry to making my dreams come true. This is good news for you.

• I wrote an e-book for English speakers to perfect their ability to listen deeply to Spanish speakers and, through the process of deep listening, to vastly improve the quality of their spoken Spanish. You can buy that book here, if this is something that interests you.
• After a series of intense storms, I began a slight obsession with clearing fallen trees and using the locally-sourced wood to smoke meats.
• I planted a garden and used the first surplus peppers to accidentally create a sauce unlike anything I had ever tried. You can read more here.
• Tired of watering and cutting grass in our backyard, and wishing we could use the space to do more good, I built a greenhouse and a series of raised beds, to increase our pepper production (and to supplement the sauces with citrus and fresh herbs.)
• I began leading professional development for various teachers, schools, networks, and organizations, and honed my skills at it.
• I was invited to spend a month in residency at Ace School in Kathmandu, Nepal, and spent my sabbatical month helping the wonderful people at the school to develop their vision for instruction, the knowledge and skills to make this vision a reality, and the systems and structures to sustain them.
• Back in Connecticut, one day, while at a local forest harvesting fallen trees to smoke the peppers, I was attacked by a 350-pound black bear, which I managed to subdue without injury using only my bare hands.
• I started a life coaching business, and gained several subscribers in the first two weeks. This business is often referenced when my clients are asked how they developed a certain skill, such as efficient e-mail management, Chrome bookmark management, and how to find time to exercise outdoors during a heat wave.
• My sauce business grew and grew, which has brought us to the point where I am ready to share the sauces with the world.
• I co-founded a writing guild with two other authors, and together we wrote several short stories, many of which have been selected among judges of prestigious writing competitions as “honorable” and “a true delight to read” and “a good idea in theory.”