Some days it seems that winter will never end. The skating rink in the front yard appears to have the power to stay until at least July.

Then one morning you walk outside to get the mail and the earth is squishy under your feet. The air smells different,… Read full post »

Was this contest more difficult, more challenging, more reminiscent of armpits than the one in January? How could it not have been???         

I hear that the honorable august judges were thrilled with the quality of the submi… Read full post »

 With a nod to Open Salon’s slogan “You make the headlines,” on my page,
You Make the Captions!

Last month, we had a lot of fun with CoyoteOldStyle’s “Wild-o” January Thaw Photo Caption Contest. Today I’m offering, for your captioning pleasure, some/… Read full post »

As I sit in my office I hear the gorgeous golden notes of birds singing. What better news could there be than that the birds know spring is on its way?

It is really thrilling to look out the window and see the cardinals, mom and pop, hopping about… Read full post »

Governor John Lynch has declared the State of New Hampshire to be in a state of emergency. Friday's early-morning storm brought strong winds with gust of up to 68 miles per hour in places that knocked down trees and downed power lines. Heavy rains have caused localiz… Read full post »

If I can wake in the morning

And breathe the air that slides

Down your granite fl… Read full post »

Was this contest more difficult, more challenging, more pickley pickled than the one in December? How could it not be???         

I hear that the honorable august judges were thrilled with the quality of the submissions. I als… Read full post »

 With a nod to Open Salon’s slogan “You make the headlines,” on my page,
You Make the Captions!

Last month, we had a lot of fun with CoyoteOldStyle’s “Auld Lang Syne” Photo Caption Contest. Today I’m offering, once again for your  c/… Read full post »

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Professor Emeritus at Boston University Howard Zinn has died.  Professor Zinn was a cornerstone of the political science department at Boston University, moved by his conscience to protest status quo he felt to be wrong, whether it was Amer… Read full post »

 It’s midwinter and Mother Nature has seen fit to continue to tease us in New England with January thaw warming that fool us into putting aside the snow boots. All too often, these are followed by truly maddening days of freezing rain and snow showers that make us want to… Read full post »

A new year, a new decade, a new semester. They all point to the need for transformation via a new hair style.

Before this term started, my daughter went to see our trusted stylist in her new digs.

"I want something completely different," my daughter said.

"You… Read full post »

Take a minute out of your day to think about someone else.

Your donation is needed.

          &nb… Read full post »

This is a tour of where the son of a good friend of mine is stationed in Iraq. 

Please remember while you're watching it that our armed forces are made up of individuals. Regardless of political affiliation, race or religion, they are deployed to serve you. Keep them in your thoughts.… Read full post »

Iron. The element with the symbol Fe. Able to be shaped into so many things both beautiful and utilitarian. Iron is the heart of our American spirit.

How many spectacularly homey dishes can be made in a cast-iron skillet? How many cast-iron skillets travelled across the breadth of thi… Read full post »

Was this contest more difficult, more challenging, more replete wi' tha dulcet Scots burr and haggis than the one in November? How could it not be???         

I hear that the honorable august judges were thrilled with the… Read full post »

  With a nod to Open Salon’s slogan “You make the headlines,” on my page,
You Make the Captions!

Last month, we had a lot of fun with CoyoteOldStyle’s Thanks for Not Posing Photo Caption Contest. Today I’m offering, in the last contest of the year, some ne/… Read full post »

Some days when you sit at the keyboard I know you wonder if the words you write matter to anyone anywhere. Is anything that comes out of your fingers really heard? Does it have meaning? Can you change a life with your words?

I urge you today, in the spirit of… Read full post »

The water barely ripples. Warmer than the air above, it shimmers. Refracting and reflecting the early morning sunlight the water shows a mirror image. A toe curled around the rough white plastic breaks apart and reforms itself into a coherent picture captured on the surface.

Breezes through t… Read full post »

I know what you’re thinking. You read the title and you’re envisioning those frightening fruitcakes that have permeated your nightmares every holiday season for as long as you can remember.  You’re running every comedian’s line about fruitcake’s unique… Read full post »

Last spring I wrote a couple of posts talking about my daughter's struggle with the college application process.

"The Thin Envelope" talked about the crushing disappointment she felt when the school that had been number one on her hoped-for list sent her the single-page notification that in spite of… Read full post »

I cannot say how I feel any better than Keith Olbermann, so I'll let him do the talking. This clip is long, almost 12 minutes, but take the time to listen. Mr. Olbermann articulates the grief and frustration all Americans will be a party to unless our elected officials get back… Read full post »

My friend Russell was found dead in his apartment last week. None of us found out about it until yesterday. He was alone.

I worked with Russell for many years at a company that specialized in typesetting books. You have probably seen our work and not known it. Once I… Read full post »

Was this contest more difficult, more challenging, more stuffed with BU Goodness than the one in October? How could it not be???         

I hear that the honorable august judges were thrilled with the quality of the submi… Read full post »

  With a nod to Open Salon’s slogan “You make the headlines,” on my page,
You Make the Captions!

Last month, we had a lot of fun with CoyoteOldStyle’s Spooky Spirit Photo Caption Contest. Today I’m offering, once again for your captioning pleasure, so/… Read full post »