The Optimist

I read a long time ago that most people when they look into a mirror tend to see only the things they don’t like about themselves. A crooked tooth, a bent nose, too large ears, a double chin. The problem… Continue Reading →

Today, Nov. 17, is Elton John Day. But nobody knows it. Not even him. Still, I’ve been celebrating it for close to 50 years. Because of it, in fact, I held off posting my usual Friday blog until today. “11-17-70”… Continue Reading →

It’s said, during the height of World War II, Winston Churchill proposed a budget to Parliament that included a sizable amount of money devoted to the arts, about which he was immediately challenged. “Mr. Churchill,” he was questioned, “do we… Continue Reading →

Have you tried pumpkin toothpaste yet? Neither have I. That’s because it doesn’t exist. I made it up. But would you be surprised if pumpkin toothpaste did exist? I wouldn’t. It may be the only thing left not flavored with… Continue Reading →

“You’re old enough to kill, but not for voting,” Barry McGuire sang to my generation in 1965. The song “Eve of Destruction” came out during a time when male high school grads who did not get themselves into college or… Continue Reading →

I stay off Interstate 81 at all costs. My reward the past few weeks has been some of the most beautiful fall foliage ever. I don’t know about you, but it had seemed to me the leaves would never begin… Continue Reading →

I love raking leaves in my front yard, but when I get to the public sidewalk surrounding my property, no so much. That’s because I have to deal with all the litter from the school kids who catch the bus… Continue Reading →

I spent the day in the yard. Raked a lot of leaves, cut back the elephant ears, and trimmed some fountain grass. But all I did with the dahlias was look them over. They are not yet ready to be… Continue Reading →

There’s nothing like a bowl of soup on a day that calls for a bowl of soup. Like Tuesday. Rainy and miserable. A day with soup written all over it. But just when I was considering this, my daughter called… Continue Reading →

The musicians of Classic Albums Live, in town to perform The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” at the F.M. Kirby Center a couple of weeks ago, told us to not expect them to talk. “Once we start,” the lead guitarist said, “we… Continue Reading →