To my wife, summer is never too far away

My dear wife Karen was happy after we received the good news that our furnace could be fixed by tightening some loose parts yesterday afternoon. I sent her a text explaining how our home, sweet, home was indeed warm and toasty during this bit of a freeze in Syracuse, N.Y. Not that the whining, grinding…

Our furnace sounds sick, and I may take ill, too

The furnace check-up is due this afternoon. Now there’s a statement that will make this grown man shake in fear, with the potential for real sadness at the end of the visit. Our heat-thrower, a compact-looking York model, has been a solid cornerstone of our utility room since my dear wife Karen and I moved…

‘Out of the Furnace’ allows Christian Bale to anguish to the end

If you think winter is getting you down already, go see “Out of the Furnace.” There may be somebody in real life who has tougher choices to make than main character Russell Baze, played so very well by Christian Bale. But I doubt that one person is you. The dark drama will keep you holding…

‘The Sing-Off’ returns for season four of a cappella sounds

NBC wheeled a show out after a year off last night. They slapped host Nick Lachey on the cheeks, opened up the studio door to let in some cold air and decided to make fans of the voice happy again. “The Sing-Off” is back for a season four. The vocal competition that truly showcases the…

It’s Monday morning, get cracking Da!

I may be having a hard time getting myself in full roar this Monday morning. Truth be known, I’ve got a bit of a stuffy nose situation going on. Nothing serious, mind you, but enough for me to put that question in the back of my mind: Are you going to get sick? Can’t. Big…

Ugly sweater shots from a really beautiful party

The Ugly Sweater (and shirt) Party went off without a blush yesterday. Our friends Kelly and Steve welcomed many cheery people wearing bad-looking holiday clothing to their splendid house in Liverpool. The house was decorated beautifully, inside and out, a beacon of holiday cheer in this large suburb of Syracuse. This is a family that…

A green rose bush and a white snow pile, together for a little while

Mother Nature gives us little reminders that she might be a little busy at these borders between the seasons. In my front garden in my Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood, there is a rose bush that just won’t give up. Everything else around it is as brown as the dirt in the garden. This bush,…

Coming this weekend to the theater, ‘Out of the Furnace’

Christian Bale, Willem Dafoe and Woody Harrelson will mix it up in ‘Out of the Furnace.’ Friday is my preview blog day for the Syracuse New Times. Click below for the report. Monday, you can check back for my review, same place. http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/out-of-furnace-syracuse-movies/

A cut, a trim, and regular friendly conversation at Hairy Notions

Some men get haircuts when they can’t stand the sight of Shaggy staring back from the mirror any longer. Some men get their beards trimmed when birds and other little animals start to hover too closely. I have my Vanity Appointment every four weeks, without hesitation. My tradition of haircut and beard-trim is so deeply…

The winter season car wash has many believers

There are certain winter season days in Central New York where cars line up with a resolute purpose. No, not those panicked rushes to the supermarket to buy milk and bread when the forecast calls for a big snow. People know enough to keep cans in the cupboard and bottles in the fridge, in case…

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Mark Bialczak

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Monthly Archives: December 2013