That’s not really a selfie, Oprah

I’m halfway listening to CBS News Saturday Morning as I’m catching up on blogs just now when the sign-on 90-second catch-up segment reveals Oprah on Dave last night because every big star wants to say goodbye before he’s not chatting on CBS anymore. Frankly, I’m surprised she didn’t get one of the final-three-show slots before…

Welcome to the weekend, Anywhere USA

Take the right off the main drag next to the former Syracuse China plant at 5 p.m. on a Friday night smack dab in the middle of May in Syracuse, N.Y., and a slice of Americana awaits. Gray skies matter not much. Park in the middle of the lot and wander off to the right…

Thank you, Riley ‘Blues Boy’ King

It was his time. B.B. King passed away Thursday at the age of 89 after a lifetime of delivering a world of wonder to anybody who opened their ears to the blues. With the famous guitar he named Lucille, Riley “Blues Boy” King rang out notes of beauty that struck you that second, hung out…

There’s always room for good writing

Victoria Coit sent me a Facebook message of introduction, saying that she was a friend of Tina Hills and would like to speak to me about a project. Tina and her husband Ken were the owners of a restaurant in downtown Syracuse, I remembered, Sophistications, hosted jazz, very nice people. Victoria said she’s meet me…

Coming soon to a parking lot near you

The tiny sign off the side of the road caught my eye, over to the right, in front of the turn that takes you to where so many of my fellow city folks used to make their living crafting that fine Syracuse China. Ah, yes, I remembered hearing the radio ad and seeing the news…

Let’s branch out with a name for our baby

So far, so good, the condition of this new arrival into the life of my dear wife Karen and I. Our little cherry tree has been rained upon. Big winds blew through the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Bumblebees circled and frogs leaped. Squirrels teased Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle,…

It’s time for the golf league to start! Ka-boom

The Commish has been busy since the last time we made the ups and downs of Northern Pines in Cicero last September for our little golf league. Tweaks and changes for 2015, all good. The biggest was moving our weekly get-together for nine holes one day earlier, to Monday nights, scheduled start time, 5:45 p.m.…

Meet your new home, little Snow Fountain

Through heat and humidity and even a little drizzle, my dear wife Karen and I finished the weekend mission in the front yard of our Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. All we needed was a spade, wheelbarrow, potting mixture, wanna, a metaphorical X to mark the spot and, the star of…