Away with the clutter, ahhhh

I knew my mess was spreading too far and wide in the Little Bitty I share with my dear wife Karen in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. I saw it every moment I sat writing in my recliner/work chair. The wide ottoman that we’d bought because it serves as seating-in-the-pinch had become completely covered…

Abused to Death for Sexuality

A combination of a late Saturday shift at the store here for me and a spot of illness up in Canada for our esteemed guest blogger conspired for a late publication of this morning’s Cuppa. Much apology from the Little Bitty in Syracuse. Mr. Curran is here for his weekly turn, nevertheless. Take it away,…

An unappealing task

There are some things in life you know are not in your wheelhouse. I can’t dive. At the end of the tip-toe down the ladder or along the sand/rocks, I’m not the best swimmer. I much prefer the long-necked lighter over matches to ignite a grill. Dear wife Karen, it’s time for the new car…

I’ll miss new words from the great Pat Conroy

Thank you, Pat Conroy, for all the hours of wonder you gave me. Through all these decades, you shared precious chunks of time in my life. In my 30s, 40s and 50s, I’ve spent stolen moments gripping your novels, wordlessly turning the pages, my mind transported to your beautifully crafted, realistically flawed, undeniably entertaining people…

A new wild ride every month

In October 2010, my dear wife Karen and I took our dream vacation. To celebrate our anniversary, we hopped on a plane to her hometown of Los Angeles and stayed a night so we could poke around her old haunts some. The next morning went to the LA airport to meet Syracuse friends Julie and…

I’ll take these gas prices for now

The last time I pulled up to the gas pumps, I actually did a double-take. OK, I know the fact that I buy my gas at BJ’s Wholesale Club drops the price by a nickel a gallon or so compared to the other stations around the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood.…

Room for improvement

How do you follow-up a season in which you reached the World Series for the first time in 15 years? Why, you win the World Series, of course. Hold on there, Mets fan. Well, the old saw Hope Springs Eternal was coined for baseball fans, was it not? Hover over any photo for a description.…

Sacha Baron Cohen lands extreme gross out with Brothers Grimsby

Here’s a list of the obviously warm and fuzzy elements in The Brothers Grimsby, in order of significance: Love of family. Devotion to friends. Conviction to beliefs. Connection to community. Here’s a list of the potentially offensive segments of the latest installment in the career of Sacha Baron Cohen: Gratuitous sex. Forced sex act with…