The guy upstairs is rooting for the Orange

I spotted a sign of Orange support while walking with my colleagues during our break at the library. Up high, on the roof of The Retreat, between the beautiful white blooms. The Syracuse squad tackles Cornell in the first round of the men’s college lacrosse playoffs on Sunday in the Carrier Dome. There’s no doubt…

When it grows, it grows fast

Cold, cold, cold, right to summer. That’s the way it seems to have turned here in the Liverpool neighborhood of Galeville. And when our lawn around A Bitty Better needed its first cut of the season … … it really needed it. Front and back. This made the task a bit more labor intensive than…

Here come the boats

Three cheers for the warmer weather. The boat owners are bringing their vessels back to the Onondaga Lake Yacht Club marina. Soon enough, there will be a line to get them in the water.

We all pleaded the 5th

I hoped the weather would be good enough for us to celebrate Cinco de Mayo outside. Yes, we were able to gather on the side of A Bitty Better in the Liverpool neighborhood of Galeville, the six of us and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle. My wonderful daughter Elisabeth and her sensational significant George Three…

Churchill’s dilemma chills still in Darkest Hour

The history lessons in Darkest Hour shine various lights on Winston Churchill, the King and his Empire, and the oh-so-many players linked to them in the days that Adolph Hitler’s troops marched toward the closest shores and into their collective psyches. Oh, what a drama this is, a deep and dark march into pages that…

Bring on spring, from my toes on up

As we walked around Syracuse mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex Destiny USA, I reminded my dear wife Karen how the trusty blue slip-on Top Sider sneakers that have lasted me the entire previous two warm seasons were forming holes up top. She, too, needed good warm weather shoes for her soul and soles. We…

A little catnip goes a long way

On the way for a staycation get-together with my darling daughter Elisabeth, super significant George Three and their new addition, rescue cat Miss Ava, I stopped at the Oneida WalMart for careful cat gift selection. The long thing with catnip inside, check. The pretty cat agreed with my selection. Of course, she’s already the owner…

A tough break for George Three, but we eat on anyway

It’s going to be a touch spring for George Three. My wonderful daughter Elisabeth’s sensational significant stumbled into a mishap while unloading packages from a truck at work. He put his right arm behind him to break his fall. Yup, dominant side. Four weeks with the bright green cast and then the doctor will tell…

At lunch in Oneida, we walk into the biggest painted rock yet

My terrific daughter Elisabeth, sensational significant George Three and I took a late lunch during my staycation last week. I picked Ye Olde Pizza Pub, blocks from their apartment in Oneida. Elisabeth’s eyes went wide as we neared the entrance. The biggest painted rock the three of us have ever seen rested against a beam.…

Going for the next season

More well-meaning sprouts were spied on a walk around the Liverpool neighborhood of Galeville by cherished rescue mutt Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle and I. The flowers are coming. The flowers are coming. Some of the interesting lawn ornaments seem to be popping as well. Yes, the blooms are beautifying the front of A Bitty…