My dear wife Karen and I.
When I was a kid, I used to run two houses down to grab the daily afternoon paper from my friend’s driveway as soon as the distributor dropped his paper route pile off every afternoon because I couldn’t wait to read the sports section.
My fate was cast. I became a reader and a writer for life.
That exciting relationship took me through the world of daily newspaper journalism, where I worked at the big daily in upstate New York until the really big layoff of 2013 tapped me and a whole bunch of colleagues on the shoulder.
Now I write here every day. I share tales from A Bitty Better, which I share with my dear wife Karen and Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle. My terrific adult daughter Elisabeth and her great fiancé George and Karen’s son wonderful son Daryl are frequent guest stars. Besides life, my topics are music and sports and movies. You know, my passions.
Mark Bialczak 
Hi Mark, I was curious about bloglovin – I’ve somehow managed to put them on my blog. I have no idea what happens now. 🙂
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Nothing at all has happened since my post, Rachel, except for warnings by OM who commented that he thought they were stealing intellectual property by allowing people to repost everybody without your permission, and Diana, who said that she heard it was a “phishing scheme.'” And after those two, I deleted that post. Let me know if anything good or bad happens with it.
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I will. I’ve seen it on lots of blogger blogs and I think it’s european so maybe more in use here?
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Cool! Hi Mark
Glad I followed this link 🙂
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Thank you for joining the gang, random g!
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hi, sent by Don 🙂
me, newly blogging,
looking forward to hearing more about you!
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Welcome, Niki. Hit your follow button and join the ride here!
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I see you are following, Niki. I will be reading your blog. Thank you!
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hmn 🙂
will check in 🙂
your story looks interesting 🙂
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Always feel free to let me know what you think, Niki. Thanks again!
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Hi Mark the Charismatic Dom sent me your way. I am glad he did…
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I am very glad to have you along for the ride, JP. Welcome.
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Nice blog Mark. 🙂
P.S.- Didn’t come from DC’s blog. (Yeah, which means I did)
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Of course you did. Thanks Mr. Charisma. Welcome ISpontein!!
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Without tea and snacks? 😛 LOL
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Hi Mark, thanks for following 🙂 Loving your blog!
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I will be by to check out yours, Cathy. I am glad you are here, and I’m looking forward to your work showing up on my Reader. Welcome!
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Just a quick stop to say i love your blog, and I’ve nominated you for a Butterfly Lighting Award. The details are posted in my blog where I’ve linked to you regardless of your decision to follow through. Thanks for doing what you are online!
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I am so honored, Di! Thank you so much. I accept graciously! I will be getting to the process in the next several days. Thanks again.
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HI Mark. Congratulations on all the awards. I am sure they are well deserved. I am looking forward to following. From the comments above I am guessing I might be one of the few NE sports fans commenting. Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. Dont hate it’s just a game right. HAHAHA
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Write as you have been, and rewards will be coming your way, Tamm. In fact, I have one sitting in my digital closet that needs requirements met before I can move it onto the blog awards mantel. (Hint, hint.) Yes, I read your work already. Good sign about my Mets-Jets-Islanders-Nets-Terps-Orange blood getting along with your New England franchise.
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Thank you for reading my work Mark. Another post coming sometime today. I appreciate the follow and I look forward to your input. Have a great day!
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I’ll be seeing you later today, Tamm. I look forward to it!
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Hi Mark, thank you for the follow on my blog. I can see that I have lots to explore here on yours.
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So sorry, I did not mean to be presumptuous – I meant to thank you for the “like” on my blog.
That is honor enough. Still plan to investigate your blog – lots to see and read.
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You got it right the first time, Sharon. I indeed have clicked to follow your blog. I will be reading!
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You’re welcome, and the same from me to you, Sharon!
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Hey Mark, I love your blog and have nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. (We’re not sexist in the blogosphere and my nominatio came from a man!) I hope this is something you would like to participate in but of course, I understand if this is something that is not of interest to you, or if you do not have enough time to participate. If you are interested, please follow the link below.
http://lydiadevadason.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/awards-ceremony/
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Thank you, Lydia. I can hardly turn down an award like this. I am honored that you nominated me to be in the Sisterhood! Thank you.
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You are most welcome Mark! 🙂
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Hey Mark! I see that you have a whole cabinet of AWARD. Well done you! May I add another? I am nominating you for the Versatile Blogger Award because I very much enjoy reading your blogs & feel like you very much deserve it. It’s clear to see, just how hard you work at your blog. To accept this award, please click on the link -> http://insidethelifeofmoi.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/versatile-blogger-award/ …Oh and congrats! 🙂 Keep up the great blog!
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Thank you so much for your nomination, Amanda. Moi very much appreciate your blog, too. I shall get on the acceptance path in the days ahead.
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You are VERY welcome 🙂 and thankyou. There’s no rush, take your time if you wish!
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Great site.
My pleasure to follow (and perhaps learn some stuff)
Thank You.
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Thank you, LA. Pleased to meet you.
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mark, love the look of the blog – thanks for including my mug shot in the ‘who comes up on my reader’.
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Thank you for noticing the new look, Rachel. I fiddled with it all day yesterday.
I discovered that to get who I wanted in the top of my ‘who comes up on my reader’ I had to get the blogs I wanted on notifications, click to unfollow, and then click again to follow anew.
Tricky, WordPress!
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Awesome blog and congratulations for the awards you deserve them 🙂
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Thank you. Glad to meet you!
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Mark, a blogger mentioned your post on your brother making her cry….Robin , I think and I was not able to find it and would like to read it. Could you send me the link, please?
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I do not have a brother, Anne, so I do not know if it’s a case of mistaken identity …
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Me being dingy…… She talked about your softer side and your dog and family. Then the next nominee was praised for the tribute to HIS brother. Well, if you had had a brother he would have been blessed to be your brother!
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Thanks, Anne.
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Wha-who-wha!!!! UVA!!!
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Good luck vs. Pitt today, Anne.
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Thanks….they just beat them, right?
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Yes, you are correct. I wasn’t watching the game. Congratulations!
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Wahoowa!!!!!
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Didn’t want you to miss this…..you have been so sweet. Great birthday for me! 😎
Have a lovely week!
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/03/16/virginia-earns-no-1-seed-in-the-east-region/
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Happy birthday, Anne, and congrats on Wahoo’s No. 1 seed!
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Thanks so much my friend!
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My dear sports expert. . . . . Have you seen Hurling that is played in Ireland? Unbelievable game sort of a cross between soccer , and lacrosse ….but not pads or time out …v..very brutal. American mamas would not let their babies play it, I am quite sure! Looks more physical than rugby even! Check it out on YouTube if you are interested!
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I have seen Hurling on TV, Anne. It seems to be quite exciting to the fans at the stadium, but very foreign to me.
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I asked Shaun if it was played in Scotland and he said no. Pure Irish…We would go to a pub on a weekend and there would be whole families in their colors cheering for their team…..lots of fun!
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Hi Mark! I have nominated you for Seven Awards, because I think you and your blog are truly creative and fantastic. I hope you will accept! Congratulations and here is the link: http://simplyilka.com/2014/03/01/7-awards-the-amazing-pack-of-7-in-1/
-Ilka
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Thank you Ilka! I do accept, and will post about it tomorrow. I so appreciate the Seven Awards honor.
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Hi Mark, Just letting you know I have nominated you for the Shauny Award. More details can be found at http://irenewaters19.com/2014/02/26/shauny-award-and-friends-and-followers-award/
Cheers Irene
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Thank you so much, Irene.
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You’re welcome Mark. Cheers Irene
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Thanks – I too have a somewhat eclectic content – side effect of always wanting to know about different things as they come to my attention. Be seeing you 🙂
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It is quite interesting to see what it is that makes an award winning blog. Being new to this medium I have been working on finding my feet in this new E-world and looking at the content and style of blogs such as yours has been more than just a tad helpful it’s been down right useful to say the least. Audience and awards aside I have been truly enjoying this and have E-met some VERY interesting characters along the way. I’ve had a quick look around and will take some more time to read some of your current pieces but I have to say I really like your style both with content and feel. Look forward to reading you.
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Thank you for your kind comments. I hope you find some things you like here. I tend to jump around a bit, writing about the things that interest me in this life of ours. I will be following you, too, hoping to learn about your world. Welcome to the WordPress community, an interesting place to be.
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Love your blog and writing style! Thanks for the follow and I returned the love -:)
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I’m looking forward to a rewarding reading relationship, Victoria. Thank you!
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Me too! -:)
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You are very welcome, Chris.
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Hi Mark!
I seen your little name taking a peek at my blog! Glad you came by. I enjoy your blog. Of course, I’m not as professional writer like yourself, I’m a hot mess, but I love to share *HOPE* with others in Recovery and who suffer from Mental Health issues. I just let the words fall from my Heart to the keyboard and then hit “POST”!
I can tell you enjoy where you live! God Bless, Author Catherine Lyon 🙂 🙂
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Glad to mee you Catherine Lyon! I will keep my eye on the words falling out of your heart.
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You have a good blog here. Continue the nice style.
Thanks for your visit and following at my blog. Found you through Don Charisma.
You just got a new follower.
Irene
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It just makes me feel warm when somebody with ‘design’ as part of their blog name tells me I have nice style. I’ve followed you through Don Charisma, too. And I’m glad we both have, Irene. Thank you.
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You are very welcome. Enjoy 🙂
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Either works fine for me.
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Unless we do a Bisons or a Jays game.
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I know where I am visiting for a beer or Finger Lakes wine this summer. }:-)>
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Cool beans. I go for the beer more than the wine.
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Is that Syracuse NY? Close to Ottawa.
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Yes, Syracuse, N.Y. Go over the bridge from Alexandria Bay and hang a right to Ottawa, is it?
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Hey Mark, I’m running my second wrting challenge “Whose Blog is it Anyway?” 2 … a mutual friend suggested that you might enjoy, if so please could you submit a paragraph today, I’m closing later today – http://doncharisma.org/2014/01/08/whose-blog-is-it-anyway-the-next-challenge-wbiia2/
Warm regards
DON CHARISMA
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Hi there Mark,
Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the blogosphere and for following. Your support is greatly appreciated, Looking forward so seeing more from you 🙂
Eddie
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I’m glad to be on board, Eddie! I’ll be on the look-out.
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Hi Mark, you have probably already seen that I have nominated you for the versatile blogger award as I really enjoy your posts. Sorry for my tardiness in letting you know but I am travelling and have limited internet access. See more at http://irenewaters19.com/2013/11/26/versatile-blogger-award/
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I saw that you had nominated me while I was reading your post about your deserved nomination. Congratulations for your nomination, and thank you for the delightful surprise I had when reading my name on your list. Have a good travel, Irene.
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I’m glad and I will. Thanks
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Great blog Mark, congrats on your book! Happy to be a new follower!
-Andrew
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Welcome, Andrew. I just pushed the magic button to follow your blog. Keep on being the quirky guy from Jersey and we’ll all be happy.
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J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets! That is the anti-Patriots fan, I’d say.
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Cowboys!
😉
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Hah, Don beat me here huh. =P
I am a volunteer fan myself. My school. 🙂
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Go Terps Go! Love that checkerboard end zone you Vols have going on, though.
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As long as you aren’t a Gator or a Patriots fan we will be ok.
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