This Week

It has been a difficult week here in the United States of America. I am not surprised that my usual Sunday guest columnist, Paul Curran, wants to write about the shootings in the country south of his Canadian border. He points to at least some of the unrest and worse as tied to to our…

From soap to nuts, we find it at the Regional Market

I can’t quite believe it took us until July to make it to Syracuse’s bustling Saturday Regional Market this year. At least it was the start of July. My dear wife Karen and I took off early from the Little Bitty the first day of the Fourth of July Weekend to walk the sheds and…

Dogamous Pyle escapes into a pickle

I felt the iPhone 6 vibrate in my pocket as I talked to my boss Diane at the Liverpool Public Library. Once, twice, three times it rang. I ignored it, figuring I’d look to see the number come quitting time and discover yet another listing of one of the folks you don’t call back because…

A new iPad for Karen gets me thinking

My dear wife Karen went out during her week off and bought herself a new iPad. I surely applaud the move. She’d been working with the hand-me-down gifted from my first iPad Air for almost two years now, and I had the beautiful piece of gadgetry for almost three years before I got the iPad…

The big yard’s looking unique

I had to take an early summer checkup on the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood yard that my dear wife Karen and I admire so much for the roses. Yes, the double-wide plot around the block from the Little Bitty looked good during a recent walk with Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle. It’s not just…

Just the right library spot for the wheels to stop spinning

One of the best things about my job at the Liverpool Public Library is the perfect mix of contemporary and rustic, in architecture, art and patronage. Plus I never know what I’ll spot during my work days as communications specialist. I’ve dug the bike racks out the Tulip Street entrance since the start. Then this…

Happy Independence Day this Fourth of July

Happy Independence Day from the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood. I ran out from the side porch of the Little Bitty this morning clutching my iPad Air 2, expecting and hoping to take a shot of Good Neighbor Tim’s American Flag fluttering from his pole planted on his front lawn next door. Not up yet.…

2-band day fits for Jazz Fest on a holiday weekend

The M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest took a different role in my life this holiday weekend. Through more than two decades I’ve stuck a pad and pen in my pocket, hung a VIP-seating pass around my neck and made my way to wherever founder and executive director Frank Malfitano staged the fantastic event. For the bulk…

Football and the Star Spangled Banner

Happy Holiday weekend Sunday, with well-wishes from our favorite guest columnist from north of our border. Happy Independence Day! Welcome to the weekly coffee and tea garden. Happy Holiday Weekend – Friday for Canadians and Monday for Americans. My name is Paul, I’ll be your barista today and I’m happy to be here at Mark…