Spring training makes me feel warm

Click, click, click, stop. Sigh. They are playing baseball in Florida. A weekday surf through the sports channels leads me happily to a spring training game for my New York Mets, against the Houston Astros. The Mets are leading 4-0. It’s the fourth inning, and many of the players have names that may become household…

It’s time for Syracuse to flaunt the importance of local music again

There’s no national music scene without local music. There’s no international music superstars without local music. Simply stated: Every musical journey has to start in somebody’s garage. Or bedroom. Or living room. Much of the time, they start to jam with a neighbor. Or classmate. If they get confident, they’ll play out in public at…

Getting my mental game ready for fore months

Golfing nomads wandered around the floor of SRC Arena in Syracuse. They were in search of a better golf game. There were plenty of exhibitors ready to lend a hand with new equipment available for purchase. Clubs, balls, shoes, carts, clothes … In other words, go home and think spring. Which I did without buying…

Don’t give me no lies and …

Keep your hands to yourself! So sang the Georgia Satellites in a gritty little ditty that made the Billboard top five when Dan Baird and his mates in the Atlanta band gave it to the world in 1986. You know, younger folks, it’s the catchy song that’s made the playlist of the smarmy date who’s…

I welcome Sammy into my life

Originally posted on Mark Bialczak:
I proudly display my Founders Award Sammy, on its way to its place of distinction in my living room. Through two decades, I’ve been on the giving side of the Sammy. Up to the stage the smiling winners would march. I’d hand over the shiny, black Syracuse Area Music Awards…

This award come in sevens, an amazing bundle

The woman behind the site simplyilka bestowed upon me the most complicated WordPress Award I’ve ever seen. Ilka is a scientist, environmentalist and medical writer who likes to share her thoughts with the world through blogging. It would be a smart idea for you to click over and check out her blog. Ilka informed me…

Oscar winners keep me fascinated on the small screen, too

I can’t quibble with the picks. “12 Years a Slave” was a big winner. With the local connection to upstate New York, bravo to the inspiring tale of a free man wrongly kept against his will, from the words of Solomon Northup. The pure joy and celebration of the cast on stage and the show-closing…