Why I fret, Vol. II

A couple weeks back I caught a photo of these two pine trees behind my backyard neighbors’ fence and shared my anxiety about an eventual fall. They were covered with snow. I could see a possible topple in the future. Here’s that Knock Down, Stay Up post. On the way back from my glorious walk…

Push the button and out comes free water

I fear that something I have valued dearly my whole life is facing extinction. The great American water fountain is going, going … Thanks to some old buildings that have not been spiffed up, they are not quite gone. The sturdy old beauty pictured here wets my parched lips every Thursday night at my bowling…

Loud people who don’t care can ruin a meal

A loud guy has everybody in the restaurant wincing and making eye contact. What do you do? My good blogging friend Ann Koplow brought up that scenario yesterday in her wonderful post on Years of Living Non-Judgmentally. You can check it out here. In her sticky wicket, everybody else in the restaurant just toughed it…

I’m tired of the red truck and the unleashed black dog

This is our beloved rescue mutt Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle. Isn’t she a beauty? It is my responsibility to keep her safe and sound, and I take that job seriously. In the winter, she tends to love sprawling in the living room. I know, though, that a daily walk is good for both of…

Pardon me for intruding upon your world

For all my life, I’ve tried to explain away my minor road annoyances to bad drivers. The last few days, though, my true Grumpus has emerged. Enough, already. Perhaps it’s the cold. Maybe it’s winter. Could be the lack of daylight. I’m certain, however, it’s not my fault. Two days ago, I’m driving my dear…

Remember radio commercial makers, we’re listening while driving the car

Two little beefs to note as we get ready to ring in this autumn-is-coming weekend in Syracuse. Nope, they have nothing to do with falling temperatures. This time around, at least. Welcome back, Grumpus. Today I’ve got to gripe about the stuff they put on the soundtrack of radio commercials. I’m driving in my car,…

As skunk season returns, I begin to wrinkle my nose and fret

As soon as I opened the back door to let Ellie B out to the backyard to do her morning thing, the scent hit me. Faint, this time. But as distinct in my mind as a slap to the face. Skunks are back in my Syracuse city neighborhood. Or maybe a skunk, singular. I surely…

Thanks for the car wash. Now keep your hands off my seat controls. What’s your beef these days?

This car, I decided, I’ll stick with the dealer for routine maintenance. I bought the little beauty from the folks at Driver’s Village, very happy with the deal. They gave me the first oil change for free. Treated me well. Sent me some service coupons in the mail. Then the Chevy franchise that used to…

Come on, dog owners, it’s obviously not a public park

Grumpus Bialczak will now officially begin this civics lesson. We’ll start with a multiple choice question: The green space in the accompanying photo looks like: A) An empty lot between two Eastwood houses. B) A green space that neighbors sometimes use when special summertime occasions yield a guest list too large for just one yard.…

As a garden shows life in Eastwood, a junk TV sits in the weeds

The sun shines brightly on our sweet, little yard in Eastwood. I look over my dear wife Karen’s happy little garden oval out front. Every year, we put love into the ground. Little by little, the garden has widened. It shouldered a big change last year after winter winds toppled the centerpiece olive tree. Karen…