Fun before the game moves closer to the action

The Syracuse University football folks did a good job of upselling me between last season and this. No, I didn’t go for the next price level of tickets for me dear wife Karen and I. But I did decide to join in on the university-sponsored parking plan for the first time in the almost-decade we’ve…

So much hope until there wasn’t

Syracuse thought they could as the kicked off to Clemson Saturday night in the Carrier Dome in front of 50,000 excited fans. Two years ago, the Orange won right here at home in a huge upset. Last year, Syracuse gave the Tigers the toughest game of their season down in South Carolina before falling late.…

Out come the lights

We know they’re getting ready for the Thanksgiving holiday at Onondaga Lake Park. Paired with the nice September weather, my work colleagues and I have seen the signs of preparation for Lights on the Lake. Already.

Before we wave a final goodbye to the trip to Texas

Thank you for sticking with me through the chronicles of our family trip to Texas. I can wrangle many posts out of my vacation travels. And still I have this final day of miscellaneous photographs to share. Yes, my terrific daughter Elisabeth brought decorated rocks to spread her unique cheer throughout Texas. She left the…

We had to eat wings in Buffalo

George Three had taken a trip to Buffalo for wings with George Two. He knew about Duff’s. We were hungry after the morning flight delay. It was almost dinner time. I was able to take one bite from my dear wife Karen’s medium wing. It was blazing hot! They sure label heat differently there than…

Do not mention the word canceled, please and thank you

We sat in San Antonio waiting for the plane to arrive. We missed a connection in Chicago and scrambled to stay overnight. The next morning, we saw all flights to Syracuse canceled and wrangled our way onto two separate flights to Buffalo instead. George rented a car. We got on their earlier flight thanks to…

So much to see out there by the jetty

There was a jetty out there near Dirty Al’s, and the five of us were going to walk out on it. No matter that the temperature was (again) about 100 F. We would rock this venture. Religious statues and soaring birds would not stop us. Blue water and a breeze beckoned. An extremely friendly pelican…

I’ll take the shrimp and the shrimp at Dirty Al’s

Dirty Al’s advertised the best friend shrimp anywhere. The Syracuse four plus brother-in-law Scott decided to take them up on their offer. First I made an executive decision to order a pound of peel-an-eat to set in the middle of the table. And peel-and-eat we did for a moment before I remembered to take the…

Sunsets and fireworks match well

Yes, The Longboard would have a table big enough to fit our big party. No, we never tired of taking our meals together! Or catching a beautiful sunset over Laguna Madre. Or posing for cherished photographs. Or mugging for selfies. And catching fireworks rising over the stage.

I can see for miles and miles

The Port Isabel lighthouse is a pretty thing. I looked up and imagined it welcoming old ships to new things. I looked up again and readied myself for a climb. First exit was an open-air landing some dozen feet from the very top. I tried to find the handful of our crew who stayed below…