Rubber Ducky, you’re the one

Organizers for the first ever Onondaga Cup and LakeFest billed the star as the biggest Rubber Duck. Ever. Period. How could my dear wife Karen and I not meet terrific daughter Elisabeth and standout significant George for a look-see Saturday afternoon at Onondaga Lake’s Willow Bay? Organizers did not lie. OK, maybe Cusey, as they…

Nichols of Liverpool gets my dear wife’s approval

I’ve got my morning routine down before I settle into my desk at the Liverpool Public Library. I leave the Little Bitty in the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood at least 10 minutes earlier than needed. I like the cushion of time, one. And two: After pulling into my spot in the underground garage, I…

Melinda decides Santa Barbara’s call needs to be answered

For so many years, the smiling face and wise words of Melinda helped me through my days at the big daily. We investigated and co-wrote big projects together. She knew her fine arts. More than that, she’s wise in the ways of journalism. Best of all, Melinda is a smart friend about what’s right and…

Quietly following Fred Funk

It’s been, oh, a quarter-century now that I’ve had the pleasure of following a guy I share an alma mater with around the hills of Endicott, N.Y. No, I’m not stalking pro golfer Fred Funk. But once again I was able to send an email to my friends that host Fred when he plays in…

Screen gem presentation

I floated the idea right here just a few days ago. It was a dream, really, that notion that it was time to trade in my iPad Air 2 for the iPad Logic 12-inch model. You can pretty much guess what I’m using to compose this blog post this wonderful Saturday afternoon, can’t you? It…

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…

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.…