This isn’t exactly New York City

When my dear wife Karen and I were walking up from our favorite reasonable-rate parking lot down the big hill Saturday on our way to see the Syracuse Orange battle No. 1 Clemson in football in the Carrier Dome, I noticed another newly refurbished building finished about two-thirds of the way along our journey. It’s…

In Syracuse, we think of Paris

The night before, the tower in downtown Syracuse was lighted up all blue, the choice this month to signal the fight against diabetes. Saturday night crowds walking out of two adjacent buildings looked up at a different tribute. Some 6,000 people from the Syracuse Crunch hockey game and another 2,000 from the concert hall were…

Working in America at almost 58

I called up my account online, and it was in there. I grabbed the stack of bills from the folder in my dresser, and, old school guy that I am, wrote out checks one by one to send out in the mail. No transfers were made from savings. That felt good. The first two-week paycheck…

Are you ready to become resolute for 2016?

If there’s one thing my freelance work for Central New York Magazine — The Good Life has taught me, it’s that it’s never too early to look ahead. I’ve already researched and written my story for the January edition. Hover over any gallery photo for a description. Click on the bottom right photo in any…

Gettin’ huge at Good Golly

Our cruise group leaders JoAnn and Brenda got the gang together again last weekend for breakfast. Put us in one room in a diner in Brewerton, N.Y., and it sure seems like an endless number. Sort of reminds me of a clown car when the bodies keep exiting … Really, though, and not everybody made…

My how you’ve grown

I’m in town, the direct message on Facebook said. Would you have time to meet for lunch? You betcha, Brandt Ranj. I sent back a suggestion of Applebee’s, across Erie Boulevard from where we used to meet twice a week in that Le Moyne College classroom the fall semester of 2010, when I taught eager…