Hard help is good to find

The hanging chad is no longer. Repair made. Yesterday I told of how a week ago the Little Bitty had spit to the lawn a big slice of white trim from under the roof, and how the day had come for my dear wife Karen to hold the ladder so I could take a climb…

Hope is where you see it

I was driving to work an early morning of World Series week, still somewhat bleary-eyed from my beloved baseball squad’s defeat that ended not too many hours ago. Gray day. A little drizzly. Eight hours in store for me. Then ahead I spotted a rainbow. A big one, too, stretching toward me as I approached…

What really scares me

There could be ghosts and goblins, witches and warlocks running around your part of the world today. Be careful. Something resembling this might jump out from behind a bush and try to relieve you of your wits and bodily fluids. It is Halloween, after all. Do you believe in ghosts, really? Seven years ago, when…

The odd feeling in the air continues

Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle and I stretched out our legs and our lungs on the sunniest day of the week with the longest walk we’ve taken in months. Over the river and through the woods we went to … No, that’s not it. Through Norwood Park and around the blocks that surround the Little…

Sock it to me one more time

Technically I was right. When I showed up for the Thursday Night Men’s League at Bowling Green in North Syracuse on Sunday Morning — and yes, you read that right — our squad was listed second on the standings sheet. Much to my surprise, though, we had the same record as the team listed above…

First place for my bowling squad after week six

I knew we’d been doing well after a slow start this season. Cici’s Pizza was rolling along OK in the Thursday Night Men’s League at Bowling Green. Our squad of five was making the most of our handicap pins through the first six weeks on the cozy 12 lanes in North Syracuse, N.Y. But still…

Next breed up in the Ellie B guessing game: Korean Jindo

As I take our beloved rescue pooch Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle on our walks exploring the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood around the Little Bitty, folks love to stop us to admire. The dog, not me. And soon after a pat and a sniff (of the dog, not me) they’re sure to ask about…

A Mets fan can feel lonely in Syracuse even with the World Series ahead

My devotion to the New York Mets has been well-chronicled here this season. There was the trip to Citi Field in late June with my dear wife Karen and friends Steve and Kristen that spurred my multiple-part series about the team and stadium. And there was my discovery that Mets cable network SNY picked my…

That’s what Cracker Barrel is all about

I came up with a good one planning the brunch with my terrific daughter Elisabeth and her marvelous boyfriend George Three to put another party on my dear wife Karen’s Birthday Week festivities. We texted back and forth about the fact that the gift Elisabeth had carefully chosen apparently was stalled in a UPS warehouse…

A good and great breakfast, serially

Cereal prices are on the move up, up, up. Have you sold any stock yet so you can keep eating your top-shelf Wheaties, Raisin Bran, Lucky Charms and the like? I’ve given up the name brands long ago. My usual cereal purchase is made by Wegmans, flakes and squares that ably fill in for the…