I started my day with Black Coffee. If you read last week’s blog (or viewed my last post to Gotham’s RockRap Music listserve), you already know why.   One word (or title or name).  Squeeze.   We took in one of my fave bands last night at The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. I viewed some set lists for shows the band led by Glenn Tilbrook (lead guitar and vocals) and Chris Difford (guitar and vocals). Each one varied so one could only guess what song(s) might ge...

The Amazon forest, which produces about 20% of earth's oxygen, and is often referred to as "the planet's lungs" is ablaze.  There's been an 80% increase in deforestation so far this year compared to last year. Scientists have recorded more than 74,000 fires in Brazil this year. That's nearly double 2018's total of about 40,000 fires. In total, the blazes have created a layer of smoke estimated to be 1.2 million square miles wide. You can even see it from space.   On Monday, ...

Could it be that Summer is ebbing in these “dog days”?  If so, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it. Could it be that Labor Day and the start of school (and traffic) are just around the corner?I try to put that out of my mind and tell myself to be in the moment as I dream of an Endless Summer.  Then I tell myself that Fall and beautiful colorful leaves approach, but in the end I am left with the thought that the days are sadly trickling  down. After writing a draft o...

We were in Falmouth for the 47th running of the prestigious Falmouth Road Race — a 7.1 mile run from the drawbridge in Woods Hole to the British Beer Company tavern in Falmouth Heights. Our Inn was right on the path of the race about a tenth of a mile from the finish. The porch gave us a perfect view. Watching the runners was inspirational and a bit nostalgic. Elite women and men and the mere mortals. Every one with a story, a purpose and a goal. There was even more insp...

It’s a thing. Really. We’re a biological mutation with the ability to sense change in temperature before any other human. It takes more medication to knock us out. We eat souls for breakfast and our witty demeanor can be unrelenting. The only weakness? The sun. Brothers and sisters to vampires, we can’t stand the bright fireball in the sky. It creates these spots called freckles, which can turn to blisters in a matter of minutes. Beware of the redheads with blue or green eye...

  Jane Jacobs posted a link to a New York Times piece this weekend entitled, “Finding Myself in My Mother’s Calendars.” Reading it made me think about my mother’s address book. After my parents passed and we were cleaning out their belongings, I took several small items one of which was my mom’s address book and one of the others was my father’s wallet.     Every so often, as I did this weekend, I’ll find myself just reading through my mother’s address book. In many ways, i...

We saw some really great shows so far this year. And it’s not impossible that by the time this month passes nothing can top 2019’s August. Already this month we saw Poco co-founder Jim Messina (perhaps better known for his work with Kenny Loggins) August 5 at current fave venue, My Father’s Place. This past Thursday at Radio City Music Hall, we enjoyed John Fogerty who led Creedence Clearwater Revival to a string of double-sided hit singles and earns kudos for his solo work. ...

Are you a runner? Happen to have any old running shoes in your closet? If so, you may be interested in Dave Russell's story. He just got $50,000 for these "funky, old shoes" that happened to be a pair of extremely rare prototype Nike running shoes from 1972 (only 10 were given out).   Dave said, "They were very exotic because the sole was completely different. It was made on a waffle iron. It was glued to the bottom of the shoe."   He said the shoes spent years in a box in h...

Last Sunday we ventured into the city for our annual visit to the beautiful Guggenheim (see picture). Summer in the city weekends present less hustle, bustle and traffic as we left early.  We zoomed into the city in about a half hour and quickly found a street spot before entering Wright’s beautiful creative edifice.  Who could resist a flurry of photos?We walked up the art festooned ramps, viewing Maplethorpe, Nevelelson, Agnes Martin, Rauschenberg and Bacon amongst other ar...

You’ve got to discard (recycle) things from time to time. Advice I've heard is that if you haven’t used it in a year or two, it’s time to clean it out. I have followed that advice as best I can...usually without regret. This year we’ll be in Falmouth Massachusetts on the weekend of the famous Falmouth Road Race. I’ve been to Falmouth many times, but not on the weekend of the race that I ran over forty years ago. I regret having cleaned out the T Shirt and medal that I...