Leaving for San Francisco, wardrobe (and all organs) in place.

The evening’s dramatic rain storm, and subsequent drop in the temperature, completely changed my jacket selection(s) for my upcoming visit to San Francisco. The slightly damp, but not too humid, air here in Albany was pretty much what I can anticipate experiencing in SF. I’m going to need a raincoat of sorts for certain - … Continue reading Leaving for San Francisco, wardrobe (and all organs) in place.

A tale of two city homes

As of April, I’ve resided in my present home for 30 years aka half of my entire life. During these decades, I’ve occupied the upper two floors of my two family property with the first floor flat, an independent two bedroom flat, housing either a family member or a tenant. When my flat was functioning … Continue reading A tale of two city homes

Pioneer Valley Peaks

I’m back home again after my repeat pet/housesit in Northampton to share some favorites from this year’s stay. I repeated a couple of spots from 2025, but made an effort to expand my horizons and tried some new things in addition to revisiting some places. There’s a lot to do in the Northampton area, so … Continue reading Pioneer Valley Peaks

Leaving the nest

I often complain that I hate owning a house because of the unpredictable responsibilities that come with a 115 year-old property. I imagine the freedom I’d feel without the constant worrying about the correct prioritizing of maintenance and improvements and try to decide where else I might live… But, for now (and the last 30+ … Continue reading Leaving the nest

Amici in Italia

A few weeks ago, a friend and I were out enjoying drinks and chatting when the topic of travel came up. We quickly realized we were each hoping for an opportunity to take an autumn trip. Amazingly, independently we had each been thinking about visiting Sicily, a place neither of us had ever been before. … Continue reading Amici in Italia

Lake life

For the majority of my childhood I lived downstate in a small village in Orange County. Greenwood Lake, N.Y. is a former resort area that was centered on the recreational opportunities provided by a 9 mile long lake that spans the N.Y./N.J. border. While it was a great place to grow up, there were certain … Continue reading Lake life