Next month, I’m taking a trip to Italy that, on paper, sounds meticulously well planned. There are multiple flights, close to 10 destinations, some new, some favorites, and a number of friends equal to that number of destinations involved. It might be interpreted as concerningly complicated. But, it’s not. Rather, it is loosely organized with … Continue reading Falling into Italy – where it begins.
Category: ideas
Best of the outer Cape, 2026
I’ve been doing this Cape Cod vacation for a long time. It began in Harwich Port, transitioned to South Chatham and finally landed in Wellfleet, my preferred destination, for what has been close to 20 years. For a person who grew up in an area where folks gravitated to either Long Island or the Jersey … Continue reading Best of the outer Cape, 2026
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.
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
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
Sweet like Colin Farrell’s Sugar
Let me just start with this undeniable fact: Colin Farrell is hot. I’m talking an absolute smoke show of a man. Beyond the admiration I hold for Farrell’s physical appearance, though, lies something even deeper - he’s a hell of an actor. The present vehicle for his talent is Sugar, an Apple TV series currently … Continue reading Sweet like Colin Farrell’s Sugar






