Recent days have been filled with some of the worst moments of the year. Multiple acts of gun violence and extreme examples of deranged mental health and family tragedy have occupied the headlines, and my mind, along with the almost unbelievable responses to these situations by the emotional toddler who resides in what is left … Continue reading My (highly subjective) best of 2025 picks
Tag: restaurants
The deliciousness of Montreal
Twenty -four hours after I arrived home after a three night getaway to Montreal, I was still at risk of gushing about the experience. The accommodations, the live music, the epic walks and numerous bottles of wine enjoyed, the morsels consumed and the Canadian economy supported - all of it. It was delightful. None of … Continue reading The deliciousness of Montreal
Thanksgiving, eh?
When one of my sons, a few months ago, suggested that we spend Thanksgiving in Montreal, I immediately ran with the idea. This holiday, which had been my favorite for many years, just doesn’t feel like a celebratory occasion when one learns about the atrocities (far beyond the singular Trail of Tears lesson taught in … Continue reading Thanksgiving, eh?
Holiday shopping…
…is problematic. It’s the time of the year when many cultures traditionally exchange gifts. There’s a conditioned seasonal impulse to shop with a vengeance joy, often spending beyond our means in an effort to impress others with the amount we care for them. Wait! Am I projecting like the Republicans accusing the Democrats of sexual … Continue reading Holiday shopping…
Social battery. Drained
Somehow, November weekends have become very busy. This weekend, for instance, there was a Friday night event to attend, a Saturday afternoon baby shower (with an hour+ r/t drive), work Saturday night and then brunch in Woodstock Sunday morning with a couple of girlfriends. It was a multi-country extravaganza with hundreds of people surrounding me. … Continue reading Social battery. Drained
Broken in, not distressed
When I changed into my “chores” jeans, I paused for a moment to consider how many years it had been since I purchased this particular pair of Levi’s. I did the math, thinking back to that long ago trip anniversary to Maine and our visit to the outlets in Freeport. My first and last, so … Continue reading Broken in, not distressed
Fired Up, Part 2
(As promised, the second part of last weekend. This time, however, the Fired Up is refers to the fire tower out in Grafton and the going up it that was our plan for the early afternoon.) Just like Saturday, I spent much of Sunday outdoors, this time on the east side of the Hudson. My … Continue reading Fired Up, Part 2






