Rambling Van Dog Exposed at CRUSH Party!
While often I feel resistant to go out on New Year’s Eve, since everyone expects you to, we rallied for a great cause by joining about 100 other Holyokers at the Wisteriahurst Museum to celebrate the city of Holyoke. A grand shindig was planned, with music, great food, two bars […]
A Snowy Day to Say Goodbye to 2008
It’s the final day of 2008, and outside it is snowing hard. I love it when it’s like this, although as I business owner I realize it’s not very good for business. But it’s soooo cozy inside the cafe, with people reading the paper, hunched over their laptops, and outside […]
Here’s to a Great Great Year!
This week in between the holidays is a notoriously slow time for anyone who sells things for a living. I remember so well those many years, no, decades, anticipating January. Oh January. At the Valley Advocate when the office was in Amherst, we would have to take the first one […]
Do You Think This Will Get Us Some Good Staff?
Here is a help wanted ad I just posted on Craig’s list. More on Craig later. Despite the terrible recession and panic across the nation…the GoNOMAD Cafe is a beacon of stability…full of customers and busy as hell. We need someone to join our staff immediately and bake, make sandwiches, […]
They’re Visiting Saudi Arabia and Have No Fear
Elbert and Bernice live just above Cindy’s house in Holyoke. Their dwelling, which they designed themselves, is one-of-a-kind; an octagon with a round ceiling and lots of odd-shaped windows. We joined them in this house for dinner last night. The couple embody the idea that keeping your mind busy keeps […]
In 1527, Cabeza de Vaca Stopped Wearing Shoes
After reading about George Bush’s voracious reading habit, I felt like I had to increase the amount of pages I consume yearly. So I picked up a book I’ve been reading for too long called American Nomads, where the author loosley follows the trail of the conquistador Cabeza de Vaca, […]
Welcome to the World Valerie Sofia Cosme!
We had big news in a teeny tiny package last night, as Valerie Sofia Cosme came into the world. What a little joy she is! My second grandchild emerged healthy and happy at just under eight pounds at Franklin Medical, where Kate works…the ultimate busman’s holiday, on December 26. We […]
The Surprising Tale of the Reader in Chief
Karl Rove is hated by many Democrats, and I share in some of their hatred, since he helped elect George W. Bush twice. But as I’ve regularly read a column that Rove writes in the WSJ, my feelings for him have softened. Rpve in turn tries to soften the impression […]
Kate Will Have Her Girl Today, Thinking About Phones as Web Browsers
Up very early today, delivering Sam to the Northampton bus station so he can make it back to work today. This is a big day in our household: Kate is having her daughter today at Franklin Medical. I’ll spend the day with Nathan, a daunting task to an old guy […]
Merry Christmas 2008
It’s time for the post Christmas layabout. Time to look at the gadgets and toys and to charge the new devices and digest from the big breakfast by the daytime fire. Outside there is still snow and it’s cold, nice to have a white Christmas once in a while. I […]
The Shooter’s Off to Tunisia, Iranian Story Coming Out in the Advocate
It’s a rainy, horrible day, ironically, one in which many people will be traveling up and down the roads and over the snowy railroads to get together with family and friends. I remember before I was a grandfather, I used to make similar treks down to New Jersey. Now though, […]
Irritated During the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
I’m irritated today as I sit at my desk. Ugh…things going wrong and I am being annoyed by many things that grate at me. Let me recite a few of them. There was a fire in the apartment above the cafe this morning. Old wires connected to about six extension […]
The Mystery is Solved, But the Results Still Suck
We’ve solved the riddle of who violated Cindy’s house by breaking in and stealing my TV, her jewelry, laptop and camera. The sad thing is, he’s a guy who I hired to renovate my bathroom on Mountain Road! He has been to Cindy’s house before so he knew the layout […]
More Flights from Logan Bring Joy to Travelers
The snow is piling up outside the cafe window, there is a mountain right in front of the tiny town common with the fountain that never turns off. The snow has kicked up again, it’s now blowing big flakes. Having a four-wheel drive truck is a minor thrill in this […]
Chris Bilodeau’s New Job in the State Department
I love it when cops come into the cafe. I love having them as our regular customers, and getting to know the men behind the badge. I wish the chief would come in for coffe…I’ve been tempted to give him gift certificates to come, but then thought better of it. […]
We Wanted to Go Back to Our Fantasy Hotel Room
Johnny Jet cracks me up. This is a snip of a recent report of a trip to the South Pacific on Frommers.com Black Pearl Farm When we stopped at our guide’s small, company-owned pearl farm and he took a leak in front of the truck on the side of the […]
Making the Plan for the "Mancation" to Amsterdam
Winter in New York City: it’s only about 36 degrees outside and a winter storm is set to strike on Friday. That should be fun; cozy and snowed in on Green Lane. Today we will pay a visit to Brigitta Koon at the Netherlands Tourism Board here in the city […]
The Naked
The play was a hilarious send up of Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps. There were four actors here, four who handled at least 20 parts. One continuous site gag was a guy shaking hands with himself, flipping between sides, one with a tan coat then one with a black coat. […]