Have I Earned the Right to Ask for Help?
It’s been a solid week since I went under the knife and emerged with five screws, a metal plate and the inability to put any weight on my left foot. I’ve learned what I can and cannot do and the latter dominates the list. It’s the little things that really […]
A Look or a Leer? She Misses the Male Gaze, He Defends Our Right to Admire
I read two pieces in Toronto’s Globe and Mail daily newspaper today that expressed basically the same idea but from a woman’s then from a man’s perspective. It was a topic that with the coming of spring, pops up every year just like the reliable daffodils. It was about looking […]
Stratfor Global Intelligence Asks: Why and What Next?
Robert D. Kaplan is a writer whose work I have admired, books like “The Coming Anarchy,” and “Balkan Ghosts” stood out with their powerful messages. He used to go to places that many people would never set foot in, and the books mixed his travelogue to danger zones and interviews […]
Fenibo! Afropop will Rock the Arts Block Saturday Night
Fenibo plays Afropop music, that’s so infectious it’s hard to stay still. I am going to see them with Mary on Saturday night at the Arts Block, I hope I can stay off the dance floor. Not a good idea with my broken foot! LISTEN HERE
Joining the Ranks of the Disabled in Target and Price Chopper
I ventured forth today, after reaching my limit of cable TV, lying with my foot up, and going no where. We decided to have pancakes at the Williams sugar house in Deerfield. As I left my bedroom I had to exit by the front door, since there is a handrail […]
Confined to Bed, With All of My Toys and My Cat
So now that I’ve had five screws inserted into my fifth metatarsal, I’m settling in here for a long period of ….well, not walking. I got a nice comment from a guy named Bob Hale on my blog who reaffirmed that with a foot injury, there is really only one […]
A Foot Operation Gives Me Empathy for Those More Familiar with Hospitals
Yesterday I had a visit with the orthopedist who is looking after my broken foot. I had hoped that the X-ray would show a good pattern of bone growth, that seven days would give that metatarsal a chance to close up and heal. But when we looked at the new […]
They Like Their Clamshell Phones, and That’s OK
People have a funny relationship with their cellphones. Even when they go out and buy the fanciest highest tech smart phone, sometimes asking them about it elicits the same level of angst as inquiring about a sore tooth. My friend Joe is a good example: He just bought a Samsung […]
Search Engine Optimizing with Dave
On Saturday I returned to Greenfield for more of the Creative Economy Summit and found a whole lot to think about after listening to Dave Caputo’s presentation called “Are you in the Top Ten?” I have been in the business of helping people improve their search results for many years, […]
Shelby Lynne Fills Up the Room, All By Herself
Advice: If you buy tickets in advance to an Iron Horse show, don’t think you can just unload them to willing buyers should your plans change. Last night there I was, joined by two other dudes, with tickets to sell for the Shelby Lynne show that wasn’t sold out. We […]
Greenfield’s T-shirt: Wilson’s Is Our Wal-Mart
In Greenfield yesterday, speaker Peter Kageyama showed us slides of great tee shirts designed to promote cities around the US during his presentation at the Creative Economy Summit. “Keep Austin Weird.” ” Cleve LAND that I love.” Then he challenged the room to come up with the perfect tee shirt […]
Thanks, Mitt! Your Insurance in the Bay State Works for Me
Have you listened to Mitt Romney on the stump? It’s all about how much he hates his own best invention, Romneycare. I have had some experience now using the health insurance that Mitt helped reduce the cost for in Massachusetts, and all I can say is, “thanks Mitt!” He may […]
Ouch! The Bucket Hit My Foot and I’m Now Using a Cane
It was a routine trip to the dump, the truck loaded up with all sorts of spring throw-aways. I was so happy to be saying goodbye to those awful plastic chairs and table, salvaged in haste (and error) by my daughter from the side of the road. Sooooo happy to […]
Assisted Living Versus Some Creative Alternatives
I know so many people who as fellow-fifty-somethings are all focusing on the same thing: Where are the parents going to live, how are they going to stay safe, and what if they need more help than they can get living in their own homes? A few interesting alternatives to […]
A Trip to Doha Puts a Spring in my Step
I have a spring in my step—the kind of spring that a fantastic fun-filled weekend brings around on Monday morning, when we all go back to our daily routines. This warm weather inspired me into some lawn clean up yesterday, a perfect way to get warmed up for a rousing […]
The Energy of Young Men Made Old People Smile
Last night once again the Rendezvous in Turners Falls called to us, the siren of their always delicious salads and what new brews they had on tap. Oh, and my cousin Paul was blowing his sax with a musical family who Mary has known for decades. Where else do you […]
Dogs Follow Human’s Eyes, But Wolves Don’t
I woke up at an impossibly early hour and found a fascinating program about dogs on PBS last night. A woman outside of Vienna has a dog who can identify up to 300 different objects by name. A trainer and scientist wanted to push it further. The owner would hold […]
Shelby Lynne, 24-hour Theater Project: March Roars Ahead!
March is an exciting time in the Valley. For some, it’s these tantalizing glimpes of summer, a burst of sunshine and warmth that makes us want to bring our bikes outside or take a walk in the sun. It’s also a very busy time for music and arts events that […]