In Molokai, I Got an Appreciation for Cafes and Commerce
I drove up to the gym with the back of my truck loaded up with large cans of beans, tubs of mayonnaise and dressing, and a bunch of other foodstuffs that were a leftover legacy of the former GoNOMAD Café. I was heading for the Salvation Army, where I found […]
The Arts & Industry Building Shows the Creativity Within
In Florence on Sunday, we got soaked in culture, steeping ourselves in the creative atmosphere of dozens of artists, who opened up their studios at the sprawling Arts and Industry building on Pine St. It was a day to pop in and pop out, we were welcomed with snacks and […]
Grandkids are a Fountain of Joy
A friend commented to me about how cute my two grandchildren were. I thanked her and then told her that soon, she too, would get to experience the joy and ultimate satisfaction that comes with spending time with tiny tots. She has two grown children–so it’s only a matter of […]
Double Take Fringe Festival: Eleven Plays in Eleven Places in One Night
“That was really fun. I can’t believe that was in Greenfield!” On Friday night, this town once again shined a light on the creative talent that’s in such abundance in our valley by staging 11 different dramatic performances in eleven unusual venues all within walking distance in downtown Greenfield. The […]
Helena Wahlstrom: She’s a Keeper
The ever talented Helena came in today, as she often does, showing up and surprising me. I’ll be doing something, away from the office, like today, when I was taking stuff to the dump, and I’ll get a cheery text message. “I’m at the office, would you like me to […]
Larry Crowne Rides His Scooter and Untucks His Shirt to Win Margie’s Heart
What a strangely appealing, predictable, yet charming movie! Despite dying at the box office, the Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts movie, “Larry Crowne,” was an enjoyable way to pass time between Dallas and Hartford. It cleverly picks up on so many topics on that are on people’s minds these days. […]
Molokai: The House of Mankind and Once the Center of Hawai’i
I drove out to the far western tip of Molokai yesterday, to the village of Maunaloa, which was once a company town for the esteemed Molokai Ranch. Many of the houses look identical, they have the look of housing built for workers. It’s a bit sad out there now because […]
Molokai’s Green Grooves Are My First Glimpse
At the windy open air commuter air terminal at Kahului airport in Maui, we waited to board the rickity Dash turboprop airplane. There were only four of us, in the 11-seater, and the pilot sat with the cockpit door open as he navigated us down the runway and in seconds, […]
Ono Organic Farms Blesses Hana with its Bounty
Chuck and Lilly Boerner revel in the place they’ve called home since 1972. And can you blame them? Up on top of a mountain in the village of Kipahulu, the blue Pacific spread out before them, and all around, a garden of Eden: hundreds of fruit trees they harvest organically […]
The Pounding Rain Woke Me Up in the Sea Cottage
Last night the rain pounded down so loud on the metal roof of my seaside cottage, it woke me from my slumbers. I had a quick thought that I should record the mayhem to share with my readers…but when I finally got my gizmos all ready and turned on, the […]
The Road to Hana Brings Us Fascinating People with Stories to Share
The drive to Hana is legendary. We passed the homes of Richard Pryor, and George Harrison, Kris Kristofferson, and the Macademia nut plantation of singer Jim Nabors. After winding our way through puddles of water over tiny bridges, and through dramatically harsh curves, we got to this beach village that’s […]
The Kapunas Don’t Like Maui’s Halloween-fest So Much
I asked the driver who took me from the airport to my guest house in Wailuku, Maui what people were talking about these days on the island. I always want to know about this…what is taking up the space in the local paper and being talked about? He said that […]
“How ya Doin’?” he asked. “Terrible!” Was the Reply
I took a trip to the dump today, loaded up with the entire contents of our home’s refrigerator and freezer, all good food that had spoiled due to the power outage. Ugh, the contents stunk and I had to stick them into those mandatory orange bags that cost $3 each. […]
On an Isolated Rock, We Watch the Misery at Home
We have been in an isolated bubble on an island, far from the Massachusetts coast. We peek into those cold windows and feel guilty, here in our heated and luxurious surroundings, while we read about our friends and family who are without electricity and heat. It makes this trip bittersweet. […]
Herman Cain Leads the Pack and Defends His Smoking Ad
Herman Cain is the GOP front runner. His campaign ad shows his manager Mark taking a puff of a cigarette. Cain now is talking to Bob Schiefer on CBS’s Face the Nation defending the ad showing the smoker. Cain says, ‘hey, he’s a smoker, we want to let Mark be […]
I’ve Begun My iPad Lusting
I want one of these. Now I know why this device, the iPad, has so thoroughly dominated all of the other competitors in the tablet category: it is simply better in all ways. I bought a Nook from Barnes and Noble so I could view our ebooks on a device, […]
My Local Bank Wants to Find the Cutest Pet…I like That
My bank is having a contest to see who has the cutest pet. Of course who doesn’t think that their own cat, dog or gerbil is the cutest of anyone’s? I like this bank, for things like this…home town, fun things that are old school yet make people smile. I […]