Category: Uncategorized

  • ODDS and ENDS: Cubs, Coats, and Coffee

    (I’m on time homie that’s how it goes…)

    The Cubs lost and I didn’t watch the game. IN a sense, that does make me feel like I didn’t have some sort of supernatural pull on the team. Actually, the real reason I didn’t watch them was I had plans with my kid. BUT… I do know what this feels like; to have to say “we’ll get ’em next year.” and how “next year” will be a rebuilding year – again.

    Sweater weather? Oh, I do love my sweaters and sweatshirts. In fact, I think it might be time to refresh some of my sweaters. But for me, this is coat season. Or maybe jacket weather? Either way, having a nice coat for this chilly time of year does give me a deep satisfying feeling. I got my army coat, and workman’s coat. There is my thin puffer, and there are the blazers that I have as well. You know, a good coat completes an outfit.

    I have a love and happiness relationship with coffee. That’s all. I just really love coffee. The smell of it, and brewing it, and the first cup of the day, and a late afternoon sip.

  • ODDS and ENDS (A Very Abbreviated Version): School Sucks, What If My Hair Came Back, and No A/C

    (I got you to help me forgive…)

    The kid hates school now.

    Well, my brain wouldn’t freeze.

    Autumn means no more using the air conditioning.

  • Gone Fishin’

    More tomorrow…

  • ODDS and ENDS: Done with Summer, Summer Cooking, and One Shirt to Rule Them All

    (Finally got myself together, baby
    Now I’m havin’ a ball…)

    It is official, I am done with Summer 2025. This decision was reached at 5:30pm, July 10th, 2025, on an uptown C train that had no air conditioning. Usually, I can make it to August, but not this year. Nope. Just too many days walking around this City sweating, and now I am ready for Autumn. There is no vacation that will change my mind. No cabin in the woods, no swimming pool, or cool soothing afternoon rain shower that causes the temperature to drop ten degrees. No, there is no Maine cool Summer afternoon, nor a Pacific Northwest early evening that will change my mind. No sir. Give me the Fall.

    And speaking of which; Summer cooking sucks. Outside of BBQ, and S’mores, all the best food is made for the Fall and Winter. Stews and soups, roasts and braising – all of it is a wonderful mix of smells and techniques. I already am building up in my mind this wonderful menu for each night of the Fall. Sure, part of this has to do with our tiny kitchen in the apartment, and how if you turn the over on, it heats up the place by ten degrees. Sure that suck in the Summer, but is a wonderful side affect in the Winter. Sure sure sure… I just might still be mad about the heat of Summer and am looking for another target to take my anger out. OR, or or… maybe all the best flavors achieve their peak when you have a sweater on.

    The blue Oxford button down. It’s my new thing. And by “new thing” it’s been my thing for thirty years. I’m just owning it now.