How many wives can convince their husbands to don a costume, trudge around the living room and surprise a dozen guests? That’s the kind of energy that the Morristown Book Club brings to its monthly gatherings. These meetings aren’t an excuse to drink coffee and graze on finger foods. Titles are vetted, charactersContinue reading “A club of characters, settings, dialogues, plots and friends”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Outgrowing ‘mentally retarded’ and other unsubstantiated fears
Thirty-nine years ago, Katie Holleran scared the hell out of us. Mary and I were celebrating the delivery of our first child, Kathleen Barbara Holleran. “Tell me that child has 10 finger and 10 toes?’’ Mary confidently asked the obstetrician. “Yes, she does,’’ Dr. Clay said matter of factly. Thirty-fiveContinue reading “Outgrowing ‘mentally retarded’ and other unsubstantiated fears”
When your personality needs more German engineering
About halfway through my vacation, I began to understand my lifelong conflict. Outside the cathedral in Cologne, Germany, my tour guide encouraged our group: “Be German. Be precise. Don’t be late. No excuses. See you again at 11:30.’’ When I heard that instruction, the wee light bulb flickered in this aging brain.Continue reading “When your personality needs more German engineering”
I suffer from tipping fatigue, but remain generous to wait staff
I approached the counter to order food three times recently – a local pizza stop, a hamburger joint and a breakfast café – and during each debit transaction, I was asked for a tip. Hmmm? Exceptional service? No. Friendly greeting? Somewhat. Extra amenities? Nope. Tip “creeping’’ is the practice of expanding tipsContinue reading “I suffer from tipping fatigue, but remain generous to wait staff”
Forget the big, bad Yankees; I’ll root for underdog Guardians
I’ve been anticipating this series all baseball season. I heard the Facebook chirping of Billy Hockey about the New York Yankees having the best record in the American League. I drove daily past the Yankees banner on my neighbors’ front porch. Most annoyingly, the perceived slights from games at Yankee Stadium are searedContinue reading “Forget the big, bad Yankees; I’ll root for underdog Guardians”
Whether sculpture, painting or jewelry, Monteith finds passion
When neighbors tore the tin roof off their home, Debra Monteith seized the opportunity. The Morristown artist claimed the tin for her latest project, fashioned angel wings and mounted them on a piece of driftwood. She affixed some red hair and dubbed the sculpture “Florence of the St. Lawrence,’’ in honor of her lateContinue reading “Whether sculpture, painting or jewelry, Monteith finds passion”
Senior golf becomes a test of sight, memory and aging
The senior golf season ended mercifully last week in a hail of errant drives, bad pitches and missed putts. Our team, favored to win the season-ending tournament since it had romped in the last event, couldn’t hit the ocean bottom from the deck of the Titanic. Our putts hit some edges, and weContinue reading “Senior golf becomes a test of sight, memory and aging”
The retired Odd Couple rehashes battle of the sexes
During the drive home, somewhere near Dover, Del., I tapped the radio button to turn off the sound. We were going to resolve this retirement question, raised three months ago in this column space. I had lamented that Mary’s pending retirement was about to disrupt my comfortable weekday routine, carefully cultivated over fourContinue reading “The retired Odd Couple rehashes battle of the sexes”
Robert Decker follows same path as prominent North County artist
Robert Decker won’t compare himself to renowned North Country artist Michael Ringer, but the similarities are striking. Both developed a love of art as youths, earned fine arts degrees from Rochester Institute of Technology, taught high school art classes, and emerged as commercial successes. Ringer ranks as the pre-eminent sculptor and painter ofContinue reading “Robert Decker follows same path as prominent North County artist”
Water chestnuts foul Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence and Black Lake
Brad Baldwin wanted to experience life in a small, quiet town so he packed up his doctorate in environmental science and moved to St. Lawrence University in 1995. He knew Canton would be close to countless Adirondack rivers and lakes and the expansive St. Lawrence River. Nothing has been quiet in recent years.Continue reading “Water chestnuts foul Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence and Black Lake”
Holleran Gets It Write 