Category Archives: Uncategorized

   It wasn’t hard to spot a trend for readers in 2025. It seems every book club in North America will be reading “Horse’’ by Geraldine Brooks.    At home, my editor was busy collecting photographs, planning questions, and searching online for Kentucky Derby Pie recipes ahead of hosting her book club friends to discussContinue reading “‘Horse’ still book club favorite, but librarians offer their picks”

   The spine of the book caught my eye as I sifted through a bin of sepia-tinted newspapers, teacher manuals and college course materials. I spied “A. Barton Hepburn: His Life and Service To His Time’’ and “Joseph Bucklin Bishop’’ embossed in gold lettering on a dark green cover.    My mother, Eileen, a laborContinue reading “Uncovered treasure walks me through Ogdensburg history”

     This line seemed sarcastic and funny and it nestled firmly into my undersized brain. I used it for the first time about 20 years ago during Pre-Cana preparations at our church.     We were conducting our presentation on Couples Communication in the school gym with eight of the 32 couples gathered around our table.Continue reading “Time to remove my foot from my big, fat mouth, and jettison tired, sarcastic lines”

    Oh, he’s making a list,   And and he’s checking it twice   He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice     Apparently, I made the naughty list. The word did not come down from the North Pole or The Elf on the Shelf. Not even three spirits in the night. No, I was informed byContinue reading “As a shopper, it’s certain I’ll be getting a lump of coal”

   Christmas music has been jingle-belling across the airwaves since early November. Many of us complain it airs too soon, and by December 26, we claim to be sick of it. Yet we still listen.     I have two holiday stations on my truck radio pre-sets. When John Tesh breaks in with his psychobabble, IContinue reading “A Christmas music trivia test for roasting on an open fire”

    Can’t catch the Christmas spirit? Torn between Bah and Humbug?  Had a near-death experience with a reindeer?     You can receive a Christmas booster shot this weekend in a trip less than three hours by car from Ogdensburg. The 78th anniversary celebration of the beloved Hollywood redemption classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life,’’ will overtakeContinue reading “Seneca Falls bills itself as ‘wonderful’ Bedford Falls”

     Ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, with Christmas up next, Colin Merna suggested a column idea at a basketball gathering.    “You could write how holiday travel has changed since we were young,’’ suggested the former OFA and Rochester Institute of Technology basketball player.      Memories of car travel in the mid-1960s didn’t trickle intoContinue reading “Before cell phones on trips, we whined — ‘How much longer?’”

  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”

     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”

       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”