I grew up in a town with a lot of bars. This particular one is tucked behind Central Square, Cambridge and was called Charlie's Tap, a gritty workingman's tavern. I hated the place as a kid.... because my mother worked there as a barmaid.... a fact I was not proud of as a kid growing up. …
Category: General Posts
Brick walls that talked and made pictures
There’s an old brick building on the corner of Main and Osborn Street in Cambridge Massachusetts that arguably could be considered the birthplace of the modern day smart phone. An unassuming structure as historic buildings go, for years it looked like an abandoned warehouse but inside the beauty of innovation has blossomed for years. What …
Cigars, Blue Birds and Black Bush Whiskey ….
Big Mike "Cheeks" Paquette...a Marine Corps brother of mine retired yesterday. He's 2 days older than I am.... I am very happy for him .....and wish him all the best, but I'm envious of his new retired status. At the end of his last day, I received the following text message from him: “Just had …
Continue reading Cigars, Blue Birds and Black Bush Whiskey ….
Not a perfect parent.. and that’s OK
When you love your kids there isn’t a mountain high enough that you won’t climb for them…but it doesn’t mean you’ll like the hike….. I saw this phrase posted on the back of a car in the Pheasant Lane Mall parking lot today and laughed to myself…not because I felt it applied to my kids …
Where words come from
I never know where some of the words I use come from. For instance, At work this morning I got in a heated conversation about a work process that bothers the hell out of me and before I knew it…..out came “if there is one thing that gets my balls in an uproar it is” …
Something smells fishy
Growing up Catholic in Cambridge Massachusetts it was a given that on Friday’s we ate fish. To me the best place for fish on Friday’s was always Legal Seafood in Inman Square....Not the new swanky joint in Kendall Sq. I mean the old hole in the wall that was in Inman Sq. In 1968 the …
Mr. Pony Tail and the Parking Lot Prisoner.
Sometimes in life it’s just more fun to go with the flow. When we are “in the flow” we see more of the humor in things. This past Sunday was one of those perfect spring days, warm and sunny… The kind of day when you just want to enjoy basking in the warm sunshine… and smile …
Continue reading Mr. Pony Tail and the Parking Lot Prisoner.
The Rules of Let’s Pretend
Ever listen to how kids make pretend games? It's not so much the "Game" but more the "Rules" that they make up that has caught my attention. I'm listening to some boys list the rules for Marco Polo... The "IT" boy has to close his eyes and chase the others who respond "Polo" every time …
We don’t have forever…
Recent events in my family have forced me to look at life more closely. Newborn lives are winding up bringing joyful sound, while old lives are winding down bringing a quiet reflection. The result of these events is a challenge…. A life challenge. The challenge is …. Don’t waste time… we don’t have forever! Say …
The people you surround yourself with…
Friends, co-workers and family can influence us in many ways. Some are subtle and others happen without us even realizing it. Why should we care? John Rohn a motivational speaker is quoted as having said: "You are the average of the five people you spend the most of your time with." So who are your …
Post Truth Period
Some say that we are in a period where telling lies is as common as telling the truth. If we are truthful about it we would agree that all humans lie…some suggest we are pre-disposition to exaggeration, omission and misrepresentation …. Studies suggest men lie more about themselves and woman tend to …
Making peace with the pain…..
I heard more about him, than I saw of him, Long gone before I grew Never really had the chance, to show him, what I could really do Standing in the kitchen my mother asked of meDo you want to go with him or stay at home with me?She looked at me his 1st born …
Ju Ju and the Flying Elvis
I have come to understand that I am superstitious… I get it from my mother…. no fish, birds or open umbrella’s in the house, pearls are bad luck and the list goes on…no reason given, they just are.... bad Ju Ju, but it helps to know good acts bring good Ju Ju… and so as …
New England Patriots – Epic Journey
The New England Patriot's have won the AFC Division and are on to the Super Bowl. When you think about it the AFC Lamar Hunt Trophy has a perfect design. It’s shape is a football frame….but I believe it symbolizes much more than the ball. The inside of the frame is air.. and depending on …
Freddy’s Coffee Shop
I grew up in Cambridge, at a time when families lived and died in the same homes or within the same neighborhoods for generations. While researching my family tree recently, I was surprised to learn I was actually related to a few of my neighbors through marriages that took place long before I was even …
Clinking of the Halyards
It’s a 5 am run day. Outside it is pitch dark, blustery and rainy as I roll along toward the mouth of the Merrimac. I cut through the gravel pathway of the boat yard and my footsteps are keeping time with something that sounds like a spoon banging on the side of a tea cup…clink, …
Well crafted words….can make you cry
When it comes to homework in my house, I’m never the 1st choice when one of the girls needed help. I’m the go to guy when the project is due tomorrow kind of Dad…code red….no farting around …break glass and get the thing in the can regardless of how deep the tide of tears has …
The (Donut) Hole Story
New Englander's love doughnuts (donuts) almost as much as ice cream. The Smithsonian reported that back in the mid-19th century Elizabeth Gregory, a New England ship captain's mother made a “wicked deep-fried dough” that used her son's spice cargo of nutmeg and cinnamon and lemon rind. Legend has it that she made it so …
2017
2017 is fast upon us and I’m mulling over this blog for the New Year. I think a less preachy approach is in order with a more daily observation kind of focus…hopefully funny ones. It seems that life’s various stages are circling around me as the year ends…. My older daughters are giving birth to …
Life is Change…
The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change…Heraclitus This is the time of the year when most people join a gym and prepare New Year’s resolutions… the aim is to promote change…. The amazing reality is; change will come anyway…. ready or not. In fact change is constant. Which makes me wonder what am I …
Growing Up
Thinking back I realize that growing up Catholic had its benefits. We possessed "The Kiss" also know as "kiss it up to God” power …. I don't think any other religion had that as part of their playbook of powers. Kiss it up to God... is the power to purify anything that falls on the ground. If something …
Stuck Emotions….
Ever find yourself going off the hook about something you later realize you really don’t give a crap about? What is it about hot button issues that can make us go from 0 to 60 in a millisecond? In retrospect I realize that spontaneous angry rants are really just outward expressions of stuck inner frustrations. …
Politics is a Reality Show
Bigotry, Intolerance and Tolerance Whenever I get wrapped up in one of "my reality shows" Abby, my wife feels compelled to ask " you know this is not real , right?" I suppose I do but, that doesn't prevent me from getting all caught up in the emotion of it. So it is with this in mind that I say to …
The Neighborhood Candy Counter
I grew up a few houses from Al’s grocery store in my neighborhood. The neighborhood grocery store was an important place back then... and every few blocks had one Zarkies (Pearl Street), Joe Savatos (Pleasant), Magazine Spa (Corner of Prince), Matties (River), Red Tumenellies (Pearl and Allston), The special thing about Al’s was the candy …
Playing in the streets of Cambridge
I was sitting with my mother one evening listening to her reminisce about her childhood on Marcella Street in East Cambridge. Something about getting older clarifies the long term memory as it muddies the short term stuff. She wondered out loud … "Why is there so much violence with kids these days?" She could not …
The Bow Legged Blogger 