My Happiness Project blueprint suggests that I talk to strangers more. You never know where it might go.....but to do it well, one has to engage the stranger in a way that starts a dialogue and then enables you to sit tight, observe and enjoy. This morning Abby and I made a trip to the …
I recently met a friend who shared some of the same odd experiences that I do. The other night Abby and I dined with both new and old friends until late in the evening. During the conversation I happened to mention that I love to drink white Zinfandel wine, which for some reason is …
Continue reading Kindred Spirits: “Some souls just understand each other upon meeting.” –n.r.hart
I've been playing with the idea of starting a personal Happiness Project. I learned a little about the process from Ted Talks and articles written by Gretchen Rubin https://gretchenrubin.com/ . In a nutshell the project aims to help develop a habit for focusing on things that promote personal happiness. Over coffee my wife and I …
My mother always loved New England churches and not just because she’d played Beano (Bingo) in almost every one of them. Her favorite church though, was on Arch Street in Boston. It was special to her because it’s the Shrine of her patron saint, St. Anthony the patron of lost things. Whenever my mother misplaced …
My mom passed today at the age of 96...about a month short of what would have been her 97th birthday. Anyone who knew her would tell you it was an experience knowing and being around her... She shot from the hip, straight true and direct... I'll miss her strength, infinite capacity to forgive and her …
I have always been a bit curious about non-traditional medicine but frankly haven’t ever needed it. Over the past four weeks however, I have been suffering with a sore and swollen left knee, which has got me looking for a get well plan. When I get an injury I tend to use fuzzy logic derived …
I’m a week into my retirement and I’m feeling very unqualified to answer the many questions I’ve been asked. How does it feel being retired? What’s it like? What’s your plan? Are you going back to work? How does you wife feel about having you home all day? And on and on…they never stop …
My Retirement Plan: Make every day Saturday …except Saturday which becomes Super Saturday…. I have always loved Saturday’s. For years I have tried to find a way to fit a day in between Saturday and Sunday to make it last …. I tried taking a Friday or Monday off to see if that would …
To me photography is as much art as any painting or sculpture. I’m sure my bias comes from working for Polaroid for 20 plus years starting in the late 1970's …. During that time, I grew to love great photographs knowing intimately what went into their making. Over my career at Polaroid I worked with …
Katelyn Mary....This is an open letter to you …days before your 36th birthday on March 8th, 2018. I've been sitting here at my desk wondering where time has gone, while you have been busy emerging from adolescence into womanhood. Happy Birthday you have earned it! I know reading any of my blog posts would be painful to the English professor …
I come across the most bizarre magazine articles while waiting for an oil change at Jiffy Lube. I stumbled upon one in an old edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology "The risk factors for non-shavers vs shavers". It started by saying “We did find an association between low frequency of sexual intercourse and infrequent …
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. …
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 …
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 ….
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 …
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” …
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The Bow Legged Blogger 