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 …
It’s Spring, time to have a serious talk with myself…
It's spring in New England and snow is still falling...Mother Nature is at her cruelest in March. My buddy in Virginia has already mowed his lawn twice while mine has a solid 8 inches of snow pack. Really??? Come on Spring! The winter base building phase is over. Spring is here and its time to …
Continue reading It’s Spring, time to have a serious talk with myself…
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 …
VIP Night
I’m standing in the Times Convention Center, New York City … positioned directly in front of the courtesy wine bar… waiting for the Premier viewing of NBC’s Ironman World Championship 2016 Broadcast to start. The event is jam packed with Ironman legends … world class pro athletes and age groupers….. then there is me. I …
CHICKED lately? get used to it….Time has come…
So what does it mean to get chicked... CHICKED: -verb. The act of getting passed by a female athlete. My wife and I have this running argument over the athletic prowess of men and women. My stand is …given equal training, age, physical make up, etc.….females are as equally athletically capable as are male physically …
Continue reading CHICKED lately? get used to it….Time has come…
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 …
Need to know what to do in the off season? Go with rocket science.
October in New England is that part of the season typically my “off season or down time”. From now until after Thanksgiving is the time I go easy and start thinking about next year’s goals. After my last race I decided to use this time to get my run game back. I started out as a …
Continue reading Need to know what to do in the off season? Go with rocket science.
Dormouse said: Feed your head, feed your head
Lately the world news is a bit overwhelming (elections, world news, social unrest)… I find myself feeling helpless and angry at what appears to be a generally a bad situation that is getting worse. My mind plays the lines from Jefferson Airplane’s song “Go Ask Alice” over and over in my head… "When logic and …
Continue reading Dormouse said: Feed your head, feed your head
Superstitions and Maiden Voyages
Living in a port town you get too hear about all about the superstitions that surround a vessels 1st time out to sea. One such superstition is no bananas on board ship???….. I think the rationale behind it has to do with the fact that fermenting bananas can let off a lethal fume; and that spiders who …
Lucille is here….and the world is right again.
What kind of man drives into the garage with his carbon road bike Cervelo S5 strapped in the roof rack…??? I did am I'm so sorry.... sorry Lucille... Everyone knows the best surgeons in the world are in Boston... so I had hope even in my darkest hour. Dr. Marty and his staff of surgeons …
Continue reading Lucille is here….and the world is right again.
The Bow Legged Blogger 