A Season (or Two) Out and About
Merry and I kicked off the warmer part of the year with the Hellenic Festival, even meeting up with a few people -- Roman, David Newman (my beekeeping mentor), and Christina. It was also the first time in years I attended the Pride Parade. I finally got to wear a "Free Dad Hugs" shirt; my car ended up a makeshift float. I kept close to my daughter to not seem like "Random Creepy Old Guy". I tried not to initiate...
Miscellaneous Nails and Screws
It's been a few days since my Father-in-law passed away, and for the first time, I was allowed to go into his basement "inner sanctum". It's the magical place from whence came all sorts of built things over the years, including some hand-me-down tools and such. And of course, there were oh-so-many clock parts. He truly was Father Time, and I am sure we will inherit a few more Grandfather and other clocks. When I...
Father Gary
I almost forgot about him, but not in my heart. Whenever I look at the tiny framed artwork of the Madonna in silver that he gave me, I think of him. Father Gary Kibler was one of my teachers in high school, but much more than that. I was an assistant of sorts in that I was the chapel's sacristan; he was my Confirmation sponsor. But most of all, he was a warm human being. We talked for hours in his office many...
Well into Autumn
I was going to name this post "A Year Without Halloween" but that seemed too negative. It did make me a bit sad, especially when someone came to our door by mistake. Due to a cash crunch, we couldn't afford candy, and there are hardly any kids coming out anyway. We didn't even decorate, except for the usually Autumn decorations. I never did bike that much as planned. Between my back being in and out and not being...
Beekeeping and Joywalking
I have no idea if this is Indian Summer, late Summer, or a mild Autumn. Such labels apply here less than ever it seems. But the bees in our first backyard hive have really ramped up their honey production this last month or so, mostly from "flute-plant" (knot-weed, which I thought my apiarist mentor David Newman meant as "not weed" lol). We got a bounteous 35 lbs. out of the top 8-frame super, and a huge disk of...
College Reunion
I believe I went to my 10th reunion for D'Youville College and I was the only one representing my class. Other than that, I only went to donor's Masses (most years) and the occasional tea. But this year I actually volunteered to reach out to my classmates, and my wife and I attended a handful of the many Homecoming events. Like myself, almost no one kept in touch with more than one or two people. We just weren't a...
Podcasting, Part 2
My Podcast, Contemplation in Action, is up and running with an introductory episode and one on bees and beekeeping ("The Bee Side") with David Newman. The introduction ("Episode 0: What and Why") was done with Paul Chernogorec, who in turn had me on his first podcast recording the other day. It was on the topic of Evolution, the contemplation of which I came to realize the offense of scientific theory is not that...
Podcasting
I've been meaning to have my own podcast for some time, at the prodding of others who apparently don't think what I say is a waste of words. A year ago I wasn't even sure what it was or how to do it, but recently I was interviewed for the first time in one — the Meet, Act, and Part podcast. They got three times the usual engagement on it. I've been procrastinating on having my own until I threw my back out last...
Back in the Saddle?
Apart from a few small forays, I haven't done any serious biking for almost 35 years. Merry has had trouble with her feet lately but discovered she could ride without trouble. A further discovery that her bike was too small prompted purchase of a bike that fits properly. That was a hint that perhaps mine (borrowed from my daughter last year and then stolen from her backyard) also wasn't quite right, as the...