Robyn arrived in Tucson late last Thursday. I double-parked my car and sat listening to Albert King and his band playing the blues. Robyn’s flight was over one hour late. The airport felt deserted, but this did not prevent a cop on a bicycle from chasing me off a half-dozen or more times. I kept […]
Robyn Rides Again
Robyn arrives in Tucson late tonight. In advance of her arrival, I just had my place professionally cleaned, but it didn’t do much good with Lola the pup close at hand. I will have to clean up lightly again later today. I love Lola, but she is a hound of the first order. In the […]
Early To Rise
It’s early here in Tucson, where, at this time of year, it stays dark until after six a.m. I find it hard to get up in the dark, even when I’ve had enough sleep. Something about the darkness compels me to stay in bed a while longer. The clock on my computer announces that it’s […]
School Daze
While here in Tucson, I’ve enrolled in several adult education courses, which started this week. *** On Tuesday, I attended my first session, where a member of the University of Arizona Department of Linguistics presented a talk on artificial intelligence. He had an interesting take on the economics of this new technology. Without getting into […]
The Thrill Is Gone
Lola and I arrived in Tucson late Tuesday afternoon. It’s not exactly a hop, skip, and jump from our home to sunny Arizona, with stops along the way in Springfield, Elk City, and Albuquerque. Our trip covered three nights plus a full day’s drive. *** I was thinking about our first trip here. This prompted […]
Ready, Set…
Lola and I are getting ready to embark on our annual trip West. By this time next week, I’ll be writing from the sunny but still relatively cool January environs of Tucson, Arizona. Meanwhile, speaking of travel, a disturbing update to last week’s post about the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. The New York Times […]
Yesterday’s Gone
The start of a new year provides fodder for news outlets. At this time of year, newspapers and televised news programs will feature stories about getting into shape, losing weight, improving one’s health, and the quirky new laws going into effect. Among the early news staples, you’re virtually guaranteed to read or see features identifying […]
Season’s Greetings
Today is New Year’s Day. By chance, I also posted here most recently on Christmas Day. Does my holiday timing forecast a propitious 2026? Only time will tell. Regardless, my dreams are modest. In fact, these days I’d be satisfied maintaining a status quo of sorts. Importantly, my 2026 status quo will no longer include […]
A Brief Family Reunion
This week, I am hosting Cousin Judy, who settled in California (by way of Montreal) many, many years ago, after moving away from here as a young married person. She and her husband had two children. Judy has been a widow for at least the past fifteen years. One day, she came home from work […]
It is Truly Better to Give
Around this time each year, I make numerous charitable contributions to causes that were near and dear to Lee’s kind heart. It’s a way for me to honor her that makes me feel like we are still sharing. *** For example, even before Lola the pup came into my life, Lee and I were stalwarts […]
Winter Arrives Early
After I had bragged here about months of unseasonably nice weather at home, Robyn and I just returned from a glorious week on a beach in the Dominican Republic to find eight inches of snow on the ground with temperatures hovering in the low twenties. Snow and the trailing bitter cold constituted a one-two punch. […]
Seasonal Gifts
Lee’s brother, Paul, called yesterday to invite me to share Thanksgiving with him, Joanne, one of their grown boys, Andy, and Andy’s brood. He brought me up to date on Joe’s successful, recently completed Fall tour with his current musical group, the oddly named “Olllam.” Joe is Paul and Joanne’s other grown son. According to […]