Reading this article on Salon.com brought back a circus memory I had buried. All these years later, it always skeeves the hell out of me. I was working as advance clown for a tiny little circus based in Saginaw, Michigan. This show did a fall and winter circuit of schools, armories, and town rec centers. I went ahead of the rest of the show and did promotional shows at elementary schools to advertise the circus.... Read more →
1. When I was a kid, our Christmas music of choice was a Perry Como record called Season's Greetings from Perry Como. That's how I learned all the carols -- well, that and Catlick school. 2. When I was 16 or so, my Pop developed pericarditis and spent Christmas in the hospital. As is typical for my family, he waited until he couldn't stand the pain anymore and then suggested to my mother that he... Read more →
When I was a kid, I used to love singing this silly song: There once was a farmer who took a young miss In back of the barn where he gave her a Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs, And told her that she had such beautiful Manners that suited a girl of her charms, A girl that he wanted to take in his Washing and drying and then if she did, They could... Read more →
A sure sign of the approaching holidaze is my pal's annual cookie-baking extravaganza! This gal is one of my juggling pals, and she always invites me and another juggling pal to join her in the bake-a-thon. I couldn't stay as long as I normally do because I had to pick Joe up from work, but I did manage to bake two and half dozen walnut cookies and two and half dozen chewy oatmeal raisin (except... Read more →
It's a full moon tonight; the Long Nights Moon. An apt name for this time of year, when it gets dark by late afternoon and stays dark until seven the next morning. Long nights, and dark, even with a full moon shining down. It's gotten cold here at last, enough to make you want to snuggle under a blanket and sleep away this long night. The full moon craziness is infecting everyone. The drivers are... Read more →
Saggy pants are not just for teens anymore! Believe me when I tell that the owners of these garments are well past young adulthood. In fact, I would actually refer to them as grown-ass men. Unfortunately, they still do not know how to buy pants that fit. Sag Factor: 6.5 Location: Verizon Center Sag Factor: 7.5 Location: Verizon Center Really dude; do not besmirch the number of our new coach Dale Hunter! Read more →
Dear Comcast, I'm sorry to have to do this, but you give me no choice. I know we've had a long, mutually satisfying relationship -- a relationship built on shared expectations, a relationship of give and take, a relationship full of kept promises. You brought so much to the relationship. It was so simple at first, so easy. As the relationship deepened, we added new things to it. There was trust; there was hope. Yes,... Read more →