Life in Western New York

Fri - January 19, 2007

How to survive winter in Rochester

Ok, I know. Except for the last few days and a few days in October, we haven't had much of a winter. I wrote this a couple of years ago for a friend who had arrived here from Florida. This is what you need to survive...and even enjoy...a Rochester winter. Well, when we have one again.

Posted at 10:47 AM Read More

Wed - January 17, 2007

Scenes from Rochester on my CafePress.com website

I've collected some of my best Rochester photos for cards, prints, apparel and custom items for sale on my CafePress.com website.

Hey Rochesterians, remember winter? Snow? Haven't seen it for a while, so I thought maybe...

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Sun - December 17, 2006

"Sweet Deal" of a fundraiser for the 19th Ward Community Association

My first YouTube post ...and first effort to actually use the video feature of my digital camera.

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Thu - September 7, 2006

Discovery: Journal Entry on Mount Hope Cemetery, October, 1994

In the process of "downsizing" -- especially all my paper -- something I should have done before my move but had no time for. Came across this journal entry from almost 12 years ago, about exploring Mount Hope Cemetery, back when I was a Rochester "newbie." Well, I'd been in the city almost four years, but had spent most of my time teaching and finishing up my dissertation.

Looking forward to another October, one of my favorite months. Eventually I will scan a few of the photos mentioned here -- when I can afford a new scanner!

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Thu - March 30, 2006

Spring 2006 has sprung in Rochester at last!

Just posting a few pics from yesterday.

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Mon - January 16, 2006

Biking blog collection

Decided to pull my bicycling blog entries together in one place. These can be found here. It needs a lot of work & I'll be fixing it up later.

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Sun - January 8, 2006

COBBS HILL IN JANUARY

Enough already! Gray, cold days, snow and icy pavements, have kept me indoors too long. Finally got out on the outdoor bike today and managed the Cobbs Hill ride again, despite being away from it for a month.

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Tue - November 29, 2005

"Lancia" Rides the wind

Wind gusts up to 40 mph today. Managed Cobb's Hill anyway...even though I wasn't planning to do it when I started out!

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Sun - November 27, 2005

Thanksgiving 2005: Thanks, Megan & Family!

My thoughts on Thanksgiving 2005 -- spent with my friend Megan and her family. Whole new worlds open up for me.

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Sun - November 20, 2005

Foster Kitties...

A few pics of my new foster kitties: brothers Golden and Greenie Houdini...

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Sun - November 13, 2005

Gardening for a Change, Part 3

Another amazing weekend in the 'hood, thanks to my garden...

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Tue - November 8, 2005

Luminous Red Maple Tree on Cobbs Hill Drive

Three pics of a luminous red maple tree that is on my Cobbs Hill bike ride route. The tree is on Cobbs Hill Drive, coming up from Highland Avenue. Photographed 11/6/2005. Fall is compensation for winter, no doubt about it!

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Sat - October 22, 2005

Riding...in the rain, in the dark, in late October, in Rochester

Tonight I rode my bike in the rain, in the dark. It was amazing!

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Tue - October 11, 2005

How much wood would a woodchuck...it's a woodchuck! a.k.a. groundhog...

I finally figured out what those critters I saw at Highland Park are called. Silly me. It's a woodchuck, also known as a groundhog.

Today I also saw a great blue heron.

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Sat - October 8, 2005

Bike ride...brrr...and the geese are leaving

Well, it had to end, all that incredible weather. Of course. It's October. It's Rochester. Whaddya expect? But I rode anyway.

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Sun - September 11, 2005

Glorious biking days

And the glorious weather just keeps on coming.

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Sat - September 10, 2005

"Pinched at the Pump"

Found this Democrat & Chronicle article while cleaning up the other day...people griping about the price of gas last February. Guess what price they were griping about...

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Fri - September 9, 2005

Long time coming, Long time gone...

"What I did on my summer vacation." Well, a little of it.

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Sat - June 18, 2005

And still, more gardening...

Gladioli make me glad! More thoughts about more gardening...

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Sat - June 11, 2005

New York Politics: I Don't Get It!

I've been a voter in New York for 15 years now, and let me tell you, I still don't understand New York politics!

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Wed - June 1, 2005

More Gardening for a Change

It's funny how once you start on a small project it can burgeon, with momentum carrying you forward. More on gardening, and how it changes things.

Posted at 11:19 AM Read More

A Reason to Celebrate: New York State's "New Low" in Smoking Rates

The rate of smoking in the state of New York is now slightly less than one in five. This is news worth celebrating!

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Sun - May 29, 2005

Gardening for a Change

Today, for the first time in seven years -- since the summer before I lost my house in the 19th Ward to foreclosure -- I planted flowers.

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Thu - March 24, 2005

Murphy's Law Made Manifest [Catching up -- Entry that would have been posted 1/21/05]

I wrote this as an e-mail to friends back in January, when my iBlog software was still unusable. Everybody got such a big kick out of it I decided to make it public, now that I can post on the web again! This is about how Murphy's Law was made manifest in my life more times than I want to count in just one day.

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Thu - May 27, 2004

Rainbow!

Full rainbow over Rochester tonight.

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Sun - May 23, 2004

Klutz!

Injury caused by thunderstorm even though I was inside!

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Wed - May 12, 2004

Blessed Be! The lilacs!

I did it. I rode my bike all the way down to Highland Park (which is actually uphill, very uphill, from where I live), all around inside the park, and then back home. I did it because I just had to see those lilacs up close and personal after driving by them last night.

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Tue - May 11, 2004

It's True: The Lilacs Will Be in Full Blooming Glory for the Festival

On my way back from the Indymedia meeting tonight I went a little out of my way to drive past the lilacs in Highland Park. Many bushes are in full bloom already, and others are well on their way. With temps forecast in the mid to high 70s for the next 5 days, the opening of the festival this Friday is sure to be a winner!

Posted at 09:37 PM Read More

Thu - May 6, 2004

And now...the lilacs

It's true. The lilacs are beginning to bloom. That means they will be out in full force by May 14, the first day of Rochester's 10-day long Lilac Festival, which marks the beginning of Rochester's wonderful festival season.

Posted at 07:35 PM Read More