Life in Western New York

Sun - June 22, 2008

Two-Hour bike tour (with photos) of my beautiful city

Ok, I'm BACK. I know I've been away a while. Here are some photos I took yesterday on my bike ride. I rode down to Genesee Valley Park then up the river trail to the Pont de Rennes Bridge. Long ride, but beautiful stuff seen along the way!

Posted at 03:04 PM Read More

Mon - April 7, 2008

Blighted Neighborhoods: coming to your doorstep thanks to lending practices

Wide-scale bad decisions impact everyone, not just the fools who made them. Whether or not taxpayers bail out the people who fell for the sub-prime mortgage schemes (and the banking industry that promoted them), everyone will pay for this fiasco. (Also a D&C blog post).

Posted at 01:19 PM Read More

Sat - March 29, 2008

Another day, another round of sniping at the city

Here we go again. A crime story gets posted on the D&C online. And someone has to pounce on that. Eventually the comments turn the story into evidence that the city is a "sewer."

Posted at 12:16 PM Read More

Fri - March 28, 2008

The care and feeding of an ogre

This post of mine has been removed by D&C editors, apparently. A little too mean, perhaps? No meaner than anything this man has said, repeatedly, from the moment the new pages opened for comment.

Posted at 05:15 PM Read More

Sun - March 23, 2008

"Money buys happiness -- if you spend on someone else" (Reuters)

Found this yesterday on the Reuter's news site. Another of my D&C posts. An answer to why the comment sections in that paper are so full of people who love to hate not only the poor but working stiffs who have a hard time making ends meet.

Posted at 11:28 AM Read More

Thu - September 20, 2007

How to survive winter in Rochester (Re-post)

Fall is upon us, though right now it still feels like summer, with temps in the 80s. Beautiful and sunny, but to be honest, I want fall to be fall. Love the crisp, cool weather, with the leaves turning. Thought this might be a good time to re-post my tips on how to survive winter in Rochester.

Posted at 10:47 AM Read More

Mon - September 17, 2007

I could have danced all night...

Had a blast Saturday night at the Cajun/Zydeco dance at the Harmony House in Webster, hoofing it to Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble. Post includes schedule of upcoming Rochester Cajun/Zydeco Network events.

Posted at 10:59 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...

Posted at 10:56 PM Read More

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.

Posted at 09:00 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 10:01 PM Read More

Thu - March 30, 2006

Spring 2006 has sprung in Rochester at last!

Just posting a few pics from yesterday.

Posted at 02:56 PM Read More

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.

Posted at 12:33 AM Read More

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.

Posted at 09:06 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 10:43 AM Read More

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.

Posted at 01:17 PM Read More

Sun - November 20, 2005

Foster Kitties...

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

Posted at 11:46 PM Read More

Sun - November 13, 2005

Gardening for a Change, Part 3

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

Posted at 04:47 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 03:43 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 10:30 PM Read More

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.

Posted at 09:13 PM Read More

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.

Posted at 06:30 PM Read More

Sun - September 11, 2005

Glorious biking days

And the glorious weather just keeps on coming.

Posted at 05:05 PM Read More

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...

Posted at 11:58 AM Read More

Fri - September 9, 2005

Long time coming, Long time gone...

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

Posted at 09:07 PM Read More

Sat - June 18, 2005

And still, more gardening...

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

Posted at 11:59 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 02:05 PM Read More

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!

Posted at 09:56 AM Read More

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.

Posted at 04:24 PM Read More

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.

Posted at 01:30 PM Read More

Rainbow!

Klutz!

Blessed Be! The lilacs!

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

And now...the lilacs

My, How the Birds Do Sing! (and the wind does blow...)

Soon, soon the lilacs bloom!

Christian Attorney Calls Re-marrying a Wife after Divorce a "Terrible Sin"... Or Does He?

In the 'Hood

Broaching a Delicate Subject: HIV and other STDs among the middle aged and elderly

Key Found! The Saga Ends (I Hope!)