Hockey night in Florida
The Boston Bruins took to the ice last Friday night in Sunrise, Florida, for the first of two games in the Sunshine State. Most teams play the Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning on the same road trip, and try to catch a few rays on the journey. Before the game, I ran into a […]
Disappearing line
If we consider the wondrous happenstance that led to the discovery of wine, it is easy to understand why people long held the belief that wine was a gift directly from the gods. Wine was totally mystifying: it could render a person faint from its carbon dioxide; it could make one feel good, and maybe […]
Saying goodbye
To my dog: today I must mourn for you. Maybe you’ll come back. I’ve heard it’s happened. Weeks—months go by and you just reappear. Maybe you’ll be that story. And if you are, I will embrace you and love you and be happy. But in the meantime, I must mourn. Because this in-between? This hope […]
If Germany can defend bratwurst
So bacon—as well as processed meat and sausages—is a carcinogen, right up there with tobacco and asbestos. And red meat is a “possible” carcinogen. At least if you believe the findings of a committee of that pipsqueak outfit known as the World Health Organization —the one that told us a can of pop a day […]
Met-zmerized
I know what you’re thinking. “She’s going to say something about it being November already.” But of course I will. Welcome to November. November the month of the Movember, Remembrance Day, Christmas parades, the hunt for warm mittens and days of overcast skies. And next you’re going to ask, “What have you been doing?” Glad […]
Remembering
It’s early evening, and around here most folks hit the pillow early. The dark November sky and cold rain hitting beyond the window next to me adds weight to the poignancy of the art that lines the walls of this place. There are paintings of warships, of air bombers, of troops. The quiet culture of […]
Experience
I do not think I am exaggerating when I write that an entire nation was in pain after Friday night’s Blue Jays game. It ended so suddenly, and it really hurt. Bautista’s two home runs provided hope when it was required. But then the ninth inning began with the Jays trailing by one run. The […]
Nouveau in the County
Little nudges in the history of marriage, trade and marketing go a long way in explaining the whys and wherefores of the wine industry. Bordeaux is a case in point. The region celebrates oenological ties with England, thanks to the marriage between Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II of England. Not only did Henry gain […]
Affinity living
It’s becoming all the rage. Affinity living, that is. The place you choose to live allows you to affiliate with a team, or sport, or way of life. Of course, the world is already awash in golf-course style developments, or developments situated around marinas, but this trend entails thinking a little deeper inside the box. […]
Procrastination
Ah the last week of October. What the heck? The big chill will descend upon us, soon enough. After the Hallowe’en treats have disappeared from the big bowl in the front hall, we’ll be digging out our Christmas decorations. And what the H E double KitKat bars am I up to these days? Glad you […]