It's Election Day and 15 degrees colder than normal

Just put on your mittens and go vote. Vote for someone. Hey, write your own name on the ballot, if you don't like any of the candidates. Just vote. Jeesh..

November Happenings

Two of my favorite men have birthdays this month. Yesterday would have been my Dad's 77th. In 11 days, Josh turns 23. Here they are in earlier times:




The man in the middle of the second picture is my Uncle Dean. He is the oldest of his siblings that included my Dad. Interestingly (is that a real word?) Josh lives in Maine, as does my Uncle Dean, about 5 hours away from each other.

How to turn a hungry, crabby wife into a happy little Irish Lass

I'm an Irishman by marriage. And I have the claddagh ring, complete with an emerald, crafted in Ireland on my left hand to prove it. This Irish lass named Kathleen Anne by her parents, wanted to have a happy memory centered on St. Patty's day so that when her parents were gone, she would have another reason to celebrate. That was nearly 7 years ago. During the 7 plus years I have known this woman, who is pure Irish, we have had a wonderful adventure. This story is about last nights adventure.

We have developed a Saturday evening tradition of 5pm church. The congregation that we are in, has 4 services each weekend starting Saturday evening, followed by a couple on Sunday morning and concluding on Monday night. After Saturday church we head out to grab a bite to eat. Last night, we both were hungry and yet I had to run the other side of town to retrieve my cellphone which I left sitting on my desk earlier in the day.

We parked 2 blocks away and there was a line at the door, so we scooted to a couple empty bar stools. Kathy's mood transformed as the beer arrived, followed by the Corned Beef & Cabbage and Bangers & Mash.

The town grew a little smaller, in a friendly and familiar style, as I realized that I knew the manager, and a couple of other patrons that were there last night. I also saw hope for something that has been talked about for decades.

That something is the rebirth of our downtown. Although I disagree with the way our community has been going about acquiring land and the governments involvement that puts us local residents on the financial hook with taxes, I do like the possible results.

I see it with the revitalization of the property that used to by Southtown Mall. And as my Irish lass and I were walking back to the car last night with our bellies full and a bag of leftovers from JK O'Donnells, we were wondering out loud about what this town of ours will be like in another 5 years. And we smiled as we headed back to our home.