Next Monday, April 8, I will be celebrating the 69th anniversary of my arrival on this planet back in the early 50s. You might think that is a rather odd way to describe my birthday but then again, my dear mother always maintained that I had been "dropped off by the "little green men." I always assumed that she was jokingly referring to those irascible imps of Irish folklore, the leprechauns but, as it turns out, way back then, flying saucers were all the rage. What with Hollywood's "The Day the Earth Stood Still" with Michael Rennie and the documented UFO sightings, supported by radar contacts, over our nation's capital down in Washington, D.C., dear old mom was convinced, I was an early version of Mork sans benefit of Robin Williams’
Post Report
Well the Mueller Report is finally in and, much to the chagrin of our progressive liberal left, the mainstream media, academia, and Hollywood, the White House remains standing while ABC’s “Fuller House” has folded like a deck of cards with the college scandal indictment of Aunt Becky played by Lori Loughlin. Truth be told, the only 2020 Democratic Presidential bid that has crashed and burned because of the Mueller investigation is that of porn star Stormy Daniels’ attorney and CNN fixture
That’s the Rub
Valentine’s Day, an annual holiday celebrated on February 14, originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early martyred saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country. Now, we Catholics are a strange bunch and have a thing for martyred saints.
Growing up in Woodside in the late 50s, I attended St. Sebastian Grammar School, where
Holiday Bruise
As I strive to move through the initial days of the New Year, I find my house is clean and empty. Sterile, even. The tree, though still up, lacks its pre-holiday luster. Mixed emotions collide and cloud my vision. Was it the best day of the year, or the worst? Did I find the true spirit of Christmas and recapture child-like wonder? Or did I lose another piece of my innocence to the cynicism of adulthood?
I think back to the days prior to Christmas that now seems so far away, so utterly
The Independent Line
Recently I was laid up for quite some time due to an injury sustained when I almost broke my leg when it fell off the ironing board while I was attempting to iron my pants. My infirmity left me with little else to do other than spend hours online chuckling at the political fiction being passed off as actual news by the various media outlets where the truth goes to die. Now don’t get me wrong. I am not saying all politicians are liars. For example, take Marion Barry, the former Mayor of
A Cut Above
As a youngster growing up in the 1950s in the small Irish enclave of Woodside, Queens, I can remember my father taking me in tow, at least once a month, and walking down Skillman Avenue to "Paul's" barbershop for a haircut.
The shop had its own unique smell, as well with the smell of cherry, wintergreen, apple, and butternut-flavored pipe and tobacco smoke mixed with the scent of hair tonics, pomades, oils, and neck powders. The moment a man stepped inside, he was enveloped in the warm and
HO HO HO
Only a few more days until the big fat man with the long white beard makes his appearance in each of our homes during the wee hours of December 25. I am referring, of course, to Santa Claus and his annual visit to all good little girls and boys early on Christmas morning. I am particularly looking forward to the big guy's visit this year as I have been working overtime to welcome him to West 12th Road in the most politically incorrect fashion possible.
The first thing Santa will see after he
