I have a bad habit of buying useless gifts for my wife and son. This reckless activity manifests most visibly during Christmastime when I generally go overboard in the purchase of unneeded items. I have always loved seeing my wife’s and son’s eyes light up when they are met with the motherlode of wrapped presents.…

While many are still basking in the afterglow of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, a lunar eclipse is about to have its day in the sun. In the early hours of March 14, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across North America. The entire eclipse will start just before midnight…

Those whose familiarity with director Bong Joon Ho starts and stops with his Oscar-winning “Parasite,” his follow-up film to that 2019 breakout hit may be confused. Those with a more profound knowledge of Joon Ho’s filmography will recognize the same over-the-top sensibilities that mark his work in the sci-fi genre with movies like “Snowpiercer” and…

We are now midway through March. The first 10 weeks of 2025 have felt arduous, to say the least. Unless you are versed in astrology, you’d be forgiven for thinking a few months ago that this was going to be your year. The astrology of March is nothing short of next level, so much so…

One of the most significant factors in failed landlord-tenant relations is simply unmet expectations and differing understandings of tenants’ and landlords’ rights and responsibilities. And yet, the current strategy for keeping tenants housed is to delay evictions by having Legal Aid kick the can down the road, postponing the inevitable and burning bridges along the…

The new year ushered in an Arctic blast that has only recently let up. This extreme plunge in temperature is referred to as a polar vortex. While it may seem that this is a new term, it has been used since the 1800s. These periods of intense cold can impact the survival of many native…

Gliding through the forest, I gently rub my hand against the bark of the nearest tree. It doesn’t matter the season; no, it does not. Whether the tree has leaves or a whole bunch of moss, it is filled with such beauty I am sometimes at a loss. “Wow,” I will say over and over…

With tousled hair, a mischievous smile, Mud on her shoes and a laugh in her voice. Had enough snow yet? It seems we have snow every day, but that’s not the real problem.…temperatures hovering around 0 degrees are uncomfortable. However, it’s in our best interest to stay positive, and I have the best news. Daylight…

There was one Chinese restaurant in the town I grew up in. Our family rarely went there because my father (being a die-hard Italian) didn’t have much use for Eastern cuisine. It was all fettuccini, rigatoni, and fusilli for him. (Ironically, I found out years after my father’s death that his first date with my…

The Rutland Free Library has been in the news quite a bit lately. Moving the library to a new location is under discussion. It has been in its current location since 1935. An addition to the original building was added in 1966. My love of books most likely began at that library. My mother used…

So far, 2025 has been fraught with past memories and patterns that may have prompted old wounds to resurface. Mars retrograde in Cancer wielded a sword and cut open our emotional tender parts. This was so we could examine them and figure out what needs to be dealt with, what needs to be healed, and…

Many moons ago, I worked for a friend in his chiropractic clinic. Patients would arrive with different ailments and injuries of varying degrees, looking for relief. For some, a quick massage, acupuncture, and manipulation were all it took to get them firing on all cylinders again. Then there were those who’d complain after their first…

We lost a revered ski friend this week who passed with his skis on. I worked with Dan in Ministars over two decades ago. Since the BF and I left the Ramshead team, we’ve bumped into Dan in the woods more times than we can count, especially since all those years together at Rams gave…

When I moved my family moved into our new home a decade ago, I convinced myself the bonus room located above the garage would be my haven. I imagined spending time there to relax, reflect, and create. Unfortunately, that never happened. From the moment I stuck a large screen TV and couch into the space,…

It’s a familiar sight in winter: An inky-black raven soaring over a landscape white with snow. Though similar in appearance to the American crow, the common raven (Corvus corax) is distinguished by its large size, fluffy neck feathers, and long, thick beak. The ubiquitous raven croak can carry for more than a mile. It is…