Later, Gators!

Glad my pick for today’s big Florida game won … as a matter of fact three out of four of my picks played out as I’d predicted in my Thursday TICKET column — ‘Noles Trounce the Gators!

Must be all that hanging around with bookies back in the day in the North End of Boston.

Turkey Day tidbits add up

I hope everyone’s out (or in) enjoying the long holiday weekend! I feel very blessed to have a roof over my head (it’s raining out) and just finished eating a simple snack of a yummy delicious apple and a piece of wheat bread, and gave my cats an afternoon tidbit of turkey. I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

Right now in our community, there are so many who have no one to turn to in tough times. They don’t have a parent they can call and say, “Can I come home for dinner?” or a friend they can ask for $20 to tide them over ‘til payday. And many of those struggling the hardest have children or aging parents who are dependent upon them for the simplest, but most soul-nourishing, necessity of having enough food on the table. (more…)

Free/very low cost pet care — for those in financial need — offered by Clark Road Animal Clinic

The Clark Road Animal Clinic let me know that the doctors and clinic team are offering an incredible opportunity for people who love their pets but who might be struggling to care for them during these tough economic times — free vaccinations and routine health care for dogs and cats on December 11! (more…)

‘Noles take the Gators in MC’s football fantasy predictions

In my “After Hours” column appearing in today’s Sarasota Herald Tribune TICKET section, I lay down m predictions for today’s football wins, tell you where you can get out of the house and catch the games on a big screen, and then …

weigh in with a prediction on Saturday’s big game between FSU and UF.

You can read the full column here: MC Predicts the ‘Noles will Trounce the Gators!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things to be thankful for ….

This little bird — I think it’s a house wren perhaps — has been hanging in my yard for about two months now. It’s probably a female, but I call it my “old guy.” He flies very tentatively and I believe he cannot see out of his left eye — see how red and inflamed it looks? (the other eye appears normal). He’s also hard of hearing. I sometimes walk right up to him before he realizes I’m there. I think he hears, just not all that well. He sits on the feeder sometimes for what seems like hours, nibbling away. He goes to the bird fountain and sips at the water. When he first arrived back in early September, I thought seriously that he was dying — he seemed so frail. But he seems to be getting stronger and stronger.
I’m grateful I’ve been able to give him a place to rest his wings and get some sustenance. I know it’s goofy, but I love him! (more…)

MC on the radio today — 515 Talk Sarasota w/Sherman Baldwin

Sherman Baldwin, the Sarasota Republican party’s right-wing-ish wing man, has invited me to be on his show later today — 5:15 this afternoon. (more…)

Siesta steals the scene last weekend

Last Thursday, my “After Hours” column in Sarasota Herald Tribune’s TICKET section chatted up the goings on for the upcoming weekend … my take? Siesta was stealin’ the scene.

You can read the column here if you like: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20101118/COLUMNIST/11181004?p=all&tc=pgall

Local officials take to the stage next week to help the homeless in our community

Wednesday, November 24th, from 11:45 am to 1 pm, the Sarasota Ministerial Association presents a free event for the public – a pre-Thanksgiving Day lunch that benefits the homeless in our community, and includes live theatre put on by local public officials. The event takes place at First Baptist Church, 1670 Main Street in Sarasota.

Officials hamming it up at last year's event.

Fall … ing … in … giddiness with this gorgeous weather

Windows wide open. (more…)

Marina Jack is wack

Just one woman’s opinion:

Marina Jack is wack. I believe the owners should just do the right thing and pay taxes. (more…)