Thoughts For The Season

EVERY YEAR IT SEEMS, Christmas comes under fire, more than any other celebration, to erase it from the calendar. In the more recent years, it's been, as I refer to them, the "Pretentiously Correct!" Those bent on saving the world thru measures they themselves don't understand, don't even CARE about, just as long as the world may hinge on their every word.In some disturbing cases, it's working! In the case of Christmas, they've called it an "exclusive" holiday. Exclusive of whom, I ask. Nearly every frontal depiction of Jesus I've ever seen has shown Him with His arms wide OPEN! Even in some Nativity scenes! Hmmmmm. Just imagine if His arms were folded like some Indian figure at a cigar store. That to me would be "exclusive." Just thought I'd drop that in, especially to the always well-intended Misguided Civil Liberties Union(subject for another day!). Again, whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa-it's COOL. Just have a healthy and Blessed one. WJ

On The Road Again

BY NOW< Thanksgiving must be an not-too-distant memory for you and I, and at this hour of "Black Friday," the madness must have begun. Just be careful out there, especially around the shopping venues. For urbanized areas like this, there sure are a lot of NUTS around!!:) I'll be bypassing the shoppers and all today-and ended up breaking a forming tradition of mine yesterday. I did NOT work, after all! I actually got to sit down with my family( part of them, anyway)to "mangia" instead of coming in at the end, only for everyone to be getting up and leave me as if I had leprosy or something! As Ricky Ricardo said, I was "'bout to 'splode"last night! And here's hoping you had enough, too. More soon-till then, Merry Christmas early! Don't celebrate Christmas? HAve a great one-plus what you Do observe:)-just the same. Gotta Go. WJ

The Week In Review.

SOOOOO, HOW DO you start into Blogging? The concept seems pretty straightforward-sit at a blank screen and let the Norman Mailer in you come out. You know, the guy of whom Woody Allen remarked in his movie "The Sleeper:" "When he died, he left his ego to the Harvard Medical School! Ouch. Oh well, I don't have a problem with conceit-that is a fault, and I have none.(Pause for guffawing:)) How about we start in my week of reality outside "The Cove?" We had our first cold one, for sure-and I'm not talking brewskies! In fact, since Tues., it's felt more like November than the last few, when it's felt like May.To think that some actually adore this time of year("brisk" they call it)! I'm only looking for the start of Christmas season, and wishing it'd fade over into spring right away! Anyhow, the major downer of this week was the loss of my church bro, Bill Birath. Just 58 years old, retired only a few years ago from 30+ years as a police officer. I'll say this, he did not just sit and take it, he tore the cancer in his body-and hopefully in general-a new one. If the folks at Sloan-Kettering can get a leg up on treatments from Bill's fight to be able to help others, it definietly will not have been in vain. Never was, but he is at peace now, and the funeral home was PACKED-both viewings! He will be missed. Speaking of Christmas(I never celebrated "holiday," and don't plan on starting!), it's popping up all over now. Actually, the first vestages start in mid-July when Hallmark previews about half their Keepsake ornaments for the coming season. I LOVE these things-got quite a collection. Not vast, but I'm happy with it. We'll be looking to put our decorations up soon, but near as I can see, Santa's traveling light this year. I guess I'm at the age where just being able to punch the ol' clock everyday is a gift. Definitely huge numbers around that can't, and I get a little more infuriated each time I see a "store closing" or "everything must go" sign in a window! Pickings are slim in my racket compared to last year, but even though lots of carriers have upended this year, people still need(most of)the stuff trucks deliver. Noise, congestion, etc.-no one needs that, of course. But I won't be the clown that's two feet off your rear bumper on the Turnpike. And you can't outsource trucking to some nation ending in "-stan," and get a delivery to Piscataway, NJ! As far as the colder temps, I may actually get to wear some of my sweaters this year if the trend persists. Today I just broke out one I got last Christmas for the first time. Burgundy, pull-over, kind of looks like the one Jurgen Prochnow wore in his role as the U-Boat Captain in "Das Boot." I'm also eyeing up the one that started the collection in the '80's-a hand-made, pure wool fisherman-type I bought in the Azores-back then for about $12 US(could,ve brought back a crate of 'em and sold them for at least $40 each!). Some say it's had it-just flops all over me. Hey, that's call "character!" Who wants to be straight-creased all the time?:) I'm quite comfy now, having just put away some New England Clam Chowder, and at 5:30 pm, it's already dark in NJ. But my heart is in the Cove, where it's always about 82 degrees, low humidity, and a light breeze. I'd be eyeing up a dip off that empty slip about now where those kayakers just arrived. What the heck-grabbing the towel, see ya later!:)

Welcome to the Cove:)

OK, LET'S START with the basics! I'll be building this as I go along. Not always easy. Oh, my name is Wayne, and I'm kind of the Captain here in Schooner Cove. More like the First Mate-the real Captain lives in that shack over there. In scientific terms, he's-kind of weird! Only comes out at night, and when he does come out, it's like he just-appears. One sec, nothing. Look away, then bang-he's there. Sound familair?:) You can see this is a treat for the mind and soul, even if your body can't be in such a place. Anyway, I'm facing north toward the harbor, looking from the marina. No big thorughfare like Miami or something, but sheltered enough where we can regularly splash in the empty deep water slips, and not get run over. The beach is just over those dunes to the east-a short walk really. Palm trees, the main cabana is over there, with a couple of rooms should you like to stay over and wake up by the sea. Grab a hammock if you like. I feel like Jimmy Buffet has Margaritaville and "One Particular Harbor," I can have something equally enticing. Just don't get too schnockered here, fall on your face and miss all the real beauty. Yep, this is Schooner Cove, and Wayne's Particular Harbor! :) Share it with me-it can be whatever you like and nothing you don't. No Worries! WJ