tis christmas

tis christmas and like the old charlie brown christmas special i'm wondering what it all means. when your'e a kid it means toys, toys, toys. and a week off from school. then we get older and buying gifts for family and friends and maybe a nice holiday dinner is the norm. but this year seems different. the mood seems .......gloomy. maybe the economy has gotten people down.maybe the true meaning of christmas has become lost over the years. i don't own alot of ''toys'', haven't lived in a house since i was little and have no desire to acquire alot of stuff. i do like getting together with the family and friends, sharing good food and some fine red wine. on that note i was in millis, a small town i grew up next to, this past sunday for a holiday party. some good friends have been hosting this event for fifteen years or so and they finally invited me....heehee. i only knew a few folks, the hosts brother and family and a couple of others. the food was great, the mood jovial and at the end of the day they had a raffle. i didn't realize the proceeds were going to a local foodbank but as i drove home that day i thought what a wonderful idea that was. giving, so others can have.......now that is the true meaning of christmas. linus got it right and no, charlie brown was not a blockhead, he was a good kid. he was just like the rest of us. merry christmas everybody.....jack frost

winterize

how do you stay warm in winter? layered clothing, hot toddys, another log on the fire? for those in northern climes you have to be creative. oh, i suppose if you have the time and money you could just flee winter's grasp and head somewhere, anywhere the temperture doesn't fall below eighty but for the majority of folks that is not an option. it's not just the cold, it is the dark, unrelenting night, the boredom of confinement, the narrowing of our lifestyles that tends to drag you down and put a freeze on things. you just don't come home after eight hours of work, grab a glass of wine and the newspaper and sit out on the porch, an open porch, and relax when the thermometer reads twentyfive and the wind is blowing in your face. it would be nice to follow the sun, to not have to deal with all the miseries that winter brings. maybe this year,maybe not. i''ll let you know. til then, i will do as i always have done and what my ancestors did.....struggle to stay warm and keep the faith....the faith that spring will be early this year

twilight zone

''there is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. it is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. it is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. this is the dimension of imagination. it is an area we call ''THE TWILIGHT ZONE'' ROD SERLING. 50 years ago the ''twilight zone'' debuted on television. it ran for only five years but it left a lasting impression. the creator of the show was a remarkable man named rod serling. he was only fifty one when he passed away in 1975 but his story lives on today. i saw a show on him years ago, probably on pbs and it recounted his early years in BINGHAMTON, NY. something he said on the show caught me. he spoke of a geographical womb, a place where you feel safe, at home. his was binghamton, mine is southville, a small town in southeast massachusetts. he was a great writer, an interesting presence in early television. if you ever get a chance, try watching some of his shows. they usually air around new years or perhaps just throw in a cd somenight, for your approval. take good care bloggers and enjoy a cool, october eve........jack c

fall is calling

summer is too short, winter never ends, spring is a renewal and fall is an old friend, the leaves are already falling and the animals seem to sense, there is a time to go, no sitting on the fence, the earth is slowly turning, a little farther from the sun, for us in the northern hemisphere, this is not alot of fun, so we gather in the outdoors and sing praises to the fall , perhaps thinking we can stave off winters icy call. .........sorry folks but we both know whats coming next, jack c

homeland

this afternoon i went down to medway, my hometown. i only live the next town away but i don't often visit. i don't know why. it's comfortable driving the backroads of my youth. there is always new things but it's the old stuff, the house where i lived, my grandmothers place, the town park where my friends and i spent countless hours wasting.......countless hours. the park was named after my grandfather, five years after he passed on. my grandmother was around for the ceremony and i'm sure my grandad was watching from above. it's not a grand park or anything, always had a water problem. i made my way to the far end, a green bridge and made some casts. two small bass later i left but not before i ventured up in back of the b ball courts where 35 years ago lay a pretty good size series of fields dotted with irregular stone walls heading in all directions. now it's heavily grown over but there are still paths that wind there way to..... who knows?there were signs of teenage activity, ie. empty liquor bottles hidden behind ancient pines. its good to see things haven't changed totally. certain memories always come rushing back when you go home, some good, some bad but always interesting......have a nice sunday trip down memory lane yourself today, jack c

nature

it has been awhile......two weeks now. blogging is definitely a winter sport, at least for me. this weekend past i did go to new hampshire to visit my brother and his wife. nice time, great weather. we took the kayaks out, first to a small lake and then to a meandering river on sunday. the river trip was the best. the powdermill river takes its time flowing through barrington, in western new hampshire. it zigs then zags with no rhyme or reason, at least to me. water plants line the sides providing perfect cover for a large variety of fish. great blue herons sit quietly waiting for their chance to swoop in for a meal. it was a little windy so finding a spot amongst the weeds to place the kayak was quite the trick. summer in new england does not last but when it is here, it's a treat. fishing turned out to be productive too......one large pickeral, his smaller brother, perch and kivers were plentiful. the kayak is a wonderful way to ride the river. sitting low, gliding slowly or paddling madly, you can't beat it. exercise and enjoyment all i wrapped in a ten foot molded plastic floatation device. sounds fun?it was.....see ya round the bend, jack c.....ps. i'm off to maine next wednesday, the 29th for a few....long live summer

summertime

yes it is summer which means there is no time. there is time but it moves with the pace of a sultry humid night. i'm not sure i could take summer the whole year round [i can hear most of you screaming ''why the hell not?''i like summer, just like i like spring, fall and yes winter. each season serves a purpose. summer time is to slow down, take it easyyyyyy. it would be nice to take the summer off, at the beach or perhaps a quiet lake. summer is a time to linger, read the paper a little slower each day whilst sipping on the morning coffee. sand castles and body surfing would fill my days while red wine over a soft sunset would lead me into evening.....a perfect summers eve. fall is right around the corner along with responsibility and cool air and clarity to follow. i'm not ready yet, summer is just starting to sink into our senses and i'm going to enjoy it all. on that note....i''ll see ya around, jack c