I started my day with Black Coffee. If you read last week’s blog (or viewed my last post to Gotham’s RockRap Music listserve), you already know why.   One word (or title or name).  Squeeze.  

The Amazon forest, which produces about 20% of earth's oxygen, and is often referred to as "the planet's lungs" is ablaze.  There's been an 80% increase in deforestation so far this year compared to last year.

Could it be that Summer is ebbing in these “dog days”?  If so, there’s absolutely nothing we can do about it.

We were in Falmouth for the 47th running of the prestigious Falmouth Road Race — a 7.1 mile run from the drawbridge in Woods Hole to the British Beer Company tavern in Falmouth Heights. Our Inn was right on the path of the race about a tenth of a mile from the finish. The porch gave us a perfect view. Watching the runners was inspirational and a bit nostalgic. Elite women and men and the mere mortals. Every one with a story, a purpose and a goal. There was even more inspiration from the wheelchair competitors.

It’s a thing. Really. We’re a biological mutation with the ability to sense change in temperature before any other human. It takes more medication to knock us out. We eat souls for breakfast and our witty demeanor can be unrelenting. The only weakness? The sun. Brothers and sisters to vampires, we can’t stand the bright fireball in the sky. It creates these spots called freckles, which can turn to blisters in a matter of minutes. Beware of the redheads with blue or green eyes, they are the most dangerous. If you see one on the street, do not make eye contact.

  Jane Jacobs posted a link to a New York Times piece this weekend entitled, “Finding Myself in My Mother’s Calendars.” Reading it made me think about my mother’s address book. After my parents passed and we were cleaning out their belongings, I took several small items one of which was my mom’s address book and one of the others was my father’s wallet.    

We saw some really great shows so far this year. And it’s not impossible that by the time this month passes nothing can top 2019’s August.

Are you a runner? Happen to have any old running shoes in your closet? If so, you may be interested in Dave Russell's story. He just got $50,000 for these "funky, old shoes" that happened to be a pair of extremely rare prototype Nike running shoes from 1972 (only 10 were given out).