I’m sharing this photo of my friend Joe from a few years ago, because I think it is a visually stimulating way to acknowledge this day. Joe lives in San Francisco and is a successful coach and trainer so if you’re in the Bay Area and looking to get into shape check him out at rebel-warrior.com. He’ll provide ample “gympsiration” and is a great guy.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Describe this past year in a word or photo by adding it as a comment to this post. I’d love to scroll through and see what people share. I’ve started things off by sharing this meme that I created.
I would also like to wish you a happy and healthy 2021.
2020 is a year few will forget but many are eager to move beyond. I am re-posting this image from past years and suggest you choose wisely the color of your underwear.
If you’re in a sharing mood, leave the color you plan to wear tonight in the comments section. I’ll be in my blue and white striped boxers, wishing all of you (and me) a year of good health, happiness, peace and joy.
New Year’s Eve in Boston has always – meh – unless you are with a good group of friends in which case it really doesn’t matter where you celebrate and it will be great. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made such gatherings a bit more difficult and less likely. So for those stranded at home, counting down the minutes until you can say “good riddance” to 2020, the city of Boston will be hosting their own “First Night”. You can stream the performances here and the full calendar of performances here.
I can’t say that I’m familiar with most of the acts, but I did want to give Boston’s Gay Men’s Chorus a shout out. They will be performing, A Prayer for Peace at 7:54PM and again at 9:38PM. They will appear one more time to sing Relax! at 10:10PM.
Last week Steve Grand released his version of the Bing Cosby classic “I’ll be home for Christmas”, which many have covered over the years. The video brings back handsome actor / model, Trevor LaPaglia who played the role of Grand’s boyfriend in his 2015 remake of the Mariah Carey Christmas classic, All I want for Christmas.
You can download Steve Grand’s version of the holiday classic at, https://shop.stevegrand.com/.
Merry Christmas
little tree
little silent Christmas tree
you are so little
you are more like a flower
who found you in the green forest
and were you very sorry to come away?
see i will comfort you
because you smell so sweetly
i will kiss your cool bark
and hug you safe and tight
just as your mother would,
only don’t be afraid
look the spangles
that sleep all the year in a dark box
dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,
the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,
put up your little arms
and i’ll give them all to you to hold
every finger shall have its ring
and there won’t be a single place dark or unhappy
then when you’re quite dressed
you’ll stand in the window for everyone to see
and how they’ll stare!
oh but you’ll be very proud
and my little sister and i will take hands
and looking up at our beautiful tree
we’ll dance and sing
“Noel Noel”
Initially published in 1920, EE Cummings is one of America’s greatest poets. Born in 1894 in Cambridge, MA, he lived most of his life in New England, passing away in 1962 in his home in North Conway, NH.
The poem shares the excitement a young brother and sister feel about their little Christmas tree. In more modern times, a children’s book was illustrated and used the poem, but I couldn’t find much more about this work. MichaelasMommy Blog provides some more thoughts and insights into the poem for those who may be interested.
While the weather outside hasn’t been exactly frightful it has hardly been warm and sunny either. However, it is exactly the weather one should expect in New England this time of year and following the Thanksgiving holiday many neighbors started decorating.
The main difference between the decorations you see in the suburbs vs. the city come down to space; there is no yard in the city, lights (for the most part) are used with restraint and since few people own an entire building you rarely see an entire Bowfront Victorian decked out.
However, what residents lack in space they more than make up for by decorating their entries, doors and windows. I captured a handful of photos after a walk around the neighborhood.
I recognize that many people may not be with friends or family this Thanksgiving because of the coronavirus. It has certainly seemed like a long slog to get to this point but with a new administration coming into office and promising results from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca, I feel as if we may be rounding the corner and truly have something to be thankful for.
Wishing you a happy, safe and healthy Thanksgiving and holiday season.
The Boston Ballet is partnering with NBC10 Boston to bring Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker to your home with a one-hour special excerpted from the 2019 production, with featured narration by Hoda Kotb (Today) and Colton Bradford (NBC10 Boston’s The Hub) as Drosselmeier.
The Nutcracker will air on NBC10 Boston on Saturday, November 28 at 7 pm with encore airings and on-demand viewing opportunities on NBC10 Boston, NECN and Spanish-language Telemundo. It will also be available free of charge on bostonballet.org for a limited time.
When to watch:
Saturday, November 28 at 7 pm on NBC10 Boston
Sunday, November 29 at 7 pm on NECN
Saturday, December 5 at 11 am on Telemundo
Friday, December 25 at 5 pm on Telemundo
Friday, December 25 at 7 pm on NBC10 Boston
Mass Bears and Cubs are continuing their annual tradition to collect toys for those in need and have partnered again with Solutions At Work, a nonprofit organization for homeless families.
The toy drive is starting earlier this year due to COVID-19 precautions. Mass Bears and Cubs would welcome unwrapped toys in their original packaging and will be offering a Touch-Free COVID-Safe option for donations.
Toy Drive runs through Tuesday, December 15th
Drop off unwrapped new toys at The Alley Bar’s collection box and while there stop in and support this local gay business which is now serving apps, burgers and sandwiches in Downtown Crossing.
Alternatively, you can order gifts from the Solutions At Work Amazon Wishlist. Select the delivery address as: Solutions at Work Gift Address.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season.
Maybe this will only make sense to my Italian-American friends.
Photo Credit: Kelly Automotive
The Boston Pops annual fireworks show was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the Pops will still offer patriotic music and fireworks during “A Boston Pops Salute to Our Heroes,” a pre-recorded performance airing July 4th.
This year’s program will pay tribute to the front line workers and those who have lost their lives during the COVID-19 public health crisis and will air on Bloomberg Television, Bloomberg Radio, and Boston’s WHDH-TV, on Saturday, July 4, starting at 8 p.m.
Mark Kanemura was on So You Think You Can Dance a few years back. He regularly posts short, entertaining videos like this one from last year. As you can see, Mark has enough Christmas spirit for all of us.
So for those of you who are celebrating Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful holiday and for the rest of you, enjoy this ridiculous video. I’m sure it will bring a smile to your face.
I’ve been really good this year so I thought I’d let Santa know that if he can’t give me world peace or control of the U.S. Senate, I’d like to have this under my tree.
It is Thanksgiving in the US, and I am spending the day with Sergio, my parents and a good friend in Portsmouth, NH. I want to wish everyone celebrating this holiday a relaxing and fun day. The photo above dates back to Thanksgiving 2015 when we were visiting Rio de Janeiro with friends.
