Christmas is coming to my home town....

And it's imperative that all our little boys and girls be properly prepared....

First, kids, make sure that mom and dad get out there and cut down THE tree for the house.   None of this buy it at the corner stuff..... no sir. So say this....

A Tree!  A Tree!  We need our own-picked tree!

Then, make sure the tree is placed correctly... Perhaps one of the upper floors would be best.  That way you get both the tree and the view.  Don't settle for less.

It's also imperative that the season be started-off correctly, so.... Radio City Music Hall first...

Followed by a long, slow, stroll through the toy store....

For the young ladies, a stop at Lord & Taylor is  an absolute must...

(Although you may need to pretend that all you really want to do is look at the window displays)

The older ladies should peruse the offerings in museum displays, so as to get a better idea of what you not only must have, but truly need...

Don't forget to stop and visit Santa.  Just remember, though, when Santa asks as to whether or not you've been a good little boy or girl, simply say "Under advice of counsel, all I can say is I've been good and let it go at that."

Then, it's get on home and trim the tree...

Use all the help you can get...

Then kick back, relax...

And wait for Santa......

Tom was right.  That's why he's known as

"Tom of Scooter By The Sea" fame.

He wrote:

Snow is on the Way.

And Today.....

What....

To my wondrous eyes did appear...

It wasn't the snow so much as it was the BRW who intimated that if I were even to look at the scooter, she was going to hit the speed dial for our local psychiatric hospital....

Q: So what's a guy to do?

A: Drive the Honda.

The on-ramp and the bridge weren't too bad, and I was beginning to feel put upon, but the roads on the other side were, I must admit, a bit sloppy...

Although the trees in the park looked pretty cool with their mantle of white amongst the field of white.  All in all, from inside a warm automobile, not a bad scene.

Not a bad  ride to the studio, and, if truth be told, I really didn't feel up to riding today.

At any rate, made it to the station and got ready for my co-host to cue up....

don his headset and say....

This is Ray, Then waiting for me .......

And I'm Mike....

AND THIS IS SPEAK FREELY!

Christmas is in the Air.

As well as Good Cheer.

Can you tell?

In my home town....

The world is a blur of motion and lights....

And Everyone's going somewhere to visit someone....

Everything's a blur.....

Although some have a clear vision...

The main idea though is to keep the tree firmly in sight, because....

That's where the presents show up...

All in all, it's time to get ready...

Because....

Soon all in my family will be saying

Buon Natale!!

Ah Ha!

A New Challenge!

What's in your Seat?

Okay then, under...

And, for those with Motorcycles,

What's in your bags (and all those other little store away places).

Don't mean anything that gets put in for a purpose, then removed....

We're talking here about the flotsam and jetsam and lagan of those deep, dark nooks and crooks – those Thingy's that never leave.

SO...

Here's what you'll find under my seat (scooter seat, that is)...

A small medical kit.

Won't do much in a "for real" situation, but for minor oops and stuff it's not too shabby.

Leather mitts and rag wool inners.

Stay warm and make a statement..... that's my motto.

Roll of paper towels.

Fog, dirt, snow, all sorts of yuck – never leave home without it.

Windshield cleaner and de-fogger.

Balaclava.

Tire pressure gauge.

Detailed, page, by page map of my home state.

Handiwipes.

Strobelight - from my yacht delivery kit.

This sucker POWS out a light that rivals the sun.  When it's flashing, everyone knows where you are.

Small bungee cords.

Kickstand supports so I need not pick my scoot up.

Handwarmers and candy.

(The warmers are a ploy to divert my BRW's attention from the candy).

Pen and pad.

Newspaper clippings that I find throughout the week for use on our weekly radio program. (The pile changes every week, but there's always a pile).

Waterproof map holder, from yacht delivery kit.

Holds blow-ups of routes that I cleverly plan so as to get Tom of Scooter By The Sea fame (and I) totally and beyond hope lost.

Okay.

That's it.

Now......

What lurks under your seat?

The games afoot!

If ya ain't here in February

Why're here in July?

Back when I was still living in my native city, I had a running partner who could only meet at six in the AM.  On a July or August morning, that wasn't so bad.  In January or February it was, to put it mildly – Brutal.

Now, the number of people we would meet on our daily excursion: running around Central Park, was inversely proportional to the temperature.  So, we came up with a rule that I'd like to implement in Maine:

If you ain't here in Central Park in February, y'all need to stay home in July.

Just Kidding...

Still....

Here's Portland Headlight in the Summer... People everywhere...

Look at the parking lot.... cars, busses, everywhere...

And here we are in December....

A little shy of vehicles and people....

So I put it to you.... If you're not here in February......

By the way, take a look at the first Lighthouse picture, then the second.  Notice the difference - other than the wreath?  It's a clear indication of what time of the year it is.  Let me know.

Cancer is really a big pain.

It takes up so much of your time, and causes no end of problems, not the least of which is the "other shoe" syndrome.

You're always waiting.  So are your doctors.

Lately, strange things have been happening which have called for MRI's, CT's and meetings after meetings with my team (yeah, you don't have just one anymore) of doctors.

Nothing has come of all this – except there has been no time to do anything else.....

However....

I'm Back!!

Good as New....

And Loaded for Bear...

Okay, so what's been happening?

Well, been on the road, hither, and yon...

Ate something here....

Ate something there...

And watched the day go from here...

To here...

Kept up with friends

Old and new

And now stand ready to once again ride and spread the alarm....

"He's Back!"