tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11795042593423213092012-01-11T18:45:23.591-05:00jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comBlogger371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-41810205683729160532011-10-24T20:18:00.002-04:002011-10-24T20:28:41.690-04:00

My tribute to the late great Clarence "Big Man" Clemons has been published by Lawrence Kirsch, creator of two of the finest books ever on Bruce Springsteen, For You and The Light In Darkness...http://www.thelightindarkness.com/news/Thank you, Lawrence

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-44237333708361204782011-07-09T20:30:00.000-04:002011-07-09T20:35:18.419-04:00

“Hello, Mr. Bagg.”Horton Bagg looked up from the vinyl sofa where he’d been doodling on the back of a parking receipt. He then rose and crossed the paneled room as the vacated cushion hissed back to form.“Doctor.”Doctor Vandeberg Floss stepped back allowing entrance to his dark-wooded corner office.Horton tossed the parking receipt into the wastebasket before entering, then took his customary

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-68350314768306362052011-03-02T14:14:00.006-05:002011-03-02T14:27:22.833-05:00

Ten Indicators That The Rock Concert You’re Attending Probably Won’t Be Everything You’d Hoped It Would Be1.)A month before the concert, you receive a courtesy e-mail informing you that, due to historically high demand, rather than add more shows, the concert has been moved from the 5,000-seat performing arts venue to a nearby 60,0000-seat outdoor sports megaplex. In addition, the promoter

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-82362043619484622542011-02-14T19:56:00.005-05:002011-04-29T22:53:46.722-04:00

(A short story)In a little old house in a little old suburb north of Boston, Boyfriend and Girlfriend are enjoying a little old bottle of wine on Valentine’s Day night. We join them moments after Boyfriend has received his gift and is about to present Girlfriend with hers...“Happy Valentine’s Day!”Boyfriend hands Girlfriend a piece of colored parchment paper. She puts down her wine glass and

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-81002986037658852532010-11-16T21:18:00.003-05:002010-11-16T22:29:25.803-05:00

(I wrote this shortly after The Who's performance at Super Bowl XLV) After nearly a decade, we may have seen the last of Rock’s legends playing Super Bowl halftime. A fan of both football and rock & roll makes a case for why it should never have happened in the first place. Picture this: There’s a sold-out stadium rock show featuring a band at the peak of their performing powers. The concert

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-27516986464437895442010-09-12T15:34:00.011-04:002010-09-12T18:41:30.049-04:00

In loving tribute to David Migliorini 1966-2010The last time I saw David Migliorini was at the Stoneham High School Class of ’84 tenth-year reunion. I graduated in 1983, but was dating a classmate of David’s and had accompanied her to the event. David and I hadn’t seen much of one another since high school. It didn’t matter. Friendship has the power to dissolve years, make them feel like weeks,

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-152276377243980302010-01-30T11:50:00.001-05:002010-02-02T22:42:40.767-05:00

Malcolm Brox sailed into the end zone, untouched, for his fifteenth touchdown in just the tenth game of his rookie season with the Cleveland Browns. As soon as the official confirmed the score, Malcolm jogged over, waited for him to lower his arms, and handed him the ball. It never occurred to him to throw the ball into the stands or slam it on the turf, nor did it occur to him to dance or

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-65662197539565785452010-01-23T19:58:00.000-05:002010-01-23T19:56:52.270-05:00

(As first appeared in Newsweek 10/15/2007)I was obsessive about managing my time, until a small act of kindness slowed me down.It's noon on a Wednesday; I've got plenty to do, but I need to pick up a few things at the grocery store first. I have determined that it will take 30 minutes to complete the errand. I pride myself on efficiency, and will do everything in my power to meet my goal. You see

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-64651854314201422062009-11-28T20:58:00.002-05:002009-11-28T21:01:34.648-05:00

Performs CPR after kitten collapse

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-33020211859675011752009-11-27T21:39:00.004-05:002009-11-27T21:53:43.197-05:00

Dickie Donnelly (L) with coworker Steve Collins on Donnelly's last dayRichard Donnelly retires from The United States Postal Service(Tribute I wrote to my good friend Dickie Donnelly as it appeared in The Arlington Advocate November 25, 2009)Arlington, Mass. - You may have seen him on a summer afternoon pulling letters from the collection boxes on Court Street. Or maybe he helped you carry that

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-49303204277203685062009-11-12T21:42:00.001-05:002009-11-12T21:44:46.632-05:00

Stoneham writer contributes to book on ‘The Boss’ The Stoneham SunNovember 11 2009By Vladimir Shvorin/CorrespondentStoneham - Jeff Blout of Stoneham has been listening to Bruce Springsteen since he was a 13-year-old begging his parents to attend a show. Though he didn’t see “The Boss” that night, he made it to many other concerts, and his loyalty, along with his writing, has been

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-40507655662247653432009-11-02T22:40:00.002-05:002009-11-02T22:43:56.962-05:00

Meet Grady (left) and Virgil

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-17073533471168055092009-10-31T20:35:00.005-04:002009-11-03T00:09:54.529-05:00

A new book from Lawrence Kirsch Communications focuses on Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town album, tour, and legacy.from the website...Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town broke new ground for The Boss in 1978. A counterpoint to the operatic elegance of Born to Run, the album was an angry, raw record that burst forth after a three-year hiatus. Because of its darker

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-29700780350936191632009-10-26T18:01:00.000-04:002009-10-26T18:58:12.722-04:00

There are many ways to cut expenses during an economic crisis. Lately everyone is offering advice on what we could do without. But while some people are turning to public transportation or depriving themselves of dinner at a restaurant or a movie in a theater, I say you need not look further than your own living space to reestablish some degree of monetary freedom.My grandparents came of age

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-38248723992676582252009-10-26T18:00:00.000-04:002009-10-26T18:56:51.439-04:00

October 2007My paternal grandfather died in 1970, just prior to my fifth birthday. He was eighty years-old. My only clear memory of him is of a wide-eyed, white-haired man lying in bed, able to speak only in whispers due to cancer of the larynx and a life-long devotion to cigarettes. Even though I was a young boy, I knew he was dying; I knew he would not get out of that bed. His was my first

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-20517463342163759372009-10-26T06:02:00.000-04:002009-10-26T18:59:13.393-04:00

Read my column in the Arlington Advocate on Oscar the cat here...http://www.wickedlocal.com/arlington/news/lifestyle/columnists/x313649951/Column-The-mayor-of-Central-Street

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-46020856872206059682009-10-19T18:56:00.003-04:002009-10-24T22:39:32.369-04:00

A Story of Friendship & Fandom“There! Get off there!”Even with Bruce Springsteen’s “Downbound Train” blasting from the tape deck, we were convinced, all three of us, that Bert was asleep in the passenger seat. And though startled by his wide-awake voice, I managed to cross-navigate two lanes of southbound New Jersey Turnpike traffic at 65 miles-per-hour and make the exit a second before a pair of

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-84556605183699395862009-10-18T15:36:00.004-04:002009-10-19T19:30:23.481-04:00

I recently gave my bike away, making it official: at 44, my two-wheeling days were over. I hadn’t ridden in years. Two herniated discs make it impossible to pedal in comfort. Maybe I was keeping the bike in storage in case of a miraculous turnabout when, some morning, I would spring from bed, instead of rolling out, mount my 15-speed racer, and take the long way to work.I’d don comfortable

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-52061420438958548742009-10-07T18:01:00.002-04:002009-10-07T18:09:02.324-04:00

Hello my hoop-loving friends,Back in July, ESPN columnist John Hollinger came up with a formula to determine the all-time NBA franchise rankings...http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=FranchiseRankings-Intro...inspiring me to send him the following email, which, of course, was ignored... Dear Mr Hollinger, Let’s just get this out of the way - I

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-59504410620962032792009-10-04T20:45:00.002-04:002009-10-04T21:12:13.636-04:00

The Adventures of a Borderline Athlete When I look back on the athletic experiences of my youth, I’m reminded of a conversation with a former co-worker. Barry was a fan of 1950's B-movies; those much maligned, low-budget, schlocky films like Plan 9 From Outer Space and The Amazing Colossal Man. When I asked him why, he said, “I find it fascinating that someone could set out to create

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-18781330212390041312009-08-27T20:06:00.002-04:002009-08-27T20:11:41.027-04:00

"Hi, I’m Dr Pace."I look up to my right at an elderly man dressed in blue medical scrubs. He’s over six feet tall, but stooped posture puts him at five-nine. His long nose and lanky frame remind me of those dipping drinking birds found in novelty toy stores. I shake his hand, which is large, but soft; a good sign, I think. Dr Pace is my new periodontist.He pulls on a pair of latex gloves and

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-12233321012164942352009-07-26T14:53:00.005-04:002009-07-26T17:36:38.948-04:00

THE BIG WHAT IFOne thing that always strikes me about the 1986 World Series is how incredibly close it came to being The California Angels vs The Houston Astros. Everybody remembers that the Red Sox were one strike away-three times-from beating the Mets. Not nearly as many people bring up the fact that the Angels were one strike away themselves, in game 5 of the ALCS. With the Sox on the brink of

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-73425093607267253932009-07-26T14:39:00.001-04:002009-07-26T14:44:21.364-04:00

(a rant from that almost undefeated Patriots 2007 season)"They are in a status called unbeaten, so, thus far, they are not undefeated. Undefeated is the culmination of being unbeaten."-Mercury MorrisThis is what various media outlets are inviting Mercury Morris onto their radio and television stations to say about The 16-0 New England Patriots. Have you heard this crap? Unbeaten is undefeated and

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-62042718572587662522009-07-26T14:30:00.002-04:002009-07-26T14:36:48.943-04:00

(a look back at the 2007 Patriots)A perfectionist’s view of the imperfect PatriotsAs the final seconds of Super Bowl 42 ticked off, I couldn’t understand why, as a lifelong Patriots fan, I didn’t feel terribly disappointed. In fact, I did something that I have never done before; I watched the other team celebrate after defeating one of our hometown teams in a big game. In the past, whenever The

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-70666658462452754312009-05-27T23:13:00.002-04:002009-05-27T23:21:24.095-04:00

(Today I watched game 6 of the 2008 NBA finals - Celtics 131 Lakers 92 - on DVD. With the Celtics eliminated from this years playoffs, I needed it. I also re-read an email I sent to my Celtic-loving friends last June 18 after the Green won their record 17th title. With that championship, Boston now leads Los Angeles 17-9. That's right, Minneapolis has 5. Here's the email.)Hello again my

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-37023639952386770852009-05-24T13:07:00.001-04:002009-05-24T13:11:42.927-04:00

(a short short story written in the format of http://www.sixsentences.blogspot.com/ -Six Sentences uses a paragraph format. Six consecutive sentences. No poems, no bullets. The title of your piece should be no longer than 36 characters, including spaces (because 6x6=36). )Vincent D’Angelo stood in the picture window, hands on hips, watching his four sons rake the lawn. Occasionally, he knocked on

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-39001287327620654402009-05-16T15:43:00.002-04:002009-05-16T16:03:50.028-04:00

(A foray into fiction. I entered this essay in the Writer's Digest "your Story" contest. The prompt was "A 20-something man sits in a taxi in front of his parents’ house, trying to find the strength to tell them that he (fill in the blank)." Of the more than 1,100 entries, mine was not among the 5 finalists. I tell myself that 6th place is not so bad. You're allowed 750 words.) 10:57. Street

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-29604058822599081732009-02-10T20:55:00.002-05:002009-02-10T21:04:23.361-05:00

Dear Dr Sylvia,My name is Kozmo, and I am a cat. Before you refer me to a veterinarian, or dismiss me completely, please consider that my reasons for consulting you have to do with a certain human being and how his behavior effects my emotional well-being. He tells his friends and family that he is my “owner” which I find ludicrous, so for the purpose of this letter, we’ll just call him “Jeff”.

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-65443695413454243542009-01-19T20:05:00.004-05:002009-01-20T21:53:33.901-05:00

Traditions come in many varieties and serve many functions. Some people get together at Christmas time for public tree-lighting ceremonies; others get together for ritualistic observations of birth, marriage, and death; and some people get together to discuss shared interests such as books, art, and social issues. But whatever the reason for tradition, the one constant is people. People getting

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-79367629488446355312009-01-19T09:48:00.002-05:002009-01-19T09:52:39.994-05:00

I was 4 years-old in the summer of 1969 when I landed in the hospital after falling six feet from the top of the slide at our local playground. I escaped significant injury, but was kept for a long weekend of tests and evaluations.There were five or six children to a room on the pediatrics ward, and the beds were arranged against the wall around the perimeter.On the second day, shortly after

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-19098062341903740412009-01-11T21:13:00.002-05:002009-01-11T21:18:16.485-05:00

August 2006The other night, while surfing mindlessly through an endless menu of cable channels, I came upon the movie As Good as it Gets. I was pleased to discover that I hadn’t missed my favorite scene. The part where Jack Nicholson tells Helen Hunt, "You make me want to be a better man." To which she replies, "That’s maybe the best compliment of my life."When the scene was over, I changed the

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-23055906552025987972009-01-11T21:09:00.001-05:002009-01-14T17:57:32.591-05:00

March 2008Please don’t let me get pulled over. A field sobriety test would most definitely result in failure. It’s dark out. I’m driving with the controlled intensity of a criminal en route to a safe-house. I wear sunglasses, not as a disguise, but for protection from the severity of oncoming headlights. My knitted winter hat feels like a tourniquet around my throbbing head. The commute takes

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-52678327138472092892009-01-11T21:04:00.001-05:002009-01-11T21:06:38.416-05:00

For my dad on his 74th birthday(December 2008)*Thank You for teaching me to fish*Thank You for taking us to Disney World - the trip of a lifetime for a ten-year-old*Thank You for teaching me which curse words were best by forbidding me to say them*Thank You for teaching me to water ski*Thank You for letting me drive your snowmobiles*Thank You for your diced potatoes*Thank You for trying to make

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-83032309101861488152009-01-11T20:22:00.001-05:002009-01-11T20:25:31.358-05:00

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation."~Lois WyseApril 2006(another of my earlier stories)I am 40 years old, and I love being an uncle. I have two nieces, Ashley is nine and Hannah is six. They are my sister Margie’s daughters. One of the pleasures of being an uncle is that I get to watch my parents being grandparents. Recently, Margie suggested that we

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-88467014754770366122009-01-11T20:06:00.001-05:002009-01-11T20:16:54.311-05:00

How John Henry influenced a memorable rock and roll show that did not take place at Fenway Park(May 26, 2006)Pearl Jam fans are a lot like Red Sox fans. Both indulge in their passions with obsessive fervor, and both have exceedingly high expectations when it comes to their band and/or team’s performance. Over the past few years, it’s been the best of times for those of us who are members of both

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-38220365747846660392009-01-11T19:25:00.001-05:002009-01-11T19:28:10.098-05:00

"The mystical bond of brotherhood makes all men brothers"-Thomas Carlyle(in memory of Thomas Seibold)I am in front of the casket. As is usually the case when someone so young is taken from us, the line of mourners is long. The casket is closed. Next to the casket is a framed picture, a young and vital version of the man being mourned. It is a reminder of the life that has been lost. It was cancer

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1179504259342321309.post-61625995563440961662009-01-11T18:18:00.001-05:002009-01-11T18:34:49.569-05:00

(Mother's Day 2006)"One is wise to cultivate the tree that bears fruit in our soul."-Henry David ThoreauThroughout history and literature, trees have both stood and fallen as symbols; George Washington and the cherry tree, the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, and, of course, the Christmas tree. But, to my mom, those trees have nothing over the

jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04643485403794052472noreply@blogger.com