HOME | FAMILY TREES | RECOLLECTIONS | STRICTLY SOLVAY | READ ABOUT IT | NAME DROPPING   Ralphie would understand I had a BB gun. And I did not shoot out either one of my eyes. Days of milk and Esther A recent obituary triggered a memories of an elementary school ritual. Lashing out at losers A tantrum by Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski reminded me of a similar incident at Solvay High. Hotchee Botchee!! Halloween has changed a lot since I was a kid. Adventures in Paradise Sandy Pond has changed a lot since my first visit, but memories linger. Look! Up in the sky! Charlie Major isn't the only family member who spotted a UFO. Young and very lucky A recollection of incredibly bad decisions. Here a chick One Easter my parents and relatives bought a bunch of chicks. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Chasing waterfalls According to the TLC song, you shouldn't do it. Sleeping with snakes We had no choice when our power went out. The Popcorn Master As I recall, his was the best I ever tasted. Musical odd couple My first musical influences were Gene Autry and Frederic Chopin "Radio Days" forever Old-time radio programs still play inside my head. Are nicknames extinct? At the very least they are an endangered species. The Pilgrim Estates Gang It was Deja Vu when I moved into this neighborhood.   The Big Picture • Major family reunion: 1930 • Otisco Lake vacation: 1917 • The French Fort • State Fair ice cream stand • Nana's mother-in-law   Coneys and salt potatoes Our taste buds keep calling us back to comfort food heaven. Have teasels, will travel Skaneateles farmers once grew weeds on purpose. Ride an elephant It's something you no longer can do at the Syracuse zoo. An offer I couldn't refuse When being a Democrat gave me the inside track. Rattlesnake Gulch There really is such a place in Central New York.   Blame right turn on red If you want to trace the decline of our civiization, look no further than the highway. Baldwin's Solvay connection Two words: mother and Wegman's. Pets and passwords don't mix So look elsewhere in the war against hackers Give me a simple car Truth is, I'm afraid of smart automobiles I'm just a low tech guy Or why I'll never be abducted by aliens Descended from space aliens It's time we acknowledged we come from a galaxy far away. An evil invention Telephones are weapons for the Forces of Darkness. Mom, you didn't miss a thing It's a good thing my mother never had a cell phone. Revoke some parenting rules Especially those that encourage neediness. Trash it? Are you sure? If only your brain worked like your computer.   A Game for One You can tell a lot about a boy by the game he plays. The Original Spin Doctor He was Ethan Allen, who created my favorite board game. Baseball's name game No sport has provided more memorable names. A thru C Hank Arft to Kiki Cuyler D thru H Dim Dom Dallessandro to Hanson Horsey I thru M Ham Iburg to Van Lingle Mungo N thru S Offa Neal to Good Kid Susce T thru Z Taylor Tankersley to Goober Zuber Uneasy lies the crown Major league batting champions aren't always deserving. In a flash, he was gone Being the fastest player in baseball wasn't enough.   Contact