Arleen’s finger was aimed straight out. She held it somewhere around her cheek to emphasize her point. “You know if you don’t do this, she will come back and haunt you every day of your life.” We were in a waiting room at Horton Hospital in Middletown, N.Y., and my fiancée Carla had fallen into … Continue reading “I Am Dead”
What is wrong with this picture? As far as I can tell, nothing. But try telling that to some of the trolls who came out and criticized the photo — specifically how actor Michael B. Jordan and director Ryan Coogler were posed. According to mic.com, the photo, which appeared in Vanity Fair, prompted comments like these: … Continue reading What Is Wrong With This Picture?
A refrain in “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz” has Judy Garland singing wistfully: “Why, oh why can’t I?” It is something that I hear in my own head (minus the singing) when I confront self-image issues related to my workouts. For the past 14 years, I have been a dedicated exerciser, … Continue reading A New Me
The About Men Radio posse recently got together for the first time as a group since 1985. Thankfully, the intervening decades have not changed us: Stupid jokes, endless ball-busting and side-splitting laughing were all the rage for our get-together. Here then is an array of the photos from our get-together, with my snarky captions.
My daughter turned 20 today. So many feelings and memories surround the writing of that sentence. I had to stop a second because my eyes started sweating a little. I have many wonderful thoughts of being able to be that larger-than-life presence in her life. I was, and still am, the daddy. Although my role … Continue reading How I Survived My Daughter’s First Concert (and Mosh Pit)
We love About Men Radio posse member John O’Connell, aka Father John. For the 40-plus years that I’ve known John, he has always been a night owl, not a morning lark. As kids, he would be getting to bed at a time that I would be into my fifth hour of sleep. As an adult, John likes … Continue reading Do You See a Pattern…Zzzzzzz
Don’t be fooled by the seemingly negative title of this week’s episode. We are celebrating the bonds of wedlock, not tearing them down. All of the posse members have jumped the broom, with varying degrees of success, and during our recent summit at the AMR Central Florida Command Center, we had a frank and probing … Continue reading Some Marriages Age Like Fine Wine, Others Turn to Vinegar
Say what you want about Robert Crawley (aka Lord Grantham on “Downton Abbey”), but for all of his formal wear and and fussy lifestyle, he’s at heart a guy’s guy. I can hear a collective “Say what!?” But hear me out. For so long, the concept of a “guy’s guy” has been seen as someone whose … Continue reading How Lord Grantham Is a Guy’s Guy
For me, fear is an invisible emotional or mental “weakness” that I have historically refused myself permission to give in to. My attitude has long been that it’s an effort of will: You can push through fear and pretend it’s not really there. But I learned something recently that turned that line of thinking on … Continue reading Taking Fear to New Heights
The series finale of “Downton Abbey” is Sunday night but that does not mean the characters do not carry on with their lives. Here is a glimpse of what happened with some of the major players post-DA: Mrs. Patmore: Moved to Nevada where brothels are legal, and opened her own house of ill repute, Patmore’s … Continue reading Life After “Downton Abbey” For Its Characters
I have a very interesting relationship. I’m an American with a German girlfriend. Not only that, but I now live in Germany. Maya and I met in Manhattan in 2007 – she was an au pair – and I decided to move to Germany in 2013. Over the years, I have flown over the Atlantic … Continue reading The Words to Avoid When Fighting With Your Wife or Girlfriend
It is not every day that the entire About Men Radio posse gets together. In fact, it took a bit of carbon-dating to determine that the last time Silvio, Rich, Pedro, John and I were all in the same room together was 1985! It is almost hard to believe that it has been that long … Continue reading Getting by With a Little Help From Our Friends
I’ve always been pretty good at making friends in school and work, but none of those relationships are as close as the ones that I have with my About Men Radio posse. As I look back, Pedro and I worked together in two different jobs as did Pedro and Chris. Chris and I worked together … Continue reading Getting the Band Back Together
Men, how many of you have male friends? I mean close friends — not just co-workers, a brother-in-law or virtual friends on Facebook. And I don’t mean your “bros” with whom you might watch a game once in a while. I mean flesh-and-blood friends whose numbers you have programmed on your phone and who you … Continue reading Friends Fill a 14-Year Void in My Life
In my youth, going out after school down the block or to the park was where we met up with our friends. Even kids we just met, after a spirited game of war, or tag or anything else, those new acquaintances became friends. Through my childhood years, I migrated back and forth between the Bronx … Continue reading Friendships That Endured Through Moves and Time
I was deeply unnerved by what I read but I could not deny the truth of it: A significant number of men have no close male friends they can turn to for help or advice. An article in The Telegraph also suggests making close friends as adults is rare, and for some guys, almost impossible. … Continue reading ‘I Love Them Like Brothers’
Recently I read an article from the UK on how “2.5 million men have no close friends.” Fifty percent of them have two or less friends, while 1 in 8 said they have no close friends they could to turn to in times of need. This really piqued my interest, especially when thinking of my … Continue reading Modern-Day Man and His Lack of Friends
Among my buddies busting chops is an art. While these exchanges are teasing in nature, they do not take the form of malicious putdowns or “snaps” such as “Your mother is so dumb, she takes an hour to make minute rice.” No, our repartee has roots in the expression: “Do a good job and you won’t … Continue reading Busting Balls as an Art Form
My wife and I talk often about life and how, in an instant, it can be randomly snuffed out. A driver blows through a red light and runs into another car. An undiagnosed medical condition takes the life of a young man. A freak accident at home kills an infant. Maybe it’s because Meg and … Continue reading “Remember, Thou Art Mortal”
With the news today that Mattel is updating its line of Barbie dolls to be more diverse and realistically representative of the population at large, I bring you these updates on popular boys’ action figures from yesteryear: * Action Jackson: Now in his late 60s, AJ ain’t getting any action without the help of a … Continue reading Action Figures of the 60s and 70s: Where Are They Now?
I confess. Seeing the new issue of The New Yorker, crumpled up and stuffed into my mailbox each week, never fails to give me a legitimate thrill. I look forward to shutting out the cacophony of my New York City commute by diving into the venerable magazine’s essays, fiction, satire, and cartoons. I grew up loving magazines. … Continue reading In Defense of Cosmo
As a kid there was always one day a month that mom served us liver. My dad loved it with onions. I preferred mine back at the store — in the frozen food aisle. During the ‘60s and early ‘70s we lived in the Castle Hill housing projects in the Bronx. Pretty much all of your … Continue reading Liver: It’s What’s (Ick!) for Dinner
Maybe by now you’ve heard of this movie called “The Revenant.” It’s gained a fair amount of notice after being nominated for 12 Oscars (including best picture, best actor and best director) and after it won three awards at the Golden Globes. “The Revenant” – a reference to a person who has returned, especially from … Continue reading Why ‘The Revenant’ Is Not Worthy of an Oscar
Dear Ms. Fisher: I feel I owe you an apology. And while I say this speaking strictly for myself, I suspect there is a wider swath of men who might feel the way I do. You recently came under attack by social media trolls who criticized you for — gasp! — having the temerity to … Continue reading An Open Letter of Apology to Carrie Fisher
The start of the mega-hit Let’s Talk About Sex begins with at least one of the band members expressing concern about the controversial topic of their song. Keep in mind, this was way back in 1991 and mentioning bumping uglies in a pop song was still very much frowned upon. Their concern was not surprising and probably part of a … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Sex
The next thing I knew I was knocked down to the dirt and panic filled me… This is what I felt in 1992 at the Lollapalooza music festival in Waterloo Village in Byram, N.J., as the headlining band The Red Hot Chili Peppers began their set. I had been at the traveling music festival all day … Continue reading Get Up or Die: Surviving a Trampling at a Rock Concert
Captain Ahab had Moby Dick. Wile E. Coyote had the Road Runner. And Elmer Fudd had that wascally wabbit. My quarry for 25 years has been a moose. Not one in particular, just ANY moose. And for the record, not to spear, eat or shoot, but to merely glimpse one of these magnificent creatures in … Continue reading No Moose, No Peace
My wife and I have a simple rule when we travel by car: I drive and she navigates. The reason for this is twofold: I am a lousy passenger who turns green riding shotgun and I have a sense of direction worthy of Christopher Columbus. (Dude was headed to the East Indies and landed in … Continue reading Confessions of the Directionally Challenged
The debate is on and we need your input! All of the members of the About Men Radio posse have now seen the latest installment in the “Star Wars” franchise, “The Force Awakens,” but there are shades of disagreement about how TFA ranks compared to the previous six installments. As you will hear in in … Continue reading We Need Your Opinon: Which “Star Wars” Movie Is the Best of the Seven?
How hardcore a “Star Wars” fan are you? Well, if – and only IF – you have seen the newest SW Episode VII movie, “The Force Awakens,” should you take this quiz. (There are spoilers ahead…) Let’s see if you are a Jedi master or merely a scruffy nerf heder. For answers, scroll all the way … Continue reading Are You Ready to Take Our “The Force Awakens” Quiz?
This quiz, compiled by John O’Connell, will test your knowledge of the “Star Wars” books, movies, cartoons and games. (For answers scroll all the way to the bottom.) 1. Who restored balance to the Force? 2. What was the name of Queen Amidala’s planet that she ruled? 3 . What elephant-like armored tanks were on … Continue reading Know “Star Wars” Think You Do? This Quiz Shall You Take!
I wish I could say I was blown away by “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Instead I was — and this is going to sound odd — delighted with it. You know that feeling you get putting on a favorite pair of broken-in jeans or when you look forward to a favorite cousin or uncle … Continue reading “The Force Awakens” Is a Source of Great Comfort
Since it debuted not quite 40 years ago, “Star Wars” has held a special place in my childhood-stunted heart. I can remember my mother, who was not exactly what you would call an avid fan of pop culture much less science fiction, telling me that she heard of this movie that I might like to … Continue reading “Star Wars” Destroyed My Childhood Bed
As a Star Wars parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your kids from experimenting with the prequels. Repeated viewing of the Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith may not be an epidemic, but the impact on American society is staggering. Don’t let your kids fall under the … Continue reading A Very Special Message From About Men Radio
A co-worker said that she never saw any of the movies or cartoons. This conversation gave me an idea for this blog post. So, a recap for all of you who haven’t seen any of the movies or cartoons or have read the books or played the Star Wars video games, you may have heard … Continue reading A Recap of “Star Wars” With a Biblical Interpretive Twist
They aren’t just movies. As Chris and I discuss on this episode of About Men Radio, the original Star Wars trilogy continues to be an important part of our lives and a cultural touchstone for the entire AMR posse. While Chris has gone “all in” and is already set to watch Star Wars: The Force Awakens multiple times … Continue reading Unbreak my Heart, J.J. Abrams
When I read that a former colleague of mine, Germain Lussier, had interviewed Harrison Ford – among other leading lights from the new “Star Wars” movie – I could not think of a more worthy person to celebrate such a professional milestone. I knew Germain from my time as an editor at The Times Herald-Record … Continue reading A “Star Wars” Fan’s Dream Comes True!
Note: Today marks the fourth anniversary of the mass shootings in Newtown, Conn., which took 27 lives. I wrote this column when I was executive editor at the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, Pa. It appeared in the paper on Dec. 27, 2012. Weeks before the mass murders made Newtown, Conn., a household name, we had planned … Continue reading Remembering the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings in Newtown
I am invisible. You cannot see me. You cannot smell me. And, apart from my growling stomach, you cannot hear me. I am dressed in camouflage, covered in scent-killing spray, perched about 17 feet off the ground in a tree stand near the Delaware State Forest in the Poconos woods of Pennsylvania. It’s late October … Continue reading A-Hunting I Will Go…
When my daughters were in grade school we had an incident at the bus stop one morning. It seemed that one of them took it upon themselves to wear her sister’s shoes and when her sister saw them on her feet, a knock- down drag-out fight ensued at the bus stop. They were screaming and … Continue reading Shoe Fight!
It was nine years ago today that my fiancée Carla died. The weeks immediately after her death were a blend of profound sorrow and emptiness. Carla, who led a colorful and sometimes pain-filled life, used to joke: “Growth experiences are a bitch.” Yeah, that about described it. Looking back on those early months after her death opens … Continue reading Man in Mourning: Where Do You Put the Pepsi and the Pain?
Editor’s note: Meg McGuire, wife of About Men Radio contributor Christopher Mele, offers this recollection of working at a retail clothing store at the Reading, Pa., outlet malls on Black Friday many years ago. The wrinkle? She didn’t know it was Black Friday. When I returned from England all those years ago in October with … Continue reading A Mad Rush for Bras and Panties
The older you get, the closer your mortality appears to be gaining on you in your rear-view mirror. Once you cross the threshold of 50, you’ve lived enough of life to have experienced some losses personally, seen others who have suffered them or just simply are more aware that no one gets out of here … Continue reading No One Gets Out of Here Alive
Having spent a week in May in the San Francisco Bay area, I have these observations to report: * The weather is consistently cool and comfortable. * The locals are unfailingly polite and helpful. * Colorful flowers grow easily and in abundance. * The restaurants are diverse and the food is fresh and flavorful. * … Continue reading I Worship at the Church of Dunkin’ Donuts
I remember the date well because I still have the hospital discharge paperwork. My first wife and I were living in Saranac Lake in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. She was a teacher and we became good friends with her school principal and his girlfriend (later to be wife). Christine was an artist who lived in … Continue reading I Crack Myself Up
Most fans are blaming Terry Collins, Daniel Murphy, Fallout Boy, or some combination of the three, for the Mets crushing World Series failure. The sad truth is that I am solely responsible for the Kansas City Royals being this year’s MLB World Series champions. You see I’ve been blessed with very powerful baseball mojo. I … Continue reading It’s my Fault the New York Mets Lost the 2015 World Series
Playboy without nude women? It’s like peanut butter without jelly. As a subscriber to Playboy for more than a dozen years, I can say, though, I will not miss the naked pictorials, which the magazine announced it will discontinue in March. There is the old joke that men get the magazine to read the articles. Well, the … Continue reading Why I Won’t Miss the Photos of Naked Women in Playboy
We have discussed horror movies and shows on About Men Radio but I have a real ghost story to tell that occurred right under my roof. I was probably about 12 to 13 years old and living in The Bronx. My parents had a two-family house that was shared with my grandparents. The house had … Continue reading A Bronx Ghost Story
No doubt you’ve all read Chris’s tale about how, despite his general distaste for Halloween haunted houses, he girded his loins and joined posse members Rich and Father John at the Haunted Scarehouse in Wharton, N.J. Whaddaya mean you haven’t read it?!?!?! Stop wasting time and check it out here. I’ll wait. As luck would have … Continue reading AMR 29: Happy Halloween Edition
When it comes to visiting Halloween haunted houses, let’s just say that I sprout feathers and Frank Perdue is sizing me up. My earliest recollection of visiting a spooky attraction came when I was about four years old. My dad and I went with a neighbor to the Palisades Amusement Park in New Jersey. We … Continue reading My Haunted Scarehouse Visit: Screaming, and Lots of It
This is how these things usually breakdown: Chris gets a crazy idea. I say “sure, what the fuck, I’ve lived too long anyway” then Rich, John and Silvio decide if they want in too. It’s been our M.O. for 40 years and, as evidenced in this latest episode of our fine podcast, things won’t be changing … Continue reading It’s Never About the Destination, It’s About the Journey
Today marks my birthday but more important than that, it is year 14 of my “exercise sobriety.” At About Men Radio, we’ve touched on health, fitness, exercise and eating right in any number of podcasts and blog posts. Pedro and I talked about our exercise routines and eating right in podcasts here and here. And … Continue reading Celebrating 14 Years of My ‘Exercise Sobriety’
If you want to gauge who your true friends are, come up with a ridiculous idea for an adventure that requires five hours of driving (one way) to visit an attraction for 90 minutes and then see how many of your buddies raise their hands. In my case, it was a perfect score: Three out … Continue reading Pedal Power Fuels Friendships
A recent story in The New York Times made the case for why all young people should at least work one summer as a bank teller. It stirred memories of my years working as a part-time bank teller while going to college. While I didn’t get those money-management skills that the article suggested would result, … Continue reading A Bank Job: My Work as a Teller in the Bronx
Welcome to the musical interlude at About Men Radio. C’mon! Sing along! You know the words! “In Napoli where love is king When boy meets girl here’s what they say…” “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie That’s amore!” “When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine … Continue reading The Musical Edition of About Men Radio: “That’s Amore!”
Every man has had a battle of the bulge. No, not THAT bulge, you perv! Get your mind outta the gutter! I’m talking about the bulge ABOVE your belt. The spare tire. The love handles. The beer gut. Whatever you call it, by the time a guy reaches middle age, his metabolism isn’t what it … Continue reading Battle of the Bulge: The Struggle to Eat Right and Exercise
This story is about a song, a New York City public school, an energy-releasing lunchtime activity, and a unique policy by school officials that kept the peace during some rough times. Growing up in the Bronx during the 70s was a rough adventure for most city kids. Gangs, violence and an economic downturn made it … Continue reading Dancing as Lunchtime Therapy in a Bronx School
You’ve heard the expression “Cafeteria Catholic” to describe someone who picks and chooses the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church they want to believe in or adhere to. Me? I’m a Drive-Thru Catholic. Here are my (lapsed) credentials: Attended and graduated Catholic elementary school and a Catholic all-boys high school; altar boy for five years; … Continue reading My Crisis of Faith
It started out as a single get-together about three years ago. My buddy Rich, who lives about an hour away, was going through a challenging time, so we got together for a breakfast to talk. That might not seem so monumental on its face but consider that for us to meet, we each have to … Continue reading Our Breakfast Club Therapy
Introducing a new feature at About Men Radio we call “Ask Us Men.” The concept is simple and is offered especially as a service to our female listeners and readers: What do you want explained about inexplicable guy behavior? What questions have you always had but were too afraid to ask? What things about what … Continue reading A New Feature: ‘Ask Us Men’!
As a kid growing up in the Bronx, amusement park rides were a foreign concept. The tram or the skyline ride at the Bronx Zoo or maybe the carousel at Central Park were the rides I was most familiar with. Later, I was introduced to Rye Playland in Westchester County, N.Y. For me at the time, … Continue reading Misadventures at Great Adventure
A blowout reunion of fans and cast members of “The Warriors” is set to take place Sunday in Coney Island, the home turf of the fictional gang from the 1979 cult classic. One of the gang’s leading men — memorable for his flirtatious overtures with the ladies and his comedic touches — was a character … Continue reading Vermin Speaks! An About Men Radio Podcast Interview With “The Warriors” Star
Terence Michos walks from the parking lot wearing an aqua blue V-neck shirt, khaki pants and sunglasses. From a distance, it’s hard to reconcile that the man headed toward you is, in fact, the actor who played Vermin in the hit 1979 movie “The Warriors.” Gone is the baby fat in the face. The curly … Continue reading An Interview With Terence Michos, Vermin From “The Warriors”
Note: We pause today to remember the attacks of 9/11 that claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Jaime Vallecilla, a graduate of St. Raymond’s Boys High School in the Bronx and a classmate of many of the About Men Radio crew members, shares his harrowing account of being at One World Financial Center on the day of … Continue reading Remembering 9/11: A Firsthand Account of the Day of the Attacks
Do you remember when you were a kid and you did as you were told and you didn’t get into mischief and do stupid stuff? Yeah. Me neither. In fact, as it turns out, the entire About Men Radio posse has quite a history of engaging in first-degree stupidity both as kids and as not-so-much-kids. … Continue reading Knucklehead Is as Knucklehead Does…
In honor of Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer, we are resurrecting an earlier post by AMR crew member Richard Rodriguez about a memorable summer job he had. You may never look at hot dogs the same way. Read on: It was the mid-1980’s and I was working at a summer job. I … Continue reading Summer Jobs: Give Me One With Everything
In our latest podcast of About Men Radio, AMR posse members Richard Rodriguez, Pedro Rosado and Christopher Mele discuss discipline. No, wait. Not discipline in a BDSM kind of way. Though, of course, there’s nothing WRONG with that. Just sayin’… (By the way, Rich, you left your whips and gimp mask at my house.) The … Continue reading Spare the Rod, Spare the Child
I am at home, sitting in front of my computer, weeping. I had seen a news alert about the shooting deaths of two news people from a Virginia TV station that occurred during a live broadcast. Like so many others, I turned to the web, and more specifically, Twitter, to get the latest. And then … Continue reading Why the WDBJ Shootings Touched Me So Personally
On Aug. 25, 2002, one of my daughters, Emily, came into this world in a hurry, and she has been running nonstop ever since. My wife and I were blessed with three children, a first-born son and two daughters, and then we had No. 4 on the way. The pregnancy was going smoothly and as … Continue reading Oh Baby! The Miracle in the Bathroom
A recent issue of “Entertainment Weekly” featured a cover story about a reboot of “The X-Files” with the series’ original stars, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson. The news fills me with a mix of excitement and dread. I was a late-comer to “The X-Files” in the 1990s, but once I was introduced to the series, … Continue reading X-Files Reboot? I Want to Believe But Can’t
What creature would roam underground, scurrying from point to point through an intricate network of tunnels — dank, dirty and dingy — tirelessly trudging in claustrophobic surroundings? I know them as New Yorkers. And they rule the subways. For a long time I was one of them. Today I fondly think back of my days … Continue reading Oh Rats! A Subway Stare-Down That I Lost
Watching Amy Schumer’s brand of comedy is a bit like my visits to the chiropractor: She drives her fingers into your most tender pressure points. In the case of Schumer, she hits those spots to bring about comedic relief to topics that are fundamentally damn serious. Misogyny. Gender inequality. Misperceptions about women perpetuated in our … Continue reading Amy Schumer and Other Viewing
Clink, clink, clink, clink. “Warriors come out and playyyyy.” This iconic line I will never forget from the 1979 movie “The Warriors.” I was 15 years old when it hit theaters. I was not able to see it during its original run as it was rated R and my parents would not take me, especially … Continue reading “The Warriors” Hit Close to Home Growing Up in the Bronx
If you are looking for a movie review of the fifth installment of the “Mission: Impossible” blockbuster movie series, “Rogue Nation,” this isn’t it. No, instead this will be me delivering a sloppy wet kiss to Tom Cruise for what he demonstrated in MI5. The dude just crushed it in this movie and yet, to … Continue reading Mission: Impossible — My Love Letter to Tom Cruise
Marc Maron, host of the podcast WTF, made headlines recently with his interview of President Obama. In a later interview, Maron described being a nervous wreck leading up to the presidential sitdown but how he sought to engage the president. All of which reminded me of the worst interview experience of my nearly three-decade career … Continue reading The Worst Interview Ever
On paper, the summer movie “Inside Out” is the story of a prepubescent girl from the perspective of the emotions inside her mind as personified by Joy, Anger, Fear, Sadness and Disgust. And on paper, the movie, by Pixar, is a kids’ flick. In reality, it is a good excuse for adults to sit in … Continue reading Men and Emotions: Big Boys Don’t Cry…Or Do They?
Respect: Of the many who demand it, few get it and even fewer deserve it. I truly believe that respect is earned wordlessly, silently, almost imperceptibly through action. I recall a certain event with my Dad that exemplifies this notion. It happened as I was entering my rebellious years. I was 14. I held high … Continue reading Showing Dad Admiration and Respect Through Soccer
My friends would call my little inventions MacGyverisms so I thought I would share a few. If you’ve read my earlier About Men Radio blog, then you already know that I had an early start building radios out of broken components and older radio parts. (“Radio Shack: Real Family Fun.”) As a kid we had … Continue reading MacGyver and Other Tales of Improvised Engineering
My kids are young but as we all know, time stops for no one. My darling little princess is quickly growing into a lovely young lady and as she blossoms, it has become very clear to me that I’m ill equipped to deal with the emotional roller-coaster that is her pre-pubescent mind. I desperately needed … Continue reading Are Daughters Harder To Raise Than Sons? My Search for Answers
It is summertime, which means it’s time for popcorn flicks and blockbuster entertainment. When I look back, it is amazing how many times my friends and I shared bonding moments built around watching movies. We can recall not only the movie, but where we watched it, scenes and how we reacted to it. The movies … Continue reading Summer Movies and Memorable Flicks With Friends
Note: Today marks the birthday of AMR contributor Richard Rodriguez’s late brother, Ralph. To commemorate the day, we are reposting this blog entry. My oldest brother passed away a few years ago and I think of him often. I miss him a lot. He was a unique person and was always there when you needed … Continue reading My Brother Always Had Your Back
John Roche, a graduate of St. Raymond’s High School for Boys, a journalist and author, shares with us his experiences at Catholic schools following Christopher Mele’s blog post about corporal punishment. Roche’s recently published book, “Bronx Bound,” is a cop thriller/mystery set in the familiar environs of his old Bronx neighborhoods, including Orchard Beach, Parkchester, … Continue reading Catholic School Discipline to the Left and Right of Me
On June 20, 1975, movie entertainment changed forever. I was 11 years old when “Jaws” was released, and my mom, a faithful moviegoer, took my friend and I to the Capri Theater on Fordham Road in the Bronx to see the movie everyone was talking about. The theater was packed and it was like riding a rollercoaster, with the crowd … Continue reading “Jaws” 40 Years Later Is Just as Spectacular
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a ruling granting same-sex marriage rights in all 50 states. As expected, there has been resistance and criticism, furious gnashing of teeth, and general unpleasantness but that has not dampened the genuine pride (pun intended) and joy felt by many Americans across the country. We here … Continue reading Love Wins And We Couldn’t Be Happier
On a recent visit to see my parents, the conversation turned to stories of how they enforced discipline with their three children. Being the oldest, naturally, I was subjected to the worst of it. Spatulas. Belts. Shoes. They were all weapons of ass destruction. They were used when I was being mouthy or disrespectful, which as … Continue reading Corporal Punishment and Catholic Schools
It was about 1 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, and I was driving back from my job in New York City along I-84 in Pike County, Pa., within a few miles of home. In the coal-mine-at-midnight darkness came a burst of strobe lights atop the roofs of two cars in my rearview mirror. They were … Continue reading Manhunt for Escaped Prisoners Echoes Search for Another Killer
For those who have been keeping close track of the story of the escaped inmates from a maximum-security prison in Dannemora, N.Y., you have no doubt come across descriptions of the prison’s hometown as “remote,” “way northern New York,” or a “five-hour drive from New York City, if the roads are clear.” All those descriptions … Continue reading Reforming My City Mouse Ways (Or Life in the North Country)
Maybe it’s because I’ve been a newsman my entire adult life and I’m a chronicler of life events. It might explain how I had the presence of mind to write down things my oldest son said and did as he was growing up that were cute, memorable or funny. The first entry dates to when … Continue reading On Father’s Day, Recalling a Son Growing Up
A Father, a Son (for Jackson) I — an atomic collection culled from a universe of green stamps and cathode ray tubes — stay. You — atoms collected from a different universe of ration books and radios — go first. Before me, you were. Because of you, I am. You made me, a son. And I … Continue reading A Father’s Day Poem
“Dad jeans” are notable for being remarkably unremarkable. Urbandictionary.com defines “Dad jeans” this way: “Jeans that are no longer fashionable and are usually characterized by a tapered leg, high waist or brand name that was cool about 10 years ago. Dad jeans are typically worn by aging men with salt and pepper hair who are … Continue reading You Wanna Know What Comes Between Me and My Daddy Jeans?
Germany summer 2011 143 The older I get, the more I have come to appreciate the phrase “boys and their toys.” It is an allusion — not always flattering — to men’s affinity for things mechanical or on wheels. I never really inhabited that territory. Cars? Meh. Boats? Nah. But short line railroads? Now you’re … Continue reading Riding the Rails: All Aboard!
Barcade in Manhattan is home to a very special place that combines two of the best pastimes imaginable: Enjoying an adult beverage and playing vintage video arcade games from the days of my youth. This is a magical place that transported me back more than 30 years to a time before Wii, online gaming, Xbox … Continue reading Arcade Games Get A Second Life at Barcade
I consider myself a card-carrying member of Generation X. Are you not quite comfortable with the name? Not a fan of the band that foisted Billy Idol on an unsuspecting public? Feel free to consider me a Baby Buster. Or how about a part of the 13th Generation? As a Gen Xer in my 20s I was adamant that … Continue reading What Do We Have Left To Prove? Plenty.
It first happened about 14 months before I turned 50. I went to a Dunkin’ Donuts, ordered my customary hot medium coffee and expected to pay about $2. I handed over two singles but when the cashier rang it up, I got back a handful of change. I was surprised but chalked it up at … Continue reading 17 at Heart, Older in Other Places
I swear to God, I am running at home something of a cross between “Animal House” and an episode of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom.” You will recall the freaky intruder we had with a bat invading the house. (“I’m Batman”) And that all unfolded while I was on the way back from work from … Continue reading Bear: Another Wildlife Visitor to Our House
I recently was in the supermarket and ran into someone who said, “Hey, you look familiar. Haven’t we met before?” Perhaps I look like a lot of different people. (I hate to think about that if I’m ever called in for a lineup.) The person and I determined that it was 25 years ago when … Continue reading A Calling to Help Foster Children Started at a Playground
Hi friends and listeners, We want to kick off the unofficial start of summer by thanking you for your support. We are truly thankful for the feedback and readership and downloads. For those who have not yet, we would ask that you rate us on Stitcher and offer your comments — good or bad. We … Continue reading How You Can Show Your Love For About Men Radio
AMR contributor Richard Rodriguez offered a pretty good account of what can only be described as an epic camping trip from nearly 30 years ago, but there are some salient details he overlooked that I want to add or clarify based on my hazy memory of this adventure. As I recall, Rich was in charge … Continue reading Belching and Wet Spots: The Boys Scouts This Ain’t
AMR contributor John O’Connell weighs in with his recollection of this epic camping trip. Here’s his account: We took two cars up to the Catskills on a three-day weekend. The participants were: Chris, Rich, Pedro, Gary and Andrew (Rich’s next door neighbor) and myself. Rich had picked up a five-man canvas tent at Sears a … Continue reading Beer and Rain Make for a Memorable Camping Trip