To Hell and Back

Of all the bands of my youth, the one I regret not seeing live was Helloween. By the time I was going to concerts, Kai Hansen and Michael Kiske had already left the band and although I liked and listened to some of their new material, the classics live without Kai and Michael just wouldn't have been the same. Knowing they all reunited and were playing huge festivals in Europe, I was eagerly awaiting a North American tour. The 40th Anniversary tour was it and they were coming to my state! The only problem ... I was going to be in Sint Maarten during their local show!

Luckily, Canada is "close", so the Toronto show it was!

St. Maarten Second Honeymoon

Jen and I and three other couples took a trip to St. Maarten to celebrate one couple's 40th anniversary. They had all come with us to celebrate our 20th anniversay, and since this couple originally honeymooned in St. Maarten, we all revisited with them to celebrate! We stayed at the Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in Maho Bay, a beautiful, adults-only all-inclusive.

The Mail Wasn't Delivered

"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these courageous couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds," goes the postal carriers' motto. Yet we did not get the mail Monday, 23 February, 2026. Or as it will be know in the future, "the great blizzard of '26" ... you can bet I still ran though! Laps in my basement since the road wasn't plowed.

And today, Tuesday, after clearing my and neighbors driveways, I got back outside to get my mile in! I should also add I'm dealing with a significant ankle sprain (see the brace on my left ankle).

Polar Plunge 2026

This year, my third polar plunge in a row, was - at the invitation of my lovely wife Jen - with the Rotary Club of Fall River at Little Beach, on the east side of Horseneck Beach in Westport, MA. We raised close to $3,000 to help with community service efforts in the greater Fall River area.

Germany and Austria Christmas Markets and Krampus

This Christmas season we took the kids to see if they were truly good or bad - to the Krampuslauf in Salzburg, Austria. There, St. Nicholas and the Krampus would sort it out for us.

Open-water Swimming Now Closed

Today was probably my last day of open water swimming at South Shore Beach this year.  Sunny and calm water and the picture looks like a nice beach day, but air and water temperatures in the '50s and a 10 knot breeze made for some chilly swimming even with the wetsuit. Gloves, booties and a hood would have been a nice addition.

All bundled up now, with a hot coffee from Coastal Roasters, and the car heat on full blast, but I'm still shivering! 

Run for My Life

Thank goodness I'm a runner and I've been running daily for over 9 years. I"m planning to go through at least next summer and now ... at least until September 9, 2026. Because that's when Iron Maiden make their Boston stop on the Run for Your Lives tour!

I've already got my tickets ...