Your Weekly Antics, Be a Dandelion Edition...6/26/26

Well kids, it’s been a few weeks. I would change the title of the Antics from The Weekly Antics to the “When I Get Around to It Antics”, but that’s a lot of work, so I'm just going to have to get my act together. I’m sure you’ve all been sitting on the edges of your seats waiting to see what nonsense I come up with, so here’s what I’ve got…

1. Summer is finally here. Worcester Public School kids and teachers got out this past Tuesday and by Wednesday morning a collective sigh could be heard throughout our neighborhoods and city streets by those who didn’t have anywhere to be by 8 am. The same sigh of relief was expressed by the rest of us who will be school traffic free until August 31st when all go back to school and with that, the return of school traffic. I’m sure there was a different kind of expression in communities like Taunton who, no thanks to the excessive snow those communities got last winter, are still in school until Tuesday June 30th…horrific. No one anywhere should be in school until 4th of July weekend, that’s criminal is what it is…criminal.   

2. It’s come to my attention that the birds have been wronged people, not just by the public, but apparently by me as well for not reporting on their recent trials and tribulations sooner. Back in May there was a giant cockfighting ring broken up in the sleepy little town of Tolland CT, where according to google and the 2020 census, the population is 471 people. There were 100 people arrested and 273 birds euthanized. Now I am no mathematician, but 273 angry Roosters is a lot of birds and could have potentially constituted the bird take over I’ve been speculating about. No community is safe just sayin…Exhibit 1

3. I recently went out and got my Greek on at the Greek Festival with my childhood besties. Of course when at the Greek Festival, one must partake in the food and libations. You can’t eat Gyro’s and baklava without a beverage or two and off Tyler went to the beer line to ensure we were taken care of. It came to my attention after consuming said libations that the beverage of choice had originated from a green bottle. I’m here to tell you people, never trust a drink that comes from a green bottle or you’re asking for trouble. Luckily my beverage origins were discovered before damage could be done, and back to my lane I went - on to Bud Lite. Exhibit 2, damn we look good. 

4. It’s amazing when you get together with your siblings or lifelong friends , or lifelong friends who are like siblings, how we all remember things differently. So with that said, yes, our high school graduation was held at The Worcester Auditorium Chris Andianopolous, and yes, I was and still am as fabulous now as I was in the 5th grade. Get it Together.

5. We all have that friend who when you take them out and about you run the risk of them wandering away and getting lost - a drifter or floater if you will. One who when you leave your local community and venture out to other towns you wonder if they’ll find their way and are really going to show up, if they’ll find you if they do decide to get to where you’re going, and if they do arrive in one piece if you’ll lose them once they get there. This is how we solved that problem when at Boston College for a conference last month. At least this way if Angel got lost, he would eventually get returned to one of us…it takes a village with this guy. Exhibit 3

6. Boston - you’ve all heard by now how the Scotts and their Tartan Army took over Boston and the surrounding towns in the past few weeks. I’m sure you’re all sick of hearing how marvelous they were, but I think that they deserve to be recognized again because there is a lot that all of us here in MA and the country can learn from them. They know how to drink, they know how to party, they know how to be decent and caring humans and they clean up after themselves. For all the drinking they did, they can hold their liquor and have been a legendary example of how to embrace life and have a good time without being asshats about it. It is estimated that we had 20-30,000 Scotts in the New England region and of those numbers, Boston notes only one arrest, for public urination that was dismissed so the poor bastard could catch his flight home. While the Scotts were spreading cheer, New Yorkers were taking to the streets after the Knick’s won the championship, burning up buses, blocking traffic and destroying property. Meanwhile the Scotts were here for just about two weeks and had one documented arrest - ONE. What the hell is wrong with this country??? Get it together America. 

7. If you’re out and about and find yourself driving down Shrewsbury Street anytime soon, check this out. Exhibit 4. This is my cousin's kid Kelsea, and she’s kind of a big deal. I’m happy and proud to announce that she ended up on a billboard long before I did and it wasn’t because she was missing or for committing a crime, it’s because she’s awesome and has her act together. 

8. When you people watch, you see a thing or two. I was at Uhlaman’s Ice Cream in Westboro recently and saw an act of kindness that we don’t see often enough anymore. An elderly gentleman with his walking device and medical apparatus was there alone to get himself some ice cream. Watching, I was thinking to myself, how is this guy going to be able to keep himself upright in line, order and then get him and his ice cream safely back to his car. Before I could think more about it, I saw him making his way back to his car without any ice cream in hand. Soon after, one of the kids working there was running back and forth to his car bringing him what he ordered and making sure he had everything he needed. I thought okay, maybe he ordered ahead? You know I went and talked to this kid afterwards, who told me no, he didn’t pre order and  she had never met him before. She saw he was struggling long before he made it to her window, and took it upon herself to go out in the line, take his order and then bring it to him. To her, this was no big deal saying she hoped someone would do the same for her own grandparents if needed someday. This kid had no idea the impact she had on that man and that she probably made his day. All it takes is a few minutes to make a difference to someone - we need more people like her out in the world doing the work of the people. 

9. Monday June 29th is our next full moon, the first of the summer season. Referred to as the Strawberry Moon apparently for no other reason than for people to question why it’s not pink? Who knows, but you know my thoughts on the moons kids…buckle up.

10. Retirement plan # 837…the time has come that I’ve left Elder Services and have moved on. No, I didn’t buy a food truck. I didn’t get hired as the newest Zamboni driver at The Garden. I am not pursuing a job as the driver of a Golf - Ball -Picker -Upper cart at a local driving range. Those ideas my friends are still on the back burner for a much later date. For now, I am pursuing other adventures and continuing my work of the people in a different setting and am looking forward to a fresh start. For those of you who are starting over, who are venturing off to new and different adventures in your career, who are making changes that you never thought you’d make or are out of your comfort zone, you can do it. The lifelong friends that you’ve made a long the way who helped you get where you are and become who you are meant to be, will still be there and are rooting for you. Change is scary, but sometimes necessary. New is good and your skills, expertise and heart will be put to good use in those new adventures, if you’re brave enough to take the leap. 

And last but not least….be a Dandelion… you’ve got this!

Have a great weekend.