Your Weekly Antics, Santa and Day Drinking Edition...9/28/25

Well kids, I hope you're all enjoying the beautiful weather and getting out there and doing all things fall. With fall we have come to expect Lawn Mowing Joe to transition to Leaf Blowing Joe, but even Joe must rest from time to time and is expected to make guest appearances in other locations throughout our community. He's a giver people, and instead of leaf blowing this weekend, he's giving back by participating in a golf tournament. The leaves and you, his faithful fans, are gonna have to wait. Here's what I've got...

1. The Walking Dead picked Worcester to do some filming for their upcoming season. Many of the actors and extras were seen downtown at work and at play, doing their thing, and getting their jobs done. Glad to see downtown is being used for something productive. It’s like the Walking Dead down there every day, may as well put it to good use.

2. Speaking of films brings us to movie and show suggestions and recommendations. I had the good fortune of meeting one of Worcester's finest whose name will not be mentioned because we don't like to expose just anyone here at The Antics. This individual recently made a movie suggestion. Here’s what I have to say about that – keep your movie suggestions to yourself. I didn’t sleep for a week.

3. I was cleaning out my Elder Services filing cabinet and came across this. I’m not sure what to call it, but it was given to me by a client about 25 years ago. It’s a calendar dial that gives you the day of the week a certain date fell or falls on over the course of 40 years, from 1992 – 2031. All you do is line up the date, and the year and you'll find out what day of the week that particular day falls on. The client realized one day that he wasn't going to get his money's worth out of it because he wouldn't live long enough to see the disc reach its end year, 2031. He was pissed and passed it along to me. It can now be found in what is known as formerly the supply closet, now Joe Burns office. For anyone who would like to check out some of the vintage gifts and finds Joe is never sure will show up in his office, stop on by. Exhibit 1, bring on the year 2031.

4.  Joe Burns was given another one-of-a-kind piece of history this week. Exhibit 2, an autographed and framed photo to add to his sports memorabilia.

5. The gifts and finds just kept coming during clean up, and I ran across this. Please note that Kelly Labonte has not worked at ESW for 5 years, yet I keep finding the cards she strategically left behind sprinkled throughout everything I’ve ever had at my desk. Where did this card end up you ask? Burns office. Exhibit 3, the gift that keeps on giving.

6. Day drinking. All this clean up caused some time for reflection. Everyone and their brother has a Yeti or Stanley cup, or some kind of personal cup that cools and keeps warm our beverages of choice. Some of these cups have inspirational quotes and some are decorated in a variety of colors. What I’m getting at is, why are more people not taking advantage of this cup situation and drinking on the job? Or are they? Nobody’s frisking you at the entrance of your office saying, hey, whatcha got there?

7. Got a picture from a tried-and-true Antics reader documenting her adventure to Niagara Falls. I’ve never been to Niagara Falls so I have to ask, do the rain poncho’s you're given actually help and keep you dry? Never have I ever viewed a photo of someone at Niagara Falls wearing a rain poncho who was not completely soaked. These are the things I think about that keep me up at night. Exhibit 4, the Parenteau’s take on Niagara Falls.

8. Starbucks is preparing to close about a dozen locations from Marlboro to Boston, but a new one is in process of being built in Holden...go figure. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve done my part to keep these places open by partaking in their various seasonal drinks, but only Monday-Wednesday, beyond those days, I’m at On the Rise on Pleasant Street. Can anyone actually afford to drink Starbucks coffee every day of the week? Here's the list of the Boston locations soon to be closed so you can plan accordingly...

Starbucks is closing over a dozen store locations in Massachusetts. Here's the list. - CBS Boston

Exhibit 5, On the Rise, 1120 Pleasant Street Worcester, check them out.

9. If you think you’re having a bad day and have been given far more than you can handle, you may think twice about this when you find yourself sitting next to a guy whose ankle monitor keeps beeping. Gives you a whole new perspective on what’s up.

10. Fall is in the air and with that everything cinnamon and pumpkin. Hayrides and pumpkin beer, maybe in that order, maybe not. We’re starting to see mums and pumpkins adorning our neighbors’ porches and yards. I was out on visits last week in one of the surrounding towns and came across this, exhibit 6. This house had Santa up amongst all the festive fall décor, leaving him to blend in amongst the decorations of the season. There were other Santa’s of his likeness on the rest of this property, but I was driving by and didn’t want to get myself in trouble with the person doing the decorating in case he was day drinking and didn’t realize which season he was decorating for.

And last but not least...October 1st is Wednesday. The next full moon is Monday October 6th...plan accordingly.

Have a great week!