WILLIAM KELLEY.....FAMOUS ARTIST......

I was in a restaurant this evening ( so what's new about that.....) and I ran into Jim Mellen,Esq. of Nahant and we were talking about our old friend " Billy " Kelley from Cambridge ,Nahant ,South End ,Swampscott, Newburyport , New Hampshire , Sarasota , Florence,Italy and the Cape........and probably some other places I have forgotten or do not know about.

Who is this guy ? let me tell you.....He was just like the rest of us thinking of our future ahead of us and trying to figure our way.......Most of us were studying business, law, etc. and that included " Billy "................however he was dreaming.......of what you ask ?

sketches, straight lines, water colors, bright colors, sky scenes, landscapes........So what happened is we all worked and after he figured out how to have money not an " issue " he lived his dream and continues to do it even to this day !

He is a world traveler with friends like the lead singer of AC/DC , and a famous Nun......

He is the type of person who has painted his own "masterpiece" of life by living his dream.....as his artistic reputation continues to grow.I hear he has not let fame take over with the exception of his "stage" name William....

It is something to reflect on in your own existence and where you are going....Remember if you like what you do....you will be great......

LOOK UP HIS WEBSITE..........WILLIAM J. KELLEY FAMOUS ARTIST

SOCIAL JUSTICE.......ON MY MIND.......

I am a involved with a program called ARISE/RENEW which continues this Fall and focuses on Social Justice........

Imagine being a Senior and not seeing members of your family for a half-century........not because they passed away or you had disfunction between each other.....but rather because the Government prevented you each from crossing a State line due to a political agenda.........

This is the case in North Korea.....In 1953 the Korean War ended with an armistice not a peace treaty.....and for most of that time there has not been any mail, telephone, or email between ordinary citizens from the two Koreas....Contact started in 2000 and was halted by North Korea over disagreement with It's nuclear missile programs......

I realize the seriousness of the issues, however,bargaining and negotiations should not treat the average powerless people as mere " pawns " I have the opinion that the ones in charge are not affected by this policy............

The Red Cross reports that of 127,400 applications to see family 40,000 have died.......before realizing a dream.......The Woman in the photo was allowed a phone call according to news reports..........

THOUGHT'S ON RUNNING.........

People who know me or follow this address know that I am a believer in "working out" and have the opinion that everybody should participate in some consistent form of exercise compatible with their ability and physical health..........

Running is not for everybody......and you know I am not a Doctor of Medicine.......however Brenda Lewin, running partner and myself, have been experimenting with a a different running mechanism...........CHI RUNNING which is described as a "revolutionary approach to effortless ,injury free running" (CHI RUNNING,Danny Dreyer,Simon & Shuster).It's focus is on posture , leg and foot placement.

Another book " Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall which centers on ultra marathoners talks about the necessity of running natural and how the modern super support running shoes cause more injuries than they prevent.....I have gone to a "lighter shoe" and it seems to be an improvement. The Globe also had an article on this subject back in April.......I really enjoyed the book and I leave you with the following excerpt;

"instead of cringing from fatigue,you embrace it,you refuse to let it go....you get to know it so well your not afraid of it anymore.......I love the beast,I look forward to him showing up...each time I handle him better.."...

If it stops " pouring rain" I am going to run....I just inspired myself!!!!!

ATTY. FRED CRONIN.........RIP

Fred Cronin passed away this week.........

Fred graduated from Boston College HS, Tufts University and Boston University Law School along with being a Korean War Veteran.

" Freddy" was a bright guy with a quick wit.During his years as a prosecutor in the Essex County District Attorney's Office he was given the responsibility to do the right "thing" in highly sensitive matters whether it was to be "lenient" or bring down the " hammer"............

He was the "right person for the right job"..........He had interest in the defendants that came before the courts.........but he could decipher who was redeemable and who probably was in need of some "tough love"...........

I have a feeling that He is happy in his new settings........and still enjoying the people around him........as he always did........He had his "eye" on the big picture.....and never "sweated" the small stuff.......

WHO IS THIS PRETTY WOMAN........

One of the pleasures of having this "Thoughts " blog is to observe people at work..........and give them credit for their motivation, paying attention to detail and friendliness in the service of people.........This is the case with Gina Leone Bush.....UNH and Swampscott High School Grad.

You can find her at the bar of the Blue Ox , Oxford St. , Lynn on Friday Nights (you will have to ask her yourself about what other times she works.). She pours a "fair" drink according to the patrons " in the know" , is friendly and will listen to you tell your stories (she acts like she really is interested)..........Her co- bartenders are the same........I could not catch up with them since they were "jammed"

She knows one of the great secrets...........If you like your work ........You will be great at it.......and people will notice....

REP. STEVEN WALSH (LYNN D ).......VOTE OF COURAGE...

The vote is over and like the Cambridge "racist" arrest matter.......I want to move on...........but I have a few comments..........The new US Senator from Massachusetts is Paul Kirk .........but that is not the real story.......(Thought's... 9/17, 9/18 ) .....Now a news account is reporting that Senator Kirk received $ 250,942 as a Board Member of Hartford Financial which is in some way connected to the selling of health plans to retirees.......I do not distrust Paul Kirk......however when you do not have to run in an election...the general public does not have a forum or way to make their own judgement........This was part of the "great plan" which was "hatched" at or about the time the Senator Kennedy letter of July 2, 2009 was written........We supposedly needed immediate representation even though the prior Senator missed 97% of votes taken during his illness (Howie Carr 9/25/2009 Herald)...........

The Representatives of the House and Senate voted for the "Interim"Senator bill and demonstrated their hypocrisy in reversing the law they passed five years ago that the US SENATE seat would be filled only through a special election.....This was done

to take power away from then Gov. Mitt Romney (R).....only to turn around and give the power back to " Cadillac" Deval Patrick (D)

The only Representative from Lynn who voted against this bill was Steven Walsh and in my mind it was courageous in the sense that he faced pressure from the House leadership and believe me.........they know "pressure". ...........actions speak not words...........Remember even President Obama and John Kerry threw their " weight around" in this little power play............

It would have been easier for Steve Walsh to vote in favor .....take the benefits of leadership.....and hide in the power of the majority and wait for this to become "yesterday's news "which it already is...........The only other local North Shore Rep. who voted with Walsh was Joyce Spiliotis (D) Peabody.

KIM ...........THE FISH.....UPDATE

An update on KIM GARABINO 9/9/2009 POST.............

I saw him at the Swampscott/Marblehead "Y" pool today.........and he told me he had extra time on last Saturday for a "good" swim............ 650 laps in an Olympic size pool in 4.5 hours........."How about those apples"................

FOOTBALL.....BACK TO THE BASICS.......

What a weekend.......for football.........The Crushers were defeated again as predicted by Jay Nestor by the slimmest of margins due to the lack of productivity by Moss of the Patriots and Fitzgerald of Arizona......They are suppose to be the stars.......

The Patriots and Brady running the offense looked disinterested.......while the Defense only gave up 16 points.....usually good enough.......I assume Coach Bill will have a few choice words for the "boys"

Concerning "stars" and "boys"......Jordan James (yesterday's feature story) ....also was on the losing end....he did not get to showcase his touchdown dance....and was "stuffed" on a couple of reverse runs.......He said his problem was that he didn't get the ball enough......

His older Brother,Shawn saw his team win .........however he saw "stars" when he got his "bell rung" on special teams.In a post game conference he said "he couldn't hear for awhile"

Oh...well.......next weekend is on its way........

SO....YOU....WANT ......SOME........FOOTBALL !!!!

I love predicting the future.........One of my relatives is playing for the Swampscott Pop Warner Titans against a formidable Charlestown Team in an away game this Sunday morning...........

Jordan James Cummings will be playing split end..........and not only is he confident.......He has the "Touchdown Dance" ready to break out............His moves are impressive.....

He is a "star " in the making.........

I may be the first to write about his athletic ability........but certainly not the last........

GO GET 'EM JORDAN JAMES!!!!!!

L'SHANA TOVA......ROSH HASHANAH

This is the commencement of Rosh Hashanah for the Jewish Faith which is the "High Holiday's"

and is the New Year 5770............

The Temples around the World will be filled with its members repenting and praying to become righteous in the coming year..........They will wish for each other and themselves the following......." may you have a good year and may you be inscribed for Blessings in the book of life.(L'SHANA TOVA)

These are thoughts that everybody can use ...................

PAUL KIRK.......UNKNOWN........US SENATOR ?

Paul Kirk is unknown to the general voting public,but he is well known to the insiders in the Democratic Party both in Massachusetts and Washington.The word is that the "power brokers" are having "second thoughts" about Mikey Dukakis (the old stories and memories are even hard for them to swallow).Paul Kirk's name is now prominent...........and even though this passage of the successor law is dirty politics at its best......Paul Kirk is a good choice if it has to happen......

I have known the Kirk family since the 1970's and his Brother Ed and I were Asst. Attorney General's together for a couple of years.Their Father was a Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

Paul Kirk has been a confidante of "Ted" Kennedy and former Chairman of the National Democratic Party.....He is a a very competent person and for a short period we will have a Representative who will work hard and be prepared.......that's the good news......the bad news is that he is still part of the Democratic machine.......Oh....well....."ANYWHERE IS A BETTER PLACE..............

ANYWHERE IS A BETTER PLACE......HARRY CHAPIN

The song by Harry Chapin.....ANYWHERE IS A BETTER PLACE.....about the machine shop night watchman who watched the "rust"grow on the machines" and the "big"bartender who wished he was blind so he would think she was beautiful leaves me with the same feeling over this "new" succession law that the State Legislature is going to pass to fill the vacancy of the "Kennedy "Senate Seat.........

I have given you my opinion in prior postings......and I told you the "fix" was in on this the day "Ted" Kennedy wrote his letter July 2, 2009 and how hypocritical it is...........

That's over.......................however, it is disturbing that the Legislature along with my "Parents"Party,namely the Democratic Party of this State can do whatever it wants whenever it wishes.......with no balance of power................

Now we will more than likely have the "warm and fuzzy" Mike Dukakis determining "what is right for us the next few months....It is really not that big of a deal....except that we are being led around "by our noses" while the Democratic Party powers line up our next US SENATOR for life........

This "one party Commonwealth".........In politics....... ANYWHERE IS A BETTER PLACE

Thanks.......for the line Harry

JUST THE FACTS.....LADY

I attempt to get the facts every day,however, human nature prevents perfection.........

How about the story today which polled Americans concerning their opinion as to whether reporters get the facts straight and deal fairly with all sides.......

1980.....56% SAID REPORTING WAS ACCURATE 34% INACCURATE

2009 29% " '' " IS ACCURATE 63% INACCURATE

The bottom line is........how are we going to have meaningful discussions if we cannot agree on anything.....starting with the facts and fairness to each side.......and we have not even commenced on the philosophical issues............

PFANTASY FOOTBALL......CRUSHERS LOSE CLOSE ONE

The defeat was "close" and was not helped by some questionable coaching decisions by me ,but the main reason was the great play of Tony Romo for the Clunkers.He was distracted when he was dating Jessica Simpson........then they had to go and " break up ".......oh....boy....Hope she gets her lost dog back.....These are "real" problems.

If I have any good news in the future in this league I will let you know......

FRIENDS.........

As the summer winds down........."Sweet Lou" had us as guests to Salem Country Club to " meet and greet" his close friends before they all turn into " snowbirds" and fly off to climates that the rest of us dream about..........That's why their all so happy in the following pictures.......The lady revelers to the right are Penny Karahalis of Peabody along with Carol Essember of Salem and Lisa who will be a part time " snowbird "

The guys include Doctor Larry Essember and Doctor Frank Chow of Colorado with "Sweet Lou".......The smiles say it all........have fun this winter....and do not call me and say...."I can't hear you the AC sound is too high" It is an old joke and is personally aggravating........

PFANTASY .............

This last week brought together friends and the "excitement " of PFANTASY FOOTBALL ;

The Crushers are in precarious position.........It was an early lead after the Steeler's game,however

.................the CLUNKERS were led by Tony Romo and now have the lead.........

The long and short of it is the following;

Phil Rivers,QB, of the Chargers has to have a good night and his running back , Tomilson has to be mediocre...............AND.............Randy Moss (above) has to make the catches and score....

"WHY, OH,WHY CAN'T I ?..................8 years

The smiling pretty woman in today's photo was the Mother of the three kids and the faithful wife of her Husband, Harvey Rowe (not a coincidence....)...........She has been somewhere over the rainbow for the last 8 years..........9/12/2001

" Margo " Rowe was born 3/13/13 in Canada and somehow made her way to "B" Street,South Boston.......She left school in the 8th Grade to take care of her Mother......and worked as a Mother, hostess, and waitress into her 40's when she went to " Beauty School" and for the next 30 years became one of the most successful" Hairdressers" on the North Shore. Cosmology the word was not in use yet.........However Her Story is much more...............

" Margo" took me to see the "Wizard of Oz" when I was a toddler and my impression at that time was that the wicked witch was scary............but the story is much more.......

She taught me that the world was surrounded by the hope and spirit of "Dorothy"

and that no matter how bad things seemed "everything would turn out for the best""She had a positive attitude and a command of the language that made her a "leader of people"........Her Spirit and Love of God.........went from her heart to every heart she met.......

Let me help you remember a few lyrics of her most liked song.....

SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW, SKIES ARE BLUE AND THE DREAMS THAT YOU DARE TO DREAM,REALLY DO COME TRUE AND...........

SOMEDAY I'LL WISH UPON A STAR AND WAKE UP WHERE THE CLOUDS ARE FAR BEHIND ME.......AND BLUE BIRDS FLY.......HAPPY LITTLE

.BIRDS FLY OVER THE RAINBOW WHY,OH,WHY CAN'T I...........................

REMEMBER YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT......WHY,OH.WHY CAN'T I !!!!!!!

THAT'S THE MESSAGE .....MARGO WOULD WANT ME TO LEAVE YOU........

SO HOW BIG ARE YOUR PROBLEMS TODAY ????

I was astounded by this image sent back to earth by the refined Hubble Telescope of NASA;

This is 100,000 stars in a core of a giant star cluster named ; GLOBULAR STAR CLUSTER

OMEGA CENTUUR............

So whats happening with you today.......Anything big..........

8 YEARS AGO....3000 HUMANS WERE GOING TO WORK....GETTING ON PLANES....THINKING WHAT WE THINK.....AND THEN THEIR THOUGHTS WERE

CHANGED....... WHY ??

It is my opinion that the galaxies and stars are ours to see.....and remind us of a Greater Being that has a plan......with meanings that are not ours to know yet...........

KIM GARABINO VS. THE GREAT WHITES........

I noticed in the papers the last few days that the Sharks are still hanging around the beach in Chatham (Cape Cod) and I have a theory.........They may have wished to come to the North Shore but they changed their mind when they heard "The Kim" was in our local waters....who is that you ask ?

Probably the toughest guy I know......Kim Garabino is a probation officer at Lynn District Court and one of his responsibilities is serving arrest warrants on the "bad guys"......and guess what....he loves his job.

I have known him for years and I have observed him at various gyms ......He can throw the weights around.....do marathons.....you name it ......He loves it.His laugh, enthusiasm, and positive attitude are infectious.....

He was at the Marblehead-Swampscott Y twice this week and you may have caught the story about him in the Lynn Item.......

In March,2008 he got serious about swimming......and he recently completed the 8 mile 100 year old swimming race from Boston Light to Carson Beach, South Boston.The water temp. was 58 degrees and wet suits are not allowed......He told me the jump into the water from a boat was numbing......but he was focused on finishing what he started........of course he did.......

He said the only thing that concerned him was that his childhood friends from the "Highlands" of Lynn who were driving his support boat and were suppose to be giving him navigational help would actually make it through Boston Harbor...........without Coast Guard assistance !

Kim had no worry of Sharks.........and for their sake lucky they stayed away.........The "Good Guy" won again......with his DRIVE AND DETERMINATION.....

MELANIE......THE RUSSIAN BEAR SLAYER.....

You do not have to know anything about Tennis or the US OPEN which has dwindled down to the Quaterfinals.......to appreciate the story that has unfolded.............

It is a dream come true for a 17 year old girl from Georgia who has turned this Tournament "upside down"........Upsets draw some people to watch sports they may have no real interest in........but in this case "the world" is spellbound.....

Melanie Oudin is an accomplished teenage player ( ranked 70th) who has completed a feat that in her heart she felt was possible.......but "Vegas".....a resounding "NO"

Melanie has been to Centre Court four times in the US OPEN Tournament and she has victories over the following Russian Players; Pavlyychenkova (ranked 36th),Dementieva (ranked 4th),Sharapova (ranked,29th),Petrova (ranked 13th).......Where she goes from here is anyone's guess.....

It is this young girl against the rest of the remaining Professional Tennis Players left in the hunt.....

Remember the old saying " when Preparation meets Opportunity" anything is possible......

SWAMPSCOTT...........A PARTY TOWN ? LABOR DAY EVE !!!

Swampscott........ for the most part is considered one of those "sleepy coastal towns " on the North Shore of Massachusetts with the exception of Labor Day Weekend each year when the "Host of Hosts "Joe Marchese has his end of summer party.

Joe( right with friend,Sam) is a renowned Attorney with offices in Revere and surrounding communities.He is originally from Everett and some of his family members are still among the politically connected in the City....

The Party at its peak had approximately 200 "notables" Dancing to a DJ along with some of the "BEST BARBEQUE " from the "ITALIANS" of Everett and probably Revere and Chelsea......You get the idea........It had the North End Festival atmosphere.....with all the "fixins"including marinated seaweed ,mushrooms and artichokes....

It is one of the events that I look forward to each summer........I recommend you getting an invite next year if possible......

WOW......TIME ROLLS ALONG....

It is Labor Day Weekend.......Another Summer .........Remember the anticipation and the memories of the last few months..........I hope it was what you wished for................The Summer is fading........ but........ahead is the mystery of the unknown.........Do your best

Look to the future.....anticipate a Fall filled with the colors of Autumn; Thanksgiving and Christmas with the love of family, friends, and children in the hope and spirit of the Seasons..........

Look ahead............

Remember we only have our lives to live........Get with it.....and do what is right......It is our time...

POSITIVE........NEGATIVE

I am sure that most of you know that the secret to a happy life is the positive attitiude

in spite of the " little roadblocks " that life may throw our way now and then.........

Many times I do things to help people maintain this" positivity" and sometimes I have been given a " thanks" ......but in most cases life just goes on......

My friend,Jay Nestor(with his beautiful wife,Joanne),however pushed a new " wrinkle " in my face this morning......take a look at HIS BLOG THIS MORNING.......NANEPASHEMET (LINK IS ON THIS SITE)

I used the word "Crusher"......to name the PFANTASY PFOTBALL TEAM that is directed by "Sweet" Lou Panakio and myself, and he is all in a "dither"

I told him it was a form of flattery to him and I am not taking it back no matter what he says....

I will continue to throw the flattery at him.....since he is a much better person when he is positive and not that "Mountain Man" persona....

PFANTASY FOOTBALL......CALIFORNIA PFIRES......

I have been away from "Thoughts " for a day or so because of a important duty

thay fell into my lap recently.........namely defending the " football honor " of New

England NFL Fantasy Football on CBS Sports.I am the GM of the "NE CRUSHERS "

IN THE PFLEIDER PFANTASY PFOOTBALL LEAGUE.

The Commissioner is Tom PFLEIDER ( SOUND FAMILAR ) and the teams have GM'S that are related to him or lifelong friends that have California connections......The Draft was held last night commencing at 9pm since one owner was in Oahu (3pm) and the others more than likely in California Time( 6pm).

I believe their first strategy was that I would " fall asleep"....and then Tom was tellng me a story that he could see fires in the mountains that were 200 feet in height.He also said something about DC-10'S and Prop Planes dropping something to extinquish the " Pflames".He did not seem upset or anything........I guess it is just another day on the "left coast".......

However,Do not fear New England PFANS........I did not lose my pfocus and during the Draft I

gained the rights of Larry Fitzgerald(Cardinals),Randy Moss (Patriots)and Phil Rivers,QB(Chargers)..........Barring any injuries the Crushers are ready for any" shenigans"

that are coming......

I will keep updates coming as we get into the season........