Author Archives
As a reporter for Channel 7 in Boston for 31 years, I was witness to most of the major events affecting the region. I met a lot of people ... politicians, actors, moguls, criminals and many regular folks caught up in extraordinary situations. Sometimes, I write about the people I've met and places I've been. Sometimes, I write about life, my family, my dogs and me. Or what might otherwise be called Life.
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THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
An early autumn New England Friday. It’s still mild and the seasonal burst of colors is as slow as the Red Sox bats this year. It’s calm but you know it’s just a matter of time. We’re six weeks away… Read More ›
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THOSE AMAZIN’ METS, “THE OLE’ PERFESSER,” AND THE PASSING OF TOM “TERRIFIC” – GARRY ARMSTRONG
I remember Tom Terrific before and after he became the fuzzy-cheeked ace topping a rotation including Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, Nolan “Wild Thing” Ryan, and closer, “Tug “Ya Gotta believe!” McGraw. The Mets blossomed before our unbelieving eyes. Those were… Read More ›
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ALL TOYS PLEASE REMAIN IN THE ATTIC – GARRY ARMSTRONG
The phone rang. The caller ID flashed, showing one of Boston’s two major newspapers. I figured it was the sales department. I handed the phone to Marilyn. I heard Marilyn respond “yes” several times and was puzzled. We didn’t need… Read More ›
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THE PILGRIM’S LATE SUMMER DAY IN UXBRIDGE By GARRY ARMSTRONG
Initially, it was just a quick run to our local supermarket for a few items. It turned out to be one of the nicest afternoons I’ve had in a long time. An impromptu photo session turned into a brief lesson… Read More ›
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OUR SUMMER PLACE – GARRY ARMSTRONG
It was our first outing in weeks because of COVID-19, house repair appointments, health issues and, really a general malaise because of the Marx Brothers state of our nation. It wasn’t supposed to be a pleasure outing. Marilyn had an… Read More ›
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A TIMELY RERUN: LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON IN VIETNAM 1967, by GARRY ARMSTRONG
Originally posted on Serendipity Seeking Intelligent Life on Earth:
WHEN OUR PRESIDENT WAS A HERO Location: A campfire in Vietnam near Saigon. Year: 1967. 1967 and 1968 were very intense years for me. I had jumped directly from college and small time commercial radio,… -
ON THE WATER: A SHORT TIME-OUT – Photos by Garry & Marilyn Armstrong
We took a couple of days off and we really needed it. Just the joy of seeing people we like IN PERSON. Real, live people! Time outside … a windy day on the water. It’s not that we were lonely,… Read More ›
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BACK IN THE SADDLE — BY GARRY ARMSTRONG
“The Saddle” was a TV studio, WCCA-TV. Worcester Community Cable Access television. It was nirvana for a retired TV news reporter. I was the guest. The hostess was Liz Myska, a lawyer who is also severely visually-impaired and an advocate… Read More ›
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THE WESTERN FILMS OF ROBERT MITCHUM By GENE FREESE
THE WESTERN FILMS OF ROBERT MITCHUM Author: Gene Freese Publication date: November 2019 244 pages in softcover, $39.95 pISBN: 978-1-4766-7849-8 eISBN 978-1-4766-3746-4 McfarlandBooks.com – 800-253-2187 McFarland, Publisher Most biographies of Hollywood film stars are from the “print the legend” department…. Read More ›
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“I AM SAMOAN!” DECLARES GARRY ARMSTRONG
I’m Samoan. You may not believe it, but a whole bevy of racists in the 1970s believed it and it has become an inside joke in local media — or at least the retired members of local media. Maybe you’ve… Read More ›
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WALK LIKE A MAN – GARRY ARMSTRONG
Every day, every week, every month, ever year, every Father’s Day, there are new memories about my Dad. It says a lot about William Benfield Armstrong who left us 18 years ago. I’ve heard the question for years. In high… Read More ›
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TREES BY THE RIVER – FOTD – GARRY ARMSTRONG
FOTD – June 18 – Trees by the river Down by the river, Garry took some pictures. I keep hoping we’ll get a little bit of rain to clear the air of the pollen. Because tree pollen would normally be… Read More ›
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WHEN MOVIE MAVENS MEET – GARRY ARMSTRONG
Movie Trivia, once a parlor game among friends, has grown into a worldwide, billion-dollar industry including databases, online fan clubs, and television stations like Turner Classic Movies, The Movie Channel, and American Classic Movies. People, like me, fancied themselves as… Read More ›
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SLOWLY DRIVING ACROSS NEW ENGLAND – GARRY ARMSTRONG
We can still remember the good old days when we were one of the kids in the back seat pinching and punching a sibling while whining: “Are we there yet?” How come our parents didn’t kill us before we grew… Read More ›
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PRIVILEGED IN THE PARK – GARRY ARMSTRONG
It was really a lovely day. Cool, bright, not humid. The car, after these months of sitting under the trees which, these days, are covered with the remnants left by Marilyn’s birds. Our Renegade was not looking her best. And,… Read More ›
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BAD BEHAVIOR TRUMPS RACE, CREED AND GENDER – GARRY ARMSTRONG
What our Coronavirus and riot-plagued world does not need is even more pointless intolerance. There’s no excuse for not using a modicum of civility when dealing with others, especially in the workplace. It doesn’t matter how bad a day you’ve… Read More ›
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COLUMBINE ARE UP AND ROSES ARE ON THE WAY – GARRY ARMSTRONG
FOTD – May 31 – COLUMBINE I went into town to take pictures of Owen at work, stopped to pick up some stuff to drink, then came home to take flower pictures. I haven’t conquered macro pictures of flowers yet…. Read More ›
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MEMORIAL DAY: THEN AND NOW, THE DAY AFTER – GARRY ARMSTRONG
Time changes everything. It’s a given. Memorial Day is no different and that’s a shame. When I was a kid, Memorial Day was usually a family affair. It seems as if it was always sunny and warm for the gathering… Read More ›
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DUKE, THE PIN UP GIRL, AND THE GYRENE – GARRY ARMSTRONG
The title probably suggests one of those old “B” films from old Hollywood. It was usually the second feature and ran while we scooted from our front row seats to get hot dogs, popcorn, and a Godzilla-sized Coke. You could… Read More ›
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PICK ME UP AND WINTER’S DAMAGE – GARRY ARMSTRONG
GARRY SEEKS SPRING IN UXBRIDGE He hiked up the driveway, initially to bring down the trash can and pick up the mail, but he took a camera. It was a lovely day. There have been some lovely days, but very… Read More ›
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COVID-19 DISTANCING: HOME WITH THE FURRY KIDS – GARRY ARMSTRONG
Loneliness is one of the collateral damage effects of COVID 19. There are increasing reports of people whose social lives have been turned upside down by mandates to stay home, away from crowds and the possibility of COVID 19 infection…. Read More ›
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HOLLYWOOD, JACK WARNER, AND NAZIS – By GARRY ARMSTRONG
I was usually able to get candid comments from “old Hollywood” people because I didn’t ask the typical questions about favorite co-stars, celebrity perks, or favorite roles. I frequently shared my disdain for the “suits” in my business who tried… Read More ›
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HOLLYWOOD FANTASIES, GARRY ARMSTRONG
I love movies. Old movies Movies from the ’30s, ’40s, and ’50s. I grew up watching these films. They were movies from Hollywood’s golden age when fantasy really trumped reality. These were films seen in theaters. First, second and the… Read More ›
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OSPREY AT THE TOP: DAY 1 – By GARRY ARMSTRONG
On the top shelf – Osprey in charge You can’t be any more on the top than this Osprey was on the river in Connecticut. He was way up on top of the sign while watching the water for any… Read More ›
