http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog TO LOVE MERCY portrays 1940s Chicago from the South Side to Riverview -- with stops at Comiskey Park (White Sox), Bronzeville, Midway Airport, Maxwell Street and the Loop -- with a focus on two boys, one from Bronzeville, one from Hyde Park. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:14:11 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Among the many blessings I can count, membership in my critique group ranks high.   We call ourselves the "Holey Roaders," a tribute to our first regular meeting-place, located up what surely is the deepest-rutted road in the Washington DC area. Members include some of the most talented writers and critics I ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2011/03/10/critique/ Greetings from Guanica, Puerto Rico, where I have just smoked a cigar. I bought the cigar in Old San Juan from the guy who rolled it: It may be the only hand-rolled cigar I ever smoked. It is certainly the only cigar I ever purchased directly from the person who made it. I ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2011/01/10/the-cigar/ When I was in fourth grade, my teacher looked at the thing I was painting and told me I had no abilities as an artist. From that day to this, I have maintained to the world that I am not an artist. My wife Carol, who is an artist and sculptor, ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/12/16/i-am-not-a-poet-and-other-fictions/ Dear Friend of Frank, I haven't communicated in months and there's tons on my mind, but let's ease back in: Watch "The Sing-Off" tonight. NBC, 8 p.m. Eastern (check local times of course). Carol and I stumbled into it for the first season last year and became addicted. It's only five or ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/12/06/easing-back-in/ Sorry, this is shameless self-promotion. I have won First Prize, Best Non-Print Marketing Effort, in the annual Specialized Information Publishers Foundation competition, for "Who Was Ron Wayne?", an e-mail marketing effort that launched the investment advisory service known as "Portfolio 2020." This is the premier award in what used ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/05/24/i-won/ This morning, precisely three months -- THREE MONTHS! -- since I had my right knee totally replaced, Dr. Connell gave me the green light to quit physical therapy and get back on the tennis court. Doubles OK now, singles when you're feeling up to it.   THREE MONTHS!!!   Before I go ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/05/07/a-boy-and-his-knee/ Watching TV. All day. Well, six hours anyway. I wouldn’t miss tomorrow’s health care political extravaganza. I’m planning to crack open a brewski and a bag of Cheet-Os, and splay out in front of the boob tube for the full six excruciating hours. C-Span on steroids. What’s wrong with me? Don’t I know ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2010/02/24/what-im-doing-tomorrow/ I'd like to bring your attention to an event 700 miles away, but one you may wish to attend just the same -- Chicago Day at the Bethesda (MD) Library on Saturday, Oct. 24. There'll be Chicago-style hot dogs, deep-dish pizza and headliners galore, including -- • Scott Simon of NPR on ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/10/19/chicago-day/ I received quite a few responses to my last posting, "Traffic Court." That's typical. There are about 850 people on this distribution list and they (you) respond in droves whenever I post. (I post on the Web too, at http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/, but I don't think anyone reads it there. I've spoiled ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/05/21/traffic-court-redux/ I appeared in Traffic Court today. I'd been stopped for going 44 in a 30 zone. I was guilty but, naturally, crestfallen. Despite the careless way I drive (anyone will tell you so), I hadn't had a moving violation on my record for a long time -- 10 years or ... http://tolovemercy.com/frank_joseph_blog/2009/05/20/traffic-court/