BSO

BSO

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Cinco Day

Today is Cinco De Mayo, a holiday that really doesn't mean anything to me. I've been in Texas during Cinco De Mayo, where it is colorful, noisy and fun, especially if you like to drink, sorta like the Irish try to make every holiday. Yet it has never really caught on among we ole New England Yankees, outside of the Spanish ghettos in Springfield and Holyoke. The only evidence of the holiday I could see in Northampton were these painter's pictures that had a sorta Spanish theme.


Vern and I cooking a community breakfast at the Amherst Survival Center.


John on his head in the parking lot.



You can always get a free meal at UMass, provided you are willing to confine your diet to the three major food groups: hotdogs, pizza and candy. Here's some cotton candy being given out this week at the UMass Gaypril Queerfest.


I wandered over to the Newman Center because I heard they were giving away free food for finals week. You could get sandwiches called "The Seven Deadly Sins" all served with chips.


Give the Catholics their due, whatever their sins they are not humorless. They are also preserving a pair of rare antiques in this cell phone world - wooden pay phone booths!


Advice to graduates on a Newman Center exit.


Politicians were on campus yesterday doing a shuck and jive about student loans. Here is Worcester Congressman Jim McGovern being interviewed.


Retiring Congressman John Olver of Amherst, who dropping the burdens of public service now looks healthier and more relaxed than he has in years.


This rare September 25, 1974 issue of the Valley Advocate in pristine condition is on display under glass at the UMass library. I have mixed emotions about seeing objects relating to my own past displayed as museum pieces. It makes me feel like a museum piece!


This guy at last week's Extravaganja in Amherst is too much



Bartlett Hall UMass

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tommy you are too much.

Anonymous said...

God save us from the Gaypril Queerfest!

Anonymous said...

If you don't like the Queerfest, then don't go -- simple as that,

Anonymous said...

The 'Spanish ghettos' in Springfield and Holyoke? Geez, how about calling them the 'Spanish neighborhoods' ? I live in one.

Tom said...

They are certainly neighborhoods, but they are also ghettos. Not meaning to offend anyone, but I always prefer the word that creates the most vivid and accurate mental image. That ain't "neighborhood."

Anonymous said...

The Valley Advocate is about Sam Lovejoy, the tower toppler.

LOVE IT!

Ever considered writing a post about that, Tom? Very interesting history.

Gaypril? Queerfest? That's so gay.

Anonymous said...

Tom, if you think those neighborhoods in Spfld are 'ghettos,' you need to get out of Northampton more. Spfld does have some poor neighborhoods, and a couple of those are drug/crime areas - but GHETTOS? No way. I've seen a few ghettos in other cities, and Spfld hasn't got any. Wrong word, my friend - the 'mental image' you're trying to create is grossly inaccurate.