Tom Grace
- Tom Grace
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- Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Time of anger has returned
COLUMBUS _ The dogs stirred at the sound of a truck pulling down the driveway, and when Uncle Chet came in the back door, Della jumped up to greet him. ``Down!’’ I commanded.
- Tuesday, September 8, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: The search for a college gets started
COLUMBUS _ The little miscreant has only two years left in high school and we’re sweating the next step, that leap off the cliff, college.
- Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Anything less is a sham(e)
COLUMBUS _ When the telephone rang Saturday morning, I didn’t answer. I had furniture moved, ladders set up, windows open and I was ready to coat the staircase with amber shellac.
- Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Free trade hurts U.S.
COLUMBUS _ I was in the barn doorway, sanding down a 12-foot trim board when a silver Ford Ranger rolled into the driveway.
- Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Fourth of July is a time for family
OLD LYME, Conn. _ The sea and sky are streaked with lavender and orange, although the colors are dimming fast as the night darkens.
- Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Public option is a first step in health care
COLUMBUS _ I heard the truck crunching gravel before I saw it idling down the driveway. It parked by the back door, and Uncle Chet got out. ``Down here!'' I hollered from the garden where Hon and I were weeding.
- Tuesday, June 16, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Obama’s cause is health reform
COLUMBUS _ It was a sunny day, a week before the start of summer and we were cleaning up, inside and out.
Hon and the kids were going through closets, getting out shorts and building a large pile of outgrown clothes, soon to be oil rags. - Tuesday, June 2, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Events are signs of our woes
The silver pickup curved down the driveway, Uncle Chet driving and Cousin Bruce riding shotgun. I turned on the gas burner to warm up the coffee, then went to the bedroom, looking for my wallet and the key to Hon's car.
- Tuesday, May 19, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: GOP is hurting
COLUMBUS _ ``You know what's killing the Republican Party?'' asked Uncle Chet, looking at his raised glass of wine as if the answer was there.
- Tuesday, May 5, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: U.S. must move on health care
COLUMBUS _ ``Not long ago, they were talking about a `permanent Republican majority,''' said Uncle Chet, who was helping Buddy and me split wood. ``Karl Rove said that,'' I said. ``Ole Blossom,'' he said, tipping up a 20-inch ash log.
- Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Driving is no cup of tea
NEW BERLIN _ We were driving slowly down state Route 80, determined not to jar a load of heavy metal steps. Traffic was heavy for a Sunday afternoon, but I'd waited until the road was empty before turning onto it. Now, in the mirror, I saw a red car about a half-mile back, moving up fast.
- Tuesday, April 7, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Reforming health care is a messy endeavor
``You're going to have to take drastic measures with that,'' Uncle Chet squinted up at the kitchen ceiling. ``And that's the third coat,'' I said from the table, drinking coffee, looking up at a hideous spackling job.
- Tuesday, March 3, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Another year of recession
COLUMBUS _ "I think it's the end of the beginning,'' said Uncle Chet, who was sitting in his favorite rocker, sipping a Saranac. "The beginning of what?'' I leaned back on the eight-foot ladder, dragging a 12-inch knife along a Sheetrock seam."
- Tuesday, February 24, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Seeking a break from bad news
``I'm tired of winter,'' said Alice, looking outside as the sun died slowly in a gray sky, and snow began to pelt her windshield.
- Tuesday, February 10, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: An open letter to Obama
COLUMBUS _ ``Dear President Obama,'' Uncle Chet read from a yellow legal pad. ``Looking for a job?'' asked Hon, opening cartons of ice cream. ``You're not on him already?'' I asked.
- Tuesday, January 27, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: If Biden fails, pick Kirsten
``How about `Obama-Gillibrand, 2012?''' ``Obama called her Friday, right after Paterson picked her,'' I reported. ``Let's get her into the Senate first,'' said Hon.
- Tuesday, January 13, 2009
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Travels with Uncle Chet: For rich, Bush was a success
``Heckuva job, George,'' Uncle Chet raised his wine glass. ``You've accomplished everything you wanted to in the last eight years.''
- Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Kennedy may be claiming her destiny
COLUMBUS _ It was time for that annual trek into the spruces to claim a Christmas tree. We pulled on boots, gloves, hats, donned our coats and launched out the door.
- Tuesday, December 16, 2008
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Travels with Uncle Chet: Nearing the end of Bush
``I'm not ready to close Guantanamo,'' said Uncle Chet as we turned at the light in New Berlin, heading toward Norwich.
- Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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Travels with Uncle Chet: AIG isn't the only needy one
NEW BERLIN _ "Can you believe the government would rather save AIG than the American auto industry?'' Uncle Chet asked me while serving some stuffing.
