Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie.

Sunday-afternoon barbecue and beer

The burgers — beef, turkey and salmon — are on the grill, the hot dogs will follow. In the meantime, a nice clearance brew that I found at Joe Canal yesterday, a tasty “Barleywine-style” ale called Criminally Bad Elf. Strong, almost fruity flavor with a bite; the taste resemble a Scotch ale, but a tad sweeter. I’d certainly recommend it.

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Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.

Doggie diaries: The story of Rosie and Sophie Remember to close the windows


We should have called these guys Hilts and Hendley, after the lead characters in The Great Escape.

Consider their escapades on Thursday. We swung by my brother’s house after work — had a new roof and new windows installed and he wanted us to see them. Rather than lock the dogs back up in their pen, where they spend the day, we threw them in the car.

We got out at Mark’s, leaving the dogs in the car with the rear windows partially open. As we got out of the car, Annie asked if we should close them a bit. I said, no, it should be OK.

And then I turned and saw Rosie with her head and paws out the window. I ran back, closed the rear windows some.

That’s when we noticed the dogs in the front seat. They’d snuck between the bucket seats, Sophie sitting in the passenger seat and Rosie moving around. We laughed and went inside.

A minute later — maybe less — it dawned on me that I’d left my window, the driver-side front window — open, and ran out the door.

Too late. By the time I got outside, Rosie was on her way out the window and running toward the house (thankfully), or so I thought.

She bolted for the front yard where Sophie was — she must have gotten out first and I hadn’t noticed. Luckily, I was able to corral the two of them, though before I had full control they rushed the front door and into the house. I followed, slammed the door shut and Annie and I managed to grab them.

Lesson: Do not leave the car windows all the way open. Better yet, take them out when you get out of the car.

Email me at grassroots at comcast dot net.