Well, I made it.  It is February 29, and since that only happens once every four years, that's a good sign.  When the last February 29 occurred, I wasn't aware of just how lucky I am.  This time, I can say that the world is a better place to live, emphasis on the word live.  I was listening to NPR this morning and there was a person discussing the idea that after viewing a NASCAR race, people in one of the southeastern states go out and drive like they are part of the race.  I confess that when I was younger and after viewing a racing movie, I tended to do a similar thing, but I never really thought I was skilled enough to drive at nearly 200 MPH.  I wonder if here in GH, if after viewing the Coast Guard Fest activities, whether people get the urge to go out and rescue people.  Just a thought.  As it turns out, the Daytona 500 was won by a real professional driver near 1:00 AM on Tuesday morning.  That didn't give me the desire to go out and race cars in the dark of night.  I hope that people recognize the need to have professionals do those things for which professionals are trained.  Here in GH we are blessed with many fine people who are trained in medicine, fire prevention and skills like plumbing and electrical work.  As a famous movie actor said in one of his most famous roles, "A man has got to  know his limitations."  Yesterday, Mary and I purchased the new shelf for my office.  It will look and perform perfectly.  It too will be built by professionals, somewhere in Indiana or Ohio.  When we were out later,  I got word that my new glasses are ready for pick up.  Once again, the professionals have done their job.  My thoughts are that if you can get someone to do that which you can't do, or don't want to do, then you should.  See Adam, I do pay attention.  We picked Sugar up from the professionals yesterday, all clean and in spite of my worries, she was fine.  Mary was right, the anxiety was mine, not Sugar's.  The professionals took good care of her.  Well, those are just some thoughts I have on why you should leave the professional work to professionals.  Now, if I just had a clamp.  Tea time.

Talk about getting a head start.  It is 12:25 AM on Tuesday, and I just couldn't wait to get to bed any longer. I sat through the cleanup following the crash by Juan Pablo Montoya into the truck that was drying the track, and I just couldn't last any longer.  It is also election day now in Michigan.  Doesn't have all that much meaning to me, since I don't usually vote in primaries, but it will be interesting to see who garners the most votes.  It will also be interesting to see who wins the 500, but I think that that doesn't really matter at this time in the morning.  On Monday morning, Mary and I dropped Sugar off at the kennel where she will be staying when we are out of town later in March, just to get her used to the idea.  She looked so sad when we left, that I hope she doesn't feel abandoned.  It felt similar to when we dropped off Adam at his first year of college all those years ago, except that Adam probably didn't feel abandoned, just relieved.  I guess that it was harder on me than it was for Sugar, but I have separation anxiety.  I hope she forgives me.  Mary too felt it, she just wouldn't say so I think.  It is weird to have Sugar out of the house.  She is really a part of the family, and Adam and Steph are right, we spoil Sugar way too much.  We had to take her breakfast food and her dinner food to the kennel.  All of that for just this one night.  Fortunately, we get her back on Tuesday after 11:00 AM, so we can all feel better together.  Otherwise, not much is happening. Mary thinks I should go to the meeting at the Community Center about the proposed GH auto race, but I think I already did the first one, and this is just more of the same.  Oh well, bed time so that I can arise for, you guessed it, Tea Time.

Here I sit at 7:30 AM on a Monday morning.  The sun is beginning to rise over GH and the day looks to be shaping up fine.  Yesterday was a bit disappointing, with the postponement of the Daytona 500, but they are trying to run it again today, weather permitting.  Forecasts indicate that that too may be iffy.  I liked Saturday's race where the eventual winner did what they tell drivers to do, drive towards the spot of the wreck in front of you, because it will be gone by the time you get there at 170 MPH. I'm not much of a NASCAR fan, but I like to see the season get off to a good beginning.  The first day of spring for me coincides with the first race at  Daytona, and the opening of spring training when pitchers and catchers report.  Everything else is just filler.  After all, baseball is life, and auto racing is there to be enjoyed.  It is just better when the cars don't have fenders and doors.  Sugar and I will take a long walk this morning if we find that the weather is cooperative.  We always like to go to Central Park and beyond, proceeding down Washington and towards the riverfront.  Tomorrow is the first election day that Mary and I will experience here in GH. We don't know what to expect, but it is a good practice session for the fall election day.  I have no particular expectations, it should be exciting though.  Otherwise, it is time to get the day started.  Tea time.

Today really is a good morning, since it is, in fact, morning.  It is 7:30AM here in GH, and as I look out the window, it isn't snowing, there isn't any significant cloud cover, and the sun is on the rise.  As Mary and I have often said, it has been a righteous decision to move here.  I was just listening to the lawyer on the radio who discusses estate plans and the like, and surprise, he recommended that you pay a little extra on your mortgage payment and before you know it, presto the mortgage is paid off.  My son and daughter in law, both with a banking background, gave us that advice many years ago, and that's the reason we are debt free today.  See guys, we do listen once in a while.  Today is the alternate 500, and that follows on the heels of the race or demolition derby of yesterday.  I hope that the people who might oppose the race here in GH didn't see that, or we may be fighting an uphill battle.  I don't know where it originated, it wasn't with me, but someone observed that if you want to simulate that kind of racing, throw a handful of those little round colored candies in the commode and pull the handle, it will look remarkably similar.  I haven't tried it, but I can picture it.  As someone I know once said, it isn't a sport unless someone can die.  I don't agree.  With the safety innovations now on those cars, death is highly unlikely, but if you watch the in car driver pictures, you can see the skills needed to go 200 MPH for 500 miles, whether in a taxi cab or open wheel racing.  Oh well, it is tea time for me.

Well, I did it again.  I wiled away so much time this morning, that it is now mid afternoon.  Like I have said before, it seems as though there isn't enough time in a day.  I haven't even had time to work on my novel lately.  I did get part of the house cleaned, but the truth is, I still ran out of time.  Mary and I went to the business expo at the community center, and we made a contact for some remodeling to our deck area.  Then, I went to the library and checked out a book on how to write courtroom scenes.  I figure that if I am going to sound like I know something about the subject of trials, then I had best get some help from someones who does.  Of course, that is just one more thing for which I have to find time.  I went downtown to get some cheese for the Daytona 500 race tomorrow, and then I came home and chopped some veggies and made some dip to go with.  Now, I hope to watch the race that Danica held the pole position for.  Enough already.   TV time.  My tea time is already gone.

Well, it is actually afternoon again here in GH.  I got a late start this AM, due to the snowfall, and then the day just got away from me.  The weather service cancelled the weather warning, so we don't have any more snow on the way today.  I guess that the news media just likes to have something to go gaga over.  I can also state that I'm not yet a true Michigander, because I wasn't out in my shirtsleeves shoveling my driveway this morning.  Call me soft, but that's the way I am.  Yesterday, Mary and I went to a new place for breakfast.  If you are familiar with GH, then you would recognize the place that is on Washington just west of seventh.  The menu has a great selection of vegetarian items and the food and service were both excellent.  Oops, looks like I blogged too soon.  There is snow starting to come down again.  Mary and I had planned to go to the business expo sponsored by the local radio station.  It is being held at the Community Center less than two blocks from our home.  Whereas a few minutes ago it was sunny and inviting outside, now, not so much.  Still, we should be okay.  I still don't know what happened to my shelf, but I hope to find out today, if I can.  Otherwise, not much is happening.  Already had my tea time.

GH is a paradox.  I mean that in only the best sense.  When Mary and I made the decision to relocate from Palatine, we decided to never look back.  Palatine is a village of over 50,000 people.  GH is a city with around 10,000 in the off season.  Palatine has fine schools as does GH, but in myriad ways, GH is better than Palatine.  Better downtown, the famous river-walk, and a pace of life that is just fast enough to make things interesting.  Take yesterday for example.  Once our indexing work was done and my information session at the Community Center was over, we decided to take a walk into the downtown.  We used to do that in Palatine too, but with the highway in the way and the steady stream of traffic, it just wasn't all that enjoyable.  Our trip to the downtown was after a couple of walks that Sugar and I took yesterday, and the only time that it was that easy in Palatine, was early on a Sunday morning.  Otherwise, too much traffic.  Now I recognize that if we lived east Beacon, it might be much like it was in Palatine, but we don't, and that's one of the paradoxes.  We couldn't afford a house in the downtown area of Palatine, here we could and we did.  Once we decided to stay for the winter, we experienced the second paradox.  Michigan weather isn't usually this accommodating in the winter, and today they are predicting more snow, but as I've often observed, when you are retired, you can start your day when you want.  I didn't have time for that in Palatine.  Here in GH, I've had the time to wake up and smell the tea, which I never had time to do in Palatine.   I don't envy those who who have to endure winter weather on their way to work.  Now I take life each day, as it comes, only at a later time.  I never had the time to just sit and read, nor to write this blog, nor to work on my other forms of writing.  In short, that's the last paradox, that we don't often get the time to do things until we don't have the strength to do them.  My thanks to the people of GH, we love it here.  Tea time.

I guess it is more like Good Afternoon Grand Haven by now, but that is the only thing that I can find to say about my timing.  Earlier, I went to the discussion session regarding the street racing here in GH, and I was satisfied that there are still many things to discuss.  As always, there are some people with reservations, but overall, the group of about 20 people seemed favorable to the idea.  The basic route discussed for the race would take it down Franklin to Harbor Drive and then north to Columbus.  From there the race would proceed east to fourth or fifth and then back south to Franklin etc. Someone suggested the airport as an alternate location, while others suggested Harbor Island as a possible location for both the race and the pit area.  Although I like the idea of downtown, the other suggestions are okay too.  Essentially, there are many bridges to be crossed before the race could become a reality.  We are good on shuttle buses and good on places to stay for race fans, so that isn't an issue.  The promoter believes that there would be a need to have a not for profit coordinator, but that is farther down the road. Yes, it would be expensive to get the race to become reality, and yes, we would need to have a sanctioning body with a place in their schedule, but those are available if we look hard enough.  I spoke with one of the local merchants, and he was in favor of anything that brings people into our fair city,  Hey, we all know the problems, let's focus on how we can make this happen.  I'll keep you all posted as more information becomes available.  Too late for tea time, but I'll make some in the AM.

Hope you all my like new Blog title. I decided to be contemporary and just talk about things that are happening in my life and in GH as a place.  Today, I walked Sugar and then did my errands around town in the car.  The shoe maker, the garden store for dog biscuits, the bread baker, the local gas station, and the health food store for some soy based lunch loaf.  I feel like those old U.S. Army ads in which they describe doing more before breakfast than most people do in a day.  I spent about an hour this morning doing mark ups for Mary's index, then I had a bagel for breakfast before setting out with Sugar.  This afternoon, I have more editing to do, since the index is due tomorrow.  I should mention that my new R/C helicopter arrived yesterday and I unpacked it and set it on charge for 3 hours.  It should be great.  Tomorrow, I am going to the Community Center to learn more about the possibility of the street race. Like I said the other day, if the race route goes by my front porch, then I am certain it will be a great idea.  Also, Sugar is a dog after my own heart.  She has visited the auto parts store a few times, and wants to turn in there when we walk past now.  I gotta like that.  Well, I will see you all tomorrow.  Tea time.

Sometime I get to thinking that it doesn't change in GH very much, at least weather wise.  I know that's silly, especially since this has been an abnormal winter, but each day usually starts with sunshine or cloudiness.  Or,  it may or may not be raining, and we may or may not have snow on the ground.  When you are retired, the days take on a certain sameness and predictability.  Not that that is necessarily bad, and I bet there are a lot of people who would love for that to be their lot in life.  Today, I have a lot of editing work to do.  I also need to read the NY Times, after I retrieve it from the book store, read my library books, work on my novel, and listen to some morning news programs.  See what I mean about not having enough time?   Sugar will need her usual amount of attention, some days more, some days less, but always in need of contact, and I confess, that I enjoy being part of that scenario.  So, once again, I'm not complaining, but it seems as though there is never enough time.  Anyway, enough about my woes.  This promises to be a great day over all, and each day brings me closer to being able to ride my bike and do all of those things that I love to do outdoors.  That's one of the best things here in GH, being able to get outdoors and walk with Sugar around Central Park and down to the river walk.  For that, there is always time.  Oh well, Mary tells me the kettle is hot.  Tea time.

Not a lot to say today.  I must recant some of my previous testimony regarding my glasses.  As Mary rightly points out, why tint those through which I already can't see.  She thinks that Adam would find that idea cheap on my part, and she is right.  I guess what I want is that Transitions thing, which would let me wear my regular glasses all of the time.  Duh!  A sunny day here in GH and Sugar and I already went for our morning walk, albeit it at 9:30 AM.  I guess that it is a little late for my Blog, but sometimes, there are only so many places I can be at one time.  I have tons of editing to do, so I'd better get busy.  I can say, that I have already done Tea Time.

It's about 7:25 EST here in GH.  Looks like I'll be able to see the sun this AM.  We are supposed to have a high temperature of about 42 today.  Should be a good day for a walk with Sugar and a trip to the Y later in the day.  I like it there in the afternoon, because I don't have to share the pool all that much.  I was thinking that it might be time to change the title of my Blog to more accurately reflect what is happening in GH on a daily basis.  I was thinking that the title might be something like Good Morning GH, or The Sun Also Rises in GH, (I might have to rethink that one), or something that would allow people to more readily identify my Blog.  I do like the first one, because it has a nice rhythmic sound to it.  I don't know, just some thoughts.  I have more editing to do here in GH this morning as my part of the family indexing business.  It can be tedious sometimes, especially when my eyes get tired.  That's one of the reasons I scheduled a visit to the optometrist on Monday.  It has been a while since I have been to an eye doctor and I can tell that my eyes have experienced some changes, and not for the better.  I wonder if that is the natural result of aging, or if it is related to my recent brain surgery.  Either way, it is a good plan. I also need to get a new set of sunglasses.  Maybe I can have them convert my current glasses to sunglasses through a tinting process.  My current sunglasses are not bifocals, so I have to remove them to read.  If I convert the glasses I am wearing, I wouldn't have that problem, especially when I am riding my bicycle.  I'll just have to ask.  Otherwise, not much is new, except that I was up past midnight last night, and for me that is late.  Go figure.  Anyways, tea time.

Another day is sort of dawning here in GH.  No sun yet, but since it is cloudy at this time, it is unlikely to appear anytime soon.   Current temperature is 37 degrees, so for February 16, I can't complain.  We are heading for a high of around 40 today, and the fear is we may get too much rain.  Oh my!  A train just went by, but with the current state of the sunshine, it was hard to see.  This summer, I will be on the front porch, "playing" with my reality scale train set.  I never knew it could be so good.  Speaking of the front porch, there is a meeting next week regarding the proposed street race that that guy wants to hold here in the next couple of years.  The discussion is to be about the proposed feasibility, safety concerns, and most importantly, the proposed route.  My vote will be for the route that goes right past my front porch.  Safety, hey these are fast cars, so as long as they don't come up on my porch, I'll take my chances.   Besides, what a photo op.  And, I should be able to get a pit pass, I think that would only be fair.  I've been to the evening cruise through town in Elkhart Lake, WI, and it really doesn't get any better than that, let me assure you.  Plus, the local taverns and restaurants stand to make a lot of extra money during that time.  The town would be crowded, but then it is during the Coast Guard fest which I understand also brings in a lot of tourists and money, so what's another fest going to matter, especially one with cars instead of boats.   In addition, we could add that to our list of attractions in the city.  We could put a race car next to the Coast Guard boat out on Beacon.  If that doesn't get people's attention, what would?   Oh well, it's tea time.

Well, you have probably noticed that it is the day after Valentine's Day.  For those of you for whom it matters, you are are feeling great because you remembered, or really lousy because you didn't.  As the President said yesterday, "GO BIG!"  if you need to reduce your anxiety about make amends to that special someone.  We got our new shades yesterday.  Not only do they look great, they work even better.  The salesman/installer did a great job, after he arrived right on time.  We could not have asked for more.

I resolved the sound problem with the television.  I took it back to the store, where after much discussion, it was determined that if they sent it in for repairs, it would come back sounding the same.  The difference would be three weeks of no television.  So, I asked the manager what I could do and he offered to sell me a sound bar.  I explained that I wasn't thrilled with having to buy something to correct what was a manufactured shortcoming, (I cleaned it up for this blog), he offered to sell me the sound bar for one-half off of the $99.00 price. I made an executive decision and took him up on the offer.  I couldn't be happier.  The bar works with a remote, has good sound and even has an iPod dock.  Now, if I ever get an iPod, I'm set to go.  What a great solution.  Otherwise, it is tea time.

Today is Valentine’s Day

I need to tell Mary how lucky I truly am.   I’m not talking about how lucky I feel about my recovery from the various surgeries; I mean how lucky I am to have her in my life, to have her love me.  Why do I find it so difficult to just tell her how much I love her?  Why?  Maybe I was never given a good role model to follow.  My dad was a good man, but he wasn’t the demonstrative type.  I always suspected that he loved me, and as proof, I offer up that he was the man who cared for me after my motorcycle accident, but that is just one anecdotal example that forms a basis for my suspicions.  Mary was and is the one who cared for me after all my surgeries.  That is clear to me, but I know that there are myriad other examples of the fact that she loves me.  Her domestic skills on my behalf, her willingness to put up with my craziness are two perfect examples.  Anyway, here goes, Mary, I LOVE YOU! 

If we could look in the face of that person with whom we are arguing and see that younger face and see the hurt that we are causing, we’d all be better off.  We all need to look past the lust of youth and look to the things that make a marriage as time goes by.  Maybe, just maybe, if the people who decry gay marriage would return to the roots of their own marriages and look at the things that they felt when they were dating or courting, or whatever they call it, then maybe they would recognize how they felt in those heady times. 

There is always plenty of time for hate and war and derision, but it seems as though we don’t make time to enjoy those things and people that we love, those things that we call life.  One of those things is spousal love, which goes well beyond the love that we feel when we are young.  If people would recognize that finding someone to love and someone who will return that love is always a chancy event, I believe that we would find peace and tolerance there.  If you are lucky, you find love once in your life.   If that person is of another gender, that’s great.  If that person is of another race, that’s wonderful too.  If that person is of the same gender, then, you are just as fortunate.  Who are we to judge others by our own, often flawed set of standards?   I think, and this is my own opinion, that what we fail to see is that we have our own insecurities, our own biases, our own prejudices, driving our feelings.  Instead of rejoicing in diversity, that which makes us human, we expect others to come over to our way of thinking, or believing, or feeling.  Good Christians know that it is not our place to judge.  Instead, we should heed that biblical admonition that states, “Judge not, lest ye be judged.”

I’d really like Mary to know that when I hear her speak and watch her do her crafty things, that I see that young woman that I married nearly thirty-nine years ago.  To me, it seems like a much shorter time.  I’ve gotten older, she has gotten better.  By nature, I’m more conservative, whereas Mary is far more open and forgiving.  She has taught me what love is.  I know that as you age, you lose time perspective, but I also know that for me, I would never have made it this far without Mary at my side.  In one of my recent Blogs, I described how envious I was of Adam and Steph, how I wished I had once in a while taken the other path as they often do.  But alas, I didn’t, so maybe my time is now.  I have no regrets, just additional hope.  I shall see.

Mary, I LOVE YOU! 

Jack

This will be a very short blog today.  I am off to the television store to get repairs on our smaller TV.  Given the last experience with repairs to the washing machine by another outfit, it better go well.  Tomorrow at 8:00 AM, the man will be here to take down the old blinds and install the new ones.  He expects it will take about two hours, Mary thinks it will take more.  Once again, I hope it goes well.  We are expecting a significant snowfall tomorrow, but since we live here and not in Grand Rapids, we are not sure what to believe anymore.
Tomorrow, I have a special Valentine Blog for Mary.  I hope she likes it, because I spent a lot of time in its creation.  The feelings I tried to convey are mine and I take full responsibility for them,   Oh, well, tea time.

I was wondering why in western Michigan everything seems to be different, at least from a legal point of view.  I grew up in Cook County, IL and there, the taxes are higher, the services are fewer and every taxing/government body has their hand out, all the time.  Whether it is the toll authority, the village government, the county, or the state, everyone wants a piece of the action.  Now, while I'm no Tea Party member nor Libertarian, I do think that the job of government should be limited to delivering the mail, providing for the common defense, educating the children and ensuring that the basic infrastructure is being cared for, so that it doesn't crumble into dust before I do.  After that, it is also their job to take care of those who can't take care of themselves, not those who won't.  I include children and the elderly in the category of those who should be cared for.  That is basic social responsibility.  As that old saying goes, "Walk a mile in my shoes before you criticize me."  The GOP could learn something from that.  I have always tended to look into the future, but I worry that most of the GOP type people are more than willing to have children be born, but unwilling to educate or care for them after they are born.  It can be hard enough to get along in this world, we can all use a hand up, not necessarily a hand out.  I believe that real parents know this in their hearts, they just don't want to admit it in public, lest they be branded as not conservative enough.  The GOP may profess to be good Christians, but they don't practice what they preach, pun intended.  We all have a responsibility to look out for our neighbors, because that's what neighbors do.  Let's just say that the crud that is being spewed on these right wing talk stations is coming from people who really don't give a darn about anyone, and that is to their eternal shame.  Oh well, I've ranted enough.  Tea time.

What was it that the late Mel Allen used to say?  Oh yeah, "How about that!"  It was like Harry Caray's Holy Cow!, or Jack Brickhouse saying "Hey! Hey!"  Anyway, I think that any of those things could apply to life here in west Michigan.  We are having another snow event here; started yesterday and is still going on.  I never expected to get past the winter months without snow, so I am not at all unhappy, especially since I have nowhere to go and lots of time to get there.  I did get to the Y yesterday, and this time the pool was not filled with kids.  I love em, I just don't want to share my pool time and space.  Call me greedy, but that's how it is.  Still haven't gotten my new shoes, according to the orthotist, they are on back-order for at least two more weeks.  It has already been four, and I am just feeling a little impatient, that's all.  Need to go to the library to pick up some new books I ordered.  Had to return some that I didn't have time to read.  See what I mean about being busy?  I feel like I am getting my head above water now, since I don't have any doctor's appointments for two months.   That feels good.  Oh well, time for a little TV viewing and chair time in the media room.  In addition, it's tea time.

A slight update from the previous blog.  We didn't make it to the presentation last night.  Truth is, the aches and pains caught up to us.  Instead, we had a great home made salad bar and then watched TV.  Hopefully, the movie will be on the PBS station at some point.  Otherwise, the evening was less about stress, unless you count the news reports about politics.  As always, the GOP makes my blood boil.  I know that I should be able to accept the fact that it is the normal course of political campaigns, but when I see a guy tell me that to have common ground, you have to have common goals, which to him means that if your only goal is to get the president out of the White House, then there will be no compromise.  I was buoyed by one of the contributors on our favorite news outlet finally stating the truth, that the real problem is that the president is a black man.  His policies aside, that's the real problem.  Listening to the great unwashed mass of low information voters talk, you begin to get disheartened sometimes.  Since the pols show that people are listening, but the politicians are not, then there is hope.  Oh well, I have to keep the faith.  Governing and running to govern are two very distinct activities and to the GOP, they are mutually exclusive.  Tea time!

No new toilet.  Seems as though to replace it would likely lead to a new floor, so we had the plumber repair the old toilet.  It is now as good as new and the floor will wait for a time when we really need a new floor.  Meanwhile, we will keep the old toilet in place.  I went to all of my doctor's appointments on Thursday.  Then I went to the Y, but the pool was filled with school children, so I didn't go in.  There was simply no place to swim today.  Instead, we got a new chair for Mary's office and that will have to do for now.  Tonight, we are going to the library for a movie called "Up From the Bottoms" as part of Black History Month.  It is an award winning movie about the struggles and triumphs of African Americans as they migrated from the old south to the more prosperous north.  The movie will narrated by Cicely Tyson as Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis supply the music.  There is a Q & A session after the movie.   I don't know why, but the city of GH or Ottawa County provide many of these types of activities.  To paraphrase Mr. Horse, "Well sir, we like it."  Tomorrow, I have no appointments scheduled and none for several weeks to come.  I like it!  All I have scheduled is some assistance to help Mary do her work.  That's all  I'll close by using my new catch phrase, "Tea time."

I cannot tell a lie, this g mail thing is very frustrating.  I cannot ever find the way to forward something, and the help menu just tells me to look at that which I cannot see.  If that is considered user friendly, then user friendly has a new meaning for which I did not receive the secret password.  Otherwise, the morning is going just fine.  I wonder if the geeks who design these sites ever stop to consider that not everyone is in sync with their creations.  I went to the orthopedist yesterday and that went fine, except for the wait because every young person in GH had a break, sprian, or strain this week.   I sometimes think that I spend my life in doctor's offices.  Just like being in the hospital only worse, because I have to go to them instead of them coming to me.   However, there is good news, I get to go to the Y this PM and enjoy some pool time.  That's always relaxing.  By the by, the plumber comes today to install the new toilet in the upstairs bathroom.  The new one will be taller, and that's good for my creaky old knees.  Life is a female dog when you get older.   Not much else to say, except that the g mail thing is still frustrating.  Tea time.

A little lighter fare this morning.   Looks as though the City Council of GH has approved a feasibility study for the proposed auto race here in GH.  If they can keep the race from causing property or people to be damaged, then I am all in favor if it.  How cool would it be to have a chance to sit on my front porch and watch the cars go by.  I learned some new things about internet resources at the R.E.A.D. session last night.  Many things I didn't know that the software I am using can do.  I got home in time to watch one of my favorite shows last night, okay, I only have three, but it was their 200th show and I thought it was wonderful.  Great story line, a super line up of characters, both old and regular, etc.  Went swimming yesterday at the Y.  New goggles performed as I'd hoped.  I'm also working on expanding my pool time, because it will be better in bike riding season.  Here is a great event for today, my last knee treatment for a while.  My knees are feeling better, but the treatment is not without its own set of pains. Like I said, no pain, no gain.  One or two slightly heavier things here at the end.  One is that the university out west has 17,000 signatures on a petition to bring back their mascot, "The Fighting Sioux." Just because people want something, doesn't mean that it isn't racially insensitive.  On that same note, the people in that big state out west were denied the right to discriminate against gays in their desire to get all the privileges of marriage.  Mary reminded me that once again, if they need to provide consent for a loved one to receive medical care, they always demur to the spouse without questions.  But, if the significant other is of the same gender, they won't allow that.  That is not the equal rights guaranteed under that constitution that they all claim to love and revere.  So, if the court takes away a right you don't think someone should have, that's okay.  But, if they take away a right that is guaranteed, but with which you don't agree, then that is not okay.  Finally, at one of the universities here in MI, they want to force incoming students to buy health care if they don't have it.  Some law makers here think that is a usurpation of rights etc.  I suppose that it is okay to die or get sick, since that is your right too.  But, like Jefferson said, "Your rights extend to where mine begin."   If you want to be sick or get hurt, that's fine, until your coughing, accident injuries, or whatever infringe on me and of course my education or costs of care that have to cover those who are uninsured or unable to pay for your own care.  Heaven forbid.  Oh well, I promised I would keep it lighter.  Oops.  Tea time.

I can only say that when you try to save something, it seems to vanish into the ether.  Oh well, it was worth a try.  Made some progress on my novel yesterday.  Seems as though one sure way to keep it timely and also develop a plot, is to look at recent events and incorporate them into your writing.  So, that's what I did.  Went to the local dealer yesterday to get the oil changed on the old buggy.  All went well and they also discovered that the car has a small leak in the power steering.  I plan to watch it and not worry for awhile.  I find that this dealer doesn't wash the car after service, one small negative in an otherwise god experience.  A small thing I know, but something so simple that  takes no time at all and the customer comes away totally satisfied.  Just a thought.  Tonight, I am going to the library for some additional training for the reading program.  No student yet, but I will be patient.  For those of you who like to read, I am reading a book about the French Revolution that uses Madame Tussaud as its main focal point.  It is written by a female author, and I like it.  There is no accounting for taste, is there.  A slight return to the subject of the Super Bowl.   I understand from watching the news that I was supposed to see the artist holding up his middle finger during the half time show.  Oops, I missed it.  I was also supposed to see an ad by a local Michigan politician that attacks another Michigan politician, oops, I missed that too.  Did see it later on the net and the news and I found it disgusting and in bad taste.  Of course, the ad with Clint Eastwood was roundly condemned and one famous GOP guy found it offensive.  Say what?  I guess for someone who taught school, I wasn't surprised by the middle finger.  As for the political ad, I found out later that the offending politician actually voted for all of the things that he was attacking the other politician for.  Just like it said  in that book that Mary and I read recently, that's how people become turned around, not by the truth, but by how the truth is distorted and presented.  What a country.  Truth be told, although I found it distasteful to have to bail out the automakers, the alternative would have been worse.  I'm sure that once again Mary is right, after hearing that the airlines are declaring bankruptcy because they are losing money hand over fist.  Now it is time for the pension board to bail out the retirees that the poor airlines can't afford.  Like Mary says, "Privatize profits and socialize costs."  It is likely that the President's policies will get the blame for this latest fiasco too.  What is it that they are saying in the GOP, "We are showing improvement in the jobs situation, but it needs to go faster."  Yada, Yada, Yada. Don't confuse people with the facts, just report them and they can decide.  Tea time.

A horse of another color.  Seems as good a title as anything else this morning.  As it turns out, I did have a horse in the Super Bowl.  Based on totally unscientific and anecdotal results, the Giants winning the game will ensure that we get a Democratic president.  Nothing that says just because A precedes B means that A causes B, but it is worthy of note.  By the by, I thought the game was fun to watch in spite of protestations by the local talkers.   I also liked the commercial that featured Clint Eastwood.  It  was  great and on the same theme as the talkers, I too wanted to stand up and salute.  See, I can find a place to agree withe the right-wingers.   It has been said that today will be another beautiful day here in GH, but, since the Sun isn't up yet, I can't testify one way or another.  Cooler later in the week, but for today, sunny and warmer, with a high in the mid-forties. I'll take that on February 6.  Like always, Mary wanted to listen to the local talk radio station over night.  As I have mentioned, she falls asleep, but I stay awake and listen to the right wing mafia tell us why the president's health care plan will be the ruination of America and there won't be any America for our grandchildren, etc., and we need to get that man out of the White-house, blah, blah, blah.  Or is that yada, yada, yada.   I also learned that he and his HHS secretary are staging an all out attack on the church and that too can't be allowed to happen.   Whatever, it all sounds the same after a while.  They get their talking pints mailed to them and they are off to the races.  This is the same group of people who lament the fact that they are so underrepresented, and they need to take back the airwaves from the lame stream media.  Sheeesh!  Anyway, also on that same station was a man talking about 30 Lessons for Living, his book.  While I am enjoying life now,  I sometimes wish that I had done things in a different order.  I have no regrets, but as he said, what seems important at the moment when you are young, may not be when you get older.  That's not everything he said, but the idea is that you need to love life as though it is finite.  I think that Steph and Adam are getting it right everyday.  Trips to exotic places, indulgences like radio controlled cars and helicopters, etc.  are just a small part of the equation.  Life is too short and we really never know what the future may bring. This also led to a discussion about people who give up on marriages, instead, choosing to live alone or seek out one spouse after another.  The guest's advice was to ride out the rough spots and to seek out people to marry who share similar views to your own.  He believes that opposites really do not attract, just annoy.  I have to agree with that part of his observations.   I've always said that sooner or later, the looks or physical attraction will probably fade.  Then, it is time to talk to someone.  With nothing in common you will have nothing to talk about and the end result will be a dissolution of the marriage.  Wow, what a revelation  Oh well, tea time.

Once again, a new week begins.  This being Sunday, the Super Bowl is upon us.  To borrow from the guy in that movie, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a ..."  Since I don't have a horse in that race, I will watch because I don't have anything else of import to do, but it isn't a priority if I don't watch it.  I plan to spend some time reading the NY Times, and reading a novel etc.  In other words, for me it just isn't that important.  On the other hand, we are only fifteen fays from the opening of spring, spring training that is.  For me, I always measure the first day of spring as the time when pitchers and catchers report.  With a bit of luck, I will be passing through Boston when the Red Sox are there or Chicago when the Cubs are there.  Either way, the deity will be smiling.  This year, I may have to switch my loyalties to the Tigers, but I highly doubt it.  That would be almost as bad as switching to the White Sox, which will never happen.  What's a mother to do?   Much as I love baseball, I have been a Cubs and Red Sox fan far too long to change now I'm afraid.  Tomorrow, I will be taking the car to one of the local dealers for an oil change which I was gifted by the local letter carrier.  This is their chance to win me to their dealership.  We shall see how it goes.  I wonder if they know how much is riding on this one visit?  I guess it is like a political candidate who opens his mouth only to shoot himself in the foot.  Opportunity only knocks so often, and then you have to be prepared to answer in an appropriate manner.  I can assure that that was the case with the appliance repair debacle.  I doubt that we will ever need the services that their store offers for anything, given the poor quality of their ability to provide timely service on just that one occasion.  Oh well, other things to do toady.  Special mention of the Daytona 500, it is on the 26th of February, and that is also one of the signs of spring, even if it is only taxi cab racing. You know, get in and turn left, mash the gas pedal all the way to the floor.  I know it is harder than it looks, but it still isn't open-wheel racing.   Oh well, tea time again.

A follow up to "We have lift off."  We actually had lift off.  The repair people showed up around 9:00 AM and all of the parts were intact, so the repair to the washing machine took approximately two hours.  Best of all, it worked when they were done.  Of course,  it comes with the extended warranty, ( 90 days ), but that is not unexpected.  We thought we might have to wrestle than two out of three falls over taking the boxes, as it turned out, the men took all the boxes and leftover parts when they departed.  Interesting, that as they left they were discussing their various aches and pains and taking mega doses of pain killers, while at the same time, decrying the efforts of the government to regulate health care, banking, etc.  What a country.   Got our new bike rack for the car, including a bar to help haul Mary's bike on the same rack.  Also good for hanging in the garage.   Everything actually did go swimmingly there.  Now, when it warms up a bit, we'll be ready to go.   Otherwise, there was a stop at the plumbing store to check into a new toilet, ( I hope we really have the right rough in measurements ) and everything went smoothly there too.  Seems as though the only problem is getting parts shipped to us intact.  Oh well, tea time.

Well, I made it.  Another week is drawing to a close and the Super Bowl ads are upon us.  According to the news radio, the best fortunes rely on the Giants winning, so, Go Giants!  Once again, we are waiting for the arrival of the appliance repairmen.  Somewhere between eight and twelve.  No rhyme nor reason, just like all the cable guys set their schedules.  I went to the local dealer to take advantage of my free oil change, but they had to schedule it for Monday.  Sheesh, we are talking an oil change here.  I hope we don't need an emergency repair on an orphan car.  This is my first dealings with this particular dealer.  How they treat me can go a long way.  I hope they know that.  Most people are up in arms about the GOP treatment of the poor, exemplified by their front running candidate.  I'm more concerned about how the pink ribbon crowd decided to not grant future monies to the the largest women's health care organization.  While it is unlikely that Mary nor I will ever need their services, the pink ribbon's claim that the decision was not politically motivated rings hollow.  Sure, the decision was made in a vacuum.  Mary and I went to the library last night to see a presentation about the "Ghost Parks" of the Grand River Greenway, and while no actual ghosts were discussed, the ebb and flow of public parks in this county is very interesting.  Best of all, we got a free map of the county and that was worth the long walk to the library.  Anyway, we got home in time to see a Person of Interest, and its theme was also of interest, at least to us.  Tonight, the Gifted Man, one of my favorites, is on.  I can't wait to see a neurosurgeon as the star of his own show in a new program.   Go figure!  Oh well, tea time.

We have lift off!  At the risk of sounding like NASA, I am going to use their catch phrase to describe the  arrival of the third part for the washing machine.  Before this one, I would have used "Houston, we have a problem."   Of course, even this one wasn't without drama, as the robocall came in yesterday saying that we had to reschedule the appointment.  This, of course, sent us over the edge, since we have been waiting two weeks for this to get done.  Fortunately, it was just a ploy to find out if the part had arrived.  We are still on for Friday.  Whew!  Had my third knee treatment yesterday and they are feeling  much better.  However, the immediate after effects are never pleasant.   Sometimes I truly understand the idea of no pain, no gain.  Today, I want to get my next set of blood tests out of the way, get the oil changed on the car and go to the Y to swim. I also need to drop of some books at the library and walk Sugar before all that happens.  See what I mean about being too busy to breathe.   A short mention of the activity at the Historical museum the other night.  While not long, I did learn as I had hoped, and that was the point.  Got our free garbage can the other day along with our free light bulbs. I love free things just for being new to the neighborhood, and so my free oil change today should cap it off nicely.  Oh well, time to move along.  Later.