Good morning GH.  Not too shabby.  I made it until 8:45 AM without getting up to blog.  That means that the view out the Weather Window is actually a view, albeit a cloudy one, and the current desktop temperature is 38 degrees.  Update, I wanted to add that the sky looks like that "Hazy shade of winter," in that old song.    Here in my little corner of the world, ie, my office/music room, it is 69 degrees and the air is calm.  I had an interesting day yesterday.  Sugar the Weather Dog was acting cute, as usual, and the day just seemed to fly by.  Took a couple of walks with the intrepid Weather Dog and both of us had a good time.  As you know, I finished that book about the woman and her chance meeting  with the panhandling boy the night before.  I got to thinking that my meeting Sugar may have been similar.  Both of us needed someone, me more than I realized at the time, and Sugar for the obvious reason.  I like to think that it has worked out well for both of us.  By the way, when last seen, the Intrepid one was still abed, and so her prediction for the day is not yet available.  I got my next MRI appointment for mid-December, and that is all good.  I hope that it comes out clear.  It seems as though it was only two years ago when I was diagnosed with my problem.  Hey, I guess it was.  My thanks to all of the doctors and nurses that participated in and precipitated my recovery.  Most of all, my thanks and love go out to Mary for being there for me.  I have been kind of grouchy the last few weeks, but I realized that that seems to happen at this time of year when I am anticipating that MRI.  I am sorry for being a crab.  I had a good tutoring session with my student last evening.  I think we are making progress, but I also realized how woeful his early efforts at learning to read were.  It is an awesome responsibility for me and for him.  He wants to have someone he knows enroll in the program, so he must be feeling okay about our efforts.  So, since it is now nearly...Tea time, it is time to go.  Ciao.

Good morning GH. Wow, I got up just in time to see something that you don't often see here in GH, a long freight train drawn by two locomotives.  I have seen as few as two locomotives and as few as two and one car, but by most measures, this was a long train.   But I digress.  I am planning on going back to bed soon, but I wanted to add to my list of timely blogs.  Currently the temperature on the desktop is 43 degrees.  For late November here in MI, that is quite warm at this hour.  We are expecting highs in the lower fifties this weekend.  Not quite like Thanksgiving, but still very nice.  I am certain that Sugar the Weather Dog would concur.  In my office, the digital display is showing 68 degrees, and my personal Weather Station located in the Weather Window, is showing just over 40.  As I mentioned previously, the view out the Weather Window is dark with a side of train.  I finished a good book last night, it was called An Invisible Thread, by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.  This book was a library discussion book earlier this month and was recommended by the librarian in one of our correspondences.  A short read, and a great true story.  Based on Laura's memories of finding a young man panhandling in the streets of New York, it tears at your heartstrings and gives you hope for a better future.  The story follows him from age 11 to adulthood, and through many periods in both his life and that of Laura.  I recommend it if you want to feel up and down and better all around.  I had an interesting day in the kitchen yesterday.  I actually made three things, four jars of baked winter squash, , two varieties, which I stored in the freezer, four loaves of banana nut bread and some red salsa.  Two required chopping and like the book, the salsa produced some tears.  I started with the squash, after I had mentioned that one of the stored ones was going south, and then when I was done with that, Mary said, "Well, why don't you make banana bread, while the oven is warm?"  Mary supplied me with an easy to follow recipe, and the rest just came with being in the kitchen.  Man, it gets hot in there when the oven runs for several hours straight.  I have included a picture below of the banana bread.  I didn't take a picture of the salsa, it was just salsa after all, and no pictures of the squash either.  The banana bread was my first effort at baking from scratch, and I think, after my first taste, that it turned out great.  Mary will give it her rating at breakfast later this AM.  When left to my own devices, and prodded by Mary, I can accomplish modest things.  However, I am more than happy to relinquish my kitchen duties to Mary.  So, until it is...Tea time, that's all for now.  Ciao.

Here they are!

Good early morning GH.  Well, I promised myself that I wouldn't get up this early, but when you fall asleep by nine the previous evening, this is a long time to sleep.   I'll be going back to bed soon, but I thought that I might blog a few words.  Currently, Sugar the Weather Dog is still asleep, so I don't expect that there will be any storms on the horizon.  Current;y, the temperature on the desktop display is 32 degrees, as it is on the window readout.  Indoors in my office/music room, the digital display is showing 68 degrees.  I raked leaves yesterday, but when I looked out the Weather Window earlier this AM, just before the train passed, I saw snow on the ground.  If the predictions are right, it won't last, but I am so not ready for snow yet.  I mean I like it and all, but it is hard to take a walk with Sugar the Weather Dog when it gets slippery.  So, if it didn't snow I'd be okay with that too.  I still have some grass seed to plant for the fall, in hopes that it will grow next year, so I'd like the snow to hold off just one more day.  I got in some serious guitar time yesterday afternoon, and that is all good.  Adam and I had a nice conversation via email about his new R/C car and NASCAR, and Formula racing.  Well, you get the picture.  I had to go to tend to my Weather Dog, so I had to ring off.  Otherwise, I amassed seven bags of leaves, and they go out for tomorrow's pick up.  So, it is now time for bed, before I have to get up for...Tea time and grass seeding etc.  So much to do, so little time.  Ciao.

Good afternoon GH.  Wow, it really is afternoon again.  Not bad.  I went to the ENT again today because my ear just doesn't feel right, but he found nothing amiss.  I don't know why, but I just feel like something is wrong in my ear, but he says there isn't anything obvious.  He may be right, that I am sensitive to my ears feeling weird because of all the ear problems I have had over the years.  So, I think I will wait a bit longer and then see how I feel.  It is just that I am having these headaches, and once you have had a neurosurgeon poking around in your head, you become acutely aware of things that are in or about your head.  So, I called the neurosurgeon here, well actually in GR, to make sure I am set up for another follow up MRI.  I don't want to take any chances.  Otherwise, the day has been pretty much walking with Sugar, raking the leaves, and now I am about to play my guitar.  I did stop at the library to turn in a couple of books and to pick up one I had on hold.  This new one is about various generals of the Army and how effective they have or have not been.  Let's just say, that the early parts of the book are not that complimentary of the generals in WWII.  I doubt that being an officer or a general is an easy job, but if you can't stand the heat of battle, then get out of the war.  A nice turn of a phrase I think.  Otherwise, I went down to the man cave and modified a wall plate that has a built in digital thermometer, so that it would fit behind the moulding in my office/music room.  Currently, the temperature on the outdoor thermometer mounted outside my window is about 34 degrees, while the temperature on the desktop is showing 33 degrees.  So, as I noted yesterday, they are about equal.  My wall mounted thermometer is showing  69 degrees here in my room.  That thermometer was one I received with my energy audit kits, and it looks fine on the wall, now that it has been modified to fit.  Meanwhile, Mary is hard at work in her office, as I finished my first task of highlighting the book she is indexing.  It took me 17.5 hours, and Mary isn't sure if that saved any time.  But, I like to think that that is time she didn't have to work on it, and if I can help in that way, then I will.  Now, all that I have to do is edit her final output.  So, until it is time for NCIS later, I am going to play some.  Oh, did I mention that I am still finding a tell tale trail of white and tan dog hair on my keyboard.  I will have to get to the bottom of that one of these days.  So for now, Ciao.

Good afternoon GH.  Well, this is a lot better than 1 - 4 in the AM.  I now have a new thermometer in the window.  This one is also a stick on, but it uses suction cups to maintain its grip, not static cling.  We shall see.  Anyway, the temperature is showing as 32 degrees Fahrenheit and 0 degrees Celsius.  The desktop temperature is showing 33 degrees, so I am assuming it is accurate.  Sugar the Weather Dog is lying on the floor in the foyer, so she has no comment art this time.  I got all of my errands run this afternoon.  I got a new battery installed in the Vibe, for $62.00 versus $162.00.  First price was from a local dealer, the second from a local independent.  Whether the Vibe needed one for sure, I don't know, but it was nearly five years old and so I opted to avoid problems down the line.  I also went to the local small box hardware store to exchange some items. That went great.  Got that new thermometer, a set of measuring spoons for Mary's kitchen, and a small knife for chopping herbs and things for me.  Then, like the guys in the video, I came home.  So, not much is happening today.  Time to play a little guitar, time to ignore Sugar wanting her dinner, and time to do a little reading.  My book is due back in three days.  So, until I have more to say, Ciao.

Good evening GH.  It is just after 8:00 PM here in our fair city, and the view out the Weather Window is mostly dark with a side of ebony.  Currently, the temperature on the desktop display is a brisk 31 degrees.  I should mention that I will be returning the new window mounted thermometer that we bought, because the thing won't stick to the window as advertised.  Sugar the Weather Dog is either in her bed or in with Mary in the media room.  I don't know for sure, because Mary is watching one of her long string of movies at high volume, so I sequestered myself in my office in order to avoid the sound.  I wanted to watch the game between Notre-Dame, and Southern Cal, but since Mary has commandeered the media room, I can't get in there.  I'll have to wait to see if she gets done soon.  We had a good day, going down to Holland to pick up a new clock for the living room, and then going to our favorite watering hole before stopping in to see Sally at the Post to give her the old clock.  She seems to collect them, so she was welcome to it, rather than giving it to Goodwill or some other organization.  I had good fortune in Holland, finding a $20.00 bill lying in the street next to where we were parked.  That paid for our drinks and a couple of lottery tickets.  Otherwise, the clock looks great on the wall and the day went without difficulty, unless you count the necessity of having to walk slowly to the bakery this AM, to avoid breaking our necks.  Sugar wasn't worried, because she can't wait to get to East town and the bakery.  Plus, with her short legs, she would have a hard time falling up.  But, since she is on a calorie restricted diet, she didn't get any treats there.  She may be less eager next time.  So, rather than drone on, I will say adios and get ready for bed and await the morning's activities, including...Tea time.

I knew it, someone has been at this keyboard again.  I don't know who, but if I'm extra vigilant, I'll figure it out.  It can't be Mary or Sugar the Weather Dog, because they are both sound asleep.  Still there is this tell tale trail of white hair, so there must be clue in that, if I can just figure out where I've seen that hair color before.  Mary got me this new window mounted thermometer, and if it stays stuck to the glass, it should provide some good readings of the actual temperatures right outside of my office window.  Right now it shows 46 degrees while the desktop display shows 52 degrees.  I like to think that the one on the window is the "real" temperature right outside, but I'll continue to track the two and make comparisons.  I did some additional highlighting this morning, and I am up to page 314, so I am just past the 60% done point.  I finished what I started this afternoon, when Mary reminded me that I said I would go downtown with her to see the newest exhibit at the Tri-Cities Museum.  It was about Middle-Eastern and Asian art forms and it was great.  We also saw some of their medical exhibits, and they were cool too.  However, in the holiday go home early spirit, the staff was turning off the lights right behind us.  We then went to our favorite watering hole, drank too much and had our usual food choices.  We like many things, but why change when you really like something?  Then, we stumbled home, sticking mostly to Washington's better lit sidewalks until we got home.  I thought that this being Thanksgiving, I'd mention some of the things for which I am thankful.  First and foremost, there is Mary.  I never tell her how much I love her, and I need to do that more.  I am thankful that she was there for me when I had all that surgery over the last two years.  I am thankful that she is there to help me get home when it gets dark, both literally and figuratively.  I am thankful for her for Adam, the best son a man could ever want.  He is a good man.  By extension, I am thankful for Stephany.  She is a delight and I love her like I love Adam.  I am thankful for Sugar the Weather Dog, even though she is an expensive adopted child.  To paraphrase a former secretary of defense, "You don't always come home with the dog you went out to get."  She may not be a bulldog, but she is the "Right Dog," to paraphrase another political wannabe.  She is just the right size, or at least she will be if I don't give  in to her begging and make her the right size again.  I am thankful for this town.  As Mary and I often say, this was a righteous decision.  Most of all, I am thankful for the good fortune that has come our way in general.  While there have been some setbacks, it has been mostly good.  So, before I get more maudlin, I'll just say, "Happy Thanksgiving to all."  Oh, I didn't want to forget to say thanks to all of our service men and women and to all of the veterans of all the wars that this country has fought in over the years.  Ciao and I'll see you at...Tea time.  I'll close with some pictures.  I don't have any of Mary or Adam and Steph on my computer, so you will have to get by with these.

Part of the attraction of Grand Haven

See what I mean about being cute?

This is what I don't want Sugar the Weather Dog to look like

Hey, good very early morning GH.  I think someone has been at my keyboard.  There is goo all over it, and the presence of dog hair makes me suspicious.  I must have just missed them.  I think that if I am extra vigilant, that I'll catch whoever it is.  Currently, Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep in her bed, so I know that it can't be her, besides she's a dog.  But if I find whoever has been slobbering all over my keyboard, well.  I know it can't be Mary, because like Sugar, she too is sound asleep.  Anyway, the current view out the Weather Window is...DARK!  On the desktop, the temperature reading is showing 43 degrees.  A street sweeper came by a while ago, so I was right, the city does sweep the streets in the wee hours.  I've heard it before, but this is the first time I have actually seen it.  Probably the best time, but I don't envy the man or woman who has to get up and do that job.  I didn't blog yesterday, because I just didn't have the time.  On Monday, I had to take Sugar to the veterinarian, because she had been shaking her head and wasn't being her usual exuberant self.  Turns out that just like me, she has an ear infection for which she got some ointment put in her ears and she has to take some antibiotic pills for seven days.  Mary and I are fooling her by putting the pills in a piece of soy hot dog.  Sometimes, dogs are slaves to their natural predilections.  I got some additional treatment on Monday too, also for my ears.  The ENT took care of my ears too.  I also have some drops for my ear.  On Tuesday, I went to a local place for some car care.  The Vibe is in pretty good shape for its age, but it does have a slow leak in one tire, probably a rim leak, and it needs to have its rear brakes adjusted.  I guess that I thought that the rear brakes took care of themselves.  It also should have a new set of wiper blades and the battery terminals are corroded.  I think that I can handle that myself, but I don't want the computer to get stupid while I do, so I'll have to check the procedure.  Otherwise, all is well.  Mary can still cook up a storm, and I can still clean house with the best of them, so I think that our division of duties is working out well.  Adam and Steph are still in Boston, but we did hear from them and all is well.  They promised to share pictures next time they are here.  Mike the bartender at our favorite watering hole is looking forward to going bow fishing with Steph, but he is bummed that he hasn't gotten his deer yet.  Otherwise, I have made further progress on the highlighting, and that is all good.  I don't mind doing it, but it sure is time consuming.  So far, I am done with 212 pages in and I have worked for seven and three quarters hours.  this could take awhile.  So, until I get up from my sleeping, I'll just mention that....Tea time is still good and say Ciao.

Good early morning GH.  Well, I got up about an hour and a half ago to just do some work on Mary's indexing project, and lo and behold, one and one-half hours elapsed.  Maybe I shouldn't have, but I want to feel as though I am doing my part.  Currently, the desktop temperature is a brisk 39 degrees Fahrenheit, and of course, the view out the Weather Window is dark.  But, Sugar the Weather Dog and Mary are sound asleep, as they should be.  I went to bed early, about 8:30 PM, because I felt as though I couldn't stay awake any longer.  I was watching the girl in the blue gingham dress and her little dog, along with lions, and tin men and scarecrows, oh my.  I can't wait for Mr. Smith goes to the building and loan.  But, I just couldn't make it.  I did watch the Lions go down to defeat earlier in the day, after the inaugural U.S. Grand Prix was over and Lewis Hamilton had pulled out the victory in a rather convincing fashion over the early leader, Sebastian Vettel.  I have to say, that it is more exciting than watching taxi cabs race.  The track looked phenomenal and made me more than ever, resolve to go back to Road America this coming year.  I just have to decide which event I want to go and see.  So many choices.  I learned on Saturday, that GH is planning a music day, similar to their Artwalk, that would include numerous musical acts and of course, our little Irish Music Jam group playing in Central Park.  This will happen on September 7, 2013, so if Mary and I are going to go out of town to celebrate our 40th anniversary, it will have to be either before or after.  In addition, September 7th is Adam's birthday, so we would have to work around that.  Once again, so many things to consider.  Otherwise, I got a lot of pages highlighted in the wee hours of the morning, so that is all good.  I turned down the water heater, and also had time to sit outside and read as Sugar chewed her obligatory bone.  No blog would be complete without a mention of Mary's culinary skills.  She made a vegan chili that was/is to die for.  Everything that my mother's chili wasn't, Mary's was.  I can honestly say, that I don't miss the meat.  Although, there are times that I sneak in a little beef jerky, just for old time's sake.  Today, I have a doctor's appointment with the ENT specialist at 8:40 in the AM, so I'd best be heading to bed.  So, until it is...Tea time, I'll just say "Fare the well."  Addendum, my hearing is the same, I have an outer ear infection, and the ENT "Vacuumed" out some detritus and I have new drops and and orders to not get my ear wet, just like a Mogwais from the movie.  Gosh I feel like a new man.

Good early morning GH.  Well, It is now about 4:30 AM, and rather than lay there and toss and turn, I decided to get up and write something.  Of course the view out the Weather Window is, dark.  Of course, Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep, and of course, Mary is also sound asleep.  I wish I slept that soundly, but alas, I am in my sixty-second year of life, and I never have.  So, it is not a habit that I'm likely to start soon.  Currently the temperature on the desktop is a brisk .55 degrees Celsius, but what do you expect for the 18th day of November?  According to the folks at Weather.com, we can expect a high in the upper 50s or lower 60s by Thanksgiving Day,  Mary and I were just talking about walking in the Wisconsin Dells on a Thanksgiving Day a few years ago, when we went there with Adam and a friend of his. I don't remember how many years, but it was a few.  So, is this climate change, or something else?  I think it is, but then I'll take this on Thanksgiving.  However, if it means we have droughts and way too hot summers, than I'll give up the warm turkey days.  Alas, I doubt that I get a choice or a say, so it is up to the people in charge to make some changes in how we save energy, and then how we produce it.  I should make note that each person or family can and should reduce their energy consumption/carbon footprint, which would help.  Mary and I are doing what we can, by using energy efficient appliances, bulbs, and a set back thermostat, as well as walking to as many places as we can,  Just one man's opinion.  Otherwise, I am going back to to bed soon.  Adam and Steph are off to the east coast for Thanksgiving, and if the weather turns out like the weather folks say, they should have a great time.  So, until it is time for UP with Chris Hayes, and until I am ready for more highlighting for Mary, I'll try to get more sleep.  Oh, in honor of the Grand Prix race today, Mary is trying a new chili recipe, as that is as close as we could get to something that would celebrate both the European roots of Grand Prix racing, and the fact that this race will be taking place in our own American Southwest.  So, until it is...Tea time, I"ll just close with both and Adios and an Adieu.

Good afternoon GH.  Well. it is just past the noon hour here in GH, and I thought just a few moments to write this blog would be in order.  I walked to the dentist this morning, Mary and Sugar the Weather dog walked part way with me.  All in all, the visit took just twenty-five minutes, and I got my usual bag of goodies when I left.  A new toothbrush, some floss, some toothpaste and I was on my way.  I walked home, and that took all of fifteen minutes.  So, in total I had to give up only one hour and fifteen minutes of my day.  Not bad I say.  When I got home, Mary made a brunch meal of rice and beans and a tortilla, and that was an excellent way to cap off the morning.  I completed the survey I was doing for energy efficiency, and now I await the check for my efforts.  I liked the program, I got some good things for my home and they paid me for the privilege.  What's not to like?  Currently, the view out the Weather Window is clear skies and sunny and the desktop temperature reading is 44 lovely degrees.  You can see why walking was a pleasure.  Sugar enjoyed going a new route there and back, and of course, she had to smell everything and leave a message for other dogs along the way.  I have to say, that this is still a righteous decision, moving to GH I mean. This afternoon, I plan to strum a little, do some markups for Mary and then just kick back.  I have an appointment with the ENT doctor next Monday morning, and on Tuesday afternoon, I have an appointment to have the Vibe serviced for winter.  So, it won't be quite as busy next week.  I hope that it slows down for a couple of weeks.  I plan to rake and bag some on Saturday, before I go to the library for some Irish music jams.  That is about my limit for outdoor activities this year, unless you count sowing some grass seed when the temperature stays low enough to prevent premature germination of the seeds.  I also have to do more dusting to do next week, but I find that rewarding in a weird way, just like the vacuuming.  So, until I have more to blog, I'll just say,  Ciao!

Good afternoon GH.  Well, it is nearly 1:30 in the afternoon, and Mary and I just finished lunch and Sugar the Weather Dog, is happily napping in her bed.  The view out the Weather Window is partly cloudy and the current temperature on the desktop is 43 degrees.  If the weather app on my phone is right, we have nearly reached the high for today.  I received word that the package I returned has arrived at the sender, so I should be getting a refund soon.  Not a huge amount, but it was worth returning.  Also, Mary and I walked over to the big box hardware store yesterday to  exchange the glass cover for one of the new bathroom lights that we had purchased the day before, and which I installed yesterday.  No problems with the exchange, except that it should have been free of defects when it went into the package.  Oh well, what would life be like for all of us if anything lasted or came out in perfect condition.  Last evening, I attended a round table session for the tutoring organization that I work with and we had a good discussion about how to best serve the people that we are tutoring.  I have an actual tutoring session at 5:00 PM this evening, and then a dentist appointment tomorrow.  I once again reiterate that Eleanore was right, when you are retired, you have more time, but more uses for that time.  Otherwise, the day is going to be uneventful.  So until next time, Ciao.

Good very early morning GH.  Well, it is early and I have yet to go to bed.  I think that I am trying to stay up late so that I can go to bed and just sleep the night away instead of getting up part way through.  One look out the Weather Window tells me two things.  It is dark and it is quiet here in GH except for the passing train.  Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep in her bed and Mary is in her own world of dreams.  Currently, the temperature on the desktop is four degrees below the freezing point on the Fahrenheit scale, (28 degrees) and the sun won't be up for at least another six hours.  Our expected high for tomorrow, oops, today, is 48 degrees, so it should be a good day for bagging some leaves, doing a little work in the upstairs bathroom, and walking Sugar the Weather Dog.  I am nearly done with the book I took out about climate change, and I have a few more to pick up at the library while I am there tonight.  I almost said tomorrow night, but I forgot that I am now in tomorrow.  Otherwise, not much is happening.  I just thought I'd get my blogging in before the morning, which will allow me to get on with my day.  So, until the dawn's early light and until...Tea time, I'll borrow liberally from an old musical when I say, "So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, good night.  So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye to you and you and you and you etc.

Good morning GH.  Well, this is a change, Mary is still in bed, Sugar the Weather Dog is still abed, and I didn't get up until about 8:30 AM.  In fact, Mary complained that she was awake all night, instead of sleeping like an army private on leave.  Currently the view out the Weather Window is kind of gray, and the temperature on the desktop is a chilly 31 degrees, a dramatic change from the 60s and 70s we had over the weekend.  Mary and I enjoyed a trip to Pentwater on Sunday, only to discover that the cook's store there was going out of business.  Oh well, you can't expect a twice a year visit to keep them in business.  We were able to stop in some interesting antique shops on the way back, and some interesting small towns, so that was good.  One town even boasted of having an historic district, but it wasn't much of an attraction, even if you consider that they had a "Future Historic"  building on the site.  Hey, when you think about it, any building is a "Future Historic" building, and anything is a "Future Antique" if you wait long enough.  In that way, I am fast approaching being of historic significance myself.  Gosh, a whole new avenue of development opened up.  Yesterday, we went to Holland and bought some "Future Antique" baking and storage pans, some "Future Historic" spices and a lot of things that could be of value in the future.  At this rate, I can see why people collect anything, because they know it will become valuable someday.  I should mention that in the process of doing laundry on Sunday, that I pulled an Adam, when I found all the money that Mary had left in the pocket of her jeans as I pulled them from the dryer.  I "made" a total of $24.00 in the process.  What a country.  Today, more reading, more music, and maybe some raking.  I got the lawnmower and our bicycles into the basement yesterday, and that was enough for the afternoon activities.  Today, is a day for dong nothing, as I want to save my energy for the balance of the week.  I have a meeting tomorrow evening, a tutoring session on Thursday, and a dentist appointment on Friday.  I feel just like /Eleanore again.  So, until I discover more value in the tings around me, it is...Tea time.

Good early morning GH.  It is currently about 1:45 in the AM and I am not really awake, but I am also not really asleep.  I got up because I was tossing and turning and that isn't good when Mary is trying to sleep, although the chances of her waking up are slim to none, because she can sleep through a hurricane and then awake and wonder what happened.  I know from personal experience, as does Adam, that she seems to be awake, she holds conversations and yet, she isn't really awake.  I wish I could sleep that soundly.  But alas, if you read my blog with any regularity, you know that I don't.  So, here I sit listening to iHeart radio, occasionally playing solitaire, and typing away.  Currently I am listening to one of my stations that plays John Denver, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Dan Fogelberg, the Carpenters, Jim Croce, etc.  Currently the temperature showing on the desktop display is a balmy 62 degrees.  The view out the Weather Window is dark, and Sugar the Weather Dog is snoring soundly.  We are expecting showers on Sunday, late, but the temperatures are expected to stay warmer until Monday, when they plummet into the 30s and 40s.  I had to endure the overtime as Michigan beat Northwestern.  I was excited that the number one team lost and that ND is now 9-0. Maybe they really are back.  Sugar and I enjoyed some deck time yesterday in the PM, she with a bone and me with a crossword and iHeart radio on my cell phone.  It was getting dark when Mary came out to get us.  I hope that today will be a nice easy day.  Maybe the NY Times, and some guitar, but that's about all.  I don't think that I miss the political ads at all.  I do however miss one of the progressive talk stations that changed to a sports format.  Oh well, it is commercial radio.  So, until I feel sleepy, I think I'll read some and then it is back to bed until it is...Tea time and time for UP with Chris.  Ciao

Good early morning GH.  It is fast closing on 5:00 AM.  I took time this AM to wrap the package that I am returning and then I went downstairs and discovered the dishes that needed doing, so I did those while I was there.  Mary cooks and I do what I can, a fair division of labor.   Kind of like the housework I think.  Anyway, on to the regular order of business.  The current temperature on the desktop readout is a sultry 50 degrees.  Sugar the Weather Dog is still fast asleep, but if our luck and the weather holds, we may both get to benefit one more time from the Grand Haven channel.  She with a bone and I with a book.  The view out the Weather Window is dark so I'll have to wait for the sun to rise in order to more fully assess my world.  Mary bought an excellent cookbook yesterday that I had seen at the local independent bookseller and which I then subsequently checked out at our local library.  Turns out after reading it, that it was one she wanted to own.  It is a cookbook of holiday recipes designed for the vegan in us all, but the recipes look delicious as do the photos of the foods.  Mary always likes picture styles cookbooks, and I confess, so do I.  Once again, that's where Mary's expertise n the kitchen comes in.  All I have to do is eat and clean up.  I think I actually get the better end of the deal.  Mary and I went to see the new 007 movie yesterday afternoon, and it was incredible.  I won't spoil it, but if you like cars, and action, Bond women. and most of all Bond villains, then this is the movie for you.   It is amazing how they can fit the trailers for upcoming movies to the audience.  Let's just say that there were no kid flicks represented.  Of course, I had to have popcorn, the reason, or at least one of the reasons I go to movies.  Oh, best of all, this theater actually has hand dryers that work, not like those anemic dryers that are found in so many places.  So, it is now time to go back to bed before I have to get UP for Chris.  So until the morrow, I'll leave you with it is nearly...Tea time.

Good just afternoon, GH. Well, I almost made it, but the time got away from me, again.  Sugar the Weather Dog has been very needy lately, something that tells me she is feeling neglected.  Sometimes when you get busy, you tend to not do a good job of interaction with your companion pet, so I urge everyone to take time for your best friend, whether two or four legged, so that everybody benefits.  Anyway, speaking of Sugar, she and I went for a walk this AM, and then stopped at the local news stand for the morning papers.  We still need to go out for the GH Tribune, but that will wait for a few minutes.  I think she thought the day was okay, but I can't be sure.  Currently, the view out the Weather Window is gray skies and the sun is nowhere to be seen.  A very wintry looking day.  Strange, since the predictions for the weekend contain showers, but also warmer temperatures.  Also, the current temperature on the desktop display is 42 degrees.  I just got off the phone with a place that I e-subscribe to that was offering a free calendar, so that is why I got a late start.  I also checked on the availability of a vegan holiday cookbook at the Loutit Library, and now that I know the call number, I can check on it in person.  I also requested a book called The Generals, by Thomas Ricks, that purports to give a critique of some of the great and not so great generals in our military service.  As soon as a copy becomes available, I'll be able to pick it up.  I do have a book on hold that I'll pick up this evening when I am there for tutoring.  I also talked to one of our neighbors recently who told me that  a new coffee shop will be opening up on 7th.  I suspect that Adam and Steph will be interested in that.  Otherwise, I am awaiting the editing job from Mary and then I will be off to the library.  But first, my companion pet has a need, so I'll take care of that now.  Until tomorrow, Ciao.

Good afternoon GH.  Well, it is nearly 3:30 in the PM, so I think that good afternoon is appropriate about now.  The view out the Weather Window is a beautiful blue sky and the sun is shining as brightly as it can at this time of year.  Sugar the Weather Dog is back in her bed after getting sick to her tummy, so she is resting now.  If I spoke more fluent Corgle, I would have understood her when she asked to go out.  My bad.   Currently the temperature display on the desktop is a very nice 49 degrees.  We are expecting a high in the upper fifties and lower sixties on Saturday and Sunday.   A possible chance to get in some additional time on the Grand Haven channel, especially if the forecast-ed showers also come to pass.  Of course, Sugar the Weather Dog will get a bone too.  I want to mention that enough time has passed since the Tigers were bested by the Giants 4-0 in the World Series.  Coming off the Cubs, that was good, but not nearly as good as it might have been.  Also, although the NHL and its players are talking, the Winter Classic which was to have been held at the Big House in Ann Arbor, was canceled.  I don't know which set of millionaires is greedier, but I think they both are to blame.  For the average fan, they all seem to make too much money.  However, the owners lease taxpayer supported arenas, so I tend to think that the players have more to lose every game.  I also know that Adam was hoping to see a Grand Prix race while he visits Boston with Steph, but alas, the Patriots are on, so the sports bars there will be showing that on every available television.  I don't really have a horse in that race, but you would think that they could spare one television for auto racing fans.  I came away from the recent election season relieved.  I am so tired of  the barrage of political commercials for all the candidates and all the issues.  I felt like little Abby when she just wanted it to stop.  However, I am beginning to miss the constant email contacts soliciting money for the various groups and causes.  But, given the alternatives, I like it better.  I thought that Mr. Romney gave a nice concession speech, while President Obama was also nice in his victory speech.  So much money to produce so little change.  Otherwise, I am awaiting my next editing job for the index Mary is working on.  I already have ten hours in, so I will be glad when this one is done.  I got the outdoor furniture completely covered today, so that is one more thing off my To Do list.  So, until next time, I'll just say fare the well,,

Good morning GH.  Well, I am up at my usual time, and this morning the view out the Weather Window is, of course, dark.  However, with the return of standard time, the dawn comes an hour earlier.  As I noted in last night's blog, Sugar the Weather Dog is not pleased by the change in hours.  She will have to get used to it, but like most dogs, she is a creature of habit and does not take readily to change.  Currently, the temperature display on the desktop is showing 33 degrees, which I think is warmer than when I went to bed last evening. I too am having trouble adjusting to the change in time, and so I fell asleep in my chair around 10:30 last night.  I woke, told Mary I was going to bed, and she reminded me that I had already been sleeping for about one half hour.  I like to think that I was tired from my day's activities, but it is probably just my circadian rhythms working on me.  As most of you know, today is election day here in GH, and whatever your political persuasion, I urge you to get out and vote.  In spite of the heavy reliance on polling data by the media, every vote counts and we should all exercise our right to vote.  Unlike most retired people, I intend to use the midday for casting my votes.  Otherwise, it is now time for bed.  I am fully tired again and that is a good thing.  So, until it is...Tea time and time to vote, I think I will return to bed for a long winter's nap.  Ciao, auf wiedersehen, , bye bye now, etc. until the morrow.

Good evening GH.  Well, as you can tell from the opening line, I got a real late start today/tonight.  I was so busy doing the housework this AM, that I didn't find time to blog until now, which is about 7:45 PM.  I did manage to dust, clean the bathrooms, and vacuum the entire estate, so I can tell you I was really tired when I was done.  Sugar the Weather Dog and I went for a walk this AM before I started the housework, but then she was traumatized by the vacuuming and dusting.  I probably wouldn't have to dust and vacuum so often if she didn't live here, but that's the price of having a companion pet in your home.  She, as Adam would tell you, has me totally wrapped around her little paw, and that's okay with me.  Anyway, the current view out the Weather Window is, surprise, Dark!  In addition,the desktop temperature is a brisk 31 degrees.  I had entertained the notion of sitting outside for awhile as Sugar chewed a bone, but I came t my senses.  Speaking of Sugar, she is still working on adjusting to the time change, and still expects dinner at the usual time.  Unfortunately for her, that is now one hour later by the household clocks versus her internal clock.  She will get the hang of it, but it will be a few days.  We tried to stall her yesterday, but she would have continued to bug us, so we fed her ahead of our schedule, not hers. Tonight, the people from the cable company are going to be doing some line work, so the cable will be down from about midnight until about 4:00 AM.  I hope that it is up and running when I wake at 4:00 AM, as I always do.  I touched up the walls in my office where I had nicked them and then I also got the salt out of the basement to make ready for winter.  I'd like to say that I was done then, but I had to go through another edit on the table that Mary is working on, so there went the balance of my afternoon.  So, until tomorrow morning, I'll just say Ciao, bye bye, later much, and adios to you all.

Good first morning of daylight savings time GH.  As expected it is lighter outside at this hour, but that means it will be darker this evening on the flip side.  I should mention that the current desktop temperature is a brisk 36 degrees,  However, there seems to be little wind, so it should be nice enough today.  More than ever, Mary and I are convinced that in spite of the anomaly that was represented by the mild nature of last winter, this was a righteous decision to adopt GH as our new home.  We like it here, it feels comfortable.  I did actually get to some cooking in Mary's kitchen yesterday.  I made the salsa verde that I mentioned, and it turned out absolutely perfect.  Not too runny, not too spicy, and best of all tasty.  Mary first tried it out on some queso enchiladas, and it was great.  Today, she plans to work with the eggs that I got on the way home yesterday as she crafts some huevos rancheros, and I anticipate that they will also be excellent. Anyway, it will soon be time for UP and so I'd best e on my way to...Tea time.

Good early morning GH.  It is about 3:30 in the AM, so of course, the view out the Weather Window is...Dark!  Sugar the Weather Dog is still abed, as is Mary.  She worked hard yesterday, so she needs her sleep.  The current temperature showing on the desktop is 38 degrees.  That's chilly, but then it is November 3.  Not much to report from yesterday.  Barb had a long day, but an excellent outcome.  I think the best thing to say at this point is to just say, Way to go.  I don't have anything in particular on tap for Saturday.  A little college football, a nice walk with Sugar the Weather Dog, and then maybe a little cooking.  While we were out yesterday, Mary and I picked up some tomatillos, and they of course, make excellent Salsa Verde.  You can also use them in scrambled eggs and other dishes.  I printed out several recipes, so I'll try one if I find the time.  Inside joke.  Otherwise, my yard work is nearly finished for the year.  A few more leaves have to fall, the pot for the tulips needs to be returned to it's spring ready state and voila, I'm ready.  I had the chance to watch the railroad workers repair the tracks yesterday.  I don't envy them.  I've laid HO scale tracks, and that's enough for me. If they got it wrong, I'll have a train in my front yard.  Turns out I was awake when the tow locomotives came through, so it appears that they got it right.  So, until next time, Ill just say it is once again time for bed and then "UP" will be on.  Oh, I have to see if Auto Talk is available on iHeart, then Adam can listen to the show on Saturday mornings.  It turns out that it is.  The station is WOOD 106.9 FM from Grand Rapids.  The program is on at 7:00 AM here, so it would be 6:00 AM in Chicago.  Ciao.

Good early morning GH.  Although not unusual, I got up early to type my blog and to just enjoy the feel of a quiet house.  I had a super day yesterday.  We got up so late, that breakfast turned into brunch, but then Mary made a superb stir fry that I enjoyed immensely.  I do miss foods from the commercial Chinese restaurants, but as Mary points out, and rightly so, with my new found allergy to sesame, you just never know when you might come into contact with that particular allergen, but you can be almost certain that they have used it in those establishments and that it could come in contact with something that I ordered in the cooking process.  So, it is much better to be safe than sorry.  Mary had a tougher go than I yesterday morning before brunch.  I got the privilege of walking Sugar the Weather Dog, and we had a great time just walking in the brisk morning air.  However, Mary went to the grocery store and the bank, and encountered a water main leak at the corner of Robbins Rd. and Beacon.  Needless to say, Sugar and I were back long before Mary.  In the late afternoon, I did some highlighting and Mary some indexing.  I want to help, but my brain seems unable to process well enough to cut and paste at this time.  Mary got a nice missive from a client, that indicated that they were highly satisfied with her last efforts and will use her again in the future. For an indexer, that is indeed high praise.  I should also mention that when I returned with Sugar, the 12 bags of leaves grew to 13, because they had yet to pick them up and so I was able to add another bag from our palatial estate to the pile.  Later, I returned some books to the library and picked up another one prior to my tutoring session.  A productive day all in all.  I met Mary downtown at our favorite watering hole, had dinner, and then we made our way home for some television and nap time.  Currently, the desktop temperature is 41 degrees, and the forecast calls for no precipitation.   Sugar will be happy to hear that.  So, until I decide to get up again the next time and then of course, enjoy...Tea time. Ciao.  I thought that I would update slightly at 8:20 in the AM.  The desktop temperature has dropped to 37 degrees, but the sun is shining brightly over our fair city.  Also, when it comes to Sugar the Weather Dog, nothing has changed.  She is still abed and still content.  Life is good.  Also, best wishes to Barb.

Where else could you see this many VWs?

One of my favorite things