Good morning GH. It just passed 4:30 AM here in or fair city and the temperature in my office/music room is 72 comfortable degrees. Outdoors, the temperature is also a comfortable, albeit lower, 58 degrees, as we head for a high of, now hear this, 78 degrees. It is likely that that is going to happen more inland, but even if we get into the lower 70s, I'll take it. As I look out the Weather Window, I can see that we did have some precipitation overnight. Nothing to write home about, and of course, there isn't anyone to write to other than Mary, Adam, or Steph, or just a letter to self, but that's okay.

Today, I did some serious farming out in the back part of our palatial estate. Mary wanted to plant the seeds in her new flower garden, so I was tasked with the job of digging up the remnants of the grass in that area and placing the detritus in the lawn and leaf bags. I can tell I am getting older, because it took three bags so that I could lift them. Most younger people would likely have used two or maybe even one. In fact, I felt like one of our elderly neighbors, Marshall, who once lived next door to us. I think I have mentioned him before. I actually contemplated doing the job over several days, just as he did the exterior painting on his house. I am glad that I didn't, because then I would have been digging in the mud, but I still can say that it took a lot out of me.

Prior to this strenuous activity, Mary and I walked over to the local garden center to pick up a garden fork, for turning the soil. This center is nearly two miles round trip, and of course, Sugar the Weather Dog went along for the walk. She was excited that we got a fresh supply of bones for her trips to the "Bone Zone" on the way back.

When we returned, Mary made lunch and then Sugar and I got to work. I enjoyed myself, but today it is a certainty that I won't be doing much outside. No sense in rushing things as Marshall might have said. According to the directions, Mary has to water the seeds/seedlings everyday for the next six weeks. Actually, our plans for the trip to the garden center called for us to get a replacement watering can too, but Mary decided that the hose had a soft sprayer attachment on it already, so we didn't need a new can. I may need something to water the front porch baskets when Mary gets those planted, we'll see.

Otherwise, when I was done, I spent some time doing a crossword/word search, and then I played some guitar. Our neighbor appreciated my efforts. Sugar had other distractions/attractions. Mary spent most of the afternoon and early evening working in her office as Sugar and I enjoyed the outdoors. I think that I mostly get the better end of that deal. I did, except for the baking yak.

I almost forgot. The boys in blue won their 4th out of 5 games, 5 - 3 against San Diego. They are still five games under, and play again tonight against the Padres. The Tigers won a nail biter, 4 - 3. My beloved Red Sox had the day off and play next against Toronto. The Red Sox are still in first place in their division. The Caps fell to Beloit, 6 - 1. Oh, the Bulls were thoroughly trounced by the Nets. Too many missing players. The coach may be good, but he isn't a magician.

So, until it is...Tea time, I'll say Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 1:00 AM here in our fair city, and the view out the Weather Window is dark, as usual. The current temperature here in my office/music room is 71 very comfortable degrees. Outside, the temperature is a chillier 49 degrees. But, here is the important thing, we are expecting a high near 70 today and then mid to upper 70s on Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll drop into the 60s again on Thursday and Friday and then by Sunday, into the 50s. So, I plan to enjoy spring as long as it lasts. I know it will be back in all its glory in the not too distant future. But as I get older, I am less able to abide this extended spring thing. Did I mention the Kentucky Derby is Saturday? No, but it is the anniversary of my second allergic reaction to sesame seeds, so it is tough for me to forget.

Not much happened on Sunday. Mary, Sugar the Weather Dog, and I took an extended walk down to the waterfront in the AM after UP with Steve. In the afternoon, Mary and I took another walk, and in total we covered over five miles. Not bad for a couple of old folks.

In the later afternoon, we spent some time in the "Bone Zone" with Sugar, who has only one bone left in her larder, and Bridget. Sometimes I was good, sometimes not, especially as the beer kicked in. Overall, an enjoyable time for all.

In the evening, I grew tired and went to bed. I listened to part of the Tigers game, in which they swept the Braves, but I fell asleep. I learned that the boys in blue failed to sweep their series against the Florida Marlins, losing 6 - 4. My beloved Red Sox beat the Astros again by a score of 6 - 1 to keep a firm hold on first place in their division. I have decided to pay no further attention to that other Chicago baseball team. The Caps beat the Snappers of Beloit, 5 - 3. So, at least here in Michigan, all is well.

Otherwise, things are quiet. More...Tea time in the morning, then Mary has work to do. Me, not so much. More music, a little time with the local paper, and that's about it. I may, and I stress may, go to the fabric store for some replacement foam for my chair, but that requires me to get in the car, so it is less likely to happen. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Here I am at 3:00 AM, and since I went to bed early, it is no surprise that I am up and blogging. A quick report on the weather here. Today was nothing short of gorgeous. The temperature peaked out in the mid-sixties and the showers stayed away and will stay away until later today and early this week. I know that we need rain, but I think we can get by for a few days. Our current temperature is 51 degrees, and according to the National Weather Service, it is cloudy  But, since the view out the Weather Window isn't very revealing, it is hard to tell. We are expecting some highs in the 70s later this week. Maybe spring has finally sprung.

Mary and I spent some time in the yard of our palatial estate, and cleared the leaves around Mary's roses and picked up some of the twigs and things. We got the lawn/deck furniture uncovered, and put the tarps aside for storage in the man-cave. I didn't want to overdo, but we got more of the cold weather crops planted in their pots and Mary is still moving her other pots around the back forty to see how they look and how much sun they will get. Until the trees fully leaf out, she can't be 100% accurate, but when is farming ever all science and not a good part luck?

Our sports report is as follows. The boys in blue have now won three in a row, but they are still in a deep hole in their division. The Blackhawks dropped their final game of the season, but they still are the #1 seed in the playoffs. The Bulls, in a thrilling triple overtime win, topped Brooklyn, 142 - 134. The Tigers behind their recently recalled closer, topped the Braves 7 - 4. My beloved Red Sox beat Houston 8 - 4.  I also know that that the White Sox lost, but who cares. The Caps lost to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to remain below 500. Ouch!

Otherwise, I did some cooking on Saturday, well actually, I was outside working and Mary did the hard part while all I did was turn on the blender when I came in, to make tomatillo salsa. We had some of that baguette for breakfast along with a fried egg, and that was all good. Tea time preceded breakfast and the grape juice that we are ingesting to keep our arteries clear is working great.

So, until I have more to say, Ciao.

Good morning GH. Phew, what a day Mary and I had on Thursday. I obviously didn't get around to blogging on Friday, but the day was just too great to spend indoors. I'll make up for time lost this AM. .Here in GH at 3:30, it is currently 52 degrees, and we are heading for a high of the mid-sixties for the next three days and then, wait for it, 70 plus on Tuesday.  However, we drop to 66 on Wednesday. Then watch out on Thursday, when we begin to drop into the lower 50s and upper 40s and the chance of precipitation begins to rise. Don't want to count our gardening chickens just yet. As is mostly the case at this hour, the view out the Weather Window is dark with a chance of continued dark until dawn. Our current indoor temperature is a pleasant 70 degrees.

Sugar the Weather Dog and I spent the afternoon in the bone zone while Mary went to the store. I enjoyed cross wording as she chewed contentedly on her bone. I almost said dementedly per a suggestion from the spell check, and that too might have been accurate. I also picked up a few twigs and leaves as I tried out my new lawn and leaf bag chute which worked as advertised. I filled Mary's new planter with dirt when she was gone and she promptly planted lettuce upon her return. Fortunately, lettuce is a cold-weather crop, so the drop in temperatures next week should have no negative effect. She is still wrestling with where to place the other planters on the grounds of our palatial estate to maximize the sun exposure. I just want her to decide before they are full of dirt.

Last night I heard a train, and it sounded like a long one. But, I just didn't get up to look. Like I often say, there's always tomorrow. After that mini-train early Thursday morning, I didn't feel like it, plus I was too tired from our long day of driving on Thursday. Oh oh, I blogged too soon. I have been up long enough now that a train is going by, heading south to north. Two locomotives and a string of covered hopper cars. This one is a longer one than that of early Thursday.

Mary and I went on a knitting quest to go to four yarn shops on Thursday. We ended up going to six and that just leaves one to complete the minimum of seven she needs to qualify for a prize. She got lots of good yarns and things, but I'll let her tell you more. I got to see more of the state, so that was all good. Plus, in one of the towns, we stopped in a nice little tavern for a belated lunch. Mary said their coleslaw was excellent, but by that time, nearly anything would have been excellent. That's because the pizza we set out to get wasn't available, at least not in an enticing venue. Now we have only the place in Muskegon to try for that "Chicago Style" pie. I hope it isn't a bust.

In the world of sports, the boys in blue are on a two game winning streak, having defeated the Florida Marlins twice now. At this rate they may get to 500 by season's end. The Tigers crushed the Braves, 10- 0 after losing to the Royals on Thursday. Suddenly, the Tigers are 2nd in a not to strong division. My beloved Red Sox, hammered the hapless Astros to maintain their grip on first in their division. The Caps, split two games with the Timber Rattlers of WI. The Chicago Bulls have a 2 - 1 lead in their series against the Nets. The Bears, they're draft pick was rated not so good by the "experts" on ESPN. The Lions took a defensive end who was well regarded. I still think they need some help on the offensive side of the ball. Another solid wide-out and some huge linemen would go along way towards protecting the QB. Good news, the first player chosen in the draft was Eric Fisher of Central Michigan University. Coincidentally, he was the first lineman chosen and he is from the small Mid-American Conference, just like Adam;s Alma-mater, Northern.

But enough already. Tea time and UP with Steve Kornacki will be here soon. I also must listen to Auto Talk this early AM. I have to make tomatillo salsa today whilst Mary works, and then the day is mine. Ciao.

Good morning GH. I am going to start out a little different this early morning. I got up to see the train go by and lo and behold, I didn't have to wait long. With the lights off, I looked out the Weather Window, and watched the lights come on at the crossing. I watched the locomotive's headlamp light up the houses across the way, and then, "Bam" (sorry Emeril) there it was; a single locomotive and one, count it one, lone box car. I don't think the Mid-Michigan Railroad ever watched one of those CSX commercials where they claim to move one ton of freight 450 miles on a single gallon of fuel. Let's just say that this "freight train" wasn't terribly efficient.

Anyway, on to the local weather and other things. We currently have a temperature of 42 degrees, heading for high of 47 today. We'll have to wait for Friday for temperatures approaching 60. Mary plans to attend a seminar at the local library this afternoon, and if I read the forecast correctly, while the chance of showers is 70% at 7:00 AM, it drops to 10% by the time she will be walking to the library around two. Looks good for her, but not necessarily for Sugar the Weather Dog and me, earlier in the day.

In sports; the boys in blue saw their bats go back to sleep, as they lost behind a brilliant pitching performance, by Jeff Samardzija. He fanned 8, and was hit by a come backer to the mound that bloodied his finger. But the result was still a 1 - 0 loss. The Red Sox rebounded from their drubbing on Tuesday to defeat the As of Oakland, 6 - 5. The Tigers, also won over the Royals, 7 - 5, to go one game over 500. The Caps, hammered the gang from Lake County, IN  10 - 1. The White Sox, I still don't care.

Mary and I journeyed to Downtown Muskegon on Wednesday to check out what turned out to be a great gourmet cheese shop. We got some killer blue cheese, and some cheddar, both from Ireland. We then had lunch at a pub in a box, that also turned out to be very good. We also discovered as we left town, that there is a place in Muskegon that purports to sell "Chicago Style" deep dish pizza. We will be gong on a yarn shop tour tomorrow, and we will be trying out another "Chicago Style" place a bit east of here in Grandville. Then, we can make a future comparison between the two Michigan places and the real "Chicago Style" pizza made in Steph and Adam's home town. There, they have several places to choose from that know how to make pizza the Chicago way.

Oh well, it is hard sometimes to find food like that which you grew up with. Adam assures me that there is a place here in GH, that knows how to make a "Chicago Style" Italian beef sandwich, but they have to be asked to "gravy dip" it. It seems that when they first opened they did it the Chicago way, but the people here thought that it was weird. I've not tried it, but Adam knows about these things.

Oh well, time for a return to bed and to lie about in the early AM, hours listening to the radio and not having anything to do. That is unless you count...Tea time and a few things in the man cave; which may wait for Mary's trip to the library. No need to rush these things. Ciao

Good morning GH. Well, the view out the Weather Window is cloudy this morning and the current temperature is 35 degrees. However, we are expecting a high of 58 this Friday with 60s and 70s through next Tuesday. But then, we drop back into the 50s on Wednesday and then back to the 60s on Thursday and then back to the 50s on Friday, My 3.. Well, you get the picture, the weather here is like a yo-yo. However, I see some serious time in the bone-zone by this weekend. No rain in the forecast of any significance for the next several days. We will all be glad of that, especially Sugar the Weather Dog.

I went to the orthopedist for my final knee treatment for the next six months, and I must say that my knees are definitely feeling better. I don't know that this would work for everyone, but I encourage people to give it a try before contemplating more drastic measures.

Not much on tap for the day. Tea time, guitar time, Sugar walk time, and that's about it. Oh, a little laundry time too, but that is something that is in and running and requires little attention except at transfer and folding time.

I need to spend some time in the man-cave, but that is discretionary. The man-cave is a place I can go to or not, and do things or not, all at my own whim. I like that. Sugar won't go there, but that too is also at her whim.

A short sports report. The boys in blue seem to have found a way to win, at least for one day. On the other hand, the Red Sox were routed by the As of Oakland, 13 - 0. Still, the Sox are in first place in their division The Tigers, were postponed in their game against the surprising Kansas City Royals. The Caps, lost to the Lake County, IN Captains, 3 - 4. Well, better luck next time.

Overall, a mixed sports report. The Cubs won, the Caps lost, the Tigers were postponed, and the Red Sox were drubbed. Oh, the White Sox, who cares, except to say that they lost to the equally inept tribe of Cleveland.

So, I'd best be on my way even without an early morning rain. Sorry Gordon.

No trains to report, just a short one at about 3:30 this AM. but it wasn't much judging by the lack of the house shaking. I think this is the day in the Tribune when Dick Fox reports on the shipping here in GH. Of course, it might have been yesterday.  Ciao

Good early morning GH. It is quickly closing on 2:00 AM here in GH, and I am up long enough to do some blogging and maybe a bit of reading. Our current temperature is 52 degrees, and the high for today is still expected to be a pleasant 55 degrees. Since we have been subjected to the vagaries of yo-yo temperatures and conditions, this isn't all bad. One thing is for sure, the worst of winter seems to be behind us.

It was so nice on Monday morning, that Sugar the Weather Dog led us on a safari to the local pet supply store to get her a car riding crate.She wasn't in on that part of the plan, and so to get Sugar to try one on, was a bit difficult. Sugar wasn't all that cooperative, because she thought she was being left. Fortunately, the young man at the store had a treat that was irresistible and she went in and the crate proved to be the right size. So we got $5.00 off and Sugar has a new crate.

Once we came back, I finished my housework and then Sugar and I spent some time in the bone zone, i.e., the deck and patio area. She loved her bone, I read, and life was good again. Hopefully, there are many more similar days to come.

We stopped in at the Post Office to check on a certified letter notice that we received. Turns out the letter wasn't for us, but it was a good chance to go there and get something else.

Our next stop was the bank, and then downtown to UPS. A busy day! Eleanore would have been proud. We had to spend $7.00 to get one page scanned and placed on a memory stick. A few more of those and we could have bought an inexpensive scanner.

I may have come up with a plan for the vent in my office. I have to take off the cover and point my camera down the hole and snap a photo so that I can get a more complete picture, pun intended. Once I have that, I can formulate a plan for removing the blockage, I hope.

A short sports report. The Bulls beat the Brooklyn Nets 90 - 82 in the NBA playoffs. I still follow them, but only peripherally, The boys in blue, dropped another one in their quest to become the worst team in professional baseball, and I use that term professional, very loosely. Alas, the Tigers also fell to the Royals. My beloved Red Sox, are still first in their division, having beaten the As of Oakland, 9 - 6. The Tigers need to start swinging the bats on a team wide basis like the Red Sox are doing.. The Caps took one from the Lake County, IN Loons by a score of 8 - 4. The White Sox, who cares.

Alright, that about covers my day on Monday. I have the last of my orthopedist's appointments at  9:00 AM and then I should be good for six to eight more months, taking me into the fall. I hope that Barb got good news from her orthopedist on Monday. I haven't heard anything.

So, it is soon to be time t get up for the doctor, so I'd best be getting back to bed and get some additional sleep. Ciao.

Oh, I thought that no train was coming, but I just heard the horn. Looks like the usual, twin locomotives and in this case no cars, heading north. Odds are they'll be heading south later with the cars. A short line is soooo predictable.

Good early morning GH. Our current temperature is 43 degrees, heading for a high of 63 today. Wow, it is about time. Too bad it won't last. By Tuesday, we'll be back into the 50s and the chance of precipitation increases to 80%. Given the state of affairs for the people of Grand Rapids and environs, that isn't good. The Grand River will be above historical flood crest records, so it won't be pretty.

Sugar the Weather Dog, Mary, and I will be walking to the local pet supply store to check out the fit of some crates for our traveling safety; ours and and Sugars. Given the fact that Sugar doesn't like being seat belted in, the cage is safer for all concerned. Since the temperature is going to be in the low 60s, it should be a great day for this activity.

I spent some time in the man cave today. When you don't read the New York Times, you gain a lot of extra time. I worked on the return spring for my pruning shears, and then since I was there, I sorted the beads for my snowman Christmas tree ornaments. Once I had that done, I decided I would cut the wire that was to be used for the assembly. Then I thought, why not cut the ribbon to be used for the scarves on the snowmen. Of course, since I was there, I figured I could try making one to see how it would go. 12 snowmen later, I had the answer. The directions were literally just pictures, and they were partially drawn upside down, at least to me. Once I figured that out, I was off to the races. I have a few left over beads, which is unusual, but at least I had too many, not too few, which often happens.

Then, I came upstairs for more reading of The Night Ranger. I realized that the character was one with whom I was familiar. So since I have to finish by the Tuesday due date, that will make it easier. Mary decided she wanted to go for a walk, so I had to convince Sugar that she wanted to leave the comfort of my lap, and let me get up. It was a nice day for a walk downtown, and today should be even better.

No trains yet tonight, but this is/was Sunday night, so we may not see any until later.

Mary made banana bread today, and of course, Sugar was enthralled by the entire process. She is after all, the official sous dog of the house, so she just had to stay and help. Mary put the banana bread in the oven, set the timer, and left the removal from the oven in my capable hands. She was off to chase more facts in in her ongoing pursuit of facts about the previous owners of our home. She is doing well, but admits she has a long way to go.

The bread was somewhat stuck, but I managed, and the finished product was better than mine. I hate to admit it, but when I bake, I find that I do it with less elan. Maybe in another 20 years, I 'll get the hang of it.

I am up late/early this morning, as I was working on my knitting machine. Mary thought it would work better with a crochet hook, but I found that the hook that came with the machine actually works better. Any difficulties are with the operator, not the hook.  I took out my original efforts, because something went haywire. Once again, the operator was the problem. This time, it is looking better. Once again, in 20 years, I should have it down pat. Nothing like practice to make perfect.

In the sports department, the boys in blue are fading fast, and they are only 17 games into the new season. I know that these are the Cubs, but when the manager threatens to send the future of the team to the minors, you know they have problems. If there is a plus for the day, the White Sox lost too. My beloved Red Sox lost both ends of a double header, the second game was a make up for the game that had to be cancelled due to the lock down in Boston on Friday. The Tigers lost badly on Saturday, giving up nine runs in the bottom of the 1st. They never recovered. They have dropped to third in their division. The Caps lost on Sunday to he Silverhawks of West Bend. All in all, not a good baseball weekend. However, Sebastian Vettel of the Red Bull team won the Grand Prix of Bahrain. At the NASCAR race in Kansas City, KS, Matt Kenseth won a race marred by more than enough accidents.

Enough sports, it is time for bed. Tea time will be here before you know it. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is fast closing on 4:00 AM here in the big city, and as I gaze out the Weather Window I see dark. Surprise! Our current temperature is 29 clear degrees. We are supposed to get to the lower 50s today and the chance of precipitation is next to nothing. Of course on Monday, the temperatures are expected to get into the lower 60s and once again, with very limited precipitation. But watch out on Tuesday and beyond, when we see a continual drop in in temperatures and an increasing chance of precipitation on Tuesday.

Saturday was a great day. Sugar the Weather Dog and I took a short walk and then Mary made a nice lemon, garlic and olive oil vinaigrette dressing for salad. We had a nice sandwich to go with, and it was all good. Mary and I then journeyed to a local garden center, where she got some seeds for her upcoming garden. She got seeds for cold weather crops like lettuce, kale, and spinach. Now all we need are the containers she plans to use for her plantings. I agree with her that the soil around our palatial estate may be contaminated with over 100 years worth of unknown chemicals, and so containers are a safer alternative. The various flowering plants are fine, because we don't eat them.

I took my traveling guitar, which I just named Bridget, in honor of the fact that I play Irish music on her. Of course by shape, guitars are female. After an unrequited stop at the big box hardware store in town, Mary dropped me at the library for my Irish Jam session. We had about 30 players, and as always, I had a great time. I like to think I am improving, and the chance to play with others is a good way to do it.

Later, I walked Bridget home and then met Mary downtown for drinks. They had a young man playing guitar and singing, and he was good. I liked him, but it was guitar and vocals, so what's not to like.

We didn't get to watch UP, with Steve Kornacki due to the ongoing coverage of the tragedy in Boston. However, he is supposed to be back on Sunday, and I hope a spirited discussion of the events surrounding the Marathon and their aftermath will ensue. We should agree not to rush to judgment.

Otherwise, I have a book to finish by Tuesday, before it must be returned. I just finished a book entitled Black Irish, by Stephan Talty, which has a young woman of Irish descent as a detective working for the Buffalo, New York PD. She was adopted by her very Irish cop father as an infant, and has her own set of demons chasing her, some of them related to her own history. I liked this book much more than the last one I read. Now am on to Night Ranger, by Alex Berenson, and so far, it feels good. Time will tell.

Otherwise, not much on tap for the day. More reading, more relaxation, and of course...Tea time as we watch UP. So, until there is more to say, Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is currently 31 chilly degrees here in GH. There is a wind blowing at 15 mph, so it feels like 20 degrees. Brrrr! Sugar the Weather Dog and I will be walking this morning, but it will be a short walk for sure. The view out the Weather Window shows sunshine sometimes, and gray skies with splashes of blue other times. In any event, it is certainly cold. Once again, Brrr! One ray of hope, according to the National Weather Service, Monday is expected to reach a high of 63 before we drop back into the 40s and 50s for several days. Tuesday is also showing a 60% chance of precipitation, while Saturday, the 27th, is showing  the same with temperatures in the 50s. I know I've said this before, but enough already.

Mary got cheated out of UP/ with Steve Kornacki, as the network is instead running coverage of the post capture activities in Boston. I am glad that they caught one of the perpetrators alive so that they can interrogate him and try to get to the bottom of this despicable act. However, a constant rehash won't tell us as much as a thoughtful discussion on UP, with a panel of people who actually knows something. Oh well, UP will be back tomorrow. Mary is still watching, because like a moth to a flame, she is drawn.

I have an Irish Jam session at the library this afternoon, while Mary goes to some Earth Day activities at the community center. I always look forward to jamming, and I know that Mary will like Earth Day, so we both have a winner.

Otherwise, not much on tap for the day. Tea time and guitar. What's not to like? Sugar will not feel entirely requited by a short walk, but I just don't like walking into the face of  a hurricane west wind. Oops, I was channeling Gordon Lightfoot there. Sometimes those things happen.

Speaking of things, we had a train about 7:00 PM yesterday, an odd time. Two locomotives and a long string of box, covered hopper, and tank cars heading south. Given the number of trains recently, I think the economy is improving, even as the price of precious metals drops. Gasoline too, has been on a lower trajectory. Gosh I like that word trajectory. No reason, just fun to use.

Oh well, it is now time to get ready to face the day and get ready to walk out in the biting cold. Well, it isn't really biting, but it is a nice turn of a phrase. So, Ciao.

Oh, I forgot to mention that in my never ending quest for free things, I was able to add my vote to those of others and get a $1,000 grant for Sugar the Weather Dog's adoption agency, Animal House Shelter of Huntley, Illinois. I think that should help then get more kibble and help more homeless pets. Now for sure, adieu.

Good morning GH. Since it is currently not raining, I call that a good morning GH. We are experiencing a  temperature of 41 degrees, and the view out the Weather Window is dark. Sugar the Weather Dog should be ready to go out in the AM, since the chance of precipitation is relatively low for the times before 2:00 PM.

Speaking of the weather, we had what could best be described in the old  west as a gully washer on Thursday. We had standing water by the railroad tracks, standing water in the rear area of our shared driveway  and standing water that is still there on our front walk area. I am just thankful that it wasn't snow, because it would have been in excess of two feet. In GR and its environs, there is an expectation of the Grand River cresting well beyond its record and flooding additional homes and businesses. Last year we got no rain of consequence in the summer, and this year we are getting a deluge in the spring. The record rainfall is helping the various lakes and rivers, but there is a plea out for people to help fill sand bags. One large hotel in GR was forced to close when its basement and parking garage area flooded. Numerous night activities at churches, schools, and some businesses had to be called on account of rain.

Not only were the above activities canceled, but the Caps had to endure another rain-out as the rain poured on the Fifth/Third ballpark in Comstock Park, MI. The park sits near the banks of the Grand River, and is in fact on River Road. The boys in blue got in their game in Wrigley Field and beat the Rangers, 6 - 2 Thursday afternoon. The White Sox lost, 3 - 1 to the Blue Jays. The Tigers lost 2 - 0 to the Mariners. I'd like to excuse their efforts as the result of the late game the night before, but both teams suffered the same late game syndrome. Unfortunately, the usually reliable Justin Verlander had a solid game until the 7th and then gave up two runs that the Tigers were unable to match. The Red Sox once again topped the tribe from Cleveland to remain atop their division and ahead of those darn Yankees.

In reference to Boston, I hope you had the chance to see the spontaneous outbreak of patriotism, Boston style, when they played the National Anthem before the Bruins game. The fans drowned out the arena singer and sounded great. I just wish we could all do something for all of us on many more occasions. For example, for the people of West, TX after their own tragedy of Wednesday night, in which many lives were lost, many were injured, and many homes and businesses were destroyed.

I guess that I am getting maudlin. Today is another day, hope is what the American people are all about, and no matter what happens, we have an uncanny ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again. Pardon the obvious lyric. We just have to be sure we get the right perpetrators, and not be incited by know-nothings to attack innocent people or groups without cause.

But, time for bed as I await...Tea time, and a tad more housework. Ciao.

A side note. I spent several hours of my life that I'll never get back on Thursday working with the people at my on-line back-up service and the people at my anti-virus service in order to get my computer to function properly. When asked why the virus that was infecting my computer got past the anti-virus software I was told that it was a "Retro-virus," that used the anti-virus software as a vehicle to infect my machine. After listening to their pitch, I told them to get started with the fix, which had an additional cost. Oh well, what can you do.

Good very early morning GH. It has just passed 12:15 in the early AM, and I thought that by doing my blog now, I could get ahead of the curve. Actually, I was tired and went to bed early, so I just got up to get a drink of water. Mary always says I don't drink enough water, so I am trying to remedy that.

Our current temperature is 41 degrees, with a light rain still falling. According to the National Weather Service, we are heading for a high of 61 degrees on Thursday. In addition, rain is expected to continue throughout the day on Thursday. But wait, there's more! By Friday, we anticipate snow showers. Sugar the Weather Dog spent quite a bit of time in her hide-e-hole downstairs, as she/we were hearing the rumble of thunder yesterday afternoon/evening. I don't fully understand the behavior, but I can empathize. She doesn't have any of the mythology created to explain natural events.

Had a great time watching 42 at our local theater on Wednesday. I heartily recommend this movie. It was moving and well acted. We stopped off at the fabric/art store after the movie and then went to the big box hardware store afterwards. I got the lawn bag chute I wanted there, just as their web-site had foretold. When I last checked, they said eleven days, and they were very accurate. Aren't computer tracking systems great. I was going to get markers for our trip to Road America for autographs while at the art store, but I couldn't remember what Adam had suggested. So, I'll have to remember to ask him again. I got a different hook for my knitting machine though, because Mary seems to think that part of my difficulties are a result of the hook I have being  using being too pointy. I think she is right, so I'll try this new one for a change.

I spent some time early on Wednesday morning playing my guitar. My shoulder seemed to be okay, so I hope I have turned a corner.

Today, I have the furnace filter scheduled for changing, but I need to check it for sure. No sense in being wasteful. I have to be sure to empty the dehumidifier while in the man-cave. With all of this rain, I am sure that it will be working overtime.

Just a short sports report. The boys in blue couldn't lose, because they were rained out. The Caps were also rained out. Now there is a surprise. The Tigers are playing in Seattle and as of the bottom of the 13th, they were still tied. Maybe when they get to the top of the 14th inning, the Tigers can score a run. So far in the 14th, Martinez got a hit to lead off the 14th, and now Tuiasosopo is on with a walk. A new pitcher to face Peralta,  a bunt, and a missed throw to third, loads the bases. Now the end is near. Pena grounded out and Kelly scored the go ahead run. Jackson hit a routine fly ball to right to end the inning, but the Tigers just have to hold on in the bottom of the 14th for the win. Benoit has come on to try to close it out. Seattle has a runner on and one out. But, I am now getting very tired. Seems like old times with these late west coast games. For the players, this is late since they have a game tomorrow afternoon. One more out to go. Its over, the fat lady has sung, Smoak of Seattle was called out in a close play at the plate. Seems like lots of extra inning games lately. By beloved Red Sox beat the tribe of Cleveland 6 - 3 and are still leading their division with a lead of 1 1/2 games over the Yankees. Paid attendance in Seattle tonight was a little over 14,000.  Man those Tigers are hot. The White Sox, won, but once again, who cares.

Otherwise, since Mary and I will be staying indoors today, a little laundry, a little dusting and vacuuming and the like will be a good thing for today. All of that comes after....Tea time, naturally. I am certain that that will not come all that early anyway.

The tragedy at the Boston Marathon has taken a backseat to the even bigger tragedy in Texas. A fertilizer plant exploded, many dead and injured and a a nearby nursing home was destroyed by the shock wave. Not enough ambulances nor medical personnel/facilities like they had in Boston. More coverage is ongoing on all the major networks.

So until another train goes by, I'll say adieu and ciao.

Good early morning GH. Here I am at the keyboard, and I have yet to actually go to bed. I thought that I heard a train, and I did. The usual twin locomotives pulling a long line of covered hopper cars. Not quite as long as usual, and this one was headed south, towards Holland and points south.

Our current temperature is 42 degrees, and the morning sun has by the rotation of the planet on which we live, set several hours ago. Of course, that means that the view out the Weather Window is...dark. Sugar the Weather Dog is sleeping soundly next to the bed in our room, as she is tired. Mary and I walked towards the hospital this morning, and then they peeled off to go to the cemetery as I mentioned yesterday. On our early part of the walk, Sugar just had to notice every other dog in town and smell every smell that was new to her. In short, she was being a dog.

While at the cemetery, Mary took many pictures for her blog and Sugar sniffed even more new smells. By the time I got back from the doctor and then the barber shop, they had returned home and Sugar was out cold from the long walk. I only went a bit over 2 1/2 miles while it is likely that the "girls" walked closer to five. I was all set to have soup for lunch, but a note on the counter told me to call upstairs.

I was informed that Mary wanted to go to Holland for some art supplies and spice jars. Once there, we parked, walked a few blocks and got the art things and the spice jars and also visited an overpriced antique store. On the way back, we stopped in a Mexican grocery store for some tomatillos and peppers. We also stopped in the American grocery store next door, and had to search through many different loaves of bread before we found one that didn't have a chemistry set for its ingredient list. Then, Mary had to convince the store personnel to slice it for her. One other good thing came of our stop at the Mexican store. Tortillas that also had an ingredient list that was also short and without a chemistry set for its ingredient list. If you read the things that are in most processed foods, you need a degree in chemistry or the knowledge of a chemistry teacher to read the ingredient list.

I never got to my picking today due to the unexpected but profitable trip to Holland. But that's okay, because there is always tomorrow.

I am happy to report that the treatment I am receiving on my knees is working well. I can walk a great distance without pain. But, the doctor says that my shoulder is another matter. At my age of nearly 62, he says that the damage to my shoulder/rotator cuff may not be made better by surgery, he gives it a 70% or less chance of success. Plus, once he looks at an MRI, he may find that there is nothing he can do. I plan to get that MRI and let him make a final diagnosis. If he can do surgery, it might be arthroscopic or the traditional more open form. In both cases, the healing time would be about one year. I don't think I have the patience. What I have to find out is whether the shoulder will get worse or just be painful. So, when I know more I'll let everybody know. I have spent so much time under the knife and in rehab the last few years, that I don't look forward to more hospital time.

So, that's about it for now. Bed time awaits, and then...Tea time. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is actually 6:00 in the AM, and that means that it really is morning. Our current temperature is 40 degrees, anticipating a high of 51. Only a 10% chance of precipitation today. Tomorrow, we will have warmer temperatures, much like what we had on Monday, but the chance of showers/storms increases to 70%. Warmer still on Thursday, but with an even greater chance of showers. Then, by the weekend, we drop back into the 40s, again. Oh well, what's Michigan without a lingering winter. Overall, I like the cool better than the warm for walking. Sugar the Weather Dog agrees.

Speaking of walking, I have another appointment at the orthopedist today; number 4 of 5. To tell the truth, although it is somewhat painful getting the treatments, the end result is nothing short of fabulous. My knees appreciate the early pain in the long run. Mary and Sugar will accompany me part of the way, and then peel off to go to the cemetery for a visit.

I have only a short comment about the Boston Marathon tragedy. Since Boston is one of mine and Mary's favorite places, and I think Steph and Adam like it too, I was stunned, saddened, and angered by the events at the end of the Marathon route. Of course it was terrorism, but like many past events, it will make us stronger and not cause us to pull our heads into our collective shell. We need to remain vigilant, but not overreact. Some news organizations did, speculating beyond belief and bringing in commentators with no logical perspective. I won't do that, I'll just offer up my condolences and prayers.

Speaking of Boston, the Red Sox won their game 3 - 2, over the mostly hapless Indians. The Tigers had the day off, as did the Caps. The boys in blue were thankfully off too. The White Sox, they lost.. The game between the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins was called in deference to the tragedy at the Marathon.

Otherwise, not much but...Tea time and picking today. I got the chance to spend some time in the bone zone with Sugar the Weather Dog, on Monday afternoon, and that was all good for me and for Sugar. She would still be out there if I hadn't insisted she come in. But, I saved her bone for another day of fun. I also found time to read through the owner's manual for the new car.

Let's just say that I know why people don't read the manuals anymore, if they ever did. In the old days, manuals were at least of a reasonable length  Now, with all of the safety devices, the various electronics systems etc., the manuals are larger than the phone books we used to get in our old home every year. And that doesn't count the warranty manual, the radio manual, the tire manual and the maintenance guide that also come with the car. So, I think that unless I need to do more than have the oil changed every 7,500 miles, the cabin air filter at 15,000 miles, and the spark plugs changed at 120,000 miles,which I will likely never see, the manuals will stay in the dash box, right next to the GPS device that I updated yesterday. That GPS will come out more than the manual.

So, until I have to get up again, Ciao.

Good morning GH. It actually is morning here in our fair city, 10:45 AM. Currently, our outdoor temperature is a balmy 56 degrees. According to the National Weather Service, we can expect highs in the 50s all week except for Thursday when we might make the 60s. But don't get used to it folks, because then we drop back into the 40s on Friday and Saturday.  Next week when we may see the 50s again. But hold on, because then we get back to the 40s after Monday. This topsy-turvy weather is brought to you by spring in Michigan.

Mary and I went to the pet show in near GR yesterday, but we couldn't stay long, because of the animal dander from dogs, cats, ferrets, and other furry creatures. Oh well, it got us to see another pert of Western Michigan. While there, we swung by the Fifth-Third Ballpark, home to the West Michigan Whitecaps. Mary and I plan to visit for a game on a warm day on the summer. Mary took pictures, which she will share in a future blog.  Then it was off for home following our mostly trusty GPS device. I have to take time to update it today.

Speaking of sports, to borrow from Howard Cosell, a once famous sports broadcaster, the Caps pulled out a win 10 - 7 over the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Sunday. I like that name, like I like the name for the team in Lansing, the Lug Nuts. My boys in blue found another way to lose, this time by uncorking 5 wild pitched in one inning. Not bad for one game. I think it was a record. Oops, it was/is. The Boston Red Sox, once again beat the Rays of Tampa Bay to remain in first place in their division. The Tigers, also beat up on the Oakland As scoring often and early and remaining atop their division too. So, with the exception of the boys in blue, a good day in baseball. Once again, the White Sox, who cares.

Sugar the Weather Dog and I spent some time on the deck in the bone zone yesterday afternoon, but I finally succumbed to the cold and made her come in. Maybe more today if the weather holds like it is now. This morning the brave Weather Dig was spooked by cable guys hanging on the pole in our back forty. But, she did manage to get her basic business done.

My aching right shoulder isn't aching so much today. Maybe I have turned a corner. I sure hope so, as I have an Irish Jam session this coming Saturday.

So, not much else is happening today. Mary has a dentist appointment, which has been put off a couple of times due to factors beyond her control. Me, just a bit of house cleaning and perhaps, I'll turn the apples from the refrigerator into sauce. So until next time, Ciao.

Good early morning GH. Here I am in the wee hours of Sunday morning, and I just wanted to use that phrase  "the wee hours," because I heard it on the TV yesterday. A lame reason, I know, but there it is. Our current temperature here in "The City" is 33 damp degrees. We are anticipating a high of 58 today, with only a 30% chance of precipitation in the form of rain. The temperatures will hold in the lower 50s until Friday, when they drop to the upper 40s for a few days. Then the 50s return for a few days and then the 40s and well, you get the picture. Like I have said before, this is winter in Michigan. I have my micro-chips crossed that the predictions for the 50s by that far away weekend are actual and holding. Right now, the view out the Weather Window is, well, I'll let you work that out for yourselves.

The other day, when I was out walking with Sugar the Weather Dog, I had an epiphany. Mary has been wanting a trellis or two for her clematis plants, and as I was walking through the neighborhoods, I saw a garden arch made of branches from the local flora. The proverbial light bulb came on and Sugar and I came home to tell Mary of an idea that I was running through my mind. A main branch with smaller branches tied to the larger branch and voila, a trellis. Mary suggested that I gather some of the branches from our yard and the yards of our neighbors for a try of my idea. She also suggested tying the various branches together with twine. So, I gathered the branches, placed them in the garage to dry, and at some not to far in the distance, I will take them to the man-cave for assembly. With a little design help from Mary, I think I can do it. And best of all, a ready supply of raw materials awaits after every high wind event. I or Mary will post some pictures of the finished products when they become a three dimensional reality. In fact, I may take pictures as they take shape.

Otherwise, the boys in blue found another way to lose, as the Tigers were winning in Oakland and taking the lead in their division. The Red Sox held on to their lead in the Eastern Division of the American League with a 2 - 1 win over the Rays. Our local team, the West Michigan Whitecaps, referred to as the "Caps" in this and future blogs, fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, hows that for ironic, by a score of 4 - 2. The White Sox, once again, who cares.

For those of you who care, The 77th Master's tournament is still going on, but not without controversy. Tiger Woods was assessed a 2 stroke penalty for improperly placing his golf ball after he hit one into the water. He says he didn't knowingly violate the rules, but the guy has been playing golf professionally for a long time and should have known. It is unlikely that he will be able to make a late surge as he never has in a major tournament, but even if he does, any victory would be tainted. Some are calling for him to disqualify himself, while others have suggested that officials gave him a break for television. I don't know, but such is life in a 24/7 news/sports world. No controversy, no news. Plus, given Tiger's recent personal issues, everyone wants to see him fall. Unlike Greek tragedies, where a person has to reach a peak, fall from grace and then comeback, people would like him to just fall. Sad, but that's where it is.

Otherwise, Mary wants to continue her research on her "Family" to see where it goes. I'll help, but this is really her baby, so I'll do the voodoo that I do and she can have this for her very own.

So, it looks like it is time for bed, and then...Tea time. I should mention that Up withe Chris Hayes has been replaced by UP with Steve Kornacki. Same format, new host, similar viewing experience.

Keeping with my interest in train travel, I should note that once again, an Amtrak train has fallen off the rails, this time in California. No one hurt, but another embarrassment for Amtrak. Like the Postal Service, when Congress is involved, disaster is sure to follow. In Europe, trains travel at high speeds without incident. Here, the automobile and airline lobbies have done everything they can to kill long-distance passenger rail service. A sad state of affairs for a country that was founded by the westward expansion of railroads in the 19th century under our 16th president. Oh well, when the Postal Service is gone and people can't get any package deliveries to far-flung places that aren't served by UPS, and when the passenger rail service is gone, and people can't travel to and from places not served by the airlines, maybe then people will wake up. By then it will truly be too late. I won't even start on the problems with pipelines and radioactive waste.

So, Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is fast closing on 2:00 AM here in our rainy city, and that idea I had about sleeping through the night is over, at least for today. Oh well, that's what happens with time. Our current temperature is 36 degrees, and the view out the Weather Window is dark. But when you turn out the lights in my office  you can see the sheen that comes of recent rainfall.  Our weather forecast from the National Weather Service shows that today will not be all that pleasant, with a high of 41 and rain/snow showers likely. Tomorrow, we should see a high of 57, but with showers and no snow. Not much different on Monday, and then we see another plunge towards cooler temperatures. Oh well, like I often say, time is on our side. We are experiencing the rain, which we need, and then we should be getting warming temperatures as we near May. Since last year was so much of an anomaly, we are new to this winter stuff. Sugar the Weather Dog is new to it also, so she is working through it. I am pretty certain that she will want to take me for a walk early this AM.

Mary and I visited the Lake Forest Cemetery here in GH on Friday, and we were surprised by the size of it. Mary will have more to say in her blog, but the history of the local people found there is worth exploring.

I got to thinking about my aches and pains, and the thought occurred to me that some of them have seemingly been exacerbated by my taking the various herbal supplements for my aches and pains. So, with my vast medical knowledge, I am going to try going without most, except for the glucosamine that I have been taking for a long time. That never hurt, so I am going to stay with it and eliminate the others and see how I feel. Since the alternative to that idea is surgery, it is worth a try.

Otherwise, we haven't much on tap for the day. A short trip to the post to see Sally and more reading, and that's about it.

I should mention that our new car is getting 28 MPG, and that isn't too bad for a new car that is mostly being driven on short trips. I think we should easily see mileage in the 30s on longer trips. Not bad for a car with the improved comfort and amenities that we are now enjoying.

A short sports report. My boys in blue nearly snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Friday, but after a blown save by Fujikawa, Starlin Castro got a double and that pulled it out in the bottom of the ninth. Still below 500. A Tigers update. The Tigers lost 3 - 4 in the bottom of the 12th to Oakland. They are now 5 - 5 in their division. The Red Sox had the day off, but they are still in the division lead. The Caps took the loss 3 - 1 in a game shortened by the rain. The White Sox, who cares. For those of you who are following the 77th Masters golf tournament, the lead belongs to Jason Day with a 6 under and Tiger Woods is at 3 under.

So, it is time for bed once again. Then, it should be...Tea time. Ciao.

Another update. Two locomotives from the local short line passed through towing a long line of covered hopper cars. Still can't help wondering what is in those cars as they pass through in the dark of night. Probably nothing other than grain, but it makes it more interesting to speculate, don't you think. Plus, a few automobiles were delayed as people passed on their way home either from a late night working at or patronizing the local bars and restaurants. Again, more speculation for the fun of it.

Good morning GH. Here is a relatively non-standard blog. It is just past 7:30 AM here in the city of GH, and I am just now at my desk. I guess when you don't go to bed too early and then wake in the night, you can hold off on your blogging. Our current temperature is 35 gray degrees, and the view out the Weather Window is, you guessed it, gray. Sugar the Weather Dog has been hibernating in the upstairs bathroom, so that could mean anything. We are expecting a high of 42 today, with a chance at the lower 50s on the weekend.

Mary is currently at her computer, indulging one of her favorite activities, researching. In this case, that's because we went to the library yesterday and that started her to looking at the genealogy of the former owners of our palatial estate. She has found quite a bit, but she has only scratched the surface. Right now, she is looking at cemetery records. I'll let her fill you in on her blog.

We don't have much on tap for the day. Mary wants/needs to go to the grocery store this morning, but that pretty much sums up our day.

I keep hoping against hope, that my aching shoulder will begin to feel better, but so far, not so good. The next step may be arthroscopic surgery on the rotator cuff, although there may be alternatives that I don't know about. I'll have to ask the doctor next week. At the very minimum, there is a need for an MRI on the joint, so that the doctor can see things that the x-rays didn't reveal. The limited view he had on his office ultrasound showed some fraying and possible tears. I just don't have a desire for more hospital time. But, I do have a desire for pain-free guitar strumming. So, we'll see where that goes.

On to my favorite thing, baseball. My beloved boys in blue, keep finding novel ways to lose. They fell to the Giants yesterday, and are now 3 - 6 in their division.  In addition, their prize signing from Cuba, Jorge Soler, a 21 year old prospect with a temper, was suspended for five games for charging the opposing team's dugout with a bat. Of course, according to the GM, Soler needs to control his temper You think? Otherwise, he will be affected by the taunts from many more future opponents. The Tigers drubbed the hapless Bluejays 11 - 1, but the Tigers are still in second place in their division, Today's opponent is the division leading team from Oakland. The Whitecaps were rained out yet again. The White Sox? Who cares.

So, I need to let Sugar the Weather Dog take me for a walk this morning, and then maybe go to a movie. I'd like to see the new biopic about Jackie Robinson, so all I have to do is convince Mary to join me. She is still waiting on her latest indexing project, so I may have some success, unless she has an urge to visit a cemetery or something.

So, until I have more breaking news, it will soon be...Tea time. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 5:00 in the AM, and the fact that I am up now isn't surprising. I went to bed about 8:30 last evening. I was tired, so I went to bed. One thing is certain, my days are all filled with an easy country charm, oops, I was channeling a John Denver song there for a minute. Our current temperature is 36 soggy degrees, and the the view out the Weather Window, is wet. In addition, the wind is blowing in great gusts right now, the kind that shake the windows and the house itself. We have a 100% chance of showers until about 6:00 AM. Then it tapers off for a few hours. Additionally, the high temperature is not expected to exceed 40 degrees today. By Sunday, we anticipate a high in the mid 50s, but not before we see 39 on Saturday. From then on, mostly in the upper 40s or lower 50s is the forecast. It is spring after all, and we sure can use the precipitation.

Earlier, I was having a half dream, that included a train, and low and behold, there was a train outside at that time, around midnight, when we let it all hang down. Oops, there's another of those song references again, this time to a J.J. Cale song made popular by Eric Clapton. Anyway, I digress. The train was about on time and although I didn't see it, it was lengthy and the house shook like it was caught in a tornado or something. Actually, given the way that the wind is blowing right now, it was very tornado like. Well not really, but it makes for a nice bit of imagery, don't you think?

As I was lying awake earlier, the talk host was referring to a study that showed the United States as having dropped out of the top 10 in being considered a happy place to live, the first time in history apparently. She asked why, and did her listeners feel less happy than they did two years ago. Personally, after my health issues of the last two or three years, I feel much happier. I am now retired, and the major issues of my health concerns have abated, as confirmed by my MRI last fall. So, I have nothing to feel unhappy about. In fact, I am thankful that I have a wife who was there for me through it all, and Sugar the Weather Dog, who is always glad to see me, and a fine son and his wife whom I am always glad to see. Also, I am now living in a great town where the people are great, the town is walk-able in the non-icy months and everything I need is easy to get to. Truly life doesn't get much better than this, to borrow from that old beer commercial.

I have another doctor's appointment this AM, but this one is minor. While I was going to walk, as it is only a mile, the colder temperatures coupled with the rain mitigate against that. Oh well, better luck next time.

Otherwise, I made a few home repairs yesterday, the type that can be done with a battery operated drill motor and a couple of screws.

I also made Cole Slaw too. I like the flavor I created, and Mary will get a chance to rate it at lunch later today. I might have added onion, but that is a taste preference. Since this was my first attempt at cooking from scratch, it is an evolutionary process.

I was just listening to the early morning radio show that told me what I already knew, the Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic flying team is grounded for the rest of the season. That is expected to save $28 million, as they will only be allowed to train at their base in Florida. I suspect that the Air Force Thunderbirds can't be far behind. I don't know what that will do to attendance at air shows across the country, like that in Chicago in late summer, as I've heard that attendance can drop by as much as 25% when the teams are not there. Plus, what will that do to the various vendors, hotels, restaurants etc? The law of unintended consequences rears its ugly head once again. No editorial comment from me at this time.

So, it is time to return to bed and get up in time for that appointment. Tea time will wait until I return. Mary has already told me that I will find her in bed when I get back. That of course assumes that Sugar will let that happen. I bet that if I can get Sugar to go out when I leave, she will be fine. She may be unwilling, due to the rain, the park and other things. Oops, another song reference there.

Ciao.

Good early morning GH. We have a current temperature of 42 degrees here in our currently non-rainy city, but that is about to change if my weather reports are accurate. According to the National Weather Service,  we expect to peak out at 45 degrees today and the rain is supposed to begin in earnest again by 4:00 AM with T-storms and more significant amounts of rain. No complaints, we can use it. Sugar the Weather Dog likes the snow much better, but I like the rain for obvious reasons. In spite of the amount of rain we received on Tuesday, the local lakes and bayous are still distressingly low, as is the "Big Lake."

Mary and I ventured out yesterday for some shopping. I needed a couple of muffin tins for beading as I mentioned before, and some light bulbs and cleaning supplies. Got them all. We then headed for home and after a quick stop at our favorite watering hole, we made it.

I finished my last book on Monday, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, by Ayana Mathis. I liked it, but I have to agree with some of the reviews that said she ended abruptly. But, as a first time author, I think she did well. People need to recognize that this author is a young African-American woman writing from her own memories and perspective. They always say, "wait for the next book", so I will and then make a firm judgement. I have seen this author on TV, and she is obviously intelligent and well spoken, so her next is likely to be more even and more in depth. I can't speak to her portrayal of African American men or women, because I am not of those groups. Still in all, I'd recommend this book.

Prior to that book, I read The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. It was a typical McCullough book, a fine example of his ability to weave facts with a narrative in a non-fiction book. Of course, he has had a lot of experience and his subject matter is tried and true. So again I say, "wait for the next book" by Ms. Mathis.

I am currently reading Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson. Good pulp fiction and so far, better than some of his collaborative efforts. Too often, publishers want more books and so authors recruit collaborators to assist. Trouble is, the collaborators are not the author of record, and they just don't write the same.

I have  Black Irish by Stephan Talty, The Night Ranger, by Alex Berenson, and Bear is Broken, by Lachlan Smith on the shelf and waiting. Sometimes I like to read fast fiction instead of non-fiction.

A quick sports report. The Cubs won, but they are still a sub-500 team. The Tigers won, and are currently second in their division, the American League Central, and leading the White Sox. The Red Sox are still leading their division, the American League East, ahead of those annoying Yankees. Our local team, The West Michigan Whitecaps, were rained out by those same showers we had here yesterday.

All in all, a good day. I made it to my various medical appointments, all before 10:00 AM, without incident. Here's hoping that the cortisone provides relief to my aching shoulder.

So, it is time for bed and then...Tea time. Ciao.

P.S. If you care about animals, go to this site www.animalhouseshelter.com, and vote so that they can get in on a block grant to help their charges. Thanks.

Good early morning GH. We have just passed  3:30 in the AM, and the view out the Weather Window, before I turned on the lights here in my office, showed no weather activity. We are currently at 38 degrees, and the fog that was supposed to happen, isn't evident, yet. Of course that may change if the temperature goes up or down. We are expecting a high of 54 degrees, and the T-storms we were supposed to get on Monday are shown for today. Once again, we'll see.

I finally took all of my snow removal things to the man-cave, as I doubt if I will be needing them anymore this year.  I still have a few things to get before I can do the things that I want to do n the man-cave. I need a muffin tray to use as a parts sorting tray. I should be able to get one of those at the local dollar store for, a dollar.

I got some of the hardware items that I needed during our visit to New Era, MI the other day. I have a few more to get, but that is on tap for today, if the weather holds.

I have three appointments at the hospital today. I am scheduled for an x-ray on my aching right shoulder, a visit to the orthopedist for my knees and that same shoulder, and then some routine blood tests. I will be busy, and all before 10:00 AM. Who says you can't keep busy when you are retired?

We got the bill from the electrician on Monday. Mary and I each guessed at the amount before we opened the bill, kind of like Johnny Carson in his Karnak the Magnificent role. Mary guessed $300.00, I guessed $225.00, and the actual amount was...$120.00. To say the least, we were pleasantly surprised, and now we truly have an electrician here in our new town.

Ill let Mary tell you more about our Cubs home opener party in the future. Suffice it to say that the boys in blue found another way to lose. They staged a comeback late in the game, but it was too little and too late. Oh well, wait til next year, or at least next game.

My beloved Red Sox, beat the Orioles 5 - 2 on Monday, and coincidentally, they are also 5 - 2 in the new season. Our own local ball team, the West Michigan White Caps, won 11- 4 over the Ft. Wayne, IN Tin Caps. Those dreaded Yankees hammered the Tribe, 11 - 4. But, they are only second in their division, with a less than 500 record, which puts them behind my beloved Red Sox. The other Chicago ball team had no game on Monday, but they are at 4 - 2 in their division. Did I mention that there was a basketball game on Monday night? I fell asleep, but I heard this AM that the Michigan Wolverines gave up a 12 point lead in the first half and fell to the Louisville Cardinals, 82 - 76. Considering that they haven't been there in 20 years, it was all good. Wait til next year.

So, I'd best be heading back to bed so that I can get some sleep before my busy morning. Since I have those blood tests scheduled, no breakfast until I get back and I will wait on...Tea time until then. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just after 2:30 in the AM, and the current temperature is 49 degrees. The rain that we were expecting came, but not all that much. This afternoon, we are expecting a high that is lower than our current temperature reading, but not much rain. On Monday, the temperatures will rise and the chance of showers will also increase. However, by Wednesday, we expect less chance of rain and again, lower temperatures. Like I've been saying, enough already on this winter.

Mary and I took a trip to a little town in Michigan called New Era. Nothing really expected and we just wanted to give the new car a workout. Mary of course took pictures, and I expect that she will post them on her own blog in the near future.

Still hearing that the fishing is good here in West Michigan. Our neighbor had some pictures of recent catches, and it was truly amazing. He is into bow fishing, and said he could have caught more, but went for the bigger ones. I'd say he succeeded.

I am still trying to make my knitting machine work. The problem isn't the machine, it is my understanding of the instructions. I will win yet! There, I just did another row, and I may have it. Only time will tell.

I am listening to a repeat radio broadcast in which they are discussing firearm rights. They are using the metaphor of lawn darts, and how they can be lethal too, but not at any great distance and not in any fashion that usually makes their use irreversible. But, we banned the use and sale of lawn darts too, because they could hurt children. Any parallels there?

I heard a joke on television the other day. "A man walks into a bar and orders a glass of water. The bartender puts a glass down and then pulls out a shotgun. The first man says thanks, doesn't drink the water and then walks out." Can you guess why the first man was happy now? If you have any questions, I'll answer them in the future.

By the by, the Cubs managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. I know that they are professionals, and yet, I can't help but wonder when they will begin playing like pros, as their bio calls then a professional baseball team located in Chicago. Fortunately, the Tigers beat the Yankees and are on top of their division, while the Yankees are in fifth place. So, there was some good news from Saturdays action in the major leagues. Unfortunately, the West Michigan White Caps lost to Dayton. Did I mention that the White Sox eked out a victory over the Mariners? But, here is the good part, the Red Sox also won and are on top of their division too, while the Yankees are in fifth. Oh by the by, Michigan made it to the final game for the college championship in basketball. So, there was mostly good sports news here in our fair state.

So, now it is time for bed and then...Tea time. Ciao

Good early morning GH. It is closing on 3:00 AM here in our fair city, and I just had to get up and blog a bit. I got Barb's notification that she is back. Glad to hear that all is well, especially since she was on a cruise on one of those oft ill-fated ships.

Our current temperature is 37 degrees, and the shower chances peak at 70% by late in the day, the same time as the the high temperatures peak at 56. If we can get out early enough on the various things that Mary wants to do, we can avoid the majority of the shower activity. Here's hoping that Mary was paying attention when they said that the newly minted host for UP, Steve Kornacki, doesn't start until next weekend.

As I mentioned in the last blog, one of the electricians called back and he was available for a service call after l:00 PM. He was prompt, and when shown our concerns, got right to work. He is a local contractor, and best of all, the chandelier that wasn't working, now is. Apparently, a loose neutral in the box above the fixture. When I rocked it to change the bulb, the connections came loose. Translated, the connections weren't secured properly in the first place. Then he moved to the ceiling fan in Mary's kitchen. Another lucky break for us. The entire fan was secured to the ceiling by two toggle bolts with a tenuous hold. No box nor other fastening device. At some point, very soon, they would have come out and the fan and its wiring would have come down in a crash taking out the ceiling, the wiring, etc. This was one of those times when it paid to call an expert. He knew what to do, got the correct parts, and then with a bit of a struggle, he got them installed and secured. Now, the fan is solidly mounted and will outlast the other parts nearby. We don't yet know the cost, his company will bill us, but the alternative would have been a lot more costly. Now we have an electrician here in GH. I should mention that the circuit breaker that I threw last night was the right one. Dumb luck will overcome skill every time. While the fan was down, I cleaned the top of the blades and now I can forget about anything but dusting them for awhile.

Right now, a short train is going by, heading north. As usual, the same two locomotives have reversed course and are once again headed to their northern terminus. Somehow, I like it. Much the same way that I enjoy reading the ship column by the man who writes for the Grand Haven Tribune. In all cases, his stories about the ships that come and go here in GH are of interest because they have a local slant. There was a book at the local indie bookstore that identifies some of the ships to be found in our channel. I'll have to check it out.

But for now, I am headed back to bed. It will soon be...Tea time and time for Sugar the Weather Dog to take me for a walk. Then, Mary has plans to visit some town I don't remember its name, but I know that it is north of GH.

My boys in blue had their own power problem on Friday. Their bats led them to a loss 1- 4 to the Braves. But, the Tigers won their home opener, rather handily, over the Yankees, behind two homers by Prince Fielder. My beloved Red Sox won, 6 - 4 over the Blue Jays and the White Sox were edged by the Mariners 8 - 7. It would have been a great day if they had lost and the Cubs and Tigers and Red Sox had won. I must give honorable mention to the White Caps, as they won their game final exhibition game 6 - 0 on Friday. The Caps are the "A" level affiliate of the Tigers. The Caps home opener is today, at 1:00 PM at the Fifth Third Ballpark near GR. I heard a shortened name for GR the other day, kind of like KZoo for Kalamazoo, but I can't recall it now.

Finally I'm done. Ciao.

Good morning GH. I wouldn't be up now, but the train went by and shook the house, as usual. Not really a bad thing, but sometimes just enough to wake a person, well at least me. The current view out the Weather Window is dark as always at this hour. But even though I didn't actually see the train, I know that it had two locomotives and not as many cars as it often does.

Our current temperature is 36 degrees, and we are expecting a high in the mid forties. No rain today, but tomorrow, with a high in the upper fifties, we are also expecting a 60% chance of precipitation. With those temperatures, I think that walking in the rain could be fun.

A bit of bad news. We had to put in a call to the electrician to make an appointment to get our chandelier in the dining room repaired. He has yet to return our call, but I think I managed to turn off the correct circuit breaker in the man-cave. It started when one of the bulbs burned out. I changed it, and then the chandelier no longer worked. Go figure. We may be paranoid, but Mary and I felt that turning off the circuit breaker was a good idea. The circuit has one of those fancy dimmers and that may be the problem. That's why we need an electrician. A man has to know his limitations, to borrow from Dirty Harry.

Otherwise, the day went fine. The new car is running great. I have to get some super glue, or maybe Adam will email and tell me we have some here and I don't know where it is.

I heard from a former student who is living in California. He wanted to know about a paper that I wrote for my master's program years ago about the right to carry a bazooka. I had started at limiting or eliminating guns and ended up at everyone owning a bazooka. As I said to him circular logic, but that is why writing allows you to do some serious meta-cognition. The paper was well researched and about personal rights and freedoms remaining unlimited. So, in spite of my initial misgivings, I recognized that the need to protect the rights of all extended to a need to protect the rights of all. As I said to this former student, rights are not easily given, but too often easily restricted or taken away. I would never own a firearm personally, but if we want people to be able to marry freely, or to assemble, etc., then we have to allow people to do things we may find personally distasteful. Of course, there are some exceptions like: carrying a loaded weapon into a bar, church, school, library, or whatever. What was it that Benjamin Franklin said, "Those who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." While not the exact quotation, the words are pretty close and still applicable today.

Otherwise, not much on tap for the day. We have to drop off Mary's pet cactus, Spike jr., for re-potting at his adoption agency. It may take a few days, but they know what gloves to wear, how big the pot should be, and what soil to use; all things that can affect the health and well-being of Mary's pet. We did very little to her last pet cactus, and he grew in our old home for over twenty years. In fact, he grew so well, that we had to cut him down three or four times to allow him to clear the ceiling. OUCH! You may have noticed that that I used the masculine pronouns for her pet, but since he is definitely taller/longer than he is wide. Well, you get the idea.

We stopped in to see Sally at the post. It was quiet when we got there, but they were having a Swiss steak dinner last night. People started to come in around 5:00, PM, for a 5:30 - 7:00 PM dinner. We saw the first platefuls, and for $7:00, it looked good. Not our cup of tea, but still, it looked good. We had cheese quesadillas for dinner, which I washed down with the last of the home-baked bread and peanut butter. 

Well, it is time for rest and relaxation and lying in bed in the early hours of the morning. Then, it will be...Tea time, and hopefully we will hear from the electrician about getting that chandelier repaired. A quick mention that I didn't get to see my student last evening, as he called to break our session time. I am done. More on that in the future. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It sure makes a difference when you stay up late. Instead of getting up at two or three AM, you can sleep in until seven. Not bad. The current view out the Weather Window shows the Sun is on the rise and it looks like it is going to be a beautiful day. Our current temperature is 28 chilly degrees, but we anticipate a high in the lower fifties later this afternoon. In fact by Saturday, we are expecting a high of 57, albeit showers, the rainy variety, are also on tap. Unfortunately, the expectations for next week show temperatures in the upper forties and rain in the forecast. According to the farmers around here, the cold temperatures mean an improved apple crop and that means lower apple prices. Still, I want spring to actually spring.

While Mary and I had a great day, my boys in blue went down to defeat, according to the official site, the pitching was fine, but the bats went cold. Any way you slice it, the end result is a 500 record. Today is the rubber game, and as always, hope still springs eternal. I may watch s the game today if it is on my cable system. Across the country, my beloved Red Sox beat the hated Yankees 7 - 4, for a perfect record, of 2 - 0. Unfortunately the White Sox also are 2 - 0. The Tigers took a late loss caused by the Twins, 2 - 3, so they, like the Cubs, are also 1- 1.

We went to the big box hardware store and picked up a few things later in the day. Not much, but at least the visit was painless. I got to use my rebate and get another. As Adam always says, use the resources that are available. I also contacted the eyeglass supplier and got them to waive a mailing fee for a defective part and they are supposed to send me a replacement for no cost. We'll see. According to their web site, the shipment has occurred. But, they were supposed to email me about that. Not really good at customer service.

I installed my new bench light in the man-cave yesterday which will make it easier to see small parts. I piloted my small helicopters a little bit too while there. I think I was about 50/50 in terms of my skills/ability. Of course, the low ceiling and close quarters in the man-cave made it a tad more challenging. A bit of digression, I watched my favorite show in a rerun last night, the 200th episode, and I loved it. More of the family theme.

So, I think it is time to go back to bed for awhile. Then, it will be...Tea time and time for reading and walking Sugar the Weather Dog. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:00 AM here in GH and the view out the Weather Window is dark and gloomy. Well not really, but sometimes you like to start out with a catchy phrase. I guess that I could have started out with,"It was a dark and stormy night," but then I would have sounded like Snoopy when he was writing novels. Currently, our temperature is 33 degrees heading for a high of 42. By the weekend, we expect sunny and highs around 50. I'll take it. In addition, there is no real chance of precipitation until Thursday of next week.

Today, we have nothing on tap. That's good. We may take a short trip to the big-box hardware/home store, but that depends on whether we have a yen to go anywhere. I know that following my knee treatments, that I can't walk far with Sugar the Weather Dog. Too bad for both of us, but by Friday I'll be fine again. What's that saying, "No pain, no gain." Sadly in this case, that's true.

I actually got Mary to let me drive the new car on Tuesday, and it was great. However, I don't have a need to drive. I like being  passenger just fine. But a word of caution. When she let's me drive, I don't need a constant set of instructions. I have been driving longer than she, and I can still do it. Kind of like Tom Selleck in Quigley Down Under when he says, "Didn't say I didn't know how to shoot a pistol, just said I didn't have a need for one," or words to that effect.

We met a man earlier who lives in our fair city near the railroad tracks, like us. He likes the sound of the trains as they pass, and he likes to walk etc. Sounds like a match. A quick follow up. A train just went by at 2:58 AM. The usual, twin locomotives and just a few cars in tow. I hope he likes this one.

Mostly, I plan to read, play a little guitar, and maybe watch some television today, likely with Sugar the Weather Dog in my lap. It doesn't get any better than that.

So until next time, it is just a chance for me to get more sleep and of course...Tea time. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is nearing 4:00 AM here in the city and I am up just long enough to write this blog. As always, I can report that the view out the Weather Window is dark and the current temperature is on the cold side. In fact, it is 30 degrees, and we are hoping for a high of 35. Of course, there is light at the end of the tunnel, 50s by the weekend. However, that comes with additional precipitation, albeit in the form of rain, not that white stuff that has been falling.. Mary said it is okay to put away the snow shovels now along with the salt. Wow, I hope she is right.

Yesterday, we had a great opening day party. Mary made hot "veggie" dogs with all the trimmings. relish, mustard, celery seed, and for me, pepperoncini or peperoncini if you prefer, in place of the usual sport peppers. By the time we got to them, we had to stop ourselves from inhaling them due to hunger. She also made ballpark nachos with sliced jalapenos. Well actually, I had the jalapenos, she had salsa. Best of all, we had stopped in Holland prior to our car appointment and bought some peanuts in the shell. We also had a few beers in celebration of opening day too.

Oh, did I mention that it was opening day?  Jeff Samardzija, the newest Cubs player anointed the "Ace" of the pitching staff, actually pitched very well, striking out nine, with a mid-nineties fastball, and breaking pitches that actually broke. He also got some very solid support from newly anointed phenom Anthony Rizzo, first baseman, with a home run on the first pitch of his first opening day at bat. He drove in Starlin Castro with a towering drive. Speaking of Castro, he was pretty spectacular himself. Castro got a couple of solid hits, made some great plays at shortstop, and in general lived up to his billing as a true all-star. Left fielder, Nate Schierholtz, may be the latest in the long line of acquisitions by GM Theo Epstein who turns out to be just what the doctor ordered. Known for being a defensive fielder, Schierholtz got on base all four times he came to bat and did not embarrass himself in the field. However, Brent Lillibridge, the sub for Darwin Barney, our regular second baseman, booted the ball on his first chance and put runners on. Fortunately our newly anointed "Ace" was up to the task and no real harm was done.

However, what would a Cub's game be without the opportunity to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Carlos Marmol, the closer, got torched when he replaced Samardzija to open the ninth, gave up a run, put two men on, and so and was pulled from the game. His replacement, James Russell, got his man and then the latest Japanese player for the Cubs, Kyuji Fujikawa, got the final out. There went the shutout, but not the game. So, the "Boys in Blue" are 1 and 0 in this new season. Do I sound like a "Die Hard" Cubs fan?

By the by, my beloved Red Sox beat the dang Yankees. The Detroit Tigers also won, and the White Sox, well they won too. A side note, for anyone who follows baseball, the Nationals also won.

A lengthy train is going by now at just after 4:00, late for them. Oh well, what would be the trains in this town if they were predictable.

Not much on tap for the day. A trip to the orthopedic doctor for my weekly knee treatments, only four more to go for six months, a stop at the library to pick up some books, and a short trip to the office supply store for a lamp.  Then a stop at the big-box hardware store for some gardening supplies and things. Doesn't sound like we'll be too busy today.

So now it is bedtime and then...Tea time. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Well, we are fast closing on 9:00 AM here in the fair city of GH, and the view out the Weather Window is beginning to look ominous, although there is a rising sun. When I let Sugar the Weather Dog out for her morning constitutional, there were actually a few flakes of snow falling. Currently our temperature is 30 degrees. We will be anticipating a high of 34 today. Pretty much the same story for tomorrow. By Wednesday, we should be turning the corner toward the lower fifties, and then all should be well. I even put the snow blower in the man-cave yesterday, so I hope that the forecast is correct. However, I have not yet consigned the snow shovels nor the salt to the nether regions. You never want to be too optimistic.

Today, we plan to pick up the new car. We also plan to shop for some peanuts and things in downtown Holland. I had thought about going to one of the smaller farm stores, but when I checked on line, they didn't have anything I really needed. I think we may stick to the local retailers for our wants and needs. Mary will be ordering seeds on line from our favorite seed supplier. Boy, don't I sound like a real farmer? Well, when you have a palatial estate, you have to use the land for something productive.

Otherwise, just the Cubs opener on tap for this afternoon. Hot dogs, nachos and cheese, and of course, the obligatory overpriced beer. I have to check the T.V. listings for a certain channel and time. I'll do that right after I finish this blog.

So, until next time when I can report more about the new car and the cautious drive back from Holland in it, I'll be off to the television listings and of course...Tea time. Ciao.