Good morning GH. It is just past 7:00 AM, and we are currently at 51 degrees under partly cloudy skies. No storms or showers on tap until a 40% chance on Thursday. So that means another great week until  at least then.

On Sunday, Mary and I decided to go to our favorite watering hole in the PM to watch the Bears v. Lions. It was a great time for all in attendance regardless of their team loyalties. I was asked at one point, given my mixed loyalties, did I favor one team over the other. I answered truthfully, yes. Truth is, since I have adopted this state, the Bears or Lions could have won and I was okay with that. Turns out that the Lions won, as often happens in Detroit when the Bears visit. The Lions won with a final score of 32 - 40. The Bears QB didn't look good. I was remembering a Thanksgiving Day game years ago when a then unknown Detroit OB seemed to crush the Bears all by himself. He was never heard from again.

That's about it for yesterday. We had dinner from a local taco place that Adam had recommended and it was great. It seems as though they have been there a long time as compared to the chicken shack that recently went under, the latest in a long line of places to occupy that location. Some have been good, some very short lived, but all have one thing in common, they don't last. I think I'll start a pool on the one that is going to open there in the near future.

Oh, I should mention that my buttermilk pancakes turned out great. Given all the things that could have gone wrong, I did okay. I got a little help from Mary on the temperature of the griddle, but that's about it. Since I have a lot of buttermilk left over, Mary has been looking up other possible uses. I may have found one for onion rings and other vegetables. It is all about being willing to try new things.

Today, Mary has to get back to work and I have to walk with Sugar. I think that's a fair trade-off. I get to enjoy the weather and Mary get's to enjoy her office. I also have to call the doctor in GR, as his office hasn't gotten back to me yet with the results of my recent MRI. I'd like to think that that portends good news, so I have a positive attitude. Fingers and toes crossed and a lucky coin in my pocket too.

I have a few other calls to make too, but those are not pressing. I have to call a couple of local HVAC contractors to get an estimate on our oddly configured duct-work. We own a one-hundred year old house that used to be heated by a coal-fired furnace in the basement. That furnace was replaced years ago, but since this house used gravity feed to distribute the heat, is not well suited to modern HVAC systems. We seem to have no cold-air returns upstairs and no heating or cooling circulation in my office/music room or the media room. I can't wait.

In sports, my last report on the boys in blue. Sadly, they finished with a 66 - 96 record, following an 0 - 4 loss to the Cardinals. I wonder who will be managing the team next season. If it's the same guy, I'll be totally surprised. The Tigers ended the regular season with an 0 - 1 loss to the Marlins as they await the A's. I don't like going into the playoffs with several losses in a row. I have been a Cubs fan too long. My beloved Red Sox also fell, 6 - 7 to the Orioles. Same sentiment for their recent record. The Lions defeated the Bears as mentioned earlier, 40 - 32.

So that'ts about it. Time to return to the bed and get in a little additional nap time. Ciao.

Good morning GH. We just passed 12:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 73 degrees as we head for a high of 67 and a 20% chance of precipitation. Go figure. The radio station from GR is saying   there is a suggestion of flashes of lightning, maybe. How's that for definitive?

On Saturday, Mary and I went downtown to check out the Art Walk. Sure enough, there was art on our walk. We spent a few moments on a rooftop having a brew and then another few moments having a brew at one of the places with the windows open to the street. In both cases, the view of the channel in the downtown was superb. Some very expensive boats in the channel and many people just walking. I doubt that the day could have been any better. Now it is just quiet outside my window except for the late departures from the downtown eateries.

We finished our afternoon at the post and that is always a great experience. Sally was Sally and the other people were just having a good time. It was the day for the Euchre tournament and those people were having a good time too. One man actually hit the Daily Jack for $410.00. I usually say that I have never met anyone who knew anyone who had won anything. In this case I can say that I did.

Sunday promises a bit less activity. Mary has some work to do after I am done making pancakes for breakfast. I've never done them from scratch before, but I am confident that I can do it. A little over confident maybe, but what's the worst that can happen? I know, cereal and toast for breakfast. But I will not be deterred. I probably will have more problems getting the table set. Fortunately for me, I went downstairs earlier and discovered that the dishwasher hadn't been run, so it is now. Otherwise, there wouldn't be any tableware with which to set the table. Gosh, I remembered to not let the preposition hang off the end of the previous sentence. When in doubt, rewrite.

In sports, the boys in blue lost once again to the Cardinals. 2 - 6. Mercifully, the season closes for the boys tomorrow and they won't lose 100 games. The Tigers fell to the Marlins 1 - 2. Keep the faith. My beloved Red Sox also lost, 5 - 6, to the Orioles. I still feel good about their post-season chances. The Northern Illinois Huskies handily trounced the Purdue Boilermakers 55 - 24. They are now 4 - 0 in the MAC. The MSU Spartans had a bye week as did the UM Wolverines. Wisconsin probably wishes they had a bye week too, as they lost to OSU 31 - 24.

I tried watching SNL earlier, but I think that it has passed me by. It might have been funny, but it wasn't holding my attention. Oh well, maybe that proves you really can't go back again. So that's about it for the day. The girls are sound asleep and I will be soon. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It has just passed 3:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 61 under clear skies. We are heading for a high of 78 sunny degrees. That 40% chance of precipitation predicted for Sunday has become 20%. Not to worry, the growing season is essentially over.

On Friday, Mary finished her work-day in time for the early afternoon showing of Rush. Here is my review. SEE IT! Sugar and I took two walks before we left and that made the day complete. I think that fall may be my favorite season, especially in our adopted town and state. Sunny skies, moderate temperatures, and a few leaves crunching under our feet. I won't revisit that quote from Camelot again, but that's the one that seems most apropos.

When we returned from the movie, we stopped in at our favorite watering hole and then on to home for some television for both of us, and then bed for me. Mary watched that show about people trying to decide what would be the worst house that they could choose to buy, and then buying it. I have watched a few times and I have to agree with Mary. The people start out with high ideals, needs and wants, and then end up choosing a place to live that seems far afield from their original plan. Go figure.

Today, a bit more music, a bit more reading after walking with Sugar the Weather Dog. Mary has to get busy on her latest project. Her favorite morning radio show won't be on today, so that means that she will be getting up a wee bit earlier.

In sports, the boys in blue are wrapping up their season in St. Louis against the Cardinals, whom they lost to 0 - 7. They're on their way home. The Tigers are on their way to the playoffs, so that 2 - 3 loss to the Marlins isn't terribly important, unless you worry about that momentum thing. My beloved Red Sox hammered the Orioles 12 - 3. They got the "Big Mo" going for them. The Yankees are just an afterthought. Today is college football day, so I know where part of my day will be spent. I can't explain it, but there is something about the college game that seems more real. It may just be me, but I like it.

I can live without the pro game. High paid mercenaries who can't run more than 20 years without having to be given oxygen. Adam is right. Soccer games go from start to finish at high speeds and those players are on the field from start to finish. I know that Hemingway said that sport requires the chance to die in the pursuit of the game, but I like to think that real sports requires athletic people, well trained, and highly skilled.

So that's about it. Time to get on with my nap and then get up in time for Auto Talk and hear about 15 year old cars with 150,000 miles on the clock. I hear a train a'comin, so they are on a relatively regular schedule today. The other day they came by at 12:00 AM and then again at 5:00 AM. This sounds like that horn happy engineer again. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 4:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 55 dark degrees. We are expecting a high today of 78 sunny degrees. No complaints here. None on behalf of Sugar the Weather Dog either. It looks like it will be Sunday before any precipitation appears.

On Thursday, Mary and I made the trek to the big box grocery/all things store. One thing, at least as I see it, is that the people who frequent these stores are like zombies. Unfortunately, that must by extension apply to Mary and me too. But that's the price that we pay for needing a lot of things that are not always available at the smaller medium box grocery store.

Yes the prices are lower, by a lot, but the experience is so unnerving that both of us came away frazzled. When the distance from one end of the store to the other is greater than that facing your typical football team on a touchdown drive, you have to ask, why? But that is probably Mary and I. Most of the people/zombies that we saw seemed quite content. To quote the comedian Yakov Smirnoff, "What a country!"

Fortunately for us, the morning walk with Sugar was about as pleasant as it can get here in GH. Perfect temperature, check. Sunny skies, check. Pleasant surroundings, check. When we got back from the bog-box store, it was nearly 2:00 PM. Mary made a "down and dirty" stir-fry for lunch and then went to work upstairs. I went to the laundry room. I did play some music, but my shoulder is getting worse. I suspect that the answer to the question I posed to the doctor six months ago about what I have to do may have been answered. I'd like to say that the pain is from an old football injury, but I think it is actually a result of falling off my bike many years ago. I just really don't want anymore hospital time. I know that Barb can identify with that. Plus, the rehab time will cut into my music practice. The pain doesn't keep my up at night, but it is becoming more annoying.

Today, we may get to the new Ron Howard movie, RUSH,  at the local cinema. That may depend on whether Mary can forego work for this afternoon. If she can't, it will wait until next week. The movie is showing at both our local theaters. The fan and critical reviews are excellent so far. This movie is not suitable for all ages. One of the blurbs for the movie says, "Parents: Common Sense Media says not for kids." Given the life and life styles of the characters, that is a wise recommendation. I don't have any other activities planned for today other than Sugar walks. What's not to like?

In sports, the boys in blue had the day off to prepare for their final series of the season against the Cardinals. I wish that they were getting ready for the playoffs and then the World Series, but wait until next year. The Tigers too had the day off. Fortunately they only need eleven more wins to get to the World Series. Let's not talk about last year when they were swept by the Giants. My beloved Red Sox likewise had the day off following their crushing of the Rockies the day before. The Red Sox stunk up the joint last year, so this is a great year.

So that's about it. After watching television last night, I am glad that I don't have a regular viewing schedule beyond NCIS. I still haven't heard from the results of my recent MRI, so I guess that I'll have to call today. But they may not tell me over the phone when I originate the call. That pesky privacy thing being what it is. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is 55 degrees in the "The City," as we head for a sunny high of  76. Some of you may recall that I began to use "The City" as an homage to an old radio and television show, Dragnet. That program was set in Los Angeles, California which the show's star, Jack Webb referred to in the opening as "The City." He said it in the following manner, "This is The City, Los Angeles, California. My name is Friday, I carry a badge."

For those of you with a good memory, you should be able to recall his rank and his badge number. He always referred to the commander of the unit that he and his partner, Frank Gannon, worked in this way. "The boss is Captain Smith." Joe Friday and his partner always wore the same clothes in the television series so that they could swap parts of various shows in and out for better continuity and cheaper production costs. In that regard, he was a pioneer.

Author's note: There seems to be no particular agreement on what makes a city a city nor a town or village what they are. Some say that a town is larger by population than a village and yet smaller than a city. However, if Chicago, IL is a city, and Cicero, IL is a town with a relatively large population how did our city get to be city given that our population is between ten and eleven thousand people in the off-season. Grand Rapids is a city, Holland is city, and yet we have many towns and villages in this state too. Go figure.

But I digress. On Wednesday, I actually did the lawn mowing on the palatial estate. Sugar the Weather Dog only got one longer walk today, but she also got to go to the "Bone Zone," so I doubt that she would complain. I did get in some music time and reading too. All in all, the day was great for walking and just being.

Today, more music, some additional reading, and of course more walking with Sugar. Sometimes she can be very insistent that we get some walk time in, and for that I have to thank her. If not for Sugar, I might not get out as much and that would be bad for me. Otherwise, not much is planned.

In sports, the boys in blue derailed the Pirates 4 - 2 in the team's final home game. The Tigers triumphed over the Twins, 1 - 0. My beloved Red Sox topped the Rockies, 15 - 5. That's about all that was important in sports. For those of you who are into Formula 1 racing, the new Ron Howard movie, Rush, comes out here on Friday. Personally I can't wait. The film has received great critical reviews.

So that's about it around here. Tea time awaits and that is always a great way to start the day. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 4:00 AM here in "The City" and our current temperature is 52 degrees under what will be sunny skies and 71 once we get past the current darkness. No real precipitation is expected until Sunday and that's only 20%. Tuesday was a beautiful day for walking and just being in our fair city.

In the AM, Mary and I walked with Sugar and then it was time for Mary to get to work. Later, Sugar and I got to chair after our long afternoon walk. I did some reading and a crossword from the local newspaper and that's about it. Oh, in the AM I also changed the way our cable television/internet service is billed and provided. In the afternoon, I also played my whistle some and I am occasionally getting better. Next thing I knew, Mary said it was time for a third walk, this time sans Sugar. We had a few brews, a bean burrito and then home for the season premier of NCIS, which is about the only show I watch these days. We did start watching a movie later, but only Mary finished it. I got tired and went off to bed.

I did put off the mowing of the lawns on the palatial estate and that's because there is one thing certain about grass, it will always be there tomorrow. I was in the man-cave for a while, where I got my new clock hung and pulled out some old telephone wiring that was in the way and long unused. Since everything is still working in the house, I didn't pull out anything that was vital.

Today more music, possibly lawn mowing, and certainly more walking with Sugar. In other words, a pretty typical day. That's the way I like them. Other things may crop up, but it it likely that there will be no emergencies.

In sports, the boys in blue fell hard to the Pirates, 2 - 8. At least my prediction for them to not lose 100 games is going to come true. The Tigers triumphed over the Twins, 4 - 2. That gave them a berth in the post-season for the third straight year. My beloved Red Sox won't be getting their 100th win this season. The Rockies defeated them 3 - 8. But they are still the AL East champions.

Looks like that's about it. If any emergencies arise, I hope to be here to report them. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 4:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is a chilly 48 degrees. We are heading for a high of 69 under sunny skies. No precipitation is due until Sunday. That 48 low and the 69 high are very fall-like indeed. If the Weather Channel app is to be believed, we might see a high of 77 later this week. All in all, it is very pleasant here in GH.

On Monday, we got up late and ate a quick breakfast. Mary and I had toast and Sugar had squash from last fall's crop along with some yogurt. Her delicate Corgi digestive system needs that yogurt to keep her from having problems.

Then, Mary and I walked with Sugar over to the groomer so that Sugar could get a bath and de-thatching. She has been itching lately and she was also looking a bit gray instead of  her usual bright white and tan color. While she came back looking much better, she was still itching a bit. Mary pointed out that she may be clean, but the bites don't go away with a bath. I know she doesn't have fleas or ticks as she has had her monthly treatment for those. I may give her her October treatment early just in case. She likes to lay in the ivy while she chews in the "Bone Zone," so that doesn't help her itching either.

After Mary and I came back, we set out for a natural food store in GR for some veggie frankfurters. That in itself was an adventure with the road construction and other factors at play. We got what we wanted, but the drive was a long one. However on the way back, we stopped at a restaurant supply store and picked up a coupe of things for the kitchen. We also stopped off at one of our alternate watering holes for lunch. We don't go there often because it is too far, but it has a nice biker-bar feel about it.

Once home, Mary tried out a recipe that used the frankfurters, beans, and macaroni to make a variation on beans and franks. I liked it, but I think a bit more spice would help. It is a keeper, but like most of Mary's cooking, it is a work in progress like those sauerkraut and Swiss sandwiches.

Post suppertime brought us some TV news viewing, but the local news here in Western Michigan is even more "If it bleeds, it leads," than in Chicago, if that is possible. We saw shootings, car accidents and the like. We also had to hear more about that tragic situation in Kenya as we switched to national news. Later I watched some sports, while Mary did some needle point on her new dragon that she got at the Irish Music Fest in Muskegon. Finally I'd had enough and went off to bed.

Mary made sure that I'd have on her favorite radio station when she was ready for bed, and I did. They are currently discussing talking to horses with a woman who in fact claims to talk to horses. In the "real world," she is a nano-scientist. Naturally there have been references to that old 60s television series Mr. Ed. Strangely, when I was falling asleep, the old time radio show from Chicago was playing a show starring Alan Young, the human star of that "Horse Opera." I was able to change the station setting to Mary's station before I fell asleep. Symmetry, coincidence? I don't know. Weird, yes!

That was yesterday and some of today. I hope to get in some music today and perhaps some "Bone Zone" with Sugar. I may mow the lawns on the palatial estate, but I feel like that will wait for tomorrow. I still have to get to the man-cave to hang that clock. One thing I can be sure of, the day will not go as expected. Fortunately, retirement usually brings another day without a set schedule.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Pirates 1 - 2. Some things never change, unless you count the fact that this will be the first trip to the post-season for the Pirates in 21 years. The Tigers fell to the Twins, 3 - 4. Verlander is still struggling with his control. My beloved Red Sox had the day off as they await their post-season opponent. While they have clinched a play-off spot, the Tigers are still waiting.

By way of enlightenment, I hear a train a'coming. That is about as routine as it gets. This one seems to be driven by that horn happy engineer of whom I have written.

So that's about it. With the exception of...Tea time, nothing is really pressing. What's not to like? Ciao.

Good very early morning GH. It has just passed 12:00 AM and the forecast is for continued dark followed by periods of more dark. The current temperature is 52 partly cloudy degrees as we head for a low in the low 40s. Later today we are expecting a high of 68 sunny degrees. Looks like a good day for living here in "The City."

On Sunday, Mary and I visited a local antiques dealer that was having a flea market. While we didn't get anything at the outdoor flea market, indoors I was able to get a Sears Craftsman clock just like the one I had before we moved. Mary got a really cool cookbook. I guess you could say we both came away happy.

Afterwards we went to the big box retailer and picked up some additional things. We started out for just some French dressing and came away with much more. That's the problem with a big box retailer. One of the things we got was a cucumber which became part of lunch along with the killer meatless Reuben sandwiches that Mary has perfected. Some great sourdough bread, some name brand Swiss cheese, and some really excellent sauerkraut combined to make the sandwiches perfect. Mary and I discovered that if you put on some mustard to go with the Thousand Island dressing, perfection happens.

Post lunch, I finished yesterday's newspaper and did some crosswords. I never got to my music, but I felt like doing very little yesterday. Mary, Sugar, and I did go walk-about and that pleased Sugar immensely. In the early evening, Mary tried out a new recipe for stuffed mushrooms and I have to admit that while they won't replace a great beefsteak, they were very good. Along with the mushrooms, Mary brought out the spinach dip and a tofu salad that she had made previously and it was a great dinner meal too.

Today, since I have already finished the highlighting that I had to do for Mary, I should be able to get to my music. I decided that the new book I tried out just wasn't working for me, so I'll be returning that to the library today when I walk with Sugar. I have several others to read, so I won't have to check any others out.

I have to find just the right place to hand my new to me clock in the man-cave, but that means that I get to spend some time down there. I don't spend the kind of time I used to, but an occasional visit is just fine with me.

In sports, the Bears beat the Steelers to go to 3 - 0 behind a 40 - 23 mauling. The Lions were winners too, with a 27 - 20 final score. The boys in blue fell to the Braves, 2 - 5. The Tigers also lost to that other team from Chicago, 3 - 6. My beloved Red Sox triumphed over the Blue Jays, making them the American League East Division champs. With the exception of another loss by the boys in blue and a meaningless loss by the Tigers, things went well in sports.

So that's about it for yesterday and today. Now it is time for bed and in the morning...Tea time. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 6:00 AM here in "The City" and I originally got up to do this blog, but got side tracked by some highlighting. But I digress. It is currently 52 degrees under what are supposed to be cloudy skies. However since it is too dark to see, I'll have to accept that. We don't anticipate any precipitation until at least next Saturday. Sugar the Weather Dog will like that.

On Saturday, Mary and I got up early for that appointment in GR. Sugar needed to get up too, since she needed her morning constitutional. It was still dark out when we hit the mean streets. I stayed where it was light due to the conditions here in GH. Read that uneven sidewalks. Fortunately I didn't trip on anything and we made it back safely. Then Mary and I were off to GR.

Of course, the clouds to the East were pretty with the rising Sun behind them, at least until the Sun came over the top and we were "Blinded by the light." My apologies to Manfred Mann and the Earth Band. We made it safely, had to find a place to park and then check-in. Then we had to wait, and wait, and wait. The actual test took about 30 minutes. This was an unscheduled test to see what might be behind my recent spate of headaches. I am hoping for the best. Then home, with a stop at a local restaurant on the highway for a salad bar lunch.

Next came the Irish Jam and that too was a success. I am amazed that children as young as five or six can outplay me on the whistle. I think that's because they don't have any other distractions. Or, it could just be innate talent. In either case, I'll get better just as they did. That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

While I jammed, Mary did the laundry, so that was all good as far as I was concerned. I still have to fold some of it today, but that's easy. After that, Mary and I went walk-about and viewed some of the artworks on display for our annual Artwalk. Mary can tell you more about that. We stopped in for a little sports viewing at our favorite watering hole and then home.

Today, not much on tap. I have to finish that highlighting, and then play some music and watch a little sports on TV. We overheard the manager at our watering hole discussing staff scheduling for the anticipated crowds that will possibly be generated by the Tigers and the Lions game this afternoon. I have no great desire to go out and so I hope to stay right here.

Speaking of sports, sorry Howard, the MSU Spartans fell to Notre Dame 13 - 17. The Wolverines of Michigan topped UConn 24 - 21. The boys in blue topped the Braves 3 - 1, and have a solid hold on last place. The Tigers slipped past that other team from Chicago, 7 - 6. Still not officially in the playoffs though. My beloved Red Sox were nipped by the Blue Jays, 2 - 4. Their quest for home-field advantage is still on hold.

So that's about it. I hope that Barb is feeling better soon. I can empathize with her current predicament, as I can relate to not being able to walk without assistance. It took me a long time to overcome my own set of infirmities. Here's hoping that she can do the same. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Well I made it until 4:00 AM and the current temperature is 63 cloudy degrees. Those T-storms that were on the map for yesterday never materialized. Turns out I was right on that one. Oh well, it has been cool enough that I won't have to water today. The clouds are irrelevant.

Sugar the Weather Dog is finally sleeping soundly, so there are no storms in her personal forecast nor in that of the National Weather Service. Mary said again yesterday that here in GH we are in a "sweet spot" when it comes to the weather. Big snow storms mostly miss us, large amounts of rain and other rough weather too. What's not to like?

On Friday, Sugar and I took a morning walk and then Mary and I went to the library. In the afternoon, Mary worked some and I played some. Sugar slept some and then we went for an afternoon walk. A regular day.

I should mention that before the morning walk, I managed to break another toe. I have broken them before in other locations, but it seems to be happening more here. I think it is my own clumsiness, a thought with which Mary would probably agree.

If you get a chance, stop in and view Mary's blog at http://marygoeswalking.blogspot.com/. The pictures are great, and in them you can see some of the things that I mentioned and many of the things that I didn't. In fact, she got a picture of the Bowden Spacelander bicycle that was made here in GH. I was perplexed as to why of the 522 Spacelanders that were ultimately produced, two were in a museum in Muskegon. Now I know that they were produced in both cities for a few short months in the early 1960s. If you want to know more, follow this link to the Grand Haven Tribune. I strongly urge you to do so.

http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/mailbag/612236

Otherwise, not much was happening yesterday. I played and listened to some music, did some highlighting for Mary and enjoyed...Tea time on the GH channel. That was Mary's suggestion, and it turned out to be a good one. Sugar was probably wondering why she came outside with us as she didn't get to go for her first walk until after noon.Mary and I did walk to the Post later in the day and met several of the regular people who frequent there. Sally was Sally as were the others, no change and that's good. That's one of the reasons that Mary often says, "I love this ....town"

Today, we start out with a trip to Grand Rapids and then maybe a stop at the Farmer's Market there. That market is expanding every week. Then it's home for the afternoon Irish Jam Session at the library. I'm not ready to try out my whistle in public yet, but maybe in a few months. Otherwise I anticipate that now that fall is here, the attendance at the jams will pick up. With the summer camping season and other factors in play, fewer musicians are able to come to the sessions.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Braves 5 - 9. I hope I wasn't wrong predicting that they wouldn't lose 100 games this year. The Tigers beat that other team from Chicago,12 - 5.They still haven't clinched a spot in the playoffs, but Max Scherzer got his 20th win. It will take a win by the Tigers and a win by the Astros over the Tribe to make it all come together. My beloved Red Sox did manage to clinch, beating the Blue Jays 6 - 3.

So that's about it for now. I hope that you get a chance to look at Mary's blog and to check out that web site for the Grand Haven Tribune. When I was young, we had a local newspaper in Arlington Heights, IL, The Arlington Heights Herald, whichI think became the Daily Herald. In fact, that newspaper was so successful, that a competitive paper came into circulation for a few years, The Arlington Day. That paper was independent for a while, but was ultimately absorbed by the Chicago Tribune I believe. The Chicago area had a great newspaper tradition, giving us such great writers as Mike Royko. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. I fell asleep watching a movie last night, so when I awoke, I knew it was time for bed. But as you can tell, that didn't last all that long. It is now just past 2:30 AM. Our current temperature is 71 degrees as we approach a high of 75. When I got up, Sugar the Weather Dog was in her hide-e-hole, AKA the upstairs bathroom, so I knew that the predicted storms would soon be here.

Speaking of Sugar the Weather Dog, due to the T-storms we had early yesterday, I had a hard time getting her out for her morning constitutional. She did show up in the kitchen before noon yesterday, but when I said "let's go for a walk," she hightailed it back upstairs. I think it was about 1:00 PM before she had to give in and we took a quick walk to the bookstore for a copy of the newspaper.

Yesterday was interesting. I did a good job blanching our 1/2 bushel of tomatoes. When I was done, I had this bowl of tomato skins and I thought that it would be wasteful to just toss them. So Mary went to the trusty internet and found a way to turn them into tomato sauce. With a little assistance from our blender, the sauce turned out great. Now Mary thinks that she can do it with whole tomatoes. We'll find out I guess.

I ended up with six quarts of tomatoes from that 1/2 bushel. Mary and I decided that we don't get enough sun here on the palatial estate for many crops, like tomatoes, so next growing season we plan to stick with crops that require less sunlight. Most of the cold weather crops like kale and Swiss Chard grow just fine with limited sunlight, so that looks like the way to go. The other crop that grows well is horseradish. I think that stuff is like a weed, but I like it. We did okay with cauliflower and celery too, so maybe those are possibles. Lettuce and cabbage grow well too. I think there is a theme here. Low sun, cool temperatures, etc.

Today, I have to read some, and play some, and just generally have a good time some. Thanks to Robert Fulghum for the thematic way I was able to string those thoughts together.

In sports, the boys in blue were able to finally beat the Brewers. Final score, 5 - 1. If my math is right, they won't lose 100 games this year. When you are a Cubs fan you have to go with what they give you to work with. The Tigers just got past the Mariners, 5 - 4. I think it was that tortilla chip that Prince got from that fan in the right field stands, because his sprint and his slide into home was a beautiful thing to behold. My beloved Red Sox beat the Orioles to clinch a playoff berth. Unfortunately, they are in the American League, so I have to divide my loyalties between the Tigers and the Sox. Oh well, that's better than having no horse in the race.

So that's about it for now. Time to go back to bed and time to do as little as possible today. I guess that just leaves..Tea time. Ciao.

Good stormy morning GH. We have just passed 5:30 AM here in "The City" and Sugar the Weather Dog has repaired to her hide-e-hole. That's because it is T-storming here. I can't say as I blame her. This is our share of the 30% for today. Tomorrow it is supposed to be an 80% share and it probably won't storm. that's how it works here. Our current temperature is 69 degrees as we aim for a high of 83. That would be the highest day this week.

On Thursday, Mary and I went on safari to the farm stand that we really like. We got a bushel of various squashes and a half bushel of Roma tomatoes. Those are my work for later today instead of riding my bike.

I think I know what went wrong last time. Mary says that if I get in trouble, she will be here to help. Apparently blanching can be more difficult than you think. I am going to try to solo once again as she has her own work to do. I found out that knowing what to do and actually doing it are worlds apart.

Hopefully before the tomatoes, Sugar and I can go for a walk. We took a long walk yesterday morning in anticipation of today's storms, because a walk may not come to fruition. That's life in the big city. Otherwise I just started a new book that is set in Captiva and Sanibel, twin islands in Florida. When we were there several years ago, the captain of a sailboat told us that the two were one island that was split by a hurricane. The book looked interesting when I was at the library the other day. I am trying to branch out to other authors if not necessarily genres. Also, more music.

In sports, the boys in blue are still rebuilding. They lost to the Brewers 0 - 7. The Tigers got hammered by the Mariners, 0 - 8. Just when I thought Verlander was back to his old self, he took a real pounding. My beloved Red Sox fell to the Orioles 3 - 5 in spite of a homer by Big Papi. Jake Peavy says his "stuff" is getting there now that he is using a lower arm angle. Much as I admire his talent, I know that he was struggled through several teams with injuries. Oh well, we'll have to take what we can get.

Otherwise, not much on tap for the day. Since I have now finished my household chores for the week and watering is not necessary, I should be able to get some other things done that I want and need to do. So as I await...Tea time and the dawn of a new day, I'll be saying Ciao for now.

Good morning GH. It has just passed 5:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is a slightly warmer 56 dark degrees as we head for our high of 78 sunny degrees. Thursday we expect a high of 83 with a 30% chance of T-storms and Friday the chance increases to 80% with a high of 78. I can pretty much guess where Sugar the Weather Dog may be on those days.

On Tuesday we journeyed to Holland to pick up a poster we had framed. It looks great on the wall in the media room. While in Holland we stopped for gas and used our discount coupons to get an additional twenty cents off per gallon. When you have a gas guzzler like we do, you have to watch your pennies. We saved nearly $2.00 to fill our nearly empty tank. Afterwards, we came back and had dinner at one of the local places. Then home for relaxing with a crossword for me and knitting for Mary. We also spent some time on the GH channel in our new rockers watching the world go by with Sugar.

Today I may get to that vacuuming that I was going to do yesterday. More music of course, and then some reading. Sugar will need to get in some walks too, since Thursday is iffy and Friday is probably out of the question. Otherwise, not much on tap.

In sports, the boys in blue once again fell to their nemesis to the north, the Brewers. Jeff Samardzja pitched a great game, only to give way to an ineffective reliever, 3 - 4. The Tigers neatly handled the Mariners 6 - 2, on the strength of a still hitting Miguel Cabrera. My beloved Red Sox fell to the Orioles 2 - 3, but their magic number is three. The Blackhawks had an exhibition game against the Red Wings and won 2 - 0 in Chicago.

As an aside, I was listening to the radio station that Mary likes, and they were discussing the Kennedy assassination. When they did a commercial for the Peace Corp, they used the phrase, "What if?" What if President Kennedy didn't go to Dallas? What if he had taken a trip to another city? It set me to thinking about taking the road less traveled. Life is a series of choices and those you make, and some you don't, can have a transformative  effect on your life. Changes often come with uncertain outcomes, but once they are in motion, sometimes you either have to put on the brakes or ride the tiger. I'm certain that I did a bit of both. Moving to our adopted state was a choice we made and it has worked out great.

So that's enough reflecting for now. Too much can make you crazy. So time to get back to bed and sleep in until it is...Tea time. Ciao.

Good morning GH. This is a special blog that contains some of my reminiscences about life in the olden days. No need to read, just a desire on my part to record some of the things that made my life and that of a few others special in the bygone days.

I know that I have mentioned that I worked at a place called Triangle Mobil in Arlington Height, IL. The business is long gone, having succumbed to the relentless march of progress. It was originally razed to make room for the expansion of a Chevrolet dealership. That dealership has since given way to a strip mall and a grocery store. Both entities were across the street from one of the original malls called Arlington Market. That mall had a Hi-Lo grocery store, a Jewel Tea grocery, a Walgreens, an S.S. Kresge, a bakery and a Chicago entity known as Polk Brothers, a furniture and appliance store. That store along with several others of that chain, burned down several times during my youth.

It is interesting that Arlington Market conjured up so many memories for me. I saw many local performers there in their T.V. roles, the SilverCup Bread Co. rocket ship, (they used to give out mini loaves of white bread), that we kids thought were the height of cool. The Oscar Meyer Co. brought their Wiener Mobiles a few times and that was always a treat. Today, the Arlington Market has been razed too, with grandiose plans for a new condo complex, and then for a few years left in ruins as the money ran out. I think today that they have it back on track.

Across Dryden Ave. from Arlington Market was an apartment complex and Miner Junior High School, one of my earliest schools, and only the second junior high school in the District 25 system. More would be built later as Arlington Heights grew and then Miner would ultimately be turned first into a "special school" for special needs children and finally I think it was torn down. Miner sat next to one of only two elementary schools in the District 25 system. Again, Windsor School was built to accommodate a growing town. Many more schools would be built to educate the children of the baby boom generation. That was true of the second wave in Wheeling as District 21 expanded too and then shrunk as the children grew and the community aged.

During those boom years, High School District 214 had to expand to educate those same children as they grew into adults. Once there was only Arlington High School and their teams with a mascot of the Cardinals. My high school, Prospect, was on the border of Mt. Prospect and Arlington Heights. Our school started with a small campus and grew as the years went by and the Knights grew in number. A school that was originally designed to hold about 1,700 students had over 3,000 at one point. Their 45th reunion is coming up soon. Prospect was soon joined by Forest View, Elk Grove, Wheeling and Hersey. There were plans for another, but the baby boom was drawing to a close.

I have more to say, but I am growing weary. Maybe when the muse moves me, I'll add in some additional details about Bob and Triangle Mobil and the myriad things that made growing up in the post-World War II suburbs unique, at least to me. If I think about it, I'll describe the growth of one of the cities that housed the returning veterans and their spouses and children, Rolling Meadows. I'm pretty certain that Mary Kay, a former colleague could help me. She grew up on the other side of Arlington Heights, not too far from one of the parks that was added to ease the load on the original park and pool, Recreation Park. It was called Pioneer Park.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 3:30 AM here in "The City," and the current temperature is 49 degrees as we are getting ready for a sunny high of 70. But that's not before we get to an expected low of 45 at 7:00 AM. To think, I returned to my summer uniform yesterday. When Sugar the Weather Dog and I take our morning walk, I may have to get out those long jeans and a jacket again. I guess it depends on when we get up to go.

Yesterday I did a bit more than I had planned. I did the laundry, dusted, walked with Sugar twice, and edited for and with Mary. All of that between music and reading. I finished one book late last night and then it was time for bed. I also updated my Social Security profile and then made a doctor's appointment. As I think about it, I was busy.

Today I plan to take it a bit more leisurely. Maybe vacuuming, more music of course, and then a new book begins. Sugar and I will take the requisite number of walks, but those are pleasure cruises. Otherwise, I plan for it to be a slow day. I'd like to stay in if Mary has no other plans that I can buy into.

In sports, the boys in blue once again fell to the Brewers, 1 - 6. The Tigers got by the Mariners 4 - 2. My beloved Red Sox had the day off.

To borrow from the ate Howard Cosell, speaking of sports, as I was listening to the radio last night, a pundit was ruminating on the reason that people don't seem to care about the fact that the baseball playoffs are coming up. In 15 days the wild card races begin on the first of October. Some fans speculated that the reason was the latest scandals over the use of performance enhancing drugs. Others that the perennial playoff bound teams were or were not there, depending on their own allegiances. Some felt it could be due to the high cost of seeing games that never seems to stop rising.

I have an opinion/theory. I think that the real cause is that the days of the old time baseball announcers weho began on radio like Vin Scully, Harry Caray, Jack Brickhouse, Mel Allen, Jack Buck along with numerous others who used to shill for their home teams are gone. Some of those announcers were true homers. Others were just hired guns. However, they were all personalities, almost larger than the teams for whom they announced. They did more than just announce a game, they described the action in a detail that came from the days of baseball on radio. Just one man's thoughts.

So that's about it for the latest goings on here in GH. Sunrise and...Tea time await. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just nearly 3:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 54 cloudy degrees. We are anticipating a sunny high of 67 with no precipitation until Wednesday and Thursday as a front moves through. By Thursday, those showers will be accompanied by a high of 80.

Speaking of the weather, we had a fair amount of rain on Sunday, but nothing like those poor folks in Colorado. While they are getting flooded, the NFL game in Tampa Bay, FL had to be stopped due to lightning and the game in Seattle had to be stopped due to rain driving the players and fans off the field. Additionally, the NASCAR race in Chicago had to be delayed for six hours due to rain. The sports events are not terribly important when compared to the lives lost and threatened in Colorado and other places.

Here in our little corner of the world, a bit of rain and the chance that it will snow in the winter time seem tame and normal by comparison. No earthquakes, no fifteen feet of snow, no real temperature extremes, unless you count the early spring that we had in 2012 that devastated the crops around here. In short, there's really not, a more congenial spot, for happy-ever-aftering, than here in GH. My thanks/apologies to the folks who wrote the original version of the lyrics for the song. 

Yesterday, we motored back from Muskegon and stopped downtown for a loaf of bread. It rained and I didn't have to walk Sugar the Weather Dog because she was at camp until 4:00 PM. Then we brought her home and went out. I'd never seen her do a double take before, but as she passed her food bowl on the way to the dining room, her nose caught the smell of food in the bowl and she had to do a quick reversal.  Not much of a day for me, but when I added in a little cross wording, music, and reading, that filled my time.

Today, more walks with Sugar the Weather Dog, some dusting, some reading, some additional music and some editing, not necessarily in that order. No watering required, just like batteries. Mary will finish her current job, I'll edit and submit for her perusal and possible updates, and then that should be it for the day. Whew, that was hard work just writing all that.

In sports, the boys in blue once again fell to the Pirates, this time by a score of 2 - 3. The Tigers edged the Royals 3 - 2. My beloved Red Sox  handily dispatched the Yankees 9 - 2. They are on a tear. A quick football update. Bears 31 - 30 over Minnesota. The Lions, fell to the Cardinals, 21 - 25.

That's enough for now. Soon, it will be...Tea time and time for the morning walk. Ciao.

Good afternoon GH. It is fast closing on 2:00 PM in "The City" and the current temperature is 62 degrees. The skies are cloudy all day. Oops, there's that lyric slip again. Actually, the skies are cloudy and the chance of showers is at 60%. Sugar the Weather Dog is away at camp and we have to pick her up between 4:00 and 6:00 PM today. Our next chance of precipitation is Wednesday and Thursday. No T-storms today, so Sugar will be fine.

Speaking of Sugar, we saw a picture of two beautiful Corgi boys at a restaurant/bar in Muskegon while we were there to see the Michigan Irish Music Festival. More on that in a bit. The bartender is a Corgi enthusiast and she had such great stories about her boys. Sugar is still the cutest dog on the planet, but these guys are a close second.

Before we got to the restaurant, we stopped in the Muskegon Heritage Museum. What a great place! They had two bicycles that were made in Grand Haven in the early part of the 20th century and a working Brunswick bowling pin setter to go with an exhibit about the paper mill in Muskegon that ended its run in 2009.

Perhaps the most interesting exhibit for me was the Corliss Stationary Steam Engine and the accompanying machinery that was being powered by it. The young man who was mostly responsible for its care and operation was named Adam. Both he and John, a former employee of the paper mill and one of the museum docents, spoke lovingly of the machines and industries that were part and parcel to Muskegon in its industrial hey day. I never knew that so many things were made in Muskegon. Today, Muskegon is attempting a come-back, but it is tough when so much of what made the city what it was has been lost to "progress" and off-shore competition. I'll let Mary tell you more in her blog to accompany the pictures that she took. I am sure that she will also include some pictures of the music fest too.

Speaking of the music fest, we saw multiple bands and performers. We heard Nolan Ladewski of Kennedy's Kitchen sing, play the tin whistle and the flute with Kennedy's Kitchen and sit in with other artists. What a talent. We were also thrilled by a young Irish performer, Damian Dempsey whose music was a treat. I was especially impressed by Scythian, a group of young performers who have been making a living playing Celtic, world, Gypsy, and Klezmer music infused with a touch of punk-rock for over 10 years. They are as energetic a group as I have seen in a long time. Burning Bridget Cleary was great too. It was great to have hotel room to return to after a long day of festing. In short, we had a great time in Muskegon.

In sports, the boys in blue lost a close one to the Pirates 1 - 2. The Tigers offense was asleep yesterday as they fell to the Royals, 0 - 1. My beloved Red Sox moved to 32 games over 500 with a 5 - 1 win over the Yankees, whom they now lead by 11.5 games.

In college football, the Wolverines of Michigan were nearly upended by the Akron Zips, pulling out a 28 - 24 win with a last second stop. In contrast, the Spartans of MSU sailed past the Youngstown State Penguins 55 - 17. Today, I'll once again save time by not watching much if any pro football. Ciao.

Good morning GH. At just past 3:00 AM, we are currently experiencing a low temperature of 49 degrees as we anticipate an eventual low of 43 later this morning. Our high today is expected to be in the upper 60s. It should be a good day for Irish Fest.  Sunday's forecast shows a 40% chance of occasional showers and a high only in the lower 60s. Sugar the Weather Dog will be okay with that as she was in the "Bone Zone" yesterday.

Also yesterday, I took the time to mow the lawns on the palatial estate and to replant the lettuce garden. Apparently while Mary was waiting for the lettuce to get taller it did, as it bolted to produce seeds. I guess that it was fully mature from what I know of plants. Oh well, since it is supposed to be a cold weather crop, we may get an additional harvest. If not, it will at least be a nice patch of green.

As I mentioned earlier, Mary and I will be going to Muskegon to the Irish Fest today. Some new bands, some old, and some that are local. All in all it should be good time. That's part of why I got my outside work done yesterday, no distractions. That means that the watering I did on Friday will carry the crops through.

The 10th annual Salmon Fest began Friday in GH. While the weather was clear, it was windy on the waterfront. Not to worry, but I opted to change out of my summer uniform of shorts and a T-shirt and to wear long jeans. In spite of that change, I opted for a more enclosed venue for dinner rather than an open tent. People were pouring in as we traveled on. They are more hardy than Mary or I. Fortunately, the Irish Fest uses enclosed areas with heaters where appropriate.

In sports, the boys in blue eked out a win over the Pirates 5 - 4, behind a late Anthony Rizzo home run. The Tigers likewise produced a win over the Royals by a score of 6 - 3. My beloved Red Sox dumped the Yankees 8 - 4 to give them a full 8.5 game lead over the Rays and 10.5 games over those same Yankees. The other team from Chicago lost to the Tribe 1 - 3, so while the Tigers couldn't increase their divisional lead over the Tribe, they lost no ground.

So that's about it for yesterday and today. Time for me to get ready for...Tea time and Irish Fest. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is fast closing on 5:00 AM here in "The City." The current temperature is 54 dark degrees as we head down to a predicted low of 51, and a sunny but cool high of 63 later this afternoon. Fall has finally arrived here in the lower peninsula. That means leaves changing colors and falling, less lawn mowing, and also the demise of my need to water and harvest. Given the paltry harvest of tomatoes this year and the very late cucumbers, no real loss.

Speaking of tomatoes, the ones that I received from my barber the other day became stewed tomatoes and tomato bisque soup with more than a little help from Mary yesterday. While I am getting better in the kitchen, I don't anticipate my soloing in the tomato department any time soon. Unlike my world famous squash/kale soup or my interpretation of that old family recipe for banana nut bread, or even my potato and onion soup, tomatoes and I are not yet on speaking terms. We'll get there, much like my whistle, I hope.

As you can imagine, I spent more than a little time in the kitchen yesterday. Between walks, Sugar the Weather Dog was there too, wearing her Sous Dog hat. Since I had to blanch the tomatoes, she didn't get any of them that weren't cool or cooled. That's part of where Mary came in. I used to be able to blanch tomatoes, but somehow along the way I lost that skill. Maybe I never had it. Fortunately, she rescued me before a total disaster. I think I'll get the hang of it again, in fact, by the second blanching I pretty much did.

Suffice it to say that although I haven't yet tried the stewed tomatoes, the tomato bisque soup was and will again be excellent. I anticipate that the squash/kale soup will again be hitting the table as the squash harvest will be in soon. We have a nearby place to get various varieties of squash, potatoes, and onions by the bushel, and that leaves me free to work my magic. I must mention that the one crop that has done well is the kale. I guess that the combination of sun, water, and temperature have been perfect for that crop. So too for the Swiss chard and the horseradish. Aah, horseradish. I'll be harvesting that soon and transplanting some south of here to another local grower.

Today, I will get to more reading and music. Not much else while Mary is chained to her desk working, but Sugar and I will think of her while we are out. I will also get to reheat that soup for my lunch. Perhaps a little time in the "Bone Zone" too.

Speaking of the "Bone Zone," I got bad news the other day. My "Bone Zone" radio has been drifting off station for about two years now, practically since I got it. Since I was not feeling so well at the time, I never dealt with it. I recently inquired about repairs, but since it is out of warranty, it would cost more to repair than replace. Talk about planned obsolescence. More fodder for the landfill.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Pirates 1 - 3. The Tigers had the day off as they await the arrival of the Royals today. My beloved Red Sox dropped a close one to the Rays, 3 - 4 while still maintaining an 8.5 game lead over them. I was worried a few weeks back, but they have righted the ship. I'll be busy on Saturday at the Irish Fest in Muskegon, so I won't get my usual dose of college football.

So that's about it for yesterday and today, Ciao.

It is just past 3:00 AM in "The City" and it is currently 70 degrees as we head for a clear high of 73. No rain, in the forecast which means that I have to water. Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep and that means that the forecast is on target.

On Wednesday, I started the day early to try to get everything done. My first stop with Sugar on our morning walk, was at the bank where she is always welcome. She absolutely loves it there because she gets to make her own withdrawal in the form of biscuits. Then I dropped her off and went to the barber where my wait was only about five minutes. I got a pleasant surprise when the barber offered me some extra tomatoes that he had been given. Given our own meager harvest, that was a great thing.

I followed the barber with a stop at the local grocery store and the newsstand and then on to home. I stayed long enough to talk to Mary and then off to the library where the class I wanted to take was already full for tonight. Oh well, maybe they'll offer it again. I also got five books by various authors, although I didn't vary from my usual mystery/suspense genre. I tend to stay with that unless I am reading a personal memoir or other non-fiction subject.

Finally I was home just in time for Mary to be off to the dentist. She thought we might meet for lunch, but when she tried to call me on the emergency cell phone I had waiting for her call, it didn't go through. So she sent me an email. I found out that the phone's minutes had expired and I had to work my way through that maze. What a mess. I finally talked to her and we met up at our favorite watering hole. She did point out that I could have emailed her in return, but that required free thought on my part.

We walked home afterwards and Mary sprang to her computer to see what was up. I stayed downstairs for a while until we had our dinner and then it was time for me to go to bed.

Today like yesterday, more music, some reading, some watering, and more kitchen duties as I try my hand at stewed tomatoes or tomato soup this time. I think I may be able to pull this off.

I hear a train a comin' the second time this morning. This time heading north with probably the same two locomotives and a few more cars. Sorry Johnny.

A quick sports report. Boys in blue, 0 - 6, Tigers, 1 - 0. Beloved Red Sox, 7 - 3.

At the risk of sounding like a famous pig, That's all folks!. Ciao

Good morning GH, We are currently at 75 degrees as we head for a high of 81. We are expecting a 30% chance of T-storms most of the day. That may present a problem for those of us, like Sugar the Weather Dog and I, who have to  go out today. It will all work out.

Mary has a dentist appointment later, but she can take the car if it is raining. Not that she minds walking in the rain, but if she gets behind schedule and has to rush, that may be the ticket. Me, if I can avoid watering, the rain is welcome. I have to go out to the local grocers and get a few things. If I can time it right, I may go to the library, then the grocery. I'll also spend more time on my whistle and guitar.

Sugar and I ended up walking to get her pawdicure yesterday. We also stopped in and got the newspaper on our way back. Laundry was in there someplace too. I finished the highlighting for Mary and played some on my whistle. Sometimes I sounded like a bag of feral cats, and other times I was almost acceptable. I can only get better. Each time I pick up that whistle and play, I am reminded how far I have come on the guitar.

Last evening, while Mary was still working, Sugar and I worked in the kitchen and made our now famous banana nut bread from an old family recipe. I don't know whose family, but the recipe was in an old cookbook. I finished two crosswords and then Mary came down to join us in some TV viewing. I guess I grew tired, so I came upstairs and fell asleep.

In sports, the boys in blue are up to their old September tricks. This season, as with all too many, they had their June swoon, which was preceded by an April - May swoon and followed by a July and August one too. As has often been the case, when September rolls around, the boys in blue find a way to win meaningless games. Yesterday, they beat the Reds 9 - 1, but they are so deeply mired in the cellar that daylight is nowhere to be seen.

The Tigers romped all over that other team from Chicago 9 - 1. That maintains their 5.5 game lead over the Tribe. My beloved Red Sox triumphed over the Rays 2 - 0 to give them an 8.5 game lead over those same Rays and 10.5 over the Yankees. So with the exception of the boys in blue, for whom next year always seems to await, all is well in sports.

A special message for Adam. Think of our old neighbor Marshall for whom nothing was ever on an expedited schedule. If it didn't get done today, there was always tomorrow. I think age confers some wisdom.

Be patient and follow the advice of the author Robert Fulghum who said in part, "Live a balanced life - learn some and drink some and draw some and paint some and sing and dance and play and work everyday some ." "You may never have proof of your importance but you are more important than you think. There are those who couldn't do without you. The rub is that you don't always know who."

I know at least three people for whom you are important. Kiss one in the morning and I'll kiss another for you. With luck she'll return the favor.

That goes for just about everybody in the world. Ciao

Good morning GH. It is already 71 humid degrees and it is just past 7:00 AM. Sugar the Weather Dog and I were going to walk over to the veterinarian and get her a pawdicure and renew her various medications, but that may wait until Thursday. I'll know more when I stick my head out the door later this morning.

Speaking of morning, the days are opening darker now that September is here and the days are getting shorter. I suppose that it is better than my getting up in the middle of the night to blog, but this kind of early morning darkness keeps Mary in bed longer. Even Sugar the Weather Dog sleeps in. Unfortunately, Mary has work to do and Sugar doesn't. I have work to do to, but that's just highlighting.

Yesterday, lots of new things combined with the old. We picked up the chairs and tables from the big box home center. I spent several hours on the hot and humid front porch doing the assembly. I got it done after the early problems that go with any assembly. Once you have done one, the process becomes mechanical. Then I came inside to my office to assemble my new chair. In spite of the directions that state, "These are the easy directions to keep it simple for you." Mostly it was, until I had to put the back on the chair. Getting the bolts to line up and then tighten was a challenge. But I did it, and here I sit.

I also did two things that I never thought I would do. I had an egg salad sandwich for lunch and for dinner, a Portabella mushroom sandwich for dinner. I was originally going to grill the mushrooms, but I had to tell Mary that my batteries were out of charge and I didn't have the strength. Thankfully, she still had some energy, and she cooked the mushrooms in the kitchen. I think she likes the kitchen activities as a diversion from the mind numbing work she is currently doing. Both sandwiches were excellent. Mary also improved on the coleslaw that I made the previous day. I tend to keep it simple, she adds the spices that I don't.

In sports, while I was able to report the scores of Sunday's NFL foot ball games, I found that like I once discovered, that you get an extra three hours on a Sunday afternoon by turning off the TV. Shhh, don't tell the NFL or the networks. I guess that it is like daylight savings time.

I have very limited plans for today as I noted earlier. More music, a trip to the library and maybe the veterinarian, and that's about it. Oh, I have to to that highlighting too.

Speaking of sports, my apologies to the late Howard Cosell, the boys in blue shutout the Reds, 2 - 0. The Tigers went down to defeat to that other Chicago team, 1 - 5. My beloved Red Sox had the day off. As for the NFL, I know that they played last night, but I didn't really care.

So that looks like it for today and yesterday. Time to get to work. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is fast closing on 5:30 AM in "The City" and raindrops are falling in buckets this morning. I thought I heard thunder before I got up, but Sugar the Weather Dog was still sleeping next to the bed, so I didn't believe my ears. After the most  recent crack of thunder, I thought she woud be off to her hide-e-hole, but I checked and she is still there.

The Weather Channel app is showing this as "light rain." Yeah right, just like the 30% likelihood for rain today. Is there a positive? Yes, Jack doesn't have to water today and probably not for several days. Plus, the lawns on the palatial estate were thirsty.

I covered most of what I had planned for today in last night's blog, as well as covering the sports outcomes. So that means that I can talk about whatever moves me at the moment.

The other day I was describing the life and times of Bob and I at Triangle Mobil, my high school employer. Well actually, my third high school employer. Before Bob, there was a place that inventoried grocery stores and a very short stint landscaping at an apartment complex. The grocery store gig was tough, because I had to get up before dawn cracked and work long hours in closed grocery stores. The work wasn't hard, just tedious.

We all got fatigued towards the end of a store, and began to manufacture the totals with estimates. We were pretty good. I think it suited my older brother, because his mind works like that. My mind is a bit more scattered. My mother worked in the office of that inventory firm, and that's how we both got the job.

But back to Bob and Triangle Mobil. The station was directly across the street from Mel's Pure Oil. Pure Oil was a big brand in the 50s and 60s. Mel himself was kind of a pill. He was somehow connected to the Village of Arlington Heights, IL through people who worked in their public works department. Working for Mel were two very good mechanics, Dave and John. When I needed advice about something auto repair related they, not Bob, were my go to guys. Bob's mechanical skills were good, but limited to the brakes, mufflers, and tune-ups he had learned during his job at Flash Cab. If you needed something other that, you needed to consult with John or Dave.

I can remember this car that Bob had sitting on the side of the station for weeks. The car needed a distributor, but Bob was certain that that was beyond him and it probably was. I was just young enough and cocky enough and probably dumb enough to try. I looked at the used distributor that the owner of the car brought in. I took out the old and replaced it with the new used one. The car fired up and he was happy.

Bob was nearly apoplectic when he saw that the car was gone when he got back from the race track. He was certain that something could  have gone wrong. Amazing what you can do with a little skill and a lot of nerve. If there was something or someone funny in this world, it probably happened at or came into the little world at the corner of Kensington and Dryden Avenues in Arlington Heights, IL.

Oh well, so many stories at that corner. I'll share more as the days go by and the muse moves me. They are probably more interesting to me, but that's the beauty of writing a blog.

Sounds like the T-storms are almost over. Sugar will be happy. The thunder was loud enough to wake Mary and that takes some doing. Soon it will be...Tea time. Ciao.

Good evening GH. It is getting dark, too dark to see...oh yeah, that's a song lyric from Bob Dylan I think. Anyway, the current temperature is 71 degrees as we head for an overnight low of 62. I usually get it the other way around, but when you don't get to blogging until later in the day, that's what happens.

Today Mary worked and I made vegetable broth. That's about it for my day; except that I did manage to play my tin whistle on a song entitled  The Parting Glass, a traditional Irish song. That made me feel good. Since I have had my whistle eight days now, I was certain that I would be a virtuoso by now, not. Otherwise, it was such a nice day that Sugar the Weather Dog and I took two nice long walks. I don't know which of us enjoyed the walks more. I guess that it really doesn't matter.

Mary finished her work quota for the day and then we journeyed to the big box office supply store so that I could get a new chair for my office. My old one gave up the ghost and spilled its guts all over my chair mat. Fortunately I got that mat about a week ago and the oily substance that spewed forth was easily cleaned up. We found one that was on sale and Mary had a $25.00 dollar discount good on an online purchase over $60.00. The chair was on sale for $69.99 at the store and they honored the $25.00 off card. That made the chair only $45.00 plus tax. Now all I have to do is drag the new chair up to my office tomorrow and assemble it. With a little luck, that should only take a few hours.

Before I do that though, we need to journey north to the big box home store to pick up our new front porch rockers.They took a bit longer to be available because they had to get them from another location.  They have a bit of a problem with communication to customers.

I have to water as usual and of course, play some music. I'd like to get to the library too, but if I don't, there's always Tuesday.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Brewers in front of numerous fans disguised as empty seats, 2 - 3. The Tigers fell to the Royals 2 - 5, but they still have a 5.5 game lead over the Tribe. My beloved Red Sox took it on the chin from the Yankees 3 - 4, but have maintained a lead over the Rays of 7.5 games and 10 games over the Yankees. There is joy in Bean Town. The Caps in their final game of the A level season lost to the Lug Nuts, 4 - 9.

In football, the MSU Spartans shut down the South Florida Bulls, 21 - 6. The Wolverines handily downed the Fighting Irish, 41 - 30 last night as Devin Gardner wore his newly given # 98 jersey, in honor of Tom Harmon, the 1940 Heisman Trophy winner. That number has been on the shelf for many years. Mark Harmon, his son of and the star of the hit show NCIS was there to do the honors. The Northwestern Wildcats clawed Syracuse, 48 - 27 in their home opener. The Huskies of NIU had a week off after their win over Iowa.

In the NFL, the Lions dropped the Vikings 34 - 24. The Bears pulled out a win over the Bengals 24 - 21. The day was a trifecta as the Packers lost to the 49ers 28 - 34.

So that's enough for today and yesterday. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 7:00 AM, and the current temperature in "The City" is 72 degrees as we head for a partly cloudy high of 81. A 30% chance of precipitation brings the clouds. That same 30% chance has produced a few drops of rain now that I can see with the Sun is on the rise. I'll know how serious the forecast is when Sugar the Weather Dog gets up. If T-storms are going to be problem, Sugar will let me know when she won't leave her hide-e-hole. She has moved to my side of the bed already.

Yesterday, Sugar and I spent some time in the "Bone Zone." I read and listened to oldies radio and she chewed happily away. I don't know if I mentioned it, but my eyes checked out perfectly. So, my headaches may be due to the amount of fine print reading I have been doing for Mary the last few weeks. Mary seems to think so, and I have no reason to doubt her judgement. The reading I do for her is done at my desk, and the pages are in front of me and down. When I read a book, I can hold it in exactly the right position for my progressive bifocals. Mary is a person who never gets headaches and so she doesn't quite understand.

Today, we had plans to travel to the big box hardware/home center store to pick up our new chairs for the front porch. But I heard on the radio earlier that our main thoroughfare might be one lane as it goes through town Apparently, it will be closed between Madison and the draw bridge for resurfacing. If that affects the day traffic or just the nighttime traffic, I don't know. If that is the case, the chairs may have to wait for next Monday. You can't get anywhere in "The City" if that road is blocked or down to one lane, and you absolutely don't want to try going north. If Sugar and I go walking this AM, we can take a look.

Otherwise Mary has to finish some work and I have to play music. Sugar just has to be. Speaking of Mary, she made a great lunch of vegetarian Reuben sandwiches yesterday. Who needs corned beef when you have good Sauerkraut and great Swiss cheese?

I wanted to dig into my backlog of stories about my/our life. When Mary and I met, I was working full time at the gas station near her apartment. I was also working part time at the old station where I worked in high school.

One thing about that station that made it fun was the owner, Bob. He had an interesting way of doing things. He kept the station's money in his "safe" in the back room. Sounds like a good plan until I tell you that the safe was actually a 55 gallon drum with a pile of rags on top under which we had to stash the cash at night.

Bob was the best boss I ever had. He fired us on a regular basis for being goof-offs, and when we got ready to go, he'd ask where we were going. He needed us so he could go to the race track and so we played along. He also instructed us to clean the place up when he was gone. He had a bad habit of taking out every tool in the station and leaving then on the workbench. Our pay for this "extra" activity was the key to the Pepsi machine. I think we drank four or five case per week. If there is anything better than ice-cold Pepsi in a glass bottle, I don't know what it is. That was before they put corn sweetener in and assured us that it tasted the same. That's why they sell a throwback product now I guess.

During horse racing season, Bob just had to go to the race track a few miles from the station almost every afternoon. You could almost always count on a daily call from his wife Pat, asking if Bob was there. Our instructions from Bob were simple. If Pat called we were to tell her that Bob had "just left." She always responded that she knew where he was, especially when he came in the door of their apartment about 10 miles away, as she was talking to us. We stuck to the story.

The "safe" room also had a small television which we watched until the station was closed at 9:00 PM. The customers were always apologetic when they had to stop for gas when we were watching one of our favorite shows. There are probably a thousand stories that go with that job, and if I get a chance, I'll add more in the future.

In sports, the boys in blue defeated the Brewers 8 - 5. The Tigers are now in KC, where a 26 hit effort produced a 16 - 2 final score. It got boring to watch after a while. They have a 6.5 game lead over the Tribe now. My beloved Red Sox moved on to NYC where they slam dunked the Yankees 12 - 8 to give them a 7.5 game lead over the Rays and 9.5 games over those same Yankees. The Caps lost to the Lug Nuts, 4 - 9.

Tonight, the Fighting Irish come to the "Big House" in Ann Arbor to face the Wolverines of Michigan. This will be their last meeting for the foreseeable future. The Spartans of MSU play in Florida at noon. So many teams, so little space, so I'll stick to the major college programs in Michigan until baseball season is over. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It has just passed 8:30 AM in "The City," and the current temperature is 55 degrees as we head for a sunny high of 79. No precipitation in the forecast or on Sugar the Weather Dog's personal radar until tomorrow at the earliest. That means that it should be a good day for a long walk with Sugar and for some serious deck sitting.

Mary says, and I think she is right, that Sugar can't expect to go to the "Bone Zone" each time we go out on the deck. Sometimes, well all the time, Sugar can be so cute in her needy way, that she can be hard to resist. Adam once said that Sugar has me wrapped around her paw. He's right.

So today, more music, more reading, more watering, and more work for Mary. I may have to do some highlighting if Mary gets the pages printed out for her new project. I don't mind that, as it is just adult coloring.

I was remembering myriad things from my past as I was reminiscing about the last 40 years. One event or incident came to mind from high school. Like many young men in that time period, you had two choices in high school. There was the college track and the work track. Fully 86% of my graduating class at least started college, that was what nearly everybody did. I started, but it took me years to finish. Along the way I had many careers or occupations. I'll talk more about those at a later time.

One period of time sticks out in my high school career. As someone who had never seriously considered college, I took numerous industrial arts classes. Not surprising considering my personal history and my dad's occupation and skill set.

So, I took metals, power mechanics, woods, etc. My personal favorite teacher was a man named Ed Wichman. He came from a working class family and his father had a welding/fabrication shop. It was logical for Mr. Wichman to go to college and get a degree in industrial arts education, the first one in his family to attend college. But, what stands out for me was another teacher in the industrial arts department, Mr. Etherton. The kids somewhere along the way had nicknamed him "Pipe." Some say it was because he walked so erect, some because he was a pipe smoker. I don't know, but I do know this.

During my years in high school, the bane of Mr. Etherton's existence was a kid named Haynes. I used to think that Haynes spent his days trying to think of ways to try Mr. Ehterton's patience. Haynes could roll up next to a VW Beetle and 15 minute later, he and his "crew" could drive away with the entire engine from that car. But I digress.

Haynes was most famous for spreading motor oil on the floor of the power mechanics shop. Kids used to run down the hall to the classroom, throw open the door and swing into the room and slide into their desks. It was around a slight corner, and Haynes decided that if they were gong to slide in, he would help them. So, just inside the door, he poured about 1/2 qt. of motor oil. As the late kids came around the corner and hit that oil, they slammed into the wall that was just inside the door. Funny, but as I look back, it was very dangerous.

Haynes also wired the spark plug testing machine output cord to the doorknob between the adjoining classrooms. Some kids would cheat and come from one room to another to escape the teacher's attention. Very high voltage, but very low amperage. Not dangerous I guess, but you would know that you had grabbed that knob. Unfortunately, Mr. Wichman had been next door conferring with Mr. Etherton, and grabbed the knob to get from the woods classroom to the power mechanics room for his next class. I think you can guess what happened. Mr. Wichman got the shock of his life, burst into the classroom and pulled the power cord for the tester from the wall, devastating that machine for the rest of the semester.

A final note on Haynes. One day, he did something to tick off Mr. Etherton. So, in his inimitable style Mr. Etherton intoned, "Haynes, the trouble with you, is that nobody stuck their foot up your a-- when you were five years old." Never one to be outdone, Haynes said the following, "Pipe, the trouble with you is that somebody did stick their foot up your a-- when you were five years old, and it's still there." At that point, Haynes bolted from the room as Mr. Etherton, shouted after him, "Haynes, get back here!" Of course, he never came back, but I have to assume that Mr. Etherton caught up to him later.

My only contribution to the Haynes saga was that Haynes was using all of those misappropriated VW parts to build a dune buggy. He also learned that the golf course behind my house had just the right kind of pipe to use for a frame for his buggy. So, he and his cronies came by late one night and picked up what they needed. My other contribution was my ability to use the TIG welder in the metals room. I could weld the shortened parts that Haynes needed so clean and smooth that they looked factory made. Oh well, that's enough about Haynes and high school for now.

No sports, today, I was just too long winded. Ciao.

Good afternoon GH. It is 65 very comfortable degrees in "The City," and Mary has goose bumps. Our expected high was supposed to be 73 sunny degrees. They got the sunny part right, but the 73, not so much. No precipitation in the forecast until Saturday the seventh, coincidentally Adam's 39th birthday. I am pretty certain that he will find something indoors to do.

Yesterday, we journeyed over to Marne in search of some new furniture for our front porch. Alas, while they had some nice things, none suited our desires. Well, we found some at our nearly local big box hardware/lumber/general store. Hopefully, we can pick them up on Saturday.

Also yesterday, we stopped in a post-prohibition era roadhouse on the way back from Marne and had a couple of PBRs and some hand battered mushrooms. I don't normally have a desire or need for mushrooms, whether fried, sauteed, or raw, but in this case, I have to say that they were super. We finished up our day at one of the local watering holes.

In about 30 minutes, I have an appointment at the eye doctor. My eyes have been playing tricks on me and I think that it may be that they are getting worse. It wasn't that long ago that I had them checked, but I just can't handle the headaches anymore. Too much reading to do. Mary is working and I have to help, so I have to get my raptor like vision back.

In sports, the boys in blue are up to their old ways, beating the Marlins with a home run by a score of 9 - 7. The Tigers got blasted by my beloved Red Sox 4 - 20. Yes, you read that right, 4 - 20. Home runs can do that for or to you. The Caps have a three game over 500 record.

So that's about it folks. I have to get going and that mean that I'll have more to say tomorrow. Ciao.

Good morning GH, I'm back. Since I like to go to bed early I also like to get up and write on by blog early. It has just passed 2:00 AM, and our current temperature is 61 clear degrees as we head for a high of 78. No precipitation is on the horizon and that's mostly good with me. However, that does mean that I have to water today. Not difficult, just one more thing in a list of things that need doing. Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep in the bedroom, so I am certain that the weather will remain calm for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday was one of those days where time got away. Sugar and I walked, I read the paper, and then we had dinner. Next thing I knew, it was past midnight. No guitar playing, but I did listen in on a Webinar about my computer software that lets me talk instead of type. I learned some things, but I am certainly no expert. I also spent some time with my Irish whistle and I am improving each time I pick it up. Mary thinks I am doing fine; I still think I sound like a pack of alley cats on the prowl. Oh well, that's my opinion and I am entitled to it.

In my quest to recall the past, I was thinking about the places where I listened to music when I was younger. Where I grew up, in Arlington Heights, IL, we had a place called The Cellar , a teenage venue where rock and roll was played. It only lasted a few years. Bands like the Byrds and The Shadows of Knight played there. We also had a place that was called the Shandellier that was in the local Knights of Columbus hall. The name came from a local band called the Shandells that was the de facto house band.

There was a place in Algonquin, IL called The New Place, that was similar in nature to the other teen clubs. We also frequented a venue called The Wild Goose that was the brain child of a Chicago area Disk Jockey named Dex Card. How's that for a radio name? The Wild Goose traveled around and was usually held in a high school gymnasium. Bands like the Ides of March, The Five Man Electrical band, and Dennis and Carl were often on the bill. The latter two were members of the Chicago area band called The Buckinghams. I once read that not too long ago, they were making more money now than they did in their heyday.

Speaking of Chicago area bands, when my friends and I passed the age of 21, shortly after Mary and I married, we went to a place in Schaumburg, IL called B'Ginnings. It was owned by Danny Seraphine, a founding member of the group Chicago. It was loud and smoky and was located in a strip mall. Bands like Survivor, famous for their song "Eye of the Tiger," played there. That venue is now an Illinois Secretary of State's office. We also visited a place called The Thirsty Whale in River Grove, IL. They featured mostly Chicago area bands. It was dark and perfect for just hanging out. Various incarnations of The Thirsty Whale still exist in the Chicago area.

I even spent some time in Milwaukee, WI at a place called Beneath the Street, but I don't remember much about it. I still remember visiting Milwaukee to see Summerfest. We saw the late George Carlin do his act that included the seven words you can's say on the radio. He was arrested after he came off stage for obscenity. One of those words is now commonly used on the radio.

That was in the days when Wisconsin allowed drinking at the age of 18, so many Illinois teens went there to get a "legal" drink. There was a part of the expressway between Chicago and Wisconsin that was the perfect speed trap for drunken 18 year old Illinois teens to be picked up by the police as they traveled back from Wisconsin. I once drove my 1969 SS Camaro at over 120 MPH through there on my way back south. A guy in an Oldsmobile passed me like I was standing still. I decided to slow down after I was passed. The next thing I saw, was a second Oldsmobile also passing me at a high rate of speed.

Fortunately for me, the first Oldsmobile had attracted the attention of that second Oldsmobile, driven by a member of Wisconsin's finest. I think the second guy had clocked me on his radar in the pea-soup fog, something that was and is common in that part of Wisconsin. He caught the first guy who passed me. That was probably a stupid thing to do, going 120 MPH in a thick fog, but when you are young, you do dumb things. In retrospect, those kind of things are not among the smartest things you'll ever do, things like walking across an open basement on the un-anchored steel beams of a house under construction. Best of all, you can tell your own children not to do those same stupid things. I was wondering the other day why Adam is a car guy who likes to go fast, but I think you can figure that out if you try. Enough for now.

In sports, the boys in blue found another way to lose last night, as they fell to the Marlins 2 - 6. The Tigers are now only 7.5 games ahead of the Tribe, having lost to my beloved Red Sox 1 - 2, which allowed the Sox to move to 5.5 games ahead of the Rays. I'm okay with the Tigers losing as long as the Red Sox are the winners. I was a Red Sox fan long before I came to Michigan. The Caps dropped one to the Lug Nuts 4 - 9.

So that's about it for yesterday and today. It will soon be...Tea time and time to get on with doing nothing. Mary still has to work, but until my time for highlighting or editing comes, I am free as the proverbial bird. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. I have to apologize to my numerous fans, but the crush of business got in the way. I had to take the day off to work at my other job. Well actually, I was just too tired to get up early Monday morning, and then the day just got away. Yesterday I had just enough time to let Sugar the Weather Dog take me for an early morning walk. My other job is the one where my slave driver of a boss makes me work for beans. About all I had time for was breathing, and that was the Reader's Digest version of breathing. But I digress.

Our current temperature is 62 degrees as we strive to achieve a sunny high of 72. No rain in the forecast, either from the Weather Channel app, or from Sugar the Weather Dog herself.  In fact no precipitation until Monday the 9th. 

Mary worked hard on Sunday, and then yesterday we both began working early and worked until late. But that was yesterday and this is today. Mary still has more work to do and I still have to let Sugar take me for a walk. But otherwise, my boss says I can legally have the day off. Since this is Tuesday, it must be laundry day, not Belgium. That's an obscure reference to an old movie title. 

I hope to find time to get to a few other things today too, like guitar and whistle practice, a long walk with Sugar, and some reading. Which reminds me, I promised a report on my last book, Drinking With Men: A Memoir, by Rosie Schaap. 

I found it the type of book that I couldn't put down. Rosie describes her travels through the United States and the world. She followed the Grateful Dead for a while, took time to go to high school, drop out and get her G.E.D., and then attend college. She worked at various jobs, some paying and some not, drank in various mostly dive bars with men, and a few women, and rediscover various religions, including the one to which she was born. She also worked in her native NYC as a chaplain during the time of the 9/11 tragedy, and get both ordained and married. In short, she both found herself and lost her way a few times in her roughly forty years. There is a lot more, but I suggest that if you have time to read, you get Drinking With Men: A Memoir, by Rosie Schaap from your local library and set aside some time to read it.

In sports, I am just going to pick it up with Mondays activities. The boys in blue found another way to lose, this time to the Marlins, 3 - 4, to fall a full 22 games behind the division leading Pirates and 21 games behind the Cardinals. The Tigers maintained an 8.5 game lead over the Tribe as they defeated my beloved Red Sox, 3 - 0. Fortunately, the Red Sox have a 5.5 game over the Rays. I was worried about the Red Sox for awhile, when their bats went to sleep. Now I have to both ache for my beloved team and cheer for the Tigers. A series split for one or the other would be good. The Caps fell to the Lug Nuts, 4 - 9. 

So that's about it for now. Sunrise will be here before I know it, as will my old friend...Tea time. I guess the trains are taking the day off. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:00 AM here in "The City." The current temperature is 66 degrees, as we head for a high of 82 with a chance of T-storms set at 30% in the PM. Sugar the Weather Dog is sleeping soundly, so the prediction given by the Weather Channel app for T-storms in the afternoon is very likely.

On Saturday, Mary worked and I attempted to play tunes on my new Irish Tin Whistle. Right now I sound more like a pack of angry alley cats than a whistle player, but that's to be expected. I strummed a few quick tunes on my guitar just to remind myself that I actually have musical ability.

Sugar and I took two walks together in search of the local newspaper. Unrequited at first, we did better in the early afternoon. I think the predictions that the paper would be better and just as timely when printed north of here have proven inaccurate. Oh well, that's progress.

It wasn't until lunch time that Mary was able to join me for a sit down meal. We shared two bowls of soup, each of a different variety. Later, we were able to get the dinner on the table collectively. That dinner was supposed to be on Friday, but that rain thing delayed its launch. It was worth the wait. Our new Weber chimney for the grill worked as advertised and the coals soon took on a welcoming glow. My pork chop, Mary's veggies, and corn for both of us and we had a great birthday/early anniversary dinner. I actually stopped watching the Wolverines crush the Chippewas of Central Michigan because it had become a blowout. More on that later.

So, today is officially our 40th anniversary. Stephany and Adam sent birthday and anniversary cards from Chicago and they arrived on Friday. In our city, the mail arrives on time. I also got a letter that I didn't want. I had sent away to get my dad's DD 214 and I finally got a reply from the records office. His DD 214 was apparently destroyed in a fire back in 1972. That was my only plan, so I don't know where to go from here. Maybe Mary's dad's records weren't destroyed, because they were in a different location in the storage warehouse.

Mary has to work again today; she is way behind schedule. I'll help by being quiet at first, and then editing quickly later. So our anniversary won't be like our wedding day 40 years ago, but we'll make up for it on Monday. Otherwise, not much on tap for today.

In sports, the boys in blue slipped past the Phillies 4 - 3, following a late home run by the shortstop. Typical of the boys in blue. The Tigers blasted the Tribe 10 - 5, to open an 8.5 lead over those guys from Cleveland. My beloved Red Sox dropped that other team from Chicago 7 - 2, to open a full 4.5 game lead over the Rays. The Caps fell to the Lansing Lugnuts 4 - 5. They are winding down the season having had their last home game on Friday evening. We had planned to get there this year, but an alien conspiracy got in the way.

In other sporting news, the Spartans of MSU dropped the Western Michigan  Broncos 26 - 13 on Friday night. On Saturday, the Wolverines of Michigan jammed the Central Michigan Chippewas, 59 - 9. For those who follow them, the Fighting Irish handily dispatched the Owls of Temple 28 - 6. I am currently listening to the Northwestern Wildcat game from CA as they attempt to start off on a winning note with a victory over the Golden Bears. So, I don't know if it is a Saturday game or not. I guess in CA it is. The Cats defense has swarmed all over the Golden Bears, with three interceptions. For Adam, the Huskies of Northern Illinois rallied past Iowa 30 - 27. For Michael, the Fighting Illini beat the Salukis of Southern IL, 42 - 34. The final score of the Northwestern game was 44 - 30. They proved too much for the Golden Bears at the end.

So that's about it for Saturday and today. I had planned to watch college football and I did. I had planned to "play" my Irish whistle and I did. I had planned to have that dinner and I did. So all in all, the day went off as planned. A new day awaits . Ciao.