Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." It is amazing what a one degree difference in the indoor temperature feels like. It was 70° in the Weather Office yesterday morning around this time and only 69° this morning. I felt the need to put on my slippers and my fleece from the Wisconsin Dells, to ward off the chill. On this second morning of DST, the view out the Weather Window is dark, with a side of melting snow. It is 36° this morning. Those warmer outdoor temperatures are forecast to last through Tuesday, when we return to the twenties for several days. We should see some melting by then, but alas, certainly not all of the snow cover will be gone.

Sunday I almost got up the energy to go to the library to see a fiddle group from one of the area high schools. I have heard some of their members play with the Irish Jam sessions I like to play with, and they are quite proficient. However, since that would have required getting into the car to go one and one half blocks to the library, I chose not to go. I didn't want to run the car because the sidewalks were icy on March 9. For the same reason, Sugar the Weather Dog didn't get a walk. The forecast calls for our temperatures to remain low for the next couple of weeks.

Mary and I  collectively completed a collage style picture that we have been working on for two years. That collage shows the Castro Theater in both a printed format that we got in San Francisco and in two pictures that Mary took while we were there two years ago. That was the year that it was 70 - 80 beautiful degrees here, and in the 50s and rainy in San Francisco. Not just the usual drizzly rain that seems to be part of San Francisco weather, but a heavy Midwest type of rain. During our visit, on a whim, Mary and I rode the trolley out to "The Castro" as the area is known by the locals.

Like the legendary "Haight-Ashbury" district in San Francisco, "The Castro" has a character that is distinct and different. Instead of what are collectively known as hippies, both then and now, "The Castro" is now home to the LGBT community of San Francisco. In the halcyon days of San Francisco, "The Castro" was a vibrant, working class community with what has to be the coolest hardware store that I have ever been privy to see. Now it is home to a diverse population, many superb restaurants, and that hardware store.

Our collective collage efforts now have a prominent home in our Media Room. It used to hang in what is now home to a movie poster of the film Casablanca, starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Since the theme of our collage is the Castro Theater, it is perfect in its final home on the north wall.

Today I plan to finish my housework, do the laundry, and work a little on our puzzle. I worked on the puzzle yesterday, just before dinner, but I stopped for the day as it was getting dark in the dining room. Plus, since I occupy part of the dining room table while I am working, I had to clear room for dinner. Dinner consisted of some leftovers from our favorite watering hole, and the remainder of a veggie meatloaf that we had had for lunch.

At lunch time, Mary made her now famous cauliflower gravy to use as a garnish for the veggie meatloaf. She critiqued her own efforts on the gravy, saying she forgot to put in the Worcestershire sauce. I liked it anyway, but I like most of the meals that Mary prepares. If I don't, I tell her. We had as a side with lunch, a salad recipe that Mary crafted from that cookbook she picked up when we were out the other day. Sauerkraut, chopped onions, carrots, sugar and vinegar, combined with olive oil to create what we both agreed is a wonderful taste treat. Mary didn't add quite as much sugar as the recipe called for, and maybe that is why it was so good. We both tend to like things a bit more tart than sweet. The salad requires some time in the refrigerator to let all of the ingredients blend and complement each other.

I also found time to exercise and play the girls too. However, since I haven't been actively finger picking for several weeks, my wrist hurt more than my shoulder. Go figure. Still, it felt good to play none the less. Given all that I have placed on my own plate today, I doubt that I'll get in much additional playing time. I will get to my exercises though.

Sunrise will be at 8:07 a.m., and sunset at 7:42 p.m. I've not heard any trains, so if they come, I'll be in bed by then. Ciao.