Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is as low as it will get tonight/today, 60°. When the sun rises at 6:33 a.m., we are supposed to see partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 70°, with no precipitation. Friday and Saturday. the temperatures will be about the same, but the chance of T-storms is forecast to  be 40% and 30% respectively. Wednesday, the afternoon showers were specifically forecast to be at 40% at 2:00 p.m. Did it rain? you ask. Zip, zero, nada, as usual. So what the forecast means for later this week is that I'll be watering on Friday.

Wednesday, we walked to the farmer's market after lazing about for most of the morning. Mary made her famous Swiss cheese and sauerkraut sandwiches for brunch, which I enjoyed, as always. Once we got back from the farmer's market, I watered, weeded, carried out the trash and recycling, and harvested in the garden, Mary's blog will have pictures of the harvest and of our evening activities in the next few days.

Once I was indoors, I washed and stored the lettuce I harvested yesterday. Next, I sauteed some kale in olive oil and garlic. I harvested the kale a few days ago. We had it for a dinner salad bar that Mary prepared, but in the opinion of the chief cook and bottle washer, I didn't saute it long enough. I have to agree. While it retained the best qualities of kale, it was a bit chewy. Oh well, next time will be better. However, given the modest harvest that w get from that land intensive crop, I may switch to a crop with a better yield next year. Farming can be a hit and miss proposition around here.

I mentioned in my previous blog that I was considering an addition to our musical family. Mary encouraged me to go around the corner to the guitar store yesterday afternoon and see what they had to offer. Suffice it to say that I did not come home empty handed. I met Abaigael, Abby for short, and she came home with Mary and I. Now Bridget has a new, temporary home, at the store from which she was originally adopted. I know she will make some other player happy in the not too distant future. Abby is an Alvarez, When she came to live at our house was already 36 years old. That means she is mellow in sound and timbre. Since I mentioned Abaigael, I'll include her picture right here.

Sorry about that sideways view. Someday I may figure out how to rotate theses pictures.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Rockies, 4 - 6. My beloved Red Sox are still in free fall, losing to the Blue Jays, 1 - 6. However, the Tigers seem to have found their bats once again, as they defeated that other team from Chicago, 7 - 2. The Caps fell to Lake County, 2 - 3.

I watched the northbound run of the train go by about 50 minutes ago. Two locomotives, seven covered hopper cars, and three of those dreaded black tank cars, bringing up the rear. I never heard the southbound run.

Today, more walking with Sugar the Weather Dog, more playing with Abaigael and the other girls, and orthopedic and P/T appointments in the afternoon. This will be the last treatment for my knees. Then seven months of relatively pain free activity. I have to be sure to ask the doctor about the pain that I am sometimes feeling in my surgically repaired shoulder. It may just be that the feeling is returning, but it can't hurt to ask. No pun intended.

I/we have plans to go to the Waterfront Stadium to see a Beatles tribute band tonight, but I had those same plans last year and ended up staying at the Post and visiting with Sally. Who knows what might happen this year. We have been out and about for two late nights running, and for me, that's a lot of running. The sun will set at 9:06 p.m., and then the day will be done. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is nearing 4:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature of 57°, corresponds with the overnight low forecast for today. As for the predicted precipitation, as I noted in my previous blog, like most of the forecasts for our area, the rain never came to pass. While it rained on the other side of the "Big Lake", it never rained here. That means that I'll have to water today. Sugar was elated by that lack of storms.

Speaking of Sugar the Weather Dog, she and Mary walked over to the local garden center/dog supply store, to pick up a fresh supply of biscuit treats. Apparently, with the exception of Sugar being still full of energy as they approached home on their return trip, everything went well. I was at my P/T appointment, so they had to go on their own.

When I got home, I took time to mow the back forty of the palatial estate and pull some weeds that I missed the other day. I rode my bike to my appointment, and I wish that I could say that my baking yak felt great now. Last evening I spent too many minutes on Washington Ave., listening to the the band at Coast Guard Festival™ Street Dance. The band, The Gents, was formed 40 years ago at the Coast Guard Academy when it's member were there together. Don't forget to visit Mary's blog at http://marygoeswalking.blogspot.com/ for those pictures I mentioned in a recent blog.

Once The Gents graduated from the academy, they followed their orders, pursued their separate career paths, and drifted apart. It seems that at a reunion a few years ago, they decided to reconnect and reform the band. In spite of each member living in disparate areas of the U.S., they found time to rehearse and make music once again. They were a great addition to this year's festival and had everyone dancing in the street. What a great idea by the festival organizers. What a great band of retired "Coasties."

Other than mowing the lawns, I didn't do much yesterday. I touched the girls, but didn't really have time to play. Mary had a plan to go to the cook's supply store in Muskegon for a new vegetable peeler around 4:00 p.m. She also picked up a new lettuce storage bowl while we were there. While in North Muskegon, we spotted a sign near the exit ramp that a pub was at that exit. After we left the kitchen store, we decided to search for that pub. We missed it on our eastward trip and thought it had gone out of business.

As we traveled west to get back on Rte. 31, we noticed a small sign below the sign for a larger store. We still didn't see the pub until I looked down a side road and saw a small sign and the pub itself hidden in the woods. We stopped in, had our dinner, and then headed home. We may have to return to that kitchen store again. This was truly a case of a place being invisible to those who didn't know it was there.

In sports, the boys in blue were on TV when I got home from the Street Dance. The game was in the top of the sixth inning tied at three all when I tuned in. The outcome was ultimately decided in the bottom of the 16th, 4 - 3 in favor of the boys over the Rockies. I went to bed when the game went into extra innings. My beloved Red Sox fell 2 - 4 to the Blue Jays. I read an article that they have given up hope for this year and are ready to trade and restock players for "Next Year." That means that last year's championship season will be surrounded by two losing seasons. The Tigers too seem to be struggling. As the manager and the team as a whole struggle to find the answer, they are still in first place in their division. They need to find that answer soon. The Caps defeated the Lake County, OH Captains, 7 - 2.

I was up late enough watching the boys and I heard the southbound train pass through. I didn't get out of my chair to look, although it felt like a long heavy train. The northbound run is just passing now at 3:50 a.m. The regular pair of locomotives towing six covered hopper cars, three of those dreaded black tank cars, one lone box car and a single white tank car bringing up the rear. .

Once the sun rises at 6:31 this morning, I plan to stay in bed for a while. I've no need to get up until it is time to go to the weekly farmer;s market. Mary needs to get some eggs from one of the vendors for some deviled eggs she is planning to make for the parade party at the barber shop. Other than that, we have no needs at the market. It will allow Sugar the get her morning walk in while we gather some needed supplies.

That's about it for today. I need to do my exercises for by yak and then do some reading. The sun will set at 9:08 p.m. I'd like to get in some time with the girls if possible.

Speaking of the girls, I am toying with getting them a roommate. I need to find a way to justify that idea. Maybe I'll walk around the corner to the local guitar store just to see what he has. Just looking mind you. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City," where our current temperature is a chilly 52° as we head go down to an overnight low of 52°. Today the weather will be turning worse than yesterday when Mary and I went downtown to see the arrival of the U.S. Coast Guard ships in the annual parade of ships. Mary will supply pictures of the ships in a future blog. It was windy and cool on the channel causing our plans to be altered to include our sweatshirts and an earlier than anticipated departure from the waterfront. It never got past the mid 60s, as the winds continued to blow out of the west in excess of 20 mph. Sugar the Weather Dog was safe at home, on "Her Couch."

As today changes to tonight, the expectation is for a 40% chance of T-storms starting at 1:00 p.m. and increasing to 50% by 4:00 p.m. until tapering off to 40% from then on. In fact, the forecast calls for a 40% chance of rain throughout the days of the festival. Here's hoping that the forecast is wrong, as usual. No matter, when the temperatures barely climb out of the 60s in the daytime and fall into the 50s at night, it tends to hold down the attendance at the carnival.

The channel and the "Big Lake" were very choppy and with large waves in excess of 10 feet on the "Big Lake", the ice-breaking tug boats/cutters Bristol Bay and Mobil Bay, come in early last night. That left the early afternoon show on Monday to the larger cutter, Hollyhock, and the smaller Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory ship R/V Laurenthian . They did not disappoint.

I just watched/heard the southbound run of the nightly train as it passed in the early a.m. hours. The regular duo of two EMD GP 38 locomotives under the hand of that horn happy engineer, was followed by 27 covered hopper cars, one lone box car, and six of those dreaded black tank cars.

There is a movement afoot by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to regulate the construction of newer oil carrying tank cars, and to restrict the movement of older cars through the cities and states. Trains with more than 20 of the older DOT 111 tank cars, those built before 2011, would be limited to speeds of less than 40 mph as they traversed urban areas. Some trains can be as long as 100 of those older cars, of which there are an estimated 80,000 still on the rails. The railroads/tank car companies would have until 2017 to retrofit or upgrade the older tankers. Newer/retrpfitted cars would be more resistant to rupturing in the unlikely event of a crash.

Otherwise om Monday, we picked up a loaf of bread on the way home and watched as the annual Coast Guard Festival™ carnival set up on Washington Ave. for tonight's scheduled 6:00 p.m. opening. Mary will also have a few pictures of that activity in a future blog. The throngs are arriving in GH daily to participate in the festival and here's hoping that the weather cooperates. Tonight the annual Street Dance is to be held, but the threat of T-storms and cool temperatures will likely deter some attendees.

Today, I have that P/T appointment at 11:30 a.m.. If there is no rain at 11:00 a.m., I'll ride my bicycle. If there is rain, I may walk or drive. I'd prefer to avoid driving, as the annual craziness that comes with the arrival of tourists unused to one-way streets and a lack of stop signs on the main in and out streets, creates confusion. The festival is a good showcase of all that GH has to offer, but it is a perilous time for driving.

Otherwise, I finished my latest pulp fiction book and now, I will move to non-fiction. I like to alternate genres, as I can read pulp fiction in a matter of hours, whereas non-fiction takes days to read and digest.

The sun will rise at 6:29 a.m. and set under a waxing crescent moon at 9:10 p.m. If the weather is cooperating, Mary and I may go to see the band called "The Gents" composed of USCG retirees, at the Street Dance tonight, just a few blocks from home. If not, TV is a good option. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is 62° as we head down to the overnight low of 57°. Yesterday we had a threat of T-storms, but as Sugar the Weather Dog pointed out, there was nothing to it. Only once did she head for her hide-e-hole, and that was for a brief moment in time before her dinner hit the floor. So while our temperatures will remain in the upper 60° to lower 70° range, in the immediate future the threat of more T-storms will once again increase to between 30% and 40% Tuesday through Thursday.

Not ironically, those are the days when I have to travel to the doctor and the physical therapist, hopefully by bicycle, at the hospital. I suspect that that means that it probably won't rain here on the shores of the"Big Lake." That's one of the reasons that I watered the gardens on the palatial estate yesterday, because the forecasts are generally off target here. If we can just get a forecast for winter that does not include snow. or does, it doesn't seem to matter, who knows?

Yesterday was the annual Coast Guard Festival™ car show on Washington St. here on GH. Mary and I went to the show to see if any new entries came this year. In fact there were a few, but many of the old standbys were there too. I took some pictures for my collection and for the enjoyment of Adam.

Speaking of Adam, I heard that Adam got another car for around town so that he didn't have to drive his new Mustang all the time. That caused me to take pictures of some Mustangs and other cars for him while we were at the show. His new car has a name, supplied by Stephany, but I can't remember it right now. I saw a picture of said car and the color matches his Mustang. My comment in reply was something along the lines of, "Symmetry, catch it." At any rate, I'll put those pictures at the end like I always do.

In sports, the boys in blue have nearly imported their entire triple A team to the majors. It really is next year. On Sunday, the boys lost to the Cardinals, 0 - 1. So much for next year. My beloved Red Sox eked out a win over the Rays, 3 - 2. The Tigers, in spite of trading for a new relief pitcher, fell to the Angels once again, this time by a score of 1 - 2. The Caps once again beat the Kane County Cougars by a score of 2 - 1. See what I mean by, "So much for next year?"

Since I was outside to water the gardens here on the palatial estate, I decided to clean the furniture and the front veranda after I watered. I did something by dumb luck that saved some time. I washed the furniture while it was in situ on the veranda and then I washed the veranda afterwards. That saved carrying the furniture off the veranda and saved soap and water too. Mary always wondered why I carried the furniture around so much, and now I do too. While I was out, I raked some leaves and other lawn detritus to place into a waste bag. I also hung our Coast Guard flag in the eaves.

All the while, Mary was inside making lunch, which left her kitchen looking like she made macaroni and cheese. Lunch was a salad of my favorite lettuce, iceberg, and a potato salad that is a keeper. She also tried a new recipe for shredded carrots, but she admits that it is a work in progress. I suggested it needed more tartness. All I know for certain, is that the carrots will be reappearing for several days. I think the potato salad will do likewise.

I just watched the northbound run of the train rumble by. Two locomotives towing 37 covered hopper cars, eight of those dreaded black tank cars and two box cars intermingled in the empty sounding train. Those dreaded black tank cars are nearly invisible in the darkness outside the Weather Window. Speaking of Mary, which in a tangential way I was, she confirmed that her cryptic email the other morning regarding the black tank cars, was about the movie she was watching.

Today Mary and I plan to get more biscuits for Sugar and possible go down to the waterfront to see the annul arrival of the Coast Guard cutters and ice breaking tugs. If we time it right, we can get to a nearby restaurant before the crowds disperse and overwhelm the places we like. I'll take some pictures with my new camera while we are there. Once Sugar is sated on breakfast and her de rigueur biscuits, we can go about our business. I don't need anything else to do, other than to mow the lawns on the estate. I wonder where the summer is going?

So without further ado, here are those promised pictures. Ciao

A rearrangement of the girls as a direct result of the carpet cleaning

For Lisa and Dave

Look at all the wood they used in 1942. Hard to believe that this was allowed during the war.

This truck represents one of our local merchants, and is always at this show.

A Rat Rod with a tool box for an air cleaner housing. I like it. Oh, it's a tow truck too.

A nice example of a Pick-up roadster.

An older version of  a Mustang like Adam's. I don't know which has less under-hood room, this one or his. 

Same thought here.

Mary and I thought this truck was rad.

A nice roadster, this one with a Buick V8 engine instead of the usual Chevrolet V8.

Maybe a better picture of that truck

I took this as a message for Adam. Notice the license plate. 

A Lotus Super 7 from 1990

With the exception of the darker blue color, this car could have been the one I once owned. Identical in every other way.

 

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. Here in "The City" it is just past 12:30 a.m. and all is well. Later today the forecast calls for scattered T-storms with a 50% chance. I'll await Sugar the Weather Dog's forecast, as well as personal observations out the Weather Window, as I gaze at the Weather Roof. I'm betting that I'll have to water today.

After a long walk to keep Sugar away from the carpet cleaners, I returned home and began to read a pulp novel on the deck. I am now about 3/5 of the way through. I had just finished that long non-fiction tome about the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and so I felt entitled to more pulp. I have plenty of non-fiction on hand for future reading.

Sugar is sleeping by the bed now as her beds are not down and "Her Couch" is not available at this time, as it was also cleaned earlier. We spent some time in the "Bone Zone" yesterday, but with the truck mounted carpet cleaner running in the driveway, she was too distracted until they left. She did get back to it in the late afternoon.

Mary and I set out to get me a new camera Saturday afternoon. My old one was just too bulky and although state of the art when purchased several years ago, by today's standards, it is a dinosaur. All I have to do now is get used to handling a smaller camera with my over-sized hands. We tried a camera store near Holland, but ended up at the big-box electronics store to make the purchase. Now all I have to do is to learn the various functions. I did manage to attach the strap, insert the battery and the memory card, and charge it. All things considered, that's enough for now. I'll do more in the morning. I want to take it to the car show to try it out.

Which leads me back to the weather forecast. If there is even a hint of a possibility of a chance of rain, the car guys won't bring their cars out for the annual Coast Guard Festival™ car show. The usually four block long car show will shrink to two or less. I guess cars are like the bad witch in Oz, who melted if she get wet. Or maybe they are like the Mogwai in the movie Gremlins where one of the rules of ownership is to never, ever, get them wet or they'll turn into Gremlins.

So I am going to learn on the fly with my new camera after reading the quick start guide that comes with the camera. Mary has a similar camera, so I am certain that she can help. This camera has a 20 megapixel capability, whereas my old camera had a three megapixel capability. My next pictures should be more clear and more candid, as I won't have to wait for the camera to get ready.

Otherwise, not much happened on Saturday. One of the reasons that we went out in the afternoon was that the carpets were still wet from steam cleaning. They are dry now. We did stop in at the favorite watering hole and then headed home for more reading and more "Bone Zone." I did get in some play withe girls on Friday, but they had to be out away on Saturday. They can come out to play again today.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Cardinals™ 3 - 6. My beloved Red Sox™ also went down, again, to the Rays™, 0 - 3. The Tigers™ must be tired as they lost their second game in a row to the Angels™, 0 - 4. Good news, the Caps™ were victorious over the Kane County Cougars™, the "A" level farm team for the boys. However, as a long suffering Cubs™ fan, a farm team of theirs losing is not necessarily a good thing.

The sun will set on something other than another loss for one of my favorite teams tonight at 9:12 p.m. EST, after rising at 6:27 a.m. EST. That's enough for now. Ciao

Good morning GH. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is 69° as we head down to the overnight low of 64°. Sugar the Weather Dog is asleep on the couch, so I know that the predicted disturbance in the force showing a 30% chance of showers is not imminent. On Sunday the chance of T-storms increases to 50%. I suspect that I"ll be out in the back forty watering the gardens of the palatial estate today, which gives a sense of how much faith I have in the forecast.

Today we have the carpet cleaning people coming shortly after 8:00 a.m. We waited out the road construction nearby, so the chance of additional dirt entering the estate is small from that source. The intrepid weather dog is still present, so we have vowed to vacuum twice a week. We'll see how long that lasts. Sugar will have to be kept in her downstairs hide-e-hole while the cleaning personnel are here. We'll also once again wash her couch cover as the steam cleaners will be cleaning "Sugar's" couch too.

Yesterday, we and the weather dog strolled to the cable office once again. The line was not as long, so I opted to stay while Mary and Sugar headed back home. I waited about 15 minutes total and was given everything that I needed to hook up the new box, everything other than instructions that I could understand.

My feeble old brain didn't realize that the new box had to be connected to the cable, previously connected to the TV itself. Plus the HDMI cable had to be connected from the only available port on the cable box to the "appropriate" port on the TV. I'm pretty certain that Steph and Adam will get a laugh out of that. Once I got that right, everything began to work. We now have one year of "free" box. I assume that at this point next year, the cost of the box rental will be added to our monthly bill. Cable is an expensive proposition.

Friday I was a cleaning machine. Once we got back from our morning constitutional,. Mary listened to the radio and whipped up a pasta salad that is definitely a keeper. I dusted everything in and out of sight, upstairs and down. Given the fact that I didn't want to getup and down, I stayed on my knees and crawled around on the upper floors. I followed with a thorough vacuuming. We felt that since the carpets were being steam cleaned, that this was the appropriate time. Mary followed up my vacuuming and dusting with a steam cleaning of the tile floors.

This morning, we have to get the balance of the estate ready to be cleaned. I already put the girls away,  so now it is various table top items both upstairs and down. I agree with Mary that if you don't want it broken or misplaced, we need to put it away. My guitars are too important to me to risk them. So books on the tables in the living room, radios and other items in the bedrooms, and some knitting items that Mary is working on or uses will have to be moved. I won't notice many things and Mary will remind me. A good division of duties.

In sports, the boys in blue defeated the Cardinals 7 - 6. My beloved Red Sox lost to the Rays, 4 - 6. The Tigers were outdone by the Angels 1 - 2, but they lead their division by six games. The Caps downed the Clinton, IA Lumber Kings 9 - 0.

No trains on a Friday night/Saturday morning. Mary sent me a message from her phone regarding those dreaded black tank cars, but I think she must have been referring to the movie she was watching.

The sun will rise at 6:15 a.m. and set at 9:12 p.m. As the day wears on, I plan to do very little other than the morning walk with Sugar, while Mary works with the carpet cleaning people. If I can time it right, I'll stay out on the town with Sugar while the cleaners are here. However, it may take them about two to three hours of work given the size of the estate. So Sugar may have to be confined for a short period. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is 57°, which is coincidentally our low for this morning. Once the sun rises at 6:25 a.m., the temperature should also rise to our partly cloudy high of 72° on this, the first day of the GH Coast Guard Festival™. The fest is our annual salute to the women and men of the USCG. We like to think of it as an opportunity for GH to share our community with thousands of visitors. as well as giving Mary and I an excuse to walk everywhere, as parking and driving becomes very difficult for 10 days.

The Coast Guard Festival™, unofficially began in 1924 as a rowing contest for the "Coasties" stationed here. By 1937 the fest had expanded to a ten day event that now includes a parade, a car show, entertainment, the arrival of several Coast Guard ships, sometimes from other nations, and much, much, more. The USCG motto, "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready), probably describes the work of the U.S. Coast Guard, the festival volunteers, and the city of GH too. As the official Coast Guard City USA of our nation, we are proud to have a CG station here in GH.

Yesterday I had two successful appointments at the hospital; I rode my bicycle to both. My baking yak is baking less following P/T, and my knees are now 80% done and feeling better. My semi-annual treatments have so far proved effective. While I was out, Mary journeyed over the bridge to get the thread she needed for my valances and her map project. Once she and I get done with our pre-carpet cleaning house cleaning, she will chat, I will play the girls, and then she can get to her sewing machine. I believe that she likes having a little downtime now, especially since she was so busy in the spring and early summer. A special shout-out for those of you who regularly read my blog, to check out Mary's blog at: http://marygoeswalking.blogspot.com/. Lots of great picture of cars and other tings of interest. Be sure to check out the automotive tribute to the fastest animal on the earth in her photos.

Speaking of that pre-cleaning, Mary got started yesterday with some laundry. She did that once we got back from our visit to see Sally at the Post. I went up to the media room and tried to watch a movie, but instead, I fell asleep in my chair. That made it easy to commit to bedtime around 9:00 p.m.

We will try again today to get that needed cable television box. We tried yesterday on our morning walk with Sugar the Weather Dog, and later on my way back from the hospital. Both visits found people like ourselves, who had procrastinated getting the equipment, waiting in line. Hopefully, the lines should be gone soon. We'll try again today.

In sports, the boys in blue were hammered by the Padres 3 - 13. My beloved Red Sox got shelled by the Blue Jays 0 - 8. The Tigers beat the Angels, 6 - 4, and the Caps defeated the Clinton, IA Lumber Kings, 5 - 1.

The train, engineered by the horn happy engineer, headed southbound at about 12:00 a.m. No return yet. Oops, I stayed up too late. The regular pair of EMD GP 38 locomotives towing 21 covered hopper cars just passed heading north. Same engineer.

So after I dust today, vacuum, and one of us steam cleans the floors, we'll be done. We may visit the downtown activities in the early evening, if my knees allow. The sun will set at 9:12 p.m. The days are getting shorter. Since I have so many pictures to share from our recent trip, here area few more. Ciao.

A car on pit lane being pushed into its "garage"

Another shot of my favorite Mustang on tour

A shot down the main street in Elkhart Lake as the cars enter town

Across the street from our hotel

A car on one of the turns at the beautiful race track.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in the area of "The City." It is just past 3:00 a.m. and the current temperature is 59° as we head down to our overnight low of 54° before the rising of the sun at 6:22 a.m. brings another sunny day. By the time the sun sets at 9:14 p.m., the day will have begun to change as the waxing crescent moon shines less and less light on our fair city. The 20% chance of showers on Friday is a slight change from the previous forecast of 40%, which now shows the Saturday chance of T-storms at 70%. That's why I rely on Sugar the Weather Dog, the Weather Roof, and of course that old faithful, the Weather Window.

Today as previously mentioned, I have those two appointments at the hospital. Turns out that they are back to back at 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. I am happy to report that the therapy is working, and my baking yak is feeling better. So I think I should be down to one visit per week. I guess that my therapist will assess future needs today. My baking yak is certainly thankful in any event.

The software for our GPS needs to be updated  for the Eastern maps for 2015. Now if we were just in 2015, it would be important. At any rate, I need to bring the GPS in from the car to get that to happen in the not too distant future.

In sports the boys in blue were defeated by the Padres 3 - 8 as the boys "rookie" pitcher, a 33 year old from Japan, fell apart in his second Major League™ start. My beloved Red Sox have once again succumbed to that dreaded malaise known as mediocrity, as they fell to the Blue Jays, 4 - 6. The Tigers had a big 7 - 0 lead when I tuned in, and they extended it as they defeated the D'Backs, 11 - 5. The Caps fell to the Clinton, IA Lumber Kings 2 - 4, as they continued their their swing through the cornfields of the American Midwest. I guess for the Caps, these are not "Fields of Dreams."

Yesterday, we found our way to the farmer's market and got some blueberries, eggs, and tomatoes. We tried twice to go to the local cable office to resolve the need for an additional cable box, to allow our downstairs TV to receive signals. However, the two times we stopped there, the line of customers was out the door. So maybe when I go to the hospital today, I can stop once again. We figured out quickly, like ourselves, that most people tried to ignore the need for an additional box. One more improvement by the cable provider that makes our lives "better."

I completed my vegetable harvest yesterday. Many green beans, a goodly amount of kale, and our cucumbers are growing bigger and will soon need to be picked. What's not to like? Mary says that the preparation of the kale can be done without making it into soup. I'll wait and see, as my choice is always soup.

Somehow, Mary thought yesterday was Thursday. We dropped off some donations at the Goodwill Industries™ thrift store and then motored on to Sugar's camp for her pickup. She was freshly groomed and we were all glad to see each other. Mary and I went to the mall to get some spray to fix her radio and then off to the big-box everything store for some groceries, and sundries. If the store just had a few more services in its offerings, it would be a one stop shop.

While the produce they offer is locally grown when possible, and very much less than the local farmer's market offerings, we believe that we should support the local producers without the downward price pressure of a big-box store in the transactions. In order to get blueberries that cost $5.00  per pint at the farmer's market to be three for $5.00 at the big-box store, somebody's getting shortchanged.


Speaking of Sugar, once we were home for good yesterday, she and I spent some time in the "Bone Zone." Sugar chewed happily, I fixed Mary's radio, and I also read more of my book. I also listened to the oldies NPR station out of GR. Once again, what's not to like?

Since I have a chance to include some pictures from our weekend activities, I'll add some now. Ciao.

Just because it was cool, a Lamborghini.

A nice example of a 1965 Chevy Corvair Corsa.

These are the Ford Mustangs as they filled their regular corral and needed to go into an overflow area.

Just past the tree, you can see my favorite Ford Mustang as it toured the track.

Good morning GH. It is just past 6:15 a.m. in "The City" whee the sun will be rising at 6:22 a.m. and setting later today at 9:24 p.m. Our current temperature is 63° as we head down to an overnight low of 54°, although how we'll get that low before the sun begins to warm the day is beyond me. Our forecast for today and tomorrow is a high of about 72° with sunny skies. That all begins to change as Friday rolls around. The temperature for the first day the annual Coast Guard Fest™ will stay about the same, but the chance of showers increases to 40%. Saturday, the chance of isolated T-storms is about 30%.

I've been away from the keyboard for a few days as Mary and I visited the beautiful Kettle Moraine area of Wisconsin. The sound of high horsepower, the smell of high octane gasoline in the morning, and the allure of the area all combined to make for a fabulous trip. Plus, beautiful race cars and bratwursts contributed to our enjoyment. What's not to like when hundreds of horsepower are used to propel a car around a track at speeds sometimes exceeding 170 mph are before you? I'll add some pictures in future blogs.

Of course since we were in Wisconsin, we had to stop for some cheese, both in curd form and in larger pieces. When coupled with sausages of various types, it makes for an enjoyable time. Our accommodations were fine with the exception of the lack of parking provided by the hotel/resort. The management was less than helpful in the resolution of that issue. I won't name names here, but let's just say that future stays will not be at the same establishment. Across the street is another resort with a terrific Tiki Bar that overlooks the lake. It almost felt like being in the Caribbean when we dined there. We will try for that next trip to the area.

The train passed by heading north at around 5:10 a.m this morning. The horn happy engineer was once again at the throttle of the twin EMD GP 38 locomotives as they towed 13 covered hopper cars north. I heard the southbound run about 1:00 a.m., but I didn't feel like getting up. I was tired from the long drive back from Wisconsin, even though Mary did all of the driving. Who knew that a few days of rest could be so tiring?

We did watch a movie in the media room last night, but today I have to resolve the issue of why our TV downstairs stopped getting a signal. That means a call to the cable company, an explanation of the problem, and then a resolution, we hope. The TV is fine, but when we left it was working and now it is not receiving a signal.

In sports, the boys in blue have not been very successful while we were out of town, although they did win yesterday 6 - 0 over the Padres. My beloved Red Sox were on a roll until yesterday when they lost to the Blue Jays, 3 - 7. But, they have improved to just six games under .500. The Tigers lost too, 4 - 5 to the Diamondbacks while still maintaining a lead in their division. The Caps defeated the Burlington, IA Bees 2 - 0.

I had to water when we got back even though or neighbors had watered while we were away. Some of the plants in the direct sun looked a bit dry, while others were just fine. In any case, I have to harvest today as the beans are once again in full fruit. We're still waiting on the peppers, tomatoes, and the cucumbers. I may also harvest the kale today too. Once kale is harvested, it begins to grow a new crop. Our Swiss chard isn't doing much right now. The cucumbers were looking great when we left, but now seem to have a leaf yellowing problem. Farming can be such a tough business.

Today we have a walking trip to the farmer's market, and that's about it. As always, when Coast Guard Fest™ comes to town, we won't drive much, so that means that after tomorrow, our car will stay in the garage most of the time.

Tomorrow I have an appointment for the fourth of five treatments for my knees and a P/T appointment for my baking yak. I have to admit that a diligent effort at the homework exercises has produced positive benefits. I'm hoping that the effects last if I keep up the exercises.

So there you have it. That's enough for today. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City." Currently our temperature is 56° which is also our overnight low temperature expectation. Tomorrow we anticipate a high of 70° under sunny skies. That's pretty much the same forecast for Friday. As I've often said, what's not to like?

Wednesday found me only having to do part of my anticipated plans. Mary had folded the laundry, so all I had to do was put it away. Collectively we started another load, which with a lot of folding of napkins and all the spare hangers we had in the closet, we were able to finish.

Before Mary, Sugar the Weather Dog and I had journeyed to the farmer's market earlier in the morning, I had watered the gardens of the palatial estate. Since I already had my shoes on from a trip to the man-cave for that repair of Sugar's food bin, Mary suggested that I keep walking to the barbershop upon our return. I was looking shaggy when I arrived. Fortunately, the barber was not busy so I got right in the chair. Home for lunch and a chance to retrieve Sugar's bin along with some other items from the man-cave. When you only visit the man-cave sporadically, you find interesting things there. Now that the laundry machines are on the main level, I don't have a need to go down there very often.

As the afternoon rolled on, Mary served lunch consisting of some lettuce and the egg salad she had made earlier from the eggs we got at the farmer's market. She didn't think that it had enough mustard, but to me it was fine. Since I am rather new to eating egg salad, most all egg salad is fine with me.

We had some American flags to drop off at the Post, so since it was after 3:00 p.m., we set out on foot. No real news there, but good conversation. A short stop at our favorite watering hole and then home to watch some TV, which quickly led to time for me to go to bed.

Today I'll check on the gardens and then do some reading. I was going to do some house cleaning, but it can wait. I have to go to P/T at 11:30 this morning. I think I'll ride my bike if my baking yak feels up to it. If not, I'll drive. It all depends on how well the exercises work today. I am having good days and bad days. Is it normal? I don't know, but to use an old phrase, "It is what it is."

I hear the southbound train whistle. Sounds like that horn happy engineer is back at the throttles. They are late this morning. The regular pair of locomotives towing an eclectic mix of box cars, covered hopper cars, and a mix of black and white tank cars.

In sports, the only news is that the Caps defeated the Peoria, IL chiefs, 4 - 2. All of my big league teams were off for the All-Star break.

That's enough for one day. The sun will rise at 6:18 a.m. and set at 9:21 p.m. Since I have finished my man-cave work, I can rest and relax. Once you put off til tomorrow what you can put off til tomorrow, a whole new path opens before you. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in "The City" and its environs. It is just past 3:00 a.m., and the current temperature is a very un-July like 57°. That's just one degree above where we will end the night. Today we are expected to rebound to a more robust 66° after the sun rises at 6:18 a.m. It will likely take a while and we may see the sun set at 9:21 before that happens. But, I will have to water the gardens one the palatial estate, since there is no rain in the forecast for several days hence. According to the NWS, this is usually the warmest part of the year her in Michigan.

Since it was the Major League™ All Star break, no scores to report, not even the Caps.

No train report, yet, because I didn't see nor hear a southbound train. As it turned out, at nearly 4:00 a.m., I was still at the keyboard when the northbound train rumbled by. The usual twin EMD GP 38 locomotives towing a mix of 14 covered hopper cars, one white tank car, and 17 of those dreaded black tank cars. All of the cars were squealing like a Chicago "L" train. I think that the horn happy engineer was taking the night off. His musically inclined compatriot was at the throttle.

In a report about our lives here in GH and the immediate area, I offer the following. We walked to the library to return and pick up some books. Then I was off to P/T which went well, and that's all I have to say about that. While I was away, Mary and Sugar took the morning walk. Except for an almost encounter with that aggressive Great Dane, all reportedly went well. Finally Mary chatted as I wandered around. Lastly we made our way across the bridge to the fabric store, the grocery store, the thrift store, and then to our favorite watering hole across the bridge. Finally home, a quick supper, and I watched TV for all of 20 minutes before I fell into bed and what was for me, a deep sleep.

Today I will be watering the gardens, reading one of the many books I now have stacked up, and then maybe some playing with the girls. We do need to go to the farmer's market for a few things, and then to the farm and garden store with Sugar the Weather Dog for some biscuits, as she is running low.

Speaking of those biscuits, I have to repair the bin where the main supply is kept because the top hinge came loose. Once again, a chance to use some tools in anger and actually accomplish something. Of course Sugar will be upset that her food bin is in the man-cave. She likes things to be where she expects them to be.

Mary has books to read and some sewing to do during her rare downtime. It seems as though she has been busy a lot lately. That's profitable, but it can try your soul. I still have a N. Y. Times magazine section to read too. I was going to dust today, but Mary assures me that it can wait, so it will. I do have to fold the laundry that we started yesterday. Maybe while I'm doing the repairs to the biscuit bin and/or folding the laundry, Mary can terrorize Sugar with the vacuum. Or not, although it needs doing.

That looks like enough for one day or even two. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in "The City" or anywhere else in the world. It is just past 1:30 a.m., and our current temperature is 64° as we head down to our overnight low of 56° before we "rebound" to our high today of 61°. As evening approaches, there is a 30% chance of showers. Good for the gardens of the palatial estate, but not good for the musicians and spectators in Central Park. We should see a return to near normal temperatures outside the Weather Window by the time that Thursday comes into focus. I like the cooler temperatures, but that is a personal preference.

We took a nice walk with Sugar the Weather Dog yesterday. Today I have an appointment with the physical therapist at 11:30 a.m. That means that Mary may be walking with the intrepid weather dog by herself. Much depends on what time we get up later this morning. Sugar can wait for a long time, but not forever. I am thinking about riding my bike to the appointment. That too is dependent on the weather and the state of my baking yak at game time. My exercises work sometimes, but others, not so much. Muscle relaxants help too, but not always. That sounds like a line from a long ago kid's book.

In sports, the All-Star Break for Major League™ baseball is upon us. That means that the only score to report is the victory of the Caps over the Dayton Dragons, 7 - 5.

I heard the train heading southbound about 11:45 p.m. last night. It was that horn happy engineer at the throttle again, judging by the length of the blasts emanating from his horn. The train seemed to be a long one as the vibrations lasted a long time. I never got up to see, and my trainspotting staff was engaged elsewhere. Fortunately or unfortunately, I was awake to hear and see the northbound train. Twin locomotives towing seven covered hopper cars and of course, the horn happy engineer at the throttle.

I did make sure to turn on Mary's favorite radio station before I left the bedroom so she could listen to Coast to Coast A.M. with George Noory. George is scheduled to talk about asteroid avoidance with one of his guests. Later in the show, the discussion will turn to intuition, metaphysics, and psychokinesis. As I was leaving, the station was playing Ground Zero, with Clyde Lewis. They were discussing the aliens on the Moon that told astronaut Buzz Aldrin not to come back. Whoa!

Mary is resting in her chair in the media room right now. We watched The Day After Tomorrow earlier in the evening last night. I usually leave the room, but this time I stayed, and I can begin to understand her interest in this movie. If it was up to me, I'd spend my time watching old westerns and detective movies. That's probably my way of escaping the inevitable.

We traveled to the Holland area to pick up some things at the big-box hardware and everything stores there. Mary also tried to get some new jeans, but the racks had no sizing tags, so it would have been a long drawn out process to find what she desired. I think she'll try again later today when she travels to Spring Lake. I was a pain in the rear while she was driving yesterday on our trip. Much of it probably stems from the pain in my baking yak, but that's an excuse, not a reason. I have to be sure to say I'm sorry in the morning.

Today, as I noted earlier, I have that P/T appointment and a possible stop at the barber shop. My beard is looking shaggy, so unless I want to fix it myself, I'll let the barber take a shot. He has a different perspective than I do in the mirror.

Depending on Mary's plans, I may eat lunch at the hospital cafeteria salad bar. If Mary goes off to Spring Lake as she planned, then I will. She is always welcome to join me, but that is dependent on Sugar's schedule and other sundry things. I didn't get to that laundry yesterday and it looks as though it will wait until tomorrow.

Not much else to report. The train won't be returning until sometime after 3:00 a.m. The sun will rise at 6:16 a.m. and set at 9:21 p.m. If the GH Arts Council gets lucky, the concert in the park will come off as scheduled this evening. There are no make up concerts. Then it will be time for a bit of TV viewing and then off to bed to await another day. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. Welcome to "The City", where our current temperature is 66° at just past 3:30 a.m. We may see a low of 61° later this morning.The balance of the week in GH looks about the same. Some days will be sunny, others partly cloudy. In other words, an atypical week in GH.

In other parts of the country, the only rainy day in the forecast at this time is Sunday, July 20, 2014. That's a partially useful piece of information, just like a partial score in sports.

Speaking of sports, thanks Howard, the boys in blue fell on hard times again, losing to the Braves, 7 - 10. My beloved Red Sox really hung one on the Astros, hammering them, 11 - 0. The Tigers took a gut punch from the Royals, 2 - 5. The Caps eked out another one, 6 - 5 over the Dayton Dragons.

In train news, I had to rely on one of the train spotters on my staff to gather info about the southbound run at 11:45 p.m last night. The northbound run is due soon, and I'll add that information when it comes in as a Breaking News Alert!. I didn't make it, it is time for bed. 

Sunday dawned sunny and bright with clear blue skies. That meant that the Wheels of GH car show came off without a hitch. Before Mary and I journeyed to the show, we took Sugar the Weather Dog for her morning walk, and then stopped by the local independent bookseller for a copy of the New York Times. We spent a couple of hours reading that before we left and another hour or so when we returned. We are still not done. Like Mary says, the Times can be read over several days without a problem. In fact, it probably should be. We haven't had much time lately due to our work schedule, to do any extracurricular reading.

Once we got over to the car show, I took a few pictures, as promised, and then we went to Pronto Pup for a quick snack. There really isn't anything like sitting on the waterfront and eating a Pronto Pup dog with mustard. Then it was time for home and more N.Y. Times reading followed by my book. Then it was finally off to the deck for some "Bone Zone" action. I read, drank a little wine and listened to the oldies station out of GR. What's not to like?

Today, we have a trip to make to two big-box home centers, and then we can settle in at home and finish the Grand Haven Tribune and the N.Y. Times. I have the magazine section to finish and then the crossword puzzle is all mine. I think it's time for some laundry too, but that is always optional. The sun will  rise at 6:16 a.m. and set at 9:21 p.m. Ciao

So without further ado, here are some of the promised pictures from the car show, along with one other to show that the Central Park Fountain is once again up and running.
.

This is a Crosley, from England, like the ones my dad always talked about. Lawn tractors have bigger engines than this car. In fact, my dad always said that he wanted to find one here in the U.S. and make it into a lawn tractor. He never did.

It just looked cool.

Same reason.

My older brother had a similar Corvair back in the day.

Why? Why not? A 1969 Camaro Z/28 much like a car I once owned.

1960 El Camino. Because I liked the looks.

Last shot as we left town for home. 

Good morning GH. It is just past 7:30 a.m. in "The City" where the current temperature is 65° as we head for today's high of 72° under sunny skies. As of right now, the chance of rain is 0% until 1:00 p.m. when it rises to only 10%. In other words, a  perfect day for walking with Sugar the Weather Dog and attending the annual Wheels of Grand Haven car show. What's not to like?

Saturday, we planted in the perennial gardens of the palatial estate and that should be enough for the foreseeable future. Best of all, I had my first green bean harvest of the season. There will be other crops to harvest in the future, and in fact we have already had several harvests of leaf lettuce. Looks like tomatoes will be next along with kale, peppers, cucumbers, and more beans. I have included a picture of the bean harvest below.

Otherwise, I spent some time reading the newspaper and my book. Mary and I edited the revisions into the last index we did in the early part of the afternoon. Mary got restless and we were off to the beach to see pole vaulting. Unfortunately that had ended by the time we got to the beach. But the act of sitting and watching the waves crash to the shore was in itself relaxing and rewarding. A long walk from home to the beach and back, about four miles, but my baking yak only gave me a few twinges along the way. Speaking of my baking yak, I have to proceed to my exercises as soon as I am done at the keyboard, then it will be time for breakfast, and a walk with the intrepid weather dog. She wouldn't go for a walk yesterday, as she was feeling a disturbance in the force. We were able to get her out on her tether, but that was as far as she would go. Anytime Mary or I suggested a walk or going out, she stared at us like we had two heads or she headed for the upstairs.

Today since the weather looks much more promising, we should not meet with resistance. It looks like the rain goddess smiled today. We'll head out, cover some mileage, and then go to the car show in town as I mentioned earlier. If I find any new or interesting cars to photograph, I'll include those pictures in a future blog. Then it will be time to come home and read more and hopefully play with the girls.

In sports, the boys in blue were embarrassed by the Braves, 6 - 11. Their last great free agent pitching acquisition is continuing to look bad. He should be embarrassed taking a paycheck for his poor efforts. There is a reason that other teams weren't interested in trading for him. My beloved Red Sox can't catch a break, losing to the Astros, 2 - 3. The Tigers continue on a roll, handily defeating the Royals, 5 - 1. The Caps also were triumphant over the Dayton Dragons, 2 - 0.

It is weird looking out the Weather Window and seeing the sun shine after it rose at 6:16 a.m. Usually I get to see darkness. Last evening, Mary encouraged me to go out in the rain and walk over to see the special lunar view. Unfortunately in the rain, we didn't see it. However, we did see the tips of the lights from the Musical Fountain over the tops of the condos on the waterfront. The sun will once again set, as always. That will happen at 9:23 p.m. Here comes that picture of the harvest as promised. Ciao.

Not many, but they started as seeds and ended as part of a great stir fry. More to come.

Good early morning GH. It is 6:00 a.m. in "The City" where the temperature is a very comfortable 63°. Coincidentally, that's the lowest it will get today. Later, as scattered T-storms are predicted at 40% for the area, it will be cloudy and wet. Or not. Sunday the chance of isolated T-storms drops to 30%.

In yet another coincidence, that's the day that the Wheels of Grand Haven car show is scheduled. Last year the risk of rain kept the participants on the low side. A lady with a nice car won a trophy due to her car being the best, maybe only representative in her class. Here's hoping that the rain goddess keeps the rain away until later in the day. All too many car people won't bring their cars out if the weather isn't predicted to be sunny for several days on either side of a show..

Friday we found our way to the mega greenhouse to pick up some final plants for the gardens of the palatial estate. They are having a big sale as they close out their year. If it isn't raining later this morning, we'll get them planted and some other plants relocated. I just have to be careful with my baking yak. My exercises seem to be helping, but I have to get to them in a few minutes for the first of two sets for today. If I am not diligent, I will not get the benefits.

That is about the extent of my plans for today. I will read the paper, play the girls, and read my book too. If Sugar the Weather Dog is lucky, and it isn't raining, some time in the "Bone Zone" is also possible. I'll listen to the oldies station, kick back with my book and watch Sugar devour her bone.

No trains this morning.

In sports, the boys in blue eked out a win over the Braves 5 - 4. Is it next year yet? My beloved Red Sox convincingly defeated a weaker Astros team, 8 - 3. The Tigers hung a close one on the Royals, 2 - 1. The Caps defeated the Dayton Dragons 7 - 4. If you are from Cleveland, you are probably rejoicing at the return of King James to your city for the paltry sum of $22,000,000 per year. After thirteen years in the league, King James is only 32 years old. In basketball years, that's a lot of mileage. Still, the sports pundits are making the odds of the Cavaliers winning the championship 4 to 1 in their favor.

That's enough for one day. The sun will be rising in about 14 minutes when I am back in bed. The same sun will set at 9:23 p.m. While in bed, I'll listen to my favorite local show. Two guys with car smarts talking to people with little knowledge and lots of mileage on their 2001 and older cars or trucks. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in "The City" or its environs. It is just after 4:00 a.m. Our current temperature is 55° as we head down to our predicted overnight low of 58°. Oops. Today will be partly cloudy and no showers or T-storms are forecast until Saturday and beyond. There have been dire forecasts of cold temperatures in Michigan accompanied by T-storms of a violent nature. At this point, who knows? If you base things on that variance in temperatures, nothing is for certain. Sugar the Weather Dog will let us know if there is anything to worry about.

I just watched the northbound run of the train go by at 3:00 a.m., after hearing the southbound run around midnight. Two locomotives and three box cars accompanied by 33 covered hopper cars. The entire assemblage was under the control of the horn happy engineer. I like it, but not everyone would.

Thursday Mary and I went for a morning walk with the intrepid Weather Dog. All was going well when I felt a twinge in my baking yak and found it difficult to walk. I made it home, but my original plan to ride my bike to the hospital for my knee treatments and the later P/T appointment went out the proverbial window. Instead, Mary and I drove to the doctors and she waited for me to finish that appointment. We then ate lunch at the hospital cafeteria salad bar, after which Mary departed for home on foot, and I read my book in comfort. I reported my morning problems to the therapist who listened carefully and then told me that some of the pain was due to the exercises I am now doing to strengthen my core. Pain before gain I guess. Anyway, new exercises are now on tap to assist in my strengthening and rehab.

Later, Mary and I went in search of a medium size galvanized trash can to store Sugar's dog food in the man-cave. Plastic or paper was not an appropriate option for this need. Rodents have a way of finding seeds, and grains in those and eating their fill. So, metal it is. It took three tries, but we found a can at the hardware store in Spring Lake. Today I have to get it to the man-cave followed by the unopened bag of food and fill it up there. I don't think that it should be filled before going downstairs. The plan calls for the bag to remain mostly intact rather than opening the bag and pouring it into the can.

Speaking of today, I'll sit a lot to rest my knees and other body parts in between exercises sessions. Mostly I plan to read the paper and my non-fiction book abut the 1964 Civil Rights Act entitled, An Idea Whose Time Has Come, by Todd S. Purdum. So far, it has been an enjoyable journey through a part of history that I was alive to witness, but which I was too young to comprehend at the time. I had Mary order John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage, to supplement my knowledge.

For those who remember more than I, Profiles in Courage, is a book that contains profiles of eight U.S. Senators whom President Kennedy felt showed extraordinary acts of courage throughout history, acts that defied their party and often their constituents to do what they felt was the right thing. Controversy dogged this book regarding who actually wrote it, and how involved John F. Kennedy was in its writing. Nevertheless, it should be interesting.

In sports, the boys in blue triumphed over the Reds, 6 - 4 in extra innings. My beloved Red Sox beat that other team from Chicago, 4 - 3. That's two in a row folks. The Tigers crushed the Kansas City Royals, 16 - 4, in their best offensive output this season. Everybody in the lineup got a hit and scored a run. The Caps unfortunately fell to the Bowing Green Hot Rods, 4 - 5.

Otherwise, not much on tap for today. The gardens are watered, the lawns are mowed, and the house doesn't need dusting, yet. So I am free to do as little or as much as I choose, along with my exercise homework. Mary has a chat session with her professional group this afternoon. Other than that, I don't know of anything pressing. The sun will rise at 6:14 a.m. and set at 9:23 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in "The City", or for that matter in the Tri-Cities area, the nation, or the world. It is just past 3:30 a.m. and our current temperature is 58° as we head down to our overnight low of 53°. Today we can expect a high of 69° under mostly sunny skies. That's after the sun rises at 6:15 a.m. Sugar the Weather has nothing in her forecast and the view out the Weather Window is dark with a side of empty. Sugar is dreaming happily on her couch. No T-storms in the forecast until Saturday.

I heard the southbound train at about 12 midnight. In fact it woke me just enough to go back to sleep. I anticipate that the northbound run will be happening shortly, since they generally keep to a three to four hour window in their schedule from point A to point B, and back again.

Wednesday found our neighbor borrowing our lawnmower as hers wouldn't start. Ours always does, because it runs on muscle power, not petroleum. I guess you could say that it has a one HP engines, with the H standing for human. Once our neighbor was done, I mowed the back forty of the palatial estate. Then since we got up late, Mary made lunch for consumption on our deck. Her usually fine sauerkraut and Swiss cheese sandwiches with a side of Coleslaw were delicious.

Our next task was to clear the mud room and prepare the floor and walls for the installation of the indoor/outdoor carpet that we would soon pick up at the big-box hardware store. Since we were going to be on the other side of the highway, we stopped in to get a fresh supply of food for Sugar at her vet's office, and then off to the big-box store. The carpet was cut to Mary's specifications by a wonderful person at the store and it fits exactly as Mary envisioned. Plus, it was only $20.00, less that Mary had seen the not exact fit area rug at the big-box everything store. What's not to like?

In sports, the boys in blue lost their sixth in a row, 1 - 4. Not that they were going gangbusters, but since the recent trade of two fifths of their starting pitching staff, things have not gotten better. My beloved Red Sox eked out a win over that other team from Chicago, 5 - 4. Every roll or streak starts at one. The Tigers summarily dismissed the Dodgers once again, 4 - 1. The Caps sadly lost, 3 - 4 to the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Today is the third in my series of five injections for my knees. I also have another P/T appointment. I am doing my exercises, so I know that things will get better. Other than that, we have nothing on tap for the day. I will get to my reading and playing with the girls. It is just a matter of time. Plus, once my knees ave been treated, I have to take it easy for a couple of days. Ergo, time to read and play. Mary has books to finish as do I. We picked up some additional books at the library yesterday. I got fiction and non-fiction, Mary got non-fiction I believe. Some of the books were free in the Cheap Stacks used book store in the library. We had coupons for free books to use from recycling some old computer items a few weeks ago.

Otherwise, that's about enough for one day. The sun will set at 9:28 p.m. and so will I, Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be, in on or around "The City." We have a current temperature of 61° as we bottom out at 54°. Of course since the sun rises in about 20 minutes, I don't see how that can happen. Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep on her couch, so I know there are no storms on the horizon. In fact, except for the disturbance she felt in the force yesterday morning, one that I didn't feel or sense, we have nothing on tap until the weekend.

I heard the south and northbound trains rumble through late last night and earlier this morning, but I didn't get up to look. I only know that the southbound train's horn invaded my dreams and that made for a weird feeling. The northbound train had a different engineer this morning as it passed with little fanfare.

I had my first P/T appointment yesterday afternoon. A treatment plan was developed after some preliminary tests and evaluations. I'll be doing two visits a week for two to three weeks, and then maybe one per week for the next two. I have as always, homework exercises. I'll faithfully do those and that should put me on the mend. I explained with help from a list that Mary sent along, what I hoped to accomplish and that gave the therapist a starting point. Now the rest is mostly up to me.

Mary had dropped me off at the hospital for therapy as she headed to the big-box retailer for some supplies. As always she came back with a story or two. But those were mostly about the big-box experience in general, not all that specific. Later we went out to search for a new carpet for the mud room. She had her eye on one from the big-box, but I had previously asked her to try a local merchant. We did, and she was not delighted. So we tried the big-box hardware and everything else home retailer and as always, she was pleasantly surprised. As much as Mary doesn't like a trip to those kind of stores. they had what she wanted at a reasonable price. So now she just has to decide on the actual size she wants.

After a quick stop at the butcher shop for some cheeses, we headed home and then walked to the Post to pick up that soup that Sally had made for me. It was superb. But then, what soup wouldn't be? Sally need not have worried. We rambled home, Mary heated the soup for me and the leftover burrito for herself. Then it was time for rest and relaxation and an early bed time. We could have gone to the park to hear the entertainment, but I decided that I liked it fine in my chair and then the media room. Mary wandered over to the local knitting shop and later came back with a pattern she liked for a baby afghan. She thinks that she may make Tuesday evenings a regular stop at that store to stitch and b,,,,.

In sports, the boys in blue got the chance to lose two in one day/evening and they did, losing twice to the Reds, 2 - 4 and 5 - 6. My beloved Red Sox lost to that other team from Chicago, 3 -8. The Tigers were victorious over the Dodgers, 11 - 4. The Caps fell to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 1 -3.

Today my plans call for mowing the vast lawns on the palatial estate, and then playing the girls and reading. All of that comes after a morning walk with Sugar the Weather dog, assuming she is over her stubborn streak. Mary has a respite in her schedule, so that means we don't have to get up before noon if we so choose. I find that hard after so many years of early risings, but I may just do it.

So until the sun sets at 9:25 this evening and I return to bed this morning, since it is just before 6:00 a.m., Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." The passage of a rather lengthy northbound train woke me up around 3:00 a.m., with that horn happy engineer art the throttle. I think he may have set a record for how long he could pull on the cord that activates the train whistle. I know the train was lengthy because I felt the rumble almost as long as I heard the whistle. I never heard the southbound train.

But I digress. The current temperature is 71° as we head down to an overnight low of 60°. By the time dawn rolls around at 6:12 a.m., there is a 40% chance of T-storms. I'll know for sure when I can't get Sugar the Weather Dog to go out later. I'll also get a better handle on the T-storms when I can look out the Weather Window and view the Weather Roof later. If all goes according to plan, no watering will be required on the gardens of the palatial estate. Which reminds me, there are green beans forming on our numerous pole bean plants, and cucumbers growing on their plants too. Tom is sporting multiple tomatoes, the kale is growing well and the three Pepes are all doing great. What a bountiful harvest we will have as the summer wears on.

Yesterday, I went to see the doctor regarding my baking yak. He had read the x-rays, then examined me in person finally, and conducted a few simple tests. Turns out that I have no structural damage, my pains are due to arthritis and the loss of muscular connections that followed my surgical spine repair four years ago. He prescribed an anti-inflammatory that is not as heavy duty as regular types of Ibuprofen, plus twice a week physical therapy for four weeks. I have a revisit scheduled in five weeks. Basically, I was told that if I can handle the aches and pains, I can't do any additional damage and therefore I can go golfing and bike riding. Like I've said before, retirement is hard work.

However, buoyed by the news from the doctor, I came home and vacuumed, did the laundry, made the bed, and then sat down to edit for Mary over the course of about four hours after playing the girls. All things considered, my baking yak isn't baking all that much. Of course, that is subject to change. I have my first P/T appointment later today.

Speaking of that extended editing stint, we got ready for dinner at about 9:00 p.m. last night. Since I didn't feel like going far, and Mary didn't feel like cooking, we walked less than two blocks to a watering hole near the palatial estate. Late on a post-Fourth of July Monday night, the streets and the restaurant/bar were very quiet. The next big influx of tourists begins to arrive next weekend, and then in earnest for Coast Guard Fest™., on the 26th.

In sports, the boys in blue went quietly into that good night, falling to the Reds 3 - 9. My beloved Red Sox went down too to that other team from Chicago, 0 - 4. They too will be waiting til next year. Sigh. The Tigers were off on Monday as they await the L.A. Dodgers. The Caps likewise had the day off.

Today, radio listening in bed, a walk with Sugar the Weather Dog, and a visit to the bakery. I have the newspaper to read from yesterday and then that P/T appointment at 1:30 p.m. While I was editing at my desk yesterday, Mary made Coleslaw and found the bottom of her kitchen. I vacuum, I dust, I wash dishes and mow the lawns of the palatial estate. I occasionally cook too, but that's if Mary will let me.

We are going to visit the Post later, as Sally has some bean soup for me. She says it is a new recipe and if I don't like it, I can consign it to the trash. It would have to be just awful for me to do that. When soup is involved, I'm your man. I think that that stems from my childhood. My mother served soup often. That's when I learned not to drink with my meals, and I still don't.

So, that's an old man's story, I'm glad you came tonight, you see a busted down old... Oops, I was channeling the late Harry Chapin there. His song, Corey's Coming, was on my lips yesterday as I played the girls before editing. Harry's song tells the story of an old man, Old John Joseph, a man with two first names, who works in a mostly empty train yard all his life He's waiting for the coming of Corey, a mythical/mystical woman who ultimately appears for the young man who takes over for old John Joseph when John passes.
Tonight the sun sets at 9:26 p.m. I'll be fast asleep by then. Ciao.