Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 34° is the harbinger of today's high of 46°. We had a bit of snow yesterday afternoon, but it didn't stick. Mary and I had been out in the back forty just a short while before. Mary attempted to turn the frozen ground as I raked. My luck was better than hers.

In the category of trainspotting, at about 11:15 p.m. last evening, I heard the southbound train go by. At 3:12 a.m., I watched the northbound run go by as I gazed out the Weather Window. The regular locomotives rolled by towing two of those dreaded black tank cars, followed by three covered hopper cars, with four more of those dreaded black tank cars bringing up the rear.

Earlier in the day yesterday, I did more reading and then settled in with Mary to watch the Spartans of MSU, defeat the Cardinals of Louisville in OT, 76 - 70. The number seven seed Spartans are truly the Cinderella team of this year's NCAA. Next Saturday, they face off against the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four™. The winner of that game goes on to face either KY or WI. Can the Spartans do it? Stay tuned.

Mary created our lunch of ballpark style nachos for the game and it was delicious. Naturally, I added jalapeno peppers to mine. Mary prefers hers a bit more tame. We celebrated the win with an adult libation.

Later, I was downstairs reading while Mary was upstairs knitting. I fell asleep in my recliner after letting the intrepid one out for the last time. When I awoke, I decided it was time to head upstairs and read in bed. Mary was in the media room and asked what was on the Hallmark Channel™. I was sucked in there for two hours. Then it really was time for bed, without any reading.

So here I am now. The sun will rise at 7:31 a.m. on another day in paradise. I'll head down to the man-cave after I return from the morning walk and after I stop at the library to pick up a book I have on hold. A few more boards to cut, a few more screws to drive, and a bit more puttying and painting, and I'll be done.

Then, it's time for more reading before the sun sets at 8:08 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning. or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 20° is cool, but I'm inside the weather window, and therefore, I don't feel it. We're heading for a high of 43° later today with a good chance for rain/snow. By Monday, that threat goes away and yields to sunnier skies, the trend that appears to continue for several more days.

I had a great day yesterday. I spent considerable time in the man-cave working on the cold frame. I'll include some pictures when I am done. I am having some difficulty with the limited tools that I have, but I am working through those issues.

I have to remind myself that the time I spend on the concrete floor should be limited. I used to overdo that all the time when I got involved in a project in my previous wood shop. I'll do better. I may even take today off to enjoy the game between the Spartans and the Cardinals of Louisville. I noticed that the boys in blue are starting to get their act together. Once again, to quote the immortal Ron Santo, "This is the year!"

I wore out some of my screw driver bits and so Mary took me to the local big-box home center to get replacements.

That trip allowed us to stop at our favorite watering hole for some libations and a bean burrito without cheese. We find that we are liking the burritos better without the cheese as we can taste the red sauce. It was a short stop, but rewarding none the less. Naturally, we had to watch some of the Hallmark Channel™ when we got home. We also watched a repeat of NCIS New Orleans that was very good.

Otherwise, not much was happening. I walked with Sugar the Weather Dog while Mary did some gardening. There is still a bit of snow in the back forty of the palatial estate, so her efforts are somewhat hampered. She is slowly trying to spread out the piles so that they will melt more quickly.

Once I got tired and headed upstairs, Mary and Sugar the Sous Dog stayed behind to work in the kitchen. I think we all enjoyed our day.

The sun will rise at 7:32 a.m. and set at 8:07 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City." It seems like it is only 3:30 a.m. Time sure flies when you are living in paradise. Here in our little part of the world, the current temperature is 15°. coincidentally the lowest it will get before the sun rises at 7:34 a.m. After that, the temperature is expected to rise to a high of 35° before the sun sets at 8:06 p.m. Sunday, we expect a high of 43°, and on Monday, 45° under sunny skies. Well alright then.

Yesterday, I was lounging about, doing some laundry and preparing for an afternoon in the man-cave. I say was, because Mary who was supposed to be on a chat for her work, came to tell me to get my shoes on, we had to go. Fortunately, I had just come back from walking with Sugar the Weather Dog, and I was mostly ready. I only needed to put my coat on, pick up my gloves and I was all set. But for what you ask? Me too, ask I mean. Turns out that we were off to the suburbs of GR to visit a store that had the type of yogurt that Mary wanted. Apparently the company that made the yogurt that we used to get had ceased production and the only available supply if this replacement yogurt was in GR. So, off we went.

We stopped in the Flowerland store near our destination for some vegetable seeds and garden whimsy, before we made our final destination. We got the prized yogurt and some other things, and then we were off to home. We made a short stop along the way at an antique/resale store where Mary got an apron for $1.50. A great deal since she couldn't buy the material for that low sum. A stop at a roadhouse between GR and home for some tasty onion straws, and then we made home in time to feed the intrepid one.

Mary went to bed early, but I decided to say up and watch the Spartans of MSU face the Sooners of Oklahoma in their Sweet Sixteen game. I got too tired by halftime and headed off to bed with the Spartans behind the Sooners. Lo and behold, when I woke to write my blog, I was stunned and pleased to find that the Spartans had defeated the Sooners 62 - 58 to move on to the Elite 8 against Louisville on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Are the Spartans this year's Cinderella team? I don't know, but here's hoping.

In other sporting news, the signing of Jeff Samardzija by that other team from Chicago looks like it will be a good deal for the boys in blue. In their Friday game, the boys rocked Samardzija and that other team for four home runs in Samardzija's final spring tune up. I doubt that he will give up that many homers on a regular basis, but for now, he looks beatable. Of course, that was in the air of AZ.

Today, I hope to get to the man-cave and get to work on that cold frame. More reading is in order as is some time with the girls. On Sunday at 2:20 p.m., I'll be in front of a TV somewhere watching the Spartans take on the Cardinals of Louisville. It sure was easy to become a homer in MI.

That seems like about enough for yesterday, today and tomorrow. Mary will be getting on with her knitting, I'll be mailing in the payment and authorization to have my watch fixed, and working on the cold frame. That looks like enough for one day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m in "The City." A current temperature of 23° will fall to 14°before the sun rises outside the Weather Window at 7:36 a.m. It looks like we'll get back up to 29° under cloudy skies later today. That's before the sun sets at 8:05 p.m.

Yesterday, we spent part of our lives n the cell phone store to learn that we need a new phone, which is covered by the warranty. The one we have is having some "issues." We were there to report a recurrence of a previous battery/charging problem and the phone acted up for the technician. I also got a new set of small speakers for my music playback which sound great and which are totally wireless.

We made it to the orthopedist after our morning walk with Sugar the Weather Dog. She was pleased to get a walk with both of her humans to "virgin" territory. For a dog who lives for sensory input, it was pure nirvana.

I heard the southbound train go by earlier, but I missed the northbound train. Such is life in the trainspotting profession.

Today, I have to get busy reading another novel. I will also get to the man-cave for additional work on the cold frame. Unfortunately, it will be a few days before the remaining snow melts in the back forty of the palatial estate. It needs to be totally gone in the planned space for deployment of the frame.    

Otherwise, that's enough for one day. As the town crier in Bermuda used to say, "It's four o'clock and all's well." Ciao

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 30° is not nearly as low as it will get tonight, that's 20°. Later today we'll rebound to 40° under partly cloudy skies. As long as the wind isn't blowing, walking with Sugar the Weather Dog is a pleasure.

On Wednesday, Mary and I traveled to the local big-box home center and got the additional wood I needed for the cold frame. I finished the saw horses and now I am set to finish the frame itself. No particular skills are necessary, just the ability to use a circular saw and a power screwdriver.

Since I have an appointment at the orthopedist later this afternoon, I probably won't get to the construction phase until Friday.

I did get in some time with the girls in the afternoon too. I like to think that I was playing and singing well. I like to think it, that doesn't mean that I was. However, I do know when I am not doing well, so perhaps I am as good a judge as anyone.

At about 11:00 last night, the southbound train rolled by. I heard it, but I was comfortably ensconced in my bed, so as Forrest Gump would have said, "That's all I have to say about that."

We stopped by the Post yesterday afternoon to see Sally and the gang. The Post's annual Soup and Slider Fest is coming up on Saturday and they will need all the heaters that they have to keep the tent warm. Here in MI, the low temperatures are causing havoc with the fruit crops. Since trees are starting to bud, too cold is just as bad as an early warm spell that lets the trees develop their buds and then sends them into shock. That happened here three years ago. Hopefully the apple and cherry farmers are ready this year. Some things just can't be planned for nor handled.

Otherwise, not much is happening. The sun will rise later this morning at 7:38 a.m., and set at 8:03 p.m.

Like the character, Andy Dufresne said to his friend Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding in the Shawshank Redemption, he had a choice, "Get busy living, or Get busy Dying." Mary and I consider that the best buddy movie ever made. So a few years ago, when I got a devastating diagnosis, I could have given up. Adam said to me, "Either get busy living, or get busy dying." I think I made a good choice and got busy living. Today, and from now on, I'd give that same advice to anyone who cares to listen. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 a.m. in "The City." Right now, the temperature is a brisk 35° as we drop to the overnight low of 32°. Around 5:00 a.m., the chance of rain increases to 65%. That percentage increases to 100% by 6:00 a.m. and then drops off to 20% by 11:00 a.m. The wind will be blowing strongly during that time. Alas, poor Sugar the Weather Dog. She won't be getting a morning walk even though the temperature will rise to 43° by late afternoon. If the forecast from the National Weather Service is accurate, we'll have to wait until a week from today to see temperatures in the 60s. That's a long way out to be able to forecast with any accuracy.

I mention that, because yesterday I was out in the vast gardens of the palatial estate raking some of the leaves from last fall. Since we had an early snowfall, a gray mold of some type had appeared on the lawns underneath the snow mounds. According to the folks on the Flowerland Show, all you have to do is give the moldy areas a light raking with a lawn rake and the mold will disappear. It does look better, so I think that their advice was on target. There are still some snow mounds out there, but they are fading and the rainfall should finish them off.

I also found time to play with the girls earlier yesterday. That always makes me happy. I finished my latest novel too after working on a couple of crossword puzzles. Sugar and I picked up the newspaper earlier in the morning. I never did get to the man-cave after the raking and bagging. But being retired, there's always tomorrow.

Mary made an excellent stir fry for lunch. Dinner was from a new cookbook she received yesterday, and it too was excellent. Good flavor atop linguine noodles. My contribution was making applesauce and emptying the dishwasher.

Late yesterday evening, I did a little train spotting. At 10:30 p.m., the southbound train rolled through. Two locomotives towing a lone box car, 14 covered hopper cars and three black tank cars. I hope to be asleep before the northbound run occurs.

Today, I'll probably make it to the man-cave and then play with the girls again. I may also start another novel. I have several to choose from and there is one at the library ready for pickup.

The sun will rise at 7:39 a.m., and set at 8:02 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City." I got up around one and one-half hours ago to do some work on my music folders, and the next thing I knew, it was 2:30 a.m. Oh well, there is no better time to work undisturbed than this.

I was working yesterday afternoon, when Mary came in and said we had to go to the store. I realized that that was just a reason for me to go along and get the cans returned. But that's okay, I find the experience cathartic in a way. I like getting money for a few moments of my time. However, I think I'd rather that people just recycled the aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles in their recycling bins. Even better would be having returnables that get refilled, but that's never coming back.

At any rate, the current temperature is 25°, the lowest it will get this morning. Later today, after the sun rises at 7:41 a.m., we'll get to 45° under partly cloudy skies. Wednesday, the temperature is supposed to rise to 46°, but with rain. That means that Sugar the Weather Dog and I need to get out for a nice long walk this morning.

Yesterday, we didn't get out of bed until noon. Being retired, I didn't mind. Sometimes though, I just have to get up, Even retired, I feel as though I've wasted the day when I look at the clock and it is after noon. We got a call from Adam before rising, and that made staying in bed easier. I spent some time reading after lunch and a short walk with the intrepid one. I never got to the man-cave. Maybe today.

We did get to the store, we donated some of Sugar's old beds to the resale shop next door, rather than throw them away, and then I returned those cans. Mary did her shopping, before we traveled to our favorite watering hole for a bean burrito.

I never heard an early train, and I doubt that there will be one now, so in this case, I guess that I slept through them. I was wrong. Shortly after this blog went to the ether, I heard the sound of a train horn, What to my wondering eyes did appear, but two shiny engines and some cars not so dear. Engines 2019 and 2057 were heading north, towing 20 covered hopper cars, one of those dreaded black tank cars, and one lone box car. I surmise that the horn happy engineer was at the throttles, because the horns never let up as the train passed through town at 3:00 a.m.

Later today, I plan to do some additional reading and then I may get to the man-cave to finish those saw horses. The balance of my work will have to wait until I get the wood to replace what I used to make the saw horse. That will probably be Thursday afternoon after my appointment at the orthopedist.

That looks like enough for one day. I don't have a set schedule and Mary is between indexes, so that means that nothing needs to be done right now. However, I seem to recall that there are some changes to a previous index that need to be done. Or, I might be imagining that.

At any rate, the sun will set at 8:01 p.m. later today. Ciao.

Good evening GH. It is just past 11:30 p.m. in"The City." A current temperature of 28° belies the beautiful day we had. While the temperature remained on the cool side, the lack of wind made it a pleasant day for walking. Tomorrow we'll see 40° and Tuesday we expect 47° under partly cloudy skies. Looks good to me.

Sunday, Sugar the Weather Dog and I took the morning walk while Mary stayed behind to work on the laundry that had been piling up. I think  that Sugar and I got the better end of the deal. Later Mary and I walked downtown to enjoy the still beautiful day. While Florida is nice, it's better to be home here in GH.

I spent the afternoon in the man-cave cutting out the pieces for my sawhorses. It felt great to have a circular saw in my hands again. I loved the smell of the freshly cut wood. Tomorrow, I'll assemble the sawhorses and then I can get to work on that cold frame. Mary and I will have to get some replacements for the two by fours I used to make the horses, but that's okay, because I will need the horses for other projects. I won't be returning to full time woodworking, but on occasion, it will be fun. I have too many hobbies to spend excessive time on any one. The girls and I need to play together, I still have gardening to do, and the general maintenance around the palatial estate keeps me very busy.

Tomorrow, I will spend more time reading, possibly baking, and working on those horses. Naturally. Sugar the Weather Dog, Mary and I will take the morning walk. Now that we can walk in any direction, it feels good just to get out.

In the first trainspotting of the evening. I watched the southbound train go by just before 11:00 p.m. The regular contingent of EMD GP 38 locomotives went by towing a lone box car, 17 covered hopper cars, and nine of those dreaded black tank cars followed by three additional covered hopper cars.

Being transplanted Michiganders, Mary and I just had to watch as MI State dispatched VA this afternoon. A well played game, and State's point guard was on fire, seemingly dropping three point shots at will.

The sun will rise tomorrow at 7:44 a.m. and set at 8:00 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 29° should give way to today's high of 39° here on the shores of the "Big Lake." Temperatures will continue to fluctuate throughout the coming week. Rain is also a possibility. That's spring in MI.

Yesterday, Sugar the Weather Dog and I took the morning walk as Mary had plans to go to GR for a show. I think it was supposed to be about vegetable gardening or something, but since I had to go to the Irish Jam session, she was on her own.

Speaking of the Irish Jam, there were many young people there and it seemed like the youngest to the teenage players were incredible musicians. I don't know if they can read music, probably, but they sure can play. I've spent a lot of years playing, but I'm not that good without music in front of me.

Later we traveled across the bridge to go to the fabric store and the bread bakery. A short stop at one of our local watering holes here in GH, and we were in for the night. I watched some TV as did Mary, but her ability to stay up and knit exceeds my ability to just stay awake. So, I didn't. Today we have no plans. We have considered just letting Sugar out after breakfast and then returning to the warmth of the bed. However, I don't know if I have that in me either, considering my usual penchant for getting up in the middle of the night to blog. We'll see.

So that looks like enough for one day. There is an NCAA game on later with MI State and VA at 12:10 p.m., so I may get up to watch that. While I'm not really following the tournament, I always like to see State win. I'm still waiting for baseball. Like former Cub and Cub's broadcaster Ron Santo, the consummate homer, used to say, "This is the year!" Naturally, I'm also awaiting my beloved Red Sox and the Tigers too.

As the immortal Willie Nelson said in a song, "Ain't it funny, how time just slips right on away." The sun will rise at 7:45 a.m., and set at 7:59 p.m., so it's time to say, Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just passing 12:30 a.m. in "The City." We had a beautiful day yesterday, the temperature reached the lower 50s, while today, we won't get past 42°. We'll have to wait until next Wednesday to once again reach the 50° mark. However, that comes with a 60% chance of showers. I can finally say, "That's spring in MI."

Yesterday, I took Sugar the Weather Dog for her morning walk. Not a long one, because we were running a bit behind schedule for our appointment at the car dealer. We got there just in time. Oil changed, wiper blades replaced, and all systems checked and refilled. We're good to go for another 3,500 miles.

Afterwards,we stopped at the cook's store in Holland to pick up some parchment paper and a spiral vegetable slicer. Then we made the mistake of going to the home and garden show in Holland. It was mostly home, and very little garden. But, we registered for a giveaway for a fancy food mixer.

We came back to GH, stopped at the favorite watering hole and then home. A light dinner of Mary's famous Swiss cheese and sauerkraut sandwiches with a side of potato chips and then upstairs to the media room to watch Night at the Museum 3. We enjoyed. However, then when I sat down at my computer, I discovered that it had been hijacked by some malware and I'd lost all the sound output. A call to our IT person in CA, a bit of computer wizardry, and I was back up and running. She suggested that I get an anti spyware program for my computer and Mary's too. I downloaded that and it picked up some things that I didn't know I had inadvertently downloaded. All better now, and I am protected.

Today, a trip to the library for the monthly Irish Jam session at 1:00 p.m. That's always fun. I missed the music and the people the last two months while we were out of town.

Other than that, the day should be uneventful. The sun will rise at 7:47 a.m. and set at 7:58 p.m. on what promises to be a nice day. Ciao

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 50° presages the arrival of spring at 6:45/5:45 p.m. this evening. Tomorrow we anticipate a high of 43° under partly cloudy skies. Sunday looks about the same. We may, and I stress may, get back into the upper 40s by Tuesday.

Later today, we have an appointment at the car dealer for an oil change, new windshield wipers, and other sundry things that the car may need. Since we just completed a 3,500 mile trip to Florida and back, we thought it was time. Many car aficionados believe that the cheapest thing you can do is to have the oil changed more frequently than the owner's manual calls for, and I am firmly in that camp.

I also plan to spend more time with the girls today. I've had that same plan each day, but something seems to get in the way. I have an Irish Jam session on Saturday, and I'd like to get in some playing time before then.

Yesterday, we made it to the orthopedist and then to the big-box home center for the supplies to build the cold frame. Now I just have to motivate myself to get to the man cave and do the construction. I figure that I have about two weeks before it needs to be in place. While spring is nearly here, the ground needs to thaw a bit more.

We did get down to see Sally at the Post. Things were quiet in the afternoon. We have found that along with being able to visit with Sally, it makes for a nice walking destination. Usually the day after my orthopedic visit, my knees are achy. Right now, they feel better than they have the last several days.

I just looked out the full time Weather Window and the part time Trainspotting Window as the northbound train rolled by. The same engines that ply the line regularly were pulling 17 covered hopper cars, one that was so rusty that it was nearly impossible to recognize the Chessie System markings. Interspersed were a lone box car and three of those dreaded black tank cars, 21 cars in all.

Otherwise, not much is on tap for today. The sun will rise at 7:48 a.m. and set at 7:57 p.m. In between, the day looks like it will be pleasant. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just passing 6:30 a.m. in "The City." Once the sun rises at 7:50 a.m., we will see a high of 48° today. Friday and Saturday will be similar with less clouds and slightly cooler temperatures.

Today, I plan to kick back and do very little. Read, play with the girls, and do a crossword or two. That should round out my day nicely. We had considered going to the big -box home center yesterday, but a trip to the big-box most everything store for groceries and things was so irritating that we didn't go, and right now, I don't have the desire today either. I did get a watch at the big-box most everything store to wear while my fancy watch is in for repairs. That may take upwards of three weeks, so this new watch is an able replacement. Mary likes how it looks, I just like having a watch to wear. I've been a watch person so long, that I feel like I've left a friend at home when I go out without one. I had a replacement watch in the drawer that I thought needed a battery. Turns out that it was way beyond that.

The last few days I have been feeling lethargic and since I have to go to the orthopedist for the third of my five knee treatments, I don't know that I want to expend the energy today to go to the big-box home center. I'll see how I feel about that later..

No trains to report other than the one that I heard, but didn't see, earlier this morning.

We did stop at the Post to see Sally in her official capacity yesterday. Things were the same, and that's good.

The sun will set at 7:55 p.m. today, as the days continue to lengthen. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. EST, in "The City." A current temperature of 28° feels like 28° as the wind has died down since Mary and I walked downtown to the jewelry store and then to the Post. As we walked downtown, the wind was in our faces and it felt like it was about 10 to 12 degrees colder than it actually was. But, that's winter in MI. Right now, the view out the Weather Window is dark, with no trains insight. I heard one earlier, but I didn't feel like getting up to look. Today, the high temperature is expected to exceed 46°, under sunny skies. By Sunday, the high temperature falls into the upper 30s under those same sunny skies.

Yesterday, as we were approaching the Post, we met Sally in the parking lot. She just got back from FL on Sunday after a three week vacation at her daughter's house in Navarre, FL. Apparently it rained all but three days of the three weeks she was there. I guess we escaped just in time. While I don't like the ice and snow that we have, we can enjoy the sunny skies here.

We had gone downtown to check on getting my watch band repaired. The local retailer for my brand of watch couldn't fix the broken band, but they were kind enough to give me the address in CA for the national repair center. They were also honest enough to say that they could send it for us, but that they would have to charge an additional fee to cover their costs. They were kind enough to give us a free box in which to send the watch. I'll get that out in the next few days.

I just watched the northbound run of the local short line railroad. Engines 2019 and 2057 led the cars as they rolled down the tracks. Three covered hopper cars, three of those dreaded black tank cars, and then 11 additional covered hopper cars brought up the rear. A short train, but that's fine, as I like to watch.

All is well, both here and with our children Adam and Stephany in Chicago. I worked more on my music yesterday and that is always a fun activity. I found time to do some reading and that always feels good too.

Today, we have to do some grocery shopping and then go to the big-box home center for some supplies. We would have done that yesterday, but it got late and so we procrastinated. Why not? I'm retired and Mary is between indexes.

Other than that, more reading is in store and some building of that cold frame. I'll probably find time to play with the girls and that should be a complete day. The sun will set at 7:54 p.m. after rising at 7:52 a.m. Ciao

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 39° is quite a drop from the high we enjoyed on Monday. Too bad that Mary and I were inside working. Today, we'll struggle to get to the lower 40s. In fact, that appears to be the forecast for the balance of the week. While the snow has been melting, these colder temperature will slow that process a bit. However, the rain predicted for Saturday may accelerate that process again.

Yesterday, Mary and I finished the latest indexing project and got it out a day ahead of schedule. Then we went to our favorite watering hole for my wages, a bean burrito with tortilla chips. Right now, I am having some pain in my knees. No rhyme nor reason. I am getting the injections, albeit a tad behind schedule, so the only real change is that I am trying a different type of glucosamine capsule. The ink is not dry on my medical degree yet, so those capsules may or may not be a factor. I did some work around the house yesterday, so perhaps that is a factor in my aching knees. I dunno.

I picked up some additional books at the library yesterday. Now I have four that I want to read. So many books, so little time.

Today, we may get out to get that lumber for our cold frame. Now that the outdoor entrance to the man cave is snow free, I can get it down there much more easily. But with my knees aching, I may have to rethink that for a day or so. When I went to the library yesterday, my legs felt so tired that I didn't think I'd make it there and back. I had to summon all of my strength to get home. Very weird. Fortunately for me, Mary and Sugar the Weather Dog took the morning walk without me. I'd have been like an anchor to them.

Today I hope to be as inactive as possible. That may or may not be a good plan. Sometimes you have to work through these things. Like I said, the ink on my medical degree is not dry yet.

I am feeling the need for some play time with the girls. I copied some music yesterday, I own the originals, and that may keep me busy.

The sun will rise at 7: 53 a.m. and set at 7:53 p.m., a true 12 hour day.

A special shout out to Adam and Steph. Everything will go fine and we'll talk later today. Ciao.

Good evening GH. As you already know, I skipped a blog yesterday. I decided that I didn't have much to say after my previous effort, so I decided that I could do a twofer. We had a high temperature of 51 cloudy degrees today. We are getting some snow melt, but there are a few piles that will take some time to disappear. Tomorrow, we expect a high of 54 mostly cloudy degrees before falling to 41° on Tuesday. It looks like we'll remain in the forties all week.

Yesterday, the cable technician visited for a while. He resolved our router problem, but since this house was constructed over 100 years ago with solid plaster walls in most of the house, the signal has difficulty reaching the computer by Mary's desk. When she has time, we'll try moving the computer to a higher location or something that may help. Right now, she is too busy indexing to try anything.

I did some music things today along with baking some chocolate chip cookies and making apple sauce. Both turned out great. Sugar the Sous Dog was at the ready and received some goodies for her diligence. Instead of eggs, I used applesauce, and the cookies came out perfect. Even Mary, who is not a cookie aficionado like me, pronounced them great on one of her visits to the kitchen. Since I don't get to use the kitchen all that often, I didn't really have a good handle on preparations. But I persevered and success was my reward.

After our morning walk with the intrepid one, Mary made a great breakfast of tofu scramble with nutritional yeast, green peppers, and onions. When coupled with some veggie breakfast sausages and a slice of toast, it too was superb.

I did some cleaning today, but my main focus was doing as little as possible. I am almost certain that I was successful at that endeavor. I don't count my kitchen adventures, because that produced a positive outcome. I also shoveled some of the snow on the palatial estate so that it would melt more quickly.

I waited long enough, and I got to do a little train spotting. The regular cast just rolled by heading south. Locomotives 2057 and 2019 were under the control of the horn happy engineer. This time, they were followed by two box cars, then six covered hopper cars and oddly, one of those dreaded black tank cars just ahead of a gray or white tank car. Who knows if I should dread that one or not. Finally, bringing up the rear, were six more of those dreaded black tank cars. Maybe I shouldn't dread them, since they are always travelling slow, but after watching Denzel Washington narrowly avert a disaster in the movie Unstoppable the other night, I think I'm entitled.

Tomorrow, a walk with Sugar the Weather Dog and then nothing but that final dusting. I am getting lazy in my dotage. I don't know why I chose that word, but it seems to fit the times. I am sure that as the weeks pass and spring and summer arrive, that I"ll be more in tune with the rhythm of life. Right now though, no.

When the sun rises tomorrow at 7:56 a.m. and sets at 7:49 p.m., I'll have had a busy day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 37° will rise with the sun at 7:59 a.m. We should see 45°as a high today with partly cloudy skies. Sunday, we are expecting a high of 47° with sunny skies. The spring melting should continue.

Late yesterday afternoon, we traveled to the vacuum cleaner store to retrieve our vacuum following its annual tune-up. Just one more thing on a list of things that shortened our lives by hours that we don't have to waste. I'd already spent hours trying to get the computer network to work properly, which I never did.

At least in the morning, we had the chance to walk with Sugar the Weather Dog to the library and the newspaper office. While the sidewalks aren't completely clear, there is enough concrete showing to allow us to travel safely. Naturally, the intrepid one needed to smell everything along the way. As the snow and ice melt, old smells are revealed and new ones become available. For a dog, that's nirvana.

Our IT department was able to assist our efforts last evening, We were amazed at how little we know about IT. I guess that's why IT people get the big bucks.

Today, the cable technician is scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. That's better than the window you sometimes get. I want the technician to do his/her thing on the outside of the palatial estate. Inside, everything is working fine. I noticed the other night, that as the train rumbled through, the cable feed seemed to get scratchy. That indicates to my untrained eyes and ears, that the connections outside are responding to the shaking that comes with the train passing. I think it has something to do with the harsh winters we've had the last two years.

Otherwise not much is on tap for today. I hope to get in a morning walk with Sugar, after she is put into solitary confinement to keep her from barking at and attacking the cable technician. Mary will have to stay behind, as the computer problems have thrown her work way behind schedule. While my highlighting efforts will help, I can't do the indexing thing that she does so well.

I may take some time to bake some cookies and make applesauce if I'm feeling in the mood. I want to try using bananas instead of eggs. I think it works using about 1/4 cup of bananas for each egg. Since I'll be making cookies, that should be a great substitute. Perhaps a bit of oil too.

The sun will set at 7:50 p.m. tonight and so will I. Mary will still be hard at work. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 35° is a drop from today's high of 47°, but tomorrow's high of 50° promises to be even better. Later this morning, the temperature will drop no further than it is now. Next week, we'll see a series of cooler days, but I think that spring has sprung. In fact, the first day of spring is just eight days away.

A short time ago, locomotives 2057 and 2019 were heading south on the first of their nightly runs. They should be back around 2:00 a.m. In tow, they had as a first rail car one lone box car. That was followed by 11 covered hopper cars, then one of those dreaded black tank cars. That lone car was followed by 10 more covered hopper cars and then six more of those dreaded black ones. The Shadow used to intone on his radio program, "Who knows what evil lurks in the minds of men?" "The Shadow knows!" He would then laugh in a very sinister sounding fashion. Similar to the Shadow, I don't know what lurks in those dreaded black tank cars, but given the recent evidence of explosions, spills, and other mishaps, I'm not sure I want to know.

On Wednesday, the Canadian government proposed tougher regulations on railroads that would mandate outer jackets, a layer of insulation and thicker inner walls. Instead of walls that are 7/17 inches think, the new regulation calls for walls that are 9/16 of an inch thick and would require thermal insulation between the walls. Railroad operators are opposed to the thicker walls, because they would cut down on the amount of oil the cars could carry.

Last year, there were an estimated 500,000 loads of crude oil hauled on the rails of the U.S. and Canada. A proposal for electronically controlled brakes that would stop the cars at the same time, instead of sequentially, as is done now, was not in the proposal. The railroads are opposed to the regulations. The last regulations were written by the railroads, not the government regulators.

Yesterday, we continued the saga of the faltering computers. We went to the local cable office and picked up a new modem and WiFi box. Naturally, the wireless printer is now offline and I have to attempt to repair that in the next few days. Additionally, Sugar the Weather Dog and I took our first walk in the morning. Then Mary and I went to my doctor's appointment. The afternoon was spent in computer purgatory.

Today, I have no real plans. I want to do as little as possible. Maybe that reading I didn't get to, more playing with the girls, and that's about it. The sun will rise at 7:57 a.m. and set at 7:51 p.m. That means that we are nearing 12 hours of daylight. I'll take it. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 11:00 p.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 34°, will drop to an overnight low of 27° under dark skies. Tomorrow, the daytime high is expected to rise to 48° under mostly sunny skies. Friday, will be warmer still, 50°, under mostly cloudy skies. GR is more inland than our little community on the shore of the "Big Lake", and that means that by Monday, they are expecting a high of 56°.

Today was an odd day. Mary's computer was continuing to show it's age, so we traveled to Muskegon to go to the big box electronics store to purchase a new on. It seems as though they had very few in stock, but we were able to purchase one that had a sufficient amount of RAM, a goodly amount of on-board memory, and a faster internal processor. I was just glad to be done. I think I stayed up too late last night. In any event, Mary's old computer will be going out for refurbishing, and then I"ll be inheriting it for my use. Right now, this one is working okay, but her computer has the ability to do more things faster and with less hassle.

I just saw the southbound train go by at 10:45 p.m. Locomotives # 2057 and 2019 were towing 15 covered hopper cars and four of those dreaded black tank cars. I have no plans to be awake when the train heads north early tomorrow morning.

Given all of the things that were going on here today, I accomplished very little. However, I did finish reading that book I had started before we left town. I think the ending trailed off a bit, not a very solid denouement, nor climax. I'll have to read the next book in the series to see if the author improved his craft.

Tomorrow, I have that appointment at the orthopedist. That takes about one-half hour and then I am 2/5 of the way done. I'm hoping that when the doctor reads the x-rays, that he agree that my old knees are still worthy of treatment. I think that they are, but his is the final and only opinion that counts.

After I am done at the doctors, I plan to sit around and read another novel. I've missed reading real books, not the electronic ones that are presented on a reader. Somehow, I missed today's edition of the The Grand Haven Tribune. Like I said earlier, too much going on. I was also too tired to go to the presentation about the Gaelic Harp at the library tonight. That did allow me time to finish my book.

So before the sun rises at 8:05 a.m., I'd best be on my way. The sun will set at 7:47 p.m. tomorrow evening. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 12:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 38° will drop down to an overnight low of 25°, before the sun rises at 8:04 a.m. As of now, the forecast from the National Weather Service calls for tomorrow's high to be 43 sunny degrees with light winds. Thursday has a prognostication of 48° under sunny skies. Suffice it to say, "I'll take it."

Since we are already into the new day, and even though it is dark outside the Weather Window, I am looking forward to the arrival of spring and baseball. I always promise myself that I won't get too excited about a new season, especially as a long suffering Cubs fan, but I know that I will. Fortunately, I have the Tigers, the Red Sox, and the West Michigan Whitecaps to follow too. That means that I have a chance to be requited by one of the teams.

I was watching television earlier when the southbound train rolled by. The regular EMD GP 38 locomotives, #s 2019 and 2057, were towing a lone box car, three covered hopper cars, 11 of those dreaded black tank cars, and a single gray tanker. I hope to be asleep for the northbound run.

Mary's computer is undergoing service at the moment. She is hoping for a miracle, but that means that any appendage capable of being crossed has been. If the service from her long distance technical department can't solve the problem, a new computer will be required. Her current computer is probably seven years old, and in computer years, that's ancient. When it worked, it was perfect, but right now, it is showing its age.

Speaking of Mary, I realized recently, that each of us has gotten older without noticing it. I have the memories of walking in the rain by our first apartment. I have the memories of Adam growing up and becoming the fine man that he has become. I have my own memories of doing things that I no longer can do and in some cases don't care to do. I was reminded of some of those things as I was through our picture box earlier today.

I found pictures of myself, Mary, and Adam as babies. I found pictures of my mother and father, and pictures of my maternal grandmother, I have no pictures of my paternal grandparents. There are pictures of Mary's grandmother, her mother and father, Adam's grandmother, and Mary's brothers. Adam's cousins are pictured, as is Adam in the arms of his maternal grandmother and great grandmother. There are pictures of my brothers. my schoolmates from long ago, and even pictures of me in my high school band uniform.

We have pictures of vacations long forgotten. I wouldn't have missed the trips, but I wish I could remember more details about them. Adam seems to have the ability to remember the minutest details of some of those trips. Car pictures abound, including a picture of me with my first car. Strangely, I don't have a single picture of my 69 Camaro. Mary's Mustang is there, but not her Fiat, which was the car that brought us together.

I guess what I am saying, is that life becomes a series of pictures in a box and a series of pictures in your mind. There are some pictures that I wish I had, but they were either never taken, or were lost over the years. I wish I had had the foresight to ask my maternal grandmother about my maternal grandfather and also about her parents, but alas, I didn't.

Oh well, I'm getting maudlin, so Id best sign off by saying that the sun will set today at 7:46 p.m. and in between, I hope to get to some of my reading and take some time to play with the girls. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is nearing 2:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 39° is not the lowest we will get this morning, that's 31°. Right now it feels like 34° due to the light winds. Later this morning, the sun will rise at 8:05 and the sun will warm our day to 45°, once the fog clears. By Thursday, the high temperature will rise to 49° under sunny skies. That's the day I'll be going to the orthopedist, so I can wear my shorts to make things easier for him to treat my knees.

Today, I'll be watching the ice and snow continue to melt on the palatial estate. I saw some concrete peeking out in our shared driveway. By Thursday, we should be able to take a nice long walk with Sugar the Weather Dog before I go to the doctor.

Later today, I have a book to finish that I started before we ran from the ice and snow and headed south. I have a few more books at the library that must be picked up by next Monday. It feels good to have the library available once again.

Gosh, I nearly forgot. I didn't mention my trainspotting activities this morning. At about 11:30 p.m. I had a train hearing experience as the southbound train passed by. Since I was up at 3:15 a.m., I heard the northbound train coming through. In this case, I actually spotted the train. Locomotives, #s 2057 and 2018 were towing a combination of 16 covered hopper cars, interspersed with six of those dreaded black tank cars. Most people never see those dreaded cars go by, but my vigilance allowed me to see their passage. If people only knew. I cant say for certain about their contents, but I hope that we don't find out the hard way that they were filled with toxic or flammable substances.

Not much else on tap for today. I finished my highlighting chores, so I'm free to do all the things that I've been meaning to get to since we got back. Song lyrics, reading, cold frame building, picture searching, etc. I still want to get to that puzzle too, but it may wait until next winter. I plan to wait until the snow clears from the outdoor entrance to the man cave, so that I can get the lumber down for the cold frame. Hopefully by week's end.

So the sun will set at 7:45 p.m. after what promises to be a lovely day. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "The City." The sun just rose @ 8:07 a.m. As the new day dawns under partly cloudy skies, we'll see a  high temperature of 41°. Tomorrow the cloud cover will increase to mostly cloudy, but so too will the temperature to 43°. In other words, it looks like spring has finally sprung. I guess it's time to get busy on that cold frame.

Yesterday, we spent most of the day reading the New York Times. You can use up most of your afternoon reading just one section, which I did. I still need to read the Book Review, but that is on tap for later today. There are advantages to being retired.

I'll also get to the mundane things that I need to do around the palatial estate too. That's another advantage to being retired, you do things on your schedule.

I 'm getting near to the end of my highlighting chores. The read is interesting, if not necessarily uplifting. I think that I've gotten more education over the last few years than I did in all my years of college. Maybe not as broad, but certainly more in depth.

I think that's about enough for one day. The sun will be setting at 7:42 p.m. on all of the people who must brave the roads and their jobs. I'll be thinking of you. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It has just passed 4:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 32° that feels like 25° is the harbinger of better things to come. Later today, the forecast calls for a high of 37° under partly cloudy skies. Tomorrow, the temperature begins an inexorable rise through the upper 30s and into the mid 40s by week's end. I guess that means that Punxsutawney Phil was right on February 2, spring was six weeks away. At any rate, let the melting begin, the flooding start, and the annual ritual of emptying the dehumidifier recur. In addition, the daily walks with Sugar the Weather Dog can begin anew too.

Elsewhere, we had a a weird occurrence with our phone yesterday. Mary tried to turn it on and it wouldn't, turn on that is. She tried plugging it into the charger, nothing. We tried pushing various buttons, still nothing. We had no idea how the battery came out, or if it even did. So, off to the local store where we got it two months ago. Apparently, some sort of software glitch caused the phone to lock up and not recognize that it was actually on. A removal of the battery, and voila, the phone came back to life. The technician checked the battery for strength and it was fine. That means that one of those computer gremlins had visited the phone and no one knows why. At any rate, it works now, or at least I think it does, as I don't look at the phone during the early morning hours.

We also found time to visit the Post for a couple of hours. As always, the people there were very nice. Then it was time to pick up the Grand Haven Tribune and head home. I prepared a sandwich to go with what I determined was the best Cole Slaw Mary had ever crafted. I know the simple ingredients, but only Mary and the cooking goddess know the proportions. Ironically, the book I am highlighting makes reference to the Fanny Farmer Cookbook, and it's reliance/insistence on exact measurements when cooking. Mary always says that in cooking, recipes are just suggestions, while in baking, times, temperatures and amounts are far more critical.

Later today, I still don't have much planned. I'm going to try my hand at baking some cookies. I think I'll follow Fannie Farmer's methods. Fannie has never let me down. Mary will continue to knit or start her latest project. I'll finish setting the many clocks that seem to be a part of modern life.

That looks like enough for today. The sun will rise at 8:09 a.m., and set at 7:41 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning everyone. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 29° is not supposed to get any lower than 24°. Once the sun rises at 7:11 a.m., the prediction is for snow showers and a high of 38°. The trend in the forecast is for continued warming. Once again, this is winter in MI. I heard the manager of our favorite watering hole say yesterday that this has been two harsh winters in a row.

On the other hand, I also heard someone say that the recent weather in the South disproves global warming. It doesn't. In fact, it proves that global warming is very real. The long term droughts in CA and the West as well as Australia, the snow in D.C., super storms in NJ, the very cold temperatures in much of the U.S., but not in AK, demonstrate that the climate is changing and much more rapidly than scientists predicted. The real threat to our children and grandchildren won't come from the Middle East, but from our own willful ignorance about man-made climate change.

But I digress. We got out late in the day to get some things at the big-box home center north of here. We didn't get everything that we needed, because we just weren't in the mood. Given the current level of snow cover in the back forty, I doubt that there is any rush. I can get the remainder of things that I need at the local big-box home center. Same things, different big-box.

Today, I have no real plans. I have to get to that highlighting for Mary. I also want to look for a picture in our archives. Somehow I doubt that I'll find what I am seeking, but I"ll look.

That looks like enough for a couple of days. Since there is nothing on TV, I can dispense with watching that. I should mention that baseball's spring training is on TV, and as we all know, baseball is life! So if I can find a game, all bets are off.

So when the sun sets at 6:41 p.m. this evening, Sugar the Weather Dog and I will probably be resting comfortably in the La-Z-Boy, and Mary will be puttering in her kitchen. In short, a perfect ending to a perfect day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 16°, although it feels like 4°, should be as low as it will get this morning. In Chicago, the prediction is for 7°, so we are having a relative heatwave. Later today, after the sun rises at 7:12 a.m., the temperature will rise to 26°, with only a slight chance of precipitation. Saturday, the chance of precipitation increases to 40%. The eastern U.S. is bracing for a huge storm once again.

Yesterday, Mary and I went to the hospital/doctor for my first knee treatment. I also had to get some updated x-rays for comparison. When I return next week for treatment #2, the doctor will have those. Right now, my knees feel okay, but that may change as they felt poorly last evening, much sooner than I expected. The doctor wants to be sure that the treatments are worth the time, effort and cost. Here's hoping.

It was fun to look out the window in the late afternoon after we got home from the library, and see the sun shining for a brief time. Since we didn't have to drive and experience the glare that goes with snow, that was fine with me.

I heard the southbound train go by about 10:45 p.m. last night. I must have missed the northbound run. Oh well, that's okay, because it means that I was sleeping soundly. Sugar the Weather Dog got her paw-di-cure and Furminator™ treatment yesterday. She looks and smells much better. One thing about a dog that isn't a water dog or retriever, they collect dirt like a magnet. Of course the fact that Sugar's predominating color is white, may be a factor.

Today, we plan to get to the store to buy the lumber for the cold frame that I am building. That's about all that I have planned for today. I'll get the one book I picked up yesterday finished. I started it before we traveled earlier this year. I also have two others that I plan to read. I still have a puzzle to work on too. I once again understand how my mother in law was always so busy. I find that my daily work load is expanding to fill my time.

Mary got a new indexing assignment yesterday. Once she gets that printed out, which is problematical at this time due to a software glitch, I'll have to read and highlight that for her. That's how I earn my beans.

Speaking of beans, Mary made her version of rice and bean enchiladas for dinner. I liked them, especially since it gave me an opportunity to add some jalapeno slices. I can eat those like some people eat popcorn.

It looks like a full day ahead, so I'd best get back to bed and get my rest. My knees will appreciate my efforts. The sun will set at 6:40 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m in "The City." A current temperature of 8° feels like -4°. Can I say Brrr! now? Good news though, we'll climb to 18° later today, and by Saturday, we should be into the upper 30° range. That's supposed to continue into the following week. Here's hoping.

My doctor was in surgery yesterday, and so his office asked if I could reschedule. Naturally, I was more than happy to postpone until today for at least two reasons. One, I want the doctor to devote as much time as possible to whatever patient he is treating. Two, I am more than happy to postpone my knee treatments. While I can tolerate pain, I am not a big fan.

Sugar the Weather Dog wants to go for a walk, but the state of the sidewalks is such that I'd have to walk in the street. I may try a bit of that today, as she, Mary and I could use the exercise. Or, we could load Sugar into the car and travel to the downtown area where the sidewalks are heated and walking is possible. I think I'll suggest that to Mary.

As it is, I had to place our trash bin in the street because there was no place in the parkway. If that "heatwave" prediction comes to pass, we might see some lawn again. Yes, dare I say it? There will be new grass on the field. Thanks to John Fogerty for the inspiration.

Yesterday, we got out, ran some errands, and picked up a few more things for Mary's cold frame. All I need now is the lumber and I should be set to go. That assumes that I actually see that grass again. With the Great  Lakes ice cover at 88%, we are likely to have a cool spring and a cooler than average summer. But, who knows?

Today, I want to go to the orthopedist and then settle in to do what I had planned for yesterday. I'm usually good right after the treatments, so I should be fine until tomorrow. I have a few books on hold at the library, so I may stop there while I am out. So much to do, so little time.

We stopped by at the Post to see who was there. Some of the regulars were, but John was tending the bar as Sally was down visiting her daughter in Florida, not far from where we just were staying. Sally left a message that it was raining, a lot.

Otherwise, not much is happening. The sun will rise at 7:14 a.m., and set at 6:39 p.m. The days they are getting longer. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." That 1 - 3 inches of snow we were supposed to get yesterday morphed into about 4 - 6 inches. That necessitated that I go on snow removal patrol yet again. Our current temperature of 31° outside the Weather Window will also be morphing, as we drop to the overnight low of 4°. Good news though, we don't have much precipitation in the forecast. However that too comes with a price. Our high temperature today after the sun rises at 7:16 a.m., will be 19 cloudy degrees, which will last for the next two days. Then we begin a rebound to the upper 30s on Friday and Saturday. We are well below average and way, way below the records for this time of the year. Here's hoping.

Yesterday, I moved a lot of snow from the deck, porch, and shared driveway. Just as I had finished the end of the driveway, the city came by and deposited more. Oh well, that's winter in MI.

I found time to get very little done. By the time I recovered from moving all that snow, it had gotten late. I did get a chance to install a program called Evernote™ that will allow me to access my various music things anywhere in the world. That should be useful in the future.

Right now, the internet speeds are so slow as to be nearly in reverse. I'll have to call the provider later today.

I heard the southbound train go by around 10:20 last night. I have yet to hear the northbound train.Since I was here at my desk at 2:53 a.m., I was witness to the passage of the northbound train. The regular cast of EMD GP38 locomotives, #s 2057 and 2019, towing nine covered hopper cars and 11 of those dreaded black tank cars. Should I be afraid? Probably not at the speed that the train was rolling through, but one never knows.

Today I have an appointment to start my series of knee injections. Once every six to eight months, that becomes a necessity. I am actually at eight months and counting right now. The injections require a period of four weeks to complete. Somewhat painful, but the outcome is worth it. Once each injection is done, the next day I have some lingering pain as things realign themselves in my knees. A small price to pay. That means that I'll be convalescing in my recliner with Sugar the Weather Dog. I also have to find time to work on my music, so that is also a possibility. So much to do, so little time.

The sun will set at 6:37 p.m. later today. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just passing 2:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 24° that feels like 19°, will fall to an overnight low of 17° before we climb to today's high of 36°. Unfortunately, there is a winter weather advisory that goes into effect for today beginning at 7:00 a.m. We expect to get 1 - 3 inches of snow, but more importantly, a covering of ice that will make for hazardous driving. Our driveway is already a slippery mess, as Mary and I discovered when we tried to pull into the garage yesterday afternoon. We got stuck and had to get our neighbor's help to get the car to move. That's winter in MI.

Yesterday, I moved the snow out of the way of the garage, but I wasn't able to get down to the concrete, so the wheels just spun. That ice covering will not help. I did get the snow cleared off the front porch. I took a few before and after pictures to illustrate my efforts. I also managed to knock down some of the icicles that were hanging from the eaves. However, while I was inside, the sun helped in that effort and I had to clear some very large chunks of ice out of the driveway before we drove out. I didn't get pictures of those.

Today, I plan to stay indoors as much as possible. While I don't have any lingering aches and pains from all of yesterday's efforts at snow and ice removal, I have no desire to go out there and fight the battle any further. Pity poor Sugar the Weather Dog, as she wants desperately to go for a walk that neither Mary nor I plan to do, because of her tender paws and our fear of slip and fall.

I have to get to that music I need to edit further. I started the editing process while we were out of town, but it will take some time. I also have to start on my latest winter puzzle and a few other things that I have on my agenda. 

Both Mary and I are feeling a bit disoriented right now. Nearly two months away from home has made us unsure of what we are doing and where we are spatially in our own home. That should pass soon, we hope. 

In other news, the sun will rise today at 7:17 a.m., and set at 6:36 p.m. I am also getting closer to my daily sports reports too. As I like to say, "Baseball is life!" At this time of year, all of my teams have identical records and soon there will be new grass on the field.

As further proof of my personal disorientation, I almost forgot about my trainspotting report. But, a rumble in the ground and a whistle in the night remanded me. The northbound run just rumbled by at 2:26 a.m. EMD GP 38 locomotives #s 2019 and 2057, both sporting the latest livery, led a mix of 24 covered hopper cars, two box cars, and one tank car, that did not appear to be one of those dreaded black ones. 

Now for those pictures.

This is what I faced before I started

A wider view of the same

Post removal efforts

And the same, but another wider view

Thanks to the efforts of one of our neighbors with a snow plow, the end of the driveway was mostly clear. However, I had to open the gap a bit to make turning in easier. Too bad I wasn't as successful near the garage. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City", and it feels good to be home. We traveled on both Friday and Saturday to stay ahead of winter storm Sparta that was scheduled to hit IN, OK, TN, and other parts of the Midwest. Here in GH, we arrived home to find the front porch and the deck heavily snow covered, and the back door inaccessible. With a lot of help from our neighbor, we were able to get in and get resettled. Sugar the Weather Dog was glad to be home. Like us, she had had enough of riding in a car.

Currently, the temperature is 22°, although it feels like 10°. Later today, after the sun rises at 7:19 a.m., the temperature is expected to rise to 29° with a 0% chance of precipitation. Unfortunately, on the heels of Sparta. comes winter storm Thor on Tuesday, with a 100% chance of 3 - 5 inches of additional snow. While it is nice that the temperature will be 35°. It looks like we'll not see much real improvement in temperatures until late next week. March definitely came in like a lion.

I was thinking while I was out shoveling that snow late Saturday, that I'm not getting any younger. However, last night as I was thinking about that fact, I realized that it is nice to be able to get older. A few years ago, I wasn't so sure. Now, I have plans to live a long life, and grow older with Mary. Our 50th anniversary, (Wow did I actually write that?), is only eight years away. I never tell Mary often enough how fortunate I am to have her by my side and how much I love her. I love her more now than last year and not as much as tomorrow, (Thanks to Stevie Wonder for that lyrical inspiration), and she deserves the best from me. She tolerates my mood swings that seem to have increased since my illness a few years ago. It may be just my imagination, but I feel more emotional and more moody sometimes.

Keeping with the spirit of the wintry weather, I have to tackle those snow covered front porch steps and deck area later today. Mary wants me to move some of the snow off to the side of the porch in a particular way, but I can't seem to remember how. Fortunately, she'll be here to tell me. We have to pick up our stopped mail later today, so that's why I have to clear the steps and porch. Our letter carrier needs to be able to get to the mailbox. Otherwise, not much is on tap for today. Lot's of things need to be done, but none are pressing.

Yesterday, I had to thaw out the wash machine so that it would drain. Apparently, when the mud room was added several years ago, there was no insulation put under the floor, That allows the drain on the wash machine to freeze. Mary reminded me afterwards, that I should have started with hot water. Ah well, live and learn. Maybe next year I'll remember. Or, like Margaret in the Steve Goodman song The Dutchman, Mary will remember that for me.

The sun will set at 6:35 today. Ciao.