Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 36° with snow-showers possible @ 40% and windy conditions this morning. According to Ellen Bacca, one of the meteorologists at WOOD TV/Radio, we are past the winter solstice and heading into the time of year when the days get longer by about two minutes each day and the temperatures are on a general warming trend. Can it be long before I can break out my shorts and T-shirt ensembles? 

Today's high is forecast to reach 36° with only that 40% chance for snow-showers in the forecast. The sun will rise today @ 8:06 a.m. and set later @ 5:48 p.m.


A Small Craft Advisory is in effect until 11:00 p.m. this evening. Northwest winds of 15 to 25 knots and waves of 3 to 5 feet can be expected. Those winds and waves will subside by midnight. This advisory is for St Joseph to Manistee. Conditions will be hazardous to small craft. Inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in hazardous conditions. Fortunately, although I am an inexperienced mariner, I don't own a vessel of any size, so I can just take pix.

Speaking of taking pix, I went to that session @ The Camera Store yesterday.regarding the function buttons on my Olympus DSLR camera. As usual, there was a lot to digest. Also as usual, I came away with some new tidbits of info that I now have to apply to my own knowledge base and activities. I am learning and that's all that matters.

We traveled to yet another big-box retailer yesterday afternoon in search of new bedside tables. We once again came away unrequited. But, with a little work on my part next spring and a little paint, I can make the old look like new and save a lot of additional time spent in searching and save a lot of money. What's not to like? I managed to refinish our bathroom cabinets three years ago, so these bedside table should be an easy fix.

Also yesterday afternoon, we made a stop at one of the medium-box drug and sundry stores in Spring Lake. With all of our coupons and discounts, we "saved" a boatload of money. LOL. Afterwards, we stopped in @ Stan's which was busy when we arrived, but which had emptied out quite a bit as we were leaving. Oh, we bought the winning lottery ticket too.

Home for a viewing of the 2003 movie, Under the Tuscan Sun, starring Diane Lane. The screenplay was written by the author of the book, Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy, Frances Mayes. Lane portrayed her in the movie. I am always a sucker for a romance and I loved it even if the critics gave the film mixed reviews in 2003.

Today promises to be another busy day, The Loutit Library's Director of Public Relations, Larry Halverson, and his traditional Irish band, Uneven Ground will be playing a set at the 1st Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven this afternoon @ 4:00 p.m. As an avid Irish music aficionado and a member of the rotating cast of the Irish Jam @ Loutit Library, I just have to go.

We'll come home afterwards to have dinner and take care of the fur-children before we head out again to go to Seven Steps Up for a 7:00 p.m. concert to see Jeremy Clyde, formerly of the 60s British Invasion duo of Chad and Jeremy, as he celebrates the release of his latest CD, The Bottom Drawer Sessions No. 5. 

Although Clyde has worked as an actor in TV shows such as Downton Abbey and performed on stage in London's West End, since the 60s. The songwriting gift/bug has never left Clyde and he has recorded many songs from what he calls his bottom drawer, starting with The Bottom Drawer Sessions No. 1 released in 2014. In addition to his own solo appearances, Clyde continues to appear with Peter Asher of the pop duo Peter and Gordon. Expect some pix in my next blog.

Otherwise, we have no plans for today other than some reading and relaxing. Ciao.