Good morning or good evening, wherever you my be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "This City." Today, the sun will rise at 6:46 a.m. and set at 5:05 p.m. The weather is going to be a bit dicey today, as the high temperature will push near 70°, but the expectation is for T-storms to begin in earnest around 9:00 a.m. and continue until the early afternoon. There are some small gaps in the precipitation forecast, but it will not be until 2:00 p.m. before it becomes dry again.

The museum is located in the building that once housed the city hall of Pensacola.

Yesterday, we made the journey across the causeway to the big city of Pensacola. Our goal was to view the exhibit, Apron Strings: Ties to the Past. The exhibit at the T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum was worth the trip. In addition, the museum is part of a larger museum campus in Pensacola that we will be traveling back to see next week. I took a lot of pictures, and I'll add a few just to give a taste of the experience. The internet speed here is so slow, that the downloading of pictures takes many minutes.

This is the museum entrance.

Part of the exhibits.

Mary in her element.

An homage to my favorite kitchen activity.

After we viewed the exhibits in the main museum, we journeyed to the local health food store and then made a stop at the vegan restaurant that had been recommended by the bartender at Shaggy's, Shelley. This restaurant named Sluggos is very near the museum campus. The menu is not huge, but the offerings were among the best I've tasted in any restaurant. Mary had the black bean burrito, and I had the seitan Philly cheese-steak plate. My plate came with a huge sandwich, that like Mary's burrito, required a take home package. I also chose two sides to go with my sandwich. The curry lentil soup was wonderful, and the collard greens, were the best I've tasted this year. No meat, just flavor.

I am connoisseur of greens, as Steph can attest, and these were terrific. I guess that here in the south, the people are good at southern cooking. This isn't southern style, this is southern!

The day itself was a great one. We had a nice walk with STWD in the morning, and in fact, since I was up, she came to visit and asked to go out a while ago. Probably a good thing with the threat of T-storms for later this morning.

Today we'll be staying in after another walk with the intrepid one, if she'll go. I'll do some chores that go with any household, and then settle in for some reading and TV. Mary has kitchen plans and Sugar will probably be in whatever space she claims as her hide-e-hole in this location.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "This City."

As forecast, the rains came yesterday. About 4:00 p.m., they began. They ended just a short time ago. Today, the skies will be partly cloudy, but the chance of precipitation has been reduced to zero. The forecast for the high temperature calls for 66°. It should be a great day for a planned trip to the big city of Pensacola. More on that later. Tomorrow, the high temperature is expected to be 69°, but there are still T-storms in the forecast. STWD will not be happy.

Yesterday, we took time to do that batch cooking that I mentioned in the previous edition of this blog. The vegan ham turned out great, but the 13 bean soup became refried beans. We don't know what went wrong. The ham tasted great and the soup will become taco filling I guess. Mary also tried a new recipe for vegan cottage cheese. While it would not fool anyone as to its consistency, the taste is great. She's already planning a change to improve its consistency. Vegan cooking is an evolving science, especially for Mary. She always says that recipes are suggestions, not absolutes, except when you are baking.

We took a trip across the bridge to get some supplies at the local grocery, and that trip went fine. In the middle of the day we avoided the school dismissal time and its associated traffic. Somewhere in there, Mary made baked barbecue tofu using the barbecue sauce that she and I love. It is her own modified vegan recipe, and it makes everything taste better.

I read the local newspaper and did one of the crosswords. Since we had time, we journeyed to our current favorite watering hole for an adult libation or two. That was accompanied by some zucchini as an appetizer. While there, we learned of a vegan dive bar in Pensacola that was recommended by the bartender, so while we are in Pensacola later today, we plan to try that out too That will go along with our purported reason for the trip, a visit to the T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum to see an exhibit about Apron Strings: Ties to the Past. An odd title, but the exhibit is about the apron's role from the early 1900s to the present day, and it includes information about crafts. That exhibit ends today.

Otherwise, that's about all we have planned for today. The sun will rise in the sky at 6:46 a.m. and set at 5:04 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 3:30 a.m. in "This City." It is very quiet on the streets here at 3:30 a.m. It should be, when you couple the off-season with the early morning hours.

Today, we are still on track to have precipitation in the late afternoon, effectively peaking around 6:00 p.m. with that same 60% chance. However the high temperature has been forecast to be slightly less than anticipated and will be a mere 60°. Much the same for tomorrow, but the temperature is expected to be 69° under partly cloudy skies without any precipitation.

Saturday, we had planned a trip to the big city of Pensacola, but there are predictions for T-storms along with that warm temperature. If that forecast comes to fruition, STWD cannot be left alone, because I am somewhat certain, how's that for a possible maybe, that her recent less than stellar demeanor is due to the stress of the long drive and the work in which Mary and I have been involved. I expect my DVM degree to arrive any day now.

Be that as it may, today we plan to take the morning walk with the intrepid one and then head across the bridge once again to do some grocery shopping. After that, we'll settle in for some batch cooking and then get on once again with the business of retirement.

We finished that index late yesterday. It was chock full of the bane of an indexer's existence, those dreaded end notes. According to Mary, some authors like to write their books in the end notes, which makes it harder to index, and harder to read, in my opinion.

I started reading another novel yesterday, and that will be a large part of my life after assisting Mary in the kitchen. Other than that, I have no ambitions.

This seems like a perfect chance to vent on life in retirement. As I've often said, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, used to say that she was very busy. As I've also said, now I know what she was busy doing. Retirement can be hard work. Entering index items, editing the final output, and related activities takes up a lot of time.

In addition here on the beach, STWD picks up these little burrs in her pads when we walk, and that requires stops every so often to rescue her. When we went out yesterday morning, she found five or six of those, and in fact, at one point, she managed to pick up three at one time. I'm not sure how much the irritation from those didn't contribute to her ill feelings, but I have my suspicions. As previously noted, my DVM degree is expected to arrive any day now.

Not much of a vent really, but at this hour, that's about all I can muster.

The sun will rise over the beach at 6:45 a.m. and set under rainy skies at 5:03 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 7:45 a.m. in "This City." The sun rose on a beautiful sunny day here in the panhandle at 6:45 a.m. Later this evening the golden orb will retire at 5:02 p.m. In between, we are expecting a high of 59° and a 0% chance of precipitation. Tomorrow, the temperature is expected to reach a high of 62° with rain predicted in the afternoon.

Yesterday was a long grind. I slaved over a hot computer as I entered, and entered, and entered until I was done. In between, I got the task of reading small numbers on a page and circling them for future reference. Let's just say, that the task was useful, but mind numbing. According to Mary, she is nearly finished, just three to four more hours are needed before she does her final edit and then we have to create a printout for my edit. Here's hoping.

Once we are done, we have nothing of a business nature on the calendar until at least April. That should allow time for both the mundane pursuits of life and the exciting, punctuated by long walks with STWD, who by the by, seems to be feeling better. Only time will tell.

Speaking of the intrepid one, we'll walk again today, following nearly the same route we took yesterday. It should be a lot less windy and therefore, neither of us will feel as cold.

The day will unfold on more work, a trip across the bridge for that printout, and then final editing and a not so fond Bon-voyage to another index. I can't say I'll be sorry to see this one go.

Last night, we watched the crossover, two hour episodes of NCIS and NCIS New Orleans. Something about those two shows resonates with Mary and me, and apparently with more than a few folks we know.

By the time they were over, I was too, so I came up to bed and Mary stayed and watched some news programs. I am at a point where I don't watch much news anymore, because I am less than thrilled by most of what passes for news these days.

That looks like a pretty full day and night, so I'll be going now. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 8:30 a.m. in "This City." The sun rose at 6:45 a.m. and will set at 5:02 p.m., after what will be a mostly clear and sunny day with a high temperature of 53°. Tomorrow, the high temperature rises to 59° with those same sunny skies in the forecast. While it will get warmer still on Thursday, the rain is forecast to come in the afternoon/evening, with a 90% chance. However, by the end of the week, we may see high temperatures in the 70s. I'm so excited, and I think I like it. Oops, I was channeling again.

Yesterday we mostly worked. We finished the index that was due and sent it on it's way after Mary got the printout that we needed. Last night, the power went out for about one hour. Darkness descended slowly over a small piece of "This City." But then, we could see the stars and planets that are always present in the sky, but which are usually obscured by the light pollution. Truly amazing!

STWD had a case of something last night. Naturally, Mary and I were worried and called the emergency veterinarian service in Pensacola. Fortunately, after some brushing, she seemed to be better, and once the power came back on, I went off to bed and the intrepid one slept quietly in the living room. Go figure.

Today, more work is on tap for the index that is due today. I'm helping as much as I can, but I'm slow and not terribly efficient as a typist nor an indexer. Oh well, I am supposed to be retired, which Mary assures me will be my normal condition again real soon.

STWD and I will take the morning walk and then I'll settle in for some additional work. Ciao.

Good morning everyone. Another day has dawned in the panhandle. The sun is shining and the skies are a bright azure blue. What's not to like?

Yesterday was a day of mostly work interspersed with walking STWD and entertaining the service person from the HVAC company. He was here for just a short time, but quickly diagnosed the problem and solved the problem. In short, a man with the knowledge and an on site visit and we have a working heater.

Mary and I worked all day yesterday on the two indexes that were and are due. We are close on the first and I am getting closer on my contribution to the second. Mary is still cursing end notes.

In between, we stopped for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Several salads, a couple of sandwiches, and some baked tofu that sated.

I got tired last night, but Mary stayed up to see Gran Torino, a Clint Eastwood film that was a subtle jab at the racism that permeates our society. To quote Rodney King, "Why can't we all just get along?"

Today, Mary will be travelling over the bridge that leads from the beach to the mainland. She needs to get a printout. I will be walking the intrepid one and then getting down to work, which will include a final edit on the first index. Of course, meals will be a high point of the day. Mary has adapted quickly to a new/old kitchen.

Other than the walk with STWD and working, I have no plans. I like it that way.

We have a current temperature of 46° that feels like 39°, as we head towards today's high of 55° under sunny skies. Tomorrow and Wednesday look about the same. Thursday, the temperature will rise into the 60s, but there is a 90% chance of rain. The sun rose the morning at 6:46 a.m. and will set this evening at 5:01 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning everyone. I have been off the air, so to speak, due to technical difficulties that were within my control. I needed a few days off for some R & R. But now, I think I'll limit my blogs to a few less per week, or maybe not. Only time will tell.

Yesterday, was an  active day. We collectively walked with STWD in the morning and then took time to set up our "Computer Station" in our collective office. The internet connection is not all that reliable, so that will be one reason for limiting my blogging. Then we set out for the big city to do some much needed grocery shopping. We also stopped in the city next door for some additional supplies. On the way home, we stopped in at our favorite watering hole for a quick lunch and some adult beverages.

Home at last, where the computer gremlins that Mary had discovered earlier could not be resolved. But a work around was instituted and that should be sufficient. I have to do some actual entering today too.

Otherwise, we have one index to get out today, and one that is due by mid-week. No more until at least April.

Our current temperature is comfortable enough. The sun rose at 6:45 a.m. and will set later today at 5:00 p.m. Ciao.