As always, when opportunity knocks, the choice as to whether or not to open the door is always yours.  I like to think that whenever the door is opened there will be something good on the other side.  I guess that's one of the advantages of getting older, you recognize that there are only so many days to go before you don't have the strength or the will to open the door, so I find it best to open it.  I expect that one of these days I will find the "Evil Monkey" on the other side, but so far, that hasn't happened.  I often wonder if I am ready for a change in my lifestyle.  As my sister in law does, I think I should do new things all the time instead of worrying about my future.  What if my future is only so long?  How's that for an idea?  Oh well, I guess that I have to take it one day at a time.  This is my latest blog, and as such, I am stepping outside the box and getting a head start.  Tonight, Tuesday, I am going to go to the Historical museum for a presentation on the train lines of the area that were here in the past.  I think it will be fun and informative.    That's one of the things I want to do.  I can watch TV anytime, this type of thing only comes along once.  Oh well, time to do some reading.

Just a fast one this AM.  This is a good news/bad news kind of post.  Got the new tub for the wash machine yesterday, that's the good news.  Bad news, also broken.  Good news,  a new one was one was ordered.  Bad news, don't know if this will be any better.  Good news, we got our new bikes yesterday.   Bad news, our car was hit while parked yesterday.  Go figure.  Good news, the Florida GOP primary will be over after to day.  Bad news, the primaries and debates will continue.  It really is all about the money.  Later, Tea Time!

The opportunities presented by the dawn of each new day are myriad and exciting.  I find that each new day offers not just hopes, but expectations too.  Take today for instance.  Today, I get to pick up my new bike.  I had fears that I might never ride again, but it looks as though those fears were/are unfounded. I think that although I couldn't decide the other day, I do want a rack for the back.  Call me fickle, but I decided it made sense to have one for hauling small things.  I used to think that life was endless, but I know that life is both finite and precious.  You gain a different perspective when you face life altering and perhaps life ending medical conditions.  Still, I will be wearing a helmet when I ride, because I know that they are a simple way to prolong your life in case of an accident, kind of like seat belts and air bags in cars.  Passive, but effective.  Wow, I like that phrase, I think I"ll keep it.  Maybe I can incorporate it into my novel.  Special shout out to Stephany, my daughter in law, and really, the daughter I never had.  Love your outlook on life, always forward looking and never looking back.  As the immortal Pogo used to say, "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you." Adam, you too, remember inside of every cloud there really is a silver lining.   Rarely is life as bad as it seems at first, believe me.  So, in spite of the dire outlook most of the GOP would have us take, I think life offers more new chances for success everyday.  I intend to take mine.  Tea time.

What an opportunity.   When you get up early, you get the chance to sit down at the computer and review the things that you did yesterday or before and think about the things that you plan to do in the future.  I'm thinking about this, because on Saturday, Mary and I went to the local bicycle store and bought two new bicycles.  In addition, we bought helmets, locks, a basket for Mary's bike and a tire pump so that we wouldn't be in need and have no way to inflate the tires.  Mary got a "girl's" bike, a nice metallic pink and I got a "man's" bike, silver with a larger frame.  In both cases, we really liked the efforts of the young man, who was the only employee on hand and the fact that the store is just two blocks from home. Both bikes are aluminum and easy to lift and carry if necessary.  We could have taken them home yesterday, but we felt that there was no rush : - ) due to the time of year.  We will pick them up on Monday or Tuesday.  That way the store gets the chance to install the accessories and we got to do other things.  Therein hangs a tale.  I was privileged to go the Laundromat and handle the laundry.  As always, that is in itself an adventure.  Separate, place in large capacity machines, wait.  Remove from washers, place in several dryers, wait.  Meanwhile, try to read while all about you are banging, talking as though there is no one else one the planet, and in general doing the laundry for an entire city, or so it seems, while blocking access to the tables set aside for folding laundry after drying.  I guess that some people are just oblivious.  I have to say, that if the washing machine doesn't get repaired soon, I'll have to scream.  I should mention, that the lawyer on the radio this morning, someone I count on for all my legal advice, was talking about wills, power of attorney, and leaving people out of your will as either a beneficiary or executor or someone who would act as the one with the power of attorney.  I'm glad that our children were willing to accept the responsibilities that go with that.  Another thought, if any of the people out there care, why is it that there was such a rush to allow anyone who wanted to own every broadcast outlet that they could get their hands on the opportunity to own them all if they had the money?  Oh yeah, money.  With the Pac's running amok as people and the people being like ostriches, what do we expect to happen?  That's enough for today, tea time.

Well, the repairmen arrived, shortly after 9:00AM, and therein hangs a tale.  The first repairman took one look at the first of the large boxes that had arrived and said, "We better check this."  He proceeded to cut the packing tape on the rather beat up looking box and lo and behold, the large plastic drum inside looked as though King Kong had been using it for a toy.  Several pieces were broken off, and it was not close to being usable.  By this time the second repairman had arrived and was given the bad news (bad for us).  #1 called in an "Emergency" order for another part.  Good news, they had another in stock, bad news, they couldn't return to install it for another week after it was shipped to us.  Further bad news, they see this all the time. Says #1, "The shipper handles them rough."  At this point, Mary is rightfully upset, and says, "I doubt if the problem is with the shipper, looks more like the lack of packaging to me."  #1 said, "Oh no, it was well packed from the factory." Any fool could see that it wasn't.  He offered a small consolation prize.   If the part arrives and we call in, we might be able to get moved up in the repair queue.  Yeah right.  I am certain that I will open the next one, when it arrives and hopefully before the shipper can escape our porch.  Meanwhile, it's off to the Laundromat again.  Can't believe that if it is going to come broken, defective, or just incorrect in some way, it always seems to come to our house.  What's a father to do?  Tea time.

Well, here we are again, waiting for the repairman to arrive, sometime between 6 and 12.  I guess there is no way to predict with great accuracy how long a job will take, and I guess that everyone who comes after us will feel the same.  Still, I wish there was a better way.  I'm still trying to understand what the pig is saying in that commercial as he is sliding down the wire in the forest.  I actually understood it last night, but then I lost it when I fell asleep.  I listened to it again, but I still don't understand.  Just like the young woman climbing the mountain.  She is accompanied by a singer who's words are unintelligible.  Just like in the days of the Bandstand program, it has a catchy rhythm, but the words aren't much, I give it a 50.  Went swimming at the Y for the first time yesterday.  The experience was great in the mid afternoon and I plan to go again today.  I guess you can say that once you try something you'll like it.  Mary is out with Sugar for the morning walk.  Sugar got a new bed yesterday, and she finally slept in it.  As I think I noted, she was avoiding the one she had.  Who really knows, but if there is a dog whisperer, I would want him or her to tell me what Sugar's motivation was. Guess we will never know.  Oh well, time to return to my novel.  Later.

Here we are, one day past the last and ready for a new day to begin.  Like most days, the weather here in Grand Haven is not a factor when you are retired.  I often wonder how people who aren't retired find the time to accomplish all the things that they want to get done.  I want to go to the Y today for some swimming, but I also need to go to the doctor and to the hardware store for a lock and things.  As I look at it, one of the people from the R.E.A.D. program asked how anyone managed to work and still get things done.  Frankly, as I look back, I'm not sure.  I'm finding it difficult to fit in writing time, and Y time and reading time etc.  I guess that some people would be envious, but that I can't help.  I'm still concerned that the local congressman thinks the president erred when he placed the XL pipeline on hold.  I agree with Senator Sanders that the pipeline is not a good deal for the U.S. when the jobs that it does create will not be many nor long lasting.  In addition, the refined tar sands will not help the people of the U.S. Instead, the product will be sold to the highest bidder, probably China.  For the GOP, it's about defeating the president, not creating jobs for Americans.  Oh well.