Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City."
Let's try to keep it short and sweet, K.I.S.S. so that I can try to get another story out of my system
Yesterday it rained off and on. It rained during the morning safari with STWD. It rained @ other times. It is expected to rain today, tomorrow, and Sunday with varying degrees of intensity. The sun will rise today @ 7:41 a.m. and set @ 7:27 p.m.
The sports scene was mostly disappointing. The Cubs ended their game against the Pirates tied 1 - 1. So many delays due to rain, that the Cubs had to get on the bus to head to Cincinnati for their 7:10 p.m. game against the Reds tonight. No makeup game is planned.
The Tigers were rained out against the Indians and they will only play a makeup game if it is necessary to the Tigers Wild Card possibilities. The Tigers face the Braves tonight in Atlanta @ 7:35 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox should have been rained out as they lost to the Yankees 1 - 5. They play tonight in Fenway against the 2nd place Blue Jays @ 7:10 p.m, weather permitting.
That's all I have to say about that.
I finished reading The Bullpen Gospels, written by Dirk Hayhurst yesterday. It turned out to be a great baseball book written from the perspective of Hayhurst as he made myriad stops in cities all over the minor leagues. He made one stop in the Major Leagues in San Diego and then "retired" to go into writing about baseball. His descriptions of his teammates regarding their antics on the busses and in the clubhouses of the minor leagues made me pause to remember a story from long ago.
My brother, Randy, once told me about his early experiences as a self-described "Dentologist."
He, recently retired after a long career in the auto body repair trade. Over the years he learned a great deal about the trade from a man named Hughie Newman @ my brothers' first place of employment, Morton Pontiac in Arlington Heights, IL. At that place another man, I believe his name was Jerry, used to also ply the trade. One day, Jerry managed to set the interior of a car on fire with a welding torch and so Jerry, said in his understated way, "Fire."
My brother being unable to understand Jerry asked, "What?"
Once again, Jerry said, "Fire."
When he saw the smoke emanating from the car that was on fire and realized what Jerry was saying, my brother grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran to Jerry's aid. Jerry grabbed that fire extinguisher by the hose and instead of extinguishing the fire, he managed to toss the fire extinguisher into the inferno. I don't remember all of the details but fortunately, the fire was finally extinguished. It is probably funnier to me than it should be, but I couldn't relate the story to Mary without collapsing into paroxysms of laughter, much like I did when reading Hayhurst's tales and a recent comic strip called Baby Blues, written by Rick Kirkman and Jerry Scott.
Let's just say that one of the children in that strip, Hammie, relates to his sister that their mom bought some soda at the store, something Hammie and his sister Zoe never get to have. Zoe says that they should try to convince mom that they should have some tonight. Hammie grabs his sister and with a hearty burst in her face says, "I already did!" If you can open the link below, you may get the idea.
https://safr.kingfeatures.com/idn/cnfeed/zone/js/content.php?file=aHR0cDovL3NhZnIua2luZ2ZlYXR1cmVzLmNvbS9CYWJ5Qmx1ZXMvMjAxNi8wOS9CYWJ5X0JsdWVzLjIwMTYwOTI2XzkwMC5naWY=
Some of Hayhurst's stories have a similar, but more adult oriented theme. Even now, I can't write this story without dissolving once again into laughter when I remember my brother's story, Hayhurst's stories, and Baby Blues and Hammie. Maybe you had to be there.
Today after the morning safari, I'll be getting back to highlighting and Mary will be indexing and chatting. There may or may not be a train or two to spot. Ciao.
Friday, September 30, 2016
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."
Yesterday dawned clear and crisp, and so we took a nice safari with the intrepid one. That nice fall weather lasted until shortly after 4:00 p.m. when the skies became overcast and the weather became rainy. I was reading and listening to a radio station out of GR and heard the DJ describing the rains that were moving into the area. Mary had gone to her haircut appointment near the PE and we had plans to walk to the Post for some exercise and libations. As 4:30 p.m. neared, I decided to let STWD out and then give her her dinner. As she was wolfing down and quickly finishing her food, the skies opened up and Sugar skedaddled to her upstairs hide-e-hole.
I realized at about the same time, that Mary had gone to her appointment without a coat, hat, nor an umbrella. Since the distance was short, I put a hat on my head, put my vest on, grabbed my huge umbrella, and took an umbrella, and a vest for her to the beauty shop. Instead of the Post, we went to JWs. The rains came and went as we sat there, much closer to home.
The current temperature is 58° under cloudy skies. The high today will be 69° with those same cloudy skies prevailing. No additional rain is in the forecast until tomorrow, but that rain may continue for three days off and on with a 50% chance.
I spent part of the day after lunch at Sugar's doctor. Sugar had been chewing on herself, and being the neurotic pet-parent that I am, I took her in for a checkup. An exam revealed that something had bitten her and so she was prescribed some antibiotics to help her feel better. She is resting comfortably now. I also filled a yard-waste bag with some leaves and garden waste before I set it out to be rained on.
Mary had been working on the index and I didn't accomplish much myself. Mary made a spicy vegan tomato loaf and a rice salad that became sandwiches with a side for lunch. That same loaf was also part of the very tasty lasagna we had for dinner. I wasn't sure about the lasagna at first, but it was great.
Sports yesterday was interesting. My beloved Red Sox backed into the AL East division championship. They lost to the Yankees by a score of 3 - 5, but since the Blue Jays also lost, the Sox became the division champions. Not the best way to get there, but I'll take it. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
The Tigers were victorious over the AL Central champion Indians last night @ rained soaked Comerica Park by a score of 6 - 3. The Tigers' record of 85 - 73 still finds them in 2nd place, one full game back in the Wild Card standings. The Tigers face the Indians @ Comerica Park later today @ 1:05 p.m.
The Cubs seem to be saving their energy for the playoffs as they fell to the 3rd place Pirates by a score of 4 - 8 in an NL Central matchup. That's OK as long as the Cubs bring their A game to the playoffs. The Cubs and the Pirates play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
Trainspotting yesterday was interesting. Locomotives 2019 and 2057 rolled past on the RSTL @ 9:45 a.m. heading south and towing 17 CHCs, one DBTC, and four DWTCs that were bringing up the rear.
At 2:44 p.m., the same cast of locomotives rolled past in reverse order towing four CHCs, three DBTCs and one DWTC that was bringing up the rear. All of the cars must have been loaded based on my vast knowledge of the sound and feel of loaded cars.
After today's morning safari, I need to get to work on my highlighting and Mary has to get to work on the index itself. Sugar gets to rest more.
The sun will rise @ 7:40 a.m. and set @ 7:28 p.m. Ciao.
Yesterday dawned clear and crisp, and so we took a nice safari with the intrepid one. That nice fall weather lasted until shortly after 4:00 p.m. when the skies became overcast and the weather became rainy. I was reading and listening to a radio station out of GR and heard the DJ describing the rains that were moving into the area. Mary had gone to her haircut appointment near the PE and we had plans to walk to the Post for some exercise and libations. As 4:30 p.m. neared, I decided to let STWD out and then give her her dinner. As she was wolfing down and quickly finishing her food, the skies opened up and Sugar skedaddled to her upstairs hide-e-hole.
I realized at about the same time, that Mary had gone to her appointment without a coat, hat, nor an umbrella. Since the distance was short, I put a hat on my head, put my vest on, grabbed my huge umbrella, and took an umbrella, and a vest for her to the beauty shop. Instead of the Post, we went to JWs. The rains came and went as we sat there, much closer to home.
The current temperature is 58° under cloudy skies. The high today will be 69° with those same cloudy skies prevailing. No additional rain is in the forecast until tomorrow, but that rain may continue for three days off and on with a 50% chance.
I spent part of the day after lunch at Sugar's doctor. Sugar had been chewing on herself, and being the neurotic pet-parent that I am, I took her in for a checkup. An exam revealed that something had bitten her and so she was prescribed some antibiotics to help her feel better. She is resting comfortably now. I also filled a yard-waste bag with some leaves and garden waste before I set it out to be rained on.
Mary had been working on the index and I didn't accomplish much myself. Mary made a spicy vegan tomato loaf and a rice salad that became sandwiches with a side for lunch. That same loaf was also part of the very tasty lasagna we had for dinner. I wasn't sure about the lasagna at first, but it was great.
Sports yesterday was interesting. My beloved Red Sox backed into the AL East division championship. They lost to the Yankees by a score of 3 - 5, but since the Blue Jays also lost, the Sox became the division champions. Not the best way to get there, but I'll take it. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
The Tigers were victorious over the AL Central champion Indians last night @ rained soaked Comerica Park by a score of 6 - 3. The Tigers' record of 85 - 73 still finds them in 2nd place, one full game back in the Wild Card standings. The Tigers face the Indians @ Comerica Park later today @ 1:05 p.m.
The Cubs seem to be saving their energy for the playoffs as they fell to the 3rd place Pirates by a score of 4 - 8 in an NL Central matchup. That's OK as long as the Cubs bring their A game to the playoffs. The Cubs and the Pirates play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
Trainspotting yesterday was interesting. Locomotives 2019 and 2057 rolled past on the RSTL @ 9:45 a.m. heading south and towing 17 CHCs, one DBTC, and four DWTCs that were bringing up the rear.
At 2:44 p.m., the same cast of locomotives rolled past in reverse order towing four CHCs, three DBTCs and one DWTC that was bringing up the rear. All of the cars must have been loaded based on my vast knowledge of the sound and feel of loaded cars.
After today's morning safari, I need to get to work on my highlighting and Mary has to get to work on the index itself. Sugar gets to rest more.
The sun will rise @ 7:40 a.m. and set @ 7:28 p.m. Ciao.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."
It was mostly a quiet day yesterday. We arose around 10:00 a.m. and then ate breakfast before taking the morning safari with STWD. While the safari itself was uneventful, the chilly winds blowing out of the west made for a brisk and abbreviated walk.
That's a good way to segue into the weather from yesterday and for later today. Yesterday we reached a high temperature that was in the upper sixties and the winds made that feel much lower. We have a current temperature of 53° under cloudy skies with some light rain falling. That rain may morph into a 70% chance of T-storms later this morning, actually about 5:00 a.m. The NWS forecast indicates that those storms won't last long and then we'll have a high temperature of 69° with lighter winds and cloudy skies.
Sports news yesterday can best be described as a holding pattern for all of my teams. My beloved Red Sox still have a magic number of one, as they lost their AL East game to the Yankees by a final score of 4 - 6. That gives the Sox a division record of 92 - 65. The Sox came from behind several times, but the chance to take the lead and win the game came down to Big Papi in the top of the ninth with two men on. He whiffed on the final pitch of the game and so the Sox will be waiting for another day, as the 2nd place Blue Jays won their game. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m. in an attempt by the Sox to win the division if the Blue Jays lose.
The Tigers crushed the AL Central division champion Cleveland Indians by a final score of 12 - 0. The Tigers still languish in 2nd place with a one game deficit in the Wild Card race. I am afraid that the rotund songstress is warming up for a swan song. The Tigers face the Indians again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
The NL Central division champion Cubs, behind a solid pitching performance by John Lackey, defeated the fading 3rd place Pirates by a final score of 6 - 4. That gives the Cubs a record of 101 - 56. The Cubs are now finishing up the regular season as they await the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout. The Cubs and the Pirates play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
I cut the new shelf for my office closet down to size before Mary soloed to the big-box everything store yesterday while I stayed behind and played with the girls. I got in some play time with my ukulele, Leilani and also with Ivy, my 12 string. When Mary returned, she put in some time on the current index and explained my highlighting responsibilities before we set out to Spring Lake to have my glasses adjusted once again. They seem much better now.
A stop @ Stan's and then home to await the evening of NCIS and Bull, followed by NCIS New Orleans. Mary pointed out a flaw in the story line for Bull as there seemed to be no one responsible for paying the substantial fee for the service that Dr, Bull, and company, provided. A fatal flaw? I don't know, but they need to tighten up the continuity.
Tonight we will be giving another chance for the new series, Designated Survivor to become part of our regular and very abbreviated TV viewing schedule. Other than baseball and news, we don't watch much TV.
I will get to some highlighting and reading of my latest non-fiction book after safariing with STWD and meals. Mary will be indexing as I get to avoid watering for yet another day.
The sun will rise @ 7:39 a.m. and set @ 7:30 p.m. Ciao.
It was mostly a quiet day yesterday. We arose around 10:00 a.m. and then ate breakfast before taking the morning safari with STWD. While the safari itself was uneventful, the chilly winds blowing out of the west made for a brisk and abbreviated walk.
That's a good way to segue into the weather from yesterday and for later today. Yesterday we reached a high temperature that was in the upper sixties and the winds made that feel much lower. We have a current temperature of 53° under cloudy skies with some light rain falling. That rain may morph into a 70% chance of T-storms later this morning, actually about 5:00 a.m. The NWS forecast indicates that those storms won't last long and then we'll have a high temperature of 69° with lighter winds and cloudy skies.
Sports news yesterday can best be described as a holding pattern for all of my teams. My beloved Red Sox still have a magic number of one, as they lost their AL East game to the Yankees by a final score of 4 - 6. That gives the Sox a division record of 92 - 65. The Sox came from behind several times, but the chance to take the lead and win the game came down to Big Papi in the top of the ninth with two men on. He whiffed on the final pitch of the game and so the Sox will be waiting for another day, as the 2nd place Blue Jays won their game. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m. in an attempt by the Sox to win the division if the Blue Jays lose.
The Tigers crushed the AL Central division champion Cleveland Indians by a final score of 12 - 0. The Tigers still languish in 2nd place with a one game deficit in the Wild Card race. I am afraid that the rotund songstress is warming up for a swan song. The Tigers face the Indians again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
The NL Central division champion Cubs, behind a solid pitching performance by John Lackey, defeated the fading 3rd place Pirates by a final score of 6 - 4. That gives the Cubs a record of 101 - 56. The Cubs are now finishing up the regular season as they await the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout. The Cubs and the Pirates play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
I cut the new shelf for my office closet down to size before Mary soloed to the big-box everything store yesterday while I stayed behind and played with the girls. I got in some play time with my ukulele, Leilani and also with Ivy, my 12 string. When Mary returned, she put in some time on the current index and explained my highlighting responsibilities before we set out to Spring Lake to have my glasses adjusted once again. They seem much better now.
A stop @ Stan's and then home to await the evening of NCIS and Bull, followed by NCIS New Orleans. Mary pointed out a flaw in the story line for Bull as there seemed to be no one responsible for paying the substantial fee for the service that Dr, Bull, and company, provided. A fatal flaw? I don't know, but they need to tighten up the continuity.
Tonight we will be giving another chance for the new series, Designated Survivor to become part of our regular and very abbreviated TV viewing schedule. Other than baseball and news, we don't watch much TV.
I will get to some highlighting and reading of my latest non-fiction book after safariing with STWD and meals. Mary will be indexing as I get to avoid watering for yet another day.
The sun will rise @ 7:39 a.m. and set @ 7:30 p.m. Ciao.
Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."
I just have to start with the sports news. Why?, you ask rhetorically. Because Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!. A 100 win season, so far, with six games yet to play. Can we say Cruise Control? Sure, I knew you could. The Cubs are very solidly in 1st place in the NL Central with a record of 100 - 56. Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a total of six RBIs. Kris Bryant added a home run and reached 101 RBIs and 39 homers. This is his 2nd year in the Major Leagues! Last year, Rookie of the Year. This year, MVP? Oh yeah, the final score was 12 - 2.
Kyle Hendricks easily dispatched the 3rd place Pirates and may be en route to a Cy Young award. His major competition? Fellow pitcher Jon Lester, who is just behind Hendricks. It is no wonder that the Cubs didn't have a June Swoon. As the old third baseman, the late Ron Santo often said, "This is the year!" The Cubs play again tonight against the Pirates @ 7:05 p.m.
The Tigers are once again in freefall. They lost to the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians 4 - 7. The Tigers are still mired in 2nd place, eight games in back of the Indians and two games behind in the Wild Card race. Sigh. The Tigers and the Indians play at Comerica Park again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox were off yesterday, but their magic number is now just one game following the loss by AL East division rivals, the 2nd place Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox are for real with their 1st place record of 92 - 64. While not the Major League's best record, the Sox are a solid AL baseball team. I may have my head explode if the Cubs and the Red Sox ultimately meet in this year's World Series. The Sox are @ the Yankees tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
Trainspotting yesterday was perfect. Before I left for the morning safari with STWD, I spotted the southbound tandem of locomotives 2057 and 2019 @ 9:45 a.m. In tow were a single BC, eight CHCs, and one DBTC that was bringing up the rear. The northbound run occurred @ 4:52 p.m. while we were @ JWs for a pre-presidential debate snack. Upon hearing that lonesome whistle blow, I sprang from my stool to spot the same tandem of locomotives towing 16 DBTCs, two DWTCs, and 19 CHCs. All cars were fully loaded judging by the way the earth was shaking.
Earlier in the day, I made it to my haircut appointment after the morning safari and then we were off on the afternoon errands. A quick stop @ the KIA dealer to have that balky mirror switch replaced. The mirrors work perfectly now. Afterwards, we made quick work of a stop @ the big-box home center in Holland and a stop @ the grocery store that specializes in low price foods. That too went well. Our final stop along the route was @ Harbor Humane Society in West Olive. We have been talking about getting an additional fur child, so we stopped in the see who was available. Mary fell in love with a possible adoptee. Whether we can adopt depends more on how well Sugar and the potential dog adoptee can accommodate each other. We'll be trying that out in another day or two.
Finally, home to that JWs stop and then on to the presidential debate viewing. During the debate, we had a late dinner of soft tacos that Mary put together for our viewing pleasure. They tasted great.
Today, we have some paperwork to accomplish for the upcoming election, along with some phone calls and other activities. The aforementioned activities will consume far more time that we'd like.
The current temperature is 59° under partly cloudy skies. There is a forecast from the NWS for T-storms later this evening and into Wednesday with a 60% probability. The high-temperature today is supposed to be 61° after the sun rises @ 7:38 a.m. and long before it sets @ 7:32 p.m. Ciao.
I just have to start with the sports news. Why?, you ask rhetorically. Because Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!. A 100 win season, so far, with six games yet to play. Can we say Cruise Control? Sure, I knew you could. The Cubs are very solidly in 1st place in the NL Central with a record of 100 - 56. Javier Baez hit a grand slam and drove in a total of six RBIs. Kris Bryant added a home run and reached 101 RBIs and 39 homers. This is his 2nd year in the Major Leagues! Last year, Rookie of the Year. This year, MVP? Oh yeah, the final score was 12 - 2.
Kyle Hendricks easily dispatched the 3rd place Pirates and may be en route to a Cy Young award. His major competition? Fellow pitcher Jon Lester, who is just behind Hendricks. It is no wonder that the Cubs didn't have a June Swoon. As the old third baseman, the late Ron Santo often said, "This is the year!" The Cubs play again tonight against the Pirates @ 7:05 p.m.
The Tigers are once again in freefall. They lost to the AL Central champion Cleveland Indians 4 - 7. The Tigers are still mired in 2nd place, eight games in back of the Indians and two games behind in the Wild Card race. Sigh. The Tigers and the Indians play at Comerica Park again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox were off yesterday, but their magic number is now just one game following the loss by AL East division rivals, the 2nd place Toronto Blue Jays. The Sox are for real with their 1st place record of 92 - 64. While not the Major League's best record, the Sox are a solid AL baseball team. I may have my head explode if the Cubs and the Red Sox ultimately meet in this year's World Series. The Sox are @ the Yankees tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
Trainspotting yesterday was perfect. Before I left for the morning safari with STWD, I spotted the southbound tandem of locomotives 2057 and 2019 @ 9:45 a.m. In tow were a single BC, eight CHCs, and one DBTC that was bringing up the rear. The northbound run occurred @ 4:52 p.m. while we were @ JWs for a pre-presidential debate snack. Upon hearing that lonesome whistle blow, I sprang from my stool to spot the same tandem of locomotives towing 16 DBTCs, two DWTCs, and 19 CHCs. All cars were fully loaded judging by the way the earth was shaking.
Earlier in the day, I made it to my haircut appointment after the morning safari and then we were off on the afternoon errands. A quick stop @ the KIA dealer to have that balky mirror switch replaced. The mirrors work perfectly now. Afterwards, we made quick work of a stop @ the big-box home center in Holland and a stop @ the grocery store that specializes in low price foods. That too went well. Our final stop along the route was @ Harbor Humane Society in West Olive. We have been talking about getting an additional fur child, so we stopped in the see who was available. Mary fell in love with a possible adoptee. Whether we can adopt depends more on how well Sugar and the potential dog adoptee can accommodate each other. We'll be trying that out in another day or two.
Finally, home to that JWs stop and then on to the presidential debate viewing. During the debate, we had a late dinner of soft tacos that Mary put together for our viewing pleasure. They tasted great.
Today, we have some paperwork to accomplish for the upcoming election, along with some phone calls and other activities. The aforementioned activities will consume far more time that we'd like.
The current temperature is 59° under partly cloudy skies. There is a forecast from the NWS for T-storms later this evening and into Wednesday with a 60% probability. The high-temperature today is supposed to be 61° after the sun rises @ 7:38 a.m. and long before it sets @ 7:32 p.m. Ciao.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."
What a day yesterday. We arose early to watch CBS Sunday Morning to witness the final broadcast by the 22-year host, Charles Osgood. The show was very well crafted and showcased Osgood's long and varied career in broadcast journalism, music, and writing. Osgood's successor will be Jane Pauley.
Afterwards, we took the morning safari with STWD and then I did some serious gardening. Mary placed Haven Henge in its new location in the garden near the deck and then I got to work. I planted the new plants in the gardens of the PE. Not a big deal to some, but it seemed to go on and on and on. When accompanied by the ritual watering that the new plants deserved and needed, the process took about one and one-half hours. That did give me a serious number of additional steps on my weekly journey.
I coupled that gardening with some serious housework while Mary was indexing, and before I knew it, the day had once again gotten away from me. I have to keep reminding myself that I am of a certain age and I can't do all of the things in one day like I used to do. At least majority of the chores are done for a few days. I seem to be able to find new things to add to my To Do list each day. We walked to the Double Deuce for dinner where we tinkered with their menu by ordering a pizza with lots of varied vegetables, but no cheese. It turned out great.
In sports, I didn't subject myself to the Bears game last night, as there was a Cubs game on TV. I do know that the Bears fell to the Cowboys and their rookie fourth-round draft pick QB by a final score of 17 - 31. That leaves the Bears @ 0 - 3 in the NFC Central. The Bears host the Lions next week.
A nice segue to the Lions game, which was a loss to the Packers by a score of 27 - 34. The Lions will have their regular starting QB Matthew Stafford, while the Bears may still be without their starting QB, Jay Cutler due to a thumb injury. Plus, the Bears defense is decimated by injuries and they had to start four rookies last night. Let's just say that the Bears often have a difficult time with the Lions. and leave it at that.
The NL Central 1st place Cubs took another game from the 2nd place Cardinals last night by a final score of 3 - 1. That gives the Cubs an 18 game lead over the Cardinals and 57 wins @ Wrigley Field this year, a Wrigley record. Jon Lester pitched another gem. The Cubs are now @ 99 - 56 and nearing their goal of at least 100 wins this year. The Cubs travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates tonight @ 7:05 p.m. in search of the 100th win.
The Tigers tried to rally @ Comerica Park, but it is hard to come back from a huge deficit and they lost to the Royals by a final score of 9 - 12 in spite of a grand slam off the bat of Victor Martinez. The 2nd place Tigers are still seven games behind the losing Indians in the AL Central. Those Indians come to Detroit to face the Tigers tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
My beloved 1st place in the AL East Red Sox eked out a win over the Rays by a score of 3 - 2. The Sox' magic number is down to two. The Sox are off today before traveling to the "Big Apple" to face the Yankees on Tuesday @ 7:05 p.m. Any combination of Sox wins and Blue Jays losses that total two, clinches the division for the Sox, By the by, the Sox lead the 2nd place Blue Jays by 5. 5 games.
Two sad notes in sports yesterday. Jose Fernandez, a 24-year-old pitcher for the Miami Marlins, lost his life in a boating accident early Sunday morning, The Marlins canceled their game with the Atlanta Braves yesterday.
Retired golfer Arnold Palmer passed away yesterday @ the age of 87. He is credited by many of today's golfers for making golf the popular sport that it is today. His many PGA wins and his epic battles with Jack Nicklaus were the stuff of legend.
We have an appointment in Holland to have that balky mirror switch replaced this afternoon. Before that, I have an appointment to have my few hairs cut and my beard and eyebrows trimmed. Those two appointments will be enough for me today.
Mary printed out the latest indexing job and that will be hitting my desk very soon. I believe that this is a two color highlighting job for me. Once again, I'll be paid in beans.
The current temperature is 67° under cloudy/rainy/T-stormy skies. The rain should stop before morning and well before we travel to Holland. That 67° is higher than the forecast high for today of 64°. It looks as though fall is really here. The sun will rise today @ 7:37 a.m. and set @ 7:34 p.m. The next prediction for showers by the NWS is Tuesday. That means that I may not have to water again until Thursday. Ciao.
What a day yesterday. We arose early to watch CBS Sunday Morning to witness the final broadcast by the 22-year host, Charles Osgood. The show was very well crafted and showcased Osgood's long and varied career in broadcast journalism, music, and writing. Osgood's successor will be Jane Pauley.
Afterwards, we took the morning safari with STWD and then I did some serious gardening. Mary placed Haven Henge in its new location in the garden near the deck and then I got to work. I planted the new plants in the gardens of the PE. Not a big deal to some, but it seemed to go on and on and on. When accompanied by the ritual watering that the new plants deserved and needed, the process took about one and one-half hours. That did give me a serious number of additional steps on my weekly journey.
I coupled that gardening with some serious housework while Mary was indexing, and before I knew it, the day had once again gotten away from me. I have to keep reminding myself that I am of a certain age and I can't do all of the things in one day like I used to do. At least majority of the chores are done for a few days. I seem to be able to find new things to add to my To Do list each day. We walked to the Double Deuce for dinner where we tinkered with their menu by ordering a pizza with lots of varied vegetables, but no cheese. It turned out great.
In sports, I didn't subject myself to the Bears game last night, as there was a Cubs game on TV. I do know that the Bears fell to the Cowboys and their rookie fourth-round draft pick QB by a final score of 17 - 31. That leaves the Bears @ 0 - 3 in the NFC Central. The Bears host the Lions next week.
A nice segue to the Lions game, which was a loss to the Packers by a score of 27 - 34. The Lions will have their regular starting QB Matthew Stafford, while the Bears may still be without their starting QB, Jay Cutler due to a thumb injury. Plus, the Bears defense is decimated by injuries and they had to start four rookies last night. Let's just say that the Bears often have a difficult time with the Lions. and leave it at that.
The NL Central 1st place Cubs took another game from the 2nd place Cardinals last night by a final score of 3 - 1. That gives the Cubs an 18 game lead over the Cardinals and 57 wins @ Wrigley Field this year, a Wrigley record. Jon Lester pitched another gem. The Cubs are now @ 99 - 56 and nearing their goal of at least 100 wins this year. The Cubs travel to Pittsburgh to face the Pirates tonight @ 7:05 p.m. in search of the 100th win.
The Tigers tried to rally @ Comerica Park, but it is hard to come back from a huge deficit and they lost to the Royals by a final score of 9 - 12 in spite of a grand slam off the bat of Victor Martinez. The 2nd place Tigers are still seven games behind the losing Indians in the AL Central. Those Indians come to Detroit to face the Tigers tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
My beloved 1st place in the AL East Red Sox eked out a win over the Rays by a score of 3 - 2. The Sox' magic number is down to two. The Sox are off today before traveling to the "Big Apple" to face the Yankees on Tuesday @ 7:05 p.m. Any combination of Sox wins and Blue Jays losses that total two, clinches the division for the Sox, By the by, the Sox lead the 2nd place Blue Jays by 5. 5 games.
Two sad notes in sports yesterday. Jose Fernandez, a 24-year-old pitcher for the Miami Marlins, lost his life in a boating accident early Sunday morning, The Marlins canceled their game with the Atlanta Braves yesterday.
Retired golfer Arnold Palmer passed away yesterday @ the age of 87. He is credited by many of today's golfers for making golf the popular sport that it is today. His many PGA wins and his epic battles with Jack Nicklaus were the stuff of legend.
We have an appointment in Holland to have that balky mirror switch replaced this afternoon. Before that, I have an appointment to have my few hairs cut and my beard and eyebrows trimmed. Those two appointments will be enough for me today.
Mary printed out the latest indexing job and that will be hitting my desk very soon. I believe that this is a two color highlighting job for me. Once again, I'll be paid in beans.
The current temperature is 67° under cloudy/rainy/T-stormy skies. The rain should stop before morning and well before we travel to Holland. That 67° is higher than the forecast high for today of 64°. It looks as though fall is really here. The sun will rise today @ 7:37 a.m. and set @ 7:34 p.m. The next prediction for showers by the NWS is Tuesday. That means that I may not have to water again until Thursday. Ciao.
Sunday, September 25, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."
I'm once again going to do my best to follow the K.I.S.S. formula for this blog.
Sports:
Cubs, 1st, L 4 - 10, Cardinals, Again tonight @ 8:08 p.
Tigers, 2nd, L, 4 - 7, Royals, Again today @ 1:10 p.
Beloved Red Sox, 1st, W, 6 - 4, Rays, Clinched playoff berth, Rays again today @ 1:10 p.
Michigan Wolverines, W, 1st, Big 10, 49 - 16, Nitney Lions, host WI Badgers next week, 3:30 p.
MSU Spartans, L, 6 - 30, 5th Big 10, WI Badgers, @ Indiana next Sat. 8 p.
NIU Huskies, L, 0 - 4 in MAC, @ Ball State Cardinals next Sat. 3:30 p.
We had a great trip into the countryside of West MI yesterday. Our first stop in Sparta was mostly tame. One apple vendor for Apple Fest. It was a great day for kids, with lots of activities and a great petting zoo, that included Louie, the pot-bellied pig. That took us about 10 minutes, so we decided to go on to Rockford, MI.
It turned out that it was their annual fall festival that included a car show, the regular farmer's market, @ which we got the apples that had impelled us into the countryside in the first place. We had a great lunch of veggie hot dogs @ The Corner Bar after viewing some of the cars in the show. I took a few pictures of the cars just to memorialize our stop.
A stop at the yarn store there where Mary got a project book. She already has enough yarn for a whole lot of future projects.
We headed for home with a stop at a garden center in Spring Lake that is now closed for the season. We purchased some Pansies and a Mum, both of which are expected to come back next year, depending on many factors between now and next spring.
A stop @ the favorite watering hole on the other side of the bridge, Stans, and then home for an NCIS marathon and a dinner of roast beest and biscuits smothered in Mary's mushroom gravy. I still like the gravy.
We have a current temperature of 55° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 78°, but how that will happen, I don't know. The NWS has no precipitation in the forecast, but Kyle Underwood, a meteorologist @ WOOD TV/Radio, says that showers are possible overnight tonight and into Monday. I'll have to trust STWD for a more accurate forecast. However, she has been weird about her forecasts lately, not really wanting to go out and hiding more often, so her accuracy is in question right now. Go figure.
Today, not much on tap. Pro football, maybe, Pro baseball, definitely. Gardening to place the newest members of the PE gardens and then reading and crossword solving. Mary will do some reading, cooking, and crafting too. All of those activities after the moring safari. The sun will rise @ 7:36 a.m. and set exactly 12 hours later @ 7:36 p.m. Ciao.
I'm once again going to do my best to follow the K.I.S.S. formula for this blog.
Sports:
Cubs, 1st, L 4 - 10, Cardinals, Again tonight @ 8:08 p.
Tigers, 2nd, L, 4 - 7, Royals, Again today @ 1:10 p.
Beloved Red Sox, 1st, W, 6 - 4, Rays, Clinched playoff berth, Rays again today @ 1:10 p.
Michigan Wolverines, W, 1st, Big 10, 49 - 16, Nitney Lions, host WI Badgers next week, 3:30 p.
MSU Spartans, L, 6 - 30, 5th Big 10, WI Badgers, @ Indiana next Sat. 8 p.
NIU Huskies, L, 0 - 4 in MAC, @ Ball State Cardinals next Sat. 3:30 p.
We had a great trip into the countryside of West MI yesterday. Our first stop in Sparta was mostly tame. One apple vendor for Apple Fest. It was a great day for kids, with lots of activities and a great petting zoo, that included Louie, the pot-bellied pig. That took us about 10 minutes, so we decided to go on to Rockford, MI.
It turned out that it was their annual fall festival that included a car show, the regular farmer's market, @ which we got the apples that had impelled us into the countryside in the first place. We had a great lunch of veggie hot dogs @ The Corner Bar after viewing some of the cars in the show. I took a few pictures of the cars just to memorialize our stop.
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| A very nice "Bimmer." |
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| An excellent AMC AMX |
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| A pair of close relatives to the AMX, an AMC Javelin, and an AMC Gremlin X. |
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| A rare 1969 Chevrolet Camaro convertible, one of many 1969 Camaros @ the show. |
We headed for home with a stop at a garden center in Spring Lake that is now closed for the season. We purchased some Pansies and a Mum, both of which are expected to come back next year, depending on many factors between now and next spring.
A stop @ the favorite watering hole on the other side of the bridge, Stans, and then home for an NCIS marathon and a dinner of roast beest and biscuits smothered in Mary's mushroom gravy. I still like the gravy.
We have a current temperature of 55° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 78°, but how that will happen, I don't know. The NWS has no precipitation in the forecast, but Kyle Underwood, a meteorologist @ WOOD TV/Radio, says that showers are possible overnight tonight and into Monday. I'll have to trust STWD for a more accurate forecast. However, she has been weird about her forecasts lately, not really wanting to go out and hiding more often, so her accuracy is in question right now. Go figure.
Today, not much on tap. Pro football, maybe, Pro baseball, definitely. Gardening to place the newest members of the PE gardens and then reading and crossword solving. Mary will do some reading, cooking, and crafting too. All of those activities after the moring safari. The sun will rise @ 7:36 a.m. and set exactly 12 hours later @ 7:36 p.m. Ciao.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."
Generally, it's not a good thing to toot your own horn, but in this case, but if I have to polish my own apple and crow just a bit, so be it. Mary stayed out of the kitchen, well mostly, and I was able to bake those previously mentioned biscuits with only the aid of STSD (Sugar the Sous Dog). As hoped, my new flour sifter worked terrifically, actually better than anticipated and the flour and other powdered ingredients were as smooth as silk when I mixed in the vegetable shortening and almond milk. Mary did have some input in the finished product by pre-chilling the shortening for me, but that was a good thing.
I had previously cubed some old bread for croutons and those preceded my biscuits in the queue. While they were toasting, I was busily and happily sifting, shaping, cutting, and placing the biscuits on the baking sheet. Out of the oven came the croutons, and then the oven's temperature setting was raised to 400° to make it ready for the biscuits. In they went, and 16 minutes later, the finest, crispiest, most golden-brown, and tastiest biscuits came out of the oven. They became part of dinner that included Mary's mushroom gravy.
I liked the gravy, as did STSD, although Mary didn't think it was her best effort. True, I like nearly anything/everything with gravy on it, but I have to respectively disagree with Mary's self-assessment of her gravy. At any rate, the dinner was excellent by my standards.
I finished the largest portion of my indoor chores yesterday. I have just one or two other things to accomplish before I can start over again.
The weather yesterday was the best that fall can offer. Cool and crisp like a tasty Granny Smith apple. A nice segue to the sojourn we'll be making later today. We'll be traveling to Sparta, MI for their Apple Fest to buy a bushel of Granny Smith apples for sauce, other meals, and pies. I like my cold cereal with apples cut up in it too. Another plus is a chance to work with STSD and bake apple pies.
We have a current temperature of 57° under clear skies. In Sparta, the current temperature is 55°, also under clear skies. Later today, the high temperature in GH will be 75° while it will be 72° in Sparta. In both cases, the forecast calls for sunny skies. All good. Interestingly, the sun will rise here @ 7:35 a.m. and set @ 7:37 p.m. In Sparta, the sun will rise and set two minutes earlier.
Sports news yesterday was all good too. The Cubs moved to 98 - 55 in the NL Central with their 5 - 0 win over the 2nd place Cardinals @ Wrigley Field. That gives the Cubs a very comfortable lead of 18 games over those same Cardinals. That win also clinches the Cubs' home-field advantage for both the NLDS and NLCS. The Cubs starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, pitched a gem. The Cardinals and the Cubs face each other again today @ 1:05 p.m.
The Tigers were also victorious too, with their win over their AL Central division rivals the Kansas City Royals by a score of 8 - 1. That means that the Tigers, with their 83 - 70 2nd place record, have a good shot @ the Wild-Card in the AL. Victor Martinez, Justin Upton, and Cameron Maybin all homered in support. The Tigers and the Royals play later today @ 1:05 p.m. I guess I was wrong about the Tigers chances this year.
My beloved Red Sox are solidly in 1st place in the AL East with a five and one-half game lead over the losing 2nd place Blue Jays The Sox won over the Tampa Bay Rays, 2 - 1. The Sox were powered by David "Big Papi" Ortiz' moon-shot two-run homer in the 1st inning. Starter Drew Pomeranz was masterful. pitching out of a jam and so he deserves much of the credit. The Sox' Magic Number is down to four as they face the Rays again this evening @ 6:10 p.m.
I'll have more to say about the results of the college football games in tomorrow's blog, The Wolverines of Michigan face the Penn State Nitney Lions this afternoon @ 3:30 p.m. The Spartans of MSU play the Badgers of Wisconsin @ 12:00 p.m. and the Huskies of Northern Illinois play Western Illinois @ 3:30 p.m.
As mentioned, we will be in Sparta today, so we have no additional plans. We'll be enjoying the fall weather and visiting a place we've never been before. Oops, I was channeling the late John Henry Deutschendorf Jr., AKA John Denver, with that last sentence. Ciao.
Generally, it's not a good thing to toot your own horn, but in this case, but if I have to polish my own apple and crow just a bit, so be it. Mary stayed out of the kitchen, well mostly, and I was able to bake those previously mentioned biscuits with only the aid of STSD (Sugar the Sous Dog). As hoped, my new flour sifter worked terrifically, actually better than anticipated and the flour and other powdered ingredients were as smooth as silk when I mixed in the vegetable shortening and almond milk. Mary did have some input in the finished product by pre-chilling the shortening for me, but that was a good thing.
I had previously cubed some old bread for croutons and those preceded my biscuits in the queue. While they were toasting, I was busily and happily sifting, shaping, cutting, and placing the biscuits on the baking sheet. Out of the oven came the croutons, and then the oven's temperature setting was raised to 400° to make it ready for the biscuits. In they went, and 16 minutes later, the finest, crispiest, most golden-brown, and tastiest biscuits came out of the oven. They became part of dinner that included Mary's mushroom gravy.
I liked the gravy, as did STSD, although Mary didn't think it was her best effort. True, I like nearly anything/everything with gravy on it, but I have to respectively disagree with Mary's self-assessment of her gravy. At any rate, the dinner was excellent by my standards.
I finished the largest portion of my indoor chores yesterday. I have just one or two other things to accomplish before I can start over again.
The weather yesterday was the best that fall can offer. Cool and crisp like a tasty Granny Smith apple. A nice segue to the sojourn we'll be making later today. We'll be traveling to Sparta, MI for their Apple Fest to buy a bushel of Granny Smith apples for sauce, other meals, and pies. I like my cold cereal with apples cut up in it too. Another plus is a chance to work with STSD and bake apple pies.
We have a current temperature of 57° under clear skies. In Sparta, the current temperature is 55°, also under clear skies. Later today, the high temperature in GH will be 75° while it will be 72° in Sparta. In both cases, the forecast calls for sunny skies. All good. Interestingly, the sun will rise here @ 7:35 a.m. and set @ 7:37 p.m. In Sparta, the sun will rise and set two minutes earlier.
Sports news yesterday was all good too. The Cubs moved to 98 - 55 in the NL Central with their 5 - 0 win over the 2nd place Cardinals @ Wrigley Field. That gives the Cubs a very comfortable lead of 18 games over those same Cardinals. That win also clinches the Cubs' home-field advantage for both the NLDS and NLCS. The Cubs starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta, pitched a gem. The Cardinals and the Cubs face each other again today @ 1:05 p.m.
The Tigers were also victorious too, with their win over their AL Central division rivals the Kansas City Royals by a score of 8 - 1. That means that the Tigers, with their 83 - 70 2nd place record, have a good shot @ the Wild-Card in the AL. Victor Martinez, Justin Upton, and Cameron Maybin all homered in support. The Tigers and the Royals play later today @ 1:05 p.m. I guess I was wrong about the Tigers chances this year.
My beloved Red Sox are solidly in 1st place in the AL East with a five and one-half game lead over the losing 2nd place Blue Jays The Sox won over the Tampa Bay Rays, 2 - 1. The Sox were powered by David "Big Papi" Ortiz' moon-shot two-run homer in the 1st inning. Starter Drew Pomeranz was masterful. pitching out of a jam and so he deserves much of the credit. The Sox' Magic Number is down to four as they face the Rays again this evening @ 6:10 p.m.
I'll have more to say about the results of the college football games in tomorrow's blog, The Wolverines of Michigan face the Penn State Nitney Lions this afternoon @ 3:30 p.m. The Spartans of MSU play the Badgers of Wisconsin @ 12:00 p.m. and the Huskies of Northern Illinois play Western Illinois @ 3:30 p.m.
As mentioned, we will be in Sparta today, so we have no additional plans. We'll be enjoying the fall weather and visiting a place we've never been before. Oops, I was channeling the late John Henry Deutschendorf Jr., AKA John Denver, with that last sentence. Ciao.
Friday, September 23, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."
This is a perfect opportunity to borrow from a feature in the Grand Haven Tribune and very likely many newspapers throughout the country, called Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down! This feature allows readers to offer a visual commentary like that offered by the Romans @ the Coliseum or even many movie reviewers when relaying their opinion of movies they have had the fortune, good or bad, to have recently seen.
In my case, Thumbs Down! to the people in charge @ Yahoo! for waiting two years to tell people that Yahoo! was hacked in July of 2014 and that a hacker got access to over 500,000,000 clients of their service. I immediately changed my password, but this makes some recent email scandals recently investigated by Congress, look like small potatoes. Welcome to the digital age
Since I am speaking of the digital age, let me give the weather report. The reading on my DTWS that is derived from the FPMS was missing the temperature reading. I knew it would be back, and it is, showing 69°. The NWS is reporting a current temperature of 66° with fog. A quick glance out the WW shows clear skies. Go figure. STWD is asleep, so there is no storm activity.
Speaking of the intrepid one, I let her out last evening and something spooked her and sent her scurrying back up on the deck and then into her upstairs hide-e-hole. I didn't hear a thunderclap nor explosion, but something scared her. I didn't see or hear anything, so I don't know what set her off.
She spent several hours in her safety room. As of this time, I can't rely on her forecast either. The NWS has forecast a high temperature for today of 72° with 82% relative humidity. They have also pushed the next significant rain event back until Monday with an 80% chance of showers. They are warning of the potential for showers today @ 20%. I guess I'm on my own for the true story. At any rate, the temperature is also supposed to drop into the upper 60° range by Tuesday too.
I have to plead temporary insanity regarding last night's sports report. I think that I must have temporarily lost my perspective as I placed the Cubs in Cincinnati when they swept the Reds. I received a report from my Chicago Bureau, that the Cubs were in "The Friendly Confines", Wrigley Field when they swept the Reds. That being said, the Cubs with their 1st place lead over the Cardinals now @ 17 games in the NL Central and a record of 97 - 55, host those Cardinals today @ 2:20 p.m. Can 100 wins be far away?
The Tigers eked out a 4 - 2 win over the AL Central bottom dwelling Twins. That gives the Tigers an overall division record of 82 - 70, but they are languishing in 2nd place, where they have been for weeks. The 1st place Indians also won, maintaining a seven-game lead in that division. The Tigers are home tonight to host the Royals @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox also won their AL Eastern division game over division rivals the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 5 - 3. The Sox' magic number to clinch the division is down to five. Sadly, the fans disguised as empty seats in Baltimore last night were out in full force. I grant that the Orioles seem to be fading, but they are still in contention and the Sox are a 1st place team. The Sox travel to Tanpa Bay to face the Rays tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
I went to the doctor yesterday for my quarterly tootsies exam. All went well on my first medicare visit there. There is a medical assistant there who has the perkiest personality I've ever seen. That's good, but wow, her Perkometer is set to stun at all times.
I drove myself to that appointment and afterward I was going to travel to the big-box home center near the PE, but I couldn't set the mirrors on our new car so I came home. It took Mary to provide an assist with the rearview mirror in the cockpit. When it comes to this car, I feel like those people of a certain age in the commercial who welcome their grandchildren to their grandparent's home and then hand them all of the tech gear that the grandparents can't get to work.
I nearly didn't go because of the lack of rearward vision, but I soldiered on and then came right home to get Mary and let her take the helm for further missions. Not a very good first solo effort in the cockpit.
I did get a lot done yesterday, as I did the laundry, mowed the lawns of the vast PE, patched the concrete around the outdoor entrance to the man-cave, and organized the closet in my office. I was inspired by Mary's recent organizational efforts of her craft room and the various stashes that seem to go hand in hand with most craft-type hobbies. Things that I should have gotten rid of years ago from my closet were donated during our afternoon outing.
We traveled to the big-box home center, the Goodwill™ store, and D & W grocers. I was glad to be riding shotgun on the trip. I used to love to drive, but I seem to have lost the will and need to drive shortly after my various illnesses a few years back. That's okay, as being a shotgun seat driver/navigator is a lot easier. I did get in some time with the girls early yesterday along with more reading, so that was also a saving grace for the day.
Today we have no plans beyond Mary's afternoon chat @ 2:00 p.m. and a trip to the chiropractor's office for our weekly tune-up. I may get into the kitchen to do some biscuit-baking while Mary is otherwise occupied. That will give me a chance to try out my new flour sifter. I just hope that Mary can avoid being a nosy cook's helper. Hint, hint.
The sun will rise today @ 7:34 a.m. and set @ 7:39 p.m. We are nearly back to 12 hour days. Ciao.
This is a perfect opportunity to borrow from a feature in the Grand Haven Tribune and very likely many newspapers throughout the country, called Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down! This feature allows readers to offer a visual commentary like that offered by the Romans @ the Coliseum or even many movie reviewers when relaying their opinion of movies they have had the fortune, good or bad, to have recently seen.
In my case, Thumbs Down! to the people in charge @ Yahoo! for waiting two years to tell people that Yahoo! was hacked in July of 2014 and that a hacker got access to over 500,000,000 clients of their service. I immediately changed my password, but this makes some recent email scandals recently investigated by Congress, look like small potatoes. Welcome to the digital age
Since I am speaking of the digital age, let me give the weather report. The reading on my DTWS that is derived from the FPMS was missing the temperature reading. I knew it would be back, and it is, showing 69°. The NWS is reporting a current temperature of 66° with fog. A quick glance out the WW shows clear skies. Go figure. STWD is asleep, so there is no storm activity.
Speaking of the intrepid one, I let her out last evening and something spooked her and sent her scurrying back up on the deck and then into her upstairs hide-e-hole. I didn't hear a thunderclap nor explosion, but something scared her. I didn't see or hear anything, so I don't know what set her off.
She spent several hours in her safety room. As of this time, I can't rely on her forecast either. The NWS has forecast a high temperature for today of 72° with 82% relative humidity. They have also pushed the next significant rain event back until Monday with an 80% chance of showers. They are warning of the potential for showers today @ 20%. I guess I'm on my own for the true story. At any rate, the temperature is also supposed to drop into the upper 60° range by Tuesday too.
I have to plead temporary insanity regarding last night's sports report. I think that I must have temporarily lost my perspective as I placed the Cubs in Cincinnati when they swept the Reds. I received a report from my Chicago Bureau, that the Cubs were in "The Friendly Confines", Wrigley Field when they swept the Reds. That being said, the Cubs with their 1st place lead over the Cardinals now @ 17 games in the NL Central and a record of 97 - 55, host those Cardinals today @ 2:20 p.m. Can 100 wins be far away?
The Tigers eked out a 4 - 2 win over the AL Central bottom dwelling Twins. That gives the Tigers an overall division record of 82 - 70, but they are languishing in 2nd place, where they have been for weeks. The 1st place Indians also won, maintaining a seven-game lead in that division. The Tigers are home tonight to host the Royals @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox also won their AL Eastern division game over division rivals the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 5 - 3. The Sox' magic number to clinch the division is down to five. Sadly, the fans disguised as empty seats in Baltimore last night were out in full force. I grant that the Orioles seem to be fading, but they are still in contention and the Sox are a 1st place team. The Sox travel to Tanpa Bay to face the Rays tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
I went to the doctor yesterday for my quarterly tootsies exam. All went well on my first medicare visit there. There is a medical assistant there who has the perkiest personality I've ever seen. That's good, but wow, her Perkometer is set to stun at all times.
I drove myself to that appointment and afterward I was going to travel to the big-box home center near the PE, but I couldn't set the mirrors on our new car so I came home. It took Mary to provide an assist with the rearview mirror in the cockpit. When it comes to this car, I feel like those people of a certain age in the commercial who welcome their grandchildren to their grandparent's home and then hand them all of the tech gear that the grandparents can't get to work.
I nearly didn't go because of the lack of rearward vision, but I soldiered on and then came right home to get Mary and let her take the helm for further missions. Not a very good first solo effort in the cockpit.
I did get a lot done yesterday, as I did the laundry, mowed the lawns of the vast PE, patched the concrete around the outdoor entrance to the man-cave, and organized the closet in my office. I was inspired by Mary's recent organizational efforts of her craft room and the various stashes that seem to go hand in hand with most craft-type hobbies. Things that I should have gotten rid of years ago from my closet were donated during our afternoon outing.
We traveled to the big-box home center, the Goodwill™ store, and D & W grocers. I was glad to be riding shotgun on the trip. I used to love to drive, but I seem to have lost the will and need to drive shortly after my various illnesses a few years back. That's okay, as being a shotgun seat driver/navigator is a lot easier. I did get in some time with the girls early yesterday along with more reading, so that was also a saving grace for the day.
Today we have no plans beyond Mary's afternoon chat @ 2:00 p.m. and a trip to the chiropractor's office for our weekly tune-up. I may get into the kitchen to do some biscuit-baking while Mary is otherwise occupied. That will give me a chance to try out my new flour sifter. I just hope that Mary can avoid being a nosy cook's helper. Hint, hint.
The sun will rise today @ 7:34 a.m. and set @ 7:39 p.m. We are nearly back to 12 hour days. Ciao.
Thursday, September 22, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 a.m. in "The City" where the current temperature is 65° under partly cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast by the NWS to be 79° with 75% relative humidity. We had a good rain event yesterday, so I won't have to water again later today.
We only have one thing planned for later today, and that is a visit to the podiatrist for my quarterly tune-up. Given the beating my feet have taken in the last few days, that is a fortuitous event. This will be my first such visit as a Medicare patient.
We had to go to the car dealer yesterday to have the outside rearview mirrors checked for a problem. The service advisor thought he had solved the problem by pushing the mirror mounting into its correct position, but the thrill of victory was short-lived. A new switch has been ordered.
Trainspotting yesterday was quick and easy. At 9:00 a.m., locomotive 2019 passed through on a solo southbound run. In tow were five CHCs, one GTC, and seven DBTCs. At 12:06 p.m., the same locomotive passed by again heading north. This time, the number of cars was significantly less and included only two BCs and two DBTCs.
When the clouds parted @ around 11:00 a.m. yesterday, I took the morning safari with a reluctant STWD. We made it to the Bookman and picked up the newspaper and then headed home. We had a lunch of leftover Coleslaw and roast beest sandwiches. I sat and read for a while and then it was time to go to the car dealer as I noted above. We also stopped at the Seasoned Home store there for some spices that Mary needed for her kitchen. Since I am the official pie baker, I got to purchase a new flour sifter too.
We decided that a stop at the favorite watering hole was in order for dinner. It is nice to have our city back now that the tourists have mostly left town. We wouldn't have as many places to get food without the tourists, but it is still nice to get a seat.
All of my baseball teams won yesterday. The Cubs swept the Reds in Cincinnati, taking the final game of the series by a final score of 9 - 2, to move their NL Central record to 97 - 55. A bit of quick math says that the Cubs should be able to get at least 100 wins during the regular season. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant both hit dingers and Miguel Montero went three for four with three RBIs. Bryant's home run left the park and landed on Waveland Avenue. The Cubs are off today before traveling to St. Louis to play the Cardinals @ 2:20 p.m. on Friday.
The Tigers defeated the Twins 8 - 1 to move to 80 - 70 in the AL Central. That's still only good enough for 2nd place, as the division-leading Indians also won. The Tigers once again face the Twins this afternoon @ 2:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox took another game from the Orioles in Baltimore in an AL East game by a final score of 5 - 1. Some odd fielding plays allowed the Sox to defeat the Orioles and move to a division leading record of 88 - 64. That means that the Sox' magic number is six games to clinch the division, Things are looking good. Thye play the Orioles again tonight @ 7:05 p.m. Once again, the fans in the Ballpark at CambdenYards were heavily disguised as empty seats. That's a shame for a game between the 1st place Sox and the 3rd place Orioles.
Other than that doctor's appointment, we/I have no plans for today. We'll walk the intrepid one and then go to the hospital. If the temperature and humidity are as high as forecast, I don't plan to walk.
The sun will rise later today @ 7:33 a.m. and set #_@ 7:41 p.m. Ciao.
We only have one thing planned for later today, and that is a visit to the podiatrist for my quarterly tune-up. Given the beating my feet have taken in the last few days, that is a fortuitous event. This will be my first such visit as a Medicare patient.
We had to go to the car dealer yesterday to have the outside rearview mirrors checked for a problem. The service advisor thought he had solved the problem by pushing the mirror mounting into its correct position, but the thrill of victory was short-lived. A new switch has been ordered.
Trainspotting yesterday was quick and easy. At 9:00 a.m., locomotive 2019 passed through on a solo southbound run. In tow were five CHCs, one GTC, and seven DBTCs. At 12:06 p.m., the same locomotive passed by again heading north. This time, the number of cars was significantly less and included only two BCs and two DBTCs.
When the clouds parted @ around 11:00 a.m. yesterday, I took the morning safari with a reluctant STWD. We made it to the Bookman and picked up the newspaper and then headed home. We had a lunch of leftover Coleslaw and roast beest sandwiches. I sat and read for a while and then it was time to go to the car dealer as I noted above. We also stopped at the Seasoned Home store there for some spices that Mary needed for her kitchen. Since I am the official pie baker, I got to purchase a new flour sifter too.
We decided that a stop at the favorite watering hole was in order for dinner. It is nice to have our city back now that the tourists have mostly left town. We wouldn't have as many places to get food without the tourists, but it is still nice to get a seat.
All of my baseball teams won yesterday. The Cubs swept the Reds in Cincinnati, taking the final game of the series by a final score of 9 - 2, to move their NL Central record to 97 - 55. A bit of quick math says that the Cubs should be able to get at least 100 wins during the regular season. Dexter Fowler and Kris Bryant both hit dingers and Miguel Montero went three for four with three RBIs. Bryant's home run left the park and landed on Waveland Avenue. The Cubs are off today before traveling to St. Louis to play the Cardinals @ 2:20 p.m. on Friday.
The Tigers defeated the Twins 8 - 1 to move to 80 - 70 in the AL Central. That's still only good enough for 2nd place, as the division-leading Indians also won. The Tigers once again face the Twins this afternoon @ 2:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox took another game from the Orioles in Baltimore in an AL East game by a final score of 5 - 1. Some odd fielding plays allowed the Sox to defeat the Orioles and move to a division leading record of 88 - 64. That means that the Sox' magic number is six games to clinch the division, Things are looking good. Thye play the Orioles again tonight @ 7:05 p.m. Once again, the fans in the Ballpark at CambdenYards were heavily disguised as empty seats. That's a shame for a game between the 1st place Sox and the 3rd place Orioles.
Other than that doctor's appointment, we/I have no plans for today. We'll walk the intrepid one and then go to the hospital. If the temperature and humidity are as high as forecast, I don't plan to walk.
The sun will rise later today @ 7:33 a.m. and set #_@ 7:41 p.m. Ciao.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 a.m. in "The City."
Not much was happening when I stepped into the kitchen to make the Coleslaw for lunch. Mary had gone to the bakery for some bread and asked me to make the Coleslaw in any way that I liked. So I did. While she was gone, the latest incarnation of her roast beest was in the Crockpot™. I made what I think was good Coleslaw and then when Mary returned, she found that there was not enough soy-based meat to go on both sandwiches, so I had some faux turkey and barbecue tofu on mine while Mary had the remainder of the last beest. I liked my mixed meat sandwiches.
I didn't accomplish much yesterday. I played with the girls for a short time, and then we went out to run some errands. A stop at the Post to drop off some paperwork and then on to the grocery store in Spring Lake for a few groceries. We also stopped at the fabric store to get some cover material for the couch which STWD has decided is once again fair game. A quick stop @ the favorite watering hole on the other side of the bridge and then home.
A dinner of bean dip with chips and then NCIS, Bull, and NCIS New Orleans. Bull introduced us to the players in this new program as did both NCIS and NCIS New Orleans. I think that Mary likes Bull starring Michael Weatherly and so do I.
It was a hot and humid day here in West Michigan when I walked STWD while Mary chatted. The local meteorologists are promising that the hot days are nearly over and I hope that they are right. We have a current temperature of 64° under mostly cloudy skies. As of now, the NWS is forecasting T-storms for the morning hours with 50% confidence. We shall see. If so, I won't have to water.
Sports news yesterday was all positive. The Cubs won 6 - 1 over the Reds behind a strong pitching performance by Jon Lester. The Cubs have a record of 96 - 55 in the NL Central. The play the Reds again tonight @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers also won their game by a score of 8 - 1 over the Twins. Miggy, and James McCann contributed home runs to the final outcome. The Tigers are still in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 80 - 70. Alas, the Indians also won, so the Tigers are still seven games back. The Tigers play the Twins again tonight @ 8:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox are solidly in 1st place in the AL East with a record of 87 - 64 following their 5 - 2 win over the 3rd place Orioles that gives the Sox a lead of five full games over the Orioles. The 2nd place Blue Jays are still playing in Seattle, so they are 4.5 games behind the Sox, pending the outcome of their game. The Sox and the Orioles play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
We have no plans for later today, so I may get to that reading I've been wanting to do. So many books, so little time. Mary has some crafty things to do and then she too wants to read. I guess when you get up @ 11:30 a.m., the day easily gets away from you.
The sun will rise @ 7:31 a.m. and set @ 7:43 p.m. Ciao.
Not much was happening when I stepped into the kitchen to make the Coleslaw for lunch. Mary had gone to the bakery for some bread and asked me to make the Coleslaw in any way that I liked. So I did. While she was gone, the latest incarnation of her roast beest was in the Crockpot™. I made what I think was good Coleslaw and then when Mary returned, she found that there was not enough soy-based meat to go on both sandwiches, so I had some faux turkey and barbecue tofu on mine while Mary had the remainder of the last beest. I liked my mixed meat sandwiches.
I didn't accomplish much yesterday. I played with the girls for a short time, and then we went out to run some errands. A stop at the Post to drop off some paperwork and then on to the grocery store in Spring Lake for a few groceries. We also stopped at the fabric store to get some cover material for the couch which STWD has decided is once again fair game. A quick stop @ the favorite watering hole on the other side of the bridge and then home.
A dinner of bean dip with chips and then NCIS, Bull, and NCIS New Orleans. Bull introduced us to the players in this new program as did both NCIS and NCIS New Orleans. I think that Mary likes Bull starring Michael Weatherly and so do I.
It was a hot and humid day here in West Michigan when I walked STWD while Mary chatted. The local meteorologists are promising that the hot days are nearly over and I hope that they are right. We have a current temperature of 64° under mostly cloudy skies. As of now, the NWS is forecasting T-storms for the morning hours with 50% confidence. We shall see. If so, I won't have to water.
Sports news yesterday was all positive. The Cubs won 6 - 1 over the Reds behind a strong pitching performance by Jon Lester. The Cubs have a record of 96 - 55 in the NL Central. The play the Reds again tonight @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers also won their game by a score of 8 - 1 over the Twins. Miggy, and James McCann contributed home runs to the final outcome. The Tigers are still in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 80 - 70. Alas, the Indians also won, so the Tigers are still seven games back. The Tigers play the Twins again tonight @ 8:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox are solidly in 1st place in the AL East with a record of 87 - 64 following their 5 - 2 win over the 3rd place Orioles that gives the Sox a lead of five full games over the Orioles. The 2nd place Blue Jays are still playing in Seattle, so they are 4.5 games behind the Sox, pending the outcome of their game. The Sox and the Orioles play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.
We have no plans for later today, so I may get to that reading I've been wanting to do. So many books, so little time. Mary has some crafty things to do and then she too wants to read. I guess when you get up @ 11:30 a.m., the day easily gets away from you.
The sun will rise @ 7:31 a.m. and set @ 7:43 p.m. Ciao.
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."
I had a great day in the gardens of the PE yesterday. We arose late and Mary took the morning safari with STWD solo. I was supposed to ride my bike to avoid walking, but the gardening that I had planned to require about 20 minutes, took over two hours. By the time I was done, I was too pooped to pop. However, by using the conversion chart for Step It Up!, I converted 120 minutes of heavy gardening into 18,600 steps. That's nearly two days worth of steps. Maybe I can walk more today, or at least ride my bike. Somewhere in there I also did some laundry, but I'm not counting that in my steps.
Trainspotting yesterday was a complete success. By that, I mean that I actually observed both the north and southbound runs of EMD GP38-2 locomotives.
The southbound run occurred @ 10:48 a.m. In tow were two BCs, nine CHCs, and one DBTC that was bringing up the rear. The northbound run occurred @ 2:05 p.m. and in the queue were four CHCs, once DWTC and 10 DBTCs with three of those bringing up the rear. The rumble that I felt in the earth convinced me that all the cars were fully laden.
Sports news yesterday was good for baseball fans, but not so good for football fans, at least fans of the Bears. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles by a final score of 14 - 29. Also lost several times was the football, as the Bears seemed to have what was termed "security issues." They couldn't hold onto the ball. That gives the Bears a record of 0 - 2 in the NFC North.
Baseball news was much better. The Cubs rallied in the late innings with three home runs to win their NL Central game over the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 5 - 2. That gives the Cubs back their 40 games over .500 lead in the division. The Reds are @ the bottom of the division. Addison Russell, Wilson Contreras, and Jason Heyward all hit dingers. The Cubs face the Reds again tonight @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers had the day off, as did the AL Central-leading Indians. The Indians lead the Tigers by a full seven games. The Tigers are playing the Twins tonight in Minnesota @ 8:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox topped the 2nd place Orioles, 5 - 2 in a battle of AL East rivals. That gives that Sox a record of 86 - 64, four games ahead of the Orioles and the Blue Jays. Sadly, the stands @ The Ballpark at Camden Yards in Baltimore had a large number of fans disguised as empty seats. The Sox supported winning pitcher Rick Porcello, who has now won 21 games, with home runs by Mookie Betts and David "Big Papi" Ortiz. Mookie got his eighth home run in seven games @ Camden Yards and "Big Papi" hit his 35th.
As previously noted, Mary soloed with STWD and also walked all over town in her quest to hit 10,000 steps for the Step It Up!" challenge. She was quick to note that it is very difficult to get to 10,000 steps. She walked to the waterfront. She walked to the Sprint™ store to get assistance with our cell phone, and she and I walked to JWs for afternoon libations. I don't remember how many steps she recorded, but I don't think it was 10,000.
We did get our hotel reservations for our Amtrak™ to the East Coast in November. That is an accomplishment that feels good, as it needed to be done.
I spent some time revising and editing some music and playing with the girls for a few moments before I joined Mary @ JWs.
We have a current temperature of 67° under rainy skies. The rain will be ending before the sun rises @ 7:30 a.m. There is no additional precipitation in the forecast from the NWS until Saturday. We have plans to go to the apple festival in Sparta, MI that day, but the forecast for Sparta is a 60% chance of rain, the same as here in GH. Once again, a game day decision.
Today we have no specific plans. No gardening and certainly no long walks for yours truly and no plans outside of getting to the reading I had planned for yesterday. I'd like to get to playing with the girls more too. I have some indoor chores to work on, but I am observing Mary's admonition regarding doing too much in one day, so I'll finish upstairs and then do more in the downstairs tomorrow.
The sun will set @ 7:45 p.m. and then Mary and I have plans to watch the season openers of NCIS, Bull, starring NCIS long time former cast member, Michael Weatherly, and finally NCIS New Orleans. Ciao.
I had a great day in the gardens of the PE yesterday. We arose late and Mary took the morning safari with STWD solo. I was supposed to ride my bike to avoid walking, but the gardening that I had planned to require about 20 minutes, took over two hours. By the time I was done, I was too pooped to pop. However, by using the conversion chart for Step It Up!, I converted 120 minutes of heavy gardening into 18,600 steps. That's nearly two days worth of steps. Maybe I can walk more today, or at least ride my bike. Somewhere in there I also did some laundry, but I'm not counting that in my steps.
Trainspotting yesterday was a complete success. By that, I mean that I actually observed both the north and southbound runs of EMD GP38-2 locomotives.
The southbound run occurred @ 10:48 a.m. In tow were two BCs, nine CHCs, and one DBTC that was bringing up the rear. The northbound run occurred @ 2:05 p.m. and in the queue were four CHCs, once DWTC and 10 DBTCs with three of those bringing up the rear. The rumble that I felt in the earth convinced me that all the cars were fully laden.
Sports news yesterday was good for baseball fans, but not so good for football fans, at least fans of the Bears. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles by a final score of 14 - 29. Also lost several times was the football, as the Bears seemed to have what was termed "security issues." They couldn't hold onto the ball. That gives the Bears a record of 0 - 2 in the NFC North.
Baseball news was much better. The Cubs rallied in the late innings with three home runs to win their NL Central game over the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 5 - 2. That gives the Cubs back their 40 games over .500 lead in the division. The Reds are @ the bottom of the division. Addison Russell, Wilson Contreras, and Jason Heyward all hit dingers. The Cubs face the Reds again tonight @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers had the day off, as did the AL Central-leading Indians. The Indians lead the Tigers by a full seven games. The Tigers are playing the Twins tonight in Minnesota @ 8:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox topped the 2nd place Orioles, 5 - 2 in a battle of AL East rivals. That gives that Sox a record of 86 - 64, four games ahead of the Orioles and the Blue Jays. Sadly, the stands @ The Ballpark at Camden Yards in Baltimore had a large number of fans disguised as empty seats. The Sox supported winning pitcher Rick Porcello, who has now won 21 games, with home runs by Mookie Betts and David "Big Papi" Ortiz. Mookie got his eighth home run in seven games @ Camden Yards and "Big Papi" hit his 35th.
As previously noted, Mary soloed with STWD and also walked all over town in her quest to hit 10,000 steps for the Step It Up!" challenge. She was quick to note that it is very difficult to get to 10,000 steps. She walked to the waterfront. She walked to the Sprint™ store to get assistance with our cell phone, and she and I walked to JWs for afternoon libations. I don't remember how many steps she recorded, but I don't think it was 10,000.
We did get our hotel reservations for our Amtrak™ to the East Coast in November. That is an accomplishment that feels good, as it needed to be done.
I spent some time revising and editing some music and playing with the girls for a few moments before I joined Mary @ JWs.
We have a current temperature of 67° under rainy skies. The rain will be ending before the sun rises @ 7:30 a.m. There is no additional precipitation in the forecast from the NWS until Saturday. We have plans to go to the apple festival in Sparta, MI that day, but the forecast for Sparta is a 60% chance of rain, the same as here in GH. Once again, a game day decision.
Today we have no specific plans. No gardening and certainly no long walks for yours truly and no plans outside of getting to the reading I had planned for yesterday. I'd like to get to playing with the girls more too. I have some indoor chores to work on, but I am observing Mary's admonition regarding doing too much in one day, so I'll finish upstairs and then do more in the downstairs tomorrow.
The sun will set @ 7:45 p.m. and then Mary and I have plans to watch the season openers of NCIS, Bull, starring NCIS long time former cast member, Michael Weatherly, and finally NCIS New Orleans. Ciao.
Monday, September 19, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."
We have a current temperature of between 58° & 60°, depending on the source of the information, the NWS (National Weather Service), or the DWS (Desktop Weather Station) with its associated FPMS (Front Porch Mounted Sensor). In either case, the skies are clear and there is no precipitation on the horizon. So I'll be watering later this morning and then doing some additional gardening chores.
Great news, my winter hat is now complete. With a little help from a YouTube video on an easy way to make the PomPom for the top, Mary and I completed my hat yesterday afternoon. Actually, I couldn't complete the PomPom using the pattern that was referenced in Mary's pattern book, so Mary did the logical thing, she went to the Internet. Voila, the third time was the charm as they say. I guess my contribution will be limited to wearing the hat, although I did use my hands as the form for the PomPom winding.
I chose the picture below to illustrate that a man, his La-Z-Boy, and his dog are all that is really needed in life to accompany a great winter hat. With one project down and lots more to go, I can safely say, "That's one small project for Mary and one large hat for mankind."
Sports news yesterday was good unless you are a Cubs or Lions fan. The Cubs fell to the Brewers one more time by a final score of 1 - 3. The Cubs are still in 1st place and they are still division champions with an NL Central best record of 94 - 55, but they just can't seem to beat a team that is not as good as they are. Of course, I can justify the Brewers win by stating that lower ranked teams are gunning for the Cubs, but a loss is a loss. The Cubs travel to Cincinnati tonight to face the Reds @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers fared better, as they beat the AL Central-leading Indians by a score of 9 - 5. That win finds the Tigers still solidly in 2nd place, seven games in back of the Indians. The Tigers travel today to meet that other team from Chicago @ 8:10 p.m. tonight.
My beloved Red Sox topped the Yankees by a score of 5 - 4 last night. The Sox lead the AL East Division by three games over the 2nd place Orioles whom they beat and four games over the losing 3rd place Blue Jays. The Sox face those 2nd place Orioles @ the Ballpark at Camden Yards in Baltimore, MD @ 7:05 p.m.
Also in the bad news category, the Lions snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when the Tennessee Titans came from behind to claim a 16 - 15 victory over Matthew Stafford and the balance of the team coached by Jim Caldwell. The 1 - 1 Lions travel to Green Bay to face the 1 -1 Packers in an NFC Central game next Sunday.
The 0 - 1 Bears are home tonight to play the 1 - 0 Eagles @ 8:30 p.m.
We didn't waste time yesterday afternoon, as we traveled to the P. J. Hoffmaster State Park located on the shores of Lake Michigan, for a short walk to see the "Big Lake" and also to get in some practice steps for the Step It Up! program that begins today,
Here are a few pictures from that outing.
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| I just like how a path can be an unfocused focal point. |
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| We didn't have the beach to ourselves, but the crowds are much thinner in the off-season. |
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| Have bench, will sit. |
I am going to to have to ride my bike in lieu of walking for few days until the blisters that I developed on my tootsies get better. Alas, that is one hazard of being of a certain age, at least for me. I'll be using the conversion chart that allows for conversion of other physical activities into steps for a few days.
Today, I'll be out in the gardens of the PE, riding my bike, and then indoors playing with the girls and reading after the morning safari. Mary and I will finally get to that final trip planning for our trip out East. in early November. A few other activities also await.
The sun will rise today @ 7:29 a.m. and set @ 7:46 p.m. Ciao.
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."
Let's get the sports news out of the way right off.
The Cubs fell to their NL Central Division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers, by a lopsided score of 3 - 11. Jake Arrieta is having control problems with his fastball and sinker and needs to have coaches "Tune him up." Still, the Cubs have clinched their division with an overall record of 94 - 54 and they are in 1st place. They face the Brewers again today @ 2:20 p.m.
The Tigers bats totally fell asleep yesterday. Justin Verlander pitched a gem yesterday, but short of pitching a no-hitter against the 1st place Indians, there was nothing more he could have done. The final score was 0 - 1 and the Tigers fell to 8 games behind the 1st place Indians. Those two teams play again today @ 1:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox eked out a win over the Yankees by a score of 6 -5 to move to an AL East record of 84 - 64, 7 games ahead of the 4th place Yankees and 3 games ahead of the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays, who both lost. Are the Sox on a roll to winning their division? Stay tuned.
College football yesterday was mostly good. The MSU Spartans dealt a big blow to Notre Dame's season with a 36 - 28 victory in a non-conference game. Notre Dame scored early, but the Spartans were ready and moved to 2 - 0 on the young season. The Spartans share the top spot in the Big 10 with Michigan and they are 12th overall in the nation. The Spartans face the Badgers of Wisconsin next Saturday @ a time to be announced.
The Wolverines of Michigan handily defeated the Buffaloes of Colorado by a final score of 45 - 28. The Wolverines fell behind early, but they came back and beat the Buffaloes after they lost their starting QB to injury. They face the Nitney Lions of Penn State next Saturday @ a time also to be determined.
The Huskies of Northern Illinois University fell to 0 -3 in the Mac 10 following their loss to the Aztecs of San Diego State University, 28 - 42. The Huskies play the Western Illinois Leathernecks @ 3:30 p,m, next Saturday.
In order to get in some steps in preparation for our participation in the next edition of the Step It Up! program sponsored by the Ottawa County Parks, Mary and I walked to Sporty's for the 1st half of the Michigan game. It is just about two miles round trip. I'll be taking today off to rest my tender tootsies.
I did get three of the girls restrung yesterday morning, well I could say there were four changes, since Ivy, my 12 string guitar, is like changing two sets of strings. Mary thought I should do one of the girls per week, but I told her that I wanted to torture myself once and be done.
I also did some additional reading in The Bullpen Gospels along with completing two crossword puzzles. We had picked up the weekend edition of the Grand Haven Tribune during the morning safari yesterday.
Lunch yesterday was vegan bologna sandwiches with a side of bland Coleslaw. Mary changed the recipe for the Coleslaw, and it just didn't have that zing,
Mary completed knitting my winter hat, so now it is up to me to create the pom-pom ball for the top so that it can be attached. I have to learn a new skill for that. Stay tuned for the outcome.
Dinner was an excellent rendition of zucchini casserole. I grated the home-grown zucchini and Mary added some basil, also from the gardens of the PE to create a delicious dinner. There were additional ingredients, and the final casserole was delicious.
We have a current temperature of 65° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 73°, a very comfortable day. The rain we received Friday into Saturday will give me a break, but there is no precipitation in the forecast for several days, so I'll be watering again tomorrow.
The sun will rise today @ 7:238 a.m. and set @ 7:48 p.m. Ciao.
Let's get the sports news out of the way right off.
The Cubs fell to their NL Central Division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers, by a lopsided score of 3 - 11. Jake Arrieta is having control problems with his fastball and sinker and needs to have coaches "Tune him up." Still, the Cubs have clinched their division with an overall record of 94 - 54 and they are in 1st place. They face the Brewers again today @ 2:20 p.m.
The Tigers bats totally fell asleep yesterday. Justin Verlander pitched a gem yesterday, but short of pitching a no-hitter against the 1st place Indians, there was nothing more he could have done. The final score was 0 - 1 and the Tigers fell to 8 games behind the 1st place Indians. Those two teams play again today @ 1:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox eked out a win over the Yankees by a score of 6 -5 to move to an AL East record of 84 - 64, 7 games ahead of the 4th place Yankees and 3 games ahead of the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays, who both lost. Are the Sox on a roll to winning their division? Stay tuned.
College football yesterday was mostly good. The MSU Spartans dealt a big blow to Notre Dame's season with a 36 - 28 victory in a non-conference game. Notre Dame scored early, but the Spartans were ready and moved to 2 - 0 on the young season. The Spartans share the top spot in the Big 10 with Michigan and they are 12th overall in the nation. The Spartans face the Badgers of Wisconsin next Saturday @ a time to be announced.
The Wolverines of Michigan handily defeated the Buffaloes of Colorado by a final score of 45 - 28. The Wolverines fell behind early, but they came back and beat the Buffaloes after they lost their starting QB to injury. They face the Nitney Lions of Penn State next Saturday @ a time also to be determined.
The Huskies of Northern Illinois University fell to 0 -3 in the Mac 10 following their loss to the Aztecs of San Diego State University, 28 - 42. The Huskies play the Western Illinois Leathernecks @ 3:30 p,m, next Saturday.
In order to get in some steps in preparation for our participation in the next edition of the Step It Up! program sponsored by the Ottawa County Parks, Mary and I walked to Sporty's for the 1st half of the Michigan game. It is just about two miles round trip. I'll be taking today off to rest my tender tootsies.
I did get three of the girls restrung yesterday morning, well I could say there were four changes, since Ivy, my 12 string guitar, is like changing two sets of strings. Mary thought I should do one of the girls per week, but I told her that I wanted to torture myself once and be done.
I also did some additional reading in The Bullpen Gospels along with completing two crossword puzzles. We had picked up the weekend edition of the Grand Haven Tribune during the morning safari yesterday.
Lunch yesterday was vegan bologna sandwiches with a side of bland Coleslaw. Mary changed the recipe for the Coleslaw, and it just didn't have that zing,
Mary completed knitting my winter hat, so now it is up to me to create the pom-pom ball for the top so that it can be attached. I have to learn a new skill for that. Stay tuned for the outcome.
Dinner was an excellent rendition of zucchini casserole. I grated the home-grown zucchini and Mary added some basil, also from the gardens of the PE to create a delicious dinner. There were additional ingredients, and the final casserole was delicious.
We have a current temperature of 65° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 73°, a very comfortable day. The rain we received Friday into Saturday will give me a break, but there is no precipitation in the forecast for several days, so I'll be watering again tomorrow.
The sun will rise today @ 7:238 a.m. and set @ 7:48 p.m. Ciao.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."
I'd be remiss if I didn't start with trainspotting. That's because I missed the half report for Wednesday. @ 9:47 a.m. yesterday, the southbound run of EMD (Electro-Motive Division) GP (General Purpose) 38-2 (Model #) locomotives #2057 & 2019. In tow were one BC (Box Car), 13 DBTCs (Dreaded Black Tank Cars), some very rusty and old looking, and a single GTC (Gray Tank Car) that was bringing up the rear. @ 1:47 p.m., the same tandem of locomotives was plying the rails of the RSTL as they headed north towing eight CHCs (Covered Hopper Cars) two DWTS (Dreaded White Tank Cars), and seven DBTs.
By way of explanation, EMD stands for Electro-Motive Division, which was the name given to the locomotive division of General Motors when the automotive conglomerate purchased the company prior to WWII. The division was purchased by Caterpillar in 2012.
Additionally, I use the terms dreaded black or dreaded white tank cars due to the spotty safety record of the many US and some Canadian railroad companies. Given the cargoes of DBTCs, crude oil, and DWTCs, hydrochloric acid, a derailment here in GH could easily become a disaster.
In sports news, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!. Cubs Win! A two-run deficit in the bottom of the 8th inning was erased by a few bad throws from the Brewers, some clutch hitting by the Cubs, and good fortune overall in the bottom of the ninth. Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the Brewers in the top of the 10th before catcher Miguel Montero came to bat in the bottom of the inning. A walk-off home run ensured the Cubs clinch of their division from the night before was real. That's the 1st division championship for the Cubs since 2008. The 5 - 4 win in the NL Central gives the Cubs an overall record of 94 -53. The Cubs and the Brewers play later today @ 4:05 p.m.
The Tigers seem to be going out of their way towards falling from grace and the wild card race. They lost to the Indians by a final score of 4 - 11. Since the Indians are leading the division, the loss by the Tigers drops them deeper into 2nd place with a 7.0 game deficit to those Indians. The Tigers and the Indians play this afternoon @ 4:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7 - 4 in a battle of AL East teams. An overall record of 83 - 64 gives the 1st place Red Sox a 2.0 game lead over the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays as both of those teams also won their games. The Sox and the Yankees play again today @ 1:05 p.m.
A quick update on college football. The 1 - 0 MSU Spartans travel to South Bend, IN to meet the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame @ 7:30 p.m. The 2 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan host the Buffaloes of Colorado @ "The Big House: in Ann Arbor, MI, @ 3:30 p.m. The 0 - 2 Huskies of Northern Illinois University host the Aztecs of San Diego State, also @ 3:30 p.m.
We have cancelled our plans to go to the Apple Festival in Bangor, MI today due to the chance of storms. Instead, we plan to travel to Sparta, MI next weekend for their Apple Fest, once again weather permitting.
Mary has plans to finish my winter hat today and then we'll both be reading after the morning Safari with STWD, So many books, so little time. I may be able to get to that planned restringing and playing of all the girls event in the music room today too.
We have a current temperature of 71° under cloudy/rainy skies. Surprisingly, the NWS got it right this time. Their forecast shows light rain throughout the day today which was scheduled to begin @ 4:00 a.m. We anticipate a high temperature of 74° after the sun rises @ 7:27 a.m. The sun will set @ 7:50 p.m. Ciao.
I'd be remiss if I didn't start with trainspotting. That's because I missed the half report for Wednesday. @ 9:47 a.m. yesterday, the southbound run of EMD (Electro-Motive Division) GP (General Purpose) 38-2 (Model #) locomotives #2057 & 2019. In tow were one BC (Box Car), 13 DBTCs (Dreaded Black Tank Cars), some very rusty and old looking, and a single GTC (Gray Tank Car) that was bringing up the rear. @ 1:47 p.m., the same tandem of locomotives was plying the rails of the RSTL as they headed north towing eight CHCs (Covered Hopper Cars) two DWTS (Dreaded White Tank Cars), and seven DBTs.
By way of explanation, EMD stands for Electro-Motive Division, which was the name given to the locomotive division of General Motors when the automotive conglomerate purchased the company prior to WWII. The division was purchased by Caterpillar in 2012.
Additionally, I use the terms dreaded black or dreaded white tank cars due to the spotty safety record of the many US and some Canadian railroad companies. Given the cargoes of DBTCs, crude oil, and DWTCs, hydrochloric acid, a derailment here in GH could easily become a disaster.
In sports news, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!. Cubs Win! A two-run deficit in the bottom of the 8th inning was erased by a few bad throws from the Brewers, some clutch hitting by the Cubs, and good fortune overall in the bottom of the ninth. Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the Brewers in the top of the 10th before catcher Miguel Montero came to bat in the bottom of the inning. A walk-off home run ensured the Cubs clinch of their division from the night before was real. That's the 1st division championship for the Cubs since 2008. The 5 - 4 win in the NL Central gives the Cubs an overall record of 94 -53. The Cubs and the Brewers play later today @ 4:05 p.m.
The Tigers seem to be going out of their way towards falling from grace and the wild card race. They lost to the Indians by a final score of 4 - 11. Since the Indians are leading the division, the loss by the Tigers drops them deeper into 2nd place with a 7.0 game deficit to those Indians. The Tigers and the Indians play this afternoon @ 4:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7 - 4 in a battle of AL East teams. An overall record of 83 - 64 gives the 1st place Red Sox a 2.0 game lead over the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays as both of those teams also won their games. The Sox and the Yankees play again today @ 1:05 p.m.
A quick update on college football. The 1 - 0 MSU Spartans travel to South Bend, IN to meet the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame @ 7:30 p.m. The 2 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan host the Buffaloes of Colorado @ "The Big House: in Ann Arbor, MI, @ 3:30 p.m. The 0 - 2 Huskies of Northern Illinois University host the Aztecs of San Diego State, also @ 3:30 p.m.
We have cancelled our plans to go to the Apple Festival in Bangor, MI today due to the chance of storms. Instead, we plan to travel to Sparta, MI next weekend for their Apple Fest, once again weather permitting.
Mary has plans to finish my winter hat today and then we'll both be reading after the morning Safari with STWD, So many books, so little time. I may be able to get to that planned restringing and playing of all the girls event in the music room today too.
We have a current temperature of 71° under cloudy/rainy skies. Surprisingly, the NWS got it right this time. Their forecast shows light rain throughout the day today which was scheduled to begin @ 4:00 a.m. We anticipate a high temperature of 74° after the sun rises @ 7:27 a.m. The sun will set @ 7:50 p.m. Ciao.
Friday, September 16, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."
We have a cool and comfortable current temperature outside the WW (Weather Window) of 56° under clear skies. Today's high has been forecast by the NWS (National Weather Service) to be 78°. If you are calculating, that's a spread of > than 30°.
Mary, STWD (Sugar the Weather Dog), and I arose @ 8:00 a.m. so that I could be sure that Mary's brother, Ed, was up and ready to travel to the ferry stop for his 10:15 departure. Sugar and I soloed for the morning safari in the cool, crisp, morning air and it was totally enjoyable. We took a different route that allowed Sugar's Beagle nose to track nearly every dog that had passed that way in recent days. Her Corgi half went along for the walk. Collectively, we had a great time.
Mary and I sojourned to Muskegon so that Ed could board the ferry. The "Big Lake" looked much calmer yesterday. We bid Ed adieu and then set out to visit some big-box stores. Our first stop was the big-box home center in Muskegon to pick up some items that I needed and to also take advantage of the rebate available. Our second stop was @ the big-box most everything store to get a few needed items. We got everything we wanted/needed, except for the item that had precipitated that stop in the first place, shoe laces.
We returned home and I did some outdoor chores that included harvesting the potato crop. I watered and trimmed the edges. I also pulled some weeds that were trying to encroach on the lawns and gardens of the PE (Palatial Estate). Mary was inside trying to sort through her kitchen and organize her desk. Good news. In the need to organize, she found where she had placed the second set of car keys for safety, keys being a euphemistic term since our new car doesn't actually have keys, She found them in what we call our travel drawer where we keep things for upcoming trips. I have to agree that that was logical, but only good if you recorded that fact in my "Where I put things" file that I keep on my computer's hard drive. The location is now recorded.
Since I had forgotten to get those shoelaces @ the big-box nearly everything store, once I had finished my chores, I set out to buy some @ our local shoe repair store. He had nearly every type and kind of shoelaces imaginable, except for what I needed, so I had to ride further to the local drug and everything else store to get them. With a bit of assistance from a staff member, I got several pairs to ensure that I'd have them when I needed them. In this case, they won't go to waste.
Lunch ensued when I returned. Since I had harvested the potatoes earlier and had slightly damaged some, Mary converted the damaged potatoes and a few others into potato salad. She also used some of the oldest bread, toasted to take advantage of the remaining roast beest and spicy tomato loaf that was in the refrigerator. Her original plan was to make one type of sandwich for me and one type for herself. In typical male fashion, I encouraged her to place some of each on both sandwiches.
Since I needed to make a copy of some documents for a reapplication at the Post, we set out towards the library and then to the Post to turn the papers into the appropriate party. While @the Post, we learned that the slower but historic lake ferry travels between Ludington, MI, and Manitowoc, WI, which is closer to the final destination, Elkhart Lake, WI, that we plan to travel to next summer. As we were enjoying our adult libations, Sally came in for a visit. She looked good, but she was tired from her thrice-weekly therapy that followed her lengthy hospitalization for her recent illness.
Yesterday's sports news was mixed. The Cubs clinched their division, the NL Central, while losing to the Brewers by a final score of 4 - 5. Fortunately for the Cubs, the 2nd place Cardinals lost to the Giants in San Francisco, so the Cubs clinched but didn't get to celebrate. Cubs' manager Joe Maddon came to spring training this year with a list of several plans for the year. First on his list was winning the division. Mission accomplished. This is the Cubs' first division championship since 2008.
Second on his list was a positive attitude, which the young cadre of players all exhibited. The Cubs play the Brewers again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT. Soon it will be time for the second season to begin, the 1st round of the playoffs. With a 1st place finish in their division, the Cubs will get to play a series against the wild card winner and/or one of the other division winners. It is more involved than that, but it would take a long time to explain.
The Tigers lost another game to the Twins by a final score of 1 - 5. The Tigers still languish in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 84 - 62. They play the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians tonight @ 7:10 p.m. EDT. A win moves the Tigers to within five games of the Indians while a loss drops them to seven games back.
My beloved Red Sox were victorious over the Yankees by a final score of 7 - 5. The 1st place Sox lead the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays by 2.0 games. The Sox play the Yankees again tonight @ 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Today we have some final trip planning to do and then Mary will be chatting and we'll both be reading our backlog of books along with the Grand Haven Tribune, which we'll pick up on today's morning safari. I plan to spend some time restringing the girls and then playing for a while. I can't strengthen my thumb/wrist without more playtime. Then I'll get on to reading.
Today's weather forecast will lead to a 50% chance of p.m. showers after 6:00 p.m. That is the same forecast from the NWS for Bangor, MI, where we hope to travel for their annual Apple Festival on Saturday. Rain will instead send us to the GHFM (Grand Haven Farmer's Market) for a bushel of apples. We plan to use those apples in my morning cereal, in pies and to make applesauce for ourselves and Sugar's eating pleasure. Sugar likes applesauce with her morning yogurt.
The sun will rise today @ 7:26 a.m. and set @ 7:52 p.m. Ciao.
We have a cool and comfortable current temperature outside the WW (Weather Window) of 56° under clear skies. Today's high has been forecast by the NWS (National Weather Service) to be 78°. If you are calculating, that's a spread of > than 30°.
Mary, STWD (Sugar the Weather Dog), and I arose @ 8:00 a.m. so that I could be sure that Mary's brother, Ed, was up and ready to travel to the ferry stop for his 10:15 departure. Sugar and I soloed for the morning safari in the cool, crisp, morning air and it was totally enjoyable. We took a different route that allowed Sugar's Beagle nose to track nearly every dog that had passed that way in recent days. Her Corgi half went along for the walk. Collectively, we had a great time.
Mary and I sojourned to Muskegon so that Ed could board the ferry. The "Big Lake" looked much calmer yesterday. We bid Ed adieu and then set out to visit some big-box stores. Our first stop was the big-box home center in Muskegon to pick up some items that I needed and to also take advantage of the rebate available. Our second stop was @ the big-box most everything store to get a few needed items. We got everything we wanted/needed, except for the item that had precipitated that stop in the first place, shoe laces.
We returned home and I did some outdoor chores that included harvesting the potato crop. I watered and trimmed the edges. I also pulled some weeds that were trying to encroach on the lawns and gardens of the PE (Palatial Estate). Mary was inside trying to sort through her kitchen and organize her desk. Good news. In the need to organize, she found where she had placed the second set of car keys for safety, keys being a euphemistic term since our new car doesn't actually have keys, She found them in what we call our travel drawer where we keep things for upcoming trips. I have to agree that that was logical, but only good if you recorded that fact in my "Where I put things" file that I keep on my computer's hard drive. The location is now recorded.
Since I had forgotten to get those shoelaces @ the big-box nearly everything store, once I had finished my chores, I set out to buy some @ our local shoe repair store. He had nearly every type and kind of shoelaces imaginable, except for what I needed, so I had to ride further to the local drug and everything else store to get them. With a bit of assistance from a staff member, I got several pairs to ensure that I'd have them when I needed them. In this case, they won't go to waste.
Lunch ensued when I returned. Since I had harvested the potatoes earlier and had slightly damaged some, Mary converted the damaged potatoes and a few others into potato salad. She also used some of the oldest bread, toasted to take advantage of the remaining roast beest and spicy tomato loaf that was in the refrigerator. Her original plan was to make one type of sandwich for me and one type for herself. In typical male fashion, I encouraged her to place some of each on both sandwiches.
Since I needed to make a copy of some documents for a reapplication at the Post, we set out towards the library and then to the Post to turn the papers into the appropriate party. While @the Post, we learned that the slower but historic lake ferry travels between Ludington, MI, and Manitowoc, WI, which is closer to the final destination, Elkhart Lake, WI, that we plan to travel to next summer. As we were enjoying our adult libations, Sally came in for a visit. She looked good, but she was tired from her thrice-weekly therapy that followed her lengthy hospitalization for her recent illness.
Yesterday's sports news was mixed. The Cubs clinched their division, the NL Central, while losing to the Brewers by a final score of 4 - 5. Fortunately for the Cubs, the 2nd place Cardinals lost to the Giants in San Francisco, so the Cubs clinched but didn't get to celebrate. Cubs' manager Joe Maddon came to spring training this year with a list of several plans for the year. First on his list was winning the division. Mission accomplished. This is the Cubs' first division championship since 2008.
Second on his list was a positive attitude, which the young cadre of players all exhibited. The Cubs play the Brewers again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT. Soon it will be time for the second season to begin, the 1st round of the playoffs. With a 1st place finish in their division, the Cubs will get to play a series against the wild card winner and/or one of the other division winners. It is more involved than that, but it would take a long time to explain.
The Tigers lost another game to the Twins by a final score of 1 - 5. The Tigers still languish in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 84 - 62. They play the AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians tonight @ 7:10 p.m. EDT. A win moves the Tigers to within five games of the Indians while a loss drops them to seven games back.
My beloved Red Sox were victorious over the Yankees by a final score of 7 - 5. The 1st place Sox lead the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays by 2.0 games. The Sox play the Yankees again tonight @ 7:10 p.m. EDT.
Today we have some final trip planning to do and then Mary will be chatting and we'll both be reading our backlog of books along with the Grand Haven Tribune, which we'll pick up on today's morning safari. I plan to spend some time restringing the girls and then playing for a while. I can't strengthen my thumb/wrist without more playtime. Then I'll get on to reading.
Today's weather forecast will lead to a 50% chance of p.m. showers after 6:00 p.m. That is the same forecast from the NWS for Bangor, MI, where we hope to travel for their annual Apple Festival on Saturday. Rain will instead send us to the GHFM (Grand Haven Farmer's Market) for a bushel of apples. We plan to use those apples in my morning cereal, in pies and to make applesauce for ourselves and Sugar's eating pleasure. Sugar likes applesauce with her morning yogurt.
The sun will rise today @ 7:26 a.m. and set @ 7:52 p.m. Ciao.
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."
Where shall I begin, to tell the story of ... Oops, I got that song from the movie Love Story into my head and now I can't seem to get it out. Oh well, maybe if I just blog through it, I can overcome the urge, to say I'm sorry. Oops again, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Maybe that's because I'm not really sorry. I'll just get on with this blog.
We had a great day yesterday, We didn't get up too early and so Mary made smoothies for she and I, while Ed sat down to a bowl of Kellogg's Rice Krispies™. While he was here, he had to make do with almond milk, vegan roast beest and spicy tomato loaf on sandwiches to go with a breakfast that was as healthy as commercially made cereals can be.
It was great to afford Mary and Ed the chance to reminisce and see each other, which unfortunately happens too infrequently. Ed lives in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas during the year, while we live in Michigan. Naturally, that makes getting together more difficult. When you get to a certain age, as we all have, you have to treasure the opportunity to meet and enjoy each other's company as often as time allows.
I took the morning safari with STWD while Mary packed the picnic lunch that we would be enjoying later in the afternoon. Our first stop was the USS Silversides WWII Submarine Museum in Muskegon. We have lived here for five years and have passed the site numerous times. However, it was Ed's visit that prompted us to actually visit. Given our certain age, we skipped the Silversides tour and instead toured the adjacent museum. I'll include some pictures now to give a flavor of our visit.
Time was getting away from us, so it was time to endure the numerous road construction detours in Muskegon as we traveled farther north to the cities of Whitehall and Montague. We stopped in Whitehall to give Ed a chance to see the world's largest weather vane located there. Then we continued on to a local park that is part of the Montague park system for our picnic lunch.
The park is located on the White River and we had the entire deserted picnic pavilion to ourselves.
We took some pictures of the wildlife while we were there. Eagles, Herons, and Canada Geese were well represented.
The park itself had some outstanding scenery to offer as you can see. A plus was the playground for kids of all ages to enjoy. I just had to try out one of my personal favorites, the mechanical shovel designed to move the ubiquitous sands of Michigan.
One of the offerings at the playground was this Jeep™.
Time to head home and rest up from our busy day. Mary worked in her kitchen, while Ed and I rested in the living room of the manse. Then we chose to walk to JWs for our evening repast. Mary and I had our usual vegetarian burrito, while Ed enjoyed the perch dinner that was on special.
Once we returned home, I got tired and so I left brother and sister to their own devices and headed up to the media room and then sleep.
I'll endeavor to keep the sports report brief after the numerous photos and prose already displayed.
Cubs win, 7 - 0 over the Cardinals in an NL Central game that finds the Cubs just one game short of clinching their division. The Cubs have a 1st place record of 93 - 52, 17 games ahead of the Cardinals. The Cubs greet the Brewers tonight @ Wrigley Field @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers too were victorious over the Twins, 9 - 6 last night. They still find themselves in 2nd place in the AL Central, 6.0 games behind the winning Indians. The Tigers and the Twins play later today @ 1:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox fell to the Orioles by a slim 0 - 1 score. Rick Porcello pitched well, but the Sox had serious slumber in their lumber last night. The Sox now have an equally slim 1 - 0 lead over the Orioles. Both teams face each other again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
Ed has to catch the ferry out of Muskegon this morning @ 10:15 a.m., so we'll be up and out early today. It has been a beautiful week of weather and visiting here in West Michigan. Hopefully, the "Big Lake" will be calmer today for Ed's return passage.
We have a current temperature of 55° under clear skies. Today's high will be 76° under mostly clear skies. The sun will rise @ 7:25 a.m. and set @ 7:54 p.m.
We have no specific plans for today that are any different than my usual outdoor chores. Ciao.
Where shall I begin, to tell the story of ... Oops, I got that song from the movie Love Story into my head and now I can't seem to get it out. Oh well, maybe if I just blog through it, I can overcome the urge, to say I'm sorry. Oops again, "Love means never having to say you're sorry." Maybe that's because I'm not really sorry. I'll just get on with this blog.
We had a great day yesterday, We didn't get up too early and so Mary made smoothies for she and I, while Ed sat down to a bowl of Kellogg's Rice Krispies™. While he was here, he had to make do with almond milk, vegan roast beest and spicy tomato loaf on sandwiches to go with a breakfast that was as healthy as commercially made cereals can be.
It was great to afford Mary and Ed the chance to reminisce and see each other, which unfortunately happens too infrequently. Ed lives in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas during the year, while we live in Michigan. Naturally, that makes getting together more difficult. When you get to a certain age, as we all have, you have to treasure the opportunity to meet and enjoy each other's company as often as time allows.
I took the morning safari with STWD while Mary packed the picnic lunch that we would be enjoying later in the afternoon. Our first stop was the USS Silversides WWII Submarine Museum in Muskegon. We have lived here for five years and have passed the site numerous times. However, it was Ed's visit that prompted us to actually visit. Given our certain age, we skipped the Silversides tour and instead toured the adjacent museum. I'll include some pictures now to give a flavor of our visit.
 |
| With Mary in the foreground, we approached the museum. |
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| The exhibit opens with a reenactment of the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Movies were used to educate the public about the efforts of the U.S. Navy submarine fleet during WWII. |
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| The big kid in me just had to try my hand at driving a submarine. |
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| A nice model of the USS Silversides. |
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| The actual conning tower of the Silversides which is in the channel outside the museum. |
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| Inside the museum, there was an exhibit about German POW camps, Stalags, of the type that housed Ed and Mary's father during WWII. The POWs and their father, who were captured during the war spent time in a camp similar to the one depicted here. |
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| Sleeping conditions were tight and the food was sparse. This exhibit depicted the life of a sailor from Michigan who was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He lost over 75 pounds during his incarceration. Frostbite and other maladies were all too common. Most of the former POWs didn't talk much after WWII about their personal experiences in the war and the stalags. |
The park is located on the White River and we had the entire deserted picnic pavilion to ourselves.
 |
One of the offerings at the playground was this Jeep™.
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| Do I look like I was in a Jeep? |
Once we returned home, I got tired and so I left brother and sister to their own devices and headed up to the media room and then sleep.
I'll endeavor to keep the sports report brief after the numerous photos and prose already displayed.
Cubs win, 7 - 0 over the Cardinals in an NL Central game that finds the Cubs just one game short of clinching their division. The Cubs have a 1st place record of 93 - 52, 17 games ahead of the Cardinals. The Cubs greet the Brewers tonight @ Wrigley Field @ 8:05 p.m.
The Tigers too were victorious over the Twins, 9 - 6 last night. They still find themselves in 2nd place in the AL Central, 6.0 games behind the winning Indians. The Tigers and the Twins play later today @ 1:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox fell to the Orioles by a slim 0 - 1 score. Rick Porcello pitched well, but the Sox had serious slumber in their lumber last night. The Sox now have an equally slim 1 - 0 lead over the Orioles. Both teams face each other again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
Ed has to catch the ferry out of Muskegon this morning @ 10:15 a.m., so we'll be up and out early today. It has been a beautiful week of weather and visiting here in West Michigan. Hopefully, the "Big Lake" will be calmer today for Ed's return passage.
We have a current temperature of 55° under clear skies. Today's high will be 76° under mostly clear skies. The sun will rise @ 7:25 a.m. and set @ 7:54 p.m.
We have no specific plans for today that are any different than my usual outdoor chores. Ciao.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."
Let's get the bad news out of the way. Now!
My baseball teams went 0-fer! Yes, my loyal readers, the Chicago Cubs, the Detroit Tigers, my beloved Boston Red Sox, and the West Michigan White Caps fell to their opponents yesterday. For the Major League™ teams, the results produced no long-lasting damage. However for the Caps, the rotund woman has sung, their season is over, there is no more post-season baseball. Sigh.
As the immortal Jack Webb used to say on the old radio/TV program, Dragnet, and later Dan Ackroyd noted in the movie homage of the same title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4LPkmGO5Cc
As long as I'm borrowing from that radio/TV series, I think I'll also include the opening that gave rise to part of my opening line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6LprmdivN8
Sadly, the Caps will be waiting until next year. The Great Lakes Loons defeated the Caps by a final score of 3 - 5. The Loons move on, the Caps go home. Next year is really here for the Caps. As Tom Hanks said, in A League of Their Own, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8cCDthsuk
The Cubs lost too, but in their case, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKI-DNxRxAk
The Cubs fell to their long-time nemeses, the St. Louis Cardinals, in an NL Central matchup last night, by a final score of 2 - 4, so their division championship is on temporary hold until they reduce their magic number from three to zero. The Cardinals are still in the Wild Card hunt, so every victory is a life-line for them.
If the Cubs are victorious over the Cardinals later today @ 1:45 p.m., they will have a chance to clinch the division on Thursday night, when the Milwaukee Brewers return to Wrigley Field @ 7:05 p.m. I'll be in front of the TV in the media room when the first pitch is thrown. Right now, the Cubs are still in 1st place with their record of 92 - 52, 16 games ahead of the Cardinals.
The Tigers fell to the lowly Twins in an AL Central game last night by a final score of 1 - 8. The Tigers are still in 2nd place, six games behind the losing Indians. The Tigers and the Twins play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox lost to the Orioles last night, 3 - 6. However, the Sox are still in 1st place by two full games over the Orioles and the Blue Jays. The Sox play the Orioles again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
I still feel as though it is too early to talk about college football, so the Wolverines of Michigan, the Spartans of Michigan State, and the Huskies of Northern Illinois will have to wait their turn for a blog mention.
In other news, we traveled to Coopersville yesterday to afford Mary's brother Ed, the chance to see the exhibits @ the Coopersville Historical Museum, and the Farm Museum and Event Center. Today, we'll be visiting more of the sights to be seen in West Michigan. More on those in the next edition.
Lunch yesterday was STL, (Spicy Tomato Loaf) sandwiches with a side of rice salad that Mary prepared while I was outside doing the chores on the PE. I actually assisted in the preparation of the loaf by turning it in the oven halfway through the cooking process. Dinner last night was stuffed sweet peppers that tasted delicious. Mary used more of her spicy tomato loaf as part of the filling, and I have decided that I like this version better than when she uses TVP, (Textured Vegetable Protein) for the filling. The STL will reappear today as part of the picnic lunch that we'll enjoy during our planned outing.
That should be a full day before Ed returns to Wisconsin on Thursday morning.
We have a current temperature of 63° under mostly cloudy skies. Later today, the high will reach 75° under partly cloudy skies. We were expecting rain yesterday, but only a few drops fell, so I watered.
The sun will rise @ 7:24 a.m. and set @ 7:55 p.m. Ciao.
Let's get the bad news out of the way. Now!
My baseball teams went 0-fer! Yes, my loyal readers, the Chicago Cubs, the Detroit Tigers, my beloved Boston Red Sox, and the West Michigan White Caps fell to their opponents yesterday. For the Major League™ teams, the results produced no long-lasting damage. However for the Caps, the rotund woman has sung, their season is over, there is no more post-season baseball. Sigh.
As the immortal Jack Webb used to say on the old radio/TV program, Dragnet, and later Dan Ackroyd noted in the movie homage of the same title.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4LPkmGO5Cc
As long as I'm borrowing from that radio/TV series, I think I'll also include the opening that gave rise to part of my opening line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6LprmdivN8
Sadly, the Caps will be waiting until next year. The Great Lakes Loons defeated the Caps by a final score of 3 - 5. The Loons move on, the Caps go home. Next year is really here for the Caps. As Tom Hanks said, in A League of Their Own, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx8cCDthsuk
The Cubs lost too, but in their case, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKI-DNxRxAk
The Cubs fell to their long-time nemeses, the St. Louis Cardinals, in an NL Central matchup last night, by a final score of 2 - 4, so their division championship is on temporary hold until they reduce their magic number from three to zero. The Cardinals are still in the Wild Card hunt, so every victory is a life-line for them.
If the Cubs are victorious over the Cardinals later today @ 1:45 p.m., they will have a chance to clinch the division on Thursday night, when the Milwaukee Brewers return to Wrigley Field @ 7:05 p.m. I'll be in front of the TV in the media room when the first pitch is thrown. Right now, the Cubs are still in 1st place with their record of 92 - 52, 16 games ahead of the Cardinals.
The Tigers fell to the lowly Twins in an AL Central game last night by a final score of 1 - 8. The Tigers are still in 2nd place, six games behind the losing Indians. The Tigers and the Twins play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox lost to the Orioles last night, 3 - 6. However, the Sox are still in 1st place by two full games over the Orioles and the Blue Jays. The Sox play the Orioles again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
I still feel as though it is too early to talk about college football, so the Wolverines of Michigan, the Spartans of Michigan State, and the Huskies of Northern Illinois will have to wait their turn for a blog mention.
In other news, we traveled to Coopersville yesterday to afford Mary's brother Ed, the chance to see the exhibits @ the Coopersville Historical Museum, and the Farm Museum and Event Center. Today, we'll be visiting more of the sights to be seen in West Michigan. More on those in the next edition.
Lunch yesterday was STL, (Spicy Tomato Loaf) sandwiches with a side of rice salad that Mary prepared while I was outside doing the chores on the PE. I actually assisted in the preparation of the loaf by turning it in the oven halfway through the cooking process. Dinner last night was stuffed sweet peppers that tasted delicious. Mary used more of her spicy tomato loaf as part of the filling, and I have decided that I like this version better than when she uses TVP, (Textured Vegetable Protein) for the filling. The STL will reappear today as part of the picnic lunch that we'll enjoy during our planned outing.
That should be a full day before Ed returns to Wisconsin on Thursday morning.
We have a current temperature of 63° under mostly cloudy skies. Later today, the high will reach 75° under partly cloudy skies. We were expecting rain yesterday, but only a few drops fell, so I watered.
The sun will rise @ 7:24 a.m. and set @ 7:55 p.m. Ciao.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."
You may have noticed that I missed blogging for a few days. That's because Mary and I traveled to Detroit/Dearborn over the weekend to see the Tigers play the Orioles in Detroit, they lost, and also to see the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Both activities were enjoyable, but a Tigers win would have made things better.
I guess that's a good way to segue into the sports report. I won't attempt to recreate the games that happened on Saturday and Sunday, but I can give you the current standings.
The Caps are now tied in the 2nd round of the MWL East playoffs against the Great Lakes Loons. with last night's victory over the Loons, 5 - 3. The Caps and the Loons play again tonight @ 6:55 p.m.
The Tigers won last night in a game that Mary's brother, Ed, and I watched in the media room. We also toggled back and forth to catch the Cubs versus the Cardinals.
The Tigers won 4 - 2 to stay in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 77 - 66. The Tigers beat the Twins with a late inning rally by a final score of 4 - 2. Both teams play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
The Cubs supported the nearly flawless pitching of starter Kyle Hendricks who took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth before giving up a home run. Closer Aroldis Chapman came in to get the save and preserve the victory with a final score of 4 - 1. Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler both hit home runs. The Cubs' magic number is now down to three. That means that any combination of Cubs wins and Cardinals losses in that number, gives the Cubs the NL Central championship. The Cubs and the Cardinals play again tonight @ 8:15 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox crushed the Orioles last night in an AL East game, by a final score of 12 - 2. Big Papi tied NY Yankee immortal Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list with a tremendous blast. The Sox lead the Blue Jays, who won, by two full games. The Sox and the Orioles play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
Here is our trip in pictures.
Now for the other weekend activities. Yesterday, we visited the Henry Ford Museum to see the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour exhibit. We learned many new things and the chance to revisit Beatlemania was terrific.
I took many pictures, but I selected a few to represent our visit.
Of course, there were many other exhibits in the Henry Ford Museum that we didn't have time to visit. But we did stop in at the Dymaxion House prototype that is on exhibit. This house is the only remaining prototype of the two that created. The original design was the brainchild of R. Buckminster Fuller. It includes two bedrooms, two baths, a living room and a kitchen.
You may have noticed that I missed blogging for a few days. That's because Mary and I traveled to Detroit/Dearborn over the weekend to see the Tigers play the Orioles in Detroit, they lost, and also to see the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Both activities were enjoyable, but a Tigers win would have made things better.
I guess that's a good way to segue into the sports report. I won't attempt to recreate the games that happened on Saturday and Sunday, but I can give you the current standings.
The Caps are now tied in the 2nd round of the MWL East playoffs against the Great Lakes Loons. with last night's victory over the Loons, 5 - 3. The Caps and the Loons play again tonight @ 6:55 p.m.
The Tigers won last night in a game that Mary's brother, Ed, and I watched in the media room. We also toggled back and forth to catch the Cubs versus the Cardinals.
The Tigers won 4 - 2 to stay in 2nd place in the AL Central with a record of 77 - 66. The Tigers beat the Twins with a late inning rally by a final score of 4 - 2. Both teams play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
The Cubs supported the nearly flawless pitching of starter Kyle Hendricks who took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth before giving up a home run. Closer Aroldis Chapman came in to get the save and preserve the victory with a final score of 4 - 1. Ben Zobrist and Dexter Fowler both hit home runs. The Cubs' magic number is now down to three. That means that any combination of Cubs wins and Cardinals losses in that number, gives the Cubs the NL Central championship. The Cubs and the Cardinals play again tonight @ 8:15 p.m.
My beloved Red Sox crushed the Orioles last night in an AL East game, by a final score of 12 - 2. Big Papi tied NY Yankee immortal Mickey Mantle on the all-time home run list with a tremendous blast. The Sox lead the Blue Jays, who won, by two full games. The Sox and the Orioles play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.
Here is our trip in pictures.
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| Our first stop just outside of Detroit was at Duggans Irish Pub. |
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| Outside the hotel where we stayed was a terrific community garden plot. |
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| As part of the 9/11 activities @ Comerica Park, the Detroit Police Dept. Pipe Band played their way into Comerica Park. |
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| Across the street from the park is the Fox Theater. |
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| Comerica Park is a great venue to see baseball in the sunshine or under the lights. |
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| A good selfies that I took from our seats without being able to see the viewfinder. |
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| You can't see the best part of our seats, the padded cushions, A table for everything was a great addition. |
I took many pictures, but I selected a few to represent our visit.
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| The entrance to the exhibit. |
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| The drum kit used by the Quarry Men, the band the John Lennon founded before the Beatles, and John Lennon's guitar. |
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| The Beatles played at the Cavern Club before the British Invasion of the USA. |
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| I think I fit right in with the "Fab Four." |
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| Built in 1948, this example is still a great concept. |
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| Mary loved the kitchen that only lacked an automatic dishwasher. |
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| Of course, the museum has other kitchens on exhibit, some newer, |
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| and some, very old. |
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| No visit to a museum is complete without a Mold-O-Rama creation. This one is a 1965 Mustang. |
It was time to get going so that we could meet Ed at the ferry in Muskegon. Five hours later, we arrived at the same time as the ferry.
We ate dinner at the Double Deuce and then headed home for an evening of baseball in the media room. Mary was working joyfully in her kitchen.
Today, Mary will be picking up STWD from camp and then Mary, Ed, and yours truly will be going to Coopersville to see the farm and train museums.
The weather will be partly cloudy with a high of 74° with 78% relative humidity. There are no showers in the forecast until Friday and Saturday. The sun will rise this morning @ 7:23 a.m. and set @ 7:57 p.m. Ciao.
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