Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."

Let's cut to the chase. Real men wear aprons and use sewing machines They bake pretzel buns and sew covers for the supports they use for their baking yaks. In short, real men don't need to be validated, they are valid simply because they exist. Dare I say it? I bake, I clean, I sew, therefore I am!

For example, I opened my day yesterday in the kitchen preparing the dough for a batch of pretzel buns using my new stand mixer. Mine is ice in color, like the one pictured below.  

I used it to knead the dough for my pretzel buns that Mary pronounced excellent in texture and taste. Definitely a keeper.

Having sampled my efforts, I have to agree.

Was I done? No! I also began to craft a cover for the support that I use on my office chair to get relief for my baking yak. Mary had to guide me through a lot of the process, and I doubt that I'll be starting a new career as a tailor, but I can hold my own.

I did learn what the markings on the sewing machine are used for. However, Mary needs to get sharper straight pins.

Were we done yet? No!. When 2:00 p.m. rolled around, we set out to see the various "Frozen in Time" displays in the windows and stores from Centertown to Downtown GH. The "Frozen" actors did a great job of portraying characters from many different musicals and plays. I have included several as representatives.

An island dream

Second star to the right,....

Music is life!

Tomorrow

For Ellen.

For all of us of a certain age.

Because the actors were just so cute.

At any rate, we had a great time as did the crowds that were drawn to "The City" by the beautiful displays. 

I was sitting in the media room a short time ago and realizing that old activities can give way to new pursuits. I used to do woodworking and work on cars. Now I bake, I sew, I've tried to knit, I still love playing music and I can dust and vacuum with the best of them. Like the late Yogi Berra once said in one of his many famous malapropisms, "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" Change is good. If you define yourself by what you once did instead of by what you have the chance to do and experience in the future, you are limiting yourself.

I also realized how important having someone to share the journey with you can be. Mary has been my BFF for over 43 years. We've moved several times. We've raised a good man, Adam, who married and gave us a great daughter, Stephany. We've traveled to many places, both foreign and domestic, and we are just getting started. To borrow from an old commercial, "Life is good."

Today, Mary has to avoid my attempts at crafting and get down to finishing/revising the index from 

H E double hockey sticks. I have a crossword to work, books and a newspaper to read, a jigsaw puzzle to add to, and the girls to play with. As I said, "Life is good."

We have a current temperature of 37/39° with a light rain falling. Later today, after the sun rises @ 7:46 a.m. and well before it sets @ 6:12 p.m., we'll see today's high of 38°. Do not despair my friends and faithful readers. By one week from today, February 19, the NWS is forecasting a high temperature of 54°! 

Additionally, the NWS has issued a Gale Warning for the "Big Lake" that goes into effect @ 11:00 a.m. this morning and continues in effect until midnight tonight. The 24 mph winds in the forecast for the land areas will produce gale force winds of 34 to 47 knots on Lake Michigan. with large waves that can reach 10 feet in height, producing dangerous conditions for boats and ships. 

Oh, I almost forgot. The pitchers and catchers for my beloved Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers report to camp Monday, the Cubs Ps and Cs report the next day. Full-squad workouts begin for the Red Sox begin on February 17, while the Tigers and the Cubs begin full-squad workouts on February 18.

I'll close with that. Ciao.