Good morning GH. It has just passed 4:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 40 degrees as we head for a high of 52 under mostly cloudy skies. No heavy precipitation is expected until Thursday, but that forecast is for 100%. I can't recall a prediction that high before. We expect a high temperature of 61 both Wednesday and Thursday, but Thursday comes with a prognostication for wind and rain.  So if I am going to do that leaf raking, it looks like Wednesday is the day.

Monday was great for all fans of the Boston Red Sox. On their third and final visit of the season to St. Louis, the Sox took another game from the Cardinals, 3 - 1. That's two out of three, and three out of five. Big Papi is still a force to be reckoned with; he is on fire at the plate. I heard one of the pundits express that pitcher John Lester could be the World Series MVP given his excellent pitching, if it wasn't for Big Papi carrying the Sox with his bat. Maybe they can name two MVPs. Game six is slated for Boston Wednesday night. All it takes is for the Sox to win one out of two in Fenway and the 2013 World Series championship is theirs. Now if next year the boys in blue can be their opponent, I'll be a happy man.

Monday found me on two walks with Sugar the Weather Dog. She was still being needy and that's just one of the problems with being her favorite human. I think we do have a symbiotic relationship. Fortunately, Mary didn't finish her work until late in the day, so Sugar's neediness wasn't a problem. I am going to try to get my part of the work done today, so I hope that Sugar will be patient with me. I'll have to be insistent, but that can be hard given our intertwined existences.

I also went off to the local big box hardware store for that temporary caulk and that experience went great, except that they could use a checkout system that is not on only one end of the store. When you park at one end and the checkout is at the other, it may be good for their sales, but it is not customer friendly. Then I was off to the butcher shop for Swiss cheese and finally home.

Today I'll do my editing after I walk with Sugar. Since I"ll be at my desk, she is likely to be okay, but that remains to be seen. If I tried to work when the weather was bad, she would leave me alone, but I'd feel bad. Otherwise, I'll fit in some laundry and I have a hankering for some scrambled eggs and potatoes for breakfast. I had the potato and celery soup I made the other day for dinner last night. Because I'm not sure that I got the recipe right it tasted good, but it was a bit thin in consistency. However, it may have been intended to be that way. The recipe wasn't clear on how thick it should turn out. My next effort at squash and kale soup with onions is intended to be thin with chunky vegetables, so I know how that will turn out, delicious. That's for another day though.

So that's about it for now. Mary will be working on another project today while I am editing, and then she and I will be jointly inputting my efforts into the finished product. My edit will take from one to two hours and then our joint efforts about the same. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 3:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 48 degrees as we head for a high of 50 under clear skies. No significant precipitation is expected until Wednesday and Thursday. That means that any raking of leaves will have to be done on Tuesday or early Wednesday.

Sunday was a better day for all things GH. Sugar was on the needy side, but after two walks and a bit of impromptu "Bone Zone" in the mud room, she finally calmed down a bit. She and I spent some chair time in the afternoon, and that seemed to help too. Mary and I have work to do today, so Sugar will have to be more restive. Mary finished up her workday around 6:30 PM on Sunday, and then we set out for a late dinner.

I think her breakfast efforts left both she and I unrequited. Her hopes to make the bananas less banana like didn't go as planned and so I had cereal. Mary ate some of her efforts, but I don't think that even she liked it very much. Sugar didn't seem to mind and ate the leftovers for breakfast. Mary redeemed herself at lunch with an egg salad sandwich which I supplemented with carrots for a side dish. Mary had sauerkraut for her side. Sugar was wondering why her breakfast carrots were being eaten by humans. That girl has a sweet tooth, which is why she was happy to get the bananas that were left over. Adam discovered that Sugar loves bananas when he stayed at our house one week while we were in San Francisco.

I found that extra time again on Sunday afternoon. I didn't watch pro football and I heard later that the Lions won in a final drive 31 - 30 over the team from Washington, D.C. Later I watched part of the Red Sox and Cardinals game which I finished on the radio. Although the Cardinals took an early lead, the Sox won 4 - 2 on a pick-off ending in the ninth which had followed a dramatic three run home run earlier in the game. The series is now knotted at two games apiece with the next game scheduled for St.Louis tonight at 8:07 PM.

One side note. I grow weary of the excessive use of "records" information/announcements by the television organization covering the World Series. I don't need to know that player X is the youngest in baseball history to hit a triple or whatever in the World Series. It may just be me, but just because you can, doesn't mean that you must.

Today is just a couple of walks with Sugar, a possible visit to the big box grocery store in the AM for some essentials and perhaps a stop at our nearby big box hardware store for some temporary caulk to seal the leaky old windows on our 110 year old house. I have heard that the seal is good and that the caulk can be removed in the spring. Since windows don't actually lose as much heat as the window sellers would have you believe, it is just a matter of sealing any gaps through which heat can leave the building. An old house has plenty of those.

Otherwise I have editing to do for Mary this afternoon and that's about it. I figure that we will be getting up early so that Mary can finish up her work before I have to edit, so I should have time for the extra activities in the AM. I should also stop at the local grocers for some Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and yogurt, things you can't get at the big box grocery, at least not the type that we like.

So that's about it. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 4:30 AM in "The City" and our current temperature is 42 degrees. Brrrr! We are heading for a high of 51 degrees under partly cloudy skies. No precipitation appears imminent until Thursday. This forecast is probably a bit more seasonal than what we have been experiencing. Of course as a newly minted Michigander, this is all new for me. See me in 20 or 30 years and I'll let you know what normal or the new normal is actually like. : - ),

Yesterday went well. In the AM, my knees hurt as usual, but by the afternoon I was able to get outdoors and rake a few leaves. I know from experience that today will be even better. Mary, Sugar and I walked downtown to get a loaf of bread and that was a challenge on that first full day post treatment. Sugar was even being attentive of my less than 100% state. Today I don't expect that she will be as forgiving.

Yesterday saw both Sugar and I in the backyard of the palatial estate. As I noted, I was raking leaves before I sat down to read, while Sugar was in the "Bone Zone." We had both repaired to the outdoors because the Sun was inviting and the thrill was gone from baking my famous banana nut bread. Sugar enjoyed her role as Sous Dog, but she wanted more. She found it in the "Bone Zone."

Mary was working and that left my baby and I to our own devices. I think we used our time well. When I first wrote this sentence it sounded like Yoda speak. I'll leave the structure to your imagination.

I also learned something while I was outdoors. My neighbor was taking pictures of a rose with her phone camera. I just had to ask, "If you don't mind my asking, what are you doing?" She replied, "I got engaged, and I am sharing the good news with my friends on one of the social network services." I changed the name of the social networking service to a generic form to protect my sources. I told her congratulations as I knew this was something that she sincerely wanted. I was assured that we would get an invitation for her St. Valentines's Day wedding. I can't wait.

Today not much on tap. More walking, more reading and that's about it. I will also find time to watch the World Series again tonight, which leads me to some good and bad sports news. In NCAA football, the Northern Illinois Huskies handily defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles 59 - 20. The Huskies are now 9 - 0 in their conference. Can a bowl bid be far behind? The MSU Spartans also had an easy time with the Fighting Illini winning by a margin of 42 - 3. For a team that has been struggling offensively, that's quite an accomplishment. Of course their offensive showing could be the result of a somewhat inept defensive effort by the Illini.

Now the bad news from St. Louis. My beloved Red Sox fell behind early 2 - 0. However, they tied it up in the top of the fifth and sixth. The Cardinals went ahead again in the bottom of the seventh and then the Sox tied it  up in the top of the eighth. The stage was set for a bizarre turn of events that led to a walk off victory by the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth. A putout at the plate and then an obstruction call at third led to the winning run scoring. I watched the whole thing. The Sox will get them tonight. By way of information, the Bears are in their bye week and the Lions face off against the Cowboys at 1:00 PM.

So that's about it for now. No trains nor no other exciting events to report. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 2:00 AM in "The City." We have a current temperature of 50 degrees as we head down to a high of 48. There is a wind advisory in effect until 8:00 AM this morning. Wind gusts may exceed 50 MPH and the waves on the Big Lake could be anywhere from 10 to 18 feet. Falling tree limbs and downed power lines are a strong possibility. Wow! I am surprised that Sugar the Weather Dog is sleeping soundly. I guess that the sound of the wind in the eaves isn't terrifying to her like thunder or fireworks.

Friday afternoon, we went off to the big box hardware store after Mary finished working to pick up the ceiling fans that we ordered on the 13th. What was supposed to be seven to ten days, became 12 days. Oh well, at least they got here. Now I have to arrange for the electrician to come over and install them. I can do lights, but fans require a bit more effort. Plus, I would like him to explore the cost and feasibility of adding a line that is hot all the time. That way the light switch could be used without affecting the fan function. If the cost is excessive, I'll have to make a decision.

Mary's friend left for home about noon yesterday. Mary and she walked downtown for breakfast. I stayed behind to give them more girl time. I couldn't have walked that far anyway. For one or two days after I have my knees treated, the pain is intense. Long term they are better, but the immediate aftermath is painful. Mary's friend was making a long five hour drive, so I hope that everything went okay. I guess that we would have heard if anything had gone wrong. Sugar was hot and cold on her presence. She alternated between barking, sniffing, and ignoring. That is one of the breed characteristics of Corgis. They can be very territorial and they don't back down from a challenge. She was and she didn't.

Today, I may bake my now famous banana nut bread. I have the bananas and the eggs and everything else I need. Plus while Mary is working, Sugar and I can stay out of her way. I am certain that Sugar will be glad to assume her other role as Sous Dog. She is a big help in the kitchen when she knows there is a reward at the end. I get the added bonus of the dishwasher safe bowls being cleaner when they go into the dishwasher. To use a trite phrase, it is a Win-Win.

In sports, my beloved Red Sox face off against the Cardinals tonight. In addition, college football is on the air. That's all good. Other than walking with Sugar, I don't have any plans or desire to go out. My knees need anther day to be fully recovered before the next treatment.

There was a train about 11:30 last night. There may yet be another this AM. The train last night must have been driven by the horn happy engineer. I didn't see it, but I heard it all the way. Right now, I can hear the wind as it whirls past the house. So until it is...Tea time and the Sun rises at 8:12 AM, I need more sleep. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 4:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 39 degrees with a few showers falling. Yesterday, we had off and on snow showers. Nothing like Wednesday night. Today, the expectation is for a 40% chance of further rain/snow showers, but the high temperature is going to be 51. Saturday shows a forecast of 70% for showers and wind. Sunday the probability drops to 30% with a high temperature of 47.

I did get those lawn and leaf bags out to the curb and they were picked up. I had to spend some time getting the snow off the deck before Mary accompanied me to the orthopedist. Instead of raking leaves, I had to get back to snow removal duties. That made me go to the man cave to bring up the various snow removal tools and the pet friendly salt. I took the lawn mower down to the man cave, and Mary wanted to know what we would do if we needed one more mowing. I told her to plan like we wouldn't.

Speaking of that activity, that came after I go back from the orthopedist and while Mary and her friend were off to Holland. That gave me room to get things in and out of the garage. When she got back from Holland, she wanted to know why I was overtaxing my knees following the latest treatment. I told her, as I always do, that my knees would feel worse today. Plus, the garage being empty is a rare event around here. She had to agree.

Speaking of that orthopedist appointment, he gave me the news on my aching shoulder. Turns out that I have a slight tear of my rotator cuff, which I suspected and bone spurs in the joint itself. It is repairable, though it doesn't have to be right away. If it becomes a full tear, that would entail more extensive surgery. If I have the repair before that happens, my arm would be immobile for five to six weeks and then I could maybe lift a maximum of five pounds for a few months and then it would slowly come back to near normal. The whole recovery would take about a year with extensive rehab. I'm wrestling with the whole idea of surgery at this time. I know it won't get better, but I just don't like the prognosis for either the surgery or its aftermath. I do know that there is no quick fix. He offered that I am "young" at this time and it won't get any easier.

As he was describing the process, the pain became more livable as the minutes passed. I know that's a psychosomatic lessening of that pain, but when you have spent so much time in hospitals, rehab and the like as I have over the past few years, you'd be amazed what the mind can do. It is my belief that the bike crash I had twenty years or so ago, probably started me down this path. I'll keep everyone informed.

Later in the afternoon yesterday, Mary and her friend journeyed downtown and then called me from the post to tell me that Sally was there and she was all alone. So I went down to join them. A couple of Octoberfest ales and it was time for dinner. Mary's plans for the local gyros place were thwarted by the fact that they were closed for remodeling until next Tuesday. That sent us to our second favorite watering hole where they were having Chili dogs, which I decided I didn't want, and then on to our favorite place for more libations, food choices, and brews.

A walk home took a while and then it was time for me to go upstairs and to bed. I listened to the Red Sox and Cardinals on the radio before I fell asleep. I learned later that my beloved Red Sox had fallen to the Cardinals 2 - 4. Two errors on the same play sealed their fate. Games three and four take place in St. Louis on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Fortunately, there is college football coming up. The Northern Illinois Huskies are riding a seven game winning streak in teh MAC 10 conference and welcome Eastern Michigan to De Kalb on Saturday afternoon. Michigan has a bye week, before they journey to meet MSU at the Spartans home field the following Saturday. Speaking of MSU, they kickoff at 3:30 PM Saturday at Illinois, same time as the Huskies.

That's about enough for now. Sunrise will be at 8:11 AM today. The train went by about midnight, so unless I hear another train a'comin, that is probably all for today. Ciao.

P.S., I did hear a train a'comin, twin locomotives just went by heading north about 4:30 AM.

Good morning GH. It has just passed 2:00 AM in "The City" and it is 36 degrees with rain, leaves, and other things falling. Thursday we expect a high of 47, but the chance of showers drops to 30% from 60%, Thankfully none of the forecasts, including  that of Sugar the Weather Dog, includes any thunderstorms.

Mary went out with her friend last might. I was left to my own devices. For me that included Beefaroni, Tater Tots, and baseball. I kept the phone with me as instructed, but after about six hours, I gave up waiting for a call, and went to bed to listen to the end of the baseball game.

Sugar joined me for a walk in the AM and then later for bed. I didn't rakes any leaves, nor get the old bags out to the curb, because it was raining. Maybe today, if I am up early enough, I'll put them down at the curb before I go to the orthopedist. In the old days, I knew when the trash pickup was scheduled by what our neighbor, Mr. Olsen did. I didn't have to worry about when there being no pickup due to a holiday, because his trash would be out there if there wasn't. However, that never included when the actual pickup would occur for the various parts of the trash service. Regular trash was different from the regular recycling and the pickup of lawn refuse. That's the same here, but I don't have any clue as to when the three things happen here, any more than I did in the past.

Today, I have that appointment at the orthopedist to have my semi-annual knee treatments and to get an opinion on my ailing shoulder. I got in some extra music time yesterday in anticipation of bad news. If the news is good, I got in extra practice time anyway. If not so good, I am going to ask if I can put off any surgical intervention until spring. That may seem counter-intuitive, but in the spring, no snow removal nor leaf raking is necessary. A bit of lawn mowing, but Mary can handle that. We have such a narrow driveway, that a regular snow service can't get a plow attached to a truck through.

Once I am done at the orthopedist, my knees take a day to recover, so I won't be doing any long walking until Saturday. That's okay at this time of year. Sugar doesn't much like short walks, but she'll make do with Mary at the other end of the leash. Sugar's walks may just be a bit shorter on Friday.

I hope things went well for Barb during her visit to the doctor.

In sports, the only game that mattered saw my beloved Red Sox downing the Cardinals 8 - 1. Adam sent me an email that the U.S. Marine who sang "God Bless America" during the seventh inning stretch nailed it. I replied earlier, "Yes he did, just like the Sox nailed the Cardinals."

So that looks like about it for Wednesday and Thursday. Leaf bags to curb, doctor's visit, and reading. Mary will be off to Holland with her friend and I will be going to chair with Sugar. Ciao.

P.S. I just had to mention, that the second train of the night just passed by heading north. We had an earlier train about 11:30 PM Wednesday heading south. That one had a more creative engineer who managed to simulate the sound of an old steam whistle with his air horns. This guy just blew the horns as required by law. Ciao for sure this time.

Good morning GH. It is just past 6:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 38 degrees. We are heading for a high of 47 today with similar numbers for the next few days. The chance of showers is 50% - 60% over the next several days. I can't say that this is unseasonable, because it is typically seasonal here in the upper Midwest.

I was going to get to raking more of those leaves yesterday, but I put it off. Oh well, there is always next week. I did manage to get the cleaning done that I planned for Tuesday and that means that I haven't anything to do today. I played some music, cooked that spaghetti squash and in general accomplished all that I had planned. Not bad considering how things often go.

Now if I can just figure out how to get those yard bags out to the curb for tomorrows pickup without having them go into meltdown, I'll be fine. I suppose that it is good that I didn't fill any more.

Otherwise the day requires very little of me. My beloved Red Sox face off against the Cardinals tonight and the games begin in Boston at 7:30 PM. I have all of my fingers and toes crossed for a Red Sox victory tonight and for the World Series as a whole. If I can't have a Cubs or Tigers World Series appearance, I can at least root against the Cardinals. As a Cubs fan of long standing, wanting the Cardinals to lose is part of my DNA by now. That, and not caring what that other Chicago team does if they are not losing. I'm not one of those Chicago natives who wishes that other team well because they are from Chicago. When they won the World Series a few years back, I didn't care.

Speaking of the Tigers, Jim Leyland retired from the manager's job on Monday. He will remain with the organization, a euphemism for leaving and not actually being the manager. At 68 years old, he is entitled to retire. Now, not only are the boys in blue in search of a manager, so are the Tigers. Both teams better get busy. The Reds have already signed Dusty Baker's replacement. The pool will continue to shrink. I know that the Cub's GM is one of those guys who likes to pull a rabbit out of a hat, but time's a wasting.

Mary's longtime friend arrives today. They had planned a pub crawl this evening, but this weather makes that more iffy. I have my plans set for this evening. Beefaroni,Tater Tots, baseball and brews. If this sounds like a typical wife out of the picture scenario, it should. If they decide to stay in, I may have to change my plans and I'd rather not.

Sunrise is at 8:05 AM followed by...Tea time. Good luck to Barb today. Ciao.