Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature outside the Weather Window of 27° will give way to an overnight low of 24°, although right now a light wind of 7 mph makes it feel like 19°. Later today, after the sun rises at 8:11 a.m., our high temperature will be 33° under sunny skies. Saturday will bring cloudy skies and a high temperature of 34°. According to the National Weather Service forecast, temperatures will continue to rise until Wednesday, with rainy conditions. Christmas Day will be colder with snow.

Thursday, Sugar the Weather Dog and I walked over to her doctor. She got her rabies shot, but we put off the distemper vaccination until January 2. The doctor agreed that Sugar was shedding a bit much, and in fact, the veterinary technician had on blue scrubs that soon became what Mary and I have often referred to as Sugar color. So, the doctor gave us some medication called Shed No More, that should put my fur baby on a more regular schedule of twice a year shedding. Otherwise, except for being two to four pounds over her ideal weight Sugar is fine, health wise.

Once Sugar and I were done, Mary came by to pick us up and I had Mary stop for a short visit to the local big-box home center, so I could run in and pick up a few things for the basement lights. When we got home, Mary made a salad for lunch and then went to work. I read the newspaper, and more of my novel, which I finished late last night. The ending surprised me, so that made for a good read. I also found time to play with the girls too. Sally stopped by to drop off some soup and chili she had made. Sally is a delightful friend that both Mary and I treasure.

Mary continued to work and she has more to do today. I just have to walk with the intrepid weather dog and pick up the newspaper. I may start another book, or I may work on the man cave lights.

I watched the heavily laden southbound train roll by at 9:56 p.m. last night. Twin locomotives towing 15 covered hopper cars. The sun will set tonight at 5:11 p.m. That's all I have to say about that. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just before 3:00 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature is 32°, but it feels like 24°. Actually, that's an improvement on earlier yesterday morning and last evening, when the wind was blowing so hard that Sugar the Weather Dog's ears were pinned back as she struggled to make her way as we walked west. On the way back, Sugar recognized the lady who drives the Jeep vehicle and delivers the newspaper,  and who also gives Sugar biscuit treats now and then. Pavlov was right.

Elsewhere in the world, I heard two trains, but didn't see them.

I didn't get to play with the girls because I was doing laundry. So I read the newspaper and my novel instead. I also worked the crossword puzzle.

We made it to the bank to pick up some quarters and to the post office to drop off a package. Then we stopped at the Post to see Sally.

Today is that walk with Sugar to her doctor. I can walk her over, but she may be a bit woozy for the walk back, so Mary will be picking us up. That's fine with me. Sugar would give it the old college try, but I worry too much about her to let her do that.

That looks like my day in a nutshell. Mary has work to do, and I have noting to do. I like it. However, Mary did print out her next project, so I may be peripherally involved in that today. That depends on whether Mary has to catch up on some other work she has to do. If she does, I'm safe.

The sun will still rise at 8:09 a.m. and set at  5::11 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 32° will give way to 29° as we near sunrise at 8:09 a.m. Today we are expecting showers early and then that will change to snow later in the day with a possible accumulation of one to three inches. A high temperature of 32° will also be the most we can expect. For those wishing for a snow covered holiday, they may get their wish. Thursday will bring similar conditions. Right now, the National Weather Service has predicted a high of 37° with sunny skies on Sunday.

We got out yesterday morning for a walk with Sugar the Weather Dog. A brisk walk downtown and then a return trip through the park made for a nice morning. Somehow, I bet that Mary will find something she needs to do this morning rather than go out in the storm. She may go, and I wouldn't blame her if she didn't, but that's often a game time call. I'd rather not go too, but Sugar can only be held in abeyance for so long.

I'm going to leave a note on Mary's office chair to remind her to make that dentist's appointment she had to cancel due to her workload. Maybe I'll even send her an email reminder too. There, I've done my part, I did both.

We got out yesterday and went to the Restore Store™ and found an ideal beginning for our cold frame. I have to remind Adam that if he'd like to assist, that we'll have to work in March, not the summer, as the point of a cold frame is starting vegetables for planting in spring. At the least, I'll have to borrow his circular saw.

Mary and I also made it to the big-box home center in Muskegon where I got that new pair of gloves I was seeking. We also picked up a huge bag of dog food for the fur babies at the Harbor Humane Society™. We'll drop that off at Sugar's doctor when we are there on Thursday morning. Sugar's doctor has made arrangements to be a collection point for the shelter. Mary and I decided that the fur babies needed our help more than we needed any holiday gifts.

I finally got my new lenses. Wow! I didn't know what I'd been missing. Things are so much clearer now. Then it was off to the grocery store in Spring Lake where I returned cans and got a surprise at checkout. Tuesdays are "Senior Day" at the grocery store and I was old enough to get one dollar off on our purchase. While not a huge amount, I'll always take a freebie.

We made it to the favorite watering hole and had dinner before coming home. We watched TV and then I went up to the media room. Soon it was time for bed, where I was until just recently.

Today, like yesterday, I'll get in some play time with the girls. Saturday is our next Irish Jam session. I'm working on an Irish holiday song for the occasion. We'll see how that goes.

A touch of the laundry and my day will be done. I have no desire to go out for an extended time. Plus, the low-slung weather dog comes back needing a wipe down to get the mud, ice, snow, sleet, rain, etc. off of her undercarriage and paws.

More newspaper, more crossword, and then the sun will set at at 5:11 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:00 a.m. in The City", where the current temperature is 46° as we slide towards the overnight low of 42°. A forecast from the National Weather Service indicates that light rain will happen shortly and extend into most of today. That's better than snow. Today we should see a high of 42° as the showers continue. By Wednesday, the temperature will fall back to 32°, so any precipitation will fall in the form of sleet or snow. I'm not prepared to have winter return. However, the chance of precipitation will be only 20% under cloudy skies. For the balance of the week, temperatures will be on the cool side, but ice and snow are unlikely.

Later today, we'll be going over to Spring Lake to get my new lenses. I finished my editing work earlier, as Mary and I finalized the index, but my eyes were hurting and so was my head. I've been down that road before, and I need it to change.

Today I hope to get some replacement gloves that keep my hands warm. Adam suggested that I get a new pair each year and not worry about getting the latest and greatest. So that's my plan. In addition, we need to get some children's Benadryl™ for Sugar the Weather Dog. She is due for her yearly and once every three year vaccinations on Thursday, and the last time she got so sick that I was very worried. This year, her doctor recommends that we give Sugar the correct dosage of children's Benadryl™ about 30 minutes before bringing her in, so that 's what we plan to do. Getting the children's Benadryl™ is one of our errands today. Mary discovered that it comes in a cherry flavored formulation, so Sugar should be glad to lap it up.

The southbound train went by at 11:47 p.m. last night. It seemed to be fully loaded as the house was shaking and the train was rocking on the rails. The usual contingent of two EMD GP 38 locomotives #s 2057 and 2019, were pulling a mix of 33 covered hopper cars, many in poor looking shape, and five of those dreaded black tank cars.

I missed the Bears game, and from what I have seen, it wasn't a good time for them. The final score was 15- 31 in favor of the Saints. That leaves the Bears with a current record of 5 - 9, and a losing season in 2014. Like the boys in blue for so many years, we'll have to wait until next year. Speaking of the boys in blue, they introduced Jon Lester on Monday afternoon. Once again, hope springs eternal in the hearts of Cubs™ fans everywhere.

I like the Tigers, but I'll always be a fan of the boys in blue. However, my beloved Red Sox™ visit Detroit every year, so that's all good. I also heard that the new Cubs™ minor league affiliate in South Bend, IN, will be named the Cubs™. They will be playing the West Michigan Whitecaps™ in 2015. Here's hoping that the two Major League™ teams, the Cubs™ and my beloved Red Sox™, can meet in the World Series™, soon.

So once the sun rises at 8:07 a.m. and before it sets at 5:09 p.m., we have a lot to accomplish. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature of 46° will give way to an overnight low of 39° before rebounding to today's high of around 46°. How's that for an accurate forecast? We are experiencing foggy conditions at the moment. Just outside the Weather Window, visibility is limited to 1/2 mile. Sugar the Weather Dog is asleep on the couch, but last night, some idiot was setting off fireworks that drove her to the safety of her hide-e-hole downstairs. Finally, she was behind Mary's chair in the media room. Even in the middle of winter she isn't safe. I guess that the warm weather brought out the nuts.

I just watched the southbound train run pass by. Twin EMD GP 38 locomotives towing 12 covered hopper cars. I hope to be asleep before the northbound run. Turns out that I was able to sleep for several hours and then get up at 6:50 a.m. and still see the northbound run. The same pair of locomotives, #s 2057 and 2019, followed by: one of those dreaded black tank cars, 21 covered hopper cars, one in the old Seaboard Cost Line livery, a few with heavy graffiti, another of those dreaded black tank cars, and then three more covered hopper cars. I'm guessing that the people I saw outside the Weather Window were not happy about the morning delay on their Monday morning commute.

Yesterday. Sugar, Mary, and I took a long morning walk that took us down to the waterfront. That walk wore the intrepid weather dog out. She spent the day sleeping before her evening exploded. Later, I decided to go to the library to pick up that book I mentioned yesterday. I also found the sequel to the last novel I read, so I picked that up too. While at the library, I decided to watch the musical performance by Sweet Blue, a group of blues musicians who were very good. The price was right.

Later in the afternoon, we sat down to watch the Lions nearly lose to the Vikings. Mary put together some chips and cheese for our TV viewing pleasure. The Lions offense couldn't get on track and their defense kept them in the game. Prior to that, I watched the Packers lose to Buffalo. The Packers QB had one of his worst games ever. Lots of incomplete passes and drops. The win by the Lions gave them sole possession of first place in their division. Tonight, the Bears are on TV, trying to salvage their season. To finish 8 - 8, they'd have to win out. That seems unlikely at this time, given that they have to face the Saints tonight, the Lions next week, and close out against the Vikings.

Today, I have to walk with Sugar and then do some editing of that index that Mary is finishing for today's due date. It will take few hours, but that's what I get paid the big bucks for. I also want to play with the girls and do some additional reading. We'll probably get over to Spring Lake on Tuesday to pick up my new lenses.

After the sun rises at 8:09 a.m., assuming that Sugar and I can see where we are going, we'll pick up the newspaper to see what's been happening over the weekend. I expect a call from Sugar's doctor's office regarding her appointment for vaccinations and a pawdicure. The sun will set at 5:11 p.m. and then the day will be complete. Ciao.

Good evening GH. I am getting an early start on my blog because I'd prefer to stay in bed all night. Too often the best laid plans of mice and men, etc., etc., etc. We have a current temperature outside the Weather Window of 42° as we proceed towards the overnight low of 37°. Once the sun rises tomorrow at 8:08 a.m., we are supposed to see a peak temperature of 44° with cloudy skies and a 20% chance of precipitation. Monday, the temperature will approach 50° with that same chance of precipitation. Tuesday the chance of precipitation increases to 70% with a high temperature of 42°. Unfortunately as the week wears on, the daily high temperatures will not be much above 30° under cloudy skies. But, no rain or snow is in the forecast.

Today I put up our tree, and Mary hung the ornaments I painted on the dining room chandelier. She thinks that the ornaments look great, but like all creators, I can easily find the flaws. Still, like many things, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I took the following pictures of our tree and the ornaments for posterity.

Although not easy to see, the ornaments on our tree are reflective of the many places that Mary and I have visited over the past few years. The idea came from Steph and Adam.

Actually, on second thought, I do like them after all.

Otherwise, my day was filled with walking the intrepid weather dog and reading the newspaper that Sugar and I picked up this morning. Naturally, I had to work the crossword. Later, I finished transcribing an Irish carol entitled Christmas in Killarney. Of course, I had to spend some time with the girls too. Mary spent her day working on the project that is due Monday. Now she is in the kitchen futzing around. Futzing is defined as unstructured, playful, often experimental interaction between a human being and a computer, product or any technology, sometimes, but not always with a productive purpose in mind. I think that sums things up nicely. She said that she wanted to do the dishes that had accumulated. She finds the activity therapeutic. I do the dishes to be helpful and earn my keep. 

Tomorrow, I don't have any tasks planned. That in itself feels odd. I'll be walking with Sugar in the morning, but that is always a pleasure. I do have a puzzle to get started on too. I may begin reading my next book as well as picking up another at the library. I have to do that without Sugar, because she isn't a therapy dog, at least not to others. There is a small combo playing in the library lobby tomorrow afternoon between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m., so I may time my visit to catch their efforts. As always, a game time decision. 

Speaking of games, I believe that the Lions are the late game tomorrow, so that should fit in nicely with my non structured day. I like football, and I plan to view a few college games on New Year's Day, but baseball is life and spring is still on tap for February 20. That's when the pitchers and catchers report for spring training with my beloved Red Sox. Let's see, that's only 68 days away.

That looks like it for me. The sun will set over our fair city, at 5:10 p.m. tomorrow. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature outside the Weather Window of 36° is as low as we'll get this morning. Once the sun rises at 8:07 a.m., the forecast is for temperatures to rise to 40°, with fog a possibility. Sunday looks about the same, however the temperature will rise to 44° under cloudy skies. Given the extremes that the people on either coast are experiencing, I'll take the winter weather right here in GH, at least this winter.

I got those lights added or relocated in the man-cave yesterday. I can actually see down there now. I also added our new bright green light bulb to the front porch light. But in the process, I discovered my first project for the spring, refurbishing the fixture. It has no gaskets left between the sections and the fixture itself needs painting. I've done that before, so although it will be time consuming, it should be a relatively simple fix. Some elbow grease, gasket material, and paint, and I'm done. I bet that Adam knows how these little things can become big projects when you think they'll be small.

I finally got the tree box up from the man-cave. I plan to set it up today, barring any unforeseen activities while out in the fog, with Sugar the Weather Dog. Yeah I know, a bad rhyme. I also dusted again to prepare for the tree lighting. In between, I had to brush the intrepid weather dog multiple times, as she is doing her annual shedding, in large clumps. I'll be walking with her to her doctor one day next week for her requisite vaccinations and a pawdicure, so when I'm there, I'll ask about the shedding.

Mary and I walked into town last evening to pick up some stamps at the Post Office. Then we proceeded to the favorite watering hole for dinner. As we were there, we had to have a couple of libations to wash down dinner. Then home, where I changed into my nightshirt, and promptly fell asleep in the media room. I was watching an old movie, Summer Stock, starring Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, and a large cast of MGM actors from the 1950s. Oh well, it will be on again.

Today will be time with the girls, tree lighting, and weather dog walking. With winter temperatures in the 40s, what's not to like? The sun will set at 5:09. Mary will be working, as she has a Monday deadline for a project. I must get her to print out that book for highlighting. However, I found out that my new lenses were not in at the eye doctor when I called them. That's because the lenses hadn't been ordered. They'll be in on Monday. Ciao.