Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:30 a.m. in "The City", where the current temperature under clear skies is a very seasonal 31°, although it feels more like 18° with a wind out of the southeast @ nine mph.

Per the NWS, we will have a Small Craft Advisory going into effect starting at 1:00 p.m. today and continuing until 10:00 p.m. tomorrow, from St. Joseph to Grand Haven. Wind speeds will be from 15 to 20 knots with gusts possible to 25 knots, producing waves from one to three feet in height. In other words, to borrow from the Bard, "Much ado about nothing."

The sun rose this morning @ 8:13 a.m. and it will set this evening @ 5:35 p.m.

I finished the novel recommended by Mary, The Cat Who Saved Books, by Sosuke Natsukawa, and I enjoyed it very much. We also finished our collective ear-read, The Book Woman's Daughter, by Kim Michelle Richardson too. However, we still have to listen to the author's notes to close out the book. Now we have the task of finding a new book to collectively listen to, never an easy thing.

There were a couple of NFL games televised yesterday, but I paid no mind, since I didn't have a dog in that race. 

I also walked up and down the stairs that lead to our regular bedroom on the second floor. I am making progress on that front too. 

I received my new cardigan sweater yesterday from that Big-Box e-tailer, and I love it! It is now time to retire my previous cardigan, whom we'd named Fred, after Mr. Fred Rogers, and we have named this sweater Roger. 

I finished three crossword puzzles and the crypto quote yesterday, in between sleeping in and taking an afternoon nap. All that while Mary cross-stitched her latest project, for which I assisted in the color selection of various shades of green, no small feat for someone with a slight degree of color-blindness to reds and greens. Her efforts are looking great.

Mary and Ginger took a stroll around our fair city yesterday afternoon and somewhere in there, we listened to a podcast hosted by MSNBC's Chris Hayes. All in all, a not too busy day in retirement. 

Today, it looks like reading, cross-stitching, more indoor ambulation for yours truly, more outdoor ambulation for Mary and Ginger, and that's about it. Oh, if I am awake, I plan to participate in my Sunday night ukulele session too. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and around the world. It is just past 6:30 a.m. in "The City." 

The current temperature is 31° under cloudy skies, but a wicked wind out of the northeast blowing @ 16 mph makes it feel more like 20°, which has caused the NWS to issue a Small Craft Advisory from South Haven to Whitehall until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow, as winds from 10 to 20 knots with gusts possible to 30 knots will propel waves up to six feet in height. Not really surfing conditions, but dangerous nonetheless to small craft. I've wanted to use the word nonetheless for a while now and this was my big chance.  

The sun will rise today @ 8:14 a.m. into those cloudy skies where it will stay until sunset @ 5:32 p.m. this evening.

Well, I've started a new novel, The Cat Who Saved Books, by Sosuke Natsukawa, a Japanese author. This book was recommended by Mary, and yes, it is a translation from the original Japanese. I'm up to page 50 and so far, so good.

I had another P/T session yesterday and I am still doing well. I am using my quad cane more and more. Mary says I am walking too fast, she's likely right, but the feeling of freedom from the walker is one that is hard to ignore. I'll have to be more careful.

Otherwise, not much is happening around the manse or the palatial estate. Mary and her wing-gal, Ginger, will be going to the grocery store later today, which will allow them to take a walk in Duncan Woods beforehand. I'm not certain, but if Mary wears her long coat and hat, not to mention her gloves, and as long as she dresses Ginger in her new coat, they should be fine. I'll be staying home as I'm not ready for prime time yet. 

I anticipate that I'll be reading, working more crossword puzzles, and awaiting the arrival of a package via UPS. It will be a surprise to me, as I don't know what it is.

Mary has been contentedly cross-stitching on her latest project, a fern-leaf, after having finished my Christmas gift, a watercolor paint box. That project till requires some finishing, but the overall finished product is great!

Today looks like a good day to stay indoors for me with that brisk wind and that chilly wind-chill forecast. 

Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:15 p.m. in "The City."

The skies are cloudy, as if you can tell in the dark, and the current temperature is a balmy 44°, although it feels more like 41° with a slight wind out of the west @ five mph. According to the NWS, we will see temperatures in the mid-thirty to low forty-degree range for the next 10 days before we fall into the more seasonal low-thirty to upper-twenty-degree range. What's not to like?

Tomorrow's sunrise will be at 8:14 a.m., with sunset at 5:32 p.m.

Today was another day of P/T and I did well. I am progressing nicely, and my knee is now able to achieve 110 degrees of travel, or is it flexing? I don't remember, but my therapist, Eric, is pleased with my progress. By the by, I am ambulating using my quad-cane throughout the daytime hours.

Mary and I are still ear-reading our shared book, The Book Woman's Daughter, by Kim Michelle Richardson, and we are totally engrossed. I am eye-reading a pulp-fiction novel by Janet Evanovich, Going Rogue, and I love it too.

In case you didn't hear, the Horned Frogs of TCU, who took out our own Michigan Wolverines on New Year's Eve, were routed by the Bulldogs of Georgia Monday night, 65 - 7. I'm not sure what this says about the defense of the Wolverines, but it can't be good.

Tomorrow is a day of indoor chores, more P/T, and more dog walking by Mary and Ginger. Earlier today, they walked down to the waterfront, where Mary, in her role as our Senior Staff Photographer, took this great shot of the channel looking west towards lake Michigan.

Terrific contrasts between the water, the clouds in the sky, and the empty docks.

Otherwise, we are mostly staying indoors, reading, working crossword puzzles, solving crypto quotes, cross-stitching, and recuperating.

That's all folks. Ciao 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you maybe, across the nation and across the world. It is nearing 1:00 p.m. in "The City", where the NWS is reporting a current temperature of 37° under partly cloudy skies as the sun makes occasional appearances on yet another winter's day here in the Tri-Cities area.

With a wind out of the southeast @ 15 mph, it feels more like 28°. The sun rose this morning @ 8:16 a.m. and it will set this evening @ 5:28 p.m.

As proof that the days are getting longer, I offer the following. Tomorrow, the sun will rise @ 8:15 a.m. and set later @ 5:29 p.m. While incremental, the daylight hours are growing longer, and the dark hours of the night is growing shorter.

Yesterday was an interesting day in the sports world. The Chicago Bears dropped yet another game, this one to the Minnesota Vikings, 13 - 29, to make their 2022-23 season record a dismal 3 - 14 - 0. If there is a light at the end of the tunnel, it is that that loss combined with the win by the Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts, gave the Bears the first pick in the upcoming NFL draft. 

On a side note, former Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, University of Illinois, and Texans head coach, Lovie Smith, was fired by the Texans after only one season, following the Texans 3 - 13 - 1 2022-23 season. I suspect that he will be back before you miss him.

The Bears have had the first pick twice before, but the Bears never really saw any benefits from those picks in 1936 and 1947. Given the Bears penchant for failure with draft picks, anything is possible. 

On a positive note, the Detroit Lions defeated the Green Bay Packers last night, 20 - 16, to knock the Packers out of the playoffs and allow the Lions to have a winning, 9 - 8, 2022-23 record. Still not make the NFL playoffs. At the risk of redundancy, "Wait till next year!"

Today, Mary and I once again fought the good fight, and I came away from the morning with new respect and love for Mary and a positive outlook for my P/T appointment this afternoon. Oh, I am mostly using my quad cane for regular ambulation now.

We are still listening to our shared ear-read, The Book Woman's Daughter, by Kim Michelle Richardson, a sequel to the Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. We liked the first book and this sequel too. 

Tomorrow looks like a day of renewed retirement and that is fine with me. I tried that new book recommended by Mary and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. Too many twists, turns, and characters and cities with difficult to pronounce names for me. 

I'm on to a quick read, Janet Evanovich's Going Rogue, featuring Evanovich's heroine of this series, Stephanie Plum. Yes, I know that these books are what some call pulp fiction, but sometimes you have to add one of these genres to your reading list.

Okay, I'm done. Ciao. 

Good morning or good evening wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:45 p.m. in "The City."

The skies are cloudy, and the current temperature is a seasonal 34° with the NWS forecasting an overnight low of 27°. The "Real Feel" temperature is a brisk 30° with a wind blowing directly out of the north @ four mph. We have no additional watches, warnings, alerts, nor concerns at this time. Mary just returned from a safari with Ginger.

The sun will rise tomorrow @ 8:15 a.m. and sun set will be @ 5:27 p.m.

It's been a slow day for me at the manse. Mary has been extra busy laundering, baking bread, and helping me with my activities of daily living. But I am walking more with my quad cane and that has made me more mobile than in the very recent past when I was confined to using my walker. 

As fancy as my walker is, it has all the bells and whistles, it is still a large piece of equipment to maneuver around the house. 

Yesterday, I asked Mary to bring my traveling guitar, Abagael, down from my music studio along with my traveling music folio and that allowed me to play for about 45 minutes. I am rustier than I expected, but I did okay.

Tomorrow, I plan to watch the 8 - 8 Detroit Lions engage the 8 - 8 Green Packers @ 8:20 p.m. with hopes of a run in the playoffs. I have no illusions, but I'm sure that the Lions will give it all they have. A lot depends on how well the Lions front four gets after Packers 

QB Aaron Rodgers tomorrow night. 

Da Bears? Well, they have visions of watching the playoffs from their respective couches during the playoffs. 

Otherwise tomorrow, I have to sit still while Mary trims my hair and then I can repair to the powder room to trim my beard etc. 

It has been interesting to watch the elevation of Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, over the last several days. Sadly, the dysfunction of the GOP majority causes me to have concerns for the future of the legislative branch for the next two years. 

I finished a long, large-print novel early this morning entitled Plum Island, by Nelson Demille. I was unable to sleep and so I sat up and polished off this lengthy tome. 

I've started a new book that was recommended by Mary, but the jury is still out on this one. It is by an author that Mary saw interviewed on a blog recently. The book is entitled The City & the City, by China Tom Mielville. I;ve read more books during the Covid-19 pandemic and my convalescence than ever before. To borrow from myself, "What's not to like?"

That looks like enough for one blog. It looks as though I'll be an every other day blogger for a while. I realized that I started this blog several years ago and so I've blogged over 1,000 times.   

Here's a pic Mary took of our Major Wheeler earlier today, just because. It was one week ago that this entire area was under the snow.

Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:25 p.m. in "The City."

The skies are cloudy, and the current temperature is 34° with light snow falling across the Tri-Cities area. It feels more like 28° with a slight wind out of the east @ seven mph. The NWS has forecast that snow to end @ 5:00 p.m. 

Tomorrow's sunrise will be @ 8:16 a.m. with sunset @ 5:25 p.m.

We got back from P/T @ 3:15 p.m. and while it was grueling, I am making progress and that feels good. I have good range of motion in my new knee and my therapist, Eric, feels I am doing better than expected. That's allowed me to progress using my new quad cane to walk around the manse more and use my walker less. What's not to like?

Otherwise, not much is happening around here. I am still grateful for Mary's above and beyond assistance with my basic needs. I guess I expected that the replacement of my knee would be a trying experience, but I'd never have done this well without Mary. 

When we go to P/T, I am now able to get myself into and out of the car by myself, something I was unable to do in the first two weeks. Once again, what's not to like?

On one sense, winter is a good time for joint replacement, with the exception of the snow and ice, I have no need to be out of the manse with the exception of the P/T appointments. I'm good with that. Mary has to take Ginger for walks, but when the only weather-related issues are cold temperatures, she doesn't mind those safaris.

I hope to return to a more regular blog schedule in the near future, but at some point, in March, I'll be out of circulation once again when my right knee is replaced. We have summer plans, so I should be good to go by then.

My camera awaits, as do my easel, my paints, and my colored pencils, which are calling out to me. That's not to mention a need to bake some cookies. I have plans to live many more years and so some pain now will make those years better.

That looks like enough for today. Ciao.

Hello again everyone, I'm back! 

I'll begin, as always, by saying: 

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:00 p.m. in "The City."

Yes, my loyal readers, I've been out of the blogosphere for a couple of weeks due to much-needed knee replacement surgery on my left knee. The surgery and the ensuing recovery and rehab have not been pleasant experiences, but the pain in my knee was not a pleasant experience either.

I saw the surgeon today and my prognosis is excellent. I have more rehab to go and one more knee replacement sometime in March. But once I am past that, I'll be even more bionic and ready to walk pain free for the first time in several years. 

I have to thank Mary for her love and steadfast devotion to my care. She has always been our chief cook and bottle washer, but in the past, I've been able to assist with the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. Now, all of those things and my post-surgical care, including chauffeuring me to P/T, have fallen on her shoulders. She has done great, and for that I will be eternally grateful. To paraphrase Eric Segal in Love Story, love means being there for someone when they are in need. Mary has been my love, my best friend, and my rock for nearly 50 years. 

In addition, most of you may know that in West Michigan, we had a blizzard over the Christmas weekend that made history and also made getting to rehab sessions very difficult in the ensuing days. Mary also made those visits possible too.

Just because I can, I am going to include what little I know about sports. 

Last Saturday, the Wolverines of Michigan dropped a game to the Horned Frogs of TCU to end the Wolverines season with one loss and no college championship. As Wolverines' QB, J. J. McCarthy said in a post-game interview, "We'll be back!" Here's hoping.

Last Sunday, the Detroit Lions took the Chicago Bears to the woodshed and kept the Lions slim playoff hopes alive. Of course, the Lions defeated a mediocre Bears squad, so...

I can't predict how often I'll be blogging, but I can predict that I'll be here as often as possible. 

Mostly, I've been watching movies on Hallmark and sleeping. 

I think that's enough for my first blog of 2023. Ciao.