Wednesday February 7, 2018

Wednesday February 7, 2018

Blog time 0930 at Panera

My easy Wednesday.  Slept in until nearly 0700.  It was 15 and snowing when I went out this morning.  I shoveled our short walk.

Dressed and walked to Panera.  With the new snow walking was tough.

I had an oatmeal breakfast and then finished yesterday’s blog and reading the news.

Space X had a successful launch of their Falcon Heavy Rocket.  In the late 50s when the space program was getting started it was unthinkable that a 100% privately financed company could compete.  Times sure has changed.  NASA appears to be an obsolete dinosaur.

The big new word in the financial markets is volatility.  The Wall Street guys are having a hissy fit.  The rest of just keep moving along.

Every day I enjoyed reading the UK papers.  Does this make me an Anglophile?  Go figure My English/Scotch ancestors could not wait to bail out.

The new lions coach, Matt Patricia, is no dummy.  He has an aeronautical engineering degree from RPI.  RPI is a well recognized engineering school.   He started 4 years at RPI as an offensive lineman.  First job out of RPI was as an assistant coach at Amherst.  Daughter Melissa went to Amherst, a well regarded small college, in MA.

About 1000 I packed up and walked to the Y.  I had planned to swim but instead of my swim suit I had packed clean workout clothes.  I did my calisthenics.

Temperature was still in teens when I left the Y but no wind.  Walking was pleasant.  Stopped at Meijer’s and picked up my anti inflammation pills.

At home I took out the trash and recyclables and did a load of laundry.  I took a short nap.  Nancy worked at the Gardens this afternoon.

Light dinner, the news, Jeopardy and then Netflix.  Does this sound familiar?  We watched episode 1, season 2 of The Heart Guy.

Tuesday February 6, 2018

Tuesday February 6, 2018

Blog time 1150 at Panera.

We had a light snow overnight.  Temperature was 14 when I first went out.  

Nancy headed out early for her Tuesday swim.  I did the entire exercise routine at home.  Showered and had breakfast before walking to Panera.  The sun was out so it was a cold but pleasant walk.

Just checked my phone and the temperature is up to 19.  The stock market is also up but 10 minutes later it is down.  The things you can do on your phone.

The snow and cold has limited my activities.  Walking is my main outdoor activity and I appreciate the effort Cascade Twp makes in plowing the sidewalks.  However, recently their effort has been poor. The plows leave 1” of snow.  Walking in this snow is difficult.  I think that instead of using their tractor mounted blower they have switched to a standard blade plow.  Bad move.  The Twp does have a web page that allows citizen’s comments.  I will send a message.

Took the long route home.  Lunch and then I got in the Escape and headed to Dr Kutsche’s office.  I explained my left hip problem.  The Doc moved my leg every which way.  His conclusion was tight muscles around the hip and maybe some arthritis.  He gave me a prescription for physical therapy.  Also a prescription for anti inflammation pills.  I take one pill a day.  Time will tell if his diagnosis is correct.

Stopped at Bill and Paul’s on my way home.  We are going to South America in April and I am looking for a pair of khakis that are stain resistant and wrinkle free.  I see them advertised but have not found any locally.

At home I took a quick walk around the block.  Had to get my 10,000 steps in.

I got my Ancestry DNA kit today so I spit in their cup.  Because Ancestry’s data base is so large I hope to find some long lost Nancy fixed breaded chicken breast with rice and lima beans for dinner.  Good.  

We watched the news, Jeopardy and then NCIS and Bull.  Snow and continued cold for several more days.

Monday February 5, 2018

Monday February 5, 2018

Blog time 1030 at Panera

It was cold, 12, when first went out this morning. Wind chills were near zero.  The sidewalks have not been plowed so I decided to not to walk to the Y today.  I did my entire routine at home.  Before heading out I called the plumber and told him we have to replace an outside faucet.  It is leaking.  I also called our GP, Dr Kutsche, to make an appointment to have my hip checked out.  I lucked out, I have an appointment for tomorrow.  

Showered, bundled up and walked to Panera.  Nancy headed out early for a class at MVP.

Childhood obesity has been a big topic lately.  Looking back to my childhood I cannot remember an overweight friend except Porky Stemkowski.  I think the reason was that in a small town the school were within walking distance.  Also most families only had one car so mom could not drive the kids to school.  In elementary school my sister and I walked to school four times, morning, lunch and upon completion.  The one way distance was about a mile.  That means on a school day we walked four miles.  Of course in warm weather we would ride our bikes.

The stock markets steep decline was the main topic in the business news.  Of course the Eagles victory also dominated the headlines.

Congress; just forget about the memos and get us an infrastructure and immigration package.  While your at it you might want to fund the government for at least 12 months.

Took a longer walk home so I could get my 10,000 steps.  I like to watch CNBC while eating lunch.  No signal so I had to walk out on the deck and sweep the snow off the dish.  It worked.  Of course CNBC was all doom and gloom.

One of my favorite men’s store, Fitzgerald’s, is moving so they are having a big moving sale.  After lunch I headed to the store.  They had a lot of items 50% off.  However, I really have a lot of clothes so found nothing I really needed.

I spent some time in the office working on family tree and paying bills.  I took a short nap and finished the afternoon with a walk around the block.

Light dinner followed by the news and Jeopardy.  We watched an episode of Inspector Lewis on Amazon.  It was snowing when I took Ms P out at 2200.  Snow and cold will continue for another week.

Sunday February 4, 2018

Weekend Update:

Blog started at 1400 Saturday February 3, 2018 sitting in office.

It was cold with light snow this morning.  My weather app said the wind chill was in single digits.  Too cold to walk to Panera.

We had our normal Saturday morning breakfast.  At home I took a quick walk around the block, BRR!  This morning we are attending the 1100 funeral for Jill Buete.  The service is being held at the funeral home.  Pastor Dan from Trinity Lutheran presided.  It was a short but very good service.

At home Nancy started the laundry and I finished yesterday’s blog before lunch.  After lunch headed downstairs for some work in office.

I have been filling out the family tree on Ancestry.  So far I think Ancestry is superior to My Heritage.  I think their data base is larger.  I have also ordered their DNA kit.

I really don’t think releasing the GOP memo is the end of democracy as we know it.  I get tired of listening the the pols grandstanding on TV.  MSU has appointed ex Gov Engler as interim President.  I think it was a good move.

It snowed most of the day.  I shoveled the walk several times.  

Nancy fixed pea soup and hot dogs for dinner.  We FaceTimed with Debbie tonight.  Finished the evening watching a Bond movie on Netflix.

Sunday February 4, 2018

Today is a special day in the Scott family.  It is the tenth birthday of Granddaughter Akerke.  Happy Birthday Akerke!

It snowed most of the night.  I think we got about 4” overnight.  I shoveled first thing.  We did not go to the Y today because of the weather.  I slept in until 0900.

Quick breakfast and then we headed out to the 1000 service at Trinity Lutheran.  Most streets had not been plowed.  I am glad we have 4wheel drive.  As you might expect church was not very crowded today.

After the service we drove to Meijer’s for gas and supplies.  Meijer’s was crowded with folks buying snack for Super Bowl parties.

My how times have changed.  In 1968 when Nancy and I moved to GR most stores were closed on Sunday.  Today Meijer’s is open 24/7.  Today they had a stand that was offering a sample of wine.  Yes folks free wine samples at Meijer’s on Sunday.

At home I unloaded the groceries and then walked around the block.  It was hard walking in the snow.  I also had to shovel again.

We FaceTimed Missy and Akerke this afternoon.  Akerke is having a birthday party with friends at a local restaurant.  Tenth birthday’s are great.  On my tenth I had a party, we had ice cream and cake at home and then attended a movie, Cinderella.  

No nap today because I slept in.  I spent most of the afternoon in the office.  It is now 1630 and I will walk to the mailbox to mail letters to Grandkids.  The temp is 17 and it is still snowing.  

Nancy is fixing chili for dinner tonight.  Yes we will watch the Super Bowl.

The chili was especially good.  I watched the entire super bowl game.  NBC’s camera work was good.  They highlighted some great line play.  The blocking by both offensive lines was great.  

Friday February 2, 2018

Friday February 2, 2018

Today is Ground Hog Day.  Breaking news said Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.  Six more weeks of winter.  Based on my calendar winter will end on St Pats Day.  Big deal, I have always used St Pats Day as the end of winter.

As a boy February was always a busy month.  In school we would all make cutout facial profiles of President’s Washington and Lincoln.  The profiles were posted on the room’s bulletin board.  We had special units in class on these two presidents.  Every year in elementary school we would exchange Valentines with all our classmates.  My Mother would help me pick out the cards.  All the cards were single page and probably cost a nickel for 30.  I remember I would like to give the best card to a cute girl in class.  (Is this sexist?)  I always hoped the cute girl would give me a special card.

In February Alpena always had its big Winter Carnival.  The state’s outdoor speed skating finals were held in Alpena.  Speed skating was one sport that girls could participate in.  In fact my fourth grade teacher’s daughter, Mona Donnelly, won the North American title.  She was the town’s hero.  All the elementary schools in Alpena got an afternoon off so they could participate in the District’s Speed Skating Races.  I owned a pair of speed skates but I was not very fast.

The temp was 10 when I went out this morning with wind chill in single digits.  I did all my routine at home.  Today I broke 9’30” in the 2K row.

I walked to Panera and had an oatmeal breakfast.  Spent time writing yesterday’s blog and reading the news.

The stock market tanks but profits are up and more folks are employed.  Bonuses and raises have been declared by several large companies.  Confused, I am.

China’s citizens and businesses are becoming more under the control of the communist government.  Today’s article on the Chinese Government appointing Catholic Bishops instead of the Pope is disheartening.  Religious and individual freedoms do not exist in China.

Took the long route home.  Lunch and then retired to my office.  Spent time on gathering tax data and reading.

At 1630 we headed out to Metcalf and Jonkhoff Funeral home.  Our long time neighbor Jill Beute had passed.  We had the opportunity to give our condolences to the family.  Jill’s son Eathan was a classmate of our son Stephan.  

For dinner we ate at the Sundance.  Nancy had the eggs and ham and I had a burger and glass of wine.  

Speaking of wine I am back drinking my nightly glass of red wine.  I had stopped because I had read in the AARP magazine that red wine could cause swelling of my tongue and thus my slurred speech.  After a two week trial I concluded the wine had no impact on the slurred speech.  On tonight’s News they reported that a glass of wine is good for the brain.  It reduces inflammation that could cause dementia.  Go figure!

Watched an episode of Call the MidWifes before turning in.  The cold weather continues.

Thursday February 1, 2018

Thursday February 1, 2018

Blog time 1130 at Panera

It was cold, 29, and windy when first went out.  Nancy left early for her swim at MVP.  Breakfast and then waited for the daylight before getting on the bike and heading to the Y.  I took the five mile route.  Pedaling into the 24mph wind was not pleasant.  For a Thursday the Y was crowded.  I think folks have settled into their winter routine.

The temperature had dropped to 24 when I exited the Y.  The temperature will continue to drop all day.  At Panera I checked the morning headlines and finished yesterday’s blog before heading home.

The temperature had dropped to mid teens when I left Panera.  Wind chills in single digits.  Luckily I had the wind at my back.

As soon as I got home we got in the Escape and headed to Costco.  Nancy picked up a prescription and we bought naan and lotion.

Quick lunch and then I headed downstairs to finish reading the WSJ.  I had a nice long phone conversation with Jennifer Dougherty.  Jennifer’s Engineering business is going great.  She and Phil are also raising turkeys and they will sell their first batch in several weeks.  It is always great talking to Jennifer.

Nancy has been wanting us to take a spring trip.  It is sort of an 80th birthday trip.  This afternoon we booked a trip to South America.  We are going to Chile and Argentina.  Leaving April 19 and returning May 2.  First time in SA for both of us.  Stay tuned.

It was too cold to take a walk.  Wind chills near 0.  Spent most of afternoon in basement reading.

Nancy fixed pea soup for dinner. Perfect meal for a cold winter’s day.

Watched news, the media is having a hissy fit about the release of the classified Nunes memo dealing with the Russia investigation.  The FBI is especially vocal on their opposition.  My faith in career bureaucrats at both the FBI and CIA is not high.  Enough said!

We watched an episode of Pie in the Sky on Acorn.  This show started on BBC in 1994.  Nancy headed to bed early and I watched an episode of The Tudors before turning in.

Wednesday January 31, 2018

Wednesday January 31, 2018

Blog time 1125 at Panera

It is Breakfast Club Wednesday.  Up at 0515 to get ready.  The temperature was 30 heading to the high 30s later.  Made quick stop at Panera for my first morning coffee.  I did not see the Trifecta Moon.

Today’s speaker was a stock broker with Edward Jones in GR.  His advice was that us old folks should have 50% of funds in bonds.  Bob and Nancy are not even close.  The speaker and members all made comment on the SOU address.  Not much agreement except it was too long.

I just checked stock market and Dow Jones is up 143 after two days of losses.  Is this bump because of the President’s SOU?

After BC I headed to the Y.  For the first time in nearly a year I went swimming.  I swam 30 minutes.  Swimming is easy on the joints.

Read the papers but nothing new.  I did read about the Amtrak train carrying GOP congressmen being involved in a accident with a truck.  Amtrak does not need any more bad press.

A long train trip is on my bucket list.  I would love to take the train from GR to CA.  Nancy showed me Road Scholar train trip from Beijing to Moscow.  The cost is exorbitant but I would love to take it.

At home I did my normal Wednesday chores, trash and laundry.  Nancy did not work at the Gardens this afternoon because attendance is down in midwinter.  Nancy thought the dryer vent was plugged.  The dryer vent outlet is near our front door.  I removed the vent cover and used a long back scratcher to remove a lot of lint.  Had trouble getting the vent back on.  I made several trips to Ace to purchase screws and a new cover.  I finished the afternoon with a nap.

Light dinner, the news and then watched an episode of Tin Star on Amazon and The Killing on Netflix.  The weather returns to normal tomorrow.