Tuesday January 7, 2020

Tuesday January 7, 2020

Blog time 1130 at Panera

Nancy first up at 0600.  Temperature 30 with no wind.  I got up at 0630.  Nancy headed to her Tuesday swim at MVP.

After breakfast I drove to the Y.  Followed my normal routine.  After shower (using my own Ivory soap) I headed home.

Picked up backpack and walked to Panera.  Finished blog and read news.   Iranian General’s death, fires in Australia and impeachment dominates the news.

As soon as I got home got in Escape and ran errands:

Got money at bank.

Dropped off seven dress shirts at laundry.

At Print shop ordered address labels.  Minimum order 300 so they should last my lifetime.

At D&W mailed a package to Steve and mailed my monthly note to Grandkids.  Bought coleslaw for dinner.

I usually watch CNBC during lunch.  Today they had the President of a drug company that is working on a cancer cure using the body’s electrical system.  I was impressed so I called our stock broker and bought 100 shares.  Talk about impulse buying.

Later put out corn for deer.  Finished the afternoon with a nap.

Nancy fixed a pork chop with rice and onions for dinner.  She cooked it in the crock pot.  Very good.

We had our evening snacks while watching the news.  We watched NCIS.  I think the show is getting stale.  Gave the episode a C.

Nancy headed to bed and I stayed up and watched an episode of Outlander.  Temperature will drop to teens tonight.

Monday January 6, 2020

Monday January 6, 2020

Blog time 1150 at Panera

Got up at 0630, Nancy had already taken Ms P out.  Temps in high 20s with strong wind, 22 mph.

Nancy headed out for her class at MVP.  Later, she is having lunch with her retired hospital group.

This being the first full week of the new year we expected both MVP and the Y to be crowded with new year resolution folks.  It happens every year.

Breakfast and then I drove to Y.  Arrived at 0815.  The parking lot was jammed, however, noted a lot of folks leaving.  I timed it just right.  A fitness trainer said the place was jammed between 0600 and 0800.  It was not crowded at 0830.  

Calisthenics/walk, shower and then drove home.  Picked up backpack and headed to Panera.  Miserable walking into the 22 mph wind.  Finished weekend blog and started reading the news.  

This and that from the news:

The fires in Australia are so vast it is hard to get a handle on their massive destruction.  It is especially sad when we see injuries to Kangaroos and Koala Bears.

The Iranian General killed by US air strike was a very bad man.  Enough said.

Who cares about Harvey Weinstein?  

Impeachment talks heat up.  Once again who cares?

I watched about 10 minutes of this weekend NFL playoffs.  No interest.

Iraq Parliament votes to ask US troops to leave.  Should be noted that Sunni and Kurd members of Parliament boycotted the vote.  If the full parliament wants us to leave, we should.

The walk home from Panera was bearable because had the 22mph wind at my back.  As soon as I got home I drove to Meijer’s.  Bought 6 bottles of my favorite wine, sugar free oatmeal cookies and a soap dish.  The soap at the Y is super harsh on my skin.  I will provide my own soap.

After lunch I took a nap, followed by an apple snack.  Today I called Sirius Radio to talk about my recent bill.  When they explained the bill was for two years I said ok.  The charge was fair.

Paid our Township property taxes.  Called My Heritage to talk about my bill.  I was on hold for about 30 minutes before hanging up.

Light dinner followed by evening snack.  Watched the news and Jeopardy before switching to Netflix.  Watched a Welsh crime show.  Nancy headed to bed and I stayed up and watched Ultraviolet, a Polish Crime show.  It was terrible.

Mild weather continues tomorrow, yo-yo weather the rest of the week.  Highs of 37 Tuesday, 24 Wednesday, 44 Thursday, etc.  The mild weather has confused folks, me included.

January 5, 2020

Weekend Update for WE 01/05/2020

Blog time 1115, Monday at Panera

Saturday January 5:  

I spent a restless night.  I ached all over and could not get warm. 

No walk to Panera today, we drove.  I had my standard Saturday fare.  We got home and found that our internet was working, finally.

I concluded that I am suffering from a reaction to my shingles shot.  Debbie had commented that she had a bad reaction from her shot.  I called Debbie and my symptoms mirrored hers.  First time I have ever had a reaction from a shot.

Except for putting out corn for deer, I spend most of the day sleeping.  We even cancelled our monthly dinner with Sonya.  I just was not up to it.

Sunday January 5, 2020

Up at 0600 and took Ms P out.  I felt 100% better than yesterday.  However, I did not want to push my luck so no walk this morning.

0830 we headed to Trinity Lutheran.  Church was crowded.  Trinity is starting the new year with events being held almost every day.  

After church, we stopped at CVS to purchase Fiber One cereal that was on sale.  Bought six boxes.  Next stop Meijer’s for gas and some supplies.

Before lunch I took a 1.5 mile walk in bright sun.  Put out corn for the deer.

Quick lunch and then took my Sunday nap.  After the nap:

Watched some of the UM/MSU game.

Spend several hours checking emails and credits card purchases.  Only briefly watched some of the NFL game.

For dinner Nancy fixed her world famous scrambled eggs. Also had bacon and spinach pie.

This evening finished reading the GRP and watched 60 Minutes.  I was surprised that 60’ did not mention the killing of the Iranian General.

We did not watch the Golden Globes.  Watched an episode of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel instead.  Temps in high 20s when headed to bed.

Friday January 3, 2020

Friday January 3, 2020

Blog time 1130 at Panera

Up at 0600, took out Ms P.  Nancy left early for her class at MVP.  I watched CNBC while eating breakfast and the Dow was down over 200 points.  The news folks said it was because of last night’s raid in Iraq.  Everyone’s an expert!

After breakfast drove to the Y.  Still not many resolution folks.  Maybe Monday?  All area schools are back in session on Monday.

After calisthenics and mile walk I drove home.  Grabbed my backpack and walked to Panera.  Dark and gloomy with temps in mid 30s.

Just got a message from Nancy saying she was at Cascade Library using their internet.  Nancy complained that the library was very noisy.  

As soon as I got home I drove to Walmart to get my second shingles shot.  Later, I put out corn for deer.  The deer must be hungry because every cob is stripped clean.

Took a nap followed by apple snack.  Light dinner and then watched some network TV.  Except for NCIS we have not found a network show we like.

Thursday January 2, 2020

Thursday January 2, 2020

Blog time 1110 at Panera

I was up at 0600.  Took Ms P out.  The temperature was 33.  Sun is expected later.

I had to wake Nancy up so she could go swimming.  Breakfast usually consists of a toasted sandwich twin with peanut butter and a banana.  I decided in 2020 would have only 1/2 a twin with banana.  

I was surprised that the Y was not very crowded with New Year resolution folks.  Calisthenics and mile walk before heading home in bright sun.

At home picked up my backpack and walked to Panera.  New routine at Panera in addition to my usual coffee  I now get a bowl of oatmeal/w apple chips, no more baguettes. The apple chips replace artificial sweetener.

Still no internet at home so I read email and digital news.  Found out that if I download the WSJ at Panera and rapidly scroll through all the articles I can open them at home even without internet.

Walked home in bright sun with temps in mid 40s.  The walks were almost ice free.  

Set out corn for deer.  With the above freezing temps our backyard is a quagmire.  Tried to find a dry spot to put the corn.

Before lunch I ran errands.  Stopped at bank to get money for Kim who cleans tomorrow.  Stopped at Chow Hound to get a 35# bag of corn.  Chow hound was out of corn.

Lunch and then Nancy and I drove to Horrock’s.  I bought their last bag of corn.  Is everyone feeding deer?  Nancy bought some fruit and vegetables.

My afternoon activities included:

A nap and fixing an apple snack.

Nancy called AT&T about our internet problems.  They said we will have service at noon on Saturday.  About 1500 customers are without internet.  Nancy let the AT&T folks that she was unhappy and expected a reduction in next months bill.  

We had a light dinner.  Watched news and several shows on regular TV.  I can see why folks prefer Netflix.  Poor quality shows continuously interrupted by commercials.  

NBC interrupted programming to announce that the USA attacked a site in Iraq and killed the main Iranian terrorist General.  Who knows what the impact of this action will have?

Nancy and I spend a lot more time reading since no internet.  I am almost finished with a book that under normal conditions would take me another three weeks.  This is an upside to no internet.

Wednesday January 1, 2020

Wednesday January 1, 2020

New Year’s Day 2020, the start of a new decade.

Blog time Thursday 1100 at Panera

We all slept in today.  I did drive to Panera to get us both a coffee.  Bright sun and temps in low 30s this morning.

On New Year’s Day 1948 our family was invited to a NYD party at the home of Katie Fletcher.  About 50 folks were in attendance.  Great party food was provided.  The purpose of the party was to listen to the Rose Bowl.  Michigan was playing USC.  That’s right we listened to the game.  No TV in Alpena.  UM won 48-0.

Today Nancy and I left home at 1000 and headed to the Moleski’s for a NYD brunch.  We had cottage cheese pancakes, eggs Benedict, sausage and coffee cake.  Champagne was provided but I elected to have a Bloody Mary. My first Bloody Mary in years.  I had forgotten how good they tasted.  

We spent a pleasant 3 hours eating and talking.  Surprise we watched no football.  

At home I took a 2 mile walk and then a nap.  I did watch some of the UM/Alabama game and also the UW/UO Rose Bowl game.  Both were disappointing.

We had a very light dinner.  No streaming service so we watched a show on ION.  We both were in bed by 2200.

Tuesday December 31, 2019

Tuesday December 31, 2019

Blog time 1130 at Panera

New Year’s Eve 2019.  The last day of the decade.

Ms P and I went out at 0530.  Overnight we had about 3 inches of new snow.  I had to shovel our courtyard drive.

Nancy headed out to MVP at 0700.  Today is her first swim in two weeks.  I had a light breakfast and then drove to the Y.  

Today for the first time in a week I did my normal Y routine.  The Y was not crowded today.  I expect on Thursday it will be crowded with all the New Year’s resolution folks.  The crowd lasts about 4 weeks before rapidly declining.

Drove home, grabbed my backpack and walked to Panera.  Read my email and finished several blogs.  Don’t expect our home internet to be on today.

Past New Year’s Eve

When I was a junior in high school I went to a New Year’s Eve dance at the high school.  I liked to dance but was not yet into dating.  At midnight all the guys started kissing the girls.  I found out this was standard for NYE.  It took some nerve but I joined in.  Ended up kissing most of the girls.  I thought wow this is great.  Changed my young life.

12/31/61 and 12/31/63 were the only NYE I was not with family.  I was in Navy: 1961 on Midway Island and 1963 in Vietnam.  I cannot remember doing anything special.

The NYE before Nancy and I were married we attended a dance at the Winah Club in Alpena.  I was very proud when several men complimented me on the great looking girls I was dating.

Our first married NYE was 12/31/65.  We were living in Redwood City, Ca.  We spent a quiet evening at home.

Most of our NYE were very relaxed.

Walked home from Panera. We still do not have internet so I caught up with reading back issues of Time and National Geographic.  I did take a short nap and fixed our apple snack.

For dinner we headed to Brann’s.  We arrived at 1700 and the place was empty.  I had a bowl of chili and Nancy a sandwich.  

No Netflix so we watched NCIS and some football before heading to bed at 2200.  Not exactly a wild evening.