Monday June 1, 2020

Monday June 1, 2020

Today is the first day of Summer according to the Meteorologists.  About time!

I was up at 0630.  Nancy had already taken Ms P out.  It was sunny but a cold 45. 

This morning Nancy has a 0845 appointment with her heart doctor.  She needs their clearance before her foot surgery.

I did my calisthenics before breakfast.  After breakfast I put on warm biking clothes and headed out on a 10.5 mile ride.  It was 45 degrees when I started out and 58 when I finished the ride 80 minutes later.  Of course I got overheated.

Nancy was not home so I assumed she was on her walk.  I hope this morning she was able to get our dentist to reattach a dental crown that fell off this weekend.  

Showered, dressed and drove to Panera.  Bought coffee, bagel and read my email before heading home.  Nancy had finished her walk and she had good news.  The Dentist had fixed her tooth.

Spent some time in office finishing yesterday’s blog and reading today’s papers.  I had lunch at 1300.  

After lunch drove to Fox Ford to see if I could get an oil change.  No luck.  All the workers were standing in a corner talking and not taking care of customers.  No the way to win the heart and mind of someone looking to purchase a car.

At home took a mile walk to cool off.  Took a short nap.

Fixed our apple snack before dinner.  Light dinner of Cheerios and toast.  

Tonight’s news was all about civil unrest in the USA.  I don’t know what the cure is for our problems but following Christian teaching is a good start.

This evening we watched the final episode of a Welch detective show.  Nancy did not like the show because some of the dialogue was in Welch with subtitles.  I gave it a B.

Big warm up tomorrow.  Temps in mid 80s predicted.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us this evening.  Everything is going ok.

Sunday May 31, 2020

Sunday May 31, 2020

Blog time 1730 sitting in living room

Up at 0630 this morning.  It looks like another beautiful sunny day.  It is cold, 45.  I had to turn the heat on to take the chill out of the house.

Nancy headed out on her morning walk.  I dressed and had my oatmeal, banana, toast breakfast.  After breakfast I headed to Panera to get two coffees.

Nancy walked 2.5 miles this morning.  Showered and then sat down to read the GRP and drink her hazelnut coffee.

At 0915 I fired up the iPad and watched Trinity Lutheran’s streaming service on YouTube.  This is their eleventh Sunday of streaming.  Today is Pentecost Sunday.

After breakfast I put on my bike riding clothes and took a gentle 9.6 mile ride.  Showered and then read the GRP from cover to cover.  It took 15 minutes.

This and that:

Our President has shown no leadership whatsoever in dealing with both the Coronavirus and the Minneapolis police brutality issue and subsequent rioting.

We had some rioting in GR last night.  Windows were broken at the GR Public Museum.  A small shop that sells olives on Monroe Center was vandalized and looted.  

Rioting is not the way to solve problems.

On a happier note I saw two deer in our back year, early this morning feasting on wild strawberries.

Nancy and I have noted how big the Robins are this year.  A good crop of worms?

Lunch today was the same as everyday.  Yogurt with fiber 1 cereal, cheese, hard boiled egg and three squares of chocolate.

In keeping with a years olds tradition I took a Sunday afternoon nap.  Fixed an apple snack before taking a mile walk.

Tonight Nancy fixed her world famous scrambled eggs with sausage and an English muffin.  While enjoying our evening snack we watched 60 Minutes.  I was surprised that the show was a rerun.  No reporting on the rioting.

Tonight we watched the final two episodes of Thorne.  We gave the show a C+.

Both Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us this evening.  Everything is ok in GR and CA.

Took Ms P out at 2200.  It was starting to get cold.  Low tonight in mid 40s. 

Saturday May 30, 2020

Saturday May 30, 2020

Blog time 1530 sitting in living room.

Happy Memorial Day.  For most Veterans over 60 today is the real Memorial Day.  Several area communities have ceremonies today.

Every one up at 0630.  Nancy got dressed for her walk.  I had breakfast and then headed to Panera for coffee.

At home I dressed for a bike ride.  Today I pedaled to Ada to visit the Ada Bike Shop.  I bought a pair of sunglasses.

The bike trail with loaded with weekenders.  Another beautiful day for a ride.

Showered and shaved,  Nancy told me of some chores that needed to be done.  So I started,

Our front door is opened automatically when we put in our secret code.  The device notified us that the batteries were low.  Put in four new AA batteries.  

The downstairs toilet has been running.  I reset the shutoff and it seems to work.

Lunch and then I continued with some chores downstairs.

Ironed my canvas vest and a pair of khaki pants.  I have about twenty pair of ironed khaki pants hanging from hooks in the storage room.  I should never have to buy another pair of pants, ever.  Maybe I should make a “Good Will” run.

Put away all my winter clothes and brought out the warm weather clothes.  I keep most of my casual clothes in crates.  All the crates are full so I will have to make a run to Staples to buy several more,  or maybe I should take half of these clothes to “Good Will”?

I finished yesterday’s blog and read the weekend news.

I ended the afternoon with a short nap.  I even set the alarm to get me up at 1700.

At 1715 I drove Nancy to our favorite Persian restaurant, Shiraz.  Tonight we are having lamb shanks with rice and vegetables.  Of course we had to bring the food home.  We watched the news while eating a very good Persian meal.

Before settling down for the evening I took a short walk.  No news or Jeopardy so we headed to the den and looked for a movie on Apple TV.  We could not agree on what to watch.  Ended up watching our old standby Midsomer Murder.

Debbie and Missy both called tonight.  We told them about our great weather and how being outside made us healthier.  Both girls are doing fine. 

The temperature will drop to mid 40s tonight.  Took Ms P out at 2200 and it was cool.

Friday May 29, 2020

Friday May 29, 2020

Blog time 1550 sitting in downstairs office

Ms P slept in until 0630 today.  Nancy took her out.  It was raining with temps in low 60s.  Rain should stop at noon.

I quickly did my calisthenics and showered before breakfast.  After breakfast I headed to Panera and got coffee for the two of us.  I did spent several minutes in Panera’s lot checking on my email.

Kim comes to clean today.  She arrives about 0930.  To get out of Kim’s way Nancy and I took another scenic drive through NW Kent County.

Today we visited the small communities of Sparta, Kent City and Casnovia.  It was a very pleasant drive.  Great to see these small farming communities are surviving.  Apple growing and processing is the main industry in these communities.

The sun came out about noon.  Today I took a 9.5 mile bike ride on my Cannondale.  Last night’s rain must have been heavy because noted flooding everywhere.

I took another shower and then had a quick lunch.  I did watch President Trump’s press conference on China.  It was short with no questions allowed.  I thought the talk was well prepared.  Of course the media will blast it.

After lunch I took a quick nap.  Following the nap fixed our apple snack.

Tonight Nancy fixed salmon with scalloped potatoes and peas.  Very good.

Watched the news and Jeopardy tonight.  Started watching PBS news when Debbie called.  Normally I like the Friday night debate between Brooks and Shield. I recently found out I can watch the debate anytime on YouTube.  Love YouTube.  We gave Debbie a positive report.

Veronica also called and gave us a report on her family.  Everything is ok.  However, Veronica and Stephan are experiencing the trials and tribulations of raising a teenage son.  We told her this will pass.

Tonight we watched a crime show on Netflix whose name escapes me.  Nancy headed to bed early and I watched episode 1 of Season 3, Bordertown.

It was in the 50s when I took Ms P out at 2230.  Low temps tonight in high 40s.  Good sleeping weather.

Thursday May 28, 2020

Thursday May 28, 2020

Blog time 1500 sitting in office

I was up with the alarm at 0600.  Took Ms P out.  It was very humid with temps in low 70s.

Today we are going to Senior’s Day at Meijer’s.  The gates open at 0700.

I did some light calisthenics, dressed and had a quick breakfast.  We arrived at Meijer’s at exactly 0700.

We divided up our list.  As the saying goes, two hands are better than one.  We got all our items and were out of Meijer’s in an hour.

At home I finished my calisthenics and then dressed for a bike ride.  Today’s bike was the Cannondale.  Took my normal weekday 10.5 mile route.  Lately during my rides, I have seen many Prime delivery trucks.  They all look new.  Prime must be having an impact on Fed EX and UPS’s business.

Nancy was just finishing her walk when I got home from my ride. Showered and shaved before heading to Panera.  Got my coffee and sat in their lot reading the news and emails.

At home I continued my reading and finished yesterday’s blog.  My Sister and I want to have some geraniums planted at our parents Gravesite.  All the flower shops we have used in the past are now closed.  I Googled a Flower shop and they said they would plant the flowers but needed the location.  I called the Cemetery’s Sexton and he was nice enough to provide me this data.

Lunch and then Nancy and I headed out to run errands.

First stop was the Tailor shop to pick up some pants that I had suspender buttons put on.  Also stopped at the shirt laundry but they were not open.  Nancy wanted to get a graduation card so after several stops she finally found a Hallmark shop that was open.  

I spent some time taking out the trash and cleaning up the garage.  It is now 1530 and I am getting ready for my nap.  Good time for a nap because it is raining.

Nap followed by apple snack.  For dinner tonight Nancy fixed chili.  

We watched the news and Jeopardy in the living room.  At 2000 we moved to the Den.  Turned on Apple TV and watched an episode of Murder City.  This show continues to improve.

Still raining when took Ms P out at 2200.  The temperature had dropped to 70. Yes folks dropped to 70.  We have not used the AC or heat this week.

Both Debbie and Missy called this evening asking about our wellbeing.  We gave a positive report.

Wednesday May 27, 2020

Wednesday May 27, 2020

Blog time 1850 sitting in living room

I was first up at 0620.  Took Ms P out, it was warm and foggy.  Temperature was 70.  Today we have 15 hour and 4 minutes of daylight.

Nancy put on her walking clothes and headed out for her morning walk.  Today being Wednesday, my easy day, I did some light calisthenics before breakfast.

Checked the weather app and it said no rain until late afternoon.  That means I have time for a long ride, 10.5 miles.  Today I selected the single speed bike for my morning ride.  Lately I have not seen any critters on my rides.  Why?

At home I showered and then headed to Panera.  Ordered a coffee and bagel.  Sat in their parking lot to start my morning reading and check email.

At home I headed downstairs to the office.  Finished yesterday’s blog.  

I started a load of laundry before lunch.  Standard lunch followed by a nap.

After the nap I took a short walk and then fixed our apple snack.  For dinner tonight we had Cheerios and split a scone.  Scones are always good.

Can anyone control our President?  His tweets are becoming way out of line.  

We watched the news and Jeopardy before switching to Apple TV.  Tonight we watched Wycliffe on Prime.  At least we thought Wycliffe was on Prime.  Not true because the show had commercials.  We have been watching this show for the past year and never encountered commercials.  Apparently this show is no longer on Prime. We will be more careful in the future.  We hate commercials interrupting the show.

Light sprinkle when took Ms P out at 2200.  Rain tomorrow and then a cool down for the weekend.

Talked to Debbie and Missy tonight.  We gave a positive report.

  

Tuesday May 26, 2020

Tuesday May 26, 2020

Blog time 1300 sitting in cool downstairs office.

Up at 0630.  Nancy had taken Ms P out and she was getting ready for her 3 mile walk.  The temperature was 70 so Nancy wore shorts.

I did my calisthenics before breakfast.  For the first time this year I wore shorts for my bike ride.  I continue riding my single speed 50+ year bike.  I like its simplicity.  Just peddle.

Today I took my standard weekday 10.5 mile ride.  Vehicular traffic was light but encountered many couples walking.  It was like “now that we have feasted all weekend we have to start a regular exercise routine”.

At home I shaved and showered.  This morning I cut my toenails.  This is my most difficult grooming task.  I am seriously considering going to a nail salon to get the toenails cut.  I must be entering my Sissy phase.

This morning I ran some errands.  Stopped at Panera for coffee and a bagel.  At Macatawa’s ATM got money for Kim who cleans this Friday.  Left some pants off at tailor to get suspender buttons put on.  Final stop Harvest Health to get chocolate bars with 88% cocoa.

Spent remainder of morning in office reading the news and checking email.  Finished yesterday’s blog and started todays.

Temperature was in 90s today.  Many folks complain but not me.  90 is great.

Lunch and then sat in living and continued reading the WSJ.  Dozed off several times before Nancy told me to take a nap.

After the nap fixed apple snack.  Finished the afternoon with a short walk.  

For dinner Nancy fixed pork chops with stuffing and corn on the cob.  After the dishes fixed Nancy her cheese/cracker/pill snack.  I had a sugar free oatmeal cookie.  Voortman the maker of the cookies must have changed their recipe.  Not as crunchy or tasty.

Tonight we watched an episode of Thorne on Acorn.  I gave this episode a B.

Rain was predicted for early evening.  It did not happen.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us this evening.  Debbie is sweltering in 90 degree heat while Missy in LA is 20 degrees cooler.  We gave the girls a positive health report.  Rain and a cooling trend is coming.