December 6, 2020

 Sunday December 6, 2020

Blog time 1730 sitting in office.

Slept in until 0730 this morning

Dressed and headed to Panera for two coffees and a bagel.  Fixed my oatmeal breakfast.

At 0915 turned on my iPad and switched to YouTube for the 39th virtual service from Trinity Lutheran.  Yes folks 39 Sundays watching Church on the iPad.  The normal attendance is 900.  I think that is pretty good.

Nancy started out on a walk.  I soon followed. Today I walked 3.2 miles.  This is my exercise for the day. 

Ice on local pond, funny seeing geese walking on ice.

Never got above freezing today. 

Spent some time reading the GRP’s comics and obituaries before lunch.  Light lunch and then helped Nancy get her new iPad working.  It was pretty simple.  The only problem we had was with emails.  Still a work in progress.

Like yesterday I headed downstairs to the guest bedroom.  Turned on the electric blanket and read several chapters of my current book.

For dinner Nancy fixed her world famous scrambled eggs.  I had mine with spinach pie, bacon and a scone.

Tonight we watched 60 Minutes.  Later we watched an episode of Whitechapel.  We finished a series.  It was good.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed today.  

It was in the high 20s when checked the front yard at 2200.  Low tonight expected to be in mid 20s.  Winter is finally here.

December 5, 2020

 Saturday December 5, 2020

Blog time 1530 sitting in office

Up at 0700.  It was dark.  Temperature was 29.  Nancy headed out on her morning walk.  She did wear her reflective vest.

Started the morning with some light calisthenics. Dressed and drove to Panera.  Bought two coffees and a bagel.  At home fixed oatmeal breakfast.

After breakfast I ran some errands.  First stop was laundry where I picked up 4 shirts.  Stopped at Chow Hound and bought 35# bag of corn.  Next stop was D&W.  Mailed my Christmas cards and bought beer, bananas, and coleslaw.  I then drove to Gazelle Sport to buy a baclava.  I arrived at 1000. I thought they opened at 1000 but they changed hours and did not open until 1100.  Drove to Dick’s but they did not have any baclava.

 At home put on bike clothes and headed out.  Today I headed to Ada.  Total miles traveled 10.8 miles. No critters spotted.

Shaved and showered and then lunch.  After lunch Nancy wanted me to go to PO and mail some packages.  I used the satellite PO at D&W.  

Noted when got home that Nancy had left a note saying she was on a short walk.  Not a bad idea so I took a 0.75 mile walk. Got home before Nancy.  No surprise because Nancy’s short walk was 2 miles.

This and that:

In my high school years my favorite winter sport was ice hockey.  We played outside on natural ice.  The City did not flood the rinks until mid December.  After Thanksgiving we looked for frozen ponds.  The first pond to freeze was an abandoned limestone quarry.  Someone would usually checked the quarry daily.  When the ice was thick enough the word got out and the quarry was filled with hockey players.  Pond hockey is the best.

Noted on recent cold morning a thin coat of ice on local ponds. It is usually gone by midday.

Big new workout item, weighted vest.  Saw several advertisements in Health magazines.  What’s the big deal!  I bought a 20# weighted vest in 1962.  I wore it everyday on my 2 mile run on the Midway Island beach.

Coronavirus still dominates the news.  When will folks reach their saturation point and just ignore the news.

President Trump’s harassment of Georgia elected officials could backfire causing the GOP to lose the Senate.  

CDC says wear a mask inside.  Good idea but how many will comply.

This afternoon I took my Kindle downstairs and reclined on one of the beds in the guest bedroom.  Turned on the electric blanket and read several chapters of a Ken Follett book on England around the year 1,000 AD.  The ruling class at that time were nasty.  Probably a reason my ancestors left in 1632.

For dinner tonight Nancy fixed a cod dinner from Trader Joe’s.  We watched no news tonight but switched to Acorn and watched a Midsomer Murders episode from season 19.  I think we are getting close to the last episode.  Nancy headed to bed and I stayed up and skimmed the WSJ.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed this evening.  We told them the we were both healthy and in fine spirits.  

It was below freezing when checked the front yard at 2200.  We had a nice bright moon.

December 4, 2020

 Friday December 4, 2020

Blog time 1900 sitting in living

Up at 0630.  Nancy headed out on her 3.25 mile walk.  It was dark when she started but I gave her a reflective vest to wear.  We have 9 hours and 10 minutes of daylight.

Calisthenics and then headed to Panera for coffee and a bagel. At home I fixed my oatmeal breakfast.

After breakfast I put on my winter riding clothes and headed out on my 7 mile ride to the Y.  It was 34 with wind chill in 20s.

Once again the Y was not crowded.  Calisthenics and a mile walk.

When got home my speedometer said I rode 10.5 miles.  Kim was cleaning and Nancy was at her heart doctor.  This was an annual appointment to get her pacemaker checked out.

Showered, dressed and waited for Nancy.  She got home at 1130.  Her pacemaker is working fine.  It has about 6 more years of life.

It being Friday we took a ride through rural West Michigan.  Today we headed south to Barry County.  We drove about Gun Lake.  I could not believe how many new homes have been built in Barry County in the last 10 years.  We got home at 1400.

Quick lunch and then headed down to office.

Today I wrote notes to be put in the Christmas Card I am sending out.  Yes folks I am doing Christmas cards.

Wrote blog and read email and news.  

Dinner tonight was Trader Joe’s cod dinner.  I had mine with corn and a scone. 

Tonight we watched Whitechapel on Prime. It was good.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed this evening.  Everything ok.

It was 30 when checked garage and front yard at 2200.  Temp tomorrow morning will be in high 20s.  Sunny most of the day. 

December 3, 2020

 Thursday December 3, 2020

Blog time 1730 sitting in office

Up at 0630.  Nancy headed out for her walk.  I did some calisthenics before heading to Panera for coffee and bagel.

After breakfast put on warm bike clothes and headed out.  It was sunny, 34 and windy.  Took the 7 mile route to the Y.

The Y this morning was empty.  I did calisthenics and walked a mile.  The ride home was ok because the wind was at my back.

At home shaved and showered.  I decided that I had done enough exercises for the day so no outside walk.

Cleaned my in basket this morning.  How can a retired guy get behind on reading mail.

Lunch and then activities for rest of day.

Got on line with LL Bean and bought a sweater and shirt with hoodie.  Used gift cards that were given to me during the year.

Called Fox Ford and asked about procedures for getting an oil change for the Escape.  The only thing different was I had to wear a mask.  Also no free coffee.

Took a short nap.

This and that:

Coronavirus denial among folks is a big problem.  Most won’t take vaccine.  When the vaccine is available,  I will be first in line.

California on lockdown, no impact on kids so far.

President still thinks the election was rigged despite evidence to the contrary.   Give it up POTUS.

Eavesdropping on several old men at Y I was surprised that they agree with POTUS.  

VP Harris’s senior staff is all female.  Tough job market for young men.

Nancy fixed chicken noodle soup for dinner.  Also had a scone.  Great meal.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed this evening.  We gave a positive report.

Started watching Midsomer Murders about 10 minutes into the program and our internet went down.  I checked the modem and unplugged all the connections for about a minute.  Plugged back in and the internet came on.  Sometimes just a simple unplug works.

Checked the front yard at 2200.  Temp in mid 30s and will stay in 30s all night.

December 2, 2020

Wednesday December 2, 2020

Blog time 1800, sitting in office.

Up with the alarm at 0606.  Today is Breakfast Club Wednesday.  Once again today’s meeting is on Zoom.

Dressed and headed to Panera for coffee and a bagel.  At home fixed my oatmeal for breakfast.  Standard breakfast oatmeal w/yogurt topping, banana, bagel and coffee.

Sat down and joined BC at exactly the 0730 starting time.  Today’s speaker did not show.  However, one member said we had some members who were born in a foreign county.  Four members gave a brief discussion of their arrival in the USA.  After their introduction a robust discussion followed.  It was a great meeting.  

After the meeting I did some at home calisthenics.  Today being my easy Wednesday the calisthenics were done at 50%. Decided no Y today.  

Put on my warm bike riding clothes and headed out on a 10.5 mile ride.  Almost at the end of the ride a deer ran right in front of me.  If I was more alert I could of touched her.

Rest of days activities:

Bought a pair of pants online.  Did not like so went online to find the return policy.  Finally found the procedure.

Gathered up trash.  This week I needed an extra bag for a pumpkin and corn cobs.

Did a load of laundry.  

Lunch

Drove to Macatawa Bank to get Kim’s Christmas bonus.

Stopped at D&W’s satellite post office to mail my pants back to supplier.

Took a short nap.

Finished the afternoon with a 1.5 mile walk.

Nancy had a 1800 Zoom meeting with her group called “Women who Care, WWC”.  85 members were in attendance.  Zoom crashed several minutes before the end of the meeting.  Nancy thought she had punched the wrong button.  She got a message saying the crash impacted everyone.

Dinner tonight was cheerios with baguette.  We watched news.  Debbie and Missy FaceTimed this evening.  We had a long discussion with both.  Nancy headed to bed early.  I started watching a foreign crime show on Netflix.  Immediately fell asleep and woke up to episodes later.  

Temperature in mid 30s when checked outside at 2200.  More wind and cold tomorrow.

December 1, 2020

 Tuesday December 1, 2020

Blog time 1530 sitting in office.

Slept in until 0700.  Calisthenics and then headed to Panera for coffee and a bagel.  Oatmeal breakfast before heading out on my 7 mile ride to the Y.  Stiff 17 mph wind made the wind chill in the 20s, BRR.  On these cold days I have been wearing a Baklava.  Great cold weather gear.  Keeps my head warm.

Nancy’s heel was acting up last night so she did not sleep well.  No morning walk this morning.  Instead Nancy went shopping at Trader Joe’s, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Meijer’s and the Dollar Store.  Sure sounds like a lot of exercise to me.

Like yesterday the Y was not crowded.  I did some calisthenics and finished with a mile walk.  The bike ride home was pleasant because the sun was out and I had the wind at my back.

At home I shaved and showered.  Dressed and then Nancy and I headed to Costco.  Costco was busy but they had enough lines open that checkout was a breeze. 

This and that:

Every day President Trump becomes more irrelevant.  His rants do not make sense.  Why haven’t GOP legislators told him to shut up.

Today is first day of Meteorological winter not to be confused with Astronomical Winter that starts on the Winter Solstice, Dec 21.

Lunch and then retreated down to my office.  Spent rest of afternoon reading.

Tonight Nancy fixed Penne with a turkey sauce from Trader Joe’s.  Good.

Watched the Shepard Smith news show on CNBC and then switched to CBS to watch NCIS.  Surprise, Frosty displaced NCIS.

Watched the last episode of season 2 Jack Ryan tonight.  I liked the show.  Great Guy show.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed this evening.  Everything ok.

It was cold and windy when checked the yard at 2200.  More wind and cold tomorrow.

November 30, 2020

 Monday November 1, 2020

Up this morning at 0630.  Did some calisthenics before driving to Panera for a coffee and croissant.  Breakfast and then dressed warmly because the wind chills were in the low 20s.

Nancy first thing this morning headed out on her 3.5 mile walk.  She has a 1400 PT appointment.

For the first time in over a month I biked to the Y.  I was surprised the place was nearly empty.  It was great to be able to finally do some push-ups and sit-ups.  I finished my Y routine with a 0.8 mile walk.  I think walking on the Y’s track is easier of my hip because it has a flat even surface.

At home I showered and then spent some time reading and finishing yesterday’s blog.  

It is now 1320 and I will have lunch and then run errands.  Stay tuned.

First stop on my errand run was The Cleaners.  I left four shirts to be cleaned and pressed.

Next stop was Meijer’s.  I bought yogurt cups, bananas, bagel crisps and wine.  Meijer’ was out of Light Prune Juice and shower cleaner.

Spent the rest of the afternoon in my office reading and finishing yesterday’s blog.  My iPad tracker says I usually spend 4 hours on the iPad each day.

I did put out 6 ears of corn for the deer at 1600.  The deer arrived within 5 minutes.

It is Monday so we had a Cheerios dinner.  After dinner we watched 30 minutes of the Shepard Smith new hour.  

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us this evening.  We gave a positive health report.  

Tonight we watched two episodes of Jack Ryan on Prime.  Like this show.

It was cold, 34, and very windy when checked the front yard at 2200.  Wind will continue through tomorrow.  Winds above 15 mph makes walking and biking unpleasant.