November 6, 2021

 Saturday November 6, 2021

Blog time 1600 sitting in office:

Up this morning at 0700.  We dressed and then headed to the Gathering Place for breakfast.  You know you are a regular because the waitress has already placed your order.  Are we boring or what?

The temperature this morning was in mid 30s but at 0830 the sun came out bright and clear.  Tomorrow sun will be up at 0730.

We took the scenic route home stopping at LMCU so Nancy could renew a CD.  Also stopped at Panera for our free daily coffee.

At home Nancy started the laundry.  I took an 11.3 mile bike ride.  Beautiful fall day for a bike ride.  Got home at 1230.  My super-duper Apple Watch said I burned 330 active calories. What is the difference between active and total calories?   My average heart rate was 102BPM.  The heart rate seems high?

Shaved and showered before lunch.

I spent the afternoon in office doing this and that:

After much effort I got our old Apple portable keyboard to work on my new mini.  I typed my monthly note to Grandkids using the keyboard and mini. 

I spent some time reading Alpena News, Detroit News and WSJ.  I think I am now up to date on the news.  Kind of depressing.

Continue putting the summer clothes away and gettin out winter clothes.  Our local NBC news outlet says we will have a cold and snowy winter.  

I watched some of the MSU vs Purdue game.  Did not watch the UM game.  

For dinner tonight we had chicken noodle soup with whole wheat rolls and red raspberries.  The raspberries were grown in Mexico.

I spent some time setting our clocks back to EST.  

Tonight we watched an episode of New Tricks.  We get the show on Prime but for some reason it has commercials.  The New Tricks staff has also changed.  New Tricks is no longer on our preferred list.

Nancy’s friend Kathy Kothe called from Indianapolis.  They spent a long time catching up.

Everything ok when checked the Courtyard before heading to bed.  

November 5, 2021

 Friday November 5, 2021

Slept in until 0715 this morning.  The sun does not come up until 0830.  I don’t ride my bike until sunrise.  I have plenty of time to do my at home activities.  Thankfully, this is the last weekday of DSL.

Nancy headed out early for her Friday swim at MVP.  As soon as it was light enough I bundled up and headed out on my morning ride.  Gloomy and cold, 34, this morning.  Today’s ride totaled 11. 3 miles. 

I did stop about mile 9 at Panera.  I got my morning coffee and a baguette.  Read the Detroit and Alpena News and the Apple News.  I found nothing in the news I want to comment on.  I got home about 1200.

Showered and then my normal lunch of yogurt with Fiber 1, bottle of Ensure and soft cheese on naan.  

At 1400 I drove to the Dermatology Center.  I had the stitches removed from my left forearm.  In an out in less than 10 minutes.  Spent rest of afternoon checking finances and clearing my in basket.

Tonight Nancy and I attended an over 60 dinner for Trinity members.  We had a turnout of 26 folks.  It was held at a local Japanese restaurant, Ichiban.  

Nancy had fried shrimp and I had the scallops.  The food was very good.

We especially enjoyed talking with fellow parishioners.  The group is very congenial.  A good time was had by all.

No TV tonight because as soon as we got home we received a call from Debbie. Everything ok in San Jose.

I then called my sister, Helen, in Gaylord to see how she was doing.  I am happy to report that she is doing well.

Later we received a call from Missy.  Missy has been very busy lately.  She is closing her store and so must clear out all her inventory.  It is a tough job.  We wished her well.

My check of the Courtyard before bed found everything secure.  

Next week we have a warming spell.  Temps might reach 60s on Sunday and Monday.  Indian Summer?

I reread several recent posts.  I made many, many errors. Sorry about that.  I will make a better effort at proofreading.

November 4, 2021

 Thursday November 4, 2021

Up at 0700.  It was near freezing this morning.  Headed headed out early for a class at MVP.

Did my sit-ups and leg raises before breakfast.  I hope next week to resume chin-ups and push-ups next week.  I get stitches out tomorrow.

Today’s bike ride totaled 12 miles today.  I did make a quick stop at Panera for coffee and a bagel.  I have been taking my mini with me on my bike ride because of its light weight.  It is very irritating that I have to reconnect when I try to read WSJ, Detroit News and Alpena News.  Of course I cannot remember my passwords so I have open my lock box.

This afternoon while Kim was cleaning Nancy and I ran some errands.  First stop was Breton Village.  Nancy visited Talbots and I made a quick stop at Fitzgerald’s and Orvis.  Nothing purchased.

Last stop was Meijer’s.  We replenished purchased bananas, yogurt, radishes, Ensure and cookies.

Kim had finished cleaning when we got home.  Unloaded the car.  I had a quick lunch and then a nap.

For dinner Nancy fixed me a Trader Joe’s salmon dinner with corn.  Trader Joe’s frozen meals are just the right size.

Tonight we watched “No Offence” on Acorn and then watched an episode of Ted Lasso on Apple +.

It was 38 when checked Courtyard this evening.  No problems.

November 3, 2021

Wednesday February 3, 2021

Blog time 1800 sitting in office 

Up at 0515, Breakfast Club Wednesday

Dressed, left home at 0600.  It was 26 degrees but no snow near us.  My sister said Gaylord had 11 inches of snow overnight.

Stopped at Biggby Coffee to get a cup to take with me.  This morning it was free.

Pitch black on my drive downtown.  I wore my special nighttime glasses.

Small crowd this morning.  The Speaker talked about Senior programs in greater GR.

I stopped at Meijer’s on way home to price a small Bluetooth key board.  No purchase because they looked flimsy.

At home put on lined khakis and wool undershirts and took the direct route to Panera, 3 miles.  Ordered coffee and bagel and began reading.  

The big upset in Virginia was the main headline.  

Nancy worked at Gardens this afternoon.

The deer last night ate the corn I put out yesterday.  I unloaded the Fusion of the remaining corn.  I have a secure can that I store the corn in.  Put out six more ears.

It being Wednesday I did a load of laundry and took out trash.  I also found time for a nap.

Cheerios and blueberries for dinner tonight.  Tonight we watched Republic of Doyle on Acorn.

No surprises when checked Courtyard this evening.

November 2, 2021

 Tuesday November 2, 2021

Blog time 1900 sitting in living room.

Up this morning later than normal, 0720.  Nancy was heading out to a class at MVP.  I slowly got dressed and did some sit-ups and leg raises before breakfast.

It was a cold 34 this morning.  I got out my winter lined bike pants and leather chopper mittens.

I biked along my Cascade/Spaulding route to Panera a distance of 8 miles.  This morning I saw two deer browsing along the edge of Charlevoix not more than several hundred feet from the condo. 

Noted a lot of leaves are falling.  When wet the leaves can make braking the bike hazardous.

Arrived at Panera at 1030.  The place was nearly empty.  Got a coffee and baguette before starting my morning reading. 

 Left Panera at noon.  Total miles biked today, 11 miles.  At home showered and shaved before lunch.

Afternoon errands:

Woodland Mall purchased 2 meter charging cord at Apple Store.  Stopped at J. Crew to look at corduroy and khaki lined pants.  Very limited supply.

Macatawa bank used ATM to get money for Kim who cleans Thursday.

Chow Hound: Purchased a 35 pound bag of corn on the cob. Also a 10 pound bag of bird seed.  Winter is coming.

D&W got some coleslaw for dinner.

No nap today.

Late afternoon put out 10 ears for deer.

Dinner tonight chicken thigh with dressing and corn.  Also Nancy’s special buttered toast and cookies for dessert.

Watched the news before switching to BritBox .  

Big election today in Virginia.  Looks like the GOP underdog might upset former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe in Virginia.  A GOP win would be a blow to the President.

Today in Detroit they are voting on reparations for ancestors of slaves.

Was anything accomplished at the Climate Conference in Glasgow?

Nationwide several local school board elections dealing with teaching of critical race theory, wearing masks, etc.  

Tonight we watched an episode of Shakespeare and Hathaway.  It was pretty good.

FaceTimed tonight with both Debbie and Missy.

Light mist when checked the Courtyard before bed.  Temperature will drop the 20s tonight.      

November 1, 2021

Monday November 1, 2021

Blog time 1919 sitting in living room.

Up this morning at 0700.  Nancy put on swim suit and was gone by 0800.  I did some sit-ups and leg raises.  No chin-ups or push-ups until next week.

I started to unload the dishwasher and noted the soap dispenser had not opened. I had to run the dishes again.  Bummer.

Breakfast this morning was the usual.  Oatmeal with banana.  

It was 36 this morning.  The sun will be up about 0830.  I put on my winter outfit including mittens.  

Today the Panera near our condo is opening their dining room.  I rode the bike to Panera, about 7 miles.  Stopped had coffee and did some reading on my mini.  Left Panera at 1100 and headed home.  Total bike miles today 10.

Nancy was running errands when I got home.  Quickly showered and then headed out on some errands of my own. 

First stop was Groskopfs.  I got a small portable stand for my mini.  Also stopped and Bill and Paul’s but purchased nothing.

Final stop was Bed Bath and Beyond.  I purchased a shoe rack that I can hang in my closet.

Lunch today at 1400.

This and that:

We did not have any Trick or Treaters on Saturday or Sunday.

Today is first day of November our darkest and gloomiest month.  When I was bridge inspecting I had to take a photo of all bridges I inspected.  In November when I took a photo at noon the flash would go off.

The deer are very active in our neighborhood.  Every evening we see a big buck and several does.  

I thought the Robins had gone south but today I saw one.  A very cold Robin.

Why did PM Boris Johnson pick Glasgow over Edinburgh to hold the Global Warming confab.

I found time this afternoon for a short nap.

For dinner I had a bowl of Cheerios.  First time in weeks.  It tasted great.

Watched some news before we switched to Acorn for an episode of Manhunt starring Martin Clunes.  We are getting hooked.

Missy FaceTimed this evening.  She is very busy closing her shop and getting her online business going. She was upbeat.

Temperature in 40s when checked the Courtyard just before bed.  Everything ok.

 

 

October 31, 2021

 Sunday October 31, 2021

Blog time 1745 sitting in living room.

Up this morning at 0630.  Drove to Biggby Coffee to get our coffee and a bagel for me.

Our GRP was delivered late today so we did not have a chance to read before heading to church.  As we were leaving we looked out our back window and saw a big buck and 3 doe in the back yard.

Church was not very crowded today.  Folks missed a good Homily.  Today was Reformation Sunday in the Lutheran Church.

After church Nancy and I took a nice ride.  Today we headed mostly north.  The colors were at peak.  We predicted that next Sunday more trees will be bare.

At home Nancy started reading the GRP.  I dressed in biking clothes and headed out on a 7 mile bike ride.  The temperature had risen to 50 so the ride was very pleasant.  First bike ride of the week.

Got home about 1400.  Before showering I looked out the back window and the Buck and does were still in the yard. I was able to get some great shots.  I sent them to kids.

Spent the afternoon reading the papers.  Highlights of the news:

President Biden has spent his time in Rome bragging that the USA is back.  Did we ever leave?

I still don’t know how a universal tax works?  

I do know that I am opposed to any government payment to folks who purchase an electrical vehicle. This is a program for the rich.  If you want an EV you should pay full price.

Headlines in today’s paper had high praise for MSU.  I think it is deserved.

Watched some of the Lions game.  They were miserable.

No nap today.

For dinner tonight we cleaned the refer.  After dinner I fired up the dishwasher.

No 60 Minutes tonight.  We watched an episode of Midsomer Murders.  Not very good.

Debbie FaceTimed this evening.  Everything ok.

Checked courtyard this evening and everything secure.  I was in bed before 2200.