April 6, 2022

 Wednesday April 6, 2022

Blog time 1025 sitting in Panera on Thursday.  Yes!! I am a day late.

Today is my easy Wednesday.  Slept in until 0730.  Temp near 40 and raining.  Rain all day.  No bike today.

Did my calisthenics, 50%, at home.  Drove to Panera for an oatmeal breakfast.  Nancy followed me in her car.  She had coffee and a croissant.  We had time to talk.

Finished Tuesday’s blog.  I did not start Wednesday’s, obviously.

Lately, my first morning news source has been the Detroit News.  They seem to be on top of breaking Michigan news.  

After Panera I drove to D&W and purchased mini-naan and coleslaw.  

This and that:

I am totally confused by the USA’s timid response to Russia.

China has always bragged about how their response to Covid was superior to those of democratic governments.  Now they are having major problems controlling the outbreak in Shanghai.  

The congressional Dems had a field day attacking the oil executives.  Accused them of price gouging.  Truth be told the actions of the Biden administration against fossil fuel is to blame.

Baseball season starts this week.  I have lost all interest.  I only know one Tiger player and nobody on the Pistons or Wings.  Do many folks share my disinterest?

I still don’t understand bit coins?

As soon as I got home I took a nap.  Late lunch today.

Wednesday’s chores;  laundry, trash, fill bird feeders, and picking up so Kim can clean today.

For dinner tonight I had toast with peanut butter and coleslaw.

After the new we switched to Acorn.  Watched episode of “Acceptable Risk”.  Good show.

Rain had stopped when checked Courtyard.  Weather app said more rain tomorrow.

April 5, 2022

Tuesday April 5, 2022

Blog time 1130 at Panera

Up this morning at 0700.  It was 35.  Checked app and no rain today.  Today I will bike to Y.  

Nancy today will attend a light exercise class at MVP.  She is slowly getting better.

I did my at home calisthenics before breakfast.  Put on heavy bike clothes and biked the 5 miles to Y.

The Y was not crowded.  Most folks must be on spring break.  I completed my chin-ups and pull-ups, sit-ups and push-ups.  Same/same every day.  Put bike clothes back on and pedaled to Panera.

Panera was not crowded probably also because of spring break.  Completed yesterday blog and read Detroit and Alpena News.

This spring I have noted a large number of fat Robins.  We also have many wild turkeys in our back yard.  Today’s bird report.  

Big surprise in today’s Mi news was the retirement of long time US Rep Fred Upton from St Joseph.  Rep Upton was highly respected.  He ran into GOP’s crazies hate list by voting to impeach Trump.  

Trump has been bad mouthing Upton and our Rep Peter Meijer who also voted to impeach.  Rep Meijer is a great legislature who has my support and vote.  Trump is ruining the GOP.

At home I shaved and showered.  Nancy and I made a quick trip to Meijer’s for supplies.  Meijer’s was not crowded.

This afternoon I took a short nap followed by time in office.  I am still trying to finish end of winter chores.

For dinner tonight I had bean soup with sourdough bread.  

We watched the news and then switched to Acorn.  We watched episode 1 of a new show “Acceptable Risk”.  It has great potential.

Missy FaceTimed this evening.  Heat wave coming to CA.  Missy and AJ are visiting GR next week.  We reported Bob and Nancy are doing well.

Check of Courtyard before bed and noted clear crescent moon.  However rain starting later tonight.

 

April 4, 2022

 Monday April 4, 2022

Blog time 1050 sitting in Panera

Up this morning at 0700.  Looked outside and it was raining.  Temperature in low 30s.  We were under Winter Weather Advisory until noon.  

I have a 1300 Doctor’s appointment today so no Y.  I will do all calisthenics at home.  

Nancy this morning for the first time in days is going to MVP.  She will only walk on the treadmill.  She is still not back to normal but wants to do some moderate exercise.  

Nancy left at 0800 and called me when she arrived at MVP.  After her 1.5 miles on treadmill she headed home.  She did stop at Panera for coffee.  

I completed my exercise routine and then showered.  Breakfast before heading to Panera.  

It was snowing when left for Panera.  Today instead of an individual baguette I bought entire loaf.  Bad decision, who needs that much bread.  I will take half the load home.

This and that:

The Detroit News today had an article on the declining enrollment of Central Michigan University.  In my youth the school was called Central Michigan College and before that Central Michigan State Teachers College.  

Central Michigan was very popular with my high school classmates.  

The Russians are not winning any friends with their retreat in Ukraine.  Why hasn’t the EU and USA taken stronger action.  Our President comes across as being very timid.  Not exactly what we want in a leader.

Our terrible March weather has sure put a damper on Spring High School sports.

I only have one bird feeder in use.  I am amazed at the difference species of small birds that use the feeder.

I will not vote for any GOP candidates endorsed by Trump!

Got home from Panera at 1215.  

Nancy went with me to my visit with Dr Winkle.  The Doc checked my nose for polyps. He is going to prescribe nose spray with steroids.  This is contrary to what the previous ENT doctor prescribed.  He thinks my balance problem is not sinus infection but just old age.  I was confused when I left.

Dr Winkle also looked at Nancy’s left ear.  She has hearing loss and it feels blocked.  Once again the Doc said no infection in ear.  Not much he can do except give Nancy a hearing test.

Our experience with the Doctor was not positive.  I hope it is just poor communication skills.

On way home we stopped at our tax preparer.  He gave us our completed taxes and explained how much we owe.  I was not surprised.  We signed the papers to let him e-submit our taxes.

At home I talked with our security firm, EPS, about paying our bill on line.  It was very confusing so I said I will pay by mail.  Wrote out check and drove to nearest mail box.  Stopped at Macatawa to get money for Kim who cleans on Thursday.

I put a mineral block out in the back yard for deer.  This afternoon for first time in weeks we had four deer feeding.  

After all this activity Nancy said I needed a nap.  I complied! 

Monday night dinner was cheerios with blueberries.  Finished the meal with two oatmeal cookies.

After the news we watched the first 2 episodes of a new show on Acorn.  The show is called “Harry Wild” starring Jane Seymour.  I gave it an A.

Light rain when checked Courtyard before bed.  Tomorrow will be cold but no wind or rain so I will be able to bike.

April 3, 2022

 Sunday April 3, 2022

Blog time 1700 sitting in office 

Up this morning at 0700.  It was 32 with light fog.  No rain today during daylight hours.  Good news!  

Quickly dressed and drove to Biggby to get our Sunday morning coffee.  Only two vehicles in front of me.

At home I fixed oatmeal to go with coffee.  After breakfast I read the comics and GRP obits before heading to Trinity Lutheran for their 0915 service.  Spring break has started so only old folks attended the service today.

After church Nancy I took our Sunday morning scenic drive.  Today we drove north and east to Lowell before heading home.  Todays drive was 90 minutes.

At home I put on warm bike clothes and headed out on a 10 mile ride.  It took me 77 minutes to do this ride.  Avg speed 7.6mph.

At home I showered and put on casual clothes.  Finished reading the obits and the Sports page before lunch.  

Lunch today was yogurt with Fiber 1, an apple, vanilla Pudding and glass of milk.  This afternoon I took a nice long nap.

Finished the afternoon in office reading news and writing blog.  It is now 1800, 46 degrees with some sun.  

For dinner tonight I had fried egg on a waffle.  Also a scone and blueberries.

Tonight we watched 60 Minutes.  For our streaming viewing we watched an episode of “The Chelsea Detective” on Acorn.  It was good.

Raining when checked the Courtyard before bed.  Winter Weather Advisory is up.  

April 2, 2022

 Saturday April 2, 2022

Blog time 1630, sitting in office

Up at 0700, quickly dressed and then we headed to “The Gathering Place” for breakfast.  The restaurant was busy.  Of course they were short two wait staff.

Nancy and I had our standard breakfast.  The temperature this morning was in low 30s.  Cold but no rain until late this afternoon.  I might take a bike ride.

We had a pleasant breakfast.  We like this restaurant not only because of the good food but because it is warm.  Most restaurants keep their temperature cool.  Not a pleasant dining experience.

After breakfast we took a short ride.  We noted despite the cold a lot of folks out walking or running.  

At home Nancy started the laundry.  I put on warm bike clothes and took a 10 mile bike ride.  The longest ride this year.

Shaved head and face before showering.  Dressed and then headed to Meijer’s.  Bought yogurt, cookies, pudding and bananas.  I was surprised that Meijer’s was not crowded.  Maybe most folk are on Spring Break.

Nancy was just completing the laundry when got home.  She said this week’s laundry was very small.

Dinner tonight was very light.  Cheerios and fruit.

After the news we watched the final two episodes of Acorn’s “Bloodlines”.  A surprise ending.

It was raining when checked Courtyard before bed.  Temp will drop to 30 tonight.  Tomorrow should be dry or at least I hope.

Debbie FaceTimed this evening.  We gave a positive report.  

April 1, 2022

 Friday April 1, 2022

Blog time 1115 at Panera

Up this morning at 0700.  Headed downstairs to do at home calisthenics before dressing and heading to Panera to get Nancy her morning coffee.  It was 30 degrees and snowing.  High temp today will be 40.

At home fixed oatmeal w/banana and then headed to the Y.  The Y because of popular classes was crowded.  I just did my normal calisthenics.  No aerobics today.  Changed clothes and headed to Panera.

Today is April Fools day.  I asked several older folks at the Y if they remember Sidd Finch.  No one did!  The April 1, 1985 edition of “Sports Illustrated” ran an article on a baseball prospect named Sidd Finch.  The article was written by George Plimpton.  It was a great article but it was a hoax.  An April Fool’s joke.  I fell for it hook, line and sinker.

In my youth The Alpena News every April Fools day ran an article of local interest.  It was also an April Fool Joke.  My Dad fell for several stories.

At Panera I bought my coffee and baguettes.  Today I asked several older men if they heard of Sidd Finch.  They all had.

This afternoon Nancy just wanted to get out of the house so we drove to Woodland Mall.  We walked a mile.  The mall was not crowded.

Finished the afternoon with a nap.  For dinner tonight I drove to Culver’s.  Bought myself a cod sandwich.  Also bought two frozen custards.  We sat in den and ate our food and watched the news.  Very relaxing.

Debbie called tonight.  We reported that Bob and Nancy were ok.  Also spent some time complaining about the cold weather.

Tonight we watched another episode of “Bloodlines” on Acorn.  Hope to finish tomorrow night.

It was cold and gloomy when checked Courtyard before bed.  Night time temps in 30s tonight.  Cold continues.

    

March 31, 2022

 Thursday March 31, 2022

Blog time 1110 at Panera

Up this morning at 0700. Checked outside and it was raining with temp in low 50s, but will drop to low 30s later.  Rain all day. High winds putting wind chills in 20s.  March is going out like a LION.

Calisthenics at home then dressed and then drove to Panera.  I got Nancy her morning coffee.  This is my new routine.  

Fixed oatmeal breakfast before driving to the Y.  Today I only did calisthenics.  No aerobics today.

Drove home to check on Nancy and then headed to Panera.  Purchased coffee, baguette and started blog writing and reading.

News from small town America:

This morning’s Alpena paper had several articles reflecting on small towns:

 

A lawsuit filed by parents against Alpena school board for their requirement that students be masked was dismissed.  The Judge said the suit is not needed.  Masks are not required.

Two young women were murdered in fall 2021.  Case still not solved.  Apparently big news in small town.

The Fourth of July Firework’s fund raiser has been rescheduled for the second time because of inclement weather.

For $20 you can get a permit for 90 days to take firewood from State land.  The firewood must be fallen and dead.   Five standard cords is the limit.  Who knows what a standard cord is?

If while fishing you catch a Walleye with a tag you must report to DNR.  Some lucky reporter will win $100.

Nancy and I will be first in line when new Covid booster shot is available.

I like the protein drink Ensure Light.  Stopped at Meijer’s but they did not have any.

At home Nancy started out on a short walk.  Quick lunch and then I headed out to find her.  Got worried because could not find her on her usual routes.  She was walking behind a local building.  She walked a mile, which is good news.

Got a message from Ada Bike.  The work on my Bad Boy bike was done.  I put on bike rack and headed to Ada.  

They did a good job cleaning and lubricating.  Loaded up the bike and drove home.  Now I hope it warms up so I can ride it.

Light dinner tonight Cheerios with fruit.  We watched the NBC news and also Shepard Smith on CNBC.  

This and that:

President Biden’s premature pullout from Afghanistan is giving the Taliban more power to keep young women out of school.  They have also placed extreme limits of Women mobility.  For someone who supports women’s rights President Biden sure made a major mistake.

POTUS has also not provided leadership needed to stop Russia in Ukraine.  The US comes across as weak and not dependable.

I like our US Representative Peter Meijer and think he is doing a super job.  Read in the GRP that he has a GOP opponent in the primary.  Probably a big Trump supporter.  Trump is ruining the GOP.  

Tonight we watched episode 1 of “Bloodlines” on Acorn.  

Checked Courtyard at 2200.  It was mild but temp will drop to 30 overnight with snow.  What happened to Global Warming.