Tuesday March 31, 2015

Raining when Ms P and I went out early this morning. Nancy left early to go swimming. I did the at home routine before biking to Panera. Rain had stopped. The pool was empty this morning. Because of shoulder pain only did breaststroke. Still looking for glider. We got in Taurus and drove to Menard's. They had glider but only in box. Asked if they would put the glider on display. They said no so we left. Stopped at Walmart but no glider. Quick lunch and then nap. Ms P and I took hour walk in backyard. She likes walking on grass. Erick R called this afternoon with an engineering question. Good to talk to Eric. He is a great engineer. Nancy fixed chicken and rice, with green beans for dinner. GRP, NCIS, and Netflix this evening. Early to bed because Breakfast Club early tomorrow.

Monday March 30, 2015

Monday March 30, 2015 Monday morning and the start of a busy day. First thing Nancy headed to MVP and I did the at home stuff. I then bundled up and went on a 15 mile bike ride. The temperature was near 40 when I started and after several miles I realized that I was over dressed. I finished the ride at the Panera near our condo. I had worked up a sweat on the ride and after 30 minutes at Panera I was getting chilled. I headed home for a hot shower. After the shower Nancy and I got in the Taurus and headed to Costco. We needed wine, peanut butter, crackers, etc. We found an easy way to get to Costco from the condo. No street lights and we avoid 28th Street. Nancy’s Taurus is due for an oil change this week so after lunch I headed to Fox Ford. I had to wait about 90 minutes but I got a chance to read the WSJ. Next time I will have to get new tires. Ms P and I took a different route on our walk today. We walked in the common area around the condos. The lawn folks were out working today. They were performing Spring Cleanup and cutting the grass. The area looks good. Light dinner tonight. Not much on TV so I will be a netflix evening. We called Missy today. This week AJ is on spring break. Missy has joined a Boat Club. The Club has a pool so AJ is going swimming this afternoon. Joining the Club seems a good move. Missy is very busy and she has some very interesting projects. Speaking of spring break when I was a boy we got Good Friday and the following Monday off. That was spring break in Alpena.

Sunday March 29, 2015

Sunday March 29, 2015 Weekend Update: Saturday March 28, Nancy and I got up at 0700 and headed to the Red Olive for breakfast. This was our first breakfast at this establishment. We rated it a C+. After breakfast we ran errands. First we stopped at Kohls so Nancy could make a return. She also bought a meat thermometer. Next stop was Sears to see if they had a glider for the deck. They did not. We also stopped at Target, no glider. Finally we stopped at Verhey to look at a sample of the wood flooring we are thinking might work. No decisions. At home I got my iPad and walked to Panera to read the WSJ. Panera was jammed with families just coming from a soccer or base ball game. They all looked cold. I took a mile detour on my walk home. I was cold from my walk so I took a quick nap then Ms P and I took a walk. The Moleski’s called this afternoon and said that Charlies Bar had a smelt dinner. We agreed to meet them at 1730. Speaking of smelt, I checked GGF Sanborn’s 1938 diary for this date and GGF said the smelt were running in Cranberry Creek. The smelt was good. When we got home we watched some of the UW game and also a movie on netflix. Sunday March 29: Up at 0700 and head to MVP for our swim. The pool was jammed, two folks in each lane. After the swim we headed to Meijer’s for our weekly supplies. The low gas price in GR is $2.34. Nancy fixed her world famous poached eggs for breakfast. We had the eggs on waffles. The weather folks said to expect rain early this afternoon. I took Ms P on an early walk. I read the funnies before taking a nap. When I got up it still was not raining so I took a quick walk around the block. At 1500 it started snowing. Yes snow. I am writing this blog and watching the MSU game. Time out while I watch the OT. Way to go MSU!! Izzo is a great coach and he is a Yooper. It is good to see two Big Ten schools in the Final Four. Nancy is fixing hots dogs and black beans for dinner tonight. We will finish reading the GRP. I don’t know if 60’ will be on because of the BB game. It might be a netflix evening. This date in 1938. GGF Sanborn in Ossineke, Mi wrote that it rained all day. The temperature stayed at 40 all day. Heavy flooding in southern MI. He estimated that he caught 100 smelt today.

Friday March 27, 2015

Friday March 27, 2015 Cold weather just does not want to let go. It was in the teens this morning with wind speeds near 20 mph. I have been having some shoulder pain so I am suspending swimming for awhile. I did some pull ups at home and then got on the bike and headed to Panera. Yemen still dominates the news. I do not know anyone who has ever been to Yemen. After finishing reading I got on the bike and headed to MVP. I pedaled into a strong headwind and got thoroughly chilled. At MVP I did most of my calisthenics and walked two miles on a treadmill. The place was jammed. I had a hard time finding space to put a mat for sit ups. Yes I do sit ups not sissy crunches. I had the wind at my back on the ride home but I still got cold. We have a keyless entry front door. Today the door told us the battery was low. I was worried that if I removed the batteries I would have to reprogram the passcode. I called EPS, our alarm company, and they told me not to worry. I changed the batteries and everything is ok. I was so cold I turned on the electric blanket and spent 30 minutes warming up. This morning at Panera I saw several neighbors who just got back from Florida. They said they should have stayed two more weeks. It was good to see Wisconsin win last night. I hope MSU wins tonight. They are playing on the east coast and the game starts at 2200. 2200, I will be in bed! The NCAA should put its foot down and tell the networks start the games at a reasonable hour. I guess money talks. Light dinner tonight and then some netflix. I am reading US Grant’s autobiography and it is good. US was not a man of letters but you can tell he was trying. I bet he did not have any ghost writers.

Thursday March 26, 2015

Thursday March 26, 2015 Today was a dark gloomy day. Temps were in the mid 30s all day. Nancy left early to go swimming at MVP. I did the at home calisthenics and then bundled up and got on the bike and went on my favorite bike route. From the condo to Panera Bread is 12.5 miles. Panera was really crowded today. The WSJ is more confused than I am of the situation in Yemen. Is the Middle East about to explode into all out war? After Panera I pedaled to Macatawa Bank to get some money for Kim. She is coming to clean tomorrow. We are trying to get our taxes done but Nancy still does not have info on her Mother’s trusts. Nancy has been in contact with her sister Peg and the attorney Ellen. Every year we face the same thing. Speaking of money I just got off the phone with Well Fargo Advisers. They recommend we sell a stock. I agreed. Nancy and I are going to Lowe’s soon to look for a glider. We will also stop at a pet shop to get a product that will stop Petunia from shedding. Tonight we are going to Great Lakes Shipping for dinner. This date in 1961. It was Sunday March 26 (Palm Sunday) when I wrote my Mother. This week I got a tax refund of $80. I calculated that if I don’t go in the Navy I will have enough money by June 22 to buy a car. On June 26 I would have over $600 in the bank and be debt free. Last night I saw Cimarron a western starring Glen Ford. I thought it was terrible. I have been trying to contact my Dad’s uncle, John Scott. I was having trouble because there were over 20 John Scotts in the Detroit phone book. I asked Mom for an address or middle initial. My job as a civilian working for the Corps was very boring. I kind of unloaded on Mom about how terrible the job was. Every day I walked to downtown Detroit from my apartment on East Grand Blvd. I walked on Jefferson and it took 35 minutes. Today was Sunday so I was heading to the library to read some periodicals. 1658 Nancy and I just got back from running errands. We stopped at the Chow Hound and got Ms P a fur brush. Next we stopped at Lowe’s to look for a glider. They had none so we headed to Home Depot. They had a glider that fit our needs. However, it was part of a set and we did not want the full set. We both had the prime rib at Great Lakes. After dinner we stopped at Russo’s and bought 3 bottles of wine. It is now 2000 and we are starting to watch an episode of House of Cards. 19 the low tonight and 30 the high tomorrow. This will be the end of the cold weather. Think Spring!

Wednesday March 25, 2015

Wednesday March 25, 2015 Easy Wednesday: I take Ms P out at 0530 and then head back to bed. Nancy gets up before 0700 and heads to MVP. I stay in bed and get up at 0715. The rain started early this morning and it was still raining when I was getting ready to head to Sundance. I put on my raincoat and walked. I had an oatmeal breakfast. The WSJ is hung up on China forming an Asian Bank with all our allies as members but not the USA. Yemen is a confusing mess and finally I don’t think anyone cares if Greece leaves the EU. The rain had stopped when I left Sundance so I added a mile to my walk home. I have a pair of sports glasses that I use for outdoor activities. They have transition lenses. These lenses are not doing the job. I stopped by the eye doctor and ordered clear lenses. I also stopped at a Birkenstock store in Eastown. I am looking for a pair of walking sandals. I bought a pair at this store about five years ago. They did not have what I wanted. Bought a new pooper scooper at the Chow Hound in Breton Village. Nancy worked at the Gardens this afternoon. After lunch I took a quick nap and then Ms P on her walk. The afternoon was very dark and windy. Temperatures were in the mid 30s. After I dropped Ms P off I walked around the block. I remember as a boy I once asked my Mother “why has it been so windy lately”. It was in late March and Mom said we always have high winds near the Equinox. I don’t know if this true but I have alway remembered it. We had a light dinner and then watched the news. It is now 2000 and we are watching “The Mysteries of Laurie”.

Tuesday March 24, 2015

Tuesday March 24, 2015 In keeping with my new policy, my body said get up at 0700, so I got up. Nancy left at 0715 for MVP and a swim. After the at home stuff I pedaled to Panera. It was cold this morning, 20, but the weather folks said It will warm up and be sunny. They were right. It is now 1645 with bright blue sky and temperature at 39. We have had sun it seems like all month. It is suppose to rain tonight. We need it. The USA really messed up in Yemen. We really should not be in an area we do not understand. When China gets their Asian Bank in place the USA will be on the sidelines. At 0930 I got on the bike and headed to MVP. My shoulder has been bothering me so I only swam 12 laps. On my way home I stopped at Starbucks to finish ready the jWSJ. As soon as I got home I hooked Ms P up and took her on her daily walk. I was still cold from the swim and bike ride so I took a short nap under the electric blanket. Nancy and I have been voting absentee lately. I walked the request form over to the Cascade Twp Office. Round trip distance was 1.79 miles. As soon as I finish this blog I will take Ms P on a walk in the back yard (old golf course). Nancy fixed chili for dinner tonight. It looks good. Tonight we will watch the news, read the GRP, and watch NCIS followed by netflix. On this day in 1938 my GGF Sanborn in Ossineke wrote that he took my second cousin Glen to Alpena. GGF bought a license for his trailer and it cost him $2.00. The weather was 40 and he said the County roads were bad. The arrival of Spring in Michigan causes the gravel roads to breakup.