Wednesday April 11, 2018

Wednesday April 11, 2018

Blog time 1100 at Panera

Breakfast Club Wednesday and I am up with the alarm at 0515.  It was snowing when I drove downtown to the University Club.

Another small turnout for BC.  Too bad because we had a great speaker.  

Kent County has recently established a new court to handle folks with mental and substance abuse problems who have been arrested for a felony crime.  The court is called Treatment and Support Court.  The new judge of this court is Joseph Rossi.  Judge Rossi gave a very good talk.

After BC I got the car washed at Breton Village.  Next stop was the Y where I did calisthenics and stretches.  Made a quick stop at Panera to do some reading.

This afternoon Meijer’s Garden is having a luncheon honoring Betty Ford on her 100th birthday.  Over 600 guests will attend the speaker is Hillary Clinton.  Nancy and other volunteers were told to have someone drive them because the parking lots will be full.  I am driving Nancy and another volunteer.

Quick lunch and then I drove Nancy to the Gardens.  We did stop and pick up another volunteer.  Traffic jam at the Gardens, could not get close to the entrance so Nancy and friend had to walk to their work station.

In the afternoon I did several loads of laundry, took out the trash and even had time for a nap.  Left for the Gardens at 1600.  Nancy’s shift ended at the normal time of 1630.  She said things were hectic.  In addition to folks attending the luncheon there were a lot of security folks.  Nancy did get to see Hillary Clinton and Andrea Mitchell.

Drove Nancy to Connie’s house for her Book Club.  After dropping her off I headed to Vitale’s to meet Tom Moleski for dinner.  I had spaghetti with a glass of wine.  The food is good at Vitale’s.  I give it a solid B.

Picked Nancy up at 1900 and we headed straight home.  This evening we watched an episode of Inspector Lewis on Amazon.  

Missy texted us about AJ’s visit this summer.  We talked with my sister, Helen, and she wants AJ to come to Alpine Fest in Gaylord.  Several young cousins will also attend.  Nancy will get hotel reservation soon.  We enjoyed Alpine Fest last year. 

Tuesday April 10, 2018

Tuesday April 10, 2018

Blog time 1030 at Panera

The sun was just coming up when first went out.  Sunny but cold early this morning.  I am getting very tired of having to wear heavy clothes and boots on these cold mornings, enough already it is April!  Despite the cold I took the 7.5 mile route to the Y.  Saw no interesting critters this morning.

This being Tuesday Nancy headed out early for her swim.  Later today we will take Ms P on a short walk.  Ms P is showing her age.  But aren’t we all!

I ponder are many folks wondering what POTUS will do regarding the Syrian gas attacks or even are conditions in the  Middle East high on their agenda?  I think not.  Am I correct?

Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress has been dominating the news.  All I see are a bunch of pols grandstanding.

After lunch I headed to Meijer’s to buy some supplies for our upcoming trip to SA.  After the errands I headed down to the office to update my family tree.  The most thorough family tree record I have is the leather book my dad gave me on the Sanborn family.  Apparently a lot of copies were made of this book because I get a lot of hits from folk who say we have a relative in common, usually from six generations back.  The data on this relative on their family tree is nearly identical to mine.  I am asked if I want to add their tree to mine.  I say no because if I did this for all requests my tree would be in the thousands and unmanageable.

I took two short walks today.  Nancy and Ms P stayed inside.

Nancy fixed pork with bread dressing for dinner.  I had mine with Lima beans and a salad.

After the news and Jeopardy we watched NCIS before heading to bed.

Monday April 9, 2018

Monday April 9, 2018

Blog time 1110 at Panera

It was 32 when first went out this morning and at 1110 it is still 32.  Nancy left early this morning for a class at MVP.  I think MVP’s new Spring schedule has most classes Nancy likes starting earlier.  Nancy has lunch today with the Blodgett Gift Shop alumni.

I had breakfast and then headed out to the Y.  Snow was predicted for this morning but it was dry when I started.  It started snowing about 30 minutes into my ride.  I was glad I had my rain pants on.  I took my 7.5 mile warm weather route to the Y.  Calisthenics and stretches at the Y before heading to Panera.

The Bots on the Bay robotics contest held at AHS this weekend was a big success.  The contest was in the school’s gym and photos showed a large crowd.

Has POTUS backed himself into a corner? He has mocked President Obama for his “line in the sand” comment regarding Syria’s use of chemical weapons.  Now with this weekends report of another chemical attack by Syria is forcing POTUS’s hand.  

Headed home in light snow.  Showered and then lunch.  Nancy arrived soon after me.  She said her lunch at Omelette Shop was attended by 10 ex-buyers for the Blodgett Hospital Gift Shop.

I spent the afternoon in the office doing odds and ends.  Later I drove to the Apple Store.  The Apple Store was nearly empty as was the mall.  I guess the best time to mall shop is late on a Monday afternoon.

Light dinner and then some TV news.  We watched an episode of Call the Midwife before Nancy turned in.  I stayed up and watched another Babylon Berlin show.

Sunday April 8, 2018

Weekend Update;

Saturday April 7, 2018

Blog time 1550 sitting in den

The sun was up but it was cold, 21, when first went out this morning.  Luckily we had little wind.  Nancy and I walked to Panera for our Saturday breakfast.  

At home Nancy started the laundry and I put on my bike clothes and headed out for a ride.  The wind had picked up so I shortened my intended ride to 11 miles.  I did see one doe with her young fawn on my ride this morning that alone made the ride a success.  As soon as I got home I took a hot shower and then turned on my electric blanket and spent 30 minutes warming up.

I had a quick lunch.  This afternoon I will read the papers and then work on some family history.   

I started with the Alpena News and found out Alpena High this weekend is hosting a Robotics contest called Bots on the Bay.  Over 1,000 students from 40 schools are in attendance.  It looks interesting.

Everyone in MI is talking about our recent spat of cold and snow.  Temps will not get above freezing today.  Looking at the long range forecast it looks like this will be our last day where temps will be below freezing all day.

For dinner Nancy fixed chicken noodle soup with veggies.  I also cut myself a slice a Irish soda bread.  I love this bread, probably because it is loaded with sugar.  The package did not list any food values.  Is this legal?

After dinner I took a walk around the block.  Tonight we watched an episode of Murder in Suburbia followed by Bosch.

Debbie FaceTimed us tonight.  Nancy gave her an update on the Century Ave Antique stores we visited yesterday.  Everything is up to date in San Jose.

Sunday April 8, 2018

Blog started Sunday sitting at dining room table.

The alarm went off at 0616 and I immediately took Ms P out.  It was 18 but the sun was beginning to show in the east.  Temp might reach 40 this afternoon.

I had quick breakfast and then Nancy and I headed to the Y.  Nancy swam and I did light calisthenics and some stretches.  I did trying running but only got a short distance before my hip told me to stop. 

Headed straight home to get ready for the 1000 service at Trinity Lutheran.  On our way a wild turkey ran across the road.  First turkey we have seen in the neighborhood this year.  Good sign.

Pastor Bob commented on the large crowd this morning.  He said historically attendance falls sharply after Easter.

Stopped at Meijer’s for supplies and gas.  Gas was $2.74 today.  

Before lunch I took a walk around the block.  I am always amazed how quiet the neighborhood is on Sunday.  Lunch and then read a few sections of the paper before taking a nap.

After the nap Nancy and I took Ms P on a short walk.  On these cold days she will only walk outside if both of us accompany her.

I pumped up the tires on my San Jose bike and took a short ride around the   neighborhood.  Tonight Nancy if fixing her world famous scrambled eggs with bacon.  I will have mine with some Irish soda bread.

This evening I finished reading the GRP and watched 60 Minutes.  At 2000 we watched an episode of Murder in Suburbia.  Nancy headed to bed at 2100 and I watched an episode of Babylon Berlin before turning in.  

Friday April 6, 2018

Friday April 6, 2018

Blog time 1020 at Panera

The winter will not end.  This morning had a thin layer of snow on the grassy areas.  The temp was slightly above freezing, 33.  

Nancy headed out to MVP and I stayed home and did all my stretches and calisthenics.  My plan for today is to bike to Panera for oatmeal and then take a long bike ride.  This afternoon we plan on visiting an antique mall in Century Ave in GR.

POTUS keep adding tariffs to more products from China.  Does he have a negotiation strategy or just bluffing?  It is very unsettling.  A lot of knowledgeable folks are saying other countries also have problems with China.  Why don’t they get together and take their issues to the WTO. Why are we the Lone Ranger?

Do you know the name of the Lone Ranger’s horse?  How about the horse of Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, Sgt Preston,  Red Ryder, Dale Evans or Roy Rogers?

The former Presidents of Brazil and South Korea are heading to jail.  They were convicted of corruption.  Can you see the leader of China or Russia going to trial?  Democracies are messy but in the end they do allow justice to prevail.

After lunch Nancy and I headed to the Antique stores on Century.  The two stores are located in an old furniture factory.  We dressed warm because the stores are not heated.  Nancy gave the stores a B.  I made the only purchase a 1947 official State of Mi highway map.  I have been looking for a map showing roads before the interstate and Mackinaw Bridge.

Nancy fixed chicken tenders with salad and whole potato for dinner.  Very good.  The wind had died down so I took a mile walk after dinner.  I love these longer days.  Sunrise is at 0712 and sunset at 2015.  We will gain three more hours of daylight before the summer solstice.

Tonight we watched an episode of Death in Paradise followed by Bosch.  The cold continues through tomorrow.  Temp was in mid 20s at bedtime.

Thursday April 5, 2018

Thursday April 5, 2018

Blog time 1100 at Panera

It was cold this morning, 23, but saw a great sunrise off to the east.  Sunshine is always great.

Thursday already so Nancy will swim and I will bike to the Y.  Because of the cold I took the short 5 mile ride to the Y.  

Growing up in a small town in NE MI I never knew anyone that wasn’t white.  It wasn’t until college that I encountered different ethnic groups.  The civil engineering program at UM had a large number of Asians especially from India.  Now in my old age I note that we have become a very diverse country.  Diversity is good for the country.  

Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the assignation of MLK.  I remember this day clearly.  We were living in Ann Arbor while I attended Grad school.  It was a sad day for the nation.  

I also remember JFK assignation.  I was a young Navy LTjg serving in Vietnam.  Other important days I remember are 09/11 and VJ Day in 1945.

In order to get some bike miles in I took a five mile ride home.  The ride included riding through the Cascade Recreation Park on Thornapple River Drive.  It is a nice park with family play areas, tennis and basketball courts, fenced dog areas and a nice paved path around the park.  Have to negotiate several steep hills on Thornapple to get there.

Lunch and then I headed down to the office.  Today I paid bills including our 2017 taxes.  Also wrote my monthly note to Grandkids.

For dinner we headed to Shepard’s Grill.  The place was crowded.  We saw several neighbors.  I had their burger and Nancy had a bowl of Navy bean soup.  I like the neighborhood feel to this place.

As soon as we got home I walked to the post box to mail our taxes.  Tonight we watched another episode of Inspector Lewis.  Winter storm warnings were up when we went to bed.  Will it never end!

Wednesday April 4, 2018

Wednesday April 4, 2018

Blog time 0940 at Panera

The weather folks were right we had snow on the ground this morning.  Temperature was 29 but with wind speed in the 20s the wind chill was in the teens.  I had to shovel our short drive.

Wednesday is my easy day.  No calisthenics this morning but I did my stretches.  The stretches must be working because my hip pain especially when I sleep is gone.

Nancy has a 0730 class at MVP so she left early.  This afternoon she is working at the Gardens.  They expect a huge spring break crowd so I will drive her.

I bundled up and walked to Panera.  It was snowing hard and I had to walk into the teeth of a brisk wind.  I had an oatmeal breakfast.

Read the papers but found nothing that I wanted to comment on.  Do you think Washington is on spring break?

The walk home was more pleasant with the wind at my back.  Before lunch I took the Taurus and filled it up.  It was still snowing when I took Nancy to the Gardens.  Despite the weather the Gardens expects a big crowd with mother’s wanting to get their spring break kids out of the house.

At home I finished lunch, took out the trash and recyclables and started a load of laundry.  I also took my Wednesday nap.

1530 headed to the Gardens to pick up Nancy.  Nancy worked until 1630 today.  She said, as expected, the Gardens was packed.  Over 2,000 folks visited.

Finished the afternoon with a walk around the block.  Light dinner and then the news, NBC and PBS, before watching Jeopardy.  I don’t know why I write about this routine every day?  Who really cares?  At 2000 we switched to Apple TV.  We started watching an episode of Dr Foster but decided early into the show that it terrible.  Switched to Bosch on Amazon.  The temp today never got above freezing but tomorrow it will warm up slightly.  I am tired of wearing long underwear.