Wednesday August 5, 2020

Wednesday August 5, 2020

Blog time 1200 at Panera

Up at 0646.  It was sunny but a cool 53.

Nancy said we had a beautiful full moon last night.  I missed it.

No walk for Nancy today because she has a 0900 appointment at the Motor Vehicle office to get her Drivers License renewed.  

This afternoon she is working at the Gardens.  She was glad they called her back.  She enjoys this work.

Today is my easy day.  Calisthenics at 50% and a gentle bike ride.  In the past on my easy Wednesday I would have a big breakfast at a local restaurant.  I liked two eggs over easy, short stack of pancakes, hash browns and toast with peanut butter.  Today I had my oatmeal breakfast at home. 

I took a short ride, 7 miles vs 10.5.  Showered and headed to Panera.

This mornings Alpena News reported on elections results from yesterday.  I was pleasantly surprised that all local property tax proposals easily passed.  Northeast Michigan is having some tough time so for the citizens to support these Quality of Life issues is heartening.

This and that:

The Beirut explosion was enormous.  News reports said that a warehouse was storing tons of ammonium nitrate.  Ammonium nitrate was at one time the main ingredient in gunpowder.  However it is unstable and is no longer used.  Storing tons of an unstable explosive without safe guards is an act of extreme incompetence.

The search for a Coronavirus vaccine has thousands of PHD’s working overtime.  I just hope it is thoroughly test before released to public.  Would you use a vaccine made in China?

Will Congress ever pass an economic relief package.  The news outlets just show our political leaders spewing venom.  I sure hope reasonable heads are working in the background.

President Trump has destroyed the GOP.  No leader has emerged to call him out.  Good riddance!

Does anyone follow Baseball, Hockey or Basketball.  I sure don’t.

Got home at 1300.  Nancy had already left for the Gardens.

Lunch and then started afternoon activities;

Took out  trash and recyclables.

Did a load of laundry.

Nap 

Took a 1.33 mile walk.

We had our standard light Wednesday dinner.  Cheerios with blueberries and croissant.

Watched the news until 1930.  Switched to Apple TV and watched an episode Midsomer Murders.  I think we are in Season 16.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us tonight.  We gave a positive report.

It was cool when I made my 2200 check outside.  Temperature will drop to low 50s tonight. 

 

Tuesday August 4, 2020

Tuesday August 4, 2020

Blog time 1220 at Panera:

Up at 0645.  Nancy headed out on her 3 mile walk.  I did calisthenics downstairs before breakfast.

It was cool this morning 55.  I added a light jacket for my bike ride.  Vehicular traffic was light but plenty of bikers and walkers on the trail.

Nancy is having lunch with her college friend Karen Horlings.  Karen is preparing the lunch. She is a great cook.

Today is my childhood friend Tommy Collins birthday.  Tom now lives in San Clemente, Ca.  I will give him a call this afternoon.

High School fall sports schedules are still up in the air.  However, I have seen informal groups of cross country teams out running.  Every morning I pass MVP’s big outside sports fields and note girls participating in lacrosse camps.

Today is Election Day.  I passed a local poling place and it seemed empty.  Most folks must be voting absentee, I am.  

Speaking of voting I have a 100% voting record.  I am proud on that record.

Got home from the 10.4 mile ride at 0930.  Shaved and showered before heading to Panera.

Panera was empty.  Normally 20 to 30 folks are sitting in the dining area.  Lately the number is less than 10.  This has to hurt business.

All our political leaders in Washington seem unhinged.  They spew venomous statements which really are unneeded.  We need a new President and leadership in Congress.  

Got home from Panera at 1300.  Quick lunch and then headed downstairs.

As mentioned earlier, today is Tommy Collins birthday number 81.   To my surprise Tom answered on first ring.  He even recognized my voice.  We had a great talk.  Mostly about childhood adventures in Alpena.  

Tom and family are doing ok.  Like all of us he is tired of staying home.  Tom had a heart attack last year but they put in a couple of stents and he is now feeling great.  Every morning he takes a 4 mile walk.  Spends the rest of the day in the house.  His current activity is doing puzzles.  He is just finishing a 1,000 piece puzzle.  God Bless Tom.

I spent some time writing my monthly letter to the Grandkids.  Today I added a $2 bill so they can buy a treat to celebrate Grandmother Scott’s August birthday.  I walked to the mailbox to post the Grandkids letter.

Took a short nap followed by an apple snack.  Nancy got home from Karen’s at 1600.  They had a great time.

For dinner tonight I drove to Panera to get a bowl of Summer Corn Chowder.  Brought it home and ate it while watching the news.

This evening at 1930 we turned on the Apple TV and watched an episode of “Line of Duty”.   The episode was number 1 of Season 2.  Off to a good start.

Debbie and Missy both FaceTimed us this evening.  Everything ok in MI and CA. 

Monday August 3, 2020

Monday August 3

Blog time:  1200 on the 4th at Panera; a day late

Busy morning coming up.  I have a 1030 Doctor’s appointment with Dr Henke a surgeon who has been monitoring my fat deposit/hernia.

I did my morning calisthenics but will postpone my bike ride until this afternoon.  Rained last night but it had stopped by the time Nancy took her 3 mile walk.

The weather folks are confused.  Their forecast has predicted rain but did not happen.  Today was cool and cloudy with brief periods of sun.

Followed the usual Coronavirus procedure at the Docs.  Sit in car, call office and wait until a nurse comes out takes my temperature and ask some questions about my current health.  If everything ok I am escorted in office.

Doctor Henke looked at my fat deposit/hernia and declared the area was now a full blown hernia.  Dr. Henke did a great job of explaining my options.  

I elected to have the hernia surgically fixed.  Told the Doctor I wanted to be totally healed from my Dental surgery on August 19 before undertaking the hernia fix.  We tentatively set a date of early November.

At noon got on my bike and took my standard 10.5 mile bike ride.  Pleasant day for a ride.

Quick shower after the ride and then Nancy and I headed to Meijer’s.  I needed some Ivory soap and Cetaphil face lotion with SPF protection.  Nancy purchased fruit, yogurt, bananas, radishes and lettuce.  The store was not crowded.  Everyone was wearing a mask.

At home I had a late lunch.  Read some news on iPad before taking a nap.  Our power went out during my nap.

Nancy got a message from Consumers Power that they had an equipment failure and power should be restored by 1600.  No power at 1600 so Nancy got another message saying power will be restored at 2100.

No power means: no internet, no TV and no lights.  The paper edition of the GRP is only delivered on Thursday and Sunday.  So no news.  We always have to be reminded on how much we need electricity.

We had cereal for dinner.  I had also had a croissant.  Took a mile walk after dinner.

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed Nancy this evening.  We had to make our conversation short because our iPads were running out of juice.

I was lucky because my Kindel was fully charged.  I was able to read some of Ken Follett book I had just downloaded.

Power came on at 2100.  Spent time changing clocks and making sure all the computers, iPad and other electronic devices were working.  

No TV this evening and we survived.  Checked outside at 2200 and everything was normal.

Sunday August 2, 2020

Sunday August 2, 22020

Blog time 1145 sitting in living room.

I slept in until almost 0800 this morning.  Dressed and headed to Panera for coffee and a bagel.  Back at home fixed breakfast of oatmeal, bagel, coffee and a banana.

This morning we watched the Live Stream of Trinity Lutheran service.  Not quite the same as sitting in Church but they are doing a good job.  This was the twenty first live stream.

After church I again drove to Panera to refill my coffee.  I sat down in the living room and finished Friday’s and Saturday’s blog.  

It is now noon.  Nancy is out on a walk and I will soon take a bike ride.  It is misting but the temperature is 68 so a walk and bike ride will be refreshing.

Left on a 10.5 mile bike ride at 1230.  Encountered no rain.

Late lunch today.  Finished reading the print edition of the GRP before taking a nap.

For dinner tonight Nancy fixed her world famous scrambled eggs.  I had mine with sausage, croissant and a fresh peach.

After dinner took a short walk.

60 Minutes was reruns so we fired up Apple TV and watched several shows whose names escapes me.  This is a problem when I finish a blog two days after I started.  Just can’t remember.

Saturday August 1, 2020

Saturday August 1, 2020

Blog time 1100 on Sunday.  Once again I am a day late.

Good grief! It is the first of August.  The summer is just going too fast.

This morning we walked to Panera.  Sat outside and drank our coffee.  I also had a bowl of oatmeal and bagel.  Panera was empty.  

At home Nancy started the laundry and I headed out on an eleven mile bike ride.  Got home about noon.  

Shaved my head and face before showering.  It is the first of the month so I put a new blade in the razor.  Also started using a new toothbrush.  I am a creature of routine.

Nancy noted black smudges on some whites she just took out of the washer.  She said it looked like oil.  She rewashed the load and this time it came out clean.

I got our the manual for the washer and noted a section on cleaning the washer tub.  Opps! we have never cleaned the tub.

Lunch and then we grabbed the washer manual and headed to Home Depot.  We talked to a salesman and he gave us the name of a repairman.  

We looked at new washer and dryers.  They are not cheap.  Hope the repair man can give us a quick/cheap fix.  At home we ran the tub cleaner cycle recommended in the manual.  We still want a visit by a repair man.

We had planned on eating out this evening but my stomach is acting up so we will eat at home.  I took a short nap.

For dinner tonight we had pea soup with English muffin.  My stomach approved of the meal.

I finally found time to make a quick read of the news.  Peggy Noonan’s Op-ed in today’s WSJ should be mandatory reading for all conservatives.  Bottom line:  Donald Trump ruined the GOP and nobody fought back.  The weakness of the leadership probably means to demise of the GOP.

This evening we watched a movie on Prime.  It was really a guy movie about an attorney who defends his no account Brother-in-law on a murder charge.  A great escape guy movie but Nancy did not like.  We finished the evening with an episode of Absentia.

Made my 2200 check of the garage and front yard.  It was very humid and rain expected later.

We had to close our slider because the neighbors were having a loud party.  They had rigged a bedsheet type movie screen in their back yard and were watching a movie.  It must have been good because they were noisy.  Opened the slider at 0200 and it was pouring rain.

Debbie FaceTimed us this evening.  We gave a positive report.  Missy and AJ were attending a Drive In type movie at the yacht club this evening.

Friday July 31, 2020

Friday July 31, 2020

Blog time 1500 sitting in office

I slept in until 0645.  Nancy has a mammogram early this morning so no walk for her.  

Calisthenics in basement and then breakfast.  Temperature was in high 60s with sun when left on my bike ride.  Because of construction I chose a new route this morning.  I thought is might be shorter than my normal route.  Wrong! it was mile longer with several bad hills.  

Kim had just arrived to clean when I got home.  Quick shower, dressed.  Lately while Kim cleans Nancy and I take a drive to small cities and villages in the area.

Today we drove to Saugatuck.  We were shocked when we arrived.  The place was jammed.  We had trouble finding a parking place.  Noted a lot of out of state plates.

We spent about an hour walking around.  Walked the boardwalk to see all the boats.  The water in Lake Michigan is really high.  Noted sand bags along some water front stores.

Downtown was wall to wall people.  Most were wearing masks.

Folks just want to get out of the house.  In winter it is called Cabin Fever.

Nancy got a positive report on her test this morning.  Always good news.

Lunch followed by time in office reading the news and writing blogs.  Finished the afternoon with a quick nap.

For dinner tonight we drove to Sundance about 3/4 miles from the Condo.  We sat outside and enjoyed our drinks before ordering.  Tonight we both had the “Michigan Cherry Chicken Salad”.  We both gave the salad at C.  The chicken was tough.

Watched the Brooks and Shield debate on PBS News Hour.  As always Brooks won. 

On Apple TV we watched Absentia.  Nancy headed to bed and I stayed and watched Ozark.  I wonder what my Grandparents reaction would be if they watched this show?  Probably burn the TV!

Pleasant evening when I made my 2200 inspection of the garage and front yard.  I always want to check to see in I had left the garage door open.  Worried that a skunk or raccoon might wander in.

We had contact with Debbie and Missy today.

Thursday July 30, 2020

Thursday July 30, 2020

Both up at 0615.  It was still dark. The days are getting shorter.  We have lost a hour of daylight since June.  Bummer.

Followed our normal morning routine.  Nancy started her 3 mile walk and I did my calisthenics before breakfast.

Today on my 10 mile bike ride I ran into a lot of construction.  I had to leave the safe bike path and pedal in traffic.  Tomorrow I will change my route.

Temperature was in high 60s with sunny skies.  Perfect for a bike ride.  A lot of bikers and walkers on the trail but saw no critters.

This and that;

I am on day 2 of the new Google blog format.  It seems user friendly.

 Just received a News flash saying POTUS wants to postpone November election.  Dumb,  I hope this never happens.

The Coronavirus sure has created problems for local school systems.  Many Michigan schools are having meetings with parents to explain the options;  Total on-line, Attend School part time or full time school.  I think a hybrid will prevail. Not an easy problem to solve.

School systems are also figuring out fall sports schedules. Tennis, cross country and golf probably will start on time.  Football and soccer will probably delay their start.  Inside sports like swimming and volleyball might have their season cancelled.

Just as soon as a Country or State think they have the Coronavirus under control some clowns have a huge party with plenty of alcohol and no masks.  The Coronavirus rears it’s ugly head again.  Alcohol causes folks to become careless.

President Trump should take PR lessons from the UK’s Boris Johnson.

As soon as I got home I shaved and showered.  Dressed and biked to Panera for my morning coffee and a chance to finish yesterday’s blog and read today’s news.  Panera was empty.

Spent two hours at Panera.  Most of my time is spent on the blog.  I must find a way to not be so wordy.

Got home at 1230 and immediately grabbed two bags of empty bottles.  We drove to Walmart.  I returned the bottles and Nancy did some shopping.   First time we had returned bottles to Walmart in five months.  Returned 62 bottles.

This afternoon I took a short nap.  After the nap I took a walk around the ponds in our backyard.  Only critters I saw were geese.

For dinner tonight Nancy fixed me two hot dogs.  Also had salad and pineapple.

Tonight we watched Absentia followed by another episode of Grantchester.  Nancy headed to bed and I stayed up and finished reading the WSJ.  

Very pleasant when I made my final inspection of our front yard.  

Debbie and Missy FaceTimed us tonight.  We gave them a positive report.