July 30, 2022

 Saturday July 30, 2022

Blog time 1715 on Sunday, yes a day late.

Saturday Morning we get up at 0700.  This morning Helen, Nancy and I had breakfast at the Gathering Place.  We arrived before 0800 and were able to get a choice seat.

Helen and I had oatmeal and Nancy had a Western Omelette.  As usual it was great.  The place was full when we left.

Today Helen is leaving.  She will have a lunch at noon with a friend before leaving for Gaylord.

This morning I had time for a 5 mile bike ride.  Nancy of course stayed home and did the laundry.

This afternoon Nancy and I are attended a get together for employees of LSE/Scott Civil Engineering Company.  The get together is at the home of Carol Smith the owner.  Carol and her husband John Otto live on Clifford Lake in Montcalm County.  It is a very casual affair.

We left home at 1430.  We did have some difficulty finding the place because I took Sydney Road instead of Stanford.  We spent some time rambling around.  We finally arrived at 1530.

The event was well attended.  It was a prefect day for a picnic.  I had an opportunity to talk to several employees I knew well.

Carol Smith was a great host.  She told me business was booming and they have trouble finding employees.  Carol just opened an office in Gaylord and they are very busy.  I must tell my sister.  

Nancy also had a great time talking and eating.  Everyone was very kind.

We got home at 2000.  Before bed we.  Watched an episode of Shetland.  

As I was checking the Courtyard at 2200 I saw three deer in the bushes across Tahoe from our Condo.  Called Nancy and she was able to see the deer.  

A very busy enjoyable summer’s day.  

July 29, 2022

 Friday July 29, 2022

Blog time 1800 sitting in living

Up this morning at 0700.  It was sunny, temps will reach 80 today.  First thing, I dressed and drove to Panera.  Bought coffee for Helen, Nancy and yours truly.  Panera was empty.

At home I fixed oatmeal to go with my coffee.  Nancy had purchased some muffins from Sugar Momma.  Nancy and  Helen enjoyed the muffins with there coffee.

This morning we are taking a tour of an apartment at Porter Hills at Cook Valley, a retirement community.  Nancy and I have had our name on the wait list for almost a year.  Helen joined us on the tour.  Both Nancy and I were impressed.  A unit might become available in late August.  I think we will take it.

No bike ride or trip to Y today.  I did find time for some reading.

After dinner tonight we drove to Culver’s for a frozen custard.  It was warm and sunny perfect for custard.

Finished the evening with a short ride along the Thornapple River.  

No TV tonight we just sat and talked.  Noted two deer across the street when checked the Courtyard before bed.  Tomorrow will be another warm, sunny day.

July 28, 2022

 Thursday July 28, 2022

Up at 0700.  Checked outside and it was drizzling.  According to my weather app, drizzle all morning.  Bummer, I will drive to Y.

Nancy headed out early for an 0830 class at MVP.  This is her first time at this class.

After calisthenics and oatmeal I put on civilian clothes and drove to Y.  I did my calisthenics.  This morning I walked 1.5 miles.  Tried to walk a 20’ mile.  Almost but not quite.

Today I took a shower at the Y.  First time in over 6 months.

Drove to Panera for coffee and some reading.  As usual Panera was cold and empty.

Comment on today’s news:

Good news President is over his Covid.  Now he can get back to work because he has plenty on his plate.

Looks like the Senate is finally about to pass the President’s big spending program.

Next Tuesday is primary Election Day in Michigan.  We have several contested races.  The big race is for our US representative.  Peter Meijer our present GOP rep voted to impeach President Trump.  So Trump has a lackey running against Meijer.  I voted for Meijer.  

This afternoon I have a 1400 appointment with the Dermatologist.  I have developed itchy skin.  I hope the Doc has a magic potent.

Later this afternoon my Sister is arriving.  She will spent several days with us.

At noon I left Panera and drove home.  Quick lunch and then headed to the Dermatologist.  He checked me over and prescribed a special lotion for me.

At home Helen had just arrived from Gaylord.  She stopped at a Farmer’s market and bought fresh corn, beans, blueberries, cherries, cookies, banana bread and a chicken casserole.  Enough to feed 10 folks for a week.

Later in the afternoon I drove to Meijer’s to pick up prescription.  The prescription is a two parter.  The actual prescription is a liquid.  I then had to buy a 16 ounce jar of a over the counter moisturizer.  At home I mixed the two ingredients.  It was very time consuming.

For dinner tonight we had the chicken casserole, corn, banana bread, salad and for dessert, cookies.  Very good and filling.

We spent the evening drinking wine, and talking about the good old days.  Very pleasant.

Just before bed I put on the new skin lotion.  Bottom line it worked.  Good news.

Checked Courtyard before turning in.  Everything ok.  Another nice summer’s day ahead.

July 27, 2022

 Wednesday July 27, 2022

Slept in until 0730.  Today is my easy Wednesday.

Nancy headed out for her Wednesday swim at MVP.

I do light calisthenics (50%).  Before putting on my bike clothes and head to Panera.

This morning I planned on getting my free oatmeal.  Surprise, Panera did not have any oatmeal.  Bummer.

Got coffee and scone before starting my morning read.  

This and that:

The economy is still confusing to me.  All the talking heads on CNBC cannot agree on anything.  The Feds raise interest rates and the stock market goes from red to green, go figure.

War news from Ukraine has taken a back seat to reporting on the shallow Kardashians and Johnny Depp.  

I sure wish NATO would assemble a naval force to escort grain shipments out of Black Sea.  They should also protect the Port of Odessa.  

Congress is ready to pass a bill to help USA chip manufacturers make chips in USA.  I agree we are too reliant on China.  

Speaking of China:  will China ever make a military attack on Taiwan?  Pretty damn risky.

President Biden’s foreign policy is very weak.

Will California ever get any rain.

The lawlessness in major cities is discouraging.  Small businesses are leaving.  The police seem powerless.

Nancy and I took a 0.9 mile walk.  

Nancy had her PT session this afternoon.  

I took a short nap.

For dinner tonight,  applesauce, an apple and an Ensure Protein drink.  We watched the news while eating.

Tonight we watched episode 6, Season 6 of Shetland.  It was the season’s last episode.  The ending left me hanging.  BritBox’s programming is confusing.  

A check of Courtyard before bed was uneventful.  Just dark and humid.  We did have a skunk in our back yard earlier in the evening. Skunks are everywhere in the neighborhood.

July 26, 2022

 Tuesday July 26, 2022

Start day at 0700.  Cool, high 50s and cloudy.

Nancy heads to MVP for treadmill and stationary bike.

I do my calisthenics before oatmeal breakfast.  Bike to Y, 4.5 miles.  Calisthenics and walk before once again getting on bike and heading to Panera.

Coffee and baguette before reading the WSJ on mini-iPad.

Got home at 1230.  Shower and shave before quick lunch.

Busy afternoon for Bob and Nancy:

Drove to Costco to pickup Nancy’s prescription.  Prescription had not been received from Doctor.

Drove to Dr Kutsche to get a copy of prescription.  We were told Dr Kutsche within the last minute had just sent prescription to Costco.

Drove to Macatawa Bank.  Our purpose was to inventory the contents of our two safety deposit boxes.  No big surprises.  We did find paperwork on the pre-revolutionary musket in our basement.  All Nancy’s jewelry was accounted for.

After the bank we drove back to Costco.  The prescription was ready.  

For dinner tonight Nancy and I walked to Leo’s Coney Island for a hot dog.  Leo’s if about 1/2 mile from Condo.  The hot dogs were good and the price was right.  Got home about 1900.  No time tonight for news.

I saw two Sand Hill Cranes walk by the Condo.  They must  reside in the area.

Tonight we watched another episode of “Shetland”.  Good show.

Checked Courtyard before turning in.  Everything ok.

  

July 25, 2022

 Monday July 25, 2022

Blog time 1730 on Tuesday July 25

Up at 0700.  Follow my normal morning weekday routine.

Nancy heads out early for a swim at MVP.

Oatmeal breakfast and then biked to the Y, 4.5 miles.  It was cool, mid 60s and sunny.  Perfect bike conditions.

Calisthenics and walk at Y before heading to Panera.

Today I took my mini-iPad.  Got coffee and a bagel before reading the WSJ.

Got home at noon.  Total miles, 8.5.  

At 1330 Nancy headed to her PT class.

I showered and then took a short nap.  Following the nap I had lunch.

I have developed a skin condition that makes my feet and arms itch.  No visible rash.  It appears to be just dry skin.  I have been applying lotion.  It seems to work.  Have an appointment with Dermatologist on Thursday.

Spent most of the afternoon reading news, Alpena and Detroit.  For dinner I had cheerios with blueberries.

After the news we watched another episode of Shetland.  I like Shetland Island scenery.

It was 75 and cloudy when checked Courtyard before bed.  I noted that the days are noticeably shorter.  Bummer.

July 24, 2022

 Sunday July 24, 2022

Blog time 1745 sitting in living room.

We had very heavy thunder storms roll through last night.  Thunder and lightning all night.  My channel 8 weather app said we had 1.5” of rain.  

Up at exactly 0700.  Looked outside and it was still raining.  Quickly dressed and headed to Panera for to get our morning coffee.  Surprise!  Standing in the middle of our drive was a big skunk.  I chased it away.  

For breakfast I fixed oatmeal to go with coffee I bought at Panera.  At 0845 we headed to Trinity Lutheran.  On our way we had another Surprise!  A big fox ran across the road in front of us.

Church was not crowded.  After the service we took our Sunday morning drive.  Drove east on Cascade Rd to Lowell and then returned on Grand River Dr.  Light rain during our ride. We did stop at Meijer’s so I could fill up the Escape.  

At home I read some of the GRP.  At 1300 my weather app said the rain had stopped.  Put on bike clothes and took a 9 mile ride.

Lunch followed by a shower.  I took an hour nap.

Spent the rest of the afternoon reading news both on paper and online.  Not much to report on.

Nancy fixed me scrambled eggs on toast for dinner.  Also had a dish of blueberries.

Tonight we watched 60 Minutes.  After 60’ we switched to BritBox to watch another episode of “Shetland”.

It was sprinkling when made my nightly check of Courtyard.  No critters were seen.  Sunny and cool tomorrow morning, mid 60s.