January 15, 2024

Monday January 15, 2024

Today is Daughter Debbie’s Birthday.  It is also a national holiday, Martin Luther King’s birthday.

We arrived in San Jose on January 4, 2024.  We left a gloomy cool Grand Rapids, high temps in 30s.  The weather in San Jose has been better than GR.  Highs in low 50s and morning temps in 40s.  Today the high was 55 and tomorrow we will wake up to 46.   Checked today’s GR morning temp and it was 10.  BRR!  

We have established a routine in SJ.  Up at 0730 I take Debbie’s two dogs for a mile walk.  After the walk,  Nancy and I walk to Yum Yum Donuts for breakfast.  It is 0.70 miles to Yum Yum.  

We drink our coffee and eat our treats before heady home. Today we changed our routine.  We walk to Starbucks for coffee and a bagel.  Starbucks is same distance as Yum Yum.  I get coffee and a bagel.  Nancy gets a scone.

Every day about noon I take a 9 mile bike ride.  I started riding my old single speed Nishiki that I shipped to SJ several years ago.  

The bike has a very short wheel base, 29”, and narrow tires. However, after several days I found that my balance has declined.  I kept crashing into the chain link fence that lines the very narrow bike path located under the freeways.  It was embarrassing when fellow bike riders came to my aid. 

I switched to Debbie’s bike which has five speeds and a 31”wheel base.  A big improvement.

We have only eaten out 3 times since we arrived.  Debbie has been fixing Dinner usually meat and a salad.  Tonight will be an exception. We will eat at Panera.  Sound familiar.

Tonight after watching the news we watched the “Chelsea Detective” on Brit box.  I have not kept up with the news since arriving.  Prince Harry, Taylor Swift, and of course Trump dominates.

December 31, 2023

 Sunday December 31, 2023

Blog time 1600, sitting in office.

New Year’s Eve Day.  Looked out the window and saw it was another yucky day.  Light mist with temps in high 30s.

We headed out at 0845 for Trinity Lutheran.  Very light crowd.  We have a substitute pastor.  He seemed old and confused but gave a great homily.  I told him so.

Tonight at 1700 we are attending a Cook Valley Pot Luck.  We ordered cookies at Sugar Mamma’s.  They are really good.  Pot Luck starts at 1700.

Both Nancy and I took separate walks this afternoon.  On both walks we encountered light mist.  

Our recent weather has been dark and gloomy.  However, I checked last year’s blog and the weather was the same.  Yucky.

I have not been very good about writing my blog.  I blame it on the fact that Nancy cannot drive so I spend about an hour each day driving her.  Pretty lame excuse.

I have not watched any recent football games.  I have lost all interest.  The same with politics.

On January 4, we are heading to San Jose, Ca.  We will stay January with Debbie.

December 21, 2023

 Thursday December 21, 2023

Blog time 1610 December 24, 2023

Today is the winter solstice, shortest day of the year.

Up this morning at 0730, yogurt breakfast before heading to MVP.

MVP was jammed this morning.  Folks must be trying to get a head start on weight loss.  Most folks put on mega pounds during the Christmas season.

Today is another unseasonably warm day.  I checked last year’s blog and it was cold with snow.  We were also getting ready to sell the house on Tahoe.

After MVP we drove to Panera for our morning coffee.  This morning after coffee we stopped at Costco and Meijer’s to check on Nancy’s medicine.  Pills not ready until Dec 24 at Meijer’s and December 26 at Costco’s.  Our 2024 goal is to use only Meijer’s for medicines.

This afternoon it was warm enough for a short bike ride. Followed, of course, by a short nap.

Attended Happy Hour, followed by dinner in main dining room.  A lot of folks have left for the holidays. The dining area was empty.

December 20, 2023

Wednesday December 20, 2023

Blog time 1615 on Friday December 22

We followed our standard routine today.

Up at 0730.  Fixed oatmeal with Blueberries.  Nancy never eats breakfast.  

Another mild day in GR.  Temps will reach 40.  I cannot remember a warmer December in Michigan.  Global warming?

We usually head to MVP between 0830 and 0900.  Today is Nancy's swim day and I stick to my weekday calisthenics.

For health reasons Nancy no longer drives.

MVP is a little over a mile from our apartment.  After my workout I shower and apply dry skin lotion.  My big problem this time of year is keeping my hands well lubricated.  Aveeno does not work.  My best luck has been with cetaphil.  I apply at least 5 times daily.

After our workout we headed to Panera.  Ordered two scones (1 for each of us) and coffee.  We both spend some time reading on our iPads. After Panera we run errands.

Rest of day's activities:

Nap, Happy Hour, Dinner and then some TV.  Tonight we watched the last episode of "The Night Manager".

I finish my day reading the WSJ.  

This and that:

I still cannot figure out why so many American do not back Israeli.  Clearly Hamas is responsible for the military action.

The Super performance of the stock market is a surprise.

The lack of support by some Americans for Ukraine surprises me.

The US Navy is in bad shape.  Congress has to make a major effort to bring it up world class.

AHS has a great hockey team.  Basketball not so much.

  

   

December 19, 2023

 Tuesday December 19, 2023

Blog time 1645 on Thursday

Today we followed our normal Tuesday routine.

MVP, Panera and a quick stop at Meijer’s.

This afternoon I took a bike ride.

Dinner in the main dining room.

Watched an episode of “Shetland” before turning in.

December 18, 2023

 Monday December 18, 2023

Blog time 1630 on Thursday the 21st.

Start of new week.

Up, dressed and headed to MVP.

Nancy swam and I did my calisthenics.

After showering we headed Panera for our morning coffee.

My memory is foggy.  I cannot remember what we did today.

I do know that the news would mention, Hamas and Israel, Taylor Swift and the chatter from Trump and Biden.

We attended Happy Hour and had dinner in the main dining room.  Watched some TV.  Nancy headed to bed first.  I finished the evening reading the WSJ.

December 17, 2023

 Sunday December 17, 2023

Blog time 1625 on Thursday Dec 21

Sunday:  we attended the 0915 service at Trinity.

This afternoon Nancy and I attended her book club’s Christmas party at the Moleski’s.

In attendance were Linda and Tom Moleski, Tim Mask, Connie Cady and Bob and Nancy.  Linda had chicken and beef, with grilled vegetables.  Chocolate cake for dessert.  It was all very good.

This will be our last book club event.  Nancy resigned at the last meeting.

We were home at 1600.  Light dinner before watching some TV.