Terry Gross and an evening walk

Going to have coffee with the boys this morning.  Supposed to be a warmer day which should be enjoyable.  No big contemplations today but not feeling uneasy either.  Will have Apollo duty around noon.  Judy needs frozen fruit for her smoothies. I would really like them but they don't work with my meal plan (meal plan sounds better than diet).  Still trying to get comfortable with the Mac keyboard. 

It's the next day and after a warm shorts wearing day with beautiful partly sunny skies, we are getting rain today.  Breakfast is over and the dishes are washed,  With only a short pickup of Eli after school today, contemplating what to do.  Because I was basically a lazy shit yesterday, went on long walk after dinner, encountering two dogs, on that liked me and one that did not.  Arrived home just before night fall after enjoying the quiet of the neighborhood.  It is truly serene after you escape the traffic noise from the main road, the only sound being kids, bicycles going by and the breezes.  

Watched the streamed version of the Terry Gross interview last night.  I wish he had given her the first slot, the larger one instead of the afterthought at the end.  Mr. Mackie is another version of Capt, America, Ok, fine but it's another actor pitching his film.  Terry is the best interviewer maybe ever and and those who have never listened to her on Fresh Air should take the opportunity to do so some mid afternoon, or check out podcasts of the program. She is truly insightful and empathetic with her guests and brings out their best.  Stephen was in awe of her in this craft. My favorite was one with Burt Bacharach and Hal David, along with Jerry Orbach singing "Promises, Promises" from the Broadway show.  Her knowledge of music and the construction of musical time signatures was amazing.  I was most impressed, 

Took Harry and Apollo to the dog park at Katey's apartment yesterday and they had a blast chasing each other and barking at vehicles,  Exhausted at the effort, they both collapsed.  Not long after, I did the same in the chair,

Defiant, still wearing shorts

stay safe

all for now

Joyful things

This is me at the riverwalk on our recent visit.  Had a lovely time and the day was beautiful.  If you haven't availed yourself this lovely setting, you should try it. We are trying to get out more as the weather improves and we are really tired of being inside. 

Had a wonderful non soccer game yesterday with the dads playing the sons.  It seems the coach of the opposing team, either forgot he was getting married on this day or forgot he had a game scheduled at same time. Needless to say the contest was a forfeit.  However the old lemons to lemonade scenario played out and the kids had a great time playing their fathers. Andrew in the goal on one end and Eli at the other.  With all of dad's leaps and lunges, I am sure he is feeling it this morning.  

Nomadland won the best picture Oscar as expected.  I did not watch the program.  For me the results are not as important as the show itself with the stage and orchestra and all.  Missed the renditions of the songs and the sometimes surprising speeches.  

Still trying to get accustomed to the Apple keyboard, gets easier with each try.  I need a mouse to use the device effectively and we ordered me one along with the protective cover.  The whole shebang should arrive before by the end of the week. Mine is gold in color and I will admit some modicum of excitement and anticipation on learning something new.

Have to make some TV comment on a show we are viewing.  City on a Hill is a gritty, curse filled Boston tough guy cop show with Kevin Bacon as the lead with few redeeming values.  It really shows promise and is the way my mind sees Boston.  Give it a shot.

Finally, had a discussion about joy from viewing.  It is my contention that musical, dramatic and artistic performances bring joy but watching Tiger Woods hit the ball or Kirk Gibson hitting one out of the park does not. If you are playing the sport, I get the joy like the kids running around the field with their fathers.  But watching from the couch, not so much.  What do you think?  

all for now

stay safe

 

First foray into Mac writing

My nine year old HP laptop died a merciful death a few days ago.  Now using my wife's  MacBook Pro to put this together.  The keyboard is a little different in key placement but I a getting used to it.  The software is more reliable and it has better features I am sure I will learn about.   I am jumping on the Mac bandwagon next week, mine is arriving soon. Goodbye to multiple updates.

She uses no mouse so this is difficult to get accustomed to.  Have been making notes in small notebooks with some struggle.  Met with friend Bob 21 April in the morning for coffee. Despite life's struggles, he remains a positive guy.  We were sitting in a coffee shop within a market, split an almond croissant had s splendid chat.  We talked about our childhoods and living in close quarters and vowed to meet again soon.  Next to us was a collection of old guys older than us getting together for their meeting of old friends some walking and some with mobility devices,  still they got to hang out.

Watched the Ron Howard documentary from 2016 entitled "Eight days a week" about their touring years 1963-1969.  It took me back to the excitement I felt when the world stopped as they performed on Ed Sullivan. 

I am honestly looking forward learning this system from Apple,  it will be good for my brain.  Went to the Riverwalk yesterday, the last pleasant day for awhile. 

Was FDR the week willed womanizer as portrayed by Kyle MacLachlin in "Atlantic Crossing"? I hope not!

The organic raisins I bought from Meijer were terrible.  Tasted funny and had to discard. Back to my favorites from Trader Joes.

all for now

stay safe

Ate too Much

 Well, I really enjoyed my high calorie, high carb breakfast yesterday.  The sausages were savory and the eggs were seasoned right and the biscuits were warm.  All that participated loved it.  However, today paying the price.  Sugar is at the top of my range, BP is not where it should be and I gained about 3 pounds.  Have to beat all this out of me with lengthy walks and more sensible eating practices for the rest of the week at least.  Read recently that the average life expectancy for Americans has fallen to 77.8 years.  That kind of statistic was not even worth considering when I was in my thirties.  Now at 71 I am having one of those Oh F*ck! moments.  Really on the short side of that number and this revelation was quite impactful.

Have been watching "A Confession", a BritBox (Amazon Prime) crime drama from 2019 staring Martin Freeman (Sherlock).  The premise revolves around the solving of a murder of a young woman in 2011 (its a true story).  The detective in charge does not follow the PACE requirements for the arrest, much like our "Miranda Rights" for the Brits.  Anyway, consider this short series of 6 episodes.  The dramas from the UK seem to focus on faces and all their characteristics and expressions.  Few are beautiful and without lines and wrinkles.  Apparel looks pretty normal and commonplace.  Stories we have seen have unexpected plot lines and the outcome is not apparent till the end of the series. 

Have encountered a few people that are by personal choice not getting the vaccine for Covid. I am perplexed by this fact.  Some are senior citizens and will most surely not have a good outcome if they contract this virus.  Further, these folks live among us and can infect others that are not vaccinated, brothers, sisters and grandchildren.  Regardless of your personal beliefs whether conspiratorial or religious or if you just fear the government,  for all of us to defeat this, we all must be vaccinated. 

Lastly, I need to wish Marie Reno, my mother in law in Heaven a happy birthday a day late.  She never failed to make me nuts, loved my kids like crazy and had an opinion about everything and was the best mother she could be.  Just never mention NAFTA or Bill Clinton!

all for now

stay safe 

Scrambled eggs and soccer

Don't know where to begin today.  Having Andrew and Katey over for breakfast this morning. We have lots of soccer games later today.  It has been fun so far since the weather has been cooperative and we are not freezing.  We are again dragging out our foldable chairs in their tattered bags to sit on the sidelines.  We always bring a bag of water and stuff if anyone is hungry.  I remember going with Katey for her many games when she was about 13-14 and the dreadful conditions we sat thru and eating donut holes with Mike DiPassio on the sidelines.  Now as grandparents, we abandon ship if the rain starts, leaving it to the stalwart parents to endure the drops with their players. 

Spent the whole day yesterday in food prep world, making farro, egg salad, roasted chicken and hard boiling eggs.  This work is something I truly enjoy.  Found some wonderful pickles at Westborn Market and put some in the egg salad.  I am crazy about pickles and like many other things are bad for me.  They have been out of Sweet Chili Sauce at Trader Joes and I am perplexed and frustrated in that it is our go to condiment.  At the store it is cheap, about a buck and a half.  Online sources have it for 5 or six times the retail cost.  Hopefully it will restock soon.

Have always loved grapefruit but found it difficult to get the sections out effectively.  After much deliberation, have bought grapefruit spoons with serrated edges and a pointed tip and I had my eureka moment that they do the job.  My frustration has diminished and I have lovely sections on my spoon.

Have to visit stores to buy supplies for today's breakfast.  The sun is shinning.  I think it's going to be a good day.  Kind of banal today,  can't always be Hemingway.

all for now

stay safe

Accordions and our sorry state

Yesterday we saw this remarkable documentary from 2010 on the Smithsonian Channel entitled "Accordion Kings".  It provides insight on a competition in vallenato music in rural Colombia featuring masters of the button accordion each playing 4 songs in different styles. This instrument is only accompanied by a hand drum and a percussion instrument called a guacharaca which is a grooved wooden stick that is played by dragging a another across the grooves in rhythm.  This truly a wonderful show with inspiring performances and commentary by Columbian Pop Star Carlos Vives and other historians.  If you get the opportunity to see real joy en musica, catch this one. The translated songs of love and longing are at least poetic and maybe magical.

Things have been pretty quiet politically in that 45 is languishing in the Sunshine State and plotting his next moves.  Biden is doing a good job but the sore spot seems to be at the southern border with no good solutions at hand.  He has tagged Kamala to lead the effort but we have heard little from her.  Gretchen I think has faltered in her adherence to following the science on our pandemic response.  Despite the need to get things going once again,  a lockdown is again needed to stem the tide of the growth of cases in our state even in the short term.  We have become the epicenter of the disease in our country.  There are a lot of reasons why.  She wants compliance to the guidelines,  few are volunteering to do so. 

Had Elijah and Marie over for a couple of days.  Soccer practice has started and we are back at it for transportation.  There are 3 games this weekend.  Hoping for decent weather.  Made burgers (frozen ones from Costco) and fries from Meijer (frozen) a big hit for kids and their dad.  My homemade pizza was a success today using pizza dough from Trader Joes and my new baking pan that I love.  

Finished my diabetes training today.  Learned that my age and diminished muscle mass is yielding higher numbers just due to less muscle than when I started this process.  This training is helpful no matter where you are in your journey.  Many hospitals offer it and it is generally covered by insurance or Medicare.  Regardless of your age or the duration of your condition, consider these classes.

 

Been too lazy lately, need to get out and walk on one of my dog walking journeys. Saw John Boehner former speaker of the house streamed on Stephen last night.  Hearing him say "Ted Cruz can go f*ck himself" completely cracked me up.  Even though I disagree with him on most subjects, I love his salty character.

all for now

stay safe 

The VA, Kensington, and Hemingway

 At the Veterans Administration Hospital in Detroit with Judy for a podiatrist appointments (orthotics). Seeing lots of military men and women mostly overweight and not moving too quickly to their doctor visits making me feel guilty for being able bodied and not serving my country.  Few moving without the aid of canes, wheelchairs and other mobility devices. It's sweaty where I am sitting.  My mask is getting damp from the heat. This place is very institutional in appearance with beige walls and a lonely wheelchair across the hallway from me.  There are lots of wives pushing their husbands all with caps proclaiming their service.  Did see one high tech prosthetic leg.  He a big man and was walking pretty slow but no cane.  Peering at all these folks, was thinking that everybody has a story to tell, whether it be a war story, a love story or a horror story.  It can be seen in their faces. 

We received a more lovely day than expected today and took advantage of it for a trip to Kensington with Marie and Eli looking for birds and chipmunks to feed.  Marie has the necessary patience and quiet to attract these creatures to her.  Eli not so much, his anticipation shows and his success is less. 

And we saw our first snake of the season, a garter snake that I managed a little luck to photo.  No one freaked out seeing him slither across the leaves.  He seemed small an somewhat vulnerable; anyway pretty cool.

We watched the first episode of the Ken Burns documentary on Hemingway.  Many of the commentators were writers themselves and went on and on about his words, life and foibles.  It was like listening to a music critic speak about a recording, sometimes you have to experience the words or the notes and a dissertation does not do either medium justice.  

My purpose is more academic.  I want to learn how great writers perform their craft.  Hemingway was shown to have many drafts and rewrites many of which were typed on an old Corona typewriter, then penciled over and crossed off.  The lines were composed again in pencil over the previous words.  I want to grow as a writer.  Seeing this may help.

As I an writing this on the second day, it is early, before sunrise., I and hearing lovely songs from my balcony.   The morning birds have arisen and I love hearing their songs and chirps.  It provides a certain tranquility prior to the day's beginning.

all for now

stay safe
 

The Boys

Watched a very anticipated film, rented on Amazon Prime last evening, Supernova.  Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth deliver brilliant performances as partners learning to cope with the rapidly progressing dementia of Tucci's character on a road trip thru the rural UK.  They visit family and friends along the way and have touching moments of stark reality.  But, I wouldn't recommend it.  Although smart and heartfelt, it was crushingly dreary and maybe too close to reality. 

Two friends, one, a senior citizen and the other a teenager; that's Harry and Apollo.  They lived together with us in the last house.  We had a yard then and they would chase each other around and over the ramp we had for Shannon.  Harry would chew on Apollo's back legs to persuade him to chase and play.  This is them in repose after a romp the doggie play yard at Katey's apartment complex. 

All in all a pretty decent day yesterday with a successful shopping journey to many stores in the morning securing all the items on my list.  Lovely warm temps, yet another shorts day with pleasant breezes and trees budding and leafing out all around.  Spring seems to have arrived in reality and we need it.  

Coffee with my cronies this morning.

stay safe

all for now 

Easter Memories and more

 I think back to my childhood living in the beginning of Warren Michigan.  We lived on a street that was one of the first ones developed in the neighborhood before there was a freeway,  Our street Kelsey Ave butted up to the 2 lane road, 11 Mile Road.  All the houses basically look the same with matching roof lines and houses all built the same distance from the street and all of red brick.  The driveways were all positioned the same.  Ours had three bedrooms on the same floor with and unfinished basement.  Family rooms had not yet been invented so the living room was the place where you lived, entertained, watched the 3 channel TV and decorated the Christmas tree. 

Easter started out the same as for most.  We located our baskets and had a little candy.  We got dressed up and went to Mass.  Dad put on his coat and tie and Mom wore lovely dress with heels.  We would drive off to church which was in the neighborhood really within walking distance.  We would sit through the rituals and the ceremonies of the Mass, maybe receive Communion and headed home.  Dad would rest on the couch and maybe turn on the TV and mom would commence to make the Easter dinner.  It was generally ham and mashed potatoes and a few vegetables.  Always there was some kind of bread, usually biscuits or rolls.  I remember the heat of the kitchen and her bustling around.  She made the cherry pie the day before and it rested in the oven only to be remove for the ham.  The smell of the ham cooking is my fondest Easter memory.  I my mind, I can still absorb it thru my nostrils.  It filled the whole house and was quite good but I could live on the delicious odor.

Harry and Leonard, Mom's brothers and their families arrived for dinner later.  Grownups sat the the dining table and us kids were at TV trays or the old card table. I'm sure there was playing around but I do not remember it.  This was a rather quiet bunch.  Dad would  good naturedly chide Uncle Harry for eating too much ham and would say " Dorothy cut Harry off!  He loved his ham.  Sadly all that is left of these siblings is Len and he is doing well.

Our post Covid? dinner was a little different with Andrew, his kids, Katey and Shannon. We had a collection of dishes that included polish sausage with mushrooms and onions simmered in Sweet Baby Rays  all day in the crockpot.  This is a hit with the grandkids. Judy made our squash casserole. I made faro salad and Andrew brought a delicious sweet potato pie that was the real highlight for me.  All took home leftovers and the frig was emptied out.  Because it was such a lovely day, I took Shannon on a long walk in the neighborhood with the Alan Jackson music blaring from my phone and her singing along. We received pictures of our Grand Rapids kids enjoying their dinosaur gift and was most pleased it arrived on time.  After dinner we went to the playground for kids and adults swinging on the swings and running around. It was a really nice day.

Was mostly a TV watching vegetable for Monday then fully energized and went to the West Bloomfield nature trail with Janine yesterday.  It was a truly spectacular day and my first foray into shorts showing off my white pasty legs.  It was great fun and I had no slips or trips.  Being outside in the sunshine is one of the simple pleasures that cannot be denied.  Those around here that chose to stay inside mulling over in their appointments are wasting the beauty of the day.  

Today will be another warm outside day.  Going to Katey's with Harry to take he and Apollo to the dog park they have in the complex.  We turn them loose and they chase each other till they drop.

Well that's about it for today.

Enjoy your self and get outside if your weather is good.

stay safe

get your shot if you need to

all for now