A Calm, 32º Saturday Morning

8:49

It’s 8:55 as I start this, and we’re both up. I slept in until 8:00—an all-time high—and Evie slept a full ten hours. We should have a good day. The sky is mostly gray, though the sun is peeking out to the south. Our front yard is green once again now that the snow has melted, but the road and part of the parking area are still icy.

Friday was a lazy day, as neither of us did much, probably due to the rain, sleet, and snow, which made a morning walk impossible. After breakfast and the blog, I helped Evie clean the upstairs bedrooms by vacuuming each room—an easy job. Afterward, I drove to the Lighthouse to pick up some ground chuck for dinner. I passed the Chautauqua Institution gate and almost stopped for a walk, but didn’t—lazy boy. I was also supposed to pick up a four-wheel-drive loaner from Kia, but as I suspected, it wasn’t ready. They said they’d call when it came in. They didn’t. What a surprise.

3:04

For lunch, I had a salami sandwich on toast and watched my series until about 1:30, when I went upstairs to read and nap. I did—for a good hour. We read or watched TV for the rest of the afternoon, the house often buffeted by heavy winds, the sky threatening, but then, the sun came out, and we had blue skies.

3:58

5:44

We had planned on having a cabbage and ground beef stir-fry dinner, but around 4:00, due to heavy winds that filled our yard with deadfall, the electricity went out. So we sat in the dark for a couple of hours, nursing our wine and scrolling on our phones. We were still able to access the internet thanks to 5G. I’m not sure exactly when the power returned—around 6:45, I think—but by then it was too late to make dinner, and neither of us was very hungry anyway after munching on Dots Seasoned Pretzels Twists and dip.

We watched our series and settled for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner. Yum. Evie went to bed at her usual time, and I watched a few minutes of the Indiana–Oregon game before returning to my series, The Fall. I watched until 10:30 and will start Season Two today.

Quote Of The Day: "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.: George Orwell, 1984

Rhys First Day Of Pre School

Wind, Rain, And 44º

8:03

8:23

8:23

A miserable morning greets us at the lake—windows streaked with rain, snow melted away, everything draped in gray. Our front yard shows patches of green where the snow has retreated, and the forecast promises more rain or sleet over the next few days.

Yesterday stood in stark contrast: abundant sunshine, blue skies, a spectacular winter day here in Chautauqua County. Waking to such brightness and driving across the bridge to Bemus for breakfast in the sun felt almost miraculous. After breakfast, I finished the blog while Evie left for school at 9:30 in our Outback. Around 10:00, I dropped off my Kia Sportage at the dealer to have the air flaps repaired and picked up a loaner—though unfortunately not the Four Wheel Drive I need, so I'll have to return today to get a Four Wheel Drive Sportage.

Noon Blue

With such beautiful weather beckoning, I decided on a hike around the Chautauqua Institution, figuring the usual woodland trails would be waterlogged. I was wrong about the roads being clear, though, and spent much of my forty-five-minute walk navigating slush. On my way back, I stopped at Common Grounds for coffee, where locals gather daily. I chatted with Linda, who volunteers on Thursdays, and met a fisherman who pursues steelhead trout in the local streams and was hoping to get out later that day.

Thunder Bridge

Brick Walk

Walk At Bestor Plaza

Thunder Bridge

I was home by 12:30, heated up Evie's leftover Reuben from Wednesday night, and started rewatching The Fall—a series I first saw at least ten years ago. Gillian Anderson plays the lead detective hunting Jamie Dornan's serial killer, and it remains both compelling and terrifying. We follow Jamie as a devoted husband and father of two whose secret life involves stalking and killing, while we also follow Gillian's relentless pursuit of him. I also started a new book, Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, and queued up a film on Netflix.

Evie arrived home around 2:15, and we spent the rest of the afternoon indoors, savoring the unusual blue skies and sunshine.

For dinner, we were having tilapia. Evie prepped the fish while I made tartar sauce, and we had our wine while listening to CNN and Jake Tapper discuss the latest tragedy: an ICE agent's shooting of a mother in Minneapolis. Democrats say it was an illegal use of force, especially three shots; Republicans argue it was justified. And so it goes. We ate around 6:30—the tilapia baked in the air fryer alongside baked potatoes and coleslaw—while watching our series. Evie went to bed at her usual, and I watched another episode of The Fall before heading upstairs to read and sleep.

Quote Of The Day: "Trump has the terrible strength peculiar to people who are incapable of embarrassment and cannot fathom that they look ridiculous." George Will

I used AI Claude today, and the blog doesn't sound like me, does it? Too flowery. 

The Sun, The Sun

9:10

It's 9:15 as I begin writing, having just returned from breakfast at Bemus Point with the guys. It was great to reconnect and hear about their holiday experiences. When I walked out of the Lake Life Cafe, I was shocked to see sunshine and blue skies—not that I'm complaining.

Yesterday was uneventful. With no school, Evie enjoyed a leisurely day, and I had a relaxed morning myself, reading and tackling a few tasks, including making my bed—something I do every day, inspired by Admiral William McRaven's book Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life... and Maybe The World. Since returning from Kansas City, I've been searching everywhere for my Apple AirPods. We looked high and low, even contacted Tommy to see if I'd left them there. Finally, I found them in the medicine chest. Yes, I apparently put them there when I got home. When I mentioned this to the guys this morning, they all laughed knowingly—they'd been there too.

I had an 11:55 dentist appointment to check on my implant, so I left early to shop at Wegmans. Everything went well, and I should be getting my permanent implant in a couple of weeks. I was home by 12:30 for lunch—a toasted ham and cheese sandwich and the last of the penicillin soup. Struggling to find something to watch, I started Killing Eve, but I'm not crazy about it and will be moving on. I spent the afternoon reading and napping as usual. I never made it out for a walk due to the weather: light rain or sleet with slushy roads and trails—the worst of Chautauqua winters.

By 5:45, we were on our way to pick up Ron and Linda for dinner at the Stockton Inn. It wasn't the best choice weather-wise, as we drove through heavy fog both ways. I took my time, mostly worried about deer. We were happy to find seats at their wonderful bar with its dark wood and old-fashioned charm. We ordered Labatt's drafts, and of course, I forgot to wait for everyone before sipping mine. Ron and I had the meatloaf dinner with mashed potatoes and two sides, while the girls ordered Reubens. All four of us loved our meals and agreed we'll be back. We arrived home around 8:15. Evie, tired from the day, went straight to bed, leaving me to watch The Night Manager again before joining her.

Rain, Sleet And Snow

7:34

It's 7:45, and I've been up for an hour, watching the sky turn from dark to gray. Our yard remains blanketed in snow, but the lake has turned gray, beginning to melt as the temperature hovers between the 30s and 40s. By 8:00, as I look outside, sleet or snow begins to fall, just as predicted.

Tuesday returned us to routine, especially for Evie. We were both up by 7:15, on our devices with a couple of cups of coffee in hand. Evie then showered and got ready for school while I finished the blog and waited for her to read it before she left. I wanted to go on a hike, but I wasn't sure where to go—it depended on whether the trails had been groomed by snowmobiles or cross-country skiers. 

Trail Marker

I decided to drive over to Long Point State Park, hoping for the best. Just as I arrived, it started to pour, so I sat in my car for five minutes until it let up and finally stopped. The trails were initially marked only by cross-country ski tracks, making for tough going until I reached the major trails, where someone had pulled a sled or something similar, making walking easier. The highlight of my hour-long hike was spotting three deer. They stood perfectly still while I photographed them, and even when I moved on, they remained motionless.

Sun Appears Just As I Start My Hike

Trail Marked By Cross Country Skiers

Deer

Three Poised To Run

Head Shot 

I was home by noon, heated up the leftover spicy eggplant and rice, and watched the first half of the final episode of Prime Suspect. Chief Inspector Tennison is set to retire in a couple of weeks, and this will be her last case and the end of the series. Evie returned around 2:30, energized by her time with the kindergarteners—nothing like hugs and appreciation. I then went upstairs for a brief nap. The rest of the afternoon passed quickly, and by 5:00, Evie was on a Zoom call with her sisters.

Foggy Afternoon

After the call, we had an easy dinner: schnitzel sandwiches with mayo and tomatoes, paired with Boulder potato chips made with avocado oil—we discovered them at my son Tom's house in Kansas City. Delicious. We're still deep into our series, All Saints, and I'm not sure we'll watch anything else until it's over—493 episodes! Once Evie went up to bed, I finished Prime Suspect. It ended beautifully, with Helen Mirren skipping her retirement celebration and simply walking out the door.

* I am beginning to ask Chat CPT to polish my blog, but today I used Claude, another AI website. I know it's cheating, but at my age, I need it! Do you notice any difference? 

Warming Up

7:25

8:36

It’s 8:00, and we’ve both been up since 7:00. Evie starts kindergarten again today, and although I have nothing planned, I was awake by 7:00 as well. It was 30º when I got up, and the forecast calls for snow, sleet, or rain on and off today as temperatures rise into the 40s.

Ice Fishing Off Long Point This Morning

Monday was mostly cloudy, with a bit of sun and blue sky later in the day. Temperatures stayed in the 30s, though it was colder in the morning. The day began as usual—coffee, the blog, breakfast, and a discussion of our plans, especially what we would have for dinner. I woke up thinking about an Asian eggplant dish we used to make with hot bean sauce, only to realize I had forgotten to buy eggplant at Wegmans on Sunday.

By 10:30, I headed to Wegmans, stopping first at Ryder’s Cup for coffee. I ended up chatting with the guys there for a good half hour. Monday is the best day to shop at Wegmans; most people have already shopped over the weekend or wait for 5% Tuesday. After shopping, I drove to the Kia dealer and made an appointment to fix the air flap on my car this Thursday. They’re giving me a four-wheel-drive loaner until the repair is done.

I was home by 12:30 and had lunch—a toasted ham and cheese sandwich and the rest of Wegmans’ chicken noodle soup. I’ve gone back to watching Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren during lunch. By 1:30, I was upstairs reading and then took a solid forty-five-minute nap. Around 4:00, I went out for a 30-minute walk around the neighborhood as the snow on the roads turned to slush. It always feels good to get outside and clear your head of the world’s problems.

Woodlawn Road

View Of Woodlawn North

Cap of Snow

By 5:00, we were enjoying a seven-dollar bottle of sauvignon blanc from Costco, which we liked quite a bit. Earlier, Evie had grilled a couple of pounds of eggplant in the air fryer, so by 6:00 I was putting together our spicy eggplant dish with garlic, ginger, lots of soy, and hot bean sauce. We served it over rice, and both of us thought it was a bit too salty—probably from too much soy. Still, I liked it enough to have two helpings, and there’s plenty left for my lunch today.

We watched three episodes of our series, and after Evie went to bed, I watched Prime Suspect until 10:00.

Thanks for all the comments. It’s essential to understand how different people think, and we can learn from those whose views differ from our own. I’m calling a cease-fire on the discussion, however, and hoping for the best for Venezuela and its citizens—though with Trump, Stephen Miller, and Pete Hegseth in charge, I’m not optimistic.

Quagmire?

8:00

It’s 8:15 as I start this, and I’ve been up for an hour. We received only a dusting of snow overnight, so I won’t have to shovel—just sweep it off the car. It’s 26° and overcast, with a faint rose tint lingering over the Bemus shoreline.

Yesterday was another football Sunday, though I grew bored with the games, even the Bills’ win over the Jets. The day began as usual with coffee, the blog, and listening to various pundits on CNN discuss the attempt to topple Maduro’s regime in Venezuela. By 10:00, I’d had enough and went outside to shovel the driveway—first with my battery-powered snow shovel, then with the regular one. Two or three inches had fallen overnight, so it needed attention despite my efforts Saturday afternoon. Afterward, I took a short walk around the neighborhood. The snow clinging to the trees, houses, and lawns looked like something straight off a Christmas card.

When I returned, Evie was making Italian penicillin soup. It wasn’t ready for lunch, so she made me scrambled eggs, a bagel, and reheated the Bob Evans sausages left over from Saturday night’s dinner. I turned on the Colts–Oilers game, but couldn’t get interested, so I went upstairs, happy to return to my novel, A Beautiful Blue Death by Charles Finch—a mystery set in Great Britain in the 1860s. It’s a fun read. As usual, I took a half-hour nap and woke feeling refreshed.

Back downstairs, Evie was prepping dinner—Wiener schnitzel, at my request. Around 4:00, I went up to the attic and pulled out my cross-country skis and poles, wondering what it might be like to ski on the lake. I put on my boots and trudged out through a foot and a half of snow. By the time I reached the lake, I was out of breath. When I stepped onto it, my boot immediately sank into slush. I walked in front of the house, and every step ended the same way—snow giving way to slush. Clearly, cross-country skiing was not in the cards.

Late Afternoon Ice Fishing

By 6:00, Evie was frying the schnitzel, microwaving baked potatoes, and making a salad. Tired of football, we turned to our series, All Saints, and watched three episodes. All three held our attention, so we’ll stick with it a while longer. Evie went to bed after the third episode, and I watched the first half of the Steelers–Ravens game before heading upstairs myself.

Thank you to the readers who responded to my initial comments on Venezuela. The responses were thoughtful and civil, and I appreciate reading how differently people view the extraction of Maduro. It always makes me rethink my own position. It also led me to reflect on other times when the United States ventured into foreign countries “with good intentions.” How did that turn out for the country's civilians?

Below are the results of some of our past efforts:

Conflict | Non-U.S. (foreign) deaths (approx.)
Vietnam War | ~2.4 to 3.7 million
Iraq War | ~225,000 to 250,000
Afghanistan War | ~160,000 to 180,000
Total (three conflicts) | ~2.8 to ~4.1 million

If anyone deserves removal from office for the good of the United States, it’s Trump—our malignant narcissist—not Maduro.

We would do well to heed what John Adams said a couple of centuries ago, quoted in George Will’s column yesterday:

“Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.”
—John Adams

21º And More Snow

7:40

It’s 8:43, and I’ve been up since 7:15, having slept in a bit. I was surprised to see that a couple of inches of snow fell overnight, so I’ll be out shoveling later this morning.

First Ice Fishermen Of 2026

Yesterday, I woke to upsetting news: the U.S. had invaded Venezuela under Trump’s orders, making us no better than Russia or any other imperialistic nation. He claims it was to overthrow Maduro because of drugs, but in reality, it’s about oil. The worst part is that House and Senate Republicans sit back and say nothing—cowardice that, sadly, is not unusual. I am embarrassed by our actions, and most of the world will rightly condemn us. Enough.

Other than that, yesterday was a day of leisure for Evie, though less so for me. I was up early, quickly sinking into depression as I read about the invasion. Evie joined me around 9:00, having slept in. We soon got down to business and made a shopping list for Wegmans, since our pantry and fridge were practically empty. I wanted to make kuru fasulye, a white bean stew, but we were out of beans. Instead, I found a pound of garbanzos and put them in the pressure cooker for 35 minutes, hoping to make something tasty with them.

We gathered what little trash we had, and I headed off to the Transfer Station and Wegmans around 11:00. I stopped at Ryder’s Cup after the Transfer Station and learned that my good friend Paul is now in hospice—how sad. Wegmans on Saturdays and Sundays always seems busy, and yesterday was no exception. It took a while to get through Evie’s list, but I fortunately found an open cashier and was done quicker than expected.

I was home around 12:30 and had lunch: chicken noodle soup from Wegmans and sandwiches leftover from our road trip. I watched some basketball, but I couldn’t get into it, so I went upstairs to read and take a nap. I dozed briefly, then came back downstairs to finish our dinner—adding onions, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, spices, and coconut milk to the garbanzos and letting it all simmer for a good half hour. The rest of the afternoon was either wasted or simply leisurely.

We both looked forward to wine time, though yesterday it turned into Manhattan time. Instead of the news, we listened to our Manhattan playlist, built over the years, and loved it.

Dinner—the garbanzo stew—wasn’t quite a disaster, but I won’t be making it again. No matter how long I simmer those beans, they never seem done. Eventually, we just ate the stew with naan and watched our show. After Evie went to bed, I watched the first half of the NFL game before heading upstairs just before 10:00 to read and sleep.