A Dreary Lake Morning

6:53

9:14

It's a 41° morning with a light drizzle at 7:30. I've been up since 6:40, reading the various newspapers and relaxing with a cup of coffee. In 20 minutes, I'm heading to the Lake Life Cafe for breakfast — my first visit in a month.

9:15 — Just returned from breakfast, and it's still raining, so kayaking is out. Evie just got up, which is great; she needed the sleep.

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Wednesday was a bit of a bore, mostly wet and gray. Fortunately, I did get in a paddle, which made my day. When I returned, Evie was up, and over coffee we talked about what we needed from Wegmans — our refrigerator was essentially empty after nearly four weeks away. I was hoping to cut the lawn, but when the rain started up again, I headed out to shop instead.

Even though it was a Wednesday rather than 5% Tuesday, Wegmans was busy. I filled my cart to overflowing and came home with four bags of groceries. After helping Evie put everything away, we had lunch: chicken soup from Wegmans and toasted ham and cheese sandwiches. I then started a new series, An Unsuitable Job for a Woman, based on the P. D. James novel I read back in the '70s — she was one of my favorites at the time.

Tired from the busy morning, I fell back into my routine of napping and reading for an hour. I've been making my way through Stewart O'Nan's Wish You Were Here, a novel set in Chautauqua, and it's been a pleasure to read since I recognize so much of the setting. After my nap, I did little other than sit, read, and poke around on my computer. Evie joined me, and we waited patiently until 5:00 for a glass of wine.

Dinner was a couple of marinated chicken breasts from Wegmans, along with rice and a salad, and we watched a few episodes of Doc on Hulu. Evie went to bed at her usual time — around 8:30 — and I caught a couple of NBA games before heading up around 10:00. It was a long day.

Home Again

Kayak Morning

Sandy Bottom

Northern Sky

Woodlawn Starting To Green

It's just after 9:00, and both Evie and I are back to our usual routine — listening to Michael Smerconish and enjoying our coffee. I've been up since 7:30 and got in a 40-minute paddle, down to Sandy Bottom and back on a gray, 55° morning. It felt wonderful to be back on the lake.

Knowing we had a four-hour drive ahead, we were in no hurry to leave the Hampton. We had some breakfast and were off by 9:30. We've made this drive many times, so it was a bit of a slog — an hour and a half to the Cleveland area, another hour-plus to the Ohio/Pennsylvania line. We stopped for gas at $3.87 a gallon and grabbed burgers from McDonald's, then made the final hour home to the lake. We're always a little anxious pulling in, hoping to find everything in order — and thankfully, it was. No problems.

Unfortunately, Evie was coming down with a cold with a slight fever, so I handled most of the unpacking. Once that was done, we both relaxed, and Evie eventually headed upstairs for a nap. I took care of a few things outside — moving the lawn mowers into the garage and pulling out the Outback, which started right up after sitting for a few weeks. A small victory worth celebrating.

Around 5:30, I drove to the Ashville General Store to pick up dinner: a Highjacker for me — think Cuban sandwich — and chicken-and-vegetable soup for Evie. The sandwich was excellent, but the soup was another story, so oversalted that Evie couldn't get through it. By 8:00, Evie was ready for bed, feeling miserable. I stayed up watching basketball until 9:30 before turning in myself, worn out from the long day of driving.

We loved the trip — cherishing the time with both Beth and Tom — but as always, there's nothing quite like coming home.

By the way, I just read King Charles's address to the House. I highly recommend you read it.  I loved the way it ended it: 

'Mr Speaker, Mr Vice-President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, America's words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence. The actions of this great Nation matter even more.

'President Lincoln understood this so well, with his reflection in the magisterial Gettysburg Address, that the world may little note what we say, but will never forget what we do. 

Once More To The Lake

 

Spring

Winter

Autumn

Summer

It's 7:06, and here I am again — another Hampton Inn breakfast nook, coffee in hand, watching the morning news while Evie sleeps in. We're just north of Columbus with a four-hour drive ahead to the lake. Right now, at 7:46, I am the only one having breakfast. It's not a very busy Hampton Inn. 

Yesterday was similar to the previous day's five-hour push. We were in no hurry to leave, enjoyed breakfast at the Inn, and didn't pull out until around 9:15 CT (10:15 EST). The first hour brought heavy rain, but once we crossed into Indiana, it cleared up, and we had smooth sailing the rest of the way. There's something satisfying about getting past Indianapolis — at that point, Ohio feels almost within reach, just an hour or two out. Gas in Illinois stung at $4.67 a gallon, the priciest of the trip. We rolled into Columbus around 4:00, hit the usual tangle of rush-hour traffic on I-70 and I-71, and were relieved to finally pull into the Hampton at 4:30. Once again, we managed to dodge any accidents or road closures — always something to be grateful for. We collapsed onto the beds, only to notice a strange odor, and ended up switching rooms for the second time this trip.

Road Trip Crazy

For dinner, we made the short five-minute drive to Cracker Barrel. We fit right in with the crowd — this was only our second visit, and we'd forgotten how much fun the whole experience is: the rambling gift shop, the cozy atmosphere, the comfort food. I went with the chicken and dumplings and two sides; Evie had a bowl of chicken soup. Her soup was a hit, though my dish didn't quite live up to expectations. Our waitress more than made up for it — young, peppy, and genuinely fun. We were back at the Hampton by 8:00, watched some basketball, and read until around 9:30 (8:30 Central) before finally turning out the lights, hoping to sleep in.

One More Day

It's 7:10, and I've been up for an hour, having my coffee in the dining area of a Hampton Inn in Effingham, Illinois. It's a busy place — most guests are retirees like us, up and ready to hit the road. We, however, are in no hurry. We have a five-hour drive ahead to a Hampton Inn just south of Columbus, where we'll spend the night before heading back to the lake on Tuesday.

Our View This Morning At 8:10

Sunday was an easy ride, though it seemed long. I suppose that's true of any drive — whether it's nine hours or five, it always feels long. We took our time leaving, packing up in the morning, getting the car ready, and then sitting down to one more great breakfast with Tom and Mary: steak, eggs, and potatoes. We said our goodbyes around 10:00 and promptly took a wrong turn, following the GPS down a path it inexplicably wanted us to take toward Kansas City. We got back on track quickly enough. Traffic was heavy, especially around St. Louis, where Evie took the wheel. All told, I drove about three hours and Evie two as we traded off along the way.

Easy To See From #70

Around 2:30, we stopped for gas and found ourselves pulling in right next to the Blue Springs Café — a place we'd long wanted to try because of their advertised foot-high pies. We decided this was finally the day. It was packed on a Sunday, full of elderly folks, likely farmers, enjoying a big midday dinner. We weren't sure what to order, so we settled on sharing the fried chicken dinner, which came with coleslaw, beets, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, and French fries. Needless to say, the two of us couldn't come close to finishing it — and there was certainly no room for pie.

Firefly Grill

By the time we were done, it was 3:00, leaving us just over an hour's drive to Effingham. We collapsed on the beds, worn out, and debated whether to go out for dinner or just get carry-out. In the end, we went out — the Firefly Grill is one of our favorites, and it didn't disappoint. The bar was nearly empty despite the restaurant being busy, so we settled in there, chatted with the bartender over beers, and ordered shrimp cakes for Evie and a pizza for me. Both were excellent, and we've got half a pizza left for today's lunch. We were back by 8:00, watched some basketball, and read for a while, but by 9:30 it was lights out.

Five Hours To Effingham

It's 8:10 as I begin writing this on a sunny, 61° morning in Lee's Summit. I was up at 7:00 with Mary, and Tom and Evie followed shortly after, already making coffee. Since we have an easy five-hour drive ahead, there's no rush to get moving. My instinct is always to push through in two long eight-hour days, but Evie has talked me into taking it easy — three five-hour drives, arriving at the lake on Tuesday.

Saturday turned out to be a lovely day, even with the boys back home with Nick and Aundraya. We had a relaxed morning with plenty of coffee, and around 10:00, Tom put together an impressive breakfast feast — eggs, steak, and potatoes, all in one pan — more than enough to feed the five of us, with some left over. Delicious. We were also lucky to get one last visit with the boys, so Evie and I showered up and made the half-hour drive to Roeland Park, just across the state line in Kansas. When we arrived, Rhys was still sleeping, but Tommy was wide awake and more than happy to hold court. Rhys was up soon enough, and we enjoyed time with both boys until 3:15, when they headed off to Aundraya's parents' house for three days — Nick and Aundraya were leaving for a week in Cancun. Tom and Mary will have their turn with the boys later in the week.

It was too early for dinner when we got home, so we settled in and relaxed — Tom and I even managed a brief nap. Around 5:30, we decided to head out to eat. Tom suggested I take the wheel of the Tesla, so I rose to the occasion and, I have to say, I was exceptional at it... doing absolutely nothing. I sat in the driver's seat, feet flat on the floor, and watched as the car steered, changed lanes, waited at lights, and backed neatly into a parking spot beside our restaurant, 30 Hops. It's a lively place — a sprawling bar that seats at least forty. We found a booth, settled in quickly, and ordered beers, burgers, and salads for the gals. A great choice. The food was good, the ambiance warm, and the buzz of the room made it all the more enjoyable. The drive home was equally effortless, and I remain enormously impressed with my own ability to let the Tesla do its thing. Tom points out that the statistics back it up — self-driving cars are safer than human drivers in most situations, with human error responsible for roughly 90% of accidents. I'm a convert. And with every software update, Tom's Tesla only keeps getting better.

Marlena, Our Happy Granddaughter

We were home by 7:15, just in time for the White House Correspondents' Dinner — until the evening was interrupted by reports of gunfire nearby. It cast a shadow over the night, though thankfully no one was hurt. We stayed up watching the news coverage and Trump's brief press conference before finally calling it a night.

Another Day With Our Great Grandsons

Our Boy, Relaxed

Playing With His Nani

Proud Parents

Tommy, Tommy, Tommy

It's 8:50, and I've been up for just an hour, having slept in until 8:00. Evie's just gotten her coffee, Tom's been up since 7:00, and Mary is off to work out. It's a quiet house since Rhys didn't sleep over — quiet, and honestly, a little boring after yesterday's fun day.  It's a sunny day here in Missouri, with a high in the mid-70s.

Tommy's First Swim

Tommy And Me

Yesterday was a full day. Rhys slept over, and Nick arrived at 8:30 to work, bringing Tommy along, so we had both boys until after dinner — around 7:30. The morning was theirs, the boys taking over our lives in the best way. Fortunately, there were four adults between Nick and the four of us, so when one ran out of steam, another stepped in. Both Tom and Nick were working from home but could break away to help whenever needed. Tommy naps at 9:30 and 2:30; Rhys takes a couple-hour nap at 11:00, since he'd been up since 5:00. As you can imagine, our day revolved entirely around the boys. While Rhys was down, Tom took Tommy for his first swim in the pool — and he seemed to love it.

Evie Gummy Shopping

Once Tommy went down for his second nap, Tom volunteered to drive Evie and me on a few errands — gummies for Evie and wine for me. He recently bought a Tesla Model Y All-Wheel Drive, Premium, and this was our first real ride. We figured out how to open the doors, settled in, and Tom started the car and announced to Grok where he wanted to go: first to Flora Farms, a dispensary, then Total Wine. And that was all it needed. The car backed us out of the garage, navigated to the main roads, stopped for lights, changed lanes as needed, pulled into Flora Farms, and parked — on its own. At the dispensary, which was quite busy, Evie showed her ID, and a helpful, happy staff member walked her through the options. She left with three different kinds of gummies and a 20% discount, spending around $65. We got back in the car and, just like that, it drove us to Total Wine and reversed neatly into a parking space. I walked out with six boxes of wine — $23.99 for the Chautauqua, $13.99 for the Missouri. Tom tapped "Home" on the screen, and off we went.

Rhys Loving His Cars

The Gals And Boys

Rhys Loves His Mom

I'm a believer. I want one. Tom said it took him two minutes to order the car online — and honestly, if I had the nerve, I'd do it. The self-driving feature runs $99 a month, and you can turn it on and off as needed, which is clever. If I were heading out on a road trip, I might activate it for that month and let it do the work.

Tommy And Mary

Tommy And Tom

Rhys And His Papa

A Couple Of Cuties

When we returned, it was so warm and sunny that Tom took Rhys swimming, and I couldn't resist — I threw on my bathing suit and joined them. Rhys loves the water, dunking his head under every now and then without a care in the world. All seven of us ended up outside while Tommy napped, and when he woke, he came out too, happily dangling his feet in the water. Aundraya arrived around 5:30, fresh from a fifth work anniversary celebration at Hallmark. We all relaxed while dinner came together: sweet potatoes topped with taco meat, black beans, onions, cheese, and guacamole. We ate on the screened-in porch, watching TV, until it was time for Nick and Aundraya to pack up the boys and head home. The quiet they left behind was deafening.

Tommy

The Guys

Rhys With Baba And Granny

We watched some of the NBA, but Evie and Mary turned in around 9:00, leaving Tom and me up until 10:00 — just in time to see the Lakers beat Houston in overtime.

A Couple Of Days With Rhys And Tommy

Aundraya, Nick, And The Boys

Watching Truck Video This Morning

Lee's Summit Morning

It's 8:20, and we're at my son Tom's house in Lee's Summit, MO — a lively, bustling place. I've been up since 7:00, but my great-grandson Rhys, who spent the night, was up at 5:00. His brother Tommy just arrived with his dad to spend the day, so we're in for a busy and fun one. Right now, at 8:50, Tom and Mary have taken both boys out for a stroll in the stroller on a sunny, 56° morning. We were in touch with Beth yesterday and this morning, and Rami is still in the hospital and had a couple of successful procedures.

Evie And Rhys

Mary And Rhys

Tommy And Tommy

Papa And Tommy

Yesterday was an easy four-hour drive from Oklahoma to Lee's Summit, a suburb of Kansas City. We left around 9:00 and pulled in just after 1:00, making one stop for gas and skipping breakfast altogether. I drove the whole way and felt great. Mary and Marlena were waiting in the driveway when we arrived. Rhys was napping, so the first hour was quiet — until he woke up and claimed everyone's full attention. Tom was working from home and could step away whenever he liked. What a luxury. When Rhys finally stirred, I was able to go in and lift him from his crib. He looked up at me, said "Baba," and stretched out his arms. How neat to be recognized. He's all boy — loves playing with trucks, has a little hoop and basketball, and is devoted to his football. When he's tired, he winds down watching truck videos on TV.

Mom And Rhys

Tommy And Nick

Around 5:00, Nick arrived with his wife, Aundraya, and seven-month-old Tommy. We caught up on their busy lives — on Sunday, they're flying to Cancun for a much-needed break, leaving the boys with both sets of grandparents. While everyone played with the kids, Tom got the steaks ready, and Mary made a salad and baked potatoes. Tommy seemed perfectly at ease with both Evie and me, which was wonderful — we each got to hold him before and after dinner. 

Granny And Tommy

Chillin And Grillin

Tom grilled the steaks to perfection, and we sat down to eat around 6:45: beautiful Costco steaks (Evie's special request), salad, and potatoes. Nick and Audraya headed home around 7:30, leaving Rhys to spend the night. We stayed up until 9:30 watching the NFL Draft and went to bed around 9:45. What a great day.