Overcast, Rain, And Cooler

                                                                       Juvenile Cardinal

7:12

9:35

It's 7:25, and we're both up. Evie has a test in Westfield at 9:00, and I have breakfast at 8:00. The lake is not very inviting — choppy and gray — so I won't be going out.

Yesterday was another busy day, getting ready for our trip on Friday. I was up early as usual, had my coffee and breakfast, wrote the blog, and was ready to go to pickleball just as Evie came downstairs to read and publish it. I played a bit better — enough that I might play again when we return from Texas. Who knows, because the weather will be nice and I'll also want to ride my bike or hike.

When I got home, I had planned to pick up my taxes and stop at Wegmans, but Evie suggested I wait until today, which saved me a trip. So I helped with a few things around the house and continued getting my stuff together for the trip. If I forget something, I can always buy it in Dallas, so I'm not too frazzled. On my way home from pickleball, I stopped at the Lighthouse for a sub sandwich — it was great, and Evie enjoyed it as well. I finished my show, Detective Hole, and I have to admit I got tired of it, especially the close-ups of Harry never smiling.

The afternoon was its usual mix: get something done, then read for a bit or watch TV. I took a good nap and read for much of the afternoon, finishing my book with a predictable ending. Evie did the same — lots of laundry and getting organized — until 5:00, when we both got to relax with a glass of wine. Dinner was pasta with chicken, and we watched Colbert and the final episode of Paradise. Evie then went up to bed, and I started a new series called The Recruit, which seems worth watching. I completely forgot about Trump's address, so I slept well.

Light Winds, Overcast And Rain

6:59

8:03

It's 8:20, and I've been up since 7:00, browsing the papers and listening to a couple of podcasts. I'm in no hurry — I don't need to leave for pickleball until 9:15, and later I have a wellness appointment in Westfield, so it's shaping up to be a busy morning.

Yesterday felt like some sort of a lost day. I had to be up early to take the Kia to the Honda dealer for an oil change, tire rotation, and general checkup. While they worked on the car, I walked over to a nearby Tim Hortons — about five minutes away — and had a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The whole service took just over an hour, and everything checks out for our upcoming trip west.

Evie had asked me to pick up some gummies, but her dispensary, Lifted, didn't open until 10:00. So I filled the time with a few errands: a stop at the bank, then Wegmans, then Runnings to browse outdoor gear — though everything was so expensive I left empty-handed. I then drove to Jamestown, parked in my usual spot, walked across the street, bought the gummies, and returned to find a parking ticket on my windshield. I couldn't have been gone more than ten minutes. Fortunately, it was only ten dollars if paid within the next couple of weeks, which I promptly did.

Back home, Evie was in full pre-trip mode — tidying the house, doing laundry, and starting to think about what to pack for Dallas. Around 12:30, she made me a couple of toasted ham-and-cheese sandwiches for lunch, and I settled in to watch my show, Detective Hole. Since I'd been up since 5:45, I also managed to squeeze in a decent nap.

7:13

The rest of the afternoon drifted by — some light housecleaning, more thinking about packing, and a bit of TV. At 7:00, a storm rolled in with torrential rain, wind, thunder, and lightning. It carried on off and on for a good hour and left about an inch of rain. Despite the weather, we managed to enjoy a glass of wine with appetizers — sushi, a nice cheese — while watching the dramatic sky shift and change. Evie had been craving a hot dog, so that became dinner, rounded out with mac and cheese and a salad.

Stormy Weather

Torrential Rains And Wind

We watched our usual evening fare — a couple of Colbert episodes and some HGTV — until Evie headed up to bed. I stayed up a while longer, catching some basketball and two more episodes of my series before finally calling it a night.

Thunder And Lightning

Our Great Grandsons,  Rhys And Tommy, With Tom And Mary

6:32

7:12

It's an early morning — I have an appointment for my Kia at the Honda dealer at 8:00. The local Luv Kia is going out of business, which comes as no surprise; it was the most unprofessional and disorganized dealership I've ever dealt with. Coming downstairs, I was greeted by lightning filling the sky over Bemus Bay and a rumble of thunder — interestingly, I'd gone to bed the same way, with thunder and lightning in the distance.

Monday began with a paddle, despite having to drive to pickleball at 9:15. It was a lovely morning — lots of photographs of the sky, though very few interesting birds. In hindsight, I probably should have skipped pickleball and done something else, maybe a bike ride or a hike. I was home by 11:30, and as Evie and I sat in the living room, she let out a scream — a bird, probably an osprey, had dived into the water and seized a fish in its talons. Cool beans.

For some reason, I was really tired after paddling and playing pickleball, so I went upstairs and read until lunch was ready at 12:30 — a couple of pork cutlet sandwiches with mayo and tomatoes. Yum. I watched another episode of my dark crime series, Detective Hole, and it is dark. I then went upstairs for a solid hour-long nap, much needed apparently, and spent much of the afternoon reading.

At 5:00, we had our wine, and Evie put together a terrific dinner: loaded baked potatoes with broccoli and cheese sauce, and cabbage steaks. During happy hour, we discussed our road trip this weekend to visit Beth and her family in Dallas for a couple of weeks. We had a lot to talk about, and, fortunately, we have the week to get ready and wrap our heads around the trip. We'll make the drive in three days and two nights, with each day's drive around seven hours or less.

The cabbage steaks were surprisingly good, as were the loaded baked potatoes. We watched another episode of Hometown and Paradise, along with some of the news, until Evie headed up to bed around 8:30. I watched some NBA for a while, but soon got bored and finished the night with Detective Hole.

Partly Cloudy But A Righteous Sky

Our Favorite No Kings Protestor

7:11

8:04

8:32

It's 8:20, and I've been up since 7:00. I came downstairs with no plans to kayak, but the lake was so inviting that I was out paddling by 7:20 — thirty-five minutes down to Sandy Bottom and back. The sky has been amazing once again, filled with vast clouds and the sun doing its best to break through.

Kayak Morning

South

Northern Sky

A Bevy Of Buffleheads

Sunday turned out to be a decent day, though temperatures lingered in the 30s through the morning before climbing into the 40s by afternoon. I got in a good paddle and was in no hurry to return. Back inside, I wrote the blog and relaxed until around 10:00, when we finally published it. Since it was Sunday, I usually make the walk to the Chautauqua Institution — so why break tradition? I walked for over an hour, but instead of strolling the streets lined with Victorian homes and their welcoming front porches, I took the lakefront path this time — past the bell tower, then back along the brick walk to Thunder Bridge and my car.

Thunder Bridge

Lake Front

Bell Tower

The Atheneum 

Walking Along A Ravine

Home again, I settled in with Evie, listening to CNN cycle through its news loop every three hours until it was time for breakfast. I had a hankering for pancakes, so out came the griddle, and Evie made a batch of  buttermilk pancakes. I love them — ate a couple of stacks with butter and maple syrup while watching the first half of UConn women take on Notre Dame. By 1:30, I was ready to read and nap. It was Sunday, a day of leisure, and neither of us got much accomplished. I'd been looking forward to the UConn–Duke game at 5:00. I caught the first half while Evie made dinner — Wiener Schnitzel with applesauce, broccoli, and baked potatoes. Wonderful. With maybe ten minutes left and Duke ahead, we paused the game to watch the final two episodes of Season Two of Landman.  My sister Ellen had predicted we'd love it, and she was right. It took us a little while to get hooked, but now we're hoping for a Season Three.

Unfortunately, I made the mistake of scrolling through my phone and saw that Duke had lost. So when I went back to watch those final ten minutes, I already knew UConn had pulled off a stunning comeback — down 19 points at halftime. Even knowing the outcome, it was thrilling to watch. I still couldn't quite see how they'd managed it, but they did, on a 40-foot three-pointer by freshman Braylon Mullins, Indiana's High School Player of the Year. Poor Duke — they also lost last year after what looked like a commanding lead.

After the game, I watched another episode of Detective Hole, then headed up to bed.

No King's Protest Saturday

All In The Family

7:39

8:03

9:18

I'm starting later than usual today — I slept in until 7:30, had my coffee, and didn't push off for my paddle until 8:15. It was a lovely 50-minute kayak down to Bootey Bay. The wind is picking up now, so the timing worked out well.

Kayak Morning

Into The Sun

Looking South

Yesterday was a full and satisfying day. It began with a good morning paddle, and when I returned, I made breakfast and finished up the blog. By 10:00, I had gathered the trash and driven to the Transfer Station. At 10:40, we headed out with our neighbors, Barb and Jim, to the No Kings Protest at Jamestown's Dow Park — our third rally, and the best-attended yet. The energy was high, the signs were creative, and the outfits were imaginative. Our neighbors Joe and Betsy met us there, and the six of us enjoyed the cold morning together, listening to the speakers and joining in the songs. I ran into a couple of my yoga friends and several others from the area. Most of the crowd lined the sides of the street, cheering for honks from passing cars. The rally started at 11:00, and we left around 12:15, nudged out mostly by the cold. By the way, Donald, we are still waiting for our checks for attending from George Soros. 

Typical Street

Woodlawn Gang

Yep 

Some Of The Protesters 

Back home, I heated up leftover pizza for Evie and me, then watched another episode of Detective Hole. Having just finished The Terminal Man, I started a new thriller, Guess Again, and I'm enjoying it so far. Around 2:00, I took a brief nap, talked with my sister Ellen, who is flying to Paris for a week with her daughters' family. 

Ellen And Our Family in Paris, 1974?

I then happily read for most of the afternoon. At 4:45, Evie gave me a much-needed haircut, after which I showered and got ready for dining out.

We picked up Ron and Linda at 5:40 and drove to Westfield to Brazil's — probably our favorite restaurant in the area. Linda had called ahead, and we had four reserved seats at the bar on a bustling Saturday night. Brendan, the bartender we've gotten to know, promptly brought our drinks and menus, and we had a great time chatting with a couple seated nearby. Everyone enjoyed their dinners. For the first time, I ordered a steak. When it arrived, the server mentioned it might be a bit overdone and offered to grill another — I agreed. Ten minutes later, I was happily working through a strip steak with vegetables and mashed potatoes.

We said our goodbyes to Brendan and another couple we'd befriended at the bar, then left at 8:15. After dropping Ron and Linda off, we were home by 8:30. Evie headed up to bed soon after.  I settled in to watch most of Arizona's win over Purdue — a trip to the Final Four. I went up at 10:45, read for a bit, then turned off the light and hoped sleep would come quickly.

A Cold, And Bright Shiny Morning

7:46

9:06

It's 7:45, the sun is flooding both the lake and our living room with light, and I'll need to move to another chair in a few minutes. It's 20° out with little to no wind, so I think I'll go for a paddle. Now it's 8:00 — I've finished the first draft of the blog, so out I go. It's 9:30 as I finish this after a 50-minute paddle down to Wells Bay and back. Of course, the wind picked up on my paddle back. Fortunately, I had on four layers and wore mittens, keeping me warm. It's not as much fun this time of the year because there's a lack of birds, no ospreys, herons, or eagles yet.

Kayak Morning

South To Wells Bay

Heading Back To Woodlawn

Northern Sky

Buffleheads  Cruise

Buffleheads Take Off

Woodlawn

Friday was not the best of days. I was up at my usual time, wrote the blog, had breakfast, and by 9:15 was on my way to pickleball. I should have stayed home — my play was abysmal. I should have left after the first game, but I stayed for more punishment. Oh well, at least I got some exercise, which is a fine way to rationalize the whole thing. I stopped for gas on the way home: $3.85 a gallon, and I imagine it'll keep climbing.

I was home by 11:45. Evie was upstairs culling her closet, and I wasn't ready for lunch yet, so I read until 12:30, then enjoyed the last of the chicken, mushrooms, and artichokes. I've started a new series called Detective Hole, based on the Joe Nesbo books, many of which I've read. So far, so good. Afterward, I went upstairs to read and promptly fell asleep — despite one assassination after another in The Terminal List (all deserved, I might add). The rest of the afternoon was leisurely: reading and lounging, until around 3:30 when the sun came out and I went for a walk through the neighborhood's front yards, photographing some buffleheads with my camera as they clustered along the lake wall. It was good to be outside in the fresh air.

Late Afternoon Sky

Woodlawn Creek

Around 4:30, I called the Asheville Country Store, ordered a large pepperoni pizza, and drove the six miles to pick it up by 5:00. When I got back, we were both hungry, and by 5:30, we were settled in front of the TV with pizza and a salad, watching a couple more episodes of Landman and then The Pitt. Evie headed up to bed after that. I caught the second half of the Duke/St. John's game, decided I'd had enough basketball, and watched another episode of Detective Hole before finally calling it a night.

 “I built this great military,”  I said, you’ll never have to use it. But sometimes you have to use it. And Cuba is next, by the way. But pretend I didn’t say that. Pretend I didn’t. Please, please, please, media, please disregard that statement. Thank you very much. Cuba’s next.”