Whadda Night

8:50

It's 9:10, and I've been up since 8:30. Another overcast sky — what else — 42° with rain forecast through much of the afternoon. I have no plans today, just recovering from my wild night in Buffalo.

Yesterday was Thursday, which meant we were both up by 7:00 for a long day. By 8:00, I had my coffee, was dressed, and was having breakfast in Bemus Point with the guys. On the way home, I gassed up the Kia and finished the blog. Evie read it, published it, and drove to Lakewood for her kindergarten class.

I decided to skip yoga and basically wasted the morning reading and watching TV until lunch, when I caught one of the first NCAA tournament games. At 12:30, I drove to Jamestown for a teeth cleaning — nearly an hour in the chair listening to my chatty hygienist. I was home by 2:15, and Evie was back from school. I squeezed in a short nap, since I was leaving for Buffalo at 4:45 to catch two evening NCAA basketball games at KeyBank Center, where I was meeting my friend Jack. I stopped in Westfield for a McDonald's burger, fries, and root beer, then made the hour-and-a-half drive to Buffalo. I lucked out finding a parking spot for $30, about a 15-minute walk from the arena.

Outside The Center, Between Games

Waiting To Go Through Metal Detectors

Security Everywhere

Chaos Once Inside

I was supposed to meet Jack in front of a  Southern Tier Brewery, but the afternoon game he'd attended had just ended, and the crowd was pouring out. I tried calling him for 15 minutes with no luck before we finally connected. We then met up with his brother-in-law and friend and walked 20 minutes to his parked car for a quick dinner before heading to the arena — where we found a line stretching a quarter mile to get in. Tip-off was pushed back, but we still missed the first eight minutes, held up by metal detectors, mobile ticket scanning, and a long walk halfway around the arena to our nosebleed seats. What a travesty.

View From Our Seats

Jumbo Tron

We watched Michigan, the number-one seed, hold off Howard after a tight first half, then stayed for just the second half of St. Louis's win over Georgia. The place was sold out, and I was surprised to see beer on sale — when I attended the same tournament eight years ago, no alcohol was served at college games. The four of us left at halftime of the second game, along with what felt like thousands of other fans. On the way out, the escalator was running up only. Of course. Once we found our way out, we walked 15 minutes to a nearly empty parking garage and had an easy, if long, drive home with almost no traffic. Jack lives out in the boonies, so we wound through 20 minutes of hilly farm country, past the Chautauqua Gorge, before reaching his farm. I dropped him off at 12:30 and was home by 1:00. What a night!

At least 36 January 6 th rioters pardoned by Trump have been arrested, charged, or convicted of new crimes since the attack.

Gray Sky, Gray Lake And 30º

Grandson Nick, And Great Grandson, Tommy

7:13

9:38

It's 7:30; the lake lies open and calm—a gray mass—and the temperature is 30°. Snow still fills the front yard, stubborn and unmelted, though warmer weather is on the way over the next week.

Yesterday was a good day. No snow, despite temperatures in the teens through most of the morning. I had my coffee, wrote the blog, and went back and forth about pickleball before deciding to go. Most of the players are the same faces each morning, and I'm getting to know them, which is nice. I played a bit better than usual — my teammate and I won two games and lost two, so it wasn't a bad morning at all. I can see a little progress. I was home by 11:30 without needing to stop anywhere.

Evie was on the couch, reading on her phone and listening to Michael Smerconish as usual, with the only interruption being a Trump interview. Lunch was leftover chicken curry with rice, quite filling. I caught the beginning of the second season of Blood Coast.

After lunch, as usual, I read and napped while Evie watched her show and got a few things done. Neither of us was particularly productive. I showered at 4:30, and by 5:45, we were picking up Ron and Linda for the 25-minute drive to the Stockton Hotel for dinner.

The place was busy, but we were lucky to snag seats at the bar and quickly ordered Labatt's drafts and a Bud Light for Evie. The draw on Wednesdays is their meatloaf special — mashed potatoes and two sides. The three of us ordered it; Evie just wanted a basket of cut fries and a couple of bites of my meatloaf. The dinners were great. Nothing quite like mashed potatoes and gravy.

We were home after 8:00. Since Evie had school on Thursday, she headed up to bed, and I watched my show until 9:15 when the Miami/SMU game came on. I watched the first half and a few minutes into the second before it became clear Miami might pull it off — which they did, 89–79. A great win for the MAC.

“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance—WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea. In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”  Trump

A Chilly 12º And Partly Cloudy

7:36

7:48

8:15

It's 8:15, and I've been up for an hour, marveling at the 12° morning and the lake, frozen once again into scattered floes. The shoreline in front of us is iced over for about 20 feet, then open water — and it's like that across the entire lake. Today looks like it will stay cold, but no snow is predicted. Thank the weather gods.

Woodlawn Road

Winter Wonderland

Yesterday could have been a nightmare, but we both made it to our destinations despite falling snow and snow-covered roads. I'd gone to bed worried, having shoveled about five inches the night before — so when I looked outside in the morning and saw we'd gotten another 8–10 inches since Monday evening, my heart sank a little. After coffee and writing the blog, I headed outside and spent half an hour clearing the parking area and the car. It was heavy, wet snow, so my battery-powered snow shovel was useless; I ended up pushing the snow around by hand and eventually got the area cleared — though by the time I finished, another inch had already fallen.

I left for yoga at 9:05. It was snowing fairly hard for the first ten minutes, then it began to clear as I approached Lakewood. The roads had been plowed but were covered again by the relentless snowfall, so I took my time and kept a good distance from other vehicles. I texted Evie to do the same. Yoga was hard, but my five hardy practitioners made it through. After class, the sun was out, so I stopped for a coffee, then drove to Jamestown to drop off my taxes at my accountant's office. It began to snow again briefly as I headed back to Lakewood for a stop at Wegmans. It was Senior Tuesday — 5% off — and because of the snow, the store was refreshingly uncrowded, so I got in and out quickly and was home by noon.

When I pulled into our parking area, another four or five inches had fallen, so I got out the shovels again. This time, my battery-powered shovel managed a rough first pass, and I followed up with the push shovel to finish the job.

I was exhausted by the time I came inside. I rested for 20 minutes before heating up some chicken soup and a chicken pot pie for lunch, then watched Blood Coast, a series set in Marseille, France. I was desperate for a nap, so I went upstairs and fell asleep reading, waking after about an hour. By then, Evie was home, having lunch and watching TV. I lounged on the couch until 4:30, when I went back outside for the third time and shoveled another three or four inches — hoping, finally, that would be it.

Evie had her Zoom call with her sisters at 5:00, and I watched the first half of Caitlin Clark and the U.S. Women's basketball team play Spain. We had our happy hour after her call, and around 6:15, Evie made us BLTs for dinner. We watched another episode of Colbert and Landman. Evie went to bed, and I finished out Blood Coast, then caught some more basketball before heading up myself.

Eight To Ten Inches Of White

7:00

7:46

Well, we both woke around 7:00 to another winter wonderland—snow falling steadily, covering the bushes, lawn, trees, and car. It’s 15º out and expected to stay in the teens most of the day.

Ducks With Snow On Their Backs

Yesterday was fairly typical: up early, enjoying my coffee and breakfast, and debating whether to put myself through another morning of pickleball. With nothing else planned, I drove to the Mayville courts and played four games, winning two—mostly because our opponents rarely hit the ball in my direction. I did play better, though I still made too many easy mistakes. It always surprises me how tired I get and how much I sweat. Still, I felt a bit better about myself afterward. On the way home, I stopped at Tops to pick up a few things for dinner.

I was home by 11:30, and Evie was enjoying a day off from kindergarten. Unfortunately, we lost the internet for much of the late morning and early afternoon, though we were able to get online using our phones. Lunch was excellent—an omelet with potatoes, bacon, and cheese, along with toasted beer bread. Yum.

After a brief nap, I went outside and spent a good half hour picking up more deadfall—some of it quite large—and stacking it in the parking area. I should have hauled it up the hill, but I didn’t realize we’d soon be getting more snow.

Neither of us did much until happy hour, when we listened to Trump give an interview, quite an experience. It’s like a comedy act—one ridiculous claim followed by hyperbole, then a repetition of something he already said. And this is the man 77 million Americans elected to lead the free world. God help us.

Snow Falling At 5:45 PM

We were excited to have leftover lamb for dinner, since we always turn it into a French curry made with cream, celery, bananas, curry, and apples. Evie served it over rice, and we loved it—plus there’s enough for another meal. We watched Hometown and Landman before Evie went to bed. I then went outside and shoveled four or five inches of snow for about twenty minutes, clearing the driveway and the car. After that, I watched some basketball and a series set in Marseille, then headed up to bed.

Windy And Warm

6:54

7:08

7:17

7:17

It's 8:00 on a windy morning with a glorious, ever-changing sky. I've already been out on the front porch taking photos five or six times. Despite the wind, it's unseasonably warm, 56º — though temperatures will drop precipitously as the day progresses. Deadfall litters our yard once again, courtesy of gusts up to 50 mph.

7:37

7:37

8:02

Yesterday was a slow day — unhurried in the best and worst sense. We both slept in and didn't get the blog published until 9:30 or later. Neither of us was in any rush. We spent the morning planning what needed to be done since Ron and Linda were coming for dinner, then chipped away at it in small bites. Evie made a marinade for the butterflied leg of lamb and let it soak for the duration of the prepping time. She also baked beer bread for the meal, while I cleaned up the kitchen and helped wherever I could.

I was feeling a bit off, so I skipped my usual walks and hikes. After a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, I walked down to the mailboxes and back, marveling at the sky and the howling wind. Around 2:00, after watching some basketball, I took a brief nap, then spent much of the afternoon reading a new novel — El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott. By mid-afternoon, dinner prep was underway. I vacuumed and cleaned the porches, we both showered, and felt somewhat rejuvenated.

5:50

White Caps

Long Point At 5:50

Linda and Ron arrived at 6:00, bringing two bottles of wine — a white for appetizers, a red for dinner. We started with a lovely brie and blue cheese, talking about everything except Trump, and drew up a list of things we'd like to do this summer. Around 7:15, I carved the lamb while Evie roasted asparagus in the oven. Dinner was a proper spread: lamb, rice pilaf with vermicelli, Caesar salad, and beer bread. Dessert was brownies with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. All four of us were tired, and the evening wrapped up at 8:45. Evie helped tidy before heading up to bed; I finished the cleanup, watched a little TV, and was in bed reading by 10:00.

"On the left: we must recognize

that freedom requires order.

On the right: we have to understand 

that order must be ethical.

Freedom without order is anarchy

And order without ethics is tyranny." Sam Harris

A Windy Day

8:13

9:15

It's just after 9:00, and we've both been up for an hour. The wind is wild this morning — a steady 18 mph — and it's expected to strengthen as the day goes on. It's 35° right now, with temperatures climbing into the 50s by afternoon. I can't recall ever seeing the flag snap and flutter quite like this.

A Windy Morning

Yesterday was another lazy day. I had no interest in walking, biking, or kayaking — couldn't muster the motivation for any of it. We lingered over coffee, half-listening to the depressing news and laughing at the ridiculous but undeniably funny Trump memes on Facebook. Few figures in recent memory have inspired such widespread and vocal contempt as Trump, and we count ourselves firmly in that camp. By 10:30, though, I'd gathered the trash and was off to the Transfer Station, with a stop for coffee on the way before picking up a few things at Wegmans.

I was home by noon, just in time for the opening college tournament games. Lunch was leftover chili with oyster crackers. I watched a couple of games before losing interest, then headed upstairs to read and nap. Evie, meanwhile, was busy in the kitchen, pulling together a few things for tonight's dinner with Linda and Ron. Most of the afternoon, though, passed quietly on the couch — reading, scrolling, happily wasting time until happy hour.

For dinner, we wanted something easy, so we pulled Trader Joe's verde enchiladas from the freezer and warmed them in the oven for 25 minutes. Not a culinary triumph, but decent and filling. We watched Landman and Colbert before Evie turned in; I stayed up for some basketball — college and NBA both — then headed up to read and eventually sleep. A thoroughly lazy day, from start to finish.

Our youngest granddaughter, Halle, and our youngest great-grandson, Tommy.

Halle

Tommy 

Heavy Winds, White Caps, And Gray

7:33

It's 8:30, and I've been up since 7:20, listening to the howling wind and watching the waves on the lake. It's 25°, and we didn't get the predicted snow — just wind and some deadfall in the front yard.

Friday felt like a long day, though I did get out of the house and play pickleball. I was up early, had my coffee, wrote the blog, talked with Evie, and was on my way to the courts by 9:30, having had bananas and oranges for breakfast. I didn't play much better — whiffing on a couple of overheads. The one redeeming moment was an instinctive behind-the-back shot I pulled off for a point. I should have quit right then. I can't say I'm enjoying the game, and I'm not sure I'll improve much if I keep at it.

I was home by 11:00, and Evie was enjoying a day off from school. We both settled into the living room with our books until I decided it was time for lunch — another bowl of leftover pasta. Evie had a chicken salad sandwich and gave me half when I admitted I was still hungry.

2:57

The afternoon passed quickly, as usual, between reading, napping, and some college basketball. The sky held our attention for much of it: clouds would roll in with gusts of wind, then give way to brilliant blue with sunshine and puffy clouds for a half hour, only for the gray — and even some fog — to creep back. That cycle repeated until wine time at 5:00. Our phones buzzed with dire warnings about heavy winds and snow. Dinner was chili, loaded with cheese and oyster crackers.

We watched The Pitt and still find it dull, especially compared to ER. I'm also growing tired of Noah Wyle's constant grimacing, and can't quite understand how he won both the Prime Time Emmy and Critics' Choice awards for Best Actor, though I know we're too critical. We ended the night with Landman and will leave our thoughts at this: we keep watching. After Evie went to bed, I was happy to catch the Arizona/Iowa State game.

Despite reports that Russia is providing Iran with intelligence that permits it to target U.S. forces in the Middle East, late last night the Trump administration lifted sanctions on shipments of Russian oil until April 11, permitting it to be sold to buyers around the world for the next month. The U.S., along with the rest of the Group of Seven (G7) nations with advanced economies, has maintained sanctions against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the heads of the G7 had urged Trump not to ease the sanctions, saying “[t]here is currently a price problem, but not a supply problem.” He added that he “would like to know what additional motives led the US government to make this decision.” HCC