Watching Soccer and Softball in KC

Marlena Gets a Hit

Marlena scores a run

I was up at 6:00, a nice day so far outside, though it's supposed to rain later in the day.  Marlena has a soccer make up game today at 8:00 and Nick has three soccer games in a tournament, so it looks like we will have a busy day ahead of us.  We went to Marlena's softball game last night, a very windy evening like last year but not as cold.  Marlena's team won and she made about the only two plays of the game which ended in outs.  When playing first, she caught a line drive to put out the batter, and when playing second, she fielded a grounder and ran to second to force out the runner.  A third time, when pitching, she field a grounder, turned to throw to second to force out the runner, but no one was there.  She really seems to understand the game for a second grader.  She also got two hits and scored a run, so it was a good evening for all. We ended up at BW-3 for wings, at Nick's request, to celebrate the victory.  Tom played in the Raytown Chamber of Commerce golf tournament yesterday with three other USA-800 employees, and with best ball, they shot 12 under for 18 holes.  A good day to play golf.

We are back home for a couple of hours before Nick's second game at 5:00.  Marlena's team lost 3-2 in the last second but she scored the second goal for her team, putting them ahead 2-1 with about 15 minutes left.  It's her second goal this season, the first in front of us.  And Nick's team easily won, 5-0, and Nick scored a goal as well, which was nice for him.  Tacos for lunch and we are all kind of tired, Marlena even going upstairs to lie down on her own.  It's been quite nice outside, sun out for both games but windy.  The complex where Nick played at today, in Overland Park, a suburb of KC is amazing.  Built by the city, it's a soccer complex of 18 fields, all regulation size, all astro turf, all with lights and cement walks in between fields so spectators can sit or walk on a walk.  It's an amazing complex, costing 35 million to build but seems well worth it as games seem to be going on at all hours. There was a similar baseball complex a mile away and I think I mentioned yesterday the amazing softball complex for the girls' teams in Lee's Summit.

We back back for Nick's game at 5:00 which they won easily, then we stopped at Jack's Stackhouse barbecue for ribs, chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and creamy cheese corn, all excellent.  I got my barbecue fix.  It's been beautiful all day, nice and warm and sunny but tomorrow is going to be much colder.  We have games at 9:00 for Nick, then both Nick and Marlena play at 2:00, so we will have to split up to cover both games.  Jean is having all of us over for dinner after the games, which will be really nice for all of us.

Sunny Scottsdale to Kansas City

Dad's Garage Workshop

It's just 6:00 and I have been up since 5:00, a beautiful morning here, my last till next year as we fly off to Kansas City mid morning.  It's so quiet here, mostly birds, an occasional car, as the quails and doves scour the yard for food.  Dorothy threw the watermelon rinds in the yard last night and they are being picked clean by the birds.  I am surprised they don't attract rodents but I  guess the birds get to them first.

I cooked various sausages last night on the grill, along with asparagus, peppers and onions and it was quite a good dinner.  I am amazed at how much Dad eats, he literally gobbles up everything in sight, rarely talking until he is finished eating.  Then, he begins to regale us with stories that come to mind about what ever we are talking about.  I would like to know how our conversation triggers a story in his mind, as there is not always a clear connection.  But his memory is amazing for the past, pretty good for the present.  He was a bit discouraged yesterday as the lamp  he put together with my help worked one day but stopped working yesterday, so all the wiring he did will have to be checked, something he was not to excited about.

View of the mountains about 4:30

Laura's up and coming out to have coffee with me, so I will close up for now.  Off to the airport at 8:00, fly out at 10:35, arrive in KC at 3:10.

Ed/Dot's backyard from the walking trail

An easy flight, as we arrived on time, about 3:15.  Evie fortunately sat next to an interesting couple, so her trip went very easily.  He was a doctor very interested in health, especially healthy eating.  He believes in avoiding most if not all carbs, sugar, and eating mostly protein, meat and veggies basically but no fruit.  He is convinced that much of the hype about high cholesterol comes from the drug companies who benefit from the sales.  It actually is much like a health book we bought recently called The Four Hour Body by Tim Ferriss. Most of his ideas are backed up with loads of scientific data, much of it experiments that he, himself, participated in.  Both are believers in protein, no carbs or sugar, extremes like that.  We are off to Marlena's softball game. 

Sunny and Warm in Scottsdale---What Else

Lunch in the Breakfast room

Just got back from another walk with Laura and we have been sitting around the kitchen table chewing the fat.  I got up this morning and the screen on the sliding door was down, so I was semi irritated because I would have to sit in the living room, looking at this sliding door instead of sitting outside and having my coffe.  Well, Ed walks out of the garage at 6:00, just as I was getting my coffee, laughed at my predictament and showed me the switch, which silently raised the door, so I could go outside.  I guess Laura was culprit who put it down last night, go what reason, I am not sure.

Dad and Gals in Back Yard

Anyways, Ed and I sat outside and talked some politics but mostly about his life at Lincoln, how he got screwed, and the good old days when he was growing up.  His Pa was a moonshiner, making a living selling illegal booze before buying a bar when prohibition ended.  Laura was up around 7:00 and we all sat and talked about the old days.  I suddenly remember a castle called Molkrice that I suggested they stay in back in 73' when they visited us in Istanbul, googled it and there it was.  Laura semi remembers it, especially the riding of horses when they were there.  Funny how out of nowhere I remembered that name.

Our walk was good, about 50 minutes, just enough to work up a sweat.  We ate last night at George's the Asian restaurant.  My meal, Thai basil chicken was mediocre at best, but everyone else's seemed to be fine.  It was nice eating out, however, and then we came home and watched Idol, which Laura likes, too, but I don't think Dad and Dot were impressed.

Enjoying the Sun Set

We are going to wash some windows today, especially the stained glass window above the door.  I am going up on the roof to do that before it gets too hot.  This is our last day in Scottsdale so we are going to have to take advantage of it, hit the pool, perhaps shop for dinner, but enjoy the outdoors though it's supposed to be the warmest day of the week.

Cleaned the stained glass window, inside and out, the fans, hung a picture, went to the pool for an hour, had lunch, drove everyone to pick out the granite  template shape, about 35 minutes away, sat with Dad to avoid the heat in the waiting room, and came home.  Gals are going grocery shopping, then to the pool, as it's very warm right now.  Sausage and peppers and coronas for dinner tonight.

Another Boring Sunny Dry Day in Scottsdale

Morning Hike Along Aqueduct

Just returned from a hike with Evie, a loop around the Colorado River aqueduct behind Dad and Dot's condo.  It's very rocky as you can see, but lots of people use it, even bicycles, and early in the morning, it's still cool with a breeze. The walk follows the aqueduct and houses on Dad and Dot's side, then we cross to the other side, which follows a golf community set up against the mountains, which you can see from Dad's back porch.  There's lots of scrub, various wildlife, mostly birds, some rabbits, and even a bobcat or rattlesnake according to Dad.  We met no one on our hike but I saw some women walking it about 6:00 this morning, as well as a couple of bikers. 

Colorado River Aquaduct for Phoenix

I guess yesterday was a record low for humidity, 2%, which explains why a piece of bread I had sitting on my plate last night was stiff and dry when I picked it up to eat.  Strange.  We had a ham last night for dinner, along with sweet potatoes and broccoli salad, and it was a beautiful evening to sit outside and eat, watch dusk slowly darken.  We sat out and talked till at least 9:00, came in an watched part of a terrible CSI (why do people like this grotesque shows), then went to bed around 10:00, tired from the sun and swimming, I think.  I took a short walk after dinner, went to Albertson's, picked up drum sticks for all but then realized Dad cannot eat ice cream, so Evie, Dot, and I enjoyed our drumsticks.  

We did swim for about an hour yesterday afternoon at the pool and we got Dad to come along.  He took a ten minute jacuzzi swim, then settled in a chair while we sun bathed and swam.  It was not excessively hot, a high of around 86 I read, and very dry so it was nice to jump in the pool when ever we got hot.  

We are off to old Scottsdale this morning, to see what it looks like, shop a bit, but be home for lunch and then we plan on going to the pool later in the afternoon when it's not too hot, like yesterday.  I was up around 6:00 and Evie surprised me by getting up early as well, as we wanted to hike, but no one else got up till about 8:00, so we ended up walking by ourselves.  It was too windy to sit out side at 6:00 but by the time we walked, it had settled down so it was fine when we hiked.

We went into old Scottsdale for the morning, the center of town, where I assume all the tourists end up going.  It was pretty dead, very few people, warm, but most of the art galleries were open.  And for the most part, this is was Scottsdale Old Town entailed, one art gallery after another, very upscale, with very few paintings under a thousand, most in the two or three thousand range if not higher.  We spent about two hours browsing and that was enough.  Get me back to the condo and pool.  We relaxed for a bit after lunch, went down to the pool with Dad, he had a sauna, we stayed for an hour an half and got back around 5:00.  We are going out to Dads favorite restaurant, George's, a Chinese restaurant about five minutes away, where Dad is treated like a king.  We went there last year as well and it's very good Chinese food and nice people.  We are happy to be going back.  It seemed a bit warmer today, perhaps in the 90's, especially in Old Scottsdale, a bit cooler here, especially on the patio.

Tuesday in Sunny Scottsdale

Dusk in Dad/Dots Back Yard

It's almost 7:00 and I have been up since 6:00, having slept in till then, even though it's 9:00 Chautauqua time.  It's a beautiful morninng (I think they are all beautiful mornings here in Scottsdale), in the low 60's, set rising to my right as I sit out side on their patio.  Everyone else is asleep and it's very quiet here, the only sound the cooing of the pigeons (?), an occasional car, and a couple of bikes that just rode by on the trail along the water way in Dads backyard.  There have been lots of pigeon sized birds (they are quails, so I have learned) in the backyard, scrounging for scraps that Dot leaves out as well as a number of sparrow like birds hoping around and chirping, a morning chorus.   Perhaps they are guinea hens, as they have this Elvis type curl on the top of their heads.  It's great looking out at the hills to the north, lit by the sun this early, with tuffs of green growing on the brown slopes.  From where I sit, I really cannot see a house, on the tall grass beyond their fence, then off in the distance, the rising slopes of the mountains that fill the sky from left to right.  A nice way to wake up in the morning, to go to sleep at night.

I helped Dad with his work bench yesterday, which means I stood around and found tools for him.  He's putting a fluorescent lamp on his workbench so he can see better and he's making it so he can move it around the garage and still have light.  Evie and the girls went out to Costco yesterday afternoon, to finalize the granite and tiles for Dot's kitchen.  I think they have hit on a back splash they all like. I just hope Dot does as it's pretty hard to stand up and say what you like with two Petkovsek sisters in tow.  They stopped at Costco, picked up a chicken and a  case of Corona for the week, so we are set for the afternoon heat.  Nothing like a cold beer for a sundowner.  

Getting dinner ready

It was hard staying up till 10:00 last night, as it was 1:00 Chautauqua time but at least I slept in till 6:00.  Today, I am not sure of our plans, perhaps a visit to Taliesin, Frank Lloyd Wright's Scottsdale home and school, some more work in the garage, perhaps wash some windows, and hit the pool.  We'll just have to see what the day brings.  I have to admit its really nice waking up to the sun, sitting outside in their backyard, enjoying my coffee, the view, the silence, and the warmth.  So different from the past month of Chautauqua rain and gray.  I suppose the Scottsdalites get tired of sun and blue skies after awhile and long for clouds, rain and gray.  Perhaps.

I hope to go for a walk when the other's get up before it's too hot.  I wish Bella or Cody or Coco were here so I could take them for a walk.  They would love it, mostly a trail through the fields that follow each side of the water way.

Laura and I just walked a loop, around the aquaduct, about 45 minutes on a trail through typical desert brush, stones, and rocks, then hit Albertson's for milk, wine and a ball cap, as I left mine in KC.  Got a bargain on a Budweiser hat, just what I didn't want, but it was half price.  Still cool sitting out here on the patio, enjoying the view, with a nice breeze. As I said, I could get used to this for a few weeks.  Watch out Dad and Dot!

Laura and Dot went off to Lowe's to look at more tiles, and Evie and I stayed behind, washing down the porch furniture, the porch, cleaning the fans, listening to Ed tell stories of the old days at Lincoln Electric.  We had lunch around 1:00, chicken salad, hummus, and fruit and then I took a power nap, about 15 minutes.  We may go swimming depending on whether the pools open.  It's still pleasant outside on the porch, with a nice breeze.

Rainy KC to Sunny and Warm Scottsdale

Easter at Rose and Frank Accurso's

Woke up to rain, even thunderstorms this morning that will continue through most of the day and clear up this evening, just in time for our leaving.  Nick was up at 6:30, downed some cinnamon toast and was on the bus by 6:50, as classes start at 7:30.  I guess the school's around here don't care about the studies that suggest learning in the young suffers if they go to school too early.  Somewhere around 9:00 seems to be the optimal time to start school but because of the bus schedules, I assume, some grades have to suffer.  Marlena does not leave till 8:40 so she will have an ideal starting time.

Sunny Easter Morning in KC

I walked her down to the bus this morning, both of us with umbrellas, and just before the bus arrived, it started to pour and I had about five kids crunched under my umbrella, trying to avoid getting soaked.  A crew of six were waiting for the bus.  Marlena sits with the same person each day, her friend Morgan, as they are assigned seats at at the beginning of the year and that's where they sit for the rest of the year.  I had never thought of that, assuming kids just got on and took any seat they wanted, like the old days. Nowadays, everything having to do with school is planned and organized, leaving out any room for the arbitrary or spontaneous.  Some good in that, some bad, I suppose.

We had a great dinner at Frank and Rose's yesterday, turkey breast and ham, along with the standards, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy and some veggies.  Everything tasted perfect and most went back for seconds.  After dinner, around 2:00, the guys adjourned to the living room to watch the NBA playoffs and nap (of course) and the girls (Evie, Jean, Rose, and Mary) stayed in the dining room and played Boggle and Yahtzee and talked until we left, around 5:30, a good day for all.

We watched another movie together last night, THE WAY BACK, the true story of a group of prisoners who break out of a Siberian concentration camp in 1939 and walk through Siberia, China, and Tibet into India to gain safety, over 4000 miles, quite a feat. A bit slow but great scenery.  And Evie downloaded Boggle on to Tom's Ipad so Nick and Marlena and Evie played Boggle throughout most of the movie.

Right now, Evie's showering, getting packed, Mary's off at the gym, and it's just Bella and I in the living room.  We'll leave for the airport around 11:00 and our flight leaves at 1:00.  We arrive in Phoenix at 2:00, with an hour difference in time, and Laura's coming down from Vegas and will pick us up.

We are now in Scottsdale; Laura arrived just as we working picking up or bags, so it was great timing.  The plane ride was fine, few bumps, a little under 3 hours.  We have been chewing the fat, talking about Dorothy's new kitchen, and she has yet to pick out a final counter top and tiles for the walls, so they are going out to look at it again.  I think I will pass on this; I have had enough of indecision and decisions that in a minute can change.  It's 88 degrees out and Laura turned on the air conditioning, which I think Dad and Dorothy tend to avoid if they can.

Easter Sunday at Rose and Frank's

Before Church

The Girls of Lee's Summit

Spring has certainly arrived in Lee's Summit.  The Bradford pears, burning bushes, and Japanese maples all seem to be in full leaf.  The purple flowering Judas trees (Redbuds) still have some of their blossoms. as do the azaleas though the dogwoods just seem to be blooming.  Most of the trees on the neighborhood tree laws or devil strips are Ash and they are just starting to leaf out.  It's so different from Chautauqua, which has yet to see anything other than a bud on a tree or bush.  I just walked Bella for a half hour, which see seems to love.  She basically pulls me along, never stopping for a bush, tree, or dog.

We had juicy lucy's last night, grilled burgers with cheese in the middle, as mentioned, and drumsticks for dessert, Evie's favorite.  Jean and her friend came over around 5:00, stayed till after dinner and we had a good time getting to know Gail.  She lives on the Kansas side of KC, about 45 minutes away, works two jobs and she and Jean seem to have similar interests and tastes, even the same model car.

After Jean and Gail left, we watched Uncle Buck, a John Hughes movie with John Candy.  It had a few funny moments, mostly slapstick kinds of laughs, not the kind of humor that seemed to appeal to Marlena, Nick and his buddy.  I think it was popular when it came out but does not age well.  Marlena went to bed around 9:30 and then we watched one of the most recent OFFICE shows, a series Nick has gotten into lately.  We went to bed around 11:00 and Tom and Mary were still out with their friends.

Bella, the cutest dog in KC

I got up around 6:30 and had the house to myself and Bella until about 8:00 when Marlena got up, followed by Mary and Evie.  Tom and Nick are still sleeping and I don't expect to see Nick until 10:30 or so, as he's recovering from Friday's sleepover.  We are heading off to Mary's parents house for a turkey dinner, which sounds good.

Kansas City Grays

Friday Night at Spin Pizza with Jeannie

This morning it's another gray day, though it's supposed to get sunny later in the morning and be a decent day.  I was up at 6:00, let Bella out, had my coffee, read the paper, as Bella sits on my lap, demanding to be scratched.  Evie got up about 7:00, Marlena about 7:30, Mary about 7:45, and Tommy is still asleep, as usual.  He's had some rough days this week, having to get up at 4:30 to catch flights, things like that. Marlena and I looked at pictures on my computer, of our visit last spring, then of our visit last Thanksgiving, and finally, our visits to Jill's for Christmas, and Beth and Rami's for New Years.  We had a great pizza dinner last night at a joint called Spin Pizza, about ten minutes from Tom's house in their mall.  It's a really neat place, either sit down or carry out.  As you enter, there's a huge board to the right, of their offerings, and you get in line to make your order.  Then, you sit down in a bar/restaurant area or wait for your pizza.  It's has a nice ambiance, very comfortable, alive, with great pizzas: we got an artichoke and eggplant, a sausage and onion, and a mushroom pizza, all delicious.  Jean was able to come with us, which was great.  We had not seen her since Thanksgiving.  She brought us over a pound cake, the famous Dorothy Pet version, not your average day healthy cake! She looks great, seems in great spirits, and we will see her tomorrow at Frank and Rose's for Easter dinner, perhaps today, if we can make it over to her house.  Tom and Mary are going out tonight with friends, so we get to baby sit the brats, as usual, so we are trying to pick out a kid friendly movie, not an easy task to please Nick and Marlena and me.  It sounds like it might be Haachi, at least that's Marlena's choice, about a devoted dog and it's owner.  We have all seen it before but we liked it enough to see it again.

Deciding on Pizza

Nick's still at a sleep over and Marlena and Evie are down playing ping pong.  It's been fun to play and all are good enough at it to make it fun.  Maybe we can play round table later.  Nick's good enough to beat Tommy and me and Evie and Marlena and Mary are all pretty even.

Tom and Mary just finished a run, I took Bella for a 30 minute walk (she just kept walking, never stopping for the full 30 minutes), and Evie and Marlena decorated cookies.  We are off shopping in a bit, then Tom and Mary are going to church around 4:00, and Jean and her friend Gail will be over around 4:30 and they will stay and have dinner with us.

We went off to Target to get a magnetic word board for Marlena's room; Evie brought her a box of magnetic words for making up poems, something she's into, so they have been upstairs putting up the board and making up poems using the words.  Nick and I played ping pong; he beat me again.  I don't think I'll play him anymore!  Tom and Mary and family went to church, and we are home cleaning up as Jean will be over soon with her friend, for Juicy Lucy's and sweet potato fries.  Tom and Mary are off to the Bonefish Grill with friends.

Euclid to Kansas City

Dinner at Linda's

Two Extremely Cool Dudes

We are in the airport, waiting for our plane, after being dropped off by Linda.  It looks like a decent day to fly, a bit cloudy but no great winds so far.  We had a great stay at Linda and Rich's, a perfect way for us to fly and get to see them.  Linda made Ina Garten's brisket last night for dinner, a bit like a pot roast, with lots of good vegetables, with mashed potatoes of course, and it was really good, exceptional gravy as you thickened it after cooking the meat.  We had to watch American Idol for Evie, then The Office, and since we were all pretty tired, we headed off to bed.  It was amazing that when we got there, around 5:00, the sun had come out and it was a beautiful day for once, so different from the rain and clouds we have all been having.  Rich was off to tennis at 6:30 and Linda dropped us off at the airport, about 25 minute ride with little traffic, which was nice.

After a bumpy plane ride, we are now in Lee's Summit, enjoying the day despite the rain outside.  Nick just destroyed me at the ping pong table, much to my dismay.  I think I am going to have to practice quite a bit before I can stand of chance of beating him.  Tommy got home early from work and Jeannie is coming over around 5:00, to go out to dinner with us at Spin Pizza, the kids favorite pizza place.  Evie and Marlena are making up poems with a kit they we brought along to give her, made up of magnetic words.

Heading to Euclid, Then Kansas City Tomorrow

Spring or Winter Sky?

Up really early for some reason, about 5:30, to watch the dark sky slowly lighten but not by much as it's gray, cloudy, with rain expected over the next few days.  We head to Euclid this afternoon, then fly out to KC tomorrow.  Lots of things to get organized and we hope to work out at the gym this morning if we get all packed, the house cleaned and organized, our lives in order, in other words.  It's 34 degrees outside at the moment and will get into the 40's later today, gradually warming over the week, though we will be out West.  We had fish tacos last night, our newest new food.  Just bake some tilapia and throw it in a tortilla with cabbage, hot sauce, cheese, sour cream, avocado, tomatoes, almost anything you want and enjoy.  It's easy to make, cleans up quickly, and filling and healthy depending on what you use.  I'm off to breakfast in Bemus in a few minutes, then it's time to get organized.

It's been a cold morning and afternoon, in low 30's, with occasional snow flakes or sleet though nothing sticks on the ground.  It's gray and windy, the kind of weather for traveling because it's cold and windy. The house is clean, were packed up, and with this weather, I am happy to head West for ten days, especially because we get to see Tommy and family, Dad and Dorothy.

Thunder Storms, Heavy Rains, 55 Degrees in the Morning

Spring Storm on Lake

Uncomfortably warm outside when I woke up, compared to yesterday's 30's all day.  One thing for sure about Chautauqua weather---there's little consistency, nothing can be predicted or counted on.  I am afraid spring will pass us by, the weather will suddenly turn summer.  I was thinking about the past few weeks and I have had to wear my Bean boots every day since we left Beth's, as it's either been snowy or wet and muddy.  I bought a new pair of shoes at Kohl's, a deal, 7 bucks for 70 dollar sketchers and have not been able to wear them yet for fear of getting them covered with mud.  Chautauqua April I guess.  We are going to get organized for our trip today, as we head to Linda and Rich's tomorrow afternoon, spend the night, then fly out to KC in the morning.  We cannot wait to see Tommy, Mary and the kids.

Well, it happened...I put up my martin house on Monday even though the water was pretty high and I couldn't pound the main post as deep into the water as usual.  Evie was upstairs, I was down when I heard her yell the martin house was falling down.  I ran to the front of the house just in time to see it splash into the drink.  So, I got my waders out once again, waded out into the rain and gray and, fortunately, was able to find it using my feet.  The water was churned up enough so I could not see it sitting on the ground.  I was able to reach under water, grab the poles and house and walk it out of the lake.  I set it on my dock pieces and wait till I return in early May to put it up again.

We are getting things done; both are almost packed, I cleaned out the garage and put the Pilot in it for a couple of weeks.  Evie also gave me a haircut so I went to the gym, showered, and went to the library to pick up some books for the trip.  So, we can relax tonight, have fish tacos, and watch I good movie.  We finished the TV series Damages in three days and really like it, a compelling and confusing story but it made us keep coming back for more.  I highly recommend it.

Another Messy Day

Yesterday's Sunrise

It's late afternoon, and I don't know where the day went, just the last two hours when we vegged out and watched two more hours of Damages.  We are on week 9, having watched all eight in the past two days.  We did get things done this morning, returning the carpet samples (we are going to wait on it), dropping off the car for an oil change, two new used tires, Weggies, the hardware store, and bank.  We were home by 1:00, as Evie has been making cookies to take to KC when we go on Friday.

It's been in the 30's all day, drizzle mostly, with occasional sleet or wet snow, none of which sticks.  I have not been outside in the last three weeks without some kind of waterproof boot because of the water, mud, and puddles.  April is the cruelest month! I envy those who live in the Sun Belt this month as the weather here is not for me...cold, wet, dreary, monotonous.

Cold with Snow Expected

Before Sunrise

An inch of snow is forecast for today, as the clear morning is giving way to clouds.  It was 30 degrees when I got up at 5:45, earlier than usual.  Right now there's a band of light/clear skies over Bemus but cloudy above, with the lake still shimmering, with black dots (ducks) moving in all directions.  They swim low in the water and must be buffleheads, as they are smaller than mallards.  As you can see, they are white on the bottom, a white cap, with a wide black stipe starting at the forehead, running down around their neck, down their back, to the tail.  They don't stay long at the lake, appear in late fall, early spring, rarely if ever in the summer.

Bufflehead Duck

We watched another Danish film last night, Kinamand (Chinaman), a touching story about a unhappy plumber whose life is turned upside down when his wife leaves him, mostly out of boredom.  He ends up selling all of his possessions, literally living with a cot and camping table in his apartment, eating all his meals at the local Chinese restaurant.  Gradually, he gets to know the owner of the restaurant and helps him out when his plumbing goes awry.  We soon learn that the owner of the Chinese restaurant has a sister that needs a husband to stay in Denmark, so she can get a visa.  He offers the plumber, Keld, 8000 dollars to marry her, pro forma, until she gets her visa.  He agrees, they get married, she moves in, and they slowly move from toy figures to people who slowly grow attracted to each other.  He begins to admire and embrace her culture, her quiet ways; she senses his underlying happiness and shows him compassion and care.  Problems arise, the film ends, and we end up bereft, like Keld. At least 3+ stars.

It did snow for about ten minutes but it didn't stick to the crown, just enough precipataion to keep the ground soaked.   We just got back from the gym, shot hoops, rowed, and biked for about 45 minutes, my usual routine, and took a shower, the best part of the workout.  Pork and sauerkraut for dinner tonight and, of course, a movie though we have started watching the series Damages on Netflix Instant, with Glenn Close and Ted Danson and after two shows, we are hooked.

THE SWEET FOREVER: GEORGE PELECANOS

Just finished this gritty crime thriller, a recommendation of Ron Mc Clure.  Very readable and well told, set in the gritty back streets of Washington D. C. a drug invested, crime laden world, especially in the 1990's, the era of Marion Berry, the mayor who is the obvious model for the mayor in this book.  Two buddies, the main protagonists. one Marcus Clay, ex baller, and owner of three or four urban record stores and his buddy and associate, Dimitri Karras, a cocaine addict who just manages to stay above ground.  An accident leads to an innocent bystander Eddie Golden picking up a pillow case full of cash, drug money, and running off with it.  Dimitri and Marcus get involved because Dimitri knows Eddie's girl friend Donna.  Needless to say, the drug lords want the money back, kidnap Eddie, threaten Marcus's business and throw to crooked cop's into the mix, and you get a pretty good picture of DC.  I liked the background to the story, the NCAA basketball tournament, as Marcus and his buddies idolize Len Bias, the great player from Maryland.  Maryland games are always on the TV in the background, as they get together to watch the tournament in between  teenagers being killed during the drug wars.  We hear their excitement when Bias gets drafted by the Celtics, as things come together for all, but the book ends with Dimitri about to buy another line of coke, listening with others to the TV as the news announces that Len Bias has just died of a cocaine overdose, just a few days after the draft.  A good ending I thought, a direction I figured Pelecanos was going.  These two show up in the next book as well, SHAME THE DEVIL, which I have not read but the first chapter is included in this book.  I doubt if Dimitri is off the stuff!

More Gusty Winds and Rain or Snow

Sun and Shadows Before Sunset

I was up later than usual, 7:15, and went out side to sleet or snow falling gently on the ground, as predicted though it melted quickly. The weather reports heavy winds again today, as the two fronts collide, with gusts up to 50 miles an hour.  Let's hope not.  Snow showers are forecast for the next few days or rain, thought it's  going to get up to the mid 40's later than the day.  It sounds like a good day to go to the gym and workout on the rowing machine, the stationary bike, and then the elliptical.  I like to vary my workout, spending 10-15 minutes on each machine rather than 30-45 minutes on just one.  And I like to shoot around for about 15 minutes before working out, stretch some, do a bit of yoga, some sit ups then hit the machines.  If I ever kept up with this, I would be in good shape but something always gets in the way, like painting last week, our travels West next week.  We watched a Wayne Wang film last night, A THOUSAND YEARS OF GOOD PRAYERS, the story of Chinese father, in his 70's, who comes to see his Americanized daughter, who has been living in the states for years.  They have had little to do with each other over the years and he senses his daughter's unhappiness, but because they have had so little to say to each other for years, their communication is stunted, a result of the past, her divorce, and his disgrace back in China.  The wall is eventually broken, though nothing is resolved, and the joy is watching the father slowly acclimate to the states, making friends with people at the condo, the pool, the park, the store, where ever he goes.  Not a lot happens, not much is said, as it's almost a silent movie when the two get together, which is why his meetings with others in parks is the real charm of this movie. I thought it might be more like my favorite Chinese movie, EAT, DRINK, MAN WOMAN, but it fell short.

Just got back from the gym, was able to shoot hoops, stretch, row, and ride a bike, then shower in the locker room, a delight because there's lots of hot water and a hard spray, just like the old days in locker rooms when I was in high school and college.  And, when we came out of the gym, the sun was out, the sky blue, with clouds in the distance, and the lake is still blue.  I wonder how long this will last before the clouds and rain return.  Eggs and bacon, with a simit (Turkish bagel with poppy seeds) for breakfast.  Evie made them a month or two ago, froze them, and we get them out when we want, defrost, pop in oven for 10 minutes and they are ready to go.  Lots of buffleheads on the lake today, whereas yesterday there were mallards and sea gulls, a few geese.  In the terrible winds yesterday, with white caps, we spotted four fishing boats anchored, near the Long Point Pavilion, protected, I suppose from the heavy southerly winds.  It was not a very nice day to fish.

Sitting here, listening to old time music, Frank Davis music we call it, sipping my Turkish tea, savoring one chocolate chip, like the old days in Istanbul, where we would share one Toblerone among the five of us, each getting two squares with a cup of tea.  No one wanted to eat theirs because it would be gone so it was a race to see who still had theirs left.  The good old days where because you didn't have much you enjoyed it all the more.  That's how I feel about my cookie today.  The wind is whipping the trees, turning the lake in swirls, like a mixer as it seems to be coming from different angles, even calling up the leaves from this past fall.

Stormy Lake, Rain, Heavy Winds and White Caps

Hayden and Halle one year ago, our Colorado Springs Visit

A very different day from the past few months, as the winds have been howling most of the night, gusts of up to fifty miles, the lakes choppy and rough, the rain pelting the windows, obscuring the view to Bemus, not a day to enjoy the outside obviously.  Our Slovenian flag is taking quite a beating but it's survived the winter, so it should handle this storm.  It's supposed to be like this most of the day.  A good day to paint!

We watched a fun Danish film last night called ITALIAN FOR BEGINNERS, the story about six lonely hearts who meet during Italian lessons in a small suburban Danish town.  Each is interesting in their own way, their lives intersect, and they end up pairing off.  Another film that develops interesting characters, throws them together, and watches them fall in love. Good not great. Had parmesan crusted chicken breast for dinner with a sage cream sauce, quite nice but NO Tate's chocolate chip cookies.  I have to wait for today, alas.

The wind is still raging, pounding rain against the windows; I took the Slovenia flag and pole down because of the wind and my neighbor's martin house, put up this past weekend, has disappeared into the lake, victim of the high winds.  The white caps are hitting the bank, throwing water ten feet over the edge on to the lawn.

Windy, Choppy Lake, with Partly Cloudy Skies

The waves are actually breaking up over the wall, as the wind comes from the East for now, bringing rain and strong winds later tonight and tomorrow, though today is supposed to be partly sunny.  We are hanging pictures in the living room today, finishing up our living room and dining room.  It's nice to have our house back in order.  We will probably do the TV room when we return from our Western trip.

Newly painted dining room

Our carpet purchase seems to be on hold as we getting tired of making decisions, nothing really wows us yet, and we have decided to get a new septic system, which is going to put quite a dent in our check book.  It's something that wil make life easier for all of us when we have lots of people her during the summers and needs to be done anyways.  So, we are planning on this happening in early June, so when the families arrive in late July, our yard will have recovered enough to enjoy it.

Due East Sunrise over tip of Long Point

I hope we can now get back in our routine or walking or working out everyday.  That's been impossible to do the last week as we have been busy painting.  Enough for now!

Pictures are hung, copper is polished, yard's cleaned up, the puddles are beginning to disappear and it's supposed to rain tomorrow, imagine that.  It's Parmesan crusted chicken cutlers for dinner, a good choice, and I think Evie's going to make me my favorite cookies, called Tate's chocolate chip cookies.  I am sure they are filled with sugar, butter, chocolate and salt but they are delicious.  I will eat them on at a time, show some discipline.

Done Painting!

Sitting here on my couch, the living still disarray, though the painting is done, the books in the book case washed, the shelves cleaned.  Today, we put back all the furniture and voila, our living room and dining room and kitchen are fresh and clean.  The lake is calm and gray, with delicate lines drawn by the ducks either landing or paddling along.  There's fog on the far side, and the sun already risen, is just beginning to peak through the clouds, just a bit to the right of Long Point.  It rose 6:40, about 25 minutes ago, so I was surprised to see it so high in the sky.  I can see abut ten duck, probably mallards, small black dots off to the south, a few closer, in front of our house.  I wish it were warmer so I could open the windows and listen to the bird sounds, as they build as the sun rises.  Yesterday morning, a couple of ducks were so loud with their squawking that I could hear them in the house.

We went to Viking Club last night for cubans and fries, sat at the bar with the same couple as last week, and split the cuban, plenty for two, had a couple of beers, and Evie played he bingo game.  You buy a ticket for a dollar, with a chance to win up to 75 dollars.  Should bought five dollars worth, won back ten and quit, to my surprise.  We stopped at Hogan's Hut on the way home, bought two Reese's Cup ice cream bars and some Hostess cup cakes....naughty but good, watch Idol and our current favorite series, The Good Wife.  A productive day and I will say this for painting, it gives you a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day....unlike teaching, you can see that you have made a difference, actually done something that's visible, a well painted room!

We have been slowly putting the furniture back together, rearranging and arranging and rearranging, as things never seem quite right, a function of our taste or lack of the appropriate sized furniture for our house.  We are slowly getting there  but it's going to take a couple of more hours to get it right, as we (mostly Evie) are washing down everything, chairs, tables, baseboards, so it will be spic and span for the summer, perhaps for the carpet guy (if we decide to go with something).

It's been a partly sunny day, the lake is blue,  one or two boats, and in the 50's though we have not been outside to enjoy it.  The water level is still quite high and our yard is water logged, though the small pond that covered it earlier in the week has disappeared, probably until the snow/rain this weekend.  Get out your snow shoes!

Almost Done Painting

Painting Mess # 2

Are you ever done painting?  There always seems to be a bit more to do, touch up here, paint there, clean up, store the paints, put back the room and of course, there's always another room that could use freshening up.  The walls and ceilings are done, look great, and Evie is already finishing up the molding in the living room and then we can put it all back together.  It will be nice to see out the front windows, rather than looking through a plastic wrap protecting the wood.  We are both pleased with our color choices, thank god, and all three shades of buff seem to complement each other.  What am I going to do once we are done?  It so completely took over our lives for the past five days that I wonder what we did with our life before beginning the task?  Back to reading, surfing the net, lazing around the house and getting ready for our  trip west next week.

Today is overcast, with a slight drizzle, a bit cooler, in the 30's, with the possibility of snow this weekend, just another week at the lake.  We are heading to the Viking Club tonight, for Wings and Cubans, our favorite 'healthy choices.'  At least Evie doesn't have to cook, and neither of us has to clean up.

Deja Vu in the Morning

Sitting here in the TV room watching Morning Joe and Imus alternatively, reminding me of the old days in Hudson, as we used to sit in our living room each morning before work, watching Imus, looking at a TV, a wall, a room, a house out the window, no view so to speak.  How different from my mornings here, as I watch the sun rise out the window, the lake change colors, the birds hit the feeder, the wind blow, all things natural and changing.  I actually cannot wait to get to sleep, so I can get up in the morning and watch night become dawn become day.  So here I sit, enclosed by walls, a view of a house, watching the pundits argue about policies, the same tune every day, the same voices, and nothing changes or so it seems.  I am increasingly turning off the news, paying less attention to it, listening less to NPR or MSNBC, reading less of the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, and enjoying reading fiction and non fiction more.  As Evelyn Waugh said along time ago, newspapers end up telling you the same thing day after day, with just enough change to keep you reading.  The same for the opinion programs on TV...very little is new, very little changes from day to day.

On another note, we went to Ron and Linda's last night for a dinner of filets, mushrooms with bacon, and salad, a real treat.  After a day of painting, it was great to not have to make dinner and be taken care of by someone else.  They are too nice to us.  They head back to Murraysville today for a month, so we won't see them till the second week in May.  We lent them our copy of the film MOSTLY MARTHA, and they loved it just as much as we did.

Today's gray and a bit cooler, with the possibility of rain or snow showers tonight.  In yesterday's paper, they talked about 13 inches of snow on April 18th a number of years ago, so we are not yet out of the 'possibility' of a winter storm in April, though Sunday's 70's suggested otherwise.

More Painting, A Lake of Buffleheads, and Warm with More Rain

One Year Ago Today in KC

We move on to the living room today, after finishing the kitchen and dining room.  I put a third coat on the ceiling as we were unhappy with the streaks from the previous paintings.  It's still not perfect but better than it was.  For some reason, the paint is not covering as well as it should or I am doing something wrong with the rollers.  I don't expect to be done with painting until Wednesday, as it takes much longer than I thought to get set up, with drop cloths on the bookcases, counter tops, etc, before you can even begin painting.  Then, cutting in takes time, and must be done before I begin rolling the ceiling first, then the walls.  And we are still struggling with carpet colors, having a difficult time picking out something we really like.  We can live with lots of colors or shades but nothing yet has set our hearts on fire.  Maybe that's just the way it it.

Painting mess

We watched FROZEN RIVER last night, a depressing movie about a family about to lose their house; to keep things together, the mother gets involved in smuggling immigrants into Canada, across the frozen river.  A great performance by Mellisa Leo (she was up for an Academy award for this performance) and her son kept us watching the poverty and tragedy of other people's lives and, fortunately, it has a happy ending.  Though she ends up in jail for a few months for smuggling, she makes the moral decision at the end to sacrifice herself for others.  A difficult movie to watch, as we see how desperately some people live, either just getting buy, or being smuggled across a frozen river to another country to make a new life.  How lucky we are in comparison to have a home, a family, and health.

First coat of the ceiling in living room is done, all is taped and ready to go.  Second coat of ceiling tomorrow, all the walls, perhaps twice, done either tomorrow night or Wednesday morning.  The end is near, I think, so we can then start worrying about a carpet.  It looks good, we like the soft buff color of the walls.  Not a great change but fresh, rich, and new.  I went to the paint store for the third straight day; I wonder if this is the usual, you never get enough, you always need more of something, whether paint, rollers, tape or whatever.

Thick Fog and Peeper Arias

Marisa visits Hayden and Halle in VA

We went back to Pine Junction, a restaurant we went to a couple of weeks ago, off in the farmlands just outside of Findley Lake.  There motto "The best part is trying to find us" holds true if you don't know the area.  It's supposedly very popular in the winter with snow mobilers, as it literally is right next to a main trail and in the summer, bikers.  It's set off the road about 100 yards and is nothing to look at, three or four buildings, one a barn, one the owner's house, then the restaurant and a new building, which will hold wedding receptions.  The restaurant is very eclectic, wood paneled, lots of signs, knick knacks, a great bar, and windows that look out over their backyard, with a huge wood pile in the center, for a fire and a dense forest of pines in the background.  There's a huge porch to sit on in the warmer weather.  We all had burgers, though they had ribs and fish as well.  We liked the deep fried pickles and reuben balls for appetizers.  At 9:00, there was music, a woman singer with a guitarist and she was really quite good.  Most Saturdays they have music and it could be lots of fun in the summer.  There were about 25 people there as we left, mostly listening, all locals.  It was full when we entered around 7:30, and we got the last table though no one seemed to have to wait.

Our ride home through lonely roads through farmlands was very different, reminding of the old days at OU when we came back from the Club 33, utter darkness, no traffic, just a road seemingly to no where.  As we were driving, I thought I heard crickets but realized the serenade was from the peepers, or small frogs that come out in the spring and sing at night.  It was amazing to hear and when I got home to the lake, I could also hear them in our woods.  I don't think I have ever heard them  before last night, probably because I didn't listen carefully or pay attention.  We miss so much because we don't look or listen carefully, mostly because we are so wrapped up in our lives, in what we have to do tomorrow.  Retirement gives me a chance to listen and think and pay attention, especially to the natural world.

Gray Skies (so far), Warm, and More Painting

Today, we want to finish the dining room and kitchen and get the living room ready to paint the ceiling tomorrow; Monday, with lots of luck, we will finish the living room and hall, then, perhaps, on to the TV room unless my back gives out!  It's not used to painting ceilings, I know that much.  Another great day to paint, actually although tomorrow it's supposed to get into the 70's, which will make us want to get outside and walk.  I doubt we will as painting or shall I say finishing becomes an obsession.  To travel is better than to arrive does not hold for painting.  It does consume one, at least me, as I have spent the last two nights either dreaming or waking and thinking about painting.  Well, my everything bagel and recently whipped cream cheese are gone, so it's time to begin taping the wood work and begin painting the walls.  Evie's already doing the trim so this should go quickly (irony alert).

Painting Friday/Saturday/Sunday?

Sunrise 

Evie's already off to Sherwin Williams to pick up the paint for our downstairs; they have a 40% off sale today through Sunday on everything, so it's a good deal.  I just hope we will only need one coat; the color is just a bit richer, perhaps a bit more yellow than what we have so it should work.  As you can see above, it was a spectacular sunrise though it's now turned gray though no rain for a couple of days, I hope.

At the Lakeview in Mayville 

We watched the German film MOSTLY MARTHA last night, a great film.  The film focuses on Martha, the uptight, solitary chef of a high class restaurant in Germany.  Her life revolves the restaurant, with little else.  This changes when her sister dies in a car crash and Martha's responsible for her niece, Lina. How she deals with this change and the new sous chef Mario at her restaurant form the center of the film.  Wonderfully acted, moving, just the kind of movie we love.  This is the second time we have seen it.

Well, I am sitting here with a glass of wine, after a day of painting ceilings.  What at first seemed simple turned out to be more time consuming, as the ceiling needed two not one coat as the paint indicated.  One coat should cover!  Well, it didn't so I have been off buying more paint and it's only the first day.  The dining room and kitchen and entrance ceilings are done.  Tomorrow, we will paint the walls in the dining room, and if we have time, start on the ceiling in the living room.  What I assume would take three days will now take five, I predict.  Why isn't anything easier not harder than it seems.  At least its been a messy gray day, no sun, just gray skies, an occasional misty rain, a good day to paint, if there is such a thing.

THE DAWN PATROL: DON WINSLOW

An easy fast read, set in San Diego, the novel follows surfer/PI Boone Daniels and his junior high buddies, all surfers on the dawn patrol, all filling out the usual jobs, from life guard, to cop, to surfer girl.  The story involves drugs, a murder of an exotic dancer, illegal immigrants (of  course), child procurement, and conflict between one's desire for money and power and integrity or honor.  Boone lives on the edge, between the law and honor, wins the day obviously, and though it's not a great book, I did like the surf bum temperament of the book.  It reminded me of my days in Hawaii, surfing at dawn, watching the sun rise over the mountains.  Not as much sex as his other books, but lots of foul language, various malicious bad guys, and some violence.  Samoans and Hawaiians figure in the book, with their code of family, which often conflicts with their occupations (drugs).  They display a peculiar kind of honor, though we find that it's not as admirable as it seems, more a veneer hiding pure malice.  Boone saves the girls, the stripper, almost drowns the bad guy, loses his 'surfer girl', but ends up winning another wahine, the beautiful, hot lawyer, Petra, who started the conflict in the beginning by hiring Boone to find a client.  What goes around comes around.

Snowstorm in April

Yesterday ended up being a pretty miserable day outside, with a couple of inches or more of wet snow snarling traffic, causing accidents in Lakewood, and bringing out the snow plows from hibernation.  It was a bit messy yesterday morning when we drove to Clymer, but around 4:00, the snowing got worst, the roads more slushy, causing the problems.  We met Ron and Linda last night at the Lakeview last night in Mayville and we were literally the only people who had ventured out that night, perhaps two others sat at the bar.  The road was not bad going and much better coming home, as the snow had begun to melt.  They had arrived yesterday afternoon after braving a snow storm coming up # 79 to and through Erie.  Ron mentioned he saw a SUV about 150 feet off of # 86, in the woods, around Findlay Lake.  Clearly, people were driving too fast.

Today, fortunately, is sunny and getting warmer, so that by the end of the day, most of the snow will have melted and they are predicting weather in the 70's by seventy so this 'may' be the last snow of the year.  The lake is like glass, making me think of kayaking but I will wait a day or two.  It would be fun to go down a kayak the Chadokin River in Jamestown where the rowing teams having practicing for three weeks.  We have decided on a color for the walls, Buff, a warm very subtle yellow, more creamy or vanilla than yellow, a bit richer than our linen white. Now it's time to make a carpet choice.  We are settled probably on a carpet with less warp, with a slight pattern, so it won't show foot or sweeper markets, though it won't be as soft.

Buffle Head Ducks Return To The Lake

Marlena and Tom skiing in Colorado

With the thawing of the lake, the wildlife have returned, the first the black and white buffleheads, our favorite ducks.  They are here late fall, just before the lake freezes and are usually the first to return, briefly in the spring, before heading farther north.  I woke to brilliant sunshine in the bedroom, which lasted just about as long as it took me to get downstairs and take a picture before it began to cloud over, alas.  The lake actually had a thin skin of ice over it this morning but it now seems to have disappeared.

As I write 30 minutes later, it's snowing outside and large ice flow appeared in front our our house, with snow on it, as the buffleheads float around it. We are off to the carpet store in Clymer, then to get some paint samples from the paint store.  We must be serious about this.  Ahhhh.

Sunrise On A Thawed Lake

We watched another low budget, understated movie last night, GET LOW, which I highly recommend, with Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek.  I am not even sure it was in theaters but I remember it being highly recommended by the critics.  Duvall, in his 80's, is perfect for the role of the hermit/misanthrope who decides to throw his own funeral, replete with music, neighbors, and a chance for him to atone for a secret from his past, one which sent him to live alone for 40 years, feared by neighbors, stories abounding about his violent nature.  Bill Murray is the funeral director, in a very different role for him, torn between helping Duvall and divesting him of his money.  Not alot happens as it moves towards its climax, the funeral and Duvall's amazing story.

Unbelievably, it's been snowing for the last couple of hours, with an inch or two on the car, the lawn's white as well, the yards filled with pools of water.  My neighbor from Pittsburgh just called, wondering if the lake was up over the retaining wall.  I guess he worried about flooding but it does not seem too bad for now; in fact, it's lower than it was three or four days ago.  We went off again, looking at carpets, came home with new options, less warp, some design as Evie worries about footmarks and sweeper marks on the friezee carpets.  And we picked up four different shades of color, and Evie's been painting sections of our downstairs walls, as we try to pick the perfect color to go with the carpet with the perfect warp and color.  Good luck.  Ron and Linda just called, as they are on RT 79, on their way to the lake and the roads are terribly, as a car just lid off the road in front of them.  We are having dinner with them tonight but may stay right in Mayville if the weather continues to be uncooperative.

I walked outside, in the snow, up to the lakes edge and it was gelatinous, like a thick soup, as I stuck my foot in the slush like lake.  It goes back an forth between water, slush, and a thin layer of ice.  It would be fun to be out in a kayak in the snow flakes  but it's warmer inside.

Wet, Gray, Snow Flurries

Last hiking of the snow trails of Long Point

Another cloudy gray morning (actually shades of gray clouds on gray) and when I walked outside this morning at 6:00 to get the paper, wet snow flurries filled the air as it was beginning to get colder after yesterday's high in the 60's. The lake is increasingly unfreezing, as I can see water half way over to Long Point, just huge floes of ice remain in both directions.  We could easily kayak today, the first day it would be possible in or area, if the weather cooperated.  When you are retired, I suppose you have more time to pay attention to things like the sky, the precipitation, the colors of the lake and sky, and temperature.  Perhaps because you have nothing else to do, perhaps because it interests you, perhaps because you never paid much attention to it before.  For me, it's most likely all three.

Smith Library at the Chautauqua Institution

We watched UConn defeat Butler last night, as I expected, though it was a terrible night for both teams; instead of both playing well, neither did and the result was a game hardly worth watching, as shot after shot clanged off the rim, until finally a few UConn players were able to hit a few to take the lead. UConn so dominated the boards and paint that Butler hardly had a goal within ten feet of the rim.  Every time they tried, their shots were rejected.  The amazing thing about the game was the fact that many of mainstays on both teams were freshmen, unheard of ten years ago, even one year ago.

We spent much of the morning looking at colors for our living room/dining room/kitchen at three different stores and ended up not much closer to picking a color.  We want something a bit richer than what we have, linen white, but most of the colors are too much color, not enough light.  We think we need something bright and lively and are afraid of some of the colors that look great in our kids homes but maybe not in ours because we have so little wall space, mostly windows.  We just got back from working out at Turner, took showers there, and are ready for a mannie, some dinner, maybe a movie or the NCAA women's final.  I think last night was enough basketball for awhile though the NBA playoffs are a couple of weeks away and often go into mid June, alas.

It is amazing to see water moving on the lake after months of ice and snow; I assume fishermen will be out the weekend, fishing for crappies, perch, and pan fish.  It's been just above freezing most of the day, even cooler tonight, and we always have the possibility of snow flurries.  I am sure some areas got an inch or two last night though it's melted by now.