Sunny and Warm Winter Day, High in 50's

7:35

Morning Sun

Long Point, Late Afternoon

I am starting to sleep in, getting up at 7:40, after Evie, which is very unusual.  Surprisingly, the bedroom was lit, as the sun had started to rise, the sky was clear, a surprising morning of blue skies, thin, long puffs of clouds, and melting snow, dripping gutters, as Sunday's snow begins to disappear.  This is the kind of winter Chautauquans warned against, the kind we did not have the past two winters, our first two up here full time.

Yesterday morning, we did head into Lakewood, for Evie to work out at the YMCA and I went to the Eight Limbs Yoga studio for my first class; it was perfect, not too arduous for a beginner, but lots of stretching, various poses, and help from the instructor when I needed it.  It went from about 10:10 till 11:15 with the ending relaxation period.  There were about eight people there, various ages though I was the oldest and one of the women knew me as Tom Davis from Woodlawn.  Her name is Julie Lescynski (I think), and her father was Doc Langdon, so she grew up on Woodlawn.  I decided on the monthly plan, the cheapest if I use it by far.

We tried skiing in the afternoon but the lake was too wet, the bottoms of our skis froze, so we ended up hiking up Victorian Rd and back for about 45 minutes, in late afternoon, just as the setting was sinking behind the western sky.  We talked with Hayden and Halle for a bit, on Facetime, then had one of my favorites Turkish meals, Tas meal, a simple stew of meat, tomato paste, and Turkish spices served on mashed potatoes.  Simple but satisfying, with a  great flavor.

Evie just headed off to the YMCA, to take a yoga class, than work out, then shop at Weggies and Bon Ton, the local department store and the Dollar Store, to stock up on items for the Treasure Chest.  So, I am not sure what to do, most likely I'll go for a hike somewhere to the north, stop at a coffee shop or library, to use their wireless, as I am having problems with my Internet connection and want to know if it's the modem or the computer.  It looks like a beautiful day, as I mentioned but warm, so the trails will be soggy and muddy, so may have to stick to the roads.  I finished THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GRAY yesterday evening which I really enjoyed, and starting Abraham Verghese's CUTTING THE STONE, a novel recommended to me by both my sister Ellen and Evie.  I read his first work, the non fiction MY OWN COUNTRY: A DOCTOR'S STORY, published in1985, where he describes his work as a doctor in the rural Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, dealing mostly with the then 'new' influx of HIV patients among the poor.  I really liked it and was surprised when he came out with a piece of fiction,

THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GRAY: WALTER MOSELY

I think the blogger from Read All Day said this Walter Mosely novel was her favorite; I would agree, better than the Easy Rawlins, though I haven't read one in quite a while.  But I really enjoyed this, the story of a nine-one year old black man, who lived all his life in the ghettoes of California, perhaps LA but its not clear.  The picture of old age, of what it's like to be infirm, confused, mixing the past and the present, unsure of almost anything is marvelous, a poignant and realistic description of aging, especially aging of a black man, with all his memories of the past, especially the violence that surround the underclass, both self inflicted and those caused by racism.

Ptolemy befriends a niece, Robyn, homeless yet independent and tough.  She takes a liking to Ptolemy, and decides to clean up his life, starting with his house, a house which would put most hoarders to shame.  This act, of throwing out the past, begins the narrative, energizes Ptolemy, and he makes a pack with a doctor (the devil according to Ptolemy), who promises Ptolemy his mind for a few weeks or a month, with an experimental drug, suggesting that it will help future generations who are suffering from dementia.  Against the fears of Robyn, he takes it, regains his memory and he decides to make up, in his last few weeks, for some of the past.  The novel then roans between past loves and injustices, early childhood days with Coydog, a grandfatherly figure to Ptolemy, who is lynched by white men, while a seven year old Ptolemy watches. Anyways, we get to see his relatives, most ready to take advantage of an old man, the loves of his life, the integrity of Robyn, and Ptolemy's ventures into making sure the underclass are taken care of when he dies.  The story line is a bit improbable but all of the characters are well drawn and interesting and their conflicts and passions are real. As a picture of what it was like to grow up black and poor in America in the 20th century, it's indelible.  It's a book well worth reading and I wish there were a prequel or sequel.

Ah Winter... And A Brilliant Sunrise

6:45

8:00

Tom's Point

Across from Long Point

Pitch black as I sit here at 6:20 listening to Morning Joe.  Last night we had a blizzard for an hour or snow, dropping four or five inches, making it look once again like a winter wonderland, finally.  Evie actually went out cross country skiing about 5:00 and just as she went out, it started snowing hard.  By the time she got 50 yards down the lake, I could hardly see her as the snow was so fierce.  She didn't stay out much longer, turning around and heading back, as it was dark as well.

Last Night's Van Gogh Like Blizzard

Right now it's 22 degrees outside, the high today in the 20's but tomorrow, it's supposed to be in the high 40's, ruining the great snow we got yesterday, turning the roads into slush and mud. Yuk. The sky is starting to lighten, with white patches to the south of Bemus but towards Mayville, it's dark gray and  threatening, as usual.  Little snow is predicted, though there could be a few flurries this evening.

We had an amazing cross country ski outing yesterday, as the lake was perfect, a thin layer of snow, perhaps two inches deep and ice underneath, so it was easy to glide and enjoy the going.  We skied mostly along the lake's edge, all the way out to Tom's Point and beyond, so we actually could see the bridge.  While skiing the sun came out, turning the lake into a white, glistening plain.  We were out over an hour, worked up a sweat, a perfect way to spend the morning.  When we got back, I starting clearing a skating area in front of our house, as the snow was easy to shovel, light and fluffy.

After skiing, we jumped in the car and went over to the Viking Club to enjoy their world famous herring breakfast.  It was packed with people and though we were late, there were tickets, so I got the special, Evie had ham and eggs.  The people are so nice there, mostly our age I suppose, ready to help out and talk. They all wore yellow shirts, celebrating the Viking Club. I really enjoyed the food, more this time than last.  The herring is fried, served with a cream sauce with grilled onions, and creamed potatoes on the side.  A Swedish cracker finishes the meal.  We talked to one of the ladies about the Polar Swim in two weeks and Evie's tempted to give it a try.  We thought the Bissells would be there that weekend so we got excited about it, but they don't arrive till President's Weekend, the 19th of February, alas.

Swedish Club Servers

 Herring with Cream sauce, Creamed potatoes, Grilled Onions, Biscuit and Bloody Mary

Last night, we had an easy dinner of Evie's homemade vegetable soup and hot dogs, a nice easy dinner for a Sunday and watched CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Osgood, which we taped from the morning and really enjoy, then our favorite show, The Good Wife.  We taped Downton Abbey for viewing tonight, the other series we are really enjoying.

This morning we are off early to Lakewood, Evie to the Y, and I am going to start Yoga for a month at the Eight Limbs Yoga Studio in Lakewood.  For 72.00 green backs, you get unlimited access for a month.  Either I will make good use of it, continue with yoga on my own, or waste my money.  I am hoping to go three or four times a week, timing it so Evie can work out at the YMCA.  We'll see in March if it was a good decision.  I have always wanted to get serious about yoga but lacked the will, did not want to waste the money.  Let's hope I get into it.

Another Sunday...What To Do? (Hikng Goose Creek)

8:20

Up later than usual at 7:30 to a cloudy sky, a dusting of snow, and 27 degrees, colder than the past few days.  The sun is struggling to get out and earlier, I missed a pink smudge just above the horizon with my camera.  A nice leisurely morning, with Sunday Edition on NPR, some good coffee, pea berry from San Salvadore, my favorite from Fairway, and nothing that has to be done.

We are trying to figure out if we can cross country ski, if there's enough snow on the lake or the trails are frozen enough to make it fun.  Also, the Viking Club is having their 'world famous herring breakfast', so we thought we would go participate since we haven't been to the club in awhile.

Hiking in Goose Creek Preserve

Yesterday, after hiking through the campground in the morning, we met up with a  group from the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy at the Goose Creek Preserve and hiked with about twelve people for an hour, along Goose Creek, in the wet lands.  It was cold, windy, and mucky so we were smart enough to wear good, water proof boots.  It was nice to meet some new people, Tom and Pat Hubbell, two family physicians from Delaware, OH, who have house in Dewittville, Mike Lyons, who lives in Bemus, and is President of the Watershed, Becky Nystrom, a naturalist at JCC, a couple from Westfield, Bill and Bev, from Mayville, and of course, John Jablonski, head of the group.  It was not much of a day to hike but it was fun being out in the wild with other people who love the outdoors like us.  Nobody complained.  Afterwards, eight of us went back to the Southern Tier Brewery and we stayed for about an hour, sitting on their outdoor patio with space heaters.  It was an interesting group and it was fun to get to know some new people.  We talked with Mike Lyons, a neat guy and the couple from Delaware the most.  We thought we would have the pub to ourselves on a Saturday afternoon at 3:00 but it was so packed that we had to go to the outdoor patio, enclosed with canvas but still chilly.  A great afternoon.

Goose Creek

Enjoying a beer at Southern Tier Brewery

Hiking in campground

We had Indian chicken thighs for dinner and watched the Academy Award nominated movie, the IDES OF MARCH.  The film started out a bit like the West Wing, as George Clooney plays Mike Morris, a candidate running for the Democratic nomination in Ohio.  He mouths all of the left wing platitudes that I like, saving the environment, avoiding wars, judging your success on how well you treat the underclass.  As I was watching it, I wondered why I had not heard Fox News trash it.  Then, I found out why.  The dirty side of politics reared its head and this time it was the democrats.  Clooney, like most politicians, though well meaning, is flawed.  Ryan Gosling, who plays his press aid, at first naive, discovers an unpleasant truth about the candidate.  Unfortunately, he makes a mistake, is fired, and learns his first lesson about politics.  It's cut throat and dirty and 'most' candidates will do anything to win.  With this knowledge, he  plays the cards he's dealt,  gets the Chief of Staff fired and takes his place.  George Clooney gets the nomination by 'selling out',  promising Secretary of State to an Ohio senator he despises because he promises Clooney his delegates, thus the nomination.  The film ends with Gosling about to speak to the nation as the spokes person for Clooney.  We are left wondering what he will say!  A really good movie though it reinforces all that I hate about politics, that it's all political! Dah! Gosling, Clooney and Phillip Seymour Hoffman are real.

Saturday Blues and Grays

Fishing off of Long Point

Evie at Master Cuts with Brie, Accepting Her Prize

Another gray Saturday (getting tired of saying this), as I got up late, 7:10, just in time for Only A Game on NPR.  The first thing I do in the morning is read The Writer's Almanac on my Mac.  Today's poem was perfect at describing my winter hibernation:

Winter Is the Best Time

by David Budbill

Winter is the best time

to find out who you are.

Quiet, contemplation time,

away from the rushing world,

cold time, dark time, holed-up

pulled-in time and space

to see that inner landscape,

that place hidden and within.

There's a light dusting of snow on parts of the lawn; the lake still has ice, gray and dangerous I would think except for the intrepid fishermen who venture forth, and it's 33 degrees, too warm for us.  A mix of snow and rain is expected later today, much like yesterday, much like it's supposed to be the rest of the week.  Where has winter, the snow, the low temperatures, gone?  

Yesterday, we went into Lakewood again, to pick up some hair products that Evie won in a drawing at Master Cuts in the Mall, the first prize we have ever won.  Evie went to work out at the Y, I walked a bit, hit the Ryder Coffee Shop/Bookstore.  Not much else to do on a rainy, cool day.  I did finish my book, Vaclav and Lena, which I loved.  I downloaded it on my Kindle from the library, which is pretty neat, and am starting on my next book, also on my Kindle and from the library, THE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GRAY by Walter Mosely.  It's nice to be able to use my Kindle and not have to buy a book from Amazon.

Rod and Gun Club Lounge

Rod and Gun Club Bar

Yesterday evening, we went out for dinner at the Lakewood Rod and Gun Club.  We had not been there in a couple of months so it was fun to get away, sit at the bar for a couple of beers, gamble a bit (we didn't win), then have fish fry in their large, always crowded dining room.  It's a nice place to go, filled with Lakewood and Jamestowner's.  It's strange to think that we have had a house here since 1981 and when we visit a local place like this, filled with people, we recognize no one, know only one couple, the Nelsons, who sponsored us.  We live, have lived, an isolated life on our little island of Woodlawn.  We hope this changes as we get to know more locals. 

Today, the Chautauqua Conservancy is having a hike at the Goose Creek Preserve, near Ashville Marina, then all hikers will adjourn to the Southern Tier Brewery for a happy hour.  It's so wet and miserable outside I am not sure we  will go and the area is not really a trail, just a wetlands, with not much to offer other than getting to know the hikers.  

VACLAV AND LENA: HALEY TANNER

Spoiler Alert if you hope to read the book:

I really liked this book, somewhat of a surprise because, at first, I did not think I would as it's the story of a couple of nine year old immigrants living in Brooklyn.  How wrong I was.  It didn't take me long to be pulled into their lives, to Vaclav's, who lives with his recent Russian immigrant parents, a young boy with an obsession with magicians, with becoming another Harry Houdini and Lena, she of the unknown home life, who spends most of her afternoons with Vaclam, in his bedroom, as both day dream about performing magician tricks at Coney Island.  They practice, do their homework,  and have dinner together, then Vaclav's mother walks Lena home.  Vaclav is the talker, charming and fun, Lena, quiet and withdrawn with others, but with Vaclav she's enamoured and relaxed.  The first third ends with  Vaclav's mother calling the police and turning Lena over to Children's Services.  She does not explain anything to Vaclav who blames her for the disappearance of his best and only friend.

The second part jumps eight years.  Vaclav is at the technical high school, brilliant and charming, with a girl friend, lots of friends, a typical teenager.  His mother hasn't changed; she worries about him, takes care of his whims, and remains the Russian emigre in culture and spirit.  Lena, we discover, is also doing well, smart and well liked, student council president, living with her well to do adopted mother Em.  We see into both of their lives, into their thoughts, especially Lena's, as she realize the blanks in her past that she cannot fill, her life before and after Vaclav, before her adoption. It's interesting to see these two, who struggled with their adopted language, English, in the first section, well adapted and fluent eight years later.

The third and final section describes Vaclav and Lena Together.  Though they never communicated since that fatal day eight years ago, neither has forgotten the other.  Lena decides to call Vaclav, asking him to help her find out about her parents, her past.  They meet, immediately take up where they left off, though now they are teenagers, with all the feelings that go along with being young.  They end up in Vaclav's bedroom, just like when they were nine year olds, but her return to Vaclav's home, to his bedroom unearths Lena's unconscious memories, a past that she has forgotten, and she rushes home hysterical, vowing to never return.

Vaclav, distraught and confused, ends up going to Lenas Aunt's home, finds out the truth of Lena's past (too terrible to describe), and goes to Lena's house, to tell her about her family but instead of the truth, he tells a wonderful fairy tale about what 'should have been Lena's parents life, her life.'  And the book ends: "Lena's real mom, Emily, knew this was not the truth, but she also knew that Vaclav was not lying.  Vaclav knew that he was telling the truth.  Lena knew that it was a lie, but she loved it and believed it, like a fairy tale, like a song, like a bedtime story, like a magic trick.  She loved Vaclav until it became the truth, so it was."

Diagrams of Republican and Democratic Brains

My Woodlawn neighbor, Joe Bergen, posted these two diagrams on his Facebook page; I liked them enough to put them on my blog because they perfectly embody how each party sees the others' wacky thinking.  Enjoy.

Spring Has Sprung: 41 Degrees at 6:45 (Hiking Overland Trail)

7:47

Up at  7:00 to uncomfortably warm weather, 41 degrees, balmy and misty though still pitch black and no paper yet.  I knew it was supposed to stay in the thirties but the forties at this time is ridiculous.  The snow birds in Florida may contemplate returning north if this continues.  We have two weeks until the Mayville Winter Festival and unless things change, there will be no ice castle.  At the moment, the lake seems to glow as a thin black line distinguishes the far shore, no light visible because of the fog.  Now I can see the slick surface of the lake, with fog rising above it...get out the skates!

Yesterday Evie headed off to work out at the YMCA, and shop for gifts for the Treasure Chest, so I decided to explore a new section of the Westside Overland Trail, near Sherman.  It was not a pleasant day, a light drizzle, but it wasn't bad walking in the woods.  I took RT 18, the Stedman/Sherman road for about 7 miles, turning right on Mt. Pleasant Rd.  About 7/10ths of a mile on the left is a parking lot for hikers and the beginning of the trail.  I headed north on it, into Mount Pleasant State Forest.  I walked in a little over a mile, to the Lean To, then back out, taking about an hour.  There were at least ten trees down on the trail, some quite large and it would make skiing or snow shoeing difficult as you would have to take them off to get over the trees.  I am not sure who manages the trails, if anyone at this time.  The woods were bare, not too attractive, with few if any pines, so most of the walk was open, with leaf less tree limbs, a trail that follows a couple of streams,  a few easy hills which might make cross country skiing difficult.

Lake in Mt Pleasant State Forest

Mt Pleasant Forest

Down Trees on Westside Overland Trail

I went in to Sherman for lunch, tried to find a busy local diner or restaurant.  I found one with four people in it, the other was empty, so I had a Cuban at the 'crowded' diner.  I also stopped in a small antique store and walked out with a Romertopt clay cooker and a Mission style rocker for 50 bucks, both good deals.  So it was kind of a fun morning to try something new and get a deal.

Winter Blahs Set In

A  Touch of Color at 7:45 AM

Not much to say this morning, up at 6:40, to darkness, now lightening a bit, as it's 32 degrees outside, no snow, lake still frozen, how safe I am not sure but I did see some fishing tents off of Long Point yesterday.  The fisherman cometh, whether it's winter or not.  A lazy morning as we have little planned.

Evie's going to head off to Lakewood to get her hair done, do some shopping and work out at the Lakewood Y and I am not sure what I will do, perhaps take a bike ride or walk in the woods.  Right now I feel lazy though I want to do something.  This weather does not energize me, makes me want to just sit and read.

Yesterday was a similar day.  In the morning, we went to Mayville for our Wellness Physicals, compliments of Medicare.  We then walked the CI but it was icy so it was not much fun, worrying about slipping on what looked like dry roads.  We then went to the library, took out some videos, came home to lunch, cauliflower soup and sandwiches, to left over chicken, mashed potatoes, and dressing for dinner and of course, some Chillingsworth rolls.

Turkish Film

We did watch a recommended Turkish movie called WHEN WE LEAVE.  It's a hard movie to like because of the nature of the conflict.  A daughter, Umay, leaves her husband in Istanbul, with her son, because of his abusiveness.  She returns to her family who now live in Germany and they basically ostracize her for dishonoring the family.  The customs of this traditional Muslim family, with its roots in Turkey, force her to make it on her own, though she longs for her families love.  Eventually, because of their stubbornness, she takes up with a young German, begins living with him and brings even more shame to the family.  To rid the family of this disgrace, the Umay's father asks his youngest son to participate in an honor killing, to erase the shame of the family.  The movie ends tragically, as the young brother attempts the murder, at the last moment, he cannot do it and runs.  Unfortunately, the older brother, the stereotypical Muslim fanatic, is there for support, watches his younger brother's failure, rushes towards his shamed sister and inadvertently stabs the grandchild, not the sister.  Thus ends the movie.  I wish I could find a Turkish film that doesn't end up with tragedy, usually from the clash of traditional and modern cultures, but that seems to be the major themes of the most successful Turkish films.

THE AFFAIR: LEE CHILD

A typical Jack Reacher, though it goes back to 1997, and we learn why he ends up leaving the Army as a MP. It's set in Carter Crossing, MS, just out side an army base.  Three murders of females sends Reacher there to sort things out, especially to make sure it's not an army matter.  He ends up working with the local sheriff, one beautiful dame,  Elizabeth Devereaux, who also happens to have been a Marine.  Together, the two of them, in between the best sex of their lives, unravel the mystery, which involves a Senator, Chair of the  Armed Forces Committee, and his son, who happens to be a Captain on the base.  Reacher is caught between his code of conduct, following orders, and his sense of justice, as the military tries its best to cover up the sordid details.  Reacher arrives with a toothbrush, as usual, leaves without it this time. We get the feel for what it's like to live outside an Army base in a town which depends on the soldiers for their lively hood.  The town itself is a mixture of poor blacks, red necks, and the whites who own the businesses, mostly bars, a few diners, and that's it.  An easy read, typical Reacher, a bit more far fetched than usual, especially his destruction of SIX red necks at once, who happen to harass him.  As we all know, this is a big mistake.

Gray on Chautauqua Gray--- Again

This Morning at 8:02

One Year Ago: 1.25.2011

Pitch black as I get up at 6:10, mild outside, about 30 degrees, slight wind, snow melted, another gray mild sort of winter day ahead.  No snow forecast for the next few days, highs in the 30's, perhaps it will change this weekend.  I keep waiting for the wall to fall, a huge snow storm to make up for the past month but not yet, perhaps never (am I tempting the snow gods?).

Without snow, it seems like we have nothing to do.  When we have snow, we have to decide whether to cross country ski, snow shoe, or hike and where we want to go.  It's always something to look forward to but without snow, there's a sameness, a walk either at Bemus or the CI.  That's normal for much of the year, of course, but we look forward to winter just because it's not the usual walk.

Yesterday was typical, a quick visit to the dentist, then off to Wegman's for our weekly shopping, then home, to read and take it easy.  We missed our morning walk so we made ourselves go over to Bemus, take the lake walk despite a bitter wind; we felt righteous enough after that to hit the Seezuhr for a beer before heading home, to leftover spaghetti and my favorite, pan fried Brussels sprouts.  I think I could eat them every night.

We watched the State of the Union, enjoyed seeing the faces on both sides, as they either applauded or looked stone faced, depending on what Obama said, whether they thought a camera might be looking at them.  Why does Boehner always look like he needs a Tums?  I cannot say I was inspired...too many we are going to do this and not enough 'it's been done.'  So true for all Presidents I suppose but for some reason I was naive enough to think that Obama might actually be able to get some of the things he promised done.  I have to admit I cannot remember anything from Bush's eight State of the Union, nor any of Clinton, Bush I, or Reagan.  I guess that says something about the speeches.  They are like wish lists at Christmas but there's no Santa.  It's a sad state of affairs when I find myself, like many Americans, almost despising Congress, Democrat and Republican, their well fed faces, their phony laughs, their posturing as they sit back complacently and watch our country implode, a result of their polarity.

Cloudy, Mild, Chance of Snow Showers

Yesterday's Rainbow

Rainbow Over Bemus

Lake Melting From Bemus Lake Road

Another gray morning, up at 6:00, though surprisingly mild for this time of year, 34 degrees outside, and I head off to the dentist for an appointment at 8:15, to fill a small cavity.  Evie's coming along, to get a small procedure done as well and then we will head off to do our shopping in Lakewood before heading home.  I am not sure when we will get our walk in, perhaps after lunch or before dinner, but we need to do something each day for both our mental and physical health.  A lack of snow has thrown a wrench into our cross country skiing and snow shoeing.

We did take a long walk yesterday, along the Bemus lake road, three miles, one hour and it was pleasant enough as we avoided the rain; it was fairly mild, though walking back we faced the southerly wind that's so unusual for this time of year.  At least the road was clear, so we could walk easily, without fear of ice.  The weather all day was unusual, at times windy, the rainy, then clearing up in late afternoon, and enough sun to create a huge rainbow over the eastern sky around 5:00...amazing for this time of year.

Chillingsworth's pumpkin rolls

Evie spent a good part of the yesterday getting dinner ready for the Mc Clures and I went off to Tri James and picked up a couple of buckets of stones to fill in some of the pot holes in our Woodlawn Road, created by the water coming down off of Pine Hill Road.  For dinner, Evie made pumpkin rolls, which we first had some 46 years ago on our honeymoon on Cape Cod  We ate at a tres chic restaurant called Chillingsworth in Brewster, still functioning and famous, in a 300 year old building.  We loved it, the waiters and waitresses in 18th century dress, the ambiance, and the food... I think I had duck for the first time.  When I looked it up on Google, it was rated by some group as one of the top forty restaurants in the US.

French cut Rack of Pork

Besides the  pumpkin rolls, we had Turkish green beans or taze fasulya, with tomatoes and onions, squash and the center piece, a French cut rack of pork, done to perfection.  I cut it into huge chops and everyone loved it.  Ron and I both had a second chop, but the hit was the rolls, Ron having at least four, I had three.  For dessert, we had home made snicker doodles and watched an hour of the Republican debate, not the best way to digest a big meal.  They head home till mid February tomorrow.

Today is shopping day, as I mentioned, hopefully a good hike, then on to as new book, as I finished the latest Jack Reacher novel last night...what a guy.

Wet, Windy, Gray---The Worst of Winter

Wet and Gray at 8:00 AM

Sunday's Dusk: 5:45

Up late again, for me, about 7:20 to rain on the windows, 36 degrees, and a howling wind, coming from the south, unusual and the reason for this warming weather.  Today's the kind of day where you don't want to venture out and we won't.  We are having Ron and Linda over for dinner, French cut pork loin, have done our shopping already, so we will sit tight.  Evie will spend the day in the kitchen, getting dinner ready and I will help when necessary, usually to clean up the dishes, read, and perhaps we will even watch a movie today since it's so unattractive outside.  Today I wish I could go work out at the Turner gym but since I did not renew my membership, it's no longer possible, though I can go shoot hoops for free.  Perhaps that's what I will do if I get motivated.

Talkin, Walkin at the Chautauqua Institution

Yesterday, we had a great lunch at Ron and Linda's, spicy Mexican chicken soup, with avocados, ultimate nachos, and guacamole and of course, I made the Bloody Mary's, my only contribution.  We first walked at the CI, and it was a sunny morning though a bitter wind came from the south.  The roads were easy to walk on, more snow than ice, so we enjoyed it.  We stayed till about 1:30, then headed home for the football extravaganza, two playoff games, both won by mistakes, rather than by great plays.  Not much fun to win that way or to watch a team lose, but it happens.

We had one of my favorite dinners last night, chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, yum, and we did little the rest of day other than watch TV, get dinner ready, and read or play Words With Friends.  Evie is playing Mitch and according to Beth, he is very excited to be ahead.  I don't blame him.

We also talked to both the Albarrans and Tommy and family on Face Time as the girls, all of them, now know how to use their Itouches to call us.  Hayden, especially, loves to call and show us her room; she's totally unselfconscious on the phone, talks easily and it's hard to get off if you have something to do.  She just bought a miniature guinea pig, so she's been very excited about it.  It lives in a cage in her room, with a treadmill, about the size of a mouse, I would say.

A Bright Shining Day (Hiking Webb's Trail)

7:45 AM

Up at 7:30, later and later, to a clear sky, a beckoning sun, white snow covered lake and 17 degrees, a perfect day ahead of us, or so it seems.  The lake is frozen enough for some intrepid fishermen to venture forth, as I saw a few off of Long Point yesterday afternoon, albeit in what would be shallow waters.  I took a hike up and down Woodlawn and Victoria as well, to see what the lake was like.  Interestingly, where the streams feed into the lake, the lake was frozen over with ice, whereas the areas covered with snow were mushy though I assume beneath the slush was a few inches of ice.  Unfortunately, it is supposed to warm up some tomorrow, so we will continue to get the see saw effect of freeze, then thaw, then freeze.

Old Train Track Bridge

Paul and Nadine Webb Trail

We did cross country ski yesterday morning, on the Webb Trail.  It starts just beyond Webb's, just behind the ice cream stand called Boxcar Barney's.  It was a perfect trail to ski, a slight incline, mostly woods, and it went west over a mile, to Rt. 426, the road from Mayville to Sherman.  The going and coming took us an hour and a half, so we both got a good workout and I worked up quite a sweat.  The woods were lovely in their quietness, each bough snow covered, creating a spider web like vista of trees and snow covered branches.  Interestingly, snow mobiles are not yet allowed on the trails; they are maintained and groomed by the local Association, which does not allow snow mobiles on the trails until they are frozen enough to protect the trails from abuse because many of them go through private land and need the owners' acquiescence to pass through.  And, because of the winds, a crew of guys was on our trail looking for downed trees, as they would be a real hazard to some of the wild trail riders, especially at night.  I mentioned that the other day, when we skied through Long Point, a number of trees had fallen during the night, creating hazards for a snow mobile.  I can see the necessity of either having volunteers or the park management insure the safety of these trails, something which from what I hear, is increasingly being taken over by concerned citizens, as the Parks and Villages are running out of money.

Beth's Pasta

I took it easy the rest of the day. Evie, however, before we went skiing, put together the dough for our new favorite, black bread with coffee, molasses, and cocoa, let it rise while we skied, then baked it when we got home, later in the afternoon.  Later, she made a recipe that Beth composed with whatever she found in her pantry, aptly named Beth's Pantry Pasta.  It was easy and great, meatless with various dried mushrooms, capers,  and a spicy tomato sauce.

Black Bread Arising

GADFLY ALERT:   We watched with dismay the triumph of Gingrich over Romney, once again confirming my belief in the irrationality of the American voter.  Newt is serial hypocrite, a twice divorced family values man, disciplined for ethics accusations by the House, eventually forced to resign, has profited off the public cow(Fanny Mae) since leaving office. yet remains insufferably arrogant, full of himself, and condescending towards those who 'think otherwise.' If he could, he would, like most conservative Republicans (though none have the courage to say it), get rid of social security and medicare and welfare (all three examples of the best of the socialism they abhor).  If this is so, why are so many retirees or near retirees willing to vote against their self interest.  The excuse used to be for moral or ethical reasons (a candidate was pro life, for example, thus no matter how competent, they would vote against him).  But one cannot justify voting for Gingrich on moral or ethical beliefs unless you believe him when he 'asked God's forgiveness for his past indiscretions' and has become a new man.  Let me remind people, we don't change.  We do for a week, perhaps a month, perhaps six months, but we inevitably return to form.  The Gingrich we have now is not a new Newt; we are getting the old Newt just repackaged in gloss.

1Q84: HARUKI MURIKAMI

Nine hundred and twenty five pages later, I am now finished with my fourth Murikami book, his longest and perhaps his best.  I read the first half on my Kindle until my library card expired.  I read the last half on a hard copy, a huge tomb that makes you see the advantage of a Kindle.

Like all of Murikami's books, he combines Japanese culture and settings, with lots of allusions to Western culture, especially music and books.  And, also there's the element of magical realism, something that I am not crazy about but it's less obtrusive in this book or perhaps less essential to the story.

The story begins twenty five years ago, in grade school, when the school's prodigy, Tengo, steps in and defends the lonely, isolated born again Christian Aomame from her peers.  Later in the day, she waits for him, gazes in his eyes, holds his hand, then walks away.  That's the beginning, as they don't meet again for twenty five years though they never lose the memory of this moment.  The story really begins when both are thirty, Tengo a struggling writer and cram course teacher.  He gets offered the chance to rewrite a 17 year old girl's original story; he does reluctantly, and it eventually wins a Major prize.  Unfortunately, the young girl is a run away from a cult and the story unveils many secrets behind this  group.  Thus, Tengo gets drawn into the anger of the cult's leaders, who are searching for not only the writer but Tengo, who are responsible for this 'kiss and and tell.'

In a parallel story, Aomame has become a respected trainer at at a gym; she ends up befriending a wealthy dowager, who takes interest in Aomame, invites her to her home for training, but eventually Aomame becomes a surrogate daughter(her daughter committed suicide, a result of her husband's abuse).
The dowager begins taking in battered women, creates a shelter and eventually begins taking the step of punishing the abusive husbands, with Aomame's help.  Aomame ends up becoming a specialist in inserting a needles in the neck of the abusive, unsuspecting victims, killing them instantly, making it seem as if they had a heart attack.  Unfortunately, her final victim is the leader of the cult (who they suspect of abusing preadolescent females).  Before she kills him, he tells her he has been expecting her, wants to be put to death because he is in severe pain.  He also manifest strange powers, levitation as well as ability to see into the future, predicting for Aomame a few details that guide the rest of her life.  She puts him to death, at his request, flees to a safe house but the followers of the leader, unaware of his wish, pursue her for the rest of the story.  Much of the story is taken up with her thoughts, of her beginning search for Tengo, the boy who befriended her when she was about ten, the sense that will inevitably meet, that it's meant to be.  She mysteriously becomes pregnant(the night she puts the leader to death), and is  convinced that it's Tengo's child though they have not met since grade school.

Tengo meanwhile is watched by agents of the cult, unknowingly, as he harbors the young girl who wrote the expose.  The night of Aomame's meeting with the leader, Tengo is mounted by the young girl (the cult leader's daughter) and has sexual relations with her though there seems to be no desire for either partner.  Tengo ends up, during this time, visiting his dying father, spending days with him, reading though the father is unconscious, a kind of expiation for his neglect of him earlier in his life.  Slowly, the two parallel stories begin to merge, as their fates eventually become intertwined.  Tengo and Aomame managed to evade the cult and their surrogates, with the help of the dowager, leave the new world of 1Q84 and return to the normal world (this is the magical realism part I will not go into; it also includes two moons and little people that come out of people's mouths and seem to have evil powers that are countered by Aomame and Tengo).  Carrying Tengo's child, they escape to begin a new life together, living in the present, 1984.  The novel plays with the idea of fate, of connections, of the occult, of what's meant to  be and, of course, the love of two people. This combination of Japanese and Western culture, a good story, a bit of magic realism, interesting, original yet recognizable characters,  make Murikami unlike any other writer I have read.

Nineteen Degrees (Skiing at Campground

8:25

Friday at 2:30

A snow covered lake dominates the vista this morning, as I get up later and later, today after  7:00.  I am learning to go back to sleep after waking at 6:00 but don't know whether this is good or bad.  A light gray sky, with a hint of blue fills the horizon, no snow flurries predicted for today though it's going be cold, high in the low 20's, what looks like a perfect Saturday.

Skiing in the Campground

Yesterday, we tried to cross country ski on the lake, but the layer of slush beneath the snow made it impossible, as my skis froze, and I could get no glide.  And you could see a track of slush as I tried to ski.  I am sure beneath the slush, the ice is thick enough to hold me, as its been in the teens for a couple of days.  I did meet a fisherman down by the campground and he said the ice was four or five thick out about twenty yards.  Because the lake was not conducive to skiing, we decided to ski at the campground, a good choice, as the roads were groomed, no one was around, and we could bush whack, or head across virgin ground whenever we wanted.  We skied for at least an hour, working up a sweat despite the cold and Evie really enjoyed it, as she's beginning to get more confident on her skis.

Skiing in Campground

We had a really fun evening, going with Linda and Ron to the Southern Tier Brewery Pub for dinner.  We brought long Evie's homemade focaccia and Linda brought the fix ins, salami, ham, mustard and mayo.  We enjoyed a few Chautauqua brews, sat overlooking the huge vats of beer, in an otherwise crowded pub, which looks like something found in a ski resort out west, all wood and large beams, a neat looking place to drink beer.  You can even order of a jug of beer to go or drink, if you like.  It's open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.  It drew an interesting crowd of people, beer drinkers obviously, lots of guys in their 20's, some couples, a few tables of women, even a family with a child.  Everyone loved the bread, especially dipping it in the olive oil.  We were the only ones that had brought food and few seemed to be eating, though you could buy a pulled pork sandwich if you wanted.

Bill Ward at St. Susan Center in Jamestown

Around 7:30, we  drove to the St. Susan Center, in downtown Jamestown, a non profit group which functions as a soup kitchen for the needy and the center for Meals on Wheels.  They were putting on a benefit for the center.  For a ten dollar donation, you could two bowls of soup, a drink and a dessert, as well as live music, put on by folk music regulars Bill Ward and Amanda Barton, two musicians that are very popular in the area.  The center is in wonderfully renovated brick building on Water Street.  It used to be the General Hardware building, but now houses various non profit groups.  The center is basically large room, with tables, like a cafeteria, with a kitchen at one end. Most of the tables were filled with locals, I assume, certainly not the Jamestown cream.  Lots of guys with beards like me, mostly folk music fans, old hippies, young who love music, no blacks or Hispanics, which surprised me.  The center does an amazing job of feeding the needy, serving 95,000 meals last year.  We stayed till they closed, about 8:45, drove home on clear roads, and Ron and Linda came in for a night cap before heading home as the snow returned.

Evie's focaccia

We most have gotten two or three more inches last night, we we probably have a foot of snow in the yard at the moment.  Today, we have little on the agenda, perhaps making a soup, perhaps some cookies, I hope, as the snicker doodles are long gone.