39 Degrees---The Big Thaw---For A Day

7:20

Kayaks---Ready For Spring

It's after 8:00 and I have been up for an hour, a surprisingly warm morning, as the the gutters are beginning to drip as the ice thaws.  Lots of guys are out fishing; I count fifteen as one drags his sled in for the morning.  There's a bit of rouge over the tree line but the sky is mostly gray towards Bemus, stormy like towards the north.  I am not sure what today will bring because of the thaw, perhaps a walk, some skiing, or just spending the day inside, watching football for almost the last day of the year.

Saturday Morning Activities 

Yesterday morning was very cold, 35 degrees colder than this morning  at 4º.  I had to chip the ice off of our car before driving off to yoga at 8:40, a car frigid, a heater straining to warm up the seats. Yoga is called Mixed Yoga on Saturdays, which means all levels, from beginners to experienced are welcome.  Once again, a couple of new women were signing up, seemingly ready to become regulars, a good sign for the new studio.  I decided to forego a coffee, came straight up, and Evie had the trash ready for me to take to the Transfer Station.  Man, it was cold when I dropped our trash off.  I don't envy those guys, braving the cold, for hours on a Saturday morning.

When I came home, we had gotten an email from our good friends, the Cassells in Hudson, saying there were on their way to Holiday Valley mid afternoon, and wondered if we were available for an early dinner.  We had no plans so we said yes, giving our afternoon some shape.  Lunch was easy, cauliflower soup and a bagel with cream cheese.  Neither one of us felt much like doing anything, like skiing or hiking, so we settled back and spent the afternoon reading or watching some basketball.

Barb and Mike Cassell

The Cassells stopped by around 4:30, and we relaxed in our living room, catching up on all the gossip from Hudson, and the goings on here at the lake and Jamestown.  Barb grew up in Jamestown so she is really interested in the changes that seem to be going on in downtown Jamestown.  We decided to go to Guppy's, across the lake in Maple Springs and we were lucky to get a seat, as the parking lot was filled with snowmobiles and cars at 5:30.  For some reason, the restaurant was filled and the outdoor area, now enclosed, was also filled with snowmobilers in their snow suits, enjoying beers and food. Fortunately,  the two tables in the bar were empty, where we like to sit, so we  were able to get seats despite the crowd. The Cassells had never been to Guppy's but really liked it, the ambiance, the food, the draft beers, the busyness of the place.  I had pizza and Evie and Barb loved their fish tacos. So it was a fun evening with old friends.  Barb and Mike are good about stopping by a couple times a year when they drive this way.

We were home by 7:30 because of the early dinner, ready for the an episode of Parenthood, then Bill Maher's Real Time before going to bed. I'm starting a new novel, a Harry Bosch thriller by Michael Connelly.  Let's hope he has not lost his touch.