Easily Pleased

7:05

9:15

It's 7:30 on another morning of haze/smoke the AQI of 162. The lake is starting to heat up for the 4th of July weekend, as a couple of ski boats were out already, hoping to beat the crowd and waves. It was a hazy/smoky paddle and I was out for forty minutes and I should have worn a mask. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Haze/Smoke

Yesterday was another normal day, the kind I like. I got in a good paddle, before breakfast in Bemus, came home and finished the blog, then drove to Lakewood for a Yin Yoga class. It was so crowded I almost didn't find a place. The mantra from Wednesday's class was " easily pleased" which I  would like to think fits me pretty well or at least it did once upon a time. After class, I stopped at Home Depot to pick up a couple of things then drove home. 

Evie was lounging in the side yard, enjoying the sun after mowing the front half of our yard. Lunch was her vegetable soup and a salami sandwich. I watched my series, then tried to nap but napping lately is not for me. I joined Evie in the side yard, read some,  and both of us were happy to just enjoy a sunny afternoon with a light breeze, the quiet before the weekenders arrive. Evie finished up the lawn and we then had a glass of wine on our front porch. Earlier, Evie had seared some pork ribs, added sauerkraut, and tomatoes, and put it in the oven for an hour.  Just before dinner, she mashed some potatoes and we had one of our favorite dinners, pork, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. Both of us had seconds, leaving just enough for my lunch today. And we binged on The Americans once again before going up to bed to read. I finally finished my book, The Covenant of Water, a slog at times, but I enjoyed it. It follows three generations in India. 

A Smoky, Hazy Sun Rise

6:10

7:37

It's 6:30 and I have been up for a half hour, on a 52º morning. The smoke or haze acts as a filter when I use my camera. It's 9:15 and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus after a glorious morning paddle on the lake. 

Kayak Morning

North

Heron Wading

Heron Perched

Yesterday was a good day all things considered. I got in a paddle before breakfast and then drove to Lakewood to a good yoga class, just five of us. It's usually a vigorous class but Tara took it easy on us so I was able to keep up although I was tired by the end of class. When I returned home, Evie had been her usual busy self, getting things ready for our kid's arrival next week. She takes one bedroom at a time and makes sure it is ready, whether it's just clean sheets and vacuuming or adding a mattress. It's the kind of thing that no one really notices but Evie. 

I had my sub and a bowl of soup for lunch, then took a brief nap before driving to Westfield for a doctor's appointment with my PA, a follow-up on my visit to the ER. We had a good talk and we agreed it might make sense to find a cardiologist closer to home than the one in Ohio. On my way home, I was a bad boy and stopped at Boxcar Barney's, and bought a chocolate malt for myself, a root beer float for Evie.  She was relaxing, having finished up what she wanted to get done. We both enjoyed our treats, then took it easy the rest of the afternoon. I got a phone call from my good friends, Joe and Mary Lou, both Ohio University graduates in 1965, so we go way back. They live in Oxford, Ohio, and we usually stop at their house for a night on our way West. It was good to talk with them. Like us, they have mucho grandchildren and can't wait to have a vacation with them, usually on the beach in South Carolina. We didn't even think about dinner until 7:00 because of our treats, delicious but filling. Around 7:30, Evie microwaved the leftover meatballs and pasta and that was our dinner we watched a couple more episodes of The Americans, which we are into again. 

A Smoky Haze Fills The Morning Sky

7:10

I woke to what I thought was an overcast morning until I saw the air quality alert, a high 165, and saw it was even worse in cities like Cleveland and Chicago, all a result of Canadian wildfires. I had a bad night, just four hours of sleep but I feel fine and will no doubt take a nap. It's just about 7:00 and I have been up since 6:00, in fact, I waited until 6:00 to get up, hoping I might fall asleep again but no luck. Despite the smoke and haze, I paddled for 50 minutes, down to Sandy Bottom and back along Woodlawn, one of two boats on the lake.

Kayak Morning

In The Haze

Morning Heron

It felt good to get back to normal yesterday, starting with a short paddle because of the rain but at least I got out there for a bit. Mondays are an open day, with no yoga, so there was nothing I had to do other than the obvious, a few dishes, making the bed, and perhaps getting something done outside. Like me, Evie had little mojo, no doubt suffering from spending a couple of days with me in the hospital. So we made no plans and took it easy much of the day. I got antsy, as usual, and drove off to the Lighthouse Grocery, saving Evie from having to go to Wegmans, and got lunch, a sub, and ground chuck for our meatball and pasta dinner. 

Lunch was Evie's soup and my chicken salad sub and I am back in Texas high school football, the storm and stress of teenagers. I then took a good nap, at least an hour, and then read some before deciding to get something done outside. I got out the hedge clippers and trimmed our privets which were starting to look unkempt and weed whacked some in the backyard, just to feel like I was doing something. Evie was inside making up meatballs and spaghetti sauce for our dinner. 

Dinner hit the spot as we both enjoyed our spaghetti and meatballs with a great salad. We watched three more episodes of The Americans, so we are back to it and ended the night with tin roofs, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce, and Spanish peanuts. Yum. 

Home

7:14

Well, it's great to be sitting in my living room, even if it's overcast and drizzling out.  It's 62º and the forecast suggests rain most of the day.  It's 9:25 as I finish this. I did get in a brief 25-minute paddle but had to cut it short because it began to pour. 

Kayak Morning

There's not much to say about yesterday's stay in the hospital. I saw the cardiologist around 8:00, just as I was starting to eat breakfast. He wanted me to get a cardioconversion Tuesday but I asked if I could just have it that day. Since I had not really started to eat or drink, he said I could if I didn't eat or drink anything the rest of the day. Evie arrived to sit with me around 9:00, driving through a thunderstorm on her way. We spent the day on our devices, or I was napping, nothing too exciting. The nurses were fine, always willing to help in any way they could. 

Around 3:00, I was taken down to the cardiology lab. They put ice packs on my back, then put me under for just five minutes as they zapped me with an electrical paddle, which put my heart back in rhythm. I was under so I felt nothing, just waking up wondering where I was for a moment. I liked both the nurse and cardiologist and they asked all about my life. This is the second or third time I have had a traveling nurse. 

They then took me back to my room where I ordered some food and drink and we waited to be released and allowed to go home. At about 5:00, we were on our way home to the lake. We were both hungry by 6:30 and Evie microwaved the leftover enchiladas from Sunday night, so we had a tasty and easy dinner. We watched a new series called The Split on Hulu, about a couple of divorce lawyers in Great Britain. We both went to bed early. 

Not Too Happy

View From My Hospital Window

It's just 10:00 and I am sitting comfortably in Erie, PA's, Hamot Hospital room, with a view of Lake Erie. I have been here since yesterday afternoon because of heart problems, afib, and tachycardia. So far, nothing seems to have helped so later in the afternoon, I get to be cardioverted, with the paddles, hoping to regulate my heart rhythm. Evie just arrived so the two of us will have a long day, waiting for my procedure then waiting to be discharged as long as things go well. 

The hospital and nurses have all been great. I can't say the hospital beds are very comfortable but hopefully, I will be home tonight. I did see a cardiologist this morning, thus the recommendation for cardioversion,  

Tomorrow, I hope to be writing this after a paddle and breakfast. 

A Quiet Sunday Morning On The Lake

6:06

6:59

It's 6:46, and it's either overcast, foggy, or hazy on a practically empty lake although at 6:00, I was awakened by a barrage of bass boats leaving the Long Point Marina. I am not sure where they have gone unless I dreamed it. I got in a brief paddle, mostly just floating in front of the docks, enjoying being on the lake.

Kayak Morning

Blue Northern Sky

Yesterday was not much of a day for me as I still don't feel right. I did manage to get in a paddle for 20 minutes, so I got some exercise. Besides that, however, I mostly sat around the house doing little other than reading, a few dishes, and watching TV, really boring. Evie, however, was busy and even took over the trip to the Transfer Station, with a car filled to overflowing with empty Amazon boxes. 

Lunch was soup and sandwiches and I watched a couple of episodes of Friday Night Lights since I had nothing else to do. I was able to nap but spent most of the afternoon on the couch reading my book, fortunately, a long one, The Covenant Of Water, set in India. At 4:00, Evie walked over to the Woodlawn right away for the first of our three annual meetings where business is discussed as well a a chance for neighbors to get see each other after a long winter. It's always fun.

Earlier in the day, Evie had put together the mixture for chicken enchiladas, so all she had to do was fill the tortillas and bake them,  We ate them covered with sauce and sour cream and we were happy once again to be enjoying dinner and watching our shows.

Not Much Fun

7:41

It's another overcast morning with predictions of rain like yesterday but if today's like yesterday, it probably won't rain, just threaten.  It's now 9:10 and I got in a short paddle, 30 minutes, mostly hugging the docks, scaring off herons. 

Kayak Morning

Yesterday was not a good day because I woke up in afib, an irregular heartbeat, a problem usually controlled by medicine. So I didn't do much although I was able to help Evie who was very busy and productive, deep cleaning our porch and kitchen while I was mostly idle, reading or walking outside and watching the tree guys take down three or four ash trees. They are amazing climbers and fearless.

By 3:00, we decided to go to the Emergency Room to see if they could help. We made the mistake of going to Westfield. When we walked in the computers were down and they had to send patients away although they wrote down my symptoms on a pad of paper. After a half hour, I saw a nurse who told me they don't really have any cardiology doctors so they couldn't do anything for me. So we drove 20 miles to Jamestown, to UPMC, and waited for forty-five minutes before being taken into a room and checked over by a great nurse and PA. Eventually, after blood tests and an X-ray, they gave me a drug intravenously, hoping it would help. Unfortunately, it did not do much good so I left, still in afib which is not unusual I guess for many patients. Hopefully, it will stop on its own in the next couple of days like it usually does.

To reward ourselves after a terrible day, we stopped at Burger King at 10:00 for Whoppers with fries and a root beer, took them home, and watched ER before bed. How appropriate. It was not a fun day. 

A Morning In Gray

6:55

An overcast morning, with a  gray lake and sky, and hardly any wind. We may get some rain over the next three days, at least that's the forecast. Let's hope it's correct because we need it. I decided to skip kayaking this morning because it just didn't look appetizing. 

Yesterday was a good morning, an easy afternoon, and a fun night. It started with a decent paddle early although I did not see any herons or osprey. I was home by 8:15 in time to finish writing the blog and drive off to Bemus for breakfast. I then had a Yin Yoga class at 10:00, always crowded, then hit Wegmans for the second or third time this week because Evie needed a few things for Saturday when we are having friends over for dinner. 

When I got home, Evie was making an egg salad sandwich for my lunch and heating up the pot of her vegetable soup, so lunch was scrumptious. I am into Friday Night Lights with no apologies. I like it. High school melodrama at its best. The rest of the afternoon was typical for me, reading, napping, and looking for something small to do. Evie, however, was busy, mowing the lawn, often in a light rain. I did some cleanup in the yard and took two loads of deadfall up the hill. It never ends. 

We were having dinner with friends from the old days at Stan and Carol's house in Chautauqua Shores. The three guys go way back, to the 1960's so we had lots of talk about, probably boring our wives. We do try to get together two or three times a year, often just for breakfast in Erie, an easy drive for both of us. 

Drinks And Appetizers Al Fresco

We were able to sit out on the patio for wine and appetizers before Stan grilled steaks and we ate inside, The steaks were done perfectly, and for sides, we had twice-baked potatoes and a great salad. It's always fun to get together and find out what's been going on with our kids and grandkids' lives. Our lives are often pretty routine and boring. We even called a mutual friend who lives in Hawaii, a friend of mine from junior high, and a buddy for John and Stan from their teaching days in Ohio. We couldn't believe it was 9:30 and we were still sitting at the dinner table. It was bedtime for all of us, so we headed up and yes, Evie went to bed but I stayed up until 10:30 watching TV, the NBA draft.

Good Friends, Old Friends

Overecast With A Chance Of Rain

5:34

It's just after 6:00, still overcast as all is gray, the lake, the sky on a 65º morning. I was up at 5:30 so I slept in, sort of, at least it is not 5:00. It's 7:20 and I was only out kayaking for 25 minutes because the southerly wind picked up and it started to drizzle, just enough to get me wet. It's 9:20 and I just returned from breakfast in Bemus at Lake Life which was actually busy for once. Summer people have arrived. 

Kayak Morning

Yesterday was a good day, as I got in a trifecta for the first time in weeks. The day started with a great paddle because I was able to photograph four different herons on my morning paddle. Maybe getting out on the lake as early as I did makes a difference. After kayaking, I had breakfast, finished up the blog, and drove to Lakewood for a fun yoga class. Because it was a small class of four, we were able to spend a good deal of time with legs up the wall, a favorite. After class, I stopped for coffee and talked with Dave for 20 minutes before stopping at both the bank and Wegmans for a few things. I think we hit Wegmans three or four times a week just because we like going there. I bought Evie a couple of treats, a couple of pounds of cherries, and some chips, both of her weaknesses. I finished up my sandwich and because I also bought corn at Wegmans, I microwaved an ear and it was delicious, almost as good as Chautauqua corn in late July and August. 

I am enjoying my new book, Abraham Verghese, The Covenant Of Water, set in India in the early 20th century. And, best of all, I was able to nap for once for a good forty-five minutes, waking refreshed and ready to go for a walk in the campground. I walked for forty-five minutes and it's fun to see how the campers have made their trailers look like home, with landscaping, garages, porches, and anything to make their experience better. 

Dinner With Old And New Friends

By 6:15, we were on our way to dinner with our friends, Judy and Fred, who spend their summers in Chautauqua, and their winters in Davidson, North Carolina. We usually get together every summer, either before or after the season, or both. They also invited friends who live in Lakewood and have been part of the Chautauqua Institution since the 1970s, Lee and Jennifer. As usual, the six of us found out how much we have in common, both people and places. It was a delightful night, with drinks and appetizers on their front porch, enjoying Judy's garden, and a salmon and two salad dinner in their house. We stayed till 9:45, ending the evening with an Evie selfie, vowing to see each other again before autumn. Evie watched some TV to end the night but I went up to bed to read and sleep, tired from my long day and exercise. 

A Four Great Blue Heron Morning

5:30

6:23

8:15

It's 6:30 as I start this, having been up for over an hour. The sun has risen, partially obscured by haze on a 60º morning. I have quickly perused Facebook, the NYTimes, and Washington Post, none of which have much of interest, just the same old thing. I hope to be out on the lake soon, dead calm, at the moment. It's just after 8:00 and I was out for a good hour, along Woodlawn, across to the Bathhouse, back to Sandy Bottom and home and I shot four herons in different areas, a good morning. 

Kayak Morning

Northern Sky

Campground Heron

Long Point

Osprey At Sandy Bottom

Heron Above The Reeds

Yesterday was not the best of days. I woke early, kayaked and planned on going to yoga but got a doctor's appointment in Westfield because of my annoying cough of the past four weeks. Of course, he's puzzled by it and gave a heavy dose of steroids to see if that might help. I hope so because I am fed up with coughing jags, off and on during the day. I picked up a sub on the way home at the Lighthouse, so I had an easy lunch. 

When I returned home, Evie was off shopping at Wegmans because it was 5% Tuesday. I had my sandwich and watched another episode of Friday Night Lights, then tried to nap but to no avail. Evie was home by 2:00 and we both relaxed.  Because of the heat and the ten minutes downpour, we had no desire to get outside and do anything and it was only June. What will August bring? At 3:30, I drove to Hawthorne Hill, my good friend Jack's home on 60 acres, high above Chautauqua Lake on the ridge. Four of us were getting together to have beers on a fine afternoon. We laughed and complained until 5:45 and then headed home, glad we were able to get together. 

Some Of The Guys

Amish Horses On Jack's Field

View Through The Pergola

Evie had dinner ready, the third night for our pasta with sweet Italian sausage and zucchini. Still good, but I am glad that's the end of it for a while. We watched our shows, of course, and are still stuck on ER for another couple of weeks as well as The Americans. 

More Haze, More Heat, Perhaps Some Rain

5:59

6:53

It's hard to tell what kind of a morning it is because of either the cloud cover or haze. I know it's much warmer than the past couple of days, already 62. A few boats are out fishing, and the lake is calm. We are still getting smoke from Canada which may be the cause of this morning's haze. I paddled for 50 minutes, down to Sandy Bottom, across to Long Point, and home along Woodlawn. It was calm going but the wind picked up coming back. 

Kayak Morning

Paddling North

A Great Blue Near Campground

Monday was an easy day really, as I had nothing on my plate I had to do, no yoga, no biking, just an early morning kayaking as usual. By 10:00, however, Evie had convinced me to get a shingles shot so I drove to Wegmans, did a little shopping, and waited 15 minutes to get my shot. I stopped at the bank, which was closed for the holiday but used the ATM. I also stopped at Evans for some libations, getting ready for the arrival of our family. 

I wasn't home until noon and was not very hungry so I had a strange lunch, tuna in the package on crackers, and ramen from Thailand which is terrible. I bought it at Costco thinking it would be tasty but it's not so I did not have much of a lunch. Since I got less than five hours of sleep Sunday night, I was hoping to take a good nap. Alas, I didn't and joined Evie in the yard and read. Our neighbors of fifty years have their house up for sale and we have been worried about who will end up buying it. Well, a couple stopped by yesterday afternoon, the new buyers, and we both really liked them, a family of four from Buffalo who basically will keep the house as is. They love it, and the cottage feel, so we are relieved knowing there will be no construction next door for a while. We were worried that someone might buy it and tear it down which happening to lake houses lately.

Around 5:00 I made myself a shandy, beer, and lemonade and sat on the front porch until I was driven in by smoke from nearby campfires. Combine that with the smoke from Canada and we kept our windows closed tight. Dinner was the leftover pasta with sausage and zucchini and it was just as good as Saturday night. In fact, we have enough left for tonight's dinner if we want. We watched our shows until 9:45 and went up to bed, hoping to get a good night's sleep. 

Haze In The Morning

8:34

It's 6:50 on another hazy morning. The lake is surprisingly empty at the moment except for a ski boat that just cruised by, our neighbors I assume. It's 55º, warmer than yesterday and may get into the high 70s later in the day. It's 9:15 and I was out for forty-five minutes, the typical paddle, always a good way to start my day. 

Great Blue Heron

Kayak Morning

Osprey, About To Take Off

Sunday began with early rising and then a long paddle, my usual routine. After breakfast and the blog, I thought I might go for a bike ride but Evie had other plans which was fine with me. First, I got out the ladder and cleaned the gutters, filled with sailors from the maple tree. Then, we both worked in the yard, weeding both the dahlias garden and perennial garden until the heat, only in the 70s sent us into the house. We were back out off and on and I also did some work in the garage, putting things away in the attic that we no longer need. Anyways, by the time we had finished, it was time for breakfast so Evie fried up some potatoes and eggs and we enjoyed them on the front porch. 

I would like to say we got busy in the afternoon but we didn't. Instead, we either read, napped, or sat in the yard, wasting a good day although we were happy. Around 4:00, Evie gave me a haircut in our side yard and then we both showered because we were heading to Linda and Ron's for dinner at 5:00.

The Usual Suspects

When we got there, the four of us went on a good hour cruise in their pontoon boat, along the shoreline to the Chautauqua Institution and back. It was a perfect day for a boat ride, nice and warm going, a light wind on the way home. We then relaxed on their new patio with wine and shrimp cocktail until Ron and I grabbed the ribeyes and grilled them for about ten minutes. We feasted on individual ribeyes, along with stuffed baked potatoes, a salad, and a creamy mushroom sauce for the steaks. It was better than our dinners at Brazils on Friday, making me wonder why we go out. We should just stay home and enjoy it others cooking although I don't think Evie and Linda would go for that idea. We were home by 9:15 and watched some TV before going to bed early, another good day.