Waking To A Lake Erie Dawn

Dinner With Our Ohio Family

Lake Erie at 6:40

It's 7:15 and I am sitting in my sister's house in Euclid, Ohio, as Lake Erie slowly becomes visible.  It looks like another gray, Chautauqua like day here on Lake Erie.  In past years, the lake might have been frozen by now but I doubt if it will freeze at all this year although since yesterday afternoon, global warming has been abolished.

Yesterday was a fun and exciting day for us, a road trip to Ohio.  We did not leave until 10:30, driving off in a downpour, not the best omen for a day in Cleveland.  The drive, however, was easy as the roads were practically devoid of traffic.  We left for Cleveland, leaving my brother in law behind, because he had to wait for the cable guy, alas, with one of those 1:00-4:00 windows which relegate you to your house for the afternoon.

West Side Market

Our first goal was to visit the West Side Market, one of my favorite spots to visit in Cleveland, in fact, a place I always took my English classes to each year.  It's changed dramatically, at least the area has, since I last visited in 2009.  The market has been modernized though it still retains the early 20th century vibe.  What's changed is the area, as it's slowly becoming gentrified as the old places, like the Middle Eastern Grocery Store is now a hip, cool beer bar and restaurant.  Some of the same places are still there, like the Greek deli where we able to get some Bulgarian kashkaval cheese.  The visit started, as always, with brats with sauerkraut from a stand that's been in the market for at least 50 years.  We then browsed at the small stands, mostly meats and ethic foods of all kinds.  We did not buy alot, some Italian bread for dinner, and later, lamb kidneys for this mornings breakfast.  As we walked outside the market, marveling at the all the chic new bistros, we ran into old high school friends from Euclid, enjoying a lunch out, Carl and Coletta.

Napoleons From Farkas Bakery

I wanted to see if my favorite Hungarian bakery was still in operation, making Napoleons.  And Farkas Bakery was still functioning under a new owner as Mr. Farkas had retired.  We bought four luscious Napoleons for dessert, then headed back to our car in a soft rain.

We then drove down Carnegie Avenue to University Circle, about 15 minutes, to the newly renovated Cleveland Art Museum.  It took eight years and cost 350 million dollars and it's magnificent.  Now, as we walk in the main entrance, we are greeted by a vast, 39,000 square foot, glass atrium, a bookstore and restaurant at one end.

Cleveland Art Museum's Atrium

Rodin

Portrait by Degas - ala "Trout"

It was shocking because this was our first time back since it was renovated.  It always was one of the great museums in the States but now it rivals many in the world.  We browsed for a couple of hours, enjoying the newly developed 'Pastels' section the most.  It was a perfect way to spend the day since nothing else much was going on.

Rodin And Me In New Gallery

We were home by 5:00, after driving through some of the old sections of Cleveland, specifically Bratenahl, where all the mansions still stand along the lake.  My sister Linda had made a couple of lasagnas for dinner and had invited some of her kids and grandchildren over for dinner, so we could see them.

Grandpa And Grandson

 So it was a fun night, great food, wine, and family, as we enjoyed appetizers before dinner, caught up on all the lives of the grandchildren, things like which colleges they were considering or what sport they were playing.  Everyone headed home by 9:00, and we then relaxed in the family room, ended our evening with a highball in honor or my parents who always enjoyed a late evening highball.

Today, we will head off around 10:00, stopping first at Trader Joe's on Chagrin Boulevard, picking up some of our favorite goodies, then meeting our good friend Vi at the Manhattan Deli in Mentor for lunch before driving back to the lake.

Modern American Woman

And finally, kudos to my nephew Pat and his daughter, Grace, a junior at Miami University.  They drove yesterday to Washington, D.C. to participate in today's Women's March, one of many across the US in support of women's rights.

A Road Trip To Cleveland's West Side Market And Art Museum

We Will Miss You And Your Family, Mr. President, Especially Your Dignity, Thoughtfulness, Optimism And Humanity

It may be a wet and gray morning but we are excited for a road trip to Cleveland, to visit my sister Linda and her husband Rich.  We hope to spend the day visiting Cleveland''s famous West Side Market to shop and have lunch, then spend the afternoon at the newly renovated Cleveland Art Museum. We then plan on going out for dinner, spending the night in Euclid and driving home Saturday.  We cannot wait to enjoy our day.

Still Fishing, Still Dry For Now

Yesterday was back to normal and it felt good.  We took it easy early since I did not have yoga until 10:00.  So I was off by 9:30, enjoyed a crowded class, stopped at Ryder's Cup for coffee and came home.  Evie meanwhile was struggling to get a phone message sent Wednesday night to us.  She had no luck and vowed to stop at the ATT store to see if they could help.  The reason we were so anxious to get the message was that our local Viking Club was having a drawing Wednesday at 7:30 and the pot was up to $11,000.  When she got to ATT, they were able to find her message and it was from the Viking Club.  And Evie's ticket was drawn, giving her a 1 out of 4 chance to then draw the Queen of Hearts and win the jackpot.  Alas, a two of spades was drawn, so the pot goes up another thousand dollars.  As my buddy Mac would say, close but no cigar.  Working out after that depressing news was not much fun but Evie managed five miles.

Evie did not  get home until close to 4:30 and I was binge watching a series called The Break, from Belgium, that I was really into and watched the last three episodes during the afternoon, something I never do but I wanted to find out who did it.  I highly recommend it.  Lots of twists and turns until you want to binge watch to the end.

Deer At Dusk

As we sat down to wine, six deer, a couple of babies pranced into our front yard and started chewing on the green of our privet.  We took photos for a couple of minutes then chased them off to someone else's yard I assume.

Dinner was good as Evie made up a broccoli and bacon and mayo salad, a favorite, to go along with some leftovers, eggplant parm and spaghetti and sliced roast beef for sandwiches.  We shared the leftovers and devoured the salad and were happy to have an easy dinner.  We watched a movie called The Ghost Writer and realized about half way through that we probably had seen it before.  This has been happening more and more! We then did some channel surfing until it was time to go to bed.

A Dawn Of Uncertainy, January 20, 2017

Spring Has Sprung

7:40

Another wet and gray morning to come although at the moment, I cannot see anything because it's still pitch black outside at 6:53.  All that's visible are the stationary lights on the opposite shore. Occasionally, a new light will appear and drive away, heading to work I assume. It's now 8:30 and a couple of brave souls are in the middle of the pond, fishing on thin ice.

Fishing Foolishness

Yesterday was not much of a day for either of us.  I did not go to yoga and Evie had grand intentions but stayed home as well.  I think the dreary days of January are getting to us.  Instead of snow, whiteness, cross country skiing or snow shoeing, we have green lawns, piles of dirty snow, woods empty of whiteness.  And the weather report for the next couple of weeks does not look good, just more warm temperatures and rain.

Tent Or Boat

So yesterday we did drive to Mayville to pick up a prescription, then stop at Tops to do some shopping since we were in the area.  We wondered why Mayville is not more of a hub of activity, rather than a town empty of good restaurants or shops.  It is not a destination for anyone unlike Westfield that has charm and a few good restaurants, wineries, and of course, Portage Pie.  Sad.

Lunch was leftovers, of course, the last of the cauliflower soup and Evie made me a hoagie with leftover eye of round and cheese, grilled briefly and then heated it up in the oven.  I was a happy guy.  I watched another episode of CASE, getting closer to the end and took a nice nap, falling asleep while reading my novel.  Each time I  take a nap, I must make Ariana Huffington proud, a passionate advocate of naps, the author of THE SLEEP REVOLUTION.  I guess I am on the cutting edge of nappers.

Amphitheater Rising

The afternoon went slowly since neither of us did much.  Our major action was to keep track of the couple of guys daring to walk out on to the precarious ice of the lake and fish.  We would check every hour to see if they were still visible.  Either they ignored the signs or are just plain crazy.  The Smith Library called around 3:00 to say I had a book arrive, so I drove there, picked up my book and then watched the guys at the Amphitheater put together one of the iron trusses for the roof.  Two mammoth cranes thrust their arms into the air.  They pick up a piece of iron, slowly bring it over to the guys, who settled it in place and begin bolting it together.  Eventually it will be built, then picked up and put in place, creating the roof of the building.  It's an interesting process to watch.

Despite our lack of activity, we relaxed with a glass of wine before Evie went in the kitchen and made dinner, homemade cole slaw, leftover cheesy cauliflower and a couple filets of breaded and fried haddock.  I made a tartar sauce, my contribution, and we had dinner.  We finished up the Amazon series GOLIATH.  It ended up being a pretty silly show, pretentious and overdone, with opera music as background whenever the evil lawyer, played by William Hurt appeared, usually in the dark and with a robe.  Too much.  Billy Bob Thornton's Golden Globe winning performance was the only reason for watching.  We then watched Stephen Colbert for the first time in a month and were surprised by how political, anti Trump, his show continues to be.  I wonder if all the night shows will ever get tired of making fun of Trump who certainly deserves it.  I know I am getting tired of it and look with dismay of four years of this.  If only he would stop his nasty, ignorant, narcissistic tweets, some governing might get done.  You don't do policy through tweets!  And the night time comedy shows might discover other clowns to satirize.

Quotation Of The Day: "The media scandal of 2016 isn't so much about what reporters failed to tell the American public; it's about what they did report on, and the fact that it didn't seem to matter." Susan Glasser, Brookings Institution

An Unseemly Morning In January

7:50

7:52

Melting Lake At 8:00

We were both up before 7:00 to what looks like another miserable winter morning.  It's 35º now and we expect snow showers or rain during the day.  The lake looks like it's melting, at least the surface has standing water and we for the first time in weeks, see nary a fisherman on the lake.  Perhaps the sign below was the cause.

Finally

Yesterday we got back in our busy mode; we were up and out of the house by 9:00, with Evie dropping me off at my mechanics, to pick up my Honda.  All it needed (supposedly) was a new battery, so I was able to drive it off to yoga.  Evie went to workout at 9:00, so both of us had a good morning, returning home feeling righteous.  Evie then decided to make up some mushroom barley soup too late for lunch, but I will have it the rest of the week.  For lunch, Evie put together an omelet with tomatoes and feta cheese, and we both shared it and watched some TV before I had to drive back to Jamestown, to the dentist, to get my teeth cleaned.  Leaving the office with a clean slate is like a reprieve from a possible prison sentence.  I hold my breath at the end of each cleaning, when the dentist gives me their opinion.

High Water/Ice at Long Point - Tuesday Noon

I was home just after 2:00 and had just forty five minutes to relax because we decided at lunch that, because of the rainy day, we would go to a movie Evie's sister Elaine highly recommended called HIDDEN FIGURES, about three African American women who had major roles in the 1960's Space Race.

It's a really enjoyable movie and important for young people, especially daughters, to see. This was still the time in America when blacks had separate facilities, discrimination was sanctioned by the courts, and women were still either secretaries, nurses or primary school teachers.  So these three women's rise in a white male world was momentous.  People cheered and clapped in Evie's sister's viewing, a few in ours because there were only 20 or 30 people.  It's a movie worth taking the whole family.

Ready For The Film

After the movie, we did a quick shopping at Wegman's, then on to Steener's Irish Pub in Greenhurst.  On Tuesdays, they have a special two for one menu.  I ordered the smothered ribeye with mushrooms and onions and Evie got the  eggplant parsmesan, so both meals cost us only eighteen dollars, a deal these days.  We also had a couple of brews, talked with the young bartender, a senior at Fredonia State,  and enjoyed out meals although Evie wished she had gotten a steak as well.

We were home by 7:30, surprisingly early considering we had been to a movie, shopping and eaten dinner.  So we settled into our TV room and watched a couple more episodes of GOLIATH on Amazon Prime, then House Hunters on HGTV before going up to bed.

Today we have nothing we have to do, just get in some yoga or a workout if we want.

A Dreary, Rainy, Gray Morning

7:40

8:12

It's' almost 8:00 and both Evie and I are up, as the lake slowly become visible, shades of gray.  A few fishing shacks are already out although the lake looks slick, wet, because of the warming morning, 37º at the moment.  I don't think we will be doing anything outdoors today.

Yesterday I skipped yoga for a doctor's appointment to see if I could do anything to get rid of my cough.  He had no answers, ordered a few tests, and I will just have to tough it out.  I feel good, just have this annoying cough.  C'est la vie.  It did ruin the morning for me, however, no yoga, no coffee or shopping.  When I got home, Evie, too was out of sorts, wanting to workout but not sure when she wanted to go.

So I had lunch, soup and wieners and beans and I watched another episode of CASE before falling asleep watching a replay of the KC/Pittsburgh football game.  When I woke, Evie was procrastinating, putting off her drive to the YMCA until it got to late to go.  A good choice, as she was enjoying herself, writing a few notecards, hanging out, doing little if anything until dinner time, a wasted day so to speak but delicious.  I was with her, doing little other than checking on my car which seems to have needed only a new battery.  I pick it up this morning.

We experimented with dinner, having bought an eye of the round roast, salted it and wrapped it in saran wrap on Sunday, leaving it to sit for 24 hours in the refrigerator.  Around 4:00, Evie seared it then put it in the oven for an hour until it reached a temperature of 112º, then turned the oven off and let it sit for another hour.  Meanwhile, I got out some potatoes, washed them, and Evie boiled them for mashed potatoes. Earlier, she had put together a cheesy cauliflower casserole.  So by 6:00, we were both hungry and had a great dinner, thinly sliced and delicious eye of round, gravy, mashed potatoes, cheesy cauliflower, and salad.  Why ever go out?  We then binged watched TV until 9:30, watching a couple episodes of GOLIATH on Amazon, Prime, then a new HOMELAND, and finally, Showtime's THE AFFAIR.  We were TV-ed out by 9:30, and I was ready to go upstairs and read my new book,  NEWS OF THE WORLD, a Western novel, set in Texas in 1879, reminding me of Larry McMurtry's great Western novel, LONESOME DOVE.

Another Dawn Of Mucho Photos

6:53

7:26

7:34

7:51

7:55

It's 7:30 and both Evie and I have been running outside to take another spectacular photo of the morning sky, one more impressive than the next.  And, we can hear the augurs, drilling holes in the lake, even the sound of guys walking out on the ice.   Twenty tents are already out, enjoying, like us, the fine morning.  It's a chilly 18º and may get up to 40º with a forecast of freezing rain,

Woodlawn/Victoria Snow Trails

Sunday was a fun day, a different kind of day for us.  It started out as usual, with a long coffee, enjoying the morning sky, relaxing and not worrying about getting things done, my kind of morning. Since we did not plan on walking around the Chautauqua Institution, our usual Sunday walk, I wanted some exercise, so I walked the loop in the Woodlawn/Victoria woods.  I was surprised by a crusty snow most of the way, so that I literally walked on top of it rather than sinking in as I walked.  It was good to feel the cold air in my lungs, the floor of the woods either brown with leaves, or white from the snow depending on the wind and the sun.

Victoria's Barren, Leaf Covered Woods

Nature's Ice Sculptor

When I got home, Evie was busy getting dolled up for our big afternoon at the Viking Club.  We were participating in our first Cornhole tournament which started at 1:00. The Viking bar was surprisingly crowded, probably because of the tournament with all the bar stools and tables full.  Fortunately, we found a seat in a corner.  There were twenty two teams and the club set up two sets of cornhole in the bar, two in the dining room.

The Games Begin

So the games started at 1:00 and did not finish until 5: 30.  So it was an afternoon of drinking beer, waiting to play, talking with friends, Doug and Dawn, Greg and Teresa from Magnolia, and later, Dana and Barb from Bemus.

Doug, Dawn, Jeff, our bartender, Greg and Teresa

Although we were the equal of most of the teams, we did not win, alas, but we were the only team to beat the eventual winners, two seventeen year old twins from Eisenhower High School in Pennsylvania.

The Winners With Their Grandparents

Their grandparents live in the area, entered them in the tournament and we got to know them as the games progressed.  It was a fun afternoon, longer than we thought because of a double elimination format.  I think we won four matches, lost two, so we did ok.  I could use as an excuse that the boards and bags were nothing like our bean bags and board but I won't.  It was a fun way to spend a Sunday, with lots of people cheering the players on, kibitzing, just enjoying the games.

Sunset From Viking Club

We had a 'healthy' afternoon of beer and popcorn, so we were both hungry when we got home.  Evie grilled some hot dogs, heated up the white beans, and made a salad and we devoured our dinner while watching the exciting Packer/Cowboys game.  We also watched the CBS Sunday Morning show, then some of the Chiefs/Steeler game before going up to bed at half time.  An unusual and fun Sunday.

A Clear And Cold Sunday Morning

7:09

7:23

7:55

8:21

9:06

It's just after 7:00, the sky a pink and light blue, as at least ten fishing tents are already out on the lake.  When I walked outside this morning, I was greeted by roar of a augur, drilling a hole in the lake and the sounds of the lake ice cracking.  I also heard it last night when I went out to take a photo of the full moon.  It echoes up and down the lake, unsettling I assume for the fishermen.  It's 9:50 as I finish this blog and it feels as if we have run through the gamut of possible morning skies in a couple of hours.

Our Saturdays are special even in retirement; we still think of them as a day off even though most days are 'days off.'  The snow has mostly disappeared, with only a few drifts left from the snow plow.  So we decided to get in a hike/walk and decided that Long Point would be a good choice.  So I first gathered out trash, fired up the Pilot, now no longer snowed in, and drove to the Transfer Station to get rid of trash and recyclables from the week.  We then put on a few layers because it was still chilly outside with a bitter wind at times and drove to the end of Lakeside Drive and parked.

Evie Redux

We were not sure what to expect as we hiked the park, so we wore our traks, to avoid slipping on ice.  I was surprised to see most of the trails were still snow covered and crunchy when we walked, making it safer and easier to walk.  We had our poles as well, for safety and physical reasons, as they work our arms along with our legs.  We walked out to the tip of Long Point and were surprised to see at least 25 tents out on Bemus Bay, just around the corner of Long Point if you are sitting on our front porch.  It looked like fun, and we saw some guys fooling around, skating, throwing things at each other, as others fell on their way out or were catching fish, a busy morning on the lake.

The Red Tent

Having Fun?

Done For The Day

We were out for over an hour, crunching a path in the snow before driving home.  I then had lunch, leftover pasta and meatballs and soup and Evie got ready to drive to the mall to get her hair trimmed, stopping at the Y, and do some shopping.   I ate and watched some basketball before the doorbell rang, and Mike, a good friend of ours stopped by for an hour.  He had been skiing in Ellicottville but the slopes had turned to ice, so he was heading home to Hudson.  He stayed for an hour, filling me in on what was happening in Hudson, in their lives and his upcoming 36 hour drive to Jackson Hole, where he and his wife Barb have rented a cabin for a month.  It's 15 miles from town and they will have a half mile cross country ski trip to their cabin, pulling a sled by the way, with all their food. Sounds like an adventure.

Evie returned home around 4:30, just as I started to watch the first of the four NFL football games this weekend, a viewing paradise for America's rabid football fans.  I can only take so much, so I watched for awhile, then read some before taking a shower and getting ready to go out to dinner with friends.

Enjoying Another Fine Meal At Brazil's in Westfield

We picked Linda and Ron up just after 6:00 and drove to Westfield, to Brazil's for dinner.  It was their last night to be open until St. Patrick's Day, so we were happy to be there.  The ambiance is part of the draw, as well as the friendly staff, the good food and of course, the variety of beers.  All of us enjoyed our meals.  I had the short ribs with mashed potatoes but I think it was more like a pot roast then short ribs.  Whatever, I enjoyed it.  Evie had the salmon, her favorite, so we both made good choices.  The restaurant was not overly crowded which surprised me but then, it's mid January and most restaurants find this to be a slow time which is why some close for a couple of months.  No doubt it's very difficult to make it as a restaurateur in this area unless you have a regular local following.  And even then, it's tough.

Groupie

We were home just after 9:00 and I watched, what else, more football before going up to be to finish Springsteen's BORN TO RUN.

We have an exciting day ahead of us as the Viking Club is having a Cornhole tournament at 1:00 and we are already signed up along with Doug and Dawn and excited to participate.  There's a ten dollar entrance fee and the money goes towards the childrens' playground.  We hope we are able to make the transition from our bean bag board and bags to the those of the Cornhole.  It should be fun.