updates

We have new credit cards 

    Our old ones expired.

    In the old days that was not a big  issue.  But now days, it is.

    We do a lot of donations, subscriptions, and regular payments on line, using our credit card.  So today, I spent most of my afternoon, well a lot of my afternoon.....ok, some of my afternoon trying to notify people of the change.

    Some were easy.  I called, talked to a human, and made the change.

    The worst one was Sirius.  I needed my radio number to make th exchange, or my account number.  I figured the radio number was easiest.  Go into the car, turn on the radio, hit 0 and get the number.  

    First off, I could not figure out how to hit 0.  I know, everyone in the world can figure that out but me.

    Next, I had to read the number and write it down.

    Well, let me tell you, that was no easy task!  I used a magnifying glass (thanks Darci) and wrote the first 4 numbers down and it shut off.  So I did it again, wrote the next 5 numbers down, and it shut off.  I finally got all the numbers written down, but it was a challenge.

    I went back into the Sirius website and entered my number only to find out my number does not exist.

    Back to the car.

    Checking the numbers what I wrote as a 3 was actually a B and my 5 was really an 8.

    Back inside, enter the numbers and ...... my number does not exist.

    Back to the car to double check and I discover I wrote one number down twice in the sequence.

    Go back inside , enter it again and voila!  Success!!

    That single change took probably half an hour, but it got done.

    Today we made refrigerator pickles.  

    I have a cucumber problem.  I let them go too long and they get huge and yellow.  I know I should go out every day and check, but I don't.  If I go out once a week it's a miracle.

    Jackie wanted to make 5 or 6 small jars, but we only. had 3 lids.  So I went to the store and bought lids.

    I boiled the lids today not realizing there were 2 difference sizes....one that fit our jars, one that did not.

    I bought the ones that did not.

    The next challenge was to find 3 jars for the new lids, sanitize them, and use those jars, which we did.

    It is really a challenge being me sometimes.

    If anyone wants giant, yellow cucumbers, come on over.

    Or if you are looking for some delicious tomatoes, I can help with that too.

Peace and Love

rabbit holes

 I can't control myself sometimes

    Ok, I can't control myself most of the. time.

    For example.  I was looking at FB today and clicked on the reels section at the top.  

    I watched a couple of floods, then a snow avalanche that seemingly buried the person filming it.  But I don't know what happened to the guy.  Did he survive?  Did they just recover his phone and discover his last words were, "Holy shit...I'm in trouble?"

    And then there are the people playing piano somewhere and someone asks them if they can play a certain song.  When they start, another person whips out an instrument, steps up to sing, or in some other way creates a magical musical moment.

    But I keep seeing the same guy playing the piano!  Is it possible that every time he sits down a magical musical moment happens?  (Notice the repeated use of alliteration.  It is the mark of a true genius.). Or is it all prearranged just to create a Tik Tok moment?

    I was also struck by a photo of the Falkirk Wheel in Scotland.

    I thought it was a fake, so I checked Wikipedia and by golly, it is real.

    The wheel connects two canals.  But the canals are a different height. The wheel opened in 2002 and is 79 feet up.  Boats enter the wheel at the bottom, using a basin constructed for the wheel.  The wheel then turns and lifts the boat up while lowering boats from the upper level at the same time.  The boats at the top enter through a man made canal.  This way the 2 natural canals can be linked.

    Google it.  You will be impressed.

    Finally, I found an article in the Trib that talked about Hobby Horse Championships.

    True.  People use the stick ponies and run obstacle courses, do jumps, and other tricks.  There are American champions and European champions.   Go figure.

    I was looking forward to a good football game tonight.  But to be honest, I think the Bears offense stinks.  They can't complete long passes, run the same failing wide receiver screens, and run the ball up the middle too much.

    It's going to be a long season.

    I guess I might have to pass on looking for Super Bowl tickets.

    Clever, huh?  Pass.  You'll laugh at some point.

Peace and Love

the end is here

This is the end of a hectic week for me 

    It seems there was a lot of stuff to do this week.  Pedicures, doctor appointments, guests for dinner, wine with friends, big trains, laundry, foundation meeting, museum meeting. first play meeting.......  just a lot of stuff to keep me busy.

    Tonight was Whose Live Anyway in DeKalb.

    This is basically Whose Line Is It. the popular improv tv show from years ago.  I love improv.  I love to be a part of an improv group, Exit 99, but we have not done a show in a loooong time.  Too long.

    So tonight we all went to see the Ryan Stiles led group perform at the Egyptian.

    Now, some people may think it folly to spend money on a seat at an improv show when one can't hear out of an ear.  I missed a lot of the dialogue, it's true.  But I heard a lot too.  I put off the sometime garbled sound as part of my hearing problem. but it turns out others had a hard time understanding the show because the words were garbled.  It wasn't just me!

    But I digress.

    I had a great time, saw a good show, and had a lot of laughs.

    It was a wonderful wayto end a hectic week.

Peace and Love

This creature was hanging out at Emily's when I went to let out the dogs

Cinderfella

 I tackled our kitchen floor again today

    If you don't know, it was covered in watermelon juice yesterday after a melon exploded on my counter.

    We Bona mopped it several times.

    Today I took some water, put a little Dawn in it.... like 4 drops....and got on my hands and knees to wash it.  Again.

    Well, it isn't sticky.  But it isn't slick either.  

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

    We took Jackie out to see Julia's house today and met the next door neighbor.  She seems very nice and explained some of the rules for the subdivision.  Julia has a copy of the covenants, but the lady just wanted to make sure Julia knew to look them over.

    I think they have a quiet hour, but I am not sure.

    That's not a bad idea.

    After 9 p.m., no loud noises, barking dogs, fireworks, screaming.

    But I would like to see some other covenants. 

    By the way, for those of you not sure, covenants are not enforceable by a city or township.  In Illinois they are only enforceable by residents of the subdivisions. If someone breaks a covenant, the subdivision association or a homeowner can sue, in civil court, to be sure the covenants are enforced.

    Covenants I would like to see include:

    No mowing day.  One day a week, decided by a vote each November, will be mower and leaf blower free.

    Wine day. Every Friday evening, from 6 to 7, a neighbor will host a wine or refreshment night in their driveway. ( I actually got that idea from Dan and Linda.  Their new residence has something like that and they really get to know their neighbors.  We met at Acres Bistro for a glass of red yesterday and spent over an hour catching up.  It was a lot of fun.  Theirs might be once a month though.  Digression over.)

    The subdivision will have names that reflect the area accurately.   We once lived on Mill Pond, but there was no mill or pond.  Our subdivision is Hickory Ridge, but finding a hickory tree takes a bit of looking once your get past the first road.  Emily lives in Cherry Hill.  No cherries and not much of a hill either.

    Across the road from us is Indian Creek.  No creek and certainly named prior to the PC emphasis in our country.

    So be honest.   Former Cornfield Estates.  Soy Bean Acres.  Crabgrass Acres.  Honest.  Real.

    Digression 2.  Julia is building in a wooded area.  There are 3 or 4 huge trees right next to her house.        They all hang over the house.  I don't know what kind of trees they are, but I looked at them and said, "I love threes....but these have to go."  With the severity of storms increasing, the likely hood that one or more of these trees will come crashing down on her house also increases.

    I think the builder has reached the same conclusion.  A crew is coming out to remove the ones hanging over the house.  It's a shame, but for safety sake it needs to be done.

    Hopefully she will get some firewood out of the removal.

    That's my covenant for tonight.

Peace and Love

Boom!

 We had 2 minor explosions at home this week

    No, do not fret.  We are not harmed.  The house is fine.  

    I bought a new toy at HyVee on Monday.

    It works on the same principle as the apple slicers.

    I also bought a watermelon Monday.  I told Julia I wanted her to take a video of me cutting the melon this afternoon.

    At 6:30 this morning, she woke me up and told me to come into the kitchen.

    Here is what I. found.

    I have never seen a watermelon explode!  For  some reason, this one did.  It was fine last night!

    After it exploded it seeped down he front of the cabinet and into the silverware drawer, the towel drawer, and the foil and wax paper drawer.

     And it covered half the kitchen floor.

    And it smelled.  A terrible smell that still lingers in the house.

    So, Julia and I started cleaning up.  I realized  the silverware had to be washed, the silverware divider tray had to be washed, and so did the towels and other linens in the second drawer.  The bottom drawer also had some juice, but not as much.  All we had to do was toss out some packaging.

    We mopped up the floor with rags.  While I cleaned out the drawers, Julia mopped the floor with our Bona cleaner.  Then she mopped them again.  Then she went to work and I mopped again.  And again.

    Meanwhile, 2 loads of laundry were done, one with the rags, the other with the soiled dish towels.

    The dishwasher had been started.

    The drawers were cleaned;  wiped down my Julia, waxed by me, and the fronts were wiped off and waxed.

    And I did the floor again, this time breaking the Bona mop.

    The floor still does not feel right.  It is not sticky, but it is not smooth either.  I think tomorrow I will get on my hands and knees and do it again.

    The other explosion happened Tuesday night.  Jackie and I were watching the Cubs game from bed.

    The Cubs' pitcher put a Dodger on base in the ninth inning.  The runner made it to third in a 6-3 ballgame, so he really didn't matter much.

    The batter was Max Muncy, who is a power hitter.  The pitcher got 2 pitches into the at bat and had a panic attack, grabbing his chest, bending down, breathing hard.  After the trainers checked him out, he threw a really bad pitch.  His next pitch was cranked in the air.  Everyone thought it was a home run.  Fans in the stands were reaching out to catch the ball.

    PCA, or Pete Crow Armstrong, came out of center field, leaped in the air like he was going for a dunk, and grabbed the ball right in front of a fans hands!  I gave a yell, followed by a loud "holy cow!"

    I told Jackie I was putting the W flag out right then, and clomped through the house, turned on the lights, and stepped outside.

    I found this.

    Only it wasn't on may chair, it was sitting right in front to the door.  So I said, "Hey little,buddy!  You can't sit here!  Don't you have a home?  You'll get squashed here."

    Julia came out of the bedroom and  asked, "What's wrong?  Who are you talking to?"

    I then explained the PCA catch.  She is not a baseball fan.  And I told her I was talking to a frog.

    She said, '"It's after midnight I was asleep.  I thought something was wrong. with all the yelling and stamping around."

    She went to bed, I went to bed.  I don't know where the frog went.

    Tomorrow I'm buying another watermelon.

Peace and Love 

sadness and hope

 I can still see the images on tv

    A jet hitting a tower.  Then another jet into the second tower.  Then the collapse.  And the Pentagon.  A field in Pennsylvania.

    The worry about friends and family living in NYC.  The tears as the death toll of civilians, fire fighters, EMTs, and police rose.  

    The horror of seeing bodies falling out of one tower, those seeking a faster death than the one they faced.

    The messages from people aboard a doomed jet to their families, friends, or loved ones as civilians fought terrorists and winning, willingly put the plane into a field.

    The feeling of unbelief  as it all unfolded.

    Students in my class would be in their early to mid 30s by now.  I doubt they will forget the days of fear and uncertainty that followed.  I know I never will.

    It changed our lives forever. 

    But it also showed an America that was united in the sorrow and in the anger.  

    We made flying safer.  We regulated what can be brought on board.  Changes were made to how security operated at airports. No fly lists were expanded.  We started taking off our shoes.

    I hope you took time to remember those whose lives ended that day, and those who lost family members, and those who developed cancers and other diseases because of their exposure to the dust and smoke.

    Let us never forget the heroes and the victims of that day.

Peace and Love

    

    

    

excuse me

I love to travel 

    I have been to places I had never dreamed of visiting because my daughter lived in Europe for 20 years.

    I went down a slide in an underground  salt mine in Salzburg, visited David in Florence, saw the Last Supper in Milan, visited Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and beloved Switzerland.

    I have walked Omaha Beach, visited the Verdun battlefield, riden in mountain gondolas, walked in Cinque Terra and sat in St. Marks square in Venice.

    Twice I biked through the Holland countryside. Once I hiked to the top of a mountain and stayed in a hut in Switzerland.  I sledded down a mountain in the summer in Switzerland.

    Last year I went to London and Liverpool, and Switzerland.

    If I could, I would go someplace tomorrow.  But life changes.

    And if Julia didn't live in Switzerland, there is a 95 percent chance I would never have gone to Europe.  I am fortunate.

    I have been reading a lot about tourists and how they are overwhelming towns.  Even some cities in Alaska are looking at ways to minimize the number of tourists visiting.

    Earlier this year residents of Barcelona, armed with water pistols, squirted people they suspected of being tourists.  Venice is charging a  fee to visit.  Today I read that Austria has more visitors per resident than any other country, and it causes problems.

    Traffic.  Litter.  Crowd congestion. Inflated prices.  Shortages of available affordable housing for the locals.  All these seem to be complaints about tourism.

    I am glad I went when I did, because that was not as much of a concern as it is now.  Seems since Covid people have begun to travel more and farther.  And the cruise ships have gotten larger and larger.

    Even Rochelle faced some problems Sunday, when an estimated 60,000...... yes, 60,000!  people came to see The Big Boy steam engine.  Roads were packed, the tollway had cars lined up for miles on the shoulders as they inched toward the entrance ramps.  Back ups on 251 extended for miles.

    Getting across town was a nightmare.

    And when I tried to order a Starbucks, my drink was sold out!  That has never happened!!  It wasn't even pumpkin, just a plain vanilla latte.  Imagine.

    I wonder if the stores that stayed open on Sunday benefited from all the people.  I certainly hope so.  I especially hope someone bought my box of train stuff at Pickin Station.

    But I think a lot of Rochelle residents were glad this happens once every 4 or 5 years.  I can't imagine what it would be like more frequently.

    Go Cubs.  Go ,la!

Peace and Love

    

hurting hammies

Today I paid the price for my long walk 

    My hamstrings are killing me.  Figuratively, not literally.

    But they did cause a bit of a problem today.

    Jackie and I had our toe nails done.  I move her from her wheelchair to the salon chair, which is about 4 inches higher than the wheel chair.

    I have never had a problem doing this.  But, and here's the big butt, I never waked 97 miles in 110 degree heat the day before either.

    So I picked her up, and my right hamstring went "twang".  I think it was a high C, or maybe that was me screaming.

    Anyway, she went back into the wheel chair...barely.  Salon staff then helped and we got her into the chair.

    Getting out of the chair is easy because it is a drop down.  A little painful, but easy.

    So....I think it is time I start looking for someone to give in home pedicures.  Now, I might continue to go, but I am not sure about moving Jackie.

    We have briefly talked about buying a second car for me to just run around in.  

    Briefly goes like this.

    Me.  I think I should get a smaller car when Julia leaves just to drive around.

    Her. No

    That's about as brief as it can get.

    But I saw a new electric vehicle called a Spectre.....which might also be the name of the criminal circuit in some James Bond books I am reading.If so, I think it is a bad choice for a name.

    Major digression:  I am on Thunderball, which I think is the 7th in Ian Fleming's series.  Bond has only said he wanted his martini "shaken, not stirred" one time, and that was when he was a prisoner on Dr. No's island.

    Any way, the Spectre, if I have the name right, is a top of the line EV will all the bells and whistles.  I think it goes 500 miles without a charge, which is great.  That would allow me to drive around town a lot between churches.

    Rolls Royce makes it and the starting price is only $400,000.  But the model that was tested listed at $560,100.

    For one car.  

    If a person can afford to pay half a million dollars for a car, they can pay an addition 20 percent in income taxes.

    Just saying.

Peace and Love

Mr. Mistake

I was a bloody fool today 

    I know, some of you are snickering and saying, "Today?"  

    But I did something stupid.

    Those of you who know me understand that I tend to act rashly, spur of the moment, off the cuff.  I don't always plan things out, believing spontaneous actions are quite fun.

I went to see The Big Boy today.  That is the gigantic UP steam powered engine currently on tour.

    I wanted to go as early as possible.  So I left the house even before the Bear game started.  Instead of going thru town, where traffic was impossible, I went the back door. I got to Brush Grove Road and headed to the parking area.

    Here was my first surprise.

    This was approaching the facility from the west.  At this time, which was about 11:40.  Instead of pulling into the parking lot, I decided to follow what others were doing and park on Brush Grove Road and walk the rest of the way. 

    I got out of my car right after the Bears first possession and walked.  And walked.   And walked.  It took me 40 minutes to actually get to the rear of the train.

    Now, I am a 7 f-in 6 year old man who has had an issue with balance for the past 4 weeks.  I did not bring water, sunscreen, or anything that would have helped me.

    I even texted Julia and told her if she doesn't hear from me again, check the local hospital.

    But I got to see the train up close.  It is truly impressive.  It's too bad the cars were not open for viewing, but I can understand why.

    UP was passing out little bottles of water, so I grabbed 2 for the walk back.  I was dreading that.

    I also found a seat under a tent and sat for a few minutes. 

    As I started back I noticed a 6 passenger golf cart with 3 people on it.  Turns out it was a shuttle to the entrance to the parking lot, which cut my walk back to the car down by about 15 minutes. 

    As I was walking I noticed people my age were also parking on the road and walking to the train.  I pondered yelling, "Don't go...get in your car...save yourself," but hey would have put all that on the ravings of a deranged lunatic.

    It was hot.  And sunny.  At one point I saw camels.  Or elephants, they seemed to look the same.

    I got back to the van.  Well, I got back to a van that looked like ours but wasn't.  So I continued walking and was shocked at how far people had parked.  Farther than me!  They might have been in another zip code!

    I posted a video of the cars parked as I drove home.

    Then I had to pick up the hoses because my young man was coming to mow.  I went to let Emily's dogs out because she worked today.  After the dogs, I decided to drive into town for an iced vanilla half can latte but when I tried to order on line I got he message that it was sold out at the Rochelle Starbucks.

    Sold out!!!

    Julia's friend said traffic on I-88, the tollway, was backed up from 251 to I 39 because of cars getting off to go see the train.

    People had said 30,000 would be here to see The Big Boy, but I bet there was more than that.

    I managed to watch about 2 minutes of the Bears game.

    While I was letting out the dogs, Julia was making a salad and cookies for us to take to the block party.

    That was a lot of fun.  Met some new neighbors, visited with some I knew.  But again, I sat on the outside and did not mingle very much, although I did go talk to 2 new people.  That is a giant step for someone like me.

Peace and Love

Holy cow

 Today was.a pretty historic c day

    NIU beat Notre Dame in football.  At. Notre Dame!

    I watched/heard 3/4 of the game and every time ND got the ball, I figured it was going to be over soon.  But that never happened.

    Years ago, when Northern was first starting to step up, I watched the Huskies beat....Bowling Green?  Kent State?  Friend David from Maryland was there, and if I remember it was cold and rainy.  It might have even been homecoming.  It was the first time NIU beat a MAC school. 

    That was exciting, but does not compare to the ND win.

    To be truthful, I told someone it was being like lambs being led to slaughter and wondered why they would agree to play a football powerhouse on. their turf.  Boy, was I wrong.

    Jackie felt better tonight, so we went to see Godspell.  The VCCT folks did a great job with the show. 

    Of course, I could not hear the dialogue very well, and some of the singers were hard for me to get, but I enjoyed the show.  I just do not like listening to things in mono. 

    My frog friend is not by the light tonight.  I guess it is too cold for him.  The temp on the car read 52.  I guess Autumn is coming.

    I still have trouble sleeping.

    Last night I went back to my comfort blanket, the one I have been using for the past year or so.

    I got so hot, I was sweating.

    So I got up and used my cooling blanket.

    After a few minutes I was very cold, so I got my third blanket, the sleeping bag insert.  I also took a sleeping aid at about 2:30.  That always seems to be the magical time for me.  I get up to pee, get a drink, grill a steak, pee again, at 2:30.  I think I have an alarm in my head.

    Beth sleeps in Julia's bed.

    I can't remember if it was last night or the night before.

    I was wondering the house, then went back to bed and Beth started barking insanely!  The neighbors to our west had their motion detector light on in the back, and I think Beth detected a deer.  I took her out and she sniffed like crazy around the yard.

    After she went back to Julia's bed, I went to bed and Beth whined and whined until Julia took her out....on a leash, just in case.

    That dog must have a great sense of smell.

    Tomorrow will be a busy, busy day for me.  I wonder if I will do all I want to do.

    Time will tell.

Peace and Love

I miss 2016

 I loved seeing Anthony Rizzo again

    Yes, he is now wearing a Yankees uniform, but I love what he did for the Cubs and for Chicago.  He was/is a great person.

    Funny, last night when I was folding my laundry, I turned on the TV and Marquee sports had the 2016 NLCS final game.  The Cubs were ahead 5-0, it was the top of the eighth and I sat down and watched it while folding.

    Now folks, we all know how the story ends.

    But it was great seeing it again.

    Chapman got the Dodger batter to hit into a double play:  Russell to Baez to Rizzo and the Cubs were advancing to the World Series.

    To see the faces of the players, team personnel, fans....some with tears streaming down their faces, well, it was a bittersweet moment.

    My mother was a Cub fan and never saw them win a World Series.  She may have read about  the 1945 Series, but I know she did not go or watch it on TV, which was not common yet.  Maybe she listened on the radio, but she was raising 2 boys and might not have had time.

    I loved Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billie Williams, Ryno, the Hawk, Grace, Ramariz and a bunch of other greats who I could name but not spell.

    But the 2016 Cubs..... I loved every one of them. 

    The window closed too soon.  Russell was charged with domestic violence, Schwarber  was let go to save money, Rizzo and Baez traded for future stars  Some retired, like Zobrist.  Some are still playing, Soler, Schwarber, Rizzo, Chapman, CJ (I think)  and when they are not hurt, Bryant and Baez.

    I hope they realize how much excitement they brought into our lives during that incredible season.

    I watched the Rizzo tribute today and thought he would choke up.  I did.  Then the standing ovation his first at bat.  Fans still love him.

    I had a couple of missed opportunities today.

    I should have gone to the game.  I would have had to plan. that months in advance, but it would have been cool to see him.

    I should have checked to see when the Big Boy steam train was coming into Rochelle.  A couple of FB friends posted pictures and videos of it moving through the countryside west of Rochelle.

    We bought tickets to see Godspell tonight, but MS has a funny way of making people not feeling well enough to go places.  That happened tonight.  So I am sitting home and going to watch......the Packers in Brazil.

    When we tuned it in on Peacock it was available in 2 languages:  Spanish and Portuguese.  I found the Spanish version weird because Brazil speaks Portuguese.  But we found the English version on You Tube.

    Go figure.

Peace and Love

ho hum

 Just another day in paradise

    I did manage a short nap.  I emphasize the word short.

    We have a cleaning lady who comes every other week.  So today while she was here I tried to grab a nap on my front porch chair.  

    I have a hard time, again, getting to sleep at night.   Too many thoughts running thru my head.  Like, the word thru.  It can also be spelled through.  The publisher of the Tribune back in the 20s insisted on thru because it was easier for the reader and type setters. I can imagine him pushing tho for though.  But I digress.

    I took a couple of items down to Pickin Station.  Linda and I no longer have a booth, but we can leave items on consignment.  I had some train related stuff, and since the Big Boy is going to be in town, large crowds are expected.  I hope some of them visit a lot of our stores.  I hope someone buys my stuff foo.

    For those of you who don't know, Big Boy is a steam driven engine.  A huge steam driven engine.  It tours the country for the Union Pacific and draws huge crowds of train enthusiasts.  Our public viewing day is Sunday out at the intra modal facility. (Or inter modal.....I don't know and I don't care.)

    Several people have told me crowds of up to 30,000 are expected. 

    I missed it the last time it stopped in Rochelle.  Jackie and I were visiting Julia in Switzerland, and I think Emily went down to take pictures but the place was packed.  Hopefully viewing will be easier this year.

    I also stopped at Cypress House for a decaf Dark Side of the Moon.  I am having trouble handling caffeine.  I had some iced tea yesterday and tossed and turned until all hours.  Hopefully tonight will be better.

    Big change a comin' in our weather!!  Just hope it rains.

Peace and Love

soaked

 Well, that was an interesting experience

    I was outside moving some hoses when friend John called.  We had a nice chat, as we always do.

    After I hung up I hooked up the hoses to my timer, planning on watering the 2 new pine trees.

    I also had to water the plants on the front porch.  About Sept. 1, sometimes much earlier, I sort of lose interest in the plants out there.  But they still look good despite my neglect.

    I dragged the hose to the porch, turned on the water, and proceeded to water the plants.

    Here's where it gets weird and not a JD Vance weird either.

    I guess I did not have my belt in the right loop, because my pants started to slip down.  Then they started to fall down.

    Not wanting to be reported as an exhibitionist, I quickly grabbed the pants  with the hand holding the hose.  I got soaked.  And the water was cold.

    Oh well.  Could have been worse.

    I hung my bike up today.  I had hoped to ride 300 miles this summer.  But that was May.  By the time June came around, I had hoped to get 200 miles in before the end of October.  But it got hot.  My hearing went, and with it my sense of balance.  I did not want to risk a broken bone by falling off the bike.

    So my total for the year was......2 . 2 miles.  I did not even break a sweat.

    There is a little girl across the street who always says hello to me.  "Hi Terry," she will yell.

    One day she yelled, "Terry we have magnets in our garbage can.  Come see."

    So I did.  But they were not magnets.

    I think when we put dog poop in the garbage cans, flies like it.  And flies produce magnets.

    I took my garbage out last night.  It was full of magnets.

    Tomorrow I will wash it and toss in a little bleach to deter magnets from returning.

Peace and Love

song lyrics

I have had a couple of songs stuck in my head 

    I can understand "The Nanny" being there because Jackie watches it at night when we are in bed. 

    I am cleared up on a couple of things.  I thought  the nanny worked in a barber shop, but it was a bridal shop.

    Ok, I am cleared up on one thing.

    I have also had "When the moonlight turns to June light I'll be on my way."  I believe Paul McCartney wrote that during his infatuation with Buddy Holly and the Crickets.  And If I remember correctly, which is always suspect, John Lennon hated the song because of its simple lyrics.  June light?  C'mon.  But it was early in the lads' career.

    For 2 days now I have been singing, softly to myself or in my head, "raspberries, strawberries the good wine we brew....here's to the girls with the golden curls, the ones we drink them to."

    I don't know why.  I have it in my head.

    So I Googled it. 

    The Kingston Trio recorded the song back in the 60s.  I loved the Trio.  Listened to all their albums when I was a teen and interested in folk music.  I know, they were not actually folk singers, but their songs were pretty neat.

    Who can forget "Charlie and the MTA?"  Or "hang down your head tom Dooley?" or "They Call the Wind Mariah."

    But the funny part is I remember the words differently.  They actually sing, "raspberries, strawberries the good wine we brew, here's to the girls in the countryside, the ones we drink them to."

    Where did I get the golden curls?

    Oh well.

    Another disappointing game for the Cubs.  As I type this, it is 5-0 in the ninth.  The Cubs were 3 games away from the last wild card spot and 2 losses in a row will not help that.  Guess I am waiting till next year, again.

Peace and Love

Labored day

 I had a great day today

    Emily, Sheri and I went to the Ren Faire today in Bristol, WI.

    This was the last day for the faire.  I have not been since pre Covid times and I really appreciated going today.

    I walked a lot, ran out of steam, laughed, ate, and had a great time.

    So..... instead of words, pictures.

Peace and Love

The Queen

I loved her eyes

Scooby Doo and who?

She was really enjoying the ice cream

Mother Goose was there

MoonIe is always a hit.  He told me before the show this was his last performance on the rope.  35 years is long enough, he said.

Sometimes getting up on the rope can be a problem

He tossed the hat up from his foot and balanced it on his nose!

This is an insult game.  Object is to hit the man with a tomato.  This thrower managed to score a hit and earned lots of insults.

Care to throw a knife?

Or scale a wall?

Turkey legs are the best!!

My hero!

beans, baby, beans

 I finally picked beans today

    But we did not finish the job.

    I just remembered I picked them.  Now they have to be trimmed, blanched and frozen.  Since it is after 8, that ain't about to happen!

    I guess I will put them in a container and stick them in the fridge until Tuesday.

    Tomorrow I am going to Bristol WI for the Ren Faire.

    This will be the first time in about 5 years I have gone and I'm looking forward to it.  We have a caretaker coming in for Jackie, which makes my mind a little easier.

    And what is totally me, I told Jackie we would do beans Monday.  She reminded me I would be gone.  Later on I told her I would do something else Monday.  Again, she reminded me I was going to be gone.  Getting old can be a pain.

    I wanted to go to see the VCCT production of "Godspell" but since it is a musical, and I am deaf in one ear, I figured that would be too frustrating for me.  So I picked beans.

    The Trib had an article about a mansion that just sold in Chicago for 14. 5 million.  The owners had paid 12 million for the 8 city lots the house sits on so they could demolish t he houses and build their mansion.  It has 6 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms and is somewhere between 15,000 and 25,,000 square feet. Some parts of the place are still unfinished.

    It had been listed for 50 mil, then 45, then 25 and it sold for 14.5.

    I can't comprehend paying that much for a house.  Or paying $324,000 in property taxes.

    When I read about such extravagance I think that the very rich should be paying more in taxes, and less for housing.

    And that's my opinion.

Peace and Love

This little guys sits by my garage fixture every night and catches bugs.