busy day

 This was one heck of a day

    We had a helper in the morning, and our cleaning person from 11-2.

    At 2 I went to the chiropractor, got a coffee at Cypress House, and was drenched by the rain.

    I got home about 2:55 and told Jackie I was going to enjoy my coffee but she reminded me I had a blood draw at 3:40 in DeKalb and a vet appointment with Beth at 4.  I honestly thought I had an hour!  I need to learn how to tell time.

    Got to the blood draw about 10 minutes late, the vet appointment 5 minutes late and headed to a grocery store in DeKalb.

    Beth is in great shape.  She is 25 pounds, which is 1 pound more than last year.  I wish I could say that about myself.

    I did have to apologize to the vet tech.      

    They wanted a poop sample from Beth.  I took her out for a walk between rains and she dropped a load.  A normal person would put some of it in a sealable snack bag.  But I only had the snack bag, so I put the whole mess into the bag and sealed it.

    I tell you, that dog has the stinkiest shit I have ever smelled.  I even put that bag into another bag, but the smell in the car was overpowering.

    I told the tech she might need gloves and a mask.  I don't think she believed me.

    At the store I bought some meat on sale, along with some cola and headed home.

    We had rain most of the day and the sky was still a little dark.

    I stopped to take a picture of clouds and then headed home again.

    At about 5:45 my phone rings and Jan from the museum said, "You are coming to the Chamber dinner, aren't you?"

    Well hell.  I forgot.  Dinner was to be served at 6:15, so I went into the house, asked Jack if she remembered I was going to the Chamber dinner, and started to get her supper, and Beth's supper.

    Left the house at about 6:10 for the 15 minute drive.  Not too bad, I would only be a few minutes late for dinner.  But Jan was saving me a place.

    I was on the south side of Rochelle when my radio made the strangest noise.    Then my phone rang.  And thecdty's  tornado sirens went off.

    I pulled into a gas station and Jackie said we were under a tornado warning.    I turned around, called the wrong Jan, and headed home.

    By. the time I got home the storm had passed.....thankfully without any problems.  We did get some rain, pea sized hail, and some strong winds, but nothing destructive.

    By now it was 6:40.  I t thought of heading back to the dinner, but the sky just did not look right.  So I stayed home.

    I am even wearing pants!  Not jeans!!  Real "hey I'm an adult" clothing.

    It's almost 9 and the majority of the storms have passed.  

    Lots of rain.  My porch is full of worms.  The retention pond behind our house has water in it and I think there is more rain coming.

    But we are all ok, and that is the important thing.

Peace and Love

    Especially peace

ouch...my turn

 I hit a deer today

    I went to Julia's and decided to drive back roads back home.

    One of the roads was gravel.  I had never been on it, but I knew where it connected to another road that was paved that  I could take.

    I was going about 40 mph when a huge buck walked right in front of the car!

    I hit the brakes, but the van started to skid on the gravel. 

    The deer tried to run, but I hit him in the back end.

    He was a beautiful animal, with a rack that must have been 6 feet across!  Heaven knows how many deer seasons it had survived, only to have me hit it.

    After I hit him, he did a 180 flip and landed face first on my van's windshield.  His antlers  pierced the windshield and cut my forehead!

    There I was, sitting in the middle of nowhere with a 12 point buck's head staring at me through a broken windshield.

    I felt something dripping, and realized I was bleeding and I passed out!  My face was buried in the airbag for I don't know how long.  

    Whether it was the salt in the blood or the deer's compassion, it started licking my face!  That brought me around.

    I stumbled out of the van only to. realize my coat was covered in glass, so I took that off.  But the blood was still dripping down and I looked in the driver's side mirror to see how bad the cut was.

    And I fainted for the second time.

    This time when I woke up, I saw the buck had somehow freed himself from my van, but he was woozily stumbling down the road with large chunks of windshield dangling from his antlers, sparkling  in the sun like earrings.!

    I took my shirt off and wrapped it around my head to stop the bleeding.  Yes, I was cold because it was ony42 degrees and I was shirtless!

    I saw a farm house up ahead and staggered up to it.  I pounded on the door and a naked woman opened the door and screamed, falling backward in a faint.  I stepped over her and looked in the hallway mirror.  Noticing the blood-soaked shirt, I also passed out.

    I awoke when the cold water hit my face.  The woman shrieked at me.  "Who the Hell are you?  What are you doing here?"

    I explained I wasn't going to hurt her, that I had hit a deer and needed medical help.

    "So yo took off your clothes and came here?  Are you insane?"

    I assured her I was woozy, dizzy but not crazy.

    We heard a pick up coming up the lane.  She recognized the sound and looked at me in horror.

    "That's my husband!  He's insanely suspicious of me and goes into a jealous  rage whenever I even talk to another man.  You have to get out the back door and get to the tree line and walk back to your car."

    I told her that was impossible.  Once I got to my van I could not go anywhere.

    "I'll call the sheriff anonymously.  You got to go!  Now!" she yelled, as we heard the truck stop and the engine go off.

    I raced clumsily out the back door and hotfooted it to the tree line.  I then inched my way back to where I thought the road was, constantly checking to see if anyone was following me.

    I made it back to the van and sure enough, a sheriff's deputy arrived just as I was emerging from the woods.

    He had a first aid kit and cleaned the wound, told me it was superficial, and called for a tow truck.  He also let me call a friend for a ride home.

    When I got home I had a stiff drink.  I figured I deserved it. 

    I was just glad this day was over.                                                                               

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

odds and ends

 Just some random observations tonight

    We met with our tax guy today. 

    His daughter graduates in May and she plans on going to the University of Tennessee.  During room mate match up, she connected with another freshman from St. Charles.  Small world part:  They have a mutual friend in Pecatonica!

    Then Our Guy said sometimes life was like living in a small town, like he did growing up in Genoa.  I immediately asked if he knew our friend Jen and he said yes!  Not only does he know her and her family, he coached her brother in baseball!

    And yet, the world keeps spinning.

    Watching the game the last two nights, I sort of wish the world could be more like the fans during the seventh inning stretch. There was a line of people, 3 different races, arms around each other's shoulders and just singing away. That is the way we should all be.

    Back on the baseball kick, I think Washington had a pitcher named Cavallier. He had a great mustache, neatly curled off to the sides.

    I taught school and the general rule was a C followed by an A made the C hard, like a K.  But his name started with an S sound.    And I think it was an SI sound, like civil.

    Doing Wordle the other day, the word ended in amp.  I thought cramp, but no.  Stamp? No.  I was thinking of words that rhymed with those 2 but could not.  I kept looking at the letters and realized it was swamp.

    They all end the same, but are not pronounced the same.

    English rules don't always apply.

    I listened to the forecast last night.  Rain today.  Rain tomorrow.  Rain Friday.

    I bought some grass seed to throw in the bare spots, hoping the rain and warm weather will get it sprouting.

    New forecast.  Rain tomorrow night.  And it is chilly tonight....I can see the players breath!

    Cold night at the park.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

How dat?

 I get terribly confused about finances

    For instance.  Our Comcast bill is a lot every month.  The price  included a land line, security system, high speed internet, cable, and Marquee sports.

    I went in last Friday and changed our plan.  I ended up keeping the land line with a cell phone for $10 a month.

    Julia and Emily said no.

    Their reasoning is sound.  If we have a cell phone. there is a strong possibility that when Jackie wants to get ahold of me I will not know where I left it.  And sometimes I can't find my cellphone because I put it on mute and can't hear it ringing when I look for it.

    Another reason was the phone was a Samsung.  I have enough trouble using my phone, let alone learning a new system.

    So I went back to the X Finity store in DeKalb today.  I should say we went because Julia went with.

    Can't return the cell phone until Friday.  Once I do, they will reactivate the land line.

    So, how much money am I saving? Zilch.  Our plan was a package no longer offered.  Now they do everything separate.  

    In fact, I may have to pay more!!!

    I am a poor negotiator.

    Watching the Cubs game, they identified the guy in the left field bleachers who is at every game, pounds on the scoreboard and sees to be on every broad cast.;

    He is Bleacher Jeff.  

    Wrigley has a history of characters .  Probably the most famous was Ronnie Woo Woo.  But here are other regulars who we have seen in the past:   Pink Hat Guy, who used to sit behind home plate but I understand his age and health don't allow him to get to many games.  During the stretch years ago they always showed an old lady in a Cubs shirt singing.  I do believe I was told she was a real pain in the butt.

    I am sure there are many more.

    Honestly, I miss going to games.  I miss the people, the smells, the green of the grass, and yes, the food.

    Watching on tv is ok, but it doesn't replace a day at the yard.

    Ahh........

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

Garfield?

 Today was lasagna day

    It's the kind of day I like.  Somebody else does the cooking and I do the eating.

    Friends we have not seen in a while were here and so was Camryn.  Just a nice cheesy day!

    I was not watching but Julia had the Duke-U Conn game on.  

    At one point I looked and Duke was creaming U Conn.

     I was sitting there, not paying any attention to the game when a "Wow!!!! Unbelievable" went up.

    So I watched the replay of the U Conn player hitting a 3 with less then half a second on the clock.  Watching the replay was amazing, the crowd reaction, the players' reaction and the disbelief of the Duke team.

    I have never played a team sport.  (Except in grade school.  I played on a church softball team.  I was actually named to the all star team as a second baseman.  Seems all the other second basemen were on vacation....I was the only one left.  But I was an all star!)  But I would rather be on a team that lost by 20 points than one that loses by 1 point.

    Every player on the Duke team is probably saying, "If only I had......"  In a 20 point loss, there is no one defining moment where a single play meant the game.

    But 1 point?  A missed lay up, lost ball missed free throws, failure to defend.....every mistake will play over and over.

    Come to think of it, I was on an intramural team one semester in college.  The guys in the house got together and we played to have fun.

    We even had our own announcer, as 1 guy in the house did not want to play, so he did play by play on the sideline.

    I only remember one game.  

    We played against an NBA team.  They were taller, faster, better than us.  At the half it was something like 50-2.  We ended up scoring in double digits because I think they just lost interest at one point.  Once you hit a100, you kind of get bored.

    I did not score, but I did ask the guy I was guarding to stop scoring so much.  He just laughed.

    At least I know we didn't lose because of 1 mistake.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

this and that

I sometimes a. fast ate with things

    The Trib had a story about a school system today.

    Alpha schools  are located in several cities, including one that recently opened in Chicago.

    What makes the school different is:  AI does all the instruction.  There are no teachers, only "guides."  Students learn on their own pace with an individualized, personalized lesson plan.  On parent in the story said her daughter grew 2 grade levels in the Alpha school after struggling in a public school.

    The school day  seems to involve 2 hours of AI instruction, then hands on projects.

    There is a limited audience.  Tuition is $55,000 per year.  Yup, $55,000.

    Another parent said this is the way to learn because we are moving into an AI world and now his child will be prepared.

    Oh, there are scholarships available.

    Stiff winds today ruined my plans to do a little burning.  

    Ran into several friends in Oregon today.  The No Kings protest drew a crowd and I think I will let the signs tell the rest.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

Partial success

I now have a lower cable bill

    It only took about 90 minutes, but I was able to chop $60 off the bill, and now I wonder if I should have done more.

    At one point the guy asked for my id.  I gave him my driver's license and asked, "Do you need my birth certificate?"  He chuckled and said no.  He confessed to being a fellow Democrat and I urged him to vote in November.

    Oh well.

    We can still watch the Cubs, which is important.

    Not meaning to be catty, but there were 2 customers ahead of me at the  Xfinity place.  

    The person ahead of me was about my age, balding, with a beard.......and a long tail. I was tempted to ask "What the hell?" but decided it was best not to.  People should just be able to do their own thing, right?

    But a tail?

    While in DeKalb I bought more towels and stopped at Portillo's to pick up supper.

    Sometimes I think it is me, other times I know it isn't. First off, I did not know you could buy bread at Portillo's  I was told to buy a loaf of bread.

    I got to the counter (No, I will not use the kiosks to place my order, thank you.  Do you know how germy those things are?  People using the bathroom and not washing hands then ordering on the kiosk, or people who just have filthy hands in the first place.  Nope, not me.)

    Anyway, I had a request to buy a loaf of bread.  So I said to the lady, "I did not know you sold loaves of bread.  What kind is it?"  She explained that had 2 different types of bread, and described Bread 1 and then Bead 2.  

    Not knowing which, and based on her description, I said Bread 2.

    "We don't sell that." was her reply. "We only use that in the store."  What the hell??

    So I bought Bread 1.

    Julia and Emily came over for Jackie's  birthday, bringing presents and a darn great cake from Jewel. (Or The Jewels if you are from Chicago.)  

    The cake was delicious but we have a lot left.  A lot.  

    Tomorrow I hope to burn the field around 4 or so.  Cake will be served afterward to all fire stewards who attend.  Just sayin.

    The Cubs did not lose today.  It was sunny.  I had cake.  Jackie had a birthday.   Talked to Bob and Anita in Florida, and John in Chicago. All I all it was a pretty great day.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

sharks!!!

Sometimes I take on the mindset of a shark 

    I am referring to how they are voracious eaters!

    I am in binge mode right now.

    I made grilled cheese sandwiches of supper and that has left me hungry.  I feel like I need to eat something, anything, sweet, salty, sour, soft, hard, cold, hot.......anything.

    I am trying to control myself.  My friend TC has motivated me to lose a couple of pounds.  I know I can't do that and stuff my face with potato chips and cookies!  Can I?

    But it is so hard to have a lifetime of eating too much of the wrong stuff to suddenly try to eat better.  But I am trying.

    Weird weather today.  Lots of wind, a little rain, temps up, temps down.

    You know how I am in unsettled weather.  I am as jumpy as a frog on a hot lily pad.

    Changing the subject now.

    Somebody posted on Facebook that they had seen a mountain lion in DeKalb, near Annie Glidden  Road and the Tollway.

    A few years ago a mountain lion was hit and killed by a car on the tollway east of DeKalb.

    Between mountain lions and coyotes, I am now a little more nervous about taking Beth out at night.

    If this whole thing seems disjointed, I am writing on time outs during the Illini game.  

    That idea got waylaid, so I watched the game.

    At least 1 team from Illinois won today!!

    Go Illini!!

    And that's all I know.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

dag nab it

 I goofed today

    The van was dirty.  I decided to go to the car wash for a quicky. (I am still talking about a car wash.)

    I had just dropped Beth off for a wash and trim, so I had plenty of time. 

    But I did not have any tokens for the car wash, so I decided to use the spray wand do it yourself section.

    I could get quarters and pay $4 for 4 minutes,  or use a  credit card.

    I am fascinated by the tap and pay feature credit cards offer.

    So when I read  "tap here to pay "I thought that was great.

    Tapped.  Sprayed the car.  Kept spraying the car.  Went to rinse.  Kept rinsing the car.

    No bell telling me I only had a minute left.

    Sprayed the car some more.

     I got tired and hung up the hose.  Hit the stop button on the timer.  I did that because I finally read the sign telling about credit card use. Then I used my phone to read the QR code telling me how much I spent.

    $14.  $14!!!!!  In the self wash!!!  The automatic is only $10 and it does a better job! 

    Jimmy Cricket.

    I bought tokens for the future.

    We have a white board on which  I write appointments.  We keep it in the kitchen.

    I wrote: 7 p.m. Good Friday service.

    Jackie has told me at least 3 times that this Friday is not Good Friday.

    3 times.

    Good grief.

    Took Beth  for a grooming.  Our girl gets a little stressed.  When I picked her up I asked how she did.  Andee looked at me and said, "I don't think she will need to poop for a while."

    The Rochelle paper has a crossword in the Wednesday paper.  The one last week gave me fits and I hoped for redemption with today's puzzle.

    Same one as last week. Go figure.  I mean, how does that happen!

    Opening day tomorrow IF Mother Nature agrees.

    Go Cubs!!

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

otis?

 This was a down then up day

    At 8 a.m. it was 32 degrees, at 4 it was 53!!!!

    That is quite a warm up.

    Imagine if the 21 degree warm up occurred in the summer.

    We could go from a 75 degree day to 96!

    I have read a couple of projections that we will have a hot, hot, hot summer.  And a dry one.

    Blame it on El Niño.

    I went outside to clean up doggie doo and took Beth with me.

    When she first came here, she would chase a tennis ball all over the yard.  One of us would throw it and she would tear after it.

    Now she won't go into the grass unless it is for bathroom purposes.

    I rolled the ball on the sidewalk today and she ran after it, caught it and brought it back.  We did that about 6 times then I threw it into the grass and she just looked at me.  Weird dog.

    It's time for me to start another to do list.

    Not that I finished the first one, I just can't find it.

    Most of what I need to do will take less than 5 minutes.  I just don't think about it, or have the desire to do it, so it doesn't get done.

    One. task will be burning off my grassy areas.  I will contact the fire department to see if they need to stand by or not.

    If not, I will recruit some people to watch the edges so the fire does not get away.  I'll have some garden hoses hooked up just in case.

    I need to pick a calm day, after a few days of sunshine to dry up everything, then I can  be a pyro for the day.

    I had a frustrating experience with AI today.  I wanted to find out when I needed a PSA test, but the AI chatbot could not understand my message.

    When I finally talked to a real person, they said I was not the only person to complain about the system.  I stressed I was not mad at the numan, but it was just a frustrating experience.

    Next time I will just ask for representative.

    I know Kathy, you told me that before.   

    And now, quick kitchen clean up then  maybe read a bit.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

winner, winner

I almost won a trivia contest tonight

    The museum held a trivia contest for its first night of the week long Chautauqua  events.

    In case you did not recognize the term, Chautauquas were  pretty common in the early 1900s and late 1890s.

    Usually, they were week long events staged in rural areas and offered  the local denizens talks on various topics.  This was in a day when there was no tv, radio.   Newspapers were active but a lot of the citizens could not read, so the Chautauqua offered learning experiences.

    I also think Chautauqua is one of the few words that has three combinations of a and u in the same word:  au, au, ua.  

    Anyway, I digress.

    Some of the questions I missed were hit yourself in the head questions.

    Like....A.G.B. invested this device in 1876 (I don't remember the exact year, you get the point) and we still use it today.

    Anheiser Gustav Busch was not the answer, but Alexander Graham Bell was.  

    The answer to another question was Marilyn Moore. and the follow up question was what was her real name?

    Hating to leave any answers blank, Wilma Flintstone was my guess.  I was wrong.  I could not remember Norma Jean whatever.  And why would I?  I can't even remember the name of a person I have known for years!

    It was a lot of fun.  Jackie did not go because the museum is tight for space and getting in and out is no picnic in a wheelchair.

    I did know what 2 former presidents died on July 4, 1826....Jefferson and an Adams.  Just don't. remember which Adams.

    There were 50 possible points, I had a 32.  I am looking at the score as 32 out of 40, because a 10 point question was;  The first computer was UNIAC.  What does that stand for? 

    Two of us had 32.  I conceded the tie breaker.

    And if you want to know, you will have to Google it.  I think I spelled it correctly, but maybe not.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

 

repeat after me

 We went to see Gilligan's Island the Musical 

    VCCT staged the show and it was good.  The house was packed!  Extra chairs were brought in for the crowd, which was a decidedly older group.

    To be honest, I never liked the TV show.  I felt Gilligan was just too stupid to be believable.

    I know, it was not a believe it type sit com.  

    The folks today did a very good job.  They nailed down certain mannerisms from the tv show and that was a nice touch.

    Friend Dan and I had our own 3 hour tour once upon a time.

    I think I already told this story, but I am old and tend to repeat things.

    In 2011 Dan and I spent a month in France.  We stayed in a small town, St Chamas, in the southern part of the country.

    Close to where we stayed was the Camargue, an area that had lots of salt flats, flamingoes, wild horses and I think  wild cattle, although that seems a little fuzzy.

    We booked a 3 hour tour of this natural area.

    There were several of us on the tour.  We boarded the Land Rover open sided vehicle to see the sights.

    Our first main stop was at a small pond, or river, where we got out to look at something.  Yeah, I know.  But his was 15 years ago.  Give me a break!

    As we started to re board, I heard the guide yell, "Merde!!!"  (Roughly translated that means shit,)

    The vehicle had a flat tire.

    One would think if you are driving tourists out into a wilderness area for a 3 hour tour on a very hot day that a spare tire would be an item to have on board.

    Mai non!

    No spare.  The closest spare was in London evidently because we sat there for a long time, in the heat.  No shade.

    Eventually a replacement vehicle arrived.  The spare tire never did.

    I think we sat there for an hour.  We were all hot and a bit grumpy.  Ok, I was hot and a bit grumpy.

    How in the hell could they not have a spare?

    Anyway, the replacement vehicle did not look safe enough to be driven on highway, let along through a natural preserve.

    But on we went.

    We stopped at a water hole where there were dozens of flamingos.  

    The guide  got out and said, "Be careful and follow me."

    I was careful to walk in his footsteps out to near the water where I got some neat pictures.

    As we walked back to the hulk I asked him why we had to be so careful.

    He answered, "Poisonous snakes."

    All in all it was a nice tour, although I don't know what parts we missed because of the tire.

    I was just glad he mentioned the poisonous snakes on the way back, because I would have turned around and not gotten some photos.

    So, lesson is:  Be careful of 3 hour tours.  And always have a spare.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

    

fondue, baby

 I had fondue for the first time in a while today

    Julia had Jackie, Emily, me, Dan and Linda for fondue.

    I had a great time visiting with Dan and Linda.  Have not seen them for a few months and it was great to see them.

    Fondue was excellent, as always.  Plus, we had some raclette too because Jackie is not a fondue person.

    We even took Beth with.....and she enjoyed all the attention.

    For the first time in a long while I slept like a log last night!  Beth did not wake me, but Jackie did when the cuckoo hit 10.  I guess the long walk yesterday tired out Beth and me.

    Dang if it wasn't a lovely day today, too.

    Hopefully this is the start of nice, warmish, moderate, some rainfall, season.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace.

spring

 I enjoyed the first day of spring

    In keeping with traditions long ago established, I danced in my underwear at 9:36 this morning.

    Yes, I was on the patio, but I don't think anyone saw me.  

    I picked that time because that is when  the equinox occurred. .  I think.  

    Butt  I used the occasion to dance.

    I think it was coincidence that a car ran off the road, and the squirrel that normally raids my bird feeder dropped dead right in front of me..  

    I say they were unrelated to my dance.

    You may or may not see it on tick box, or whatever it is called.  If someone recorded it, you will see it.

   I took Beth on a walk down to the end of the block and back.  I thought it ws important to say and back lest anyone think I left her at the end of the block.

    Now, on walks Beth has a tendency to drop a load.  Or 2.  Sometimes 3.

    I carry bags and I never let her do it in a yard with a house....only empty lots.

    Those are getting fewer and fewer,

    Anyway, she kept pulling toward grass and I kept saying wait until we pass the houses. 

    Evidently she could not wait and dropped a load in the middle of the road.

    Yes, I cleaned it up.

    We did get to  a field and she dropped another load.

    I picked that up too.

    We met Howie, who was out for a walk with his owner.  Howie and Beth spent several minutes sniffing each other as the humans talked.  She behaved very nicely.  We humans did not sniff each other.

    As I was walking 2 girls, about 12 or 13, whizzed past me on their bikes.

    It bothered me because they were e bikes and neither girl was pedaling.   Bikes for young people should be for exercise.  

    Maybe I'll get mine down this weekend and show them how it's done.

        I am sort of on Ancestry.  I stopped my subscription, but they keep sending me notifications about hints.

    Today the e-mail said "You have a hint about your fat......"

    Hell, I don't need hint about my fat!!  I know about my fat!!!  It's from potato chips, French fries, chocolate, ice cream, cookies and cupcakes.  

    Hint about my fat.  How dare they?

    Spring has sprung.  Warm weather is in the air.  Baseball season is about to begin. Optimism is filling the air.

    I need to take advantage of all of it.  Maybe I can lose some of the fat Ancestry is obsessed about.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

Learning something new

 WNIJ Radio is the place to learn something new every day

    I learned several things today. Sort of.

    Going back to Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad, the last chapter  I read has him in Milan.  He visited the cathedral and the painting of the Last Supper.

    The book was written in 1869, so obviously things have changed.

    In the cathedral he was impressed by all the statues and glass windows and the viewing of the riches held by the church.

    But he was not impressed by the Last Supper.

    He said the figures were lifeless, faded, chipped and scuffed by horses that were stabled in the building.

    I think we visited in 2011 and I honestly have no recollection of the cathedral!  I remember standing in front of it, but can't remember going into it.

    But the Last Supper was amazing.  I think in the past 100+ years it had been restored.

    I don't know what a "life skills university "is, but High Point is and it beat Wisconsin in the NCAA madness.  The school has lots of graduate degree programs, offering doctorates in pharmacy, dentistry, education, leadership and other areas.

    But what makes it a "life skills university"?  

    I learned it is in High Point SC, and the campus looks very nice. But I am clueless on the life skills description.  

    A woman at the University of Minnesota was part of a study and produced a paper.  She had a hyphenated last name, which is not unusual.  But the name was Wrigley-Field.  

    Now I did not Google her name, and the study seemed rather believable.  Just strange.

    I don't  remember what the study was about.  

    Jackie and I had hair appointments today.

    She also had a library board meeting tonight.

    She did not feel right, and I suggested Zooming the meeting.

    But she said no, so we went.

    No quorum.  No meeting.  

    Getting her in and out of the van is a lot of work.  I am pretty tired tonight.

    If I  had read the e-mail sent this afternoon we probably would have zoomed it.

    Check e -mail during the day.  

    Lesson learned.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

tough tines

 I may be losing my abilities

    The last 3 crossword puzzles I have worked on have beaten me.

    Kicked my butt!  I look at the clues, come up blank, leave the puzzle for a while, then come back and still end up with blanks.

    It's getting frustrating.

    Clues like:  German city (4 letters); element 56 (2 letters) sodium.......they have me stumped.

    Why did I not pay attention in high school chemistry?

    Oh wait...I never took that class.

    I did take biology.  

    We had to pick lab partners, and I had my eye set on the prettiest girl in the room.  She had her eyes set on me.....until I realized she was actually looking at the guy behind me.

    I ended up with a girl I will call Rose.  

    We sort of picked each other, because we were the only 2 left.

    I will say this about Rose, not only did she pick me, she also picked something else which made it very difficult to focus on  dissecting  a worm.  Or maybe it was a frog.  I don't remember that, just that I would not touch her hands for fear of getting a booger on me.

    But enough of that.

    There was a broken shade in our classroom and open house was approaching.  The teacher was worried because she had a short movie to show and she thought it would be too bright with the broken shade.

    I was the one to remind her open house was at night and the sun would not be a problem.

    Mickey Dolenz, Mike Nesmeth, Peter Tork and Davey Jones.  They were the Monkees, who were supposed to be America's answer to the Beatles.  But they were not.

    I can remember their names but not where I put my glasses.  Or wallet.  Or phone. 

    As far as German cities of 4 letters, I remember Koln, but I don't think that is what the puzzle makers are thinking. 

    That's all I have.......I am going to pull up. the table of elements and maybe a map of Germany.

    That isn't cheating, is it?

    If it is, tough noogies.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

A penny saved

I always taught rounding in school

    You know, if the number ends in 1-4 you round down, 5 o more you round up.

    I thought it was a simple concept.  Fifth graders did not.

    But with the penny eventually going away, rounding is hot topic.

    Congress is looking at something called "symmetrical rounding," which will be a fair, impartial, consistent way to round.  It would become a national law, or something like that.

    You tell me.

    The proposal is:  If it ends in a 1, 2, 6, or 7 you round down.  If it ends in a 3,4,8, or 9, you round up.  5 stays a 5 because we still have nickels.

    My guess is you will see very few prices ending in a 1, 2, 6 or 7.  Most merchants, I suspect, will round to a 3, 4, 8, or 9 to optimize profits.

    Of course, if you use a debit or credit card, rounding will not be an issue.  Yet.

    I am reading Mark Twain's Innocents Abroad.  The last chapter I read dealt with the Pere LaChaise cemetery in Paris.  In his book, Twain told the story of Abelard and Heloise, a true French love story.

    Strangely, today I had a FB posting from a Paris site I follow and it talked about Abelard and Heloise!

    Coincidence?   I wonder.

    I mean, AI isn't. reading my mind, is it?  I did not do a web search on the pair and the Paris site has lots of photos.

    It is an interesting story and if you Google it, you may compare it to Romeo and Juliet with a less lethal ending.

    How ironic is it that a woman who wrote a book about grieving for children was just convicted of murdering her husband?  

    It's a strange world.

    We went to Sycamore for a doctor's appointment.  Gas at one station was $3.59 when we left, $3.99 when we came back 2 hours later.Yikes!!

    Now it is time to root for the USA agains Venezuela, which I hear could become our 51st state.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

1 week

 Watching the frozen tundra, I had a spring thought

    The Cubs open at home March 26.  10 days.  It better warm up by then.

    John, Dan, Linda and I used to buy game packs.  We always did the Friday afternoon pack but that ended with Covid.

    The worst games were March and April, when we seemed to have 2 or 3 of the games.  It was always chilly at the Confines.

    The White Sox catch a break.  They open in Milwaukee, which has a dome, and then go to Florida, which is just hot.

    I put off going to the store until 4 today.  That was a nerve wracking  drive.

    Flagg Road was ice.  I thought of turning around, but then I thought heck, it has to get better.  It did not.  At one point I figured I was half way there and the road would surely get better. It did not.

    Jackie has a doctor appointment in Sycamore tomorrow and I am concerned about the roads.  As cold as it is, the roads may not be much better than they were tonight.

    Time will tell.

    I watched the USA/DR game last night.  For 2 teams that hit a lot of  home runs, a 2-1 game was not wha I expected.

    And not to belabor the baseball angle, the last pitch, the one that struck out the DR batter on a full count, was no where near the strike zone. 

    USA caught a break.

    But, that is life in the  bigs.

    Speaking of bigs, Kevin K was a big help the other night.  For some reason, I moved Jackie's chair when she went to sit.  She ended up on. the floor in the bathroom.  I called Emily, but she did not answer because her phone  was on do not disturb. .  Found out later if I had called back, the call would have gone through.

    But Kevin came to the rescue.

    No blood, no foul.  All was well.

 Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

She sticks her noe in the snow.

Hello, winter

It could get interesting tonight and  tomorrow

    We have a blizzard warning and schools have already called off.  Even NIU.

    I was just out with Beth and darn near fell on my butt. the sidewalk was so slippery  The wind is howling and the snow is starting to fall.

    I'm watching the WBC and was wondering... is using the word old passe?  The announcers say 24 years of age, or 27 years of age.  Not old, years of age.  I mean I am old, so 77 years old makes sense.  I don't think I would be 77 years of age.  Or would I?

    I looked out this morning and noticed a squirrel in our bid feeder.  The feeder is on an iron post. that is about 1 inch in diameter.  Makes me wonder how the little critter got up it and if I grease the pole with Vaseline will that stop future raids of the feeder?

    I think next year Rochelle should consider dying the Kyte River green.  There could be a short parade, maybe a duck derby, throw in some bands and Irish dancers and you have a festival.  Not as big as Chicago's, but small.  Quaint.  Peaceful.

    Gravitating back to our blizzard warning.

    I read upper Michigan and Wisconsin have had a lot of snow.....B and D, enjoy Florida.  You are missing a huge snow.

    I always wonder when I see stories of huge pile ups during snowstorms why people are out there driving in the first place.  Pull off, find a motel, sleep in your car, spend the night in a 24 hour store, but don't drive in blizzards.  

    And I realize sometimes it can't be helped.  If you are on vacation and a blizzard hits, you might not have options.  Or if you are a trucker.  

    And don't  through floods.  I also see people having to be rescued from their cars after they get caught in a flood.

    People just need to be smarter.

    Stay safe out there.  Stay home.  Stay warm.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

pi day?

 Beware the Ides of Pi Day

    We are long past the days of having a whole pie on any day of the year!  With just the 2 of us, Jackie would have 1 slice and I would finish it off.

    So I get the little pies.  (Bob, The f_ _ _ _ in cherry pies)  I used to get them at Walgreens, but they don't carry them anymore.  Neither does Walmart.  So I have to stock up when I go to Woodman's.  

    I just like them.  I think it is the sugar glaze that appeals to me the most.

    Julia brought us a dessert today, so I won't be having pie on pi day.

    But I will have it during the Ides of March.

    Or maybe the Ides of April. Or the Ides of May.

    The Romans determined the Ides were the midpoint of the month.  Every month has them, but Julius     Caesar made March's famous when he got stabbed by malcontents. 

    But enough of that.

    I got a text from Capital One about a charge on our account.

    Jackie had purchased something about 2 weeks ago, using her card..  Today another charge for the same company showed up and Capital One flagged it.

    They sent me a test and an e-mail so I called the customer service number on the back of the card and learned that her card had been used and declined 10 different times  before a charge went through.

    So now she gets a new card.  

    I read my AARP magazine this morning that highlighted fraud 

    I am 77.  I am not young.  But some of the people that got scammed were younger than me! I wonder what people are thinking when they get texts, or e-mails either promising them riches or threatening them with arrest for some reason.

    People fall for it.  And the scammers get rich.

    So, hold on to your wallets.  Keep a close on you charges.  Be safe.

    Speaking of safe,   there is a blizzard warning for counties west of us.

    And I ain't talking Dairy Queen!

    Beware the Ides of March.  (Also the name of a band from the 60s...I think from the Chicago suburbs but I don't remember for sure.)

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace

Jackie got an Easter cactus from Emily and Peeps from Julia

I know.....I should not eat this stuff.  But I will, eventually!
And no, that is not a boomerang stuck in my head.  

odds and ends

 Just a collection of strange things tonight

    I have been watching Twilight Zone reruns for the past couple of weeks.

    I was surprised at the number of "famous" actors that have appeared in the series.

    The episode today had a lead male who looked familiar, but I could not place him.  When the credits rolled it turned out to be William Shatner!  Back in the late 50s he was a really good looking young man.

    Others who have appeared that I remember were Burgess Meredith and Orson Beane.  One young girl who appeared was not listed in the credits, but a search turned up her name.  She stole the show in the Twilight episode, went on to do many movies, but I don't remember her name.  

    Went to Culver's tonight.  As I was walking out 2 young men stepped in front of me and immediately apologized.  One held the first door for me and the other held the second door for me.  I thanked them and reminded myself there is hope for the future.

    Drove past 5 gas stations in town and 4 of them were at $3.59.  The fourth was $3.57.  Thanks, Sleepy Joe!  Just funny that they were all the same.  One station does offer gas for $3.49 if you pay cash, otherwise it is $3.59.  

    Watching the WBC and am amazed how many people decorate themselves.  Painted faces, costumes, wigs.....interesting to watch the crowd.  It's sort of like watching all star teams play.  Of course, I root for the Cubs and former Cubs I like, like Owen Cassie, and Kyle Schwarber.  

    Wind seems to have finally died down.  I was up until late (or early, depending on your point of view) because it just was blowing so hard I was a bit unsettled.  

    I watched a drone video of Wheatfield Indiana where a tornado went through solar farms.  I was shocked how many farms there were!  There was damage to the fields, and now I wonder if the whole field shuts down or just the damaged area.

    Please tell me we are not going to have a winter storm next week.

    Exit 99, our improv group, is performing April 17.  Details to come.  We really are a funny bunch.

Peace and Love

    Especially Peace

fit mess

I have a fitness tracker on my phone 

    It keeps track of the steps I take during the day.

    I set a goal, and when I reach that goal it sends me a little message.  It's like a participation trophy.

    Lately I have not been reaching my goal!

    I must not be walking as much, or not carrying my phone.

    I think it is not carrying my phone.  

    Parking far away from the front of a store is one strategy I use to increase steps, but I don't go to the store every day.  And the other day I forgot where I parked.    

    When I am close to the goal, I let Beth out at night and then march back and forth like a sentry on duty.  If my neighbors spot me they will probably think I have finally gone off the deep end.

    Last night I was real close to the goal.

    I thought if I walked around the house, I would reach the goal.

    I made 12 loops through the kitchen, great room, dining room.

    The needle did not budge.

    Made another 12 loops.....no change.

    Made 20 loops.....no change.

    By then I was damn tired, so I settled down with a cup of honey laced tea that is supposed to relax me.

    Well, it did relax me.....but drinking it at 10 before bedtime proved to be a mistake.  I was up at 12:30, 1:30, and 3 to use the bathroom.  Beth barked at some point, Jackie poked me, and I told them both I was not getting up.

    The house was quiet until Beth started barking again, Jackie started poking me again, and I said again I am not getting up to let her out.

    You know what?  Beth was fine.  

    I figure in an 8 hour period, I was up or poked 5 times.

    No wonder I am tired.

Peace and Love

        Especially Peace.

tri confused

 I think I have too many books

    Let me rephrase that.  I think I am reading too many books at one time.

    I am sort of reading 4, but it's really only 2.  

    I know, it makes no sense.

    I am reading A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffett.  I got this a couple of years ago for Christmas and just never started it.  Now I am almost done.

    I am also reading Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain.

    It's a bit harder reading this one because it's on my e-reader and is really long.  I think I am about 1/10th of the way through it.

    Between forgetting to charge the reader, having to renew the book, and not reading it every day, I think it will take me a long time to finish.

    I checked it out on Hoopla.  Before this I was reading Following the Equator, also by Twain.  But after I renewed it about half way through, I got a message that it was no longer available in that format.  Huh.  Guess I won't know how it ends.

    I have 2 other books I have started, but just have not gotten around to reading them completely.  Then there is the pile of books I have left to read.

    There is not enough time in the day.

    Of course, I could play less solitaire, which I am trying to do.  Then today comes along and I spend too much time losing.  Every time I lose, I play again thinking I will win. 

    That is a gamblers's mentality, right?  No matter how many coins you put in the 1 armed bandit you are always certain you are going to win on the next one.

    Sigh.

    Last night on a Rockford station's weather forecast they had a map of reported hail falling.  Smack dab in the middle was Rochelle, with no reports of hail.  East, west, north, south...... all had hail. Julia had hail. But we didn't.  Luckily.  Some of the hail was huge!  And some of the damage was unbelievable.

    It was a weird looking map.

    Today we ran the whole string.   Cloudy, snow, rain, mist, sunny, more snow, sunny cloudy.  Dark.

     Mother Nature was a manic depressive today.

Peace and Love

            Especially Peace

tis the season

 Spring is not my favorite season

    I know, winter is basically over, flowers are starting to appear, you can go outside with a sweatshirt on and still feel warm.  

    That is, if you are wearing pants or sweats.  But just a sweatshirt alone might cause neighbors to label you as a pervert or exhibitionist.

    People generally feel better in spring.  Optimistic.  Young again.  Energetic.

    I don't like spring because it is muddy.  The yard squishes when you walk on it.  

    I don't like spring because one day it could be 60, and the next day 35 with  possible snow.

    But I especially don't like spring became of nights like this.

    Our weather radio has gone off multiple times.

    Luckily, only 1 warning affected our area.  That was a severe thunderstorm with quarter sized hail, strong winds and heavy rain.

    Further adding to our luck, nothing major happened.   I don't think we even got rain.  There was a lot of lightening.  In fact, it seemed to be one continuous flash for several seconds instead of just a brief flash.

    Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.

    Every time the weather alert sounds,  Terry gets his exercise.

    I know, I need it.

    So far we have had at least 4 alerts for the area around Lena, 1 for us, 1 for the lakeshore area, 1 southern DeKalb County, 1 for Aurora and Juliet, and others I may have forgotten.

    Thunder is rumbling, a lot.

    I pulled the blinds on our windows in case it hails.  I honestly don't know if that is a protection or not, but they are all closed.

    In case of high winds, my patio and porch furniture is safe in the garage.  Of course it has been there for 5 months, but someday I will take it out.

    My stomach is not as nervous as it usually gets.  Maybe I am just getting used to storms  Or maybe I am coping by eating.

    Whatever.  Evenings like this are not good for a guy who has trouble sleeping at night.

    I took a short nap again this morning, but when I sat down at 4 to read a little bit, I fell asleep again!  This time Jackie did not wake me because she also fell asleep.  

    My fingers are crossed that we have a quiet night.

    I hope you do too.

Peace and Love

        especially Peace

national nap day

I celebrated National nap day today

    I know!  I had never heard of it either, but today is the day.

    After a looong night, a night in which going to bed at 11 was like going to bed at 10, Jackie feeling sick, Beth wanting to go out 3 times in the middle of the night, I was dang tired!

    We had help today, and I sat in my chair at 9:30, was up at 10, went back to my chair and slept until 12:30.

    To try to make me tired, Beth and I walked down to the cul de sac and back this afternoon.  That is about 1 mile.  I think we will both be pretty tired tonight.  Hope that lets me sleep.

    I went to the store at about 5 today and the parking lot at Skare Park was pretty full.  There was a line of people waiting to play disc golf!

    I actually played it by myself when the course opened several years ago.  I thought it was fun, although I admit I did not keep track of my tosses.

    I ran into a friend and mentioned the golf course and he showed me his bag of discs.  He had a driver, a putter, a wedge....and about 20 discs in total.

    I bought one disc. 

    I think if I ever go with a group of people I will be a little embarrassed at my lonely disc while they have carts to carry their bags.

    I am not a golfer, disc or otherwise.

    Although I did play an 18 hole course once and shot an 89, but they made me stop after 9 holes because I was taking too long.

    I just don't have the eye-hand coordination needed for that.  Hell, at this point in life sometimes I have trouble feeding myself!

    Speaking of which, I was looking through the pantry and found a package of noodles stuffed with cheese and a truffle sauce.  It looked really good, but the expiration date was May 2024. 

    Julia must have left it.  

    Despite my willingness to eat anything, I tossed it.

    Better safe than sorry.

Peace and Love

Oh yes I did

 I am a food pig

    I have a tendency to eat stuff.

    Crumbs left over from cookies.  Little bits of meat left on a plate.  Stuff that should really just be tossed.

    I am not hungry.  I just eat shit.

    Julia brought us some amazing cupcakes.  Tonight Jackie had half of one and I put the other away for tomorrow.  I, of course, ate my whole cupcake in one sitting.  Hell, in one mouthful, almost.

    Julia also bought some doggie cupcakes for Beth.  These are little itty bitty cupcakes with a bone on the top.

    As I was clearing dishes, little piggy noticed some cupcake on Jackie's fork.  So little biggie put it in his mouth and licked the fork clean.

    Then little biggie asked Jackie, "Did you use your fork to cut Beth's cupcake?"

    Of course the answer was yes.

    It had a nice peanut butter flavor, but seemed a little grainy.  Immediately after swallowing it I started to howl and scratch my butt across the floor.

    And I am not adjusting to the time change.

    Not this one, the one last fall.

    We woke up at 8, I went around and reset the clocks to 9, then it was shower time and breakfast/brunch time.  

    I whipped up some crepes and bacon, and we ate about 11:45.  

    After I let Emily's dogs out, I came home and intended to take a 35 minute nap.  When the alarm on my phone went off, I reset it for 20 minutes more. When that alarm went off I set it for 20 minutes more.  Jackie finally woke me.

    Last night when I was out front with Beth about 10, I heard a distinct gun shot.

    Beth immediately ran toward the door.  I don't know about her previous life, but those noises really scare her.

    I was a bit concerned, so I called the sheriff's office on their non emergency number.

    I gave my name, my concern, the dispatcher  asked my address and then asked if I lived in Hickory Ridge.  I said yes, and he said there was a deputy in that area dispatching an injured deer.

    That was actually a relief, though I did feel sorry for the deer .  My guess is a car hit it, but I don't know.

    That's why I always tell people when they leave, "Watch for deer."

Peace and Love

            especially Peace

uh oh

 I got yelled at today

    Jackie was printing something on the computer.  I had gone to Emily's to let out the dogs, so Jack was by herself.

    The printer ran out of paper.  

    Since the printer is right next to where she was sitting, she reached onto the shelf with all the paper on it.

    That's when the trouble started.

    She pulled out a bunch, and it had all be used on one side.

    She pulled out another bunch, and it had all be used on one side.

    A lot of other paper spilled onto the ground.  All of it had been used.

    When I came home there was paper all over the place except in the printer.  

    "Where is the paper!" And I think she was a little exasperated (or mad....) at this point.

    I calmly told her the paper was in the closet. and I got her some and loaded the printer so she could finish the print job.

    She then asked the 6 million dollar question:  Why was I saving that paper?

    I  explained to her that I cut it in half and use it for notes.  I mean, it makes sense to me.  The paper is used, but still can have a purpose.  I am reusing it  before recycling it.

    Although in hindsight, I may have too much.  Way too much.  It is almost 4 inches high.  That's a lot of notes!

    When I am done with this little episode, I will get rid of most of it.

    Besides, I have another stack in the bottom shelf already cut.

Peace and Love

        especially Peace

too much for note paper???   maybe

These folks light up a lot of holidays!  Always makes me smile!!!

vampire time

 Today was blood test  day in the household

    Jackie and I  got our tests for upcoming doctor appointments.

    I still get weird when it 's time.

    I talk a lot.  I look away.  I joke.

    By the time I finally shut up the draw is done and I am sent off with a tiny bandage on my arm.

    Yet I still get a little uptight about the entire procedure.  Jackie is ok with it, it's just me.

    Once I fainted when I had a blood draw.  After that I was told to lay on a bed while they did it.  But now I can sit up, talk, and get through it.

    I follow a post called Lenten Madness.  It's based on March Madness, but it features contests between saints.

    Saints.  Well, they did have a will be someday a saint person this week, but 99 percent of the contestants are saints.

    I read about two of them, then vote.  The winner of the vote advances to the next round.  Just like the basketball games, but with saints.

    Today's contest was Joan of Arc and Marina the Monk.

    Briefly, Marina lived  in the fifth or sixth century.  Her mother died and her father intended to marry her off.  Then he was going to become a monk.

    Marina  wanted no part of that.  She shaved her head, dressed like a man, and convinced her father to let her join him in the monastery.

    Time passed, after a decade her father died, and a  controversy arose, and Marina, now going by the name of Marinos, was accused of fathering a child with a poor woman.

    Instead of admitting her sex, Marinos admitted the sin and took the child in, raising it in the monastery.

    It wasn't until Marinos died that the monks discovered his secret.

    Aside from being an interesting story, I was reminded that gender identity is not a new issue.  

    Marina lived among monks as a man, no one was troubled by it, and she became a saint.

    By the way, Joan won, but it was a close vote.

    And I voted for Marina.

Peace and Love

Ripped it, again

 Once I sleep, I sleep

    We had help this morning.

    Good thing, too.

    Jackie had to use the bathroom at about 7:30.  Our help gets here at 8.

    I got her onto pot, and then decided to take a short nap.

    During my nap, Jackie called on the phone, Lisa came in, the dog barked and I slept like a log.

    Lisa eventually woke me up, and I tell you it was a great nap!

    If only I could fall asleep sooner.  

    I went to the store today, my semi-daily social outing.

    I was crossing the parking lot when a lady asked, "What are you doing?" just as I passed her on my way into the store. 

    I quickly said, "I'going shopping."

    She looked at me like I was an idiot.  She was actually on her phone, a phone I did not see.  And no, she was not talking to me.

    We've been in this house a while.

    Re-hashing our patio story, hired a guy to do the patio, paid him in full before he started because he needed an advance to buy materials, He had put the base in in the fall, paid him in the spring, and never showed up or contacted us after hat.

    I called a firm in Marengo and they came out and finished the job.  But the head guy said they could not guarantee the work because they don't know if the base was done correctly.

    The laid the pavers and it looked great.

    But a couple of years later I had a low spot.

    They came back and pulled up the pavers and leveled  it.  It looked great.

    Last year I had 2 areas that were low. Water gathered in them and I really hated to sit out there.

    This year another low spot has developed.

    So I called the Marengo people.  They came out today, looked at it, and gave me two options.  They can relevel the low areas.  OR, they can pull all the pavers, compact what is there, bring in more base material, compact that, then relay the bricks.

    Cheap ass me said, "Pull the pavers, recompact, add base, and then relay the whole thing."

    I will get an estimate next week.

    I told him I called early (actually the start of February) hoping to beat the seasonal rush.  He laughed and said they were already booked until the end of September!

    But my project is a small one.....he figures a day or day and a half..... and he will work it in between 2 of the bigger projects.

    Hopefully by the time he gets the patio done, I will have the furniture cleaned and oiled so all will look nice and I can enjoy the patio this summer.

    I probably could have enjoyed it today.  When the sun came out it was a darn nice day!

Peace and Love

                but especially Peace