Stonehenge

Summer officially arrives today. at 10:58 EDT. Though I've also seen 10:57 with no time zone attached. 

Yes, after today, the days get shorter. But still......summer. 

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think for the first time in a long time we had a Spring. A true one - not a 'the calendar says so' one. 

We had sun and cool temps, but then some hot hot days. We had rain - and then none. And then none still.....for over three weeks. The only thing we didn't have was snow. 

In Ohio, usually it goes from snow to upper 80s, leaving one with no actual Spring. 

Due to that, Spring has never been "my" season. That said, it was good for running. Cooler is better, even if I moan about it while people stand around waiting to start said run. Once you move, you don't even notice it - even in 12 degrees. 

We got over 80 yesterday, but for the most part it has been in the 60s and low 70s. I'm looking forward to summer though. I think.  More dog outings - as if there could be more.  But more going into a lake or river with said dog. 

Then there is vacation - less than two months away. I'm psyched for it for so many reasons. 

Still, we are moving through 2023 quickly. That could just be age talking - sands through the hourglass, as my time sifts away. The Earth pretty much rotates the same speed it's always done during my lifetime, so "quickly" is all relative. 

Summer is here. Or almost - .....or after -  depending on when you read this. Enjoy the season. 

Song by: Spın̈al Tap

Shortest Day

I missed it being the Solstice yesterday. 

I mean, I figgered it out when I was at the gym, but then it was far too late to write about it. 

The days are getting longer - in theory. I still get to work when it's dark and leave when it's dark. Sure, it's only been a day, but I'd like results........now!

Shorter days (nah - they're still 24 hrs) are fine. I don't have Covid, but I do believe I have a cold. But it seems I'll get nothing but rest. 

That Cyclone Bomb is supposed to hit us on Friday. I've opted not to go into the office, and probably not even work from home on Friday. I might have to alter dinner plans with my cousin on xmas - either due to the predicted -20F (avec wind chill), if the cold is still hanging on, or  both. Chinese food will have to wait - though a good hot n sour soup could clear my sinuses. 

But if stuck at home, that's ok. I've got books to read. They're weighing down my bedside table. I might be able to knock out two of them before year's end. 

That's all I got today. 

Song by: Bill Frisell

Fall on Me

Well the readers were not wrong, I was off by at least a day on Summer to Autumn. They were correct to correct me. 

As it turns out, the last day of Summer hit 83F in the 216.  When Autumn officially arrived, it OFFICIALLY arrived. 

66 was the high for the first day. And we hit that before I left for the gym, which is at 04:45.  It ended up going down to 54. 

Basically a 30 degree drop in a 24 hour period. 

Bother. 

It's not that I mind 54-66 weather. I wasn't really prepared for it, even though I was. I read the weather report - kind of. I focused on the temps and if there'd be any rain. I just didn't consider the wind. 

My lunchtime walk was chilly. But I still did it, because I still need to lose weight and it is the only time I get out of my office. It is as important mentally as physically. 

At least on the walk to my car is was sunny. Ditto, for the most part, on the evening dog walk. You can see the clouds and the chill in the air. 

Shep is loving it. 710 said he stayed outside for almost five hours yesterday morning, refusing to come in. Hey - I'm glad he's enjoying as much time outdoors as possible. 

So I sit here writing this while wearing fuzzy pants with dogs on them, and a shirt with long sleeves. Yesterday (now two days ago) it was shorts and a t-shirt. 

No doubt we will have other days in the 70s and 80s, but it sure feels like Fall now. 

Song by R.E.M.

the Last Day of Summer

I missed it - so to speak.  The last day of summer, that is. 

It was pretty. It was warm. It was very summer like with yet a hint of autumn. 

You all even know what that means - and you can almost feel it yourself. At least those in climes where changes occur in season - and not just the rainy or dry season. I mean actual changes in them. 

710 found a thing somewhere, somehow, that has our first snowfall happening on November 10th of this year. 

I pay little stock to such things. 

IF anyone goes back and tracks what the Farmer's Almanac says and what actually occurs, I'd be curious to see how these predictions happen. And on what scale.  "Snowier" or "Colder" than normal for the Great Lakes Region. 

Sorry - the UP in Michigan isn't the same as Chicago or Erie, PA. With that wide of a range you can manipulate the shit out of that data to make your accuracy. 

In the past I have been quite vocal about my dislike of Winter.  .....but I might be changing my mind on that. 

I'm never going to be THRILLED with it, but I'm finding the heat and heat index over the last few years to be uncomfortable to be out in for extended periods of time.  Maybe it's Climate Change. Maybe it's my age-related body.  And maybe it's the new(er) house where I'm no longer freezing while inside, that I don't mind the outside in the colder months. 

Love summer outdoors - and in the shade these days. 

Autumn is most likely my fave time of year. Best temps. Best crispness of the air. Best clothing options. And it is usually the most stable of the seasons. No huge rains or snows. Few extreme days in terms of cold or hot. 

I'll miss summer, but not as much as many. 

Song by: the Cure

I'll Follow the Sun

05:44 - the Winter Solstice arrives.

That's 05:44 eastern time.

I should be walking Shep when it occurs.

It is one of these days that always makes of my father. He'd be the first to say, "days get longer from here". 

Which of course was true. But he's ruin summer by saying around June 21st "days get shorter from here.". 

Right now, it's nice to know there will be a little more sunlight. So far, the early and late darkness haven't bothered me that much. Maybe it is because I'm not at home - either working or not. I'm at the office before sun-up and until lately, I've been at home before sundown.  Until a little bit ago, that was doable, but not it's dark no matter how early I try to leave.

All Shep walks during the week are in the dark. He doesn't seem to mind.

As days get longer, maybe the sun will come up to warm shit up. Yesterday we made it up to 30.  Yes, up to. The evening dog walk was not bad, but there is ice everywhere. It's a deathtrap.

Ok.....maybe not death, but it's a broken hip waiting to happen. Even poor Shep has tumbled on the ice. Usually the low center of gravity dogs don't do that.

But as the darkness goes - in the evening this week, Venus is out.....and brighter than fuck. It is quite amazing to see given the chance. I mean, it shines through even the thick clouds.

I don't know if it is viewable everywhere, but in the eastern part of the U.S. it's quite the sight to see.



Song by: the Beatles

Daylight

For those who are my friends follow me on Facebook, you saw me post this weeks ago. But there are dozens and dozens of you who don't - so this might be the first time you're seeing this movie trailer.

Sorry, "movie trailer".

Yes, I bet you thought you were getting Halloween pictures today, didn't you? Well you're wrong. Those kind of parties start after sundown and go for a while. I was in no mood or shape (probably, as I'm drafting this before the actual party) to get a post up for early morning.

You'll see the outcome on Tuesday.

Today is Daylight Saving. Fall backward, as it were. Though, how many people fall backwards? When you fall, I bet it is usually forwards.

Anyway, I do love how these videos have gotten so professional.





"It's not plural" is my favourite line.




Song by: Delerium ft Matthew Sweet

South Wind of Summer

Yes, I am aware that Summer has been over for a week or so now.

Oddly, we are having some of our best and most stable weather of the year in these last two to three weeks. Bright blue skies. Good temps. Low humidity. And until a two days ago, little to no rain.

It makes up for the cold, sopping wet start to the Summer season. After yoga on those days, we were drinking hot chocolate and not iced tea. We were chilled to the bone.

But Autumn is here - in a few ways.

The days are shorter. Well, actually they're still 24 hours, but the light has shorter hours. The temps are nice, but cooler. Oh, and the Autumnal Equinox came.

So last Sunday was our last scheduled outdoor yoga for 2015.

Bummer.

I have barely stepped inside an actual yoga studio in months. Maybe during an inclement day, but not as a regular event. Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), my plan is kind of a pay as you use your package of 10. So I'm not losing anything by not going - unless I get to the end of the calendar year without participating in the amount I purchased. I still have a few months.

David picked me up last Sunday and I vacillated between long and short sleeves. I went with short. It was nippy, but not freezing. As it turns out, before the practice was over, it was warm out. Mid 60s anyways.

But the wind.  Ugh.  And the sand.

Since "swimming" season is over, the parks department are no longer raking the beach. This makes for (more of) an uneven practice space.

I had a fairly crappy practice due to this. Finding balance was hard. Hand placement was hard and eventually painful. And then there was the wind from the south blowing sand everywhere - getting in places you don't want sand and flipping over parts of my mat.

It was one of the least attended of the season, but maybe that's not a surprise with questionable weather and a home Cleveland Browns game.

Having a bad practice isn't always bad. It helps you reassess what you're doing well, what you're doing wrong and where to focus.

Having a questionable weather day might just be a good way to sign-off on an outdoor practice season. It makes it more clear-cut to reestablish your studio and gym options.

I have to say, I didn't miss the indoor practice that much. It was kind of nice being out in nature. The moments when you are told to close your eyes - I just never did. Looking out at Lake Erie and the horizon was zen enough for me. I didn't need to look inside.

Starting this weekend, I'll be practicing inside.......and closing my eyes as such.



Song by:  the Flatlanders

Bushfire

While we might not have had a grand Summer, Autumn has been pretty spectacular.

Mind you, we're only six days into it, but there has rarely been a cloud in the sky. The temps have been in the upper 70s. Humidity has been low low low.

Considering our shitty Winter last year (and well, earlier this year) and our predicted worse Winter this upcoming year - I will savour every single day.

....and.....and (!!), it's supposed to be this way until at least next Friday!!!!

While my cousin has taken pictures of his leaves changing, even though he's 20 minutes away, he must live in a different "zone". The only true ones that have turned here are part of our Burning Bushes.

The reds, what there are of them, are a glorious colour.  Oh yes, I said "glorious".

But as I cut the lawn yesterday, all I could think about was that soon I'd be out there with the gas-powered leaf blower and not the lawn mower.

That depressed me just a bit.

Ok, maybe more than a bit.

As it is, today is our last day of 2014 for rooftop yoga. Another signal to the end of good weather. But I get it, they can't schedule it for every Sunday in October. As we get closer to the end of next month, we could have snow.

Ok. Now I'm really depressed.



Song by: the B-52's

Spring is Here

Allegedly Spring comes at 12:57 EDT today.

Not that one would truly believe that by looking or stepping outside. At least in Ohio. I can't really speak for the rest of you - but to paraphrase George Harrison - it's been a long, cold lonely Winter.

I guess that's quoting him, and not paraphrasing.

That said, the arrival of Spring (usually) coincides with my blogging anniversary. Finishing year 11. 3207 posts (including this one). Countless words. Innumerable of them spelled incorrectly. More than a few Far too many dedicated to Mike.  (I just like to get that dig in a little).

With my blogiversary (is there a correct spelling for that word?) I usually do a video piece. Why should 2014 be any different?

It's not.

Sorry about the second half. The wind kicked up and you get that noise in the mic. Such are the problems of an artist working outside of his known medium.

Like the video says, or implies, thanks for sticking with me. So far it's been a fun ride - and not all in the back of police cars.






Song by: Carly Simon

When the Day is Short

Days start getting longer after today.

Well, let's rephrase, shall we?  Starting tomorrow, there will be more daylight for the next six months. That means more potential outdoor time for Petey. Which is good, because he's trying my ever last nerve.

You read last week that Petey found the cat fud, which made him itchy, to the point he's back on meds. And we moved the cat food, but.........being the hound that he is, Peter has overcome some adversity to get to said fud.

With his claws, Petey is not good on wood or laminate. Add to that complexity when stairs are involved. Yet lo and behold, he's gone pasty his alleged inability and fear to get to what he wants. The bastard.

First - he made it to the basement landing and unlike last week of prying the lid off the tin, he accidentally knocked it down a flight of stairs. How the lid didn't come off is beyond me. This happened while I was out of the house. 

Second - he made it up the back stairs (servant stairs, don't you know!), ate Sophie's fud and knocked her bowl down the entire flight. This also happened when I was out of the house.

Third and Fourth (but no pics), I caught him at the top of the back stairs trying to eat Sophie's food...again. He almost looked guilty, until I realized he was scared to death of falling as he couldn't keep a grip on the stairs.

And then I saw he'd eaten her food which was back on the basement stairs (we tried a futile attempt at those rubber door stops. They are child's play to him). I refilled her bowl and turned around and heard crunching.  That damned dog was in the basement!!! He came up and was eating her food (again).

What I loved about it  - was Sophie was with him in the basement. Checking out to see what he was checking out. Hopefully he didn't find the litter boxes, but not much I can do about that now.

I finally made it to Homo Depot for a latch.

Sophie isn't thrilled with fitting in the door opening and Petey is frustrated that he can see and smell the food, but can't get to it anymore.

T. S.

So, now that I'm (almost) over my frustration at doggie shenanigans, I have two pics to post of the culprits. Somehow, I have to feel Sophie was involved.

I haven't weighed Sophie lately, but this pic looks like she's HUGE. She not - she is just in winter-time mode. Besides reducing her food amount anyways, Petey has eaten most of it in the last week. In theory, she should be Karen Carpenter thin by this point. 

If it weren't for his snorting and kicking in his sleep, Sophie might actually curl up with him closer than this. But it's fun to see them together. I'm not sure she could have asked for a better canine (or feline) companion. 

Song by: Martha Wainwright

Leather

I have become that absent-minded {post} middle-aged man. Apparently, I'm "that guy" who has to be reminded that today is our anniversary. Queue one episode that has been written for every sitcom ever.

The third anniversary is Leather - dontcha know. Well, I didn't. I had to look it up.

Sure some might like Tin, Silver or Gold more, but eh. Leather is so much more versatile.

What?  I mean, belts, shoes, jackets or ....you know, chaps, harnesses, cockrings and such.  See? Versatile!

Years ago, Morty got me a black leather candle (yes, you read that correctly), that actually smelled well, like black leather. I don't know the occasion. I'm not sure there is an occasion for getting black leather candle.

I moved from Columbus to Cleveland with it. Had it at two separate houses until we moved eight plus years ago. 710 made me toss it. I never lit it. I almost didn't want to, but I liked the smell. I'm sure it was cheaper than buying chaps. I mean, I'm guessing!

But there is no leather that will be exchanged today. Except for dinner somewhere, I'm not sure we are celebrating at all. It's not that the thrill is gone or anything, just life getting in the way.

I'm not even sure that dinner will be our celebration. We made tentative plans to go out with friends, not that they wouldn't celebrate with us, but it is not expected or even discussed.

No celebration takes a back seat to leaf clean-up. Continued clean-up that is, though we're getting close to the end. Yesterday was about taking a stab at getting most of the rest of the leaves off the lawn. There is possibly one more small clean-up to do in a week. Last leaf pick-up by the city is in 11 days.

(feel free to insert clumsy penis metaphor here.  hehehe...I said "insert")

The gas-powered leaf blower is great. I never cared for the electric one, but this one is way more powerful and got me to clear the lawn in a little over an hour's time. ....and I look mega-butch with it, no?  (the question is rhetorical - so keep the lips sealed.)

Yesterday morning, before lawn maintenance, we had our neighborhood 'men's breakfast'. Still serving steel cut oats (meh), but at least the company is fine, though we seem to be in the same invite rotation as the last two. I wouldn't mind us getting in a slightly different mix of men (there are multiple gatherings, but generally you're invited to one per year) - not that there's anything wrong with the gents with which we ate. It can just be interesting changing up the list here and there.

Still, it's a great gesture and one of those things that make our neighborhood a little unique.

So, here we are - year three of official marriage. Sure, there were those pesky 25 years of non-marriage, but we're still not recognized by the state of Ohio. Maybe that will change soon.



Song by:  Tori Amos

Wooly Bully

So, yesterday I "claimed" to have seen my first Woolly Bear of the year.

I was corrected that since it was not black or / and brown, it was not a Woolly Bear, just a caterpillar.

Sheesh - rain on my parade.

I stopped short of telling the person that maybe it was just a RuPaul Woolly Bear®.  I mean, "he" seemed to be dressed so over the top, that it is plausible that it was just a drag-queen wooly bear.

Actually, I can't tell you how many years it has been since I've seen a Woolly Bear or a caterpillar. Maybe a decade.  As a kid I used to see them all the time, but as a kid, I had a lot more free time to do nothing than is my current situation.

This pre-butterfly was spotted on my morning walk with Peter.  He noticed it, but didn't really stop to investigate.  I wouldn't know if a dog ate this kind of thing or not.  I would have tried to stop that action - for all three of our sakes.

I don't know if it's anywhere but Cleveland, but for eons we have had Woolly Bear Festivals. Not that I've ever been bored enough to go to one.  I suppose it would give me a reason to see a cousin of mine who lives in Vermilion, but it seems like quite a hike just to see how furry these beasts are.

You see, legend has it that the hairier that Wooly Bear, the harsher the upcoming Winter.

Dick Goddard, our 164 year old weatherman has been going on and on (and on) about Wooly Bears since I was a tot.

Honest to g-d, Mr. Goddard has been around forever. A few years ago his 39 (!!) year old wife was arrested for physically abusing him.  The newspaper stated his age at 73!

IMPOSSIBLE.

He most certainly had to be 65 when I first met him when I was an 8th grader - and let me tell you, that was quite a while ago.

The guy can really move, huh?

Now Sashay Away.



Song by:  Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs

Dusk and Summer

To continue on with the beginning of summer celebration, Saturday 710 and I went to, what is now, an annual event at the Cleveland Museum of Art:  Summer Solstice.

What started off five years or so ago as a party of music and art at the museum, now has two separate entrance times and a total of 5,000 attendees.

Since this was our first go-round, we'll assume the older farts opted for the 20:00 time and the youths went for the cheaper (half priced) 22:30 time - you know when night life just gets going for them.

Long ago, I was one of those youths - one who never thought about going out before 23:30.  Now that's an hour past my bed time.

So yes, I am one of those old(er) farts.

I'll also assume that a bigger gay faction came at 22:30, but who knows.  I saw some gay men of our age, but they fall in with the older fart crowd - like us.

I didn't know what to expect, actually.  We weren't casual, but we weren't dressed up.  Yet some were there in seersucker and bow ties. Another guy had a cut off Puma t-shirt and workout shorts, and then there was everything in between.

Food and drink were reasonably cheap (and the the food was better than good!!!).

But the set-up is this:  a few DJs (including one I even heard of (!) Afrika Bambaataa), live bands outdoors - all of whom were great and great to listen to (not that I'd ever probably buy their music to play in my car, but it was great as live world music), dancing, access to the art museum, including the just opened North Wing, and then all the people viewing you wanted, or could, take in.  Oh, and balloon people.

Forget the entire balloon folks, I'm digging this chick's skirt made out of blown-up latex.

Tickets are not cheap - $60 per person for the 20:00 entrance time.  That doesn't cover food, drink or parking. If you were a big eater / drinker, for an additional $50 it was all you could eat / drink. We didn't do that.  I had yoga then next morning.

But we wandered the museum.  We listened to music - one what I would call World Music

One of the other bands had a song called "Brass & Drums", which couldn't have been a huge stretch since the entire band was made up of percussion and brass instruments (which I thought I videoed, but didn't).

We ate.  We drank. I did more people watching than 710, but that is my style.

And true to form, we left at 22:30.  Mostly because it was hot as the blazes.  Summer Solstice was actual:  we had gone from 70 degree days to 90, and it was a tad bit warm without 3,000 of our closest friends.

But for fun, here are some pictures of the evening.

Mummenschanz-like creatures.  Similar to what they have at Parade in the Circle.  Still fun to view. 

Front of the museum with the stage.  

Front of the museum with some early revelers. 

Projecting art on front of the building while the concert is going on. 

.....and then there is the dancing.  Maybe more people danced later on, but before 22:30, it was just the balloon folks..............plus one lady holding her purse.

I think we'll try to go again next year.  We might arrange things differently, but we have a few months to figure that out before tickets go on sale.  Oh - and yes, they sold out in a matter of days.



Song by:  Death Cab For Cutie

The Summer Moved On

The Summer Solstice happens at 01:04 (EDT).

Whoo-hoo?

Well, the sun is straight overhead the Tropic of Cancer at that time. Is that the same thing?

Either way, when it becomes daylight won't be the same in Cleveland as it is, say in Providence, Rhode Island.  And depending where you are on the latitude, daylight will range from 14-16 hours.  It's all a scam.

It's nice and all, but it still seem like summer is a long way coming.

Actually, the weather the last week has been grand.  High '70s, low humidity and very cool at night.  It is like optimal weather.

But it's not summer.  Not that I'm complaining.

As I walked out to get the paper in my bare feet, or check on the doggie - the sun drenched drive felt warm and inviting. I stood there for a moment thinking of being a kid and standing, without shoes or socks, on black asphalt seeing how long one could endure the pain and heat.

I could take it for an inordinate amount of time, but there was no one recording the accomplishment for posterity.

I'll miss the actual time of the Solstice, unless of course, I can't sleep.

Early this morning I'll be going yoga where we will be doing a full hour of sun salutations.  I suppose there are some groups who'd do something extreme like salutations for the entire time of sunlight. I have no way of confirming this of course, but considering I just a sign-up for "Yoga for Smokers", you gotta figure there is the other extreme.

But if I'm one of the first 10 folks into yoga today, I get a free mat.  I bet it's purple....or orange.  Oh well, it'll be free.

Welcome to summer folks.  Right on time.


Song by:  a-ha

Change is on the Way

It started earlier this month, after weeks of 90+ degrees, it just dropped to 70s and even sometimes 50s at night.

Now, while walking Petey yesterday, I saw this. A tree that is changing colours already.

Granted, it is only one tree, at least on the walk we did, but it is the sign of things to come.

Of course I know this. Cyclical it is, as the Earth revolves around that gaseous ball of hot plasma and hydrogen.

Walks in the morning are no longer in the light. It's light by the time we're done, just not when we start. {sigh}

But I'm enjoying it as it comes. What are the alternatives?

I'll save my hate and resentment for Winter.


Song by:  Shawn Colvin

Summer Moved On

Today is the Summer Solstice.

If I had the opportunity, or time, the gym is doing a Solstice yoga session underneath the big wind turbine.

We don't have a rock formation created by the Druids, so you have to work with what you've got.

And I will be at work, so no posing to the sun g-d to me.  That is unfortunate, as I've never done a yoga class outside. For whatever reason, that interests me.

I will be spending time in the office with sweltering 90+ degree heat.  It's not pleasant but it's not 30, so I'm not really complaining.

...and just so I can complete the transition of me turning me into my father......while today is the longest day of sunlight, the days just start getting shorter after this.

Suck on that.



Song by:  a-ha

Spring and All

I took a walk yesterday evening, and fuck, it was 75 degrees!!!

Global warming be damned, I'll take an early Spring.  I'll take any Spring.  The last decade we've gone from wet soggy cold to blazing hot with little in between.

But Cleveland racked up it's warmest Winter on record, and I'm ok  with that too - as you know how cold I get. So if all Winters could be like this, I'd survive up here. Alas, we know it was a fluke.

Just like this Spring. My sister thinks we have one more snow.  I don't.  I don't doubt it will go back to the 40s here and there, but these days of 70s and 80s are pretty frickin' sweet.

I love sleeping with the window open and the comforter off.  It seems exxxxtra special in March.  Usually the storm windows are still in place......until mid-May.

And flowers. Everything is on the way to blooming early. Tulips are pushing up, the maples are budding, magnolias are out, you name it.  Oh and the deer are back.  Three huge ones could have trampled me to death as I was picking up twigs and branches in the yard on Sunday.  Spring is usually the time we see the babies, but two of these seemed like they should have a ball cap on and a whistle around their neck.

I swear I feel bad for the polars bears and their lack of ice caps. I'm just not sure I feel bad enough.



Song by:  Mary Chapin Carpenter

Summer Evening

So here we are:  Summer Day 1.  Well, technically sometime in the early afternoon EDT.

I'm always looking forward to Summer.  I guess I look forward to all of the seasons, save Winter.   Spring of course, because it signifies the end of Winter.  Cruel Cruel Winter.

Where was Bananarama on that one?

I have not bitched about the heat this year for two reasons:  we have not experienced it yet, but mainly I can't.  I will bitch up and down about the cold and figure you can only pick one to moan about.  I've opted for cold.

But it is the longest day of the year.  I'll be stuck inside doing work related things in Tennessee.

Tennessee, where it is scheduled to be in the mid-90s today.   It's ok.  It'll all be ok.

I'm not in Ohio.  I will miss home. I will not miss the scheduled five or six days of continual rain.  We no longer need it.  We haven't for a long time, but yet it comes.  Daily.

The lawn looks great.

I do look forward to the summer evenings.  Sitting outside.  Taking walks.  Eating on a patio, be it ours or a restaurant.  The evenings make the year.  They make the season.

Enjoy it all while you can.  We know it won't and cannot last.  I try not to reflect on that aspect, just the now - at least in Summer.  For Winter, I do look forward.  Fast forward.  It never comes.  Not fast enough anyway.



Song by:  Gillian Welch

Hockey Skates

We had my little sister's kids on Saturday day and over night. They've been asking to stay over for longer than a year. We've just been successful at putting them off for this long.

Sure I like my nieces and nephews, but how do I say this kindly - I don't like kids. They are both needy and yet don't really know what they want (or want to do) nor know how to articulate it well enough.

Yes, I guess this is not their problem, but I freely admit that I don't deal with it well. And they're messy. It turns out, I'm more nit picky than I fully realize. Food half-eaten and left around, or coats on the ground or/and TVs turned on and they've left the room - for good.

The idea was to wear them out. We failed.

There is this winter wonderland down at Jacob's Field (home field of the Cleveland Indians). Since no one attended during the actual baseball season, the administration was trying the money maker of doing tubing, skating, mazes and a snow making machine - a family day out.

That is, if the family you belong to is one for whom Mitch McConnell is trying to keep your tax breaks. The price to get in and actually participate in these events is astronomical. Had I known before hand, I would have taken the kids to see Saw 7 instead - and they're all under 10 years old!

The older kids liked the tubing. Uncle Blobby did not.

I did not feel in control. As it turns out, I don't like being out of control. Note my earlier comments on not being able to control how kids act or do.

I did like the ice skating.

Yeah, this picture doesn't really show me skating, but Denton did take video of it, but I ain't posting it here. Sorry.

I think I was like 19 the last time I skated on ice. Ruckiry (not Jon's boss), I called upon my long-ago rollerblading skills and made it around the alleged "mile-long" course a number of times. I was slowed down by my ever-trailing 10 year old niece. Bother!

The ticketing here was incredibly bad too. Instead of just doing it in two-hour segments from the time you purchased, they were just two-hour segments: 2p-4p, 4p-6p etc. So if you got there at 2:30p, you still had to leave at 4p, but pay the frickin' full price. What a rip.

The kids were probably ready to go. They were cold. It was cold. But I would have liked to skate for another hour or so.

I think maybe for another distraction for us, Denton and I will just do open skating at one of our ice rinks that are around Cleveland. It's new to us, we've never done it - at least together. It was how my parents met over 54 years ago. They still have dinner once a year with their skating club - though clearly, those numbers are dwindling each and every year.

Still my mom will be thrilled that her youngest granddaughter went skating. I might even get points for taking her. I said: might!



Song by: Kathleen Edwards

Mr. November

Can you believe it is the last day of the 11th month of the year? Oh where does the time go?

It's been a great Fall and technically I know we're not into Winter, but December seems like Winter - even if it is just December 1st.

This pic was taken at the beginning of the month. Still November, just not now in November. The leaves are gone finally. I expected them to be off their branches much earlier this year, considering we had an incredibly hot and dry summer.

But no, the maple leaves stuck around until they absolutely had to go. They're off the trees and raked up, but not gone. Our last pile sits on the tree lawn waiting for the city to scoop them up.

My sister was right over Tgiving though, the Winter shouldn't seem so long this year. So often we get snow in late October and we really have had nothing here. Yeah, my cousin saw a few inches (must not say anything.........must not say anything..........must not say anything) and yes, we had some non-sticking flurries over the weekend, but I can't say we really have had snow. ....so that right there cuts off at least a month of Winter, right?

And Cyber Monday is over. The heavily marketed, yet incorrectly identified, biggest on-line shopping day of the year has come and gone without me ordering or buying anything for the holidays. That being said - I have a few gifts for farther away nieces and nephews already taken care of, but that's about it.

Tomorrow starts what I consider Winter, even if the sun king does not. We close in on the end of 2010. I'm ready for November to be over. It certainly had a huge milestone for Denton and myself, but it seems to have gone on forever.

I'm ready to keep moving.


Song by: the National