[21:30 UTC-4]
[+32*F....+27*F w/wind-chill....snow....winds out of the w/n/w @ 9 mph]
[Now Playing: a classical mix off Youtube [link]]
   It's been a typical early Spring day here in the Northcountry of New York State....where I live is in the lee of Lake Ontario....which is a major factor in our weather....it has either rained or snowed all day....and they....that is the rain and snow have taken turns....not that either fall in any great amounts....and with the temperature above the freezing point most of the day there was really no chance of any accumulation....perhaps a little will stick over night....but temperature will be in the 40's and 50's starting Tuesday....so maybe Spring has finally sprung....
   Did take a walk today to Aldi with a quick stop on the way to the ATM....and in the short time I walked....in snowed....rained briefly....and then snowed again....but all were very light....if you've read this slagheap before you will understand....I was almost out of bananas....my routine is to about any hour or so after I awake is to have a banana, a granola bar, and coffee....I tend to be a creature of habit....which came in handy when I worked ( have been retired now for almost 10 years )....I ran a shipping department in a small factory....and one of my best skills was making order out of the chaos which often engulfed the department....I always had a set plan for every days tasks....obviously it almost never happened exactly the way I'd planned....but you can modify a plan to fit the situation if you don't have a plan to begin with...."winging it" was never my style.... 

[21:40 UTC-4]
[+52*F...."feels like" +50*F....rain....winds out of the south @ 8 mph]
[Now Playing: a classical mix of Youtube[link]]
   Although a nice warm day for early Spring....not a day fit for a walk....unless you were a duck or one of the Canada geese that nest near my rooms....so have had a very restful....quite day....but with practically nothing on the "Old Boob Tube".....have spent the time as I usually do....online....been a busy day....I posted a cartoon to my FB timeline that produced a barrage of replies from my punster friends....and weekends are always busy on the FB group I help moderate....a whole bunch of both new member requests and pending posts to check....but I tend on concentrating on the task of vetting the new members....we have a strict policy of only cartoons....basically those of Larson and similar cartoons....no memes or videos....and a strictly enforced rule against political posts or political replies....no tolerance....violate the rules and you are removed from membership and blocked from re-applying....after a day of rain....snow is predicted for tomorrow and then warming on Monday....and warm next week...although belatedly....Spring maybe just around the corner... 

[20:45 UTC-4]
[+38*F....clear....s/s/e winds at 1 mph]
[Now Playing: my mix of the day off Youtube[like]]
   Rain is expected overnight and at times tomorrow....and then some light snow on Sunday....but I quite sure that we haven't yet seen the end of "Old Man Winter's" bag  of tricks....Walked this morning to one of the local convenience stores....they were out of the tobacco product that I use....and the "truck" as they say came in last night....because of the winter and sometimes I can't walk for several days....I always have a "backup" supply....and then again this evening....but the evening walk was just around the grounds off where I live....
   I have a Doc's appointment a week from this Monday....just a regular check up....every six months....but  last visit he told me if my numbers stayed good He might take me off my meds....which I fondly hope comes true....my HBP med is a diuretic...and I have fond memories before I started on it of sleeping at night for more than two hours at a time....

[19:20 UTC-4]
[+52*F...."feels like" +45*F....cloudy....winds out of the South @ 15 mph....]
[Now Playing: "My Mix" for today of Youtube  [link]]
   Took a walk early this AM....basically just to walk....a brisk wind...at the time....+40+F w/ a "feels like" of +32*F....and by the time I took a walk to Ollie's just after 17:00....had warmed up to +50*F....a brisk breeze but quite nice for late March....had emptied my bottle of balsamic vinegar into the squeeze bottle....and need to "restock"....i have all the liquids I use in cooking in squeeze bottles....because of my essential tremors I have problems pouring from a bottle and getting the amount that I need....if I have a tremor I may what a splash....and get a "down pour"....also got some skid resistant shelf liners....I have a shelving unit just in side my front door....where I keep my shoes and other outdoor items...hats, gloves....etcetera...and also trash bags...and other miscellaneous items....then off to Dollar General....there are too few electrical outlets in my room....and too many things to plug in....got an adapter that changes a 2 plug outlet to six outlets....also bought a pocket knife....I grew up rural and you didn't go any where with out your trusty pocket knife....but never thought of it as a weapon....but as a tool....when I worked for those many years in shipping/receiving always had a box knife with me....Dollar General had a ford-able one....had seen it a couple of weeks ago and decided to get it....there are things around my rooms I could use it for....up to now have used a kitchen knife....not always successfully....            

[21:23 UTC-4]
[+34*F...."feels like" +29*F....clear....South/East @ 6 mph]
[Now Playing: "Have His Carcase" [link]]
   Was another pleasant late Winter....early Spring day....another bright shining day....with unlike yesterday a few wispy high clouds....made a quick trip to Aldi....didn't need much....but hated to let the nice day go by without a walk....
   After that just a quiet day....the usual online activities....but not much to relay.... 

[21:15 UTC-4]
[+26*F....+19*F w/wind-chill....sunny....winds out of the s/s/w @ 7 mph]
[Now Playing: the Hammer Film production of "The Hound of the Baskervilles" [1959....w/Peter Cushing & Christoper Lee]
   Although not a particularly warm day....a beautiful day for a walk....what we used to call a "high sky"....and nary a cloud in sight....but a little haze at the horizon....Now I go to the plaza that Price Chopper is in most every week, but it's right there when you enter the plaza and i rarely go any further....except to T J Maxx which is directly opposite....but needed to go to Staple's at the far end of the plaza....stopped into the new pet store....been thinking about getting a parakeet, but they only had tropical fish....than to Staples for some of the smaller size of legal pads which I use for notes.... et ectera....than a stop at an Army/Navy store....and than T J Maxx....and found there a bottle of caviar....at a very low price....I don't eat it very often....but I do enjoy it from time to time....besides just to good of the deal to pass up....just before sunset....I decided to walk again....and "needed" an excuse....so walked to the a convenience store to get somethings....but they were out of the one I use...so on the way back got a 6 pack of 71/2 oz cans of Docter Pepper....I rarely drink soda....[what we called as a lad soda-pop]....an rarely drink all of a 12 oz can....and hate paying vending machine prices....but once in awhile I'll have a desire for a soda pop....and a small can of Dr.P....fits the bill....  

[21:30 UTC-4]
[+25*F....+17*F w/wind-chill....clear....wind out of the South/West @ 7 mph]
[Now Playing: Beethoven's 7th Symphony [Ozawa & the Boston Symphony Orchestra[link]]]
   Temperature hung right around the freezing point [+32*F] with wind-chills varying around the mid to upper 20's depending on the wind speed....but for an early Spring day....quite pleasant....bright and sunny most of the daylight hours....needed to get a few things at Aldi....but since my short cut to Big Lots is now passable with the piles of plowed snow all but gone....so since Big Lots is farther than Aldi went there first and then stopped at Aldi on the way back to my rooms....got a bottle of hot sauce....one I haven't had before....which makes probably a dozen or better hot sauces/red pepper flakes/and spice blends with contain dried hot peppers....In my youth I was a really "fire-eater"....the hotter and spicier the better.....I still like spicy food....problem is the spicy food doesn't always like me....so I have learned moderation (the hard way}....also a container of dried kiwi fruit....the weird thing  about it is I don't care for fresh kiwi....but I like the dried kiwi....and then off to Aldi....the usual....liquid egg white....bananas....bottles of fruit flavor sparkling water....now I generally only eat a limited amount of meat....using it mostly for flavor....rarely as the main part of the meal....but from time to time enjoy a burger or an Arby's beef sandwich....ok....and the curly fries....but Aldi had a six-pack of White Castle sliders....and a 3 pack of fresh garlic bulbs....last week was "German Week" at Aldi (Aldi is a german based company)....and they had some of the import pretzel crackers that I had gotten last year and really enjoyed....so later....felt like another walk....and with the short cut to the plaza down the hill to Ollie's and Dollar General....really wasn't going to get anything specific....just looking to see if Ollie's had anything new that would speak to me....nada....and a quick stop at Dollar General....same result....but I enjoyed the walk....

[19:15 UTC-4]
[+39*F...."feels like" +32*F....partly cloudy....winds out of the w/s/w @ 5 mph....]
[Now Playing: "Also Sprach Zarathustra" [LINK]]
   The piece I'm listen to tonight while posting....parts my sound familiar....they where used as I of the themes in the movie "2001".....composer was Richard Strauss....
   Temperatures during daylight hours were in the low 40's F.....but there was a cold brisk wind...so it felt much colder....however I was out of root veg....so early in the day make a quick trip to "visit" my money at the near by ATM....and later made the walk to Price Chopper....while I buy most of my groceries at Aldi (closer and better prices)....Price Chopper has a better selection of root veg....besides if Aldi does have it....I'd have to buy a "bag" of an item....at Price Chopper I can buy one or two individual items....parsnips, turnips, and celery root....they don't always have it but when they do I get one....things are dang hard to peel....no fancy peeler for these bad boys....you have to use a very sharp paring knife....which I have....also a knife sharpener comes in handy....but well worth the effort....also some shallot, a sweet potato, and a small cabbage (not a root veg but I grew up in a german/polish rural area in western NYS....and got to have my cabbage....)
    

[20:35 UTC-4]
[+30*F....+20*F w/wind-chill....clear....winds out of the south/west @ 12 mph]
[Now Playing: today's "My Mix" off Youtube[link]]
   One of the pieces in the "My Mix" tonight is the "Alleluia" by Thompson....I had the opportunity to sing it over the course of many years with several different groups and ranks right up there in my list of favorite choir work....
   The storm predicted for overnight last night was long on prediction....but short on delivery....we got maybe 3" of snow....and that's giving it the benefit of the doubt....but the weather over the next 2 weeks definitely on the raise....with daytime temperatures in the high 40's and mid 50's most days....of course many of those days will have rain for at least part of the day....but then it is Spring...
   Walked briefly this AM....needed a few things at Aldi....and will probably take a trip to Price Chopper in the next few days....they have a better variety of the root veg which is a important part of mt diet.... 

[20:10 UTC-4]
[+28*F....+17 w/wind-chill....snow....winds out of the north/west @ 14 mph]
[Now Playing: another daily my mix off Youtube[link]]
   We are under yet another winter weather advisory....good grief....I'd like to remind "Old Man Winter" that it's the 22nd of March....and the geese are back and nesting....if he can't consider us then he should consider the poor mommy goose....hopefully this is his last gasp....but after living up here for many years....and at times like this I might even at times think too many years....nothing weather-wise would surprise me....we once got about 15" of snow on "Mother's Day {traditionally the 2nd Sunday in May] and 12" the Sunday before Columbus Day [the 2nd Monday in October]....so snow in late March is expected....if not desired....and the first day of Spring [at least from the Sun's orientation to the earth....the so called Equinoxes] was two days ago....[March 20th]....oy vey...[text of the advisory is post at the top of the footer...]
   The weather all day has been quite unfavorable for a walker like myself....rain....than snow....and the possibility of winds in the range of 35 mph....so it's been the old trollie just in his warm rooms...and online....and besides I made my necessary walks both Wednesday and Thursday so am well stocked up....

[21:00 UTC-4]
[+41*F...."feels like" +36*F....light rain....winds out of the s/s/e @ 9 mph]
[Now Playing: today's "My Mix" off Youtube[link]]
   It was a very nice early spring day....I wanted to go to Aldi, Ollie's & Dollar General....Aldi is on the south side of Arsenal St....and I have to walk a short distance to the east to get to a crosswalk....and the plaza with both Ollie's and Dollar General is to the west and north of Arsenal street and is set back from the street....although only in the mid-40's compared to the weather this winter it felt warm....but a little windy....so just one of my lightest hoodies and a vest windbreaker....and off to Aldi....I'd like to say that I had miss calculated the volume of what I wanted to get at Aldi, but the truth is I hadn't given it a thought....so change of plans....but only a slight detour....to get to  the plaza...I had to walk past the hotel I live in....the front of the first building faces south....but the end of the 3rd building [where my rooms are} faces west and out the backdoor and a short walk down the hill and I'm on the plaza sidewalk....done  it before....a brief stop to put the perishables in the frig....and me and my empty sling bag were off....didn't find anything at Ollie's but that's the nature of the place it's a clearance outlet....and if you do see something you like you'd better get it then....or the next time it might be gone for every....Dollar General had their fleece throws on close-out at 1/2 price....and bought one the other day and picked up two more....and a small cup of ice cream....on my way back up the hill to my rooms I interrupted the pair of geese who live in a small pond just behind the hotel next door and female was feeding on the lawns of where i live....and the male standing watch....in a couple of weeks there will be an un-known number of little fuzzy goslings in attendance....and the male was annoyed with me for the interruption and preceded to cuss me out as only a goose can....and honked at me repeatedly....so I decided to respond....and had a enjoyable few minutes honking at the geese....    

[15:15 UTC-4]
[+48*F...."feels like" +42*F....fair....winds out of the w/s/w at 13 mph]
[Now Playing: a mix off Youtube [link]]
   The mix I'm listening to features performances by Maurice Andre who was the most noted Baroque trumpet player when I first really "discovered" Baroque music....both instrumental & the true musical passion of my life Baroque liturgical....composers like Bach and Handel et al....( in the 1960's)
   I'm posting a little earlier than I usually do....but had sometime....and there again may "tack-on" more later....
   Have been wanting to that a walk to a Walgreen's store that is right at the limit of my usual walking distance....and the sidewalks are not well maintained in the winter....so was waiting for a nice day after the resent thaw....I use a topical analgesic rub for my aches & pains....but am very picky of the ones I use....the  two places closer to me where I was getting my fav one....no longer "carry" it....so off to Walgreen's....and although what they had was a different brand....same type....but there's a problem with their location....I had to walk by an Arbys....I haven't had any "fast food" in over a year and a half....doesn't really fit in with my new diet plan....but a roost beef sandwich and curly fries....just to tempting....although true to my german roots....took it to go and when I got back to my rooms a good dollop of good horseradish was added....reminds me as a boy when you'd enter the "mud room" of my grandmother's house....there would be horseradish root hanging on the wall to dry....

[19:45 UTC-4]
[+31*F....partly cloudy....winds from the south at 2 mph]
[Now Playing: "The Six Napoleons" [a Sherlock Holmes episode[link]]
   A pretty normal late winter, early fall day....my short cut to the plaza is finally passable....so this morning took a walk over to Ollie's and Dollar General....not really looking for anything in particular at Ollie's but then I never really do....the nature of the place means you never no exactly what you might find....and if you like it....buy it now....because when it's gone it's gone....but was it the market for some new socks....I go through socks at an accelerated rate mainly because I never wear socks indoors....except when in the process of going out....got a very nice set of 3 pairs of heavy work type socks....in the faint hope that they will last me a longer than most....didn't see anything else that "caught my eye".....and off to Dollar General....needed to get some dish towels....and picked up a few other things as well....but the checkout girl was giving me a hard time because I hadn't bought anything edible....which I must admit is rare in that store....now in summer time when I stop in there I usually plan it as my last stop....and get a small cup of ice cream....nothing cools me off better that a bit of ice cream....so despite the fact that it's not summer....bought the ice cream....and enjoyed it very much....

[20:25 UTC-4]
[+29*F....+22*F w/wind-chill....cloudy....winds out of the s/w at 7 mph....]
   Decided to walk today....could have waited a couple of days....except that I wanted to make sure I got a couple more packages of speck....[see yesterday's post]....knowing that when it was gone it would be gone....and with the thaw of the last couple of days....also knew that my short cut between Aldi and Big Lots would be passage....I get most of my spices at either Ollie's or Big Lots....sometimes Dollar General....and thought it was about time that I added thyme to my collection of spices....besides while at Big Lots....picked up another container of finishing salt and another tin of stuffed grape leaves....and then off to Aldi....some sparkling water....some mushrooms.....some grape tomatoes....and 2 more packages of speck....the weather was quite pleasant for this time of year when I left my rooms....right one side or the other of 32*F....with just light winds....but by the time I was I my way back to my rooms the wind had increased to a stiff breeze and it was a little nippy....
   Back at my lodgings....saw a sure sign that spring is just around the corner....a pair of Canada geese....the one keeping watch, while the other was eating....probably the female....there is a small pond maybe 50 feet from my back door....and usually there are two or three pairs that reside there through the mid summer....and raise this years hatch there....and I have hours of enjoyment watching the little ones grow up....by mid-summer the goslings are fully feathered and the only way to tell them from the adults is size....so mom is eating for way more than two....I've see a pair of adults with 11 goslings although 4 to 6 is more typical....

[19:30 UTC-4]
[+28*F....+18*F w/wind chill....cloudy....winds out of the w/s/w at 11 mph....]
[Now Playing: "Away All Boats" [link]]
   The weather turned cold overnight....but the funny thing about it....because of the high winds yesterday....the "feels like"/wind-chill...was within a degree or two of yesterday....when I walked today....the wind was not bad at all....my walk this morning is one of the longer one's that I take....first a convenience store...than a short backtrack and across the street to Price Chopper....do most of my shopping for groceries at Aldi....but Price Chopper has a better select and variety than Aldi....and I can but one or two of an item....not a whole bag....as I was getting the usual parsnips....and red onion....I noticed something although I've heard of it....seen it on cooking shows...had never seen celery root before....so one ended up in my basket....so off to Aldi....in the process walked past my lodgings....but on the other side of the street....just was looking for bananas and liquid egg whites....but looked at the specialty items....Aldi is a German owed company....and it's "German Week" and they have a bunch of specialty items imported....and I saw a package of speck, again had seen it on cooking shows, but never had it....if you don't know what it is, it's a cured pork product....a type of bacon....probably be back at Aldi in the next few days and if there's any left...I'll buy a few more packages....both that and the aforementioned celery root ended up in a very nice 2nd meal egg white dish.... 

[21:20 UTC-4]
[+29*F....+17*F w/wind-chill....cloudy....winds out of the west at 16 mph]
[Now Playing: "Star Wars" episode III on the TNT network]
   It had rained overnight but had stopped by morning....but the winds in excess of 20 mph w/ gusts higher prevailed all day....and turning colder over the next few days and then warming on Tuesday....I really have no need to get out before than....but that would be the better part of four days in my room [save for the brief walk yesterday to the ATM....
   TNT is showing a Star Wars marathon but today and tomorrow.....the only two that I really like are episodes I & IV.....of the other four I can tolerate II, III, & VI....but would never watch V again unless someone paid me to watch it....and I wouldn't be cheap....

[21:35 UTC-4]
[+38*F...."feels like" +28*F....rain....winds out of the s/w at 17 mph]
[Now Playing:"Hec Ramsey" pilot [link]]
   It was a windy, damp day today, and rained overnight....didn't rain again until just before dusk...and will turn colder tomorrow....but in the high 20's to mid 30's but probably will walk tomorrow or Sunday....but needed to visit my money at the bank....and it's in the opposite direction of the walk I need to make on the morrow....fortunately my short cut to the bank was a tad tricky but passable....so visited the ATM....today....other than that I've spent a quiet day in my rooms....and online....besides I just felt....well a little "off" today....nothing really wrong....maybe just a little worn down....have walked several times in the last couple of days and I  think I'm just a little out of shape "after my long winters "nap"" [aka: pretty much staying in my rooms because of the snow/cold/ice/high winds....

{21:15 UTC-4}
{+51*F...."feels like" +46*F....mostly cloudy....winds out of the s/s/e at 15 mph}
{Now Playing: "Sink the Bismarck" {link}}
   A beautiful day....mid-50's when I walked this morning....danged if I did almost get hit by one of those small econo-boxes driven by a rather ditzy millennial....who rolled down the window and said  "I'm sorry....I didn't see you"....oy vey....honest I'm in a marked crosswalk with the walk light on....fortunately she was driving quite slowly....turning left off a side-street broad daylight....and she didn't see me....probably on a smart phone or some such mobile devise....not the first time I had a close call but when she did stop I had my hand on the hood of the car about to do my best impression of a matador dodging a charging bull....and honestly I did not have my cloaking devise engaged....oy vey....
   Going to rain tomorrow and then the temperature will drop back down into the mid 30's over the weekend....but what tells me that Spring is just around the corner is for the last two days I have see pairs of Canada geese on the wing....and there honking was heard even by this partially deaf old man....a few more weeks and this years hatch will be running around with mom and dad watching their every move....

[21:10 UTC-4]
[+36*F...."feels like" +30*F....winds out of the east at 7 mph]
[Now Playing: Brahms' "A German Requiem" [link]]
   A pleasant mid-30's day....rain started around dusk....but took two walks....the first one this morning was in a direction I rarely walk....was unsure of the footing....whether there were still some icy patches....besides I knew that one of my "shortcuts" would be passable....most of my shorts involve traveling over steep, grassy slopes....so decided to take the cane....besides I was a bit stiff from the two walks yesterday....and I also have some balance issues....and about half the way to "Big Lots"....the legs loosened up....and I really didn't need the cane....but than I'm not opposed to "sporting" a cane....Big Lots is a lot like Ollie's in that if you think you'd like it....buy it....because the next time you're there it might be gone forever....and while there among other things got a bottle of hot sauce....a kind I didn't have....at this point the count is around 12 bottles....all different....I love spicy foods....and was a real "fire eater" when I was younger....but with age I still love spicy food but oft times it doesn't love me....I never get "hot" wings....I always get mild....and then add hot sauce to my tastes....also picked up a container that had 4 different finishing salts....brings the total to eight different kinds of salt....and that doesn't count my garlic or celery salts....but the second walk was basically the same course I had walked yesterday afternoon so I left the cane sulking in the corner of my rooms....although the knees and feet have been behaving themselves....I'm well aware that I probably will have need of the cane[s] in the future....the young man who had this body thought it indestructible....the older and wise man who now inhabits it knows the younger me was an dummkoph....on the other hand I still look back fondly on some of the crazy things I did....and if I could go back to that time....I'd probably do them all over again.... 

[20:55 UTC-5]
[+27*F....+20*F w/ wind-chill....clear....winds from the south/west at 10 mph]
[ Now playing: today's "My Mix" off Youtube [link]]
 I tried to copy and paste a post from my Facebook timeline here to save time.....and had forgotten why I don't do that....the two systems are not really compatible and it looks terrible....I was hoping not to do a re-write of it but will have to....
   About 16 months ago I made major changes not only in my diet but my life style....I had been experiencing periodic problems with both my knees and my feet...to the extent that I was forced to use a cane....sometimes two....just to move around my rooms....since the change my legs have been much better and I have ceased using the cane in my rooms and the hotel were I've lived for the past 8 years....just a two star rating but the location is perfect for someone like me who because of vision problems and essential tremors has no business driving anymore....but the problem with the legs was a problem....but since the change mentioned above my legs are pretty stable....but for the reason of the poor footing during the winter, and to a less extend because of habit I have continued to use the cane when I walk outside....but on my second walk today....I left the cane in the room....the first time I've walked outside with out it in 4 or 5 years....it felt a little weird at first....but I haven't enjoyed a walk more in a long time....now I am nothing if not a realist....and know that from time to time I may need to use the cane[s] again....but for now my intention is to leave them in the corner by the door....the weather will be in the 40's and 50's the next few days....and then back to the 30's again....so I intend to enjoy it
   

[21:45 UTC-4]
[+31*F....+19*F w/wind-chill....cloudy....winds out of the west at 17 mph]
[Now Playing: today's "my mix" off Youtube [link]]
   Another blustery March day....and another day, a quiet day for me....no walk...but plan to walk tomorrow....and over the next few days there will be a warming trend and the temperature on Thursday is predicted to be in the mid-50s F....but by nature being a realist....some would say pessimist....I'm not ready to declare winter at an end....lived my whole life [save for 9 semesters of college] either in Western NY...in the lee of Lake Erie or in the Northcountry of NY....in the lee of Lake Ontario....and this being my 72nd winter [for some reason don't remember the first couple] I've too many times see the weather warm up....only to see winter get at least a couple more "licks in"....
   But a quiet day except for the fact that housekeeping came in for the weekly cleaning and changing my linens....something that really is a great thing....I not only really dislike "housecleaning"....never was very good at it....and with the added disadvantage of not being as limber as I once was....bending is difficult....not to mention that if I tried to knee to scrub the floor....my knees would be singing an off key dirge for days....I've had chronic tendonitis in both knees since I was 15 years old [a wrestling injury]....and playing soccer (yeah I know but in the USA that's what we call football] at the small college level, also maybe too much volleyball as a set/digger....not to mention several other sports were the knees are vulnerable....I played many years ago....long be for the creation of the "libero".....but if it had existed when I played....that is the position I would have played....because that was the "role" I played....

[20:20 UTC-4]
[+36*F...."feels like" +26*F....rain showers....wind out of the s/w at 21 mph]
[Now Playing: Mozart "Requiem in D minor" [link]]
   I awoke in the middle of the night to the wind gusting and rattling the winds....we had a mix of rain/freezing rain....and all though where I live was not effected there were some wires down....and power outages....did even think about thinking about walking today....tomorrow possible snow and high winds again....but weather looks good for Tuesday....and have no need to walk before that....
   

[21:10 UTC-5]
[+27*F....+17*F w/wind-chill....clear....winds out of the east at 8 mph]
[Now Playing" today's "My Mix" off Youtube [link]]
   The weather was quite nice today....mid-30's F....and just a little breeze....in fact I walked twice....once for groceries at Aldi....and later to Ollie's and Dollar General....the second trip was mostly just to check if Ollie's had gotten anything interesting in....but they hadn't got anything new that I couldn't live without....and just stopped in Dollar General because it was on the way back to my rooms....didn't buy a thing....but enjoyed the fairer weather and the walk....but the weather is turning ugly over night....freezing rain changing to rain....temperatures in the mid-40's....and high winds....guess I'm not going anywhere tomorrow....
   Speaking of tomorrow you might notice a change in the time "stamp" I put at the head of all my posts....from tomorrow to early November...."UTC-5" will change to "UTC-4"....no I'm not moving....the USA is going on what we call "Daylight Saving Time".....officially the clocks will be set ahead one hour at 02:00 tomorrow morning.....on the other hand I'll un-officially do it when I tuck myself into bed tonight....and my desktop will automatically change at 02:00.....to keep things straight there is a catch phrase to remind you....you "Spring" forward & "Fall" back....campy I know but it does help remind you....multiple stories of peeps forgetting to change the time and arriving either an hour late in the Spring or an hour early in the Fall....the best one though was when a couple I knew were early in the spring....apparently without consulting each other....they both had set the clock ahead an hour....and knowing them I would have paid cash money to be a "fly on the wall" to hear the "discussion" they had when they realized what had happened....

[21:35 UTC-5]
[+14+F....+8*F w/wind-chill....clear....winds out of the s/s/w at 3]
[Now Playing: another mix off Youtube [link]]
   The mix tonight is virtually all choral music....but a mix of periods....mostly religious/liturgical....the first time I sang in church....I sang a duet with my sister on "Children's Day"....I was 5 and 1/2 years old....and already sang harmony....and have sung in various groups for most  of my life....and mostly hymns and religious music....from Gregorian chant through Baroque and classical....through to contemporary Christian music....unfortunately age has taken my singing voice....I was a high tenor....and 60 years old is usually the age where the voice goes....and I'm past that by a long ways....but I still love the music....I wrote this a few years ago but it sums up what music has meant to me....

Music how oft' to you I have run

you have been many times my safe place my solace

I embrace you I cover myself within your warm embrace

Regardless of what the world....life

may throw my way in your arms

how often have I found refuge

and also the answers I seek

To you have I so oft' run

and you always seem to know what I seek

whether classical, liturgical, or even rock and roll

and if I don't find the answers I seek

I always return relaxed, and with a new perspective

and can return to my world, my life, renewed  

[21:00 UTC-5]
[+7*F....-3+F w/wind-chill....clear....winds out of the w/s/w at 6 mph]
[Now Playing: My Daily mix off Youtube[link]]
   Well today is the second day in a row which I decided not to brave the cold....I could of....after living here for over 53 years I certainly expect it....know how to dress for it....but frankly I didn't need to....so i didn't....and probably won't walk tomorrow either....starting Friday....the weather is on a warming trend which will continue into next week....and possibility spring is around the corner....[knock wood]....but I fear that old man winter isn't done with us quite yet....in the past we've had significant snow fall in May....and early October....so it's anybodies' guess what still awaits us....but hope springs eternal....I just hope Spring get's the memo....dang there I go dating myself again....sorry....gets the text message....but the sure sign of Spring in these parts are the return of the Canada geese....there is a fairly significant breeding population of them in the area during the Spring and early summer....there both interesting, and sometimes comical to watch....

[19:30 UTC-5]
[+16*F....+2*F....w/wind-chill...snow....winds from the w/s/w at 12 mph]
[Now Playing "Jupiter" from Holst "The Planets" arranged for woodwind quintet [link]]
   I had my day all planned out....because it was going to be cold and snowing...had walked yesterday and planned to  stay in my warm rooms and play online games all day....logged on earlier than/usual....got started....took a break to eat first meal....and logged on a few minutes before a free money drop....and no WiFi....whether the providers problem....or a hardware problem which the equipment in the hotel I live in....really don't know but it was down for 6 hours....well there's a plan that didn't come together....and to make matters worst there was nothing decent to watch on TV....zilch....shmattah....
   I've always like Holst's "The Planets"....and found the above arrangement in my "recommended" section on Youtube this evening....for my last 4 years in high school I played in a woodwind quintet [ I played the French horn] and enjoyed the experience greatly....but whether vocally or instrumentally I've always enjoyed making music regardless of the group....but have always preferred small groups....I've sung in choirs of 300+ and played in bands of 100+....but I've always enjoyed the small groups best....
     

[20:00 UTC-5]
[+15*F....+3*F w/ wind-chill....light snow....winds out of the west at 9 MPH]
[Now Playing: "Hellfighters" [link]]
   Actually was a very typical late winter's day....the temperature during daylight hours was pretty constant all day....in the mid-20s F....but when checking the hourly forecast the wind was going to increase during the day....and with it the wind-chill [or if your prefer the "feels like"] temperature was going to drop like a rock....so decided to time my walk to get to Aldi just after they opened for the day....at 09:00 local time....probably could have waited a day or two....but the weather is to turn colder and windy through Saturday....so thought I'd do enough today to get me through to Sunday....if I wasn't able to get out....probably will get a spot where I can get out before Sunday....but now I'm set either way....
   Now today being Monday....it was the day for housekeeping to come in and  clean my rooms and change the linens....so I checked with Lady B [head housekeeper] and made arrangements for her to come in and clean when I was out on my walk to Aldi....I was gone about forty minutes and when I returned the cleaning was done....at that point it was a about 09:45 and I've spent the rest of the day online....

[21:15 UTC-5]
[+24*F....+20*F w/wind-chill....snow showers....wind out of the w/n/w at 3 mph]
[Now Playing: a one of my mixes off Youtube [mostly choral music[link]]]
   Despite the fact that it  was a very decent late winter's day....a little light snow....but after my walk yesterday....I concluded that after not walking everyday as I do in nice weather....I'm just a little out of shape....now I don't expect to be in the kind of shape I was in my youth and as a young adult....when I  played soccer [what we Americans call football]....and was a mid-fielder....also ran several 20K road races, two marathons [ Boston & a regional one]. also cross-country, track....and almost every game I could find that had a ball....I regret I never got the chance to play rugby....but there again I just past my 71st birth day 3 months back....so I have to allow for the fact that I just can't expect my arthritic knees to do what they once were capable of....but I have have no one to blame but myself....the young man who had this body thought it indestructible, the old man who now inhabits, and has to deal with the chronic issues knows that he was meshugeh....or maybe just to young to think about it....

[20:40 UTC-5]
[+26*F....+21*F w/wind-chill....cloudy....winds out of the n/n/w at 4 mph]
[Now Playing: today's "my mix" off Youtube [link]]
   I don't know why this always takes me by surprise but it did again....nice morning, quite a pleasant day....well that is for early March in Watertown....mid-20's*F and just a hint of a breeze....sidewalks are a little iffy in spots but nothing that couldn't be avoided....Wanted to go  to Price Chopper and T J Maxx....was looking for pepper corns that weren't already in a grinder....most of which you can't get open and/or refill without a charge of high explosives....and besides I wanted to crush them myself with the mortar and pestle I purchased recently and make my own spice blend....I hadn't looked for them at T J Maxx in awhile and knew they sometimes have them....Usually I get them at a shop called the "Mustard Seed"....but that's a longer walk, and the sidewalks in that direction are usual bad this time of year...besides T J Maxx is in the same  plaza as Price Chopper....two birds with one stone as it were....got the pepper corns and what I needed from Price Chopper but on the way back....as we would have said back in the day when I was a distance runner I "hit the wall"....got really tired physically....but when I got to think about it in good weather I walk almost everyday....but not so in the winter...and I had walked 4 days in a row....I guess I'm just a little out of shape....dang....but it happens every year of late, when the weather changes and I get sick and tired of being indoors all the time, and try to do too much....too quickly.....I known I'm 71+ years old....but at times my body needs to remind me that I ain't a kid anymore....

[20:00 UTC-5]
[+24*F....clear....winds out of the East at 2 MPH]
[Now Playing: "The Magic Flute" Mozart...[link]]
   The version of "The Magic Flute" is an animated 30 minute short film done by the BBC...but it's fun....and highlights the vocal music....
   Was a nice day for a walk....just needed to pick up a few things at Aldi so didn't bother to make a list....so while shopping I forgot the mushrooms....I've been using fresh mushroom....if a fungi can every be called fresh....but they aren't canned or frozen or dyed so may fresh does apply....but it's not the only thing I forgot....unless it's in the summer time and I'm just going out to sit on a bench on the lawns....I always take my sling bag....because I hate the plastic bags....the  thin little straps bother my slightly arthritic hands....but I must of been distracted because I got 3/4's of the way there and realized I had forgotten my sling back....dummkoph....so bought a plastic bag they sell which has much wider straps....they still bother me a little....but at least I don't feel like their cutting into my hands....but re the mushrooms....I still have a can or two in the "winter pantry"....and although I prefer the "fresh".....they'll due until I go to Aldi again....probably Sunday or Monday....because fresh food is an important part of my diet.....I generally shop at least 2 and most times 3 days a week....and one is usually at Price Chopper....they have a much better selection of root veg than Aldi....and where I have to buy a "bag" of "whatever".....I can buy loose ones....just the number I what....