Last weekend it might have appeared that my ‘Ramblings’ site was undergoing maintenance – and that there was going to be broken stuff. That was not the case; while understanding that whilst this stuff happens it didn’t in this case. So, now, a week late, normal service is being resumed. UPDATE: All should be okish now.

This will be a short update. As it stands, I am fighting a cold and am really trying to lock in any nap I can find to get me through it. But as it is with any illness I seem to find, I still love my coffee.

Week before last Marcia and I had had our own version of Chicken Run. We had a quick run to Michigan for a great (short-time) dinner with Marcia’s sibs. The whole way up and back – or so it seemed – we did the  thing.

”Roseanne: “Can I help you?”
Customer: “Uh, yeah. Which is better, the tuna salad or the egg salad?”
Roseanne: “Tuna salad… egg salad… chicken salad… turkey salad… shrimp salad. What difference does it make? It’s all just different words for mayonnaise. Pick one.” ~ from Roseanne (waiting on a customer)

Games and Hiking – Six kids around, all fifteen and younger; all amazingly eager to play and do together. Everything from board and card games to hikes was tackled with enthusiasm. With beautiful weather we even got in a hike through Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum. It’s a horticultural jewel in our town’s crown; its 733 acres and 44 miles of roadways was the perfect setting for the hike, ending up at the grave site of great Grandpa (Opa) and Grandma (Omi) Pastoor.

Observatory – The ‘Nati was also the first city on the continent to build a professional Observatory. On its first site the cornerstone was laid on November 9, 1843, and presiding over the occasion was then former President John Quincy Adams. So, last evening several of our group, including Derek, Kellen, and Marin went to a two-hour presentation. Eager to actually do some star gazing the clouds took over the event and the actual ‘seeing’ part of the evening didn’t happen.

Speakeasy pinball – Mark our Pinball repair guy did his magic. All week the kids have been playing and so far this week they’ve played over 200 games. Scores have been kept, challenges made, and fun had. I’m loving it!  

Finis – Happy Birthday Marcia. Remember that now that you’ve reached Middle age; Middle Age is like having a choice between two temptations and choosing the one that’ll get you home earlier. ~ Dan Bennett

Happy 2019 everyone!

Make it a great week.

Ciao
Dirk