I Can't Hear You.

For many airplane trips I had tried to listen to music and podcast downloads through regular headphones or earbuds but could not hear clearly enough for my satisfaction. So Kathy bought me a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones. They worked great at home. While reading on the living room couch, I could play music throught them and nullify the television audio from Kathy's television program. Then on our most recent trip to Seattle I used them on the plane. I could clearly hear my Old Time Radio programs downloaded to my portable XM satellite receiver and podcasts downloaded to my Ipod Shuffle. Then as I worked on some writing I listened to music and the drone of the engines filtered out. Clearly a phenomenal gift. Thank you, Kathy.

A Week on the Ridge

Our first stop after Amy picked us up from Sea-Tac Airport was a shopping center. I left my belt somewhere in the security area at Metro Airport--took it off to pass the screening and did not pick it up. It was quite worn and needed to be replaced anyway. So I bought a new one at Macy's. Ate at nearby Bahama Breeze and then on to Reagan house on the Ridge. Boys were still sick (flu) or just getting over it. But all were in good spirits though they needed to still sleep to fully recover. Weather would turn out to be great for the whole week--sunny every day getting warmer each day.

Monday. We hiked some local trails and took the boys to a local park for swinging, sliding, and climbing. James did some work from home since he did not feel well enough to go into office. In the evening James introduced us to Guitar Hero, an electronic game where Kathy and I played guitars, beat some drums, and sang some lyrics. Spencer joined us but Garrett was too tired and slept through our concert. Only drawback for me was the songs are all too recent--from the eightys!!! Nothing from the Golden Age of R&R, say mid-50s to mid-70s.

Tuesday. A trip to Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma. Spencer especially liked the penguins and Garrett the monkeys and reindeer. A wonderful zoo, great walkways to exhibits, informative signs. I especially liked the marine exhibits which focused attention on the north Pacific and Puget Sound.

Wednesday. We drove up to Smoqualmie Pass for some sledding. Snow depth up to second story of houses. Found a Sno-park and the boys took their sleds up and down the hill. It was warming to about 40 so the snow was getting slushy and slow but the kids had a ball. We ate a late lunch at the restaurant at Summit Inn where the windows were blocked with snow and icicles you couldn't get your arms around.

Thursday. Into Seattle to Dick's Drive Inn for burger, fries, and shakes (only drawback is no special orders like 'ketchup and onions, hold the dill pickles'). Then to Green Lake Park for picnic and playground fun. Spencer loved the merry-go-round. A father wore himself out spinning it 'round and 'round to the delight of several kids in addition to his two (he was careful that the kids did hang on). Garrett liked monkey bars and slides. The day was cool, perfect for active kids. Great, large green space on Green Lake in north Seattle with diverse visiors. On the way home we stopped at a Lego store so Spencer could spend some of his Valentine gift money from Grandma and Grandpa; he got a couple pieces he has had his eyes on.

Friday. Spencer and Garrett took long bike rides with us. Our route took us to Starbucks for breakfast, then to Amy's neighbor's scrapbooking store. We stopped at a couple parks on the way home. The boys loved riding their bikes in the cool and sunny winter weather. For dinner we met James at the Crab Pot restaurant in Bellvue, a seafood eatery we went to a couple years back. Great food.

Saturday. Kathy came down with flu-like symptoms so a visit to Mount Rainier was scrapped and she slept all afternoon, evening, and night. Bike ride to a park, swinging, climbing, and running around was followed with pizza for dinner.

Sunday. Kathy was feeling much better though certainly not nearly 100% when we left early in the moring to catch our flight home. She tollerated the flight quite well, sleeping much of the way. Driving from Metro we had no snow on the ground until Shelby Twp, then deep remaining snow in Romeo.

A great trip with lots of different activities and fun with the grand kids.

Slip Slidin' Away

The trip from Romeo to Detroit Metro Airport was the longest we'd ever made.  It took us twice as long as usual.  Got up at about 4:15 am on Sunday to check outside--forecast was for freezing rain.  Nothing yet.  Then a half hour later I decided to back the SUV to the garage door.  Skated down the driveway to the SUV, ice covering everything.  It doesn't have to be thick to be dangerous.  We left about an hour or so earlier than we planned.  Got onto Van Dyke and traveled between 20 mph and 30 mph down through freezing rain to Warren-Sterling Heights border.  There we found roads had been salted so we could increase our speed to about 45 mph.  Onto the freeway system.  But wait!  "I-94 is closed near the airport and will not reopen soon.  Downed power line."  So a slight detour.  Closer to the airport temperatures rose, salt was more effective, so I could relax some.  Finally made it.  About two and a half hour drive.

Passenger crowds were heavy, heavier than I expected for a Sunday morning.  But then, some families may have had the week off for mid-winter break and others were just starting theirs.  After that, things were uneventful.  Arrived to sunny, 50 degree weather in Seattle.

Snooze Through the Commercials

Maybe it was the game. Maybe it's my age. Maybe it's the history. But to me the commercials during the Super Bowl were--how can I say this best--weak. The dalmatian training the Clydesdale caught my eye--very clever, had a Rocky-type story. (So did the guy jump starting the woman's car, but it was disgusting. And the disclaimer DON'T TRY THIS--who are you targeting that you need to tell them?)

The game was so-so for three quarters. Lots of records, we were told. Of the who cares? variety. Fewest possessions in the first quarter, second fewest points through . . . And so on.

But the final quarter mad me glad I watched. Well played, some great plays, and a substantial underdog victory. The Giant game plan was superb and well executed. Protect yourselves old time Giants fans--those New Yorkers will now be jumping on the bandwagon.

My Rant About Sports Announcing

Am I the only one who thinks the current crop needs dusting?

The incessant chatter, droning on and on about things remotely linked to the play, irks me. Since when are announcers to fill every moment of airtime with their babble?

Why do they generalize from one play? "That was some catch; he's got great hands" Then later he drops an easy one. We teach young children in school to avoid generalizing from too little data.

We know they can read because they do so from the media guide. "Played nine sports in high school... really liked playing the net at number two doubles...partner went on to Bowdoin College after two years at Division II Hillsdale College...) Do your homework. glean information that makes sense; write notecards, if you must, and label them for moments in the game where they might be important. Like approaching a personal best; who cares that three years ago he completed 6 of 8 passes in the first quarter against Philadelphia in 45 degree weather in the fog and mist--you remember THAT game? Digest it for me, if you want, but do not read it to me.

And finally, even though they watch monitors showing the same view I see, are they watching the same game I am? Their "rush to comment" so often needs correction. Do they need bigger monitors (viewers now have big-screen TVs)? Or should they just let the picture speak its thousand words.

Kathy and I watched much of the NFL playoff games sans audio--remember the experiment a few years back with a game telecast and just the stadium microphone open for audio? Maybe the NFL could broadcast two audio tracks--one with the commentators (better yet, with choices of commentators, the additional ones the studio) and another track with the crowd noise and stadium announcer.

I expect the Super Bowl coverage to be much the same. Where's that "mute" button?

Red Wings

Last Tuesday I attended a Red WIngs game, my first in a couple years. Pretty decent seats--just inside the goal line, but midway up the upper bowl. We could hear the click-click-click of puck hitting stick but not the shush of skates carving the ice.

Atlanta Thrashers' Marian Hossa scored the first three goals of the game, my first live attendance at a natural hat trick. Only one hat thrown onto the ice. Very exciting for me, though Wings fans were upset--more so with the play of the Wings than with Hossa. The Wings did not have their best game though they outshot Atlanta about 2 to 1. Even so, Atlanta continued to "stick it to them" with the Wings scoring a late goal to avoid a shutout--5-1 Thrashers.

I had heard attendance was down at JLA and it was noticeable. Bud Lynch announced throughout the game tickets were still available for Thursday so it was not sold out either. Word on the street is fans are discouraged that the Wings increased ticket prices at the same time the players agreed to a salary cap--understandable.

[There's talk about replacing JLA? Entrances are poor (the main one is outright dangerous in snow and ice), concourses are narrow, decor is concrete moderne. It's still functional. And should taxpayers finance a facility that they cannot afford to use or do not want to? It is a huge cost for so few people. (Pittsburgh is planning one at $225 million and Forbes values the franchise at $137 million. Put the franchise up as collateral--isn't that what most businesses have to do for capital investments?)]

All in all, a great night!!!

Christmas Week With Brenda

We had a great time at Brenda's. Christmas day, of course, we just lounged around, ate dinner, opened gifts, and watched some sports.

We traveled to Stones River National Battlefield. Reenactments of the battle were staged, cannon were fired, "soldiers" explained how they felt and what they thought. A tour of the site gives a sense of the enormity of the battle, the condition of the terrain, and difficulties posed by the cedar woods.




A short way from the encampment of tents, soldiers, cannon, rifles, and wagons is the Stones River National Cemetery which has the oldest Civil War monument--quite impressive. We found a William Reagan from Indiana and an Albert Corey from Illinois listed among the buried. This experience gives me pause to reflect on how much so many have sacrificed to build this nation into what we are today.



The Nashville Zoo was bustling with zoo-goers--infants, toddlers, and kids, young people and older, all out on a cool, cloudy day to see the animals. Impressive zoo. I especially liked the Bengal Tigers, Meerkats (shown below huddling together in the cold), Grant's Zebra and the Toco Toucan. On the grounds is also a carousel and the old homestead of Grassmere. Not yet finished, the plans look to make this an outstanding zoo.



We did some shopping with Brenda and helped select some new furniture and furnishings. We did some geocaching later one nice day but had time for only one find.

Saw Purdue beat Central Michigan and the Titans beat Indianapolis Colts to qualify for the playoffs. In addition Nashville hosted the Music City Bowl between Kentucky and Florida State and for several days bracketing the game we saw fans of both decked out in their colors.

The time went by so fast, but Brenda reminded me that I gained an hour going down so it shouldn't seem that bad.