Thursday

Just a few lines today.  After-work cocktails scheduled with clients.

Did I mention that I finally got my flu shop yesterday?  My annual physical doc inquired as we were wrapping up, and I took him up on the offer.  In the past few years, I've gone to where ever the Visiting Nurses were set up, like the church, Hy Vee or even the drive-thru at John Keady Cadillac one year.  This Fall, it seemed like everyone had ample supply and you could even walk-in at Walgreen's and get shot up.  I wonder if the shot will actually work against this year's virus?

2's car's problem was the starter.  The thing did start when I went by to pick it up this morning in the retail center parking lot where we parked it last night, then was very difficult to get going when I stopped in at SB's on the way to the repair shop.  At that point, I shifted my diagnosis from fuel system problems to maybe the starter.  And the mechanic later confirmed the latter.  On a relative basis, it's now double ka-jing!

Lots of snow melted here today.  The forecast calls for a few more hours of warmth before the next front of Arctic air blows in.  Hello 2011!

Can't wait to get home later to watch the next Anonymous Flower Bowl game pitting Directional U versus Other Directional U.

BCOT

Wdenesday II

My plans for an addition to my earlier posting evaporated in the local ennui.  The there was the call from a slightly rattled 2 about car problems with the Focus.  Another occasion for use of the Taurus as a "back-up".  My suspicion is that we have a fuel system problem, but my skill-set doesn't extend to auto repair.  We'll have to get the car to the shop tomorrow for some professional help.  Ka-jing.

The annual physical was a non-event.  I do need to cut back on the chips, white breads, donuts and other assorted good-tasting things to lower the cholesterol count.  I think that there's a New Year's Resolution in my future. 

The afternoon spin class was something less than the day's highlight.  The instructor is an enthusiastic, capable gal, but she's a "yeller", and that serves as little inspiration to me.  Attendence was less-than-capacity, and I suspect that her style drives some of the less-committed spinners to other classes.

Tomorrow is the last trading day of the year.  Friday (New Year's Eve day) is a National holiday for the securities business (although the banks are open).  Look for low volume on the exchanges tomorrow: 3 can confirm with first hand knowledge from NYC, but most of the traders have already closed out for the year.  I'll be working Friday in order to clear some of the "piles" in my office so that Monday will have the feel of a true fresh start.

Doesn't look like the Hawkeye men b-ballers have the gas to stay with Illinois tonight.  But take heart 4, I think that the new guy can coach, and he's got a couple of recruits who can actually play in the Big Ten.  He needs even more talent to match up every night, but they'll be winning 20+ games soon, maybe even next year.  (Playing several teams like the Little Sisters of The Poor in the pre-season will help with the win-count too!)

Thanks for reading.

BCOT

Wednesday

So I'm doing a little early morning recognition to the Hawkeyes for surviving in the 4th quarter for a change and winning the game last night.  I, of course, was in bed when the game was being decided.

And I'm giving 4 the nod as Daughter of the Day for staying up and watching the whole thing, although what is considered "late" is a little different for her as compared to me.

Looks like some snow will be melting here over the next couple of days.  Not a bad thing.  They're still carrying stories on the news about stranded travelers at airports.  Bummer.  3 was lucky to get home yesterday on her scheduled flight.

More here later.  I have my annual physical this afternoon.  I've theorized that all the testing, probing and x-raying is all a little overkill:  all the doc needs to do is look at my time for the Turkey Trot.  If it remains under an hour, I'm healthy.

Enjoy the day.

BCOT

Sunday II

I needed to get up a couple of pics from the weekend.  Here's one I snapped just before 2 and I headed home. 

Photo-ops at FFF have pretty well deteriorated to watching 1.01 and deciding, "Hey, that's cute! Get the camera!"  We needed these last few Do we have to? shots after lunch to have some records that Christmas included others beside 1.01!

That said, here's one of 1 and 1.01.  After all, it is her first Christmas!  Not sure if she's going to cover my Under bet for walking by 12/31, but it will be close.  She definitely has it figured out who runs the house.

4 pointed out that her Friday birthday was her "golden birthday".  She celebrated her 24th on the 24 day of the month.  Can't say that I ever had heard of that one before.  I always thought/assumed that a golden birthday/anniversary was for 50 of something.  Are you sure that this isn't just another Hallmark Cards creation?  Hmmmm.

So a busy week ahead of me.  Mostly those select clients who always make 12/31 an exciting time of year.  Buy something to write off?.  Sell losers?  What's the break-even point?  With my pal Bill taking off on a two-week New Zealand trip on Tuesday, we'll need a check-list for me to follow in his absence.  New Zealand!!!

Good luck to the remaining travelers.  Looks like it could get exciting going East.  Especially to 3 and Herky...

BCOT

Sunday

I'm leaving the manger scene up for another day or two in recognition of the season.  I could go to a "white-out" vista from any front door in Minnesota, but I'll save that for the new year.

Merry The-Day-After-Christmas to the peanut gallery!  Pretty typical day here. 1.1 and I are watching the NFL pre-game shows while 1.01 naps, and the girls and SRH are out hunting for retail bargains.  2 and I will head back to the QCA after lunch, while the rest of the crew has another day with the Belle of the Ball.  Actually, 3 is not scheduled to leave until Tuesday oh-dark-hundred, but there's storm out East that may change her plans.  It's been another very successful FFF for our crew.

Special thanks out to my pals Pete and Bill for watching The Winniferous who's been keeping guard at my place.  Very generous, boys!  I owe.

That Christmas Eve drive was a bear.  I-80 was snow-covered most of the way over to Des Moines.  I snuggled in behind a semi-tanker who had no fear and was able to average 60mph most of the way.  Conditions were no where near as bad as last year at this time, but it was a big relief to get to I-35 North where there was little snow to handle.

Immediately upon our 0100 arrival at the Woodbury Hampton, 4 and I were greeted with a wave from a self-described "cranky" 2 and SRH, both of whom immediately returned to bed, while 3 joined us in our room for a glass of the top-shelf J Lohr.  Of course, that led to a second glass.  And perhaps mistakenly, a second bottle.  And an 0300 bedtime.  We barely beat 1.01's get-up time. 

Props to RevKev for getting reunion pics up for the clan.  Then again, the gathering was in early July, and it is now late December, but what's a little space on the calendar?  Here's a good one of the girls.  Lots of good ones of everyone in the complete collection.  Can you say, "Family Photo Album"?  It might be a coffee table book for the ages.

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(Blogger is being very difficult this AM.  I can't get the pic moved according to my preferences.  It's going wherever it wants to go!   Hmmmm.)

Can't say that I remember being on long drives on Christmas Eve before, but it was interesting that many of the gas stations were closed after 5 o'clock.  When I pulled off the highway just North of Des Moines to meet up with 4, none of the stations at the primary Ankeny exit were open. There was a fair amount of traffic, so I was curious if there were/are agreements/contracts with the Departments of Transportation in the states for a minimum number of Interstate outlets to stay open.  I can't imagine that they leave that choice exclusively to the operators.

3 pulled a George Costanza at SB's this morning.  "I'll buy", she said on the way over from the hotel.  Once in line and placing our order, it was the old, "Whoops, Dad.  I left my wallet in the car!"  Unplanned, but a blog-worthy episode.

OK.  Now getting ready for lunch and departure.  Maybe more once I get back to the 563.

Have a great day.

BCOT

Thursday

So this has just been a week where I have been consistently out of my routines.  I'm guessing that such is the case with lots of folks this time of year, but I was caught a little off-guard.  Before I knew it, days were gone.  The wine inventory was down.  And the blog was collecting cobwebs.  My apologies to the peanut gallery.

My pal Roy's mother passed away Saturday morning.  The funeral was yesterday.  93 years old.  24-hour, 365-day in-home care for the last 15 or so years.  She's been bed-ridden for around 10 years, and totally off the mental reservation for the last 3-4 years.  I never knew her very well.  But Roy has very fond memories of her from growing up, and he was very close to her.  Maybe another reason why he and I get along so well.

3 has begun the fam's own version of the Christmas journey (a la, the biblical verse, "In those days , a decree went out from Caesar Augustus...").  At this moment she's trying to find an air-worthy plane out of LaGuardia for her scheduled afternoon direct flight to MSP.  2 and SRH are planning to depart from here early tomorrow morning, and 4 and I are to meet up in DSM tomorrow evening to ride together the rest of the way to 1.01's home.  Lots of moving parts to make FFF a reality.  Here's hoping that the weather cooperates.

So this makes 4 Daughter of the Day as it is her Tax Birthday.  Hope you have a good shift at the station, Kiddo, and don't stay out too late after work.  You have a loooong day ahead of you tomorrow!  (I edited-out the rougher side of this pic to protect the innocent!)

I actually have already completed a couple of Christmas shopping tasks.  And I was tempted to make another stop at lunch, but the traffic was so bad that I quickly lost interest.  The concept of a left turn across traffic is pretty much a lost cause this time of year.  Ingress and egress routes to some of these smaller shopping centers reflect the short-comings of our engineering schools.

Our office is closed tomorrow.  The markets are closed.  It's the national holiday for Christmas.  That makes sense.  If one of the major holidays falls on a Saturday, they normally close offices on the prior Friday.  And if the holiday is Sunday, Monday is the off day.  Interestingly, the banks are open until noon tomorrow.  They are almost never open when the markets are closed.  A bit of a brain teaser.

Maybe more here later.

BCOT

Sunday

Here's a little recognition to 2 and 3 doing some bonding in C-town this weekend with SRH.  This is a pic from SRH's camera phone at Sunday lunch.  I had it sent to my Yahoo account and then saved it to my laptop.  I was able to lighten it up a bit. Pretty girls!

Then I also pulled a "Twitpic" from one of 1's tweets today showing off 1.01's Christmas jammies.  What's the Over/Under on 1.01 fully walking?  I haven't seen her since Thanksgiving, but I'm guessing 12/31 is the date for betting purposes.  I'm taking the Under.

More later.

BCOT

Friday

Just a little morsel this AM. 

The combination of the tooth extraction and the snow combined for me to have a pretty disjointed week.  The tooth deal was probably more stress than anything.  Local anesthetic.  No complications.  Still a little odd to feel the extra space in my mouth.  No immediate decision on the long-term fix.  Implant or bridge likely.  Neither will be cheap.

And we certainly are in full-Winter-weather with snow and cold.  It really makes just getting from here to there an effort.  Traffic is slow.  Holiday traffic makes it even slower.

2 gets the nod as Daughter of the Day.  She has her Iowa MBA graduation tonight over in IC.  SRH and I will attend.  Not sure how the graduation thing works when you still have one course to complete, but I'm just an Old School kind of guy.  But it is a big day for her.  You 'da girl, Kiddo!

3 reports that she made it to C-town yesterday for her meeting.  Not sure of her plans today, but 2 and SRH are headed in tomorrow morning to do a little modified fff with 3 on Michigan Avenue, including an overnight stay downtown.

Looks like I have The Winniferous for Saturday and Sunday.  We'll see if I can keep up with her.

Look for live reports on Twitter from the IC shindig this evening.

BCOT

Monday

So the change in scenery is driven by the local weather.  I mean, we really aren't too close to Summer mountain climbing with my road bike these days.

I had lunch with my pal Roy today and we got to talking about the harshness of farm life, particularly dairy farm life, in the bitter cold of Winter.  Doing all those chores (outside!) and then doing the twice-daily milking, with the constant use of water on the udders and the machines.  It makes me cringe even now.  Blessed are the farmers.

Looks like Bret Fav-ra will be on the bench tonight.  I'm betting at this point that he wishes he had stayed retired.  Not only for this year, but also for the dirt that will ultimately get passed out on his stint in The Big Apple.  His legacy will be hard-pressed to match that of the recently deceased Dandy Don Meredith who left the NFL of his own accord at age 29 or 30, and then retired from a successful TV career at age 46.  I'm guessing that the Bretster just ain't that gol-durn bright.

More here later.

LATER...

My day tomorrow will be high-lighted with a tooth-pulling at 1300 hours.  It's the one that has already been through the root-canal, and miscellaneous other probings over the last year.  Not looking forward to the procedure.  Hope they have good drugs.

So the best the Big 10 could come up with for the names of their two new divisions is Leaders and Legends?  There surely will be a do-over when they get guffaw-ed out of the room.  They must have gone to the same media advisors that came up with Drake's "D+" logo. 

Not much else here.  Tossing another log on the fire.  Below zero here tonight.
BCOT

Sunday

For the record, the classic film, White Christmas, with Bing Crosby, is running on AMC as I write this entry.  I actually like parts of this one better than It's a Wonderful Life.  But the listing shows it with a two hour, forty-five minute running time!  LtPC doesn't have that kind of staying power.

(Totally off the wall:  Danny Kaye, Bing's co-star in this one, has a lot of facial expressions and appearances that remind me of Kosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.  Check it out when you see it in the next few days.)

Very successful Christmas party in Muskie last night.  Not sure of the rumor that customers in Muscatine could find no wine in town this AM.

1's report on the snow and cold in the TC hits lots of superlatives.  1.01 will have stories to tell her grandchildren about how cold and snowy it was when she was a girl!

I didn't think that the weather here this morning was that bad, but Gold's invoked the class cancellation protocol, and there was no instructor for my 10 AM spin class.  That fact escaped me (and about 8 others) until a gal went to the desk around 1005 and was told that there was no class.  Whatever.  I still did my own workout by trying to estimate time and distance from the hills on some of my regular road rides.  A couple of other gals hung out for a while too.  A little odd with no music, no spin Nazi and an empty room.  No wonder there are so many stationary bikes gathering dust in so many basements.

The good news is that my Kohl's mailer for the 14-24th had a 30% discount coupon for all purchases.  Christmas might be a little suiter for the fam as a result!

So does putting a hockey rink at midfield in The Big House and getting 113,000+ people to show up prove anything?  I mean, for most of the crowd, the teams could have just skated and pretended to be using a puck  (Dare I say "air hockey"?).  How can you see a hockey puck from the 55th row?

That reminds me of a story about the 6-on-6 girls basketball set-up in the old days.  The Des Moines Register would occasionally assign non-sports reporters to cover the girls' state tournament.  Donald Kaul, a political columnist whose stuff was syndicated to papers throughout the country, (also a notorious Left Winger extraordinare (and a founder of RAGBRAI)), related that the year they sent him there, the teams were in the middle of the second quarter of the championship game before they realized that they didn't have a ball!

Not even getting into the story about the moon landing filmed in a hanger in Area 51.

Have a good week.

BCOT

Saturday

Here's a pic of 2 and I at the Figge dinner on Thursday night.  She was the Hostess with The Most-est.  Fun night.  Lousy wine, but that was out of our control.

I have made a tentative diagnosis that the recurrent "bug" in my desktop (and maybe my laptop, now that I think of it) may be the memory chip from my good camera.  When I downloaded the pics from Thursday night to my desktop yesterday, the computer started the same sputtering that I have encountered several times in the last few months.  It makes sense.  But I wonder how the bug got on the chip?

More here later.

LATER....

I haven't been that productive today, but I can live with my lethargy.  I did get out and shovelled off my driveway in anticipation of colder temperatures tonight and the next few days.  I was really lazy last weekend when the snow came in, and by driving on the snow, it just packed down.  With the rising temps the last few days, I was able to get the last of it off today with minimum hassle.

One extreme bonus this afternoon was that I was able to get the snow blower fired-up with nominal effort.  No electronic starter, and with my right rotator cuff problem, I had some concerns.  But after not all that many pulls with my left hand, the engine caught, and I'm golden for the next storm!  Suite!

So here is 1.1 as Granddaughter of the Day.  She doesn't look that happy about it.  Hmmmm.  Wonder how long it will be before she'll want to do that hill at Duck Creek Park?  They have like a foot of snow up in the TC over the last 24 hours.  Hope 1 and 1.1 have plenty of provisions in house.  At least I can always walk to Hy Vee Foo for Chinese!

I'm headed down to Muskie tonight for the Christmas party.  Hope the weather cooperates.  My pal Roy may have a guest for the night.


BCOT

Wednesday

Just a few lines during the last session of the conference.  Waterboarding has nothing over forcing a person to sit through eight hours of droning from a video feed talking about Obamacare enforcement.  Where's Kevorkian when you need him?

I was a no-show for early spin today.  It's one thing to get up and get to the gym at oh-dark-hundred, but the cold, the multiple layers of clothes, the cold and the general inconvenience won out today.  I've decided to do penance by sneaking out from here a little early, and getting a run in with The Winniferous before heading over to the game.

This one's for you, RevKev.  Channelling my inner Seinfeld...

One of my intuitive dilemmas these days is the numerous, and conflicting usages of the noun "it" at spin class.  All of the instructors contribute to this problem.  Here's a sample of their liberal use of the term:

1. "Bring it up."
2. "Slow it down."
3. "Hit it now!"
4. "Jog it out."
5. "It's up to you."

Understand that doing spin in a dark room when you really shouldn't even be out of bed, leads the mind to wander a bit aimlessly in the Wasteland.  And the gratuitous use of "it" is beginning to bother me.  I mean, when she says to "Bring it up", I'm saying that "it" is my butt, off the saddle.  But when I hear, "Jog it out", I'm confused; what is "it"? And why am I jogging it out?  I need to talk to Hillary's husband.

The Iowa win last night against UNI in Iowa City was punctuated by swaths of empty seats around the court.  It will be a long climb back for the Hawks.  They really don't have many Big Ten quality players.  I think that this guy can coach, but they need talent.

And for a final note, the football Hawk's leading receiver has a small legal problem that made the national wires this AM.  Not exactly the kind of recognition the team was looking for.  But maybe fitting for their year!

Had enough education.  Off to commune with The W.

BCOT

Tuesday

I'm being "educated" tomorrow.  A Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program on tax issues for 2010 tax return preparers.  Exciting stuff.  All day.  Satellite feed to a room at the local convention center in Moline.

CPA's are required by the states to comply with each applicable state's CPE requirements.  Iowa and Illinois have slightly different requirements, and since we are registered in each of these two states, we have to make sure that we follow both sets of rules.  Generally, you need to secure 40 hours of CPE each year to stay in good graces. 

The Iowa folks audited me this Fall, and I was a little nervous.  My CPE covers lots of territory because of my tax, financial planning and securities work areas.  And I go to a variety of conferences and seminars that most generalist CPA's wouldn't attend.  Plus, I try to do some "double-headers" to comply with the requirements of two or more governing boards that may not formally recognize one another on a CPE basis.  After way too much hand-wringing, memo-writing and data accumulation, the Iowa Board sent me a "No Further Action" form letter within the same week that I sent the stuff to them.  Much ado...

Everyday is some "Day in History".  Some more than others.  This would be one of those "more than others" in recognition of the December 7, 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor.  Since the event itself occurred less than 25 years prior to my initial high school class on American history, it took on a much more tangible meaning for me as teachers and parents could relate very specific, first-hand stories about the day. 

Given our post-Woodward/Bernstein culture, there's lots of conspiracy theories out there on who knew what, when.  And whether absorbing such an attack was Washington's sinister plan to coalesce a favorable public opinion into entering the war.  WikiLeaks of the '40's.  The Grassy Knoll.

There was a story on the wires this week about the Pearl Harbor Survivor's Club considering disbanding.  We're one year short of the 70th (!!!) anniversary of the attack.  Do the math.  Sure. There were kids in the area who survived that day, but the sailors would now be at least in their high eighties.  Clubs with that kind of seniority need a new business model.  Maybe, "Relatives of Survivors".

There may not be much entered here in the next couple of days.  Augie has a home game with cross-town rival St. Ambrose tomorrow night, and the Figge's Christmas dinner is Thursday evening.  Writers in the 212 may need to pick up the slack.

For the record, it looks like Gap and Vicki's Secret are two more of the "Holiday Season" culprits.

Have a good evening.  And make it a "Glad" Wednesday.

BCOT

Sunday

I'm starting a "Christmas Recognition Distinction" effort to publish the positions of our various retailers with regard to their political correctness (or not).  KFC's ad for saving time by bringing in their $19.99 dinner special is for the "Holiday Season".  Target's ads that I saw this weekend used "Christmas".  More to come in the days ahead as I take particular notice.  Don't be afraid to add your own in the Comments section.

I had another newspaper etiquette situation this morning at Starbuck's.  I had brought in the two local papers, as I often do, and had them sitting beside me on the couch, fully read as I was just hanging by myself to finish my Cup o' Fire before heading to spin.  A guy walks past toward the back, glancing at the stack, then comes back, stops, looks at the papers again and asks if they are mine.

I responded that, "Yes, they are mine, but I'm done with them and you're welcome to them."  And gratuitously add, "There's not much in them worth reading." To which he responds, something to the effect of, "Yeah, that's why I don't like to buy them."  And he proceeds to pick through the stack, takes a few pieces, says, "Thanks", and goes over to the counter, picks up his coffee, and walks out of the store.

I was taken back a bit at the immediate leaving of the store with the papers.  I had not said anything like, "I'd like them back", but my senses were offended a little that he took the goods and ran.  My idea is that "left" papers at the coffee shop are usually off limits for unfettered taking until after lunch.  Maybe take the puzzle, or an obit, but complete sections?  This guy's act was almost presumptuous to me.  I think. 

Then there's the added factoid that he was clutching the Sunday NY Times to his chest.  So my subsequent analysis was that I had a cheap Left Winger scrounging for my local fish wrap, but willing to spend $5 bucks to lap up the dribble from Frank Rich and Maureen Dowd.  That's not a good fact pattern for hopenchange.

I'm making a checklist to vet the next guy who wants my paper.

OK.  Here's where we're at with NBC:  both Saturday and Sunday afternoons were extended commercials for that pillar of society, Tiger Woods.  The Tiger adulation by NBC Golf's broadcast crew was wretch-inducing.  Give me a break.  The guy is a self-indulgent creep.  And the more tidbits that come out about his various mistresses, the more obvious that he wasn't even good at picking the candy. Hello, Forest Woods.
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Then tonight we had the pleasure to watch Football Night in America, a game that they had shilled ad nauseum all week.  The game featured one team (Pittsburgh) whose quarterback has been investigated formally, twice in different time zones, for sex crimes (and was suspended for the first four games this season by a Commissioner trying to save face for the league), and a second team (Baltimore) whose celebrated middle linebacker was charged with murder a few years ago.  Yeah, these guys got the high-paid lawyers and got out of the crimes, but so did OJ.

Tell me NBC is only trying to do the right thing for reformed sinners.  Right.  I elected to go with a rerun of Ice Road Truckers.

By the way, another current History Channel (inadvertent oxymoron!) success story is American Pickers, the on-going story of a couple of glorified junk yard scavengers who document their travels and negotiations to find treasure in other people's trash, so to speak.  I met the one guy at a river tavern on the Illinois side this Summer.  Very common.  They're based in LeClaire, Iowa, a town just off I-80 when you cross into Iowa from Illinois.  This show is evidence that people will watch almost anything.  Kind of like auctions; put stuff in a box, and some fool will buy it.  P.T. Barnum lives.

So good luck to all with the new week.  Coldest days of the season coming here.  Button up!

BCOT

Friday

Special recognition to the peanut gallery members for participating in the Turkey Trot for The Cure:

Revkev, Carrie, David, Trish, Denise, 1, 1.1, 2, 3, 4 (my treat!). Did I miss anyone?  Thanks to all.

3 has another entry up; see http://www.thehoranies.com/

I have Margret out today for a little exercise before her banishment to SRH's garage for the season.  We have snow in the forecast for this afternoon/evening.  Margret is a fair-weather gal.

Just saw my pal Terry O at second coffee.  All you folks with Sometimers or a derivative take heart: he was just back through SB's to pick up the laptop computer that he had left there earlier this morning!  (He also reported that he's headed to Osaka on Tuesday for a couple of days of meetings.  Flying business class for a fare of just over $8,400!  That's a full week's vacation of FFF in Tahoe, all travel, condo, food and incidentals included.  For eight!)

I'm not much of a die-hard Cub fan, but it is worthy to note that former third baseman and recent radio/TV colorman Ron Santo passed away yesterday at age 70 from complications of diabetes.  He had good numbers from his playing days, All-Star appearances and Gold Glove awards, but he was a bit of a hot-dog who did not ingratiate himself to all the sports writers, and he's been excluded by those voters from the Hall of Fame.  His infamous heel-kicking jumps after wins in the 1969 pennant race were not well-received by the opposition. 

One of the cardinal rules in baseball, more so than any other of the major sports, is that you don't show-up the other team.  Even in sports, you can say that politics matters.

A glaring example to the contrary: Wisconsin football.  What a great rep to have, Bret.

Lebron 1, Cleveland 0.  Of course, the Cav's have no players, but the Heat did it with exclamation points!

All for now.  Good luck with the weekend.  Is shopping a full-contact sport these days?

BCOT

Thursday

I really have nothing to add here today.  I was supposed to attend a continuing education program down in Springfield, but that meeting was cancelled due to lack of interest.  Not mine.  Anyway, it basically made a free day for me, and I was not unproductive.  Bonus!  Then I did a run with The Winniferous tonight to get her out and about.  Double bonus.  And 2 and @bcbison came over for some J Lohr. Suite!

What's the proper lifetime for a living room couch?  Anyone?  Bueller?  Bueller?  I'm past 14 years on mine, and I'm considering an upgrade.  I love my couch.  But it may be showing a little age.  The real question is whether I can get this one down the basement steps for a man-cave upgrade.  Hmmm.

TGIF tomorrow.  Spin at some point.  Wine after 5.  Why wouldn't we?

BCOT

Wednesday

Hello December!  Not sure if we got above 30 here today.  And the forecast over the next week has lows down as far as 10.  Not sure if The Winniferous will be taking many three-mile runs at this point.

This is solicitation week for The Jimmy V Foundation.  They do this every year and rally the college basketball establishment in particular with various efforts.  I think that the celebrity coaches and former players et. al. do this work for expenses only, and maybe less.  There are worse programs, for sure.

The Wednesday column in USA Today today by Craig Wilson was on memorable Christmas presents.  His theme was a combination of, 1) over the years, most presents are forgotten pretty quickly, and 2) the best present is a puppy.  I tend to agree with him on the first point, but I'm thinking that #2 is a bit of a stretch.  (2 probably disagrees with me on that one!)  The Remington that I received last year was certainly a memory maker, but those gifts from the '60's through the '80's and '90's are mostly lost in a fog.

Speaking of Christmas, how far out of whack is the PC crowd in this country that you can't have a Christmas Concert, and can trash the Pope, but you have to be careful not to insult Muhammad?  How long will it be before they'll want to edit the Pledge of Allegiance to delete the reference to "under God"?  I'm a bitter-clinger.

Thanks for reading.  Make Thursday a good one.

BCOT