Raincharm’s Weblog

I have done my good deed for the day, and it’s not even 8:30.

Working from home today, and I have a peek-a-boo view through the bushes to the sidewalk. I noticed a young girl in a tutu on our parking strip. She was looking at the street, and I didn’t see an adult, but kids often run ahead. She continued down the sidewalk, and I asked Carl to look for an adult.

Carl stepped outside and did not see an adult. She was headed toward the busy road end of our block. Carl was barefoot, but I had slippers on, so I took off down the block. Thank goodness she just stopped at the end of the block and didn’t try to cross the street.

When I reached her I told her my name and asked hers. Her mother was taking her brother to his school and then would meet her? She said she was 6, and she didn’t live on our block. Another woman who was walking up the street did stop and listened to our conversation. Brooke was underdressed for our 50-degree weather, and I think it was clear this was not a normal situation.

I asked her where she was supposed to meet her Mom. When she pointed back down the block, I suggested we go there, and she took off at a 6-year old run. I followed at a 60+-year old jog. Carl appeared in sandals as we passed our house, and I asked him to get a phone. We stopped at the corner of the block, and I was trying to figure out the next move.

Brooke indicated the next two turns to the “meeting place,” which I suspect is her house. Carl arrived with the phone and put his vest over Brooke’s shoulders. She didn’t know her mother’s phone number, and I was trying to figure out whether to follow her lead further or call 911 or both.

And then her rather distraught mother pulled up. She didn’t yell but told her she shouldn’t leave the house, thanked us, and we all went home. Brooke did say it was her mother, so we didn’t hand her off to a stranger.

And now I am stuck trying to concentrate on work again.

Starting up slow again.

At the Mariner game. Hat of the day for Will Stacey. He’s our kids age, played baseball with both of them. Was killed by an IED in Afghanistan several years ago now. The R is for RUG little league.

The interesting thing happening at the ballpark today, besides the game, is there is a problem with some of the power in the stadium. Only the timers and the big screen are working. Nothing else. It is actually quite pleasant, with hardly any extra noises during the inning.

We are playing the hated Astros and currently leading 3-2, but they have a man on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the 5th.

All for now.

So we’re watching the Super Bowl on Nickelodeon with SpongeBob. Because DirecTV likes to charge us for lots of channels and then cancel the local ones from time to time. With no refund for lack of channels.

The game is now in overtime, and the commentary aimed at kids may be better than the main commentary.

I have been rooting for KC. But with a potential final score of SF 22 to KC 19, I would win the office pool. $40 for my $5 investment. Since I don’t really have a dog in this fight, that would be okay by me.

I guess I win either way. And I am … poor but happy.

Just because, some scenes from yesterday.

Two trunks.

This tree is massive!

Why did the chicken cross the road?

After our walk today, I am up to 400 steps shy of 10,000. But no steps. Although there were some hills.

The chickens were early in the walk, about two blocks from our house. We saw two, and one did, in fact, cross the street. Carl said there are about 10 that hang out there.

The goal of today’s walk was a community center where Carl throws a ball against the wall. I stopped at a local bookstore near the park and bought a book to help me with my meager attempts to get acquainted with Mandarin Chinese.

When I inquired if they had language learning books, he asked if it was for me or a child. I replied, “Yes.” And the book I chose was from the children’s section.

Steps, that is. Not steps, but stairs. Our morning walk has taken me to 10,116 steps, and it’s not quite noon.

The walk route was built around two errands. A haircut for me. And returning some jeans that didn’t fit and picking up a pair that does.

The stairs were on the return trip and nearly did me in. I have not been consistent in getting walks in every day, and it showed. Not just in my legs, but some lightheadedness. I really felt the need for sustenance and the University Farmer’s Market happened to be between the stairs and our house. An apple turnover has helped replenish the calories burnt.

Recovery time watching some Premier League games. Inspiring me to keep moving through the rest of the day?

This colorful pot full of rainbow was on its way to becoming part of tomorrow’s dinner. (And the next day, and probably at least one more.)

Carl spent the early evening preparing stuffed peppers. It’s a meal that uses more pots and dishes than most to prepare but results in tastiness.

There were a few hiccups in tonight’s production. The first was mundane, the rice water just would not come to a boil. The second was much more, not mundane.

The peppers were parboiling, and Carl thought they were ready to come out of the water. He was using some implement to remove them, and then tip the pepper so the hot water would pour out. Whether he thought the water was all out or for some other reason, he handled the pepper, resulting in a “it’s HOT” reaction. He didn’t actually yell but reacted by tossing the pepper into the air. It landed on the floor. Meanwhile, the implement, probably a wooden spoon, also became airborne, landing in the pot with vegetables, ground turkey, and tomatoes/sauce/paste. This mixture was then propelled into the air landing on the counter, the stove, the floor, Carl’s pants, and in an open drawer.

Mind you, I didn’t see any of this. But I did end up cleaning all of said areas where stuff landed. It went into the compost, except the pepper that started it all. It was rinsed and put back into service. The pants didn’t go into the compost either.

That should give you a measure of how interesting our lives are at this moment.

Spring is sprung

Or almost.

Is it because I have started doing our taxes? Or have purchased tickets for the boys Spring Training trip?

Or because our walk today was sprinkled with exclamations of, “look what is sprouting.”

No, not a performance review. These will be short, it’s late – past my bedtime.

We just got back from seeing Boys in the Boat. I will start by saying that I love the book. I have bought several copies. When I tell somebody about the book and they haven’t read it, I give them my copy, and then buy another copy.

The movie was very good. I know how it goes, and I was still on the edge of my seat. My only complaint was the lack of the details of the backstory. But that would have made for a 12-hour movie. I found the first part of the book enthralling, and it is implied throughout the movie, but still.

Now, I really had the backstory fresh in mind because before the movie started, we had an introduction by Judy Rantz Willman, the daughter of Joe Rantz, the oarsman who the book is built around. The movie night out was put on by our financial advisor, so somebody has a connection.

The other review, and this will be short, is a recommendation for the Bear Town trilogy by Henrik Backman. Perhaps more in another post.

This was the start of our snowstorm this afternoon. There was a bit more, but not enough to really cover the railing. I am guessing that instead of snow, we will just be dealing with frigid temperatures. I do have to drive tomorrow, so am relatively happy with the current weather situation. Of course, this could all change overnight.

Carl just opened the door, and I could see a skiff of snow covering my car.

While I was gazing out the window, watching flakes float down, I noticed a single blossom on our apparently confused camelia.

With highs not expected to reach 32 degrees for the next few days, I am curious how this will fare.

Yesterday’s NCAA Championship game was won by Michigan. Or the Ms vs the Ws, per a certain 4 year old. The fact that M and W are essentially the same if inverted was fun for all. Carl’s meatloaf is a case in point.

The meatloaf was not for yesterday’s game. Instead, friend Kevin brought some really tasty chili to share. It was good to share the game with friends both near and far.

I was asked how I could have any allegiance to UM. It stems from growing up in Ann Arbor, going to high school kiddie corner to the Big House, and actually attending more UM games than UW games over my lifetime.

I do root for UW as well.