WITH MY USUAL MIX OF OPTIMISTIC SKEPTICISM

Another cold, dull, and gray morning as Pheebs and I fired up the Subaru and headed off to Goderich.  I don't think Subies heater is as good as the Jeep Liberty.  Usually, we can crank up the Jeep's heater to the point of melting steel within a few miles but after the same few miles in the Subaru, the heater isn't warm enough to melt ice cream.  Of course, those are two extreme exaggerations but you get my drift.  The Subaru does warm up after a while but it takes its time.  Or, more likely it is just me not understanding how to correctly figure out all that advanced Japanese Subaru heater technology.

GOING OUT TO WARM UP THE CAR I HAD FORGOTTEN THE SHOPPING BAG INSIDE SO KELLY GAVE THE BAG TO PHEEBS AND TOLD HER TO BRING IT OUT....AND SHE DID:)) 

 I HAD A LITTLE HELP WITH THE DRIVING TODAY

 'WHAT GEAR DO YOU WANT ME TO PUT IT IN DAD'

Arriving in Goderich I topped up the gas tank, grabbed a small Mcdonalds' decalf coffee to go, and down to the harbor we went.  I hadn't realized how really cold it was until I stepped out of the car to take a photo and was pummeled by an icy blast of wind coming in off Lake Huron.  Shore ice is building up quickly and is about half a mile out into the lake already.

 ICE IS BUILDING UP FAST ALONG THE SHORELINE

 ONLY SAW ONE WALKER OUT THIS MORNING AND SHE WAS CLIPPING RIGHT ALONG

 NOW, HOW'S THAT FOR A NICE BURST OF COLOR ON A DRAB GRAY LATE DECEMBER DAY

A stop at Walmart and the Canadian Tire Store netted me about a dozen things and it was off for home we went.  Coming out of Walmart I had a momentary scare when I couldn't find the Jeep.  Where I thought I had parked sat a blue car, a white SUV, and a black pick-up truck.  My heart missed a few beats until it clicked in that I wasn't driving the brown Jeep today.  The white car was the Subaru.  Would you believe fifteen minutes later walking out of the Canadian Tire Store I almost did the same darn thing again!!  

 USE YOUR IMAGINATION HERE FOLKS BUT DON'T MISS THE CUTE LITTLE WHITE BIRD ON THE RIGHT

 A CLOUDY GRAY DAY INDEED

 THESE TWO STRUCTURES A MILE AWAY AT THE HARBOR ENTRANCE ARE TOTALLY ENCRUSTED WITH ICE

Kelly's feeling better today and regaining her strength.  New medications can always knock a person for a loop and I don't think Kelly's body is as tolerant to some meds as other people's.  We're looking forward to better days ahead.

 THESE CANADA GEESE ARE TRUE WINTER SNOWBIRDS

I'm about two-thirds of the way through my current book and am really enjoying it.  In the style of Bill Bryson's The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, Homer Hickams Rocket Boys also reminds me of the movie Stand By Me.  Come to think of it the book also reminds me of a television series years ago.  I think The Wonder Years starred a young fella by the name Fred Savage.

 THE ALGOMA MARINER WAS IN PORT TODAY AT THE GODERICH SALT MINE

Picking a December 27th day at random from the past I see we were at our Congress Arizona house in 2016 where I leisurely spent some time that day tipped back in my recliner taking a few bird photos.  TODAY WAS FOR THE BIRDS

THE HARBOR TUG OCEAN A. SIMARD IS WARMING UP IN THE BULLPEN BEFORE VENTURING OUT TO BREAK UP SOME HARBOR ICE

 AND HERE IT COMES NOW

 WITH PROPELLERS IN REVERSE THE TUG BEGINS BACKING THROUGH THE ICE TOWARD THE LAKE

 INSTEAD OF BREAKING UP THE ICE WITH ITS BOW, IT IS USING ITS STERN

 THE TUG IS SWARMED BY A HERD OF SEAGULLS

 I AM GUESSING THE TUG DOES THIS EVERY SO MANY HOURS TO PREVENT THE ICE FROM SOLIDIFYING AND TRAPPING THE BIG SHIP IN THE HARBOR

BY THE TIME I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR THE ICY WINDS HAD PRACTICALLY FROZEN MY FINGERS TO THE CAMERA......WELL OKAY, NOT THAT BAD BUT YOU DO KNOW HOW I LIKE TO EXXAGERATE LITTLE THINGS FROM TIME TO TIME:))

I always enjoy the psychological boost of letting go of one old year and grabbing onto one new year.  With only four more days left in 2022, I look forward to 2023 with my usual mix of optimistic skepticism seasoned with a generous helping of doubts, fears, hopes, and dreams bolstered of course with the usual sprinkles of anxiety, worry, confidence, and assurances added at critical times.     

GROANER'S CORNER:(( A wife went to the police station with her next-door neighbor to report that her husband was missing. The policeman asked for a description.  She said, "He's 35 years old, 6 foot 4, has dark eyes, dark wavy hair, an athletic build, weighs 185 pounds, is soft-spoken, and is good to the children."  The next-door neighbor protested, "Your husband is 5 foot 4, chubby, bald, has a big mouth, and is mean to your children."  The wife replied, "Yes, but who wants HIM back?"

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What do you call a person that is Happy on Monday?...........RETIRED!

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