My first full day in Michigan was nice, but my sleep was incomplete as I had trouble falling asleep in yet another time zone. I would be tired when I hit my pillow early around 9:30 at night. I would wake at midnight, and have some trouble returning to sleep, but I would drift off, and my dreams, now forgotten, were kind, and I remember a friendly darkness, and I slept well.
I rose at about 7:30, having slept through my 6:00 alarm. I started my day feeling sleepy. I dragged through my usual process of reading email, updating Quicken (including the purchase of $40K in Treasury Bills for a short-term interest rate), and doomscrolling as Trump and his folks continue to try to grab headlines. It appears that inflation has cooled, and an interest rate cut may be in the cards. I was against raising rates (the most blunt of tools for slowing an economy, in my opinion, and should seldom be used), and now I am opposed to lowering them (again, to stimulate a slowed economy by increasing borrowing and stock market investments); I am against financial chaos. Having rolled my eyes so many times, I now just say ‘Hmmm.’
Coffee starts from the Keurig pods; I am granted only two regular pods. I have one, and then I have the other while writing. Deborah will be over in the mid-morning, so I’ve time-boxed, but not rushed — I have plenty of time to write the blog and get dressed. Soon, I am dressed in a dress shirt and sweater vest, and have breakfast in the lobby.
I write and complete the blog, and then grab a spare coffee for Deborah, and she shows up in a borrowed Mini Cooper. Her’s was getting its brakes updated. We spend the rest of the morning together and then head to Lansing in her loaner car.
We met Leta there for lunch at Panera Bread at the Lansing Mall, or what remains of that now-sad structure. We talked about travel and Deborah and Leta about teaching, both retired teachers, and had a good time connecting. After seeing Leta off, we headed to Horrocks Farm Market.
It is a wonderful place and I had been there once before; it was Deborah’s first time. We got some coffee and wandered the place. We found flowers and a baked good for Mom Wild. We got some scones for the hotel room (I like to have food in the room in case something happens), and extra coffee pods. It was fun walking through the whole place.
Next, we crossed Lansing to Haslett. Mom Wild was happy to see us. We had to give regrets that dinner out was off as Linda (my sister) and her husband, Jesse, were down with food poisoning. Yikes! We discussed our travels and schedules for returning (both in October and Christmas), and Mom got to see pictures, learn Deborah’s sons’ names, and view their photos. One regret was that Mom Wild wanted some vapes, and I was unprepared for that. I contacted Linda, and we got a vape for Mom Wild from a liquor store down the street. I delivered it to her when she was having dinner and got to meet her fellow diners at the table.
Deborah headed back in the borrowed Mini Cooper, and we decided on the Silver Spoon for dinner. It is a top-of-the-line Italian place in Rochester. It took us a while to find the place, as it is tucked near the river behind many buildings. As it was the Labor Day holiday weekend, the place was not busy, and we were able to get a table without a reservation.
Jesse was our waiter, and we had fantastic food with even the salad standing out. Our pastas were terrific, with freshly made pasta in an excellent sauce. The tiramisu was light and bright, and the perfect ending with coffee (though Deborah would regret it, as it was hard for her to sleep).
(notice the spoon shape in the powdered chocolate!)
Deborah dropped me off at the hotel, and I soon crawled into my bed in room 327 and was asleep.
And that takes us full circle! Thanks for reading!
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 