Ups and Downs of the week.

Christkindlmarkt – The annual Christmas markets opened today in Europe. I’d love to be there. A nice hot Glühwein and a tasty bratwurst are perfect while strolling through the market stalls. Doesn’t get any better. Some year we’ll spend Christmas in Europe. Below are live webcams of the markets in Nürnberg and Salzburg. Two of my favorite cities.

Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt

Salzburg Christkindlmarkt

Black Friday – Always seems to bring out the worst in people right at the time of year when we’re supposed to be seeing the best.

Patriots – They looked shaky at the start against Detroit, but then they turned it around in the 2nd half. Still can’t shake the Jets, though. The Red Sox were in the premium division this year and it appears the Patriots are as well.

Ups and Downs of the week.

Red Sox Management – Enough with the AAA guys and trying to reclaim has-beens. Get some real pitching, please.

Cadillac, MI – We’ve been here several times before, but this is my first visit in the summer. The town is totally different. All decked out with flowers and very much alive with festivals and folks walking around and lots going on at the lake. The weather has been perfect, too.

Ups and Downs of the week.

Home Again – Good to get away every now and then, but always good to get home.

Red Sox – Finally playing like the team they are. Now if the other teams in the division would just stop winning.

Celtics – Glad to see them in the finals, but I hope they don’t embarrass themselves against the Lakers.

More from The City.

Ups and Downs of the week.

New York City – Heading home tomorrow, but it’s been a great week. Fantastic restaurants here.

  Offshore drilling – No more permits until the oil companies can prove they can stop disasters like this.

Red Sox – They sweep the Rays, best team in the majors (in their own park, no less), and then falter against a paltry team like Kansas City at Fenway. I just don’t understand.

Summertime – It’s here in full bloom.

  Plantar Fasciitis – Severely curbed my walking in NYC. Ouch.

Celtics – Finally got past the Magic. Celtics-Lakers in the finals. A classic matchup.

While I pity anyone who will be attending the 2014 Super Bowl, I have to say NYC is still a great place to visit.

Ups and Downs of the week.

Red Sox – After a rough start they may actual be starting to turn things around. Maybe.

  McAfee – What a screw-up this week.

  School – Last Saturday class tomorrow. Just a final project to complete after that.

San Diego – Very cool city. Still have some pics to post.

Ups and Downs of the week.

Little Surprises – More about this and a video later.

  Red Sox – You can best describe their play as sloppy. Not so, the Yankmees. Sox better straighten themselves out before they find themselves way, way behind.

  Dell Latitude Z laptop – Overall I like it. But this damn intermittent touchpad/keyboard problem is so annoying. I use a Bluetooth mouse to get around the touchpad issue, but the keyboard is useless for any extended typing.

Just about every time we get out to New England we try to stop by the Niantic Book Barn. Sarah likes it for the books. I just like the photographic opportunities. With so many books and cats, there is no shortage of subjects.

Ups and Downs of the week.

 Netflix – Great service. Can’t believe I’m just catching on now.

 Red Sox – They trade Mike Lowell for a second (or third) rate catcher and $3million in savings? I don’t get it.

 Christkindlesmart – It’s on again. The live cam isn’t as user friendly, but it works.

  Illinois State Legislature – The chickenshit morons failed to pass a relatively minor tax hike, so now they aren’t paying the bills. Accordingly, state employees may be forced to take furlough days as early as January. I can handle the days off without pay, but many folks making less will really take a beating. How much sense does it take to realize that the state is about to go under and something needs to be done?

New Kitties – They all checked out fine at the vet today. Looks like we’ll be keeping them. Now we need to come up with names.