We celebrate two anniversaries every year. This year is the 26th year that I’ve delivered a Limoges Box with poem that we call our “Limogesaversary.” However, I cut some corners this year with a Shamrock box from Bernardaud rather than the accredited Limoges sources. With most of my spending money going for medical expenses, I did the best I could. They are not really what we call “No-Moges” because they are still French made, but obviously less expensive than those bearing the “Paint Main” identification. The second box celebrates our 24th wedding anniversary – 2 for one. We’ll also be attending the Queen Nation concert the night of our actual date. Also see Post #2675 – St. Pat’s for the rest of the story.
Anniversary Thoughts
Twenty-Four years,
And little to spare.
But a plate for spaghetti,
And a poem to share.
The box is not authentic,
But the message sincere.
“Happy Anniversary” dear,
Tho’ it’s been a tough year.
You’ve been very patient,
Loving and kind.
I’m not a good patient,
Whimpered and whined.
I’ve hobbled along,
Tired of the pain.
Done what I can,
On walker and cane.
You’ve slept at my bedside,
Worried and cried.
And when I’ve been lost,
You’ve been my guide.
These are favors,
I wish not to return.
I wish you good health,
Hope it’s never your turn.
We’ve traveled the world,
A home with a pool.
Living the dream,
“Miss Denise” teaching school.
A happy pup,
And her older sister.
Plus, my Cutie Pie lover,
Just wanna Kiss her.
Kids on both coasts,
Friends that come stay.
Wonderful neighbors,
Resort life to play.
Another year,
Has passed us by.
All we’ve been through,
I wonder WHY?
Next year foretells promise,
Let’s hope for the best.
Our love conquers all,
Positivity our quest.
As I continue to struggle with sciatica pain in my left leg, my wife did not hesitate to invite the neighborhood to our house to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Since this event happened over a week ago, I’ve since met with my surgeon and have a L4-L5 spinal fusion scheduled for next week. Wish me Luck!
St. Pat’s
A party for 60,
Your husband a gimp.
No help from him,
He walks with a limp.
No luck from the Irish,
You organized it all.
Then cleaned it all up,
And repaired the wall.
You made it look easy,
Took time for bridge.
Dyed the beer green,
Sliders in the Fridge.
You’re the party queen,
In your grass skirt.
You make me proud,
Even when I hurt.
Not a true Limoges,
Though at least made there.
No “Peint Main” mark,
As I’m sure you’re aware.
Our cash cupboard is bare,
Did the best that I could.
So I honor Twenty-six,
With this poem, as I should.
Another Limogesaversary,
The first was Ninety-Nine.
Soon a Queen Nation concert,
For the date I made you mine.
I love you more,
Each and every day.
Here’s to remembering,
A Happy St. Pat’s Day.
Many years ago, a friend gifted me an Ernie Banks autographed baseball. It came in a protective plastic case but was never authenticated. I passed it along to my son, a bigger Cubs fan, along with a signed jersey, “W” blanket, and a Cubs leather jacket. He decided to put together a collage of “Mr. Cub” items, including the ball, jersey, and 1959 baseball card in a wood and glass showcase that was proudly mounted on his living room wall.
It remained intact in my son’s Florida home until recently when they moved to the Atlantic Coast, where his wife was completing her degree in ophthalmology. He asked me to keep it safe for him during the move, along with his baseball card and comic book collections. I mounted the glass case on my office wall, along with my other precious collectables.
One night recently, I heard a crash and discovered that the wall anchors had failed to hold, so it fell several feet to the tile floor. The glass broke into a million pieces but everything else was fortunately intact. I intended to get it fixed but with my recent back surgery it was too cumbersome to deal with, so it stood upright on the floor. My mistake was that I didn’t think about how intriguing that unprotected ball was to our one-year-old puppy, Fosse. One day out of boredom she rolled the ball out of the case and proceeded to chew the cover off. Bad Dog!
The ball is now on my desk with not even a small sign that the Bank’s autograph ever existed, although I can still make out the Rawlings logo. President William B. White’s stamped autograph as part of the OFFICIAL BALL of the NATIONAL LEAGUE seal is still visible. There are no bit marks or damage to the red stitches, so obviously the tastiest part was Ernie’s autograph, that is now in a poop bag somewhere. I know that “the dog ate my homework” is a popular excuse, but in this case, Fosse ate my Ernie.
Ernie Banks died in 2015, ten years ago, and was still alive when I received this special ball. He was #14 and was a Cub from 1953 to 1971, played in 2,526 games with 2,583 hits, 512 HRs, and 1636 RBI’s according to the stitching on the limited-edition (2 of 14) uniform. He was inducted into the HOF in 1977 as a fourteen-time All-Star. He was also NL MVP in 1958 &1959 and is the most beloved Cub of all time (with a tasty autograph). I can buy another signed ball on Ebay, but I’m still disturbed that Mr. Cub died a painful second death in my custody!
My Hoosiers were in a deep hole, as they faced the daunting task of salvaging their season against Purdue, Penn State, Washington, Oregon, and Ohio State. At stake was a top 15 finish in the conference to at least make the BIG Ten tournament and a potential berth in the NCAA Tourney, all to save the reputation of “retiring” Coach Wooden, the Senior class, and the “Glory of Old IU.”
Magic was in the air as the Hoosier defense held #13 Purdue to just 58-points for a 15-point victory 73-58. Malik and Troy, showing senior leadership, each scored 13 to overcome a 12-point halftime deficit. Reneau also joined the 1,000-Point Club with 7-7 scoring and six rebounds. Galloway made it 60-45 with 6:43 remaining. Could this up-and-down team somehow find a way to get to March Madness? Next up Penn State.
Myles Rice stepped up with 11 of his 13-points in the second half as the Hoosiers once again came from behind at halftime down 39-37. Oumar Ballo led the team with 20-points while Galloway had 16 and Goode 10. Penn State got to 60 first on a Yanic Konan Niederhouse jumper at the 10:20 mark. IU finally took the lead at 5:51 on a “trey by Trey,” making it 70-69. Maybe the Magic of 70? The Hoosiers never relinquished this advantage and went on to an 83-78 victory before heading to the West Coast for games against Washington and Oregon. They had at least secured a spot in the BIG Tourney but were still on the NCAA bubble with two straight victories.
Reneau, now in a reserve role, scored 22 to lead all scorers at Alaska Airlines Arena in what proved to be an easy victory for the surging Hoosiers 78-62. It was the widest winning margin since Miami of Ohio in December, four months prior. Hot-handed Luke Goode added 18, including a three-pointer at 9:39 to make it 60-42. Mgabo and Rice added 10 each for this third-straight victory. The team was coming together, and Woodson was no longer getting booed. However, it proved to be a long flight home after Oregon took the wind out of our sails. Everything was then hanging on a second victory over Ohio State on Senior night.
These seniors did not let us down but the 66-60 victory over the Buckeyes was not easy. Ohio State jumped out to a 10-point margin with over 12-minutes to go. Trey Galloway managed a magical heart-stopping three with 1:24 on the clock to make it 61-56. His heroics along with fellow classmates Anthony Leal, Luke Goode, Malik Reneau, and Oumar Ballo made Senior Night special. The defense once again kept the final score under 60. The Hoosiers rallied to a 19-12 record and 10-10 in the conference for a 9th place finish. They get a rematch against Oregon, the eight seed, but this time much time much closer to home.
Our 15-pound schnauzer named Fosse thinks that she is a big dog. There are two sides to our dog park – big and little – she prefers to be BIG. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday three “Aussies” (Australian Shepards) come to the park led by owner’s Val and Mike. We call them “the circus,” as they leap in the air to catch frisbees. Fosse is enamored with them, squeaking with delight as they approach.
Little Fosse joins the circus when they arrive, keeping pace with them, afraid only of the flying frisbees. For some reason, she won’t go near these flying discs, chasing after the dogs instead as they grab them from the air. Fosse will bound at full speed, often with a ball in her mouth, as the “Aussies” go through their morning routine. She does stay away when they are hosed off at the end of their workout. Otherwise, she’s an Aussie Wanna-Be!
Our other schnauzer, Tally, watches from the sideline, her 15-year-old body no longer suitable for romping with the “Aussies.” Fosse, as a one-year-old, has boundless energy and goes to the dog park twice a day. Tally often sleeps in or pretends when it comes time to leave but is always up for a treat or when smelling scintillating scents from the kitchen. Tally once had Fosse-like energy, as did her predecessor, Tinker, who liked to chase the ducks through the mud at our lake home. Dogs will be dogs, but Fosse strives to grow up to be an “Aussie.”
Our two pups are off to “Camp Schnauzerville,” while we do a long weekend at the Keys. I’m up bright and early but they are not around today for the first outing of the day. I’m missing the interaction, while the quiet is deafening. “Schnauzerville” is where Fosse was born – her mom and dad live there and the place where Tally has stayed since we moved to Florida. It’s an invaluable dog sitting and grooming service at an affordable price, although the place is “racist” – only allowing Schnauzers. Unlike most dogs, Fosse’s dad is a swimmer, and she has been in the water and encouraged to paddle, although we would prefer that she stay out of our pool. Fortunately, she needs the confidence of her daring father, so with the exception of an occasional slip, she skirts the pool. Both dogs do enjoy sitting in the sun on the lanai and will lazily join me while I read in the afternoons.
One of the endearing things about pairing an older schnauzer with a puppy is the learning process – old dogs teach new dogs new behavior tricks. For example, when the mature pup barks, the student chimes in. One of my favorites, however, is the need to redecorate when we leave them alone to “watch each other.” They move rugs from room to room, scatter their toys in a frenzy, and relocate their beds and bowls. When we come home, the kitchen runner is in the living room, despite its rubber backing. When my wife slides it back in place, they both jump on for a joy ride. It’s like two dogs on a toboggan. I’m not sure where Fosse learned her bad habit of destroying TV remotes – I can’t afford to leave them out, after losing at least five while others are held together with tape.
We’ll pick them up on Monday morning, after the long weekend, groomed, bathed, and worn out from playing with the other boarders, in Fosse’s case, brothers, sisters, cousins, and parents. Although there are some gray and white varieties, most are black. They love their own kind, and I’m enjoying them together – Tally is 15 and Fosse 1. They live to eat, constantly scavenging for crumbs, or planning their next redecorating project.
I lead a rather boring life these days. Nothing seems to excite or inspire any more. I’m not very mobile, still limping on my left leg, so getting around isn’t easy. The dogs tend to determine my daily routine. Out at seven, unless I set an alarm, then every couple hours with last call at ten. I plan to walk a mile this morning, despite the discomfort, and this is the extent of my daily exercise these days. The big question remains: will the nerves in my leg return to normal? So far, after surgery there has been little change. I try to remain patient but it’s frustrating.
Pain no longer keeps me awake at night, but my bladder still does. I got up at least four times last night. My other issue is unsteady hands. My neurologist has increased the dosage of Primidone to curb the tremors, but it’s still difficult to hit the right keys when I write. Plus, it makes me sleepy in the afternoon. I couldn’t stop yawning at a friend’s house yesterday after lunch. Diet Coke still gives me a boost but also makes me shake. It’s another futile battle!
Ten years ago, I didn’t have any of these problems, but those times are hard to remember. I also didn’t appreciate my good health – I took it for granted. Little did I know what loomed ahead. I know I’m not alone, but there are still those who seem to defy age. I always thought that I would be that guy! Believe me, even a year can make a difference. I was still running and writing at age 72. Now, I’m 73 and struggling. I hope I can turn this trend around and begin to enjoy life again.
The game against UCLA was an absolute nightmare, and the Hoosiers fell short again. I went to sleep with a bad feeling in my gut and woke up like I had been tortured. Was this season payback for all those seasons of success back in the Bob Knight era? I just can’t watch anymore and gave up long before the team did. They somehow had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Mackenzie Mgbako’s shot missed the mark, just like so many attempts throughout the game by his teammates – 25 of 62 (40.3%) and 7-29 from three (24.1%). Statistically, it would have taken three more shots for it to have gone in, so I shouldn’t have been surprised or upset. After all, he had just missed a wide-open lay-up that would have tied it.
The Bruins got to sixty first, but their physical play nearly cost them in the end. It was 60-52 on a Skyy Clark three with 8:09 to play, but an inadvertent punch to the jaw of Anthony Leal at 1:18 led to two free throws by Luke Goode, narrowing the margin to 70-65 and a 72-68 final score. Another disappointing home loss for the Hoosiers, their uncharacteristic fourth, and another devastating blow to any post-season hopes.
UCLA led by as many as 13 in the first half and always seemed to make a clutch three to keep the Hoosiers at bay. Mgbako tweaked his ankle and did not return until after the break. Luke Goode turned in a strong second half and finished with 16, while Malik Reneau had just three free throws in the first half and Oumar Ballo managed just a layup and two free throws. Ballo finished with 9, Mgbako 14, and Reneau 14. The Bruins dominated 35-25 at halftime over the stagnant Hoosier offense.
It’s been a over a year since my Open-Heart Surgery, so this is a poetic Valentine tribute to my wife, delivered through a Nora Fleming ceramic plate topper:
From the Heart
Our 26th Valentine,
It started with a Pez.
Listen to my heart,
“I Love You,“ it says.
I can’t imagine your thoughts,
Seeing my heart exposed.
It was a scary moment,
That only you will know.
But now a year has passed,
And I’m on the mend.
To my special Valentine,
Gratitude I send.
You’ve nursed me all along,
While I had little to give.
I need you by my side,
As long as we both live.
“Miss Denise,”
My “Sweetie Pie.”
Your heart is gold,
While I’m a tired guy.
Can’t wait to heal,
And cuddle with you.
It won’ be long,
Loving is past due.
Your Valentine gift,
Though not a Limoges.
Not even a Pez,
A NORA No-moges.
This chocolate-covered,
Ceramic, Strawberry treat.
Our Eddiversary sweet,
But, in this case, not to eat.
Sorry, there isn’t more,
I bought a Valentwin.
But it can be exchanged,
When you take it back in.
A gift that keeps on giving,
Like my heart that ticks anew.
It’s filled with love for you,
And everything you do.
Love, MikeL
Valentine 2025
It was expected that the Hoosiers would drop their sixth straight game, given the fact that it was in hostile territory against a conference leader. However, Coach Mike Woodson had one more magic trick up his sleeve – a zone defense that stifled the mighty Spartans.
Malik Renea scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half, while Oumar Ballo added 14 and Luke Goode 10 overall to help Indiana beat No. 11 Michigan State 71-67, leaving Tom Izzo “on the brink” of breaking Bob Knight’s Big Ten wins record. The Hoosiers are now 15-10, 6-8 in the Big Ten, with their first Quad 1 victory of the season. Woodson is stepping down after the season and this win gives the Hoosiers a little more cushion to have some kind of a postseason, even if it’s only a Big Ten Tournament appearance.
The Spartans (19-5, 10-3) lost for the third time in four games and dropped to third in the standings behind Michigan and Purdue. Izzo remains at 353 Big Ten wins, matching the mark Knight set at Indiana while winning three NCAA titles. Michigan State’s Jaden Akins scored 14 points and Jase Richardson had 13, while IU’s Myles Rice had 10 points, including two free throws with 30 seconds left to put the Hoosiers ahead by four points. Anthony Leal sealed the victory with two more free throws in the closing seconds. The Hoosiers got to sixty first, 61-52, with 3:14 remaining.
Ancient history had Indiana as the preseason pick to finish second in the Big Ten, ranked as high as No. 14 in the AP Top 25 in late November. The Hoosiers showed some of that potential, coming back from a double-digit deficit early in the game to lead at halftime and for the entire second half. Down goes Sparty!
