I doubt that I’ve done much swimming on Thanksgiving Day, but thanks to a heated pool in our new Florida home, I’m living the dream. I’ve been to many warm spots to celebrate the holiday like Isles Mujeras, St. Maartin, Maui, and Austin but I don’t recall spending a lot of time in the swimming pool. I’m grateful we made the investment, as I continue to get my money’s worth or at least reduce the cost per use. As I’m swimming laps, it’s as if I can hear the electric meter spinning. It was 55 degrees when I stepped outside to run this morning but the pool water was in the seventies, peaking at 85 in the evenings. 

From a historical standpoint, the Great Chicago Fire happened in 1871, as I continue relate events to my daily post. According to Wikipedia, “the blaze started on the evening of Oct. 8, 1871. While there is little doubt that the fire started in a barn owned by Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, the exact cause of the fire remains a mystery. Rain put out the fire more than a day later, but by then it had burned an area 4 miles long and 1 mile wide.” Maybe a cow did kick over a lantern? “It killed between 200 and 300 people, destroys 17,450 buildings, leaves 100,000 homeless and causes an estimated $200 million (in 1871 dollars; roughly $4 billion in 2021 dollars) in damages.”

It’s big big day for college sports, as my Alma Mater, Indiana plays four times today in soccer, basketball, and football. It’s a weekend for rivalries, including the Bucket Game between Purdue and IU. If it had been held last year but wasn’t due to Covid, the Hoosiers would have theoretically trounced the Boilers, but what a difference a year has made. Purdue is favored by two touchdowns. Ohio State is a TD favorite over Michigan in their annual battle this afternoon for the Paul Bunyan trophy. IU Men’s and Women’s basketball should both win today, while soccer plays #2 seed Washington that may spell the end of their frustrating season, plagued by a lack of scoring. It comes down to the fact that if the Huskies  score they will probably win. 

Speaking of buckets, I did watch “The Bucket List” movie again with Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson. It’s one of those holiday traditions along with “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.” Travel has been restricted these past few years, so I don’t know if I’ll ever get to the Pyramids. Our Bucket List has a hole in it, as plans continue to be disrupted by worldwide disease threats. We’re still hoping to get to Alaska, Japan, Kaui, and Egypt next year, but we might be limited to just automobile adventures like our drive to the Grand Hotel with stops at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Football Hall of Fame, Biltmore Mansion and Hilton Head. Despite the setbacks, it’s still good to live the dreams of your Bucket List.