Our activities schedule is heating up with only a week to go before we head to Pittsburgh. It will be good to go anywhere, despite the Spirit Flight and Fairfield accommodations. Only dogs and grandchildren keep us from the luxury hotels and high-end restaurants, while Pittsburgh is hardly a dream destination. I’ve only driven through so I’ll hold my opinions until after the experience. The kids will certainly enjoy the railroad inclines, museums, river walks, and parks. Before we go, we have at least two more dinners with friends and perhaps a first-time Pickle Ball encounter. 

I continue to watch Josh Gates’ Expedition Unknown while waiting on further episodes of Ali, Nine Perfect Strangers, and Only Murders in the Building. The White Sox lost again yesterday afternoon, but Hoosier Soccer was victorious over Northwestern. The Cubs were also losers again but I’ve lost interest. They were initially the whole reason for the Pittsburg trip and we’ll see them against the Pirates as their miserable season finally comes to an end. It will at least be another ballpark to cross off my bucket list. Tally will get to spend a few nights with her schnauzer buddies while we’re gone. Our last night will be in Tampa, so maybe I can treat my wife to a nice dinner and hotel without the rest of my family. 

My wife is completing the last of her “Welcome To Medicare” preventative exams today, but my schedule is relatively free. I was hoping for some sunshine by the pool but instead it’s overcast and spitting rain. At least it’s not raining hard enough to prevent Tally from going to the dog park for her daily romp. In the meantime, we await responses from the furniture repair company and our former apartment landlord on compensation for damages incurred in the move from Portland to Florida. Neither has been very cooperative with timely answers in resolving the final hassles of relocating. I’ll try contacting them again today. It’s been six months – Moving is never easy.