My grandson has trained my wife well. When he doesn't want to go to bed, he quietly knocks on our door and comes in, looks up to the shelf with M&Ms on it and signs/says "please". She of course melts and will dole them out one by one while he counts. Yes he uses his manners and yes he is practicing counting, but he has had those two skills down for a year. He has trained me to chase him around the house, which is probably for the best since I need to exercise. Started off the whole COVID-19 lock-down experience losing 15 pounds then put it all back on with a little extra. I am looking forward to the spring and mountain biking again. No I don't ride in the winter; falling on my ass when it is freezing out is just not something I care to do as I get older.

The puppy got into a bag of pellets (fuel) and made a mess at one o'clock this morning. But at least she is potty trained now. I need to get off my lazy tail and take her for walks so that she is tired at night. Just playing fetch isn't enough for her energy levels. The older dog would probably appreciate the break from her incessant antics trying to get him to play. He has lost weight with the constant activity.

Our youngest child starts hybrid schooling at the beginning of February. I wish I could get her vaccinated before then, but it doesn't look like kids will be able to get the vaccine for a few more months. Although from the news it appears our state is doing better than most in distributing the vaccine. When I was approved earlier this month, I was able to get it the same day. When my wife was approved a week later, she was also able to get it same day. We are both scheduled for the follow-up shot next week. My mother down south can't get in until mid-April. My mother-in-law up north hasn't been put on a list yet.

Started listening to audio book version of Jonathan Steakley's Armor. I read the book as a kid and loved it. Not too thrilled with the narrator. Sometimes it is like he is trying too hard. That is one thing that frustrates me with audio books. Some narrators just don't fit the feel of a book. I really miss having a commute so that I can listen to audio books and podcasts. Not to mention the three hour drives north or twelve hour drive south to visit family. I never realized just how much I consumed. At this point I am a few hundred hours behind in my listening. Just plopping myself into a chair to listen doesn't work. There is too much activity in the house. At least in the summer I was able to listen while mowing the lawn, but still have a few months to go before the next mowing. I've tried listening when I go to bed, but either I get sucked in and never fall asleep or I do fall asleep and have to play the rewind game trying to find where I left off.

As always, life is good, even when it is not.