Good morning GH. Since it is currently not raining, I call that a good morning GH. We are experiencing a  temperature of 41 degrees, and the view out the Weather Window is dark. Sugar the Weather Dog should be ready to go out in the AM, since the chance of precipitation is relatively low for the times before 2:00 PM.

Speaking of the weather, we had what could best be described in the old  west as a gully washer on Thursday. We had standing water by the railroad tracks, standing water in the rear area of our shared driveway  and standing water that is still there on our front walk area. I am just thankful that it wasn't snow, because it would have been in excess of two feet. In GR and its environs, there is an expectation of the Grand River cresting well beyond its record and flooding additional homes and businesses. Last year we got no rain of consequence in the summer, and this year we are getting a deluge in the spring. The record rainfall is helping the various lakes and rivers, but there is a plea out for people to help fill sand bags. One large hotel in GR was forced to close when its basement and parking garage area flooded. Numerous night activities at churches, schools, and some businesses had to be called on account of rain.

Not only were the above activities canceled, but the Caps had to endure another rain-out as the rain poured on the Fifth/Third ballpark in Comstock Park, MI. The park sits near the banks of the Grand River, and is in fact on River Road. The boys in blue got in their game in Wrigley Field and beat the Rangers, 6 - 2 Thursday afternoon. The White Sox lost, 3 - 1 to the Blue Jays. The Tigers lost 2 - 0 to the Mariners. I'd like to excuse their efforts as the result of the late game the night before, but both teams suffered the same late game syndrome. Unfortunately, the usually reliable Justin Verlander had a solid game until the 7th and then gave up two runs that the Tigers were unable to match. The Red Sox once again topped the tribe from Cleveland to remain atop their division and ahead of those darn Yankees.

In reference to Boston, I hope you had the chance to see the spontaneous outbreak of patriotism, Boston style, when they played the National Anthem before the Bruins game. The fans drowned out the arena singer and sounded great. I just wish we could all do something for all of us on many more occasions. For example, for the people of West, TX after their own tragedy of Wednesday night, in which many lives were lost, many were injured, and many homes and businesses were destroyed.

I guess that I am getting maudlin. Today is another day, hope is what the American people are all about, and no matter what happens, we have an uncanny ability to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start all over again. Pardon the obvious lyric. We just have to be sure we get the right perpetrators, and not be incited by know-nothings to attack innocent people or groups without cause.

But, time for bed as I await...Tea time, and a tad more housework. Ciao.

A side note. I spent several hours of my life that I'll never get back on Thursday working with the people at my on-line back-up service and the people at my anti-virus service in order to get my computer to function properly. When asked why the virus that was infecting my computer got past the anti-virus software I was told that it was a "Retro-virus," that used the anti-virus software as a vehicle to infect my machine. After listening to their pitch, I told them to get started with the fix, which had an additional cost. Oh well, what can you do.