Good early morning GH. We are fast closing on 3:30 AM here in our fair city and the temperature in the Weather Center is 71 degrees. Outside it is 64. That's a vast difference from Death Valley and other western areas. Sugar the Weather Dog is sound asleep next to the bed, having had a need to repair to her hide-e- hole after our dinner due to a small series of explosions at the  house behind us. More on that in a minute.

I was awakened by a train whistle from what sounded like a lone locomotive traversing the tracks near here at about 2:30 AM.  I can't be certain, but it must have been that "Horn Happy" engineer warning the various inebriated drivers and wait-persons that he was coming in the wee hours. You can't be too careful. Since we have a number of 2:00 AM bars here in GH, it is necessary to warn patrons and servers alike that a large moving object might be crossing their paths.

Mary and I had our first official outdoor grilling session last evening. Mushrooms, zucchini, tomatoes, corn and tofu rounded out our efforts. Mary was less than satisfied with her tofu marinade, but overall the chance to grill out was just too inviting. That's where Sugar figures into the evening's activities. That's where I came in too, when I fired up the "Barbie" and grilled the veggies. I got to smell like smoke for the first time and it was great.

But I digress. Sugar and I had been out on the deck enjoying some time in the "Bone Zone" and I was playing grill-master for dinner. We had just finished our dinner, Sugar had been the official "Sous Dog" and cleaned up the left-overs when those aforementioned explosions were heard. She was scratching at the door to get in in a fashion that we didn't understand until we put two and two together and realized that she needed to get to her hide-e-hole for cover. Since it was only June 28, I can't imagine how she will make it through the next several days. The state of Michigan recently enacted a law that allowed municipalities to ban private fireworks on either side of the Fourth of July, but in the larger window that has the Fourth occurring on a Thursday this year, the explosions may last for several days.

I had accomplished the lawn and garden maintenance on our vast estate and let myself be talked into stopping due to fatigue. While it was a good idea, I just hate having to stop when there is daylight to spare. However, Mary is right, as usual, that I need to accept the fact that I am getting older and there is always tomorrow for more work; one of the advantages of being retired.

I have to finish my dusting and vacuuming, but I have to decided to wait until the painters are done on Tuesday before I do. Little sense in doing the work twice. Instead, I have some things to do in the man-cave that will allow me to still use my time productively.

In sports, the boys in blue wasted another fine starting pitching effort with yet another bad relief performance in Seattle, losing in the 10th by a score of 4 - 5. However, they have a lead over the hapless Brewers of one full game in a battle for last place in their division. The Tigers beat the Rays 6 - 3 behind Max Scherzer's latest win. Max is 12 - 0 on the season. They Tigers have a slim 2 1/2 game lead over the tribe from Cleveland. My beloved Red Sox conquered the Blue Jays 7 - 5, to go 3 1/2 games up on the Orioles and 5 1/2 games up on the Yankees. The Caps fell to the Dayton Dragons 3 - 5.

Otherwise, those activities in the man-cave await, as does the chance to charge up my helicopter and get ready for the first flight of the summer season. Sugar will take me for a walk unless those explosions get too close. Like thunder, if she hears those, she will be off to the races as we head for the safety of home. I feel sorry for her, but what can I do except let her have her head. Bed awaits and then...Tea time. I hope that Barb is feeling better today. No pictures today. Ciao.