Good morning GH. It is just past 2:30 AM here in "The City" and the current temperature is 59 degrees under clear skies. The chance of showers begins to rise about 1:00 PM with a temperature of 71 and a 30% risk of showers as we head for temperatures in the mid-seventies with the chance of showers climbing to 70%.

It seems as though the temperatures of yesterday will parallel today, but the showers will be arriving as the day progresses. Mary and I just had to get out for a walk along the water-front and take the time to enjoy the day. You never know how many there will be at this time of year. That followed taking Sugar the Weather Dog over to the dog park a few blocks from here. She had the opportunity to "mingle" with a few new friends and run herself ragged. We always have to stop her because she doesn't self-regulate when she gets tired from running her short legs off.

Sugar can keep up with the bigger dogs, but it takes a lot of energy to do so. As always, there was a dog who wanted to establish the pecking order, and that just further stimulates Sugar's need to run. But long legged dogs versus a short legged dog leads to total exhaustion. When Mary and I went out for our walk, Sugar was lying in her downstairs beg sound asleep.

We walked to the main drag here in town, stopping in a couple of stores. We didn't buy anything, but the weather made that unnecessary. Friday was just one of those days when we say, "It doesn't get any better than this." I loved being back in my summer uniform and I know that I won't get all that many more chances to do that this year. We may have walked too much, but I feel okay, so that means that it wasn't too far.

We split a great wet bean burrito at our alternate watering hole and then off to the post to see Sally. Friday is euchre night at the post, and they were also setting up for a Saturday afternoon/evening wedding reception. Lots of people there. I think the showers will hold off for the noon outdoor wedding. The reception is scheduled for 3:00 until 9:00 PM on a drop in basis. Hors D'oeuvres and an open bar trended by Sally should make for a great time. We had a quick adult beverage while there and I dropped a quarter into the jar on the bar and won a free adult beverage. I also got a national parks quarter for one of my collections that Sally had saved for me. She knows that I am collecting and she keeps her eyes open. We'll have to make her holiday gift extra special this year. I'm not sure what, since I don't make things in a wood shop anymore. We'll work on it.

That was about for Friday and after a bit of TV viewing I was ready for bed. Unfortunately that means that I get up in the wee hours to do this blog. I think I'll use some of my "extra" time to do some highlighting for the boss.

In sports, the Cardinals took 13 innings to dispatch the Dodgers 3 - 2. Tonight the Tigers face off against my beloved Red Sox at 8:00 PM. I'm fairly certain that the television people would prefer an East Coast versus West Coast match-up for the World Series. Of course, they might like the Tigers to represent the American League from the mid-west. Most likely the Red Sox offer better revenues for advertising on TV.

Lot's of college football today and that makes for a great day of sports viewing. Michigan visits Penn State, MSU is visited by Indiana for the 500th game played in the Spartans stadium. Northwestern travels to Wisconsin and the Northern Illinois Huskies host Akron as the Huskies go for their sixth straight win.

The Blackhawks defeated the Islanders 3 - 2 and welcome the Buffalo Sabers tonight. The Red Wings, now in the Atlantic Division of the NHL, face the Philadelphia Flyers tonight too. I know that the league is trying to achieve a balance, but the Blackhawks and the Red Wings are two of the original six teams in the NHL and they belong together. My barber and I agree on that one.

I have to mention that I got excited at about 7:00 PM Friday when I heard a train whistle. I raced to the GH channel just in time to see, a lone locomotive sporting the new livery of the Mid-Michigan Railroad and no cars. I thought to myself and said out loud to Sugar, "That's not a train, that's a disappointment." But I'll take what I can get right in front of our house.

Time for some highlighting, soon to be time for bed, and then...Tea time. Ciao.