Good morning GH. It has just passed 2:30 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 50 degrees under mostly cloudy skies. The day promises to be cloudy most of the morning and afternoon, except for a brief period between one and three PM as we head for a high of 53. That just happens to correspond with my attendance at the Irish Jam session this afternoon. That's good when you are carrying your ax for a few blocks each way. This may truly be an example of the Luck of the Irish.

Later, when we plan to journey to the Fall Fest, the weather looks a bit more dicey. This may turn out to be the first and last annual Fall Fest in GH. Had the fest been held last weekend, the weather would have been perfect. Here in GH the weather is generally agreeable, but it does seem that the rain falls mainly on celebrations, fund raisers, and the like. That's just a superstition.

I learned something I think, about over watering container plants in my garden. I am now getting sweet peppers in abundance. Prior til now, I got just one. Since I haven't been watering and just letting the rain take care of the plants they seem to be happier. I live and learn. Since I used to have an expansive garden with a great southern exposure at our old house, I watered and the water dissipated into the surrounding soil.

With containers, that doesn't happen and so plants that require more or less water are more sensitive. I think I'll try again next growing season and be more judicious in my watering. That, or I'll find a way to plant things where they get the right amount of sunlight and the rains will take care of the watering. Since we have so much shade here and no good southern exposure it will be difficult. But I'll find a way.

Early on Friday found Mary, Sugar and me on a walk to the small box grocery store to get some cheese for Mary's now famous meatless Reuben sandwiches. Along the way, we encountered too many loose dogs for our liking. Sugar is always on guard and that means that she wanted to get in the face of those other dogs. She doesn't understand why she can't run across the street to meet them. It makes the walks more challenging, but that's why she is on a leash for her protection and the protection of our human psyches.

When she and I were in my chair reading later, she looked out the window and saw a man walking by on the sidewalk in front of our house. She had to go to the door to bark at him. She is nothing if not protective of us, the house, and "The City" in general.

Later Friday found me at the big box grocery store. The prices were good as always, but the crowds were think too, as always. But I had a plan and I stuck to it. I stopped in the pharmacy area for some aspirin and I had hopes of finding one other thing. When I didn't, I quickly sojourned to the other side of the store where the groceries are and using my list, I got everything that I planned to get and a few things I didn't plan on.

I should mention that I had already stopped at the Goodwill donation center for a drop off and then took our cans to the medium box grocery store for redemption. 75 cans takes a while, but the redemption center at the bog box grocery store is just too annoying.

Checkout went smoothly and then home for that previously mentioned reading with Sugar. I was summoned by the boss to go upstairs to help with her latest project that never ends, but she finally had to stop and request further instructions. I have never seen her so frustrated by a project as this one. I can't tell you more, but let's say that if she could, she would have this project be magically over, now.

Today the Irish Jam, the stop at Fall Fest later, and that's about it. I think that's enough. We may go to the farmer's market with Sugar for our morning walk, but that depends on the precipitation. I walked a lot yesterday and I am about walked out.

A quick sports report. The Cardinals dispatched the Dodgers 9 - 0 to advance to the World Series against either the Tigers or my beloved Red Sox who play later this afternoon just after 4:00 PM. College football should be interesting as Northern Illinois plays Central Michigan at 3:00 and the Spartans kick off with the Purdue Boilermakers at 12:00 PM. The Wolverines play the Indiana Hoosiers later at 3:30.  Locally, the GH Buccaneers are not having the greatest season. But that's okay, they are giving it their all.

Oops, I thought that I had missed it, but the train just passed by at 3:30 AM. A longer one this time. So, now I am done being long winded and it is time for bed, again. Ciao.