Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is nearly 5:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is a brisk 52° as we head for our morning low of 52°. Today promises highs in the 75° range. Sunny skies should prevail until Sunday night. In short, there are blue skies in our future for today and tomorrow.

Friday morning, Mary, Sugar the Weather Dog and I went out for our morning constitutional. With Sugar in her Thundershirt™ and Thunderleash™ leading the way, we set out for downtown. Sugar was mostly mollified by her accessories, but once she heard an explosion, she was ready to head for home and her hide-e-hole. Mary and I had fueled ourselves before we left, so when we got back, Mary went up to work and I sat down to read.

Things were going well, Sugar occasionally poked her head out as I read. Suddenly, I heard the growl of a powerful diesel engine. Not unusual since we live nearly on top of the GH Public Safety Department. However, when I saw the fire engine going by our front window trailing a large water hose, I knew something was up. I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter, only to see the truck stopped just down the street, with public safety personnel all around. I shouted for Mary to come down as I bolted out the front door.

What had I seen? Two doors down from us, there is a recently purchased house undergoing renovations. That house was the source of the smoke in the sky, and the cause of the mounting public safety presence. I have included links to the final results of the excellent effort by Grand Haven's finest from both WZZM TV and the Grand Haven Tribune. http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/local/2014/07/04/house-fire/12214489/  http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/policefire/1050896.

We were thankful that no one was seriously hurt in this early morning fire and that the well trained men and women of the various public safety departments, especially our own GH personnel, were able to quickly contain and douse the fire. A great job all around.

But I digress. Mary and I stood and watched for a while and then Mary called our next door neighbor who had gone out earlier in the day to apprise her of the happenings. Fortunately, both her house and ours suffered no damage. But our afternoon plans for a holiday repast had to be altered. The back yard of the palatial estate smelled as if, to quote our neighbor, "We had a campfire." Our indoor campfire smell had been confined to the mud room due to our closed windows. Her indoors smelled like the campfire had been in her living room when we talked later. That's more than enough excitement for one morning. Sugar had to agree.

After all the commotion, Mary talked to Sally at the Post and then we walked down to see her. Things were mostly quiet before the euchre players were due in around 4:30 p.m. We headed home and supped on our impromptu holiday feast of veggie dogs, corn, and Coleslaw that Mary had crafted with my help on the grater. Of course, Sugar the Sous Dog was present. Mary used her culinary skills earlier to create what I would say is her best effort to date on Coleslaw. I think that Sugar would agree.

We finally journeyed upstairs to the Media Room to watch Independence Day. Mary wanted to go out to view the local fireworks, but my knees and baking yak weren't up to it. I don't think she went on her own, but I went to bed, so I don't know for certain. I just know she is there now.

Today less excitement I hope, and more highlighting for sure. More reading and strumming the girls is likely too, if I get my work finished. I have to be sure to get back to bed soon for the end of Mary's favorite overnight program.

In sports, the boys in blue won their game against the Nats, 7 - 2, and then they made a blockbuster trade with the Oakland As, trading starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for minor league prospects. It definitely is next year. My beloved Red Sox had the day off. The Tigers lost to Tampa Bay, 3 - 6. The Caps triumphed over the Fort Wayne Tin Caps 3 - 1.

That's enough for one day. Ciao.