Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 3:30 a.m.in "The City." As the temperature continues to drop from our current 50° to our overnight low of 49°, we have a 0% chance of showers today. Saturday, the National Weather Service is still predicting an 80% chance of T-storms and a high of 70°. Sunday's temperature is expected to drop to 64° with a 50% chance of morning T-storms. The view out the Weather Window is dark, with more dark to follow, until the sun rises at 7:26 this morning. Sugar the Weather Dog is safely ensconced on her couch.

Yesterday, I got up early and played the girls. Abaigael is sounding better than ever with her new strings. I stayed behind after breakfast as Mary and Sugar took the morning walk. I did the dishes, pulled out the old herb garden, and planted the fall crop of lettuce. It may get too cold too soon, but we will see.

In sports, the boys in blue lost to the Dodgers 4 - 8. My beloved Red Sox fell to the Pirates 2 - 3. The Tigers had the day off, and so they remained .5 games ahead of the Royals in the A.L. Central. This weekend should be interesting in baseball. The boys are still going nowhere, although they are rumored to be changing "A" level affiliation from the Kane County Cougars to South Bend, IN, where the team will become the Cubs. As of now, the Daily Herald says the minor league team is on the move for better facilities.

Elsewhere in sports, the college football season begins anew for my favorite teams. The 3 - 0 Northern Illinois Huskies take the road to Arkansas for a meeting with the Razorbacks. The Michigan Wolverines welcome the Utah Utes as they try to prove they are a good team. The Michigan State Spartans return to play against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, following the Spartans loss to Oregon.

Today, I'll do more highlighting after I walk with the intrepid weather dog. I finished my latest book and I liked it as I always do the books in this series. Any book which takes the dog's perspective is OK with me. I now have to pick up two books at the library, so I'll have to convince Mary to go with me this morning. If she can't, I'll have to drop Sugar off, and then return. Then more highlighting. My hands are testimony to the colors I am using.

I heard an earlier train heading south, and the northbound run is just now passing. The usual contingent  of locomotives followed by 16 covered hopper cars with graffiti for livery, one lone black tank car, and then an additional covered hopper car bringing up the rear.  .

Otherwise, not much is happening. We stopped in and saw Sally at the Post, but as things were slow, so she was planning to head home after we left. As a volunteer, she can set some of her working hours. One and done for Mary and me. The sun will set at 7:47 p.m. and that is only 12 hours and 11 minutes after sunrise. Short fall/winter days are part of life in the Midwest, as is changeable weather. Ciao.