Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature outside the Weather Window of 34° will drop gradually to the overnight low of 26° before once again climbing to today's post sunrise (8:07 a.m.) high of 35°. The gradual warm-up has begun, peaking at Monday's high of 45°. Some days will be windier than others, but overall, both Sugar the Weather Dog and I will find it better than running from the ice and snow.

Thursday found me still waiting for those lenses. Maybe today. Sigh. Sugar and I took our morning walk and that consisted of a trip to the newspaper box and back. I found time to get the laundry done and also to read more in my latest novel. The girls and I spent some time together. In fact, Abaigael and I worked together to polish up a tune that wasn't quite right. We found a nice chord combination that substitutes nicely for one that is much harder to play and is only a fleeting requirement. A good effort on the part of Abby and myself.

Trainspotting consisted of my hearing the southbound run of a heavily laden train. The northbound run should be along soon, but I won't be around to view it. Or, I might.

Today, I have plans to install the new shop light Mary and I picked up at the local big-box home center. I found that while working in the man-cave that the lighting over the workbench was insufficient for my old eyes. I may find time to bring the tree up and get it in place too.

In other news, the boys in blue are now being criticized for doing too much to actually get to the World Series™. A front line free agent pitcher, a top-notch manger, although they have had one or two of those before, and a farm system that is producing quality players, has left some long suffering fans longing for the good old days of low expectations and open seats in the park. Personally, I've waited long enough. Theo Epstein and his management team were brought in to create a winner. It was a former manager, Leo Durocher, who once said "Nice guys finish last." I think he also said something about the boys that they were better than their dismal finish the season before he took over as manager. His new team then proceeded to go out and lose even more. In seven seasons, the closest the boys got was in 1969, when they had another collapse, and were overtaken by the "Miracle Mets." Is this the year? As a veteran fan for 56 years, a veteran of the futility that has been north side baseball, I hope so. I started the journey at age seven, and I'll be 64 this year.

That looks like enough activity and speculation for one blog. The sun will set at 5:09 p.m., and I'll be done with my day too. Ciao.