Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 11:30 p.m. in "The City." We have a current temperature of 32° as we drop to our overnight low of 30°. Monday we'll have a high temperature of 37° with an 80% chance of showers after the sun rises at 8:03 a.m. If that's the case, then Sugar the Weather Dog will not be going out with me in the morning. Like always, the morning constitutional will be a game time decision. The intrepid weather dog and I got in two walks today, so she should be fine with her walking quota.

I finished painting those ornaments earlier today. Now all I have to do is apply the matte finish and they'll be complete. I am not as steady in the hands as I used to be, but I think they look fine. Once I get that matte finish on them, I'll include a picture.

I found time to play with the girls this afternoon. I like to think that I sounded great. In addition, I finished the crossword puzzle from the weekend Grand Haven Tribune.

I started reading my latest novel. This book is by an author who is new to me. I saw him on the web site for new books posted by the library. I've started with the earliest book, so that I don't get out of sequence which I have done before with other authors. The setting is Ireland, a place that Mary and I have visited and which is responsible for some of the music that I love. I think that there may be an Irishman in my wood pile somewhere along the line. I also have another author from that same library source.

Tonight at 9:52 p.m., the southbound train rolled by, a rare three locomotive combination towing two box cars and 17 covered hopper cars. Somehow I doubt that I'll be up to see the northbound run. Turns out I was wrong. At about 2:30 a.m., the northbound train rolled past. Two locomotives, followed by one box car, then seven covered hopper cars, and then nine, count them, nine, of those dreaded black tank cars. Finally, a lone covered hopper was car bringing up the rear. Now I know that there won't be any more trains tonight.

Monday, I'll be putting that matte finish on the ornaments, listening to the radio, and reading more of that novel. If Sugar and I get out, I'll get the newspaper. All of that will happen before the sun sets at 5:10 p.m. Mary will be working, so I"ll be on my own. That's okay, I think I can survive. If I am feeling ambitious, I'll bring the Christmas tree up from the man cave and get it set up. Then it will feel like Christmas to me. Ciao.