Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." A current temperature of 34° is the harbinger of today's high of 46°. We had a bit of snow yesterday afternoon, but it didn't stick. Mary and I had been out in the back forty just a short while before. Mary attempted to turn the frozen ground as I raked. My luck was better than hers.

In the category of trainspotting, at about 11:15 p.m. last evening, I heard the southbound train go by. At 3:12 a.m., I watched the northbound run go by as I gazed out the Weather Window. The regular locomotives rolled by towing two of those dreaded black tank cars, followed by three covered hopper cars, with four more of those dreaded black tank cars bringing up the rear.

Earlier in the day yesterday, I did more reading and then settled in with Mary to watch the Spartans of MSU, defeat the Cardinals of Louisville in OT, 76 - 70. The number seven seed Spartans are truly the Cinderella team of this year's NCAA. Next Saturday, they face off against the Duke Blue Devils in the Final Four™. The winner of that game goes on to face either KY or WI. Can the Spartans do it? Stay tuned.

Mary created our lunch of ballpark style nachos for the game and it was delicious. Naturally, I added jalapeno peppers to mine. Mary prefers hers a bit more tame. We celebrated the win with an adult libation.

Later, I was downstairs reading while Mary was upstairs knitting. I fell asleep in my recliner after letting the intrepid one out for the last time. When I awoke, I decided it was time to head upstairs and read in bed. Mary was in the media room and asked what was on the Hallmark Channel™. I was sucked in there for two hours. Then it really was time for bed, without any reading.

So here I am now. The sun will rise at 7:31 a.m. on another day in paradise. I'll head down to the man-cave after I return from the morning walk and after I stop at the library to pick up a book I have on hold. A few more boards to cut, a few more screws to drive, and a bit more puttying and painting, and I'll be done.

Then, it's time for more reading before the sun sets at 8:08 p.m. Ciao.