Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:30 a.m. in "The City." You may have noticed that I didn't blog yesterday, but I figured that since I did two the day before, that I was at my daily quota.

I had an interesting day yesterday. Mary and I took the morning walk with STWD, and then I made some minestrone. With some assistance from Mary at modifying the recipe to fit the ingredients I had on hand, I think it turned out great. Of course, the proof is in the tasting, but I haven't done that yet. One of the reasons for missing my last blog was that I was feeling a bit under the weather, I decided that eating anything too spicy was not in my best interest. So, I'm one of those cooks who made a dish that I haven't tasted, yet.

STWD, in her role as STSD, was there for some assistance, but she didn't stick around all that long. Maybe since the recipe was heavy on garlic and onions, she knew she wouldn't be getting much of anything. That's okay, because she did get some carrots and potatoes that I used in the minestrone.

I spent quite a bit of time reading, and in fact, I just finished the book a few minutes ago. I liked it. I think that I see a movie in the not too distant future. I also finished highlighting that 1,000 page book for Mary.

My boss had given me the day off, but I found the book strangely compelling, so I worked for several more hours. I used to keep track of my hours, but I didn't this time. However I suspect that if I had, it was probably around 15. We had a nice little mini vacation, but now Mary has four jobs in the pipeline. Feast or famine I guess.

I heard the southbound train rumble through about 11:15 p.m. last night. I heard it, but I didn't get up to look. I bet if I had, I'd have seen the same locomotives, as well as the same number of CHCs and DBTCs. I plan to be back in bed for the return trip.

In sports, the boys in blue were finally upended in Pittsburgh by the Pirates, 1 - 8. However, they are still firmly in second place in their division, The Tigers have once again embarked on a nice little streak, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays, 10 - 7 to stay in first place. My beloved Red Sox defeated the Twins, 4 - 1, and they are now in second place. The Caps, fell to the South Bend Cubs, 2 - 0. They are still firmly mired in the nether regions of their division.

Today, I plan to read yesterday's Grand Haven Tribune after the morning walk with STWD. Mary has to get to work on one of those four projects, Speaking of Mary, she went shopping for shoes late yesterday. She found some she liked after laying waste to the shoe store, or so I hear. On her way home, she stopped into see Sally at the Post. The way I was feeling, I'm glad I didn't go.

The sun will rise on a partly cloudy day at 6:40 a.m. The high temperature will be 56°. Friday's high will be 60°. We're getting there. The sun will set at 8:44 p.m. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just passing 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

Today was an odd day. Mary took STWD for the morning walk, while I stopped at the library to pick up a book that is eerily similar to the one I am highlighting for Mary. I returned to water the veggies and get to work on my highlighting. Unfortunately, I never got to much of that highlighting for long, because Mary felt "compelled" to visit the yarn shop that is going out of business. I did get some yarn for her to knit into my new hat, while Mary got some crochet needles that were for a new technique that she learned while in Chicago. On the way back, we picked up a bag of onions for $1.00. A bargain by any standard.

I was reminded that in yesterday's blog, that I should have mentioned that the burgers that Mary made were veggie burgers. Anyway you slice it, they were excellent.

I was just finishing some of the highlighting that I didn't get to earlier. I am now up to page 541. I still have a long way to go.

In trainspotting news, at 12:10 a.m., the southbound run of the train went through. Only engine #2057 was present, towing six CHCs, and two DBTCs.

In sports, all three of my favorite tams were victorious. The Caps didn't play.

I plan to go off to bed now and get caught up on my beauty rest. Ciao.

Once again, Good Morning GH. This is a special edition of my regular blog. I went back to bed and was listening to Coast to Coast AM™, when a promo for iHeart Radio came on. It was one of those retrospectives they have been running about the history of Rock and Roll from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. In this one, the Beatles were mentioned, and the host of the Coat to Coast AM™ program played a short session from 1969 that showcased the harmonies between Paul McCartney and the late John Lennon that ultimately became part of one of their last albums. Naturally, my brain had to do the math to come up with the fact that those harmonies were recorded over 45 years ago.

By now you're asking, "So, what required the special edition of the blog?" Well here goes. It may be a bit maudlin at times, but so be it.

It was just about this time of year, 42 years ago, that Mary and I formally met and began dating. We were married a scant five months later. One year after that, Adam was born and our lives have never been the same. Richer, fuller, more exciting come to mind, but those words are not enough to describe.

I remember the day that Adam was born, quite vividly. I remember trips that he and I would take on the Wednesdays that I had off from work to various locations in Northern Illinois. Mary was sleeping days then, and I got the chance to be with Adam one on one. I didn't know at the time that he would be attending Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. I remember thinking at the time that all I had to do was to get him to 18 years of age and that would be good. I also remember thinking at 18 that now, all I had to do was to get him through college and launched on his life.

Time has a way of passing all too quickly. People and jobs come and go. Family and friends are all too quickly taken from you. Life's changes seem to buffet you, seemingly without rhyme nor reason. Through it all, you shape some of the events, and some of the events shape you. I used to think that some people were old and some young. Now most people are like me, older and hopefully wiser.

I still like to write rather than to talk one on one. It gives me a chance to think about what I want to say and how I want to say it. Words have an often unique ability to quickly, and sometimes permanently, wound and destroy what you have spent a lifetime building. Maybe that's what being human is all about.

At any rate, though maudlin, those are some of the thoughts that I have on life as inspired by that iHeart promo.

In addition, The Glitter Twins, Mick and Keith, morphed into the Rolling Stones, and they are still touring, however wisely or unwisely, in their 70s. Bob Dylan is making records of old standards from the 1930s and 1940s. The Beatles are now down to two people who rarely get together to play music anymore, although Paul McCartney is now Sir Paul McCartney, and still touring. Elton John is now Sir Elton John, and I think that Mick Jagger is now Sir Mick Jagger. I doubt that I'll live long enough to be so honored.

When I listen to the oldies station from GR, I hear songs that were popular over 40 years ago. I still like them, but I don't long to go back and relive those days. I look forward to whatever life has in store for me in the future. I am happy making my music. I am happy playing in the man-cave. I'm happy that Adam and Steph are happy. And mostly, I'm glad to be alive to see what's going to happen. I am most certainly happy that Mary is along to share the journey. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her.

So there you have it. We can't go back again, so it's best to just stay focused on the future. That old saying that goes "When Life gives you lemons, make lemonade", never seemed so true. People come and go, but life goes on, hopefully not long after the thrill of living is gone. Thanks John Mellencamp for the inspiration for that line. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City." The current view out TWW is dark.

Yesterday was a good day. The morning walk took me, STWD, and Mary, down to the waterfront to see the remains of the public restroom building that caught fire last month. Naturally, since STWD had not traveled that route recently, she had to explore all of the new sights, sounds, and messages that were renewed after the winter. Mary took some pictures of the remains, and it looks as though a new roof might fix the damage. The nearby Coca-Cola™ machine will not be able to be resuscitated. To borrow from Dr. McCoy of the television show Star Trek, words he often spoke to Captain James Tiberius Kirk. "It's dead Jim!"

We worked our way home and I got busy doing nothing. I read a large portion of my book and did the crossword puzzle from the weekend edition of the Grand Haven Tribune. Mary made some burgers for lunch from an old family recipe. Well not actually an old nor family recipe, but the burgers were quite tasty. Along with the burgers, she served a tasty cucumber salad, one of Adam's favorites. It turns out that STWD likes the peels from cucumbers. Who knew?

I settled in once again and did some additional reading until we went for an afternoon walk, sans STWD. Fortunately she had eaten, so she was content to rest and relax.

Dinner for me was Totchoes, a combination of cheese covered Tater Tots™, served with jalapeno peppers and salsa. Mary chose to have hot dogs and baked beans. For her, probably a wise decision. For me, nearly nirvana.

I have a call in to the makers of my AntiSpyWare program to have them check why I am still getting messages that indicate that some problem still exists. The message hasn't appeared during recent boot ups, so perhaps it has been resolved. Only time will tell.

I got an email message from one of the places we visited during the recently completed Yarn Quest, that they are closing after many years. So sad.

In sports, the boys in blue swept the Reds, 5 - 2. They are still in second place  Looking good. The Tigers rolled past the Indians, 8 - 6 to retake first place. My beloved Red Sox were drubbed by the Orioles 7 - 18. They have now fallen all the way to third place. Ouch! The Caps dropped another one to the Dayton Dragons, 2 - 3.

Today after the night has given us a low temperature of 36°, the sun will rise at 6:44 a.m. and give way to a partly cloudy day and a high temperature of 54°. Once the sun sets at 8:41 p.m., the temperatures will fall once again into the 30s. Better weather is coming. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

At this hour, not much is happening. The bars are all closing and Mary is dozing and I'm awake. I borrowed the inspiration for that line from a song by the late Steve Goodman entitled The Lincoln Park Pirates. 

Alas, that appears to be my life as I know it. But that's okay, because I never get bothered at this hour. Even STWD is sound asleep. Truth is,there was a long ago television sitcom titled My World and Welcome to It starring William Windom. He related what was happening in the life of he, his wife, and his preteen daughter. I think it was based on a novel from 1942 by James Thurber. Windom played the title character and worked as a writer and cartoonist for a magazine like the New Yorker. Although the show was critically acclaimed, it lasted just one season 1969-70. As Mary and I can both attest, many shows that we like that portray life with whimsy and wit don't last.

Otherwise, I am up to page 452 in my work. My ogre boss says I can have the day off today. I am not supposed to do anything but read and do a crossword or two, and maybe play with the girls. I should change the strings on Abaigeal, so that will take some time.

I may also get into the kitchen because Mary will be upstairs and she can't stop me. Of course, I will have to work around her organization system, so that may complicate things a bit. I found a recipe for minestrone that I'd like to try and I think I have enough of the ingredients on hand to pull it off. Maybe not everything, but close enough.

Otherwise, I have no specific plans. I'm working on the latest book written by John Grisham entitled Gray Mountain. I'm not real deep into the book yet, but I plan to change that today. I also have two books on the shelf downstairs and one on hold at the library. I've just been too busy to get much reading done. Come to think of it, that may mitigate against any activities in the kitchen.

I did get some music typed into my database that I'm working on learning. That's what I usually mean when I say I am working on some music. I type up the lyrics as I remember them and then work out the chords. Sometimes it can be a lengthy process, but I like doing it.

Later today the sun is supposed to shine and the temperature will rise to 54°. While not hot, it will be comfortable for the morning walk with STWD. As long as the wind isn't blowing too hard, it should be all good. We'll have to wait for late this coming week for warmer temperatures.

A quick sports report. The boys were rained out in their game with the Reds. The Tigers righted the ship and beat the Indians, 4 - 1. My beloved Red Sox lost to the Orioles 4 - 5, but since the Yankees lost to their crosstown rivals, the Mets, the Red Sox are still tied for first place in the A.L. East. with identical records of 10 - 8. The Caps fell to the Dayton Dragons, 4 - 5 and they are mired in sixth place.

The sun will be rising at 6:45 a.m. and setting at 8:39 p.m. Ciao

Good morning GH. It is just passing 10:00 a.m. in "The City." A recent missive from one of my many loyal readers regarding my last blog, has prompted me to do a better job.

Yesterday, STWD and I took the morning stroll as Mary went off to get her copies made. While she wanted to get them at the ususal location downtown, she ended up at the big-box office supply store. The place downtown is unable to make any copies from a flash drive at this time. I wouldn't let her make them at home, because our toner is already low, and the printer would have been left with its tongue hanging out after nearly 900 copies. Which reminds me, Id better order more toner for a delivery early next week.

The day was a bit cool, but at springtime in West MI, that's not all that unusual. Even the bears that were spotted near Coopersville are not all that unusual. Spring in W. MI, along the shores of the "Big Lake," is like that. It could be worse, as we could be in the "Sun Belt" which is not all that sunny right now. It has been plenty warm there, but that has led to violent storms, large hail, and tornado activity. Like Michael McCloud of Key West, said in the lyrics of one of his songs, "Oh what the heck, I think I'll just stay right here."

Today, I have to continue highlighting the book for Mary. I'm up to page 325 out of over 1,000, which is just under 33%. I like to round off because it makes me feel better about my progress.

It looks like our IT guru did her magic with my computer. It seems to be working fine now, but I think in the skirmish, this computer tried to get the best of her. It looks like she won.

So today is more highlighting after breakfast and a morning walk with STWD. I have so many other books I want to read waiting on the shelf, but there are priorities.

In sports, the boys in blue won, 7 - 3 over the Reds. The Tigers took it on the chin, 1 -13 as they fell to the Indians. My beloved Red Sox, nipped the Orioles 7 - 5, and the Caps lost to the Dragons of Dayton, 5 - 8. In order of appearance, the boys are in second place in their division, with a record of 9 - 7. The Tigers have fallen into second place, with a record of 11 - 6. My beloved Red Sox are still in first place, with a record of 10 - 7. The Caps, mid pack.

The sun already rose on what looks like a mostly cloudy day with a 40% chance of rain. The temperature is expected to reach about 58° before the sun sets at 8:38 p.m.

I hope this blog is more satisfactory to my loyal cadre of regular readers. Ciao.

Not so good morning GH. My computer now seems to have a mind of its own. At first, the Windows media player kept popping up. I turned it off, I think, but now iTunes is popping up. It apparently appointed itself the default player for audio in place of the Windows media player. I don't know if it is related to the Bluetooth™ speaker connection or something else. It seems to have happened while I was away. I think I'll have to consult with our IT department for help. I'd do it now by email, but I don't know the correct email address. Mary can help me with that in the a.m.

Not much is happening anymore and I am tired, so it is time to go to bed again before the sun rises at 6:50 a.m. on a sunny but cold day. The sun will set at 8:36 p.m. Ciao

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

When you go to bed at 9:00 p.m., it is not unusual to get up at 1:30 or 2:00 a.m. But that's okay, because I get to listen to overnight radio and the oddest things that are discussed by some of the strangest people. Maybe I"m one of those odd/strange people. I just don't inflict myself on the world through the telephone. But wait, as they say in those annoying commercials, there is this blog, so one never knows.

Yesterday was too wintry for me. Rain, almost snowy, and just a feeling that our little corner of the world had reverted to the Ice Age. Well, not really, but it was cold and windy.

I started out with STWD for our morning walk as Mary prepared for her regular Tuesday chat, but some fool decided it was time to get rid of some firecrackers, and so STWD pulled me towards the house so hard that when we returned to the mud room and the kitchen, I announced to Mary that we were back nearly before we left. Mary watched as STWD shook in fear and then raced up to her hide-e-hole. I felt so sorry for her, It took another two hours for her to overcome her fear and return to her pack.

Mary and I had finally coaxed Sugar out of her hide-e-hole and we all took an abbreviated walk to the newspaper box and the library to return a book.

I heard the southbound train go by about 11:00 p.m. last night, and I just watched the northbound run go through at 1:50 a.m. The regular cast of locomotives, followed by four CHCs and two DBTCs. In short, it was short.

Today, I may have to return the second speaker to the local retailer. The charging light does not go off, and that doesn't seem right. I've had both plugged into the wall for more than 10 hours. One of them the charging light went off, the other never has. The trouble is, I can't tell which is the one I've already exchanged and which is the older of the two. Sigh.

Today, I have no firm plans, but that seems subject to change every time I say that.

In sports, the boys in blue eked out a win over the Pirates, 9 - 8 They are now 8 - 5, but still in second place. The two teams play again tonight. The Tigers fell to the Yankees, 2 - 5. However, they still own one of the best records in baseball, and remain in first place with a record of 11 - 3. My beloved Red Sox, with a record of 9 - 5, are also in first place and are keeping those darn Yankees at bay in the A.L. East. The Caps also won over Great Lakes 6 - 5. Not much improvement on their record though.

The weather today doesn't look much different in the forecast than yesterday. A high of 44° sometime this afternoon under mostly cloudy skies. Rain/snow are possibilities. Tomorrow things begin to look better, and by Sunday we may get all the way up to 54°. What a difference from last weekend.

The sun will rise at 6:52 a.m., and set at 8:35 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 7:15 a.m. in "The City." I'm going to keep it short today, just because I want to.

In sports, the results were mostly positive. Boys, W. R Sox, W. Tigers, W. That other team from Chicago, L. Caps, oops, L. Bulls, W.

Outside the WW, the skies are cloudy all day, with showers once again in the forecast and temperatures topping out at 47°

Yesterday, we picked up a new plant for Mary's portion of the gardens on the palatial estate. It won't get planted until the weekend due to the temperatures overnight falling below 30°. We also stopped at a store in Hudsonville for some almond based plain yogurt.

My plans for today include, but are not necessarily limited to, walk with STWD, go to the local health food store, kick back.

Mary is expecting those two new books for indexing. That means I'll have my hands full too. Oh well, I've had a few weeks off.

The sun rose at 6:53 a.m., and it will set again at 8:34 p.m. Ciao

Good morning GH. It is just past 3:30 a.m. in "The City."

At 3:00 a.m., the northbound train passed by. This train had only one engine, #2057, towing a lone box car, four CHCs, one DBTC, one white tank car, followed by four additional CHCs that were bringing up the rear.

Yesterday was interesting. I accomplished a lot. STWD and I took out usual morning sojourn, and then I settled in to do some reading. I followed that part of my day with some time in the man-cave. That always seems to upset STWD, because she won't go there and she can't protect me when I am there.

At any rate, I finished the oiling and final reassembly of the school desk that we "Inherited" from Steph and Adam. It is now going to be re-purposed one more time into an end table for Mary in the media room. My thanks for a project in the man-cave. I'm sure that Mary will thank the kids too. I took a couple of pictures to show my efforts, and here they are.

Mary can take better pictures, but these are the best I could do at 3:30 a.m.

I think Mary will like the finished product, I do, and I think that the "kids" will like it too.

In sports, the boys in blue are still in second place with a record of 6 - 5, as they lost once again to the Padres, this time 2 - 5. Pitcher Jon Lester made an unusual fielding play, tossing his glove with a ball trapped in the webbing to Anthony Rizzo at first base to get an out. But, he still lost his third game, moving his record to 0 - 3. While I recognize that a pitcher needs run support, it is tough to win when you can't seem to get the other side out. The Tigers rebounded from their loss to that other team from Chicago on Saturday, by soundly defeating that team on Sunday, 9 - 1. With a record of 10 - 2, the Tigers are firmly in first place in their division. Next up for the Tigers, the N. Y. Yankees, for the boys, they travel to Pittsburgh, while my beloved Red Sox have one more game against the Orioles, before they travel to Tampa Bay.

Speaking of the Red Sox, they dropped another one to the Orioles, 3 - 8. They are still in first place, but they can't keep this up for long. The Caps are firmly in fourth place in their division, defeating the Ft. Wayne TinCaps 4 - 1.

The weather yesterday started out cool, but finished warm as the rains arrived. Mary made it home before the rain. Outside the WW, the streets are wet, but no rain is falling. Today, we'll see a morning low of 38° as we come down from the current temperature of 51°. We'll get back to that temperature later today. Tomorrow and Wednesday, the National Weather Service is predicting a high in the 40s. Brrrr! Midday today, the showers will be returning to put a damper on things. STWD should be okay for walking until about 10:00 a.m. But it will still be damp and chilly.

The sun will be rising in a few hours at 6:55 a.m. Later tonight, it will set at 8:32 p.m. Ciao.

Good evening GH. It is just passing 10:00 p.m. in "The City." I don't know about elsewhere in the country, but here in the GH area, the weather could not have been better for Earth Day 2015. The sun was shining, the temperature was in the mid 70s.

STWD and I took a nice morning walk. Later, I walked over to the library for the monthly Irish Jam session. One of the players suggested that it was too nice to stay inside, so we moved up to the patio area by the doors on Columbus. Fantabulous idea!

I came home in between the Jam and the Rock the Earth activities in Central Park. I took some pictures in the park, but they show exactly what was happening, not much. Oh well, the chance to sit in the park and listen to what was happening was all good. Here are those pictures

Back in the days of WWII, this was the norm. We've sadly lost our way.

This was the title for the activities in Central Park

While the young ladies in this band were very good, attendance was sparse.

But, any chance to perform before an audience is always welcome.

Amanda sang and played very well, but the sound system betrayed all of the performers. 

This man read his poetry. It was quite good.                      

Cheerios with sliced apples for breakfast, a veggie burger with mashed potatoes for lunch, and my coveted small shells pasta for dinner. What a culinary triumph for me.

I've been listening to a Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefers band concert live from Tampa, FL. In typical Buffett style, he and the band have been going strong for over two hours and twenty minutes. Just one more thing that made the day great.

Right now the view out TWW is dark. The rain tomorrow is supposed to hold off until later tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, Mary makes it back home safely before the rain overtakes her. The forecast calls for the showers to begin here at 3:00 p.m. tomorrow. The temperature tomorrow is supposed to peak out at 61° about that same time.

I finished the book that is due on Monday, so STWD and I will return it tomorrow on our morning rounds.

In sports news, the boys in blue defeated the Padres, 6 - 5 in 11 innings. They are still in second place. The Tigers fell to that other team from Chicago, 3 - 12. But with an 8 - 2 record, they still have a solid hold on first place. My beloved Red Sox lost to the Orioles 1 - 4. They too still have a hold on first place. The Caps had an easy time with the Ft.Wayne TinCaps, winning 10 -6. Their record is not all that stellar.

I don't have any plans for tomorrow. I intend to keep it that way. The sun will rise at 6:57 a.m. and set at 8:31 p.m. Ciao.

Anther day will soon be dawning in "The City." It is currently 2:30 a.m., as we head for sunrise at 6:58 a.m. The forecast for today? Outstanding! 71 mostly sunny degrees. Tomorrow afternoon will yield a high of 62° with rain in the afternoon. Earth Day on Saturday will be a success in Central Park and all over the Tri-Cties area. After I have played with the Irish Jam session, I'll drop Abby off at home and then go back to Central Park to hear the music and take some pictures.

STWD and I will be alone today. Mary is off to her Yarn-Con in Chicago.I hope she gets out ahead of the rain on Sunday afternoon. Somehow, STWD and I will get by. We had a trial run yesterday, as it was Forage Friday. Speaking of STWD, she and I will take a nice walk later this morning. With the sun shining and the cloud cover at a minimum, we should have a great time. Mary will be driving to her Yarn-Con activities, so she will not. Oh well, we all have our burdens to bear.

Before I leave for the Irish Jam, I plan to get my dinner ready. With Mary away, I get to have small pasta shells and Tater Tots™ for two of my meals. If she were here, that wouldn't be happening. Shhh, don't tell Mary.

Yesterday, I spent some time in the man-cave preparing that school desk that we received from Steph and Adam. All I have left to do, is to oil the wooden parts and then reassemble. I also finished reassembling the old door that Mary will be using as a decorator item. A little work with a small wood plane and a touch of adjustment with a hammer, and it went back together.

Other than walking with STWD, my cooking, the Irish Jam, the Earth Day activities, and more reading, I have nothing on tap for today. Phew, just thinking about it wears me out.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Padres, 4 - 5. That dropped them into second place. The Tigers defeated that other team from Chicago, 2 - 1, to remain in first place. My beloved Red Sox also won, 3 - 2, over the Orioles. Like the Tigers, they too remain in first place. The Caps fell to the Lake County Captains, 3 - 4, to remain mired in the nether regions of their division. Not last, but certainly not first.

That looks like enough for one day. The sun will set at 8:30 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City."

Wowie, the boys in blue are in first place for the first time in six years, with a record of 5 - 3. They open another home stand against the San Diego Padres, the third place Padres, with a record of  6 - 4, in a 2:20 p.m. game at the Friendly Confines. The boys are expected to call up their top prospect, Kris Bryant, today. They don't always have a good record with their top prospects. All too many have become lesser lights, or they get traded and become stars elsewhere. The boys and the Tigers were off yesterday. The Tigers are in first place in their division, with an 8 - 1 record. My beloved Red Sox, with a 6 - 3 record, are also in first place in their division. For a baseball fan like me, that's fantastic. The Caps, with a record of 4 - 4 are in 4th place in their division. I have to issue a correction and tell my many readers that the team from Lake County, is called the Captains.

Yesterday was an interesting day. I got some time in with the girls and did some reading too. Once again, I have no specific plans and in spite of anyone's protestations, I plan to stick to my plan. What's that they say about "Plan your work, work you plan?"

No train spotting last night/this morning. That's okay, because there is always another day/night/morning.

Yesterday I exchanged one of my new computer speakers because it apparently had a defective battery. That was probably the smoothest thing I did. There is an advantage to buying locally. If I hadn't, I would have had to send the speaker back to a location that would have required weeks to create a turn around.

That looks like enough for one day/night/morning. Today's high temperature, after the sun rises at 7:00 a.m. will be 63°, after falling to the overnight low of 38°. The sun will set at 8:29 p.m. tonight. Saturday, Earth Day, will be sunny with a projected high of 69°. I'll be staying home as Mary travels to her Yarn-Con meeting in Chicago. I have my Irish Jam on Saturday afternoon, and then there are some activities, including music, in Central Park. STWD and I will take the morning walk after Mary sets out, and then I'll settle in for a while until I have to go. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just passing 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

I missed the train passing in wither direction. Oh well, there's always tomorrow.

Mary and I did get to an excellent presentation at the library last night. It was titled "30 Years of Chicago Blues: 1947 - 1977. The presenter, Brett Billedeau, was very knowledgeable and a total Chicago Blues junkie. He's probably forgotten more than I ever knew about that form of music. Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Hound Dog Taylor, Koko Taylor, Big Mama Thornton, John Lee Hooker, the roster goes on and on, take your pick. Their influence on the British Invasion, and R & R was incredible. Many of the artists, like Buddy Guy, are still playing today, but all too many died young without ever getting their due. As an example, I offer these two links. The first is at the induction of Buddy Guy and B. B. King into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The second is the band Cream, jamming live on some of their blues influenced hits.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZL2abn7W1c. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtWzR5RkB3U

Elsewhere, I was very productive in the man-cave yesterday. I made two rain deflectors for Mary's deck planters to avoid the flooding that they experienced during the heavy rains the other night. It's a good thing that I did, because it is raining right now. Not heavy, but the deflectors should thwart some of the flooding.

I also got the man-cave cleaned up after my recent experience with what I now infamously call, "The Wet/Dry Vacuum Affair." Truth is, I found the dust filter for my vacuum on my shelf yesterday. Who's the fool now? Wait, don't answer that.

I got out to the "Bone Zone" late yesterday afternoon with STWD, who was ecstatic. She chewed happily while I read and listened to the oldies station. It really doesn't get any better than that. I just didn't take any wine with me since we were headed to the library later.

Mary did some planting in the gardens of the palatial estate as I worked in the man-cave. She found a home for the daisies she got from our neighbor the other day. I actually don't know where they are planted, so I'll be surprised like everyone else.

Most of the early spring flowers are starting to bloom now. The daffodils and the crocuses are in full bloom. Along with Mary's violas, the gardens are very colorful.

I think I'd like today to mimic yesterday, with more emphasis on reading, and less emphasis on man-cave activities.

In sports, the boys in blue returned to first place in-their division with a decisive win over the Reds, 5 - 0. The Tigers eked out a win over the Pirates, 1 - 0. My beloved Red Sox are no longer on their roll, losing to the Washington Nationals 5 - 10. The Caps, won on the road, defeating the Lake County Loons, 2 - 1.

So once the sun rises later this a.m. at 7:01 a.m., and long before it sets at 8:28 p.m., I plan to have an enjoyable day. I need to pick up a prescription later, so maybe we can combine a lunch stop with that activity. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. it is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City." For those of you who are fans of the Chevrolet Corvette, the rumor mill is buzzing once again about a mid-engine Corvette. So, if you are one of those someones, here is a link to follow: http://markvictorarnold.kinja.com/mid-engine-corvette-new-camaro-teased-on-americarna-169070491

I was reminded of the number of Corvette fanciers here in GH yesterday afternoon when Mary and I saw a parade of them pass through downtown GH. If you aren't a fan, please ignore the above link.

We were on our way home from the annual Yarn Quest™, after getting the sixth and seventh stamps on Mary's Yarn Quest™ Passport. One more stamp to go, but that only requires Mary to walk around the corner. We started yesterday with Mary getting a call from one of the "Good" shops that we had visited on Monday. Mary's name had been drawn as the daily winner of a prize that she could choose from many in the prize package group. As the first daily winner, she got the pick of many good prizes. Her choice looks good to me.

After that stop, we made three more, and then returned home. I had my share of fun, but both STWD and I are glad it's over for another year.

I have plans for later today in the gardens of the palatial estate as well as in the man-cave. I got up early yesterday to play with the girls, and that was in itself a calming activity. While I liked the sounds the girls and I produced late the other night, I also liked our efforts yesterday morning.

No other fixed plans for today after some gardening, some reading, and some man-caving. Naturally, SWTD and I will be taking the morning safari. That will happen right before we go to the accountant for our annual tax session. Ouch!

I almost forgot; yesterday there was baseball. The boys in blue fell to second place in their division following a loss to the Reds, 2 - 3. The Tigers righted the ship against the Pirates, winning one 2 - 0. My beloved Red Sox stayed hot, defeating the Washington Nationals, 8 - 7, and maintaining their hold on first place in the A.L. East. Alas, the Caps fell to the Loons, 0 - 5.

I'd like to paraphrase from the poem by Ernest Lawrence Thayer, Casey at the Bat, with these lines: "Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright; The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light, And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout; But there is no joy in GH, the boys in blue just fell out", of first place that is.

Speaking of the sun, it will rise at 7:03 a.m. and set at 8:27 p.m. after a 65°, partly cloudy day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be at just after 4:30 a.m. in "The City."

The boys in blue are now 4 - 2 on the  young season, after a defeat of the Reds. With that record, they are leading the N.L. Central division.  Jorge Soler, rookie left fielder, led the team with a monster home run to pull the game out in 10 innings. Unfortunately the ace of the staff, Jon Lester, saw his ERA balloon to 7.84. Are we worried yet? No, but one more like this and we may have the next Edwin Jackson. My beloved Red Sox triumphed over the Washington Nationals, 9 - 4. Looking good @ 5 - 2 and leading their division! The Tigers finally lost one, this first to the Pirates, 4 - 5. The Tigers are now 6 - 1, and in 2nd place in the A. L. Central, which is being led by the K. C. Royals.. The Caps, fell to the Great Lakes Loons, 4 - 5.

Yesterday was a fun and fascinating day. Are you ready? Drum roll please! Mary and I set out on our first day of Yarn Quest 2015. While I can take or leave the shops themselves, the chance to see places in Michigan, some new, some old, is always a great thing. Three out of four stops we made were great. Our first stop was one we had not visited in previous years. At one shop, the people were snooty, the shops wares were pricey, and the atmosphere was less than welcoming. That unnamed place is off our list for next year.

At one stop, Mary got a pattern for a new kitchen apron. Now if I can just get her to wear one every time she is cooking, we'll save a lot of stains on her blouses. I got a pattern for Mary to make me a new hat for winter. It looks great on the head in the shop, so I know that I will like it.

Day two will take us to some stops north and south of here. We have three shops to visit today, We've been to all of them before, so I know what to expect.

I also get to make a stop at the big-box home center for a few things, one of which is that previously mentioned fine particulate filter for my Shopvac™. Better late than never.

I heard the northbound train rumble by earlier. That's all folks, I heard it.

Otherwise, I have some work to do in the man-cave when we get back. When we get back, will be determined by how early we get started. Yesterday we had to wait for the rain to quit. We had a beautiful day by late afternoon.

This morning, the sun will rise at 7:05 a.m. on a sunny day that promises to hit a high of 61° after tonight's low of 37°. The sun will set, and so will I shortly after, at 8:25 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:00 a.m. in "The City." The Tigers are on a roll. They outlasted the Indians 8 - 5 to go 6 - 0 on the season. My beloved Red Sox fell to the Yankees, 4 - 14, ouch. The boys in blue topped the Rockies, 6 - 5, and they are now 3 - 2 for the new year. The Caps, unfortunately, fell to the Great Lakes Loons, 1 - 5. In golf, 21 year old Jordan Spieth handily won the Masters by going 18 under par for the tournament. For those of you who are fans of Tiger Woods, he finished at five under. Not a great showing, but when compared to some recent results, it was solid.

The southbound run of the short-line that goes through town rolled through at 11:22 p.m. The regular cast of locomotives towing one box car and 18 CHCs.

We finished the gardening, for awhile. The beans, the beets, the cucumbers, the kale, and the Swiss chard are all in the the ground. A busy day for both Mary and I. We also got the mulch spread, and that was a lengthy process in and of itself.

Otherwise, we didn't accomplish much. STWD and I took the morning walk while Mary found the bottom of her kitchen. I think I got the better end of the deal after viewing the kitchen. The weather was superb and later the temperature topped out at a sunny 65°.Today we expect a high of 55° with a 90% chance of rain.

The gardening activity caused us to visit the favorite watering hole as a reward for our efforts. By 3:00 p.m., the French toast that Mary made for breakfast had worn off.

I learned something before we left for town. When you don't have a fine particle filter in your Shopvac™, the dust that you pull in on one end blows back out the other end. I have more cleanup to do now than when I started.

Today, I am going to get to playing with the girls and doing some reading and crosswords. It is time that I had some downtime.

The sun will rise at 7:09 a.m., and set at 8:24 p.m. Ciao.

In the words of the immortal Harry Caray, Cubs win!, Cubs win!, Cubs win! Or, as Jack Brickhouse, my favorite Cubs broadcaster, might have said, "Hey Hey!" Or, to quote the old third baseman, "This is the year!" Well, at least it's a beginning. The boys are now even for the season. A nice bit of alliteration, don't you think? The Tigers are now 5 - 0 on the season, as they once again beat the Indians, this time by a score of 9 - 5. My beloved Red Sox beat the Yankees, again, in a regular length game, 8 - 4. Friday night's game ended after 19 innings, 6 - 5. Only one Red Sox player didn't get into that game. Finally, the Caps once again hammered the Dayton Dragons, this time 13 - 3. In short, a great day or days in baseball.

The sun will rise at 7:08 a.m., and set at 8:28 p.m., after what has been forecast to be  the most beautiful day in West, MI this year. The forecast calls for rain later this evening and into tomorrow, but the day itself holds great promise for those of us who still have work to do in the gardens of the palatial estate.

Speaking of working in the gardens, Mary and I accomplished a great deal yesterday. I promised some pictures of the cold frame I've been constructing, so I'll do those now.

It all began here

Then the lumber arrived

Which allowed me to build these sawhorses

Which yielded the basic box for the cold frame

To which I added this top which we procured at the local Restore™ store, keeping with  our theme of re-purposing

We then added Mary's Violas for some color

Until this is how it all fit into the overall garden motif

I enjoyed myself during the process of constructing the cold frame, and I like to think that I exceeded expectations. Well actually, Mary says that I did, and who am I to disagree?

We have more to go, but this is a good start for one day. Since we had worked so hard, we decided it was time to journey to the Post to see Sally and the regulars. It turns out that it was Sally's B'day, so it was a doubly good day.

We returned home, ate our dinner of spinach lasagna, to which Mary had applied her culinary skills. We watched a movie on the Hallmark Channel™ and then it was time for Mary to watch her favorite movie, The Day After Tomorrow, while I finished the novel I've been reading. It was critically acclaimed, but I found the book confusing to read. Maybe it was just me, but I don't feel a need to read any more works by this author. Now I'm on to my next novel by Alex Berenson, Twelve Days, Since I like these books, it should be a lot easier to follow and enjoy. By Tuesday, Mary and I have some books to pick up at the library.

Phew! That's enough for one day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 12:00 a.m. in "The City." The view out TWW is a lot different than it was last night. No lightning, no rain, and the night is calm.

Yesterday was a nice day by my standards. While it was a bit on the windy side, it was pleasant enough for walking with STWD. We didn't get very far, but we did enjoy our time together, something that I thought we might not get to do.

Mary and I got over to the big-box home center and got the garden mulch that was on sale. It seemed like many other people in town had that same idea. I still find it fascinating that I surprised the cashier when I offered the correct amount of money to pay for my purchase. She asked. "Had I been there before?" I said, "No, but I can do math."

With the general reliance on calculators today, the art of determining percentages is being lost. If you add in the inability to count back change from a dollar, I begin to worry about the future. In fact, if you offer pennies to round off a purchase amount when there is an odd amount required and the cashier looks at  you like you have two heads, I think the world is in serious trouble. Don't get Mary started on the inability to pack a grocery bag, or to count back the change and hand back the money separate from the receipt. I seem to recall her saying that the world is going to the nether region in a hand basket.

But back to where I began. I spent  part of the afternoon in the man-cave prepping the school desk that Steph bequeathed to us during our last visit. Lots of elbow grease and in a few days, it should be ready for a nice oil finish. Mary plans to use it as an end table. Thanks Steph.

Before that, I had to reglue Mary's latest decorator item, an old storm door from the palatial manor that Mary has placed on the deck. The strong winds Thursday night/Friday morning, had blown it over and cracked it. Some glue, a couple of clamps, and it was once again fit to serve.

I also worked part of a crossword and did some reading. When you add all of those things together, I had a great day.

In sports, the Tigers won their fourth in a row, 8 - 4, over the Indians to go to 4 - 0. The boys in blue are looking very mediocre at this point in the young season, losing to the Rockies, 1 - 5. The boys are 1 - 2, while the Rockies are 4 - 0, like the Tigers. My beloved Red Sox were tied with the Yankees 4 - 4 in the bottom of the 16th inning, when this blog went to press. If they win, they will run their record to 3 - 1. The Caps defeated the Dragons of Dayton, 5 - 4, in their rescheduled home opener.

Later today, the weather should cooperate and allow us to work in the gardens of the palatial estate. Mary had already planted her deck planters, but the rain may have washed out some of her seeds. The planters have drains, but one of them still filled with water. Only time will tell.

The sun will rise later this morning at 7:10 a.m., and set at 8:22 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning GH. What's that they say about better late than never? I guess that you could say that here in "The City" it is early, just after 9:30 a.m., so maybe neither applies.

We had quite the storm last night, so I opted to turn off my computer and leave it that way rather than risk a problem with the myriad chips and things that make it operate. Wise? Probably. Necessary? Mary says no, because I have a replacement computer coming. But until that one arrives, I'd be without, so I took the safe route.

Yesterday was rather uneventful other than the rains that came early. We traveled over to one of the local hardware stores to take advantage of a sale that was going on. We got some things that I/we needed/wanted, and that made more work for me, work that I enjoyed. Plus, we swung by the big-box home center nearby to check on a sale they have in progress. We'll be stopping by there later today to take advantage of that sale too. I love sales almost as much as I like getting free things.

I discovered last night that the later it gets, the better the girls and I sound. Go figure. I was tired of reading, my computer was turned off, so I sat and played and sang. All good there.

I was up late enough to be on the lower level in the palatial estate and do some trainspotting of the southbound run. The usual contingent rolled through.

Today I have nothing on tap other than that quick trip to the big-box home center. That shouldn't take long, so then I have nothing to do. Ain't life grand?

The sun has already risen @ 7:11 a.m., and it won't set until 8:21 p,.m That should give me enough time to do nothing.

STWD may or may not get her morning walk, as it is one the windy side out there; 20 - 30 mph winds. That makes the temperature feel like 28°, not the 38° that it actually is.

That's enough for today. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. We've just passed 4:00 a.m. in "The City." I am up to send the usual animal stories to Mary in addition to blogging.

Yesterday, I got time with the girls, and time for reading. A great day as far as I am concerned. Both Mary and I took the morning walk with STWD. A quick stop at the library to drop off some books that were due, and then off to the newspaper box and the local bread bakery, before heading home.

After that, I didn't do too much, but that's a story for another blog, so to speak.

Right now, a stare out TWW is very revealing. In a weak attempt to paraphrase the late Maya Angelou, one time U.S. poet laureate, "I know why the Corgle cowers next to the bed." The predicted T-storms are occurring. Bright azure lightning is followed closely by the peals of cannon like thunder.

We didn't get out to thee gardens of the palatial estate yesterday. Now we'll have to wait until the promised pleasant weather of the weekend, Friday through Sunday. It turns out that it was a prescient move by Mary to carry her Violas in for another night. They would have drowned tonight. They should get their permanent home on Friday.

Today, I am going to read and play with the girls once again. I'll also get to the man-cave to finish the painting of the top for the cold frame I've been working on. Then on Friday, I can get it installed, take some pictures, and give it a name. I always like to name things in the yards and gardens of the palatial estate, not unlike the girls and other important items.

That should be enough for one day. STWD won't be getting her morning walk today as the T-storms are expected to last until early evening. The sun will rise at 7:13 a.m. and set at 8:20 a.m. Ciao.

Good morning GH.  I awoke last night to the sound of thunder. How far off I sat and wondered. My thanks to Bob Seger for the chance to use those lyrics from his song Night Moves. I didn't start humming a song from 1962 though. Instead, I looked down to find that STWD was not beside the bed. That's because once she heard that thunder, she was in her hide-e-hole. When I awoke again around 6:00 a.m., she was back. Apparently she had decided that the disturbance in the force was over. That's when I decided it was time to blog

I slept well until that thunder, and that was just fine with me. Sometime earlier last night, just after I retired, I had turned on Coast to Coast AM™ to listen to George Noory and his tales of Martians, Bigfoot/Sasquatch, and whatever other oddities he was discussing. I didn't really hear any of those, but the thought was good, because Mary likes to listen. Somehow I doubt that she heard any of those either.

No trainspotting last night. I was too busy sleeping. Kind of like the boys in blue on Sunday night. They continued hibernation last night, because, "The weather was supposed to be threatening. below freezing, etc." I think the only threat was to their credibility, if you know what I mean. They and the Tigers play again this afternoon. My beloved Red Sox coming off of their drubbing of the Phillies play again later tonight.

Since we ended up visiting the big-box mostly everything store yesterday afternoon, I have nothing on the agenda that needs to be done today. More reading, the playtime with the girls that I had planned for yesterday, and perhaps some plantings in the gardens of the palatial estate. That last item is weather dependent. 

Today, the forecast calls for a possibility of sporadic showers, and the view out TWW is through rain drops, However, that same forecast shows that the showers should be going away later this morning and staying away until 9:00 p.m. So, that means that I can read while Mary does the plantings. STWD and I should be able to get in our usual morning walk too. 

Once the sun rises at 7:15 a.m. I'll wait a few hours and set out. Sugar will hope to see the nice lady that gives her biscuits along our route, and I"ll get the local newspaper. In one sense, both are related, because the nice lady is a delivery person for the newspaper. In Sugar's case, the nice lady delivers biscuits. 

Later, the sun will set at 8:18 p.m., and so will I. Ciao.

Good evening GH. How are you tonight? Personally, I'm great. I had a terrific day in "The City." The cold frame is nearly finished. I assembled it in the driveway, and it is installed in its new home in the back forty. I haven't installed the top yet, as the painting and glazing aren't done, but otherwise, it is complete. I'll be posting pictures as soon as it's done. Getting it level required moving more dirt than I had planned, but with a little help from Mary, the job was done. Once I get the top on, it's up to Mary to finish the plantings. She tells me that the real test will come next fall, when crops are added that need to be protected from the winter.

While I was working on assembly, Mary and S T W D took the morning walk to the library and the newspaper box. When they left, the cold frame was a pile of parts that looked strikingly like a pile of lumber. I had to resist the urge to say "Ta Da!" when they returned. Once the top is painted, glazed, and installed, I'm done. The installation of the top may take a few days, as the forecast is for rain over the next several days. I can paint in the man-cave, but the installation will have to wait.

It was such a nice day, that we walked over to the favorite watering hole to watch the end of the Tiger's game, which the Tigers won 4 - 0, behind a strong showing by starting pitcher David Price. We had hoped to see my beloved Red Sox beat the Phillies, which they did, 8 - 0, but the game was on some channel that was not available. The boys in blue play again tonight in the not so beautiful confines against the Cardinals. Here's hoping they can get even with the league.

I just watched the southbound train run. Two locomotives, one box car, four C H Cs, and four of those D B T Cs. I suspect that the northbound run will be more substantial, but I hope to be fast asleep by then.

Today is a day in which nothing needs to be done. We may go out to the big-box everything store for groceries, but, we may not. Naturally, S T W D, will want her morning walk, but if it is rainy, she may go out on her tether. I think we'll be okay,.

Speaking of S T W D and her tether, the other day Mary let her out and we noticed that she wasn't on the end of her tether. That's because her steel cable tether had snapped about two feet from the end. No, she isn't that strong, it must have developed a defect. Fortunately, S W T D hadn't gone anywhere except into what we call no man's land next to the deck. In addition, while Mary and I were working in the back forty yesterday, S T W D, while on her replacement tether, decided it was time to do something she had never done before, dig in Mary's flowers. That earned Sugar a scolding from Mary.

So, that's about it for life in "The City." We'll achieve a high temperature of 50° after the sun rises at 7:17 a.m. under those cloudy skies. By the time the sun sets exactly 13 hours later at 8:17 p.m., the rain should be arriving, and continuing off and on, over the next several days. Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just passing 6:00 a.m. in "The City." I guess that when you stay up late to watch the boys in blue look more like themselves than you'd like, you go to bed and stay there.

Suffice it to say, that the new ace of the staff, looked like all too many aces of previous staffs, in spite of the hype and the salary. Still, it is only one game of 162, so it isn't time to worry yet, is it? However, the the total lack of fundamentals by the boys was eerie. Dropped fly balls, base running gaffes, and stranding 14 or 15 men in scoring position was eerily reminiscent of the bad old days. Sigh.

Today, is the opening of the Tigers season, against the Minnesota Twins at 1:05 p.m. EST. So far, so good. My beloved Red Sox open against the Philadelphia  Phillies in Philadelphia, at 3:05 p.m., so all is good there too, so far.

That other team from Chicago, who cares.

Elsewhere, the holiday passed uneventfully. I finished the construction of the cold frame, now all I have to do is assemble it in the back forty. I also cleaned up all the sawdust in the man-cave. Afterwards I raked a few more leaves and tilled part of the gardens.

As noted earlier, we settled in for the baseball game at 8:00 p.m., that became what was described as abysmal by one pundit. What can I add to that, except that Ron Santo's prediction of "This is the Year!", isn't yet on target. Like Wrigley Field itself, the boys are still under construction. We enjoyed Mary's baked beans, but I think they would make a better side than main dish. Personal opinion mind you.

She worked so hard and dirtied so many pots, pans, bowls, utensils, and dishes, that I appreciated her efforts. Given a choice, I'd rather have her famous sauerkraut and Swiss cheese sandwiches. Once again, personal opinion.

Today, we are going to take it easy. Mary has plans to lie in bed for the morning, where I will be returning shortly. Then lunch and a possible visit to the big box most everything store. Naturally, we'll walk with S T W D after breakfast just as we did yesterday. The weather is finally starting to break.

The sun will rise at 7:18 a.m. on a 53° day before it sets at 8:16 p.m. As of now, the next several days show a chance of rain/T-storms. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Since it is just after 6:00 a.m., I feel safe in saying good morning versus my usual openings.

We had a great day yesterday. Sugar happily chewed a bone in the "Bone Zone", Mary got in some gardening, though she is still waiting on consistently warmer temperatures to plant her Violas. After some leaf blowing, raking, and bagging, I spent some time in the man-cave working on the cold frame. In short, we were all happy.

In what may seem like a strange turnabout, I used several of the items that I "inherited" from Adam. The leaf blower was an old one that he didn't need anymore, one of the drill motors and a belt sander I used on the cold frame were also from Adam. It felt good to be able to apply power to my projects. Mary added some of the yard art items that we inherited too. Like I said in my previous blog, now it is up to Steph and Adam to clear up our clutter at some point in the future. All good.

I took some time to rearrange the man-cave from Adam's original layout to suit my latest whims. I like my new arrangement, but unlike the old days, I don't care if it gets changed later. Such is the stuff of life.

Adam recently said that life sometimes throws you a curve ball and so you have to adapt. I find that to be absolutely true.

Take the recent NCAA Final Four™. MSU, a seventh seed, was an improbable participant in the Final Four™, and yet, there they were. Duke was just too much for them, but just getting there was an accomplishment for a seventh seed. Kentucky's Wildcats were expected to have a perfect season, that is until they were "upset" by Wisconsin. A true upset, or a team that was overdue for a loss? Kentucky just managed to squeak past Notre Dame in their previous game. You be the judge.

Tonight, the boys in blue begin their quest for a pennant once again. New and old faces are being combined into a team that is expected by some to excel and others to fall flat. As a long suffering fan, I'm hoping for excellent, but I'd be satisfied with a playoff shot.

The Tigers "Ace", Justin Verlander is opening the season on the D.L. Miguel Cabrera is rounding back into form, but he is coming off of an ankle injury and subsequent surgery that will slow him once again. Plus, he isn't getting any younger in baseball years. My beloved Red Sox are a mystery at this point. I'll be taking a wait and see attitude with them.

Today promises to be a great day too. Mary made a nachos for dinner last night and they were great. Tonight, she is planning baked beans following a new recipe/method. Her recent successes suggest that they should be good, but once again, I'll take a wait and see approach.

So once the sun rises at 7:20 a.m., and long before it sets at 8:15 p.m., we'll have cloudy skies and a high of 51°. Hopefully the cold days and nights are going to be a thing of the past very soon. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just passing 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

Yesterday was a great day. We got up and learned that there had been a fire overnight at the Chinook Pier. Oddly enough, the fire was in the mostly brick/concrete restrooms that are next to the channel and the fish cleaning station. We walked down with S T W D to see for ourselves. Sure enough, the damage to was extensive. The G H D P S took nearly two hours to extinguish the blaze. The building looks like a total loss.

We spent part of the afternoon with Adam and Steph. That's always a pleasure. They were getting rid of some things that they no longer wanted, so we took them with us back to GH. Adam says that someday he and Steph will have to toss then out again. But, we saved them from the landfill for a while.

No trains tonight and so that part of this report will be, of necessity, brief.

Later this afternoon/tonight, MSU will be taking on Duke in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. I'll be in front of the TV in the media room. I've got my fingers crossed. Tomorrow night, the boys in blue open their home season with a game against the Cardinals from the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, which, isn't quite ready due to the delays in the renovations/construction caused by the severe winter weather in Chicago. But once again, I'll quote the late Ron Santo, "This is the year!"

Otherwise, I'll spend part of my day in the man-cave working on the cold frame. I'm getting closer to the finish line. However, as noted above, when the Spartans are on, I'm in TV mode.

So there you have it. The sun will rise at 7:22 a.m. and set at 8:14 p.m. The cold will be over for the night as the temperature rises from tonight's low of 28° to today's high of 49°. Mary's Violas should be safe. Ciao.

Good morning GH. We've just passed 3:00 a.m. in "The City." I was awakened by the passage of the northbound train as EMD GP 38 locomotives 2019 and 2057 passed by. They were towing the regular cast of midnight raiders. One: C H C, (that's my newest acronym for: covered hopper car) being followed by one D B T C, (that's another new acronym for: dreaded black tank cars,) eleven more C H Cs and then ten more of those D B T Cs. Like I said, I'm trying our a few new ideas, hence the acronyms.

Yesterday was an interesting day. The morning slipped by with not much being accomplished. I took the morning walk with Sugar the Weather Dog. Hmmm, maybe S T W D. could be an acronym too. We made it back just before the rains returned. Actually, Then it was off to the orthopedist for my last of a series of five knee shots. No more until later this fall. Naturally, we had lunch at the hospital cafeteria, our regular stop. We've decided that we are getting old when the cafeteria at the hospital is considered an outing. But I digress.

We stopped at the local big-box office supply store in search of a USB hub to add additional ports to my computer. None was available at a reasonable price, so I came home and ordered one from the ethereal big-box everything store.

The balance of the afternoon was spent peeling apples for our homemade applesauce and shredding cabbage for Cole slaw. Dinner, and then more reading ensued. Boring? Probably, but it was satisfying for me. Mary finished up the food preparation and I vegged out.

Later, some news and game shows and then I was off to upstairs for more reading and an early bed time.

Today, not much is on tap. More cold frame, more crossword working, and more non-fiction book reading. My latest effort is getting more interesting by the page.

The sun will be rising in a few hours at 7:24 a.m. on a cloudy, but dry day. We'll top out at 49° after an overnight low of 26°. Then darkness will begin to fall at 8:13 p.m. Mary once again brought her Violas in to protect them last night. Ciao.

Good evening GH. It is just past 10:30 p.m. in "The City." Sugar the Weather Dog is lying beside me and all is well. Outside the Weather Window, the city is just beginning to close its sleepy eyes.

We had a remarkable day today. We got up early, well early for us, and journeyed north to pick up some soil additive for amending the soil in the gardens of the palatial estate. As I said yesterday, April 1, is the first day for most of the garden centers to open their doors. Others will open in the next one to two weeks. Here in MI, we know when to get ready for planting. We stopped at the local purveyor of inexpensive tools too, so that I could get a few small items to finish the cold frame. Time and ambition willing, I'll get back to that task tomorrow. That may not happen with my appointment at the orthopedist in the afternoon. The beauty of being retired is that there is always another day.

Speaking of planting, Mary just had to get a flat of Violas for her gardens. I agree that a splash of color in the gardens helps to brighten the yard. However, erring on the side of caution, Mary brought the Violas into the mud room for warmth overnight.

Once we got back and had lunch, I spent the afternoon outside on the spacious grounds of the palatial estate. There were leaves to be raked and bagged and then placed at the curb for tomorrows pickup. Here's hoping that the pickup of garden waste bags came with the arrival of the first day of April.

The beautiful weather made us walk to the Post to see Sally when Mary got back from her hair salon.

I've been in my office/music room/weather center reading part of the evening. I'm working my way through a book called The Arsenal of Democracy by A.J. Baime. It is the story of the Ford Motor Company's rise to power and influence. So far, I am at the part where Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford have amassed huge sums of money and the birth of Edsel's four children. At this point, Henry and Edsel are at odds over how to run the company that bears their name, and how Edsel should live his life. Apparently everything that has been said of Henry Ford is all too true, so far anyway.
One thing is for sure, Henry had plans for how everything and everyone should operate.

Tomorrow, after the sun rises at 7:26 a.m. and before it sets at 8:11 p.m., I plan to do not much of anything. The forecast calls for an 80% chance of rain and possible T-storms. Sugar will not be happy. That looks like enough for now. Ciao.

This just in: The southbound train just rumbled through at 11:20 p.m. Locomotives 2057 and 2019 were towing six covered hopper cars, four of those dreaded black tank cars, one more covered hopper car, and finally, seven more of those dreaded black tank cars.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City." I think it's time for a slight format change, so here goes.

Yesterday, was a great day for learning and exploring. Sugar the Weather Dog and I went for the morning/afternoon walk while Mary as on chat. It was a great day just to be. Most days in our little corner of the world are like that. Sugar was her usual self, exploring and enjoying our time together. We spent some time in Central Park, just sitting and watching the wold go by.

Once I got home, it was time for a meal and then I took time to add Bluetooth to my computer. I say I took time, because with a little assist from our IT department, the task was completed and my new wireless speakers were up and running. They sound great.

We had almost gone out to get the replacement phone, but just in the nick of time, our IT department came on line and provided that aforementioned assist. Then we were off to the phone store. They were simply wonderful at the store. The necessary items were transferred from the old phone to the new, and then we traveled to our favorite watering hole. All good.

We returned home to watch some TV, have a light snack, and then I was ready for bed. That happens sometimes after some adult beverages are consumed. I left Mary to her own devices and I was soon fast asleep.

Here I am now. The trains have already been through and I only heard one.

Since it is April 1. the garden centers are beginning to open in our area. We'll be off to visit one after the sun rises at 7:27 a.m., well actually a little later in the morning, but you get the idea. The temperature is expected to peak around 57° under sunny skies.

I have to find time to finish the cold frame, but since we have to wait for the ground to thaw enough to work, I should have a few days. However, the nice day will make driving a pleasure instead of a chore. The sun will return to its rest at 8:10 p.m.

As I said earlier, I'm trying this new format and I hope you like it. Ciao.