Good morning GH. Since it is now well past 5:00 a.m. in "The City", it is more appropriate to just say good morning rather than my usual opening line. In fact, the sun will be rising in a little over one hour at 6:34 a.m., on the start of what will be several rainy days.

Speaking of those rainy days, STWD is in her upstairs hide-e-hole, so there must be a disturbance in the force outside the WW. I looked out, and there is a branch lying on the sidewalk. I think that it was the one that was already loose from the big tree in the parkway. I guess that since public works has been unable to make it over to remedy the problem, the winds have taken care of it for them. I just have to place the branch at the curb to get it picked up.

I took the inaugural bike ride yesterday afternoon. I didn't go far, as I told Mary I would take it easy my first time out. I hate to admit it, but she is right, I always tend to overdo. I also was wearing my official summer uniform when I rode, the same uniform I wore during the morning safari with STWD. Shorts, a T-shirt, and a baseball cap to cover my somewhat thinning hair. except that I replaced the baseball cap with a bike helmet. I'll probably have to eschew that outfit for a few days, but the National Weather Service is promising 80° on Thursday.

Speaking of Thursday, since it looks like it will be the first all nice day this week, I have to make an appointment for STWD to get her Bordetella booster and her pawdicure. Fortunately, she forgives me those transgressions on her personal space. I'm just hoping that she doesn't tip the scales at too high of a weight. In her old age, she isn't as eager to exercise as much, but she is more than happy to get treats. Good thing we got those low-cal ones at the store.

In sports, the boys in blue fell to the Brewers 3 - 5, a team that seems to always have their number, despite an inferior won-lost record. The boys are still in second place with a record of 13 - 10. The Tigers slid back into first place by one-half game, with a victory over the Royals, 6 - 4. My beloved Red Sox, after a 5 - 8 loss to those darn Yankees, have a sub-500 record and have slid into fourth place. Ouch. The Caps fell once again to the Lake County Captains, 1 - 4. Ouch again.

Not much on tap for today. I'll do the morning walk with STWD as Mary works. I have to go to the local grocery store to pick up some "Swiss" style cheese for Mary's famous sauerkraut and Swiss cheese sandwiches.

No trains on Sunday, surely one come Monday.

The sun will set at 8:49 p.m. Ciao.