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

I'm always referencing locomotives in my blog when trainspotting, so I thought I'd include some pictures of the regular cast. In addition, yesterday's southbound run at 9:44 a.m., included a surprise. Locomotive #1216, a General Motors Electro-Motive Division EMD-SW 1200, built in 1964 and painted in the Mid-Michigan RR livery in November of 2013. However in the morning, I was excited to see a "new" loco, if you can call a locomotive built over 50 years ago new. #1216 weighs 245,000 lbs., and sports a 12 cylinder diesel engine with an 8.5" bore and a 10" stroke. She is 44' 5" long and delivers 1200 horsepower to the wheels, for a top speed of 65 mph. Mostly this type of locomotive is used to move cars around a freight yard. It was the third locomotive in line. The three locomotives were towing a total of four CHCs, 11 DBTCs, and one lone gray tank car, The DBTCs were all of different sizes. Don't ask me.

At 1:15 p.m., the regular locomotives, 2019 and 2057 returned north, alone, without #1216 and sans any other cars. I think the girls from next door were disappointed by the northbound run.

You can view the three locomotive's pictures using the following links if you are interested.

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures/93903/IMG_6219b_1.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92158122@N02/14114708019

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7360/11537469463_ce7d1a5471_z.jpg

The weather yesterday was outstanding. The humidity was comfortable, but the windows remain closed, due to the construction at the municipal complex. The construction generates lots of dust and noise. In fact, the noise was so loud, that STWD repaired to her hide-e-hole because she thought it was fireworks or thunder.

Fortunately for Sugar the Sous Dog, she was able to assist me when I made my banana nut bread. As always, she did an excellent job of cleanup in the kitchen. The bread turned out great too. Since I had the oven on, I made an additional snack of spicy chick peas.

I did find time to play with the girls, do two crosswords, and read many pages in the novel I am reading, so it was all good. I'm nearly finished with that novel, but I had to put it down. I'll finish it later this a.m.

Last night, Mary and I went out to find a place with less light pollution so that we could see the Perseid Meteor Shower. We found a place over by Harbor Island, but with all the lights, it was a miracle that we could see any meteors. We did manage to see four deer though.

In sports, the men in blue were able to win another one over the Brewers, 3 - 2 in 10 innings. Even with a record of 64 wins and 48 losses, they are still in third place in their division. The Tigers pulled one out and defeated the Royals 7 - 4. My beloved Red Sox weren't so fortunate, as they lost to the Marlins, 6 - 14. The Caps also won, a squeaker, 3 - 2 over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

Today, I'll finish that book after I walk with STWD. Then I plan to water, again, in spite of the prediction of rain on Friday. Later in the day, Mary and I will walk over to the Post to see Sally and that should complete my day. The sun will rise at 6:48 a.m., and set at 8:50 p.m. Ciao.