Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It has just passed 12:00 a.m. in "The City." I stayed up late to watch the GOP debate and to watch the end of the Cubs game. I'll report more on that game's results in the sports report section of this blog.

But first in trainspotting news, the southbound run of the Mid-Michigan Railroad short line that passes through our fair city came by at 9:33 a.m. Thursday morning. Both locomotives, #s 2019 and 2057, were needed to to pull a heavily laden set of cars. Five BCs, 17 CHCs. 13 DBTCs, and one WTC were witnessed by this trainspotter from the window of the trainspotting headquarters. At 1:30 p.m., the same locomotives reversed positions and towed another series of loaded cars. 12 CHCs, four DBTCs, along with two WTCs. Once again, the weight of the fully loaded cars was evident to a veteran train spotter like yours truly.

STWD and I took the morning walk to the newspaper office around 8:30 a.m. yesterday morning. Mary and I had to get to work, so it was only natural for Sugar and I to get out bright and early on that beautiful morning. The sun was shining and we made our journey in record time. As we were leaving the newspaper office, Sugar spotted her favorite newspaper delivery person. The lady who drives the car usually has treats for Sugar, but today, her cupboard was bare. She promised Sugar an IOU for a biscuit. I'm not sure that Sugar understood the IOU thing. We passed the same lady a few blocks away on our return journey, and Sugar was certain that she should have remedied her lack of treats in the few minutes that had elapsed.

In sports, the men in blue defeated the Pirates in 12 innings, 3 - 2. Jake Arrieta didn't get the win, but he kept the Cubs in the game until his relief could mop up after the Cubs scored in the top of the 12th. Those two teams play again today at 12:35 EST. Last night the Tigers were tied with the Twins, @ 4 - 4 @ the end of the 10th inning when I went to bed. Update, it took 12 innings for the Tigers too, but they defeated the Twins, 7 - 4 while I was asleep. My beloved Red Sox pounded the Orioles 10 - 1. Big Papi hammered his 500th home run. The Caps did not have a good night, losing the first game of the Midwest League Championship Series, 0 - 5 to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Game two is tomorrow night against those same Kernels.

We finished the index that was due and Mary sent it on its way. I was hoping to have a day or two to play with the girls and read, but Mary is behind, so I have to actually do some data entry work. Since I am not a fast typist, Mary has installed some macros to assist in my efforts. Oh well, that beats actually having to work for a living.

I also had to go to the grocery store and pick up a few things yesterday. I had hoped to pick up an AC adapter for my effects pedal at the thrift store next to the grocers, but they had none that would work. My next stop is at the guitar store around the corner, probably on Friday. I did learn that the pedal I purchased 25 years ago for about $25.00, now costs $155.00. That my friends, is inflation!

The weather yesterday was terrific. Today, we are expecting windy conditions and  high of 81° under partly cloudy skies. Rain is still in the forecast for tomorrow, but the rain is expected to abate early on Saturday. Temperatures will drop a bit on Saturday, but they should still be comfortable. The sun will rise at 7:26  a.m. and set at 7:51  p.m. Ciao.