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

Trainspotting yesterday was great. The southbound run occurred at 9:56 a.m. after I got home from the morning walk with STWD. I heard the train whistle while we were on our morning walk, but it must have been quite a ways north. We made it home and I had to sit on the porch for several minutes to record the passage of locomotives 2057 and 2019. They were at the head of a long series of cars that seemed to be fully laden. Directly behind the locomotives, were two BCs with Union Pacific livery. They were followed by 24 CHCs, some rusty and some graffiti covered. Next in line were 10 DBTCs bringing up the rear.

The northbound run featured the same tandem of locomotives at 2:17 p.m. Three BCs, were once again in the lead slot, followed by 27 CHCs, then three DBTCs, with three DWTCs, (Dreaded White Tank Cars) bringing up the rear. As more of the acid laden DWTCs are coupled with the DBTCs as they pass through our little city, I am getting more concerned by the day. I am guessing that the city fathers and mothers couldn't/can't stop this dangerous practice, based on some long ago right of eminent domain passage or other such deal that favors the railroad and its predecessors.

In weather news, it was cold yesterday afternoon. Mary insists that she needs the window open to get air circulation, so I have to wear gloves and a fleece to stay warm. I have the windows in my office/music room/weather office closed to keep the cold at bay. And yes, I know that it isn't the cold air coming in, it's the warm air going out. It doesn't matter, I was still cold.

I tried making a new recipe for a late breakfast or early lunch as Mary worked. There are some other recipes that I'd like to try that I also cut out of the Relish magazine that comes with the Wednesday edition of the Grand Haven Tribune. This one was originally sweet potato hash with chicken strips. I modified and substituted my special tofu strips that I saute in olive oil and some soy style sauce that isn't. We use that sauce in lieu of salt, for sauteing tofu in stir fry's or anything that requires them. This recipe is a keeper. Two out of the four or five vegetables I used came from the gardens of the PE.

We finished the final edit of the index that was due late last night, and sent it on its way. However, other older indexes have returned to haunt Mary and by extension, yours truly. They will wait for Friday, as we have an appointment for the fall car  inspection and oil change in Holland this afternoon.

In sports, the men in blue crushed the Reds, 10 - 3. Austin Jackson, whom the Cubs got from Seattle in a mid-season trade, had five RBIs, while Jon Lester came to life and ended the regular season with 207 strikeouts. The Cubs now have a record of 93 - 65, good for third place in the Central Division of the N.L., behind both the Pirates and the Central Division champion Cardinals who defeated the Pirates. The Tigers were losers once again, 2 - 6, to the Rangers. The Tigers have a division worst record of 73 - 85.  My beloved Red Sox once again  pounded the Yankees, 9 - 5. Their record is now 78 - 80. While still sub-.500, they are looking good at season's end. Where have I heard the refrain before?

The sun will rise today at 7:42 a.m. and set at 7:26 p.m. We are expecting a partly cloudy day today but the windy days have been pushed back until Friday and Saturday. Currently, the temperature is 46° as we near the overnight low of 42°. That's before we get back to 64° later today. All high temperatures are forecast to be in the low to mid 60s. for the next several days. Don't tell Mary, but I got out the heater for the bathroom in readiness for the morning showers. Ciao.