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

Outside the Weather Window, we have a current temperature of 33°. We'll increase to today's high of 43° after the sun rises at 8:01 a.m. and long before it sets in preparation for a waning gibbous moon at 5:09 p.m.

Speaking of rising, Mary and I spent time in the media room last evening watching the Spartans of MSU defeat the previously undefeated Hawkeyes of Iowa 16 - 13. This may well be the best game I have ever witnessed. Down by four points to the Hawkeyes, the Spartans used moxie and muscle to march down the field in an over nine minute drive and then push the ball over the goal line in the final seconds of the game. I believe that the zebras jobbed the Spartans all night. Admittedly, I am a partisan, but I still believe it. That made the Spartans the Big 10 Champions and likely propelled them to a playoff game to determine the ultimate National Collegiate Football Champion. The game was on:

(Courtesy of Fox Sports)

And it was for the Big 10 Championship. (Courtesy of Fox Sports)

The day itself evolved over many hours after we arose at 12:00 p.m., much to the chagrin of  STWD. Lunch ensued, which even Chef Mary says was not her best pasta. She redeemed herself later with the spread she prepared for the game feast. I had a hand in the chopping of the carrots and celery. Naturally, I had to have a few Natural Light beers with the game.

What more could you  want for a "Game Party?"

Prior to that, we had walked downtown to see the annual Jingle Bell Parade, which drew large crowds to "The City." I've randomly selected some pictures from that event.

Many decorated dogs were in or at the parade.

Blurry, but representative.

Same here.

I should mention that the traffic leaving "The City" was very heavy on the street in front of the PE. Not as heavy as that following Fourth of July fireworks nor the egress following the fireworks and the annual Coast Guard Festival Parade, but still, there were a lot of vehicles. As Mary said, "This city knows how to have a parade."

I'm finished with my highlighting and now I can get down to the serious business I have in the man-cave. That could take hours with any luck. 

Mary has promised to make French toast for breakfast, which I always love. She also has plans to make a roast beast, similar but not exactly like our Thanksgiving ham. I'm counting on her after she works on an indexing project. 

Otherwise, there will be the regular morning safari with the intrepid weather dog. Yesterday, she heard gun shots and almost wouldn't leave the deck. Things calmed down, and we walked over to Center Town for the newspaper and some Liquid Smoke that Mary needed. 

I should mention that we returned to the Bookman, our local indie book shop, to buy a book to donate to the Loutit Library collection. I can't remember the exact title, but it is a collection of pictures and poems that are related to the Earth. We'll get a brass plaque in our name as the donors too, but that's not why we did it.

That looks like enough for one day. Ciao.