Good mornig or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 3:00 a.m. in "The City." I'm listening to Coast to Coast AM, with host George Noory, the inspiration for my blog opening. He is interviewing Mr. Lobo, the host of Cinema Insomnia, a program that is syndicated in 30 markets. It is similar to Svengoolie, a program once hosted by the late Jerry G. Bishop, and now by Rich Koz. Or, Shock Theater that originated at WBKB TV in Chicago. A genuine no-prize to anyone who remembers what the call sign WBKB stood for. Also true for WGN and WLS too.

That program was hosted by Marvin and his lady friend "Dear", an off camera voice never seen by the audience. Marvin was portrayed by Terry Bennett, a ventriloquist who also had another program on WBKB called Jobblewocky Place, and "Dear" who was voiced by Bennett's wife, Joy, but who was never seen on camera. A house band called "The Deadbeats" provided the music for the show. There were and are similar shows throughout the country. Mr. Lobo is a  man who is into the paranormal and aliens, two of George's favorite topics.

In those halcyon days, shows like Shock Theater were produced locally. I'm sure that many of you may remember Bozo portrayed originally by WGN announcer Bob Bell, who also portrayed Andy Starr, the host of an after school kid's oriented show that showed old Three Stooges shorts and cartoons. Does anybody remember B. J. and Dirty Dragon, hosted by Chicago personality Bill Jackson in the after schools time slot on WFLD and later WGN? There was also a reason that WFLD used that call sign too. Phew, that's a lot of remembering at this hour of the morning.

Here is a sports/Cubs tie in for Shock Theater. The cast visited Wrigley Field in the 1950s and
"Dear" tossed a ball that knocked Marvin flat. "Dear" was covered during that visit.

Yesterday was mostly pedestrian. I like that phrase as a descriptor, as it describes things and events in fewer words than it just took me for that explanation.

Today's weather is different than we expected. We were supposed to be having rain right now, but so far the view out the WW is dry and the desktop weather station with its front porch mounted sensor is clear with a temperature of 50°. That's just one degree warmer than the NWS is reporting and apparently more accurate regarding precipitation. At any rate, the NWS is showing a current temperature of 49° that feels like 44°, with a high for today of 52°. Of course, they are showing rain right now and throughout the day, so take that with the proverbial grain of salt. By way of further explanation, that idiom is based on the idea that you should never take anything at face value, which like many foods, taste better with some salt on them. Hmmmm.

In trainspotting news, I was ready and waiting for the morning's southbound run. Well actually, my apprentice trainspotter heard the oncoming locomotives and their associated cars before I did. I like to attribute that phenomenon to my lying close to the radio on the nightstand. That's my story and I"m sticking to it. At 10:34 a.m. - 10:36 a.m., the southbound train passed by on the "Reality Scale Train Layout." Locomotives 2019 and 2057 were slowly towing 18 CHCs, three DWTCs, and seven DBTCs through "The City." My journeyman's experience told me that the cars were not loaded.

I was down in the mancave when I heard the sound of the train whistle as the same locomotives were heading north. I came upstairs to find that my apprentice trainspotter was on the job, so I allowed her to record the passage of the following. Locomotives 2019 and 2057 were once again towing a mixed bag of cars. 12 CHCs, three DBTCs, three DWTCs, two GTCs, with one BC bringing up the rear. All the cars felt loaded. My apprentice was ready to quit as she feels that the work is too difficult. I told her that she is doing fine, but I'm not sure that she was satisfied. Alas, good help is hard to find. However, her skills in the kitchen and her knitting and sewing skills make up for that lack of faith in her trainspotting skills.

An aside is in order. Our neighbor to the south was in the back preparing to take down the fence that separates his yard from the PE. He noted that the passage of trains over the last 100 years or so has shifted the terrain towards the tracks to the east of the PE. He has lived in the GH area his whole life, and was in fact born in the house in which he now lives, so he has some perspective. His is the house with the menagerie that I have mentioned periodically. He has plans to replace the fence with some lilac bushes similar to what was there many years ago. Fascinating.

Sports news yesterday was good all around. While the boys in blue and Jake Arrieta were postponed due to rain, they still maintain their 15 - 5 record and a hold on first place in the NL Central. I noted in my research, that that other team from Chicago is also in first place in the AL East with a record of 16 - 6. The Tigers righted the ship for one day, as they defeated the As of Oakland 9 - 4. However, that win still finds them in 4th place with a 10 - 10 record in the AL Central. My beloved Red Sox once again defeated the Braves, this time with a final score of 9 - 4. That places them in 2nd place in the AL East, with a record of 12 - 9. The Caps AKA the West Michigan Whitecaps, defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels with a convincing 8 - 3 score. While they have a record of 10 - 9 in the Midwest League East, they are in 5th place. Sigh.

I did get to part of my tinkering yesterday afternoon after the morning walk with STWD. I didn't get as far as Mary and the intrepid one, due to circumstances beyond my control. Once in the mancave, I found the cause for the lack of pressure in the presure washer I inherited from Adam. The inlet connection was clogged with residue from the car wash soap that was last used by Adam, although the presence of the soap at that point is hard to understand. However once cleared, the machine is now able to produce the expected pressure. Go figure. I also sanded the drawer fronts from the upstairs bathroom to get them ready for the stain and sealer. I still have to remove the cabinet doors and prepare them the same way along with the fixed cabinets. All in all, a good day of tinkering.

I attempted to take another walk in the afternoon with Mary, but between my aching knees and my sore feet, we didn't get far. Instead, we made it to Central Park and then returned to JWs for dinner.

Today, we have another appointment at the chiropractor's office. I hope to get in some walking with STWD and Mary, and then hop on my bicycle to get a new dryer vent at the hardware store across the highway. Naturally, that is dependent on the possibility of precipitation. I am going to take her advice and use that activity in lieu of the walking for the Step It Up program. At the speed I ride, approx. 10 mph, each minute of riding equals 90 steps without the strain on my aging joints and feet. Otherwise, I want to get to yesterday's edition of  the Grand Haven Tribune and its crossword. Plus, I hope to read more pages in my novel. Mary has a session at the library for some meditation activities. I plan to skip that. I did get in some time with Leilani yesterday morning.

The sun will rise at 6:43 a.m. and set at 8:43 p.m. Ciao.