Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is shortly after 3:30 a.m. in The City", where a current temperature of 39° feels like 30°. Our high temperature later today is forecast by the NWS to be 52°.

When Mary and I took an abbreviated walk with STWD yesterday morning, the rain was trying to come down, the wind was blowing in our faces, and the intrepid one was all too glad to be heading home very shortly after setting out. Both Mary and I had "Layered Up" to ward off the cold, but without my gloves, I was not very comfortable. When Mary washed and stored our cold weather gear a few weeks ago, we thought it would be safe to do so. Oh well, the best laid plans etc.

Yesterday was basically uneventful, unless you factor in two interesting things, First, that Hobbit door that I've been working on mysteriously moved from the man-cave to the gardens of the PE. Second, the high school production of Little Shop of Horrors that we attended last night, reminded me that the young people of "The City" and its environs are very lucky indeed.

Let me start with the Hobbits. With a little help from Mary, here is a photo of the door that the hobbits placed in the gardens that leads to their "Fantasy World.".

If I were a Hobbit, I'd choose to set up home here too.

The door is the entrance to, and exit from, the "Workaday World" that is part and parcel to the "Real World."

The second interesting event, was the production of Little Shop of Horrors staged at the high school. At the risk of repeating myself, the school and its seemingly perfect environment for living life and learning from life, not about it, is second to none. The theater and the balance of the school is why two retired people like us don't mind voting for an increase in the millage for the schools in GH every time one comes up for a vote. 

From the beautiful grounds and Buccaneer Stadium, the Foucault Pendulum in the lobby, to the magnificent theater, this school is outstanding, While most students probably don't appreciate the school until they have moved on in life, as a retired teacher I know how fortunate they are. After we saw the production that the school staged last fall, Jekyll and Hyde, the Musical, I told the school board president, also a member of the Post, that the tax money used to support this school was worth every penny. 

In sports, the boys in blue, AKA, the Cubs handily dispatched the Pirates by a final score of 8 - 2. In the face of a very cold day in Chicago, Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell, launched home runs into the stands in support of Jake Arrieta's outstanding pitching performance. The Cubs are now sporting a record of 27 - 8 in the NL Central. a full nine games ahead of the second place Pirates. 

The Tigers once again found a way to lose to the Orioles. This time, the final score was 3 - 9. That gives the Tigers a record of 15 - 21 in the AL Central, 8.5 games behind that other team from Chicago, who coincidentally lost to the Yankees, 0 - 1. Is that proverbial rotund lady warming up in the Tigers' bullpen?

My beloved Red Sox took 11 innings to do it, but they beat the Astros 6 - 5. The Sox now have a record of 23 - 14 in the AL East, one full game back of the division leading Orioles. 

The Caps righted the ship, at least for one game, with a 7 - 1 victory over the Ft. Wayne TinCaps. The Caps are now at 17 - 16, good for 6th place in the MW League East. 

Before we left for the play last night, I took a nap in the La-Z-Boy while Mary worked her magic in the kitchen on a new recipe for faux tuna casserole. She was ably assisted by STSD in the preparation and clean up activities. This recipe is a definite keeper. Mushrooms, celery, onions no-fish tuna substitute, and spices were combined to make this a lick-your-plate type of dinner. With the addition of some freshly ground pepper from our newly cleaned grinder, it was terrific. I would not change a thing. 

I tried playing with the girls yesterday, but as much as I desired to play, my thumb joint was screaming in protest. While I don't look forward to the surgery and its aftermath of casts and rehab, I do look forward to the pain-free playing that will ultimately result. 

Today, we'll take the morning walk with STWD to the big-box home center for some glue that I need and then I can settle in to work with Mary on planning our Amtrak™ trip. We first have to decide on our destination, but once that is done, the balance should come easy. I have to put some things back together in the main house of the PE before I am PUP. In sports parlance, that's physically unable to perform. If the weather cooperates, I hope to get the staining finished on the deck this week too. 

Mary has already planned this morning's repast for enjoyment while we watch CBS  Sunday Morning, Given her efforts from yesterday, I know it will be great. 

The sun will rise at 6:20 a.m. and set at 9:02 p.m. Ciao.