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

Our current temperature is 64° and the view out the WW is partly cloudy. Later today, the high is forecast to be 74 °. The NWS forecast for rain later this evening, has been reduced to a 20% chance for scattered T-storms. I had planned to water this morning, so no real change for me.

The sun will rise at 6:05 a.m. and set at 9:28 p.m.

Yesterday, during the morning safari, STWD, had a new and surprising greeting for our USPS letter carrier, Dave, when we met him in his truck nearby. Normally, Sugar is always happy to see Dave, but then she can't seem to decide if she really wants to be petted. Generally she won't let Dave pet her. Yesterday it was different, as she happily greeted him and allowed the long sought after petting. Go figure.

Sports news yesterday was not good. The Cubs dropped their second in a row to the Cardinals, 3 - 4. That leaves the Cubs just 10.5 games ahead of the Cardinals in the N. L. Central with a record of 47 - 22. Can the Cubs stop the slide and avoid a sweep? Here'a hoping.

The Tigers fared better, as they topped the Mariners 4 - 2. That gives the Tigers an A. L. Central record of 36 -35, however the Tigers are still in 3rd place, 4.5 games behind the Indians.

My beloved Red Sox lost to that other team from Chicago, 1 - 3. That leaves the Sox with an A. L. East record of 39 - 31, but still only 1.0 games in back of the Orioles who also lost. Big Papi is sorry that he announced his retirement, as he is having a monster year.

The Caps as a team were off yesterday, but their Midwest League East All-Stars helped defeat the Midwest League West All-Stars by a final score of 11 - 10. The Caps return to regular action on Thursday against the Lansing Lugnuts.

We traveled to Coopersville yesterday for some grocery shopping and a stop at the South-Side Bar and Grill for dinner. A nice family run place that will receive a visit when next we are out that way.

Prior to that trip, Mary had a nice chat session which caused her to rethink our plans to go south to New Orleans. Instead, our new plans are for travel to Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. in November for an indexing conference. Stay tuned for future changes.

While Mary was chatting I was in the man-cave, performing repairs on the weed whacker that Adam and Steph bequeathed to us. The weed whacker had an unfortunate accident when it met the door of Adam's Jeep™ over the past weekend. A little glue and a wire tie and it should be as good as new. It is amazing what I can do one-handed.

Later in the evening, I walked to Central Park to see Natchez Trace, a band that plays acoustic classic rock. The band was represented by only three people last night instead of their full line up. They played and sang music from John Denver, the Beatles, the Eagles, and many others. They are professional and sounded great. Plus, I found another reason to eat popcorn, so what's not to like?

I took some pictures to give the flavor of the park, the band, and the crowd in attendance.

Throughout the summer during Tuesdays in the Park, we have free concerts.

Good tunes and a happy crowd were the order of the evening, 

I captured this young man juggling, I wonder if Adam can still juggle as he could when he was younger.

Central Park is more than a wedding venue and a fountain, as the large crowd showed.

Today, Mary is once again off to Holland for her weekly sock knitting session. She had to complete more of her latest effort to stay apace. That was where I last saw her, happily knitting in the dining room. I'll be on my own for lunch today, but there is no shortage of good things to eat, so I'll be fine while she is away. Plus, STSD will be here to keep me company while I eat and to assist in the baking of my famous banana nut bread. 

All of those activities will occur post morning safari, and post watering. Ciao.