Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."

One of my friends, Ellen, reminded me that that this is indeed "The Year!" The Cubs may have been struggling, but she reminded me that her father was an even longer suffering fan than me, so to honor his recent passing, the Cubs just have to "Win it all!" I assured her that I had not given up, I was just hedging my bets. As a long suffering fan myself, a survivor of too many :June Swoons", Leon Durham boots, lights being installed at the "Friendly Confines", lights that were not employed due to rain for the first night game, drops by Keith Moreland in the outfield, the disastrous trade of Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio, and too many managers to name, I have to be realistic and hedge my bets.

But not to worry, I haven't given up, and I won't, until they put a Dome on Wrigley Field, as the old song, Don't Wait on Me by the Statler Brothers described. Below is a link is their version from You Tube: The original version had a lyric about when the lights go on at Wrigley Field, but that got amended when they did in fact, put lights in Wrigley Field for that ill-fated night game in August, 1988. I have suffered too long to give up now. So here's to Ellen's father, "Let's play two!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyWrVlb83A4

Since I'm already there, It is time to once again mention, "Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!" While it is just another squeaker in a long line of squeakers, at the "Friendly Confines", it renews my hope. The boys in blue eked out a win over the now 3rd place Pirates, 6 - 5. That moves the Cubs a full 7. games ahead of the 2nd place Cardinals and 7.5 games ahead of the 3rd place Pirates in the N. L. Central, with a record of 53 - 35 as the Cubs wander towards the All-Star Game™. Personally, I'm glad that so many Cubs' players got to be on the squad for the game, however, I'd rather that the players get some rest, especially the starting pitchers. The Cubs have five players in the starting lineup.

The Tigers are once again staggering into the All-Star Game™, following a 1 - 6 loss to the Blue Jays. The Tigers are back to 46 - 43 in the A. L. Central, with their record, good enough for 2nd place. Once again, my favorite Tigers' player, Miguel Cabrera, was selected to represent the Tigers. Injuries and snubs have limited the Tiger's to one representatives on this year's team.

My beloved Red Sox swept the Tampa Bay Rays, with a 4 - 0 win. That gives the Sox a record of 49 - 38 in the A. L. East, 2.0 games in back of the Orioles. That win was powered by a strong outing from David Price, and another great game by All-Star, "Big Papi", David Ortiz, another of my favorites, as he caps a very strong 1st half in his retirement season. There are other six other Sox players four starters, who will also be representing the team.

All of the Major League™ teams are off of the All-Star™ break.

The Caps are once again even in the Midwest League East, after a 2 - 1 win over the Ft. Wayne TinCaps. The Caps have a record of 8 - 8, good for 3rd place, behind both the Lansing Lug Nuts, and the South Bend Cubs, each with identical 13 - 5 records. The Caps play this afternoon at home against the TinCaps.

We took an abbreviated walk with STWD yesterday, and then STSD and I baked another loaf of my famous banana nut bread, which turned out great. We'll be having some before I go to my O/T appointment at the hospital.

Mary made what I have decided was a great lunch yesterday, Roast beest and steamed broccoli with a chickpea based cheesy sauce that tasted good.  However, Mary believes that the cheesy sauce needed some turmeric. Who am I to disagree with the cook? Dinner was homemade pesto sauce made from freshly harvested basil atop whole wheat spaghetti noodles. I liked it.

Our current temperature is 64° per the NWS and 68° per the DTWS. The NWS has upped their forecast for precipitation to a 50% chance of T-storms this morning between 9:00 a.m. and 11:a.m. So I may or may not have to water today. Today's high is forecast to be 85°, following beautiful day yesterday.

Today, more highlighting for me, more indexing for Mary, and some walking with the intrepid one. My personal dogs are still barking following the long walk that Mary and I took on Saturday, so I'll be driving to the hospital and then soloing at the big-box everything store for some grocery shopping.

The sun will rise @ 6:15 a.m. and set at 9:25 p.m. Ciao.