Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City."

Starting with the weather here in West Michigan seems like a good idea. When I arose yesterday, the T-storms had arrived early. STWD was making a beeline for her hide-e-hole, and the bedroom was dark enough to obscure the dawn's early light. When I looked out the WW, the rain was literally coming down in buckets. Well not exactly, but the bucket that we keep on the deck for additional watering had become filled, due to being directly below the drain hole in one of the planters located there.

Right now, the DTWS has a prediction for the forthcoming T-storms that have been forecast by the NWS for later tonight and into Wednesday. A current temperature of 77° will lead to today's humid high temperature of 86°. Tonight around 6:00 p.m., those storms are expected to begin with a 50% probability, while Wednesday's forecast shows the chance of a.m. T-storms at 60%. Of course the forecast for yesterday morning came with only a 20% certainty. My reliance on the forecasting skills of the intrepid weather dog proved to be the best way to go.

I made it to my O/T appointment yesterday as the rain was falling. I put off going to the big-box everything store until later yesterday afternoon, in order to avoid carrying soggy groceries into the house. I did take time to enjoy a lunch at the hospital's salad bar before returning home. Mary had stayed behind to work on the index, so I took my book with to read as I ate.

Trainspotting yesterday was great. At 10:44 A.M., locomotives 2057 and 2019 were like apparitions, as they appeared in the heavy rains heading south. Their diesel engines were generating so much heat in that rain, that the steam rising off of the top mounted radiators made them look eerie. In tow, were one BC, nine CHCs, and 22 DBTCs at the end, all empty.

Oddly, I was able to spot the northbound run at 4:18 p.m., as the same tandem of locomotives plied their route on the RSTL. What was also odd, was that the return run was also composed of empty cars. Six CHCs, one GTC, three BCs, four DWTCs and 22 DBTCs were in the lineup. Some of those DBTCs were rusty and some were of odd proportions and configurations. Go figure.

Sports news is very short from yesterday, as Major Leagues Baseball™ and its players, are enjoying the All-Star™ break. Unfortunately, the Caps did play and lost to the Ft. Wayne TinCaps, 3 - 4. That moves them to a record of 8 - 9 and 4th place in the Midwest League East, 5.0 games behind the 14 - 5 Lansing Lugnuts. The Caps have the day off today, before traveling to Kane County, IL to play the Kane County Cougars, who are now a farm team for the Arizona D'Backs. Major League Baseball™ has their All-Star™ game tonight, before resuming regular season play on Friday, which is also coincidentally Mary's birthday. At 63 she is just a kid, just like when she agreed to marry me 43 years ago. More on that in a few weeks.

I did get in a lot of reading yesterday. I am about 1/3 of the way through my latest novel. Once this book is done, I will have qualified for my free Beachcomber's Book Bingo bag. Not bad, since I started this quest a scant six weeks ago.

Mary has her regular chat session later today, along with working on the index. I have more highlighting to do along with my pleasure reading. STWD waited until the rains subsided yesterday, before being willing to go for the morning safari with Mary while I was at my O/T appointment and lunch. Sugar should be willing to go out this morning, although since she reacts to the changes in the force caused by barometric pressure, there is a possibility that she won't be willing.

The sun will rise today @ 6:16 a.m. and set @ 9:23 p.m. Ciao.