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

Okay, let's get the bad sports news out of the way. The Cubs were shellacked by the Mets in a N. L. Central meeting, 2 - 10. Cubs' starting pitcher Jason Hammel gave up a career worst five home runs and 10 earned runs in a game that was delayed by rain three times. Too bad it wasn't rained out. The Cubs still have a record of 51 - 28 and a solid hold on 1st place, but they have some chinks in their armor. Same teams tonight, with hopefully a better result with Jake Arrieta on the mound.

There, I've said it, the Cubs are human. The late Ron Santo hated the Mets with a passion, due in large measure to the ill-fated 1969 season, so I'm fairly certain that he would be sputtering in the radio booth if he were still with us.

The Tigers had a reverse score, as they shellacked the Tampa Bay Rays, 10 - 2 in an A. L. Central match-up. That gives the Tigers a record of 42 - 38, still only good enough for 3rd place, 7.5 games behind the still surging Indians, but 2.0 games ahead of that other team from Chicago, who have a record of 40 - 40. Same teams at 4:10 p.m. today.

My beloved Red Sox eked out a 5 - 4 win over the Angels in the A. L. East, as Big Papi, David Ortiz, hit his 522nd home run and got his 2,000th hit. The Sox have a record of 43 - 36. Same teams and hopefully the same winning result tonight.

The Caps also eked out a 5 - 4 win over the Dayton Dragons in a Midwest League East match-up. However, the Caps are still tied for last in that division with those Dragons, both having a record of 3 - 6. Same teams tonight.

I'm currently listening to Coast to Coast AM, as host George Noory interviews Edward Gross regarding the television and movie phenomenon, Startrek. For a show that debuted in 1966, this is amazing, There have been five TV series spin-offs and  a dozen feature films, including one due out later this month.

What a great day yesterday for me personally. I saw the orthopedist and I no longer have to wear that removable cast. I do have an adhesion at one of the surgical incision sites, but with some "aggressive" effort on my part and additional therapy, it should work itself out. I have to see the doctor again in seven weeks, but I also have some additional therapy sessions scheduled too. Most importantly, I am cleared to play with the girls again as well as Bo, my new Irish bodhran.

We made it to Holland for those aforementioned errands and that trip went well. In spite of the street repairs in that area, we avoided any delays and found parking near our destinations. We stopped in at our favorite watering hole and the Post before heading home.

Today, we have no plans beyond the morning safari with STWD and watering the lawns and gardens of the vast PE. Mary has plans to knit and I have plans to read and work crossword puzzles. Odds are that we'll listen to the regular line-up of Saturday morning radio programs too.

We have to remember to get the intrepid one into her Thundershirt™ before the weekend pyrotechnics commence. We were out yesterday and a construction crew fired two shots from a nail gun, and Sugar was off for home at full tilt. So, the explosions that come with this holiday are sure to really upset her. All we can do is let her hide out in her hide-e-holes, upstairs or down.

The current temperature is 53° as we head for today's high of 76° under partly cloudy skies. No additional rain is in the forecast for the next several days. The sun will rise today at 6:10 a.m. and set at 9:28 p.m. Ciao.