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

In the interest of brevity, I am going to start with trainspotting. We were on our way back yesterday from our most excellent adventure to GR, that started Sunday and concluded yesterday. I spotted the southbound train as it plied the rails south of GH heading towards the southern terminus of the MMRR, just north of Holland. That was @ 3:30 p.m. I did espy locomotives 2057 and 2019 and several BCs, DBTCs, and CHCs, but I was unable to get an exact count. Still, I do know that that was a late passage, even by Mid-Michigan RR standards.

I was sitting in my La-Z-Boy last evening after we returned from our pick-up of Sugar from camp. At 7:13 p.m., the northbound run passed through GH. The same cast of locomotives was towing a long line of railcars that included: 10 DBTCs, with one of those @ the end. Also in tow were two BCs, mixed in with a lone GTC, and 14 CHCs, with one painted in that orange safety livery. It is worthy of note to yours truly, that a few of those CHCs were extra long and exceptionally low slung. In all cases, the cars were fully laden. I don't know for sure, but I believe that the late hour of passage had something to do with that MOW (maintenance of way) activity from the previous days.

Sports news will require a bit longer. As I mentioned two days ago, Mary and I went to Comstock Park, a suburb of GR, on Sunday to see our first ever Caps game, which the Caps won in a terrific comeback in the bottom of the 8th inning. The Caps closer nailed down the win 8 - 7 in the top of the 9th. That gave the Caps a record of 25 - 29 as they sealed the doom of the Dayton Dragons. Unfortunately, Mary was unable to get any Dragon swag at the Caps home field.

For those in the know, the Fith-Third Ballpark is very similar to the park in which the Kane County, IL Cougars play. Similar sightlines, concourse amenities, and concessions made the experience a blast for Mary and me. The entire experience started off well beginning at the ticket window, as the agent steered us to two terrific seats at the top of the grandstand lower seating area that turned out to be just under the grandstand canopy. That turned out to be a fortuitous selection as there were two very brief rain showers during the game. The sightline from our seats just up from home plate and on the first base side could not have been better. In fact, the entire experience was super.

Sadly, the Caps lost yesterday in their return to play against the South Bend Cubs in another MWL East game by a final score of 2 - 8. The Caps are now in 6th place with a record of 25 - 30. The South Bend Cubs are the Caps playoff opponent beginning Sept. 7. The Caps are still in 6th place with that record of 25 - 30. It was the Caps 2nd place record of 39 - 28, in the season's first half, just behind the 41 - 28 SB Cubs, that determined the Caps playoff opponent. The SB Cubs have a current second-half record of 37 - 20. I am hopeful, but not optimistic at this time.

Here are some pictures we took @ the game on Sunday.

That's "Crash" the Whitecaps mascot dancing on the top of the dugout.

As with many minor league games, the focus is on fun, especially on Sundays at a Caps game, which is "Kid's Day."

The MLB Cubs won late last night on the West Coast over the San Diego Padres by a score of 5 - 1. Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, and Jason Heyward all nailed homers. Jon Lester was once again the pitcher that the Cubs hoped he would be when they signed him last year. The Cubs have an NL. Central 1st place record of 79 - 45, 12.5 games ahead of the Cardinals. The Cubs lost their previous game on Sunday to the Rockies. The Cubs face the Padres again tonight @ 10:10 p.m. with Jake Arrieta on the bump.

The Tigers pounded my beloved Red Sox on Sunday while we were @ the Caps game, by a final score of 10 - 5. The Tigers were off yesterday before opening a series tonight against the Twins @ 8:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox, as previously mentioned, lost to the Tigers on Sunday by that 5 - 10 score. They moved on to face the Tampa Bay Rays last night and came away with a victory, 6 - 2. That victory finds the Sox tied for 1st place with the Blue Jays in the AL East with identical records of 70 - 54. That's two games ahead of the 2nd place Orioles. The Sox play against the Rays again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

We stayed overnight in GR to allow ourselves time to visit the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and Museum. That facility was just across the street from our hotel.

To say the least, the museum and its grounds are magnificent. We took many pictures, but they can't begin to do justice to the grounds and the museum and its exhibits. But I'll add some for your edification.

A beautiful River Walk runs along the Grand River where the Ford Library is sited.

The final resting place of President and Mrs. Ford on the grounds of the library.

This is a recreation of the White House Cabinet Room as it existed when Presidnet Ford served. 

This Oval Office recreation looks as it did when President Ford was in office.

Do I look presidential standing in a similar pose next to this statue of President Ford?

Just outside the library.

There were many other exhibits both inside and outside the library. I wish that pictures could really give the true feel of the museum and the grounds. These are just a sample of the experience.

A memorial to the Native American tribes that came to Michigan in the early years, and from which some of Michigan's counties. such as Ottawa, derived their names. 

These quilts were on display in an exhibit entitled "Seasonal Palette" and "Food for Thought." 

The vibrant colors and the accompanying descriptions from the quilt's creators were superb.

I guess that I should close now with the weather conditions. We have a current temperature of 62° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast by the NWS to be 79° under mostly clear skies. Wednesday, the forecast calls for T-storms with an 80% probability. I have nowhere to be and lots of time to get there either today or tomorrow, so I am not concerned. We will have to take STWD for her safari today and tomorrow, so that is the only concern and activity I have to worry about. I'll have to check on the need for watering and I believe that the lawns need mowing too.

Speaking of the intrepid one, I found her downstairs a few minutes ago, resting on the couch in the living room. I guess that it was a grueling weekend @ camp for her.

The sun will rise @ 7:00 a.m. and set @ 8:33 p.m. Ciao.