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

Since it was a great day in sports news yesterday, I'll start there.

All four of my teams won. The Cubs are now @ 80 - 45 in the NL Central, following their 5 -3 win over the Padres on the West  Coast late last night. The Cubs are the 1st team to 80 wins in the Major Leagues™ with this latest road win. That finds them @ 13.5 games ahead of the Cardinals, who lost. Kris Bryant looks more and more like an MVP candidate and Addison Russell is a possible Gold Glove shortstop. These two young men are only in their 2nd full season in the "Bigs."

Bryant and Russell both hit home runs and Jake Arrieta notched his 16th win en route to 20 wins or more again this year. Another Cy Young? The Cubs face the Padres again today @ 3:40 p.m.

The Tigers were also victorious over the Twins, 8 -3. The Tigers are still in 2nd place in the AL Central, trailing the Indians who lost, by 6.5 games. The Tigers and the Twins play again today @ 8:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox eked out a win over the Rays, 2 -1 in a game between and AL Central and AL East teams. The Red Sox are tied with the Blue Jays for 1st place in the AL East with identical records of 71 - 54, two games ahead of the Orioles. The Sox and the Rays play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The Caps defeated the South Bend Cubs 6 - 5, knocking the SB Cubs out of first place in the MWL East. Sadly, while the victory moved the Caps up to 5th place, their sub-.500 record of 26 - 30 is not what I'd like to see. Those two teams play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

Yesterday's weather was terrific. It was so nice that I did some outdoor chores on the PE. I harvested and I pulled some fading vegetable plants from their life-giving soil. I mowed the lawns and also watered the balance of the gardens on the vast PE. In addition, Mary and I collaborated on remaking the bed and doing the laundry and linens. I also learned more about cooking black beans than I ever wanted to know while Mary revised and resubmitted an index. Mary used those black beans to make a delicious taco salad for lunch.

I was happily sitting in the La-Z-Boy when Mary said she was ready for a walk to the beach/state park to see the heavy waves as they were breaking across the pier under the soon to be temporarily removed catwalk that sits atop the breakwater leading to the twin lighthouses. While en route and while there, we took numerous pictures, many of people violating some basic rules for personal safety.

The catwalk needs maintenance while the Army Corps of Engineers performs repairs to the breakwater.

The Red Flag warning of dangerous swimming conditions did not deter some foolhardy people.  

People have been swept off the breakwater during "High Seas" on the "Big Lake.' 50 people have lost their lives since 1891. Last weekend, two people and their bicycles were swept into the heavy surf. They were saved, but their bicycles are now on the bottom. 

This monument is to those people who lost their lives on the pier. 

Rip currents are always a danger when the winds blow and the lake churns.  

Did I say foolhardy?

This woman got it right. She was taking pictures and avoiding risk.

Altogether yesterday, we logged over six miles of walking. We stopped at the Post for some adult beverages on the way home. Mary made some ears of corn and Sloppy Joes for dinner. Both were great. I forgot to mention that during dinner, Mary took a call from Pew Research regarding the elections. That has never happened before, so she was patient and answered all of the questions posed by the surveyor. 

We have a current temperature of 65° under clear skies. Later today, @ 11:00 a.m., there is a forecast for anywhere between 60% to 80% for T-storms. That should allow us time to take the morning safari with STWD. We couldn't figure out what was up yesterday because the safari was at high-speed with Sugar @ full pull on her leash. She couldn't wait to get out and back. I know she is sensitive to disturbances in the force, but there isn't supposed to be any until later today. Go figure. 

We have plans to do some mundane activities of living today, whether Mary goes to knitting in Holand or not. Trips to plan and reserve, cooking to do, safaris to be accomplished, and maintenance around the manse. Otherwise, not much is on tap. 

The sun will rise @ 7"01 a.m. and set @ 8:31 p.m. Ciao.