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

I'd be remiss if I didn't start with trainspotting. That's because I missed the half report for Wednesday. @ 9:47 a.m. yesterday, the southbound run of EMD (Electro-Motive Division) GP (General Purpose) 38-2 (Model #) locomotives #2057 & 2019. In tow were one BC (Box Car), 13 DBTCs (Dreaded Black Tank Cars), some very rusty and old looking, and a single GTC (Gray Tank Car) that was bringing up the rear. @ 1:47 p.m., the same tandem of locomotives was plying the rails of the RSTL as they headed north towing eight CHCs (Covered Hopper Cars) two DWTS (Dreaded White Tank Cars), and seven DBTs.

By way of explanation, EMD stands for Electro-Motive Division, which was the name given to the locomotive division of General Motors when the automotive conglomerate purchased the company prior to WWII. The division was purchased by Caterpillar in 2012.

Additionally, I use the terms dreaded black or dreaded white tank cars due to the spotty safety record of the many US and some Canadian railroad companies. Given the cargoes of DBTCs, crude oil, and DWTCs, hydrochloric acid, a derailment here in GH could easily become a disaster.

In sports news, Cubs Win!, Cubs Win!. Cubs Win! A two-run deficit in the bottom of the 8th inning was erased by a few bad throws from the Brewers, some clutch hitting by the Cubs, and good fortune overall in the bottom of the ninth. Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman struck out the Brewers in the top of the 10th before catcher Miguel Montero came to bat in the bottom of the inning. A walk-off home run ensured the Cubs clinch of their division from the night before was real. That's the 1st division championship for the Cubs since 2008.  The 5 - 4 win in the NL Central gives the Cubs an overall record of 94 -53. The Cubs and the Brewers play later today @ 4:05 p.m.

The Tigers seem to be going out of their way towards falling from grace and the wild card race. They lost to the Indians by a final score of 4 - 11. Since the Indians are leading the division, the loss by the Tigers drops them deeper into 2nd place with a 7.0 game deficit to those Indians. The Tigers and the Indians play this afternoon @ 4:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox defeated the Yankees 7 - 4 in a battle of AL East teams. An overall record of 83 - 64 gives the 1st place Red Sox a 2.0 game lead over the 2nd place Orioles and Blue Jays as both of those teams also won their games. The Sox and the Yankees play again today @ 1:05 p.m.

A quick update on college football. The 1 - 0 MSU Spartans travel to South Bend, IN to meet the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame @ 7:30 p.m. The 2 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan host the Buffaloes of Colorado @ "The Big House: in Ann Arbor, MI, @ 3:30 p.m. The 0 - 2 Huskies of Northern Illinois University host the Aztecs of San Diego State, also @ 3:30 p.m.

We have cancelled our plans to go to the Apple Festival in Bangor, MI today due to the chance of storms. Instead, we plan to travel to Sparta, MI next weekend for their Apple Fest, once again weather permitting.

Mary has plans to finish my winter hat today and then we'll both be reading after the morning Safari with STWD, So many books, so little time. I may be able to get to that planned restringing and playing of all the girls event in the music room today too.

We have a current temperature of 71° under cloudy/rainy skies. Surprisingly, the NWS got it right this time. Their forecast shows light rain throughout the day today which was scheduled to begin @ 4:00 a.m. We anticipate a high temperature of 74° after the sun rises @ 7:27 a.m. The sun will set @ 7:50 p.m. Ciao.