Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

This shouldn't take long, Yeah right! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! It only took 71 years since their last World Series appearance in 1945. That was six years before I was born and the year that the U.S. defeated the Axis Powers to end World War II. I have been a Die-Hard Cubs Fan for about 57 years, so I can't lay claim to being the longest-suffering fan, but I have had my share of disappointments. I was dashed on the rocks of despair so many times I felt like a ship lost @ sea.1969, 1984, 1993, 2003... No more goat curses, no more Bartman baseballs, no more Leon Durham, and best of all, no more "Wait til' next year." The wait is over, next year is here. The Cubs are on their way to Cleveland to face the American League Champion Indians, as the World Series opens there on Tuesday night. Wahoo! Oops, that's the Indians mascot, Chief Wahoo.

Instead, I'll just say Hey! Hey! Holy Mackeral! Holy Cow! and Whee! following the Cubs 5 - 0 victory in game 6 of the NLCS. The Cubs sent the Dodgers home for the winter with a 4 - 2 convincing series finale. Cubs' pitcher Kyle Hendricks dominated the Dodgers and their ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Joe Maddon, Anthony Rizzo Kris Bryant, Addison Russell, Jon Lester Javier Baez, and all of the Cubs, your table is ready. I took a few screen-shots last night just to enjoy the moment, so I"ll share a few now.

Pandemonium @ "The Friendly Confines."

Kris Bryant, one of the many reasons the drought is over. 

Kyle Hendricks, nuff said

Cubs manager, Joe Maddon

Team owner, Tom Ricketts, receiving the National League Championship trophy.

The Cubs players leaping out of the dugout after the final out. 

I could include more, but these few pictures show what I have been waiting for for 57 years. Young players, older players, new and old fans, and retired players like Sweet Swinging Billy Williams and Ryne Sandberg were on hand to celebrate the sweet smell of success. It is too bad that Ernie Banks and Ron Santo passed before this momentous occasion, but I like to believe that up on the Chicago Cloud, they are smiling with a glass of their favorite adult beverage in their hands.

As a sports report aside, the 7 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan crushed the 2 - 5 Fighting Illini of Illinois, 41 - 8. The 2 - 5 Spartans of MSU fell once again, this time to the 4 - 2 Terrapins of Maryland by a score of 17 - 28. The 2 - 6 Huskies of NIU trounced the 1 - 6 Buffalos of the University of Buffalo by a score of 44 - 7. Oh, the Red Wings and the Griffins won too. The 3 - 3 Detroit Lions host the NFL team from Washington, D.C, today @ 1:00 p.m.

We joined the kids for lunch in Saugatuck yesterday afternoon. Saugatuck is a great tourist destination and parking in the downtown are was at a premium. We found a place using the dumb-luck or right place, right time systems  Ginger and STWD were kept apart after the morning safari to the GHFM, and we returned home to find them well rested and problem free after our dinner stop at our favorite watering hole. We're still working on the behavioral issues, but we are making progress.

Today, Mary has to put her nose the proverbial grindstone and get cracking on the index which is due next Thursday, I believe. She has made a lot of progress on her "Chunking", but it takes dedication that I don't have. I'll be traveling to the local big-box home center for some additional supplies to complete my projects in the man-cave.

Since the Cubs are off, the Bears played last Thursday and the Lions can be listened to while doping other activities, I'll be doing what feels fight for the day.

We'll take the morning safari and then I can settle in to do as much or as little as I desire. Like I say, I'm retired, Mary isn't. However, I hope to assist in the kitchen with something for today's meals. Perhaps some indoor chores, but they can wait.

The current temperature is 41.5° according to the DTWS. The NWS is predicting a high today in the low 60s. But, we are always cooler here on the shores of the"Big Lake." The sun will rise today @ 8:08 a.m. and set @ 6:49 p.m. Ciao.