Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

I have the other half of the trainspotting report from Monday. Apparently, I didn't miss the train's passage on Monday. Instead, the northbound run happened yesterday morning @ 11:25 a.m., as locomotives 2019 and 2057 passed by on the RSTL towing 22 CHCs, seven DBTCs, and three DWTCs, all fully loaded. Will there be another passage today? I don't know. Since this is the RSTL, I have no control. If this were Adam's model train layout, I could more accurately predict the passage, but alas, I am merely a trainspotter, not a train controller/conductor.

I accomplished just a few things yesterday, the completion of several crossword puzzles, the partial assembly of our new exercise machine, and a visit to my barber. Mary was far more productive, as she completed her indexing project and sent it on its way. She also made a new recipe for dinner, a vegan version of macaroni and cheese. I liked it, but she seemed more tentative. I was hungry, but I still think it was good. I did drop off something for Mary @ her hair stylist who is located across the street from my barber.

In the afternoon, I spent some time assembling the exercise machine that Mary ordered so that we can get some exercise when we can't walk outdoors beyond the back forty. Some pieces came broken, so I have to get on the phone later today and call the manufacturer for replacement parts. Sigh.

Today's weather is expected to be warmer than yesterday. We have a current temperature of 35° being reported by both the NWS and my own DTWS. The NWS is predicting a high today of 37° under partly cloudy skies with a 20% chance of precipitation. That is the same forecast thru Saturday, Christmas Eve, and the second day of Hanukkah. The NWS has forecast a high of 40° albeit with a 90% chance of precipitation for Christmas and the third day of Hanukkah.

Now that the winds have died down, the NWS has canceled the winter weather advisory and the gale warnings. There is still a small-craft warning for the "Big Lake." The improved forecast should allow us to get out today and get the various grocery items on our list for Christmas dinner without fear of poor driving conditions. Since she is between indexing jobs for a week or so, I know that Mary wants to go to Newaygo to stop @ a yarn store where she has a Christmas stocking filled with patterns and other sundry items that she has been adding via the internet. I only need to stop @ the library to pick up books.

I go along for the ride and to return the cans that have been accumulating and awaiting redemption. Every time I consider going back to buying canned soda in lieu of using the Soda Stream™, Mary reminds me that the volume of cans to be redeemed would increase dramatically.

I want to get started on the crosswords from the Sunday N.Y. Times along with spending time with the girls. Maybe Mary can take the fur-children out today so that I can have some time to do that. I know that the fur-children don't take much time, but when you have to get dressed for the wintry weather, time spent outdoors seemingly expands exponentially.

I was just outside with GTWD and let STWD out on her tether. The temperature was okay, but the Wonder Dog seemed to not have a true need to go out. She was more interested in barking @ shadows and voices that she heard. I think both she and her big sister, Sugar, just wanted treats. Who can blame them?

So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Playtime with the girls, picking up some books from the library, getting groceries, and possibly going to that aforementioned yarn store. The sun will rise later this morning @ 8:13 a.m. and set @ 5:13 p.m. as the first day of winter arrives. The shortest day will actually be Thursday when the sun rises @ 8:14 a.m. and sets @ 5:13 p.m. We start to have longer days on Monday, Boxing Day, when the sunrise and sunset times begin to be further apart, Ciao.