Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

Let me start out by saying that I really like my Father's Day gift from my children, Stephany and Adam. At first, I didn't know I received it, because Mary was busily opening the mail on Saturday and didn't notice that the package was addressed to me. Be that as it may, there are many great recipes in the Field Roast: 101 Artisan Meat Recipes to Cook, Share, and Savor. I can't wait to try some of them. Thanks kids. : - )

We have a current temperature of 64° under cloudy skies. In fact, I wouldn't be up now, but @ 2:44 a.m., I heard that lonesome whistle blow and sprang to the WW to see something I have not seen in a long time, the passage of MMRR locomotives #2019 and #2025 as they towed 14 CHCs, and one lone DBTC heading south. I assume that there will be a return, northbound run, later this morning.

Oddly enough, on Monday, I heard the passage of those locomotives heading south @ around 9:31 a.m., But, I had to wait until 12:45 p.m. to see the northbound run of those same locomotives towing 24 CHCs, seven DBTCs, and one DWTC. Later, I saw those two locomotives dead-heading southward and that was the last I saw of them. I thought at first that it was a work-truck passing by, but no, it was those locomotives. When they headed north, I don't know. Go figure.

While most of my teams were off on Monday, the Cubs were supposed to play the Dodgers that night. However, inclement weather caused their game against the Dodgers to be postponed until yesterday when the 41 - 29, 2nd in the NL Central Cubs, lost to the 38 - 34, 2nd in the NL West Dodgers in the rescheduled game, 3 - 4. The Cubs came back  to win the second game, 2 - 1. So, they stayed even with the division, .5 games behind the 43 - 30, 1st place Brewers. The Cubs and the Dodgers play today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT.

My beloved, 49 - 25, 2nd in the AL East Red Sox, fell to the 32 - 37, 3rd in the AL Central Twins last night, 2 - 6. The Sox are one-game in back of the division leading, 48 - 22 Yankees. In spite of 11 Ks by starting pitcher Chris Sale, a home-run by Rafael Devers, and a Major-League highlight-reel throw from left-center field by Jackie Bradley Jr. Bradley's throw traveled 290 feet @ 103.4 mph, to start a double-play. However, the Sox once again fell to a team with a sub -.500 record. The Sox and the Twins play tonight @ 8:10 p.m. EDT.

What can I say about the rebuilding 36 - 38 Tigers. They should have beaten the 27 - 45, 5th place in the NL Central Cincinnati Reds, but alas, the Tigers lost to the Reds, 5 - 9. The Tigers had the chance to go even with the division, but that, as the proverbial they say, is the way the ball bounces. The Tigers play the Reds later today @ 12:35 p.m. EDT.

The 36 - 34, 3rd in the MWL East Caps, are off until tomorrow when they play the 32 - 37 Ft. Wayne, IN TinCaps @ 7:05 p.m. EDT.

Here's where I depart from the regular format a bit and report on the pictures that Mary took over the last couple of days. I was outside with the fur-children on Monday morning, when I noticed that the heavy rains that we had overnight Sunday, had caused several mushrooms to sprout in Mary's rose garden. I told her she needed to get out there and record them with her macro lens, and so she did. Here are some of the photos she took. She also had to take a couple of pictures of Ginger, just because. Don't forget, you can click on any picture to enlarge it.

I don't know the varietals, but I know that they should not be eaten.

A great close-up.

When Mary focused on the mushroom in the back, the front-most mushroom got blurry.

Buried in the back of the vast gardens is this flowering perennial.

Nice.

Unlike her sister, STWD, Ginger is not camera-shy.

She will stare right into the lens.

We ran a few errands yesterday while Ginger was at daycare. We didn't get everything that we wanted, but we did get some things that we needed. I think there is a song lyric in there somewhere. Yes there is, from the Rolling Stones song, You Can't Always Get What You Want. That being said, I'll include that song here courtesy of YouTube™. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DKhG6NA1Qc

I also made it to my podiatrist's appointment where all went well.

As I noted, I was roused by the southbound train run, so I let Ginger out and felt a few drops of rain falling on our heads. Fortunately, Ginger didn't seem to notice and went about her business. Say, there is another lyric in there, so I'll add a link, courtesy once again from YouTube™, to that song from the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring the late Paul Newman and Robert Redford, sung by B.J. Thomas and written by Burt Bacharach. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouxJ4GfC6JA

We have a current temperature of 64° under those aforementioned cloudy/rainy skies. Today's high, after the sun rises into cloudy skies @ 6:05 a.m. and well before it sets @ 9:27 p.m., will be 75°.

We have nothing planned for today, other than trying one more time to get that sink-skirt made for the mud-room, and that's fine with me. Ciao.