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

I got up around 3:30 and Ginger asked to go out. She was followed by her sister, STWD. Since I was downstairs, I decided to empty the dishwasher and make myself a salad. That reminds me, I have to ask Mary to make some salad dressing after we are done with the index. I'm thinking vegan French or Thousand Island dressings, both of which she does well.

Speaking of the kitchen, I violated my own warning for yesterday and made some additional vegan Italian meatballs. They are Mary's favorite of the things that I make in the kitchen. In fact, she used some of them for a down and dirty dinner of spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.

I made the determination to violate my own admonition after I returned from the morning walks with the fur-children. STWD and I picked up the weekend edition of the Grand Haven Tribune while we were out. Ginger and I just had a nice walk.

Since I was already downstairs, I did some indoor chores and worked the crossword puzzle. I needed no assistance on this one and I feel good about that.

Mary had to put the index away for the day around 4:00 p.m. yesterday. Like most things, you can quickly go over the edge and do more harm than good when you get tired. I spent part of the time after my indoor chores, crossword solving, and my kitchen activities working on my knot blanket. I am now about half-done. Maybe today, maybe "Knot."

Baseball news yesterday was mostly bad. The only winners were the 75 - 53, 1st in the NL Central Cubs, who defeated the 56 - 74, 5th place Reds, 10 - 6 behind Jose Quintana with the assistance of home-runs from Daniel Murphy, Kyle Schwarber and Javier Baez. Next game, 2:20 p.m. EDT today.

My beloved, 90 - 41, fortunately still in 1st place by seven game in the AL East Red Sox, saw their bats once again experience slumber in the lumber. The Sox fell to the 69 - 61, 3rd place Rays, 1 - 5. That loss gives the Sox a very rare series loss even if they win today's game from the Rays starting @ 1:10 p.m. EDT.

The 53 - 77 Tigers, well, they are still safely ensconced in 3rd place in the AL Central, following a 1 - 6 loss to that other team from Chicago, who have a 4th place record of 50 - 79. Maybe nest year for the Tigers will start after today's game against that other team @ 1:10 p.m.

The 65 - 66 West Michigan White Caps fell to 5th place in the MWL East following their 0 - 1 loss to the 56 - 74 Great Lakes Loons. It is worthy of note that the Loons had a tough first-half of the MWL season, but they are playing solid baseball in the second half with a record of 32 - 30, while the Caps 2nd-half record is a sub-.500 29 - 32. Today's game against the Loons @ the Fifth/Third Ballpark begins @ 2:00 p.m.

We have a current muggy temperature of 70° under mostly-cloudy skies. According to the NWS, today's high will reach a sultry 85°, about eight degrees warmer than yesterday. That Beach Hazard Statement has been extended until Tuesday morning. Winds of 15 - 25 mph will produce 3 - 5 foot waves and hazardous swimming conditions, especially around places like Grand Haven's newly reopened South Pier.

In addition, the high winds will cause the waves to sweep over the pier and anyone venturing out there will risk being swept into the "Big Lake." It should come as no surprise, that there is also a Small Craft Warning in effect too. Yes, folks, the Red Warning Flag will be flying for several more days. Pay attention!

Today, we will get that index into the ether and then go about our business. I'll walk the fur-children and await my editing chores after that. If we get time, I'd like to go to Hemlock Crossing for that Prairie Wildflower Walk, scheduled for 3:00 p.m. today. It would make a great photo-op.

The sun will rise into those muggy skies today @ 7:02 a.m. and set tonight @ 8:29 p.m. The next chance for significant precipitation is Tuesday and Wednesday with a 60% chance for T-storms/showers. Ciao.