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

Yes my loyal readers, it has been a few days since my last blog. Gee, that sounds like part of the opening that my Catholic friends used to recite when they entered a confessional. Oh well, I have no need for penance. As the writer and editor of my blog, I can do/say whatever I want without fear of retribution nor need for an "Our Father nor Hail Mary.".

It was a great day yesterday. I got my few remaining hairs cut and then we boarded Ginger and set out for a ride to find some apples to make applesauce for a recipe that I plan to make. Sadly, our first destination had no apples, but that's okay. On the way home, we stopped @ the Embassy Bar & Grill, and had some of their onion straws. We'll get thos apples soon. Then we made it to Ace Hardware™ for some cable clamps and twist ties to organize the cords for my computer and our cable modem and router.

Why is that a pressing need now? Well, we are nearing the completion of the installation of the replacement carpeting throughout the manse and so some things that I had planned to get to for months or perhaps years now, seem like a more pressing need. Like our old neighbor, Marshall, I find that in retirement things do get done, albeit on a one at a time schedule.

Naturally, the house being in an uproar is upsetting to STWD. She went through this process less than one-year ago. However, the defective carpeting had to be replaced, so this is it, make no mistake about it.

Yesterday, the 93 - 66 Cubs moved their magic number to 3, with a 3 - 0 shutout of the visiting Pirates. The Cubs are just a scant 1/2 game ahead of the Brewers in the NL Central. Jon Lester won his 18th and David Bote stroked a two-RBI triple en route to the win. The Cubs and the Cardinals meet today in the Friendly Confines @ 2:20 p.m. EDT.

My beloved, 107 - 52 Red Sox had yesterday off before meeting the Yankees tonight in Fenway Park @ 7:10 p.m. The 2nd place Yankees are 10 games behind the Sox in the AL East.

Sadly, the Tigers fell hard once again to the Twins, 3 - 9. The Tigers record of 64 - 95 assured them of a seat on the couch for the playoffs again this year.

Today, the carpeting should be finished, the manse should be returning to normal, and all should be right in the world of STWD, unless you count the 60% chance for showers this afternoon. We also have a Beach Hazard Statement issued by the NWS until at later this evening. Rip-currents and high-waves from as far south as South Haven to as far north as Manistee are expected. Looks like another year where I don't make it into the "Big Lake." Sigh. We also have a current temperature of 62° as we drop towards today's high temperature of 59°. That's about 6° cooler than yesterday!

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:38 a.m. and set less than 12 hours later @ 7:33 p.m. Fall is indeed upon us.

I am working my way thorough another large-print novel and I'll hopefully get to another crossword puzzle after our morning walk with the fur-children. Ciao.