Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

While this is the first early morning in a few days that rain/T-storms aren't in view out the WW, that is soon to change, The NWS is forecasting T-storms to begin around 2:00 p.m. today and continuing for much of the evening. We also have a Beach Hazard Statement to accompany that forecast. In this case, wave heights may reach four to six feet and dangerous rip currents are a strong possibility. That statement is effective from 2:00 a.m. today through the evening hours. Given the forecast for rain and storms later, I believe that the statement may be extended. Just in time for me to use the lake now that the tourists are gone. Sigh.

We have a current temperature of 78° that feels like 78° under partly cloudy skies. Once the sun has risen @ 7:13 a.m., the day will be just slightly less than 13 hours in length, as the sun will be setting @ 8:12. We have our first History Book Club meeting today @ 3:00 p.m., so we'd best have our umbrellas at the ready.

Speaking of that meeting, as the semi-official treat baker for the group, I baked some vegan blueberry applesauce muffins yesterday afternoon once I got back from the walk with STWD and my haircut. Mary was planning to take Ginger out as I worked, but as my newly-promoted sous dog first class, Ginger wouldn't leave the kitchen. Sugar the sous dog emeritus arrived later to get in on the action. Mary was there too as our official household photographer to chronicle my efforts, beginning to end..

All the ingredients were mixed before I placed them in the paper cups. Ginger was waiting expectantly below.

38 minutes @ 350° and they were done and ready to travel once they cooled.

Things weren't crazy enough at that time. Of course, the northbound run of the train on the RSTL also occurred. I don't know when the southbound run happened, it must have been last Friday. At any rate, @ 12:50 p.m. Ginger and I espied MMRR locomotive #2025 towing 11 CHCs, three DWTCs, and 37 DBTCs, all fully laden!

Baseball news yesterday was not good for Cubs' fans. The boys in blue were crushed by the 2nd place Brewers, 1 - 11. Starting and losing pitcher, Mike Montgomery, cruised through the 1st inning, but took 30 pitches to get out of the second. Not much scoring happened until Montgomery was relieved and then the sky fell. Cubs' miscues, hit batsmen, loaded bases, and a rare lapse in the Cubs' usually stellar defense, led to all the runs the Brewers needed.

The Brewers kept piling on the runs as the Brewers narrowed the Cubs' lead in the NL Central to three games. The Cubs try to avoid the sweep in Milwaukee tonight @ 8:10 p.m. The Cubs road trip continues with their next stop after Milwaukee in Washington, D.C. with four games against the Nationals. The Cubs finally get home on Monday, 9/10/18 to face those pesky Brewers. I'm hoping that the slumber in the lumber will be ameliorated by a return to the "Friendly Confines."

My beloved 1st place Red Sox easily dropped the 1st place in the NL East Braves last night, 5 - 1. The Sox' bats had been asleep for a few games, but they seem to have recovered. The Sox and the Braves meet again today @ 12:10 p.m.

The 4th place Tigers got even with that other team from Chicago last night with an 8 - 3 win. Too bad that the two teams have no playoff hopes. They meet again tonight @ 8:10 p.m.

Also tonight, the Caps and the Loons square off at the Fifth/Third Ballpark @ 7:05 p.m. The Loons have a second-half record of 36 - 33, while the Caps have a record of 33 - 36. Go get em Caps!

Meals yesterday were leftovers plus some store-bought items. Brunch was leftover corn on the cob, without the cob, with vegan hot dogs. Dinner was more of my world famous Italian meatballs with Mary's red sauce in/on a pita. I liked both.

I have hopes that we can keep today's activities down a bit. I have what may be my final P/T appointment as my shoulder is feeling much better and we have  that aforementioned History Book Club meeting. If the NWS is right, we should be able to get the fur-children out for their morning walks before I go to my appointment.

Otherwise, not much will be happening. Ciao.