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

Yesterday, it was rainy. This early morning it is raining. Later today, the NWS is forecasting, you guessed it, rain and possible T-storms, with a high temperature of 64°. "What does Sunday look like?" you ask." More rain with a high temperature of only 58°! There is good weather news on the horizon, at least temperature-wise. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the forecast from the NWS calls for high temperatures in the low 70s, with several of those days also having rain in the forecast. The sun will rise this morning @ 7:48 a.m. and set later @ 7:17 p.m.

I like fall as much as Mary, well perhaps not as much, but enough with the rain already. We got very little rain during the summer growing-season. I had to water the vegetables, roses, and the other plantings on the PE every other day and still had to watch the vast lawns die. And sadly, my vegetable plants produced very little fruit. I did have a few gardening exceptions. The potted horseradish responded well to the watering. The potatoes also did well, and the basil in the pot is still growing, allowing me to make pesto for Mary's Italian meatballs, which I did again yesterday. Sadly, for the most part, the various varieties of peppers and tomatoes were essentially non-productive. Alas, my gardens and lawns mirrored the Cubs, lots of promise in the spring, but in the end, no reward.

Speaking of baseball, my beloved Red Sox eked out a one-run win over the Yankees last night, 5 - 4. to take a one-game lead over the Yankees in their ALDS series. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 8:15 p.m. as David Price takes the mound for the Sox.

The Astros easily defeated the hapless Indians yesterday 7 - 2, to take a one-game lead in their ALDS series. The Astros and the Indians play again today @ 4:37 p.m.

The Brewers soundly defeated the Rockies 4 - 0 yesterday, to take a 2 - 0 lead in their NLDS series. The Brewers and the Rockies are off until Sunday @ 4:37 p.m.

The Dodgers dispatched the Braves 3 - 0 in game two of their own NLDS series, to take a 2 - 0 lead over the Braves. The Dodgers and the Braves are back on the field Sunday in Atlanta @ 8:07 p.m.

I love baseball and I want the Sox to win it all. But, it will be a long winter.

College football resumes today starting @ 12:00 p.m., when the Spartans of MSU face the Wildcats of Northwestern, while the Wolverines take the field against the Terrapins of Maryland at the same time.

The NIU Huskies face the Cardinals of Ball State today @ 2:00 p.m.

We traveled about yesterday to do some grocery shopping, and that went surprisingly well. We were able to complete our task in under one-hour, door to door.  As I previously mentioned, I also made more of my famous vegan Italian meatballs. Once again, I believe that these are my best batch yet.  Mary likes them, as always. She also made another of her famous vegan pizzas for dinner. I think that this one was also her best.

Today, I hope to stay in out of the rain and read more of my latest novel, Next Year in Havana, by Chanel Cleeton. As you can hopefully discern, this is a historical romance novel mostly set in Cuba, and I like it. Historical and Amish romance novels are my personal deviation from my usual diet of detective novels and thrillers.

In addition, Mary and I will be trying to once again coax STWD outside. She is being particularly stubborn with the rain, and if T-storms develop, all bets are definitely off. That looks like enough for one day. Ciao.