Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:00 a.m. in "The City."

The Weather Window One Report!, shows that we have a current temperature of 72° under partly-cloudy skies. Today 's high will reach up to 78°, also under partly-cloudy skies. The sun will rise shortly @ 6:19 a.m. and set later @ 9:21 p.m. Yes my loyal readers, the daylight hours have passed their zenith and they are heading for their nadir. Oh well, that's how it goes in West, MI. I will have to water the vast gardens of the Palatial Estate today, as the rain that is in the forecast for Wednesday is not a sure thing.

The baseball world was not my favorite place last night, but more in that in a bit.

I went to my Art Meet Up and enjoyed that. When I got home, we had a nice dinner and then retired to the media room to watch London Has Fallen, one of those movies, like Die Hard, wherein the hero overcomes impossible odds, survives impossible falls, never catches a bullet, and takes out all of the bad guys, almost single-handed. It was Mary's birthday and she loves these movies almost as much as she loves dystopian fiction and dystopian movies.

The 50 - 44, 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, returned to the field with a thud, after their weekend sweep of the Pirates. They lost to the 43 - 48 Reds, 5th place in the NL Central Reds, 3 - 6, thus ending the Cubs modest winning streak. Errors proved costly as did the lack of offense by the Cubs.

In a deal that cost the Cubs the services of pitcher Mike Montgomery, the Cubs traded for Royals catcher, Martin Maldonado, to back-up the Cubs back-up catcher, Victor Caratini. Why a back-up for a back-up you ask? Well, regular catcher, All-Star Willson Contreras, has a strain in his right arch and will likely land on the IL for 10 days. The Cubs and the Reds play again @ 8:05 p.m., when unknown RHP Alec Mills takes the mound for the north-siders.

My beloved, 51 - 43, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, took a game from the hapless, 35 - 60 4th place Blue Jays last night, 10 - 8. A grand slam home-run in the bottom of the 1st by Sox rookie 2nd baseman Michael Chavis, provided the winning margin. Chavis, who is likely to be the next Lou Gehrig, sent the Sox on their way to the win. This was Chavis' first grad-slam, but his 16th home run this year, as he takes over for the soon to be retired, Dustin Pedroia @ 2nd base.

Unfortunately, while the Sox are playing great baseball right now, the Tampa Bay Rays, in 2nd, and the Yankees, in 1st, are also playing great baseball and the Sox are mired in 3rd place in the AL East. The Sox send newly acquired pitcher Andrew Cashner to the mound tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The 29 - 60, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, survived a 54 minute rain delay last night, but the delay proved costly as the Tigers fell to the 52 - 40, 2nd place in the AL Central Indians, 6 - 8. The Tigers are already playing out the string as they rebuild It may be just after the All-Star Break, but the Tigers are charging Major-League money for a AA effort, if that. At any rate, the Tigers recalled pitcher Ryan Carpenter, from their AAA affiliate, the Toledo Mud Hens, and he is likely to take the mound tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The trying West Michigan WhiteCaps, were drubbed by the Kane County Cougars last night, 9 - 1. The Caps have today off before they head to Beloit, WI, to face the Beloit Snappers @ 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.

Otherwise, I had a nice time at the Art Meet-Up. I drew circles, drew and colored a marigold, free-hand, and enjoyed myself. What more could I ask?

It was Mary's birthday, and we made a few stops in GH and then in Spring Lake, for some groceries, some hardware items, some fresh bread, and an adult libation @ Stan's. All in all, a good day to be alive. Ciao.