Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

A current temperature of 69° under partly-cloudy skies will lead to today's high temperature of 82° with the NWS forecasting a 20% chance for T-storms. Yesterday's forecast had only a small chance for T-storms too, but in the early morning hours, the rains came and the thunder boomed. Then last evening, the storms again moved rapidly through, with the rain coming down accompanied by strong winds that made the rain go sideways. I just heard that wind-gusts of 63 mph were recorded @ Rosy Mound Elementary School. near the shores of the "Big Lake" as that storm moved through. Whoa!

Tomorrow's 4th of July forecast calls for a high temperature of 79° under partly-cloudy skies and once again, only a 20% chance for storms. It looks like STWD will only have to endure the amateur pyromaniacs and no thunder, until the city show which takes place @ 9:45 p.m. @ the Lynn Sherwood Memorial Stadium located on the waterfront. Once again, we will watch from our upstairs window and then watch the pedestrian and automobile traffic from our front porch, as people from all over the state descend on our fair city to view the show and then walk wearily past heading for their cars and home.

Speaking of fireworks, the 45 - 41, 2nd place in the NL Central Cubs, fell to the 41 - 43, 4th place Pirates last night following a long rain delay in Pittsburgh, 1 - 5. The Cubs' bats could not provide any fireworks of their own and so they are limping towards the All-Star Break on Tuesday, July 9, 2019. Kyle Hendricks came off the IL, but lost the game after surrendering to the Pirates. Oh well, tonight @ 7:05 p.m., the Cubs will once again send Yu Darvish to the mound to stem the tide, put his finger in the dike, etc.

My beloved 45 - 40, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, had a better outcome than the Cubs last night. Their offense clicked for at least one game, as Rafael Devers collected 6 RBIs and 2 home runs to help the Sox defeat the Blue Jays 10 - 6, behind winning pitcher David Price. Of course, the Blue Jays are in 4th place with a record of 32 - 54, so... The Sox and the Jays play again tonight @ 7:07 p.m., as Chris Sale takes the ball from manager Alex Cora.

The 27 - 52, 4th place in the AL Central Tigers, were rained out in their game against that 39 - 42, 3rd place other team from Chicago. Those same two teams will try again this afternoon when Dan Norris takes the mound @ 2:10 p.m. for the Tigers. The rain-out will be made up on September 27.

In spite of being in South Bend, IN, the 27 - 54 overall, 6 - 6 in the second half of the MWL East season West Michigan White Caps, took their game from the 43 - 37, also 6 - 6 in the MWL East South Bend Cubs, 5 - 3. They go again tonight @ 7:35 p.m.

Two train runs occurred yesterday. The first, @ 8:33 a.m., saw locomotive #2019 heading south towing one CHC, three DBTCs, and two DWTCs. The second run, heading north, occurred @ 2:45 p.m., as that same locomotive towed seven CHCs, two DBTCs, and one DWTC.

I had a good time at my Coffee and Coloring session yesterday. Lots of participants and lively conversation. Later, I rode my bike to the hospital for my salad-bar lunch and my second knee appointment @ the orthopedist. Three more to go.

While I was out, Mary traveled to that big-box nearly everything store for some grocery and other items. She had just returned and unpacked when I rode up. Later, we did take a trip to nearby the big-box home center to get some rubber feet for our bathtub stool. We couldn't find the exact size we needed, so if I can't encourage the ones we got to fit, we'll have to order some from the manufacturer.

We had a nice dinner last night of vegan macaroni and cheese mixed with peas. I followed up with a bowl of real vanilla ice coconut milk slathered with accidentally vegan Hershey's Chocolate Syrup.

Today, we hope to leave the car in the garage. If we go out we'll walk, weather permitting. The fur-children want to go for walks too, but the arrival of the warmer temperatures and increased humidity that go with summer in MI have precluded that activity recently, especially for STWD.

Otherwise, not much is happening. An appointment @ the chiropractor's office and most likely some indoor chores. Ciao.