Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 8:00 a.m. in "The City."

In the words of the immortal Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson, one-time All-Star first baseman and outfielder for the Kansas City Athletics, the Washington Senators, the Boston
Red Sox, and the Cleveland Indians, and now the principal announcer for that other team from Chicago, "You can put that one on the board, YES!"

In this case, I'm talking about John P's birthday and the 4th of July holiday, but still a great way to segue to baseball news

Whereas Wednesday was an 0- fer, when all my teams lost, yesterday was a 4 - fer. as all of my teams won. What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. Oops, I was channeling again. So, why not insert this video clip, courtesy of YouTube™. This is the late Dinah Washington singing her hit, What a Difference a Day Makes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmBxVfQTuvI

But as is often the case, I digress.

The 46 - 42, tied for 1st place with the Brewers in the NL Central Cubs, took care of business in Pittsburgh, with a solid, 11 - 3 win over the 42 - 44, 4th place Pirates. In that game, Kris Bryant went four for five, and newly-promoted infielder Robel Garcia, nearly hit for the cycle, missing only a double. For those who care, the cycle is getting a single, a double, a triple, and a home-run in the same game.

It has been a long journey for the 26 year-old Garcia, from the Dominican Republic, to "A" ball, to the Italian League, to the Cubs minor league system and now the big-league club. Here's hoping that the other teams don't figure him out and he then becomes the next coulda, woulda, shoulda player to soon be forgotten. At any rate, the Cubs travel for tonight's game against that 41 - 43, 3rd place in the AL Central, other team from Chicago @ 7:15 p.m. EDT, when Jon Lester goes for the Cubs.

My beloved, 46 - 41, 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, used a home-run in the top of the 9th to steal a game from the 35 - 56, 4th place in the AL East Blue Jays, 8 - 7. We'll take a win, any way we can get one. Tonight, the Sox travel to Detroit to meet the Tigers @ 7:10 p.m.

The 28 - 54, 4th place in the AL Central Tigers, saw Matthew Boyd pitch a masterful game over 5 1/3 innings, as he recorded 13 Ks and no walks, en route to a sound 11 - 5 win over that other team from Chicago.

The 28 - 55, 5th place in the MWL East, West MI WhiteCaps once again host the 44 - 38, 4th place South Bend, IN Cubs tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

Moving right along. After lunch yesterday, which was prepared by Mary in the kitchen and yours truly on the grill, we settled in for a scrumptious luncheon before we went walkabout to downtown and to The Kirby House deck, which overlooks the channel. We had a couple of adult beverages and, since it was now dinner time, a very tasty pizza. Not really our original plan, but a great way to close out our own 4th of July holiday festivities. Mary took a pic of our lunch using our Smart-Phone, after it was on the table.

Vegan burgers, zucchini, corn, asparagus, and pineapples were all part of the meal.

During our walkabout, we took a lot of pix, which gives me the chance to include some here.

 A nice close-up in our own vast gardens, using my telephoto lens.

Same here.

I think this was an actual Willy's Jeep.

Another Jeep, but also a Willy's.

Our GHDPS has its own Jeep, this one a Mahindra.

The channel was crowded for the 4th!

Setting up the fireworks on Dewey Hill.

On our own version of the "Grassy Knoll", people had staked out their prime viewing spots for the fireworks, including this hammock.

What's a celebration without food trucks/wagons?

Mary took this fine shot of the channel from the Kirby House Deck.

This one too.

It was time to head home, and so we moseyed towards home to watch some baseball and allow me to fall asleep following our long walk. I guess I'm not as young as I used to be. I did wake up long enough to see the Cubs, the Tigers, and the Red Sox win their game and then spring to the window in Mary's office to view the fireworks. Then, I was off to bed where I stayed until nearly 6:30 a.m. this morning.
 
Since I know that photos can't do justice to fireworks, I'm going to insert this video footage, courtesy of WOOD TV in GR, of our fireworks.

https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/thousands-come-to-grand-haven-for-fireworks/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

The sun already rose this morning @ 6:11 a.m. and it will set later @ 9:27 p.m., after what has been forecast to be beautiful day in "The City." A high temperature of 78° under partly-cloudy skies should provide ample enjoyment for both residents and tourists alike.

We will be reading, taking a short walkabout with the fur-children, and whatever else feels right. Speaking of the fur-children, Mary swaddled STWD in her Thundershirt™ last night, and although Sugar looked and acted "Stoned." But, she was not shaking during the fireworks by both the professionals and the amateur pyromaniacs in the neighborhood. Ciao.