Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

It has been two days since my...Wait, I was channeling again.

The current temperature is 44° under cloudy skies. The winds that will be building throughout the day will cause the NWS to issue a Gale Warning that goes into effect @ 5:00 p.m. today and lasts until 8:00 a.m. Sunday. That warning means that winds may build to 34 - 47 knots on the "Big Lake", causing the NWS to also issues two additional advisories or warnings.

During the hours that match the Gale Warning, there will also be a Small Craft Advisory in effect. All small craft, inexperienced mariners, or boats without proper instrumentation are strongly encouraged to seek safe harbor. Even large craft are likewise urged to do so.

If that wasn't enough, the NWS has also issued yet another Lakeshore Flood Advisory that will also be in effect for the same time period. Waves may build to 12 feet in height, driven by those Gale Force winds which may in turn lead to beach and dune erosion, which will not only be possible, but which will be highly likely!

The sun will rise today @ 7:54 a.m. and set later @ 7:07 p.m. The NWS is forecasting only a 10% chance for rain today.

I am scheduled to visit the Hemlock Crossing Nature Center for a program entitled: Natures Artbrush Series: Autumn Splendor, taught by Ottawa County artist and naturalist, Nancy Berg.This is billed as an outdoor activity which will produce a 16 X 20 finished canvas of a fall scene. However, with the various warnings in effect, it will likely be moved indoors. We shall wait and see.

Today, the 4 - 1 overall Wolverines of Michigan, visit the overall 2 - 3 Fighting Illini in Champaign, IL for a game @ 12:00 p.m. The Wolverines are hoping to see their offense come to life versus the Illini.

The 4 - 2 overall Spartans of MSU visit Madison, WI for a game against a strong, overall 5 - 0 Badger squad @ 3:30 p.m. MSU has a great defense, but the Badgers have a great offense, so...

The overall 1 - 4 Huskies of NIU visit the overall 2 - 3 Bobcats of Ohio University today @ 3:30 p.m. This has not been a good year for the Huskies.

We didn't do much yesterday. I did some crossword solving, Mary went to the library to sign up for a volunteer position in the local history department, and the fur-children got out between the various rain-events yesterday. They wanted to go for a walk, but neither of them likes the rain and they both don't do wet very well.

Mary was able to find a replacement for her fall/early winter coat too. I'm still deciding what I'll be styling this season. I should be able to pull it off with some layering.

We will be meeting with the members of our History Book Club this afternoon at a local restaurant. While we are no longer officially meeting, we always liked getting together for some friendly and lively conversations.

I espied both ends of the train run on the RSTL yesterday. At 8:52 a.m., I watched MMRR locomotives 2019 and 2025 pass by towing nine CHCs, two DBTCs, and two DWTCs, one with a green anti-corrosion stripe around its mid-section.

Later, @ 1:10 p.m., I espied those same locomotives passing by towing four loaded CHCs.

That's enough for yesterday and today. Ciao.