Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 62° under partly-cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast to reach 63°, also under partly-cloudy-skies, following our overnight low of 57°. The sun will rise today @ 7:47 a.m. and set later @ 7:17 p.m.

A Small Craft Advisory will still be in effect until 8:00 a.m. Monday. That River Flood Warning for parts of Ottawa County, MI also remains in effect until 2:00 a.m.Tuesday, October 9!

Yesterday was not a great day in college football. The Wolverines struggled to eke out a 10 - 3 win over the scrappy Iowa Hawkeyes. While the Michigan defense held the Hawkeyes in check, the Wolverines offense struggled to put points on the board themselves.

The  Spartans of MSU were totally outclassed and outplayed by the Buckeyes of Ohio State University, 10 - 34. The Spartan defense held the Buckeyes in check, unfortunately that lasted only one quarter before the Buckeyes got it going and went on to handily win the game. The Buckeyes are the team to beat in the Big 10 and maybe in the country as a whole, with their 6 - 0 overall record.

Sadly, the Huskies of NIU were downed by the Cardinals of Ball State University, 20 - 27. The Huskies are back to struggling themselves against teams they should be able to beat.

I had a great day @ the Open-House at the Sims GHBLP power plant yesterday. The plant, which opened in 1961, is scheduled to permanently close next year after the coal supply runs out, probably in January.

My visit yesterday confirmed that the Sims plant is indeed on an island.

The plant is secured under the rules established by Congress and the Homeland Security Act.

So, although Mary gave me a head-start, I and many other early arrivals had to wait for a ride on Harbor Transit to enter the facility.

As I noted, the coal supply is expected to run out in January, but as of now, there is ample coal on hand to run the plant periodically. However, the plant was off-line yesterday as it often is these days.

Piles of coal are fed into the pulverizers at the generating station.

Heavy equipment moves the coal when required.

Inside the plant, the myriad pipes and control mechanisms were a photographers dream come true. I selected a few for illustrative purposes.

You can't get much more industrial.

Or can you?

This is the nerve center of this complex plant.

There are three coal pulverizers inside the plant.

These bowling ball sized steel balls are used to turn the coal into a powder suitable for use in the huge boilers attached to the generators.

Once I'd had my fill of picture taking, I simply walked out of the plant when the gates opened to admit another busload of curious visitors. Along the way, I took pix of the wildlife that was occupying one end of the pond next to the coal pile as well as other places on the grounds.

Apparently, the pollution from the coal-pile is not a deterrent to the wildlife.

This sculpture in Linear Park is now surrounded by rising water, and is used by wildlife.

As much as I love to take pix of industrial sites, I also enjoy taking pix of nature as she reclaims the land from human activities.

I took some pix of this old abandoned path that led to and from the plant and Linear Park as I walked towards home.

Once as wide as a sidewalk, this abandoned walkway is slowly being overgrown.

I just liked how this looked.

Linear Park is a great place to walk when it is not underwater.

A great example of the way that nature is really the focal point of the island.

Man plans, goddess laughs, as she reclaims the walkway on the way home.

Like many people in GH. I used the railroad right-of-way as I headed home.

But, I've digressed too much already. When I got home, Mary was not making Salsa Verde. Instead, she was preparing a lunch of toona casserole, which tasted great with the broccoli she had picked up at the Farmer's Market mixed in.

Mmm good!

As I neared the manse, I was greeted by Phoebe, our neighbors six-toed cat.

Mary actually went to the Farmer's Market for these flowers, but vegetables also fell into her bag.

That's enough for one day. I never got the man-cave, but I'll make it today after brunch and such. Ciao.