Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just before 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 29° under cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast to reach 33°. The sun will rise today @ 8:03 a.m. and set later @ 5:52 p.m.

Don't forget that spring is nearly here, spring training that is, as the first pitchers and catchers begin to report on February 11. That's a mere 13 days away! I'm doing all I can to not add baseball themed music to my blog until that date, but it is a tough fight.

Speaking of tough fights, the MMRR had no traffic to fight here in GH late last night and early this morning as I watched MMRR EMD GP38-2 locomotives 2019 and 2025 pass by last night dead-heading @ 9:34 p.m. as they cruised by heading south  That dead-heading reference is for Adam.

Then, @ 3:19 this morning, I was awakened not by the sound of reindeer hooves on our roof, but by the sound of a train passing by the manse. I sprang from my bed, but I did not see the locomotives at the head of more than 100 cars as they took over 10 minutes to move through our fair city, including a two minutes stop probably at the bridge across the Grand River north of here. I can only assume that the same locomotives I'd seen earlier were towing, as I've only once seen a different locomotive plying the rails in front of the manse.

Otherwise, not much is happening at this early hour of the morning. I just saw the first automobile traffic on our street @ 4:06 a.m. That was nearly one-hour after I arose.

Recently, the city sent out a letter to inform homeowners of the various ways that our street/avenue has been designated over the years. We are now officially an avenue versus a street, a route, or a thoroughfare. Good to know.

I am in the process of finishing that book I mentioned in my previous blog. I am only about 1/2 way through, so it will be overdue. But, since there are no longer any fines, I should be okay.

I finished the indoor chores yesterday as Mary soloed to the grocery store. I don't mind watching the washer and dryer spin around and around nor folding, so I think I got the better end of the deal. That deal does come with the exception of having to carry the six-gallons of water she had purchased for our humidifier to the second floor.

Today, Mary has another "Tad" session @ the library. I'm thinking about baking some cookies or making vegan Hungarian goulash, or both. We shall see if I do either.

Otherwise, I am still awaiting a day that isn't mostly cloudy to add some additional details to the painting that is on the easel in my studio. Sunlight changes how I see the work in progress. Fortunately, I can play one of my stringed instruments with less light. Of course, I often play with the girls in these early morning hours, so perhaps I'll have time to cook and play.Ciao.