Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation, and across the world. It is just after 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

The current outdoor temperature is 74° under clear skies. My DTWS is reporting 76º. According to the NWS, light winds of 7 mph make it feel like 74°. Today's high temperature is forecast to be 84º under sunny skies with a relative humidity index of 70% and a 15% chance for a stray T-storm. Yeah right. 

I watered the vast gardens heavily yesterday and I'll be watering again today, as every plant on the palatial estate seems to need it during this extended drought. The forecast from the NWS is for the upper 80s and lower 90s for at least the next ten days.

According to my DTWS, the barometric pressure is 29.33" and falling, while the NWS is reporting 29.96" and falling slowly. Falling barometric pressures indicate that the forecast for a stray T-storm is close to accurate. 

 

However, there is still an Air Quality Alert in effect until 9:15 p.m. tonight for Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent, Allegan, and Van Buren Counties. 

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy has declared an Action Day for elevated levels of ozone to be extended. Pollutants are expected to be in the unhealthy for sensitive groups range. People and businesses are urged to avoid activities which lead to ozone formation. These activities include: refueling vehicles or topping off when refueling, using gasoline powered lawn equipment, and using charcoal lighter fluid. It is recommended that active children and adults and persons with respiratory diseases such as asthma limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Sadly, I saw numerous people mowing their lawns with gasoline-powered equipment when we were on our Fast Lane™ run yesterday. I guess it is like the call for people to wear masks and avoid close contact with others during this pandemic, largely ignored. The pictures taken by the news media over the holiday weekend at the lakes in MI are scary as people gathered in large groups, ignored the need for masks, etc. Sigh.

The sun will rise this morning @ 6:13 a.m. and it will set later @ 9:26 p.m.

There is good news on the baseball front. Well, maybe. The Cubs open their shortened season on Friday, July, 24 @ 7:10 p.m. EDT, with a game at the "Friendly Confines" against the Milwaukee Brewers. The "regular" season closes on September 27th with a game against that other team from Chicago. However, there are issues regarding every other day testing of the players, so those dates are more tentative than one might expect. More on my beloved Red Sox and the Tigers in a future blog. 

I did take some pix while we were out yesterday of the vast gardens and the "sights" of our fair city. 

Masks? Social distancing? Nah!

Avoid large gatherings? Nah!

Our basil is doing very well.

A little water, a voila!

A bud on our tomato plants. I saw some tiny tomatoes too!

The lots at the Grand Haven State Park were jammed on a Monday afternoon as people tried to escape the heat.

We saw license plates from many states as we traveled. So much for keeping the virus localized. We have come to the painful conclusion that the future will be one filled with a lot of time in the manse as we pursue our various hobbies and crafts. We have plenty to keep us busy, but there are so many places we wanted to go this year. Sigh.

Otherwise, I  have a doctor's appointment to have some sutures removed. I've convinced Mary to do the driving to the local office since she can wait in the car for the few minutes the appointment should require. Ciao.