Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just after 7:00 a.m. in "The City."

The 28 - 20 Cubs welcome the 26 - 21 Indians to the "Friendly Confines" tonight to face RHP Yu Darvish, 7 - 2 @ 8:15 p.m. EDT.

My beloved 17 - 31 Red Sox visit the Marlins in Miami @ 6:40 p.m. EDT tonight, when rookie RHP Tanner Houck, 0 - 0, makes his Major-League debut for the beloved.

The 20 - 26 Tigers welcome the 20 - 28 Royals to Comerica Park for a 7:10 p.m. EDT game tonight, as hard-luck LHP Matthew Boyd, 1 - 6 takes the hill.

There is a Beach Hazard Statement in effect for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon and Ottawa counties from 8:00 a.m. today until 5:00 p.m. EDT tomorrow. High wave action, strong currents, and dangerous swimming conditions can be expected. Piers may be heavily swamped by waves.

We also have a Small Craft Advisory in effect for that same time period from Holland to Manistee. South winds from 15 to 25 knots with waves quickly building from 4 to 7 feet are likely.

I made vegan Italian meatballs again yesterday. Both Ginger and STWD were on-hand for the consumption of the mushroom stem cuttings that always go hand in hand with my efforts. Later, Ginger was especially grateful to assist with the consumption of some wheat-based thin spaghetti that Mary made for dinner. As you may recall, Ginger will not touch the chickpea based variety, but Sugar will.

If having to go to the doctor today wasn't enough of an indignity, yesterday we tackled the grooming and bathing of Ginger. Ginger got both groomed by two amateur, but well-meaning groomers and then bathed by a caring, but not all that competent human. She survived both encounters of the grroming kind and then she and STWD were mollified by receiving and devouring dental treats afterwards. Sugar didn't mind that she got treats for simply being the Dowager Queen of the manse. 

I stopped reading a book I was slogging my way through last night. As I've said before, I am too old to waste time on books that are boring. I am going to select another book from my library stack today.  

In the past, I have included the efforts of my Coloring Mentor, Kerry Fitzgerald, the Assistant Head Librarian at our library and the coordinator of what were my late and lamented monthly Coffee and Coloring sessions at the Loutit District Library.

As Kerry stated, "Time for the monarchs to leave us. At least they had plenty of milkweed for their long journey this year." (Drawn by Cynthia Silveri, colored by Kerry Fitzgerald).

Today we have only the doctor's visit for the fur-children on our official agenda. We paid our real-estate taxes last Sunday which are due today. Otherwise, I may do some outdoor chores, or not. I will work a crossword puzzle. I hope to get to some music too. Mary will continue to read and do the driving. Perhaps a walk in the cemetery with the fur-children? 

The sun will rise today @ 7:25 a.m. and set later @ 7:53 p.m. Ciao.

P.S. I still don't like not having either grammar-check nor spell check in this blog. It may be that I have to change browsers. I don't like that option.