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

We have a current temperature of 64º under clear skies. A wind speed of 4 mph makes it feel like 64º. Today's high-temperature forecast of 78º will be under sunny skies this morning and cloudy-skies this afternoon, with a 40% chance of T-storms late this afternoon. STWD will not be happy. A not very comfortable RHI of 68% is also in the forecast from the NWS.

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:12 a.m. EDT and set later this evening @ 8:15 p.m. EDT.

My DTWS is showing a Barometric Pressure of 29.18" and steady, while the NWS in GR is reporting a Barometric Pressure of 29.76" and falling. Maybe that's why they have those T-storms in the forecast for thie afternoon.

At any rate, I will likely have to water today because I don't believe that the NWS forecasters from GR ever visit GH to see what really happens here due to the effects of the "Big Lake.".

Speaking of which, we have a Beach Hazard Statement in the forecast for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, and Van Buren counties until 11:00 p.m. tomorrow, Friday. Winds and waves will increase throughout the day today. Winds will be southwest at 15 to 30 mph, shifting to northwest tonight and tomorrow, Friday. Waves will build to 4 to 7 feet today and to 6 to 9 feet for tonight and tomorrow, Friday. Surfs up for those foolhardy enough to vernture into the "Big Lake."

Strong currents can pull swimmers and surfers into deeper water and high waves can sweep people off piers. Swimmers are warned by the Red Flags on the beaches to remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions and they should not venture out on piers. In addition, the possibility of strong Rip Currents and the very real possibility of swimmers being pulled farther into the lake are also indicated.

A Small Craft Advisory is also in effect for the "Big Lake" from St Joseph to Manistee for that same time period. Winds and waves will increase throughout today, Thursdfay.  A brief period of Gale Force Winds is also possible late this afternoon. Southwest winds to 30 knots are expected today, shifting to the northwest for tonight into Friday. Waves will build to 4 to 7 feet today, Thursdasy, and from 6 to 9 feet for tonight, and Friday. While that warning poses no concern for the big ships that regularly visit GH, inexperienced mariners, especially those operating smaller vessels, should avoid navigating in those hazardous conditions.

The fine folks from Aire Serv of the Lake Shore came out yesterday and resolved our A/C problm at no cost to us. While I can only speak with regard to the local Aire Serv franchise, I know that Aire Serv is a national company. So, if you are ever in need of HVAC services, consider calling them.

I heard the southbound passage of the trains on the RSTL @ 8:30 a.m. yesterday. I actually saw the northbound passage @ 1:00 p.m., as MMRR locomotives 2025 and 2019 passed by towing 24 CHCs, nine DBTCs, and three DWTCs. 

In baseball news yesterday, and as we all know, baseball is life, the 22 - 14 Cubs defeated the 10 - 24 Pirates last night in a game delayed by rain, 8 - 2. RHP Kyle Hendricks was on and recoreded his fourth win versus four losses. SS Javier Baez nailed a three-run home run in the fourth inning to seal the deal for Hendricks and the Cubs.

I have often maligned the Cubs' $126 man, RHP Yu Darvish, for being less than effective. However, kudos are due, because Darvish led qualified starters with a 1.09 ERA in August in five starts. His 40 strikeouts were tied for fourth-most among NL pitchers in August. Darvish is the first Cubs' pitcher to garner NL Pitcher of the Month honors since Cole Hamels in August 2018. 

Sadly, LHP José Quintana was once again placed on the 10-day injured list due to left lat inflammation. The move is retroactive to Aug. 31.

Today's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh begins @ 1:35 p.m. when RHP Alec Mills, 3 - 2, takes the mound.

The  17 - 17 Tigers are once again even with the league, as they fell to the 17 - 19 Brewers last night, 5 - 8, thus ending the Tigers recent winning streak @ six. The Tigers have the day of today before traveling to MN to play the 22 - 16 Twins Friday afternoon @ 2:10 p.m. EDT in game one of a doubleheader, as LHP Matthew Boyd, 1 - 4 goes for theTigers followed by game two of the twin bill and a pitcher to be announced.

My beloved,  12 - 25 Red Sox fell to the 22 - 14 Braves last night, 5 - 7. The Sox welcome the 19 - 16 Blue Jays to Fenway @ 7:30 p.m. tonight when LHP Martun Perez, 2 - 4 takes the mound.

We went out without the fur-children yesterdayu afternoon. We traveled to the beach here in GH and then crossed the bridge into Spring Lake to complete our journey. 

While we were out, I snapped some pix of interesting things that can be seen locally.

We wee rounding the bend when I took this pic of Lake Michigan and the Dune Grasses.

The waves were beginning to build on the northside of the pier as we approached the State Park.

In Spring Lake, we stopped so that I could get this photo of a 1960s vintage Ford Econoline Pickup.

Heading towards home, I snapped this pic of the docks in Ferrysburg.

This tomato will soon be joining others in the overflowing bowl on our kitchen counter.

Today, I have to do that watering unless that rain comes to pass. I also have to go to the man-cave and clean up the water left from our recent and resolved  A/C problem. More reading, more crossword puzzle solving are also in the queue. Mary will continue to work on her needlepoint project now that she has her rhythm back.  Ciao.