Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 6:30 a.m. in "The City."

It won't be long before the sun rises @ 7:43 a.m. and it will set soon enough @ 7:25 p.m.

In between, we still have that Small Craft Advisory that continues in effect until 11:00 a.m. tomorrow morning, with winds out of the northwest @ anywhere from 15 - 25 knots and wave heights of six to eight feet. Later today and into tomorrow, the winds will change to a north to northwesterly direction and diminish to 10 - 20 knots as the waves subside to a mere two to four feet.

The NWS is forecasting T-storms this morning and occasional rain this afternoon. Our current temperature of 55º will increase by one degree to today's high temperature of 56º before we plunge to tonight's low temperature of 40º. That's a bit chilly, even for Mary, who generally loves the fall weather. 

Speaking of Mary, I stayed home to watch the Cubs and RHP Kyle Hendricks, 0 - 1, lose the first game of their Wild Card best of three series 1 - 5, to the Miami Marlins. Hendricks served up a gopher ball on his 106th pitch in the top of the seventh inning, which in hindsight was one pitch too many. But, he had been getting terrific defensive help all afternoon and the decision was easy for Cubs' manager David Ross to make with regard to Hendricks staying in the game before being relieved. 

Sadly, his relief corps didn't fare much better, as they too had trouble with the long-ball and the Cubs' glaring inability to score runs once again doomed the Cubs to a loss. Wrigley Field, AKA, the The Friendly Confines, was not friendly to the Cubs on a windy day, while the Marlins took advantage of the windy conditions. The Cub's lone run came off the bat of centerfielder Ian Happ.

Today's do or die game number two in a best of three series, starts once again @ 2:00 p.m. EDT, when RHP Yu Darvish attempts to overcome the Marlins lineup. However, if the Cubs can't get any hits and runs, the team will be at home to watch the World Series this year.

At any rate, all of that is my round about way of saying that Mary soloed, well sort of, to the Fast Lane™ grocery service to pick up our order. I say sort of, because she took Ginger along for the ride. On the way home, they stopped at the GH City Beach, which allows dogs at this time of year. Ginger romped in the sand and Mary snapped a lot of pix with her Olympus Weather-Proof camera. I've had to choose some that I like, as I am awake and Mary is sound asleep next door. I hope she approves of my choices.

Ginger enjoyed her beach time, but the 25 knot winds gave her pause and laid her ears back.

Both Ginger and STWD love to play in the sand and in the winter, snow. Neither likes water.

A quiet and beautiful day at the mostly deserted beach.

Although their trip started with cloudy skies and some waves.

The clouds darkened and portended the incoming storm.

Mary knew it was time to grab the reluctant Ginger, who wanted to stay and play, and get home. NOW!

Never let it be said, that I can't be coaxed into using my own Olympus DSLR camera to snap some pix. Mary encouraged me to grab my camera and head out to the front porch of the manse, last evening around sunset and take some shots of the sky and clouds. I'm glad I listened.

The setting sun provided some great coloration.

Amazing what a digital camera can capture if you just keep pushing the shutter button.

Darker, but still visibly red.

The sun was setting.

Yesterday, we watched the second episode of our latest TV show, a dark program called Utopia that is based on a British series. This version is filled with gore and mayhem. I am liking it, but Mary is loving it. But then, she loves these kind of programs. 

Today, I have more baseball to watch, hopefully not the last for this year. and that's about it. I finished my latest novel late last night, Long Range, by C J. Box,. I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I have one more library book in my queue. I may or may not get to the wall repairs and repainting in the bathroom. Who am I kidding, there's always tomorrow. 

Mary assures me that she wants to spend her day reading a book that she is enjoying immensely. Ciao.