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

We have a current temperature of 55° that feels like 53° with the southwest winds of seven mph. We also have that Small Craft Advisory still in effect until 8:00 a.m. this morning. We'll continue to see wind-speeds of 15 - 25 knots out of the southwest and wave heights of three to six feet from St. Joseph to Manistee. 

As the day wears on, the winds will move offshore and gust to 20 - 30 mph as we go from sunny skies this morning to partly-cloudy skies this afternoon. 

Today's high is forecast to reach 65° and tonight's low is forecast to drop to 51°.

We had that forecast rain event yesterday afternoon into evening right on schedule. It came down in buckets. That being the case, Mary decided that it was time to go for a grocery store pick up in the early afternoon before the rains came. 

Mary decided that since I was busy in the kitchen, she'd take Ginger along for the ride. It took them a while to return, and as I subsequently learned, they made a detour to the City Beach, one of Ginger's favorite stops. Mary thinks that Ginger will now expect that to be a regular feature of her day, along with trips to the cemetery. Mary doesn't have the heart to tell Ginger that winter is coming and trips to the beach will soon have to wait for next spring. At any rate, Ginger had a great time romping on the beach and Mary enjoyed using her camera to capture the lake and Ginger's activities.

Lake Michigan was quiet before the storm.

Still very scenic and photogenic though. 

Would that a still pic could capture the rapture of Ginger's day at the beach.

From what I gathered, Ginger had a great time and Mary enjoyed the wind and waves too. Ginger ust have sensed that something was coming, because the was willing to get back into the car for the ride home.

Of course, the rains came with some thunder and that meant that we had to get STWD to leave her hide- e-hole long enough to grab a quick bite and make a dash for the backyard, shaking all the time. She didn't stop for long when she came back in, as she flew back upstairs. She calmed down enough for a late night visit. 

Once again, the trains surprised me and my journeyman trainspotter. Last night, I was once again abed, when I heard the southbound run on the RSTL. I was informed that the train wasn't too long, but that it seemed loaded as it passed by the manse towing about six CHCs, and many CGCs @ 11:45 p.m. 

Earlier this morning, I heard the northbound run @ 3:33 a.m. What's with this new schedule? Mary and I have speculated that they are trying to hide something or that zombies are at the throttle. Whatever, it is a change from the regular Wednesday and Friday runs, to what has now been two days in a row.

As I noted earlier, I was busy in the kitchen making some vegan beaf tips for a stew. One reason that Mary traveled to the grocery store, was to purchase to purchase, the various vegetables for that stew.

Today, I have two appointments at the hospital. One is for my delayed annual Medicare exam in the morning, while in the afternoon, I have my orthopedist appointment. 

Mary plans to stay behind and do more knitting, some kitchen activities and reading. Ginger will be here to assist her. STWD should be fine now. My day  is mostly spoken for with all of the things on my personal agenda. 

The sun will rise this morning @ 7:56 a.m. and set this evening @ 7:04 p.m. Ciao.