Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 64° that feels like 64° with a minuscule wind out of the east blowing @ one-mph. That's under partly-cloudy skies. We did get some rain overnight and into the early morning hours yesterday, which should be enough to sustain the Vast Gardens of the Palatial Estate and Mary's Auxiliary Gardens too. 

Today's high-temperature forecast from the NWS calls for 76° under cloudy-skies with an overnight low of 64°. There is a slight 19% chance for rain in the forecast for this morning. The sun will rise @ 6:20 a.m. and set tonight @ 9:21 p.m.

We made it to my dental appointment yesterday afternoon, where I learned, not surprisingly, that I need some extensive work to replace my failing bridge. Let's just say that the cost will not be small. Oh well, at least Mary and Ginger got to do a short exploration of the nearby Hoffma Preserve in Grand Haven Township while I was being examined. 

They couldn't stay long, as they had to return to retrieve me, but Mary has decided that Hoffma Preserve is her latest favorite. Lots of amenities and trails for hiking. Hopefully, my yak and I will be able to join them in the not too distant future. While they were at Hoffma, our Senior Staff Photographer, AKA Mary, took some pictures for my edification and Mary's future hiking plans.

A nice picnic shelter with a playground for kids in the background.

A nice paved trail with a map of the trail system.

I think that our Senior Staff Photographer captured this trail very well on her birthday.

As you can see, there are myriad trails to explore at the preserve. 

A more rustic trail.

Plus, Mary liked that there are full facilities there too.

In sports news, my beloved, 55 - 36 Red Sox were postponed in NYC for their game tonight versus the 46 - 33 Yankees due to team members testing positive for the Covid virus. Will they get in a game today? Maybe. If so, that game would begin in NYC @ 7:05 p.m. when LHP Martin Perez, 7 - 5, throws the first pitch for the Sox. The Yankees have not announced a starter for themselves. 

The 44 - 46, and falling Cubs, are now officially sellers following the All-Star break. The Cubs traded OF Joc Pederson to the Braves for a hard-hitting 1st base prospect. Does this mean that current Cubs' 1st baseman Anthony Rizzo may soon be gone?  He along with SS Javier Baez and IF/OF Kris Bryant are also free-agents, so they too may be shipped out soon along with resurgent closer, RHP Craig Kimbrel. The Cubs are scheduled to play a game tonight in AZ versus the D'Backs when RHP Kyle Hendricks, 11 - 6, makes his next start @ 9:40 p.m. 

The 40 - 51 Tigers are not trading anyone away nor acquiring anyone either, at least so far. They are still rebuilding and they will be welcoming the 39 - 50 Twins to Comerica Park for a 2:10 p.m. game this afternoon when RHP Jose Urena, 2 - 8 throws for the Tigers.

The 28 - 33 Caps, took two from the 28 - 34 Ft. Wayne TinCaps today/this evening in Ft. Wayne, IN, a make up pf a rainout from earlier in the year, 5 - 0 and the regular game, 4 - 0. The Caps come home tonight to face those same TinCaps in the Lake Michigan Credit Union Ballpark for a game beginning @ 7:05 p.m.

I finished a crossword puzzle yesterday and made another batch of my vegan Italian meatballs and assisted with the preparation of Coleslaw. Mary did the hard part, mixing the dressing. I just had to peel and grate. 

Today, I hope to get back to my painting, but with the cloudy-skies, I may have to settle for some other less natural-light dependent pursuit. Mary is downstairs now with Ginger, probably watching some apocalyptic movie and needlepointing on her latest project. That's all folks! Ciao.