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

We have a current temperature of 74° under partly-cloudy skies that feels like 74° with a wind out of the west @ 8 mph. There are no statements, advisories, watches, alerts, nor warnings in effect at this time. 

The high temperature of 81° forecast for today by the NWS, is 4° warmer than yesterday. That's after the sun rises @ 6:45 a.m. and well before it sets @ 8:54 p.m. 

In between, the crew installing our new front garden will continue their efforts after they were rained out early yesterday afternoon. Before the rainout, they got the necessary old bushes and the concrete of the old sidewalk removed. The old concrete sidewalk gave them quite a battle, but they got it done. They still have to move one of Mary's rose bushes to a new location in our parkway garden. That bush is one we planted shortly after we moved into the manse nearly 10 years ago.

Speaking of rainouts, the 52 - 67 4th place in the NL Central Cubs, had their game versus the 66 - 46, 1st place in the NL Central Brewers postponed. The Cubs and the Brewers will play a split-game double-header today, weather permitting, with the first game commencing @ 2:20 p.m. EDT when RHP Justin Steele, 2 - 0 , takes the mound. Game two is scheduled to begin @ 8:05 p.m. EDT, when RHP Alec Mills, 5 - 4, throws the first pitch. Both games are scheduled to last seven innings under the new rules in effect this season.

Cubs' OF Jason Heyward wishes he were able to play rather than being on the 10-day IL, but from this Diehard Fan's perspective, he is better off on the IL than on the field. Let's look at the young players to see what the future has in store for the Boys in Blue.

The 54 - 60, 3rd place in the AL Central Tigers, play tonight versus the even worse, 38 - 72, last/5th place in the AL East Orioles, with play beginning tonight @ 7:05 p.m. when RHP Cassey Mize, 6 - 6, makes his next start for the Tigers.

My beloved, 65 - 49, 2nd place in the AL East Red Sox, face the 68 - 44, 1st place in the AL East Rays, tonight @ 7:10 p.m. when LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, 8 - 6, makes the start for the Sox. Good news is on the horizon for the Sox, as LHP Chris Sale, 0 - 0 for 2021 and fresh off the IL from Tommy John surgery, makes his first start in over one and one-half years. He had his final rehab start last Saturday and according to Sox manager Alec Cora, Sale looked sharp. Here's hoping that Sale's return will be the spark needed to get the Sox back on track.

The 40 - 44 West Michigan White Caps travel to OH tonight to face the 44 - 40 Lake County Captains @ 7:00 p.m. The Caps are a High A affiliate of the Tigers.

Yesterday, I played my guitar for a long stretch. It felt good and my playing was sharp and my singing was on key. I did some reading too. Today, more indoor chores and if the sun shines, perhaps more painting. I've decided that I don't like the direction my latest effort is going, so it will soon be painted over and returned to a blank canvas. 

Mary will continue to do some needlecrafts and we may start our next TV series, as our previous series, Salvation, is now over after two seasons. 

Otherwise, that's enough for one day. Ciao.