Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 4:45 a.m. in "The City", where I'm happy to report that there is no snow falling, the skies are only partly-cloudy and the current temperature of 34° actually feels like 34°, with a wind out of the south at a mere two mph. To borrow from a Barry Manilow song, "Looks like we made it!" 

From this point forward, the daytime temperatures will be in the 40s and 50s and the overnight low temperatures will not drop below freezing. Ladies and gentlemen, spring has sprung!

What else does that portend? 

Well, the millionaires of MLB­™ have agreed to a new contract for five years that will still allow all 162 regular-season games to be played, Spring Training will begin in earnest today, and the National League will have the Designated Hitter rule. That will now match the American League and allow many sluggers to just do that voodoo that they do so well, hit the ball without having to embarrass themselves in the field. Life is good! Baseball is back!

The sun will rise today @ 7:58 a.m. and set later @ 7:50 p.m. now that Daylight Savings time has arrived.

Oh, with only a slight "Shocked Face" from me and almost everyone, Tom Brady has decided that he wants to play at least one more year for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Yes, he feels that in spite of his middle age, he has more football in him and wants to win another ring. I'm sure that the lure of another huge paycheck had nothing to do with his decision. Just saying

But, I digress. We got out late yesterday afternoon for stop at the library and a photo-safari in our own backyard, the City Beach of GH, and the Lake Forest Cemetery. So, without further ado, here are some of the pix that I like.

Still surviving the late spring snows.

Across from the Coal Tipple, condos are rising, so I had to get this "Industrial" pic.

The late afternoon sun reflected off the roiling waters of Lake Michigan.

Ice covers the south pier near the outer lighthouse.

A brisk windy afternoon did not deter the walkers on the beach.

But, the beaches took their usual winter beating from the Gale Force winds.

Still, the fallen fences created a nice frame for the inner lighthouse.

At Lake Forest Cemetery, this deer was casually approaching our car.

While these deer could have cared less about our presence.

All in all, it was a great day. We watched as our snow removal service cleared our porch, driveway, and deck. We did some collectively reading and enjoyed a lazy late winter afternoon here at the manse. I tuned in to the ukulele session late last night, played along, and that was fun too.

Today, we have nothing specific on the agenda and that's fine with me. I am enjoying retirement. There are some things I could do around the manse, but if I don't, that's just fine with me too. I'll be glad when the winter has finally gone away for the year, which the NWS forecasts seem to indicate. did I mention that: Baseball is back!!! Ciao.