Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

This may or may not be a short blog. I guess it depends on what comes to mind as I write.

According to the NWS, the rain should be falling now. But this being GH, it isn't, yet. The current temperature is 67° under mostly cloudy skies. Cloudy yes, rainy, no. The rains were supposed to begin around 1:15 a.m. @ 60% and gradually increase to 100% by 6:00 a.m. Oh well, I am reasonably certain that the rains will come at some point this morning. They are supposed to continue off and on throughout today and into early Monday. At any rate, the sun will rise today @ 8:00 a.m. and set @ 6:59 p.m.

Sports news yesterday was only partially good. Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! 8 - 4 over the Dodgers on the strength of solid pitching by Jon Lester and a pinch-hit grand-slam home run by Miguel Montero. According to baseball historians, there have only been three such grand-slams in the history of post-season baseball. In addition, Dexter Fowler led off the game with a hit and he was doubled in by Kris Bryant to give the Cubs an early lead. Javier Baez scored on a suicide squeeze play that happened after a missed bunt. It was quite a thrilling game, to say the least. The Cubs and the Dodgers play again tonight @ 8:00 p.m. EDT. They then skip a day before playing again Tuesday night in Los Angeles.

The Blue Jays fell once again to the Indians 1 - 2. That gives the Indians a 2 - 0 game lead in the ALCS. They play again tomorrow night @ 8:00 p.m.

College football was not a good day if you are an MSU or NIU fan. The Spartans fell to the Wildcats of Northwestern by a score of 40 - 54. That leaves the Spartans with an 0 - 3 record in the Big 10 and an overall record of 2 - 4.

The Huskies of NIU fell to the Central Michigan Chippewas 28 - 34. That gives the Huskies a record of 1 - 2 in the Mac 10 and an overall record of 1 - 6. Ouch!

The 2 - 3 Lions play the Los Angeles Rams today @ 1:00 p.m. The 1 - 4 Chicago Bears play the 1 - 3 Jacksonville Jaguars, also @ 1:00 p.m.

Ginger is doing well. She has adjusted to the "Cone of Shame" that she has to wear, but I don't believe that she likes it. Six more days Ginger, six more days. STWD is still adjusting to having a roommate. Once Ginger is free to get away, things should improve. Plus, we are getting a handle on her bathroom habits. It is s learning experience for everyone in the family.

I made it to the Irish Jam @ the library yesterday. We didn't have a large number of players, but we did have a nice cross-section of instrumentation. I hadn't played for an extended period before yesterday, but my bionic thumb held up well. I will give myself a day off today.

Mary did one of her least favorite things while I was out. She went to the grocery store. I believe that it was an overall good experience.

Today I'll be in the man-cave painting while Mary does some batch cooking. Those activities will occur post morning safari. Mary will go one way with Ginger and I'll go another with the intrepid one. Both of us will find time to read the newspapers and do some reading.

Otherwise, the day should shape up to be a quiet one. That's okay with me. Ciao.

Good morning or god evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

I've come to a not so startling conclusion. When you get up early in the morning and then walk all over town in support of your latest fur-child, Mary walked even more than me, you get tired and you don't get up to blog until after 5:00 a.m. Of course, somewhere in there, you do household chores that needed doing, which also makes you tired. What a revelation.

At any rate, the current temperature is 48° under mostly clear skies. Later today when I am walking to the Irish Jam session @ the library, the high is expected to reach 67° under mostly cloudy skies. The 80% chance of T-storms predicted for tomorrow will come in the morning, but should not manifest themselves today.

The Cubs play tonight @ 8:00 p.m. EDT against the Dodgers in the Friendly Confines. Later this afternoon, the Blue Jays and the Indians resume their series @ 4:00 p.m. Last night, the Indians defeated the Blue Jays by a score of 2 - 0.

Later today, the MSU Spartans take the field against the Northwestern Wildcats in Evanston, IL. The Spartans are reeling and have limited chances for a meaningful post-season game.Sigh.

The Wolverines of Michigan have a bye this week.

The Huskies of NIU host the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Huskies are also struggling like MSU.

Our visit to the vet for Ginger went well. Ginger now has a "Cone of Shame" to prevent her from disturbing her recent surgical site. Overall, Ginger was pronounced in good health by the doctor. She also had her boosters for other canine related medical issues. She is still as cute as a button, but it is not an inexpensive proposition to be a pet-parent. Oh well, nobody said the job was easy when we took it.

Today, other than the Irish Jam session, I have no plans except to do some highlighting in one color, pink. I only have about 140 pages to read, comment upon, and highlight. I always say I won't be adding comments and I start out with good intentions, but then something comes over me and...

Mary is still awaiting some additional input from the publisher before she can begin her efforts. Maybe she can run-up my valences in the interim.

So there you have. Not much is happening in our little corner of the Tri-Cities. I'm fine with that. The sun will rise in about 2 1/2 hours @ 7:56 a.m. and set later @ 7:01 p.m. I'll be watching the Cubs latest efforts to make it to the World Series. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."

You probably noticed that I didn't get around to blogging early yesterday morning. I was just too pooped to pop, so to speak. I didn't get to bed until late on Tuesday night after getting up early, so I opted not to blog.

Phew, not that I've got that out of the way, I can tell you what happened yesterday. It was the first day at her new home for Ginger, She is adorable. She and STWD have reached detente in a manner of speaking. I think that as time goes by, the two of them may not become as thick as thieves, but they will be able to coexist. That's all we can ask.

Speaking of Ginger and her big sister, I find that they are a perfect sandwich with me as the filling. Here are some pictures of the two of them on the couch with yours truly sandwiched in the middle, along with one of Ginger in Mary's soft chair that is located in her office. I think we have a case of cute overload.

We placed a call to the vet to get Ginger in tomorrow so that we can allay our concerns regarding her overall health following her recent surgery. We think she is fine, but as the neurotic pet parents that we are, we like to be safe.

I just finished watching the end of the game between the Dodgers and the Nats. The Dodgers won the game 4 - 3 and the series 3 - 2. The Dodgers come to the Friendly Confines to face the Cubs Saturday night @ 8:00 p.m. I feel good about the chances of the Cubs defeating the Dodgers.

We will be walking to the vet for Ginger's appointment later this morning. The time has yet to be determined as I am expecting a call from the vet's office, also later this morning.

I finished the book I started a few days ago. This one was entitled Among the Dead, written by Linda Castillo. This is another in my latest obsession with books that depict mysteries set in Amish country. Mary sent me down this wormhole last year and now I can't seem to get enough. I do have some detective thrillers on order from the library to keep my other obsessions going too.

The latest book for indexing has arrived from the publisher and I will now have to get to highlighting that one. My task is a scant 140 pages so it shouldn't take long, which will allow me to get back to my other reading pursuits/obsessions.

We are still learning Ginger's bathroom habits, so I am at the ready if she asks from her crate to go out. I sleep light, so I should be able to hear her.

I did get in some play time with the girls yesterday in preparation for the Irish Jam session on Saturday. We have taken the last few months off, so I am eager to get back to it.

We will be taking the morning safari with both of our fur babies this morning. By the time that the sun rises @ 7:56 a.m. the current temperature of 38° will have dropped to 36° under partly cloudy skies. Once the sun rises, the temperature is forecast to rise to 62° under sunny skies. The sun will set @ 7:04 this evening. Thanks for reading. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "TheCity."

The answer to the question of who won the game is a simple one. Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!, 6 - 5 over the San Francisco Giants in a game that went the regulation nine innings. A game in which the Cubs seemed to be on the ropes as late as the 8th inning. A game in which the Cubs were down by three runs. A game in which the Cubs scored four runs in the top of the ninth in a dramatic come from behind win. Yes, Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

The Cubs now await the winner of the series between the Dodgers and the Nats, a series which is tied @ 2 - 2 following yesterday's game. Both of those teams get today off before playing again on Thursday in Washington, D.C. The winning team will have until Saturday before they have to face the Cubs.

We spent the afternoon in GR yesterday. It really is a great small city. It is also home to the Kent, County Animal Shelter, the temporary home to our newest family member, Ginger. She has to stay there today for some medical care and then she will be home with us forever as of tonight. A soon as I have a picture available, I'll post it. I can say with certainty that she is a cutie and we are already smitten. Her ancestry is a bit murky, but she is a real cuddle-bug and exactly the dog we were supposed to adopt.

I finally spotted the missing afternoon train from Monday. It passed through yesterday afternoon heading north. EMD GP 38-2 locomotives 2057 and 2019 passed through on the RSTL @ a good clip towing 12 CHCs, 22 DBTCS, two DWTCs and three GTCs, all fully loaded. I noticed for the first time that several of the DBTCs were loaded with Anhydrous Ammonia and Sodium Hydroxide rather than crude oil.

Anhydrous Ammonia is used as a commercial refrigerant in ice rinks and also on the farm as a source of nitrogen for fertilizer. It is a highly toxic chemical widely used as a cheap source of nitrogen for those farm crops. It can explode as it did in Texas in 2013.

Sodium Hydroxide is more commonly called lye or caustic soda. Sodium Hydroxide is used in drain cleaners and as one method for peeling fruits, processing cocoa, and thickening ice cream. It is also used with other substances for making black olives, black, among many other uses.

The DWTCs carrying Hydrochloric Acid are regular users of the short-line railroad that runs through GH. Hydrochloric Acid is often marketed as Muriatic Acid, which is used to clean the extra mortar off of newly erected brick buildings, cleaning algae off of boats, and also for cleaning the grout in shower stalls and tubs. If people realized what's in those cars, they might have strong objections to them moving through neighborhoods where children play.

Sugar and I have an appointment at her doctor's for a follow-up exam later this morning. Sugar is doing much better now. If it is raining, I may have to drive there instead of our usual walk. Once again. a game-time decision. While there, I will make an appointment for Ginger's first visit @ our veterinarian early next week.

Mary had another go at the index yesterday and it should now be done. The latest book for indexing is now due from the publisher. I don't remember the topic.

The current temperature is 56° under clear skies. The NWS is forecasting scattered T-storms this morning and then mainly cloudy conditions this afternoon with T-storms likely @ 80%. Today's high is predicted to be a very comfortable 68°. However, the 80% chance of T-storms will not make our return trip to GR to pick up Ginger any easier. The sun will rise @ 7:56 a.m. and set @ 7:06 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

Well, ladies and gentlemen, there is no joy in Beantown nor in GH. My beloved Red Sox were swept by the Indians. David "Big Papi" Ortiz took his final bow before he fades into retirement and the record books. There will be no World Series between the Sox and the Cubs. Big Papi deserved a better ending to a storybook season. Sigh.

Speaking of the Cubs, they went into extra innings before surrendering to the Giants late last night in extra innings. I listened until the game ended here well after 2:00 a.m. The game started well for the Cubs and starting pitcher Jake Arietta. Arietta hit a three-run dinger in the top of the 2nd and pitched well for six innings. Then the relief staff took over and after four pitchers surrendered the lead, Kris Bryant tied the game @ five-all in the top of the 9th. The Giants failed to change the score in the bottom of the inning and so the game went into extra innings, finally ending when the Giants scored in the bottom of the 13th with a walk-off 6 - 5 win. We'll get them tonight @ 8:30/7:30 p.m.

The Nats lead the Dodgers in their playoff series 2 - 1. The Nats may finish off the Dodgers tonight or the Dodgers may tie the series starting @ 5:00 p.m.

Both the Blue Jays and the Indians are off until the ALCS begins on Friday @ 8:00 p.m. One of those teams will be the AL representative in the World Series.

Trainspotting yesterday was only half achieved. I saw the southbound run of locomotives 2057 & 2019 @ 11:51 a.m. I think the horn-happy engineer was at the throttles. The horns never stopped from one end of GH to the other. In tow were three BCs, seven CHCs, 10 DBTCs, some with anhydrous ammonia as their intended cargo, and two DWTCs marked hydrochloric acid. that were bringing up the rear.

I had a great day yesterday. I played with Susanna in the mid-afternoon and then I went outdoors to repair that back door I've been meaning to get around to for about three years. I also added some additional screws to the deck to take the place of some that had rusted away. All in all, a good day for me.

Mary had to revise the latest index and that occupied a goodly portion of her day. She wants it to be done, but somehow I think it will be back for further revisions. She did take some time to put together a nice salad for lunch.

We traveled to the animal shelter in West Olive to check out the small dogs available for adoption. None yet, but sadly, there will always be more. We may go out today to check @ another shelter in Muskegon. The latest book for indexing is not due in until Wednesday, so we have a day to spare for frivolous activities.

We returned from the shelter visit and a stop @ Sporty's, and then Mary created what I would call lasagna, but which she wouldn't. Nevertheless, it was delicious.

I hope to read more today and play more with the girls after the morning safari. Mary will be chatting in the early afternoon. Other than those few things and the possible visit to the animal shelter, we have no specific plans. I may have to mow the lawns of the PE, but that shouldn't take long.

The current temperature is 55° under partly cloudy skies. We expect a high today of 68° under partly cloudy skies. Rain is in the forecast from the NWS for Wednesday evening with an 80% probability.

The sun will rise today @ 7:55 a.m. and set @ 7:06 p.m. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 12:00 a.m. in "The City."

My loyal readers probably noticed that I never got around to blogging yesterday. That's because I didn't feel the urge, my muse deserted me, I just didn't have anything to say. Well, all of that has changed now, as the new day is dawning in a matter of hours and I have much to say.

The Cubs, of course, are now in San Francisco to take on the Giants in game 3 of their best of 5 series. The Cubs need to win only one more in this series to move on to the NLCS games against the either the Nats or the Dodgers. They play tonight @ 9:30 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox have their backs against the proverbial wall. They are down 0 - 2 to the Indians. They were forced to reschedule Saturday's game until Sunday due to the weather. Unfortunately, that game was also postponed until today @ 6:00 p.m. The Blue Jays swept the Rangers, so they will be the opponent of whichever team emerges victorious from the series between the Red Sox and the Indians

The Detroit Lions eked out a win over the Philadelphia Eagles, 24 - 23. The Lions are scheduled to play the Rams next Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.

The Bears are still struggling, as they fell to the Indianapolis Colts 23 - 29. The Bears face the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday @ noon.

We spent too much time yesterday visiting big-box stores. Neither Mary nor I like the shopping experience, but we got all of the big-box stores out of the way, so we have no more shopping at big-box stores for a while. We may go to Holland today to pick up some spices, but that will be a game- time decision.

Yesterday, we had a terrific breakfast of toasted English muffins slathered with Mary's world famous mushroom gravy along with a side of vegan breakfast sausages. It was the first chance that Mary has had to get into her kitchen and do more than pass through. It was worth the wait.

We had an evening snack of chickpeas, breadcrumbs, and spices sandwich spread that was supposed to be more like a loaf, but which morphed into a sandwich spread. We broke down and bought a mini food processor that works very well. No matter, the sandwiches were good. Dinner was leftover pizza with Mary's spicy tomato loaf as a sausage substitute, following and preceded by some popcorn. Healthy, yes, if you consider popcorn one of the food groups as I do.

We had set aside some time to watch the presidential debate. Who won? Honestly, I don't know, but we had a good time.

Today as I noted previously, we may go to Holland after the morning safari with STWD. Yesterday's safari was abbreviated for the intrepid one and I, as Sugar heard the booms from the hunter's guns and could not wait to get home to the safety of her hide-e-hole. Mary walked further as I proceeded home.

I didn't get in any time with the girls, so I hope to remedy that today before we go out. if we do.

Mary wants to kick back and do as little as possible before the next indexing job comes in. We finished the last one early yesterday afternoon and it is now in the hands of the author and publisher.

The current temperature is 46° under clear skies. Today's high is forecast to be 66° under sunny skies. There is no rain in the forecast from the NWS until Wednesday afternoon with a 100% chance.

The sun will rise later today @ 7:53 a.m. and set @ 7:09 p.m. Somewhere in there, the trains should be passing through on the RSTL. Ciao.

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

I'll dispense with this blog as quickly as I can. Not much happened yesterday, so It shouldn't take much time.

Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win! They beat the Giants by a score of 1 - 0 late last night. Jon Lester pitched a gem and only needed an 8th inning home run from Javy Baez to notch the win. Needless to say, the Cubs offense forgot to come to the game. Those same two teams play again tonight @ 8:08 p.m.

There is still no joy in Beantown nor in GH, as my beloved Red Sox fell once again to the Indians by a score of 0 - 6. The puts the Sox in an 0 - 2 hole. They have the day off today before returning to Fenway Park to try to right the ship. Game time Sunday is 4:00 p.m.

The Toronto Blue Jays also have today off as they travel back to Toronto with a 2 - 0 post-season record. They will meet the Rangers Sunday @ 7:30 p.m.

The Dodgers chased former Tigers' hurler, Max Scherzer, to gain a 4 - 3 victory over the Nats yesterday. The Dodgers face the Nats again today @ 4:08 p.m.

Today the 1 - 4 NIU Huskies take on the 5 - 0 Western MI Broncos @ 6:30 p.m.

The 5 - 0 Wolverines of Michigan take on the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers @ 7:00 p.m.

The 2 - 2 MSU Spartans take on the 2 - 3 Cougars of BYU @ 3:30 p.m.

Mary worked hard on the index yesterday before we went to the chiropractor. I've been spending too much time hunched over in the man-cave, so my yak is baking. I have to force myself to do the exercises that I should, so no need to remind me, Adam.

No trains to spot.

I tried out a new book, but it is going back as the author has a style that is incompatible with my psyche.

Lunch yesterday was the balance of the vegan chickpea loaf accompanied by a side of my soon to be famous Coleslaw. It was a solid addition to the loaf. We had a terrific dinner of faux tuna tacos for dinner. Mary outdid herself with these.

Today, we have to finish the index and get it out of here. I have my usual editing chores for this one.

STWD and I will be taking the morning safari. I'll be switching to my long jeans as the temperature is forecast to be no higher than 54° under sunny skies. We have a current temperature of 53° under clear skies.

The sun will rise @ 7:51 a.m. and set @ 7:13 p.m. Ciao.