Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be in "The City." At just past 1:30 a.m., the view out the Weather Window is darkness punctuated by flashes of lightning. We had some rain earlier to go with the lightning. We have isolated T-storms in the forecast and Sugar the Weather Dog, as always the harbinger of all things T-stormy, is in her hide-e-hole. We have a current temperature of 73° as we head down to an overnight low of 63°. The forecast for tomorrow is similar with regard to temperatures and precipitation. Once again a long way of saying that I don't have to water the gardens on the palatial estate.

Speaking of Sugar the Weather Dog, I was feeling achy last evening, and since Mary had been slaving for that oppressive boss of ours all day, she wanted to get out for some air. I bade her adieu and went off to bed. Prior to departing, Mary wanted  let Sugar out, but Sugar wouldn't leave her hide-e-hole. Mary gave that action a "Whatever" and went out the door That's according to Mary's version of things. I heard the door open and close and Mary reappeared quickly to state the obvious, our intrepid Weather Dog had been right, it was starting to rain. I got up a few moments ago to read emails from Mary that said, A.) The storms had gone north and south of us. 2.) No, the rains had come after all. Sugar is rarely wrong. The Weather Roof is never wrong.

This morning after the sun rises at 6:12 a.m., I have to be at the doctor for my baking yak. Mary had to beg time off from our ogre of a boss, because I asked her to go with me. I like to have two sets of ears to hear diagnoses and recommendations. I do know this, unless a strong case can be made for anything other than physical therapy, I am not inclined to go there. My baking yak comes and goes. Sometimes it is very annoying and sometimes it isn't painful at all. Right now, on a scale of one to 10, it is about a one. That's why I think that therapy can be the answer, not drugs or other more aggressive interventions.

In sports yesterday, the boys in blue once again failed to score more than one run and fell to the Nationals, 1 - 2. Like my beloved Red Sox, they are now 10 games under .500. Speaking of my beloved Red Sox, they fell to the Orioles 6 - 7 in 12 innings, to fall to that same 10 games under .500. The Tigers succumbed 3 - 7. to the Rays, but they are 11 games over .500. The Caps had the day off.

Today I am going to do a little vacuuming and laundry once we get back from the doctor. Once Mary finishes the index we have been working on, I'll switch to my editor's hat and assist in the final efforts. I do appreciate that Mary will fall slightly behind her hourly quota by going to the doctor with me.

So far no trains, so nothing to report there.

The sun will set at 9:26 p.m. Like this morning, the moon will be a waxing gibbous moon. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is 69° as we roll steadily towards our overnight low of 61° Sunday promises to be a sunny day with temperatures around 72°. Monday we begin to ramp up for showers with the chance increasing to 30%. Tuesday, the forecast is calling for a 70% chance of T-storms. Will I have to water before then? Will the T-storms scare Sugar the Weather Dog into one of her hide-e-holes? Tune in Wednesday and find out.

Speaking of Sugar the Weather Dog, random acts of pyrotechnics forced her to retreat several times on Saturday afternoon. In fact, I let out after her dinner, only to hear her scratching madly to get back in. Why you ask? I didn't know until Mary and I went walking late Saturday and found a large spent rocket on our deck stairs. It must have landed just after I let Sugar out. I guess that the landing must have scared her beyond belief. It would have scared me.

Once again, this proves that although people might have the right to launch fireworks indiscriminately in Michigan, they shouldn't. The kind of house fire that occurred Friday morning, two doors down from the palatial estate, provides proof that they shouldn't. But the legislature in their infinite wisdom, felt that the rights of fools should trump the rights of regular people. Sigh.

Saturday was a day of finishing my highlighting chores after Mary, Sugar, and I finished our morning walk. Mary slaved at her desk all day, only taking time to partake of sustenance. I finished and found time to read and play the girls later in the day. Today I am free of watering duties, but that is likely to require a repeat on Monday as I note earlier. Our now very tall tomato plant was looking wilted when I got to him, or is it her? Since there are tomato fruits on the vine, Mary will correct my thinking whichever it is. Right now the tomato plant is named Tom, but that could become Thomasina once Mary reads this. Our pepper plants are all named Pepe, but that might also be subject to change, since they too are fruit bearing.

Otherwise, I am free to go about my business today. My baking yak will probably limit my ambulations, depending on how the vertebra fall. Only time will tell.

In sports, the boys in blue, on the heels of that blockbuster trade with Oakland that sent two solid starting pitchers to Oakland, lost to the Nationals 0 -13. Next year is truly here. The Tigers also lost, in their case to the Rays, 2 - 7. My beloved Red Sox were victimized by the Orioles, 4 - 7. Good news though, those darn Yankees lost also, 1 - 2, to the Twins. The Caps were victorious over the Tin Caps of Fort Wayne, 8 - 4.

The sun will rise at 6:12 a.m. and set at 9:27 p.m. Maybe as the summer slides into fall, Mary and I can see the Musical Fountain in action. Right now, it doesn't get started until after 10:00 p.m. By then, I am usually sound asleep. Well Mary is, I am usually sleeping, but how soundly is open to debate. Ciao.

Good morning, good evening, wherever you may be. It is nearly 5:00 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is a brisk 52° as we head for our morning low of 52°. Today promises highs in the 75° range. Sunny skies should prevail until Sunday night. In short, there are blue skies in our future for today and tomorrow.

Friday morning, Mary, Sugar the Weather Dog and I went out for our morning constitutional. With Sugar in her Thundershirt™ and Thunderleash™ leading the way, we set out for downtown. Sugar was mostly mollified by her accessories, but once she heard an explosion, she was ready to head for home and her hide-e-hole. Mary and I had fueled ourselves before we left, so when we got back, Mary went up to work and I sat down to read.

Things were going well, Sugar occasionally poked her head out as I read. Suddenly, I heard the growl of a powerful diesel engine. Not unusual since we live nearly on top of the GH Public Safety Department. However, when I saw the fire engine going by our front window trailing a large water hose, I knew something was up. I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter, only to see the truck stopped just down the street, with public safety personnel all around. I shouted for Mary to come down as I bolted out the front door.

What had I seen? Two doors down from us, there is a recently purchased house undergoing renovations. That house was the source of the smoke in the sky, and the cause of the mounting public safety presence. I have included links to the final results of the excellent effort by Grand Haven's finest from both WZZM TV and the Grand Haven Tribune. http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/local/2014/07/04/house-fire/12214489/  http://www.grandhaventribune.com/article/policefire/1050896.

We were thankful that no one was seriously hurt in this early morning fire and that the well trained men and women of the various public safety departments, especially our own GH personnel, were able to quickly contain and douse the fire. A great job all around.

But I digress. Mary and I stood and watched for a while and then Mary called our next door neighbor who had gone out earlier in the day to apprise her of the happenings. Fortunately, both her house and ours suffered no damage. But our afternoon plans for a holiday repast had to be altered. The back yard of the palatial estate smelled as if, to quote our neighbor, "We had a campfire." Our indoor campfire smell had been confined to the mud room due to our closed windows. Her indoors smelled like the campfire had been in her living room when we talked later. That's more than enough excitement for one morning. Sugar had to agree.

After all the commotion, Mary talked to Sally at the Post and then we walked down to see her. Things were mostly quiet before the euchre players were due in around 4:30 p.m. We headed home and supped on our impromptu holiday feast of veggie dogs, corn, and Coleslaw that Mary had crafted with my help on the grater. Of course, Sugar the Sous Dog was present. Mary used her culinary skills earlier to create what I would say is her best effort to date on Coleslaw. I think that Sugar would agree.

We finally journeyed upstairs to the Media Room to watch Independence Day. Mary wanted to go out to view the local fireworks, but my knees and baking yak weren't up to it. I don't think she went on her own, but I went to bed, so I don't know for certain. I just know she is there now.

Today less excitement I hope, and more highlighting for sure. More reading and strumming the girls is likely too, if I get my work finished. I have to be sure to get back to bed soon for the end of Mary's favorite overnight program.

In sports, the boys in blue won their game against the Nats, 7 - 2, and then they made a blockbuster trade with the Oakland As, trading starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel for minor league prospects. It definitely is next year. My beloved Red Sox had the day off. The Tigers lost to Tampa Bay, 3 - 6. The Caps triumphed over the Fort Wayne Tin Caps 3 - 1.

That's enough for one day. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City." Our current temperature is 60° as we head down to our morning low of 51°. Today we should peak at around 75° with sunny skies. That will happen after the sun has risen at 6:10 a.m. into a sunny sky. Sunset will occur at 9:27 p.m., allowing our local Fourth of July fireworks show to go on as scheduled at 10:10: p.m. Of course, with the lax laws in our adopted state, the "Festivities" will probably begin in the early afternoon. Sugar the Weather Dog has been periodically racing to one of her hide-e-holes the last few days, each time she hears an explosion. We'll put her in her Thundershirt™ tonight, but it will only help some, not totally mitigate her fears.

Mary and I anticipate that we may go down to the area near the Post Office if we are awake. If we are not, we will be sure to catch the fireworks display at the time of Coast Guard Fest™. Since many in the Tri-cities area use GH as their source of July Fourth entertainment, we will have large crowds on the waterfront to view the show on Dewey Hill, just after the Musical Fountain show. Don't forget, this is also the day for the annual hot dog eating contest, won last year with a prodigious 69 hot dogs eaten by a skinny guy.

Yesterday, I went to my second appointment for my knee treatments. All went well and I walked both ways. I spent a goodly portion of the afternoon highlighting so that I could get Friday off from my boss. However, since I worked until after 7:00 p.m., and Mary was no longer prepared to make dinner, she convinced me to walk to our nearby watering hole, located about one block from our house. We each had fish for dinner. I had the whitefish, while Mary had perch. She had no potatoes, and two servings of Coleslaw. I had one serving of Coleslaw and some French fries. We were both satisfied. We think what with last winter's surgery, heavy snowfall, and then the spring construction, we haven't gone there recently. Mary says we can put it back into our rotation now, especially since she loves the Coleslaw, one of her true passions in life.

Oops, I almost forgot. I believe that due to the impending holiday today, the railroad decided to move their trains early. At roughly 7:00 p.m. last evening, the railroad began to move their equipment. The southbound train of two locomotives and 17 covered hopper cars, some appearing very old and rusty, was accompanied by a lone white tank car and five of those dreaded black tank cars. Mary told me by email that the northbound train went by about 11:00 p.m., but I can't confirm that, I have only Mary's anecdotal information to go by. In any event, that is likely to be all of the train activities for two or three days.

Today, we plan to eat breakfast, walk with the intrepid Weather Dog, and then I'll read and play the girls. Later this afternoon/evening, I'll prepare the grill as Mary prepares the vegetables for our evening meal. We have portobello mushrooms, corn, and zucchini for grilling. If all goes well, we should have a healthy and delicious meal. Otherwise, Mary will continue working while I read and relax. As is always the case, 24 hours after my knees have been treated, it is painful to walk. So relaxation is appropriate.

In sports, the boys in blue had the day off. The Red Sox also had the day off, while the Tigers hammered the Rays, 8 - 1. The Caps fell to the Lansing Lug Nuts, 9 - 8. That's enough for now. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is fast closing on 6:00 a.m. in "The City." That means that the sun will be rising shortly at 6:08 a.m. When it sets at 9:27 p.m., I will have had a full day. Currently our temperature is 59°, which should be about as low as we will get today. Given that we hit the high 80s with nearly 90% humidity in the last few days, the lower numbers will be a welcome respite. In fact, when Mary and I walked over to the Post last evening to see Sally, Mary had goose bumps. Me, I stayed with my shorts and a T-shirt. Our temperatures and humidity should be very comfortable for the July Fourth holiday and the requisite fireworks.

We had gone to the Post to pick up some delicious soup that Sally made for myself and several others. I had it for dinner last night. Mary had canned soup. She liked hers, and I liked mine and Sugar the Weather Dog cleaned up my leftovers. However, there wasn't much to work on. Mary wisely wouldn't let Sugar clean up her tomato soup leavings. White dog, tomato red, a bad combination.

Speaking of Sugar, I gave her her monthly dose of flea and tick meds and heart-worm preventative. She tolerates the flea and tick meds in order to get the beefy tasting heart-worm meds. With the turning on of the A/C for a few days, coupled with the warm and humid outdoor temperatures, Sugar has been shedding hair like mad. I think I have brushed a second dog off of her in the last few days. Now that the temperatures have dropped again, Sugar can start to regrow the hair and the cycle will start all over again.

I heard the long northbound train earlier, but I just wasn't in the mood to get up. I do know that it was long and I do know that the horn happy engineer was at the throttle. That in itself made me not want to get up. I also know that the train was moving at the highest rate of speed allowed within "The City" as it passed quickly. That's all I have to say about that.

In sports, the boys in blue took it to my beloved Red Sox yet again, by a score of 16 - 9. One again, a real pitcher's duel. The Red Sox manager said it got rough out on the mound last night, a real understatement. I do know that the boys are now only nine games below .500 while the beloved are tied with them in that department. The boys move on to face the streaking Washington Nationals on Friday morning, while the Red Sox welcome the Orioles.

That game in Boston may get canceled due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Arthur. I heard that the Boston Pops have moved their traditional concert to tonight.for that very reason. The Tigers once again hammered the A.L. West leading Oakland As, this time by a score of 9 - 3. Two teams moving in opposite directions? Too much like the boys and the Red Sox? The Caps were also playing, but their score of 3 - 9, was in a losing effort to the Lansing Lug Nuts.

Today, Mary and I will walk with Sugar downtown to get the bread that was unavailable late yesterday when we went to the Post. This morning, Mary will convert the old bread to French toast. One good thing, the bread we get today will be one day fresher. I'll continue my highlighting and try to get in some time with the girls. I also have to water before the gardens on the palatial estate wilt due to the lack of rain for the next few days. Our best chance of showers is now Sunday. We will not be moving the car from the garage until Monday at the earliest. We had a small sample of the holiday traffic yesterday, two days before the holiday, and that was enough. Anything we need we can get to by walking.Too many people walking, driving, and in general tying up "The City." Ciao.

Good morning GH. It is just past 6:00 a.m. in "The City." I got up late after hearing two trains earlier, but that is about it. I also was delayed by the inert status of our cable WiFi router. At any rate, the current temperature in GH is 65° and that will be about as low as it gets. Of course the same site that is showing 65° has another reading of 62° that supposedly feels like 62°. Like I always say, trust Sugar the Weather Dog, the Weather Window, or the Weather Roof.

In sports, the boys in blue once again defeated my beloved Red Sox, this time by a score of 2 - 1. One "Wait til next year franchise" versus a recent World Series champion, in a battle of pitchers. Neither team has a record even approaching .500. The Tigers defeated Oakland 3 - 0. The Caps handily defeated the Lansing Lug Nuts 12 - 4.

Otherwise, Tuesday was a good day to get a few hairs cut. Then it was time to go to the big box store for groceries and other needs. I got a small fan to help circulate the air in my office, but while it has a switch for two speeds, it only has the high speed. One more thing to return that came from overseas or somewhere. Once again, Adam is right, you get what you pay for.

We finished up our day at the second favorite watering hole, and then departed for home and rest. I got tired after a while. Mary wanted to stay up and watch the umpteenth showing of her apocalyptic favorite movie. I gladly surrendered myself to the bed after getting the DVD player and television working for her. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she figured out how to return the TV to the correct input mode, thus allowing her to watch regular cable TV. I'm impressed.

Today, the sun has already risen and will set at 9:28 p.m. Before that, Sugar needs her morning walk, I need some cornflakes, and Mary needs to get to work on her project. I am plodding along with the highlighting, but is a tough slog. I do have more Cheerios™ and Special K™ on tap for future cereal meals. Mary confesses to not liking cold cereal. I confess to not liking hot cereal. Our larder is stocked for the holiday and the need to go out is negated, except for that fan.

So, I can now get back to my highlighting and then back to bed for some additional rest. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City." I hadn't planned to get up, but the intense T-storms that were crossing the area a short while ago changed my mind. The storms are supposed to be ending by sunrise at 6:05 a.m. Currently we have a temperature of 67°, but the 90% plus humidity that will continue throughout the day makes it a lot more uncomfortable. However, the gardens on the palatial estate have been thoroughly watered by the heavy storms. As the week progresses, the temperatures should get a bit more comfortable. If the humidity also drops some, we should be fine by the time the Fourth of July rolls around.

Earlier yesterday, actually about 5:45 a.m., the northbound train rumbled through. That was late or early for any train. This morning, the southbound train passed through at 12:40 a.m. Twin EMD GP 38 locomotives towing two box cars, 26 covered hopper cars, and bringing up the rear, two of those dreaded black tank cars. If they are on a schedule like yesterday, I'll be back in bed before they return.

Sugar the Weather Dog is in her upstairs hide-e-hole in an attempt to shield herself from the thunder. I can't say as I blame her. If we have any hope of getting her out later this morning, the thunder will have to be long gone, which it isn't, yet.

I did some highlighting yesterday afternoon after walking Sugar and reading the newspaper. I like Mondays because the crossword puzzles in the newspaper are so easy. As the week wears on and Saturday arrives, the puzzles get increasingly more difficult. In fact last week, one came in which they neglected to include about six of the down clues. On purpose? I don't know. Maybe just bad editing. I've seen enough of that lately.

In sports, the boys in blue defeated my beloved Red Sox 2 - 0. That's a twofer that I both liked and disliked. The Tigers got past the Oakland As 5 - 4. The Caps were once again victorious over the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 8 - 5.

Today, more highlighting, more reading, more guitar playing, more walking. What's not to like? The highlighting is still mostly boring, but that's the way it goes with some projects. The sun will set at 9:27 p.m., and then I'll be ready for bed once more. Early to bed, late to rise, with a short break in the middle for blogging, makes a man feel great. Ciao.