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

Let's start with what's really important, the official date for my version of the first day of spring, the day that the pitchers and catchers report to the Chicago Cubs training camp @  Ho Ho Kam Stadium in Mesa, AZ. It is now official, the date is set, February 14, 2017. Is it mere coincidence that this is also Valentine's Day? I think not my friends. The first workout for the pitchers and catchers is the next day and then the position players report on February 17th. The first full team workout is scheduled for February 18th.

My beloved Red Sox pitchers and catchers report to JetBlue Park in Ft. Myers, FL on February 13th, with workouts scheduled for the next day and then the position players report on February 16th, with full squad workouts set for the next day.

The Detroit Tigers have not yet announced the dates for their pitchers and catchers and position players to report to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, FL.Stay tuned.

I was just outside @ 4:30 a.m. with the fur-children, and while the temperature was between 19° and 21° depending on the source of the information, the winds were strong in the back forty and so it felt cooler than that. Neither yours truly nor the fur-children were inclined to stay outside for an extended period. Today's high temperature is forecast to be 30° according to the NWS, Tuesday's high temperature is forecast to be a balmy 43°, but there is a 90% chance of rain/snow showers with winds of 23 mph when we walk or drive to the Tri-Cities History Museum for our book club meeting. Oddly, the NWS has issued a Gale Warning for any mariners who are willing to brave the conditions on The Great Lakes.

I did get in some time with Leilani yesterday. It felt good to sit and strum. My technique on a Uke is not great, but the sound is okay, so that makes me feel good about my efforts.

I waited long enough yesterday so that our shared driveway was mostly cleared by our younger neighbor. I finished up the section in front of our garage, and our front porch and sidewalk. I'm getting too old to do the whole thing myself with or without a snowblower. Our neighbor does his work with two shovels even though he has access to a snowblower.

Once the driveway was cleared, Mary and I journeyed to the grocery store for a few items and then to our favorite watering hole for dinner.

I'll be staying in and doing some indoor chores along with some cooking/baking and trying out my new stand mixer after it arrives later today. I'm looking forward to it. I may need to supplement our chocolate chip cookie contribution to the book club meeting that was rescheduled. Cookies are too tempting when they are in our range of vision. Mary will be indexing while I am in the kitchen or occupied elsewhere.

Otherwise, I have no specific plans. The sun will rise @ 8:15 a.m. and set @ 5:28 p.m. Ciao.