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

No trains to spot yesterday. Apparently, after the recent concrete truck rollover north of GH in Ferrysburg, the train tracks or crossings need repair.

That's nothing when compared to the not so sanitary sewage released into the Grand River about one mile east of U.S. route 31. It seems that a pipe that runs under the Grand River that connects Spring Lake to GH has been leaking under pressure since February 17, 2017. As of now, the Ottawa, County Health Department is advising people to have no body contact, particularly submergence of the head. Ya think?

We were in Spring Lake yesterday afternoon and when we crossed the bridge on Rte. 31 north of GH to return home, Mary felt sick. If the pipe has been leaking for 11 days, that is very possible. The Ottawa, County Sheriffs Department became aware of the problem Sunday afternoon when a neighbor who lives along the river noticed something wrong and called the sheriff's police to inquire. They immediately got in touch with the people working at the plant, one of whom is a captain on the Spring Lake Fire Department. A leak in a high-pressure pipe under the Grand River is the likely culprit and a scuba diver was dispatched to check on the problem.

Like most pipelines, whether oil, gas or sanitary, many are old and in need of replacement. The Grand River feeds directly into the "Big Lake", the source of the drinking water for much of Western Michigan and Eastern Illinois. Should we be worried? Yes!

We are done with the painting of the manse, at least for a few months. Now we have to find a new mirror for the upstairs bathroom, one that doesn't clash with the other colors and materials in the room. We're thinking a stop at City Glass @ the corner is in order.

Today, I will be baking my world famous apple pie in preparation for our book club meeting tomorrow. We got the necessary apples at the grocery store yesterday. I have everything else.

The current temperature is 42° under partly cloudy skies. We are expecting a rainy day today with showers during the morning hours and T-storms in the afternoon with a high temperature of 53°.

I finished reading the book for our book club meeting and taking copious notes yesterday. This over 500-page book was filled with facts, figures, and charts/graphs. Next time I am the "Book Czar", I'll choose a book of less detail and of a shorter length.

Otherwise, the rain probably precludes a walk with the fur-children. STWD may not want to go out anyway and when the T-storms start to boom, she will go into her hide-e-hole.

The sun will rise later this morning @ 7:21 a.m. and set @ 6:33 p.m. Ciao.