Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:45 a.m. in "The City."

What can I say, I had planned to stay in bed, but Mary had been watching Book TV downstairs, came to bed, woke Ginger by bouncing around, and so Ginger just had to go out. In the dark, with the rapidly waning spider population in the back forty, that "duty" fell to me. So, here I am.

We have a current temperature of 62° under clear skies, although the NWS is reporting them as partly cloudy. Today's forecast high is also from the NWS, so take it with the proverbial grain of salt. That 81° temperature forecast is, as Adam says about speed limits, "Just a suggestion", here on the shores of the "Big Lake." At any rate, the humidity should be around 65% and the sun will rise @ 6:34 a.m. and set @ 9:06 p.m.

I didn't make it to the Cruise-In Car Show yesterday as I wasn't inclined to push my baking yak. It is also unlikely that I'll make it to the waterfront to see the Coast Guard ships arrive this afternoon either. Both things are a first for me since we have lived here in GH. Alas, so is nearing 66 years old.

However, I do have an appointment @ the chiropractor this morning, so I'm hoping for some relief from that. I sure hope that my yak is getting better because I am frustrated.

The 1st place in the NL Central Cubs won yesterday over the 2nd place Brewers in Milwaukee to move to two and one-half games ahead of the stumbling Brewers. The Cubs are 13 - 5 since the All-Star break and they have what the late Chicago columnist, Mike Royko, used to call the "Big Mo!" The Cubs used home runs by Kris Bryant and rookie catcher Victor Caratin, subbing for regular starting first baseman Anthony Rizzo who is day to day with his own baking yak. Rizzo has the advantage of daily sessions with a professional training staff, a professional training facility and being only 27 years old.  All of the Cubs efforts were in support of a two walk, seven strikeouts six inning start by John Lackey to win the game, 4 - 2. The Cubs welcome the AZ D'backs to the "Friendly Confines" tonight @ 8:05.

The Tigers cruised to a 13 - 1 crushing of the Astros yesterday afternoon in an AL Central game. Justin "J-Up" Upton got a two out, two run double and a grand-slam home run to pace the Tigers' offensive onslaught. The 1st place Astros still lead the AL West by 16 games over the Mariners, while the Tigers are still mired in 4th place in the AL Central, well ahead of that other team from Chicago, mired in  5th place. The Tigers are off to NYC tonight to face the 1st place in the AL East Yankees @ 7:05 p.m. Justin "JV" Verlander looked strong in what may be his last Tigers' start before he is traded just before the July trading deadline.

Verlander is a five and five player, which means that in keeping with the current collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners, Verlander's five years of service time with the same team and five years in the league, gives him veto power over any trade.

A great segue to the loss by my struggling, but still beloved, Red Sox who may be in the market for a starting pitcher. They lost to the Royals 3 - 5 to keep them in 2nd place in the AL East. The 1st place Yankees lost to the Rays yesterday, 3 - 5. The Sox welcome the Indians to Fenway Park tonight @ 7:10 p.m. Last year's AL World Series participants, the Indians, are leading the AL Central by two games over the Royals, yesterday's Sox opponent. The Sox are struggling and the Indians are strong so a few wins would go a long way to restoring the Sox to their early season form and confidence.

The Caps dumped the Lake, County, OH Captains yesterday afternoon, 9 - 6 in an MWL East game. The Caps are still in 1st place with a three game lead over the Ft. Wayne, IN TinCaps. The Caps and the Captains play again tonight @ 7:00 p.m.

I made those faux Italian vegan meatballs yesterday while Mary was at the Flea Market on 7th. Mary and I both agree that they are a keeper. Mary made pasta sauce to use some of my efforts for dinner. It is worthy of note that I made my own pesto for the recipe using our homegrown basil. Our lunch was vegan hot dogs and a cucumber salad made by Mary using a homegrown cucumber.

While she was at the Flea Market on 7th, which by the by has grown since last year's event and even caused a rare Sunday opening by JW's during the market's run, Mary purchased two pencil drawings from the 7th Street Gallery to place on the wall in the foyer. They will need to be framed, but I like them. I think that along with the frames, they'll need just the right mat or mats, to make them perfect. Looks like a trip to Holland on Tuesday is in order.

Today I plan to harvest the kale and make my world famous squash/kale soup. I am buoyed by the results of my foray into those faux vegan meatballs, so I am feeling good about my chances of another successful kitchen endeavor. Mary will be working on something, but once again, I can't remember what. Ciao.