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

Well, as you can read, I am back on the blogosphere much sooner than I had hoped. The carpet has been laid in the media room and my office/weather center/music room with minimal damage, and I have reconnected the internet. Later this morning/afternoon, the carpet goes down in the dining room and living rooms. Then Friday, the carpet will be relaid in the bedroom and Mary's office while the new furniture is delivered. Then, we are done! I hope.

No trainspotting yesterday, unless you count the work truck that passed by on the RSTL

Speaking of sports, the Cubs have righted the ship for another game, but they are a study in opposites. I cite as proof yesterday's win over Cubs' manager Joe Maddon's former team, the Tampa Bay Rays 7 - 3, using a home run off the bat of pinch-hitter Jon Jay, a man with two first names, to tie the game and then singles and doubles from Ian Happ and Anthony Rizzo to score the next four runs. Starting pitcher John Lackey was lifted after throwing 79 pitches as a flare-up in his plantar fascitis caused him discomfort. He was quoted as saying, "I'm 38 years old." "I'm bothered by a lot of things." Yes, and so are the fans. At any rate, the Cubs returned to even in the NLCentral with a record of 42 - 42, three games in back of their opponent @ 2:20 p.m. the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, for a make-up game.

The Cubs close out their homestand with a three-game series against the Pirates over the weekend. In addition, Kyle Schwarber may be recalled from the AAA Iowa Cubs for the weekend series as Schwarber is finding his major-league hitting stroke there. Once again, here's hoping.

The Tigers were once again the Tigers, as they lost to the woeful San Francisco Giants, 4 - 5. That gives the Tigers an AL Central record of 37 - 46 as they limp into the All-Star break later this month. Several marquee players may be on the trading block as the Tigers attempt, like the Cubs of a few years ago, to rebuild for the future. The Tigers once again face the Giants today @ 1:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox fell to the Rangers in Texas yesterday, 2 - 8. The Sox still lead the AL East by four games over the losing Yankees. The Sox with their division-leading 49 - 36 record, face the Rays tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The Caps also righted the ship as they defeated the Lansing Lug Nuts last night in an MWL East matchup, 6 - 5 to stay firmly in 1st place with a two game lead over the Ft. Wayne TinCaps. The Caps and their league-leading 10 - 4 record, and the Lug Nuts square off again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

We have a current temperature of 64/68° under partly cloudy skies. The sun will be rising in about two hours @ 6:12 a.m., shortly before the carpet laying crew return for another day of fun here in the manse.

Mary discovered still another use for her new favorite kitchen tool, the dehydrator that she is now using to make vegan jerky, and baked tofu nuggets. She has a plan to try making seitan balls too once the carpet layers are out of the way.

Ginger will be going to daycare and grooming today to stay out of the way. She was very tired from yesterday's daycare session and she still has a Friday session to go. Ciao.