Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is nearly 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

I was outside with Ginger @ 3:15 and the current temperature is a cool 64°, cool being a relative term. Later today after the sun rises @ 6:18 and before it sets @ 9:22 p.m., the NWS is forecasting a high for today of 71°, albeit with 79% relative humidity and only a 10% chance of precipitation.

Mary and I spent about one hour yesterday being outsmarted by our "Smart" TV. The sound had faded for some unknown reason and we had to get the Samsung technical service people to come into the TV via the internet and resolve the issue. They did and we still have no idea how.

We had tried to call the store, but they were unable to help as they put you into a queue and you never get to talk to the store or their G--K Squad directly. In addition, the second TV that was promised to arrive on Wednesday won't arrive at the store until late Friday evening and so we'll be picking that one up Saturday morning. It seems that it takes five days to be driven from Indiana to Michigan. Adam would probably say we should have just ordered the TV from an online e-tailer, but we live and learn.

To paraphrase Kenny Loggins, "This is it, make no mistake where you are, this is it, the waiting is over." The second half of the Major League Baseball season begins today/tonight with all teams being in action. The 43 - 45, 2nd place in the NL Central Cubs travel to Baltimore to face the Orioles tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

We are nearing the mid-point of July and the Cubs have bolstered their starting pitching rotation by acquiring left-handed pitcher Jose Quintana from that other team in Chicago for two frontline prospects and two other minor league players. According to Cubs' team president, Theo Epstein, the Cubs did not have to touch their Major League roster, the players that won the World Series last year. Quintana was the "Ace" of that other team's pitching staff and should be a perfect fit in the Cubs' Clubhouse. Only time will tell. It remains to be seen who gets demoted from the Major League roster to make room for Quintana. Oh, the Cubs are 5.5 games behind the division-leading Brewers.

The 39 - 48 Tigers resume play tonight @ Comerica Park against the 41 - 47, last in the AL East, Toronto Blues Jays, @ 7:10 p.m.

My beloved 50 - 39, 1st place, Boston Red Sox are home @ Fenway Park to face the 2nd place in the AL East NY Yankees tonight @ 7:00 p.m. The Sox have a 3.5 game lead over the Yankees.

The 15 - 5, 1st place in the MWL East Caps, continue their winning ways with a 3 - 2 win over the Cedar Rapids, IA Kernels. The Caps and the Kernels play again tonight @ Fifth/Third Ballpark @ 7:00 p.m. The Caps lead the 2nd place Ft. Wayne, IN, Tin Caps by 1.5 games.

Mary and I visited the chiropractor yesterday. I got a series of exercises to do to strengthen my core muscles and help to support my baking yak. I will have to place some stress on my yak today as I mow the vast lawns of the PE and also wash the front porch to rid it of spiders and debris. I'll take it easy and put some time in between those activities while wearing my yak brace.

I also have some things to do in the man-cave and so maybe I'll put those in between. Plus, I have some cooking to do in Mary's kitchen today, so perhaps after the morning safari, I can fit that in along with some other indoor chores. Wait, I can see that I am being too ambitious, so I'll scratch some things from my agenda. I am retired so I have extra time. I believe that the vast lawns and the porch are the most pressing.

Mary has to get to work on the index. I am done with my highlighting. Ciao.