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

Let's get my pleasure trip out of the way, as I am feeling the need, the need for speed! Yes, Mary was OK with my going to the movies yesterday and so I went to the local theater and got my senior discount, Eleanore would have been proud, along with a huge tub of popcorn and a ginormous
Cherry-Pepsi, and settled in to watch Top Gun.

As expected, the movie hooked me right from the start and never let go. Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, and in a minor role, Meg Ryan, were all there to fuel my "Need for speed!" Since I liked it so much, I decided that another link to the movie from YouTube™ was in order so that everyone else could sate their own "Need for speed!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AA_qdGveP0

At any rate, I now have to wait through Jurassic Park and Smokey and the Bandit, before my birthday wish is granted and Mary and I can see Airplane, the movie. To whet your collective appetites, here is another link from YouTube™.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmJiZ8VcfD4

But enough about me and my great day. Let's instead switch to the world of sometimes Major League baseball.

The Cubs managed to drop two of three to the Giants in San Francisco and somehow remain in 1st place in the NL Central, with a record of 59 - 54, a scant 1.5 games ahead of the surging Cardinals and the Brewers. The Cubs also placed starting catcher Willson Contreras on the 10-day DL with what appears to be a hamstring injury. Plus, the team also placed relief pitcher Koji Uehara on the DL with a strain in his neck.

The only bright spot in yesterday's game was a solo home run off the bat of Alberto Almora Jr. which was the only run the Cubs scored. Kyle Hendricks looked good, the relief corps, not so much, in the 1 - 3 loss. The Cubs are off today before heading to AZ to meet the D'backs for a weekend series beginning @ 9:40 p.m. Friday night. The Cardinals and the Brewers have games today and could close the gap to 1/2 game.

The Tigers behind the Justin "JV" Verlander of old, hammered the Pirates 10 - 0. Verlander was masterful and the Tigers' bats came to life in the lopsided win. Still, the 4th place Tigers are a woeful 52 - 61 in the AL Central and lead the last place team, that other team from Chicago, by nine games. The Tigers and the Pirates meet again this afternoon @ 1:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox continued their winning ways with an 8 - 2 win over the Rays. The 1st place in the AL East Sox are off today before they travel to NYC to meet the 2nd place Yankees on Friday night @ 7:05 p.m. to begin a weekend series, four full games ahead of those Yankees.

The Caps, as previously noted, were off yesterday and they begin a series @ the Fifth/Third Ballpark tonight @ 7:00 p.m. against the Great Lakes Loons. The Caps have an overall record of 32 - 12 in the MWL East.

Otherwise, not much was happening. We walked with the fur-children to Central Park to allow time for some work in the manse Sadly, we were reminded that Wednesday morning is the day that the crews from the GH Public Works department mow the lawns, trim the edges and blow away the debris in what seemed a never ending cacophony of two and four cycle noise. Ginger was nonplussed, while STWD was shaking the whole time we sat across the street awaiting the chance to enjoy the park.

We returned to the manse and I mowed the vast lawns, pulled some weeds, edged the lawns and watered the veggies to complete my outdoor activities before I went to the movies. I also continued my great spider hunt.

Today, while my hip joint is still achy, I plan to begin my bike riding rehab stint with a two block ride and also do my homework exercises to increase my range of motion. Plus, some indoor chores, some soup making and a trip to the chiropractor to see if he can assist with my rehab activities are also in the cards. Mary derives great benefit from the chiropractic visits, so that is all good.

We have a current temperature of 63° under partly cloudy skies. I was out with Ginger around 2:00 a.m. Today's forecast from the NWS calls for a high temperature of 79° under partly cloudy skies with a chance of scattered showers in the evening. The sun will rise today @ 6:45 a.m. and set tonight @ 945 p.m. Ciao.