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

I hadn't planned to get up and blog, but Ginger had other plans. She and I were outside @ 2:50 a.m. and she did her duty. I guess if I had to get up and do my duty, why should I think that she wouldn't?

We made it to the P/T appointment yesterday and it went better than I expected. I learned or maybe relearned some things that I already knew. My flexibility is less than it should be and when coupled with my back surgery from several years ago, I had/have developed a stoop when I walk. As the chiropractor said to me recently, this world wasn't made for me or any tall person.

Our basement has a floor to joist height of about six feet, that like the space from the floor to the bottom of a car on a hoist is just about six inches too few for me. Almost everything in this world is built for that mythical six foot tall, 170-pound male. So, tall people like me, or shorter than average women are at a distinct disadvantage. The world was apparently built for most women like Mary, in other words, someone who is five feet six inches tall, perhaps with the exception of most kitchens and their cabinets, which are even too tall for me. I do like the nine-foot ceilings in the manse though.

But I digress. The therapist checked my various ranges of motion and told me that I didn't have the ability to move my left leg to the "neutral" position, with or without pain. My right leg does have that ability. So, the therapist prescribed an exercise that I can do at home to improve my range of motion and hopefully, relieve the source of my pain. Plus, I can begin to ride my bike again, something that I have sorely, no pun intended, missed. So, I'll start slowly with short rides and work up to longer distances as time goes by. As of now, it does not seem that there is an urgent need for any imaging until I can get my orthopedist to order a scan when I see him for my knee treatments later this month.

I don't know why I torture myself. I fell asleep listening to the Cubs once again lose a game to an inferior team, the San Francisco Giants, by a final score of 3 - 6. That loss still allowed the Cubs to remain in first place in the NL Central, 1.5 games ahead of the losing Brewers. But to suggest that a team that won over 100 games last year, the Cubs, can lose to any team, anytime, is being disingenuous. If the Tigers are a bad team, so too are the Giants and that makes them a team that the Cubs should defeat regularly, no excuses. The Cubs and the Giants play again today @ 3:45 p.m.

Speaking of the woeful Tigers, they once again lost to the Pirates, another bad, sub .500 team, by a score of 3 - 6. In this case, I have no expectations that the Tigers should be able to defeat the Pirates as the Pirates aren't as bad as the Tigers nor the Giants. Still, why should the Tigers be able to charge Major League money for a Minor League level game? Just saying. The 51 - 61 in the AL Central Tigers and the Pirates play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

My beloved Red Sox are once again playing good baseball. They defeated a team with a winning record in the same AL East division, the 3rd place Tampa Bay Rays, by a score of 2 - 0. Since the 2nd place Yankees fell to the less than stellar, last place Bluejays, the Sox now have a full four game lead over the Yankees. The Sox are not perfect, but they are at least a Major League caliber team. The Sox and the Rays play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

Since I was talking about minor-league baseball earlier, let me state that the West Michigan White Caps, AKA the "Caps", defeated the Lake, County, OH Captains yesterday in what was not a pitching duel, by a final score of 15 - 7. The Caps are the "A" level affiliate of the Tigers and so their success may bode good things for the Tigers in a few years. The Caps now have a 2nd-half record of 32 - 12  in the MWL East and are off today before they welcome the Great Lakes Loons, the "A" level affiliate of the Los Angelos Dodgers on Thursday @ 7:00 p.m.

I may or may not go to the theater to see Top Gun in all of its jingoistic glory this afternoon. Mary needs help on the index and I am willing to forego my attendance if she needs me to. However, on my birthday, August 30, I will be in the audience for Airplane, the movie, starring the late Leslie Nielsen. A chance to see one of my all time favorites on my birthday is just too good to pass up. In either case, a gigantic bucket of popcorn and a ginormous cherry-cola await.

I just had to include this clip from Top Gun to illustrate my point.

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

I made it to my drawing class last evening, and I like to think that I am improving. However, the chance to do something that is outside my normal activities is the best part of that activity.

I need to marshal my resources and mow the vast lawns of the Palatial Estate. Even in my less than perfect condition, and knowing that I can't hurt my hip any further, should allow me to accomplish that task. Then I can be off to the movies.

STWD is still doing fine and so we have dodged another bullet caused by her recent altercation.

I nearly forgot to mention the passing yesterday of one of my "Guitar Heroes", Glen Campbell. His ability to play placed him in the pantheon of the truly great players in history. Mary forwarded this You Tube clip of a performance that showcased his talents. Many other great players, such as the late Chet Atkins, were in the group to witness Campbell's virtuosity as he played what became his signature song, Gentle on My Mind, a song written by banjo virtuoso, the late John Hartford. Here is the link that Mary sent to me for your enjoyment.

https://youtu.be/ETkzK9pXMio

I guess that that old song by the Righteous Brothers, Rock and Roll Heaven about having a Helluva band, is truer than ever now. What the hey, here is a link to the Righteous Brothers performing that song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FHA1HqJoYg


We have a current temperature of 67° under partly cloudy skies. Today's high is forecast by the NWS to reach 78°, also under partly cloudy skies. The sun will rise @ 6:44 a.m. and set @ 8:55 p.m. Ciao.