Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 8:30 p.m. in "The City."

Let's start with some good news. Mary and I traveled to Hackley Hospital in Muskegon so that I could get a sedated MRI on my aching yak. Fortunately, in spite of my size, I was able to fit inside the machine while sedated and the test went smoothly. I now have to await my appointment at the yak doctor on Monday to get a final diagnosis as to the cause of my aching yak.

I have to take a few moments to share something that I have been meaning to say for a few day. Mary has been a trouper throughout my yak ordeal. I think I have probably said on many occasions that I have not been to the easiest person to live with, as I don't do sick/pain well. However, Mary has been there for me and in spite of my being a pain in the patootie, she has taken care of me, driven me and put up with me. A man can't ask for more than that.

In fact, Mary was responsible for the first trainspotting of the day today. At approximately 10:30 a.m., I heard the train rumbling past the manse heading south. According to my apprentice trainspotter, EMD GP 38-2 locomotive #2019 was towing a long line of cars. Mary, in her expanded role as a solo trainspotting apprentice, recorded the following: 11 CHCs, six DWTCs, two with corrosion resistant stripes, six DBTCs, and five GTCs.

Later this afternoon, the same MMRR locomotive rolled by on the RSTL towing 10 CHCs, one DBTC, and one GTC with a black stripe. All in all, a good day of trainspotting.

Football news was less than great yesterday, as the 4 - 1 in the Mac 10 NIU Huskies football team, fell to the Rockets of the University of Toledo, 17 - 27. However, the Huskies are still in 2nd place in the Mac 10 West Conference. The Huskies play the Ball State Cardinals on November 9, @ 7:00 P.M.

The Spartans of Michigan State take the field again tomorrow versus the Nittany Lions of Penn State University @ 12:00. The Spartans are 2nd in the Big 10 with a 6 - 2 overall record, but a 4 - 1 record in the Big 10. The Nittany Lions are also in 2nd place in the Big 10 with an overall record of 7 - 1, but also a 4 - 1 record in the Big 10.

The 4th place in the Big 10 Wolverines of Michigan take the field tomorrow @ 7:30 p.m. against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, who are in 5th place in the Big 10. The Wolverines easily handled the Scarlet Knights of Rutgers last week, 35 - 14, after having been thoroughly outplayed by the Nittany Lions in their last game, 13 - 42.

The weather today was mostly sunny with a high temperature in the mid-forties. Tomorrow, the skies will darken and the rains will return with an NWS certainty of 100%. Sunday, T-storms are expected with a 90% chance. The high temperature is forecast to reach the mid-forties once again.

The sun will rise @ 8:23 a.m. and set @ 6:32 p.m. Since Daylight Savings Time is ending, I will once again have to set my watch back by one hour, a task I always dread. I'll also have to set back and clocks that are not connected to the internet. Don't forget to set all your clocks back by one hour before you go to bed.

In other news, Mary finished the last index last night and I edited her work and out it went. The next index comes in early December. Tomorrow, we have to watch the morning shows on MSNBC and then spend some time in the kitchen. I have some cookies to bake and Mary just wants to have some free time. Ciao.