Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 4:30 a.m. in "The City."

As predicted by the NWS in GR, there is a Winter Storm Watch in effect from noon today until noon tomorrow. Strong winds and ice-buildup that will cause trees limbs to fall and possible power outages are possible along with hazardous driving conditions. The current temperature is 37° as the winds continue to build. The NWS is forecasting the high for today to reach 41°, but I know what those winds will do to the wind-chill factor.

Those winds along with the icy conditions caused the sponsors to cancel the annual Lubber Cup due to what is being called a "Weather Trifecta." That means strong winds, cold temperatures combined to make the conditions too hazardous for the rowers. Said coach John Bancheri of the Grand Valley State Rowing Club, "We can row in the rain, we can row in the cold, but now we're talking 30s on Saturday with a cold, driving rain." He called it the , "Trifecta of misery." Winds of 20 - 25 mph with gusts exceeding 40 mph posed a serious safety risk to the athletes. The sun will rise @7:04 a.m. and set @ 8:26 p.m.

We got up late yesterday, well really, Mary and the fur-children got up late, I got up a bit earlier, and then we had grilled-cheese and tomato sandwiches with Coleslaw in honor of Grilled Cheese Day. STWD and I walked to The Bookman and Sugar got her ritual treat while I got the Grand Haven Tribune. Mary and Ginger walked around the block just before the rains set in, which would have soaked Ginger for hours.

Somewhere in all of that excitement, Ginger and I did some trainspotting and we saw/heard locomotive #2019 heading south @ 8:30 a.m., leading a long line of empty cars that included; 11 CHCs, many graffiti covered, 10 DBTCs, and one DWTC.

Later, @ 12:27 p.m., we saw/heard that same locomotive heading north towing 10 DBTCs, three DWTCs, and three CHCs, all loaded.

Sports news yesterday was mostly not good.

The now 6 - 7 Cubs fell to the 8 - 5 Braves, 0 - 4. Yu Darvish balked and was never the same after that. All four runs came after the meltdown caused by his anxiety over that pitch. The Cubs and the Braves are scheduled to play again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT.

The 4 - 9 Tigers were once again outclassed by the 7 - 7 Yankees as they fell to those Yankees, 6 - 8. Those teams play again toxay @ 1:10p.m. EDT.

My beloved 11- 2 Red Sox did win over the 5 - 9 Orioles, 7 - 3. Those two teams play again today @ 1:05 p.m.

The 6 - 2 Caps are now tied for 1st in the MWL East with the South Bend Cubs after the Caps loss to the Lansing Lugnuts, 2 - 4. Those teams are scheduled to play tonight @ 6:05 p.m.

Otherwise, tomorrow, indoor chores that will keep us out of the inclement weather will predominate. Mary has to take out one of her knitting projects since she somehow lost track of her stitch count along the way. Ciao.