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

I awoke about 2:00 a.m. and tossed and turned until I gave it up and went downstairs with the fur-children in tow. Since it was raining, neither of them was inclined to go out. So, I washed the dishes, emptied the dishwasher and then headed back here to my desk.

We have a current temperature of 49° under rainy/cloudy skies as we head into the sunrise @ 6:23 a.m. Today, the NWS is forecasting a high temperature of 63°, also under partly cloudy skies. That high temperature is about 10° greater than yesterday. The sun will set today @ 8:59 p.m.

Another great opportunity to segue into the baseball report for yesterday.

The 21 - 15, 3rd in the NL Central, just .5 games behind the Cardinals and the Pirates Cubs, once again defeated that other team from Chicago, this time by a final score of 8 - 4. Jon Lester looked strong and Willson Contreras continued his offensive onslaught, as he got three RBIs and one home-run. The game was delayed by rain for a long time. Sadly, for them, that other team is in a rebuilding mode, so they are not really an indicator of how well the Cubs are able to play. The Cubs and that other team play again today @ 2:20 p.m. EDT.

My beloved 27 - 12 Red Sox, are tied with the Yankees for first place in the AL East, following a win over the 21 - 19 Blue Jays. Hanley Ramirez hit two home runs and David Price had his curve-ball working as the Sox picked up the win, 5 - 2. The Sox and the Jays play again today in Toronto @ 1:07 p.m.

The 16 - 22, 3d in the AL Central, Tigers looked like the Tigers we expected this year. They lost to the 22 - 16 Seattle Mariners, 5 - 9. The Tigers and the Mariners play again today in Comerica Park @ 1:10 p.m.

The 19 - 16, 4th in the MWL East, West Michigan Whitecaps took on the 15 - 18 Burlington, IA Bees and the Caps came away with the win, 6 - 0 in a make-up game. The Caps are off today before meeting the Ft. Wayne, IN TinCaps in Ft. Wayne Monday night @ 7:05 p.m. The Caps are playing solid baseball, but they are not the dominant team of last year.

Yesterday, we took a walk to the library with the fur-children to pick up some books before we set out to run some errands. We made several stops and picked up some plants for the gardens of the vast PE along with some groceries.

Today, we hope to stay home and do some gardening before Mary has to tackle the revisions on the last index, probably tomorrow. I believe I saw in her email that she has been offered another title, but unless it is very, and I emphasize very, interesting, she will likely turn it down. However, what I could glean from the title, which is all I ever see on my tablet, it may be a book she just has to do. We shall see.

Otherwise, baseball, gardening, reading and walks with the fur-children are on tap for today. Ciao.