Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

A current temperature of 54° is chilly when compared to the terrific temperatures we enjoyed Thursday and and Friday. But, this is Michigan, so anything weather-wise is possible. In fact, it is raining right now and that wasn't in the original forecast from the NWS. In addition, the high temperature forecast for today is only 63°, about 13° lower than yesterday. We are also expecting the rain to continue sporadically throughout the day after the sun rises @ 6:17 a.m. and well before it sets @ 9:05 p.m.

When we were out for the second walk with the fur-children yesterday, we thought that anyone who scheduled a wedding for Central Park today would have perfect weather. So much for those plans. Plus, I am still planning to walk to the library for the Irish Jam session today, so I'll have to juggle my guitar, and an umbrella along with assorted other paraphernalia. I love being able to use that word, paraphernalia, as it hearkens back to the time when we were young and didn't have a care in the world, except for the welfare of Adam, which required us to carry what we dubbed "wahphernalia", the assorted things that we might need to provide for his care.

Once again, I wasn't around for the afternoon run of the train, Ginger was, but she is only able to provide an alert, not a count. However, I can confirm, with additional input from my apprentice trainspotter, Mary, that the morning run, that happened @ 11:11 a.m. was fully loaded, as MMRR EMD 38-2 locomotives, 2025 and 2019, were working hard to pull 21 CHCs. 25 DBTCs, two DWTCs, and two GTCs. Both my apprentice and yours truly felt the house shaking with the their passage.

I was recently able to confirm that the HESR on the side of the cab of #2025 is indeed part of the nomenclature for the Huron and Eastern Railroad, which is a short-line operator in West Michigan, operating under the umbrella of the Mid-Michigan Railroad, MMRR, due to various acquisitions and mergers over the years. The MMRR operates under the bigger umbrella that belongs to the Genesee & Wyoming Railroad a conglomerate of multiple short-lines here in Michigan. If freight is moving over a short-line in Michigan, it is moving on tracks that are owned.operated by one of the various companies in the system conglomeration. Interestingly, the headquarters for the Huron and Eastern Railroad is in Vassar, MI, about 10 miles from Frankenmuth, MI.

But as usual, I digress.

Baseball news yesterday was once again 50/50 or .500. The 23 - 18, 4th in the NL Central Cubs did what they should do, they dispatched the 15 - 30, 5th in the NL Central Reds last night, by a score of 8 - 1. The game was well pitched by Jon Lester, with the exception of one home run by the Reds. The Cubs and the Reds play two today to make up for a rain out earlier in the season. Game one is @ 1:10 p.m.

My beloved, 30 - 15, statistically tied for 1st place in the AL East with the Yankees, Red Sox, fell to the 14 -30 5th/last place in that same division, Orioles, 4 - 7. The Sox should be able to defeat the Orioles any game, any day. Those two teams face each other again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The 20 - 24, 2nd in the AL Central Tigers, lost to the 25 - 19, 2nd in the AL West, Mariners, last night, 4 - 5. The Mariners did what they should be able to do, beat an inferior team. The Tigers and the Mariners once again play tonight @ 9:10 p.m. EDT.

The 21 - 19, 3rd in the MWL East Caps, defeated the 19 - 22, 5th in the MWL East, Lake, County, OH Captains, 7 - 2. Those two teams play again tonight at the Fifth/Third Ballpark @ 7:05 p.m.

Otherwise, not much is happening. We got some of our errands run yesterday and we hope to continue our gardening on Sunday, weather permitting. I'll be jamming this afternoon and Mary will be sewing, I think. Ciao.