Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

I was asleep until 11:15 last night until Mary called for the sleeping Ginger to come down for her final outdoor activity. I'm not sure if Ginger ever went down, but by then, I was up, so to speak. At any rate, I went downstairs, did the remaining dishes in the sink, and emptied the dishwasher. Once again, the kitchen is ready for battle.

We have a current temperature of 52° that feels like 50° as we drop toward the morning low of 51°. According to the NWS forecast, the high temperature later today will be 55° under cloudy skies in the morning and sunny skies in the afternoon. It looks like the rain is over for a few days. The NWS has also indicated that there is a Dense Fog Advisory in effect until 10:00 a.m. today. A furtive look out the WW confirms the foggy conditions. The sun will rise @ 6:14 a.m. before it sets @ 9:09 p.m.

At 9:07 a.m. yesterday, Ginger and I spotted the southbound run of MMRR locomotives 2019 and 2025, towing three CHCs., three GTCs, and 16 DBTCs, all loaded. Later, everyone present in the house was poised to see the northbound run of those same locomotives, and in fact, we did see them @ 1:01 p.m., but that's all we saw, the two locomotives dead-heading back towards Muskegon. I have to believe that running those two diesels both directions with few or no cars is not cost effective
Speaking of all those present, Dennis and Joyce found the PE around 11:30 a.m. yesterday. Naturally, the fur-children had to bark them in, but as time passed, the fur-children became comfortable with the presence of the "Strangers."

We ate a vegan lunch, all of which I had prepared in advance. I think that Dennis and Joyce liked their first known exposure to, and taste of vegan foods, which included my vegan sausages, my vegan meatballs, and my vegan Coleslaw. I had prepared the Coleslaw with the same dressing, but with a rough-chopped texture unlike what I regularly make. Mary liked it this way, I'm ambivalent. The flavor was excellent, but I'm undecided on the texture.

Over lunch and as the afternoon wore on, we talked about the old days some, but more about current events in the world at large and in the Tri-Cities too. Since it was rainy and cold yesterday, we took a driving tour of the area and saw how high the waters are in Spring Lake, nearly up to the road surface. There weren't many people on the streets due to the weather and also due to the fact that The Season officially begins next weekend with the Memorial Day holiday. After that, it is off to the races. We said our goodbyes in the rain and sent our guests on their way.

Dennis and I have been friends since we were 14 years old and freshmen in high school. We'd lost touch for a while after we moved to GH, but we hope to have more contact in the future.

Speaking of the future, there isn't one this year for the 20 - 27, 3rd in the AL Central Tigers, as they lost to the 2nd place in the AL Central, 20 - 23 Twins, 2 - 4. The Tigers are, and I'm being kind here, a Triple A level baseball team charging Major League Baseball prices for the product that they are putting on the field. Hopefully, like the Cubs, the Tigers' rebuilding efforts will produce long term. more Major League Baseball like results/benefits. The Tigers and the Twins play again tonight @ 8:10 p.m.

The 25 - 19, 3rd place in the NL Central Cubs, were off yesterday as they await the arrival of the 22 - 23 in the AL Central 1st place Indians to the Friendly Confines for tonight's game @ 7:05 p.m. The Cubs are the better team and they should be able to beat the Indians.

My beloved, 32 - 15, 2nd place by 1/2 game in the AL East Red Sox, were also off yesterday as they travel to Tampa Bay to meet the 22 - 23, 3rd place in AL East Rays, tonight @ 7:10 p.m. The Sox should also come away with victories.

The 23 - 19, 3rd place in the MWL East Caps, were rained out in their game against the 20 - 22, 5th place Ft. Wayne TinCaps. Those two teams will instead play a double-header today beginning @ 11:00 a.m. in the Fifth/Third Ballpark, with the second game to follow shortly after the end of the first game.

Otherwise, I have a barber's appointment today and then later this afternoon/early evening, we will travel to Muskegon to get some expert advice on the use of our new camera. I am gong to relax in between. Ciao.