Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:00 a.m. in "The City."

Well, I came down off of my need for speed yesterday, which meant that I had to get back to the mundane duties/activities of everyday life as a retired person. That means watering the vast lawns and gardens of the PE, mowing those vast lawns, and doing some indoor chores. Like I have often said, I never knew why my mother in law was so busy in her retirement, and now I do.

We did take separate walks with the fur-children yesterday, as is often the case, but by the time we got out the door, the temperature had risen to the mid-80° range and the humidity had picked up. STWD and I didn't stay out long, we just walked to The Bookman and picked up the Thursday edition of the Grand Haven Tribune and came home. I found time to do the X-word puzzle and also mount a curtain rod. Gosh, I was busy. : - ) In addition, I helped Mary with some measurements for sewing and managed to thread her sewing machine, including the bobbin. She took the class on the machine, but I still had to do a task for which my old eyes are not well suited, neither reading the instruction manual nor threading the needle.

We've narrowed the replacement carpet choices down to two possibles, but it may really be just one. We have to try the larger samples in several locations around the manse to see which one looks best in all light and wall color conditions. Any way you slice it, I won't like the two days of hubbub that comes with that replacement later this summer.

Speaking of activities around the PE, we got the notification from the landscapers that they want to begin the changes on our parkway today and finish it next Monday. Since the parkway is mostly dead grass and weeds now, we probably won't notice. However, if the forecast from the NWS is accurate for today, that start to the landscaping may not happen until next week. That same forecast shows that the rains will begin in earnest around 6:00 a.m., so who really knows. Literally time will tell. We have a current temperature of 75° under cloudy skies with relative humidity of 57%. Later, as the rains come near the sun rise @ 6:23 a.m. and well before the sun sets @ 9:18 p.m., the humidity will also rise.

I was surprised to realize that baseball began again yesterday. I was so busy, that I didn't notice that the 58 - 38, 1st place in the NL Central Cubs, defeated the 48 - 47, 3rd place Cardinals 9 - 6, to start the second-half of the MLB™ season in style. The Cubs of late have been strong in the second-half of the season.

That win required the 31st comeback by the Cubs, capped by a five-run 5th inning to seal the victory. Starting pitcher, Kyle Hendricks, whom I had written off a few weeks ago, got the win as Ian Happ hit a two-run home-run and Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant came to life. Jason Heyward also contributed three RBIs to the cause. The Cubs and the Cards play again today @ 2:20 p.m. in the "Friendly Confines."

Speaking of teams that come from behind a lot, 28 times this season, my beloved, 69 - 30, 1st place in the AL East, best record in the Major-Leagues™ Red Sox, start their second-half tonight @ 7:10 p.m. with a visit to Comerica Park. They are in MI to face the 41 - 57, 3rd place in the AL Central Tigers. I am always torn when the Sox or Cubs play the Tigers, as I am a life-long Cubs and Red Sox fan, but I have adopted the Tigers since I now live in Michigan. When the Sox and Cubs play each other, I feel like my head will explode.

Speaking of MI teams, the 48 - 49, Caps, are languishing in 7th place in the MWL East, following their recent 5 - 8 loss to the 47 - 49, also 7th place, albeit in the MWL West, Kane County Cougars. The Caps and the Cougars play tonight @ 7:30 p.m.

Mary and I were out and about yesterday afternoon following a late lunch and a visit to JWs. I did my usually effective sad-puppy face and convinced her to make veg-a-roni for dinner. As always, I loved it. Plus, she has started using some of the grind that I am now making from that Father's Day cookbook gift from Adam and Steph, and Mary's version of veg-a-roni is outstanding,

As an aside, Steph and Adam will be visiting the PE for a couple of days starting later this afternoon. With luck, they may be able to drive between the rain drops. Ciao.