Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City."

Per the NWS, we have a current temperature of 66° under mostly-clear skies, as we drop down to an overnight low of 60°. Later today, the temperature is expected to rise to a very summer-like 84°, with  59% relative humidity. That shouldn't feel too bad, as long as I can stay relatively idle. I will have to water, as the chance of scattered rain is only 20%. The sun will rise @ 6:34 a.m. and set later tonight @ 9:07 p.m.

The 61 - 44, 1st in the NL Central Cubs, were off yesterday before they open an abbreviated 2-game series against the 3rd place, 55 - 52 Pirates tonight in Pittsburgh @ 7:05 p.m.

My beloved 1st place in the AL East, 65 - 33 Red Sox, eked out a 2 run win over the 58 - 48, 1st place in the NL East Phillies, 2 - 1. All it took was a ground-rule double in the bottom of the ninth to cement the win in a seesaw game. As I suspected, 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia is still not ready to return to the Sox' lineup, so the Sox traded for journeyman 2nd baseman Ian Kinsler. Kinsler is 36 years old, two years older than Pedroia, but with similar career offensive numbers. He is expected to play 2nd base for the balance of this season.The Sox and the Phillies play again tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The 45 - 62, 3rd place in the AL Central Tigers were also off yesterday. They host the 48 - 53, 5th place in the NL Central Reds, tonight @ 7:10 p.m.

The now 5th place in the MWL East Whitecaps defeated the 51 - 55 South Bend, IN Cubs once again, which dropped the SB Cubs to 7th place. The Caps and the SB Cubs play again tonight @ 7:05 p.m.

Nearly on schedule yesterday, the USCG ships and a lone Canadian Coast Guard ship arrived in GH around 1:00 p.m. We were there to watch and take some pictures. In addition, we snapped a few pix of the annual Coast Guard Fest carnival as we walked down Washington.

As always, there were large crowds on hand to greet the ships. Several local dignitaries also went out in smaller boats to board the Escanaba and ride with her into port. I'll share some of the carnival pix and also the pix of the ships as they arrived.

Washington will soon be filled with crowds and rides.

While this is a Jeep from one of the rides, I have never before seen one with a Detroit Diesel.

I forgot to include  the following picture in yesterday's blog. This is a Mercedes Benz Unimog, perhaps the ultimate all-wheel drive vehicle.

First in was the Canadian Coast Guard's Constable Carriere, a patrol ship, followed by the USCGC Neah Bay, an icebreaker, and finally, the USCGC Escanaba. There was a fourth, smaller ship or tugboat, but I was unable to identify her. The Constable Carriere, was the first ship we sighted as she rounded the point and headed into the channel from the "Big Lake" with all flags flying.

Next in was the Neah Bay.

Last, but certainly not least, was the USCGC Escanaba.

This is the ship on which the local dignitaries rode into port.

In an attempt to add various elements of interest to my pictures, I used my zoom lens and shot through some natural and man-made things.

This is the USCGC Escanab shot through a waterfront sculpture.

Also on hand, were smaller USCG boats to assist with controlling the many watercraft that came to see the arrivals.

As you may or may not know, Grand Haven is one of 21 cities designated as a Coast Guard City, by an Act of Congress in 1998. Grand Haven was the first city so designated on November 13, 1998. GH held their first Coast Guard themed event in 1924, a picnic, and in 1974, the city officially recognized the annual Coast Guard Fest. A ship's anchor sits atop Dewey Hill, above the official title.

Today, will be good day to do as little as possible. Between Sunday and yesterday, I logged over 18,000 steps on my pedometer. Mary had similar numbers on hers.

We will walk the fur-children and then I plan to do very little other than water and read. Ciao.