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

Sadly, part of my youth is still gone. Peter Tork of the Monkees is still in Rock and Roll heaven and Israel Kamakawiwo'ole is still there too. Israel wasn't really a rock and roll performer per se, but I liked his music, especially his rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Many of us are familiar with the version performed by Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz. So, I have included IZ's version first and Judy's version second.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I&list=RDEMpPpdEvy4xaOCo8fwanZtHA&start_radio=1

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gJwGjxt-Zw

I guess I'd be remiss if I didn't include a Peter Tork song too. This is one that didn't get much airplay back in the 60s, but it showcases Peter's vocal talents nicely. It is entitled A Better World. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvhH_pbzLqY&start_radio=1&list=RDUvhH_pbzLqY

But once again, I digress. Here in "The City", we have a current temperature of 31°. Our high temperature today is forecast by the NWS to reach 40°. However, that forecast also calls for cloudy skies and rain showers later this morning after 10:00 a.m., becoming steady as the day progresses. Not good for people like us, who planned to go downtown for the annual Frozen in Time. I can't see us out there with our camera. Sigh. The unseen sun will rise @ 7:30 a.m. and set later @ 6:26 p.m.

There is also a Winter Weather Watch in effect from 2:00 a.m. Sunday until 1:00 a.m. Monday. 50 - 60 mph winds are in the forecast with the possibility of downed tree limbs and widespread power outages.

In Mesa, AZ, the Cubs are suffering through yet another cold day with a current temperature of 37° as they struggle to reach today's high of 55°. Fortunately, by Tuesday, the highs will reach into the 70s.

In Lakeland, FL. where the Tigers train, the current temperture is 73° as they head for a high temperature of 87° under partly-cloudy skies.

In Ft. Myers, FL, where my beloved Red Sox are located this and every recent spring, the current temperature is 71°. As the day progresses, the NWS has forecast a high temperature of 86°, also under partly-cloudy skies.

Ginger and I spotted both ends of the train run on the RSTL. At 8:46 a.m., MMRR EMD GP-2 locomotives 2019 and 2025 passed by towing 12 CHCs, six DBTCs, six DWTCs, and one GTC. Later, @ 1:55 p.m., those some locos passed by towing seven CHCs, four DBTCs and four DWTCs.

By way of explanation I dubbed two of three types of tank cars Dreaded Black Tank Cars and Dreaded White Tank Cars due to their cargoes. In the case of the DBTCs, they can carry crude oil that has been known to explode and burn as it passes through cities and towns along their route. The DWTCs can carry cyanide or anhydrous ammonia, used as farm fertilizer, but which can also explode with devastating consequences. I'm not certain of the cargo carried by a Gray Tank Car, (GTC).

I was listening to Coast to Coats AM, and George Noory when I got up around 4:00 a.m. I listened until George played his signature Friday closing song, Listening to Coast to Coast sung by UFO Phil. Here once again, is Phil, in all his glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqWPCsNke24

As I previously noted, while Mary was at the big-box nearly everything store yesterday, I was in the kitchen making vegan sausages and sauteing peppers. One of those sausages and some of the peppers became part of the pizza that Mary made for our dinner.

Later after Mary returned, we stopped at the library to pick up some books I had on hold and make some copies. We also made a stop in Spring Lake for more humidifier water.

We had planned some outings today, but the weather forecast may keep us indoors. Ciao.