Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 5:30 a.m. in "The City."

We have a current temperature of 43° according to the NWS, and 44° according to my own DTWS (Desktop Weather Station). Either way, it is chilly out there. Today, the NWS is forecasting a high of 52° with a 60% chance for showers in the late afternoon/evening. Tomorrow, the forecast calls for T-storms with a 100% probability. STWD will not be happy. The sun will rise in less than two hours @ 6:40 a.m. and set later @ 8:44 p.m.

Baseball was mostly quiet yesterday, as I await tonight's games. The 14 - 12, 2nd place in the NL Central Cubs are in Seattle to play the Mariners. The Cubs will send LHP Cole Hamels with his 3 - 0 record, against the Mariners' RHP Felix Hernandez and his own record of 1 - 2 @ 10:10 p.m. EDT.

The Cub's may activate SS Addison Russell for Friday's game against the currently 1st place Cardinals with their 18 - 10 record in the NLC, and a 3 game lead over the Cubs. A decision about Russell's playing time and/or a shift of Javier Baez back to his regular 2nd base slot will be made by Cubs' manager, Joe Maddon then. Baez has been on fire @ 2nd, so...

My beloved 12 - 17, 4th place in the AL East Red Sox, showed some serious offensive power last night as they defeated the 14 - 17, 4th place in the AL West Oakland As, 9 - 4. The Sox used a 6 run 3rd inning barrage to finish off the As. Tonight, J.D. Martinez is scheduled to come off the DL tonight and the Sox could use his powerful bat to continue their climb back to their rightful place 1st in the ALE. Hopefully, Martinez' back spasms are in the past. The Sox send RHP Rick Porcello to the mound to try for his 2nd win against 3 losses @ 7:10 p.m. EDT, while the As counter with RHP Aaron Brooks, who is 2 - 2.

The 12 - 14, 3rd place in the AL Central Tigers will send RHP Tyler Ross, 1 - 1, to the mound against the 16 - 12 1st place in the NL East Phillies and their own RHP Vince Velasquez, 1 - 0, @ 7:05 p.m. Speculation is rampant about the future of this year's Tigers' #1 draft choice, RHP Casey Mize, following his AA debut no-hitter. Is he ready? Or, do the Tigers with their already weakened pitching staff wait for more results. Or, will they trade LHP Matthew Boyd, or... Stay tuned.

The 10 - 12, 7th place in the MWL East Caps, are in Clinton, IA @ 7:30 P.M., tonight to face the 12 - 10 in the MWL West Lumberkings.

After we bid adieu to Mary's brother, Ed yesterday morning, we ran some errands in the rain and got some things we wanted and didn't get other things at the various big-box stores we visited. Otherwise, John began painting the three latest rooms that needed a color change in the manse. He expects to be done by week's end. I hope so.

We picked up the fur-children from camp and they were just as glad to see us as we were to see them. Unfortunately, Ginger had a small "accident" in the dining room after her dinner. Oh well, they say when you adopt a dog you should be prepared for them to eat the carpet, chew the furniture, have "accidents", etc. So....

Today, I have my final P/T appointment for my surgically repaired shoulder. I will have to work on a more complete rehab on my own, as more professional P/T wouldn't help a great deal. Ben, my therapist, has done wonders with my rehab and I couldn't be any more thankful. Now, it's up to me, that and about three more months.

I am thinking about going to the movies today, but what I'd rally like to do is to do nothing for one day. Tomorrow, I have an apple pie to bake for our book club meeting, so I 'd like some downtime. Just saying. The movie I want to see, the highly touted and critically acclaimed, Avengers: Endgame, will be around for many more weeks, so there is no rush. Ciao.