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."

Our current temperature is 67° under partly-cloudy skies. The NWS, based in GR, still has T-storms in the forecast for today, beginning around 8:00 a.m. and continuing throughout the day at varying, but rising percentages. STWD will not be happy. Our high today is forecast to be 78°.

In addition, the NWS has issued yet another Beach Hazard Statement for the shores of the "Big Lake" from Holland to Grand Haven. That statement includes Rip Currents from 10:00 a.m. today until 8:00 p.m. tonight. The NWS has also issued a Small Craft Warning, which means that there exists a possibility of 15 - 25 knot winds and wave heights of three to five feet. Surf's Up! The sun will rise @ 6:53 a.m. and set later tonight @ 8:42 p.m.

Baseball news yesterday was about .500.

The 65 - 58, once again in a statistical tie for 1st place with the losing Cardinals in the NL Central Cubs, took a game from the 5th place Pirates, 2 - 0. Jon Lester, 10 - 8, pitched a great game and Kris Bryant nailed his 25th home-run, a solo shot. Tonight's game between the Cubs and the Pirates begins @ 7:10 p.m. EDT, as Jose Quintana, 10 - 7 gets the start. 

My beloved, 66 - 59, still in 3rd place in the AL East Red Sox, defeated the 39 - 84, 5th place in the AL East Orioles, 4 - 0. Sadly, Chris Sale, 6 - 11 and the possessor of a $145 million contract extension, has been placed on the 10-day IR with "Elbow Inflammation." Sale has had two solid starts, but this IR stay does not bode well for the rest of this season nor next. The Sox will carry on as they start today's game agains the Orioles @ 1:05 p.m. this afternoon, when Eduardo Rodriguez, 14 - 5 makes his next start for the Sox.

The 37 - 83, 5th place in the AL Central Tigers, got a great pitching performance from Jordan Zimmerman and the bullpen, but lost the game in 12 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays, 0 - 1. The Tigers and the Rays play again this afternoon as Matthew Boyd, 6 - 9, makes the start @ 1:10 p.m.

Unfortunately, the 40 - 83, 8th place in the MWL East West Michigan WhiteCaps, fell to the 68 - 55, 4th place Lake County, OH Captains, 3 - 6. The Caps and the Captains take the field again this afternoon @ 2:00 p.m.

I had a great time at my Irish Jam Session yesterday, while Mary safaried solo to that presentation on the Praying Mantis @ Hemlock Crossing. She had a great time during both the presentation and the walk afterwards. She used our camera and took many pix, some of which I'll include here.

The Praying Mantis has a one-year lifespan from eggs that hatch in the spring.

On the walk that followed, Mary took more photos than I can include, but I'll try to add some that capture the spirit of her adventure.

This is the caterpillar of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

After she was done, I met her at the corner and we made a sojourn to the Kirby House in downtown GH, where we sat on the deck to enjoy some of the scenery along with some adult libations. Mary took some pix of the Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium and of the boat traffic in the channel while we were up there.

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Note the large amount of boat traffic in the channel behind the stadium.

I like this pic a lot, as it captures both the tug boat looking craft tied-up by the Sea Wall, and a large cruiser in the channel.

Boats were coming and going the entire time we were on the deck @ the Kirby.

Today, I had hopes of grilling out, but if the NWS forecast is accurate, that won't be happening. Instead, Mary will be preparing the ears of corn on the stove-top. I'll be reading more of my latest novel, perhaps getting in some art time, and also watching baseball. Mary will continue her efforts on my kitchen apron, done in cross-stitch. Ciao.