Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just before 4:00 a.m. in "The City."

The current temperature is 45° under rainy skies. Winds of 6 mph make it feel like 42°. Today's high-temperature forecast from the NWS calls for a high of 49º, albeit with a 50% chance for rain.

The sun will rise today @ 6:39 a.m. and set later @ 8:45 p.m.

That Gale Warning remains in effect until 8:00 p.m. tonight. North winds gusting to 35-knot gales and waves 5 to 8 feet are expected from St Joseph to Manistee. Strong winds will cause hazardous waves that could capsize or damage vessels and reduce visibility. But, surf's up!

In addition, that Lakeshore Flood Advisory also remains in effect during those same hours! Minor beach erosion and lakeshore flooding are expected for Mason, Oceana, Muskegon, Ottawa, Allegan, and Van Buren counties. Parking lots and roads along the immediate lakeshore will experience minor flooding. Minor erosion of beaches and sand dunes is also expected.

Finally, the NWS has issued a Flood Advisory for Ottawa County in southwestern Michigan, Newaygo County in west-central Michigan, and Muskegon County in west-central Michigan. Southern Oceana County in west-central Michigan until 3:00 p.m. today. Flooding of roads, yards, streams, and rivers is expected today. That includes minor flooding of the Grand River at Robinson Township and minor flooding of the Muskegon River at Newaygo and Bridgeton. What should you do if you are driving? Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Flooding is especially dangerous at night. Do not drive around barricades.

It was warm early yesterday afternoon when I accompanied the fur-children out for their morning visits. But the rain was falling and STWD didn't like it much. I had to stay out with her until she felt the urge, so to speak. In contrast, Ginger was all business. However, as a terrier mix with long hair, when she gets wet, she gets curly and stays wet for a long time.

Mary took advantage of my overnight kitchen activities and used some of my vegan Italian meatballs with her own version of pasta sauce over spaghetti noodles for our lunch. Both of the fur-children like pasta of any variety. However, their favorite is thin-spaghetti. Ginger was there to get her share, but STWD had vanished to the upstairs after being forced out into the rain and was unavailable to receive her share.

Later, Mary was going to make bean soup for dinner but that morphed into nachos with cheeze, black olives, and refried beans with excessive amounts of salsa. I liked that too. However, while I can always be bought off with soup of almost any variety, Mary is less enamored by soup. Maybe today.

I nearly forgot. Mary and I were introduced to the 21st century when Adam and Steph called and introduced us to a video calling technology for our Android™ Smart Phone. We can see them and they can see us. Will wonders ever cease?

Oh, I was in the man-cave working yesterday when the cordless drill I was using began to smell like it was burning up. It was. It quit working shortly thereafter. You'd think that a drill that I got for free from Adam and which I have severely abused over several years would last longer than eight years or so. But...

Speaking of today, I will be spending time writing and coloring, if the sun comes out, reading in the living room, and finishing a crossword puzzle.

Mary and/or I will probably do some indoor chores, as I discovered when I was downstairs earlier, that there are many kitchen towels ready for laundering. Mary too will likely be reading, doing some coloring, if the sun cooperates, and just sitting with Giner gazing longingly at her mistress.

That's all folks. Ciao.