Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be, across the nation and across the world. It is just past 2:00 p.m. in "The City." The NWS has forecast a 49% chance for showers around 3:00 p.m. today. 

What does that mean? Well, within a given area, 49% of the area may receive some showers. What it really means is that I will be either spared watering duties today, or I won't. Oh, the forecast also calls for a possibility of T-storms any time now. Guess what? I haven't heard any thunder, so far. 

The current and apparently high temperature for today will reach 74°. Much the same for tomorrow. The sunset tonight will be at 9:28 p.m.

In spite of my never-ending hope as a die-hard Cubs fan, things do not look good on the northside of Chicago. The Cubs spent a boatload of money this past winter on free agents, and they extended the contracts of several players this year, but, so far, they are five games under .500 as they near the midseason mark. 

I told Mary that she heard it here first, David Ross, the Cubs' manager, will soon get the axe. Is it his fault that a free-agent pitcher who was supposed to be a proven winner can't seem to get any left-handed hitters out? Is it his fault that the bullpen has been mostly terrible? Perhaps not, but you can't fire players with huge contracts, so guess who that leaves.

Otherwise, I have been spending time in my studio, doodling, coloring, listening to music, and staying inside out of the smoky air that the Canadian wildfires have been sending our way. 

Mary has been happily print-reading of late and we have been enjoying a collective ear-read over meals. She has put down her cross-stitching for a while. She tried coloring, but that didn't prove satisfying. I think that the problem is that she likes to take long walks with Ginger and this foul air has made that impossible. I need to walk more too, but even short walks outside the manse have not been very enjoyable. Sigh.

Tomorrow looks like more of the same, at least for me. I had hoped to spend some time taking photos around the area, but this looks like it will be one of those years where none of my hoped for outdoor activities will be achieved, at least in the short-term.

I think that's enough for my first blog in a while. Ciao.