Good early morning GH. According to the non-sophisticated analog display on the desktop, we have just passed 3:30 AM. Our current temperature is a chilly 53 degrees. Any threat of showers is only 40% for today. What's not to like. Our high today may reach 60. By week's end, the lower 70s is possible. I just hope that the fall-fest scheduled for downtown on the 19th is not the same as spring-fest, at least temperature-wise. The post uses that one as a fund raiser and I assume that this one is intended to be the same. It was so chilly in the evening that people stayed away or indoors. Only another two weeks to go.

On Sunday we got up late and started to take a walk with Sugar the Weather Dog. Mary said that she was fine, but when we hit the corner and the wind hit her full on, she decided it was time to turn back. She was more warmly dressed than me, since I was in my regular summer uniform of shorts and a t-shirt. So Sugar and I soldiered on. However, when the rain drops started to fall, Sugar was ready to come home. We made it in time, and watched as the rain became more steady and intense.

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, we thought that we might go downtown for a viewing of the Lions game. By the time we were ready to go, Mary thought I needed to change out of my summer uniform shorts and give in to long jeans. I am glad that she insisted. Even with a fleece and those long jeans, it was cool as the wind whipped down Washington and Harbor Drive. We did take our umbrellas, but by game's end, they weren't necessary.

We ended up at our alternate watering hole and watched the Lions lose to the Packers, 9 - 22. We couldn't see the Bears game as I suspected, due to a local blackout, but that was no loss as they too fell by a score of 18 - 26 to the Saints. I always used to say that I saved three hours on a Sunday afternoon by not watching the Bears. Now I invest that same time in the Lions. Since I haven't suffered as long as the people who have lived here all their lives, I can take it. I wish I could say the same ting for the boys in blue.

The Tigers play at home tonight, hoping to get out in front of their 1 - 1 series tie with the As. My beloved Red Sox also play tonight in Florida against the Rays. The Sox have a 2 - 0 series lead.

While we were sitting at our alternate watering hole, we saw what we thought to be a small ship making its way up the channel. It turned out to be a bit larger. Here's a link to the Manitowoc, the ship we thought was small. http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?MMSI=367341010 She's not as small as we first thought. It is likely that she was visiting the local BLP dock with a load of coal for the power plant that we visited on Saturday. If you need more information on her, you need to go to the Grand Haven Tribune's web site http://www.grandhaventribune.com/ and peruse one of the columns by Dick Fox under the title "Ship's Log."

Today, more work for Mary, more walks for Sugar and me, and of course, the chance to play more music. We have an HVAC contractor coming tomorrow, I think, or maybe today, as Mary thinks. In either case, we'll be here. However, if the estimate get's to be too much, I'll live with another sweater and a small electric heater.

I hope to hear from the neurosurgeon's office today too regarding my recent MRI results. Ciao.

Good morning GH. We've just passed 3:30 AM here in "The City" and the current temperature is 67 degrees under purportedly cloudy skies. Unfortunately, the darkness that is normal for this time of the morning is having a concealing effect. We are also under a flood watch until early Monday AM. Slow moving T-storms and washed out roads in rural areas are being predicted. I feel like Chicken Little is in charge of the weather app. Sugar the Weather Dog is not in concurrence if her current posture is any indicator.

Saturday saw us on a tour of the town with Sugar and then later a tour of our locally owned power generation plant. A fascinating place and Mary will share pictures on her blog. Even with the requisite ear plugs, the noise inside the plant was considerable. I guess when a boiler is running full blast, (now I know where that phrase "Full  Blast" comes from). There was also the pulverizing of the coal inside a crushing machine into a fine powder about the consistency of talc. That machine is best described as a set of 12 steel bowling balls whirling around inside a machine into which previously crushed coal is introduced for further reduction. That powdered coal is injected into the furnaces to boil the water and make steam etc. Any visions of sweaty men shoveling coal into the maws of an open furnace are the stuff of history books.

Later we walked from Harbor Island, the location of the power plant, and stopped in our favorite watering hole for lunch and to watch the MSU Spartans defeat the Hawkeyes of Iowa, 26 - 14. We then scurried to the post for a quick one and the beginnings of the Michigan Wolverines ultimate defeat of the Minnesota Golden Gophers 42 - 13. When we got home I was a bit tired, so I slept through the rally of the OSU Buckeyes over the Northwestern Wildcats 40 - 30. I could go on and on. I'd also be remiss if I didn't report taht he NIU Huskies defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes 38 - 24.

I must sadly report that the Tigers lost 0 - 1 to the As to even their playoff series at 1 - 1. My beloved Red Sox, behind two homers by Big Papi, took a lead of two games to none in their series against the Rays. Final score 7 - 4. That's about it for Saturday in the MLB playoffs

In Chicago sports news, D. Rose returned to the court for his first action in an NBA pre-season game and scored 13 points. I hope that is just the beginning. Maybe his performance helped to ease his mind about his surgically repaired knee. The boys in blue are still in search of a manager. Sandy Alomar Jr. and Joe Girardi are still on the radar. The boys are also looking for help at the catcher's position and may try to sign Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the current catcher and a free agent after this season ends, of my beloved Red Sox.

Later today we may go watch football, or I may elect to stay home. Since the Bears versus the Saints is on at the same time as the Lions versus Greenbay on the same network, in all likelihood the Lions will be available here, not the Bears. That could be a good thing as the Saints are likely to trounce the Bears.

So that's about it. No trains, no storms yet, but heavy rain is still being predicted. Off to bed. Ciao.

P.S.

For Adam and Steph, a call to the neurosurgeons office on Friday found that the results are still on his desk, but he has yet to read the MRI. Maybe this weekend when he is on call and maybe not, according to his nurse. I may or may not know more Monday. I'll let you know when I know.

Good morning GH. It is just past 3:00 AM in "The City" and the current temperature is 66 degrees. Looks like showers are on the way, but not until later. Seeing is believing. Actually, as I sit here, the thunder is rumbling in the distance. Sugar the Weather Dog was sound asleep earlier, but I am betting her forecast for the near future will be changing soon. If the Weather Channel app is to be believed, the chance of T-storms is 80% later this morning and as the day unfolds, and 70% on Sunday. I wonder how the T-storms will affect our plans to go on that tour of our local power plant. I also wonder whether Sugar the Weather Dog will be wanting to go out. If I were a betting man, I'd say that Sugar will not go.

Friday was an interesting day. I did a little yard work on the palatial estate and the leaves are winning. Fall is definitely here. I let Mary walk with Sugar while I did that yard work. They probably moved more quickly without me in tow. I used to watch older people moving slowly and always wanted to believe that I wouldn't become one of those people. Well, here I am. In my defense, Mary has always accused me of walking slowly, and I have always thought that she and Sugar walk too quickly. I guess that it is all about perspective.

Mary informed me yesterday that I had to give up my favorite small kitchen knife. I love that little thing, but I have to admit that it is getting dull. You would think that a knife that you bought at the local hardware store two years ago for less than $10.00, would stay sharp for a longer time. I suppose that cutting myself the other day trying to cut an apple should have been a clue. So, off we went to Holland and got a really nice eight inch chef's knife, a sharpener to keep that knife sharp, and a zester at the kitchen supply store. Now I can be afraid of the new big knife, the very sharp zester, and miss my little knife all at the same time.

After our stop in Holland,we stopped in a small restaurant/bar on the way back that is the partner to the one we visited in Nunica. Same food and same kind of ambiance, only writ large in a strip mall. It was then off to the post. I feel like I am no longer "the public" that is welcome, but a real member now. A few drinks, a little conversation, and off to home. It seemed like a busy day, but when you don't get up until nearly 11:00 AM, the day is much shorter.

Now along with the thunder, I hear a train a' comin. I think that horn happy engineer is at the controls again. However, one locomotive and one lone box car does not a train make. Somehow, I doubt that a train with one car is very fuel efficient. So much for that carbon footprint thing.

In sports, the Tigers and Max Scherzer beat the Oakland As 3 - 2. My beloved Red Sox trounced the Rays, 12 - 2, the Pirates hammered the Cardinals 7 - 1 to even their series at one game apiece, as the Braves held off the Dodgers 4 - 3 to tie their series at one game apiece too.

In a small connection to the boys in blue, the Reds fired their manager, who was previously the Cubs manager and a manager of the World Series champion Giants of a few years ago. Is he always destined to be fired when his teams don't win? Looks like it. Three 90 plus win seasons in a row following the futile efforts by the Reds before his arrival weren't enough. When you go several years without a visit to the World Series, 90 plus wins per season are not enough. In his defense, I am not certain that any manager could make the boys in blue a winner. I am equally certain that he will get an offer to manage again now that the off-season is here.

Otherwise, not much on tap for today. That previously mentioned tour of the power plant and a visit to the local bakery for a loaf of bread. They wouldn't sell us one last night when we came in the back door three minutes after closing time. Somehow I doubt that the owner of the store would have approved of their response to our arrival. That's the difference between the owner being there all the time and having clerks work for you. She has two stores now and the span of control is therefore doubled. Today we can buy that same loaf of bread from their day-old table for less. Ain't that America!

Now I am done for the day. Bed time and...Tea time await. Ciao.

Good morning GH. Remember that 60% chance of showers? It must have been somewhere else, because it wasn't here. We still show a a 50% chance, but there seems to be little activity outside the Weather Window. Go figure. Sugar the Weather Dog is sleeping soundly beside the  bed, so I doubt that that is even a real possibility. We have a current temperature of 66 degrees. Surprise, it finally started raining a few minutes ago. Sugar failed to sound the warning. The rain seems to be short lived and I hear a train a'comin. Sounds like that horn happy engineer is at the throttle. This one is a bit longer than last night's train, but the composition is the same.

On Thursday, I finished my editing chorea and played a little whistle. Remember that commentary about my aching shoulder? Ditto. Sugar and I got in two walks, but at one point she wouldn't go out as she seemed to sense a front passing through. Even Sugar the Weather Dog can be wrong. Mary and I walked downtown and I got my bean fix from the boss, so the day closed out nicely.

Today, since it is unlikely that the predicted rain even will happen, I plan to mow the lawns on the palatial estate and then read more. I wish my aching shoulder would let me play more music, but that seems a dream at this point. I can still do yard work, but anything that requires repetitive motion from my shoulder is too painful. So perhaps more reading and sitting.

Speaking of reading, I just started a new book entitled How to Create the Perfect Wife, by Wendy Moore. I know it sounds like a cookbook, but it is sadly a true story of Thomas Day, an 18th century British writer and radical who unable to find the perfect wife, set out to create one. Interesting so far, but bizarre.

Otherwise, not much is planned for, nor happening today. That rain thing likely changes the plans for that outdoor work.

In sports, the Pirates fell to the Cardinals 1 - 9 while the Braves fell to the L. A. Dodgers 1 - 6. Tonight, the Tigers face off against the As as my beloved Red Sox tee off against the Rays. It is showtime. Here's hoping that the best team wins. The Cardinals look unstoppable, and I'm hoping that will be true of the Red Sox, at least in the early stages of the playoffs. When we get to the finals, I will have to choose if both the Tigers and the Red Sox are still in it for the American League.

So that's about it for now. I need to get some additional sleep and get ready to face the new day as the Sun rises at 7:46 AM for...Tea time. Ciao.

Good early morning GH. It has just passed 2:00 AM in "The City" and the digitally revealed temperature is 55 degrees as we head for a low of 67. Go figure. We are expecting the chance of T-storms after 10:00 AM to be at 50% or greater. I hope that Mary's plans to get up early to finish her current project comes to fruition, so that Sugar the Weather Dog will be willing to go out. If not, all bets are off.

On Wednesday, I went to the grocery store to buy a few things. I got most everything I went after, but the trip seemed to take a lot out of me. Maybe having to stop for gas in the old buggy was enough to do me in. I did get in a couple of walks with Sugar, and for that I am grateful.

We finally tried that new kale salad recipe that Mary found and it was superb. It probably didn't have much to do with the salad chef, but I'd like to think that the results spoke well of my skills at reading a recipe. Kale lends itself well to almost any dish; squash and kale soup comes to mind. Too bad that my kale crops are drawing to an end. Now I'll have to go on the open market for more. I feel like a kale addict.

Sugar doesn't seem to like kale any more than she likes zucchini. However, she still loves bananas, that's for sure. I think that the dressing that I made for the kale would make an excellent dressing for leaf lettuce. It takes work, but that's okay, I have time. Otherwise yesterday, a few crosswords, and some whistle playing. I wanted to play more on my guitar, but the pain in my shoulder seems to get worse every time I pick it up and play for more than about 20 minutes. I know I've got to get that MRI and get the doctor to suggest a course of treatment. I dislike hospitals and rehab so much, that I hope against hope that there is a non-surgical alternative. I do know that this can't go on.

Today I again have to put on my editors hat and work for my ogre of a boss, you know the one that pays me in beans. She anticipates about 18 or 19 pages of index for editing. Given my editorial skills, that's about two hours plus. Then there is the re-edit and finally putting it to bed. In other words, my afternoon is spoken for. I guess that with the 50% chance of T-storms, that is time I will likely have.

In sports, the Tampa Bay Rays dispatched the Tribe 4 - 0 to move on to the next level of the playoffs against my beloved Red Sox on Friday. The Tigers open their next playoff series against the As too.The Pirates won the right to face the Cardinals tonight. The Atlanta Braves have to face the L.A. Dodgers tonight too. In the end, only one team from each league gets to the World Series. I am hoping for the Red Sox/Tigers, versus the Pirates; sentimental favorites on the National League side, since the boys in blue won't be there. I do like having two or three teams to cheer for. I will have to root a bit harder for the American League team this year. I can do that as long as it isn't that other team from Chicago.

So that's about it. My bed is calling out to me and I hear its call. Ciao.

P.S., I stayed up late enough to hear a train a'comin. It is 3:15 AM. Two locomotives and a series of box, covered hopper cars, and tank cars hauling who knows what.

Good morning GH. 2:00 AM and all is well in "The City." 66 degrees under dark skies as we head for a sunny high of 76. We were supposed to get sunny skies on Tuesday too, but it looked like we had more clouds than Sun. Maybe one of my former colleagues can tell me if sunny or sun should have been capitalized. I think that the word Sun is a proper name and should be capitalized. But like the word east, when used as a descriptor/direction versus a place east isn't capitalized, but as a destination, it is, like in "the East." Sunny is a descriptor, an adjective, while Sun is a proper name. However like all words that are used to begin a sentence, sunny is just a descriptor. Too much thinking for me at 2:00 AM. The balance of the week has a chance of showers increasing each day starting on Thursday at 30% and peaking at 60% by Sunday. Where's Ellen when you need her? She was always my English language arbiter.

But I digress. All of that means that Mary and I need to get out for those flu shots today and then plan to hole up with Sugar the Weather Dog for a few days. I should be able to get a few indoor things done, since Sugar won't wish to go out in the rain. A chance to get some sorting of photographs done, perhaps more baking/cooking, and of course, music making and reading. There's another one of those English language things rearing its ugly head. I was taught that a list uses commas, but Mary, the indexer, tells me that the Chicago Manual of Style says that commas have fallen out of favor. Oy vey!

Tuesday was an average day. I made that kale salad recipe, which we have yet to try, as it required an hour or more of chilling in the refrigerator. I did some laundry and then worked a few crosswords. Finally we went downtown to get some bread, get my VFW card laminated, and then grab some dinner. Then we had to get home to watch the last, at least for a while, NCIS episode with the character Ziva David. Oy vey again. Too many lists, commas, and Yiddish words, and too little time. Once again, where's Ellen when you need her?

Otherwise today should be a quiet day. I'd like to make some caramel apples, but that requires caramels and apples, and since I have but two apples and no caramels, that would be difficult. Too much thinking for me.

In sports, the Pirates handily defeated the Reds, 6 - 2 in the first of the wild card games. Tonight the Rays have to play the Rangers in a tie-breaker to see who meets the Tribe in a wild card game. Then on to the balance of the playoffs. I'll keep you posted on those results and the search for a new manager for the boys in blue.

The Yankees seem set to offer Joe Girardi a contract extension. Their GM doesn't want to lose a manager and many name players at the same time. On the other hand, would Joe Girardi want to stay with a team that will be doing some serious rebuilding as many aging stars retire or move on. As a Chicago area native, Girardi may want to come back to Chicago and manage the Cubs. Would anybody want to? Theo Epstein has stated that he wants a manager with a winning track record. Fans want anybody who can make the team a contender. Now! Maybe the rebuilding is done in Chicago. Wait until next year has been said too many times over the years. Next year is now.

Enough already. I haven't heard a train a'comin yet this AM. My head grows weary and my eyes grow weak, I have to stop for the night. My thanks to the Eagles for a good line. I am getting sleepy, sleepy, sleepy. Oops, a hypnosis reference there. Ciao.

Good very early morning on the first day of October, 2013. Yesterday was a beautiful day in "The City" and Sugar the Weather Dog, Mary and I went for a nice walk in the AM. Today will probably be much like yesterday. Currently our temperature is 56 degrees as we head for a low if 56. Later today, we are expecting a high of 76 under sunny skies.

I think that I may get to the new recipe that Mary has for the kale that I have been growing on the palatial estate. In fact, the kale is the second crop from this patch. Not bad. I also have enough kale in the newer patch to make my world famous squash and kale soup. That will be a bit later in the fall, as I wait for it to get a bit taller. I like the soup that it yields, but I may have to convince Mary that I need to get some no salt added vegetable broth at the grocery store. Since we will be going there today or tomorrow, I should be able to make that happen. I know she doesn't like to go that route, preferring to make her own, but I want some that is ready made.

Sugar and I spent some time in the "Bone Zone" yesterday afternoon. She chewed, I read and finished a book and listened to some oldies radio. The day was so incredibly nice that I couldn't resist the lure of the outdoors. Mary wanted me to do the kale recipe, but I thought for about five seconds and decided to to the "Bone Zone" thing instead. Later I watched some political commentary and then watched a Tom Selleck movie entitled Monte Walsh. Mary supplied me with some popcorn while I watched and she stayed downstairs to hook more on her kitchen rug. In short, we were both content.

I hear a train a'comin and that is always a treat for me. I like living on a reality scale train board. Not a long train, but there is something about a train that's magic. Now if we can just get the government to spend some money on improvements to the infrastructure for the trains and the passenger rail system, we'd be getting somewhere. Oh well, I can dream.

Otherwise, not much on tap for the day. Cooking has become a new passion for me. I like learning new things. I had a colleague several years ago, he has since passed away, who loved to cook, and he was quite good at it. I also spent some time with my whistle, and the tune was almost recognizable. Only five weeks in and I am starting to get the hang of it. By today it may have all gone away, but that's okay, there is always another day.

In sports, the Tigers had the day off as they await the arrival of the As on Friday night. My beloved Red Sox also have some time off as they await either Cleveland, Tampa Bay, or Texas. The Cardinals will be facing a National League team, perhaps Cincinnati or Pittsburgh. The L.A. Dodgers will be facing off against the Braves. I only pay attention to the NL when the boys in blue are involved. Speaking of which, the boys are looking for new manager, again. Now I pay attention to the American League and I still can't decide if I should root for my beloved Red Sox, or the local favorites, the Tigers. I guess that I'll have to follow my heart.

So that's about it. I think it is time for bed. Ciao.