Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:00 a.m. in "The City."

As I may have recently picked up some additional readers, I feel compelled to remind everyone that the derivation for my opening line comes from two sources. The Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be portion, comes from Coast to Coast AM, and its regular overnight host, George Noory. The second portion is from that old radio/TV drama, Dragnet, wherein Jack Webb, in his role as Sergeant Joe Friday of the L.A. Police department, opened every episode with the line, "This is The City, Los Angeles, California." So in homage to the late Jack Webb and the still living George Noory, I open every one of my blogs with my own opening line. Call it my own personal idiosyncrasy.

We have a current temperature of 54° as we head toward our overnight low of 51°. Today, after the sun rises @ 7:49 a.m. and well before it sets @ 7:15 p.m., the NWS (National Weather Service) is forecasting a 40% chance for overnight showers that will extend into the later morning hours today, with a possibility of T-storms. STWD, (Sugar the Weather Dog), will not be pleased. It took a walk yesterday and a force out this early morning to get her back on schedule, so to speak.

I was just about to wrap up my latest historical romance novel, Next Year in Havana, but I was interrupted by Ginger's stare that indicated that she wanted to go out, again. Unlike STWD, Ginger seems to need to go out about every two hours before she will settle in for the night. Sugar can go for 24 hours, or so it seems.

So, as soon as I am done with this blog, I'll be getting back to my reading.

Sports news was mixed yesterday.

My beloved Red Sox and starting pitcher, David Price, couldn't get it going last night, so the Sox tied their ALDS series with the Yankees by losing, 2 - 6. The Sox and the Yankees return to the field @ Yankee stadium Monday night @ 7:10 p.m.

Naturally, the Astros dispatched the hapless Indians 3 - 1, to take a 2 - 0 lead in their NLDS series. They AStros and the Indians move to on Monday @ 1:30 p.m.

The Brewers with a 2 - 0 lead in their NLDS series, move to Colorado to play the Rockies on the Rockies home turf @ 3:37 p.m. today.

College football news yesterday featured three teams I follow, two Michigan based teams, the Wolverines of Michigan and the Spartans of Michigan State. The Wolverines defeated the Terrapins of Maryland, 42 - 21 in their Wolverines Homecoming game, while  the Spartans didn't look very good, as they lost to a hungry Northwestern Wildcat team, 19 - 29, also the Homecoming game for the Spartans.

The Huskies of Northern Illinois University, tripped up the Cardinals of Ball State, 24 - 16.

We got a few errands run yesterday and finished our day at Stan's Bar and Grill in Spring Lake. When we got home, we fed the fur-children and then Mary made a great dinner of spaghetti and my famous vegan Italian meatballs with a side of garlic bread. I retired to the media room and fell asleep in my La-Z-Boy shortly after I watched a Hallmark Channel movie. I slept until nearly 11:00 p.m., when I began to read again. As is often the case, Mary stayed downstairs to watch apocalyptic themed movies.

We have no specific plans for today. I'll finish the crossword from the Grand Haven Tribune and start another novel. Mary will probably get into the kitchen once she is done with the morning news programs. Somehow, we'll get the fur-children to go out after breakfast, weather permitting. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 1:30 a.m. in "The City."

Yesterday, it was rainy. This early morning it is raining. Later today, the NWS is forecasting, you guessed it, rain and possible T-storms, with a high temperature of 64°. "What does Sunday look like?" you ask." More rain with a high temperature of only 58°! There is good weather news on the horizon, at least temperature-wise. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the forecast from the NWS calls for high temperatures in the low 70s, with several of those days also having rain in the forecast. The sun will rise this morning @ 7:48 a.m. and set later @ 7:17 p.m.

I like fall as much as Mary, well perhaps not as much, but enough with the rain already. We got very little rain during the summer growing-season. I had to water the vegetables, roses, and the other plantings on the PE every other day and still had to watch the vast lawns die. And sadly, my vegetable plants produced very little fruit. I did have a few gardening exceptions. The potted horseradish responded well to the watering. The potatoes also did well, and the basil in the pot is still growing, allowing me to make pesto for Mary's Italian meatballs, which I did again yesterday. Sadly, for the most part, the various varieties of peppers and tomatoes were essentially non-productive. Alas, my gardens and lawns mirrored the Cubs, lots of promise in the spring, but in the end, no reward.

Speaking of baseball, my beloved Red Sox eked out a one-run win over the Yankees last night, 5 - 4. to take a one-game lead over the Yankees in their ALDS series. The Sox and the Yankees play again tonight @ 8:15 p.m. as David Price takes the mound for the Sox.

The Astros easily defeated the hapless Indians yesterday 7 - 2, to take a one-game lead in their ALDS series. The Astros and the Indians play again today @ 4:37 p.m.

The Brewers soundly defeated the Rockies 4 - 0 yesterday, to take a 2 - 0 lead in their NLDS series. The Brewers and the Rockies are off until Sunday @ 4:37 p.m.

The Dodgers dispatched the Braves 3 - 0 in game two of their own NLDS series, to take a 2 - 0 lead over the Braves. The Dodgers and the Braves are back on the field Sunday in Atlanta @ 8:07 p.m.

I love baseball and I want the Sox to win it all. But, it will be a long winter.

College football resumes today starting @ 12:00 p.m., when the Spartans of MSU face the Wildcats of Northwestern, while the Wolverines take the field against the Terrapins of Maryland at the same time.

The NIU Huskies face the Cardinals of Ball State today @ 2:00 p.m.

We traveled about yesterday to do some grocery shopping, and that went surprisingly well. We were able to complete our task in under one-hour, door to door.  As I previously mentioned, I also made more of my famous vegan Italian meatballs. Once again, I believe that these are my best batch yet.  Mary likes them, as always. She also made another of her famous vegan pizzas for dinner. I think that this one was also her best.

Today, I hope to stay in out of the rain and read more of my latest novel, Next Year in Havana, by Chanel Cleeton. As you can hopefully discern, this is a historical romance novel mostly set in Cuba, and I like it. Historical and Amish romance novels are my personal deviation from my usual diet of detective novels and thrillers.

In addition, Mary and I will be trying to once again coax STWD outside. She is being particularly stubborn with the rain, and if T-storms develop, all bets are definitely off. That looks like enough for one day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

I let Ginger out around 4:15 this morning and then I sat down here to peruse the current weather and the news in baseball. I'll get to college football in my next blog.

We have a current temperature of 45°, the expected overnight low. Later today, the NWS is forecasting a high temperature of 55° with a 40% chance showers/T-storms throughout the day and into the evening hours. The forecast calls for the chance of showers to peak @ 11:00 a.m. and again later @ 5:00 p.m.

Tomorrow, Saturday, the NWS is forecasting an 80% chance of T-storms and a high of a much more seasonal 67°. In fact, the forecast through next Wednesday calls for rainy conditions, albeit with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Fall is definitely here. Did I mention, that the sun will rise this morning @ 7:47 a.m. and set later @ 7:19 p.m.?

Speaking of baseball, my beloved Red Sox, owners of the best record in baseball, are home tonight to face the Yankees @ 7:32 p.m. Go Sox!

The Indians visit the Astros today @ 2:05 p.m., in what should be an easy series for the Astros. The Indians were the division champions in a very weak AL Central division that featured the Tigers, the Twins, the Royals, and that other team from Chicago, all teams with sub-.500 records.

The Braves play the Dodgers tonight @ 9:37 p.m. Those two teams are pretty evenly matched, so it should be a good game.

The Rockies once again face the Brewers today @ 3:05 p.m. after being narrow losers, 2 - 3. I think that the Brewers will be the ultimate winners of their series and then get stomped by the Dodgers. However, I also predicted that the Cubs would make it to the World Series too.

In Cubs news, Theo Epstein is shouldering the blame for the lack of a decent bullpen. Once closer Brandon Morrow went on the DL in July, the bullpen was thin at that position. Plus, the starting pitching was thin too, as Tyler Chatwood just didn't pan out and Yu Darvish, well you know what happened to him, didn't pitch much at all. Mike Montgomery was pressed into service as Darvish's replacement and while solid, he was not spectacular. I could go on, but you get the picture. By the by, Kris Bryant was on the DL a lot this past season, laying in only 102 games, but he is expected to be 100% next season.

We had John over yesterday to do some basic maintenance around the PE. He fixed some leaks, touched up some paint, and caulked too. I love being able to watch someone else do those things that I used to do. There are a few outdoor things that we need to do before winter, but the rains predicted for the next several days will keep us indoors.

There are so many books in the Loutit Library that Mary and I want to read, plus guitars to play, pix to be taken etc., that it is fine with me/us to wait on those outdoor things. Mary wants to get back to her knitting and needlepoint too. Gosh, retirement is busy. : - ).

Today, I have to stop @ the hospital for my annual blood tests. I don't anticipate any problems, but doctors like to get additional tests all the time. I may get a chance to eat at the hospital salad bar, so it is actually a winner for me. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 2:30 a.m. in "The City."

It sure is hard to face another long off-season for a Die-Hard Cubs Fan. Spring training is always the harbinger of spring for me, But until then, my need for baseball will have to be sated by trade news, free-agent signings, and a lot of, "Wait til next years." Sigh.

Naturally, I am going to be somewhat mollified by the success of my beloved Red Sox if they make it to and through the World-Series™, but there is no real solace until the Cubs and the beloved meet in the fall classic. Sigh again.

Theo Epstein has already started his post-season autopsy, by stating the obvious. The Cubs lacked that killer instinct last season. The Cubs players couldn't mount an offense. Maybe hitting-coach Chili Davis didn't emphasize the right things etc. All of that may be true, but in baseball, the ultimate prize will elude the Cubs for a second year in a row. Yes, Joe Maddon will be back to finish his five-year contract, but after that, who knows. Maybe a new philosophy is needed if the Cubs are not to fail for a third consecutive year. Maybe Yu Darvish will be back better than ever. Maybe closer Brandon Morrow won't be placed on the Injured Reserve List. Maybe, lots of maybes.

But enough about that. We had a great time at our book club yesterday. We gained some new members in our book club, had some great discussions and everyone enjoyed my chocolate-chip cookies. We finally got around to celebrating our 45th anniversary @ Don Luis with a dinner last night after our meeting. The food was excellent and we even had some leftovers.

We have a current temperature of 69° as we drop down to the overnight low of 55° before rebounding to today's high of 60°. We reached a temperature zenith yesterday of 83°! That allowed me to get in one more wearing of my summer uniform. Today, I may not give in to the cooler temperatures and wear my uniform one more time. 

There is a 60% chance of scattered T-storms today, so I got Ginger out around 2:00 a.m. for one final time. The sun will rise today @ 7:45 a.m. and set @ 7:20 p.m. Fall is here, a fall once again without Cubs baseball.

Today, we have nothing on the agenda. The fur-children have now had their monthly meds and they are sleeping soundly now. I am reading my latest novel and enjoying it immensely. All in all, it should be a great day. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 7:00 a.m. in "The City."

I guess that good morning part is totally dependent upon your viewpoint. I stayed up past my bedtime this morning to watch the slow demise of the Cubs' 2018 season. Sadly, Cubs' manager, Joe Maddon, threw everything at the game. But alas, the season that started with so much promise during spring training, ended like a slow leak in a balloon. The air leaked out slowly, but inexorably, as the Cubs fell to the Rockies, 1 - 2 in the Wild Card game. Now it really is, "Wait til next year" time.

What's a Die Hard Cubs fan to do? In my case, root for their beloved Red Sox to win it all, starting with the ALDS on Friday @ 7:32 p.m. However, once a Die Hard Cubs fan has had his/her appetite whetted after 116 years, she/he goes away with a biter aftertaste after a disappointing season like this one, a sense about what might have been in 2018. Next year is here, and it is up to Cubs President, Theo Epstein, Executive VP and GM, Jeb Hoyer, and field manager, Joe Maddon, to assess what happened, or didn't, and what to do to get the Cubs back to the World Series in 2019.

I have a few suggestions for them.

First, sign perennial All-Star and probable NL MVP Javier Baez, to a long-term contract. Second, give up on Jason Heyward. He may be a tremendous defensive outfielder, but he can't hit in the clutch. Third, say thank-you and goodbye to SS Addison Russell and trade him if he comes back to the Major-League club. Fourth, say adios to left-handed relief-pitcher Justin Wilson. He couldn't get himself out the way he is pitching. I know that good left-handed relievers are hard to come by, but he isn't good. There is a reason that the Tigers were willing to trade him to the Cubs. Fifth, decide what position Kris Bryant will play, third-base, left-field, or right-field, and let him stay there. And last, but certainly not least, go get a solid starting pitcher, no matter the cost to shore up a weak starting rotation. I hope that Yu Darvish comes back healthy But right now, he looks like a bad investment of $126 million! Sure, it is easy to say those things from the outside looking in, but as a Die-Hard fan of more than 60 years, I feel entitled.

Oh well, on to the more mundane activities of daily living. The sun will rise today @ 7:44 a.m. and set later @ 7:22 p.m. In between, the NWS is forecasting a 40% chance for scattered T-storms today and 90% tonight. In addition, the NWS has also forecast windy-conditions for today with gusts from 20mph to 30mph. Whew!

I spent some time in the kitchen yesterday making sausages and another version of my famous chocolate-chip cookies. I used a recipe that Mary found on the Internet for those, and when I say that these cookies are delicious, that is an understatement. Our History Book Club will be very pleased.

I started and finished some indoor chores yesterday. I have more to do today. A woman may work from sun to sun, but a man's work is never done. : - )

Otherwise, today, we have walks with the fur-children and a crossword puzzle to finish before our meeting. Mary will be making something for lunch after we rise at a later hour. Ciao.

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 6:00 a.m. in "The City."

The sun will rise into cloudy skies this morning @ 7:43 a.m. and set later this evening @ 7:24 p.m. In between, the NWS has forecast a high temperature that will be about six or seven degrees warmer than yesterday's high in the mid-50s!. I was so cold last night, that I had Mary turn on the furnace for the first time this fall. We may not need it again for a few days, but I sure needed it last night. My old joints and other assorted bones sincerely appreciated the warmth.

We had another storm last night/early this morning, that followed that gully-washing storm of Sunday night into Monday. As a matter of fact, there was so much rain from that Sunday night into Monday morning storm, that part of US 31 near Holland was closed to traffic for a few hours, both north and southbound!

The latest storm and the accompanying Special Weather Statement from the NWS for Ottawa, County, meant that severe weather was expected until about 3:45 a.m. today! I slept through it, but I understand that Mary coaxed Ginger out about 1:00 a.m. I also understand that STWD wouldn't go out at all! Today there is only a 10% chance of more rain. That forecast will last until tomorrow night, when following the 76° high temperature forecast from the NWS, we expect to see T-storms in the evening. Where was that rain last summer when my gardens and the vast-lawns of the PE needed it?

Yesterday, Ginger and I observed the passage of MMRR locomotive #2019 heading south @ 9:38 a.m., towing 10 CHCs, one very long DBTC, and one DWTC. Later, @ 4:55 p.m., shortly after I had picked up the Monday edition of the Grand Haven Tribune @ The Bookman, I saw the same locomotive heading north @ 4:55 p.m., towing five DWTCs, four DBTCs, one very rusty tank car, original color indeterminate, and six CHCs.

That was after the disaster that was the tie-breaking game between the Cubs and the Brewers that ended 1 - 3 in favor of the Brewers, handing them the NL Central Division Crown and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That loss forces the Cubs to play the Colorado Rockies in the one-game, winner take all, Wild-Card portion of the playoffs tonight @ 8:00 p.m. At this point, all I can do is cross my digits and hope that the baseball gods will smile on the Cubs. At least my beloved Red Sox did not disappoint me.

It seems like only yesterday when I was anticipating the start of spring, well spring for me anyway, when the Cubs would open spring-training in late February. Like all Die-Hard Cubs fans, I had hopes for a great season. I wasn't really disappointed, as the Cubs led their division from late July up until yesterday's loss to the Brewers.

Sadly, much of my hopes were tied to the winter signing of Yu Darvish to that huge $126 million dollar contract. Alas, he pitched in about four games before being sidelined with arm-troubles. Like all long-suffering Cubs fans, I'll have to wait til next year to see if the surgically repaired arm of Darvish can pay dividends on that $126 million.

Today, I have plans to make some chocolate-chip cookies for our History Book Club meeting tomorrow and also make more of my famous vegan sausages. If Mary had her way, I'd be making more of my famous vegan meatballs too, but I don't have that in me.

Otherwise, I/we have no plans except for the morning walk with the fur-children to The Bookman. We did get to their doctor's appointment yesterday, and that went well. We need to give them their special monthly treats this morning, which are really protection against heart-worm, but to the fur-children, the medicine is a special, beef-tasting treat.

Mary will stay out of my way in the kitchen after she makes our late-morning meal. She did a great job yesterday and made her famous mushroom gravy to cover some of our homegrown potatoes and my vegan Italian meatballs. Ciao

Good morning or good evening, wherever you may be. It is just past 5:00 a.m. in "The City."

It is also a rainy morning in "The City." In fact, we are experiencing another of those gully-washing rain storms that seem to have passed us by all summer, but which are now becoming more frequent. Go figure.

Later this morning, after the sun rises @ 7:42 a.m. and well before it sets @ 7:26 p.m., the moderate rain will switch over to T-storms by the early afternoon. STWD will once again not be happy. That forecast from the NWS also calls for a high temperature of 59°. Not to worry though, as the week progresses, we'll see high temperatures in the mid-60s up to the mid-70s on Wednesday with only a 20% chance for showers until those T-storms reappear on Friday with a 100% probability!

Well, yesterday was an exciting day in sports. If you are a long-suffering Bears fan, the Bears looked solid as they soundly routed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48 - 10. Second year QB, Mitch Trubisky, tossed five, no that's not a typo, five TD passes in the 1st half, and six overall for the game. Tarik Cohen also looks like he is the"Real Deal" at least for now, as he returned kicks/punts, ran from the backfield, and caught passes. In short for a game that I had to follow on the computer, it was a great victory as the Bears went to 3 - 1 atop the NFC North.

Sadly, the Detroit Lions came off of their win over the Patriots last week with a loss to the Dallas Cowboys, 24 - 26. Penalties proved the undoing of the Lions, as the zebras tossed flags like they were confetti. The Cowboys looked mortal, not like "America's Team", but they got the job done as the Lions fell to 1 - 3 and the Cowboys improved to 2 - 2.

Back to life itself. The Cubs tried valiantly to win the NL Central with a convincing 10 - 5 win over the Cardinals. Sadly, the Tigers were no help, as they fell to the 2nd place in the NL Central Brewers, 0 - 11. That win forced the Brewers and the Cubs to play a rare 163rd game today @ 1:05 p.m. EDT. Jose Quintana will take the mound to try to give the Cubs the division championship and make the Brewers the Wildcard team. Or, it could go the other way. Guess where I'll be @ 1:05!

By the by, there will be a record 2nd 163rd game in the National League, between the Dodgers and the AZ Diamondbacks, this afternoon. The Dodgers routed the Giants, 14 - 0, while the D'Backs trounced the Washington Nationals, 12 - 0. to end the season tied for the division lead in the AL West.

As long as I've mentioned the Tigers, they have a lot of questions to answer. They finished the current season with the same record as last year, 64 - 98. Yes, their farm-system is better stocked than last year, but they did that with some great trades. The Tigers have few trade possibilities left on the Major League™ team this year.

The Tigers and GM Al Avila now have to decide if Nicholas Castellanos is in their long-range plans, or if he has more value being traded to acquire more prospects. Castellanos will be a free-agent after next season, so his value is probably at its peak right now, following his conversion from 3rd base to right-field and his solid offensive numbers of a .298 batting-average, 23 home-runs, and 89 RBIs. There are more players in the farm-system now that should be able to contribute in the next few years. Like the Cubs, it is another wait til next year off-season.

My beloved Red Sox soundly defeated the Yankees yesterday, to notch their 108th win, 10 - 2, en route to the AL East division championship series. The Yankees are the Wild Card team in that division. They Sox can now wait a few days to begin their series on Friday against either the Oakland As, or the Yankees following their Wild-Card game on Wednesday.  Phew!

I accompanied Mary to the mall to get some new sleep-wear and other things yesterday. Naturally, the mall was sparsely populated by customers in this internet age. Oh well. We stopped @ Stan's Bar and Grill on the way home. Since we didn't eat lunch until nearly 2:00 p.m., Mary had time to make a great pizza for dinner. Lunch was sandwiches of that quickie vegan beest that Mary had made the day before. I didn't much like the flavor as it had an overpowering amount of cumin. This iteration of beest is not, repeat not, a keeper.

Today, we have that rescheduled veterinarians visit for the fur-children @ 11:30 a.m. STWD will need a couple of Benadryl™ tablets about two hours prior to avoid any negative reaction to the flu-shot booster. We had thought about walking, but the rain and the intrepid weather dog's advancing age, mean that we'll be driving.

Otherwise, not much is in tap for today. Ciao.