Yesterday storms tore through the Chicago area, generating high winds and more rain than we need. On our walk to work this morning Parker and I found our path blocked by one of the results:

I almost had to pull over this afternoon when I heard about the Orioles losing 30-3 to the Rangers last night.

Parker and I were surprised last week to come home after work and discover this in the yard:

In sum: Cubs still in first place, Cardinals slip farther into third, and the White Sox fall—or perhaps, saunter vaguely downwards—into last place.

What a great way to wake up. The Cubs have moved into first place. Only by half a game...but still, it's a nice way to wake up.

Old rug, old sock, sunbeam. Dog is happy:

Yesterday I posted about a bike that hadn't been ridden in a while. This morning the bike had gone:

The Chicago Tribune on one of the worst divisional contests in recent memory:

It could be the worst divisional race in recent memory, but someone has to win the National League Central. The Brewers blew an 8 1/2-game lead, the Cardinals are coming out of their midsummer funk and the Cubs are turning into the Cubs with another mini-meltdown after two straight months of winning baseball. What's in store for the Not-So-Big Three the rest of the month that Lou Piniella said would separate the boys from the men?

It's really kind of sad, actually.

Someone appears to have slacked off from his exercise program: