lost in semantics

I was at a local establishment the other day as the snow came down. Whenever the roads ice up, I think of the bumper shagging days of my youth. The k-mart canvas tennis shoes worked quite well in giving the slickness desired as you grabbed your dad's car bumper down the neighborhood street (and probably inhaled some good exhaust in the process). Hiking boots were not so good for bumper shagging I found in later years as I blew a hole in my jeans one time from butt shagging due to the boots digging in too hard. 

So back to the local establishment, the snow is falling and I call out "good shagging weather, eh?" A table of ladies in hearing distance giggled upon my statement. After a moment of pause and the light bulb going off on the giggle reason, I came back with, "good BUMPER shagging weather." One word makes a difference thanks to Austin Powers.

Trail Head

Tim the Tailor

I am hoping this doesn't affect my man-card status but due to my previous seamstress (my mom) hanging up her needle along with being four hours away and locals not being up to the task, I reincarnated my 7th grade home economics class sewing knowledge (believe we made backpacks back in '78) and purchased a sewing machine. Thank you on-line videos for the stringing process instructions.  

My first job was fixing a hem on some old shorts. If I fu**** up the job, the shorts are easily disposable and no big loss but I'm happy to report they came out okay.

With the sewing machine and my power washer, I think I found my retirement gig. Tim the Tailor's Power Washing. It has a nice ring to it.

Trail Head

The Scooper

I'm still learning my way in town and lesson 41 learned recently in that bagging your leaves is not necessary. With the many old, leaf-bearing trees lining the streets, it would be quite a chore bagging the downfall. 

Enter the scooper.

From about mid-October to when they feel like stopping, this big piece of machinery below goes around town and picks up what people in town have raked/blown into the street. 

My old, crooked back thanks you scooper person.

Trail Head

Thursday Whiskey Club

An old school, seasonal establishment in Elberta, Michigan is home of the 99 Irish whiskeys. Patrons can sign up to try each one and after the 99 have been consumed (not in one night...), the patron gets an Irish Whiskey Club badge with their name on it above the bar; along with a coupon for $50 off a liver transplant...

And no, I have not put this on my bucket list.

There is a group of six, however, that have a standing reservation at the place every Thursday at 5PM to put on their Irish short-brimmed hats (requirement to be in the posse), order one of the whiskeys off the list (noted below) and....talk whiskey. No sports talk; whiskey. I've witnessed the group from afar a handful of times and quite a passion for whiskey they have. They have gathered for roughly seven years now and even made it through the pandemic replacing the bar with lawn chairs in their driveways.

Cheers.

Trail Head

whole lotta whiskey

one page of whiskey list

new Pure Michigan ad and a realistic view of fall

The attached could easily be a Pure Michigan ad, however, it blows that the colors are only out for a short time before the shedding happens.

I give you two videos below, one of the utopia ride yesterday and comic Lewis Black's take on the process. Both enjoyable.

Trail Head

all that lotion wasted for $21

I received a surprise in the mail the other day in the form of a $21.03 check for a class action suit involving youngsters who grew up with carpal tunnel issues in their older years due to overexertion with said company's magazine that I personally subscribed to. Must be a lot of affected people overexerting with such a small amount...

(FAKE NEWS:  there was a settlement but due to improper sharing of subscriber information to third parties)

Trail Head

M-22 - deviation from bad football

The northern autumn colors are barely out but can't let a day like today go by without embracing it. I met up with Mark C. in Manistee and did the M-22 utopia ride on the motorcycles northbound on 22. Hard to grimace about the crappy Lions defense with these views.

Trail Head