Sewing Machines

my mom and her "New Mexico Mission"

My bucket list now has one less item on it as I experienced my first quilt show last Friday. Okay, the quilt show was nowhere on the list and I was a fish out of water in a sea of ladies with sewing on their minds. My mom is part of a quilting club and this was their big show; their Super Bowl I guess you could say (I have to insert sport references to relate). I arrived there not knowing what to expect and came out impressed. A cold beer wouldn't have hurt but I'm not sure the quilting crowd is ready for that step yet.

Sew on quilters!

Trail Head

sweet detail

quilt of ties

"Wolverine" quilt

Downhill Racer!

Based on the picture to the right, you had to believe there were more than a few parents pulling their kids aside as Carhartt rider with the el gringo facemask was coming through! I am happy to report my ski experience at Mt. Brighton yesterday was much more pleasing than my previous two times on the downhill ski slopes.

(queue the way back machine)

It's 1976 and I was a tough 3rd grader (ha). The elementary school had a deal for discounted skiing, including lessons, up at Alpine Valley. With that, my brother and I gave it a try. So there we are in the tow rope line with no idea on the process of said tow rope. Or maybe they told us the process and I wasn't listening, which is no surprise. Anyway, my brother is in front of me in line and I grab that rope for all she had and.....wam!!!! Right into my brother and down we fell. The two King Dons in my pocket were toast. A great start to the ski world. After freezing my rear end off while watching the first lesson, I walked away from the sport for roughly two decades.

Experience number two takes us to Harbor Springs at Boyne Highlands. It's 1990-something. Rob and Katie C.'s relatives had a place up there so Doke and I hitched onto that wagon. There was some freezing rain/sleet/snow the day before so the slopes were close to a sheet of ice. Rather than taking baby steps and starting with the bunny/easy hill like I should have, I jumped on the intermediate hill and fell quite a few times. The first time I made it down without falling wasn't the prettiest of scenes. I was a runaway train you could say. I get down the hill and this ranger approaches me advising that if I ski like that again, they'll have to ask me to leave. I was trying to tell him that it wasn't intentional but he wouldn't have any of it. I took the chair lift to the top and watched the football game in the lodge for the duration of that day.

(queue to present day)

So now you know my apprehension when the offer to go skiing was presented. Jim advised he was giving mono-ski lessons up at Mt. Brighton so off I went. Based on the above-mentioned experiences, I utilized the lessons learned and started on the tow rope/easy hills, went down a few times and found my bearings. With no falls to report as of yet, it was time to take it up a notch to the chair lift hills. Not the advanced ones, just somewhere in between. My only fall of the day was getting off the chair lift my first time. I just didn't nail the landing on that one. So down the hill I went, looking like some ax murderer but feeling like I'm in a Dittrich Fur commercial. A great time it was.

Trail Head

Salute, String Music, Serenity & Thirsty Spurgess'

Yes, Super Bowl weekend had a little of everything; and yes, we all were a little pooped today at work; however, to trade that much fun for a little tiredness in the cubicle-world, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The events started late Friday as '84 graduate and Sons of Liberty member Buddy D. was inducted into the Milford Hall of Fame. There to salute him was what seemed like about a quarter of the '84 graduating class with a sprinkle of '85-ers (the greatest class) mixed in to keep the party lively.  Keith had the line of the night when he said "How can a football team that won one game have three guys in the hall?" I was scratching my head on that one also; however, Buddy was also one of the better wrestlers in the state. Kudos to you Buddy!

After the Friday toasting activities, it was out to Hartland on Saturday to see the most dangerous band in SE Michigan. I would call them the Leechbombs but I think they might be evolving into a new name or splitting into two bands (stirring the gossip line today). Who knows as this band is continuously looking for ways to improve. In for a tryout Saturday was Gordie M. Gordie could cut a mean Alice Cooper's "Be My Lover" back in his Milford Lanes/Norton's Landing lounge singing days. The band actually sounded pretty well as Keith's son James brought an element that had been lacking, a drummer. A real drummer. The evolution of my harmonica playing is coming along VERY slowly; however, you can get quite a head rush while trying to play the Romantics.

For about the last ten or so years, Super Bowl Sunday morning has been a time for ice fishing. Yeah, not going to happen this year. I tried to rally the troops to head to the Huron River for a float but could not find any takers. I wasn't going to let a beautiful day go to waste so off to the water I went! I didn't catch or let alone see a fish but no regrets. A utopic float it was.

The weekend was complete of course with the Super Bowl itself. Jeff and Shauna S. put on a great gathering with some good eats. I almost was awake for the entire game this year but come fourth quarter, it was not to be as my bedroom television woke me up at 2 AM. So close. The wagering (not for money, of course - ha) was not good to me as the teams just couldn't get to my square numbers and the poker gods were not with me. I guess I can lay claim to the Foosball and ping pong championships.

Flashing back to Friday afternoon, I had a feeling that the weekend was going to be a good one right from the start. I was fortunate enough to get out of work a bit early and had some time to kill before heading up to the high school. With that, I went to the Comeback Inn for a beverage. Before I walk in, I text Al and Jim, advising that if they are in the area to stop on up. I walk in the door, there is Al and Jim. Crazy.

Trail Head

LOSER!!!!!

Doke doing his Levon tribute

pride of South Hill Rd.

Back To The Plunge

With no football to be watched yesterday, what better time to head over the border for the something-annual Polar Bear Plunge in Kingsville on Lake Erie. Yes, I did mention last year that I might make an attempt this year, but......no. Maybe next year I'll don the American flag as a cape and fly into the water but it just wasn't in the cards this year. Plunger Shannon of Team Red (Pink?) Hat advised that the waiting was the hardest part and the plunge was actually bearable. Mind over matter, and a little bit of whiskey. If I ever do make the plunge, the speedo will not be in my wardrobe. Some serious shrinkage I would think and the world doesn't need to see the boys that way (ha).  

Unfortunately, with this wacky weather we have experienced recently, the ice on Lake Erie wasn't strong enough to hold anyone so the plunger viewing was only along the shoreline. Safety first. I feel for the guy who had to police the area that was off limits because you get a few soda pops in a Canadian, they aren't going to listen much. There were no casualties I am happy to report.

Trail Head

lot of "woo" girls in the house

as the song says, "the waiting is the hardest part"

guy to the left needs the "man-zier"

The Many Faces of Me

Have you ever "googled" yourself? You know that there are too many people in this wacky life we live to not have someone with the same name.

So with that, I apparently used to be a drummer in a little known 70's group, sing rap-gospel music locally, have an album with Patsy Cline, am a renowned side car racer, CEO of a Pennsylvania company,  professor, agricultural geek, adventure sports leader, politician, and firefighter. Not a bad legacy for Team Tim. 

And of course there is one more to add to the list and that is this homebody, mountain bike enthusiast, born in the D and happy as a clam fellow.

Trail Head

Letter Jacket Fashion Show

It wouldn't be the holidays without the letter jacket fashion show. Also known as the "big man in a little coat" show. Rock on Redskin posse!

Trail Head

Dear Santa, thanks for letting me mountain bike today; and also the fishing net!

Hickory Glen - 12/26

Dear Santa,

It appears you have been reading my letters as you finally gave a good talking to at that bit...(ha) Mother Nature and gave us a "throw back the calendar" day today that allowed me to dust off the mountain bike for a cruise. Finally some payback for that June evening on Skegemog with 40 mph winds while jigging for bass in the Red Rocket! And lastly, the fishing net will come in handy next year on the Badwater bass circuit. Until next year, all the best Santa.

Trail Head