Bird & Leo

Bird met up for another play date with Leo recently. Leo lives in the Chicago suburbs and has a vacation home in Michigan so it will be a long distance/part time relationship for the two; which I think Bird is cool with so she can focus on important things to talk about when they do meet up and have a stronger emotional connection.

Woof.

Trail Head

Dog Party

Bird had some social time Friday evening as a local establishment held a 'Pumpkins and Pups' gathering. Costumes were optional for the dogs but I have to wrestle Bird just to get her harness on so a costume was not going to happen. Some good butt sniffing for all who attended. Bird held her #2 in until we were walking to the car and she let go on Main Street; literally on the street. A few elderly ladies walking by got a chuckle watching her lack of discretion.

Trail Head

The many poses of Bird (mostly playing dead)

In celebration of Bird's six months on earth this past week, I give you a glimpse of her many poses.  I think she has the 'playing dead' pose down.

Trail Head

"get that camera away from me, trying
to get my 18 hours of sleep here"

Wish Granted

The one thing lacking around this area is a good pizza as many try but it isn't up to par compared to establishments down state, specifically Buddy's. Well, someone was listening as I walked by the freezers in the local supermarket the other day and shining through with harps playing as I opened the door was the attached. An actual restaurant serving it hot out of the oven would be ideal but beggars can't be choosers so I'll take it.

Trail Head

Homecoming

This week/weekend was homecoming at the local school which meant the annual tradition of high school/college alumni coming back to town (do people really make a point to come home because it's homecoming?), cast ballots for the homecoming court (the precursor for school students to display 'vote for' election signs so they can do it when they are older and able to vote and put similar signs in their yard for presidential elections), the homecoming dance (an opportunity for parents to take uncomfortable pictures of their kids with their dates) and the homecoming parade (the tradition of people in cars waving at people lining the streets waving back at them); all leading up to a football game. There is never a homecoming for the spelling bee or the science fair. No love for our future difference makers. One homecoming tradition I believe they can do without is the homecoming floats as they are more or less fillers for the parade. I get it in that it's supposed to build comradery within classmates in working together but it ends up being a few people doing the actual work and based on the attached pictures, it looks like a few classes found out at the last minute they had to present something.

Happy Homecoming.

Trail Head

not sure exactly the theme here - a chair and a bent 
Christmas tree - go Lily and Dylan!

at least the Freshmen got the point of 
calling out the football team's opposition

prop a crapper up on a trailer and 
surround it with wrapping paper

maybe it was my angle but not sure 
what to make of this one - no idea

Almost Cut My Hair (because my barber closed)

As the CSNY song goes, "almost cut my hair, it happened just the other day...", the other day I pedaled over to my barber in Elberta for my monthly cut. The guy is an MSU fan and has to be the quickest cutter out there in that he could finish in about five minutes. Very efficient and cut it like I wanted it. It was not to be for my most recent visit, however, as the sign on the door advised that the shop was closed indefinitely. All the Spartan paraphernalia that donned the walls inside was gone as well. Don't cry for me Argentina though as this is probably the biggest drama I have and if that is the biggest drama, things overall aren't too bad. Granted, there aren't many places in the area to get a cut (I tried a place in Beulah but was number seven in line so I walked), I'll figure something out. Maybe friend Jim downstate has his Flowbee Haircutting System (the apparatus hooks up to a shop vac and you can cut your own hair) somewhere in storage that I can use.

Trail Head

Smart Pea Brain

Bird turns the big five months on Tuesday (no, there won't be any birthday parties for a dog) but that little pea brain of hers is making strides over said five months. 

Number one, and most important number one, she is potty trained for the most part and can hold her bladder for the entire night now so this scribe has been able get somewhat of a full night's sleep lately rather than walking outside in my boxers at 2 AM to oversee the process. My 50-something year old prostate normally has to urinate at that time anyway so it wasn't too much of a nuisance (besides rain storms) in addition to the being able to see the many stars/northern lights here in northern Michigan while supervising. 

Number two is pictured here. Whenever the air conditioning kicks on, you can bet your next paycheck that Bird will be hovering over the vent to take advantage of the cool air. 

Good dog; sometimes.

Trail Head