Motor City Bowl

Freebie-ville paid a visit Friday night in the form of the Motor City Bowl. Work offered up tickets to the game and with the work ID doubling up as a parking badge, it was rock star treatment all the way. The game quite honestly was pretty sad if you were a Chippewa fan, which we were. Dan, Doke, and Roger even wore their fan garb. I am thinking Roger had a "C" painted on his chest underneath his shirt but couldn't find the time to unveil it with the defeat. There was definitely a Mt. Pleasant feel in the air. We witnessed one fella just outside the stadium BEFORE the game having to be held up by his friends. I think he started a little too early in the day although he was probably having the time of his life around noon. The designated smoking areas at Ford Field are quite a scene. I'm not a smoker but the smoking community is very personable, always ready to talk it up while they inhale the love or whatever it is they get from doing it. We ran into Snoop and Snoop at the smoking area (pictures below), both former Chippewas. I still don't understand the whole crooked hat look but I guess if you want to look like Fernando Rodney, tear it up!

Trail Head

Christmas Party Tour - Part II

The Christmas party tour (bike tour is on a hiatus) hit western Oakland county last night at the Schmitt household with the 40-somethings and their kids in attendance. The kids had home base in the basement while the “elders” were getting jolly upstairs. Tis the season to be merry and what a better way to even be merrier than drinking Rob’s famous egg nog. I’m not much of an egg nog fan but I’ve experienced just about everything watching other folks drink it over the years. I’ve seen it go down and come right back up later in the evening which is not a pretty sight, especially on M-59. To cap off the evening, in the spirit of Gus and the big man in a little coat, we donned our letter jackets. The painter hats were an additional bonus from Jimbo.

Merry Christmas

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Chippewa Gathering

A very merry evening it was at the Ochs’ place for the annual CMU Christmas party. The Auburn Hills residence is the ideal location for a gathering. It has great space and there aren't any neighbors to worry about. With Laura "Martha Jr." and Greg "iPod guy" as the hosts, it was A#1 all the way. The house has hosted some barn burner parties in the past (pre-blue and post blue house) and while we might not be able to kick it like we once did, I think everybody held their own quite well. Al, thanks for the football game and the life preserver. I'm sure the life preserver will show up at another party in the future. I would have to say the gift exchange that topped them all was the present from Keith to Roger; a fifth of Wild Turkey and a First Aid kit. Once you drink the first gift, you more than likely have to use the second.

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Mountain Biking Season Isn't Over Yet

A beautiful morning for a ride at Island Lake Recreation Area, well at least until I threw my back out late in the ride (old man river writing today). I had recently read on the MMBA web site that the trails were ride able, even without studded tires, so I thought I would have a look for myself. The trails were a ball. With my iPod giving me some utopic (is that a word?) tunes, the scene couldn’t have been better. You could go at a pretty good pace, all things considered. I wasn’t the only idiot out there getting his fix; there had to have been ten or so others at the trailhead parking lot. Below is a video from my “bike cam” on Loop B.

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It's Cold

Well, in pursuit of the Ward Cleaver award this year, I did double time this weekend hitting both Chuck E. Cheese's on Friday night and Pump It Up on Saturday in celebration of Calder's sixth birthday. My last experience at the mouse place was quite awhile ago and thought I had remembered there being beer offered but not at this location (boo!!!). I was warned that the pizza was pretty bad but thought you'd have to work hard to mess up pizza. I was wrong; this pizza was bogue. It's all about the unlimited amounts of pop, the games, and of course, the tickets! For only 4,000 tickets, you can get a pretty cool remote control car. There was one pin ball machine which gave me my sanctuary from the screamers. It was a dog eat dog world near the pop-a-shot. I was ready to put some whoop-ass on a pack of pompous West Bloomfield brats that were hogging the game.

I wisely held back at Pump It Up on Saturday. Pump It Up is a place that has three or four different moon walk type set ups that are pretty cool to jump around in. My last experience there when we were initially checking out the place had me walking like an old man for a couple days from the jumping. There were no kid casualties from the thrashing I am happy to report. I held home base near the air hockey game. Calder's big haul was a Wii machine from Mommy. I had a fun time playing with it on Sunday. It sure puts Pong to shame. The golf game was great. Maybe I should get that for my Dad? I would crack up watching him do practice swings in his living room.

I am looking forward to the annual CMU congregation next weekend at the Ochs' place. The ladies will swap some candles and the guy will swap some booze and lures. It doesn't get any better.

For anyone needing a chuckle, attached is a clip my niece and nephew put together from their two year residence in Brazil.

http://departingthed.blogspot.com/2008/12/hacked-encore-random-web-cam-from-sao.html


Trail Head