Alive at 45 - Thanks To All!

Many thanks go out this holiday of all holiday seasons; the opening day of hunting season I guess is okay for some but of course the birth of the big head forty five years ago (less a few days) takes the cake of them all! And what a four day celebration it was!

The first thank you goes out to everyone at Mixx Bar on Wednesday night for the pre-birthday celebration. I wasn't expecting the gifts but am thankful for them!



fancy tequila, supposedly

The second thank you goes out to Doke for the Thursday, one night road trip to the Windy City. The north "Loop" walking bar tour downtown never fails to deliver and deliver it did. It started harmlessly at about 3 PM Thursday at a bar called "Chill" right in the heart of the Loyola campus area. There we encountered bartender Hattie; a North Carolina transplant who ten or so years ago packed her bags from Wilmington one drunken night (not making this up) and headed north to live the midwest dream I guess. So the birthday boy sought out his first celebration shot and Hattie presented this tequila that was, according to the bar owner, created with the help of Jack Nicholson and only available in three bars in the world. Whatever; just give me a lemon with that please. The owner seemed insulted by my lemon request as it was supposedly so outstanding that a chaser wouldn't be needed. And yep, I had the tequila face after downing said shot.

From there the tour headed north to Mike Ditka's restaurant and who was there in attendance? None other than the owner himself. That is the second time I've seen him there so a gold star to Iron Mike for making sure a place with his name on it is doing it the right way. The place is A#1. 

While it was probably a blessing in disguise, I was surprised that when I threw out my "What do I get for my birthday?" line, a handful of bars advised I would get a "Happy Birthday" and a smile and that would be it. What's with that? But yes, it was probably for the best. One bartender advised she made the best Long Island Ice Tea in the city so I had to see for myself. It was quite delicious and of course it was probably just a coincidence that the evening got a bit blurry after that; you think?

Al C. dialing it in

The third thank you goes to north Dunham Beach resident Al C. for the lake float on Saturday. After returning home to the Motor City for a rest, it was just too nice of a day Saturday to lollygag and I didn't want to watch the Spartans lose again (they lost, surprise!). While the fish were nowhere to be found, the Dunham Lake experience is, as Seger says, good for the soul. The sun was out and it was just us and the birds.

The last thank you of course goes out to my parents for having that extra glass of wine that chilly February night 45 years ago. Thanks.....man!

Trail Head

Iron Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

stressful

even got a mountain bike ride in!

 

November Bonus

It was a "turn back the clock" weekend as it felt like May. With that, the summer toys got another chance to play. My fellow Badwater fishermen had double digit pike production at Pontiac Lake while I had a goose egg at Proud Lake on Saturday. Besides a couple of duck hunters, I had the lake to myself so fish or no fish, fishing in shorts in November is a pretty cool thing.

A fine executive decision was made Sunday as rather than watch the woeful Lions, the motorcycle got dusted off and the back roads of Oakland, Genesee, and Livingston counties came calling. A hundred or so miles later and you have a soul that has been cleansed.  

Trail Head

Proud Lake



Lake Ponemah in the background

Pontiac Lake

 

Creative Ways of Losing - Defibrillator Prospects

Just when you thought there was no way State could lose a game more creatively, they topped themselves Saturday evening. I am hoping the two fellas seated in front of us for the game (pictured below) didn't need the defibrillator afterwards as I have never witnessed anyone get so irate over EVERY SINGLE PLAY! They weren't even happy when State scored a touchdown. There wasn't a thing you could have presented to them that would have brought on a positive outlook. An entry by the big guy upstairs onto the field through a light in the sky at halftime would of had them complaining about how "JC" didn't get his landing down good enough. It was a scene to behold. Yes, State managed to allow a team to drive 80 yards with a minute remaining and no timeouts; and yes, they are probably going to end up playing in the Vagisil Bowl, but fellas, come on, smile and enjoy the ride.

Losing aside, a great day it was. We thankfully didn't get shot at on the ride to East Lansing but I wasn't overly concerned as there was quite a police presence on I-96 and quite honestly, the wacko can go pretty much anywhere he wants, so we did what Americans do, we lived free! Upon arrival into town, Mark and I took a tour of our old stomping grounds and posed in front of our old residences from back in the day. Mark's old place on Lilac Street appears to be holding up better than the bunker on Spartan Street that I'm standing in front of below. My guess is the occupants of said homes were probably scratching their heads watching a couple of yuck yucks posing in front of their house (ha).
I'm obviously biased but State's campus still is A#1 as far as atmosphere.
Sparty On!
Trail Head

grump #1



grump #2
 



Rick, Chuck, Mark



the Spartan St. bunker

Mark's old crib on Lilac St. holding up well

the mighty Red Cedar