Key To Living In Michigan...Flexibility

We were floating last week with thoughts of an early spring and then Wednesday/Thursday came and...we put down the fishing poles to stretch our backs shoveling. Not all is bad with more snow as the local Metroparks had to have taken a pinch this winter with the lack of snow and frozen lakes. Saturday was a good day for the parks. Mark C. and I took to Huron Meadows to hit the cross country trails. The parking lot was packed so we weren't the only ones with the idea. The trails were in excellent condition and a fine glide it was.

The forecast is calling for 50's today so down go the skis and hello to the bicycle!

Flexibility for fun!

Trail Head

February Float

The calendar says February but the temperature said April Saturday so the big dilemma for the day would be what April toy to play with, the kayak or the motorcycle. Oh, the drama! While I did see a handful of choppers out, the Huron River out near Green Oak Township was the playground of choice for the day. The only concern I had besides falling in (which I didn't) was the wind but the banks of the river served for a nice barrier so no concern at all. Joining me on the river were about 10 or so other floaters and a couple fisherman in their waders. No fish stories to report; not even a sucker fish visual but a great day to be out.

Trail Head   

 

Musically Declined But Trying

fortunate to play with the Leechbombs back in December

While I don't think John Popper or "Magic Dick" from The J. Geils Band have anything to worry about on losing their crown as kings of the harmonica world, I have utilized the Internet this winter and attempted to teach myself the harp. Some history of my musically talented family is in order before I go further. There is no history of my family being musically talented as we were as musically declined as they came.  My dad's Aunt Freda I guess was the shining star as she taught piano lessons downtown back in the day. With that, we used to have family sing-a-longs (no lie) around the piano at Aunt Freda's. No amount of beautiful piano playing could have drowned out the Reeves Quintet sound.

Back to the harp lessons, while it is a work in progress, my catalog so far consists of: Happy Birthday, Hey Jude (very very rough), Silent Night (did a mean rendition of that to my friend Susan's phone over xmas and her kids didn't believe it was me; tough crowd), America the Beautiful (easy song), Imagine (yep, rough), Piano Man (not bad but pretty easy), Good Girls Don't (work in progress), Love Me Do (sometimes really good, sometimes really bad), Mary Jane's Last Dance (easy), You Don't Know How It Feels (easy) and trying but not succeeding with some Springsteen (lot of high notes) and the Romantics' What I Like About You.

With a little patience and perseverance, maybe I'll be able to open up for the Leechbombs one day....

Trail Head
 

Fish On

I finally got to see last night in Auburn Hills of what the fuss was all about. Samantha Fish this, Samantha Fish that; Keith M. could not stop throwing the accolades out for this rocker from Kansas City. Now I know. The five of us are still in awe this morning. The lady can pluck like I've never seen plucking before. To top it off, we had front row seats so I spent most of my time focusing on those magic fingers as she was making those strings bend; and bend some more! Her drummer and bass player were strong as well. If she comes through the area again, I will definitely make a point to see her. 

Trail Head

rock star seats

Keith's life is complete now

tight band