When I left behind my hippie-wannabe pseudo-intellectual ways as I left Ann Arbor for the first time, I also left behind my taste for foreign movies (called “international” these days). It was the mid-70s and Hollywood was still in its heyday, with Star Wars, Bonnie and Clyde, Flashdance, Carrie, Alien, Taxi Driver, Chinatown, The Exorcist, FrenchContinue reading “Mads”
Author Archives: rike52
High, Semi-dry, January
I never managed to make sweet, willowy, athletic Denise my girlfriend. We went our separate ways after graduation, she snaring Kevin – a U-M educated lawyer and all-around good guy – while I lucked into Kathy. My reacquaintance with old ‘burg friends included Kevin and Denise, now a dear friend once again. It was from Denise that IContinue reading “High, Semi-dry, January”
NAC me up Joe
“I feel bad for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.” — Frank Sinatra “I’m not saying everyone should drink, it just worked for me” – Jackie Gleason “Alcohol doesn’t solve any problems, neither does milk”. unknown origin, but it had its ownContinue reading “NAC me up Joe”
In the year 2525 (less 1/2 a millennium)
Hope youse had a Merry Christmas! Remember, this is just the beginning, if you play your cards right (1). Boxing Day has its own traditions, like me writing this Christmas letter. Congratulations to you boomers out there who caught that reference in the title to Zager & Evans’ ’69 hit (2). Listening to those apocalyptic 60s songs –Continue reading “In the year 2525 (less 1/2 a millennium)”
Head in Tree Town, Heart in the ‘burg
This was my entry to the 11th annual SW Michigan Tournament of Writers. When the winners were named April 24th, mine wasn’t among them. I share it here for those who don’t want to buy the book (1). A lucky dog was this Ike(2) in ’64 as Fisher Body’s brass kicked my dad from TechContinue reading “Head in Tree Town, Heart in the ‘burg”
moo-derer
The news comes fast and furious these days. Two items from the week before this one really caught my attention and happen to be related. The first was Bill Gates’ announcement that “climate change” wasn’t going to kill us and some funds targeted for its mitigation might be spent on more pressing problems (1). Of course, he’s caughtContinue reading “moo-derer”
All Souls
My dear Catholic friend Angie reminded me this morning that in her Church, today is All Souls’ Day, conclusion of the spiritual triumvirate they’ve made out of this cross-quarter day (halfway between autumn equinox and winter solstice) Samhain: All Hallows Eve (which we heathens know as Halloween), All Saints’ Day, and All Souls Day. The firstContinue reading “All Souls”
mancave upgrade!
Timing is everything. At my first stab at this blog, I thought I had the greatest lead-in: “Should an older man on the eve of his 39th wedding anniversary be spending time waxing over his mancave?” There’s no relation between the two dates, only that some improvements in my mancave have finally settled in. Our anniversary and that footballContinue reading “mancave upgrade!”
Voddie & Charlie
When I started this blog over 5 years ago, I vowed to myself to stay clear of religion and politics. Like Albert Finney’s character in Big Fish said, “You never know who you’re gonna offend”. My dear late friend Sam taught me to lay off politics on Facebook, and I carried that into my blog. You couldContinue reading “Voddie & Charlie”
dilly dilly!
No, I’m not tapping into Bud Light’s silly theme of a few years ago (1). A few weeks back, when the notion to write this just started, Mother Nature was easing along into the Michigan growing season. A trip to the Farmers’ Market found mostly prepared products but very little actual fresh produce. Michigan moves slowly, even in June,Continue reading “dilly dilly!”
Bob Ike's blog 