Author Archives: rike52

Trigger warning:  my wifey thinks this is gross I’m hope you’ve had half as much fun this Christmas as I have playing with a pig part. I haven’t had this much fun with a boar’s head since Joe Shook’s pig roast half a hundred years ago.  After eating, we took the head of the beastContinue reading “boared?”

I hope this doesn’t sound like bragging, but my wife and I never came down with COVID.  We never got vaxxed.  We never paid much attention to anyone’s guidelines except when forced, which of course was often.  We did get sick once, but it was when influenza A was sweeping the campus in November ‘21Continue reading “not us!”

We’ve invited our Colorado friend June to join us on one of our upcoming Chicago jaunts.  Seeking to gauge whether she might like the same things as we do, I mentioned our love of jazz clubs.  She came back saying she loves jazz clubs and also blues clubs.  Plenty of those in Chi-town, but itContinue reading “Theresa’s”

Kathy and are in the midst of our annual Chicago Christmas jaunt, taking in music and all the other wonders that make up Christmas in Chicago (1).  This afternoon, after a Chicago Architecture Center tour on the origins of the EL, we took in a matinee at Orchestra Hall.  These are great bargains, as theyContinue reading “oh, CSO!”

…amoenam circumspice.  That’s the motto of my home state of Michigan, where I’ve lived for all but 9 of my 70 years.  I never want to leave.  In English, it’s “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.”   Indeed.  Actually, we’ve got two, and they’re both pretty damned pleasant.  From trapping to logging toContinue reading “si quaeris peninsulam …”

I always wondered what I’d do with those two labels I’d so carefully soaked off a couple of magnificent bottles of booze from many Christmases ago.  They rested in a plastic basket next to my blue recliner amongst all the other stuff I didn’t know what to do with.  With my unexpected but wonderful reacquaintanceContinue reading “skōl!”

When dear Darai, my double classmate (Vicksburg High, U of M) couldn’t remember ‘em, I knew I had to act.  She long ago moved to the land of fruit and nuts, and after Saturday’s joyous spectacle, got her family properly decked out to go to the boardwalk. Seeing her little Max, I recommended she showContinue reading “little dogs”

In May 2020, I submitted a formal nomination for Commander Cody (born George W. Frayne IV) to receive an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the University of Michigan.  I was instructed to keep all things confidential, in part to protect the nominee who might not react well to not being chosen.  Well, George didContinue reading “Dr. Frayne?”

As I just wrote to many dozens of my dear friends: I hope you and yours had a joyful and bounteous Thanksgiving.  With the large avian consumed, what can it mean but It’s Christmas!  Kathy and I invite you to review some of our adventures of 2022 in our attached Christmas letter. Yes, it’s ChristmasContinue reading “’tis the season”

No, this isn’t an announcement for a pop Zoom.  We’ll still wait till next year for the next one.  With this email I just want to give you all a little present for the Season about to unfold.  Every year about this time, Gary, the guy who rebuilt my house in ’04-5, sends me aContinue reading “zoom tunes for TG”