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”
Author Archives: rike52
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!”
LITO!
Late Sunday we landed in Detroit Metro to conclude our second California trip in a little over a month. Hard to say when our pull to the Golden State began. My dad took me to San Francisco in 1964 to watch Barry Goldwater get nominated, and this 11-year-old was fascinated by the cable cars, architecture, terrain, Fisherman’sContinue reading “LITO!”
mancave! and so clean!!
I started earning a regular paycheck in 1979 and have lived 5 places since then. At no point did I have a proper mancave till now. I had to exude toxic masculinity and smoke cigars all over the house. Since I have an understanding wife, a pretty big house, and don’t really smoke cigars anymore, there were noContinue reading “mancave! and so clean!!”
milk, milk, lemonade…
Now all of you who just completed that phrase, raise your naughty little hands! No, this isn’t a treatise on childhood snigger porn – good one for later – but results of my cost analysis of making that classic summer refresher. My motivation was my rediscovery of the Arnold Palmer drink as part of my continuingContinue reading “milk, milk, lemonade…”
head, heart
I spent a little time last week in the village where I was a teen, Vicksburg. The occasion was the awards ceremony for the Southwest Michigan Tournament of Writers. I’d received dispensation the year before from the director to enter, even though I was not a local. The stipulation was that I confine my writings to Vicksburg. I did,Continue reading “head, heart”
burn, baby!
Ten years ago, today was one of those beautiful Ann Arbor early May days much like today might turn out. I write this by the fire looking out at cloudy and 45, but it’s early and I have faith in Michigan weather. Another day for sweats and shorts, in sequence for certain, and likely at the sameContinue reading “burn, baby!”
recipes II
It’s a wonderful thing when a patient becomes a friend. Such was the case with Valda from Kalamazoo. We found that we shared much in our views on food, music, and politics, and concern for the future of Kalamazoo. She became sort of a protegée, as I guided her along recipes, including some from myContinue reading “recipes II”
against…
My Spotify turns up endless delights. Tonight, my “Cat Stevens Radio” Spotify channel spit up an old Bob Seger classic that’s always been very meaningful to me (1). As I felt once again these lyrics in my soul, I thought perhaps most superficial fans missed the meaning of this song. Sure, it’s about how tough life is,Continue reading “against…”
parking
Today’s blog serves as an accessible reference list to “Head in Tree Town, Heart in the ‘burg”, an essay I submitted yesterday to the Southwast Michigan Tournament of Writers. Because readers will see only print, I provide a link to this page so the reader can access the links to which the references refer. TheContinue reading “parking”
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