Willows

 After a successful trip to Eastern Market yesterday, we went to a new place for us to observe nature.  This is a crane spotted at Normandy Oaks Park in Royal Oak yesterday. This is a little treasure in the north end of the town converted from a golf course to a family friendly park with splash pad, large play structure, a covered pavilion and about mile long paved walkway around the perimeter of the park.

They had some weeping willows and area called no mow zones that showcased wildflowers and other indigenous plants along the pathway. These trees are so majestic.  Judy's dad planted them in their yard in one of the houses she grew up in.  Willow Weep for Me is one of my all time favorite tunes. As they gather the breezes,  it is so relaxing to watch the swaying.

After all that, we went to Republica for a too expensive beer that was worth it, a cherry wheat ale.  It was cool and pleasant,  sitting outside watching the passersby on Coolidge.  

Tore out my sunless garden yesterday.  Had wonderful tomato and pepper plants with blooms but no fruits.  It was a real source of anticipation and frustration. The location does not provide enough sunlight with many tree boughs overhead.  I will stick to Eastern Market for my produce.  

It's a Shannon morning with B and the B just finishing up and her breakfast completed.  Gonna be a hot one today.

that's it

all for now

stay safe

Cloudy Sunrise in Southfield

With my grand kids today in Southfield.  Took this shot from the fifth floor of their building.  Really an low keyed morning with them, much easier than when they were younger.  

We had a wonderful time a the New Gateways 30th Anniversary celebration with Shannon and these two yesterday.  They had a large tent, a catered lunch and an accordion band (like at a Polish wedding).  These folks worked really hard setting this up and feeding us all.  The director Lynn has done a remarkable job loving, training, making fun for this group of disabled clients that range from 26 to retirement age.  I cannot sing her praises nor the staff loudly enough.  If you are looking for a charitable organization to consider,  New Gateways is a worthy choice.

Let's discuss the student loan payment forgiveness.  There are many opinion both positive and negative about this topic as well as some in the middle.  Me, I have no real skin in this game.  The US Navy paid for the educations of one son and one daughter, both having honorably served their country.  My eldest is a successful community college RN and he paid his own way.  

But I heard from a good friend of mine that rarely revels his rancor, expressing his displeasure  that he struggled to put 3 kids thru college and feels this is a program that is unfair to those that played by the rules.  Former students that paid off a mountain of debt are pissed.  In todays world, students can emerge from university with as much as 100K in debt with a newly minted degree and a Job making less than 50K a year.  The educational system now is completely revenue based.  It will take decades to pay off these loans.  That is just fact of life.  In my opinion, at the very least, a 2 year program at a community college should by covered by the feds/states.  That way a person can learn job skills that will allow them to be self sufficient. 

On a different subject, I took my grandson Eli bowling today.  My performance confirmed I was always bad at  this and I've never gotten better.  Swinging a bright yellow 13 lb. ball for two games now allows me to barely rest my elbow on this table to type.  it feels like I was pounding with a sledge hammer with one arm for an hour. But I was happy to do my Poppy thing and he enjoyed it. 

that's it

all for now

stay safe

 

Food Sources

 

With the changing climate  becoming more extreme, our food sources are and will soon be affected.  California has been in a severe drought for the past decades.  America's growers of produce will soon be unable to grow their crops due to the water shortage.  This is a reality we will soon be forced to accept.  These changes are in a full catapult now and I believe the pace will quicken.  

With this truth clearly before us,  states like Michigan and other midwestern ones could again become America's breadbasket as they were in the last century.  Food would be seasonal certainly.  The winters are cold and unforgiving, but we have a source of water in the Great Lakes.  In fact moving crop production into MI,OH, IN, PA ,KY and even east into NJ and NY might be the best going forward.  

As citizens, we could as in WWII grow Victory Gardens.  Casting off and removing water consuming green lawns and replacing them with food growing gardens might be a good idea.  Realistically,  a family could feed themselves with the harvest of fruits and vegetables.  Also,  the consumer would know what chemicals were in their food or not in it.  This state and others near it have a bounty of fertile soil for growing a multitude of fruits, vegetables, herbs and other foliage.  

So, find a sunny spot in your yard, remove the grass, put down some mulch and plant a couple of little tomato plants or peppers or cucumbers.  Later expand it to include more fruits and veggies.

Went to the Detroit Zoo a few days ago for an afternoon walk.  Judy discovered the massive cooling fan they installed in the middle of the park.  Had a nice shot of Mr. Zebra and of the garden plots on the walkway.  I learned recently that although they look like horses and are in the same family,  genetically they are quite different and can be aggressive and their markings are like snowflakes, no two have the same stripes.

Off to planet fitness this morning, Oh Boy!

all for now

stay safe

Excessive Signage!

So there's a guy on Main St in Royal Oak who has his small home festooned with Tr*mp signs, on the lawn, on the porch and attached to the fence along with a few smaller US flags.  The national election is more than 2 years away.  I don't care if this homeowner has the habits of Mother Teresa or the World Central Kitchen.  I don't like him.   Its more than drinking the Kool-Aid.  He has become a messiah to people like this.  I drive by and I get furious.   I know it makes no sense and I should end my emotional investment.

There's another house on Catalpa with Tudor Dixon and Tr*mp 2024 signs on the front lawn.  I don't want to know this person either.   

We all have dreams that we remember even for after we awaken.  Last night that was my experience.  "I decided to go back to school for something and somehow found myself in downtown Detroit.  I had Paxton and Everett in tow for some reason.  I was walking on Woodward Ave, looking for my destination probably the school.  I got lost and at a corner I did not recognize.  Also, I lost my two charges along the way.  McKinley, a nice young worker from Lange House showed up with a GPS, the kids reappeared and I found my way out.  Then, panting, I woke up.

back to Planet Fitness today, ugh

all for now 

stay safe

So its Raining

Sunday and it's raining, has been all night.  I think of my friends in CA and how this would be a blessed event for them.  This is my first baby barf in a long time a gift from Baby James last week.  Speaking of gifts,  we completed Ethan Hawke's The Last Movie Stars  yesterday evening.  It shows the complicated lives and careers of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward in a six episode documentary.  It may be the opus of his fine career.  See it if you can on HBO Max if you love this era of film and the passionate performances of both actors.  Now, I want to hunt up some of the films shown in the doc. 

I remember seeing The Verdict,  The Hustler and The Color of Money.  But now I need to re view them in light of this presentation.  Joanne was the real acting star in the family but Paul had more flash and better box office so that is what we watched.  The Three Faces of Eve I do not really recall.  Further I  come up short on memories of her films and television performances.  Need to find a way to remedy this.

All the cruising is over for another year around here.  Harry and I took our long walk and saw about a block of the crowd which was quite cheery and pleasant, not at all jam packed as I expected.  There was rain predicted for the day and it did not materialize to the benefit of the participants.   

Thats it for today

all for now

stay safe
 

I Found Him!

Every once in a while we wonder "what ever happened to?" When I was in my early twenties, well employed, I decided to move out of my parents house.  Worked for Matty Moroun at Central Transport in a couple of jobs and met this fellow.  His name is John Fritz Anderson and he lived in northern Troy with his mom.  We became friends and decided to become roommates, living in the brand spanking new Royal Coachman apartments.  I think I was 24 and he 26.  He had experience living on his own in college at Clark University in Worcester MA.  I know nothing about rent paying or utilities or even phone bills.

We had a pretty good experience in out lovely place with the balcony outside.  Had a couple of good parties with my college pals that included something new for its time, actual food served, almost burned the place down with an oven fire at one in the morning. Ultimately he went his way and me mine which meant being neighbors but staying friends.  I got married and he did too for a second time.  Then we lost track of each other, maybe now for about 46 years.  I often wondered where life took my friend.  But alas, through Judy's sleuthing, I found him and his wife happily residing in Durango CO.  We spoke on the phone yesterday at length.

What a gift!

all for now

if you are a mind to, enjoy the Woodward Cruise

 

Cruise - mania

The Woodward Dream Cruise with its little brothers is coming up.  We have a pared down version of the event in Berkley on 12 Mile road this Friday.  The little town of Clawson is doing the same.  Like it or not we love our cars around here.  The old guys that could not afford the hot rod of their dreams now can ant they trot them out on this day and a few  sunny summer ones as well.   This Saturday is the big event and wisdom would have drivers stay away from the area unless they are participants or avid viewers.  The Avenue will be basically a parking lot of rumbling engines and exhaust fumes.  There will be bellies peaking out under commemorative tee shirts and lots of beer being consumed.  People will be telling tales of their past and the girls they wanted to meet in the 60's.  Hopefully no one will get too riled up and the crowd stays smiling.  My old friend Jerry Bell will be there with his Nova and lovely wife in tow.  He has been a car guy since before we could drive and when we raced slot cars in each other's basements on home made tracks.  

I was not much of a car guy,  knew nothing of how they worked,  liked the appearance of some, but only put in the gas, and drove.  I did not ever have a cool car and now am too old for one.  These guys with the passion for waxing and scrubbing their classic vehicles escape me, but still give some cause to envy.  

It's going to be a loud weekend.  We are less than a mile from the action.  The old people will be bitching, but for me,  these sounds are remnants of my past.

all for now

stay safe