Mom's 90th Birthday

June 5, 2013 Cloudy and sunny spots, 51 degrees, cool and breezy.

Today is my Mother’s 90th birthday.
I cannot fathom, even as I get up in years myself, what a lifetime that long must mean. She has seen much and can recall most of it. And now, with the inevitable toll that aging takes on us all, she recalls the earlier times better than what occurred yesterday or last week. This gives way to stories we have never heard, reasons for certain traits, and the sheer joy of her happy and wonderful childhood and teenage years.
And they were wondrous, coming of age in the Depression, but growing up on a working farm, where some money, not a lot, was always available. Her older brother and sister had tuition for college, music lessons, and Grandpa bought a brand new 1939 Chrysler. Mom has fond memories of those years, playing in the band in high school, driving everywhere with her friends - and she had LOTS of friends. They thought nothing of driving 50 miles just to dance, or party, or hang out. And she was looker, too.

Being the Depression, some of the relatives from the city would appear in late May, after school let out and deposit their children on the farm, knowing they would be fed, returning to pick them up around Labor Day. Mom said her Dad would take them into town, buy them boots and clothes and then repeat the gesture in August so they would have decent clothes for school.

Just found out this past Mother’s Day, as we were driving through Juhl, no more than a wide spot in the road now, with an old church and a big derelict building at the crossroads. Mom looked at it as we drove by and said, “They used to have the best dances there.”
I asked, “Did Dad take you there?”
“Of course, but he didn’t dance, then. His family didn’t believe in dancing, thought it was un-Christian like.”
“But Dad was a great dancer?”
“He took lessons. He would come to take me out and I wanted to go dancing. He would sit in the corner and watch me dance with all the other fellas and couldn’t take it, so he learned how to dance so he could have me all to himself.”

Funny the things you learn about your parents.

In 1951, my parents bought a farm, a real working farm where I grew up with my brothers and raised corn and wheat and oats and beans and hay for the cattle. Also in 1951, my Dad went to work for the Ford Motor Company and Mom was left to milk the cows, make sure everything got done, and raise three young boys. And she did this, all the while being involved with church, women’s club, Eastern Star, and living in a 900 square foot house, while Dad worked 12 hours a day, seven days a week, two hours drive each way.

I did not find out, until a few years ago, long after my Father passed, that my mother, who would go to the barn in the middle of the night to help a cow deliver a calf, tying rope on the protruding hoofs to pull it out, absolutely hated living on the farm. She hated every minute of it, it was not what she had envisioned for herself, dancing her teenage years away with rich friends.

I commented that we kids never knew that. She said it wasn’t fair to burden us with something she couldn’t change and, besides, a farm was a great place to raise boys.
I asked her why she lived there fifty years if she disliked it so much and she said, “It was where your Father wanted to be.”

And that answered many questions about my parent’s relationship - it was love story about two people who sacrificed so much to give their children a wonderful childhood. Mom hated the farm and Dad hated the 30 years he put in at Fords. But it allowed us boys to grow strong, go to college, and marry women who, marvelously, are just as loving and wonderful as our Mother.

May 29, 2013 8am 68 degrees, thunderstorm - 2 1/2 inches rain in past 24 hours, plus tornadoes, wind, hail, and other fun stuff.

Morning all,
>
> So I have this pile of brush, see, and I haven't gotten a chance to burn
> it for, oh say, ten years or so. Just take whatever cuttings,
> clippings, branches, leaves, pine needles and pile them on. Ten years
> worth. And, then the majority of branches from the big pine tree that
> came down last month in the windstorm. My pile is down on the river
> bank, between an ancient willow tree and two newly dead Elm trees.
> (these three trees are each a hundred foot tall or so, and the willow is
> sickly)
>
> With my freshly minted burning permit from the Township, I waited for a
> day when the wind was minimal and set it on fire, standing by with my
> trusty garden hose.
> So far, so good.
>
> Nice little fire. Then, bigger, and bigger still, and even bigger yet.
> The flames were nearly as high as the tree tops. My garden hose was
> pretty much useless at this point as I couldn't get close enough for the
> water to reach because of the heat.
>
> Since the fire was out close to the road, people driving by would slow
> down and I would give them a thumbs up, no problems here, just a really
> big fire.
>
> Of course, it didn't take long, what with cell phones and such, that the
> neighborhood fire department showed up, blocked the entire road,
> detouring people, causing all kinds of commotion. At one point, my son
> asked, "How many firefighters are there?"
> "All of them."
>
> By this time, I have fire in the elm trees 80 feet off the ground, and
> the willow was burning pretty good as well, and up high. All the
> volunteer firemen were having a great time shooting tanker after tanker
> of water onto the trees.
>
> All the neighbors that we never seem to see out and about came over to
> check everything out, and it was nice to chat with them.
>
> Two hours later, the firemen are packing up their stuff, opening the
> road again, when the willow tree burst into flames about 30 feet off the
> ground. This time, they shot flame retardant all over everything. Then
> they got out another fancy hose and proceeded to blast the bark off my
> dead Elm trees. Lots of fun.
>
> This morning, I looked out to see smoke rising from that 30 foot up
> branch on the willow, not much, just a little. So I took my ladder out,
> climbed up and sprayed the dickens out of it. Not smoldering now. And
> we have a thundershower coming through as I write.
>
> Fun in Michigan in May.

May 18, 2013 10am 56 degrees, clouds clearing to bright blue Michigan skies.

Much happening. More reading, Bradbury short stories, Falling Angel by Tracy Chevalier - very odd set-up, hard to follow, but worth the work, a couple of Agatha Christie - without the recurring characters, (I'm a big fan of Miss Marple but I've read every word about her - Poirot is okay as long as I can picture David Suchet doing the role).

My other business is going extremely well. Things rolling right along, giving me time to think, read and write.

Baltimore Orioles appeared last night, bright orange and black flitting across the yard.

Much yard work to do, plant flowers after last week's late frost, start the annual fight with the crab grass that seems to have infected my flower beds.

Life is good.

April 21, 2013 1pm 39 degrees, clear blue Michigan sky, slight breeze, warming up.

A wondrous week - weather all over the place, roads flooding, trees down (including in my yard), got a lot of work done on my other job, new phone, new email addresses, new web domains, just moving right along.

Discovered a writer with the same surname as mine - Issac Marion Book isn't bad - though I can say I'm not really into zombies - I will watch the movie though - Warm Bodies - but mostly because it stars one of the characters from a BBC America show that I enjoyed.

And a prayer for the son of a friend of mine who was seriously injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. Steven Woolfenden - who lost a foot and his young son was hit with shrapnel. All my best for Steven.

April 5, 2013 10 am 37 degrees, sky clearing, but a bitter northeast wind. Daffodils are budding out, but the cold still retains her grip.

Monday, I got to do something very special. My youngest son has been busy devising different gifts and surprises for his parents. (obviously, this grad school thing is way too easy) For my birthday, he bought tickets to Sigur Ros at the Fox Theater in Detroit. We drove down early, parked the car, walked 1/2 mile to Greektown for dinner in an authentic Greek restaurant - The Parthanon - which is
on four levels, each open to the one below - and lots of "OPA" as they lit plates of food on fire.
Then walked back through downtown Detroit to the Fox. I had never been there. Mike Illitch who owns Little Ceasars and the Tigers,restored this art deco masterpiece. He and I had time to wander around and check it out before the show. Fascinating place.
Sigur Ros is an Icelandic band that plays artistic rock - all the lyrics to their songs are in Icelandic so you can't understand them. I thought, okay....
They apparently are a Hipster favorite and Pat and I watched the crowd as they filed in, picking out the Hipsters. They all have scarfs, and beards (even the women), and black Buddy Holly glasses. It was great fun. And, this band that no one my age has ever heard of, sold out the Fox Theater at $60 a pop. And they were very good. It was a great concert. Even in a foreign language, you could feel the emotion in the singer's voice and it drew you in.

How you could you not love a present like that?

March 24, 2013 10am 29 degrees, cloudy and cold. The winter that will not end, enough already. Wondering when I'll be able to go dig through the dead leaves in search of green shoots, or when the tiny purple crocus will appear beneath the bird feeders. Anytime would be good.
Across the way, in the wheat field, huge geese are walki

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A Hint of Spring

March 10, 2013 11am 47 degrees Robins are rummaging on the few bare patches of yard, snow is slowly disappearing.

Taking time from my real job, which has been exceptionally hectic, to finish the outline for the WIP. I recall the last novel went from 25k in the middle of March to 85k and done by the end of April. Hoping to recreate that incredibly productive time. Last novel was written from a ten line outline - don't need much, just enough to know about where you're going.

This time, however, I'm having a bit of a problem in that line 7 keeps wanting to insert itself into the ms at line 2. Ah, well, it will all work out....

Onward and Upward.

February 10,2013 1pm 30 degrees - 6-8 inches of snow on the ground, chilly morning, rain coming in this afternoon, lots of it, rising temps, melting snow, good stuff.

Going to a celebration of life this afternoon, a friend who started the local Writers Circle is putting on a little party for himself to celebrate the power of prayer - he was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer and, through a network of churches, prayer circles, vigils, etc., has gone into remission. Certainly something to celebrate.

Life is good.

February 8, 2013 2pm, 25 degrees, 6 inches of fresh powdery snow out there, all schools closed, wind picking up, drifting the north south roads, a blustery winter day.

Had a great meeting of my local Writers Circle last night - 7 brave souls who took no notice of the impending snow storm - One writing non-fiction, another new retiree, just getting started, lots of interesting ideas.

I'm kinda snowbound this afternoon. No real reason to go out into the cold and very iffy roads. May have to go out later, but the plows should be back by momentarily.

Gearing up for another run at the WIP. Stage is set, the lights are going down, almost curtain time.

Well, I suppose that's one way to put it.

Back when I started doing this, you sent a letter to an agent in New York, with a self addressed stamped return envelope - I used to buy a box of #10 and a box of #9, so it was all very neat and orderly.
Times have changed but the time to actually compose the novel has not. What does that mean? or does it mean anything? Or are today's writers typing that much faster?

Perhaps the world has changed and I just don't realize it.....

February 4, 2013 2pm 18 degrees, been snowing most of the morning, roads look bad, cold weekend, down to -3 at one point.

My neighbor, Hubert, used to tell me I should be halfway through the woodpile by Groundhog's Day. That would leave you enough wood to get through the winter. With 3 inches of snow on the ground and very cold temps, that is a decidedly distressing concept. I'm ready for this to be over and the glorious colors of spring to return.

Trying a few different things to get the writing off ground zero and moving in the right direction. Doing a little soul searching and am liking what I find.
One of the blogs I follow is helping with that.

http://timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog/

Onward and Upward.

January 29, 2013 9am 36 degrees, rain and thunderstorms this morning, going for a record high in the 50's

The current novel is percolating loudly in my head - some of it is even getting on the page. Amazing, the way the process works.

It is what it is.

January 7, 2013 7am 29 degrees, 5 inches of snow on the ground, January Thaw coming this week, will all be gone by Friday.
Don't know about anyone else, but I'm about 'footballed out'. Not as if our beloved Detroit Lions are involved anyway. And, we still have another month??
Once Upon A Time is back with new episodes. The writers have AAHD really bad. Thing bounces all over the place, which I suppose is part of its charm.
Writing is going well - first time in a very long time. This is something I've been working toward for a while now. The words are flowing and soon I'll have something to report back with.
And so it goes.

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Ah, Winter

December 29, 2012 8am 23 degrees - lightly snowing - 8 inches of snow so far this week - a winter wonderland.

On the way home from Christmas celebrations on the 24th, I turned to my wife and said, "This is the first time in memory that I haven't gotten a book for Christmas."
My Daughter called the next day to say they had found a present for me that didn't get opened. And, yes, it is a book. Still don't know which one - I asked for a few - but the string wasn't broken - paper lives!

My brother, who is a defrocked protestant minister, sent me "Heaven is for Real", which I have wanted to read since it came out. Finished it last night and enjoyed it. They did a nice job with what could have easily been controversial. My brother sent a note that said "It appears to not contradict the Bible."
An interesting note to attach.

This is the brother who taught me how to read at age 4, setting me on this journey. Still, somewhere along the line, we have discovered we can read the same things and get totally different interpretations. i.e., the Bible.

He's a great brother, we get along fine, just don't know where our paths careened in such bizarre fashion.

Life is good.

November 29, 2012 9am 36 degrees - a rare December warm-up this weekend.

In Today's Deals, the first two entries are in the Inspirational Fiction category. Both have in the tag line - train wrecks. What are the odds? Or is this a trend? Must have drama - what better drama than a train wreck?

Out here in the boondocks, they have ripped up most railroads and replaced them with paved walking/biking paths. My hometown still has a track to haul mountains of corn and soybeans off to market. And, oddly, we have an Amtrak train station not 10 miles away. You can only go to Chicago, but it is something.

Life is good.

November 25, 2012 11am 29 degrees, Inch & 1/2 of new fluffy snow - first of the year - very pretty to look at, especially when you have nowhere to go. Snow plow has come, roads look fine. Was 65 here on Thursday, now, winter has made an appearance.

These long weekends with no real work to do give plenty of time to reassess and rearrange your life, plans, dreams, fantasies, whatever. One can only watch so much football, old movies, random shows until you just turn the damned thing off. Or drink too much wine - which, in itself, is not a bad thing. And snack continually on pumpkin pie, sage dressing, cookies and cranberries.

At some point, you are left alone with your thoughts.

Is this the point where you make another run at publication? Get the story done, get something done. Try something else? Dig out some of the novels under the bed, try to make something out of them? Do the research and epub some stuff - get your name out there, try to build on that?

And then you realize it is much, much easier to open another bottle of wine and worry about it later.

November 12, 2012 1pm 41 degrees, rainy, cold, yesterday was 70 degrees here, temp has been dropping since midnight - almost 30 degrees so far and more to go.

Since I was here last, I have added another granddaughter - Guinevere. Joyous time, life is indeed good.

Managed to get through the election with no big problems. Being a small business owner, one immediately expects you are a Republican. And, oddly, many small business owners are and are not reticent about sharing their political views. I've been biting my tongue so much, it is painful. But, at least, it is over.

My heart goes out to those in NYC who are bearing the brunt of Hurricane Sandy. There are many places I remember from my younger days of wandering the West Village.

Life goes on - the novel continuous to evade my ability to put it down on paper, roaring over and over in my mind, but somehow unable to recreate itself on my keyboard which refuses to put one word after another in any coherent form.

Ah, perhaps with the advent of winter, the long cold dark days with time hanging hard against the bleak sun, my writing muse will relax her stranglehold and the worlds will flow again like the melting snow streaming into my little river.

Life is good, hope continues,

Sept. 16, 2012 10am 59 degrees, clear blue Michigan skies - cool in the house this morning, I keep shivering - going to be a very long winter.

My middle son's girlfriend has gotten a car from her father's estate. They, being mid 20 somethings have no where to store it, so we spent yesterday cleaning out my shed. The shed is a Quonset hut - 16x32 with a garage door at one end. For the past 27 years, I've been sticking stuff in there. There was still room for a little more, but, alas, no room for a car.

The local recycling shop is going to get large amounts of scrap iron, steel, copper, aluminum, and the burn pile is getting much larger. Any furniture I had stored there has been infested with mold and moisture, cracking the veneers and generally making them unusable.

I did come across a treasure trove of matchbox cars. This is telling since my youngest is now 22.

Moving some plywood, I noticed what appeared to be a tail - a large bushy tail. I assumed a cat had somehow met his end there beneath the lumber. However, the paws -or what remained of the paws - did not look feline. Removing the mostly skeletal remains indicated a larger animal, with very large teeth. It appears an American Badger had somehow gotten into the shed and expired. Very strange. Don't recall ever having see one around here. Yet another mystery in my little space Along the River.

Still not done with the cleaning - and, oh yes, the car in question is a 47 Plymouth, completely restored.

And so it goes.

Sept. 10, 2012 - 8am 42 degrees, clear blue Michigan Skies - a definite touch of autumn in the air - 42 is cold with the windows open.

In regards to the 50 Shades of Gray, I managed to get through another 100 pages, but I do not envision myself finishing the book. There just isn't enough to incentive to pick it up again.

I have always been a 'night' person. Sleeping in til whenever and staying up late watching Johnny Carson - or lately, George Stropolopolis on CBC into the early hours.

Six months or so ago, God decided that I needed to be up at 5:30 am. Doesn't matter when I go to bed, doesn't matter how much I press my eyes tight to not look at the led clock next to the bed, at 5:30, I am awake.

Don't know what it means, don't know what grand plan is in the works, I just know that I am awake at 5:30. Some mornings, I can refuse the call, get another hour or so before rolling out, but most mornings I'm staring at the coffee maker willing it to brew faster.

After fighting this oddity for six months, I am now using this newly acquired two hours every morning to get some real writing done. Who knew?

Life is strange - perhaps this is leading to something better.

My new age friends say they are having the same problem, getting up at odd hours - one poor gal is waking from dead sleep at 3:30 which is raising all sorts of problems from her spouse and kids. The reason, because everything happens for a reason - according to the new age reasoning - is we are getting prepped for the new age, the new beginning scheduled for December of this year.

Now THAT should be interesting. And it appears I'm going to be awake for it.

Aug. 20,2010 - 8am 51 degrees, clear blue Michigan Skies, a glorious summer day.

Okay, folks, work with me here. In an attempt to find something - anything to read - actually I was in my local RiteAid looking for a magazine - Vogue, which, oddly, they don't seem to carry, but then we do live a bit further out from the metropolis, fashion here tends to be more the Women of Walmart. At any rate, I picked up a very thick Bourne installment I haven't read yet and, lo and behold, there on the top of the rack was one single copy of...... Fifty Shades of Gray.
So, for $15.95, I figured I would find out what all the fuss is about. When my wife saw it, she said all the waitresses at work jabber about it all the time and, Lord knows, the book world can't seem to get enough of it either. Okay, then. I bring it home, sit on my front porch, with a cup of coffee, and begin.
Twenty pages in, yeah, it's a little clunky, as one might expect from a self published work. Not bad, though. Forty pages in, WTF? Where is this going? - well, actually, I have a pretty good idea where it is going but why is it putting me through this indeterminable drivel to get me there?
I can go with suspension of belief to enjoy a good story. This, however, is asking too much. When every other page is "Oh, yeah, like that would ever happen.
Now, the book has taken on a bitter medicine feel. Should I take it all at once and get it over with, or should I continue reading ten pages at a time, so that I don't overdose on poisonous prose?
This morning, I am halfway through. And, we haven't even gotten to any of the BDSM stuff. Geeze, how long can this go on?
One of the publishing posts mentioned Ms. James was pulling in a half a million a week from royalties. Am I jealous? Yes, of course I am. Am I surprised? Amazingly so. Before self publishing, this never would have seen the light of day - it wouldn't even have seen a glimmer on the horizon. Now, it is going to set back the publishing industry ten years, which, as we all know, is something they don't need right now.
I've been around a long time, I've seen these phenomena come and go. And, most times, it is the same. Does anyone remember "The Bridges of Madison County", or "Love Story" or "Jonathan Livingstone Seagull"? Same concept, same how in the world did this thing get published?
Is this a case of serendipity? Or is this a case of publishers not judging the audience correctly? Or, perhaps, some combination of them both?

I'll let you know who the BDSM stuff works - if I

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Summertime and the livin' is easy

July 4 1pm 95 degrees, clear blue Michigan skies, and really, really hot.

We are suffering the heat wave like most of the country, the river is down to a mere trickle - six inches deep and 50 feet wide - rocks that haven't felt the sun and air for years are drying their mossy surfaces.

A wonderful summer so far, some family stuff, last child's graduation from college, one child snagging a very cool job - text messages from everywhere in the country that say, "I can't believe they pay me for this!", another child creating a space for himself very well, and the last going to make our family bigger with the arrival of another granddaughter in October.

I have taken to sitting on my front porch - not a porch really, a 6x8 slab of cement - from there I can watch the bunnies running to and fro, my flowers blooming in spite of the drought, and Baltimore Orioles coming to the feeder, a bright flash of orange and black, very cool.

And the writing goes on - albeit slowly, far too slowly.

and so it goes....

March 14 10am 34 degrees, clear blue Michigan skies - going to 70 degrees today.

Spring has come to Michigan. The past few days have been exceptionally warm and no end in sight. Snow is gone, crocuses are blooming, daffodils are gearing up. Quite amazing.

The Ides of March is my birthday. Yeah, yeah, just bragging. Made it through another year, despite my addiction to nicotine and fondness for two teaspoons of sugar in every cup of coffee.

Had an interesting encounter yesterday with one of my restaurant owners. He was railing about taxes, and not being able to make a million dollars, and the fact he didn't go to college because owning a restaurant has been his dream since he was 12. He is now maybe 30.
I finally jumped in and said, No, things are going great - Life is good, business is picking up, factories around here are building cars again, my kids are all doing fantastic, my wife and I are doing great.
He finally looked at me and said, Thanks - it's nice to see someone who is so happy and upbeat. I needed that.

Glad to oblige.

And my writing is beginning to show fruit as well.

Life is good.

February 19 2pm 29 degrees, fresh couple inches of snow, cold west wind

Glorious week, took the trash down Thursday night and had a clear brilliant night sky with Orion nicely positioned and Venus exceptionally bright.

This morning, sitting in my big blue chair by the big window, small birds trying to get the last of the seeds out of the feeders (needed to be filled), a young hawk came swooping in and captured a chickadee, crashing against the glass. The sound of birds striking the glass happens quite often, but the sound after was painful. I looked to see the young red-tailed hawk, starting to eat his prey. Don't think I've ever been that close to one - and he wasn't happy about me watching from only three feet away. He spread his wings and took off, with his breakfast.

What amazing things happen, if only you are around and able to see them.

Life is good.

January 14 noon 22 degrees, brilliant blue sky with fluffy white clouds

Enjoying our first weekend of actual winter weather hereabouts. an inch of snow on the ground, clean white. Has been in the 50's for the past three weeks - most amazing winter I've ever seen.

So, deep into the new year, things happening, writing progressing, business going nuts - recession? what recession? - need more hours in the day. Working on tax stuff, taking care of Mother, trying to keep everything hot on the stove without burning anything.

New keyboard - have a new computer as well, but haven't been able to switch my old programs onto it - something about my software being 15 years old - good grief.

Am going to try to keep this journal a bit more up to date. Keep going, keep trying, keep moving on.

June 25 8am 59 degrees, cloudy with blue background.

Clearly, everyone has given up on blogs as a means of communication - gone on to other new and fancy toys. I, on the other hand, have not moved on - I found even more unproductive ways to waste my time.

If this were something interesting, say a new lover or heretofore undiscovered passion, it would be one thing, but, alas, the days just continue to unfold as a rose and the new bloom moves closer to falling pedals than the promise of the bud.

Here, on my little acre of heaven, along the river, which the abundant rain has seen fit to keep high and moving swiftly, the trees have grown way too big, the yearly cutting back was not done, the grass grows too quickly and the roof, which has needed replacement for six years now, has begun leaking with earnest.

That said, the roses are blooming, the Asian lilies are spectacular, and the impatiens are kicking ass. A glorious rainbow in the east the other night giving way to a magical display of lightning bugs that appeared as fairies glowing yellow against the deep green.

And life goes on. Perhaps not in a noticeable progression, but still moving. The new granddaughter, the latest and greatest from the kids, the slow progression of my mother towards the long dark, while I search for the energy, the spark, the sheer will to move forward in a thoughtful, meaningful manner rather than simply stumbling blindly along an ill defined path.

All righty, then, that was depressing. There must be something going on. Two weeks ago, my wife and I took a trip east, to Pennsylvania, to the wedding of my cousin's daughter. I took advantage of this outing to visit Fallingwater south of Pittsburgh. An amazing place, a wonderful adventure. Slowly knocking off visits to Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces, Chicago is mostly done, Wisconsin & Arizona yet to come. The aforementioned cousin is responsible for this - it was she who took me to the Guggenheim in long lost days back in the Sixties. I nearly went into architecture because of that experience.

And, of course, the trip itself was an adventure. Mom, who at 88, decided it was time to leave the driving to someone else, sold me her car - a wondrous car of huge proportions and a very smooth ride. And I, with the optimism of a teenager, thought, "What could go wrong taking a thirteen year old car that hasn't been driven for a year, 1600 miles over the Pennsylvania mountains?"

On the fourth day, heading back home, in the mountains north of Philadelphia, it became obvious the car was not going to make it without repairs. So, on a Sunday, nothing open, small town, just after noon, I walked into an obviously empty hotel and asked for a room. "We don't have any." Ah, I said, gesturing to the empty parking lot. "The rooms are all on hold in case it rains."
"Rains on what?"
"You're obviously not a NASCAR fan - did you notice what the next exit is?"
"Poconos. You mean the race is this weekend?"
"Happening as we speak."
Luckily, it did not rain, my wife and I had a large hotel all to ourselves, pool, hot tub, a nice suite to watch the race unfold, and a relaxing day amid a far too short vacation.
And the nice Ford dealer got us on the road by 11 the next morning.

Off now to attack the greenery growing far too fast. Life moves on even if one would rather stay static.

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Spring Arrives in Michigan

March 19 11am 32 degrees - Blue Michigan skies with fluffy white clouds. The snow is gone (except for lingering piles that were once 10 feet tall).

Has been an interesting week hereabouts. On Tuesday last, I celebrated a BIG birthday. The week started with dinner with Mom last Sunday - when we arrived at the restaurant, all of my children were there, sitting at a table decorated with cake and nifty four color placemats put together by my son-in-law (the reason I know this is the caption beneath my senior picture says, "voted most likely to have a good looking son-in-law")

Tuesday morning, I awoke to horns honking and discovered my yard and the roadside were festooned with large signs announcing that I was old, needed parts, still had a full deck - but shuffling slower, and a 6x12 banner hanging from the big pine down by the road.

And, I'm pretty sure they (my lovely wife, children and our Saturday night group) are not done yet. I have been instructed to arrive for my birthday dinner at 5 this evening. I'm sure there are bunches of other things planned and I'm just going with the flow.

On another note, I may be old fashioned, or simply out of touch, but it appears the money people who put us into this recession and have come out the other side, not only richer but more convinced than ever of their invincibility, are still at it. Witness this quote from CNBC's Larry Kudlow after the big earthquake, "The human toll here looks to be much worse than the economic toll, and we can be grateful for that."

To those of us who saw our 401's disappear and the value of our homes plummet, and have to watch with disbelief while the money guys make even more while we suffer, this is the most callous statement I have ever heard.

Nearing 10,000 dead but it's okay, the Nikkai is going to be fine...

Makes one wonder what my next birthday will bring...

February 19 11am 25 degrees - First day below freezing since last Sunday - been in the 50's, cool today, with a brisk west wind, snow is pretty much gone, clear blue Michigan sky.

Wandered about the yard yesterday looking for the first signs of spring - daffodils are still hiding beneath the snow, peonies under a mat of oak leaves. Do have a few dark green myrtle clusters peaking out - guess that will have to do.

Over 300 lbs of sunflower seeds and into my third box of suet. Birds are everywhere and, new this year, three different types of squirrels. The little black ones are really cute - and very fast.

Have a young doe who has discovered the birds are not always good at grabbing the seeds - she sneaks up at night and stand just outside our front window eating off the ground - so close you could reach out and touch her. Oddly, the television doesn't seem to bother her as it flickers and is reflected off my big mirror.

Another big snowstorm is scheduled here tomorrow - the winter that won't stop.

Writing on tap for this afternoon. Wife working an extra shift, so the house is mine.

And, the Borders closing went around my store - always a good thing.

Onward and Upward.

February 13 Noon 41 degrees - First day since Jan 1st that we have broken the freezing mark - not just 40, but 32 - it has been a long string of cold. This week is supposed to be a nice run of 40's.

Which should all be interesting in that we have two feet of snow on the ground - stuff just keeps piling up.

All that said, I'm not getting any writing done at all - the gig I thought I had at the local newspaper has gone nowhere and I assume it is because the editor is reluctant to ask the publisher for enough money to make it worth my time.

And, my latest novel sits stubbornly on one side of my brain, repeatedly saying "this would be a good plot twist" and "you should try this" all the while refusing to go to the other side of my brain that makes my fingers work. Highly frustrating.

Perhaps the rising temps will create a spring fever of "you need to get this done" and the words will rise like the sap in our beloved maples. At this point, I'm not sure what else I can do but keep sitting here looking at a blank page and wondering if the electrical currents will switch sides.

Onward and Upward.

January 15 10am 24 degrees - fresh two inches of snow, flurries still coming down.

Noticed, yet again, that blogging has become passe - except for a few agents who keep us informed and amused. ie. Janet Reid and Kristen Nelson and a couple others.

But, for the most part, (and I'm guilty as well), blog postings are getting more and more intermittent.

This time of the year, in Michigan, there isn't a whole lot to do outdoors - unless you're one of those insane people who like to sit on a frozen pond and watch ice crystals form on your bobber (and likely other places we shouldn't mention).

Really enjoying my Ipad - very nice to curl up and read in my recliner. And the idea that it can be used for lots of other things is pretty cool as well. Have been able to find lots of hot spots but being way out here in the boondocks means funny looks if you ask if they have wi-fi.

My neighbor asked how I use it at home and I said I have wi-fi in my house. "You have cable? I still have dial up and it sucks." Have no idea why the cable came my way from the corner and didn't go down to her house. Not sure what I'd do without internet.

See, I told you I live in the boondocks.

Waiting on the snow plow - can't really do much until he shows up.

Onward and Upward.

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Deep into Winter
originally posted: December 15, 2010

December 29 11am 25 degrees, hazy skies, had some freezing ice fog this morning - due to warm up to near 50 by Friday - the 8 or so inches of snow will melt away.

Christmas holiday is past, getting ready for our Yearly Feast Friday- Looks like 20 people or so, an eight course meal, with wine, then ringing in the New Year with euchre. I get to be a kitchen bitch (better known as sous chef)

Got an Ipad for Christmas from my kids. Lots of fun, yes it is. Came downloaded with Stephen King's latest - which is my usual Christmas present - yeah, I finished that Monday night. I also got a sequel to an earlier book from my youngest son, so I'm 50 pages or so into that - and, yes, it is a real paper book with a spine and everything. - Oddly though, I can't adjust the type size....

Hope everyone had a great holiday season - The New Year beckons, promising to fulfill dreams and move us another year down the road toward the future.

December 15 8am 14 degrees - a glorious sunrise over frosty snow. Roads are a terrible mess - too cold for the salt to work, black ice, clear blue Michigan sky.

Doing Christmas Letters - I absolutely detest those generic missives that arrive telling tales of people who are important to the sender but unknown to me.

After what had been a great year in my "other" business, a calamity which has greatly reduced my income and raised the stress level of the already stress induced holiday season.

Oh, well. We muddle on. As everyone apparently is gearing down for the holidays, I have more time to write and plan for the new year.

Onward & Upward.

December 13 2pm 12 degrees - 7 inches of snow last night, we are now UP to 12 degrees - with a 35 mph wind. Roads are solid ice - salt doesn't work at these temps - even the main roads are nearly impassable. Thankfully, I paid attention to the weatherman and planned well - not having to leave the house today.

One could not tell from the crowd at Borders that the company is in trouble.

Tree is up - packages reaching out four feet in all directions - there would be more but my wife ran out of wrapping paper.

Taking advantage of the weather to get lots and lots done on the latest work. Life is good.

November 26 10am 25 degrees - random flakes of snow, first of the season.

Thanksgiving dinner yesterday at niece's house, 20 odd family members, 30 lbs of turkey and watching the Lion's lose. A perfect day.

Mom even commented how wonderful it is that our clan can continue to gather in friendship and love - no harsh words, no sullen looks, and the rare political comment is laughed about and dismissed. Judging from comments by friends and others, this is a rare feat to accomplish time and time again.

Wife is tickled she didn't have to cook yesterday - all the children were heard from or seen - now a long weekend to gear up for the busy season ahead.

Some stress here as the end of the year is going to spell the end of some local businesses, no longer able to hang on. In my case, this includes customers and providers. Not a good thing, these people are my friends and I can do little to help.

Getting into the writing mode, that time of year. All things bright and beautiful.

And so it goes.

November 9 8am 33 degrees, glorious sunrise over low fog to a bright blue Michigan sky.

A week of respite from the cold weather - highs in the low sixties, frosty mornings - abundant sunshine.

Things are pretty quiet here in my little corner of the world. Eldest son, after years of solid employment, finds himself at loose ends, heading off to Florida in search of work. Wife is having a very hard time with this concept.

Youngest son is off this weekend to Toronto, doing tech work for his band.

I got to spend some quality time with the newest addition to the family, Grandbaby Eleanor. At three months, she is smart enough to know a smile can melt my aging heart.

I've taken temporary stewardship of our local Writer's Circle, while the founder and leader deals with an increased work load and some medical issues.

Also, waiting on the local newspaper to create a paid spot for my ramblings. They keep saying it's a done deal, however, I haven't seen my byline yet.

Easing into autumn, I usually have more and more time to write. That's the plan.

I have noticed a marked dropoff in blogging by nearly everyone. Clearly, all those who wander by here have moved on to the next newest thing. And, as usual, I missed it.....

Onward and Upward on this glorious day.

October 11 8am 52 degrees, sunrise to a streaked sky and low rolling bits of mist.

A lovely weekend of late summer weather, 70's and bright blue skies, leaves turning, reds and yellows, farmers taking advantage of a dry October to scrape the fields of soybeans and corn, some a precious third cutting of alfalfa.

Been reading quite a bit lately - the result of the paucity of anything to watch on my 600 channels of television. Finished A Room With A View last night - it is now overdue at the library. The one thing that struck me was the reliance of author intrusion - seems he went to this device whenever it seemed easier than simple writing another scene.

Juliet by Anne Fortier - a rather fun read, well done take on the old Romeo & Juliet story. The settings were nicely rendered as I puzzle out why it is the Muses are directing me to Tuscany. The past month has been filled with pictures of the church in Florence, references to Tuscany, seemingly everything I come across - my friends at the metaphysical shop say "there are no coincidences" - really, this getting out of hand. Even the local hotel is sporting a new paint job of browns and yellows from "Under A Tuscan Sun", which is appearing regularly on my 600 channels....

September brought Up From The Blue, by the lovely Susan Henderson. A debut novel with great characters, interesting premise, and a good start at building a readership.

Off to start my day - much happening, much to do, but....

The sun is shining brightly now, the colors of the changing leaves are so heartbreakingly beautiful, the October air warm yet holding a cool edge reminding us of things to come, conspire to thwart best laid plans.

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Summer Time Redux
originally posted: August 27, 2010

August 27 11am 70 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky, chilly this morning, a sign of things to come too soon.

The turkeys across the way have been growing quickly and it appears they have all managed to survive the coyotes and foxes.

Discovered operating the chain saw results in extreme soreness of atrophied muscles.

Have seen quite a few deer in the past few days and always a doe with fawns - one or two - very cool as the little ones are losing their spots.

Full moon this week, starry starry nights.

Been reading more than usual. Tish Cohen's latest, The Truth about Delilah Blue. Used book store had - in the mystical section - On God - conversations with Norman Mailer. That was interesting reading - plus, even though I have a well read education, I was sent scurrying to the dictionary every 20 pages or so, thereby learning a new word.

And, I shouldn't listen to NPR - stopped at the Library and picked up A Room With A View only because I like Richard Wolff and he was effusive in his praise - which seems odd, but what the hell?

And, on Jamie Ford's advice, just printed out a Borders coupon for Juliet, that I'll pick up tomorrow when I go visit my new Granddaughter.

Life is good.

August 6 9am 65 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky, cold front came through last night, stripped the humidity from the air and is giving us some, albeit brief, relief from the heat wave.

Has been a whirlwind couple of weeks - family reunions, funerals, and this week, the birth of my first grandchild. My cup overfloweth.

Taking a new tack in regard to writing. I have had trouble getting into the groove again, so time is being set out every day, get the minimum quota done, go from there. Just a matter of sticking to it - yeah, yeah, I know, everyone else has the same problem and there are plenty of you who will help, but first, the letters have to appear on the screen.

How hard can this be?

Off to my home town this morning - the Missionary Church is having their huge campground this week, bringing a few thousand more folks to frequent the businesses. My Dad used to say, "there are more souls made, than saved, during the two week camp." My Dad has a wicked sense of humor.

July 27 7am 61 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky, pink clouds last night, full moon this morning.

Spent an hour last night watering my drooping flowers. Whereas the rains have been coming hot and heavy (Chicago), and with big winds as well (Downriver Detroit and Ann Arbor), and rain north of us as well, we appear to be in a dry slot. 80% chance here means two drops, lawn is drying up, flowers are going "What the hell?"

I'm apparently feeding many new families of hummingbirds, filling the feeder every other day. They get annoyed when they have to sip nectar from the actual flowers.

Sunday night, as I was watching David Suchet stumble his way through Masterpiece Theater, a huge crash. No clue until I found my big spotlight. A huge ash tree, killed by the ash borers, tumbled into the back yard. Going to be a mess to clean up, but I will get to play with the big chainsaw my wife got me for Christmas. Not to mention there should be a couple cord of wood involved for the fireplace.

Business is going amazingly well. I have no clue how that is happening and figure, at this point, there is no reason to question it.

The sun rises over the alfalfa field across the road, two turkeys with 8 little ones work slowly through the grass looking for bugs. A nice 4 point buck stopped in the yard last night.

Life is good. The stars are particularly bright in my world. Kids are all working and NOT living at home. Wife and I are rediscovering why we got together in the first place. The journey continues.

July 12 10am 71 degrees - cloudy, rain this morning, big thunderboomers last night, and a glorious rainbow.

Weather has settled into a July pattern. Hot, steamy, with thunderstorms, cool and dry, then back to hot & steamy.

Last Wednesday, saw a combine working his way across a wheat field - brought back lots of memories, though I don't recall ever harvesting wheat that early in July. When I was growing up, my Dad had a big red self-propelled combine - the first one in the area - and we would combine grain for anyone willing to pay. Summer days moving from farm to farm, one eye on the sky, and lots and lots of wheat.

Had a good week selling ads, delivering placemats, and being out there.

Have been having a lot of deju vu experiences lately, and premonitions of one kind or another. Not sure if any of these mean anything, but they do seem to portend something.

WIP moving along - nice to be back writing again. Must keep my eye on the goal.

July 6 8am 78 degrees - clear blue Michigan skies, hot stretch of days, 93 yesterday, hotter today,

Glorious sunrise this morning, not enough pinkish tinge to expect a sorely needed shower this afternoon, quarter moon in the eastern sky before dawn.

Got hollered at after Writer's Circle meeting last Thursday when Erin discovered I've been reading old stuff and not writing anything new. She's right, of course, so I'm struggling to move ahead with current WIP.

Enjoyed multiple firework displays, have been watering the flowers way too much, drove to city last night to celebrate middle son's 24th birthday. Much fun. Now, back to the grind. Get it done, get it finished.

Rolling along toward an unknown destination.

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Ric Marion is a writer, far from New York, in the rural thumb of Michigan. Done about everything, welfare caseworker, shop rat, trucking supervisor, editor, columnist, small business owner.
This writer is in search of agency representation.