Rolling Into May

May 8 8am 43 degrees - cooler day today, clouds starting to break up, but not going to get above 55 or so - jacket weather

Didn't get much accomplished yesterday - no one was about - Gas prices jumped to $3.88 here. Makes you think twice about just driving around waiting for an idea of where to cold call.

Need to get moving this morning - starting to get behind.

Onward and Upward.

May 7 9am 67 degrees - broken clouds

Dandelions everywhere. I really dislike them. When I moved here, some 20 odd years ago, the former owner had a device to dig them up so they wouldn't grow back. I used it a lot and for the most part, I have large swaths of green grass. It makes the few who are growing more noticeable.

Bernita has an interesting discussion on what constitutes urban fantasy.

It appears going off to find a new keyboard is in the works this morning. I keep not getting characters when I type - push harder, fingers start hurting. Ak.

May 6 12:30am 56 degrees - dark

My youngest son is putting together a portfolio of various items for his senior English class. He needed something from me about his future. Here it is.

Last.

In a few weeks, our last child will graduate from high school and, soon after, leave for college and the next phase of his life.

This child, as with his siblings, has a unique personality. He has his own way of doing things; his own take on the world he is about to inherit.

Oddly, I have no qualms concerning his next step. While I worried and fussed over his sister and brothers, wondering if they were grounded enough, mature enough to handle what was coming; with this one, those doubts are eased. He has a gravity, a solidity that hadn't yet formed in them. He plans ahead, ruminates, researches, inherited from his mother, certainly not me. While he does not yet know how everything works, he is at least curious.

Perhaps it is my age, (I am old enough to be his grandfather), perhaps the simple wearing down of parental worry after three others, that creates this calmness, this feeling of no need to worry. But I think it is his own quiet passage to adulthood.

We share special bonds. A love for movies, and music, giving us time together. We share Boston Legal and the liberal bias therein that we discuss and argue.

He has his own prejudices - mostly girls driving with cellphones. But he understands that life cannot always be fair, or even good, and that seeing silver linings means you actually have to look up at the clouds. Those traits will equip him well for the future.

As his mother and I watch him take the walk across the stage, and pack him up for college, we look forward to this new phase in our lives, as excited as he is.

Last one, God Speed.

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May Day +4

May 5 11am 66 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky, lovely.

Overslept, late start, much to do.
Patry has yet another great post.

Bernita as well.

Month off to a great start - roll on.

May 4 8pm 61 degrees - a beautiful day, sunshine, family, little cool, but not bad.

Celebrated my oldest son's birthday today, with all of his brothers here and his Grandmother as well. My wife outdid herself with a glorious dinner with lots of leftovers for the boys (and Mom) to take away with them. Great food, good conversation, good times. And Grandma teamed up with the youngest in Euchre and kicked butt.

Life is good. Family becomes more important when you get older, I think. And I have a wonderful family.

Now, on to bigger and better things. Going to get awfully busy around here in the next few weeks. Life is like that.

Stopped in at a Book Release party last night - my neighbor, who just released his second novel - well, kinda, they are published by PublishAmerica and could have used a ton of editing. But, he gets out and hustles, and sold a few hundred of the first novel, so I won't fault what he's doing. Though he does think I should follow but I'm still holding the idea that people should pay me to publish my work. Preferably a lot, but at least something.

Quiet around here this time of night. Darkness is falling on a lovely day, and all is well with the world.

May 3 9am 61 degrees - cloudy, got the rain, finally, thunderstorms and all.

Today would have been my Dad's 85th birthday. Hard to believe he's been gone 9 years. Always remembered, but especially today. When I find myself doing something like he did, or repeating some saying I heard often when I was young, I think of him. And Mom can rarely go an entire conversation without mentioning how much she misses him.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

May 2 9am 57 degrees - cloudy, still predicting rain - haven't seen any yet - don't think we'll get much before this evening.

Washer guy came, fixed it, then fixed dryer too. Though expensive, I made him promise the set would last until I get the last one through college. Wife is now happily getting all the laundry done - the dryer is running much better and drying faster so the electric bill (which has been getting out of hand) should be helped.

8 pm show last night to see Ironman. So glad that Robert Downey, Jr. got a part to shoot him back into the limelight. He is too good an actor to lose. Movie is really good. Put it on your "must see" list. Downey's sarcastic eyebrows are used to great effect. And, while the story is predictable, and the special effects so-so, the humor is done without getting campy. What more can you ask?

Busy day today. Yesterday was a good one, this will be even better.

Wife - who is the sports fanatic hereabouts - in heaven today as the Detroit Tigers swept the Yankees for the first time in 40+ years, the Red Wings swept Colorado, and the Pistons advanced to the next round. Michigan Rules!

May 1 10am 50 degrees - cloudy out there, predicting rain but the radar shows zilch - have no idea.

Busy week/month coming - Middle child moving (again), which will get the second hand furniture in my living room moved out.
Birthday dinner - for my oldest son - on Sunday - Mother is coming. Youngest is going on field trip tomorrow to the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Tent is rented, waiting now for guy to come fix washing machine. Way too much to do. Ack!

Somewhere in here, I'm supposed to put together a non-fiction proposal gathering up my columns from the Flint Journal - if anyone is interested in a series of columns about growing up on the farm in the 60's - let me know. I wrote the column for ten years - lots of material. Would make a great "Daily Reader" book.

Life is good. Busier I get the more I get done.

April 30 8am 37 degrees - frosty morning again. Beautiful sunrise to end the month.

Gas prices have me hanging out at the house more - which means I can get some writing done. Sales coming in over the phone - always a good thing. Keyboard is going - not a good thing.

Coming into the end run for youngest child. He is counting the days til high school is over. I recall when I was his age, it was all about being rebellious and getting laid. Ah, to be young again...

Busy day today. Will be out and about. Need to go pay for the rental tent for son's open house in July. oh, yeah, and sell, too.

April 29 8am 31 degrees - frosty out there, furnace is running - though I did have a fire going last night.

Took yesterday off - Wife and I went to Troy to take daughter out to lunch for her birthday. She is buying a house and, in this market, understandably nervous. It is a really cool house.

Michael Cader takes on James Frey. I hope he doesn't find out, as I did, that Frey apologists are a feisty lot. It was my first comment over on LitPark. Artist as victim - always good for a few lines of press.

Mindy found a neat video to waste time watching.

I actually need to get some work done today. Life goes on - bills need to be paid.

Onward and Upward.

April 27 1pm 58 degrees - cooled down for the weekend, neighbor is out mowing lawn - too early.

Working on the house today - doing cleaning jobs in anticipation of open house in July - inside while it is still cool outside, though my flower beds need attention. Still have another month on those. Washing woodwork in bathroom - wife working on kitchen cupboards. Did the brass fireplace doors yesterday.

No cards this week. Wife worked day shift yesterday - was too tired to go out.

Typical weekend. Pretty quiet, trying to get things done.

Friday was a great work day. Made lots of money - gotta love days like that. And, I had lunch with Mother - always a nice thing.

April 24 9am 62 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky, wonderful stuff.

Karma can be a wonderful thing. My former printer, with whom I have a long history and to whom I still owe a large amount of money, is moving his business after 20 years. Yesterday, I drove by and he was painting his new storefront. I averted my eyes and drove on. After a couple blocks, I turned around, thinking this is stupid, we've been friends for years and why am I avoiding him? He seemed genuinely glad to see me, gave me a tour of the new building, and I gave him a token payment that I really can't afford.
He is a member of Rotary and they use my property to work on cleaning the river for canoes and kayaks. He asked if they could stop here again this year. Of course.
When I got home last night, the mail included a letter with my business name on it and a return address I did not recognize. Had no idea what it could be. Inside was a check for an account that I closed in 2005. Long ago written off as uncollectible, long forgotten.

Karma works.

Life is good - better if you smile through the pain, spread a little sunshine, and love the life you live.

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A Touch of Summer

April 23 Noon 70 degrees - another beauty - sun rose this morning in a blazing red ball - very cool - my wife rolled me out of my dreams just to see it.

Good day yesterday - life is good.

Gas is $3.58 here. Trying not to drive as much.

Boston Legal just keeps getting better and better. Love that show.

Out and at it. Everyone have a great day.

April 22 9am 62 degrees - glorious day out there - yet another in this fantastic stretch of weather.

Had a great time with sister-in-law from Tacoma - or, as my Mother says, Dinner is always great if I don't have to cook.

Selling is very easy in this environment. Nothing to it. Cash flow - love cash flow.

Yesterday, made a run down to the city - funeral home visit for my wife's sister-in-law's father - 5 year battle with Alzheimers - very sad and now over.

Stopped to see middle son at college - he has a new gig working with the mascot for the Detroit Pistons. Now that he has discovered you can get paid for dressing up in funny costume and spreading fun, I'm sure his career track is going off in a different direction.

Senior son dropped off a huge pile of empty pallets - yea! firewood. Will be useful this weekend when the temps fall back to normal.

Made daily quota before 9 am. I love this.

To all my friends in Pennsylvania - VOTE! Especially important since my vote apparently doesn't count....

Onward and Upward.

April 20 11am 67 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky - wonderful weather

Picked a lot of daffodils and jonquils yesterday - bright yellow infusing the house with color.

Got youngest off to Prom in good shape - looks pretty good in a tux, yes, he does. Middle son wandered in from college, oldest son kayaked down the river, all very nice.

Cards last night - one of our group is in Germany for work, but everyone else was there. Just played 6 handed euchre, a bottle of wine, good times.

Going to Mother's for dinner today. My sister-in-law from Tacoma is in town and seemed like a great day for a get together.

Life is good.

April 19 10am 65 degrees - a cloudy morning, after a red sunrise, warm and wondrous

Everyone was, as predicted, in a buying mood - and, considering I just raised my prices over last year, in too good of mood to haggle, they just wrote the checks. Gotta love it.

Today is yard work, already have all the screens in, rose bushes cut back, planted a new bowling ball and picked daffodils and jonquils for my desk.

Teaching youngest son to polish shoes - tonight is Prom.

Life is good.

April 17 8am 56 degrees - clear blue sky, glorious sunrise, and warm

Yesterday was, as predicted, a great day to sell. Everyone was in a great mood, sure, let's do it. Gotta love days like that.

Caught some of the debate last night - nothing new, though I am getting excited about the idea of Obama being our next president.
You can feel the anticipation of a new generation - and, for those of us old enough to remember, it was like with John Kennedy.

Economy sucks around here. Even the Sheriff is telling folks to tack everything down - thieves are taking anything they can.

WIP going well - hope springs eternal.

April 16 8am 48 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky - and warmer, warmer, warmer.

Daffodils are blooming, little touches of yellow amid the dead grasses, starlings trying to build a nest in my eaves,

Will be a great day for selling - everyone has been waiting for this blast of spring.

Middle son in residence at Oakland University where there was a lockdown Sunday night due to graffiti. Though they reopened yesterday, many profs and students stayed away.

Youngest son picking up tux tomorrow for Prom Saturday night. Ah, the rights of youth.

Gas is $3.55 - went up a quarter an hour after I filled up. Smile.

Congrats to Pat Wood on making the short list for the Orange Prize.

Life is good.

April 14 9am 34 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky - frosty this morning, brisk and beautiful

The Annual Trip to Retrieve Mother from her Florida Residence

Tuesday afternoon: Board direct flight from Flint to Ft. Myers, thereby avoiding the dreaded switch - to quote from Stephen King's Duma Key, "Any time one can fly without going through fucking Atlanta, is a good flight".
Arrived to 85 degrees and friendly faces. (There was a guy sitting in front of us on the plane who PAID money to buy a seat for his dogs - who looked like lab rats.)

Wednesday: Wife and I took a drive into Cape Coral - the foreclosure capitol of the world. Not that you could tell. Not much happening residential wise, but lots of commercial building going on. Stopped at the end of the road to put our feet in the Gulf and watched a woman being tended by paramedics - bitten by a sting ray. Was a great drive. Stopped at a Books a Million. Found a copy of Patry Francis's book. That was kinda neat. Went swimming - mostly to keep my wife from sitting in the sun too long and getting burned. Mom said goodbye to friends who have been there for fifteen years who sold their place and will not be coming back again. Very sad.

Thursday: Packing day - getting everything on the list done, frig cleaned, etc. Went to pool again - temp 90 - sun very hot. Wife did not get burned - I did. Go figure. Out to supper, cards next door, many many folks stopping to say goodbye.

Friday morning, left for the long drive home. Stopped to see my Aunt and Uncle - both in their nineties, both very sharp still. Then back on the road - 500 miles later, Macon. Temp 78

Saturday - 600 miles later, Dayton. Temp 40

Sunday - 300 miles, HOME. Temp 34 - 1/2 inch of snow on rooftops, none on road.

Tired, worn out, sunburn itches, nice to sleep in my own bed.

Observations: Credit crunch or no, there is a lot of money out there. Waterfront lots - which is most of Cape Coral, sell for $400,000, and there didn't appear too many for sale. Still building lots of new malls and stores.

Saw a lot of help wanted signs - all the way home - until we got to Michigan - granted, these were hotel and convenience store jobs that pay $8-10, but that's enough to keep you from starving.

There seem to be a huge amount of hotels and motels along the freeway and more being built. Costs money to stay there and the demand seems to be growing, not diminishing. In Dayton, in the rust belt, we got the last room. Just struck me as odd. The restaurants were generally full and doing a great business as well. Recession?

All in all, a grand time. Time to think, to get that last plot bunny figured out, get the winter cold blanched from my bones, quality time with my Mother (who is 84), now back to the grind, busy summer ahead.

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Spring has Sprung

April 8 9am 41 degrees - cloudy, cool morning after a couple days of near 70

Leaving this afternoon for Florida to retrieve Mother - my wife and I look forward to this trip to blanch the winter cold from our bones in a few short hours by the pool.

Probably be quiet for a few days as Mom is not wi-fi enabled. Plans are to read, relax, flesh out the remaining outline for my WIP and be ready to hit the ground running when I get home.

Spring has infused my writing genie with fresh new power and this is looking more and more like the year it happens.

April 6 2pm 61 degrees - clear blue Michigan skies and warm, warm temps. Glorious weather - got out and picked up the lawn, wonderful.

Been busy getting ready to head south to get Mom. We leave on Tuesday. Lots of stuff to do before that.

Getting deep into the WIP now - mind going a hundred miles a minute, things falling into place, ah, life is good.

Red wing blackbird at the feeder last night - seldom see that. Windows open, warmth from the sun, can it get much better?
well, actually, the temp in Fort Myers is 85 - that would be better.

Onward and Upward.

April 3 7am 27 degrees - another glorious moonrise and now the sun is rising in a blaze of pink.

I've gotten my hours all screwed up - I don't generally get up in the morning until the kid is off to school, but the last two mornings, I've been up at 6.

6 am is not, as it is for most people, productive time. I really can't do much more than paperwork - none of my potential clients want to see me first thing. Retail folks don't open their shops until 9 or 10 - give them an hour to get into the day, and we're talking 11 o'clock.

Should be a good time to work on WIP - ah, yes, that's the ticket.

Enjoy the day.

April 2 9pm 39 degrees - cold this morning and then the day warmed up wonderfully under bright sunshine.

Up early this morning, crescent moon rising in the east in wondrous shades of umber.

Lots of busy work today, then way, way too much coffee.

Running over the blogs tonight - many interesting things happening out there - tired now, wandering off.

April 1 9am 56 degrees - warm this morning, going to get real chilly this afternoon - been in the fifties overnight, cold front coming at us - dropping to 22 tonight - gotta love Michigan in the spring.

Delivered a bunch of placemats yesterday - put in order for a whole bunch more - need to cover my restaurants while I'm in Florida.

Pretty quiet out there otherwise.

Patry has a wonderful post about learning from the journey.

Month end / beginning - much to do. Charge forth!!

March 31 9am 46 degrees - Finally, a warm spell. Still have ice and snow in places, ground is frozen, but warm rains today and tonight - other than the gray day, a very good thing.

Relatively uneventful weekend. Painted the inside of the hall closet - as well as cleaning it out - one step at a time on our way to summer.

Cards Saturday night, as always. Great fun.
Sunday, made bean soup from scratch - I'm the only one here who eats it - had to listen to the family complain about the odor all day.

Caught the Tudors last night - great show - of course, the insertion of many scenes with bare skin doesn't hurt....

Busy week, getting ready to take a week off - Placemats must be ordered way ahead of time - and my printer seems to be having problems with this concept.

Ak.

And, I read a book this weekend from my Christmas pile. The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson - non-fiction is not usually my cup of tea, but this was a great story and I enjoyed it. He uses two parallel lines - one, the Chicago Exposition of 1893 and another about a serial killer operating at the same time.

I know it sounds odd, but it does work. The historical stuff is great.

Onward and Upward.

March 27 8am 35 degrees - cloudy, on the north edge of a nasty looking snow/ice/rain - hopefully, we will get nothing but the clouds.

Fiddled with work yesterday, then off to town, helped a friend of mine - 75 years old - fill out the form so he would get his $300 stimulus payment.

Then made a big sale and picked up a couple checks - kinda cool to have a bit of money in the pot.

Finishing up a special placemat this morning, then try to keep the string going.

Need to get started on the little things, fixing up the house for the Open House in July. Not sure what's on tap, but something - paint, grout, who knows. Also, getting ready for our annual trek to Florida to get Mom. Rolling along.

Oh, yeah, writing is involved.

March 26 9am 35 degrees - clear blue Michigan skies - tis trying to be spring - not much luck so far, but trying.

Had a great day yesterday - spent three hours with one of my favorite customers - and came away with a big check.

busy work this morning - have to get a mat laid out - then roll on after that - warm weather makes people happy - happy people buy more.

Spent two hours last night watching a biopic of Janis Joplin - have never seen this one before - very cool - apparently there are no tapes of her actually performing Me and Bobby McGee - that would be so cool.

News from Iraq makes it clear they are only waiting until we leave to start the genocide that will inevitably happen. Damned if we do, damned if we don't. 4,000 dead and it will all go for naught.

Bernita has an interesting post today. As usual. Her mind works in mysterious and wondrous ways.

Patry is home from hospital and creating the most marvelous writings. May this continue unabated.

Okay, wasting enough time here - to work, to work.

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Easter Morning + 1

March 24 10am 25 degrees - clear blue Michigan sky - very cold

Had the boys all in for Easter dinner yesterday - big ham, lots of laughing - some euchre, Middle child and I watched John Adams, and a lot of screaming and jumping over the basketball games (enough to scare my cat badly).

Now, into the week - need to make up a little ground - got a little behind. Life is good.

March 23 11am 35 degrees - milky white skies, cold but trying. Missed the last 10 inch snow fall - went south of here - down in the big city - we didn't get a flake.

Have Canadian Geese trying to pair up in the field across the road - ah, the dating scene.

Wife got called into work on Friday evening - I was out and about all day - 140 miles, 20,000 placemats, busy, busy and then come home to an empty house.

Yesterday, I got up extremely early - finished off Duma Key, by Stephen King. The setting is not far from where my Mother stays in Florida. So, imagine my surprise when I poured a cup of coffee and it tasted just like the one Mom makes with her antiquated percolator - the one I pour and take to the patio for an early morning cigarette and to wake up. Tasted and smelled the same - I could smell the humidity, the palm fronds, and then I heard the trucks going by on the big road - the same Tamiami Trail King writes about. All these senses and I'm still here in Michigan looking out my big window at the last snow holding on tight.

A rather amazing experience.

So nice this morning to have an encouraging post from Patry. Get well, girl, there are stories to be told and no one better to do them.

Boys will all be in for a ham dinner this afternoon. I did better on the basketball bracket yesterday than I did on Friday. What a wide open tournament. Never know what's going to happen - which is why they call it March Madness.

Happy Easter everyone. The renewal comes, spring rolls in. Wandering country roads Friday, saw the taps in the maple trees. Spring is indeed upon us. To a wondrous season.

March 21 8am 21 degrees - gray looking day - might just miss the last blast of snow moving across the southern part of the state... might.... hope so

Saw first red wing blackbird last night - ah, spring may be near. Also a beautiful sunset with the full moon coming up in the east.

Work on tap for me today while the rest of the world enjoys a holiday. Ah, well, some of us have to work... Not sure what kind of sales I can make today, but, hey, gotta start somewhere.

A joyous day. The sun has broken through the clouds - life is good.

March 20 9am 28 degrees - sunshine, something rare around here in recent days. Sunshine and the hope of spring, folks have been noting the return of Canadian Geese, the herons
and cranes who nest in the flood plain of my little river on the way to town. Red Wing Blackbirds should be next - the small patch of bright red and cheery sounds along the roadsides.

More than half way through my birthday book - Duma Key, by Stephen King. I love it when he's on his game. Like an old familiar friend whose style and gift of language has amazed me since I first picked up The Stand. His books take up over three feet of the bookcase in my living room - I can think of no greater tribute one can make to writer.

Senior pictures were received yesterday. Kids must take after their mother to look so good. Another of the "last" milestones. Last Prom coming next.

Writing will be front and center this weekend.

Something from the Archives:

On long-ago Easter mornings, the bright sun would break over the horizon in the east, across the farmland. Our house would already be alive with action as cows were milked and calves fed.

Mother and Dad would hurry things so we wouldn't be late for the Brown City Masonic Lodge Easter breakfast. Mother, through some process I have never ceased to be amazed at, would get up early, milk the cows and finish the chores.

Then she would manage to clean up, get dressed in her new Easter clothes, get Dad and three small boys up, dressed and into the car. All of this by 7 am.

My two older brothers and I would be in new suits and shiny black shoes, sleepily riding toward town in the early morning light.
The only signs of life at that hour were a few milkhouses aglow.

Main Street was nearly deserted, except for the cars parked near the Masonic Temple. The air is still cold at Eastertime, and getting out of the warm car would wake us up.

Brother Bob would be all sticky from the candy he managed to sneak from his Easter basket, even though Mother had forbidden it. For his trouble, she would take him to the restroom and scrub harder than necessary to remove it.

Dad would lead us up the sidewalk to the door. Inside was the biggest stairway I had ever seen. It seemed to go up nearly forever. As we started, the echoes of feet would rise and then come back down again. There was a long hallway at the end of the steps creating a fantastic reverberation with our hard-soled shoes.

Through the door, the foyer would be warm and crowded with the smell of Old Spice and Lavender as families waited for members to arrive so they could be seated. The same faces appeared year after year, with the same smiles and the same cries of, "Don't you look nice!"

After Dad scouted a table big enough for us to sit, we'd go to the dining room, where big wooden tables were covered with white paper tablecloths, decorated with jelly beans and little Easter bunnies. The tables were surrounded by sturdy wooden chairs with rounded backs and thick wood seats. Dad would find a dark wood booster seat for me and we would all sit down.

The Masons put this breakfast on every year, with the male members serving the tables, cooking the ham, eggs and hot cross buns, and delivering milk, coffee and grapefruit juice.

Dad would sit at the end of the table exchanging pleasantries with whoever walked by; proud of his three sons and of Mother, who looked beautiful and radiant.

I would grouse about the buns beings hard, and Bob would spill something - either on the table or his new suit, but he would spill something.

After breakfast, we would walk from the Masonic Temple across Main Street and down a block to the Methodist Church. Dad always wanted to be there early so we didn't have to sit in front. Sitting for a really long time on those hard pews was difficult for small boys.

As the church slowly filled up with friends and neighbors, the sun breaks through a cloud and sends glorious rays of colored light through the stain glass windows in the east. Even little boys were awed by the sight, which, of course, is what Easter is all about.

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Birthday Weekend
originally posted: March 18, 2008

March 18 9am 36 degrees - trying to rain - doesn't look like we're going to get very much, if any - snow is retreating, finally - still some on the grass and, of course, piles of it at driveway's edge.

In March, when I was young, we would celebrate the March Birthdays. Mine, Uncle Jack's (who will be 92?) and my Grandpa Bert.

Grandpa was already in his late sixties when I was old enough to spend time at their farm. His farm was different from ours, there were still cows to be milked, chickens to gather eggs from, and a whole different routine.

I remember a cold winter morning, and a bean pot, a huge cast iron pot resting on blocks with a wood fire underneath, by huge I mean 3 feet across the top. Inside it were navy beans, just like the ones in pork 'n' beans, bubbling and then getting soft. We were cooking them for the cows - a good source of protein, I found out later. But taking off my mittens, a handful of warm beans on a chilly morning, tastes like nothing else. The cows were happy to see us too, they loved them. I have the original pot in my shed.

The memory of Grandpa that comes clearest is sleeping in his big bed, (Grandma would remove to another room), snoring - I didn't realize people actually did that - and the silence - you could hear cars on the paved road coming from a mile away - getting louder and louder and then quieter and quieter - not much traffic in farm country - and the clock. The very very loud ticking of the wind up clock on the dresser.

March 16 9am 27 degrees - dark clouds out there - still five inches of snow on the ground in most places - driveway has cleared of ice though - wasn't sure that was ever going to happen.

March 15 is my birth date. Friday, I had to get my car insurance renewed, get my license plates and driver's license renewed, and generally ended up running around everywhere.

Yesterday, I relaxed, didn't do a whole lot of anything. Took phone calls from my Mother, three brothers, four children, and one sister-in-law. Nice that everyone thought of me.

Last night, dinner at our friends - home cooked prime rib, with a nice Malbec, followed by an even better Meritage. Excellent food, great company, great friends.

Today the wife was planning on surprising me with another dinner with all of my children present. However, at 8 this morning, she got called into work - not sure how this is going to play out, but it should be just fine.

Not really sure how I feel about reaching yet another year in age. Still not sure what I want to be when I grow up. Actually, this year, I tried not to think about how old I am, tried not to link the passage of years to the passage of time, or the slow slipping away of what I still hope to accomplish. In the life expectancy charts, I still have another 40 or so years to go - minus a couple for a lifetime of smoking. More than enough time to be a debut novelist, and get to all the places in the world I want to go before I forget why I wanted to go in the first place.

Plenty of time to get back to New York, stroll Fifth Avenue, dine at the Lion's Den (it is still there, right?), lunch with Miss Snark, and be a tourist, neck stretched looking up.

And, still a busy year ahead here at home. Our last graduation, getting the last off to college, getting business on a steady footing (unlike the past couple years), and polishing the latest manuscript to a fine shine and getting it sold.

So we begin.

March 13 9am 31 degrees - cloudy - supposed to go to 40 today - something fell during the night, looks like ice pellets.

Worked the phones yesterday - actually accomplished a little bit - too much to do, too little time.

Keyboard appeared to be coming unplugged.\

Got the FAFSA forms done last night - what a pain in the ass. Two kids in college this coming fall. Still need to get my license plates renewed - as well as my driver's license. Ah, as long as they're still letting me drive.

Wife is hanging sheets out on the line - southwest breeze today - though standing in snow to hang clothes is rather unique.

Onward and Upward.

March 12 10 am 34 degrees - cloudy, got an inch of unexpected snow last night - covering up the grass that had been gaining.

Oakland University Golden Grizzlies lost in the semi-final game (girls team as well) so middle child on long depressing bus ride home from Tulsa. Always next year.

Busy and productive week so far. (Weird, keyboard is acting up - have no idea what that's about.)

Odd dreams this week - perhaps something about the Ides of March?

our friends are going to create a feast for my birthday - we thought it would be better than going out to eat (and less expensive) - and he is such a good cook - I told him something with beef. Really looking forward to it.

Wife brought home the local newspaper from Battle Creek, Michigan. They have a whole column of births on the family section front page. I glanced at it, curious about what bizarre names babies are receiving these days. Noticed something else that should make Dr. James Dobson and Family Focus stand up and take notice. 34 total births - 5 single moms (no dad listed) and 12 couples with different last names (generally indicates not married) Only half of the babies were born into married households. Just thought it was odd - or maybe I'm listening to too much Christian radio....

March 10 9am 24 degrees - cloudy - gray - to be above freezing this morning - missed the last two storms - must be living right.

worked on bathroom this weekend - got quite a bit done - it is moving in increments, but now, every little thing at least gives a glow or intimation of the final product.

Saturday night cards, Golden Grizzlies on internet last night, watching the feed in my office - they won the first game in the tournament - Mom got to see her middle child on the Spirit Squad. His friend, Eric Kangas, scored 26 points. game didn't get over until almost midnight but we're still screwed up from the time change.

Family is planning something for this weekend. My birthday falls on the Ides of March. Trying to be optimistic about this, tis hard. Just one year closer to the end....

March 7 10am 24 degrees - sky is whitish blue - Noreaster is going to miss us completely - yes, there is a God.

Note: This is not a review so much as observations.

My youngest son, Patrick, is a drummer and music enthusiast (mostly screaming bands I have never heard of). Through Robin Slick, I saw that her two children were doing a cross country tour with Adrian Belew, I thought, "Gee, if they come anywhere near here, it would be cool to go and Patrick can see a really good drummer - not too much older than he is."

Last night, we drove 57 miles to Ferndale, Michigan, to see the Adrian Belew Power Trio at the Magic Bag. While hunting for a parking spot, we drove down the alley behind the venue, which gave me a chance to roll down the window and say, "Hi, Eric." Julie was outside with him so we introduced ourselves. Pretty cool. Parking a couple blocks away, (There is plenty of free parking. - Okay, but Ferndale got 6 inches of snow a couple days ago) Whatever. Patrick and I walked around to the front of the theatre and then down the long line to take our place.

"What did you notice about the people standing in line?"
"They're all old."
"What else?"
"They all look like burnouts."
"How many women did you see?"
"Two. Out of maybe a hundred people."

Two guys in line behind us. "Don't know who the band is - something about them being young kids."
"It's a brother sister team and Adrian discovered them at the School of Rock - they're really good, according to their mother."
"So, how long have you been following Adrian Belew?"
"Never heard of him before this."

Patrick says, "I think I'm the youngest person here."
"That's all right, You're going to get a musical education tonight." This from the guy who has all the King Crimson recordings ever made.

Finally inside, Patrick with two large black x's on his hands (only eighteen), box office closed up tight - concert SOLD OUT

We find a spot to sit on a bench along a side wall and watch this crowd of 40 year old men milling about with beers.

Patrick is still not sure - about the music, about a girl bass player, about the drummer - "My drum set is bigger than that."

Then the band comes on stage. The front is rushed by 6 foot tall overweight men with adoration in their eyes. We stand on the bench we were sitting on - ah, perfect view. Neither Patrick or I recognized any of the songs, but, damn, can these guys play.

Drum solo. "Wow, Dad, he is really good!"
"I've never seen a bass player do that before - she is really something."
"He can really play that guitar."

But the great thing about the three on stage were the smiles - Eric and Julie have the greatest smiles and you could tell they were having a great time - Adrian smiled a lot, too. The enthusiasm was in their faces and translated into the music as well. And the crowd loved it.

We knew when a King Crimson song was being played as the audience would start pumping their fists in the air -and their faces went odd like they were anticipating the rapture.

My ears started to go about half an hour in. It was really loud.

The guys from outside came by to say, "Those kids are awesome."

We hung around, trying to get a picture for Robin, but they shoved everyone out the door, immediately after the encore. Since it was a school night, we didn't try the back door.

All in all, a great night. Patrick got a new appreciation of different rock styles, was highly impressed by Eric and Julie Slick, and got to spend some quality time with Dad.

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Slick Children, Slick Roads, Slick Day
originally posted: March 6, 2008

March 6 9am 34 degrees - huge snowflakes coming down right now - they aren't in the forecast either. Tomorrow and into the weekend - another 5-7 inches are due. The storm that came through Tuesday night left only a dusting of snow - so we dodged that one.

This evening, my youngest and I are driving to the big city to see Adrian Belew and the Power Trio perform. For those who frequent this blog, the Power Trio consists of Robin Slick's two children - her son, Erik, is the drummer. Since my son is also a drummer (I know this because I have a small house), seemed like a great idea to let him see what is possible. Anyway. We're looking forward to it.

Never did get the wife's car fixed but got to spend a couple of quality hours with my older brother while determining that a new part must be purchased. Spent most of the day moving old junky furniture for the older boys.

Yesterday made the run to my hometown, delivered 20,000 placemats, made a couple sales and picked up a few checks. All in all, a really good day.

Now, for some fun this evening. - of course, this will work better if the snow flurry stops soon....

March 4 8am 22 degrees - big drop from yesterday - all the flowing water has frozen up, a lot of the snow melted, still have a couple inches on the north lawn. Under a storm warning for tonight - 5-8 inches - oh, Joy!

Got quite a bit done yesterday - until we retrieved the wife's car from middle son - the door latch - you can't open the door from the outside - now, it sits in my garage with the door panel off and I can't figure out how to fix it. Spent 4 hours on it last night - mostly in frustration. Need to deal with it this morning - then, I have to get furniture the wife bought for the kids - while trying to get some work done....

Watched some of the Terminator last night - good show, kinda neat to watch since you never know when someone is going to get blown away - yes, that is fun.

Congrats go out to Janet Reid - agent we all love. Scored one of those significant deals. Couldn't happen to a nicer, most generous agent.

March 3 9am 51 degrees - first time we've seen 50 in a while. Short lived, but puddles everywhere. Rain today and then snow and cold again.

Spent the weekend by myself, finishing up the bathroom - finally. But my fingers are bruised and cut and it makes typing hard. Hence, I did not post. Still have a nasty cut on my right index finger that gives new meaning to writing your pain.

So we start another month - last month was challenging and I failed to meet sales goals - close, but still not the 15% gain I need.

Wife is digging through drawers trying to find the phone number of the guy we rented the graduation tent from - four years ago. Since we never throw anything away, this is a daunting task.

She had a good time bowling but came home tired out.

Lots of stuff to do today, better get with it.

February 29 11am 27 degrees - snowing heavily. Have about 2 inches already - setting all kinds of records for snowfall, February had 8 days with no measurable snow (?? - why do I live in this climate again?) Nearly over though, Monday forecast is for heavy rain.

Got some interesting comments on Wednesday's entry. Seems a lot of folks empathize but more are afraid to give voice.

Sending the wife off to the state bowling tournament this morning. Get to spend the weekend without her - not that she doesn't have a whole slew of Alan projects lined up....

All in all, though, life is going along pretty good. One can always complain about the weather. Other things in our busy days

Wife's ride just called - have to take her to meet them.

February 27 8am 9 degrees - bit nippy for this time of year. This morning, we have 8 inches of snow, roads are slippery in spots, and it feels like winter is never going to end.

Watched parts of the debate last night, Hillary seems to be giving up, bowing to the possibility she can't pull this off. The rest of us are left with "Wow. Is this really possible?" I'm excited. Question is - what is Rush Limbaugh going to do for the next 280 days?

Roads and weather have been crappy so far this week. Going out today to deliver mats, make some sales calls, generally try to catch up with myself.

In business, there are always folks who make it their goal to screw you. I get mad, try to get even (usually doesn't work), then, eventually, I just smile and say, "It's okay. I'll outlive them."

I have a neighbor who cost me $400,000 and when I see her in the local party store, I smile and say hello. For the past five years, I've watched her go from bitch to a cancer-wracked shell.

Word comes this morning of a political enemy - one who used a nasty dirty trick to beat me in a local election. She failed to negotiate a turn on slippery roads. Maybe I'm getting soft in my old age, but I somehow don't find much joy in her passing.

Okay, then, I probably shouldn't print this. Folks are going to wonder about me.

Is this the same warm soul who writes so lovingly about growing up on the farm, has pride in his children, and can see the beauty in just about anything?

Yeah, well, there are layers to every life. I do not try to cheat people; that is a moral stand. I don't understand people who do - cannot comprehend how they can sleep at night. So, even if life isn't always fair, I can still be the winner in the end. I think that's a rather cosmic idea.

On to the work of the day.

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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.