No Snow

Went north on holiday in search of Michigan winter wonderland. Maybe rent an Artic Cat for a day and hit the trails.





But we encountered a little problem: No snow (except for fake snow at the ski resorts). Only rain.









No ice on Little Traverse Bay either. Locals can't remember the last time the bay wasn't frozen solid in late December. Maybe Al Gore is right about global warming.





So we went to Guntvillers Taxidermy Museum and Gift Shop in Elk Rapids to gander at two-headed calf specimens and whatnot.






And drove home in quintessential Michigan wintry misery.

Big Star

Crossing paths with a movie actor doesn't happen very often, so we'll pass today's little incident on to you:

We had an hour to kill before the start of the new James Bond movie (the best 007 flick we've seen in years), in Birmingham, MI. Just enough time for a cold beer and tomato juice at Dick O'Dows Irish pub. The Lions game had just begun, and a woman behind us asked the bartender if they'd change one of the televisions to the Steelers game. We turned to see who was speaking and two feet away was Tim Allen and wife.

No one pestered him for autographs or pictures (which no doubt happens all the time), but the pub kept the televisions set to the dreadful Lions game. They walked out the door and a few minutes later so did we, leaving all of six people to cry in their beers over another season down the dumper.

Ocean Dreamscape

Since it's all of 23 degrees at the present and too cold to go outside in search of something interesting to post about, we decided to throw up a shot of the Oregon coast from our trip three months ago. With several months of gray winter misery ahead of us, we'll be dreaming often about distant shores and warm ocean breezes.

Weather here aside, we're still hyped from the G n' R concert at The Palace two weeks ago. We've found a youtube bootleg of one of the new songs from the upcoming Chinese Democracy cd (if it ever gets released) called Better. Fire up the speakers and blast this new G n' R jam, courtesy of your friends at RR:



No one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better.
No one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better

The hardest part this troubled heart has never yet been through now
We've healed the scars that got their start inside someone like you now

Well had I known or I'd been shown back when I longed you'd take me
To break the charge that brought me home and all that won't erase me

I never would know that I could No matter what you'd pay me.
Replay the part, you stole my heart I should have known you're crazy

If all I knew was that with you I'd want someone to save me
It'd be enough, but just my luck I fell in love and baby

all that I wanted was
Now I know you better
You know I'd know better
Now I know you better

So bittersweet, this tragedy won't ask for absolution
This melody inside of me still searches for solution
A twist of fate, A change of heart
Kills my infatuation
Of a broken heart
To provide the spark for my determination

No one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better
Ooh, no one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better

All that I wanted was I know you know you know better
You know I know you know better
Now you know me better

I never wanted you to be so full of anger
I never wanted you to be somebody else
I never wanted you to be someone afraid to know themselves
I only wanted you to see things for yourself

All that I wanted was
Now I know you better
Now we all know better
All that I wanted was

If I were you I'd manage to abhor the invitation
Of Promised love that can't keep upwith your adoration
Just use your head and in the end
You’ll find your inspiration
To choose your steps
I won't regret
This kind of aggravation

No one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better
No one ever told me when I was alone
They just thought I'd know better, better

Eastern Upper Peninsula

Tea colored water plummets over Tahquamenon Falls


Windswept shoreline of Lake Superior at Whitefish Point



The Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie



VFW Hall, Sault Ste. Marie