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August 31, 2010 Tuesday
The idea behind this recent trip to Michigan was to spend some time with my stepmom, Frances. I am usually able to get in some additional visiting. That wasn't possible, this time, for which I apologize to those folks I would have liked to see. I'm sure you will understand that these brief visits with Frances become more valuable and cherished each year. For those of you that never had the chance to meet her, Frances is now 87. Her health is somewhat frail, but she still manages living alone in a three-story house. I should also mention that Fran has been blind since she was a very young girl. She has always inspired me to make the most out of my life, without complaint.
My sister, Mardi, and her husband Jim, came to visit from their place in Sutton's Bay while I was in town. We were able to take in a ballgame, visit with my aunt Jo (in town from Tempe, AZ) and nephew Lee, (a MI resident) and play some music with the family on Saturday night.
Across the street from the ball park, tickets in hand, waiting for the gates to open.

Getting ready to go inside.

seated - Play Ball. (Team won!)

With Aunt Jo and Lee out North Woodward, Duggans Irish Pub - home of the (they wish) Big Chief Burger.

A brief explanation...
As a teenager back in the early 60s the cool drive-in to cruise was called the Totem Pole. Kids came from miles around to savor a Big Chief burger with its unique and tasty sauce. It was the first of the double cheeseburger type sandwiches, soon copied by Elias Brothers Big Boy. No other drive-in could match the popularity of the Totem Pole nor the unique flavor of its Big Chief Burger.
After I fulfilled my military obligation and returned to MI, I was devastated to note that the Totem Pole had been replaced by a Burger King. To this day, I have never set foot in a Burger King. On this recent trip to Michigan I took a perverse pleasure in noting that the Burger King situated on the footprint of the former Totem Pole, was defunct and out of business.
The Totem Pole was owned by a wealthy family that also operated two rather more upscale restaurants in the same general area. All were gone by the late 60s, early 70s. Then, when I once again found myself in Michigan in the 90s I noticed a place out Woodward called Duggan's, that advertised -- Featuring the original Big Chief menu. It was with tremendous expectation that I ordered my first Big Chief burger in over 40 years. Alas, it tasted nothing like the original. It didn't even look the same. Further investigation revealed that Duggan's was owned by descendents of the same family that had owned the Totem Pole, and in fact they did still own the rights to the names of the sandwiches. However, they admitted that the original recipes had been lost years ago.

I tried to get a 'moon holding' shot, but jiggled my cell phone...

Frances, with daughter Trisha and grandson Aiden, on her lap.

Mardi getting ready to crank 'em out.

Jake and Sylvia as they headed for Chicago.

Apparently, not written in the correct language...

Ann in Ellensburg, standing by our trusty Honda Shadow~~ 1200 CC's of V-twin excitement.

August 30, 2010 Monday
Sorry about the delay in posting.
After my newlywed son, Jacob, and bride, Sylvia, arrived in Michigan - things got a bit hectic. And stayed that way until I left on Friday. Saturday found Ann and I on the motorcycle, a previously planned ride in support of the Special Olympics, returning late yesterday.
I find myself a bit behind at many things. Photos to sort, e-mails to answer, etc.
Here are a few pictures to hold you.
Jake and Sylvia in The Windy City, after departing Plymouth, MI, where they honeymooned for a few days.

August 21, 2010 Saturday
After some delays and canceled flights, the newly weds make it to MI. Haven't seen them, yet, but hope to shortly. They are preceded by pix~~

The proud look - a blast from the hose got this old window unit shooting cold air, again.

Got out North Woodward for some pre Dream Cruise car spotting, and fast food at my favorite cheeseburger joint.

Frances is looking and doing well - friend Henry, too~~

August 18, 2010 Wednesday
Congratulations to son Jacob and wife Sylvia - married this day in Las Vegas. This is one thing that is definitely not staying in Vegas~~

Sylvia's mom, brother - and husband.

Frances and I!

August 15, 2010 Sunday
We survived day one of the Heatwave. Did get into the 90's, at least on the patio, in the sun. The shady side of the house said 80's. Inside, it stayed 76, until after dark. Then, the house wants to radiate back some of that, 'all day in the sun collected heat' and the indoor temperature rises even as it's starting to cool off outside. It got up to 82 by bedtime. That's when the fan in the window helps cool things off. It dropped into the sixties overnight, but is shooting right back up there already today. Another scorcher.
I tried working at my 'office' in the trailer, which was in the sun. With a couple fans running it was manageable, but well into the 80's. Only by trying to do everything we would normally be doing indoors, do we find what we will need while traveling to have all the comforts of home.

Internet oddities ~
We love illusions~

Signage, of the, Hunh? variety.

Sad, but true, Department...

Truck oops

Whoa! Hello, there!

August 14, 2010 Saturday
Dropped by the County fair yesterday evening - while it was still relatively normal, temperature wise. Watched that baby chick hatch, among other things.
We walked around with Barb~ she representing Anacortes, I, Sutton's Bay

It was pleasantly warm and sunny~

Spectators -

at the Barrel Races! photo by Ann

Today, on the home front - it's the much anticipated heat wave - 95 in the shade. This is quite hot for our neck of the woods. Fortunately, there is a good breeze and low humidity. It's 76 in the house, the ceiling fans are on and the box fan is in reserve for later. Oddly enough, the temperature in the house goes up after dark.

The grass is nice and green where we've been watering the new hedge bushes.

Speaking of temps, look where the most folks choose to live in terms of latitude (and therefore temperature).

Grandson Max - most photogenic

August 12, 2010 Thursday
Hmmm, the week is flying by. You may recall that when we last spoke, which would be Monday the ninth, I had the proud look. This was due to having painted over the wall paper behind the sink, since it didn't match the curtains.
I was premature in celebration of proudness. Ann took one look and declared that the wall paper must go. This notion, pulling old wallpaper off the ceiling, was what resulted in mucho extra work when parts of the ceiling itself came off with the wallpaper. Ann assured me this would not happen in the area above the sink. Altogether different type of sticky backed paper. She was partially correct. It is a different paper - but it still wanted to take wood off with it. This forced a gradual and patient type of wallpaper removal, and necessitated leaving some in place, but we did manage to get the blistered pieces all removed.
Then some patching, and then some painting. And then again, the proud look. Maybe this is a final.

Service with a smile~

They are doing a federal/state cleanup of the old Scott Paper Mill, at the end of our street. This has meant closing the beach for two and a half years. We noticed real progress today.

August 09, 2010 Monday
We noticed that in the last few pictures I have, if not an actual frown - a very stern visage. The following is an attempt to appear more jovial. The occasion was the completion of the priming aspect of painting over the not so trendy print wallpaper that constitutes the sink backsplash (seen above in all its floral print glory) in the trailer. Ann concluded (rightly) that it didn't go with the new curtains. Didn't go with the old ones, either...
sorry for the poor cell phone picture.

Here's another of us basking in the warm glow of the gas light over the stove. Before the trailer was wired for 12 volt, this was the only light when camping away from a 110 volt plug in - barring other lanterns, flashlights, etc. Rather makes it nice and cozy. It would have sufficed for cooking.

These are burning all up and down the west coast, after a month of no rain.

Today's signage, of the 'Run that by me again?' school.

Boat Oops~

Water fountain Art - by Ann

August 08, 2010 Sunday
We finally make it down to the Port Building and check out the Anacortes Arts Festival. We walked up and down both sides of the main drag to check out the art for sale in about two hundred tents. We gave most careful attention to the food venders. Well, some of us did. We heard a lot of fine music, and the weather cooperated - 70 and sunny. Fine work, Mr. Mitlyng.
Except - where are the cheeseburgers? Let's get over that old feud and get them back, we say!

We ran into Laura. Cool hat, no?
She had been volunteering at the kids area, helping them make hats, you see. She is wearing an example of the type they were turning out this afternoon.

Ann noticed that when Laura stood against this quilt, she nearly melting out of sight.

Ann decided that the curtains that came with the trailer could be improved upon. That's the new material sitting on top of the old curtains. And here she is a-sewing away on my trusty fifty year old Singer Zigzag.

We noticed that the hull and superstructure have been painted on the new Candies vessel.

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well grounded

August 07, 2010 Saturday
Ann used her skills learned from working in a body shop to sand, tape and mask, then paint the trailer.
Whoa. All in a day. Well, except the sanding, which was done prior.

stripe now matches the tow vehicle - Ann's Truck~~

here it is before, with the forty year old two-tone stripes...

Good thing she painted yesterday, it rained all day today - first rain in over a month.
Good thing I finally got that old rose bush dug out, same reason.

Too bad I didn't trim the hedge and flush out the rain barrels, too, before the rains came. We were forced to scootch by the wet leaves all day to get in and out of the trailer, and had to drain and flush the algae from the rain barrels - in the rain.

Balloon oops

August 06, 2010 Friday
Thanks to Paul - pictures from their recent boat trip with John and Linda to Nanaimo, BC.

In related news, the ceiling in the trailer is patched and painted, and the remote brake controller is installed in the tow vehicle.

Here's the 'before'

Thanks to Jack, and BJ Huff.
This head on collision between Soo trains 909-910 happened on August fourth.
Firefighters, railroad workers, police, and a couple photographers at the site of a head on collision between Soo trains 909-910 about 1 mile east of Gilchrist. 910 was supposed to take siding at Gilchrist (MI) for the meet but inadvertently went past and continued toward the east meeting westbound 909 in a curve with this as the result. Crews jumped before impact no doubt saving their lives. The fuel tank on 4408 ruptured and burst into flames as the electrical cabinet on 6600 provided the spark to start the fire. The location was about a mile from the nearest road and the resulting fire quickly spread into the woods. Quick action from nearby Michigan DNR firefighting crew who bulldozed a road in and quickly controlled the fire prevented this from becoming an even more serious situation. The train crews involved had quickly backed the remaining units and cars, remarkably none of which even derailed, away from the fire so they did not become involved.

Viagra Home Office - this is for real, folks

August 05, 2010 Thursday
That Ann Smock gets around - seen here with the Governor of our fine state, Christine Gregoire
The occasion was the return to tribal ownership of Kiket Island, mentioned below.

We signed on with the Logitech folks to be an evaluator of their products. They send along a gadget to try out, and we write a review of same. The first thing they sent was a webcam, C510, which compares most favorably with the several year old Pro 5000 we had been using. Here are the pair, new one on the right.

Things went well for the Senior Ukulele Ensemble yesterday, playing at the Port Building for a pre Arts Festival crowd. Richard and I were there the day before doing sound checks.

For a good while we heard mostly this Tugboat, The Response, heading out to work.

We are struggling mightily to remove this old rosebush from its time honored spot along the fence, to anywhere else. It grows too fast and gets too big - easily shooting from the hacked down size you see here to over fifteen feet in about two seasons. It's hard to maintain in its current location. It is also proving hard to dig up. Like the Wise old man said, Just do a little bit everyday.

Cat Oops

August 02, 2010 Monday
Happy birthday to my darling wife! Many happy returns, honey!
The final Guemes pix - these thanks to Holly and Ann~~
Eat well, relax, eat well again. This is how it's done.

daughter, mom -- Bailey, Holly

Trying not to over-do it...

Blessing the Fleet?

No rain for some time, and we can't complain about having to mow every other day. The yard is pretty much dormant ~ as in brown and dead looking.

The only area showing signs of life is around the doggie septics, which get a good flushing everyday.

After a trim~

Ann's fishtank in the old shed is thriving and the water is crystal clear.

Holly shooting on Guemes

August 01, 2010 Sunday
Welcome to August Blogging, from davesmock.com
We've been rather lazy this last month - lazy hazy days of summer, and all like that. We expect more of the same in August, and so should you. Glad you're here - we'll try and make it worth your while.
We ended last month and began this one with pictures from the all too short respite on Guemes, with Ann's friends from elementary school, Barb and Holly. That's Holly with her camera, above, and again, here - by the giant driftwood - the likes of which are so often found in the mornings after being rolled in by the overnight tides, there on mighty Guemes Island...

Bailey and Evelyn afloating~ I know, we ran a similar picture, end of last month. That was Barb and Ann.

We're hoping to see more of these pix, taken by Ann. Here, Swinomish Police Chief, Tom Schlicker and WA Governor Chris Gregoire share a laugh with Swinomish Tribal Chairman, Brian Cladoosby. The occasion was the return to tribal ownership of Kiket Island.

Remember that Lilac bush Ann had me trim from fifteen feet down to four? It lives.

Thanks to Tim Vana - train oops. A short empty grain consist failed to get stopped before climbing the rear of this van train. From the picture, it would appear that the hopper train should perhaps have taken the siding?

On a lighter note - today's signage reveals someone's fascination with movie stars~

also a wee play on (mis-spelled) words...

Finally, the reason kids shouldn't let their dads design their costumes~

Didn't see the end of last month? Click here: July '10 BLOG
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