in the midst of summer

I have been away from the blogging for several weeks now since the beginning of summer. Now, in the midst of summer, a very warm and sultry summer, we begrudgingly know that it will be on the wane, but not before some other exciting events on the horizon.

I must report on some of the happenings in the past month or so. July 4th was spent for the most part by Mary and I out at Bro-in-laws Joe C's crib kayaking, eating fish and hangin. Cuz Sharon and Jeff were out there doin a little camping and kayaking. And on July 12th, youngest Callan Jean turned 21. Mary and my subdued celebration with her out for Sushi was after her FB covered "real" party the night before.

Two weeks later we were out at Lake Michigan where Sharon spent her birthday camping. Mary and I camped for a night with them, swam in the warmest LM water in years and hung by another campfire. I paid off my bet debt to the Wedge I had made with him at Joe's C's over who wrote "Love on the Bayou" , (a song I had only heard Tom Petty do, it was the Byrds)), with a combo 6 pack of Shlitz and Shocktop. We left there on Saturday AM to attend the big party by the river, a great event put on my Kath and Larry, where the Wild Woody's put on a super show and we danced and chowed til it was time to go.

Two of most enjoyable moments were Sunday's by the pool at Mike and Susan's. The "good Rick" brought some homebrew both times and everyone pitched in with food and we had a couple of splendid afternoons. MJ Lacasse even showed up with some scuba gear trying to give some expertise to a vent situation in the bottom of the pool. The second one where "the 4 Stevens" made an appearance we had a cool jam with a bunch of percussionists and Melvis and Marty and Susan providing the guitar and vocal sounds.

After that it was Mary and Callie getting ready for their Boston trip to visit daughter Ashley and me heading to Detroit for friend Corby's recently announced nuptials. BMad had come back from California for a summer trip with his daughter so The Johnson's, Corby, BMad and myself had an impromptu bachelor and birthday party for Corby over in Sterling Hts. Between that and the good times and feelings at the wedding reception seeing old friends and hanging with Susie M. and golfing with PBolde (Rockman) I was a bit tired on my wayback from Det. to Kalamazoo for yet another summer celebration, the 20th annual 39 again party on Gull Lake hosted by Marty, Dale and the other Joe C.

Mary and Callie arranged a ride from cuz Sharon to the Airport so we could represent at the wedding without too much driving hassle. by the time I got back from Detroit there were on there way to Boston.

The party at the Jolly Mon's (Marty's boat) home marina was large but with a lot of space, food, beverages, friends and music. Marty had secured the local fave reggae band, Zion Lion, with assists from Mary to play and it worked out great. My man Asanne, had me come up and play percussion with the band and there was a cool "Irie" vibe in the pole barn right on the waters of Gull Lake bay. After a half dozen songs or my arms were noodles but it was much fun. I hit the party wall after 3 days around 10:30 and after my last beer from LD I was toast, went home to the kitty which I haven'[t said much about. Neko has been my companion the last few days while the girls have been gone on their fun trip. Sometimes obnoxiously playful and other times cuddly she has been good to have here.

Then yesterday, a last minute little golf excursion, with the Coash's, the Jodester, G, and myself turned out fun as we found a place that let us golf, swill, sweat and lose balls out near Gobles at Shamrock Hills. Great seeing Some good folks from my old job.

Whew, so that leads me to today and anticipating the return of Mary and Callie after my golf league tonight I go and pick them up. Then tomorrow I am off the "Guys golf Getaway" our 12 year or so with Jazzman, Mikey D. and Peter. We head to Jackson this year for an abbreviated tour of some of their finest courses. There will a report in the next blog about that and the Water Park wedding reception at the Wisconsin Dells where we go the following weekend.

As I look back over the past several months I am reminded of how life's ebb and flow of the highs and lows are always there for us to maneuver and negotiate. My mom is doing well, post heart attack and triple bypass, currently she is enjoying summer at Sister Sue's up north. All of us are reminded of my Step dad Linc's passing on a daily basis. We have a new pet after Maddie's unfortunate illness and death, in Neko and Jimmy C's picture on the fridge smiling away is another reminder of how fragile and wonderfully delicate life is.

The summer allows us to feel and experience so much, what the gardens being to us, the travels, swimming in the waters of Michigan, the incredible food, the sun making us sweat on the golf course greenery, and spending valuable time with family friends who make it all special. Again , savor it, breathe in the fresh air and get lost in the midst of summer "time".

feel a blog comin on

Feels like Summer

Between all the rain this spring there has been a fair amount of heat and sunshine so it has felt like summer most of the time. The grass and gardens are growing well without much need for extra watering. Nature is just doing it on it's own so far. ( bonus:weather report ;)

Golf has increased for me, played in 2 other leagues in just the last week subbing with Melvis at Mully and The Lone Caron out at Angel's Crossing, plus my own league with Peter at Thornapple. I am playing my usual good/bad schizo golf. Luckily, a little more good than bad.

I wanted to share my newest friend with blogfollowers here; Puddy or Kit-kit as I call her. She just started showing up at our window by the deck and we have become pals. The neighbor's took her in as a stray so she cuts through our yard. I gave in and bought her some treats so now she is coming every morning same time and we share some moments as I drink my coffee on the deck. With Maddie gone a new companion has been welcomed. She doesn't ask for much, the usual, some affection and something to eat and she's happy))

Mary has her last day of "schoolwork" today but is starting painting for KPS next week. So a mini-break begins tonight.Tomorrow we are going to head to Detroit for a quick visit to visit the parents but will be back for weekend in Kalamazoo with a lot of events going on., graduation parties, Island Fest, and more. We have been staying home last couple weekends watching movies so I think we need to get out and about.

Thought I would put up the flamingo picture, they showed up on our neighbors lawn last weekend and were gone next day. Those fickle flamingos flew in and flew out.

Savor the sultry days of summer that lie ahead, they go by way too fast, hope to talk at ya soon.

Mays Daze

May always brings with it a flurry of activities such as the yard work and gardening preps. In our world it begins with daughter Ashley's cinco de mayo birthday, our anniversary, and mothers day.
Ending with the memorial weekend events which usually involves more yard work and gardening unless we go somewhere other than Lake Michigan.
Ashley's birthday this year was more of a Facebook event for us (most know she resides in Boston) as I posted some photos from her 5th bday 20 years ago. Our anniversary was a little more subdued this year after last year's limo extravaganza to Saugatuck with the group. We stayed local and went downtown first to Mangia Mangia for a drink then to the new Rustica restaurant owned by the Tiffany's party store and Zooroona folks. It is a smaller venue but fun atmosphere and very tasty and well presented food. After we dined our smaller group this year (minus C and K) headed out to show we can still dance and caught a new group to us, Mulch, at the new Globe theater. Lots of "new stuff" this year. Fun evening-but went by too fast.
The most recent event of May was the long awaited Edo's 65th Bday celebration which also incorporated Shooter's May bday. It was at Ron (Shooter) and Jill's hideaway on the west side on a glorious spring evening. It was to be a Reggae happening and it was mon. Caribbean cuisine took center stage early,yum. Zion Lion, local group mentioned here in the blog before was the featured entertainment and were lots of fun to dance, listen and groove the night away with. A friendly gathering of most like minded baby boomers celebrating living, a clearing of the skies, a waxing moon and temperate weather. Edo, Shooter, Jill and Co. threw a great bash. On Sunday Mary and I headed out to South Haven coming out of our rum and ale fog and who did we run into but birthday boy
Edo on the beach, none worse for wear ready for another day of taking a bite of the fruit of life, of course we rehashed the evening's happenings.
So only Memorial weekend to go and we are in the throes of a rare May heat wave. It is tropical, Caribbeanesque for sure. Ok to play in if water is nearby but not much fun to work in. So we enjoy it for now, thankful to have the opportunities to celebrate with the time and friends we have had around us this month. " bring on summer". Must focus on the positive, right? I will save my oil spill and wall street rants for another day.
In all this I must mention the passing this month of another sweet soul. Mary's aunt Frannie, her mom's twin sister passed on May 15th at 89. Her son Batt was my former musical duo partner and how I ended up meeting Mary. Batt's sister Sharon, is not only Mary's cuz but bosom buddy.
Bless Frannie, a kind soul indeed. Now at rest in Paw Paw.

Reunions

It is not always easy to reunite with friends you have known since high school for many different reasons. Life circumstances and travel distance are usually the biggest two reasons that get in the way over the years. This past weekend friends from my ole hometown of outside Detroit, Fraser, exclusively boys this year, got together over near Lake Michigan on White Lake at the invite of P. "Rockman" Bolde. BMad was coming into town from Santa Rosa, CA. and he picked up Corby from Grosse Pointe, MI. after his teaching gig last Friday and headed for Richland to stay the night here before we would head out the next morning. They drove through some heavy downpours and arrived in Richland where I had been waiting drinking my martini's and bloody mary's. I had libations and snax ready for them. Mary had already headed down to Art Hop to meet some pals, friend Susan and her band were playing downtown for her CD release party so would rendezvous there. By the time we arrived at the Union the night was in full swing. We enjoyed the music, had a bite, caught up on stuff and ran into Mary, some other friends and of course, Mikey D. We got back by 1 and crashed by 2. Day 2 we would head for the Whitehall area, cold wind and rain or shine.
Saturday was cloudy, windy and cold but as Bmad would say, "he didn't come for the weather".
Our slight hangovers did not impede the constant joking and teasing each other that has always been a mainstay of our relationships. One upping each other with quips and clever comebacks is part of what we do when all of us get together. 40 plus years of friendship has given us pretty thick skins that work most of the time. Rockman's crib is only 2 hours away and we arrived by 2 o'clock.
Unfortunately, not all of our group who were invited ended up being able to make it. JJ Johanson and Davey G. were unable to attend but Walter Pettman was already there we we arrived and was a welcome addition to the craziness. PBolde has a huge crib on the side of White Lake that can accommodate us all which was good because the weather would keep us inside a good deal of the time. Part of Paul's nickname "Rockman" comes from his love of rocks and skilled stonework that he does and his house has an awesome example of it one side hill of his property. Bmad and I had visited several times in the last 20 years since Paul has lived there with his wife and son. It was Walter's and Corby's first visit.
So the insanity and catching up ensued, as the tunes played and stories were retold and pasts relived. Our main event for the evening would be buying and putting together the dinner. It was a group effort but after the gonzo guys shopping experience and before the food fest we headed out to Lake Michigan just up the road to the pier where a fierce wind prevailed. PB has a new rescued dog,Tuxs, that can be seen in the photos, who went along with us. The trek was invigorating and got us ready for the cooking, drinking and eating. The dinner turned out superb and we toasted with red wine to many things but most of all to the appreciation that we still get together like this after all these years.

Saturday night was more beer, Red Wings, and Betty White's SNL. We stumbled to our individual slumber sights and crashed hard. Sunday was a sunny crisp day and the blues views of White Lake out PB's landscape windows were beautiful. We laid around drank coffee and read the news before we headed out on another trek to Duck Lake St. Park where it runs out into Lake Michigan. Walter headed back to Lansing area early and we said our goodbye's to him. The sun was a welcome warmth to the day. After a walk down the trails we headed back to PB's to get out the food again for lunch before we headed back to Kzooland. I should mention that PB's son Brandon joined us for Sunday as he got home late Sat nite. Brandon has been a part of our reunions, as most of our kid's always were, since they were just tadpoles. Now grownup he is quite the young man, a pilot and entrepreneur. Being Mother's Day we who's mothers are still around called them and our wives to wish them the best on this day. After a while we said our goodbyes to PB and Brandon and I want to mention another thank you to Renee and Paul for sharing their house with us for the night.

Billy M, Billy C and I got back to Richland after 5, tired and refreshed from the lake air and frivolity of the weekend. Mary and Callie were making pizza's when we arrived so, we the guys, made our own and caught up on their Mother's Day activities. Sunday night would provide some of our biggest laughs of the weekend when we were all lying around and we turned the Bill's on to the joys of Snuggies. The accompanying interesting photo is what developed or should I say, popped up. It was the exact type of thing that happens when we get together and the creative, fun, imaginations run free, albeit a little worn by this point of the weekend.

Monday morning came and we all did our wi'fi catch ups and the Bill's were off to Detroit by noon. After they were gone, Callie said, "I wished they lived closer ". Another gathering in the memory bag at least for now. The kind of thing that rekindles and refreshes what life can provide. It must be nourished to continue to grow through all of life's circumstances, ups and downs. I often wonder how our children and children's children will look back on these photos and wonder how wonderful it all was and fortunately, remains.

cinco de mayo

25 years have passed since Cinco de Mayo took on a new meaning for Mary and I. Ashley Kay was born, brought home from the hospital on a sunny May day with the lilacs in bloom. Special time of course as is today on her 25th birthday. Proud then, prouder now as she has grown from a special girl to an even more special woman. Enjoy the photos from the big Cinco party in 1990.

Spring Brings Changes

The formal celebrations of lives led have been held and spring has moved in nicely. I look forward to writing about more positive things but understand that it all comes as part of life's package. The Easter holiday represents this more than most seasonal celebrations. The end and the beginnings, the renewals and rebirth of life all are around us after the cold and darkness of winter.

Hope springs eternal and I will just let these photos speak for themselves for now. Golf league starts in 2 weeks and soon more yard and garden work than I can stand will be calling. There will more to talk about in the days ahead, stay tuned and thanks for tuning in and your best wishes during the last couple months.

"For everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a season..... turn, turn, turn"