Snow

A couple of inches of snow, and Tanner was in heaven.

Here she was today in the brush playing a rousing game of fetch.

Earlier we were shopping downtown, here is a shot of Washington st and 4th (?) just as it was getting sloppy.

Christmas Lights

Saturday, we got some lights up before the snow began to fall.

She decided to go with some simple red lights to compliment the shutters.

Office Party

My suggestion that we camp out in the woods and do a Civil War re-enactment in lieu of a traditional Christmas party did not really go over that well.

Hey if you don’t want my suggestion don’t leave me a “write in” category.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Fall Is The BEST Season.

Ahhhh...fall. The smell of the leaves as Tanner and I walk through the park at night as the early darkness drops a curtain each night provides a backdrop for my favorite season. Crisp air and wind nips at you with the promise of winter just around the corner, but the cool air is almost exhilarating. With thanksgiving just tomorrow its does remind me that fall is my favorite season.

Whew- I was loosing sleep.

Lions sell out Thanksgiving game; blackout averted

Associated Press
11:28 AM CST, November 25, 2008

Actually I am glad.

Shop Update

Sometimes life gets complicated and I forget that the simplest solution is the best.

I am always hunting for a flashlight. I can never find a good place to put this monster mag-light I have. Its always somewhere in the shop, but never the same place.

So when I was up north this summer, I ran into Lyle, a master woodworker from way back and our neighbor in the woods He had made several of these to hold flashlights near the door of the cabin in the woods. It was important there because you have a generator at best and having your flashlight near is a necessity.

For me it was an elegant solution. Thanks Lyle, I am in you debt.

MGOBLUE

Today Michigan faces Ohio State in a game where Ohio is ranked 10 and Michigan has nothing to gain.

Nothing but Pride.

Nothing but tradition.

Nothing but the hearts and minds of the fans and the alum that have watched this season with great anticipation.

If one thing is true in college ball any thing can happen.I am hoping for an upset that will set the buckeyes back on there heals and ring through the halls of Ohio State For years to come.

Go Blue.

Rabbit Hole

Tonight in the cold and dark as the snow fell all around me at the park I went down the rabbit hole.

Not metaphorically, but literally.

The softball size Kong toy that I have been throwing around for Tanner slipped out of my hand as I went to heave it and it flew into the deepest thickest briar patch you can imagine. I know briar patch, sounds like the beginning to a child’s story but it happened and Tanner was determined to get in there and get it. So I hacked away at it past the briars until I uncovered a rather large rabbit hole. Large hole, and no ball. Tanners nose realized it before me, the hole in one was one in a million shot but down the hole it went.

Initially I was ready to leave it, even though it cost me $7 on sale no less. I was not even sure it was down there. Tanner was sure. So I took a shot at it.

The hole was larger than it looked, all hidden in the thorns. Reluctant to just reach in there, I shined the light down there. I could see a good two feet and nothing. So again I was going to leave. Tanner reminded me it was still down there so I found a large branch and rammed it down there, rattling it around. Did I feel it? Not sure, I used it so scrape the bottom and I thought I felt something roll. It was hard to tell after all I was wearing gloves and the sensitivity of a broken branch is suspect at best. I kept at it for a while, and sure enough I could see the edge of something red about three feet in.

Persistence prevailed and I retrieved it. I tore a pare of leather gloves snagged my hat, ripped a button of my coat rooting around in that thorn bush. But I saved that $7 Kong. Tanner was elated

Cool Gear - Nerf Gun

I.WANT.THIS.

Nerf has come a long way since I was a kid... now dace cat! Dance!

(Thanks Uncrate)

Nerf N-Strike Vulcan

One of the most popular user-submitted products in Uncrate history, the Nerf N-Strike Vulcan ($43) is the Rambo of Nerf guns. This mean-looking, belt-feeding, fully-automatic dart gun can fire at a rate of up to three darts per second, pummeling your target (or your target's cubicle) with a barrage of toy ammunition. A removable, foldable tripod and a precision single-shot mode round out the capabilities.

Wooded Path

The early cold and light snow did not stick but brought down a blanket
of still green late season leaves making a colorfull walk through the
park.

MGOBLUE

Well Well Well…. I feels a little different this Saturday coming into the last home game this season. The win last week over Minnesota brought back a little confidence. If nothing else it reminded the players that we could win. And win away, as an underdog. Sound like setting the stage for an upset next week against Ohio. That my friends would be quite a big deal.

But let’s not forget about this game today. Michigan is historically the dominant one in this match-up and hopefully the ride last week’s momentum to a win. I am sure the seniors who have not had a great season would like to win today.

It’s cold and rainy here today in Ann Arbor, perfect football weather.

GOBLUE

Tanner checks in

Tanner has been showing her age lately. Limping around after laying
about she was having a hard time getting up. I decided part of the
problem was her rock hard cushion at work. So I got her this soft
cushy bed for work. I think she likes it.

Future Heads Up Display Glasses

How technology will really save humanity.

(GIZMODO)

Curency Speculation

(Randomly found in my wallet this morning)

Obviously, the faltering economy had done nothing for the respect for the dollar both here and abroad.

PS – I passed up a lot of jokes on this one, obviously pulling this out of your pocket could lead to many one liners…

Snow Already

Small snow flurries left a trace on my truck window this morning reminding me that winter is here.

Good thing I put the blade on the atv.

MGOBLUE

After what I thought may have been only chance to win for the rest of the season went down in the books as a stunning loss to Purdue….

We set our sights on the Minnesota, away. I had been thinking a lot this week about what has been going on. Coach Rodriguez was quoted this week as saying:

The team remembers that they are "for the Little Brown Jug, playing for themselves, playing for their teammates and playing for Michigan." And as Rodriguez said "that’s a lot to play for."

Then a thought occurred to me. What is the one thing that he could to do get back on the good side of the Michigan fans…. Beat Ohio State.

What if… just bear with me…this season has been a big ploy… roll them out slow, get the momentum going the year is trashed… but beat Ohio and you are excused. What if Rodriguez has been sand bagging a bit, knowing he would be on the south side of 6 wins but making everything about beating Ohio in the end on a cold day in November. In their house with odds against you. Beat them and your season will be… well lets say not a complete disaster.

Lets face it Bo was not a god because of his winning record, he did well but he never took us to a National Championship. Bo was a coaching legend because he often found a way to beat Ohio. Something Carr had trouble doing.

So there you go, nothing against the contest today. Lets win. It will be good for moral. Lets be honest though, the coach the team the fans should all be eating breathing, thinking: How can we beat Ohio

Ann Arbor Roof Top View

A quick shot from the parking garage off William St with the Bell
Tower in the background.

Dinner

Tonight we had dinner at Cottage Inn Resturant. Not just the pizza
joint you might expect but the original Ann Arbor eatery. We had a
great meal.

Now That All Of That Is Over...

I can get down to some business round the house. Like the carpet of maple leaves in my front lawn.

Election Day

Unless you live under a rock, I am sure you know its election day. I found this old illustration that reminded me that years ago voting was a popular as it has become again in this election.

No matter what... God Bless America and our right to vote.

More Fall Colors

Of course getting there is always half the adventure. This morning was no exception as a quick photo of the sun coming up at behind me succinctly shows. I was by myself at 4500 ft watching these fall colors.

At the Game

A quick shot of the stadium before the game. I turned out to be quite a contest. A clash of the worst so to speak.... in the end they deserved to win, and us to loose. I had a great time even though this basically puts our season into an unrecoverable death spiral.

*sigh*