Winters first Kiss

We did not get all the snow we were supposed to last night but we did get just enough to coat everything and make people drive crazy.
Welcome to winter.

Sometimes a fork in the road is so subtle…

Sometimes a fork in the road is so subtle…

That you don’t even notice it until you look back and reflect on what you have done. This can spawn a thousand “what ifs” and “could have been”s.

This is not one of those times.

Shop Time: More small projects.

My mother wanted a replacement for what she was calling a house for her "outdoor" cat for the winter. So I knocked one out for her in the shop this weekend. Before she  was really using  just a collection of cardboard and old blankets... now we have upgraded to a fully enclosed wood frame box with rigid foam insulation a hidden access for the heating blanket cord (yeah I know) and a hinged top for human access.

This particular habitat does not have to repel rain as it resides under the roof of her back porch (thus the flat roof) but only a slight modification would allow for an adequately slanted roof.

It is just primer for now, still has to be painted to match her house, but really its almost wrapped up. Still it fun to do a quick project like this with no plan just winging it with left over materials I just have hanging around.

Sunday morning shopping with the Girl

Why do they have to make so many salad dressings?

bonus overhead on the couch....

The Girl: "Why did you take that photo?"

Me: "I just thought the perspective looked cool."

The Girl: "Yeah, it does. I noticed you taking it,I thought: there he goes again."

Me: "What are you saying?"

The Girl: "Only you would see that... like the shiny lights that hang from the ceiling"

Me: " OK now you are just f'n with me."

The Girl: "Now?"

Go Blue: Michigan Vs. Ohio State

Well well well... here we are. Its the last game of the regular season.

Michigan and Ohio State this Saturday noon at the Big House here in Ann Arbor.

Yes this is the game that we wait all year for. This is the game that both programs wait all year for. This is the game who's importance can not be overstated.

A game that brings mind to the likes of "Yost", "Woody", "Bo",  "Tressel" and "Moller" and "Carr."

This is the game that will cement Hoke's legendary status as the coach who in his first year once again brought the Maize and Blue back to prominence or will take us deeper down the rabbit hole.
The Buckeyes are on the ropes and the Wolverines are hungry for revenge for the last seven losses. The winds of change are in the air for the first time in years. Usually an underdog has a certain appeal but Tressels transgressions have cast a shadow so long that even the most ardent of Buckeye fans can not look you in the eye much less pull together to form a threat. This is the brass ring and it is Michigan's for the taking.

Michigan has the talent, the drive, the home field advantage yet this is a rivalry game, and as such it is a game you can throw all of that out of the window. ANYTHING can happen. As such this game can not be taken for granted by the Michigan faithful. In short, this is THE game and we have to bring it all to the table.

Suddenly Hoke and the program stand at the door of new era of Michigan dominance, we just need to punch it through.

This will be the 108th meeting since the rivalry began in 1935 between Michigan and "that team from Ohio" and while every game has been important I would argue that NONE were more important than the contest that will take place tomorrow.

Tomorrow under partly cloudy shies, it is supposed to be a perfect 55 deg. at kickoff. The rain has been pushed of until Sunday as if mother nature herself knows just how important this game is.

This is the game we have been waiting for... all season.
This is the game we have been waiting for all decade.


GO BLUE.

Black Friday....

Years of fighting for equal rights and legitimacy were suddenly dashed when Black Friday's cousin Hispanic Saturday showed up for the holidays and caused a scene in front of Asian Sunday and the rest of the extended family.

(here at vaporlife we honor and respect all manner of race, religion, creed and are equal opportunity offenders)

Happy Thanksgiving

So much to be thankful for this year. Happy thanksgiving everone.

Whew...

Its been a good day.... I feel like a great weight has been lifted.
Like I said...It was a good day, stressful, but good.

I need a vacation.

Range on the home

The Girls range was delivered today.

Its so shiny.

The old one finally died for for the final time and after much deliberation and quite a bit of comparison shopping she settled on the super deluxe shiny model. 

I have been so busy lately. Things have been ramping up at work and the end of the year push is not helping things.

This weekend has been 100% work, I am looking forward to an shorter holiday week.

Go Blue: Michigan vs Nebraska

Ahhhh... November with your crisp air and whispers of turkey and fixings.  You might just be the coyest of months lulling us in with you serene facade then with out warning spiking our punch with surprisingly emotionally charged football games.

Michigan faces Nebraska in Ann Arbor in just such a game tomorrow The first time the two teams will step onto a field together since the 2005 Alamo bowl. That was a close game that MI almost won in the last play of the game. In the end the Wolverines lost, but as it is with  any such close games it could have easily gone the other way.

That brings us back to tomorrow.

Both teams have had ups and down this year, and both teams have similar 8-2 records. That is not where the similarities end.

Both have dynamic quarterbacks

Both of them have trouble completing passes.

Michigan is favored, but its close.

Both need this win to validate there post season bids.

The Wolverines needs to let Denard be Denard and let him make the miracle plays when then need them. Take advantage of the house, deconstruct the week Corn huskers defense. Don’t take the eye off the prize. OSU is a week away.

Nebraska needs to stop the run game, and bite scratch and claw their way into early points to quiet the house. Show the MI defense something they are not used to. Get MI off balance and they have a good shot to chicken wing themselves to the W.

With all that is going on right now, this game will prove to be an excellent diversion tomorrow at 12 here in Ann Arbor. 

Go Blue.

Tanner

Tanner likes to keep her toys close. Even while she sleeps.

Stress: its not just not just for breakfast anymore

 

Apparently its served all day long, but still comes with a side of coffee.

Deer Season Opens today (firearm)

I am not a big deer hunter, my taste runs for more toward pheasant.

It does remind me, however, of times past hunting with my father and my cousin... both of whom are now lost to me. Those woods in Osceola county will always always hold ghosts of the past. Both good and bad.

I do miss them.

And just like that...

And just like that the holiday lights are out.

Went to vist my good friend in the hospital today

Spinal surgery is nothing to be trifled with.... luckily he is doing really good.
Glad I went to see him today, he is getting released for good behavior tomorow!
 

Go Blue: Michigan Vs Illinois

 

Another Saturday and another road game for the Wolverines traveling to Il to meet the fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Campaign.

After last weeks disappointing loss, MI is likely to come out shooting and you better believe moving up to an 8-2 record for the year is on Brady Hokes game plan today. Illinois will likely have something to say about that with the bitter taste of last years game still in the mouth when MI won in triple overtime in an 67-65 thriller that was arguably one of the most exciting games for MI last season.

Don't expect to see that kind of score today, as the Michigan defense has been holding their own this year and for some reason Denard has NOT been the scrambling play-maker he was last year. He can still move but he has almost been pushed into a roll of a pass first pocket QB and it sometimes seems like the only thing they are doing is taking the wind out of his sails. That being said they still have the ability to score fast and often but away from the big house is always a challenge.

The fighting Illini has some playmakers here too and QB Nathan Scheelhaase can make good decisions, but he needs to keep from getting sacked and excecute quickly to move the ball for IL.

This afternoon Michigan will be hosted by Illinois for an exciting game. All we can say for sure is that  the the team the plays the best will walk away the winner.

GO BLUE

111111

Happy Veterans Day Everyone!

11-11-11

(photo credit to K-squared)

Overheard on the couch: Its 4g time

(Watching the T–Mobile commercial)

The Girl: “Did she say its Orgy time?”

Me: “Ummmm…. I think they said it’s  time for 4G.”

Girl: “Oh- that changes the entire commercial”

Me: “Yes, Yes it does.”

Kitty checks in

Finding a perfect place to rest is key to a good weekend.

Go Blue: Michigan vs. Iowa

  

Today the Wolverines travel to Iowa City IA to meet the Hawkeyes under another perfect fall day.

This will be the 57th meeting between Michigan and Iowa. The Wolverines hold a 40-12-4 lead in the all-time series and have a 16-5-1 mark at Iowa, including a 15-5-1 record at Kinnick Stadium. Michigan has won six of the last 10 games in the series, despite dropping the last two games. 

In a sport where momentum means so much, Michigan has it coming from a win over Purdue and a respectable 7-1 record this year. Iowa on the other had is coming off a loss falling to a not so impressive Minnesota last week.

Michigan is favored by 4 and are rated 13^th trying to hang in with the Spartans and Nebraska for the Legends division lead.

This game is not and should not be treated as an automatic win for any Wolverine fan.  Michigan has proven they can win on the road but a win away from home is always more difficult. Denard will have to be on his game today but MI does have enough weapons to put on a formidable show today in IA today.

Iowa on the other hands need so shake off last weeks  loss and pull themselves up and get some points on the board. The Hawkeyes have a few weapons of their own including WR Marvin McNut that MI should be looking out for. Score early and often will be the path for them to an upset win over the Wolverines. Will they we able to do it against the formidable Wolverine defense? Not likely.

Good luck boys.

GO BLUE.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The holdout

This tree stands firm as all others around fall. Soon even he will succumb till then...  he looks good.

How my mind works...

 

Freind: Do you remember how we re-wired the pump at the cabin?

Me: Kind of ... something like this right? (whipping out the drawing skills)

Friend: Huh...OK that's what what I thought too...just one question.

Me: Whats that?

Freind: Why did you draw the outhouse?

Me: Its a process.

Under the lights

They must know how important Tanner is as they left all the lights on at the park tonight obviously just for her. Seems about right.

And that is when my brain exploded.

I hate cleaning up others peoples messes.

My newest obsession: Zombieland 2 iPad

Speaking of blasting things for fun my newest fun obsession is Zombieland 2 for iPad. This simple shooter takes my need to blast things with a shotgun (or flamethrower and many points in between) to a virtual world of surprising complexity.

Here the uprising has happened and its up to you and your motley cast of characters to put a small dent in the madness by shooting first and asking questions later.
Repetitive? A little.
Juvenile? Most certainly.
Time annihilating? Without a doubt.
This game is just shiny enough to hold my attention long enough for me to blast my way through my bed time. No pun intended.
At .99 cents its hard to pass up entertainment like that.

Check out the trailer *here* or you can find it in the app store if you like.