We Get Too Late Smart

Millen is gone but his legacy will be felt for many years to come.  His drafts are ridiculed by all, including the talking heads on the NFL shows and drafts are the geneses of a quality team.  His choices of head coaches would be laughable if  they weren't so tragic.  He might have thought, though there is little evidence that he did think, that weak head coaches would make him look stronger.  In fact, really high quality, confident, and smart executives surround themselves with and direct people who are smarter and more capable than they are.

Ford will not be forgotten nor forgiven for putting fans through nearly a decade of less than mediocre professional football.  Some would argue they are lucky it was not longer.  If not for Barry Sanders--remember, Green Bay had second pick and took Tony Mandrich before Lions third pick of Barry--the Lions could have done in the 90s what they did in the 00s.  And nearly did anyway.

Another revision for my under-over Lions wins this season:  three

Emerald Lake

We finished painting the ceilings of dining/hallway and entryway/hallway Tuesday.  Tedious work with all the brush work along the stone and woodwork--not an easy task.  My rolling paint on took about one-fifth the time for Kathy to do her brushing.  We now have the bath, closets and pantry, and workshop to do.

Afterward we went to Marion for dinner at Little Italy restaurant--the same owner as used to be in Evart (she sold the Evart restaurant a couple years ago).  Great food, as always.  Walked along Middle Branch River afterward to let the food settle.  When we returned to the house we finished vacuuming and putting everything back in its place.

On our way home Wednesday we heard of Millen's firing.  Could not get the details because the Expedition radio intermittently and randomly stops output to speakers.  We smiled all the way home!!!

Lions

Oh, boy.  Things are bad.  Down 21-3.  Dismal.

Worked on other projects during game.  Makes more sense.  If they perform like that in two weeks against the Bears, look out.

Another Lions ...You Know

And poor execution by John Kitna on a couple crucial plays. I've said it before and will probably have to say it again. He's just a step below what's needed to be an effective NFL quarterback.

The Lions sure know how to clear a stadium. After going ahead in their game against the Packers, they gave up a field goal and three follow-up touchdowns bringing back late in the fourth quarter the stench of the first half.

Highlights were few. Calvin Johnson's catch-and-run touchdown receptions were two.

Having the kids from Up North join us was exciting. All eight of us piled into the Expedition and drove down to the Renaissance Center where we parked. We had a great breakfast at Sweet Lorraine's on Jefferson, then walked up Brush Street to Ford Field. Logan sat with us for the first quarter, then Brenda took him over to Angie and Jesse seated kitty-corner from us. After the game we all met outside the stadium and walked through a pouring rain from Hurricane Ike, a warm rain so we did not use all the cheap plastic ponchos we took. We drove home through very heavy rains which finally let up some between Utica and Romeo. After a short rest stop at our house Cushmans and Helmers took off for home. We had a great time with them.

Next up are the 49ers which I thought would be a great chance for a win. Now I'm not so sure.

This IS A Great Country

You can ignore mandatory evacuation orders.
You can get yourself trapped in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.
You can call 911 for someone to rescue you.
Someone will rescue you and place themselves at risk.

And to those who chose to stay and called to be rescued, if you do not do something for your rescuers, shame on you.

And The Rains Just Kept Coming

Over the last couple days we have had constant rain, very hard many times. Must have had between 4 and 8 inches total over that time. Widespread flooding is expected and from what we see in our pond--spring levels of water--we are not surprised.

It has let up this morning and we are hoping for Seattle-type rain for the day rather than the deluges we have been getting. At least we are under a dome this afternoon for the Lions game versus Green Bay. A Lions win will not surprise me, but I am picking GB. Don't tell Kathy.

Big Ten Teams Go Small

To get thrashed by Notre Dame this year is embarrassing. Maybe UM should have returned Rodriguez to WVU when the buyout of his contract with them became an issue. If it does not turn around next year, they will have to buy out his current contract and get someone else.

Purdue lost in double OT when they should have put away an Oregon team that seemed to want to be somewhere else for half the game.

Buckeye fans--SOS for your beloved scarlet and grey. But don't be too upset. Looks like Southern Cal is loaded for another national championship.

On the Avon River Again

Jim, Sandy, and we went to Stratford, Ontario for two days of theater. We left Wednesday morning and returned Thursday evening.

Wednesday afternoon we had lunch at Bentley's, our traditional gourmet grilled cheese sandwich. Then saw the premier production of Palmer Park. Palmer Woods is a residential area in Detroit (it's called Palmer Park in the play) with large, elegant homes. Some are English Tudor, others colonial, and a few Frank Lloyd Wright. Rather expensive. Homes to the wealthy before there was Birmingham. In 1968, after the Detroit riots of the previous year, a young white family moves into one of the homes because white flight after the riots has depressed the housing costs. They become friends with black family neighbors. The story tells of how they try to keep the neighborhood and school stable amid pressures otherwise and their relationships with neighbors over the next five years.

I was afraid, after the story line, that we would be preached at about race relations in Detroit, but that was not the case. Great acting made this a memorable performance. Our first time at the Studio Theatre, newer and smaller than the others with three-sided seating around the stage.

A light dinner followed that evening by The Music Man at the Avon Theatre. Jim and Sandy saw it earlier in the season and enjoyed it so much they wanted to see it again. I would also see it again.

Thursday we killed the morning reading and walking about a shopping mall, then had a light lunch at Fellini's. The afternoon performance was Cabaret which Kathy and I had seen in Detroit but was new to Jim and Sandy. Afterward we drove back to the States and chatted about the three great performances we had seen.

Now to plan next year's trip.

The Millen Dynasty Continues

I might have to modify my under-over for Detroit Lions wins this season.  Originally I thought 8 wins.  But after their play yesterday against a weak Atlanta Falcons team I now think 5 or 6.

Missed tackles followed by more missed tackles and then a missed tackle...you get the picture.  And poor execution by John Kitna on a couple crucial plays.  Kelvin Pritchett, former Lions defensive lineman, says by this level players should know how to tackle.  And Ron Rice, former Lions defensive back, thinks they just do not have enough talent to compete.  Who am I to argue with those analyses?

We will have fun next Sunday when Green Bay comes in and Jesse, Angie, Logan, Lee, and Carrie come down to join us for the game.  That will be fun.  Go Lions.

At the Lake

Spent a few days at Emerald Lake.  A very long and hard rain born of Hurricane Gustav as it finally petered out north of Lake Superior greated us Thursday night.  We estimate somewhere between 2 and 4 inches of rain overnight.

Friday was overcast with some rain so we did some more painting.  Surprising how long it takes for Kathy to "cuts in" along edges that are seldom at right angles, are along stone walls, and abut wood paneling and window frames.  We got the primer on room and a hall; finish coat goes on next trip.

Weather Saturday was terrific.  Sunny and cool.  Today Kathy got her hair done in town by Ellen while I mowed using the tractor and hand mower and picked apples from the trees in front.  

We'll get more trips in later this month.

A Trip to Chelsea

to the Purple Rose Theatre for the Jeff Daniels play Panhandle Slim and the Oklahoma Kid.  The play is popular enough to be extended through the end of the month.  Daniels says he worked on this play for at least ten years and has rewritten it at least seven times.  Well, this rewrite was a success.   Slim is shot, hogtied, and left to die in the desert where the Kid comes upon him.  The Kid is a singing cowboy with a wit, something Slim lacks.  Slim is willing to have the Kid "shoot me!" but the Kid refuses and leaves him hogtied.  They have lengthy discussions about their lives, the good and the bad.  They finally come to grips with each other and we learn of the connection between the two.  And then they ride off into the sunset.

Fine acting includes one of our favorites Tom Whalen playing Panhandle Slim.  Tom is hogtied the entire performance.  How he does it for an hour and a half is amazing--and he does it performance after performance.  

Dinner after the play at the Common Grill.  Good food and a good play.  All in all a fun day.