More to talk about than sports

People I know aren't talking a lot about how far the Tigers will slide or if they will make the playoffs.
Nor are they getting carried away with all the new acquisitions the Lions are trotting out. The current topic is all about the weather.
All of the heat and humidity we've been experiencing recently affects people differently. My wife used to live in the Mojave desert. To her, this is warm weather.
Others, like me, don't care for the humidity. Bring on the warm temperatures but hold that high humidity.
But there's another way to look at it. In about two months we'll be wishing we had these days back.
Especially the sunshine-filled ones. When those cold, windy, gray days become normal around here, you can bet we'll wish we had some of these August days back.
In the meantime, stay hydrated, rested, and try to enjoy the weather. It's going to be gone before you know it.

Asian CarpAsian ally planted?nintentio

That's what I have been hearing from circles. That these Asian carp have been intentionally introduced to the Great Lakes.
Some think fishermen actually caught them below the electronic barriers, brought them to Lake Michigan waters and released them.
Still others claim that the DNRE is behind this and have been secretly introducing these predators for a long time.
Finally, there is a lot of talk that the carp have been in Michigan waters for years and are now only being made public.
Any of these suggestions are preposterous. First, i suppose some clown of a fisherman could have dropped some into Lake Michigan, but to what end? It certainly isn't funny.
Next, why would the DNRE intentionally introduce a species that they have little knowledge of and know iiffict's to control?
Finally, if these fish had been here for years, it would seem they would have turned up on the end of hooks or in nets. No one has brought forth any evidence suggesting this.
Lets not cry wolf right out of the box. Get your facts straight and your ducks lined up before spouting off, free speech or not.

Stealing is never right

It doesn't take much to steal from old folks. In most cases what are they going to? Usually too old or weak to put up much resistance, they often become targets just by being older.
The incident involving the 89-year-old Davisburg resident who collects errant golfballs hit in his yard next to Springfield Oaks is more than a sign of the times.
Who would take some golf balls and a little loose money? Not someone in desperate need looking for a way to feed a family or pay bills.
If that was the need, stealing golf balls out of a homemade cart alongside the road isn't going to get you one month more on the mortgage or a sack of groceries.
No, this was a spit theft. Something done more because it was there than what it would bring. Like most things, there has been some good that has come from this.
People have been dropping golf balls off and expressing concern. I dropped a bag of balls off a couple days back and was glad to see humor and enthusiasm from the golf ball victim.
As my late grandmother would have said, "Shame on you." That does double.

Grieving takes some time

My old fishing pal Billy Baker died a few weeks back. His comment when I told him as I was leaving that I would see him again proved prophetic. "No you won't," he said as we shook hands.
If there is good to come from these things I find it in a couple of ways. The first is his long standing suffering is over. He's at peace and free from pain.
Second, while he's missed, he leaves great memories those near to him can hang onto, talk about and even get a laugh from time to time.
I stopped by his home a couple days ago to see his friend, Lois Morgan, who cared for him, putting up with a lot from an old guy that was used to complaining much of his life.
Lois said she, family members and neighbors were moved by one thing that happened shortly after Bill died.
Her yard was decorated with small American flags. She's a patriot and so was Bill along with being a WWII veteran. When the funeral director from Donelson-Johns and Evans arrived he casually asked if Bill was a veteran.
Told Bill was, the funeral folks covered Bill in an American flag before removing him from the home.
Next to the military funeral at Great Lakes Veterans Cemetery in Holly, this simple act was greatly appreciated and entirely a surprise to those gathered at the tine home in Pontiac.
Thanks to all of you who took the time to write and comment. Those of us that knew Bill will remember him in our own way.

Hunting season already?

While the hunting seasons are still a bit in the future, now is a good time to begin to take stock of equipment.
Simple tasks like running a patch down a barrel, wiping barrels, actions, and other metal parts with a lightly oiled rag, and checking that ammunition you've had stored since last year are some of the things you could start with.
Bow hunters should be shooting at a bale or McKenzie if they have one. Keep the range short; from 15-20 yards is fine.
When you are in the woods shooting for real, do yourself and the deer a big favor and don't take those shots beyond 25 yards. Shots taken at these longer distances usually miss. Those that don't aren't well placed meaning a wounded animal that wanders off to die, or one that carries an arrow in it for a long time.
If you haven't shot your bow in a long time, take it to an expert and have it gone over. It may need to be tuned or timed.
Be sure your arrows are straight, and have all the fletch intact. Look the broadheads over to be sure they are sharp and ready to go.
Are your sights set for the range you intend to shoot? Now is a good time to begin to make those adjustments.
Finally, you should be in the field doing your annual scouting. If you are hunting a new area, get familiar with it before Oct. 1 rolls around.
There's always something to do when it comes to being prepared for those great fall hunting seasons.

Cross the Straits into another world

It sure seems that way. Once you pay the Mack Bridge toll and head a little north then west; in my case to the Keweenaw, it's like you are in another world. Yoopers would like you to believe that although they are still a part of Michigan.
Those of us downstate probably don't get the chance as often as we would like to spend time just about anywhere in the U.P.
Not the large towns but some of the smaller ones and the areas adjacent to them offer some really great getaways if you can do without frills.
Without recommending specific trips, take just about any two-lane highway and go for a ride. Chance are you'll come to a state rec area or some other facility open to the public.
If you have a canoe or kayak, you're surprises will double . Take the time to stop at several of the those signs that direct you to public access points and launches.
Many of these small lakes go unused throughout the year. There's a good chance you'll have one practically to yourself.
Granted, many of these state forest campgrounds and others are very rustic. Spend a few days in one, then change it up for a state park with showers and you'll be good for another couple of days.
Travel safe and stay surprised.

Those good old days may be coming back

When you think about how our society is going these days what with inflation and job loss, you begin to wonder if we aren't headed back to what some of my generation term the good old days.


I see it more these days with things like home gardening, composting and a renewed interest in preserving food we grow. Those canning jars we let go of years ago might come in handy in today's times.
Look at all the ads for "green" this and that. There was a program on cable the other night showing how to compost at home, then moved on to commercial compost operations.
Recycling, something that was last seen seriously during the second world war is more popular than ever. And a good thing as well.
We used to work on our own cars and keep them longer. The trend had been to take them to mechanics for work and get a new one every couple of years.
Mostly the auto companies forced those shade tree mechanics out of business when they went to all of the computerized workings.
Now people are beginning to change their own oil, do their own lubes and other work they can still get at without having to disarmthe entire vehicle.
And as far as longevity goes, at least in our household, we continue to hang onto our transportation long after most people would have moved up.
Yes, this year was spent in the garden but not with great effort. But there is always next year.