It seemed like Thursday was the first day Ma Nature deemed that spring could officially begin, and I was eager to embrace the day proper.
Despite arriving home late from our trip to Lansing (More on that later, but I will say “late for me,” is arriving home at 11 PM, but that is 2 hours minimum past my bedtime!) I was still up at 5:50 and eager to get in the woods.
I was the lone car in the parking lot, and I was in the woods and on the trails at 7:05 AM. The ability to wear shorts and no jacket had a spring in my chubby steps, and I busted out a 6:01 mile lumber with a smile on my face.
Even with arriving early to avoid people and mutz, at Mile 2, I ran into the Two Aging Hippies and their dog. As I handed pets out to their dog, the woman eagerly asked me what critters I had been seeing and photographing lately. As I told her about my recent sightings, I realized that she looks and sounds remarkably like long-deceased actress Frances Bay, AKA the Marble Rye lady from Seinfeld’s “The Rye” (Season 7, Episode 11). No Marble Ryes were stolen during the conversation.
I had a great hike, but my luck with getting any photos was pretty horrible. Nothing was clicking (no pun intended), and I came home skunked.
Part II of my day was to give the lawn its first mowing of the spring, trim up a tree or two, and then drop the lawn waste and branches off at the recycling center. By the time I was finished with my day, I had well over 15,000 steps in my feetz. It wasn’t a bad way to “unofficially” start spring.
Lumbering-wise, Friday was a near repeat of Thursday, but with no Marble Rye lady and a slightly longer hike on a different loop. I also had another shit day of shooting pics, but since most of the week was pretty sweet, I wasn’t too upset.
I’ll finish (if I choose) the week with 27.47 miles and right now sit at 100.59 miles for the month. I’m pretty stoked to go over 100 because it is something I haven’t been able to do since November due to December through March throwing multiple family deaths at us (my dad, a close friend’s father, Wifey’s mom, and Jake The Dog), lots of traveling, lots of grief, and a horrible case of the flu that seemed to last for over a month! Oh wait, it did!
I’m looking forward to the weekend, lots of footy watching, and some beers.
MORE NEWS NOT ABOUT ME AND BETTER FOR IT:
First, I’d like to take the opportunity to congratulate and wish good luck to my nephew and his lady love, who are getting married tonight deep in the heart of Texas—much love to them both.
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Secondly, As I mentioned above, Wednesday night, Wifey and I were down in Lansing for the premiere of B’s final group film project and a few other short films. The 19-minute film titled Me.exe took over 5 months to make and was produced by a hand-picked group of writers, directors, actors, film editors, and producers.
For this film, B was co-film editor, co-FX editor, and part of the sound design team. He was pushed out of his creative comfort zone, learned a ton, and came through like a champ! We couldn’t be more proud!
For me, as a lifelong, although be it not very successful creative, it was great to hear the Q&A after the movies and hear their enthusiasm for writing, film, and the production process.
In a country going to hell faster than you can say, “Seriously, four more years of this fascist piece of fucking shit and his clueless, bootlicking ilk?” seeing young people being creative and enthused by the process is just what I needed to hear and see.

B rocking the mic. (photo credit not available).
I’m hoping that the full-length version of Me.exe will be available online soon. Also, the photo of the Q&A was lifted from B’s Insta. Normally, I like to credit the photogs, but I don’t want to sully the kid’s rep by associating them with this rag.
Later.