Monthly Archives: September 2017

Sep20

‘shrooms.

Posted on September 20, 2017 by beth

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in keeping with the food theme of the month

and lucky timing

i visited mushroom park

as part of my ann arbor park walk

and there i found

a wonderful unique park

smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood

surrounded by

a group of small rolling grassy berms

once i walked through the path between the little hills

there was a sweet little playground

and a series of

interesting psychedelic painted ceramic mushrooms

it had a very special feel about it

i kept expecting to cross paths with a gnome or fae folk

instead i found a colorful hand-painted rock

one had left behind

and if i had to guess

i’d say that this charming little park

just may have been created in the ’60s.

—

“i’m just some lunatic macaroni mushroom, is that it?”

-joe pesci

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credits: mushroominfo.com, national food days/months

Sep19

it’s all about that stance.

Posted on September 19, 2017 by beth

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elvis’ fight-stopping karate stance memorial plaque

in 1977, elvis presley, while riding to madison from the airport, noticed a street fight in progress at a service station. while his limo was stopped at the nearby red light, the king ran from the car and threatened the combatants with a classic karate stance.

the young men recognized elvis and stopped fighting in favor of shaking hands with the star. elvis reportedly left after ensuring that everything was settled and taking time to shake hands with several onlookers. elvis died 52 days later.

the incident was reported by thomas still for The State Journal, who called it presley’s biggest brawl since Jailhouse Rock. a plaque to commemorate the event is installed where the gas station once stood. it shows elvis with a guitar and in a pseudo-karate stance and describes the incident.

‘if there hadn’t been an elvis, there wouldn’t have been the beatles.’

-john lennon

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credit: atlas obscura, the state journal, thomas still

Sep18

books change lives.

Posted on September 18, 2017 by beth

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spent a few beautiful afternoon hours

at the kerrytown bookfest

in the ann arbor farmers market

where i usually find the flowers and fruit

on this day

i found all kinds of wonders

new and used books

interesting genres

loved the gunslingers section

illustrators proud of their work

fellow book loving shoppers

passionate authors of all kinds

and

so many, many words

—

“reading is an exercise in empathy;

an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”

-malorie blackman

Sep17

crushed.

Posted on September 17, 2017 by beth

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i will never forget that day in the 70s

my brother was going to windsor

to sit in the studio audience

of the bozo the clown show

watching it filmed live

the whole neighborhood

had a vested interest in his visit

besides it being so cool to see him on tv

we assumed and expected that

he would be chosen from the audience

for a chance to toss the beanbags into the buckets

and win the bozo grand prize game

this was going to be the best day ever

we knew he was going to win the jungle gym

and our backyard would be

the new official headquarters of endless fun

we ran home from the bus after school

and gathered around the tv

in our family room

to watch it all play out

we could hardly contain ourselves

it began just as we planned

he was chosen for the big game

then

he lost on the final toss

that never made it into the bucket

bozo gave a quick chuckle

a wink, a pat on the back

he had won the second prize

a 6-pack of orange crush

the family room went silent for a minute

as we realized that

our yard would not be undergoing any major change

and we’d have to find a way to share the pop.

(post below found on a bozo fan club site):
Posted on Monday, November 20, 2006 – 8:32 pm:

‘I went to see Bozo around 1972-73 also. One of the things that stands out was taking the tunnel to Canada. I also recall getting there late and having to be separated from my two cousins in the seating area. I was wedged in near the top and had to deal with some Girl Scouts kicking me in the back throughout the show. To this day when a Girl Scout asks me if I want to buy some cookies I tell them to go to hell. I don’t forget easy.’

—

“i’m in competition with myself and i’m losing. “

-roger waters

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credits: cklw-tv, womc radio-motor city moments,

mayo playground – archives, pre-1920s, pinterest