WanderingWilbo

Douglas Michigan on a Sunday Evening: It is safer to be bullfighting. #DeathInTheAfternoon

2012-02-12T16:14:00.001-08:00

I am beginning a glass of La Posta, a Malbec glass. As parallels a game of Russian Roulette, I allowed my bartender to pick my glass of red. He poured his favorite, meaning the Malbec showed up in my life with no contrivance from myself. I love Douglas and I sneak here to write at Respite Cafe. Which closed at 6:00 PM tonight after serving me an eight dollar bowl of Mulligantawny. Winter hours. It was good, homemade, but not eight dollars a bowl good. However, I am not to ask the house for a mulligan. A visit to Douglas recalls death to me, three deaths foremost, but one death recalls entirely the possibility of all deaths. First, I remember in 2005 stumbling into a gallery, now the Kubiak Gallery, and a lawyer named Scott was laboring on a canvas thick with paint. Three years later, I learned the man perished behind the wheel when his car slid before a freighter laden with carrots. I heard of the passing on the visit to Kubiak's. The incident I found briefly noted in a small, online Allegan County newsletter. The event received precious little ink. The third, the news arrived by email, sent by a woman who coordinates a newsletter for our high school graduating glass. The former athletic director during our years of attendance, 1977 to 1981, had passed away in Douglas but had retired to a home in Galesburg. I almost went looking for the death certificate on his passing and still might. I liked the man, even enjoyed seeing him at another high school when I was substitute teaching, after graduating college. I often wondered about rumors that he moved along after being caught in flagrante delicto with a female faculty member in the guidance office. I had a flutter for that female faculty member back when she taught my English class junior year, so I understood totally.

I discussed number one and then three because number two in the order of time pains me the most. On Sunday, August Seventh, 2011, my waitress brought me, unselected by me, a glass of Malbec on the sultry backyard patio of Everyday Peeople Cafe. Theresa Perez of the local Jazz group, Hats, was performing marvelous Jazz standards as dark fell. A woman I met a week earlier at an outdoors party was texting me, a woman who had yet to ask me out but I knew it was a matter of time. She was a short drive away but the texting didn't get that hot. And so I didn't place a Sunday call to mums and pops. It was the last evening a simple Sunday call to mums and pops would be possible. On the morning of the Eighth, a stroke befell my father as he filled his birdfeeders. I wished I had called.

Sex fills the air today in Douglas and Valentine's day is all about love, theoretical and physical. At the coffeehouse, a woman insisted on buying me a coffee. When I said I had ordered one, she insisted on buying me a biscotti. I accepted. And then she took a table and began handwriting her physical therapy case notes. I once had slept all winter long with a woman trained in physical therapy and I must vouch for how inventive that training makes a practitioner in the boudoir. I also could help to see how her endowments strained the top of her sports jersey. I thanked her for the biscotti and walked back to my car.

On the way back, I saw a tall woman in a tight pair of blue jeans closing up shop. I had talked to her the week before at the Everyday People Cafe bartop, and she had confessed she hadn't been asked on a date in four years. It was dinnertime and Salt of the Earth so close in neighboring Fennville. All it would have taken was a bit of cheek to ask her if she were hungry, a catcall across Butler Street. At least I could have given her the chance to say no. Two signs how totally I have disconnected myself from the flow of life. Here at the counter of Everyday People Cafe, the flow of life is seemingly stilled, yet unavoidable.

WanderingWilbo

Douglas Michigan on a Sunday Evening: It is safer to be bullfighting. #DeathInTheAfternoon

One more place where Al Capone was said to have dined. 64th Street Restaurant, Saugatuck MI, Mile 16691.

You can have anything you want at Fricano's of Grand Haven Michigan.

Number for La Parral on Peck unpublished, @Dsrinssyb.

As Valentine's Day time arrives, winter returns to Muskegon Michigan.

Boffins and PR demonstrators

The Shrimp fried rice might be the best lunch value in Muskegon, MI, House of China.

At least Max-N-Marleys doesn't seem to be going anywhere. Lakeside, Muskegon MI

By the time I learn of Susan Newhof, author of Spirits and Wine, @RobertaFKing had already written about her in the Rapidian.

Mile 16262: Back in Norton Shores after a short jaunt to Manistee MI.

It's halftime in America. Rico's Roadhouse, Manistee Michigan. #ImportedFromDetroit

Pere Marquette Expeditions stands on the river in Ludington, MI, Mile 16131

How can the White House Bistro blare its live band's performance all over Downtown Saugatuck MI?

Sunset descends over Holland Michigan after 6:00 PM, Mile 16005

Today, in downtown Muskegon, it's beer tent and crows. #Snowfest, @PureMichigan

Mi Parral means my vine arbor. It also means great Mexican for delivered to Marsh Field, Muskegon MI

@RedheadWriting now offers digital scribbling in addition to @Snarketing.

Greek Tony's, spared toxic debris from chimney demolition, expands on Lake Muskegon shore.

Mile 16858: It's fifty degrees Fahrenheit in Roosevelt Park MI.

Vincent Hayes is 19 steps away from his Kickstarter goal.

The Captain is grateful to hear from Tri State Restoration, Cincinnati Ohio.

Brett and Jera bring great deli to the Watermark District @Sarah_Rooks, @ShreddSpread, @Shredd_Spread, @PintsQuarts

The Croton Bay Trading Post stop offers ice and a red solo cup with purchase when the pub crawl bus arrives. @PureMichigan Mile 15504

Kudos for @MonicaLalatos for sponsoring the historical placemat at Red Rooster, North Muskegon MI.

Helped my mood: Crispin Cider sold at Hobo's, North Muskegon.

The Croton Bay Trading Post stop offers ice and a red solo cup with purchase when the pub crawl bus arrives. @PureMichigan Mile 15504

Kudos for @MonicaLalatos for sponsoring the historical placemat at Red Rooster, North Muskegon MI.

Mar Tormentas: One more reminder of the danger of pier walking on windy days, White Lake Channel, Michigan

The Book Nook Java Shop is closed for day; old bank in Whitehall MI is renovating. Mile 15576

The man looked like Clay, Sons of Anarchy, as he said to me, "It's tough dating young women" Driftwood Inn, Croton MI.

The Croton Bay Trading Post stop offers ice and a red solo cup with purchase when the pub crawl bus arrives. @PureMichigan Mile 15504

The only music I like better than dueling piano is double guitar. Backup Plan at Jimmy's Roadhouse, Newaygo MI.

Croton and Newaygo have gone big on Winterfest, but will I take the limo out to the Driftwood Inn? @PureMichigan

Cool! I just bought cough syrup & drops with #GoogleWallet @Meijers Norton Shores MI.

Once more we luncheon at the Lake House, on Lake Muskegon, Michigan

Handsome Henry's on Henry claims to celebrate the culinary & visual arts. Let's see about that.

I tip one PBR at the Tip A Few, review Jeff & Joel's Tuesday night jam, Grand Haven, MI, Mile 15271.

@RedheadWriting speaks about working with bloggers. Wonder if she tapes her weekly bitch slap columns?

So far, this looks like the year with no ice fishing on Lake Muskegon. Happy Year of the Dragon.

Mile 15186: Coopersville means I am almost home to Muskegon, MI.

Depressed and in foreclosure, you have numbers to call in Kalamazoo Michigan.

Thirty nine degrees Fahrenheit as I depart the rest area, Galesburg MI, Mile 15108.

The little diner of Dexter, Michigan has no hours today.

The Sixth Annual Worst Day of the Winter ride prepares to leave from Kerrytown, Ann Arbor MI

Combining an Elias Brothers with a Red Roof Inn calls for applause, surprisingly. Ann Arbor MI

La Dolce Vita, better LdV, reminds all of the traditions of old Detroit, MI.

The most indispensable Starbucks in the world stands in Waterford MI, Mile 14881

Saturday afternoon closes sunny and 19 degrees Fahrenheit, Perry Michigan, Mile 14820

On this day, January 21st in 2008, I moved to Muskegon MI, Mile 14697.

After-theater in Muskegon MI and the band warms up at Hennessy's, kitchen still serving Boxtie.

Hate when lights go out and doors lock the second I leave a business. Port Sheldon MI, Mile 14641

Why is everyone in Holland Michigan better than I?

10 degrees Fahrenheit and Walmart no longer sells Wrangler Khakis in Muskegon MI.

It's ten degrees Fahrenheit and Walmart no longer carries Wrangler khakis in Muskegon MI, Mile 14593

Fourteen degrees Fahrenheit and El Camino's has three customers dining for lunch, Muskegon MI.

I think this Ford Focus will get lost in the snow. Muskegon County Airport, Michigan Mile 14560

Mile 14599: Returning the Ford Focus to the Muskegon County airport, a Michigan classic.

Protect the viral, vital nature of the Internet: Open a conversation around SOPA and examine its effects deeply, @StabenowPress, @RepHuizenga, @SenCarlLevin, #SOPA

Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday all days lived on the road. Norton Shores, MI. Mile 14579.

Nice to combine a pit stop with a rest stop. Grand Ledge MI, Mile 14490.

Flint is buzzing with sirens, probably due to a Michigan squall. Mile 14433.

The road fills the head with memories of that which continues on without one.

On the approach to Buffalo NY, the lake effect snow falls as rain through 39 degree Fahrenheit air. Mile 14123

Syracuse stands on the crossing of two canals at center of New York State, Mile 14002

This is my second time at this rest stop of Preble, NY, south of Syracuse. Mile 13965

Dark has fallen in Binghamton NY, Mile 13918

After wandering around in the Catskills for hours, I am finally 14 Miles to Binghamton NY. Mile 13904

Here Comes Trouble again, Woodstock New York, @MMFlint

Holly of Pig Bar & Grill gave assignment: Huevos Rancheros, Oriole 9, Woodstock NY

So I begin the day at Saugerties NY with thirteen hours to drive. Breakfast in Woodstock?

So I begin the day at Saugerties NY with thirteen hours to drive. Breakfast in Woodstock?

I believe this is the Pig Bar & Grill in Saugerties, NY.

Kingston New York causes me to regret that I am just passing through.

I didn't Tarry in Tarrytown, but I was tempted to sleep for twenty years in Sleepy Hollow, NY.

In a tip of the hat to idea of appearance versus reality, I find myself beholding headlights at Ardsley Travel Plaza, NY, Mile 13677

In a tip of the hat to idea of appearance versus reality, I find myself beholding headlights at Ardsley Travel Plaza, NY, Mile 13677

And so, the return trip from Brooklyn NY to Muskegon MI begins. Mile 13648.

Snow on my car is the new status symbol in Brooklyn NY.

Snow on my car is the new status symbol in Brooklyn NY.