The People's Democratic Republic of Hardenistan

Best Photos of May

Darrell — Fri, 31 May 2013 23:11:19 +0000

Pretty soon, he’ll be wanting his own phone.

I’m not sure what he was doing or what he got into prior to this, but it clearly merited taking a nap.

*yawn*

When you’re well-rounded (*snicker*) like Wembley, cleaning the back paws isn’t an easy task.

It’s not a photograph, but it’s important. Either someone is offering a heck of a deal on surgical procedures, or there’s a typo in this tweet.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: cobwebs, Gobo, grooming, Marshall, Michigan, phone, proofreading, screen capture, sleeping, Wembley, yawn

April 2013 Photos

Darrell — Mon, 06 May 2013 01:03:03 +0000

Yup, you’re reading that right. Before you start worrying about your tax dollars, consider the fact that I found this gem at Meijer.

Soft kitty, warm kitty, chubby ball of fur….

Maybe Canada is taking applications? Of course, with their socialized medicine and all, that probably won’t satisfy the placer of this bumper sticker.

Ummm … what?

The ‘Herald’ may have called this one prematurely.

The St. Joseph River in Niles is quite full.

Here’s a little perspective on that last shot.

Every store training new staff should have a sign as cool as this one at Ice Cream Dream in Marshall.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: ice, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County Department of Zombie Removal, Marshall, Meijer, Michigan, Niles, Portage, secede, snow, Sputum Bowl, St. Joseph River, United Socialist States of America, Wembley, Western Herald

When Condiments Leave This World

Darrell — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:16:32 +0000

All good things must come to an end. That even applies to ketchup. While preparing my Royal Red Robin burger for consumption, the devoted bottle of Heinz ketchup completed its mission in this life. Even as it approached the end, it used its last breaths to deposit the little bit of ketchup it had left into the proper spot on my burger. Its sacrifice will long be remembered in the annals of Red Robin history, and in the history of my burger consumption.

Not wanting its sacrifice to go unremembered, I quickly organized a memorial for Ketchup Heinz. First, we needed a burial shroud.

Even ketchup deserves an epitaph, right?

Once the shroud had been prepared, it seemed appropriate to bring all of the other condiments together to remember their fallen friend.

Even the little packets of sweetener made the trip across the table.

Note: This would be a good time to start the memorial music. In the absence of actual musicians, I settled for appropriate music online.

Click here for the music.

That link will open in a new window, so you’re encouraged to open it, then come back to read the rest of the story while the music plays.

The little moment of seasoned (get it?) remembrance was especially tough on Mustard Heinz. Fortunately, Red Robin Seasoning Salt was there to provide comfort.

“He’s really not dead, as long as we remember him.”

Thank you, Heinz ketchup. Your memory will carry on.

Filed under: General Tagged: bottle ran out, condiments, ketchup, memorial, Red Robin

Dumping the Photo Backlog: Neon

Darrell — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:15:28 +0000

Ship ‘n Shore Mot(el), Saugatuck, MI

Ship ‘n Shore (Mot)el, Saugatuck, MI

Donald E. Thornton Insurance, Lawton, MI

Moose Lodge, Holland, MI

Park Theatre, Holland, MI

Sportsman’s Bar and Grill, Paw Paw, MI

Strand Theatre, Paw Paw, MI

Bob’s Lounge, Clare, MI

Hotel Doherty, Clare, MI

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Bob's Lounge, Clare, Doherty Hotel, Donald E. Thornton Insurance, Holland, Lawton, Michigan, Moose lodge, neon, Park Theatre, Paw Paw, Saugatuck, Ship 'n Shore Motel, sign, Sportsman's Bar and Grill, Strand Theatre

Dumping the Photo Backlog: First Quarter 2013

Darrell — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 23:09:56 +0000

Gobo (top) and Wembley sitting on/in the recliner.

I made this from scratch, including the crust and sauce. I had never made bread from scratch before, so I was very pleased that the crust turned out so well.

Such grace … such dignity….

Gobo occasionally sleeps on his head.

The cat inside the box confuses Wembley.

He looks so serious

He really does love his recliner.

Sun-drenched floor is apparently the place to be.

Gobo occasionally looks deceased.

The medicine cabinet is Gobo’s highest perch.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Gobo, Marshall, medicine cabinet, Michigan, pizza, recliner, reflection, sleeping, sun, Wembley

Dumping the Photo Backlog: November-December 2012

Darrell — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:14:21 +0000

Gobo fits in some very small spaces.

Responding to the needs of the stoner cat population, Friskies now makes cheese puffs for cats.

You’re doing it wrong, Wembley.

If cuddle-sleeping were an Olympic sport, these two would dominate it so much that the IOC would drop it.

The waterfront in Saugatuck is so beautiful in the fall.

Sleeping cats are so cute.

They’re even cute when they reject the spiffy new bed you got them.

His big, dark eyes are just so cute sometimes.

The new bed finally became acceptable.

This was the perfect box for Gobo. It even had a little awning to provide shade.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: bed, box, cuddle-sleeping, Gobo, Kalamazoo River, kitty cheese puffs, Marshall, Michigan, Saugatuck, stairs, Wembley

Dumping the Photo Backlog: Summer Travels

Darrell — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 00:48:55 +0000

I spent much of August 2012 on the road. I got to see both sides of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, and I got to cross the Mississippi. I dragged my camera along for the trips.

First, we’ll start in the Holland area.

Ninth Street Christian Reformed Church

Founding Fathers are just everywhere these days.

It’s always harder to eat something that’s staring at you.

Even if the coffee isn’t smiling, it usually makes me smile.

Early-morning running rewarded me with views like this.

Centennial Park has a great fountain.

AT&T is living in a sweet old building.

Now, on to Detroit!

The RenCen loves Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael more than it does Donatello. There’s always a black sheep in the family, I guess.

The freighter ‘Cuyahoga’ steams north toward Lake Huron.

Next up are photos from my jaunt to and from the Minnesota/Wisconsin border for Ragnar Relay – Great River.

Herbie is a fancy car, but I wouldn’t trade Victoria for anything.

Apostrophe abuse is never okay.

Filed under: Photography, Travel Tagged: apostrophe abuse, AT&T, Belvidere, Benjamin Franklin, building, Centennial Park, Cuyahoga, Detroit, Donatello, Foster, fountain, Herbie, Holland, Holland Peanut Store, Illinois, JP's Coffee and Espresso Bar, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Michigan, Michigan Bell, Ninth Street Christian Reformed Church, peanut, Raphael, River Street, Running, Town of Clear Creek, view

Dumping the Photo Backlog: End of May-July 2012

Darrell — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:09:44 +0000

I’m so far behind at posting photos. It’s nuts. Oh, well….

Even inanimate metal President Ford looks Presidential.

I love it when I’m lucky enough to actually catch something like a first pitch.

I’m surprised I didn’t have nightmares about giant dandelions.

Ducklings are always good camera fodder.

“Meow. If I could just figure out how to get into this tree, I’d be set. Meow.”

I don’t even dream about being that flexible.

Despite the fact that this nest was located about five feet from the door of my residence, the robins and I managed to live in peace.

I’m occasionally afraid Wembley might eat me.

Gobo poses no such danger. He does, however, seem to be lacking in modesty.

I don’t generally get to stand this close to an oil pumpjack.

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Bloomingdale, Comstock Park, dandelion, Fifth Third Ballpark, first pitch, Gerald R. Ford, Gobo, Grand Rapids, Lansing Township, Michigan, oil pumpjack, Plainfield Township, robin, Schoolcraft, statue, Walker, Wembley

October 2012 Photos

Darrell — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 19:43:51 +0000

The cats always seem to factor into my photography, mostly because they just keep doing interesting things. On top of that, folks seem to like photos of the cats, so I give the people what they want.

Gobo likes to sun himself. He’ll move around Jess’s apartment to find what he considers to be the best patch of sun. The search for sun apparently trumps not planting himself in places that aren’t approved for cat relaxation and recreation.

“Meow. Could you stop photographing me so I could sleep, please? Meow.”

Wembley spent some quality time on his chair this month. This particular incident saw him sprint up to the top, nearly overshooting the chair entirely. He held on, and then he decided to stay up there for a while. I’m pretty sure he was afraid that either Gobo or I had plans to get in the chair.

“Mew. Be sure you get my good side. Mew.”

I’m sticking with the animal theme, but moving it into nature. Every now and then, deer will pay a visit to the parking lot at my office. There’s a golf course right by the office, so there are are all sorts of places for the deer to be. Occasionally, they like to see what we’re doing, unless we get a little close.

Gotta jet!

The cats do like to nap together from time to time. Generally, their size difference appears greatest when this happens. Gobo does Wembley no favors by curling up in a tight little ball.

Wembley isn’t *that* much larger, but it sure looks like he is.

I know that Nick Saban is bringing the Crimson Tide up here in a few years, but I didn’t have to wait that long to see Alabama in action at Michigan State. Alabama has club-level (in other words, not an NCAA Division I or Division III program) ice hockey. The Frozen Tide played three games in Michigan the last weekend of the month. I got to see Alabama take on Davenport. The Frozen Tide earned a 3-1 win.

Real Alabama students. Real ice hockey. Who would have thought?

I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to get an actual ice cream cone this size, but it’s probably worth asking. I found this at Gobblers of Gaylord, in Gaylord, Michigan.

How great would *this* be on a summer afternoon?

Filed under: Photography Tagged: Alabama, cat, Davenport, deer, East Lansing, Frozen Tide, Gaylord, Gobblers, Gobo, ice cream cone, ice hockey, Kalamazoo, Lansing Township, Michigan, recliner, sleep, sun, Wembley

Today’s Run Music

Darrell — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 20:49:46 +0000

Unfortunately for those around me, I occasionally entertain (or distract from their run, as the case might be) runners under my charge (or stuck with me, as the case might be) with a little music that happens to be appropriate for whatever’s going on. Here are some of today’s selections….

Filed under: Music, Running Tagged: "Can't Get You outta My Head", "Spice up Your Life", "The Sign", Ace of Base, Animaniacs, Borgess Run Camp, Kylie Minogue, Running, Spice Girls, Yea Alabama