Still steamed.

I know I spent a fair amount of time bitching about the weather this summer, because I spend a fair amount of time bitching about the weather, period. I recall days on end in July when the temperature didn’t kiss the bottom side of 70, but this weekend summer showed up for the last scene. It was hotter than a Louisiana swamp until sundown Monday, at which point I was sitting poolside at a nice end-of-summer party. What are you gonna do? Summer party? You gotta go.

It was an amazingly productive weekend. Got work done, bathrooms cleaned, potato salad made, dry cleaning dropped off and picked up — you know the drill. Not one but two ill-fitting dresses returned for credit. A lot of miles driven, but that’s what espresso is for, right?

Along the way, a funny story turned up by one of my Bridge colleagues, which I’m sorry Prospero/Caliban didn’t live to see — about the time the MC5 came to play at his Catholic high school, in 1968. The primary concern? What would Rob Tyner howl when they launched into their signature song? Read and find out.

I wish I had more for you today, but I took a bit of an internet break this weekend. You’ll find something to talk about. Let the fall begin!

Posted at 12:09 am in Detroit life, Same ol' same ol' |
 

47 responses to “Still steamed.”

  1. Brandon said on September 8, 2015 at 12:32 am

    We have a heat wave in Hawaii too.

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  2. Jerry said on September 8, 2015 at 2:28 am

    Here in London it is definitely cooling down towards autumn. Time to return shorts to the wardrobe and start wearing trousers again. I enjoy the change of seasons and weather but always regret the need for more clothes and having to turn on the heating in the house.

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  3. basset said on September 8, 2015 at 3:04 am

    Nice little afternoon canoe float on the river behind the house for us. Water was really low so we scraped and dragged a lot, which caused a slowly worsening leak. When I couldn’t stay ahead of it bailing with a cut-open Foster’s can we figured we’d better call it a day, at which point Mrs. B backed into a metal barrier at the takeout and we found we had drowned her blood-sugar meter. Builds character, I suppose.

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  4. MarkH said on September 8, 2015 at 3:56 am

    basset – is Mrs. B type I or type II?

    The weather has been temperate here in the Tetons for most of August, but now much cooler. We did our usual weekend camping and boating at Colter Bay, and while there was not a cloud in the sky, the temp barely hit 65 this beautiful Labor Day. Last night we hit 33 at the campground. Leaves are starting to turn and we caught a bull elk bugling already. Prepping for an early and heavy winter it seems.

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  5. Deborah said on September 8, 2015 at 5:00 am

    Hot and humid in Chicago as usual for this time of year. Little Bird and I are going back to Santa Fe on Thurs, I’ll stay through mid Oct. lovely temps there now in the mid to low 70s highs with mid to low 50s lows. And dry of course, so heaven.

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  6. David C. said on September 8, 2015 at 6:07 am

    It’s cloudy, hot, and sticky here in NE Wisconsin. I think that’s the worst combination of all. At least with sunny, hot, and stick, you can enjoy the sun. With this you just sweat and feel like you’re being waterboarded merely for breathing.

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  7. alex said on September 8, 2015 at 6:37 am

    We got our fill of lake swimming and cooking out this weekend, and scored a fabulous deal on a pontoon boat just in time to put it away for the winter. And made gazpacho, which I’ve been wanting all summer. The weather was perfect for it.

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  8. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 8, 2015 at 7:18 am

    Great story, about the MC5, Detroit, and Catholic schools. I bet Pope Francis would enjoy it, even if Mother Superior didn’t.

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  9. basset said on September 8, 2015 at 7:51 am

    MarkH – type 1 on a pump.

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  10. beb said on September 8, 2015 at 8:10 am

    Went to the Renaissance Faire Sunday, came home feeling parboiled. Monday the lawn was calling for a mowing but I looked at the temperature and said “screw that.” One shouldn’t claim that summer is over just because we’re into September. I remember a time, about ten years back when it was still in the 90s at the end of September. Friends of our met with us at a “closed” beach for a quiet day in the shade. But still…90s!

    The weirdest news I read over the weekend was a column arguing that among Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump was the least obnoxious. This was based on the idea that he’s in favor for a progressive tax code, in favor of Obamacare and a couple other things. If only this were true. But as I see it, Trump is not a hands-on kind of guy. He’d leave the details of government to his chief of staff, who would be a hard-line conservative and sign whatever was put in front of him… kind of like Scott Walker or Rick Snyder.

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  11. Judybusy said on September 8, 2015 at 8:56 am

    I hope I won’t lose any respect here, but I saw the movie “Spy” twice: once with a friend on Saturday, then with my wife last night. I know it’s cheap entertainment, but I find Melissa McCarthy really funny. I also made gazpacho, and tonight will reap the work of making tomatillo salsa yesterday for shrimp enchiladas. We spent Sunday dinner with my wife’s family, doing our annual summer birthday celebration at an Italian restaurant.

    I also read my latest Natural History Magazine (published by the American Museum of Natural History) and this issue was all about Alfred Russel Wallace, who co-discovered evolution separately from Darwin. I was vaguely aware of him, but am now quite impressed. He spend years in the Amazon basin, collecting many new species, noting what he saw, making drawings. Nearly all was lost when the ship carrying him back to England caught fire and totally burned. He swore never to return to sea, but 18 months later travelled to the Malay Archipelego, where he was the first white person to discover and name many birds of paradise and butterflies. If you’ve never seen the former, let the internet enlighten you. I had a fun corrolary read: Arthur Conan Doyle’s Lost World, in which a group of adventurers discover animals from the Jurassic marooned in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest. Oh, and I cleaned one of our bathrooms.

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  12. Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on September 8, 2015 at 9:05 am

    Judybusy, if you enjoyed reading about Russel Wallace, I strongly suspect you will enjoy reading this piece by old Alfred. One of my favorite Victorian pieces of popular science. (Well, that and Poe’s “Eureka.”)

    http://people.wku.edu/charles.smith/wallace/S547.htm

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  13. Heather said on September 8, 2015 at 9:07 am

    Yes, hot and humid here in Chicago–I was proud of myself for not turning on the AC once this summer, but this weekend ruined my streak. I had two days of some challenging kayak classes on the lake and I figured I earned a comfortable sleeping environment.

    The MC5 story reminded me of when my high school boyfriend’s band played a dance at a Catholic high school in the mid 80s. When they launched into the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK”–the first line of which is “I am the AntiChrist”–I never saw an auditorium empty so fast. The guys in the band were all Jewish–we lived in a suburb where the majority of the population was Jewish–and the environment just didn’t dawn on them. I didn’t have that excuse–I grew up semi-Catholic and I didn’t think of it either. A lesson for all of us–know your audience!

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  14. coozledad said on September 8, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Me and my wife marched a 12 mile leg of America’s Journey for Justice on Sunday. We picked up in Warren County, NC and marched just over the bridge at lake Gaston in VA.
    One of the NAACP marshals was Patrick O’Neal, who was at ECU roughly the same time as me. He’s still busting his ass doing the whole activism thing after all these years, and writing for The Catholic Worker.

    http://www.naacp.org/news/entry/naacp-announces-americas-journey-for-justice

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  15. coozledad said on September 8, 2015 at 9:27 am

    Here’s some of Patrick’s work:
    http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/how-to-get-arrested-on-black-friday/Content?oid=2715854

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  16. mouse said on September 8, 2015 at 10:22 am

    Alex,where do you put in your pontoon and keep it?

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  17. Dave said on September 8, 2015 at 10:25 am

    Certainly off topic but I was surprised to see that he must still read you: http://www.news-sentinel.com/blog/opening-arguments/0902-15-post-1

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  18. Julie Robinson said on September 8, 2015 at 10:31 am

    Brutally hot and humid in Vero Beach, where we met my sister for a catch-up. We were at a brown pelican reserve when she said she was feeling a little weird, and thought she’d better check her blood sugar. It was 65. Gulp. I’m really glad we had made sandwiches and had them in the car, because apparently all her emergency supplies were in HER car.

    After she left we had planned a beach outing but torrential rain and winds made that impossible, so we consoled ourselves with deep dish pizza and ice cream.

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  19. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 10:38 am

    Dave – not one but TWO separate references to The Proprietress!

    Leo is OK, but that T Craig Ladwig just had a guest column in the J-G, and he’s a piece of work!

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  20. Sue said on September 8, 2015 at 10:42 am

    Hotter in NE Wisconsin than SE Wisconsin, David C, plus NE Wisconsin’s been getting pounded by rain. It’s my son’s fault. He takes a vacation, the weather goes bad, and he’s up in Crivitz right now. I was there on Saturday, drove back on Sunday and stopped at a roadside stand, where I picked up both a lovely watermelon and a lovely pumpkin. Tis the season.

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  21. Jim Moehrke said on September 8, 2015 at 10:43 am

    As long as we are comparing the weather where we live, the forecast high for tomorrow here near Sacramento is 106. But it’s a dry heat…

    Just another September in Northern California.

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  22. Sue said on September 8, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Oh, Jerry, I see you’re back. I have a British TV question for you:
    Midsomer Murders (otherwise known as the most lethal county in England, apparently), the main characters let themselves into people’s houses all the time and take a look around, and the most pushback they get is an annoyed homeowner. I saw Inspector Morse do something similar last night. What gives? No search warrants?

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  23. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 11:37 am

    Interesting article by Mr O’Neal. The protest against shopping on “Black Friday” – which is annexing Thanksgiving bit by bit – is genuinely tilting at windmills, but courageous nonetheless.

    I can see getting out of the house on the Friday – but those midnight-dashes, or outright Thanksgiving day store hours are truly ridiculous, to me…although it is a free country

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  24. Charlotte said on September 8, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Weather glorious here — 70s during the day, 40s at night. Garden covered in plastic of course, but I got my Himself back (he turns into an ogre in the heat). Almost perfect but for the smoke alarm that started to chirp at 6:45 yesterday morning. I stacked wood for the winter, put the peppers in pots and brought them into the sunporch, and mucked out my refrigerator which was in sore need of it. Many elderly pickles went to the chickens. I get that back-to-school feeling, and want everything tidied up and ready for a new year when September hits.

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  25. Jerry said on September 8, 2015 at 11:53 am

    Sue @22, indeed there are search warrants. There are stories of places where no one bothers to lock their doors but I’ve never been in one. I don’t watch Midsummer Murders myself (Myra, my wife, loves them and often watches, including the multitude of repeats). As far as I’m concerned the best bit about the series is the countryside – some of it is lovely.

    Speaking as a Man of Kent (as opposed to a Kentish Man) I love the countryside in Kent. Went out with a couple of friends for a stroll in the country today. Six miles, mainly round footpaths near Chartwell, starting and finishing at a country pub. We really enjoyed out pints when we got back.

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  26. coozledad said on September 8, 2015 at 12:09 pm

    Lookie! It’s the anschluss of the Arkansas and Kentucky pedophile rings. Wonder if Huck’s kid will beat a dog to death at intermission.
    http://www.rawstory.com/2015/09/cnn-jail-officials-endorse-kim-davis-set-huckabee-stage-at-prison-front-door-so-she-can-hear/

    This isn’t dissent, it’s a celebration of medical waste.

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  27. alex said on September 8, 2015 at 12:30 pm

    Mouse, we’ll keep the pontoon docked in summer either on our small lake or at Hamilton Lake, more than likely schlepping it between the two. In the winter we’ll just trailer it on our property.

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  28. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    So, they won’t call a special session of the legislature to impeach and remove the clerk, because it would be “too expensive”….but they disrupt the town and close the schools?

    What’s the cost (even just the direct cost) of that?

    If prejudice and discrimination on the part of elected officials is laudable, then we’re back to Bull Conner/George Wallace days, yes?

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  29. Connie said on September 8, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    I see the U of Michigan has announced that parents will be notified when an under age student is caught drinking. I went to MSU during the short period when the legal age was 21. No one was under age then.

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  30. Scout said on September 8, 2015 at 1:22 pm

    In Phoenix it will be summer until November, but hopefully only another couple of weeks before the monsoons move out and it gets dry again, making the evenings and early mornings delightful.

    It was only 99 for a high on Friday, which made an outdoor performance by the world music group Traveler absolutely delightful.

    The coolness continued into Saturday and we did some yard work for the first time in months (thank god for desert landscaping and no grass) but it got hot again for the rest of the long weekend. We saw “Grandma” with Lily Tomlin yesterday and loved it.

    Some very sad news from my hometown yesterday – a murder/suicideattempt right in front of ye olde ice cream parlor. It’s a huge story locally, but as common as these things are nowadays, I doubt it made national news. One idiot stuffs explosives in his shoe and we all have to take off our shoes at airports, but multiple people die every day from the plague that is the gun fetish culture and… *crickets chirping*

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  31. Scout said on September 8, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    My hyperlink to Traveler didn’t work. Trying again.

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  32. Brandon said on September 8, 2015 at 1:40 pm

    It’s the anschluss of the Arkansas and Kentucky pedophile rings. –coozledad

    This must be a reference to Josh Duggar (Arkansas). But what does Kentucky have to do with it?

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  33. Sue said on September 8, 2015 at 2:02 pm

    Well, the ‘Man of Kent/Kentish Man’ sent me on an internet search, Jerry.
    So… you guys are like north siders/south siders in Chicago? With perhaps a little more history and less baseball.

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  34. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    Scout, that’s a terrible story….and educational.

    I learned what a “Jigger Shop” is, thanks to Uncle Google:

    With an abundance of great family activities to fill your summer days including the Mt. Gretna Lake, Rails to Trails system and the Governor Dick Environmental center, a visit to The Jigger Shop makes your summer day trip destination a complete treat.

    Much has changed about the Jigger Shop over the years, but the quality of service, generous serving sizes, and the old fashion methods of creating outrageous delicious ice cream treats has remained the same. Oh! and don’t forget our light kitchen faire’ menu. Soups, salads, burgers, and French fries are only a sampling of what we have to offer. We aim to keep The Jigger Shop an enjoyable place for family and friends to meet and relax!

    Gotta love the ‘Governor Dick Environmental Center’

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  35. Brandon said on September 8, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    Kim Davis to be released from jail by the judge who sent her there in the first place.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/09/us/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0

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  36. Judybusy said on September 8, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Thanks, Jeff tmmmo–that was a really fun and interesting read! I love to find out about how the “small” things have such a huge impact on the world at large.

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  37. Deborah said on September 8, 2015 at 3:10 pm

    I’ll add another weather comment, this morning Little Bird and I drove down to Ikea in Bollingbrook to pick up a few things. They don’t have one in NM at all, but 2 in the Chicago area. As soon as we left the IKEA parking lot it started to rain, and then a deluge all the way back to Lake Shore Dr. It has cooled down considerably, tomorrow’s high will be 73. By Saturday the high will only be 64 but we will be back in Santa Fe already. So looking forward to dryness again.

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  38. Jolene said on September 8, 2015 at 3:37 pm

    Can’t remember whether I posted this analysis of gun deaths and domestic violence before, but, in light of Scout’s post, it’s worth a look. Mass shootings by the unhinged in public places get lots of attention, but most of them involve family m or other intimate partners.

    And here’s another sad story about a great loss of human potential due to gun violence.

    So much useless, meaningless tragedy.

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  39. Jolene said on September 8, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    That was supposed to say family members or other intimate partners. Not sure what I was doing there.

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  40. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    I think you went for a comma, and came home with an m

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  41. Jolene said on September 8, 2015 at 3:44 pm

    Right this minute, Mike Huckabee is on TV telling lies about the role of the Supreme Court to people in Kentucky. He has, apparently, determined, all by his lonesome, that Marbury v. Madison is no longer operative.

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  42. brian stouder said on September 8, 2015 at 3:59 pm

    But a latter-day version of Dredd Scott apparently IS still kickin’!

    Just replace “persons of the negro race” with “persons who love persons of the same gender”, and you have Mike Huckabee/Kim Davis, et al

    “…beings of an inferior order, and altogether unfit to associate with the white race, either in social or political relations, and so far inferior that they had no rights which the white man was bound to respect.”

    “It would give to persons of the negro race, …the right to enter every other State whenever they pleased, …to sojourn there as long as they pleased, to go where they pleased …the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry arms wherever they went.”

    (from Roger Taney’s even-obscene-at-the-time majority opinion in Dred Scott)

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  43. Scout said on September 8, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    Jolene’s link @38 is a must read. One of the key statements: “And if an abuser has access to a gun, the victim is eight times more likely to be killed.”

    America is one fucked up place when this is the big <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/huckabee-and-cruz-visit-jailed-kentucky-clerk?cid=sm_fb_msnbc_native"story of the day. Sometimes I Just. Can’t. Even.

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  44. Minnie said on September 8, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    That MC5 story and imagining Prospero/Caliban’s probably response relieved my post-holiday letdown. Thanks for posting that.

    Main accomplishment for the weekend was making maque choux with what might turn out to be the last good corn of the season. We also had an unexpectedly flavorful watermelon from the Farmers Market. Time to begin shifting taste buds toward fall produce.

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  45. Minnie said on September 8, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    probable

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  46. Dexter said on September 8, 2015 at 9:06 pm

    As I was miserably hot from dragging some worn-out chairs to the curb for monthly big-trash pickup, I caught a news story on some refugees who actually made it to Germany and were greeted by women carrying huge baskets full of loaves, pretzels and other breads. There were lines where Germans gave out heavy winter coats, some gave bags of necessities like soap and tooth care products, and the Germans all had on heavy jackets and hats and the refugees immediately donned every bit of clothing. It was indeed surprising to see that late-fall weather has obviously arrived in Germany. England is poised to take in 20,000 from Syria and thereabouts, but what will become of the uncountable millions of others?
    I can only imagine how elated Lucifer-in-Hell will be when George W. Bush and Cheney arrive at his domain door. “Come IN, boys! We’re quite ready for you two…a very special place in hell for you two.” For it was their policies that disrupted the Middle East from which ISIS sprung forth. And I have a feeling that George W.Bush is too goddamned dumb to even know what he did. http://www.dailyracingrag.com/georgeWbush.htm

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  47. Hattie said on September 8, 2015 at 11:40 pm

    Somewhere in my basement I have that first MC 5 album. Might be worth something.

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