Fishing Still Slow at Houghton Lake

Day 174

Went fishing yesterday. Didn't even get a bite. I did lose my jighead and bobber when I cast into some cattails. I wasn't trying for the cattails. I was trying for the spot next to them.

I have read that some anglers are having some luck in the canals. Perch and bluegill and occasionally a walleye on leeches.

I haven't tried Houghton yet. Tomorrow the pontoon boat goes into the water so it won't be long now.

The water temp at Backus Lake was 60 degrees in the afternoon.

That's all I know for now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Until Tomorrow

Day 173

It's been one of those days when I just want to go back to bed until tomorrow.

I drove mom around today. Went fishing for an hour with no bites.

Feel extra tired.

I have to go to Bay City, about an hour and a half south of here. I gave to go there for a sleep study. I would bet the farm, I won't be able to fall asleep.

As my mom is so fond of saying, "Only time will tell."

Until tomorrow,

Ken

NFL Draft-Who Cares

Day 172

Tonight is the first round of the NFL draft of new players. This used to be two days, Saturday and Sunday. Now it's four days during prime time starting on Thursday thru Sunday. Few of these players will make much of an impact this fall when the new season starts.

Some of the drafted players won't even make the cut during the exhibition season. It's a big adjustment to make from college to the pro's where everyone is exceptional.

What's really sad is someone like Johnny Manziel. A young man with talent for the game of football, who can't mature enough to realize he was given millions of dollars to play a game. Instead he has to have good time with alcohol and probably drugs. Soon he'll just be another footnote of a man child who wouldn't grow up.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

I Don't Understand Women

Day 171

I don't understand women.

Every male ever born can make the same claim.

More specifically, I don't understand most women authors.

At this time, I believe women authors may significantly out number their male counterparts. So it's inevitable that I read some novels from women authors. Recently I have read two, both suspense thrillers and both good enough to make Hollywood produce feature films.

One was called Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. An excellent story and a movie that was extremely true to the book. The second was a novel by Paula Hawkins titled The Girl on the Train. Also a very well written, although a bit wordy for my taste.

In the telling of both stories I have a hard time relating to some of the characters actions.

In Gone Girl, I don't like the ending. I won't expose anymore in case you want to read it, but I don't find the the husbands reaction at the end completely believable.

In the second novel, I find it hard to believe the character Rachel could be so naive and try so hard to insert herself into a total strangers life.

I also can't understand a character having alcohol induced blackouts and still drinking like she does. It would scare the crap out of me. I know there are people out there who do have these problems but I can't believe they are functional.

I once read a murder mystery, written by a woman author, about a serial killer. A woman trying to solve the murder of her niece gets caught in a cabin, in a snow storm, with a brooding man she believes is the killer. What does she do? She has consensual sex with him. He's so good looking. Seriously?

It turns out he is the father of one of the victims, but she doesn't know that when she sleeps with him. Did I mention she ends up pregnant? A replacement for the daughter he lost.

Any women who are reading this, are probably thinking, "Yeah, so?"

I just don't get it. But then, I don't have to. I am not their target market.

There are women authors who have written some of the Star Wars novels that I found very enjoyable and well written. It not that their women, it's their point of view.

So once again, I don't understand women.

But that's OK, they don't understand me, either.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

I Want to Give Up

Day 170

Again I don't know what to write about and I'm thinking this isn't going to go all the way to one year.

It actually detrimental to a blog to write everyday unless you have a subject in mind that has a lot to write about.

This is taking away from novel and short story writing.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Houghton Lake Fishing Report April 25, 2016

Day 169

I've been over to Reedsburg and Backus Lake, with the same results at both. Nothing is biting just yet.

I haven't tried Houghton and probably won't until May when my brother has his pontoon boat put in for the season.

The water is still cold and the last two weeks the air temperature has been below average. The vegetation hasn't really started growing so there's no cover for the fish to congregate.

I haven't read or heard of anyone doing much better.

They should start biting soon.

Until tomorrow.

Ken

The Amish Train

Day 168

I was driving down the road, on one of my Sunday afternoon pleasure rides. When I came around a tight turn. Suddenly there was a black, horse drawn carriage, coming from the other direction.

I think the fellow was as startled as I was as he swerved just a bit onto the shoulder. The horse just kept trotting along, clip-clop, as if a car driving 55 mph passing this close by was as normal as a squirrel crossing the road.

It wouldn't have concerned me except I had recently heard of a tragic accident that had killed two people and injured others when a carriage had collided with a car.

I assume the young, bearded fellow driving the carriage opposite me also had heard of the mishap.

Soon I saw another black carriage coming my way along a straight section. This time I was able to slow a little and stay more to the right edge of my lane.

Needless to say, as I passed the third black carriage, my Sunday evening nature watching and wool gathering came to an end. I was now on full alert.

I crested the next hill and saw a remarkable sight. At least twenty of the black conveyances was coming toward me in a mostly even measured line like an Amish train. Going all the way back to the 3 way intersection where I would be making my turn.

At the interrsection there were several more coming from the left. Thankfully, I was turning to the right.

It being Sunday, I assumed, they were coming from or going to a church service or some other meeting or gathering.

Regardless, when I saw all of those horse drawn Amish carriages coming along the road, I had a flashback to a Rubber Duck and a song that was very popular in the seventies. I just smiled and thought to myself...

"Mercy sakes, looks like we've got us a convoy...Connvooyyy!"

If you don't remember or your too young to have heard it, here's a link Convoy.

This the Rubber Duck 10-10 on the side.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Eggs With My Coffee

Day 167

Here we go. Been having brain rot lately. Need some wine I think. Went to the "not Walmart" grocery store. They had wine at almost twice what it costs at Walmart. I'm going dry again tonight as I was too lazy to travel 7 miles more to go to Walmart.

They also had Butterball ground turkey on sale. There were 5 packages. Four of them the meat was white, one was red. I need two to make meatloaf.

There might be nothing wrong with it when it's white. Maybe that's the natural color and they add coloring to make it red. But I don't think so.

I felt kinda feeble, pushing a shopping cart for a dozen eggs and coffee creamer. But there it is.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

I Love Cashews, But $7.50?

Day 166

I spent my afternoon cleaning out mu spare bedroom which is suppose to be my office. I have bags of clothes and a box of books going to the thrift store.

I can actually see my desk and sit in my chair. But I still have lots of trash around the floor. Hopefully another day will have most of it cleaned up. Then I can work in there instead of in front of the TV. It works in theory.

I went to Walmart and Planters Cashews are now $7.50 for the 14 oz size. A few years ago they were $4.95 a can. What the hell?

Alright, lazy blog day today.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

The Scorch Trials Review

Day 165

So I'm watching the Scorch Trials. The second installment of the Maze Runner. Basically it's about a group of teenagers who run really fast to escape.

In the first movie they made it out of the maze (by running, really fast). Now they have been captured by a group of friendly(?) adults, who consequently want to harvest the teenagers blood. So far, I don't know why.

Our merry band discovers the deception and escape, by running really fast.

Now they are being attacked by zombies who also want their blood.

And they have escaped the zombies. By running. Really fast.

I'm not sure where this movie is going, but I certainly know how it will get there.

By running. Really fast.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Dieting is Hard Work

Day 164

I went to Walmart to pick up some groceries, and try to get myself back on track with my weight loss. I go to Walmart either early morning or early evening to miss the crowd. I can usually get in and out.

I walked around the store a little extra to get some exercise and went past the sporting goods section to check on their live bait. I have been reluctant to purchase live bait because the weather is still unpredictable and I don't want bait going bad in my fridge.

If you have ever purchased bait at the Houghton Lake Walmart you will know they switched to a large, glass door fridge a few years ago; before that they had a small office style fridge. They're back to the small one. They had wax worms and red worms but no crawlers.

I prefer crawlers and I usually buy Walt's Crawler's because they're from Michigan. I also buy from Papa's Bait Shop as it's on the way to the marina where my brother parks his boat.

Tonight I was tempted to try the red worms. I reached into the fridge to pull out one of the containers and check to see if they were lively, until I noticed the air inside was warm. You have to keep worms cool or they liquefy and stink to high heaven. The fridge was turned off.

I passed on the red worms.

One bad thing about shopping late is Walmart only has a few registers open. As I strolled along, passing each open register, looking for a shopper with only a few items, I was disappointed. So I went to "self checkout". Self checkout and I don't get along. But I only had a few items so I decided to chance it.

Everything went smoothly until I tried to scan the "boneless skinless chicken breasts" (the diet food). They wouldn't scan. The Walmart assistant overseeing self checkout tried to scan it. Then she tried, no less than 15 times, to punch in the code number. The computer told her to set it aside and scan the other items. The chicken was the LAST item.

Finally, she calls for assistance.

The supervisor comes by and punches in the number. It goes right through. She tells us you have to add a zero to the number. Of course. Who wouldn't know that?

OK. All set. The I swipe my card. It won't read. I try again and again. I swipe down. I swipe up. I would have swiped sideways if I could. I'm getting frustrated. It finally works. I leave Walmart and stop at McDonalds. I get two McChicken sandwiches.

Dieting is just too hard.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Authors and Writers Are Not the Same

Day 163

Currently I'm reading the third installment of The Little Women series by Louisa May Alcott. I'm also working my way through Mr Mercedes by Stephen King. Both excellent writers with very different styles of story telling.

I get daily notices from Bookbub letting me know about books that are popular, within a certain genre, with readers. Often there are free ebooks. The authors give them away hoping you will become interested and buy their other books.

I have downloaded a few of these books and I have to say, I'm not too impressed. I do try to keep an open mind and remember not all writers have voice as resounding as the previously mentioned authors. But the difference between them is overwhelming.

Most anyone can publish an ebook on Amazon. But to sell that book takes word of mouth which only comes from being at least a very good book. Still I am spoiled by the classics from Mark Twain, Edgar Rice Burroughs and Charles Dickens to name a few.

Maybe it's not fair to compare modern writers to yesterdays authors but I can't help it. Either way I am confident I can write a successful novel. I also want to emulate those authors who's work is recognized as worthy of reading.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Facebook Deception/Exploitation...Too Common

Day 162

Will people ever stop believing everything they see on Facebook?

Hey, "Warishell", those are actors in a movie called Tropic Thunder. Ben Stiller (middle), Robert Downey Jr (second from right) and Jack Black (on the far right). I don't know the names of the other two actors on the left. This is NOT a picture of Vietnam veterans. If your going to exploit veterans, at least use an actual picture of veterans.

This little gem (see above) was shared by my sister in law. A woman with a good heart married to my brother who happens to be an actual Vietnam veteran. I doubt she has ever seen the movie Tropic Thunder so she would not recognize the actors in the picture. I'm sure there are many others who won't know the difference either.

Someone is probably wondering "What does it hurt?"

It makes me angry when someone tries to use veterans, small children or anyone suffering, to try to guilt people into liking and sharing their made up BULLSHIT; so they can sell their site. Sell it because it's so POPULAR it get's thousand of likes on Facebook. Or if not for money, for some perverse need to fool people thus making the perpetrator feel superior. How sad.

I'll step down off my soapbox now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Just Another Day

Day 161

I drove past Higgins Lake today and the docks are finally in at the DNR boat launch. Woo-hoo!

It was a beautiful day here and Houghton Lake looked like a sheet of glass. I had planned to go fishing but then I decided that the live bait would be sitting in my fridge for at least two weeks before I have a chance to use them.

After loading my boat into the back of my truck yesterday I have been sore all day. It takes a few loadings before my back gets used to it. Beside as I have already written the fish won't start biting for a few weeks yet.

I spent the afternoon watching the Pistons vs Cavaliers 1st playoff game. The Pistons played great until the end. They lost. We'll see if they can win on Wednesday.

Nothing more tonight.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Breathtaking Backus Lake

Day 160

Backus Lake April 2016

It was such a beautiful day today. I went to Backus Lake. The cattails were in full seed and the lake was gently lapping at my feet. I wet a line but had no luck. I guess I'll have to try live bait next time which will be tomorrow.

I got my boat into the back of my pickup with very little trouble (breathing). I loaded the trolling motor and put the battery on the charger to top it off.

The wind is suppose to be down tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed as the weather here is unpredictable. The best way to see if there's too much wind for fishing is look outside at the trees. Best wind indicator I know.

Backus Lake March 2016

Another photo of Backus Lake before the ice was completely gone. Across the other side in this photo is a great place for Bass when the wind is out of the SouthEast.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

The Struggle to Breathe

Day 159

It is mid April and I am guilty of doing the opposite of what I set out to do, per my New Years resolution. As the first weeks of 2016 went by I soon realized my mistake. Rather than lose weight I have gained a significant amount.

This year I decided to apply reverse psychology and to set a goal to GAIN weight instead of lose it. I reasoned that so many times in the past I have tried to lose weight but gained instead; if I set out to gain weight, I would accomplish just the opposite.

Too late I realized my mistake. Now, several months later, I find that I have surpassed my goal to "gain" weight, by actually gaining weight.

I would celebrate reaching my goal, if I wasn't so depressed.

I have gained so much weight I can hardly breath with even the smallest of exertions. I feel like a fish with no water. It's a terrible feeling.

My doctor says I have the beginnings of asthma. Add that to the list of reasons I need to lose weight; not just want to lose weight but need to lose weight. The list is getting long indeed.

The fishing season has arrived and I'll never be able to get my two man boat into my truck. I guess I'll just have to fish from shore.

At least until I catch my breath.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Houghton Lake Fishing Report April 2016

Day 158

The weather is going to be sunny and the high in the seventies on Saturday and Sunday, The winds are suppose to be around 6-8 mph. So at least it will be a nice weekend for fishing.

Traditionally though, fishing in the transition between cold ice and warm water, the fishing is not that great. I know someone out there will tell me I am wrong. This has been my experience in the spring.

The fish seldom bite but when they do, they're large fish. Bass and Northern Pike are the common ones. Smaller fish such as perch and bluegill hardly bite until the water warms up a bit. Then the fishing really picks up. Around the middle to the end of May.

I went by Backus Lake today and someone already had a boat in the water. A little too cool for me as the high was only around fifty. I like it to be sixty or above.

The ramps have been in the lake on Houghton for several weeks now. But Higgins are still in the parking lot.

I haven't been by Reedsburg Dam yet. They have a dock now but it isn't necessary to put a boat in there as people have been doing it for years without a dock.

I should have more to report after this weekend.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

A Slice of Dilemma

Day 157

So here I sit on the horns of a dilemma.

I went to see my cardiologist a couple of days ago. The good news was my heart is in great shape. Actually, that's excellent news. BUT. I am having trouble breathing. I get winded over the shortest distance.

The Dr. says I could benefit from a bronchial dilator. You know the thing you stick in mouth, puff and inhale. The kind that comes from the pharmacy, not the corner drug dealer. Actually, they could both be the corner drug dealer if the pharmacy is on the corner. OK, one is legal and one is not. Unless your in Colorado.

Anyway. My weight is probably the culprit for my breathlessness. So I just need to lose weight. On the other hand I love pizza. Not exactly a diet food. And right now Little Caesars has a stuffed crust square pizza. Eight crispy corners with extra cheese in the crust.

My dilemma. I have a Deep Deep Dish pizza fresh out of the oven and I have eaten half of my usual number of slices. And I'm starting to feel full. Do I stop now or go for another square while the pizza is still hot?

Solution. If I can get to the pizza and back to my chair without stopping to catch my breath, I say eat another slice. What the hell. You only live once.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Murder at the Houghton Lake Playhouse

Day 156

I had a busy day going to the doctor, stopping at the bank, the library and the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce.

The last one being a surprise because I found out about a Murder Mystery night at the Houghton Lake Playhouse on May 13. This one has a twist. You come as a certain character. Much like the home mystery games popular in the 90's, only on a grander scale. We're talking maybe a hundred characters.

You get your character assignment when you purchase your ticket(s). The setting is a circus getting ready to leave and move on to the next town. This is the celebration dinner which, of course, ends in murder.

You should dress according to your character and will be given an identity sheet with some hints to drop to others and some to keep secret.

Here's the twist. You may be the murderer and not even know it.

The murder mystery happens at the Playhouse on May 13 (Friday), arrive for check in between 6 pm and 7 pm, cost for a ticket is $25 single/$40 couple. In keeping with the theme, dinner includes circus type fare.

For more info contact Starla @ 989-429-7960 or starlacmc@gmail.com.

For costume ideas click here.

Hope to see you at the circus. Should be a fun evening, but be careful, I hear it's murder.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Reciprocity

Day 155

Reciprocity

by

Kenneth A Stephenson

I tire of;

voices left unspoken

sloth done in haste

naivete of genius

virtue of lies

tedium of excitement

love of hate

I hunger for;

the circles end

separation of unity

a numbing touch

a joyful sorrow

a caged freedom

a roaring mouse

Speak-Easy

Day 154

The room was filled with people sitting on wooden folding chairs, chatting. The seats were arranged in rows in front of a glass wall. Outside on a carpet of lush green grass sat a baby grand piano and a young man in a tuxedo preparing to play.

As I moved along the front row of seats searching for the exit, a pretty woman with short blond hair asked me to sit with her. I made some excuse of why I couldn't stay and kept moving until I made it outside.

I pulled a smoke from the crumpled pack in my jacket pocket and lit a match with my thumbnail.

The man at the piano began to play the intro to Laughter in the Rain by Neil Sedaka. He was very good. Until he started to sing.

"Strolling along country roads with my baby, it starts to rain it begins to pour..."

The guy had a decent voice but something was off. His timing wasn't right like a Japanese business man with an accent singing karaoke. The annunciation is correct but it doesn't flow.

I turn around and look back in the window at the adoring audience all smiles and swinging their heads in rhythm with the music. The short haired blond is smiling. I flick my butt onto the lawn and step back inside.

Over the speakers inside Laughter in the Rain is playing with the sweet voice of Neil Sedaka singing. I sit next to the blond. The look on my face begs to know, "What the hell is going on?"

She leans close and whispers in my ear. "We don't like to discourage our students from expressing themselves. This one is a very talented pianist. Although as you can hear he is a rather mediocre vocalist.

"If we tell him he shouldn't sing he'll leave and end up playing in some speakeasy. If he stays and develops, he could become a world class pianist. So we arrange informal recitals, like this one, to keep the student and his parents happy, if ignorant."

This is from a dream I had. I hope to turn this into a short story or novel collection of murder mysteries set in Detroit during prohibition. A pulp fiction style story.

I know Neil Sedaka won't work for that era as he wasn't born yet. But that was the song playing in my dream.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Musings From My Mind: When Did Being a Mom Become Insulting?

Day 153

I watched Last Man Standing. Vanessa wants get tattoo's with the girls because it's the "kind of thing you do with friends". Basically, she is upset her children think of her as "mom".

When did being a mother become a bad thing?

We have a whole generation of women who believe it's insulting to be thought of as a "mom".

The mini van. The single most useful idea for a vehicle to come off the drawing board in decades. Lots of room, lots of seating and comfortable to drive. Almost every car maker had some incarnation of the mini van. Then the label "mom vehicle" was hung on it like a sign saying adulteress. Fashion conscious mothers wouldn't be caught dead driving a "mom vehicle". And the mini van certainly classified as the mother of all mom vehicles.

There was a commercial attesting to how uncool it was to be thought of as a mom. A woman driving along says, "It's not like I'm rockin' mom jeans." Oblivious to the fact there is a tall latte somehow clinging to the roof of her mini van, everyone is trying to warn her. She assumes they are "checking her out" which they wouldn't do if they thought she was a "mom". You had to see the commercials; there were several, intimating being thought of as a mom was bad.

Being a mother was an honor worthy of great respect. Now it is a fashion faux pas. Today it is far more important to be a "fashionista" than a mother. Or maybe it's OK to be anything as long as you look good doing it.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Rogue One Trailer Review

Day 152

First let me say I am a Star Wars junkie. I have been since I sat in a movie theater in Southfield, Michigan and saw a Star Destroyer seem to fly overhead and onto the silver screen. And into movie history. One of the most beloved movie series of all time as attested by the receipts taken in from the latest incarnation at movie theaters. I have read and enjoyed many of the one hundred plus novels.

That said.

I am already more impressed with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story than I was with The Force Awakens, and the movie doesn't come out until December, eight months away. All I've seen so far is a two and a half minute trailer and it shows a NEW story.

Obviously Rogue One happens just before A New Hope (the original movie). The story of locating and stealing the plans for the new weapon known as the Death Star. Whereas The Force Awakens is a blatant remake-rip off of the original movie, Rogue One is actually new and doesn't need to rely on original characters and aging actors.

The use of original characters and story of TFA was a blatant and extremely successful marketing campaign. It broke box office records but left a bad taste in the mouth of hard core Star Wars fans.

Strangely enough I want to see TFA again just because I need my Star Wars fix, but I am hopeful Rogue One will be much more satisfying. A new hope, if you will pardon the pun.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Is Go Set a Watchman Harper Lee's Next Literary Classic?

Day 151

Amid all of the hoopla over Harper Lee's Go Set a Watchman, I have decided to read it for myself. So far I am a third of the way through the book. I am still undecided and will reserve final judgement for the final page.

So far the writing definitely has Harper Lee's voice and as a first novel shows the usual mistake(?) of over writing. That is adding too much unnecessary information. I have seen it in other popular first and second novels. Many good writers will loosen up after the first and let the story flow on it's own. Without too much story background or filler.

It has long be speculated that Go Set a Watchman was actually the rough draft for Too Kill a Mockingbird but I disagree. So far Watchman has only one flashback to childhood. And an exceptionally long flashback at that.

It may be that the flashback has more to do with the story, that remains to be read.

I believe Harper Lee, like many other authors, was trying so hard for the perfect novel that she became stuck and started working on something simpler a.k.a. her childhood just to keep writing. Eventually the story took on a life of it's own and literary history was made.

The free flowing style is evident in the second novel which was the first published. The first try was set aside and forgotten for many years. Literary experts believe it was forgotten for good reason.

Again, I'll reserve that judgement until I have finished.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Continuity

Day 150

I'm a little disheartened today. It is already April 6 and I am no closer to publishing than I was at the beginning of the year. I must be procrastinating for a reason. My health is not the best do mostly to my weight. It is difficult to get motivated when I am always rundown.

I have so many reasons to get in shape. When I do publish I will need to promote my book. As in book signings. Amazon will do a lot to promote my book online. But I will still need to do my share of online promotion. I can't do this if I'm always tired and napping.

What will it take to make me stop over eating and get in shape?

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Please Stop Snowing!!!

Day 149

In my recent entries I have written about my desires to get out in mt boat and go fishing, Since then it has snowed. We have had approximately 2+ feet of snowfall more than enough to make up for January and February. Tonight the weather channel is predicting another 5"-10" of snow.

This evening when I retire and say my evening prayers, I'm going to employ some reverse psychology. I'm going to pray for snow so that I can ride my snowmobile and engage in cross country skiing.

On second thought I had better not...God might be listening. Considering his sense of humor it might snow another two feet.

Patience is a virtue. Mother nature is presently testing that axiom.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Aahhhh Pizza

Day 148

I cannot tell a lie. I just half of a Little Caesars Deep Deep Dish pizza. It was sooo good. I love pizza. It is one of the reasons I weigh well over 300 lbs. But as my cardiologist is quick to remind me, "I have to lose weight!"

I have several health concerns all of which stem from being obese. I know I need to lose about 100 lbs. Yet I keep on over eating and sitting when I should be exercising. With even a moderate diet and just exercising twice a week, I can lose considerable weight in a relatively short time.

I can eat plenty. I just need to stay away from certain foods. Breads, pastas and sugary sweets are deadly to my weight lose. Otherwise as long as I eat in reasonable amounts and with minimal exercise to start, the pounds will melt off.

Without pre-measured meals or calorie counting.

I can ride my exercise bike no matter what the weather is outside although the fresh air is good for me. Just 20 minutes every three days to start is best for weight lose. Building muscle is good but I usually wait until I have lost a fair amount of weight.

My goal is to reach 215 lbs. That would be a loss of approximately 130 lbs. I don't want to lose it too fast or I'll have loose skin hanging everywhere. At one time a surgeon would remove the excess skin for free and use the skin to help burn victims. But now there is synthetic skin. Real skin is no longer used and you will have to pay to have the excess skin removed. Most insurance companies won't cover the procedure as it is considered cosmetic surgery.

So slow and steady is best in weight lose to give the skin extra time to retract or shrink. Besides the faster you lose the faster you put it on again. Losing weight is only half the fight. The other half is keeping it off.

If you lose the extra weight and then go back to your former eating habits, your going to put the weight right back on. I don't consider my change in eating a diet but a change of lifestyle. To keep the weight off I must maintain the new lifestyle. This is where I have failed before.

All I can do is keep on trying.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Going 'Up North'

Day 147

His family had just returned from the grandparents home in Houghton Lake. It had been a long ride for any five year old but Ryan was ready to face another 3 hours on the road, even with his two sisters, to go back again.

It wasn't that Ryan didn't like living in the city. It was the only life he had ever known. But after spending a week with grandma and grandpa; fishing and walking in the woods and riding in the golf cart, home just wasn't exciting anymore.

His friends were all here in the city but he would see them everyday once school started. And there was so much to do up north. So much that grandma and grandpa needed his help.

After a short few hours Ryan had decided to make the trip back up north to Houghton Lake by himself. He pulled his plastic tricycle called a Big Wheel (because the front wheel was so large), out of the family garage. His dad had stored it there before Ryan left on his week long northern vacation.

Ryan sat at crossroads of driveway and sidewalk deciding which way was 'up north'. He made a quick right turn, his rear wheels fishtailing from side to side before straightening out, and he was off on his new adventure.

He was just passing the second neighbors house when he spotted his friend Jimmy.

"Hey Ryan. Where are you going? Stop and play for awhile."

"I can't play right now," replied Ryan. "I'm on my way 'up north'. Gotta keep going to get there before dark." Ryan wasn't allowed outside after dark.

Another three houses down the road and he saw Mrs Brown working in her flowerbed.

"Hello Ryan. Where are you going in such a hurry? Would you like to help me pull weeds? I'll give you a shiny new quarter."

Ryan had to think about this for a minute. He enjoyed pulling weeds and the shiny quarter would be a huge windfall for his piggy bank.

"I'm going 'up north' to my grandparents. They need my help too." Ryan rode on.

After what seemed like endless riding Ryan reached the end of the block. This was as far as his parents allowed him to go by himself.

 "It sure is a long way to go 'up north'. I'm getting hungry and tired," he thought. "Maybe I should return home and go 'up north' another day. Yes, that would be best."

And so he turned his Big Wheel around and headed home. He would go 'up north' another day. But first he would help Mrs Brown pull weeds and then show Jimmy his shiny new quarter. What an adventure that would be.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

It's Snowing...AGAIN!!!

Day 146

In January, it was so warm, I had the germ of an idea that I would be fishing in April, possibly even March.

Then March came along and the ice left the lake early this year. And the germ grew that I would be fishing in April. Then the snow came. Then it came again. It is now April 2nd and snowing as I write this.

The forecast for the next week is high temperatures around 35 degrees.

I won't go fishing until the temps reach at least 60 degrees. But that's just me. The boat docks are in at the Houghton Lake DNR lake access sites. But the docks are not in yet at the Higgins Lake DNR boat launch sites. Higgins Lake is much deeper and stays colder than Houghton Lake so there may still be some ice floating around Higgins.

I'm still hopeful I will get out and fish before April is over.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

No Joke-It's My Anniversary

Day 145

It was eleven years ago today that I moved to Houghton Lake. That very day I went into town to buy some fast food as I hadn't been shopping yet. As I was driving along looking for the Taco Bell which I knew was on the left side of M-55, I noticed a state trooper behind me. I thought nothing of it as I was driving slightly under the speed limit looking for the restaurant.

After a short time the blue lights came on and I quickly merged into the right lane to get out of the way. The trooper stayed behind me and I pulled off the road wondering what I had done wrong. I had just moved here from southern Warren. In Warren it's not uncommon to be pulled over for no reason other than you might be doing something illegal.

I once had the Warren police follow me home from the corner gas station because I was parked on the side of the building. It was full daylight and I was putting air in one of my tires. Very suspicious.

So as I'm waiting for the trooper, who's as big as a redwood tree, to walk up to my drivers side window, I notice the Taco Bell that I was looking for, not a city block away. After examining my old pickup truck he finally says to me, " You were in the left lane for more than a mile. The left lane is for emergency vehicles and making left turns. Also, you were driving 5 mph under the speed limit."

Welcome to Houghton Lake.

After explaining I had just moved here and wasn't sure of the exact location of the T.B., he let me go with a warning.

So I learned my lesson and only drive in the left lane as long as there isn't a cop in sight.

And that's no April Fools joke.

Until tomorrow,

Ken