The Motel Chronicles

Dancing Duck

2006-02-02T16:12:00.000-05:00

I just happened to have my camera on the 5 frames per second setting when this duck started acting strange. Perhaps we were too close to his/her nest or it was some mating dance thing or something.

More pics from Karens front yard......

2006-01-30T15:23:00.000-05:00

Great job getting the eagle as he flew over.

Piggy Back Ride

2006-01-25T23:57:00.000-05:00

Click here for a great shot of the shuttle getting a ride.

Tomorrow...sushi made simple.

2006-01-25T23:32:00.000-05:00

WatermelonMan makes his video debut, to help you choose the perfect watermelon.......click here.

Lee A. Tregurtha

2006-01-23T23:13:00.000-05:00

Caught this Great Lakes Freighter going thru the Straits of Mackinac (between upper and lower Michigan). On the other side of our boat was the Mackinac Bridge. Which, if you have never seen it, is amazing. (I think it is like the second or third largest suspension bridge in the world) These pictures (taken within seconds of each other) last spring, show the cloudy weather in the east (boat) giving way to the clear blue skies in the west (bridge). To see some great pics of this bridge go to this link and click on photo galleries. http://www.mackinacbridge.org/

Personal Watermelon

2006-01-22T23:05:00.000-05:00

The sticker on this watermelon identifies it as a "Personal Mini Seedless" watermelon. Never seen or heard of these before. The sticker says Florida on it, so presumably that is where it was grown. Or imported to.

About the size of a cantelope. The fruit was bright red and very firm.

Which is good. However, it was not very sweet. Which is not so good. Just having a watermelon to contemplate, analyze, and consume in January is worth the $3.50 price tag. (which I thought was reasonable)

Had this been an exceptionally sweet watermelon, (like an above average summer melon), I would happily pay $10.00 for one. So I thought $3.50 was a deal. (actually Jim and Jenny got it for me)

But I'm just sayin.....

The Green Room

2006-01-20T21:05:00.000-05:00

Return of Winter.........

2006-01-18T17:03:00.000-05:00

With winter giving us a quick reminder that it is still January, I took a little hike this morning before it got windy and knocked down the fresh snowfall from last night. It was incredibly silent in the forest except for the sound of the stream.

Eclectus Parrot amongst apple blossoms....

2006-01-17T00:40:00.000-05:00

There is absolutely no doubt that the day I found this Parrot a new home that it was a great day for me. (free advice from Watermelon Man...never, ever, under any circumstances accept a parrot) My daughter got this bird "for free". Ummm...yeah....bad idea....somehow we made it 18 months with this shitbird before finding it a new home. To this day I don't know how we did it without my murdering the S.O.B.

(but he was photogenic)

Mayfly....

2006-01-17T00:25:00.000-05:00

Commonly reffered to as "fishflies"...in the mid to late spring these things are everywhere. They are a mess. Thank goodness it only happens once a year. They do have an amazingly long tail, though.

A great day for a Road Trip !!

2006-01-17T00:02:00.000-05:00

Finally........New Horizons is on it's way. Sit back, make yourself comfortable, maybe read a book. We should reach our destination of Pluto in approximately 10 years. Please enjoy the flight.

Tiny Flower

2006-01-16T00:06:00.000-05:00

From last summer. These flowers were so small that you could probably fit several of them onto the face of a dime. But up close they were amazing. (no idea what they are)

Frankfort Lighthouse

2006-01-15T23:39:00.000-05:00

On Lake Michigan. (cool little town) (K1...lets go back to the A&W there)

Home Sweet Home

2006-01-15T12:27:00.000-05:00

The Stardust space mission ended succesfully early this morning. Here is a shot of it streaking through the atmosphere and the recovery crew right after they found it. (it landed in the salt flats) Note the giant smile on the recovery crewmember. Many of these engineers and scientists have been working on this project since the early 1980's. Well done.

The lightest solid substance on Planet Earth.

2006-01-14T01:36:00.000-05:00

Aerogel. 99.8 percent air. Yet extremely strong. Shown here on top of a bottle. This one inch square piece has more insulating value than 20 inches of glass. When holding it in your hand it has the weight of nothing. Yet it is solid. This is the material that was used to catch the interstellar dust by the Stardust space vehicle. It is also the insulating material for the Mars Rovers that keeps them warm during the -150 degree (f) martian nights. It's a bit pricey...the piece shown here was about $40.00 (ebay) but it is a great conversation piece . Here are some more cool pics....http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/photo/aerogel.html from NASA.

12 hours..........

2006-01-13T17:52:00.000-05:00

Approximately 12 hours until the space vehicle Stardust delivers it's amazing collection of comet dust to planet Earth. A seven year 2.88 billion mile trip is now just hours away from completion. The little capsule is soon to be ejected fron the mothership (that will continue on to the sun) and enter our atmosphere tonight at about 29,000 mph. The news exposure that this freaking incredible scientific accomplishment will receive , I predict, will amount to less than the demolition of an old Las Vegas hotel. Somehow, that just does not seem right.

Contemplating the end of the day.....

2006-01-13T00:19:00.000-05:00

This awesome sunset taken on Jan. 12 2006. Boyne City, Mich. (Lake Charlevoix) A day of record warmth. Taken from Karen's front yard. (sorry Karen, I know it's a bitch, but someone has to live there) (thanks for the photo)

Spring day in January...

2006-01-12T23:01:00.000-05:00

January 12, 2006. Record high temperature recorded of 50F. As an added bonus it was very calm. A perfect day to highlight the amazing water clarity of Torch Lake. The last two photographs are the lake floor taken through approximately one foot of water.

The Sun Sets.....

2006-01-12T00:11:00.000-05:00

....over the little village by the lake....and the evening will surely be calm and quiet...

Bohemian Child

2006-01-11T11:07:00.000-05:00

Looking for a Bohemian dinner. And then finding it.

Fog

2006-01-11T10:55:00.000-05:00

2006-01-10T01:23:00.000-05:00

Recent mild weather has melted the snow so I took the opportunity to go see what I could find on the January forest floor. Pictured here are the forest, an unidentified larvae (about an inch long), some type of stink bug, and some fresh fungi growing on a log. I brought the larvae and the stink bug inside (they looked dead outside) to see if they were alive and they both started moving as soon as they got warm. Freak weather. Normally it should be very cold with several feet of snow. (trust me, I'm not complaining)

Score

2006-01-10T00:56:00.000-05:00

Today, I met my dealer. He set me up with this. Good shit. Madman, if ya know what I mean. I talkin some quality stuff in the middle of freaking January. I'm guessing it is from Mexico, it might be Columbian, they grow good shit too. The guy hangs out alot around the produce section of the grocery store, if yer lookin' for 'em.

Bohemian Christmas Carolers

2006-01-08T19:27:00.000-05:00

I wasn't sure if you are supposed to tip these people or not. I gave them beer and they went away.

Turkeys at Jim & Jenny's....

2006-01-08T01:50:00.000-05:00

Next Thanksgiving I'm gonna nail one of these bad boys with a nine iron...maybe a hockey stick....and have a real pilgrims dinner. Kill 'em and grill 'em. ( as Uncle Ted says) Hmm...I guess that would be a Bohemian pilgrims dinner. **disclaimer** I'm not serious about beating the turkeys to death.

Four Seasons

2006-01-07T22:02:00.000-05:00

Fall...a gale of November. (somehow caught a bird flying in the middle of this shot) (que the "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald")Winter...two ducks swimming where a creek empties into the lake and creates an area of unfrozen water. At sunset. (what I really liked about this picture was that the ducks were face to face with the sunset in the middle of them) ( I froze my ass off waiting for that shot)
Spring......as the ice gets very thin you can see the color of the lake through the ice. Very cool. This photo I like to refer to as a Torch Lake Margarita. Slushy, refreshing, and the snow rings on the ice give it the appearance of salt. (not to mention it is the perfect color of a margarita)....or maybe I just like tequila...I dont know..
Summer...ahhh..summer. No worries. Unless, of course, you happen to be misbehaving and you have a boatload of cops coming after you with twin 125's haulin' ass. Then there are worries. The officers do not like getting wet. They don't come back empty handed. ( I think this photo should qualify as Bohemian) (also of note...this pic taken at exact same spot as margarita pic)

Torch Lake

2006-01-07T01:29:00.000-05:00

Watermelon Mans home base. To the North, Lake Michigan, to the left (west) Elk Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. (plus a million little lakes , far too many to mention) Torch Lake got it's name from the Indians that used to use torches at night to spear fish, thus "Torch " lake. Water clarity is cystal freaking clear.Largest inland lake in Michigan (in water volume). Nineteen miles long. Average width 2 miles. Average depth 300 feet. Very cold. Since winter time sees a great reduction in Bohemians and Bugs, the lake will occupy more of my day to day photographic effort.

Ummm....yeah.....

2006-01-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

Today I found out I had my comments setting disabled. Stupid. Oh well, it's enabled now. However, Floyd at http://floydslists.blogspot.com awarded me the Watermelon Douchebag Award for my efforts.

Six Seagull Sunset

2006-01-05T23:38:00.000-05:00

(actually seven if you look closely)

Bohemian Vehicle

2006-01-05T23:06:00.000-05:00

Apologies to all those who have complained about the recent lack of Bohemian postings. Winter around here means a great reduction in Bohemian sightings. I shall just have to work harder. This photo, taken last summer, is of an Air Stream trailer with the front end of an old Grand Torino welded onto it. Talk about a hybrid vehicle.

Cherry Blossoms

2006-01-04T23:27:00.000-05:00

Springtime in northwest lower Michigan brings thousands upon thousands of acres of various fruit trees in bloom. Cherry trees are predominant, but there are also apple, peach, plum, pear and others. A true sensory overload when they all bloom.

Honeybee on dandelion.

2006-01-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

Frosty Leaves

2006-01-02T23:17:00.000-05:00

In the morning sun.

Toad on a toadstool.....

2006-01-02T01:04:00.000-05:00

What are the odds of seeing that when you have your camera ?

Daisy...up close and personal...

2006-01-02T00:46:00.000-05:00

Note the spiraling vortex pattern.

Stick Bug Face

2005-12-31T16:17:00.000-05:00

Moth Airlines flight 101...cleared for takeoff...

2005-12-29T18:22:00.000-05:00

Spring dreaming....

2005-12-29T18:15:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite perennials...a yellow tiger lilly...(I think).

20 days until launch window opens.....

2005-12-28T00:50:00.000-05:00

For the New Horizons spacecraft to begin it's trip to Pluto. Launch window goes from January 17th 2005 until February 14th 2005. If a launch is succesful before February 3rd it will enable New Horizons to slingshot off of Jupiter and cut 5 years off of it's flight. New Horizons will be the fastest spacecraft to ever leave Earths orbit. It will reach lunar orbit distance in just nine hours. ETA at Pluto is 2015.

Trillium Pollen

2005-12-27T23:20:00.000-05:00

Heres a quarter...

2005-12-27T10:27:00.000-05:00

Call a toad that cares...

Northern Michigan Pterodactyl

2005-12-26T15:49:00.000-05:00

On Christmas , right outside my door, I heard this loud Thump, Thump, Thump. Actually, it was more of a Knock, Knock, Knock...whatever, it was loud and I knew immediately before even looking what it was. It was a Pileated Woodpecker. A relatively rare sighting, and certainly uncommon to have such convenient viewing. The hole that he is jack hammering into the tree is about the size of a football. The bird itself is huge, probably about 2 to 2.5 feet from head to tail, with a giant wingspan. My guess is that he is building a home, because I don't think he would dig such a large hole just to find insects. Notice in the bottom photo the enormous claws that he (she?) uses to grasp the tree and get the leverage needed to hammer out such a big hole.

2005-12-25T02:19:00.000-05:00

Identified !! This is a type of Ichneumon Wasp...

2005-12-24T01:21:00.000-05:00

The long appendage is an ovipositor. Props to Nannothemis for the ID.

IF a kangaroo grew moose antlers...

2005-12-24T00:51:00.000-05:00

it might look like this. But I think it would be funnier to see a moose jump around like a kangaroo.

Ok, here it is....AEROGEL

2005-12-23T21:23:00.000-05:00

This is the coolest shit I have seen in a long time. Aerogel is 99.8 percent AIR, yet it can hold over 2000 times its own weight. Now I don't know how something that is 99.8 % air can hold 2000 times its own weight, but it does. It is one of the best insulators ever known to man, as illustrated by the photo of the hand and flame. Although it would be cost prohibitive, if you were to insulate a two story house with aerogel you would be able to heat it with a candle, except it would get too hot ! I'm here to tell you, this shit is WACK...or would it be SICK ? Whatever the fuck it is, it's cool. And, as an added bonus for the subscribers that actually know the Watermelon Man personally, he has recently purchased some aerogel so that we all may marvel at it.

Six years, three BILLION miles.......

2005-12-23T00:22:00.000-05:00

Thats how long and how far the Stardust comet dust collector spaceprobe has been traveling. Launched in 1999 it is due back in mid January. (2006) When this thing launched in1999 few paid it any attention. Sadly, upon it's return from a 3 billion mile space odyssey and a return to Earth after potentially capturing the keys to the beginning of the universe...

after all that....it might, if it's lucky, get 1/10th the press coverage of, say, a plane that might have a landing gear problem. (but more likely than not just has a faulty cockpit indicator) Anyways, the really freaking cool thing about this deal is the stuff used to collect the interstellar dust particles. It is called aerogel. It's wacky shit, man. More on that later.

The quintessential Bohemian

2005-12-22T19:15:00.000-05:00

Deliver Us from Weevil

2005-12-22T18:42:00.000-05:00

Not sure what kind of a weevil this is, but I would like to thank him (or her) for being patient while having it's picture taken.

Frozen Sunset

2005-12-22T02:05:00.000-05:00

Well, heres something you don't see everyday.....

2005-12-22T01:31:00.000-05:00

and thats too bad

Is it just me....

2005-12-22T01:20:00.000-05:00

or does the current rock music scene seem pathtic. Lame. Uninspired.No, it's not me...the music just sucks. (young fuckers just don't know how to rock)

Orange Moon

2005-12-22T00:49:00.000-05:00

Pretty much self explanatory.For geographical reference, the white lights in the background are the Alden pier. (thats several miles of zoom....love my fujifinepix)

Oh, The Humanity !!!

2005-12-21T11:25:00.000-05:00

Twelve hours since the last landing gear drama. Now another. This time it's twisted landing gear. Memo to all news procucers and executives: This happens every day. (in case you haven't noticed) Therefore, it is not really news. Now, we return you to your regular

programming. Oh, BTW, jet landed safely, all is well.

Son of a Bitch

2005-12-20T23:43:00.000-05:00

First of all, I am well aware that no one gives a flying fuck about hockey. Neither do I. But there was nothing else on TV tonight so I started watching the Red Wings......clicking around here and there.....when all of the sudden on all the cable news stations they announced that there was a jet with landing gear problems....ohh nooo...not another landing gear problem thing. I mean these shit ass news networks are so hard up for news that it seems like they actually want the damn thing to crash, just to break up the inane monotony of it all.

Anyways, like a goddamn stupid fuck, I started watching this ridiculous bullshit about the plane and forgot about the game. Not that I even cared but, as it turns out , the Red Wings had their first shootout of the year (that I am aware of) and won it when the ex-redwing Sergei Federov got stoned by Chris Osgood. Now the only point I am trying to make here is that the motherfucking news networks piss me off with their overhyped bullshit. And I fell for it. Fuckers. BTW..just like the previous 40 or so planes that have been on TV recently with landing gear issues this one turned out fine. So thats good.

Otter

2005-12-20T23:28:00.000-05:00

Bohemians in Boats

2005-12-20T22:53:00.000-05:00

The crystal clear waters of Torch Lake, Mi. attract Bohemians from all over the globe. Beer swilling Bohemians , show yer tits Bohemians, Gonzo insane Bohemians. From June thru August it is one giant Bohemian Boat Bash. Ahhh....a pleasant thought when yer up to yer arse in snow.

Icy.....

2005-12-20T00:45:00.000-05:00

Alien

2005-12-19T01:06:00.000-05:00

Bohemians and their fresh catch o' the day

2005-12-19T00:26:00.000-05:00

Air Ship America

2005-12-19T00:08:00.000-05:00

Everyone needs a remote control indoor blimp. Christmas is the perfect time to pull the "buy it for the kids" scam. Works every time.

Make no mistake about it....

2005-12-18T23:47:00.000-05:00

Godzilla would smoke King Kong like a cheap cigar. It would not even be a contest.King Kong was, is and always will be a big fucking pansy ape. Overated, and absolutely no match for a firebreathing reptile that has fucking laserbeams that come out of his eyeballs. Anyone that thinks otherwise is just not well grounded in reality.

By-Tor the Snow Dog

2005-12-18T19:50:00.000-05:00

A damn fine frisbee catcher. RIP

Winter.....

2005-12-17T16:20:00.000-05:00

umm...yeah...I love winter, no really I do...

Torch Lake sunset........

2005-12-17T16:05:00.000-05:00

(yawn.....)

Gargantuan frost crystals.....

2005-12-17T00:03:00.000-05:00

I'm talking circus freak show shit....

Fuzzy Math....er..um I mean Fuzzy Moth...

2005-12-16T23:43:00.000-05:00

Praying Mantis silhoutte

2005-12-16T23:20:00.000-05:00

Pound for pound, the baddest motherfucker around.

K1.....

2005-12-16T01:34:00.000-05:00

Thinking of you.....

Due to inclement weather...(very windy).....

2005-12-16T00:46:00.000-05:00

all seagull flights have been cancelled until conditions improve. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Just in case....

2005-12-16T00:02:00.000-05:00

Anyone out there ever needs to move a moose from point A to point B, simply follow these basic easy steps.

1. Get a helicopter and a better than average tranquilizer dart gun.

2. Fly over moose (preferrably on a frozen lake).

3. Shoot moose.

4.Jump out of helicopter.

5. Cut off antlers and blindfold moose.

6. Hook up to helicopter and go.

It's so simple anyone can get one if they wish. Bring one home for the kids for the holidays. Surprise your neighbors. Great party favor.

(*)

The results are in...mini-watermelon = yak piss

2005-12-15T23:15:00.000-05:00

Scoring: (1-10 scale)

Texture - .001 (mush)

Taste - 1.0

Value - .001

Out of a possible score of 30, this crap melon got a 1.002. Umm, yeah, thats pretty fucking awful. I wouldn't feed this shit to hogs.

Freaking freaky....

2005-12-15T00:42:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I am the self titled "Watermelon Man". Imagine my surprise recently when I stumbled upon this "mini" watermelon at a local supermarket. I mean, this thing is smaller than a cantelope....whats the deal with that ? (note size scale with a ping pong ball) So, of course, I bought it. It is currently being refridgerated and upon the slicing and consumption of it I will report the results as found by this discriminating watermelon taste tester.

JAWS

2005-12-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

I found this gnarly beetle a long time ago, and he was already dead. Finally got around to taking his picture. Then I gave him (actually IT)

a proper burial in the trash.

Red Wings rally comes up short......

2005-12-14T12:32:00.000-05:00

After trailing by a score of six to fucking two, in the third fucking period, the Red Wings scored four goals to tie at six. Wow ! An amzing comeback. Sadly, some Czech fucker scored the seventh and final goal for Atlanta and they won 7-6. What a bitch.

Cold. Very cold.

2005-12-14T12:10:00.000-05:00

Steamy Torch Lake. If for some reason (like, maybe a helicopter crash or something), you were placed in this water your life expectancy would be less than 10 minutes. (according to US Navy cold water survival experts) Maybe the next
Survivor episode could be here in the winter.

Sir Winston Churchill said it best....

2005-12-13T00:59:00.000-05:00

"Never, never, never give up" ............. This little plant somehow made it through four inches of steamrolled asphalt. Maybe it should be referenced with a quote from The Little Train That Could. "I think I can, I think I can". Whatever ....this was one bad ass little plant.

Deep Purple

2005-12-12T01:07:00.000-05:00

Trillium

2005-12-12T00:38:00.000-05:00

2005-12-12T00:37:00.000-05:00

Dragonfly's are difficult to sneak up on......

2005-12-11T22:12:00.000-05:00

it's like they have eyes in the back of their head ....

Lost and Found

2005-12-10T02:36:00.000-05:00

All lost and found items may be picked up at the Courtesy Counter.

Ping Pong Math

2005-12-07T23:52:00.000-05:00

ok, so if the score is 0/0 and a point is scored, the differential from before the point began is one point, regardless of who scores it. Now, if I am trailing in a match, and the score is 13 to 11, and I score the next point, the differential is one. If, however, my opponent scores the next point the differential is three. Whereas at 0 to 0 no matter who scores the differential can be no more or less than one. Therefore it is my conclusion that there are, in fact, some points that have more significance than others. All the mathematicians out there that disagree with me can just kiss my ass.

Snow Ponies....

2005-12-07T23:12:00.000-05:00

T.u. K1 for the pic...

Wildflowers....

2005-12-07T14:52:00.000-05:00

daisies and violets....

Freshly Fallen Floaters

2005-12-07T02:01:00.000-05:00

Bug Du Jour

2005-12-07T01:51:00.000-05:00

Bumblebee on asphalt

Floral Sunset

2005-12-07T00:52:00.000-05:00

H.F. Banana......

2005-12-07T00:35:00.000-05:00

Streaking towards a score and digging in the corner

Making Giant Bubbles

2005-12-07T00:05:00.000-05:00

This is how it is done.

Sunset Bubble

2005-12-06T01:37:00.000-05:00

Sunny Ice

2005-12-06T00:43:00.000-05:00

Crazy Bastard

2005-12-06T00:25:00.000-05:00

.25 point deduction for not keeping legs together and toes pointed toward sky. However there is a .25 bonus for sticking skull on frozen Lake Michigan.

Fiddle Head Fern

2005-12-06T00:14:00.000-05:00

just waking up....

Ugly

2005-12-06T00:06:00.000-05:00

The best band that no one has ever heard of.........

2005-12-05T23:37:00.000-05:00

Morphine.......Mark Sandman died with his boots on....err, um, I mean he died with his bass on. Literally.

r.i.p.

Dancing Madly Backwards on a Sea of Air

2005-12-05T16:15:00.000-05:00

Captain Beyond......the second best band that no one has ever heard of.

Leaf

2005-12-05T11:31:00.000-05:00

Quiet, frozen sunset....

2005-12-05T00:35:00.000-05:00

Time to get 'er done.....

2005-12-05T00:13:00.000-05:00

Very simple. Get in the car, drive it 150 mph, bring it back. Just don't shit yerself in between.