Camping In Michigan: The Blog!

There's been a lot going on lately. Sorry if my postings and all have been inconsistent. I've been traveling, working, and having a good time. Please check out my 'zine at www.myspace.com/HFIpublishing, and we're having a Humboldt Park 'Zine Picnic on July 29th @ 1pm. So, please join us!!!

Angie, SME, and Evan at the rainy BBQ


Matt and some serial killer.

Jason had his work baby show at the penthouse of our building at work. So, here's the Santa Fe sign on top of our building. It's the 18th floor, I believe...


All my co-workers on the edge. Literally; not figuratively (I hope)!


Millennium Park from the top of Santa Fe.


Roberto, the man who give me all his clothes, overlooking Millennium Park. He's having an art show soon. Roberto, please add your show info in my comments so everyone sees your great stuff!


The ladies of the tour department. Jen, Liz, and Charniece looking over Grant Park and Lake Michigan.


A view from the Santa Fe Penthouse.


Here's where the real excitement begins! I WENT CAMPING!!! Here's Megan posing at our site at Fisherman's Island (Bell's Bay) State Park just south of Charlevoix, Michigan! It's so rustic!


She's wondering where the bathroom is. It's the very stinky outhouse down the road. I emphasize stinky...


Here I am starting a fire for dinner. Brats on the menu!


Start little fire. Start!


Megan and I at the beach near our campsite.


Lake Michigan (Bell's Bay) looking toward Fisherman's Island, which isn't an island right now. There's a thin strip of land that connects it to the peninsula.


Look at all this seaweed!


Cabins are so small in northern Michigan they move them like this. No, I really don't know what is going on...


You know those brats that were on the menu. Well, something terrible happened where they all ended up in the fire and the woods. So, Megan is looking up restaurants in the Charlevoix guide. We chose the Village Pub. A very good place for hamburgers.


This is the little lake/canal between Lake Michigan and Charlevoix Lake.


Tons of boats at the new Marina downtown.


Sunsets are made for romance in Michigan. So, instead of hugging Megan I took pictures of other couples...


... and the sunset.


Hooray for drawbridges! This one rises every half hour!


Michigan is pretty.


Megan seems to be a "happy camper!"


I <3 camping. It's a time when I can get dirty and grow a beard and no one gives me shit...


Megan on Fisherman's Island trying to avoid all the decaying seaweed on shore. I was hoping to find some wild animals. Nothing...


Looking back at the mainland from Fisherman's Island.


Does anyone know what this is for? It's some kind out lookout thing, but there's no way to get on top. It's near St. Mary's Cement Factory on Lake Michigan.


Me near the marshlands bordering Lake Michigan.


Lake Michigan from the woods.


The rocky shore of Charlevoix.


I haven't built a sand castle is ages! Add this to my architectural resume...


Gathering the rock facade for the castle.


Adding the towers.


Forget sand castles! I'M BUILDING SAND SKYSCRAPERS! This is based on the Modnodnock building in Chicago.


Megan is impressed with my work...


Modnodnock again.


Cloud Gate (the bean) from Millennium Park.


Another sand skyscraper! The John Hancock building from Chicago.


Like the one in Chicago, this overlooks Lake Michigan.


Look! It's Wrigley Field!


Looking for some warmer water, we went to Charlevoix Lake. It wasn't warmer.


Back to Lake Michigan!!!


Look how shallow it is 50-75 yards from shore!


Looking for Petosky Stones and other cool rocks. If you don't know what a Petosky stone is, I suggest looking it up on wikipedia!


Mmmmmmm!!! Buffalo marinated in pineapple and peppers. I am a great chef if you didn't know.


The world's largest cherry pie from 1976 - 1987 was made in this. Traverse City made their own bigger pie in 1987. Then someone somewhere else made a bigger one then them. So...


Here are the instructions for cooking a world's largest pie.


Car show in Charlevoix for the Vientian Festival.


Does anyone know the story of having dolls attached to the front of a car. My guess is Cliff will know. Do you know, Cliff?


The "Freedom isn't Free" car. Who paints a shot up soldier on the side of their turck? This guy does!


My 1960 Chysler Imperial. All mine!


A nice Thuderbird.


Hot dogs with Squash.


When I make campfires while camping, Jesus likes to visit.


More religious pictures!


Nearing sunset at our Lake Michigan campsite.


Me looking over the large freshwater sea. Ahhh home...


I was practically barefoot the whole trip.


I am really tan and super blonde now too because of that sun.


Working on building a dam for the creek running into Lake Michigan. Again, instead of hugging my girlfriend and watching the sunset. The theme of this blog is that I am a terrible boyfriend.


The sunset.


Yep, still working on the dam...


More sunset...


Looking at Lake Charlevoix from downtown.


The mushroom house by some famous architect.


I dropped off a ton of 'zines on the trip. Here's Grand Rapids where I dumped a heap of them. It's the first time I've been there since I finished school in 2005. I use to work at a copy shop in the white building with the tower at the end of the street.


Megan and I had a good vacation. Ask us about the possum and raccoons!

"That Was Awful." "What Are You Looking At Me For? You Said It." "I know. It's Still Awful."

The festivities continue. In fact, I might have to help others in finding festivies. A lot of people have been sending me e-mails acknowledging their lameness and wanting help. So, I think I am going to start a "What To Do In Muskegon" website. It will have parties, bars, concerts, shows, and other events. So, start sending all public welcome events to me and I will see what I can do...

This is GH pier right before it rained.

Hasan and I planned a huge party last night. Look at all the people. People refused the invitation by phone, so we ended up going out because people cannot refuse by force. The Beast From the Middle East knows that all too well...

Ahhh... Friends Forever...

Here are our recruits for Hasan's party just as everyone was to head home. Notice the guilty looks and body postures on everyone. By the time 5:30 am rolled around, I think everyone had something to regret...

Not sure what I am doing today. Andrea's birthday is at midnight and she becomes legal. I don't want to be out too late since I have to work tomorrow morning and have to catch up on some sleep. Especially since Monday is going to be my Day of Wreckoning...

Worthy Charitable Causes...

Let's start with some shameless self-promotion. If you haven't checked out my latest 'zine, please do so at:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21946350&blogID=284581085

If you haven't added as a friend, please do so at:

www.myspace.com/HFIpublishing

Thanks and now for the show...

Nick had a charity fundraiser for his film about Couch surfing last Tuesday. So, all the Michigan Exiles came out to support him and the good cause...


...and what good cause is complete without strippers oil wrestling. Please check out Nick's upcoming adventure at:

Couch Surfing


USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!


And USA! beats skinny girl.


This pool has something like 40 bottles of baby oil and one bottle of vegetable oil, which ended up all over the place. It splashed as the girls wrestled and all over the floor as they walked around between matches. I felt bad for the busboy who had to mop the whole night at Sluggers (just south of Addison on Clark).


You can see how much oil is in here if you look at their feet...


The last time I had a picture of an inflatable pool like this I have a picture of Nick in short shorts. Curious...


When will this become an official 501 (c) 3 nonprofit that I can make tax deductible donations to?


Saturday night, riding bikes to the Tip Top on our way to a party.


Karli, Chris, and Nick after our very brief stop at the party. Very brief...


Chris, Matt, and Nick closing out the night on the Murder House porch.


Folk & Roots Festival in Lincoln Square.


I got a Cajun Hot Dog for $3 here. It was delicious.


Forget the "Danger Zone" baby, we're going to the Drop Zone! But seriously, what a lovely name for a port-o-john...


The "Rock and Roll" festival just north of Wrigleyville. Mostly cover bands, but well done and great sound. And an inflatable gorilla.


The "L" passing over one of the stages.


The "sexy nurse" band.

Megan and I at the Harry Potter movie at Navy Pier. It was in IMAX 3-D. I'm not a huge Harry Potter fan, but it was a decent movie. Then again, anything in IMAX 3-D is a good movie. I'd watch Xanadu in IMAX 3-D and love it...

Again, my 'zine, A New Tomorrow, can be viewed at:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21946350&blogID=284581085

Add my 'zine as a friend at:

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Another 'Zine Completed

Please check out the 'zine posted on the blog at: http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=21946350&blogID=284581085 or click on: www.MySpace.com/HFIpublishing


Thanks to everyone for your help, support, inspiration, and everything. Love you all.

Mike

Belchy Bartokomous Or Farty McFly?

Things are coming along nicely. In a few days, I will be at the copy shop making the next issue of my 'zine. It's all written and all. So, hooray! In the next couple of weeks, I will be going camping. Hooray again! The 4th of July is this week. I've been BBQ-ing like there's no tomorrow. Fireworks! HOORAY!

Here's a bee drawn on a building that caught on fire near my apartment.


I've been seeing some fine automobiles lately. I have to think it's somehow connected to the Transformers movie.


The girls posing for Katie's (left) going away party, part II. For those that don't know, Katie is going to be a "Marilyn Monroe-type actress" at Disney World. So, that means a trip to Disney this October!

 
Margarita's for Katie!


Nick showing off Black Moses by Isacc Hayes. Karli's mom gave it to him with some other good finds from garage sales in Minnesota.


This is my new favorite photographer. He is located across the street from the Two-Way Lounge on Lincoln.


Matt and Amanda at the Two-Way Lounge. I don't know when the Two-Way became a Hipster bar, but it's strange. Seeing a packed bar full of kids with funny haircuts is much different than a couple of regulars. It's a good time, but a very different atmosphere. It's only a matter of time though until the douchebags arrive and PBR goes from $1 to $3...


Nick, Rob, and Matt figuring out the economics of the Two-Way.


To me, this much patriotism is suspicious. What are they hiding behind the flag that is eight stories tall and six windows wide? Is this a front? Whatever it is, I have to say: USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!


Tearing down a building on Clark somewhere near the Gold Coast.


I'm all about environmentalism, but I have limits. This is the worm bin at work. We are suppose to dump our food into this bin and have the worms convert it into dirt. Nothing too odd since I grew up with a composter and had a similar set up in Grand Rapids. But, this is downtown Chicago. This thing is going to stink up the office and bring in more bugs than you can imagine. Also, what are we going to do with the dirt in downtown Chicago? We don't have plants because we don't have windows. I'm sure you will hear more about this. It's the talk of the office already...


Beth and John showing off John's Pasta Party 2007.


PIZZA FEST! IT'S PIZZA FEST. This is Pizza Fest? Really? What a disappointment. Well, it wasn't well planned. Pizza Fest is a great idea and everyone I knew wanted to go to it. But, they scheduled it at the same time as the Taste of Chicago and no vendor was going to be here instead. So, only three pizza stands at Pizza Fest. I think they had more sunglass vendors than pizza. It was their first year. If they do this next year and hold it in September, I bet it would be awesome.


Mike, Megan, and I hung out at the beach for a little bit since Pizza Fest was a bust. Sat in the patio area overlooking downtown and then walk the beach. Feet in the water. Nice...

..
What a strange lifeguard situation in Chicago. If our lifeguards are in a rowboat wearing rain coats, it's no wonder they never filmed Baywatch here.


Cooking hot dogs at Angela and Brent's apartment!


Karli teasing the very pleasant Gracie.


Words fail me...

That's all. It should be another busy week. At some point, I need to pick up some batteries because they are on their last leg. No batteries = no pictures. With all the festivals, parties, and trips coming up, I need to remedy that soon. Much love, Mike