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May 12, 2009

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You're right about Ford's "Inaugural address," an amazing mistake for an engraved plaque. On many levels, your trip's digital diary would make a great book that I'm sure would sell -- to travelers, dog lovers, American history buffs, photographers and all of us who have simply enjoyed your digital company. An annotated map (both print and digital) of your journey, discoveries, pleasures and problems would be quite cool.

From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inaugural:

in·au·gu·ral
Function: adjective
Date: 1689
1 : of or relating to an inauguration
2 : marking a beginning : first in a projected series

It works . . .

This Rebecca Chanin person that you mention, she has appeared frequently in the blog. I understand she lives for such mentions. It used to be a cause of jealousy in my relationship with her, until I hit the big time with this: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4997990n.

Now she's just grasping at straws. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

So Wednesday you confront the problem that Michigan, along with Alaska and Hawaii, are one of those states that you just can't "pass through." You have to make it a point to go to Michigan.

And not a lot of people make it a point to go to Michigan. Unless their brother lives there.

Ford's August 9, 1974 speech is usually referred to as his "Swearing-In Speech." Inaugurations refer to the big ceremonies on January 20.

u MISSED la casa pizza?? oh man. your loss. my mouth is watering just thinking about it... first, it's romano cheese, which is delicious AND it's square. Who doesn't love square pizza? Plus, people in the midwest actually order "hamburger" pizza... cause it has loose ground beef.

i'm sad. i feel like i let you down. had i known you were passing thru the good life, i soo would have sent u a visitors guide.
:(

Gentle Readers (as Miss Manners might say),

Please take pity upon Mr. Heyman. Despite his recent exposure in national media, he sulks over never having garnered a shout-out in the FHMA blog.

If only David realized that these have been pay-for-play mentions. (Not from Jim of course; his journalistic integrity would never allow for such shenanigans. Fred and Hank, however, can be bought for treats.)

The Ford Museum in Grand Rapids? I guess you mean Gerald Ford. Advice: Skip it and head for the HENRY Ford Museum, in Dearborn. May be the most underrated, little-known great museum in America--a Smithsonian-quality collection of treasures transplanted to the Midwest. Too bad you won't have time for a second day there to see the adjoining Greenfield Village, which is the outdoor version of the museum. Oh, and the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn is the cheapest in the Ritz chain (something about the crappy state of the auto business limiting executive travel to the Detroit area!)

I'm actually hoping that u may never find your way back home so I can continue to enjoy this saga vicariously thro a dawg's eyes...

Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum is great, truly, but probably not on this trip, as you need some time to go there...it takes more time. I think the Presidential Museum will be interesting enough. Agree with the post that Michigan is not a "pass-through" state. We may have the highest unemployment rate here, but there are lots of places to see...hoping the gas prices don't get really high again this summer, as Michigan could use the tourism dollars.

Speaking of Michigan--not only does Gerald Ford have a link with Michigan...but so does Malcom X. He lived in Lansing, MI for a period of time; I used to live about three or four blocks from one of the places he lived--and the other place he lived was just north of the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing. Here's what I found on the web:

http://my.voyager.net/~rclement/malik98.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_X
http://www.jdburgessonline.com/history/malcolmx.html

I just wish Granny's Kitchen was still open. That was a favorite place to eat on our many trips through Grand Rapids on our way to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (north of Muskegon) when I was a kid. They used to have a girl dressed like a granny sit in a rocking chair outside and she would wave at the passers-by. It was on 28th street and it was a great place to eat affordable food.

Listen to some David Cook, then decide on the sign.

I also echo the comments on Greenfield Village, you should go. It's not that far off the beaten path, after you leave, you could be back in Indiana in just a couple of hours.

Jim, can I tell you how happy I was to find out I'm not the only person in America who has not seen an American Idol episode???

I did try, once, but found it unappealing. I did enjoy that viral video of the Scottish woman singing, though.

Would love to see you in MA if you have time. I can locate some local dog parks!

No American Idol? You are very deprived. When we come to D.C. to see you, we will also be seeing Elliott Yamin at The Birchmere the next night.... btw, that will be my second, yes second, time seeing Elliott there. I can't wait because I get to wear my "Sing It Like Yamin It" t-shirt! He came in 3rd a few seasons ago. David Cook is one of the better Idols, though I will admit I haven't bought his album.

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