Mitsuru

The limited edition RUNWELL turntable by SHINOLA on display at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit.  What a beauty!

at dusk, the sun paints brilliant, surreal, dreamy hues through Ann Arbor skies.

in Huron river's calm waters the kayakers at dusk stalk the setting sun, stir the proverbial pot and disturb the gods.

I was on my way back to my hotel room; the place was eerily quiet -- the only audible sounds came from my footfalls -- when suddenly, I felt a rush of cold air brush against my skin; the hair on my neck promptly stood on end. I turned around and flicked a quick shot from my iPhone hoping to catch some creatures lurking within in the process.  And to my chagrin, there was nothing there but just an empty,- deserted hallway.  #historicwestinbookcadilla c

...early Sunday morning, driving on a deserted Southfield Freeway. the sun's rays are trying to break through the grey clouds' spell. Michigan in winter; beautiful and lonely.

"In all our quest of greatness, like wanton boys, whose pastime is their care, we follow after bubbles, blown in the air." - John Webster  *Troy Marriott/Troy Michigan

The Mackinac Bridge: the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, connecting the two peninsulas of Michigan.

...as seen from the 28th floor of the Greektown Casino- Hotel.

I was walking along the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel when I heard a voice say "cut"! Some people were shooting a TV series called Detroit 1-8-7 on State St. just beside the hotel. The security people told me that I could not pass on that particular side of the street. So, I turned around and headed back to the hotel and bumped into a familiar face at the door but didn't register. Then I realized who she was and whipped out my iPhone and took some shots on an unmade- up Alicia Silverstone clad in gray sweat pants, blue shirt & flip-flops while on her way to a film shoot for her movie Vamps just two blocks down on Griswold Street. It could have been better if I managed to take a photo when she came out of the door while looking straight and smiling at me. Btw, I liked her in the movie titled The Crush back in the early 90s. Alicia Silverstone (partly hidden by her PA) while talking to the lady in shades inside the SUV who turns out to be Krysten Ritter, her co- star ...

"In 1950, Michigan was 1 of 8 states in America that collectively produced 36% of the world's GNP." "Detroit was the greatest manufacturing city in the world." Detroit native and controversial superstar - rapper Eminem paid homage to his hometown in this video of Beautiful , the fourth single from his latest chart-topping and million-selling album “Relapse.” The said video was shot at Detroit’s famous and historic landmarks from its golden years. Now these historic buildings like the Packard Motor Car Company Plant, the Beaux- Arts train station, and the original Tiger Stadium, that were all built prior to 1914, are nothing but shadows of their former selves. By watching the video, one can see the sad state of the City of Detroit nowadays; down on her knees and out of luck. Detroit may recover some of her pride someday but probably will never be able to equal much less, regain her glory days. It’s sad when a once beautiful city succumbs to urban decay. The forme...

“In the depths of every heart, there is a tomb and a dungeon, though the lights, the music, and revelry above may cause us to forget their existence, and the buried ones, or prisoners whom they hide. But sometimes, and oftenest at midnight, those dark receptacles are flung wide open. In an hour like this, when the mind has a passive sensibility, but no active strength; when the imagination is a mirror, imparting vividness to all ideas, without the power of selecting or controlling them; then pray that your grieves may slumber, and the brotherhood of remorse not break their chain.” - Nathaniel Hawthorne Northern Michigan, Seasons, Sunrises, Beaches, Waterfalls, Mountains photo credits: coloneljohnbritt

Guilty as charged. Yes, I have not updated my blog for a month and a day. I have been remiss with my bloghopping, too… I guess I am just in hibernation mode (okay, lazy mood) ever since I saw the mole lazily crawling out of his hole while walking around Elizabeth Park in Trenton early in Autumn. I took a picture of his fat ass but I forgot to ask the gray mammal about his predictions for the season. But the way I see it and based on the events that occurred the past weeks, it will be a long nasty winter. The gray mornings, gloomy afternoons and long nights probably further contributed to the situation too. The mood is just somber and sometimes when that evil idiot box possesses you as soon as your butt touches the couch after a long hard day, you can bet that it will be glued there for hours and hours until you fall asleep, snoring and snugly fitting into its bosom until the alarm clock wakes you up at six the next day. It has become a cycle for me that I decided to exorcise the demon...

First, in came the rain, then the wind. Then later, in came the snow and the chill. And then in came nothing but gnawing numbness… Autumn is fast going by and soon winter, the notorious Michigan winter will soon be knocking at my door. And I, a transplanted mortal from another world will have to cope with it day-to-day, and on the hostile weather’s term, at that- which means having to contend with slippery drives in the snow, fishtailing and skidding on treacherous icy roads, and going 60 mph in blizzard conditions. Mornings are a notch colder this year as compared to the previous years owing to the so- called “lake effect” phenomenon because of the mere fact that Michigan is not being called the Great Lakes State for nothing; but having 4 of the 5 (read: HOMES for Huron, Ontario+, Michigan, Erie and Superior) traversing its shores, you can only expect both its blessings and curses in uncanny fashion. Speaking of fashion, although I do not walk on a hot tin roof, I do find myself tip-...

'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world. ~William Shakespeare On mounting a rising ground, which brought the figure of his fellow-traveller in relief against the sky, gigantic in height, and muffled in a cloak, Ichabod was horror-struck on perceiving that he was headless!--but his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle! It was, as I have said, a fine autumnal day; the sky was clear and serene, and nature wore that rich and golden livery which we always associate with the idea of abundance. The forests had put on their sober brown and yellow, while some trees of the tenderer kind had been nipped by the frosts into brilliant dyes of orange, purple, and scarlet. . . . he would have passed a pleasant life of it, in despite of the Devil and all his works, if his path had not been crossed by a being...

Every year while under the intense heat of the hot, hot summer sun… All roads in Michigan lead to Downriver ; that is all classic car enthusiasts in the Wolverine State and their cross-state neighbors to as far back west like sunny California and down south to stormy Florida, not to mention the Canucks from across the river would all converge into the biggest show on this side of town where many of the hottest rockin’ a’ rollin’ oldies but goodies automobiles that once ruled the roads of Continental America sashayed amidst the oohs, aahs and oh-la-las of the fascinated audience. The annual Classic Car Cruise in June draws a crowd of more than 500,000 people as they feast on the nostalgic sights and beauties of the pioneering American Automobiles of a bygone era and relive even just for a day or two the good old days in a massive show of booming engines and pageantry that can only be found in the heart of the American Automobile Industry. Cool Slideshows! The still steaming cars crui...