Happy Sunday. We hope your Memorial Day weekend is warm and wonderful. Our deepest heartfelt thanks and respect to all those who have given their lives in the service of our country. Please take a moment to honor the fallen who gave so much so that we can now enjoy this Sunday morning together in peace.
Acronym soup - Itās delicious
Happenings last week had my heart humming and my brain buzzing. We took a trip to the west side of Michigan to a small town called Fennville, which is very much a rural town set amongst the vineyards and farmland. It is a skip and a jump from the beautiful blue of Lake Michigan. Our goal was to meet up with Fred Bueltmann and Ulla Fredrickson to learn more about the Red Horse Center, an extremely unique and peaceful place where they provide personal/group development, mental health, and community support services. The unique character of this place is found in a herd of horses and their relationship with the team at Red Horse Center and their clients.
Iām writing a story about the Red Horse Center for Rural Innovation Exchange, so I wonāt give you all the nuts and bolts just yet. What sparked my thoughts to share with you today is meeting the horses. At Red Horse, the horses are horses. This sounds like double-speak or other nonsense, but bear with me, friends. Instead of treating the horses as a work animal, they are effectively partners. In a way, their work is to be empathic beings and give you and me a different point of view on how we are feeling and behaving.
I know this sounds like crazy hippy shit (if you are a hippy, no offense intended), but it was quite amazing to have these large animals come up for a pet and then brush against you before giving you a sniff. Their large, warm nostrils flare as their velvety, soft nose comes within hairs of your skin. The horses would then organize themselves in a way that conveyed who they were and where they fit into their group. It was very pleasant and joyful. It's almost like that easy happiness you feel petting a dog or a cat (if those animals resonate with you). However, the real kicker came later.Ā
We ate dinner with Fred, Ulla, Jenny Atlee, and Tom Loudon. Jenny and Tom are also part of Red Horse. We went to this fantastic spot called Salt of the Earth in Fennville. Fred, Ulla, and Jenny had earlier shared stories about experiences that groups and individuals had with the horses. They reflected the true sense of the word awesome. Iām not sure how it came about in our conversation, but I shared a bit of my encounter with the horses. As I started to speak, I got choked up with emotion. Hell, thinking about it now has me welling up again.Ā
I have no idea what made that experience so profound. Was it a combination of hearing these wondrous stories and then being in the presence of a being so unlike us yet very much attuned to our emotional state? Iām not overly spiritual. I wouldnāt say I believe in God, but I very much believe there is something that we all tap into and are connected with. If you are like me you are now hearing āUse the Force Lukeā in the voice of Obi-wan Kenobi. Or perhaps you hear Yoda telling Luke, āYou must feel the force around you.ā
Whatever you want to call this bonding agent that permeates life, it physically manifests itself for me when Iām positively emotionally charged. Whether through a welling of tears, a tightening of the throat,Ā a tingling of the scalp, the hairs rising on your arms, or a sudden intense clarity of vision, the force (letās just call it that) takes hold. As Yoda says, āluminous beings we are, not this crude matter.ā
You may be wondering what in the hell this has to do with Acronym soup. So, as I pondered what to share with you today and this horse experience, I thought of Brendaās last Sunday Sip. She wrote a funny and thoughtful essay about YOLO (You Only Live Once), FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out), and created her acronym, TIRO (Time Is Running Out). Iām aware that time is running out, and I only live once. My life has been amazing. Sure, there were a few struggles (being bullied, divorce, deaths), but overall, it has been awesome. And then it hit me, ROTA! Reflect On The Awesome!!!
There always seems to be time for self-doubt and regret, but do we spend enough time reflecting on the awesome? Iām trying to be a practitioner of ROTA. In a way, I think it dovetails into being in the moment. It is worth a moment if you havenāt checked out the book The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker. Rob also has a substack where he keeps drumming up great ideas on noticing the world around us. Anyway, I feel like a shot of reflecting on the awesome reaffirms how incredible our journeys through this life are.
Iād love to read some of your reflections on the awesome. If you are willing to share, drop a note or leave a comment on Substack. You can also email us if youād like to share, but only with me and Brenda š Iāve got another reflection on the awesome in the What Are You Spinning section as a bonus.
GIG - The Art of Michigan Music - Meet our featured artists: The Man, the Myth, the Legend: Craig Horky
Iām thrilled to announce the GIGāThe Art of Michigan Music featured poster artist is the wildly talented Craig Horky!! If you were at Oigs Fest in Kalamazoo, you would have seen Craigās badass artwork on the Oigs Fest poster and t-shirt. You would have also seen him jamming with the weirdly wonderful Cavalcade.Ā
Here is a short bio from the man himself:
Craig is an illustrator and cat whisperer who currently resides in one of the grayest cities in the Midwest with a polydactyl cat named Alice. He draws pictures for bands, and magazines, and companies, and things. When not slumped over a table drawing four-eyed cats and causing himself irreparable back damage, he spends what little free time he has making music, motorcycling, and collecting/imbibing whiskey.
And here is the poster heās designed for us!! Weāll have these babies available at GIG, as well as T-shirts with this design. Pick one up, and youāll be the coolest kid on your block!
GIG Sponsors NEEDED!
We still need help making GIGāThe Art of Michigan Music awesome. Visit the Be A Part of Gig page and get in touch with me via email (chuck@lifeinmichigan.com).Ā
Once again, a huge thanks to Dawn Corporate Giving, Experience Jackson, Ogma Brewing, Manchester Underground Music and Art, Michigan Music Alliance, and Life In Michigan for their support.
Sunday Music Market Vendors Needed!
Band, record dealers, instrument makers, studios, print shops or any other service that works with artists and musicians, we still have space for you at the Sunday Music Market on November 10th at GIG - The Art of Michigan Music. A $20 table fee gets you a spot (that is stupid cheap). Email me! (chuck@lifeinmichigan.com)
Stay tuned to the GIGāThe Art of Michigan Music website and our socials on Facebook and Instagram for updates. Mark your calendars for November 8-10, and weāll see you at Art 634 in Jackson.
Upcoming Events You Won't Want to Miss
There is so much to share every week. If you have events that we missed, please be sure to post a note on Substack.Ā
HAKi! Live at Batch Brewing Co. wsg: Harmolodics in Detroit on May 30thāBatch Brewing gets its outdoor music going with the genre-bending jazz fusion of HAKi! Great beer, food, and music!
The Gasoline Gypsies 'Gravel Roads' EP Release Party in Port Huron on June 1stāOne of Michiganās treasures, The Gasoline Gypsies, has a new EP and will celebrate its release at the Foundry in Port Huron.
Dog and Pony Show 3rd Anniversary in Oak Park on June 1st - celebrate Dog and Pony Brewingās third anniversary with a festive party and plenty of delicious beers!
2024 ALEgan Craft Beer Fest in Allegan on June 1st - the historic town of Allegan (over on the west side) hosts their annual beer festival.Ā
Mason St Blast 2024 La Cultura at City Built in Grand Rapids on June 1st - City Built celebrates seven years with salsa dancing, a pop-up art show, food, and stellar beers.
OG Day Drinker Music Series presents Fangs and Twang in Milan on June 1st - Get your day drinking off to a strong start at Original Gravity in Milan with the chilling tales of terror with a twist, thanks to Fangs and Twang!
Femme Fest 2 in Chesterfield Township on June 1st - Saturday, June 1st. Infused Productions, in cooperation with Ally Rose, presents Femme Fest 2!!! Live at Diesel Concert Lounge. 12 All Local Female Fronted Rock/Punk/Metal bands performing on two stages!
Burn Fest ā24 will be held in Ann Arbor on June 1st - Black Note Graffiti will host a night of rock music at the legendary Blind Pig.
Matthew Carlson w/ Deer & Elk and Teutonosaur - Sheddio On The Road Tour Kickoff Show in Lansing on June 5th - Come hang out with us at the Robin Theatre for a show featuring Matthew Carlson (aka - Matty C from the Substack: What Am I Making)
Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights in Chelsea from June 6th to July 25th - Music and fun take over downtown Chelsea for Sounds & Sights on Thursday Nights. You can find any genre of music (including heavy metal) on stages located all over downtown.Ā
Fell Ruin, Temple of the Fuzz Witch, Mammon, Graboids in Hamtramck on June 7th - Head over to Hamtramckās heavy metal headquarters, the Sanctuary, for an evening of extreme metal music.
Manchester Underground: Story & Song in Manchester on June 15th - The River Raisin distillery becomes an intimate listening room thanks to our friends at Manchester Underground Music when they bring three fantastic artists, Nina Sophia, Missy Covill, and Michelle Held to the stage.
In Other News
In the Michigan Brewers Guild Great Beer State Magazine, youāll find a nifty story by Brenda on the guild's legislative efforts. The Sun Times News has an interesting article by Doug Marrin about Tecumsehās 200th anniversary, which is coming up in July. At A2Pulp, Christopher Porter runs down the Friday Five with a shout-out to our pals in Mazinga, whoāve got some brand new music for you.
At Life In Michigan, Iāve got a review and photos of Drink Their Blood with Rip VanRipper, Flood The Desert, and Bronson Arm over at Bellās Backroom in Kalamazoo. There is also a review of Cardinals Folly with Warhorses and Saga at the Regal Beagle in Ypsilanti. By the way, Bellās Backroom and the Regal Beagle are excellent venues worth visiting.
Substack Restack Attack
Substack is where itās at. Check out these other superb publications:
In The Frame: Tell Us a Story With Your Camera by Don Giannatti - Don talks about storytelling with a photo (or series of photos) vs. snapshots. He also has links to some excellent stories rendered via photography, plus tips! Check it out.
Poor Man's Feast: when they say you don't exist by Elissa Altman - When you are locked out of your account, and the bots say, āSorry, you donāt exist,ā Elissa turns turmoil into a great story with plenty to ponder.
The Honest Broker: Let's Just Admit it: The Algorithms Are Broken by Ted GioiaāTed talks (no pun intended, but I did laugh when I wrote thatā¦please continue) about the bane of algorithms, which had me thinking of the excellent book by Neal Stephenson called Snow Crash.
Playing in the Detroit Area TonightāOne of my favorite Facebook groups, led by Jennifer Westwood (fabulous musician and music enthusiast), is now on Substack! This newsletter of upcoming gigs in the Detroit area is an excellent resource for those looking for original music and art.
Adventures Yet To Print
Donāt ask me about that damn metro Detroit record and vinyl storyā¦it's coming! Brendaās keyboard is burning as she works on a story about our visit to the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners.
Iāve already given you a taste of our visit to the Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership in Fennville, but Iāll have a full story soon. The little town of Allegan was a joy, especially our stay at Jade Estate Inn and an impromptu visit to the Allegan County Old Jail Museum (a must when you visit). A story on 24 Hours in Allegan is in the works. Plus, we had a wonderful time at Michigan Cider Fest, which weāll be sharing with you, too.
What Are You Reading?
Warning to any of our book club members reading this!!! I just finished Shoe Dog - A Memoir by the Creator of Nike By Phil Knight. This was our book club pick for this month, and Iām glad, as I donāt know if I would have read it otherwise. It is a fascinating look into how Phil Knight and Nike got their start. After reading, I have a new appreciation for the founder and his company. However, I wonāt run out and buy Nike shoes (too narrow for my hobbit feet). The only problem with the book is that it gets a bit repetitive. I suppose it helps to understand the challenges they faced, but it sort of gets crushing after a bit. Perhaps that is the intent to give you a feel for what it was like.Ā
What Are You Spinning?
Earlier, I promised a bit more of my own ROTA, and here it is. Thinking about awesome moments typically rolls into something about music. The song āCanāt Find My Way Homeā by Blind Faith is one of my most favorite songs. The entire debut album by Blind Faith is jammed with great music, but āCanāt Find My Way Homeā is special. No matter how many times I hear it, I get emotional. Iām sure it is the implied sadness from the songās structure and that wonderful melancholy melody. Then there are the lost and yearning lyrics. Oh my god, how I love that song!
One of my most favorite moments was hearing this song live at Crossroads in 2007. There were a ton of amazing moments at that concert, such as seeing B.B. King and Eric Clapton share the stage or witnessing John Mayer play āGravity.ā But when Steve Winwood joined Eric for āCanāt Find My Way Home,ā the emotions surged overboard, leaving me glassy-eyed and awe-struck.
Thatās A Wrap
Iām clearly no good at writing a short and sweet Sunday Sip. Thank you for spending part of your day with me. I hope you send a note or leave a comment to say hey. Cheers!
A wonderful post today. My ROTA is when I lived on Bemis Rd. years ago. I taught Young Adult Special needs students. Some days could be quite emotional. I would go out to the paddock after work and brush the horses and it seemed to float all my daily stress away.
I can confirm that horses are wise, compassionate creatures that have an energy of healing about them. A dear friend who owns horses, lost her brother recently to cancer and her young niece was struggling with the sudden loss of her father. She regularly comes to visit and plays with the horses and the family says she has a much easier time coping when she can tell her feelings to these majestic creatures.