Goodbye Gman

I wanted to let the blogging world know that Galen passed away this morning. While I knew him well in the real world,  I don't have any details. He was doing wonderfully the last time we spoke. I know he would want me to update his blog as that was his first thought when he was ill last time. He was always thinking of you all.

He made everyone he met feel like the most important person in the world. He was smarter than most but never talked down to anyone. Heaven will be a brighter place with you in it.

Below is a picture taken in the Detroit airport in 2007 with Lime, Gman, Roxi Moon ( front) and myself (Signgurl).

  l

Happy Thanksgiving

Sitting around the Thanksgiving Dinner table waiting for someone to say Grace,
the host thought it would be a 'Hoot' for weird Cousin Dale to have the honors.
Looking somewhat bewildered, he bowed his head and proceeded...
"On this blessed day, please let us give thanks for the very stretchy nature of
yoga pants...Amen."

Well Well Well.....Look what the cat drug in....G-Man!!!!!!
You know for 6 glorious years, Thursday nights was the highlight of my blogging week.
At 8:00 PM EST or EDST, I posted my weekly Flash Fiction Friday 55, and invited
any interested party from Blogdom to join the fun. I have met some very talented and
wonderful folks along the way, and I was honored to host the bevy of talent that participated.
These past few months starting in April with my daughter and son-in-law visiting from Poland
where they now reside, I knew that I couldn't devote the time and energy in the upcoming
months to do the Meme justice. So sadly I passed the torch on....
But I will say that I used my extra time to work hard, relax, and do a tremendous amount
of fishing. car sales has been awesome, and I have a freezer full of fish!!! I miss blogging
and maybe this Winter I'll be around a bit more.
One of the very talented people that I've met and you all know is Laura Hegfield from..
Shine the Light Divine. Every year about this time Laura puts together a Gratitude Quilt.
It's offerings from fellow bloggers about what they are really really thankful for at the moment.
With Thanksgiving in a week, she makes you stop and think about what this very
American Holiday is all about. It's not about Black Friday sales, or kicking off the Christmas
shopping frenzy, it's about Family, Friends, and the Joy of Living.
Please visit Laura at...www.shinethelightdivine.com/
Contribute to her quilt please, it doesn't have to be artsy, just honest and heartfelt....Thanks

Here I Am!!!

Hi Everybody...Remember me? Galen Haynes aka...G-Man!!
It has been a very busy Summer this year at work.
In spite of all the negative publicity the auto industry has been getting, our sales has
been booming! Needless to say we have been jammin...
With little time left for personal recreation, most of my spare moments have been
used persuing my favorite pastime...FISHING!
Reese, myself, and my life long fishing buddy Jim Shephard, have been fishing the
bountiful Saginaw Bay. From junk-fish to the fabulous Walleye (Sander Vitreus),
we have had a fantastic time reeling them in.
I miss all of my blogger pals, but I don't miss the deadlines and time consuming blogging
obligations. I suspect that when the foul weather returns, I'll return (somewhat anyway)
to my blogging ways. But for now.....Fish-On!!!!!!

Mainly Maine.....

Hi everybody, all back safe and sound with a brief synopsis of my recent journey...

Entered the lovely and picturesque state of Maine.
Sought out and FOUND a local grocery store. ( markets are very small in Maine )
Cooked up a swell lunch of the local fare.
Visited a Pub in Bar Harbor that had a very strange name.
Marveled at the majestic beauty of Acadia National Park.
( Repeated pics 2-5 on a daily basis for a week )

Enjoy and share any Maine-ly moments that you might have with us...I'll be around .

Ay-Yah.....

Hi Everybody....
I hope all is well. Just checking in to let you know that I'm still alive.
Headed out East tomorrow for about a week.
Final destination...Bah Hah-bah.
Lobstah and Chowdah everyday ya know.
I'll be thinking about you all.....G-Man!!

Where You Been Boy?

Hi Everybody.....!!!!!

What a month it's been since my last post. In all my years of blogging, this has been
my longest hiatus yet. First of all seeing my daughter and son-in-law for 10 days
was GREAT!!! We had lots of fun and storytelling and enjoying special craft beer.
Then my best friend Alex's wife Janice lost her two year battle with breast cancer last week.
Needless to say......Highs and Lows!!!
I hear that Flash Fiction 55 has been regulated to the first Saturday of the month, I'll  try
to keep abreast of that situation. I hope that all is going well in Bloggerville, I'll keep in touch.
G.

Road Trip...!!!!!

Hi Everybody....
My daughter and son-in-law are flying into Chicago on Tuesday from Poland.
They are very frugal kids and it was lots cheaper to fly into O'Hare than it was
to fly to Detroit Metro. Of course they weren't thinking that it's a four hour drive
from Flint. I'll be taking Wednesday off as well. they will be home for 10 days.
Please join Mama Zen on Tuesday for Flash Fiction 55. .......http://mamaneedsshoes.blogspot.com/

Are We There Yet...?

An insiders tour of 'Up North'.....



"Stop and climb, it's still a dime"
Tour the Pictured Rocks
Tahquamenon Falls, Grand Marais
The awesome Sault Locks!
Mighty Mac, The Porcupines, the hypnotic Tunnel of Trees
Mystery Spot, the Arnold Line....Gets you to The Island with ease.
Cherry Festivals, the Sleeping Bear, the Walleye and Salmon runs.
Come to Northern Michigan, for the PERFECT Summer fun!!!


Just a silly little ditty, for the love of Michigania.
Don't forget to visit Mama Zen Tuesday April 22 for Flash Fiction 55...Herehttp://mamaneedsshoes.blogspot.com/
PS...Have a Kick Ass Week-End!

Old Man....Go Home!!!

Old Man Winter that is....
What a difference a day makes eh?
(Scroll down for yesterday's pic)

Spring in Bloom...!!!

Flowers are out, grass in slowly turning green, BUT....
Tonight 1-3 inches of (snow) is predicted, AND I have not seen any worms as of yet.
Grrrrrrrrr....

Happy Birthday...!!!

When my daughter Amanda attended The University of Michigan, she spent her Junior
year as an exchange student in Prague Czech Republic. It was then that she fell in love
with Europe and their laid back lifestyle. When she graduated in 2009, she married her
local boyfriend Sean, and together they set out for a great adventure.
They lived in Prague for a year, teaching English at the University. A better opportunity
came up in Istanbul (not Constantinople) and they lived there about 2 years. I really felt
uncomfortable about her living in a Moslem country being an American and all, so they
moved to Poznan Poland where they have resided for over a year now. I have not seen
her in person in all that time. On April 22 they are coming home for about 10 days!!!!
I miss her terribly. She was my First-Born...My Princess. I can barely contain my excitement.
Today...April 11th is her birthday.
Happy Birthday Manny, Daddy loves you very much!!!!!

C'Mon...You Can Do It!!

First the white ones, then the purple ones.
Seeking out the Sunshine, from beneath Autumn and Winter's debris.
Soon the ground will be a kaleidoscope of color....Soon.
(Not soon enough for me!)

Flash Fiction 55.....

'Mommy, why can't we have McDonalds or KFC?'

"Sweetie, when you were little, I got food poisoning from eating
Gung Bo Gai at that Chinese place in the Mall, and I promised God
that if he'd make me stop puking we'd become vegetarians."

'But Mom, we don't even go to church...I want a WHOPPER!!!!!!!!'



Hi Everybody, It's been a long time since I wrote a 55 when I wasn't the Host..
It's like riding a bike!
If you or anyone you know has written a a Flash Fiction 55, go visit Fireblossom
Here...http://fireblossom-wordgarden.blogspot.com/

Nada...

"Whats he doing now"?
Nothing!
"What"?
Thats right, he works, goes home, snacks a bit, falls asleep. Goes to bed.
"No Thursday Portraits? No Friday Funfest? No Nothing?"
Nada. Loafs around with no blogging obligations at all.....
The sort of General Malaise that only the Insane Possess, and the Genius Lament!
Ha!....You know, he does seem to have a few Dr. Evil qualities.
But I did hear that he's going to do a 55 for the new Hosts this coming Tuesday.
We'll see if he's lost his touch.
See Ya Tuesday here............http://fireblossom-wordgarden.blogspot.com/

Friday Flash 55.....

Remember when Dick Sargent replaced Dick York as Darren on Bewitched?
How about when Johnny Weismuller was replaced by Lex Barker as Tarzan?
(Riiiiiiiiiight)
The point is, My replacements will do a Kick-Ass job.
Give-em a break!
Ob La Di Ob La Da Life Goes on...Bra
La La How The Life Goes On......



And just as the Pope abdicated the Papacy. G-Man abdicates Friday Flash 55!
The Flash Fictioners will now be guided by Pope Fireblossom I, and Pope Mama Zen I.
They will be sharing the hosting chores starting TUESDAY April 8th.
If you or anyone you know has abdicated, or has written a Friday Flash 55
Please come tell The G-Man (For the Last Time)
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment.....Then BOOK!!!
So from the most Thankful Host from coast to coast....
Have a Kick Ass Week-End!!!
Please visit Shay (aka Fireblossom) as she hosts Flash Fiction 55 on TUESDAY April 8th.
http://fireblossom-wordgarden.blogspot.com/

Thursday Portrait.....

It's hard to believe that this is the last time I'll be saying......
See you Thursday Night 8 PM EDST.
Then, while I still have my Hog, off into the Sunset.
Thank You All....For the wonderful ride!!!!!

The Farewell Tour.....

This week is The G-Man's Friday Flash 55's Swan Song.
Please don't be sad, I'll still be around to bother and harrass my Blogger Buds.
Hosting this writing prompt has been one of the greatest honors of my life.
I've met and have read some of the finest talent on this planet, and I thank you all.
The love and well wishes that you all have bestowed upon me is overwhelming.
Please give the next hostesses all of the creativity and respect that you have shown me.
You Guy's Rock....See you Thursday.

Friday Flash 55.....

"King Me"!!

'So...Ya think he's sick'?

"The G-Man? I don't know...Physical sick or Mental?"

(They both chuckle)

'Health-wise sick'.

"Naw, I heard he's just lookin for a change".

'SOME CHANGE!!   First he gives up his beloved season football tickets.
Now he's giving up hosting Friday Flash 55. Whats next, selling his Harley?'


Ha! As a matter of fact......Maybe so!
Yes folks, NEXT week will be the last time that I'll be hosting Friday Flash 55.
The transition will be smooth and easy. I'll be announcing the Heirs Apparent soon.
If you are thinking about selling your Harley, or have written a Friday Flash 55
Please come tell The G-Man
I will visit, read, enjoy, comment.....Then BOOK!
So from the Lamest Duck Host from coast to coast...
Have a Kick Ass Week-End

Thursday Portrait.....

Time is running out.....
After Hosting Friday Flash 55 for nearly 7 years, the G-Man will be passing
the Hosting Torch on starting the first week in April.
That means you all have only TWO more times to tease, dazzle, and create for me.
I'll be announcing soon who will be taking over, and I"m sure you'll LOVE my choice!
But for now, I'll hope to see you Thursday Night 8:00 PM EDST.