state by state speak your mind about...michigan

[SwampG8r]

i have seen michigan across a lake
its a place that resonates with a lot of americans who havent been
detroit flint cadillac saginaw these towns changed america more than once
the american car experience is almost the word "michigan"
but that isnt all the first soft drink vernors is a michigan invention
dominoes and little ceaser were both founded there
christmas tree? yup theres michigan again supplying american again
and yet this great place
this linchpin of america
has been left a dowager
this great builder of our nation deserves our respect

[1620rock]

1. Amen...Michigan my Michigan - Water Winter Wonderland.

[roguevalley]

2. they're getting screwed by the gov, right? Aren't they the ones getting their towns sold off?

I hate that crap. Most folks I know from Michigan are good folks.

[Morning Dew]

3. Charlotte - home of cable public access icon Ernie Culp

of Uncle Ernie's TNT True Adventure Trails.

[MrScorpio]

4. Home.

[hfojvt]

5. wish again, Michigan

That was the slogan for Minnesota's homecoming in 1980, when we played Michigan. I think we played them tough, but lost, and Michigan went on to actually win the Rose Bowl that year, probably the only time Schembechler ever did.

Going from SD to NY to visit my mom's parents, we drove through Michigan every summer, often camping there. The Mackinaw bridge was awesome, and we often camped at Indian Lake. It seemed to me that Indian lake was only 5 feet deep. We would go out to swim in this lake and walk out to mark off where the deep water was. Only Indian lake got to about shoulder height, and I kept walking, and walking and walking and I was like a quarter mile away from shore and it was still shoulder height. I never did find the limit because I headed back in. Shoulder height was still pretty deep and it felt freaky being so far from shore.

Michigan in the 19th century was populated by a lot of Canadians. I have lots of relatives who settled in Michigan, and looking in the censuses in Michigan I found lots of people with Canadian spouses, or parents born in Canada. I found that interesting that the national border was so porous.

Detroit was, of course, surrendered to the Canadians in the War of 1812, but the Mr. Hull who did so is only connected to me by a very distant line. Not a direct descendant of George Hull and Thamzen Mitchell like I am.

[The Straight Story]

6. I'm a Buckeye, so mi sucks. I can't even say the name of the state without barfing

[FrodosPet]

8. You Buckeyes are SO totally jealous!

Ohioans HATE Michigan. Michganders think it is funny, chuckle a bit, and plan their next trip to either Cedar Point or "Up North".

[Motown_Johnny]

10. Silly Ohio Browneye,

just stay where you belong. We will all be happier that way.

[limpyhobbler]

7. They shaped it like a giant mitten for some reason

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

The Temptations:

Whenever I think about Michigan I think about Motown.

Also rock bands like Iggy and the Stooges. Also the White Stripes.
Also Eminem.

[Motown_Johnny]

9. Don't forget Kellogg's ... and The Arsenal Of Democracy

IMO Michigan is America in microcosm. I have lived in Ohio, Colorado and New York as well as Michigan and as far as I am concerned MI is the most representative of the nation as a whole. Both it's strong industrial base and it's agricultural products are vital to it's well being.



Then we can get into things like music and sports and the cultural impact Michigan has had on this country as well, but that would take forever.

I love Michigan. It has it's problems but it is a great place.

[Mopar151]

11. The Michigan Mad Man - EJ Potter!

Fearless daredevil, tinkerer, innovator - best known for his series of "Widow Maker" v-8 motorcycles. EJ on knowledge: “Ignorance is a powerful tool if applied at the right time, even usually surpassing knowledge.”





Nice story here: http://bangshift.com/blog/the-bangshift-interview-ej-potter-aka-the-michigan-madman.html

[Luminous Animal]

12. Lived in a small town on the banks of the St. Clair River (Hi Canada!).

Swam nearly every summer day in Lake Huron. Ice skated from my front steps to the skating pond a block away. Went sledding in the graveyard across the street. Had a mad crush on Steve Bewer when I was 7. Horribly abused by Catholic nuns. Learned "publics" were bad even though most of those "publics" were members of the Catholic church. Ran around in my uncle's woods and my other uncle's orchard and my grandmother's farm. Had a great aunt who, at age 90, cut off her toe while chopping wood, and uncle who could blow smoke out of his left ear. Licked cream off the top of frozen bottled milk, licked salt from the bottom of the salt vats of the Diamond Crystal salt company, ate raw wild rhubarb, ran around barefoot in the snow. Grew my own tomatoes on the edge of the graveyard. Buried my cats there, too. Loved hanging out at the Boulier's across the street... 11 girls and 1 boy... with the parents, 14 people in a small 3 bedroom house. Loved driving to the beach in the car that had no back seats so we sat in beach chairs and I would watch the road go by through the hole in the floor. Hated feeding the chickens. Loved watering the cows, catching lightening bugs, and flashlight tag. Fascinated by the slop truck and its gazillion flies and the tinker man who who stop and give us wheelbarrow rides. Happy that I had a cousin named Mouse, another named Jump And Do, an uncle named Pink, and an aunt named Moo. Learned how to pray for my ever shriveling soul and how to lie during confession and that god left his hand print when fashioning the earth and created Michigan!

[JNelson6563]

14. lol Fun read!

[blaze]

16. Loved this! nt

[Scuba]

13. Just say "Porcupine Mountains" and Michigan is a winner!!!

Love Da Yoopers!!!

[raccoon]

15. To me, best known Michigander--Michael Moore. nt

[JNelson6563]

17. OMG It's Michigan's turn!

SwampG8r, I have greatly enjoyed this series of posts!

I love Michigan, have lived here all my life. I grew up in the suburbs of Detroit (my dad was an accountant with GM). Now I live up by the pinky of the mitten, in beautiful Traverse City.

Our fair city by the bay in the summer



Check out the fall colors!



Here's where we have our parties, come join us!



We've got an awesome downtown theater that Michael Moore led the way in saving.



Cherries! We're the Cherry Capital! We have a bash we call the Cherry Festival every summer, about 250,000 come to visit (and wish they could stay).



We do get some brutal winter weather from time to time (not this year!) so we drive whatever gets us through the snow because we also throw awesome parties in the winter!




One last shot, serenity.



Here's how we see the neighbors




We've got just about everything here! Come see us anytime!

Julie

[Luminous Animal]

22. Lovely! (nt)

[FrodosPet]

24. Awesome pics!

I would love nothing better than to live near T.C. (maybe Bellaire, the Mission Peninsula, or near Alden). Even Grawn, Chums Corners, etc. would be good.

[jsmirman]

18. Go Blue *

nm

[notadmblnd]

19. Michigan, the only state that you can use your hand to point out where you are-

[sarcasmo]

20. My home state kicks ass when it comes to music.

Jack White/ The White Stripes

Iggy Pop

Stevie Wonder/ born in Saginaw, my hometown

Diana Ross

Madonna

Del Shannon

Jackie Wilson

Anthony Kiedis/ Red Hot Chilli Peppers, born in Grand Rapids

Kid Rock

Ted Nugent


All of the above were born in Michigan.

[jdadd]

21. Nine outa Ten ain't bad....Ted Nugent?

[UrbScotty]

23. Every state has those kinds of people!

[roody]

25. the Michigan Women's Music Festival!