Back home

It seems to me that early U.S. immigrants settled where they felt at home. That explains why the Michigan flatlands have such a humongous Dutch population, and it explains why the glorious rolling green hills south-east of us are called the Irish Hills.
But amidst Killarny, Kelly, Kilkenny and Shamrock, a very American Legend of Giant Proportions is spending his days looking at the world with a crazy smile, offering his ax:
Paul Bunyan.

You may not know this, but Paul Bunyan created the Grand Canyon by dragging said ax, the Great Lakes with a few footsteps and Mount Hood, when he piled rocks on top of his campfire to put it out. He was usually accompanied by his friend Babe, the Blue Ox (because a brown cow simply wouldn't do?)

Because he was such an extraordinary lumberjack (not to mention a Giant) the Michigan Wolverines and the Michigan State Spartans football teams still fight for the Paul Bunyan Trophy every year, while the Wisconsin Badgers and Minnesota Golden Gophers fight for the honour of the prestigious Paul Bunyan's Ax.

Now, I don't want to speak ill of local heroes, especially big and burly ones, but to me he looks like a maniacal ax-murderer.
Maybe it's the paint-job?

Here's a photo of the Beloved (at 6'3") standing comfortably between the Bunyan's legs.

One day we'll take a roadtrip and maybe I'll be able to Blip a different Paul Bunyan every day. Oh, the Glory!


I filled in yesterday's write-up, in case you are interested :)