Column for August 26, 2004

Welcome to Ben E's little corner of the paper. People, places, events, things to do and talk about. Maybe the word is musings? I think in newspaper
writing 101 they teach you your not supposed to talk to yourself, so I better get back to writing.

I may have jinxed myself? Last week I mentioned some past columns where I had wrote about some troubles I have had with AAA towing and the time my
dog got sprayed by a skunk. This week I got a flat tire and the dog got skunked again.

First the tire story. My friend Mitch Manns plays banjo in a Bluegrass band every Wednesday at the Third Street Saloon. Located on Third Street
near Rosa Parks Boulevard in a fairly tuff part of downtown Detroit. I get a chuckle out of imagining some out of town people walking through the heart and soul
of downtown Detroit and hearing some old time bluegrass music coming out of this little corner pub. Well, lucky for me I didn't get a flat in the middle
of the night in downtown Detroit. But the next morning the back tire was low, not from a nail or a hole but the steal core of the tire wearing right through.

Moral of the story, look your tires over once in a while and if your ever looking for some great bluegrass music remember Mitch and Cass Avenue band. Mitch
wouldn't be happy if I didn't mention the band features a great mandolin, guitar and upright bass player.

Now to the skunk story. When I got home I was to tired to take my late night get into shape bike ride, so I decided to walk the dog down to the
corner. Got to the corner the dog bolted like she was shot out of a cannon, I never even saw the skunk, but that unmistakable odor was everywhere.

I took the dog home, hoping that maybe the skunk missed us, but no such luck. I was smart enough this time not to let the dog back in the house. I
tried the old stand-bys, garden house, tomato juice, some skunk remover I had from last time, Murphy's oil soup. But nothing was going to get ride of this
stink.

So the wife sent me to the downstairs shower with some apple scented antibacterial soap. She took the dog to the groomers and after two dog
washes, fresh flowers, new tires and a few days we are pretty much back to normal.

For more information, to see where the band is performing or to contact Ben E. call (313) 730-1627 or via e mail benejets@aol.com and see the web
site
bennyandthejets.com .

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