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Category Archives: Oddities

Some rocks, Ann Arbor, Michigan

words and images Posted on by
June 23, 2024

I thought to check Atlas Obscura to see if there were any oddities of interest nearby. I found out there is a colorful banded rock down the street that’s across from the bed and breakfast. Since every University of Michigan building along the way seems to have benches in front, I was able to get there without difficulty (with several breathers).

Before I did, however, I found a sculpture of interest, also listed in Atlas Obscura — Arriving Home (2007) by Dennis Oppenheim. When I saw it, my first thought was: If I step through it, what will happen to Edith Keeler? (Yes, I know the Guardian of Forever is an irregular shape, but in the moment I wasn’t that literal.)

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Given the location, “galvanize” is a great word choice

When I arrived at the rock’s location, I found other rocks. All glacial erratics? They were of different shapes, sizes, and compositions. Unfortunately, I thought, a class that had added to the collection had had the rock’s surface carved with their year. A sign or plaque would have been better. Alas.

I found the banded rock I was seeking. It wasn’t called out as special or unusual — it was one rock among some rocks.1 I wouldn’t have minded taking it and some others home with me, if it were possible to lug boulders onto an Amtrak train.

This Ann Arbor District Library page has a bit more about the collection at 1100 North University, known as “Rock Specimens on the Lawn.” It makes me regret I didn’t become a geologist (or don’t have the mental makeup to have become one).

Some rocks
Some rocks
29 photos

1 Apologies to Michael L. I know “some rocks” are always in groups of three, but I beg indulgence.

Howie the Big Bull, Valparaiso, Indiana

In addition to Orville Redenbacher, I found Howie the Big Bull in Valparaiso, Indiana. He’s in front of Kelsey’s Steakhouse. According to Roadside America.

The statue started as mascot for Howard and Sons Quality Meats, made a newsworthy move to a new location in 1991, and again in 2014 . . . If you choose to eat, for des[s]ert you can also eat Howie in the form of a chocolate cake shaped like a cow.

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Howie the Big Bull, Valparaiso, Indiana, August 15, 2020

Singin’ in the rain mural, Ann Arbor, Michigan

I discovered this Roadside America attraction in June 2021. I was going to look for it, but it happened to be on the way from the Ann Arbor bus drop-off area to Kerrytown. Amusingly, while most of my trips to Ann Arbor have featured great weather, this one was exceptionally rainy. I even got caught in a Gene Kelly-style downpour, minus the hat, suit, and dancing.

Roadside America attraction
Singin’ in the Rain

Orville Redenbacher, Valparaiso, Indiana

When out and about, if I remember I’ll check the Roadside America app (or Atlas Obscura) to see if there are any local oddities like Muffler Men. I found out there’s an unusual statue of Orville Redenbacher, the popcorn king and agricultural scientist, in Valparaiso, Indiana. This was taken August 15, 2020, when he was one of the people you could sit this close to unmasked.

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Orville Redenbacher in Valparaiso, Indiana

Gemini Giant, Wilmington, Illinois

Standing tall on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois, the Gemini Giant welcomes you to the Launching Pad. The giant is one of the Muffler Men listed at Roadside America (many with photos). You can learn “How to Identify Muffler Men.” Accept nothing less than the real deal.

I’m devastated — DEVASTATED — to find out only now there are Muffler Men variations in Springfield (here’s one and here’s the other), Peoria (Vanna Whitewall!), and Metropolis. I missed them all on visits to those towns.

But I’ll always have the Gemini Giant in Wilmington.

Gemini Giant
Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois, June 4, 2017
Gemini Giant
Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois, June 4, 2017

Not a Muffler Man, but I saw Superman in Metropolis.

Superman in Metropolis
Metropolis, Illinois

And even Clark Kent, who’s more two dimensional than I expected.

Me as Supergirl
Metropolis, Illinois

Diaper Deck at Argo Tea

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The women’s room at Argo Tea (Sears) features a Diaper Deck. Here are descriptions of the visuals and the accompanying text:

Standing baby is about to set something flat down, presumably on the Diaper Deck.

LAY TOWEL DOWN.

Baby appears to be suspended in midair by a belt through his undies.

FASTEN STRAP.

Baby falls headfirst.

NEVER LEAVE BABY UNATTENDED.

Standing baby throws something in the trash.

DISPOSE OF TOWEL.

I finally realized “towel” means “diaper,” which is odd as it is called a Diaper Deck.

My attention, however, was distracted by the baby who does it all — lays out his own towel (diaper), fastens himself in but falls off headfirst anyway, then recovers enough to dispose of his own soiled towel (diaper), which you can understand — you might soil yourself if you abruptly fell headfirst.

In all four visuals, clearly the baby has been left unattended. The lesson seems to be that if you leave baby unattended, he’ll remove and dispose of his own diaper despite massive head trauma. Interestingly, he doesn’t seem to have figured out how to put a clean one on.

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