Friday, 9/29

Since I have to run off and tape the season's first episodes of “High School Bowl” (and seeing as how they're the season's first episodes I'd like to get there early and get organized), I'm gonna leave you with something I wrote four years ago on this date. It's kind of funny; when I re-read it, I thought it would've been something I would've written today no matter what the year. Just take out the references to actual dates, and we'd be set.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Have yourself a great weekend, and I'll be back with details on how the first shoot of the year went Monday!

(jim@wmqt.com)

****

(as originally posted 9/30/13):

Wait. September’s already over?????

I seem to recall writing something similar back at the end of either May or June, and I also recall ending that something I had written with the prediction (or warning) that come the end of August or the end of September I’d be doing the same thing, because by the end of August or the end of September I’d still be shocked at how quickly time has flown past.

Well, it’s nice to know that I can accurately forecast the future, right? Either that, or I’m just really too predictable in the things about which I whine. I’ll leave it up to you to choose which is more correct.

Saying “goodbye” to September really is like saying “goodbye” to summer, even if this year we didn’t really have much of a summer to say “goodbye” to. Heading into October you know you may have a nice day or two pop up here or there, but you also know that there’s an equal (if not better) chance that you’ll see the first snowflake of the year, even though the last one you saw was on May 26^th (and even though you know that knowing the last snow flake you saw was on May 26^th shows that you have some deeply rooted problems!)

I know that there are some people—heck, I know that there are many people—who just love October, who think it’s the greatest month of the year. They like the cooler temperatures; they love the colors and the crisp, sharp smell you get when out walking among the falling leaves. And I can see the appeal in all that, especially in the changing colors. But it also means that my favorite time of the year is over.

Much in the same way skiers mourn April or deer hunters mourn December, I kind of mourn the end of September. Like I mentioned before, it signals the end of my favorite time of the year. And it means that, unless we have another weird and wacky year like 2013 (which I’m not ruling out), it’ll be another seven or eight months before we can head outside and play in the warm sun. I know that for most people that’s not that big of a deal, but apparently I’m special in that way.

Aren’t I lucky?

Don’t worry; after today, I shan’t bring it up again. After all, I whine about the weather enough in here, and if I can remember back that far, I believe my New Year’s resolution was to try to cut down on my whining about the weather and things way out of my control. However, today marked a significant cut-off point in that regard, and I just felt that it should be observed.

So I’ll shut up now.

Thursday, 9/28

It starts all over again tomorrow.

“It”, of course, is another season (the 40^th, believe it or not) of “High School Bowl” on Public TV 13. While the show won't actually start airing new episodes for another month and a half, tomorrow's the day the first new shows of the season are taped; hopefully, this year, with a host who knows what he's doing.

You know...me!

I say that as a joke, of course. After hosting the show for the past three years I'd HOPE I know what I'm doing. That theory will actually be put to the test when first Hancock & Stephenson and then Houghton & Dollar Bay take their place on the set tomorrow morning. We've not done any technical rehearsals or practice sessions; we're just hoping to pick up where we left off a long six and a half months ago.

There's no danger in that, right?

That was, I think, one of the great things about stepping into a TV show that's heading into its 40^th season. Everyone behind the scenes has been doing their job for so long that they can just get right back into it without even giving it a second thought. I'm hoping I can do that, as well. I don't think it'll be a problem, as for me; at least, it does NOT seem like it's been six and a half months since we taped last year's championship match. Six and a half days, maybe, but not six and a half months.

Not, of course, that what I do is difficult. I stand up there, read things, and crack bad jokes. Trust me...it's not that hard. So if I CAN'T step right back into things; well, maybe they need to find a new host.

8-)

I think the show we tape tomorrow airs November 4^th, so you won't have too long to see the result. I know that, until then, Public TV is re-running the final episodes of last year's competition beginning a week from Saturday. So if you want to (spoiler alert) re-live Houghton's run to yet another title, you're all ready to go.

Just like we will (hopefully) be tomorrow morning!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 9/27

I don't think there are any more around. I think they've gone extinct.

As I mentioned yesterday, I spent almost the entire very hot weekend outdoors. And one of the things I did was to follow up on a blog from a few weeks ago, the blog where I wrote about how one of the few remaining “Don't Spit on the Sidewalk; Spit on the Side” sidewalk slabs was torn out when they were adding a bus lane at Graveraet. I said at the time I'd have to look and see if the others that I knew of were still around, and I'm sad to say that I think they're all gone.

8-(

Now, I'm not talking about all of those “Don't Spit on the Sidewalk” imprints you see all over the city. They're all still there. But there were four unique ones around, four that had an extra line on them that said “Spit on the Side”. It's a line that added extra context as to why we have those sidewalk imprints in the first place (because in ye olde days gentlemen needed to be told to spit their tobacco juice somewhere other than the sidewalk, so the hems of the dresses worn by fashionable ladies would remain tobacco-juice free). Now, it appears those four are gone.

Aside from the one in front of Graveraet there was one near the corner of Fourth & Mather; this one, specifically--

Which isn't there any more. There was another on Adams Street in south Marquette. I walked up & down the entirety of the street—both sides—Saturday, and couldn't find it. I may have missed it, because I didn't remember the exact location, but I swear I looked at every sidewalk slab the length of the street, and I didn't see it. The same for the fourth slab, which was somewhere on the east side of High Street. After checking out the length of the street Sunday, I have to conclude that that one is gone, too.

Sigh.

I realize these are strange things to mourn, but someone needs to do it. Like I said a few weeks ago, it's great that Marquette is constantly reinventing and reconstructing itself. I wouldn't have it any other way. But during that re-invention shouldn't we remember what came before? I mean, after the disastrous “Great Sandstone Purge” of the late 1960s Marquette managed to save and re-invent the remaining sandstone buildings around town. And while I realize slabs of sidewalk aren't quite as impressive (or as visible) as the Old Savings Bank Building or Old City Hall, shouldn't someone remember why they were stamped the way they were stamped?

I mean, someone other that dorky history geeks?

Okay; I'll shut up about sidewalk slabs for now. That's the price of progress, I guess, the same way that the city's original wooden sidewalks were removed in the early 1900s to make way for the stamped cement ones, and the same way that the ones that replaced the stamped walks will one day be removed themselves and replaced by the moving sidewalks or or solar power generating walks of the future.

It's just a shame they won't say “Spit on the Side”.

(jim@wmqt.com), dork.

Tuesday, 9/26

Now that “Summer in September” (trademark pending) is set to leave us (and, as an aside to “Summer in September”, please don't go!), at least we have pictures.

That's right; aside from going to the beach Sunday with Loraine, I spent almost the entire weekend outside soaking up the sun and the 90 degree heat. And since I don't think I can go outside when it's nice without a camera, here's a smattering of what I came across.

Despite the fact that it's almost October, there are plenty of bright colors, from one end of the spectrum...

To the other--

There were also plenty of bugs doing what bugs do-

And not just bees, either--

Loraine and I weren't the only ones at the beach on Sunday--

In fact, it was so crowded that if you wanted a little peace & quiet you had to get away from it all--

And, lest we forget, it IS almost October, so even though it was sunny & 90 degrees there were these reminders that something is not that far away...

I'm not quite sure what (or who) that it; for now, let's just call it the spirit of winter approaching and leave it at that. So long, “Summer in September” (trademark pending). While I wish you had actually shown up on your normal schedule, this was a weekend for the record books.

Tomorrow, the story of something I DIDN'T see over the weekend.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 9/25

If I was a guy, I know where I would've been yesterday afternoon.

Okay; that didn't sound quite right, if only because, the last time I checked, I AM a guy. Let me put it this way—if I was young, single guy, I know where I would've been Sunday afternoon--

The beach. Specifically, the beach at McCarty's Cove

Let me explain. Because it was a gorgeous, 90 degree day (at the end of September!) Loraine and I found ourselves out walking around a bunch of bike paths, then taking a walk in the lake on the beach from Shiras Park to McCarty's Cove. I was surprised by something—while the beach was packed (as well it should be), the vast majority of people that were there were women. I was kind of surprised by that; after all, it's usually split 50-50 among the genders. But then I started to think (which, as we all know, can be a very dangerous thing), and I suddenly realized why the beach may have filled with a majority of women.

All the guys were inside watching football.

I mean, that's the only reason I can think of why the beaches were lacking men on 90 degree Sunday. Every other Sunday we've walked past that locale there have been men on the beach; the only thing different this past Sunday was the fact that pro football (oh, and the Lions, too) was being shown on TV. So that's the only reason I can think of. And it's a shame the guys missed it, too. It was a gorgeous day, and they missed it for what—a chance to see the Lions lose?

It's not like you won't have 14 more chances to see that this season.

Loraine also joked about how, by not being at the beach, the guys were missing out n a chance to perhaps meet all those women who were being smart and enjoying the sun and the warmth. And that got us to talking...where exactly DO single people go to meet now? I mean, we've been together forever, and haven't exactly had to worry about meeting other people. But where DO single people go to meet now; assuming, of course, that they actually go somewhere to meet in person, and just don't do it online. Do you still go to bars to meet people? Do you still see who's cruising the produce aisles of a grocery store? Or do you go outside, on a nice sunny day, and meet someone that way?

Inquiring (married) minds want to know!

So if you're a young man and it's nice outside again some Sunday this fall, take it from someone who has seen it first hand. Don't spend the entire afternoon glued to a TV set or a computer screen. Go to the beach instead.

You're welcome.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 9/22

We all know that calendars don't lie. Apparently, though, it's quite easy to fool them.

Welcome to the first full, official day of Autumn, a season usually marked by changing leaves, dropping temperatures, and at least here in the UP, the chance of snow lurking behind every corner. Yet on this first full day of Autumn, as well as the second and third full days of Autumn, we in the UP are slated to have our warmest three-day stretch of 2017, with highs in the mid to upper 80s.

Guess we won't have to worry about that snow lurking behind any corners this weekend, right?

Obviously, I'm not complaining about our weather this weekend; anyone who's read even one of these would know better than that. And while I'd MUCH rather have had this weekend in June (or July, or August), I guess you take it when you can get it. But it continually amazes me how swiftly what we perceive as “normal” in weather is changing. Highs of 88 on the first day of fall in the UP? Sure; why not? Two Category Five hurricanes in one week in the Atlantic? Bring 'em on. Conditions that lead to fire all over the western US and Canada? Who needs water?

Wow. I don't know if I wanna see what's coming next. All I know (and I am fairly certain about this) is that it'll be nastier, deadlier, and even more weird (88 degrees on September 24^th?) than ever before. And that's not a good thing.

However, that won't stop me from enjoying the heat this weekend. Hopefully, I won't feel too guilty about it, but we haven't had two straight days of temps in the 80s this year, much less three. Like I said before, you have to take them when you can get them.

Even if it is during the first three official days of Autumn.

*****

Before I let you go for the weekend, I have to thank everyone who cast their vote for which picture should appear on my work computer desktop for the year. I'm a little surprised at which one you chose—I thought for sure you would've went for the cow or the castle in Heidelberg. But nope; thanks to your input, for the next year I get to look at the entrance to the Stadt Garten in Freiburg--

I think I can live with that choice.

Okay. Now you can go for the weekend. Make sure you get out and play if it's nice where you live!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 9/21

We have no idea who they came from. But we sure do appreciate it.

When Loraine came home from work yesterday she found these flowers sitting at our front door--

It's a nice container full of yellow mums, which smell great and are currently brightening up our kitchen, sharing a space with the only other plant we have, a Christmas cactus that has defied all attempts to render it lifeless. Attached to the flowers was this card--

If you can't read it it says “Hi, Jim & Loraine. I had an extra mum plant, thought you could use it! From a neighbor”.

That's sweet. That's really, really sweet. Even if we have no idea who that neighbor is.

We have a couple of ideas, but no solid leads. The writing looks like it came from a woman, and whoever wrote it obviously knows that Loraine's name is not spelled the standard way. We also have couple of neighbors who have nice gardens, but it seems to me (admittedly, someone who knows nothing about gardens) that it's kind of late in the year to be buying and planting flowers. All of that plays into the names we threw out as possibilities, but there's no concrete proof as to who gave us the flowers.

Unless, of course, they read this and wanna come clean!

Even if we never find out who gave us the flowers, we still appreciate them. In a world where people treat each other with such venom and/or suspicion on a daily basis, it's nice to know that there are others out there who just decide to do something sweet for people who live around them. Whoever gave them to us did it expecting, I'm guessing, nothing in return, but they did it anyway. How many times does that even happen any more? I don't know if we got lucky, or if this is some kind of payback for something we may have done for someone in the past, but either way it was a nice thing for us to come home to.

So once again, to whomever gave us the mums, thank you. That was a sweet, thoughtful gesture, and we appreciate it.

(jim@wmqt.com)

(ps—don't forget—just one day left to vote on which picture will be on my computer desktop for the next year. Scroll down to Monday's entry to see the nominees!)

Wednesday, 9/20

I live three blocks from work. And these days, I only have to walk six blocks to get there.

Yes, I know the math doesn't add up. But it's true. Like just about every street in Marquette this year North Front Street is under construction. Specifically, the curbs and sidewalks are being replaced. Now, I don't have a problem with that. It's s good thing the streets are undergoing an upgrade. The thing with which I do have an issue is this—on the 200 North block of Front they're doing work on both sides of the street, which means the sidewalks on both sides are closed at the same time. If you're walking down Front and come to that block there's nowhere for you to walk, unless you wanna walk in the street. And since I kind of value my life and don't feel like walking in the street, I have to cut over to Third, walk down that street for two blocks, and then cut through an alley to get to work.

That's why my three block walk ends up taking six (or, more to the point, five and a half blocks).

Like I said, I have no problem with the construction on the sidewalks and streets. Really, I don't. They needed them, and it'll make our pretty downtown even prettier. But what I do have a problem with is the fact that they're doing construction on both sides of the street at once. I know nothing about construction, so maybe there's a reason for this, but wouldn't it be easier on both workers and (especially) pedestrians to tear up one side of the street, rebuild it and make it functional again, and then do the same to the other side of the street? That way at least one side of the street would be open at all times and, instead of having to go three blocks out of my way I'd just have to cross the street twice.

Or is that just too easy?

I don't wanna sound like I'm whining. Really, I don't. I usually reserve that for the weather. But it just doesn't seem like they took the needs of pedestrians into account when they set out to plan this whole project. I guess I shouldn't be surprised; when talking about another project a few years ago with a construction worker he said, and I quote, “we didn't know that people actually used the sidewalks here”. Why yes, we do. In fact, a lot of us do. And that's, apparently, unlike a lot of places where this person had worked. I don't know if that plays into why they do things they way they do or not; I just know it's inconvenient.

Thankfully, it'll also be a short inconvenience, as it only takes a few weeks to repair & replace a sidewalk (as opposed to, say, putting roundabouts in). I know that my walk will shortly go back to being the usual three blocks. It's just that it's a pain in the butt for those few weeks. And that's all I'm gonna say about that. After all, I do wanna reserve my whining for more important things.

Weather, you'd better watch out!

8-)

Oh...don't forget to get your votes in for my desktop picture. Scroll down to Monday's entry if you wanna know more.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 9/19

Okay. The dreams can stop any time now.

As most of you know I drove almost 2,000 kilometers (1,200 or so miles) during our European getaway. For me, that's somewhere between 85 and 90 percent of the total mileage I drive all year, compacted into a 9 or so day span. And I'm guessing that's the reason why, every night since we've gotten back, I've had dreams about driving.

Some dreams I'm just driving around like a normal person does. Some dreams, I'm driving around in circles, not knowing where I'm going (much like several days we experienced in Europe). And in some dreams I think I'm driving but, as it turns out, I'm actually doing something else (like running) when I'm supposed to be driving.

The human brain is weird, isn't it?

This is the first time I've had dreams about driving after returning from a trip. Normally, at least as far as I've noticed, I've NEVER had dreams about driving, especially for 10 days in a row (and counting). I don't know what caused it; sure, all the construction and detours that we rain into this time were a hassle, but nothing that (I thought) would've scarred my psyche to the extent that I'd have dreams about driving for a week and a half straight. And if that were the case, wouldn't you think that all of my dreams would tend toward the bizarre and/or nightmarish? Nope; a large chunk of the dreams just involve me driving without getting lost or me driving with all my clothes on.

I don't get it.

But then, that's kind of the point of dreams, right? It's your subconscious trying to work out whatever issues it's dealing with at the moment. You're not supposed to entirely understand them. You're just supposed to wake from them feeling refreshed. Or, in this case, with a weird feeling that your brain's not doing what it's supposed to do.

Maybe, deep down, my brain is telling me that it misses driving. After all, I never had dreams like this when I drove to work all the time. And I didn't have any dreams about driving while I was actually driving every day in Europe. The dreams didn't start until I came back and stopped driving. So maybe that does have something to do with it. The only thing is...how come I didn't have these dreams after coming back from Europe any of the other times I also drove everywhere?

I don't get it.

Hopefully, one night soon I'll have normal dreams, dreams of Loraine or of chocolate or of flying on a dragon while wearing a kilt (what...you don't have dreams like that?). Either that, or pretty soon I'll start having dreams about entering an around the world driving rally, or something like that.

With my brain, you never know.

***

Before I leave you today, a big shout-out to the two people without whom I would not be possible...my mom & dad. It's their anniversary today, so if you know 'em and see them around, make sure you congratulate them. And also, don't forget that I need your vote to tell me which picture should be on my computer desktop for the next year. Scroll down to yesterday's entry to see the choices!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 9/18

Once again, it’s time for you to decide.

As you may recall, every year when I get back from Europe I let you guys decide on which picture I took there gets to be my work computer desktop photo for the year. So far, you’ve chosen trees, flowers, village scenes, and last year, these tomatoes from the market in Bayeux, France--

I always pick out a couple of semi-finalists from which you get to choose, and I base the choice on this criteria--that I like it enough to be able to stare at it every day for the next year. After all, it would make no sense for me to, say, have to look at a picture of snow or something grungy for an entire year, which is the reason why you may notice all the pictures have a little sun or something cheery about them. Oh, and there should be enough room for a dozen or so icons to appear without disrupting the flow of the picture.

Okay, with that out of the way, here are your choices for this year, as taken in chronological order--

A cow in the sun with a wicked storm in the background, from Chaumont, Belgium--

The Moselle Valley in Remich, Luxembourg--

The peacock that tried to steal Loraine's dinner, Parc de la Pepiniere, Nancy, France--

The Stadtgarten (City Garden) in Freiburg, Germany--

And the castle in Heidelberg, Germany--

Take a look at the pictures, and by this Friday morning please let me know which you think should be on my computer desktop. I’ll announce the winner then, and for the next year, that’ll be the picture that greets me every morning when I come into work. You guys have shown great taste in the past; I look forward to seeing what you choose this year!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 9/15

I've been breached!

Whenever I get back from Europe I know there are a ton of loose ends with which I have to deal, but never in my wildest dreams did I think one of those loose ends would be to take care of things because I was one of 100+ million victims of the Equifax credit hack.

I guess I'm just lucky that way.

There's a website where you can go to see if you're one of the victims of the hack (and it's a legit site; Loraine was given it at the bank at which she works). You enter in your last name and a few digits of your Social Security number and the company lets you know if your info was stolen in the hack.

Mine was. Loraine's, thankfully, wasn't.

Once you find out if you're a victim you then can, if you so choose, fill out a few screens of stuff to have your credit monitored to make sure that it's not used in a nefarious way. I don't know if it matters; after all, the cynic in me has always assumed that your personal info is floating around the dark web anyway. Bit I'll admit it does give you a small slice of peace of mind, and it's the least the company can do after allowing itself to be breached.

The very least.

Other than that, all the other loose ends from the trip have been pretty much swept up, with the exception of some laundry that needs to get done. I'm looking forward to this weekend for a couple of reasons, several of which have nothing to do with the fact that it's supposed to be sunny & 80. I'm looking forward to getting back into our normal weekend routine, seeing it hasn't been “normal” for a couple of months now. As much as I enjoy writing these things (and I really DO enjoy writing them), I've been writing one every day since August 28^th. It'll be nice to rest my brain for a day or two. And secondly, I'm looking forward to the benefit for Phil's statue being held Sunday afternoon at the Delft Bistro.

Hope you can join me for that; if I don't see you there, make sure that you have yourself a spectacular (and credit breach-free) weekend wherever you are and whatever you do!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 9/14

So where was this kind of weather this “summer”? Sigh...

Here we are, now four days into our “Summer in September” (trademark pending) and I just have to chuckle at the absurdity of the whole situation. I have to chuckle, otherwise I'd probably start crying. Yesterday, in fact, was especially gorgeous, and it looks like we have have another amazing day on Saturday. If the forecast hold, it means that we will be having six straight days with highs above 70 degrees this week.

The sad thing about that? There was not ONE stretch of six days this entire summer where the high hit 70 degrees. Not one.

See why I'm laughing?

I realize that as the planet's climate changes our weather norms are changing, as well. Maybe from now on we'll have rather crappy “summers” and then get things like our “Summer in September” (trademark pending) on a yearly basis. But while a week of “Summer in September” (trademark pending) is okay, I would much rather go old school and have, you know, three months of summer. You know—a June where it's not rainy, a July where it's nice and hot, and an August where the temperatures actually get above 60 on a daily basis.

That's not asking too much, is it?

I know. I'll shut up now. I've been told time and time again, by people much smarter than I, that there's nothing you can do to change the weather. You get what you get. And if you get a “Summer in September” (trademark pending) after the lack of a real “summer”, you should probably enjoy it as much as possible, if only because I have a feeling that a “Summer in October” (trademark not pending) is not something we will get to enjoy.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 9/13

Just for the record, I have never driven on that side of the road.

I've had a bunch of people ask me how our little trip over to Europe went, and that's nice. It's kinda cool to know people are interested in what we did. When they ask for details, driving in Europe invariably comes up, and the one question that almost everyone asks is something along the lines of “Isn't it strange driving on the other side of the road”? And I always have to answer this way--

“I wouldn't know”.

It's funny that people think that everywhere else in the world you have to drive on the left-hand side of the road, because that happens in very few countries (Britain and its former colonies, mostly). Everywhere in Europe—every single country outside of the UK and Ireland—you drive just as we drive here, on the right hand side of the road. In fact, I think the only difference is that you can't make a right-hand turn on red.

And you can't even do that in some US states.

I think I know why people believe everyone in Europe drives on the left-hand side of the road. Because we speak the same language, we get so many TV shows and movies from Britain that it just seems as if all foreign countries are like that. But they're not. Watch a movie or TV show from France or Germany you'll see people driving down a street just like we do. In fact, they're probably driving better than we are, because fines for traffic violations like speeding or cutting off other drivers are quite steep, and if you get too many penalty points you can lose your license.

Because of that, European drivers actually treat traffic laws as laws, and not just suggestions, as some American drivers are wont to do.

I'm sure I'll keep getting the question, and that's fine. It shows that people are genuinely curious, and if I can help broaden their knowledge of the rest of the world just a smidge, all the better. But just for the record, no, I have never driven a car in a country where everyone drives on the left hand side of the road. That's a life experience that's still to come, with any luck.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 9/12

My body is going through chocolate withdrawal.

I wish I could say I was kidding; unfortunately, I fear I’m not. Yesterday was the first day since I left for Europe that I haven’t devoured a chocolate bar or three. I figured my body would thank me; after all, while they’re among the most delicious things on the planet, and while I do eat mostly dark chocolate filled with all kinds of good antioxidants, the chocolate bars are just (basically) empty calories. I’m sure my body would much rather have its usual whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Boy, was I wrong. I felt. . .off all day yesterday, my body wasn’t reacting the way it usually reacts, and I even found myself with a slight headache. And that’s when it hit me--my body was rebelling by not having its usual (at least for the past few weeks) dose of chocolate. You know how coffee drinkers often say feel like they’re going through withdrawal when they quit drinking cold turkey?

That’s how I felt yesterday by going cold turkey on chocolate.

I know chocolate shares a common ingredient with coffee in caffeine, but I don’t believe that chocolate has THAT much caffeine, at least an amount that would cause withdrawal symptoms. But then I’m not a nutritional scientist, so what do I know? Maybe I AM going through chocolate-fueled caffeine withdrawal and don’t even realize it. Either that, or my body just became so used to the creamy and gooey goodness of the chocolate I’ve been eating that it wants some more.

And I couldn’t say I’d blame it, if that were the case. As I’ve mentioned two or three thousand times in here recently, I’m that fond of the chocolate. I know it’s probably not that good for me, but we all have a weakness or three in life. The chocolate appears to be mine.

Other than that, I seem to be handling the transition back to reality okay. My body clock has adjusted back to Michigan time, although I‘m sure it could use a little more catch-up sleep. I think I’ve dealt with all the problems that popped up at work in my absence, and my suitcase, while it’s still sitting on my living room floor, is now mostly empty. The clothes that were in it are soon to be washed, the plastic containers that held stuff (mostly chocolate) are now empty, and I just need to throw in all the little items that’ll I’ll be bringing to Germany with us NEXT year into the suitcase before I schlep it down to our basement.

Hopefully, by then, the withdrawal symptoms will be gone.

(jim@wmqt.com)