Monday, 1/27

Maybe that explains it.

First of all, hope you had a good weekend. I enjoyed mine, as I had (for the first time in a LOOOOONG time) nothing pressing to do, other than touch up tonight's “906” script (which I had written and intended to use last week, but was forced by the Lions' loss to quickly write another one). So I got to ponder matters which, as we all know, can be a dangerous thing.

And I came to the conclusion that it might have been a good thing, if only for me, that the Noquemanon wasn't held this year.

I know; that's kinda bad, isn't it? But after the insanely successful History Center show Thursday and “High School Bowl” and radio Friday, both my voice and my psyche were kinda shot. If I had to spend six hours announcing names last Saturday; well, let's just say that one of the possible outcomes may have been me ending up as a puddle on the floor, crying out silently because I had lost my voice along with my sanity.

Maybe.

Now, had the race been run as scheduled I certainly would have done my part to make it a great experience for everyone coming across the finish line. But sadly, especially for the race organizers and the local businesses that count on the race and its participants for some winter profit, I didn't have to. I wish it hadn't been that way, and even though it worked out a little for me I gladly would have traded it for a full race.

Not having to announce, like I said, gave me time to think, especially after I came across an interesting statistic from the National Weather Service, a statistic that explains exactly WHY the Noque was cancelled. The areas to the east & west of Marquette—Alger County and the Copper Country—are running at between 120 & 150% of their usual snowfall. Here in Marquette?

We're only at about 40%.

Thanks to wind directions and speeds, we're not getting the lake effect snow that the rest of the UP has been getting. That's why the Noquemanon course didn't have enough the white stuff for safe skiing. And that's why I spent the weekend pondering instead of announcing.

You know the old Chinese curse that says “may you live in interesting times”? Well, I can speak with authority that, at least here around Marquette we DO live in (sadly) interesting times...at least as far as the weather goes.

(jim@wmqt.com)