Wednesday, 5/27

Yesterday, I was able to use my auxiliary office for the first time in a long time--

Those of you who have been reading these forever may recall that on nice summer days, if I have a lot of writing to do, I may skip out of the station with an old notebook computer, head down to Lower Harbor Park, and just write in the sun. Well, for the first time in, like, forever, yesterday it was nice enough to do so, so I unilaterally decided to move the seat of power for the station a block and a half away from where it normally sits.

It was nice.

After the winter (and now lack of Spring) that we've had, it's nice to be able to do little things like that. I mean, think of what we've had to deal with the last six or seven months. Do you think anyone would deny us the chance to enjoy a little sun and a little warmth?

Well, these days, you never know, but it's not anything I would deny anyone. So off to my auxiliary office I went.

Hopefully, I'll be able to enjoy it quite a bit the next few months. However, like most of you, I DID live through the winter and lack of Spring we just had, so I'm not taking anything for granted. I mean, I'm an optimist by nature, so I'm hopeful.

But, like I said, I also lived through the last seven months up here, so I know what's actually within the realm of possibility,.

I wasn't the only one down at the park. During my hour or so in my auxiliary office I saw other people taping on screens, several individuals enjoying their lunch, and an entire 7th grade class making as much noise as a class of 7th graders can make.

But you know what? I'm cool with that. Because, like me, they've had to live through the past seven months, and even seventh graders deserve their time in the sun. Hopefully they, like the rest of us, will get the chance to do this again and again and again.

After all, what's the use of having an auxiliary office if you can't use it on occasion, right?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 5/26

I guess it was a weekend for taking pictures of flowers.

The increasingly warmer temps we had this weekend accelerated the blooming of flowers around Marquette. They had been popping up everywhere before Friday, but after above conditions the past few days it seems like the whole city is blooming. And since I was out quite a bit with my visiting father-in-law, and wasn't gonna let weather like that go wasted, you get to see what my camera saw!

I saw red-ish tulips-

And yellow daffodils--

I saw these purple thingees, whatever they are--

And these magenta thingees, whatever THEY are--

I know. I take a ton of pictures of flowers, yet most of the time I have no idea what I'm photographing. I really should learn what grows around here so I don't have to keep making excuses. I guess I'll just have to add that to the list.

One thing I photographed that I DID know the name of, though, was all the stuff that was in this picture, non-flower division--

I was just just walking around and was struck by the geometry of the shot. I guess it just goes to show that, no matter how many times you've traversed the streets, there's always something new to see in Marquette!

Finally, I'm sure you're all curious as to whether the lilacs came out this weekend. Your answer? This picture was taken at 9:45 am this morning...

There's your answer.  They're close.  They're really close!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 5/22

There's a difference between the two. There's a HUGE difference between the two.

I'm finally starting to get caught up on all of my stuff at work and, if I'm being honest, I'm once again working ahead just a little, as a three-day weekend and a long-awaited visit from Loraine's dad will be occupying my time the next few days. All of this has come with some effort on my part, and more than once the past few days I've uttered a phrase that I usually do when plowing through things, a phrase that if nothing else allows me to vent a little, if only to myself.

That phrase? “I need a vacation”.

Normally, co-workers & friends will laugh if they hear me utter that phrase, although uttering it the past few days got me a few disbelieving looks and a phrase uttered back at me--”you were just on vacation”.

No, I was not on “vacation”. I was on a “trip”.

There IS a difference between the two. Vacations are when you sit on a beach or go on a hike; things that rejuvenate your body and your mind. A trip is when you spend hours in an airplane, then drive on foreign roads, and spend your time navigating through a land where your first language is only the second or third language of the area.

There's a huge difference between the two.

Don't get me wrong—I LOVE our trips. I'd do one every month, if I could. But they're not “vacations”, nor do I expect them to be. My “vacations” are those warm summer days we (usually) get around here when I skip out of work and go play in the sun. They're two different things. And I haven't had a “vacation” recently. I had a great trip, but I really could use a vacation some time soon.

Hopefully Mother Nature provides it. And hopefully she realizes there's a difference between a “trip” and a "vacation”.

Because that difference is quite a big one.

Have a great holiday weekend. I'm off of radio for three days, although I do have my TV gig Monday night. See you then!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 5/21

I'm not going to weigh myself this weekend.

One of the first things I usually do on a Saturday morning, right before I go on my long, meandering run, is to weigh myself. I do so at the same time every week; that way, I get a pretty good idea if I’ve been a bad boy the previous week, a good boy the previous week, or, as is usually the case, an average boy the previous week.

But I won’t weigh myself this Saturday, and I believe you could guess the reason why—German chocolate, lots of bottles of German Dr. Pepper (the kind with sugar, and the kind that tastes like Dr. Pepper used to taste when I was a kid), and several very yummy German (or Italian, or Indian) dinners.

Germans do several things quite well. Raising your cholesterol level is one of them.

After our first two trips to Europe both Loraine and I weighed ourselves the weekend after we returned, and after being shocked out of our minds, vowed ever since to wait a few weeks before measuring our weight again. Sure, a week or two really wouldn’t seem to make that much of a difference, but you’d be surprised at how much 10 days of healthy eating and exercising can lessen the shock of stepping on the scale the first time after returning. It may be cheating a little, but it’s cheating in a good way.

Kind of like some schools do in college football.

If I had to guess, I’ve venture to say I gained two pounds while I was over there this year. I don’t base that guess on anything scientific, other than the fact that I “feel” two pounds heavier. As far as I know, I could step on the scale Saturday and find out I haven’t gained anything at all, or I could step on the scale tomorrow, and find that I shot up five pounds. The possibility of it going up five pounds is the reason why I haven't yet weighed myself since returning, but if I had to guess, I’d guess two pounds.

We’ll see if I was anywhere in the neighborhood when I step on the scale a week from this Saturday. If I’m back to what passes for normal, we’ll know my guess was fairly accurate. If I step on the scale next Saturday and see I’m still three or four pounds over what I was before we left, we’ll know that my guess was wrong, that I saved my system a shock by waiting a week to weigh myself, and that I probably shouldn’t eat too many dinners at restaurants or drink too much Dr. Pepper in Germany any time soon.

I'll just have to make sure I don't go back there in the next couple of months.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 5/20

I finally had a chance to get the pictures, no thanks to my Chromebook.

If you were reading along with our trip blogs, you may remember how on the Friday we got to Saarbrucken I had shot a lot of pictures with my big Nikon camera, but because the Chromebook I was using seemed to have a problem with an SD card as big as the one I had in my camera, I couldn't get the pictures off it it. I bought a smaller SD card the next day and had no problem the rest of the trip.

I just couldn't transfer (and use) the pictures I shot that particular day.

Last night I finally had a few seconds to stick the card in my laptop, where I was able to transfer them with no problem (what that says about Chromebooks? Well, that's a topic for another day). I was glad I was finally able to take a look at them, because I seemed to recall that they were pretty good.

And, for once, I was almost correct.

What kind of shots was I not able to share on our trip blogs? Well, several of them were taken on the Willi Graf Ufer, a riverside trail--

It was a nice night in Saarbrucken, and everyone seemed to be on that trail, just enjoying the evening--

In fact, looking down on the trail from the pedestrian bridge over it, it almost appeared as if you were in a painting--

Other shots I couldn't post? This one--

This one--

And a picture that really doesn't make much sense without context, this one--

So...here's the context. This was a guy who just walked into the middle of Saarbrucken's St Johannes Market Square, pulled out a boom box, played Simply Red's “Holding Back the Years”, and began an interpretive dance to it.

Because, you know, why not, right?

Anyway, I'm glad I finally had the chance to see the pictures (and about 70 others that I took at 1 FC Saarbrucken's practice that afternoon for Loraine). Now, I just have to lecture my Chromebook on the importance of actually working when I need it.

Because computers always listen when you do that, right?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com) 

Tuesday, 5/19

I thought it would be easier this way. I, apparently, was wrong.

I'm starting to get back into the swing of things after our little visit to Germany. I thought it might be a little different this time around, as we came back last Friday and, for the first time, had a whole weekend to ease back into the real world. And while the weekend was fine for getting our body clocks readjusted, it really didn't help as far and anything else went.

I mean, it's probably my own fault, but still. We had a whole weekend!

8-)

I used to the weekend to do laundry, unpack, write my TV piece from last night, go through pictures, go through chocolate, and just try to get ready to get back to “normal”. Of course, when I went to work yesterday we had technical issues that took a while to fix, I never did get into the swing of things on the air, and I'll get to deal with the fallout from that this morning, aside from heading over to NMU to set up the schedule for next year's “High School Bowl”.

Although now that I think about it, aside from the technical issues I probably have no one to blame but myself for the insanity, right?

Hopefully things start to slowly work out today. Hopefully I can get things back on track. Hopefully, I can even work a little bit ahead because, wouldn't you know, we have a three day weekend coming up.

Hopefully, I'm not being too optimistic. We'll see, I guess.

*****

Speaking of the TV spot I write this past weekend and did last night, it talks about something cool I think we should do around here. Check it out if you dare--

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 5/18

 Hey...I'm back!

I don't have a lot of time to write anything right now, as I'm trying to get caught up with, you know, everything, including two of my jobs (radio & TV-19) today, and my other TV job (High School Bowl) early tomorrow, plus a three day weekend looming.

So I'm not taking the easy way out, but I'm, uhm, going to take the easy way out.  Here's what i saw on my way to work this morning--

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.  Well, at least for today.  I promise nothing at all the next three or four weeks.

8-)

I'm off to try & get caught up.  A full one of these tomorrow!

(jim@wmqt.com)

While Jim's in Germany...

All you need to do is head to jimkoski.org (or simply click or tap HERE) and you can read along with whatever fun and/or mishaps come his way!

Tuesday, 5/5

It looks like all systems are go.

With but one day left before we (hopefully) hop on a plane and blow this Popsicle stand, it looks as if everything I need to get done is either done or will be finished today. It's something upon which I always cast a wary eye; after all, I've been working ahead on certain things for almost three months now, and it would not be cool if something (a dead computer, a mental breakdown, and/or the like) got in the way of all that work.

But thankfully, it appears as if fate has once again cast a loving aura upon everything. So thanks, fate!

Here's what's going on. There won't be a blog here tomorrow or (maybe) Thursday, and starting either Thursday or Friday afternoon (your time) I'll start posting on our trip blog. You can just keep coming back here to get to it; I'll make sure I leave a link right above this blog so all you need to do is click one extra time. Hopefully, it won't be too much. And if it is, you have my sincere apologies.

Really, you do.

As always, I plan on posting every day we're there, and based on past experience, I should have no problem. However, you never know if a new hotel we're staying at will have bad wi-fi, or if I'll have some kind of technical problem with the equipment I bring along, or if—like I've joking all along—we get stuck in the middle of somewhere because a flight's been canceled or the world's falling apart. It hasn't happened yet, and I hope it won't this time, but with the way the planet is these days I wanna put that out there just in case. I'm also hoping on send back radio reports on certain days, so you can listen for those, as well.

Well, I think that's it. The next time we speak I'll (hopefully) be a quarter of the world and (just as hopefully) munching on some really good chocolate.

See you then. And keep your fingers crossed. We're counting on every bit of luck possible!

*****

Before I leave...how did my “Star Wars” bit work out on TV last night? Check it out for yourself--

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 5/4

Happy Star Wars Day!

Wait...you don't celebrate Star Wars Day? But it's May the 4^th...you know, as in “May the force (or, in this case, the 4^th) be with you”. You really don't celebrate?

Oh, that's right. You're normal.

8-)

Every so often when I ask a movie trivia question about a “Star Wars” film I'll get someone who has never seen one. Several times, I've spoken with people in my TV job and they'll admit not being a fan of the films. And over the years on “High School Bowl” I've even had one or two of the brightest young people on the planet say that they just don't get “Star Wars”.

And that kinda blows my mind. I mean, I know I'm a dork and I grew up with the original films, but in a macro sense I'm also aware that those movies are a cultural phenomenon. Even if you're not a fan of the films—and, apparently, there are a lot more people out there like that than I ever imagined—you're at least aware of the significance of the movie series.

You may not celebrate the holiday today, but at least you're aware of it.

But I get where some people are coming from. Obviously, I'm a “Star Wars” geek Like me, there are people who are also geeks for a series of films, but in their case they're “Harry Potter” geeks. They grew up with the films, and they'll drink butter beer and play Quiddich. And when I tell them I've never seen a “Harry Potter” film and could care less about ever seeing one, they give me the very same look that I'm sure I give people who say they're just not interested in “Star Wars”.

To each their own. And, by the way, I hope you don't think any less of me because I really don't care about Harry Potter. We all have our deep, dark, secrets. I guess that's mine.

So if you celebrate today, enjoy yourself. If you don't, that's fine too. Just don't be surprised if you do hear “May the Fourth be with you” a time or two today. In fact, if you're watching TV-19 news at 6 o'clock tonight, and just happen to come across a “Star Wars” dork doing something that will either be a huge success or fail miserably...

Well, some of us just can't help ourselves.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 5/1

T-5 days, and all systems are still go.

Yay.

A few weeks ago I wrote in here about whether or not I should blog during the trip, and based on the comments I received and questions people have asked, I guess I'll be doing it. Apparently, there are a LOT of people who travel with us vicariously, and really look forward to seeing what we do.

So...blogging during the trip it shall be.

In fact, we're going to once again put the word “repurpose” into practice here. I've written a pre-trip blog (also available at jimkoski.org), and to wrap up the week here we'll share it with you.

Have a great weekend. Everything from packing to finishing my either really good (or really bad) TV piece await me, so I know what I'll be doing.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

*****

To quote some old dude who once wrote a thing (or two)...once more, unto the breach.

Loraine and I are heading back to Europe for the first time in two years, and we're hoping—hoping--it all works out well. So many things have changed since we last visited one of our favorite places in the world, and there are many issues that could cloud our visit. This is just a partial list--

--What does the ongoing DHS/TSA shutdown mean for us trying to leave or get into the country?

--We're renting a car over there, so what will sky-high fuel prices do to our budget?

--Will tighter border security across Europe's Schengen Zone mean extra hassles in trying to cross from one country to another?

--And how will we be treated over there? Europeans once thought of America (and Americans) as a shining beacon on a hill. Now, they think of us—or at least our government—as bullies.

See? It's not like any of our past trips. But you know what? We'll take it as it comes. And, as always, you're invited to join with us.

Where are we all going, in fact? Well, we're going to Germany for what will be our shortest ever trip (if only by a day). We're flying into Frankfurt, picking up the aforementioned rental car, and then spending a night in Kaiserlautern (where we stayed last time) before heading to the city where we'll be headquartered the rest of the time--

Saarbrucken.

Saarbrucken is a city of about 70,000 people on Germany's extreme western side. In fact, it's one of those places that, during its long history, has been part of France, Prussia, France (again), Germany, France (yet again), and Germany (yet again). It has hills, water (in the form of a river), and a history of mining, so we should feel right at home. And we've chosen this place for two very important reasons, reasons that anyone who knows us (and we count you as among that group) will fully understand.

The first reason—Loraine likes their football team, FC Saarbrucken, and because it's a team in Germany's third tier league (3 Liga), their practices are open to the public, and we can check out her favorite player on the team, Tim Cevaja (he's the one on the left)

The other reason we chose Saarbrucken? It's only 15 or so kilometers to the French border, and only 60 (or so) to the Luxembourg border. So do you know what that means?

In one car ride, we can buy chocolate from Germany, France, and Belgium (which they sell in Luxembourg). Is Saarbrucken a great place, or what?

8-)

The whole adventure begins on Wednesday, May 6^th. Assuming none of the issues we discussed come to fruition, we should be ready to roll (and blog) the day after, having a blast before we (hopefully) head back to Marquette on Friday, May 15^th. And you know what?

As always, we hope you'll join us!

(jimkoskimqt@gmail.com)

Thursday, 4/30

It's either going to be amazing or it's going to implode spectacularly. I don't think there's any middle ground.

At T-6 days before we leave for Europe I have 100,000 things to take care of, among them making sure that I have not one but two TV bits ready to go this weekend, one that I'll be doing live on Monday and the other taped ahead of time to air on the 11^th., The latter, the one that airs while I'm in Germany, is pretty much taken care of. It's fully written, and just needs a few pictures to go along with it. The former, the one that'll do live Monday?

THAT'S the one that's either going to be amazing or implode spectacularly. At this point, I'm not quite sure which way it'll go.

The one I'm taping ahead of time for the 11^th will be reflective, will be something a normal adult would do, albeit with a few wisecracks. The one I'm planning on doing live Monday will be anything but. I mean, I could still change my mind between now and then; after all, I'm doing it live and, unlike the one I'll be taping, I have some leeway in what I do.

But I think I'm gonna go for it.

It's funny; after doing almost 200 editions of “Life in the 906” you'd think that every wild idea that could ever pop out of my head has popped out of my head. But you know what? Sometimes, getting an idea for a reflective one is hard. It's the wild ones that pop out of nowhere, prompted by something I see or, in the case of the one I'm planning for Monday, a date on the calendar. I don't know how and I don't know why, but that's the way it happens.

Lucky me, huh?

Like I said, I have a few days in which I could pull out of this wild idea, but I don't know that I will. And like I said, it's gonna go one way or another. It's either going to be amazing or it's going to implode spectacularly..

Keep your fingers crossed.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/29

Wow. I guess I do have something that would almost qualify me as a Yooper.

We've discussed this in here before, about how I, even though I was born in the UP and have spent over 85% of my life here, am not considered a “Yooper”. I don't do things Yoopers do, and I've had people from all across the UP inform me that despite my birthplace I'm not a Yooper. According to people ranging from Munising to Champion I'm a “city boy”, both because I'm from Marquette and because I prefer concrete over trees & swamps.

I'm just a bad person, I guess. Or at least a bad Yooper.

(And, if truth be told, I'm fine with it. I KNOW I'm not a “real” Yooper. I'm more of an “Urban Yooper”, which I hope isn't too much of an oxymoron).

Anyway, this “Urban Yooper” noticed something while getting ready to head to Germany next week. The weather forecast calls for (thankfully) mild temperatures, and so I dug out several pair of shorts to bring with me. I like these shorts a lot; they're handy and they look good on me. The secret about them?

They're Carhartt shorts. That's right—I own two pieces of clothing from the line that “real” Yoopers call their own. NOW can I be considered a “real” Yooper?

8-)

Don't worry. I'm not going to take up hunting or 4-wheeling or ragging on “city boys”. I just have two pair of shorts that I really like, and they just happened to be from a company that also makes rugged jackets, work clothes, and and whatever else “real” Yoopers wear. Who knew, right? So now, I can proudly say “I own a piece of Carhartt”, even if it is just a pair (or two) of shorts.

In what's probably another sign that I'm not a “real” Yooper I'm wondering how I'll feel the first time I wear them in Germany and the Carhartt logo sticks out. After all, I've never worn a piece of their clothing in Europe before. Does one act differently? Will my attempts to fit in over there be rendered moot? Will they immediately peg me as an “American” and not just as me?

I just want to make sure I'm doing this right.

Since I do like them so much, as the weather gets warmer over the next few months and if you happen to see me around wearing a pair of tan or green shorts, you'll know I've stepped out in one of my pieces of Carhartt. It may have taken me awhile, but at least I do have something from that iconic, Yooper-loved label.

(jim@wmqt.com), Urban Yooper.  But one who DOES own Carhartt!

Tuesday, 4/28

I wasn't even aware the picture existed. But now, I'm glad I found it.

Over the weekend I was putting together everything for my TV piece last night, which dealt with college students and how they're about to leave for the summer. In the course of it I mentioned that I was a college students at one time, and I wanted to include a picture of me in a cap & gown to go along with it.

I searched and searched for that particular shot, but as it turns out neither Loraine nor I ever scanned it into digital form. I did, however, come across a page I had scanned (but never edited) from one of my parents' photo albums. And that's when I came across this picture from my college graduation--

I really don't remember that day (other that it being a blur), so I don't recall this particular picture being take. But when I saw it I was glad it had been taken, as it pictures me and my grandparents on that fateful day. They were always big champions of mine, and while I can't speak for them over 30 years after the fact, I have the feeling looking at the shot that they were kinda proud.

I mean, if I had to guess, that's what I would guess.

So while I didn't find the picture I was looking for, I did find a picture that, at least in my mind, is a whole lot better.

Even if up until this past Sunday, I had no idea that it actually existed.

****

How did the picture fit into the TV piece? See for yourself--

(jim@wmqt.com) 

Monday, 4/27

The suitcases are out & ready to go.

I had a busy weekend trying, of course, to work ahead on a whole bunch of stuff. I succeeded in most of it, and had an added bonus--the annual voyage of our trip suitcases from the recesses of our basement to the welcoming light of our living room.

It was glorious.

We leave a week from Wednesday, and the suitcases will soon be packed with all kinds of stuff. Although, if you want to be technical, the suitcases are already kind of filled with many things needed for over a week in Germany. Mine, for instance, has several plastic containers (used to safely transport chocolate and cereal), half a roll of bubble wrap (to safely wrap the chocolate before it gets put into the aforementioned plastic containers), various other non-plastic containers, a roll of duct tape, two unused washcloths, and an unopened package of socks.

Throw in a few shirts, some shorts, and a toothbrush, and I’m already packed!

Well, okay, maybe not TOTALLY packed, but with the stuff we picked up at Target a few weekends ago I think we're way ahead of schedule. We usually go to Target a few weeks before we bring the suitcases up and raid their section of travel-sized items. We pick up whatever toiletries, medicines, and personal care items we need and pack them in the plastic containers. Then the last night of the trip we toss whatever we haven’t used and/or won’t need, clean out the containers, and repack them with chocolate and other goodies. That way, we don’t go over our suitcase weight limit and have to pay a zillion dollars, and we get all of our stuff safely home.

Of course, that’s actually worked too well on several occasions. More than once I’ve had to buy several rolls of paper towels to fill out my suitcase. It serves a couple of purposes, though--the paper towels act as a great, lightweight filler, and once we get home, we have the joy of being perhaps the only people in the U.S. who are using strangely sized rolls of French or German paper towels.

Over the next few days we’ll be tossing pieces of clothing and other items we’ll be needing into the suitcases in our living room. Then a day or two before the trip, we’ll rearrange everything, pack it all neatly, and then put our TSA approved locks on them, where the suitcases then won’t be opened until we get to Kaiserslauten the day we get there (unless, of course, US or EU security gets bored and feels the need to go through them). And that, of course, is optimistically believing our luggage gets to Europe the same time we do. Unlike, say, several of our past trips.

So now when we look at our checklist of things to do, “bring suitcases up from the basement” can now be checked off. That only leaves, what...28 or 29 things left to go.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/24

Could it be? Could Spring might actually almost be here?

After our long, cold, “Throwback Winter” I had my doubts, but the past few days have marked a stretch of almost Spring-like weather (it was even 70 in Marquette yesterday), along with (and I'm not kidding here) a weather forecast that for the first time since November hasn't has “snow” in it for an entire week. I mean, it's not perfect; after all, it's not 85 degrees. But it HAS been sunny--

It's been nice enough that I can take a mid-day break with a mug of tea and stroll up & down the sidewalk for a few minutes--

It's been nice enough that I don't think we have to worry about this particular sign for a few months--

It's been nice enough that the last vestiges of our “Throwback Winter” are throwing in the towel--

And it's been nice enough that a sure sign of Spring has sprung--

Hopefully, what little snow is left is gone in the next few days and, hopefully, a lot more flowers begin to pop out. That way, we'll know that Spring really IS here.

And after the winter we've been through? Some might actually consider it a miracle.

Hope your weekend's miraculous, as well!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 4/23

I’m really not that much of a guy.  But I can fake my way through it pretty well.

As I had mentioned yesterday, I had to take Loraine’s car in for its annual oil change.  While I was at Fox Chevrolet getting it done, I had to answer several questions about the car.  Now, despite the fact that I’m the child of a couple that owned & operated several highly successful automotive repair businesses, I know absolutely nothing about cars.  Still, I guess I was able to answer the questions to the satisfaction of the young lady asking them, and the car was given back to me with fresh oil, so…

I guess I passed my test.

And it’s not just cars that I know nothing about.  While I was sitting in the waiting area, writing a future TV piece about making cookies, there were several gentlemen sitting across from me talking about paint, baseboards, and something called “spackling”.  Now, I do know what paint is, and I think baseboards are, uhm, boards, but I’m really not quite sure what the third item was.  I suppose that if I was a “guy” I’d know what it was, but since I’m not…

I don’t.  

I joke about my lack of  stereotypical “manliness” a lot, and that’s probably because I’m okay with it.  Everyone has their niche in life.  For many people of my gender, it’s cars or camping or whatever the heck “spackling” is.  And I think it’s cool that they’ve found things that they feel so passionately about.  I’m not like that.  I prefer things that might be a little more esoteric.  I like concrete better than camping.  And I don’t even own a car.

I realize that if I had to take a test in order to get my man card, I’d probably fail.  And it wouldn't bother me much at all.

But like I said, at least I was able to fake my way through it yesterday, and I’m hoping that counts for something.  If nothing else, it means that Loraine’s car is set for another year of driving with oil in it.

And that’s what “men” do, right?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/22

I have to go take Loraine's car in for its yearly oil change, so I'm going to leave you with something from a couple of years ago. It's a story I've told a few times here and there (including to students on “High School Bowl” when we're talking about foods they can't stand). I think I might have even alluded to it when I was ragging on black jellybeans right before Easter.

What food can't I stand? Read on...and back with something new tomorrow!

(jim@wmqt.com)

*****

(as originally posted 4/6/21)

Really? I need to tell the story yet again?

One day last week (Tuesday, maybe?) I wrote a blog about how I don't like black jellybeans, and happened to mention in it how, even though they're horrid (and they ARE), at least they don't make me throw up like bananas do. And that prompted a few of you to ask about WHY bananas make me throw up. Since I don't think I've told the story, at least not recently, here's the deal for everyone who's just started reading these--

When I was somewhere around the neighborhood of two years old, I, like many kids, developed this strange eating habit. For days on end, I would eat nothing but bananas and milk. Bananas and milk for breakfast, bananas and milk for lunch, bananas and milk for dinner and, if I had a snack, I’m sure it was bananas and milk. According to the tale, my mom tried feeding me other foods but I, at the time, would not eat them. It was bananas and milk or nothing.

Knowing kids go through food cycles, my mom gave me bananas and milk. After all, they’re both good for growing kids, and I seemed happy eating them. Well, after a week or so of eating nothing but bananas and milk, I caught some kind of bug. It wasn’t related to my diet or anything; it was just one of those bugs kids catch. But it was bad enough that one day, after eating my usual meal of bananas and milk, I got sick. Really sick.

And I spewed my bananas and milk all over the kitchen.

Now, I know you’re thinking to yourself—WHY did you do that to your mom? Especially when she was pregnant with you for 10 months (another story in and of itself). This is how you repay her for all that? And I, hanging my head somewhat in shame, say, uh, “yeah”. But in my defense, I WAS only two at the time. And I haven’t spewed bananas and milk around a kitchen since; in fact, I haven’t eaten a banana since that fateful day. I actually get a little nauseous, even today, at the smell and taste of that particular kind of fruit.

That's the banana story. And that's just one of the ways in which I was a special child, and yet, my Mom still seems to like me. Go figure, right?

8-)

Tuesday, 4/21

At least it won't be snowing today.  It'd better not be snowing today.

On another April 21^st, a long time ago in a galaxy not too far from here, Loraine and I stood on the steps of the Marquette County Courthouse and each said two little words, those words being “I do”. We did it outside because it was a nice spring day, and the Magistrate who married us suggested the picturesque locale. I'm glad we did it outside; not only was it beautiful, but it started a tradition that has been followed by other members of the family.

Of course, if we had been married on another April 21^st, we may not have been able to do it outside. There have been April 21sts that have been freezing, there was one memorable April 21^st a few years ago when I had to drive out to Harvey in a blinding snowstorm to pick up a cake someone had made for us, and there have been April 21sts where almost two inches of rain fell. And there have also been a lot of April 21sts that have just been normal, much like today, if you consider the weather of 2026 “normal”.

So in that respect we were very lucky.

I also think we've been lucky in another way. In a world where almost every other single person we know of our generation isn't married any more (or never got married in the first place), we've stayed hitched. I don't know why, and I don't know how, but I certainly am thankful. I mean, we're not perfect, and I'm sure other couples might look at the way we live our lives in amusement and/or horror, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Besides, who else would I want to kick soccer balls with a warm summer day? Who else would I want to act as a kitchen guinea pig and occasional kitchen muse? Who else would I want to drive around Europe with me?

No one.

So happy anniversary, Loraine. The weather might not be as nice as it was back all those years ago, but that's okay. We have plenty of other nice days in front of us, among many, many other things, other things for which I can not wait.

LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!

****

Now, onto another important matter. Which topic did I choose for last night, snot or poop? Well, see for yourself--

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/20

Yay. I get my hair cut tonight!

Now, I realize that celebrating a hair cut may not be the biggest cause for joy in the world, but because things have been so hectic and because schedules haven't coincided it's been a bit since I've had a haircut. As it turns out, a little longer than normal. And because of that, if you know what you're looking for, you can really tell I need a trim.

Especially when I'm on TV, as I will be just before I get it cut tonight, you can really, really tell.

I can't speak for anyone else in the world, because as we ALL know I'm not like anyone else in the world. But for a certain window in the hair growing process—say five or six weeks after I get a cut—my hair starts to get really weird. For the next two or three weeks it starts to get curly. Really, really curly. Whatever natural wave my hair has to it gets really exaggerated. For those two or three weeks I can look like I'm a human mop, a human mop that just stuck a finger in an electrical socket. And then, if I keep growing my hair, it starts to look normal again.

But for those two or three weeks—the two or three weeks I'm in right now—I can, on occasion, look like Carrot Top, expect my hair's brown (& gray) instead of red. Yikes!

Normally, I'll get it cut before that happens, but like I said, the last month or so has been kinda hectic. So for the past four or five mornings, non-TV days, I might add, when I get up for work or to lounge around, I look at the mass of hair sticking here and poking out there and just chuckle. It'd be easier if I wore hats, because I could just throw one on and be done with it. But since I don't (another story in itself) I try to tame it.

The operative word, of course, being “try”. Because when we're in that little hair growth window, like we are now, my hair pretty much has a mind of its own.

I really don't care if my hair is long or if it's short; as long as it hasn't totally fallen out (yet) I'm happy. So I suppose I could try to live through the next few weeks and let it grow out to the point that it looks normal again. But that means I'd have to spend the next few weeks looking at it in its present state and trying to make it presentable. And that, in all honesty, just takes too much of my (rapidly diminishing) brainpower. So by getting it cut tonight, I can now spend the next four or five weeks not even thinking about it. I can think about, oh, going to Germany with presentable hair instead.

And I'm fine with that.

Now, we just have to make sure that my next hair cut happens on schedule. Otherwise, I'll be right back at the same place, looking at the same curls and the waves that are currently invading my head, and starting the process over again. Either that, or I could just start shaving my head and be done with that.

That, however, would probably open up a whole 'nother can or worms, a can I'd rather not deal with at the moment.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/17

Snot or poop. Those are my two choices.

Now, if I were an extraordinarily cruel individual, I'd just stop there, and leave you wondering as to just what the state of my mental and/or physical health is. But, thankfully, I'm not, so I'll explain by what the first sentence meant.

I do, indeed, have to choose between snot & poop.

Don't worry; I don't have to literally choose between one physical activity or the other (thankfully). Instead, I'm trying to figure out what to discuss on TV Monday night. You see, last week I talked about my favorite part of Spring—the ice shelves you get to stomp on as everything's melting. So, for the next edition, I figured I'd discuss my LEAST favorite part of the season, and I'm having trouble choosing between hay fever or the fact that after the snow melts you can see evidence everywhere that dogs owners don't clean up after their animals.

Hence, the choice between snot & poop.

Because I'm going to Germany in two and a half weeks I've had to work ahead on all kinds of things, including my TV schedule for the next month and a half, and I had stuck “hay fever” into Monday's slot. And, to be totally honest, I think I'm still leaning toward that topic, if only because a great one liner about the subject popped into my head a few days ago and I'd really like to use it.

But with the rapid snow melt we've had this week, a massive amount of dog crap has been unearthed, showing that during the winter people REALLY don't pay attention to the fact that Marquette has a pooper-scooper law. And since that, for whatever bizarre reason, is one of my (pardon the pun) pet peeves in life, I'm stuck with a tough decision--

A great one liner, or dog owners messing up the city? Snot, or poop? With decisions like that to be made, is it any wonder I say my life can occasionally be weird?

Thankfully, I have a few days to ponder the situation and, perhaps, seek the advice of people I trust. That includes you, so if you have a thought on the matter, let me know. After all, it's a unique decision, one that most (if not all) people will ever even have to consider even once in their life.

Snot, or poop? To quote a great British philosopher, that is the question.

8-)

Have a great weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com

Thursday, 4/16

I wonder if Motel One will remember us?

Whenever we're in Germany, as we will be when we land three weeks from today (!), we usually stay at a Motel One. It's a European chain that's kind of like a budget hotel but not really. The hotels don't have things like phones in the rooms, and the rooms themselves aren't suite sized, but the locations are great, the staff amazing, the bars and breakfast rooms funky, and the look of the hotels are stellar, if only because just about everywhere you look you see this color blue--

It's a trademark of the chain. The staff wears that color; the sugar packets you see at breakfast are that color; and if you go more than 3 meters without seeing that blue, you know you've left the hotel (or, at the very least, this plane of reality). They take pride in the way their hotels look—in fact, their slogan is “Like The Price, Love the Design”--and that blue is the centerpiece of it.

It would be like McDonald's without the red, or the Detroit Lions without losing. I mean the Detroit Lions without silver and blue. That's how central it is to the chain.

The other reason we like Motel One so much? Loraine's fish.

It's actually not Loraine's personal fish, so much as a fish she likes to see. You see, each Motel One room has a loop of a fish aquarium on their TV system that you can play in the background. It's actually quite relaxing, and we've gotten into the habit of just leaving it on when we're doing other stuff. Loraine's favorite fish is the blue & yellow one in the lower right hand corner (the one that looks like Dory from “Finding Nemo”) We've gotten pretty good at knowing when in the loop her fish will show up, so we'll make sure we say “hey” to it when we first get in.

Yes, apparently we're easily amused.

So if you ever find yourself in a city with a Motel One I highly recommend trying it out. Like I said, the rooms aren't huge, but they have fish. And a blue that will soon sear itself into your brain. And we'll get to see one three weeks from today!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/15

What a difference a month makes.

One month ago today marked the beginning of the “Storm of the Century (so far)”, that two day blizzard that (literally) shut down the UP and had far ranging, far lasting effects--

It was a horrid storm, one that people will be talking about for decades and using as a benchmark for winter storms yet to come. But that was a month ago. Here's that same picture yesterday--

It's amazing how a month can make that much of a difference. I believe some of us thought the snow would never leave, but thanks to April sunshine and a lot of rain the past few days most of that dumping of snow has disappeared. Sadly, some of it turned into flooding that's been affecting various parts of the UP the past few days, but an amazing amount of it has disappeared in a very short time.

And we couldn't be happier to see it go.

I've been wondering what kind of effect our “Throwback Winter” will have on our upcoming summer. I mean, I know one's not (necessarily) related to the other, but after what we went through you can't blame someone for being a little gun-shy about things. I don't know what'll happen, but I do take solace in the fact that despite the snow and cold of the past five months Lake Superior never froze over. We've had open water most of the year, which means that the lake will get an early start on warming up, which means we may have slightly less in the way of a cooling lake breeze as the year goes on. There's also a strong El Nino forecast in the Pacific, which usually means slightly warmer summer (and much more mild winters) in the Midwest.

So we'll see.

Like I keep saying, I'm not a meteorologist, nor do I play one on TV, but after what we've been through the past five months, I'd like to think that we deserve a break this summer. And if we can have as much of a change in conditions the next few months as we've had in the past month?

I'd be okay with that.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/14

I'm not the only who does it, am I?

Please tell me I'm not the only one.

First of all, it appears that our “Throwback Winter” may finally—FINALLY—be on the wane. Temperatures are finally above freezing, the snow is finally melting, and I saw this on my way home from TV last night--

It's funny I saw that sign of Spring on the way home from TV, as my piece last night was about another sign of Spring. Technically, I'm not sure if it's a sign of Spring for everyone, but I know that for me, it's been a sign of Spring since I was, I dunno, nine years old.

In fact, every time I take part in this particular sign of Spring, Loraine will say something along the lines of “What are you a nine year old?”, to which I proudly proclaim “Why yes, I am”.

And yet she still sticks around. Go figure.

8-)

I have no idea if I'm the only person who takes part in this particular activity. It actually acts as a catharsis for me, shedding the yuckiness of winter for the promise and joy of Spring. Of course, I'm guessing not everyone else feels that way, but I'd have to believe that there's at least one other person out there who does what I do.

Either that, or I'm a lot more unique that I thought. And that might be a little too scary to contemplate.

So what exactly IS it that I do to mark the beginning of Spring? An activity that hopefully at least one other person does, as well? Well, check it out for yourself--

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/13

It's nice that we're growing. It'd be even nicer if there was somewhere to put us all.

The US Census Bureau has released their annual County by County Population Estimates, which use all kind of data to figure out whether or not each county in the country is growing or shrinking. As usually happens, it's estimated that Marquette County grew by several hundred residents in 2025, with the county's population topping 68,000 (68, 064, to be exact) for the first time since the Baby Boom and KI Sawyer Air Force Base years of the 70s & 80s. Marquette County, in fact, led the growth of five other counties in the UP, while it's estimated the remaining nine lost population.

In fact, it's estimated that Menominee County had the biggest drop by percentage in the state last year. Hopefully, for them, that's just a blip.

A map (courtesy of MLive) showing which UP counties have grown in the past year (green) and which have shrunk (red & tan)

Marquette County's slow but steady population growth is, of course, a good thing. The bad thing is, of course, that most of that growth is centered around the city of Marquette, where there is already a lack of affordable housing. And that, of course, sets up a cycle—more people want to live in Marquette, which means that the number of available housing units shrink, which, thanks to the law of supply & demand, means that whatever's left goes up in price.

And that's not a good cycle.

When asked about the city's biggest problem, most community leaders agree that affordable housing at the top of the list. And efforts are being made to alleviate the problem, but thanks to everything from the current state of the national economy to a lack of construction workers, those efforts can only go so far. And it'll probably be like that in areas with continued population growth, like Marquette County, for some time to come.

So while it's a good thing people want to keep moving to Marquette, it's also a bad thing, too. Because until things change, there may not be a lot of places to put them.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/10

I miss “Stump Jim Day”.

Those of you who've been listening for a thousand years may remember “Stump Jim Day”, which occurred every Friday when listeners were able to turn the table on me. Instead of me asking them a question about a movie, they would ask me one, and if I didn't get it right (which happened on an almost weekly basis) they'd win. The reason I miss it is two-fold—first of all, I got to see just how unknowledgeable (if that's a word) I was about certain kinds of movies or certain actors. I'd like to think that I'm fairly literate as far as film goes, but over the years listeners figured out that I did have certain Achilles Heels—Disney cartoons or Nicolas Cage flicks among them. So I'd often get asked questions about my “heels”, and listeners would (usually) walk away happy.

Then, every so often, I'd get one of those questions right (usually just by sheer luck), everyone thought I had studied up on the subject, and they'd move on to something else. Of course, I really hadn't studied up, but the people asking the questions didn't need to know that, right?

8-)

The other thing I miss about not doing “Stump Jim Day”? Well, the whole concept had kind of turned into a “thing”. People had tried to get through for weeks or months or (in some case) even a few years just to try and stump me, and even if they weren't able to, even if I answered their question correctly, they were just happy that they were able to get through.

And if you're looking for proof that it worked, even though it's been 10 or 11 years since we last did it, I still have people come up to me and (proudly) announce how they stumped me one day. That's the kind of thing that makes me realize we were on to something, and that's a kind of “something” that you don't easily come across in this business.

Now we just need to find a sponsor that'll let us bring it back, and we'll be all set.

On that note, have yourself a great weekend. Even though it'll still be kinda chilly, I hope you can at least get out and enjoy some of the sun that's been forecast!!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 4/9

Have I ever mentioned my life is weird?

I joke, of course. It seems like there have been weeks recently where I do nothing BUT mention my life is weird. But it's happened again twice, and it's all History Jim's fault.

First of all, the annual UP History Conference is being held in Marquette in June, and I was asked if I would give a walking tour. I, of course, said yes, and yesterday the organizers let me know that there have already been a bunch of people who've signed up for the event, not even knowing what the topic is, but because—in several cases attendees coming from downstate—they've heard that I give fun tours and they wanted to experience one for themselves.

Okay.

The other? Well, the quarterly newsletter from the History Center just came out. There's a big article in each edition (I've written a few myself), and when I started to read this quarter's I came across this--

I am apparently now someone to be quoted when individuals write long, scholarly articles. It took me a few minutes to actually remember where the quote came from (I believe from a Mining Journal about the Great Fire of 1868), but my tales are now being used as reference materials by serious people doing serious things.

They DO know who I am, right?

I'm sure there may be a day when stuff like this happens and I won't be fazed, but I'm guessing that day is probably quite far away. All I know is that, on an almost daily basis, something like these two incidents happen and I have no idea why.

Well, actually I do know why. Why? Because my life is weird.

There's just no other answer.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/8

I don't have a car, so I don't have to buy gas for a car. But if I did, I don't know that I'd let it sit there just running, and running...

And running.

For those of you not fortunate enough to live a (mostly-car) free lifestyle, just let me say this—I feel your pain. Every time I walk past a gas station and see prices driven sky-high by a war of choice I myself cringe a little. I can't imagine what it's like having to drive 15 or 20 or 60 miles a day.

It must be painful.

So that makes me wonder about the guy around the corner from where I live. I don't know him, but he's one of those stereotypical guys around here who drives a pickup truck. He also, from what I can tell, has a habit of starting his pickup so that it's warm when he gets into it. With the weather we've been having recently I don't begrudge anyone that. I really don't.

But...I went running this morning. When I ran past his truck it was turned on, the engine roaring like the engine of a diesel pickup truck usually does. I finished my four miles, which means that about 35 minutes later, as I was walking up the street cooling down, I noticed that his truck was still running.

And as far as I can tell, it hadn't moved an inch.

Gas is what...four-plus bucks a gallon, at least here in Marquette? How much gas—how much money—must a big diesel pickup truck left idling in a driveway burn up in that (at least) 35 minute span? I mean, forgot about all the toxins you're spewing into the atmosphere by leaving your pickup running for at least 35 minutes; that's a rant for another day. How much money do you (literally) burn by letting your truck run just so you'll be warm?

I just don't get it. But then, I'm not a pickup owner. Heck, I'm barely even a driver of a (fuel-efficient) car. There may be a reason for letting a truck run every morning, just as the money that goes out the tailpipe may not be an issue. But still...you're wasting a finite resource (gas). You're throwing away a valuable commodity (money). Where's the sense in that? Where's the logic in that?

Some days, I see things that make me realize I'm not like other people. What I noticed while running this morning was one of those things.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/7

Ever wonder how my mind works? Well, apparently, THIS is how my mind works--

Those are notes, scratched out over the span of a few days, for my TV piece last night. I've mentioned about how, on occasion, the bits pop into my head fully formed. The one I did last night, sadly, was not like that. In fact, like most of them, I had a broad idea, and as I then as I pondered that idea it came more fully into focus, allowing me to write thoughts and/or complete lines that might eventually be used in the piece.

That sheet of notes is fairly typical when I'm writing, although it's also atypical in that if you were to see the other side there would be even more jottings and arrows pointing from one thought to another. I usually just cover one side of paper; I guess this time, I was just lucky.

Of course, I WAS writing about one of my favorite things of all time, space. It's funny; until last Friday, it didn't even occur to me to talk about the Artemis mission, if only because it really doesn't have a lot to do with the UP (I mean, aside from me being a space geek). However, and don't ask how I connected the two, the Seney Stretch popped into my head as a metaphor, I jotted that down, and before I knew it, I had the sheet you saw above.

Well, actually I had both sides of sheet, but you get the idea.

Was I able to somehow meld a trip to the moon with “Life n the 906”? Judge it for yourself, and remember--

It all started with a bunch of almost illegibly written notes on a small piece of paper--

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/6

You know, it would be one less thing to worry about.

First of all, hope you had a great Easter, and that all your chocolate bunnies were actual chocolate and not just “chocolately flavored candy”, as a lot of them are these days. I had a great weekend myself, making pea soup and trying my hand at making Bienenstich, or “Bee Sting Cake”, a traditional German goodie--

It was yummy.

Speaking of Germany, we're now at T minus one month (to the day) before we (hopefully) head over there for a few days of fun. Over the weekend I took care of a bunch of little things, ranging from beginning to write my “Life in the 906”s ahead a few weeks to starting to decide what goes where in luggage, backpacks, and carry-ons.

Plus I wondered about the blogs.

Here's the deal—as you may recall, every time we go to Europe I'd write a blog on a nightly basis about what we did that day. People seemed to enjoy it, even if it does seem (at least to me) to be a little humble-bragging about what we were doing. But seeing as how it's been two years since we've gone over there and have done anything like that I'm starting to wonder--

Do I need to do it any more?

There are several points behind my pondering the question, not least of which is the fact that we have no idea whether or not this trip is either going to come off as planned or even come off at all. Because of strikes in Germany and TSA troubles here in the US we could find ourselves stranded at Frankfurt Airport for four days or find ourselves struck in Chicago because, well, it's 2026 and nothing seems to be going right in 2026.

Not only that, but we're not actually doing much this time around. We're just going to basically one place—Saarbrucken--to check out the area, see a favored soccer team of Loraine's, and head across the border to France & Luxembourg to buy (real) chocolate. Do people really want to read about that? I'm not sure. It's not like we're meeting people or will be the subject of a news conference (which, as we all know, HAS happened in the past). Of course, without a lot of concrete plans for the days we're there I might have the extra hour or two each night it takes to put one of the blogs together, and, if I'm being honest, it HAS been kind of fun going back and reading them for the past several trips, so...

See why I can't decide anything yet?

Thankfully, I still have one month to the day to make that decision, as I probably wouldn't be able to write anything until we get to Frankfurt on May 7th. If you have an opinion on the matter, please let me know, as I don't write the blogs for me, I write them for anyone who wants to read them.

So vote early, and vote often. Your voice is the one of the most important as I ponder whether to do these again or not.

Thanks!

(jim@wmqt.com)