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