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Monday, 8/27

It looks like all systems are go!

With a day left before we hop on a plane and blow this Popsicle stand for a few days, 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, and starting Wednesday 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 on one extra thingee. 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. It hasn't happened yet, and I don't think it will this time, but I just wanna put that out there just in case. I'm also planning on send back radio reports each weekday, so you can listen for those, as well.

Well, I think that's it. We hop on three different planes tomorrow, and assuming everything goes like it should the next time we speak I'll be a quarter of the world away in what the German National “Wetter” Service says should be 83 degree sunshine (we'll see about that). Then, the adventure of following in the footsteps of the misunderstood King Ludwig II begins.

See you then!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 8/24

Wow, I'm not gonna shoot any TV for three whole weeks. However will I handle it?

(That's sarcasm, by the way).

A couple of days ago I shot three segments of “What's Up” for Fox UP, three segments that will air while I'm gone. I'll shoot the next one a couple of days after I get back, which means that I now have to go three whole weeks without being in front of a TV camera. No “High School Bowl”, no “What's Up”, no “Ryan Report”, no news stories featuring the dork known as History Jim, no nothing.

Upper Michigan is, I'm sure, cheering.

For someone who doesn't work in TV on a full-time basis I'm on TV way too much. I don't think there's any disagreement about that. And maybe that's something good about my going to Germany. I get to spare the U.P. from any further exposure, perhaps even saving a few eyeballs from shearing apart from the sheer terror of having those people see me on their screen again.

Ah, it's the least I can do.

Aside from saving the sanity of viewers all across the Peninsula, it also means that I don't have to care about how I look. Well, maybe I should rephrase that. I don't have to worry if I'm TV-ready. I don't have to make sure I'm wearing a shirt that looks nice on camera. I don't have to shave if I don't want to. I could, literally, look like a homeless person if I wanted. And trust me, when I don't have to do TV that happens more than you'd think. I mean, I'm not planning on looking like I'm homeless while I'm in Germany. I'll look pretty much like I always do.

But at least I have the choice. TV isn't dictating what I have to wear.

Of course, when I get back, it will (quite literally) be back to the grind. I start shooting “What's Up”s the day after my return, “High School Bowl” begins before the end of the month, and I have a sneaking suspicion that TV crews may come a-calling for that program I have on the 22^nd. So take this as either a gift or a warning, Upper Michigan--

Enjoy watching TV the next three weeks without me on it. That's soon gonna change.

8-)

On that note, have yourself a great weekend. I know I have all kinds of last-minute things that need attention, but I'll try to sneak in a little fun and a little sun at the same time.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 8/23

I wonder if it'll be any better when I get back.

This is one of those weird thoughts that popped into my head while running yesterday, and actually has to do with my workout schedule. I think I've mentioned in here that it's been a very active summer; aside from my usual running & working out, I've been biking a lot more than normal (I have to try & keep up with Loraine, after all), and we've even added a weekly bout of soccer to our schedule, as well. That's a lot of (healthy) exercise, and I will admit that there are days when I feel it. I'm sore, I'm a little tired, and it takes a little longer to get motivated and/or just get out of the chair.

But I've also noticed something else, like at the end of my run yesterday. This is a run I think I've talked about before, where I basically try to kill myself running up & down the hills of downtown Marquette. Usually when I'm finished I'm beat; no matter no often I run them, those hills, especially in summer, really take it out of you. But during the past few hill days, which I usually save for days when I've recovered just a bit, I have noticed I have a very strong finish when I tackle the final hill.

I am no longer beat when I'm done with the run.

I attribute that fully to the extra work I've been doing this summer, just like I attribute the fact that I seem to have added a lot of thigh muscle recently to the work I've been doing this summer. (Seriously—for the first time in my life I can't get my hands around my thighs. It's weird). So all the extra biking and soccer has paid off. Despite the additional soreness and tiredness I go though because of it, I can make it up hills easier than usual. I can (try to) keep up with Loraine on a bike.

It's almost like I'm an athlete, or something. Which I'm not. But I'm married to one, and that's why I'm almost there.

And that led me to the weird thought—if I can do all that now when I'm sore and stiff and tired, what will I be like when we get back from Germany? Aside from hiking and a lot of walking, I won't have the chance to do a lot of what I usually do. I won't be running, or working out, or biking, or playing soccer for almost two weeks. All the little assorted aches and pains should have time to heal. And since most experts say it takes a while for a person who doesn't exercise to lose whatever fitness level they're all, I should hopefully be at the strength I am now when we get back, minus whatever aches & pains I currently have.

Hence the weird thought—if I can now go up hills and do other things now better than I have been, what'll it be like in two weeks when I still have the strength but (hopefully) not the assorted aches & pains? Will I zip up them like they're not even there? Will my feet & my knees, unencumbered by two weeks of not running & working out & biking & soccering, actually be able to respond like they've been fully recharged and ready to go? Or will my muscles, given the 12 day break, go on vacation, and decide that it's their turn to now be sore & achy? I have no idea. I've never been a situation like this.

But you know what? It'll be interesting to find out. Wish me luck.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 8/22

Is it weird that while we're getting ready to go on a trip we're already working on the next?

Yeah, that's what I thought, too.

However, there are extenuating circumstances on why we're working on our next European jaunt before even starting the one that's already set to go. Long-time readers of this know that it's our habit to travel at the end of August and beginning of September; that way, we get to roll the Labor Day holiday into our getaway and save ourselves a vacation day that can be used on something else.

And trust me—that extra vacation day is always welcome.

But our next trip doesn't look like it'll be in September. It doesn't look like it'll be the usual 10 or 11 days. And we will not need the services of a rental car as well. Why, you ask? Well, I answer, it looks like we're going to Germany for a soccer game, and then we're coming home.

That's what a normal couple would do, right?

Actually, there is a little more to it than that. We really didn't have any plans to do anything next year; maybe go someplace warm for a few days, but nothing in Europe. We figured out that, if nothing else, our bank account would thank us. But in the back of our minds we've always thought that if we had the chance, we'd like to see our favorite Bundesliga team, RB Leipzig, live and in person. We've also always wanted to go back to Leipzig and visit. Well, as it turns out, RB Leipzig is playing at home against the team from one our favorite places in Germany, Freiburg, the weekend of our wedding anniversary in April. The weekend of an anniversary for us that ends in “0”, which makes it a really big anniversary.

It's almost like the Bundesliga scheduled it that weekend on purpose, right?

So we're going over to Germany next year for a week at the end of April. We'll fly into Berlin, spend a day or two there, and then take the train to Leipzig, where we'll spend a few days going to the game and actually exploring the city, unlike the last time we were there and mostly used it as a place to sleep while Loraine was having press conferences with local mayors and the like. Then we'll hop the train back to Berlin and head back home after a week.

It could be the simplest trip we've ever taken.

The trip actually could've been shorter. It could've been four days instead of the seven or eight we've set aside. You see, while Leipzig and Freiburg are playing that weekend, we have no idea which day they're playing. Could be Friday night, most likely will be Saturday, could possibly be Sunday, and could even—at a stretch—be on Monday. It all depends upon whether the league moves it for TV or if Leipzig makes it far in the Europa League and have to shuffle their schedule around. So while we know the game will be sometime during our anniversary weekend, we just don't know on which day. And won't until the beginning of March or so.

If nothing else, that makes the trip unique. So does our heading over there in early Spring instead of late Summer. But both Leipzig and Berlin are beautiful that time of the year; the flowers have bloomed, and thanks to climate change temperatures are usually in the 70s or 80s. So it'll be an interesting—and quite different—journey for the two of us. So if you're wondering why the planning already begun; well, after all, we're working around a schedule that's only, like, eight months away.

Believe it or not.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 8/21

Packing for this trip should be a treat. Really, it should.

I'm not sure if I'm being sarcastic or not when I write that. I mean we've done the trip to Europe enough so that we know what we need pack. That's not a problem. But there are three different things that we have to consider this year, three things that in themselves aren't that big of a deal. But they're three things that are at least making us think.

The first is that this is the longest trip we've ever taken. Sure, it's only one day longer than the previous record, but we still have to make sure we add the additional pair of underwear and pair of socks, lest we find ourselves making either a last minute stop at a German laundromat or a last minute stop at a Mueller store to pick up the extra underwear and extra pair of socks. So that's something to be taken care of.

The second factor is the weather. Germany is in the midst of perhaps its hottest summer in history, and the extended forecast for the first few days of our trip shows that trend should continue. But a big chunk of our trip is in the Alps, where the weather can be anything put predictable. I mean, we just have to think back three years ago when we were getting ready to go over with our parents, and Germany was then in the midst of its hottest summer ever. However, when we we got there, the bottom fell out, weather-wise, leaving us with many cool, rainy, and foggy days. So while it SHOULD be warm and dry while we're there, we're not taking anything for granted. We're packing for both possibilities, just in case.

And then there's the musical we're attending. Going to the theater is always kind of a big event, especially in Germany. So that brings up another question—do we just dress like American tourist schlubs and go see the musical, or do we try to fit in a get a little fancy to attend? That's something to consider; right now, we're thinking little black dress and sport coat (the former for Loraine, the latter for me, obviously) so we can fit in. However, that means we have to not only pack all that extra stuff, but we have to make sure that it stays in fairly good shape for the first four days of our trip (when we'll actually be going to the theater). That's something new, and yet another thing we'll have to take into consideration.

So, with a week left to go until we leave, we're still not fully set, at least as far as the packing goes. I mean, I have no doubt that we'll get it done in plenty of time and with all these little things resolved. It's just that, for the first time in years, we're actually having to think about what we're doing. I'm thinking that's a good thing. It means we're on top of it, and we're taking everything into consideration.

I just hope the four extra brain cells we had to devote to the process don't get too mad at us!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 8/20

I'm gonna introduce you to one of my favorite words—repurpose. As in “I'm going to repurpose something I wrote for our trip blog here so I don't have to write anything new today".

Yeah, I know it's the lazy way out, but it did take me awhile to write the trip blog, and since I don't know if any of you actually follow the blogs I write when we're in Europe, it's all new to you.

So what are we doing this time around? Read on. After all, it's been repurposed just for you!

(jim@wmqt.com)

So—was “mad” King Ludwig actually mad, or just a little misunderstood? That's why we're going to Germany this year.

To find out.

Welcome to another season of Jim & Loraine trip blogs, as we're heading to Bavaria for a crash course in the “hows” & “whys” of King Ludwig II, a reluctant king who'd much rather be left alone with his music, his swans, and his castles. He died under mysterious circumstances, but not before leaving behind the foundations of what became the Bavarian tourism industry. For 12 days we'll be visiting the places his lived and the places where he sought to escape humanity, aided by Loraine's voluminous research on his life and times. Add in the usual—stops for chocolate and a bunch of off-beat sights—and it should be an action-packed two weeks (minus a few days).

The entire trip this time will be in a relatively compact area based in and around Munich; I think the longest drive we have planned is less than two hours. We'll pretty much be making a big circle, starting in the Bavarian capital--

A city where Ludwig was supposed to spend most of his time. However, he really preferred being away from the trappings of power, which means we'll be visiting places where you get to see things like this pretty much every time you drive around a corner--

We'll be staying in places like Fussen--

Our old stomping grounds of Berchtesgaden--

And on the shores of Lake Chiemsee, as well--

All as we explore the life and times of the misunderstood ruler. Loraine became interested in him back a few trips ago, when we discovered that he was kind of like a 19^th century Brian Wilson, someone with a few emotional issues but someone with an immense talent and wealth of imagination. As I mentioned before, the castles he left behind—castles over which he was tossed off the throne and (probably) murdered—are now the most visited tourist sites in Bavaria, bringing in hundreds of millions of Euros of revenue each year. Yet because he didn't follow accepted societal norms and protocol—he didn't act like everyone else thought he should--he was ostracized for decades following his death. It's only been in the last half century or so that his reign and lifestyle has been accepted, and now you can find statues and plaques dedicated to him all over the region.

And we'll try to visit most of them.

We also have a couple of unique adventures we're planning. While in Fussen we'll be going to a musical based on Ludwig's life, which is put on there every summer. Sure, we won't understand a word of what's being said on stage (it is, after all, in German, which neither of us speaks), but everyone says it's an amazing show. That, of course, is assuming we fold our tickets correctly and we're allowed in the theater.

You remember that story, right?

A few days after that we're also going to try something quintessentially German—we're going hiking. We're actually going on a day-long hike to what was one of Ludwig's hunting lodges, just outside Garmish-Partenkirchen. We'll basically go through a gorge, up one of these mountains--

And then hike for several hours to see what there is to see. We even bought special rain jackets, just in case, but Germany has been (for the most part) very hot & very dry this summer, so with any luck, we won't need them. Of course, when we went over with our parents three years ago Germany had a very hot & very dry summer, and that, of course, was why it was 45 degrees and raining the day we visited Garmish.

But hopefully not this time. Keep your fingers crossed.

That's a VERY brief overview of what we'll be doing. Each day's trip reports will, of course, provide full details on what kind of fun, informative, and/or weird things we get ourselves into. And who knows—maybe we'll make some new friends this time around. You know, kinda like the friends we made last time we were in the area--

It all starts Tuesday, August 28^th with the flight over. The first blog should be posted the next day. We hope you'll join us for what we hope should be an amazing and unique adventure!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 8/17

T minus eleven days and counting.

I've had several people ask if I'm on track to get everything done before we leave for Germany, and I'm happy to report that I THINK I am, unless I'm forgetting something. I think everything in radio-land should be finished by the time I walk out the door on the 27^th, while I'm almost positive that everything at home will be finished by the time that day ends.

So keep your fingers crossed!

Finally, those of you who've read this over the years know that one of my pet peeves about traveling is people who shove their seat backs into my knees without even looking back to see if my knees have room. Well, Conde Naste Traveler magazine had an article a few years ago about how not to be an annoying flight passenger, and guess what number four was!!!

<<Look behind you before reclining. We know you have the right to recline, but sometimes, especially in smaller planes, we’ve wanted to knife the person sitting in front of us. If you're on the tall side—say, 6'2"—you may have had situations where one minute you're working on your laptop, and the next the laptop is under your chin; you couldn’t type a word comfortably even if you had Tyrannosaurus arms. Take a peek behind you and just make sure you’re not making someone more uncomfortable than the comfort those few extra inches will provide. That’s not too much to ask, right? By the way, if someone does it to you, all bets are off. We would feel no hesitation or guilt pushing on the seat to access the bag at our feet. We hate to say fight fire with fire, but sometimes it’s the only way.

>>

Thank you, Conde Naste. I couldn't have said it better myself, except to say that you don't have to be 6'2” to be bothered by seat back reclining. Trust me when I say it's bad when you're 5'10 1/2”, too!

On that note, have yourself a great weekend. I know that amongst going out & playing in the sun, things like laundry and packing await me.

(jim@wmqt.com)

(ps—thanks to everyone who shared their thoughts on or their actual date-i-versary yesterday. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who observes and/or celebrates it!)

Thursday, 8/16

I'm curious. How many of your celebrate your date-i-versary? How many of you even know what, assuming you're part of a couple, your date-i-versary is?

How many of you are wondering just what the heck a date-i-versary is?

Like I said, I'm curious. Loraine and I are celebrating our date-i-versary today, a date-i-versary (aside from being a word that no spell check program ever recognizes, much less authorizes as being a proper word) being the anniversary of your first date. Loraine and I went out for the first time (as a couple, as opposed to in a group of friends) on August 16^th, so that's our “date-i-versary”. And I'm curious because to the few people with whom I've discussed the subject, they either give me a blank look because they don't remember, or they give me that “Jim, you're weird, you know that?” look I seem to get a lot in my life.

It's funny, because if you're part of a married couple or in a long-term relationship, your date-i-versary is a big part of your life. It's when the two of you became “the two of you”. In fact, I would even posit that it's more important than an actual wedding anniversary. After all, that's just marking the date that you signed a piece of paper, whereas your “date-i-versary” marks the beginning of whatever kind of relationship you're in.

Yes, I'm weird, I know that. But that's why August 16^th is always a big date for me.

What's more, you can't walk into a store and buy a date-i-versary card. You can buy a crapload of anniversary cards, but nothing that marks the real beginning of your relationship. It's not fair to people who celebrate that milestone, and it's certainly not fair to people who've decided that marriage just isn't for them. I know people who've been together for years, who are incredibly happy, and yet who can't buy a card that marks the beginning of their relationship because no one seems to think that a date-i-versary is a big thing.

And in case you're wondering...yes, I have been pondering the design of a line of date-i-versary cards. Seems like it would be a home-run idea of a business decision.

I'll shut up now. After all, when I get home from work I don't want Loraine to give that “Jim, you're weird, you know that?” look that other people give me when I start talking about things like date-i-versaries. Just let me say that Loraine is an amazing woman for putting up with someone who goes on and on (and on) about things like date-i-versaries.

So happy date-i-versary, Loraine. Thanks for being someone who actually knows what something like a date-i-versary is!

Love, your favorite dork,

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 8/15

Well, the song choice was interesting, to say the least.

As I've written in here many times before, we live in one of the most densely packed neighborhoods in Marquette. Houses and yards sit right next to each other, and you're quite aware that you live on a block with an awful lot of other people. Even though we live on the second floor of our building, there's a building next to us where people also live on the second (and third) floors. It's maybe 20 feet away from our place. And on warm days, when we have our living room windows open and they have their windows open, we pretty much know what each other is doing.

Normally, that's not a problem, although it has, on occasion, led to some rather, well, interesting moments. Not recently, though. Recently it's led to a lot of loud music being fed into our living room whether we want it or not, courtesy of the people who have the apartment on the second floor in the building next door. And it's usually not good music. Usually, it's just some kind of droning techno-beat with no lyrics. It's not my favorite kind of music, and it's led Loraine to wonder if the people living next door know of these things called “earbuds”.

But not Monday night. Monday night, when it was still 85 degrees at 8pm, I went into our living room to do a little packing for the trip, and after awhile I heard the neighbors fire up their sound system. Except it wasn't the usual droning techno-beat. Instead, it was the same song on repeat, over and over again.

And that's how I was able to listen to “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” either eight or nine times.

I kind of lost track after a while as to how many times it actually played, which is why I don't know exactly the number of times I heard it. Plus, my mind was reeling with other thoughts—why, after weeks of droning techno-beats, was Gordon Lightfoot all of a sudden on the main stage? And why on a constant repeat? Was the person next door (a college student) studying the sinking of the ship, and needed a little mood music? Were they learning to play it for some reason, and just needed to hear it over and over? Did they put the song on and then pass out, not realizing it was on repeat?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Alas and alack, there was not a repeat performance last night. In fact, there wasn't any music from next door last night, even though our windows were still open. I don't know if the neighbors weren't home, or just not in the mood for blaring out their tunes, or were just embarrassed by the non-stop Gordon fest from the previous evening. Or, just maybe, they took Loraine's hint and looked up the word “earbuds” on Google. Either way, I was spared both the droning techno-beat AND a Gordon Lightfoot marathon.

It was a different way to spend a Tuesday night.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 8/14

We leave for Germany two weeks form today (yikes!). And since I haven't used my big camera, my Nikon, since we visited Loraine's parents in May (double yikes), and since it's the camera I usually bring to Europe, I went out this weekend to see if I still knew how to use it.

Luckily, I think I do. But you get to judge for yourself. What did I see when I sent out Sunday? Well, I saw turtles with hats--

I saw a baby stroller in the strangest of places--

I saw one of my favorite old things in Marquette, the remaining part of the only ore dock that survived the Great Fire of 1868--

I saw a hidden message from construction workers with a pop culture-tilted sense of humor--

I saw one of my favorite views in Marquette--

I saw something more people should be using--

I saw that the monarch butterfly population in Marquette seems to be thriving--

And, sadly, I saw a sign of things to come--

I guess, in all, that I haven't forgotten how to use my camera. Good thing, too, as it gets pressed into service big time two weeks from today!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 8/13

A bunch of little things today to start the week--

First of all is a weird thought that popped into my head yesterday afternoon while eating an apple—do you leave the stem in when eating an apple, or do you twist it out? I don't know why the thought popped into my head; it just did. I personally twist the stem out. I don't know why; I mean, I could eat an apple with the stem in it. It wouldn't bother me at all. But for whatever reason, I always twist the stem out.

I guess I'm just weird like that.

And in regard to twisting the stem out of an apple—is/was there some kind of weird thing that goes along with how many twists it takes to get the stem out of the apple? You know; like if it takes four twists you'll kiss four people this year, or something strange like that? I seem to remember something along those lines from when I was a kid, but I don't remember any of the details. So if YOU know if I'm remembering this correctly or if I've just moved myself one step closer to heading off the deep end (a distinct possibility), let me know.

And thanks.

Secondly, I would like you to read this paragraph--

“In this paper, we develop a cascadic multigrid algorithm for fast computation of the Fiedler vector of a graph Laplacian, namely, the eigenvector corresponding to the second smallest eigenvalue. This vector has been found to have applications in fields such as graph partitioning and graph drawing. The algorithm is a purely algebraic approach based on a heavy edge coarsening scheme and pointwise smoothing for refinement. To gain theoretical insight, we also consider the related cascadic multigrid method in the geometric setting for elliptic eigenvalue problems and show its uniform convergence under certain assumptions. Numerical tests are presented for computing the Fiedler vector of several practical graphs, and numerical results show the efficiency and optimality of our proposed cascadic multigrid algorithm.”.

My question is this—did you understand it? Please say no. Please say that only a genius (or, in the case of the person who wrote it, a lineman for the Baltimore Ravens who's a math scholar) can understand it. Because, you know, if that's something most people understand and I don't; well, then, I even dumber than I thought I was.

And that's quite dumb!

Finally, while I haven't watched it yet, I've had several people tell me they viewed this weekend's “Ryan Report” with the world's biggest dork as a guest. And not one of those people said their TV blew up during the show...so I'm guessing that's a good thing!

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 8/10

I wonder how many names I'll butcher tomorrow?

That's a thought that always pops into my head anytime Finish-Line Announcer Jim makes an appearance, as he will tomorrow at the Ore-to-Shore. I mean, there are people coming across the line all the time, usually in groups of three or four. Their names pop up on a computer screen and then are replaced by names from new people coming across the line. So that only gives me a second or two look at the name, decide how I'm gonna pronounce it, and then spit it out.

So to whomever gets their name mispronounced tomorrow, I apologize in advance. I really do!

Actually, after 20 years of finish line announcing at both the Noque and the O2S, I feel fairly confident that I'll get many more names correct than I'll screw up. Practice, after all, does help, and I've had p[plenty of practice over the years. But I think I've also had good training in the matter in another way. After all, I used to host a telethon on TV, a telethon where I'd have to read pledges from people throughout the U.P. And if you can correctly read names from throughout the U.P., I'm guessing you can read names from anywhere in the world.

Wish me luck!

If you have the chance, you should make sure you get to one of the mass starts for the race tomorrow in Negaunee. They're like nothing you've ever seen; each has over 1,000 riders getting their race underway at the sound of a gun and a trumpet. It takes over five minutes for all of them to go by, and it's just an amazing sight. The Soft Race race (with, ahem, a dork announcing the start) begins at 9 at Lakeview School, while the Hard Rock gets underway at 945 in downtown Negaunee.

Trust me—you won't be disappointed!

And with that, I have to head to work to put together a couple of CDs of music to play during the festivities. Have yourself a great weekend, and like I said, if you have the chance, check out part of the race!

(jim@wmqt.com)

(PS—don't forget that if you're up REALLY early and you're REALLY bored Sunday morning, the episode of “The Ryan Report” that I'm on airs Sunday at (I think) 730. It will, thankfully, also be available for viewing online, so if you aren't up early and/or bored Sunday, you can watch it at a normal time. I'll share the link once it's available).

Thursday, 8/9

The skunks are back.

Those of you who’ve been reading these ramblings since the days of the dinosaurs may remember an ongoing “problem” Loraine and I discovered when we moved into our current apartment eleven years ago. Well, actually, we discovered two things—that drunk college students can make a lot of noise, and that, for some strange reasons, skunks seem to like our tightly packed little urban neighborhood. At least once a week for the first couple of years we lived here we would be treated to that olfactory wonder known as skunk spray wafting through the buildings, not a very nice treat when it’s warm out and you want to leave your windows open to let in a little air. Then one year, after road construction tore apart our neighborhood, the skunks seem to disappear. We had hoped it would be for good. . .

Unfortunately, it was not.

Almost a dozen nights now this summer we've had our windows open, enjoying a cooling breeze and wondering how many times the you can hear a gaggle of drunk college students go “woo hoo” in unison. And almost a dozen times I've had something tickle my nose, something that within seconds had me rushing to shut the windows.

Yup.

I have no idea why (or how) skunks like our neighborhood. Like I said before, it’s a very tightly packed urban neighborhood; the houses are right next to each other, there aren’t a lot of big yards or trees, and there’s more concrete than grass & dirt. If I had to pick out one section of Marquette where I would guess skunks wouldn’t like to go it’d be ours. But apparently there’s something magical in our little section of the city, and it keeps drawing those wonders of nature back time and time again.

Aren’t we lucky?

I have no idea if this is now a permanent change to our neighborhood, or if there's just a plucky family of homesteading skunks that decided to give the area a try, soon to move on. I’m certainly hoping it’s the latter; after all, this is something you don’t want to have to deal with this on a nightly basis. You can shut noisy college students out with earplugs. I have yet to figure out anything that keeps the smell of skunk out of your nose.

Keep your fingers crossed.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 8/6

I wonder who the trombone player is.

One of the things I love about living in Marquette is that you never know what you’ll see, what you’ll hear, or what you’ll come across. When you live in a city full of artsy, creative individuals, that artsy-ness and that creativity quite often bubbles to the surface. And over the past few weeks, what has bubbled to the surface is one really good trombone player.

I don’t know who the trombone player is; I don’t know where he or she lives, and I don’t know if she or he is a professional at the instrument or just dabbles. But what I do know is this—every few days, especially when it’s nice out and our windows are open, and always with no warning at all, we’ll hear someone play a trombone. There’s no other music and no other musicians; there’s just the trombone and its player, serenading our neighborhood with a soulful rendition of Magic’s “Rude” or their take on a jazz classic. They’ll play the one song, and then stop, leaving me to think two things—

One, that trombone player is really, really good. Their tone is great, they’re obviously well practiced in their technique, and their style really lends something to some of the works they perform. Like I said, they’re really, really good.

The second thing I wonder about when I hear them? Who are they, why are they playing outside, and why do they stop after only one song? Okay; technically those would be the second, third, and fourth things I think, but still, I believe you get the idea. I mean, has the person playing been practicing indoors, and just wants a little fresh air before they call it a night? Do they enjoy serenading the neighborhood, and have spent all day practicing the one piece to get it just right? Or do they just get bored, and in between social media status updates or chapters of a book decide to give their lungs a workout?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I am in no way complaining; after all, like I said, the trombone player is quite good, and it’s much better than some of the other sounds you get to hear in our neighborhood when the windows are open (and I’m thinking of you, guy who lives a couple of houses behind us and loves his leaf blower just a little too much). It just makes me wonder what’s behind the impromptu performances, and whether they’re for our benefit, or if our enjoyment of it is just a byproduct of whatever the mystery trombone player happens to be doing at the moment.

Alas, I may never know. And with winter soon to come, our windows will be permanently closed, and the trombone concerts will be replaced by the sound of snow blowers and ice scrapers. So I guess I’ll enjoy the performances while I can.

Even if I don’t know who’s giving them, or why.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 8/3

The gorge is finally open again!

Sorry; I didn't mean to get THAT excited. I'm sure you're not even aware of what gorge I am speaking. And that's okay; I don't even know if I've mentioned the gorge and why I'm happy it's open again. But it is, and I am.

So here's the story.

As you may know, Loraine and I are doing a few unusual things on our upcoming trip to Germany. One of the things we were planning on doing was spending an entire day hiking up a mountain to a lodge that belonged to King Ludwig II. It's only accessible by foot, and since hiking is one of the German national pastimes we figured it'd be a good way to live like a German, if only for a day.

Germany (all of Europe, actually) has been hit hard by climate change. Aside from record setting heat this summer, the country also suffered torrential flooding this spring. A good deal of the damage caused by the floods occurred in the town of Garmish-Partenkirchen, a beautiful little place set in the Alps that is the starting point for our planned hike. In fact, one of the floods washed out a gorge that begins the hike up to the lodge, leaving people like us wondering if we'd have to change our plans.

Well, thankfully, we won't.

Showing an attitude typical of Germans, the people of Ga-Pa got to work, cleared out all the debris washed away in the flood, and rebuilt the foot bridges and walkways that were destroyed just a few months ago. Now, Germans of all stripes (and Americans who want to be German for a day) can once again hit the trails and spend a day hiking up & down a mountain.

Cool!

Now that the gorge is open again, the only thing we have to worry about is that the weather will cooperate that day. We have a bit of history with the gorge; three years ago, when we were in Ga-Pa with our parents we had hoped to explore it a little, but the fact that it was rainy and in the 40s the day we were there meant those plans were put by the wayside. So we're thinking that Mother Nature owes us, and because of that it'll be sunny and warm the entire day we've planned our hike.

But even if it isn't, we're prepared. We each picked up these rain- and wind-proof jackets from Getz's, and our hiking boots are waterproof, as well, so even if it is rainy we're going up the hill. If it's rainy and in the 40s the day we're there; well, that might be another story. But it's been the hottest summer in recorded history in Europe. It won't be in the 40s there in just a few weeks, right?

Right????

So we're both happy the Ga-Pa city council was able to repair the gorge infrastructure so quickly. Now, as long as Mother Nature cooperates, we're all set.

And speaking of Mother Nature, it looks like she's giving us a great one here this weekend. Get out and enjoy it; after all, it's be rainy and in the 40s here before you know it!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 8/2

Today, a weird restaurant story.

As we do once a month or so Loraine & I had lunch at one of our favorite restaurants last weekend, one of the “107 Things to Love About Marquette County”, Sol Azteca. The food is great, the people are great, the view is unparalleled, and we have a soft spot in our hearts for it, if only because Loraine & I were the restaurant's first ever paying customers.

No, seriously. We were. They took our picture and had us sign a dollar bill and everything!

Obviously, we've been there a lot. We've been there as a couple, we've been there with friends, we've been there with people from out of town. Basically, we've been there a lot. And in all the times we've eaten at Sol Azteca, and that's probably in the dozens, one weird thing has occurred.

Only once have we seen anyone we know there.

I'm not kidding. Between me and Loraine, we know a lot of people, especially if you count the nodding “hey, I know you from somewhere, right?” type of acquaintances you make if you're in the public eye. So it's not like we're hermits; we DO know a lot of people. Yet with the exception of the one time we ran into one of Loraine's co-workers, every time we've been in Sol Azteca, when we look around, every single face is unfamiliar.

Go figure.

And it's not just us. We've been there multiple times with my friend Deanna who, I swear, knows everyone who's ever lived in Marquette. Yet even she will look around and comment that she doesn't recognize a soul (excepting, of course, us). And if SHE has gone in there without seeing someone; well, then, I don't feel so bad.

But it's still weird.

Now that I've written about it, of course, we'll be bombarded with friendly faces the next time we're in there. And that's okay; much like all those weird little occurrences I keep writing about, it's just one of those strange things that only I notice. It doesn't mean anything in the scheme of things, and it's probably just been a very long string of coincidences, but the whole thing just strikes me as...strange. Especially because it's been, what, five or six years since the restaurant opened? I mean, what are the actual odds of that happening?

Never mind. Like I said, it's not that important. It's just one of those things. And who know—maybe the next time we're there we'll know every single person sitting around us.

Even if our history says that's not gonna happen.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 8/1

I think the seagull had it in for me.

I took another one of my half days yesterday, and was enjoying the sun and the heat (at least the sun & the heat before the clouds moved in in the early afternoon) by taking a walk along the Lower Harbor breakwater. As I was making my way toward the rocky section of the wall, I noticed a very large group of seagulls just sitting on top of the breakwater, squawking and flapping their wings as seagulls are wont to do. I thought it kind of odd, considering most seagulls in that area spend their time either in Lower Harbor Park or on Ripley's Rock, but, I figured, they're birds. Maybe they just got distracted by something shiny.

As I walked near the group, most of the seagulls scattered. There was one, however, that either didn't see me, or didn't get the inter-office memo that I was coming, because it just stood there on the breakwater, watching me as I walked past. Being raised to have good manners, I even nodded my head and said "hello" to the bird as I walked by.

The bird, however, was NOT raised to be very mannerly. I was about 10 feet past it when I heard a squawk and the rustling of wings as the seagull took to the skies. I kept hearing this squawk above me, and looked up to see my friend the bird heading toward me, wings fully extended and its vocal capabilities pushed to the max.

It was then I realized that I was being dive-bombed by the seagull.

My first impulse was look around and to see if the ghost of Alfred Hitchcock was lurking around. My second impulse was to look around and see the bird pull up about five feet from my head, and then circle around to make another pass. It did the same thing again, this time flexing its talons as it flew by.

The seagull apparently had it in for me, and I had no idea why.

I looked around to where the group of birds had been sitting, to see if I had accidentally stumbled onto a nest, or a feeding ground. I hadn't; in fact, the only thing I saw were several prime examples of the calling cards seagulls leave all over the city of Marquette. Yet, for some reason, I had done something to irritate the seagull now getting ready to make its third pass over my head. As it swooped down, squawking, I decided to fight fire with fire. As it buzzed five feet over my head, I yelled out, as loud as I could, "Hey-- I'm allowed on here, too".

That's when the strangest thing happened. The seagull pulled up, looking like it was going to make another run, but then just circled high above me a dozen or so times, before flying off to join the rest of the original flock of birds, now bobbing on the waves of the lake.

I just stood there, amazed. Had I just run into the one seagull on the planet who listens to reason? Did the sound of my voice scare it off? Was it just getting bored playing its little game, and decided to go off and join its friends? I had no idea. As I finished my walk along the breakwater, I kept my eye on the group of birds, which remained bobbing up & down on the waves as I climbed over the rocks, out to the foghorn, and back again. The seagull did not bother me the rest of the time I spent in its immediate neighborhood.

As I was getting done with my walk along the breakwater, I turned around and, being mannerly, yelled out "Bye, bird. Have a nice day!" I'm sure the Coast Guardsman working on a boat a few feet away from me thought it a bit strange, but I just wanted to make sure that, the next time I stroll the breakwater, the same seagull does NOT have it in for me.

(jim@wmqt.com)