Thursday, 4/30

Wait. It's the end of April already?

I have no idea how that happened. Last time I checked it was mid-March and all kinds of strange things start to happen. Then I wake up one morning and a month and a half has passed.

How the heck did THAT happen?

I guess I shouldn't be surprised; aside from all the wackiness going on in the world it really wasn't like “April” around here. We had a tremendously warm & dry February and March. April, however, will probably end up being several degrees below normal, while our biggest snow dump this calendar year happened during the month, as well.

So that's probably one reason why it doesn't seem like we're finishing “April”.

The other is related. If you look at the first 20 years of this century (2000-2019), 17 of those years had at least one April day where the temperature was above 70. Heck; six of those years had temperatures over 80. But at least here in Marquette, in “April” of 2020, we didn't even have a day where the high was over 60. We did for two days in March, but “April”?

Nope.

Even when the world is normal (or what passes for “normal”) I guess that I use the weather as a guide through the month. But this year, when the world is anything BUT normal and our weather has joined in, I guess that's caused a bit of disorientation on my part. Sure, the calendar says it's the end of “April”, but not much else does, at least around here. So if I seem a little...disbelieving about that fact, please forgive me.

It's just been one of those years.

(jim@wmqt.com), who's hoping May doesn't become “May”)

Wednesday, 4/29

This is where I was supposed to be today.

I know; there's nothing I can do about it. And if there's any consolation to take out of this whole thing, I guess it MIGHT be the fact that instead of it being sunny & 80 today in Berlin, like it was when I took this picture last year, it's only, uhm, 60 & sunny today.

Okay. That's not much consolation.

As I have said many times the past couple of months, the fact that our trip was cancelled falls waaaaaaay down on the list of things to complain about during the pandemic. And while I am very disappointed, I'm not complaining about it. It is what it is. And it's with that same attitude that I took note of the fact that yesterday the country of France shut down things like large gatherings until September 1^st of this year.

September 1^st, of course, being the day before we're supposed to fly over there.

I'm not an expert in these things, but it wouldn't surprise me if that trip had the kibosh put on it, as well. I mean, we held out hope about Germany until the airline pulled all of its flights and the Bundesliga axed games a few weeks ago, and we'll be doing the same with the trip to France. But as we've learned recently things like bans on large gatherings usually presages other types of bans. As it is, they pushed back the Tour de France until the end of August, a few days before we get there.

If that gets cancelled or pushed back in the next few weeks we'll have a pretty good idea about our plans, too.

Like I said, it is what it is. There's absolutely nothing I can do about it. And if it's the biggest problem I face during this whole crisis, then I'm one of the luckiest people on the planet. I'll just keep working ahead, and if all that work plays off and we get to go, cool. And if we don't?

Well, I can always take a week or two off during the summer and enjoy the warmth in Marquette. Assuming, of course, it ever gets warm around here. With the way that 2020's been treating us, I'm not holding out too much hope.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/28

I think I have my list ready.

With all the insanity that's been going on, I'm actually one of the lucky ones, even if I'm not going to Germany today as originally planned. I'm still healthy, I'm still working, and, if I had to guess, 80% of my lifestyle really hasn't changed. That's why I have put together the list, which I am calling--

The Stimulus List.

Like I said, I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't immediately need the $1,200 stimulus payment everyone's getting. I know there are so many people for whom it will be a a lifeline that I kind of wish I could give mine back. But I can't, so I'm gonna do the next best thing--

I'm actually going to use it for its intended purpose.

One of the ideas behind the money (aside from helping people eat, pay rent, or try not to drown under debt) was to help get the economy going again. So the list I have come up with is stuff I'm going to buy with the $1,200. If the idea is to get as much of the money back into the economy as possible, that's what I hope to do.

On the list is everything from new running shoes to a cool purple tea pot I saw in the window of a downtown Marquette store. Now, I've earmarked as many locally-owned, mom & pop places as humanly possible to get this stuff. After all, Amazon doesn't need my money, but places like Queen City Running, the Spice Merchants, and all the non-chain restaurants to which I usually go really do. It's been a hard month and a half for a lot of local businesses, and if I can drop $50 or $100 their way, especially as they're just re-opening, even for curbside pickup, it's the least I can do.

I'm hoping every little bit helps.

Like I said—I've been working (oh, have I been working) throughout this entire crisis. I don't necessarily need the $1,200. But if I can get some stuff for it while giving it to people who COULD use it; well, that seems like a win-win for everyone involved.

We'll see how it turns out!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/27

The note almost made me cry, which is a funny thing considering I wrote it to myself.

Friday I was working on stuff to air today; specifically, the music log for all the songs we'll play throughout the day. As you may recall, I had been working quite ahead, and with everything going on I haven't recalled half the stuff 've done. Apparently, one of the things I did when working on this particular log, back at the beginning of March, was to leave myself a little note.

That note said “have a great trip”. Because today, you see, is the last day before I was supposed to leave on our little trip to Germany.

I have no idea why March me wrote a note to April me, but he did. I mean, it was nice of him, but I think one of the things it goes to show is just how much the world has changed since the note was left on March 9^th. Back them, the world (or at least me) was confident enough to think that our trip would still be taking place. I know at the time the Bundesliga had cancelled matches for March, and at the time Europe wasn't open for visitors. But back on March 9^th I still had hope that things would be back to “normal” by today.

Goes to show what I know.

So instead of speeding through today with all the last minute work associated before flying off it'll just be another day of coming into an empty studio and doing everything that needs to get done in this new “normal”. I have no idea if or when we'll get to go back to Germany; heck, we're starting to assume that our jaunt to France in September isn't going to happen. And maybe that's why the note—from me, to me—struck such a chord.

Back then, I thought today would be a big day. Sad to say, I was wrong.

But that's okay. I'm still healthy. Everyone I care about is still healthy. I still have a job. I have a (hopefully warm) summer to look forward to. And, with any luck, I still have a lot of future travel plans to which to look forward.

Even if tomorrow I go to work instead of Germany.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/24

I hope that if/when things return to normal that Marquette regains one of the things that make it one of the greatest places on the planet.

Because of what I do my lifestyle hasn't changed very much, which means that I'm still walking here and there pretty much as much as usual. And one of the things I've noticed while out walking is the loss of a cherished Marquette tradition--

The smile and the greeting of “hello” as you walk past someone on the sidewalk.

That's all but disappeared these days as people try to socially distance themselves or are buried under a protective mask. Sometimes you make eye contact; sometimes, you're just trying to make sure you don't come too close to the other person. But as someone who a). walks everywhere, and 2). always says “hi” to people, I can vouch for the fact that that habit has all but disappeared.

I can't say I'm surprised; after all, everyone's just trying to stay safe, and those people who are actually out on the streets are probably a little more nervous than those staying home. I know I am a little bit. But it's sad that we've lost that ability to greet people, especially because I've spoken with visitors over the years who've gone out of their way to comment on how friendly a place Marquette is because we actually DO say “hey” or “good morning” to strangers. It's part of what makes this a special place.

And I would certainly be bummed if we lost that quality.

Like I said, I'm hopeful that that quality will be back if and when we ever return to normal. After all, it's one of the things that makes Marquette Marquette, and with everything else we've had ripped asunder that past month, I'd like to think that we deserve to get at least that back.

Stay safe, everyone, and have a great weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 4/24

I wonder what the final episode of my “show” will be?

As some of you may know, I've been putting together a bunch of short videos for social media about the history of Marquette. Inspired by singers who've been performing at home, and since I can't sing but I do seem to have some strange talent for telling stories, I've been doing four or five of them a week on all kinds of subjects And I've been trying to come up with a subject that might be fitting for the final one, the last one I do once things are back to “normal”.

I just haven't figured it WHAT it'll be yet.

I know that creators and writers of TV shows obsess over how their series gets wrapped up. For every successful finale, like “Newhart” and its dream sequence, there's a finale like that of “Seinfeld” that kind of just leaves a bitter taste in everyone's mouth. Now, what I've been doing is absolutely nothing like those shows, but when I do wrap them all up I'd like to do so in an apt way, so people look back and remember the videos fondly.

We'll see.

I know I've posted a couple of them on here before, and now most of them are available for those of you who aren't on Facebook. You can check out the first 21 of them on the History Center's website. Go ahead and binge watch them. Maybe you can come up with an idea for the perfect final episode.

Oh, and while you're there, if you wanna show the History Center some love, too? I don't think any of us would complain too much.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/22

Oh no. NOW how am I gonna be a dork?

Before you say (and you know you want to) “Jim, you've NEVER had a problem being a dork” let me clarify that I reach perhaps peak dorkiness during an annual summer event in Marquette, an event that was cancelled for this year yesterday, joining Pridefest and the Hiawatha Music Festival on the scrapheap of Covid 19.

That event is “Art on the Rocks”.

Now, not only is Art on the Rocks one of the coolest things you'll ever attend (after all, how many outdoor art shows do they hold on the shores of Lake Superior?), but it's also an event that draws thousands of people to Marquette. That is why, for the past 25 or so years, I've spent the week leading up to the show doing my annual license plate count, seeing how many plates from different states I can find.

This year, though, no. The dorkiness will be dialed down a notch.

One of the things I get out of the plate count is a general, non-scientific account of how the economy's doing. Usually, the more states I see, the better the economy is doing. During the Great Recession, I only saw plates from 18 states; in 2015, I saw plates from 49 states. I was kind of wondering just how low the count would go this year; after all, it's been on a downward trend the past few years, and with the economy imploding I figured it might be lower than 18 this year.

But now, I'll never know.

So I guess I'll be mourning two things now. I'll be mourning the loss of Art on the Rocks, an event I've always looked forward to. And I'll also be mourning the loss of yet another chance to be a dork.

Because, as we all know, I SO rarely get the chance to do that.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/21

And now, for something completely different.

I realize I've been using these blogs as kind of a Coronavirus “diary” the past few weeks, and I'm sure I'll start back up again tomorrow, but I wanted to write about something non-pandemic related today, if I could. You see, today's a rather big day around our apartment, if only because...

It's our anniversary today.

Yup; Loraine and I have now been married four or five years, give or take a few (dozen). In fact, on a MUCH nicer spring day than we’ve had recently, during that mythical time known as “the 20^th century”, we stood on the steps of the Marquette County Courthouse and jumped feet first into that very strange state of living called “marriage”. And in the years since we seem to have defied all odds and at least a handful of expectations. Somehow, in our little universe of friends, we’ve managed to become the one couple that a). got married and 2). stayed married, proving once again that we somehow manage to be “normal” while in no way actually being “normal”.

It’s a gift, that power of ours.

I sometimes wonder if that’s actually the secret to whatever relationship success we’ve had. . .the fact that we don’t try to be “normal”. We’re just “us”, for better or worse. We don’t do or buy a lot of the things that “normal” couples do or buy. We live a lifestyle and have hobbies that, while unique to some people, seem to fit us perfectly. We’re comfortable with who we are as people, and our personalities are different enough so that we compliment each other quite well. For instance, Loraine’s organized, and I’m, uhm, not. Loraine can be serious and quiet, while I’m, uhm, not. And Loraine’s uncomfortable in heat while I’m, uhm, not. But that seems to work for us; add in the fact that we agree on the big things, and I think that might be the foundation for us staying married for those four or five years, give or take a few (dozen).

So happy anniversary, Loraine. I don't think there's anyone else with whom I'd rather be self-isolating!!

Love,

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/20

Well, that was easier than I thought it would be.

As you may recall, we were supposed to fly to Germany a week from tomorrow. That obviously isn't happening, and American Airlines said they'd refund the money we paid for our tickets. I filled out the online paperwork last weekend, and received an e-mail this weekend saying my credit card was being refunded the money we paid last August.

Cool.

I have to admit I was a bit concerned when I started this whole process. If you've been reading these forever you may remember how Loraine and I were separated from our luggage going over to Germany in 2015, had to buy a few items, and then had to wait almost six months to get reimbursed by American for those items, even though they told us to pick them up. I was kinda worried we'd have to go through the same thing with this,

Thankfully, we didn't.

So while we won't get to go to Germany in a week and a day, at least we won't have to worry about the money we paid for the tickets being tied up. And since we can't go to Germany as planned next week, we brought a little of Germany to us, when this arrived Friday--

It's not the same as going to Germany, but these days it's about as close as you can get.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/17

What? You can't look good for the end of the world?

As you well know, I'm working alone these days. And like many people who are working alone or working from home, you wouldn't think it matters what I wear. And most days, it doesn't. Most days, I'm here in my usual wardrobe of jeans and some kind of shirt, something I wear almost every single working day of the year. However, during “normal” times, I will also wear a jacket & tie one day a week, either because I'm doing TV or because I wanna remind myself that I can.

I'm still doing it while I'm working alone. I just didn't realize I'd get people asking me “why”?

No, seriously. I've had co-workers who had to pop in to get something or people I've socially distanced from across the street wonder why I'm getting dress up when I don't have to. They seem...perplexed that I don't come to work wearing my pajamas. Why, they wonder, am I getting dressed up when I'm the only one who sees it?

Because I want to.

I realize it's probably a stupid thing, but I'm trying to keep things as normal as possible during these very abnormal times. I work out like I usually do, I work as I usually do, and aside from the fact that most of my favorite restaurants I closed I eat as I normally do. So if I normally wear a jacket & tie one day week, why shouldn't I do that, too? I get what those other people are saying; I don't need to do it. I just want to.

If that makes me a freak, so be it.

So if you happen to see me from a socially-safe distance sometime in the next few weeks, and you noticed like I'm overdressed for a world that doesn't require it, don't think I've gone off the deep end or anything.

It's just me being me.

On that note, have yourself a great (at home) weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 4/16

I understand why I got the evil eye. I don't agree with it, but I understand it.

When I finished running yesterday I did something I do while running. In fact, it's something almost all runners do while out running. I didn't even think twice about it; after all, like I said, it's a natural part of running. But these days, nothing's “natural” any more, so I guess I can understand why the person walking across the street from me glared like I was the most evil person in the world.

And all I did was spit.

Like I said, I do it all the time. All runners do it all the time. And in my defense, it's also the start of hay fever season, which means that there's little extra out there to, you know, spit. In the 30 or so years I've been running I've never given it a second thought, nor have I been given the evil eye by someone who saw me do it.

But like I said, these aren't normal times.

I understand why I got the evil eye. Admittedly, I hadn't given the practice a second thought. Like I said, it's natural for runners. But I can also understand why the person across the street looked at me like I was the devil incarnate. I was spitting out germs. I was spitting them out far away from the person across the street and into one of the many snowbanks with which we've now been graced, but I was spitting out germs nonetheless.

These days, that's not a good thing.

I don't know that I can totally avoid spitting while running during this whole crisis, especially with, like I said, hay fever season upon us. And I really don't think that my spitting into a snowbank is going to cause anyone else to get sick. But we're in strange times these days. And if my not spitting makes someone a little more comfortable as they're walking down the street, then it's the least I can do.

****

Speaking of snowbanks, think these people might now think twice about having left their cars out on the street over the weekend?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/15

Well, we'll see how it all works.

As you know, I'm the only one at the station these days. For a while, I was the only one on the air at the station, as well. But now, we've gotten enough remote equipment together that both Jen & Tanner can start broadcasting from home, which means that I get a little bit of a break from doing all the work around here.

Now, it'll just be down to around 90% or so.

Actually, I kid. These are strange times, and they demand unique solutions to the difficulties we're all facing. That's why I'm happy my co-workers are back on the air, even if it's just from a couple of blocks away. Mostly, I'm happy for the listeners, who will now have something OTHER than my whiny voice coming out of their radios.

It's actually amazing that we're able to do this. If this whole outbreak had occurred 10 or 12 years ago, I don't think the technology would've existed for us to broadcast on a daily basis from three different locations. Or if it didn't it wouldn't have been quite as easy as it seems to be. But thanks to the internet and smart phones and VPN networking, here we are—three people doing three different shows from three different locations.

Maybe Dickens was on to something when he said “it was the best of time, it was the worst of times”.

So if you've missed “The Jen Show” or “The Sportspen” on ESPN UP, they're back starting today. Feel free to listen to your hearts content. Oh, and I'll be on as usual, as well, just in case you're not too sick of me.

Because we know you are.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/14

Now, the fun begins.

For those of you who don't know, with everything else going on we just finished a 36-hour splurge of this--

Yeah, I know. Throw in a plague of locusts and we'd be all set.

Wait, what? There's a plague of locusts in Africa right now?  Never mind...

8-)

You're looking at something around 18 inches of wet, heavy slush that started late Sunday night and finally (finally) ended yesterday afternoon. It was horrid walking to work through it, but my mind (as always) did pop to the bright side of things—if you're gonna have a horrid storm like this one, at least this was the best time to have it.

After all, everyone's stuck at home and can't go anywhere anyway, right?

I know my landlord didn't bother snow-blowing the driveway until last night. If things were “normal” he would've been out these early Monday morning and then again Monday afternoon just to make sure everyone needed to get where they were going. But since Loraine and I were the only ones who needed to get anywhere, and since we both walk to work, he just let the snow pile up until it was done.

See? A win-win for everyone.

Thankfully, it's over now, and it wouldn't surprise me if there were a lot of homeowners who did just like our landlord. If you can't go anywhere, and it's supposed to be in the 40s later this week, the snow should melt on its own, right? Like I said, if you're gonna get a storm like this, this is the situation in which to get it.

Hopefully, though, the snow is over for the year. If not, then we know Mother Nature REALLY has something against us.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/13

These days, I write a LOT.

I write blogs. I write newscasts. I write announcer copy. I write commercials. I write instructions to people. I write those history video pieces I do. And this weekend, I even wrote another newspaper article.

I really DO write a bunch.

I'm not complaining; after all, I wouldn't mind being a writer when I grow up. But the sheer amount of it these days has kind of taken me by surprise. And my reaction to it was kind of surprising, as well. You'd think that spending hours a day writing blogs and news and scripts and newspaper article would make me throw up my hands in disgust. But nope.

When I'm done with one thing, I'm wondering what the next will be.

It's weird. It's like I'm on some kind of crying jag, where once I start I can't stop. Except in this case I'm not shedding tears, I'm typing. I really can't explain how or why it's happening. It just is. It's kind of cool, too. I just keep pumping things out and pumping things out and pumping things out.

I'm just hoping it continues. I'm just hoping I won't one day, in the middle of writing bad jokes about bars in Marquette, suddenly hit a wall and realize that I'll never be able to looking at a keyboard again without having some kind of violent reaction to it.

That wouldn't be very cool.

So for now, I keep writing. Maybe, one day, I'll look back on everything I've been churning out and be amazed. Today, though, I'm just accepting it as part of the new normal.

****

Speaking of writing bad jokes about bars...

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/10

It's been three weeks. I'm starting to wonder if I ever wanna go back to the way it was.

As you may recall, I am working alone these days. In a station complex designed to house a bunch of people, I am the only one. I wasn't quite sure how I would like it, but as I wrote a couple of weeks ago I AM getting a lot of work done, not being interrupted by my coworkers. Of course, I'm still running into the problem of not talking to anyone for the few hours before I go on the air, which can (on occasion) make me sound like I just woke up when I turn the mic on, but I guess you take the good with the bad, right?

I'm actually spreading out when I'm here alone. I'll use different studios and different computers to do stuff, just to make sure that they're still getting used and just to make sure that I don't go stir-crazy sitting alone in my office. After all, some day (although apparently not until at least the end of the month, according to Governor Whitmer) I WILL have co-workers again, and their equipment will need to be in tip-top shape.

That's why I'm spreading out.

However, I do have to admit I am enjoying my solitude. I am enjoying being the, well, lord of my domain. I can turn the music up as loud as I want, or I can work in total silence. Even when I walk down empty hallways, I'm (jokingly) thinking that I rule all that I see. It's all mine.

Okay. Maybe I DO need a little company on occasion.

But, for the foreseeable future, I'm not going to have any company. I'll have a whole studio complex to myself, and I will still be the singular lord of everything I see. I guess I should just enjoy it while I have it.

On that note, have a great weekend. Thankfully, the Easter Bunny has been declared an essential employee, so I hope you find a treat or two, as well!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 4/9

Nature doesn't care if we're stuck inside. Nature does what nature does.

This was pointed out to me twice while running this morning. Things have been so wacky recently that the fact Spring is around the corner seems to have escaped us (or at least escaped me). That's why I was a little surprised when I saw this--

Being a big fan of warmer weather, you'd think I'd realize that Spring has almost sprung. But like I said, things are weird these days. We don't always notice what's really important in life, like flowers popping through the ground for the first time all year.

Oops.

The other occurred while running through the cemetery. There, I was greeted by two deer standing in a road way, both of them with a look of “what are you and why are you here”? I've seen deer while running through there before, but never two at once and never any with a look of, well, superiority, like they should be there and I shouldn't. Maybe it's not a surprise, though, as all around the world, as people stay indoors, animals venture into places they don't normally venture. From deer in Park Cemetery to coyotes in downtown Ironwood to goats in the streets of a town in Wales, nature abhors a vacuum. If we're not there to run roughshod over a landscape, the rest of the animal kingdom gets their shot.

Interesting, if nothing else.

So make sure you're getting out, getting some exercise, and enjoying the fresh air, like you're supposed to. Just don't be surprised by what you see, because these days it's all changing quite rapidly.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/8

What am I going to do about the tea?

When we went to Germany last year I brought back a lot of tea. To me, at least, Germany is to tea what France & Belgium are to chocolate. The flavor combinations are amazing, and the sheer variety available boggles the mind. Since I've done this a few times I have a system perfectly worked out. I'd drink the tea I brought back home sparingly, so that it would last until the next time I got to replenish my stock straight from the source.

And then the Coronavirus went and canceled the chance to replenish my stock. I mean, the Coronavirus went and canceled our trip.

Bummer.

Breakfast buffets in Germany (and all of Europe, for that matter) are amazing, if only because they introduce you to the strangest (and yummiest) tea flavors in the world. That Fennel/Anise/Caraway Seed tea that I'm so fond of? Discovered at a breakfast buffet. The same with Vanilla/Honey/Sage and all the other ones I like so much. So when I'm there I grab a couple bags of each new flavor, and then enjoy them when I'm back home. If I'm lucky, I'll then get to buy a box or three the next time I'm back.

Now, though, the bag of teas liberated from breakfast buffets last year is almost empty. I'd timed it out perfectly, so I'd run out right before we went back to Leipzig at the end of April. Only now, we're not going back at the end of April. So here's my (first world) dilemma—do I keep drinking the teas I still have, only to run out in a few weeks? Or do I ration the three bags I have left until I know I'll be able to get some more? I enjoy drinking them, so I don't know that I want to wait. On the other hand, the teas are a year old now (I picked them up at the end of April 2019). If I ration them out over the next however many months, will the start to lose a little of their tea luster?

Once I drink them, they're gone. But if I don't drink them, I have no idea if they'll be drinkable in the future.

See what the Coronavirus did??

Of course, if this is the biggest problem I have coming out of those whole period of insanity, I'm one lucky person. Drinking teas should be the least of anyone's worries.

So I'll shut up about it now.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 4/7

It's nice to know that this crisis is bringing out the good in people.

I give you two examples, the first being one of the windows at the station, usually filled with posters for upcoming events. Now (because there aren't any events upcoming for the foreseeable future) it looks like this--

I had mentioned to my brother that if his kids wanted to put together a few hearts (as part of the “Hearts for Hope” project) that I'd throw them in the empty window. Well, they put together more than a few, which means that our windows are now good to go. They even threw in one with a special message--

Their “Auntie” Courtney is a nurse in South Carolina, and, if I had to guess, the message isn't just for her but for everyone who's on the front lines of this battle.

So thanks, Abel & Calum (& Tiffanie, too)!

Secondly, I received a piece of mail from a listener yesterday. This person had won one of our contests recently, and was sending me back the prize they were given. Why, you ask? Well, I answer, because they wanted me to donate it to a local food bank. They didn't necessarily need it, but they were sure that someone would, so they wanted to make sure that that someone would put it to good use.

I was stunned when I opened the envelope and read the note. Sure, it was “stunned” in a good way, but stunned nonetheless.

So thanks, Briton from Gladstone. You have once again proven that the best people on the planet live right here in the U.P.!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 4/6

What part of “Stay Home, Stay Safe” do some people not understand?

I spent part of my weekend watching large groups of people congregate on bike paths and downtown sidewalks. I made a quick run to a grocery store for supplies, and was met by families with kids running up & down aisles. I basically saw a bunch of people NOT social distancing.

They DO want all this to go away sometime soon, right?

Therefore, I'm not surprised parks are now closed in Marquette and Negaunee.  It also makes me think of something my sister, who runs one of the grocery stores around Marquette, wrote a couple of days ago--

“So many people continue to make multiple trips to the grocery store for just a few items. PLEASE STOP! Especially if it’s only for chips and dips! Come on you people, shop smarter than that. We have always appreciated your business and always will when this is all over. but please think of those who work there and need to stay healthy so we can continue to stay open. Sorry for the rant, it’s just so frustrating when people don’t take this serious ? we are doing our part to make the store safe and clean, please do your part.”

I know it's hard to stay inside and do nothing. I know it's even harder if you have kids running around under foot. But Mel's right. People need to stay home unless absolutely needed. I can't for the life of me imagine what it's like for store workers who have to come into fairly close contact with people. I mean, I'm lucky—I work alone. It's just me around here these days. I don't have to deal with people, at least in person.

But those who work in stores that are still open? I can't imagine what it's like for them.

So please, go back and read what my sister wrote. And then think about that the next time you decide you want to take a little road trip, during these days when you're supposed to be keeping everyone healthy by staying home.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 4/3

Now, it's officially canceled.

After spending several days this week writing about our upcoming trip to Germany and how it's hadn't technically—technically--been canceled yet, an email we received from American Airlines last night put the kibosh on it. The airline is, at least on April 28^th, no longer flying to Europe, which means that we can't get to Leipzig, which means that even if we were allowed into the country and even if they held a match and even if they allowed spectators into the match, we can't go.

Oh well.

As I mentioned earlier this week, it's not a big surprise. We knew it wasn't going to happen, and we're surprised that we even made it this far without something being officially canceled. But now that we know it's off, we can get our money back from American, cancel our reservations with Motel One, and get a credit from Deutsche Bahn for the train we were taking from Berlin to Leipzig and back.

We won't get our money back from them, but that's okay. We can always use it for another set of tickets if, say, we went back there this fall for a match.

Assuming, of course, this whole thing is over by then. These days, I don't even wanna think that far ahead.

So now I have a chunk of time “free” at the beginning of May. I'd like to think that I'll be able to take a few days off, but both you and I know things probably won't allow that. Once again...oh well.

(jim@wmqt.com)

ps—Before I go, I do have to wish someone a very happy birthday this weekend. One of two people without whom I would not be possible is celebrating a very milestone kind of day in Florida Sunday. So happy birthday, Mom. Make sure Chicky-Poo helps you celebrate in the most socially-distanced, self-isolated way possible. And if you ever make it back to Michigan, we'll help you celebrate, too.

After all, we now have a little extra time on our hands!)

Thursday, 4/2

Running through the streets of downtown Marquette these days is downright eerie.

Even though the state of Michigan is under shutdown, one of the things you're still supposed to do is get outside to exercise. The Governor's recommending it, the city's keeping all the parks and bike paths open, and you're supposed to get out, get some fresh air, and stay healthy.

So I'm just basically doing what I usually do.

However, when I'm out in the morning it's a very bizarre sight. Instead of cars driving around and people rushing about, I'm greeted by this--

Instead of being amongst dozens if not hundreds of people while out for a run, I'm often the only one around. It's kind of like I'm Will Smith in “I Am Legend”” except, of course, I'm not an actor, I'm not in New York and there aren't a bunch of human-killing zombies around. But those early scenes in the movie, where he walks around the streets of an empty city?

That's kinda, sorta how I feel running these days. While it certainly is unique, I'm looking forward to the days when I have to run around people and dodge drivers who don't look both ways before they pull into an intersections.

I never thought I'd say that, but that's where we are these days!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 4/1

Guess what? We still don't know.

The DFB—The German Football Federation—did, as I was writing about yesterday, meet, and as expected postponed all Bundesliga games through the end of April. They've not yet made a decision for the weekend after that, which means that technically—technically—Loraine and I could still be going to Germany at the end of the month.

I mean, I know we're not, but nothing's technically—technically--been canceled yet.

The DFB is meeting again on April 17^th to consider what to do in May, and that's when we'll find out whether or not they're just tanking the whole season or they may be pushing stuff back, which means that we may yet have a chance to go. It kinda sounds like if they DO resume the season, they'd be playing games in front of empty stadiums, which would render our trip moot.

But still. Technically—technically--we're on track to go.

Like I said, I know we're not going anywhere. The way this thing is going both Europe and the US could be closed for a long, long, time. We just don't know how long that long, long, time could be. But just in case—in the infinitesimally small case that we COULD go—I'm still working ahead to be ready. I'm hoping it's not wasted work; if nothing else, if we do get to go in June or even July, it'll be worth it. However, if the season gets canceled or they place the rest of the matches behind closed doors?

Well, then it's all for naught. Unless, of course, it gets miraculously warm here and I can practice some social distancing on the beach. But the way 2020's going, you think THAT little miracle might happen?

So if you were curious...no, we haven't canceled yet. The official cancellation may comes down to the week or so before we're supposed to go. We'll just have to see.

(jim@wmqt.com)