Wednesday, 7/31

They really are two different places.

Having spent most of the past week down in Loraine's hometown, I get when she jokes about “The Awesome Flatness of Reese”--

Stand anywhere in Reese and you can see for miles and miles and miles. In fact, on a clear day, you can even see the top of the Zilwaukee bridge.

A bridge that's 13 miles away.

Contrast that with the place where I live--

Stand anywhere in Marquette and you can see, at the most, a half a mile or so. In fact, I put that particular picture up because when you stand on a hill you can, if you're lucky, see the top of another hill.

You can't do that in Reese.

Loraine often complained about growing up in the land of flatness, where everything looks the same no matter which direction you look in. And I think we're insanely lucky in that regard. You look in one direction and you see hills. Look in another direction and see water. Look in a third direction and see amazingly green forests

Not many places can say that.

So the next time you step out your front door, take a second and take a look. Not one lick of “Awesome Flatness” anywhere to be seen.

Take it from me--not every place can make that claim.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 7/30

 I'm back!

(And then, after a collective shrug of everyone's shoulders...)

The quick trip downstate went fine.  Or, at least, as fine as a trip for a funeral can go.  After all the official things on Thursday we were able to spend a lot of time together as a family, and tried to make a dent in all the food that was left over from the lunch after the service.

(Seriously--is that how much food every funeral lunch has?  Because there were a TON of people there and there was still enough left over that we ate nothing but leftovers throughout the weekend , following which Loraine's dad threw a bunch into the freezer)

While Loraine and varying combinations of her siblings took care of a bunch of family related things I tried to help her dad out by cooking, downloading Microsoft Word on his new computer, and doing one other thing that I actually really like doing but no one believes that I like doing--

I mowed his lawn.

It's a lot like snow shoveling, which aside from mowing lawns is something I haven't gotten to do since we moved into our current apartment 17 (gasp)  years ago.  When I did do it I had a push mower, and would tool around every little corner of whatever building in which we were living, making sure that every possible blade of grass had been snipped.

Yes, I know it's kind of a manly act and yes, I know I'm really not much of a man, but there are two things I like about lawn moving (and, by extension, snow shoveling).  The first is the geometry of it.  You have a surface, that surface needs to be cleaned, and how you approach it determines how long it will take.  If you look at it correctly, it's a puzzle.

And I like puzzles.

The second reason?  It's very Zen (which, of course, is not a very manly thing to say).  Once you've figured out your puzzle you just move the mower back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until you're done.  You get into a groove, your brain locks in, and pretty soon, your mind is cleared as you suddenly realize that you're done.

I'm pretty sure most people who mow lawns don't do it for that reason, but since when have I ever been normal, right?

So, now I'm back, and ready to start hearing farm animal impressions as our "Fairground Frenzy" contest starts today.  It's been a weird past week.

I'm kind of interested to see what the next week has in store.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 7/23

I think I'll have everything done on time.

As I mentioned yesterday, Loraine and I have to head downstate for her mom's memorial service/lunch/inurnment/family gathering. We'll leave tomorrow, with all the official stuff on Thursday, and then just spend a very long weekend hanging out with various members of her family (and playing soccer) before coming back next Monday in time for me to do TV.

That means a couple of things. It means that I've had to get a couple of weeks' worth of work done in a week or so (which, thankfully, I seem to have accomplished), and it also means that there won't be another one of these here for a week. I'll try to write one as we're driving back next Monday. After all, there's two and a half hours of Loraine driving up I-75 before I take over once we cross the Bridge, and since I already seem to know every tree, exit, and junkyard off the freeway to begin with, I might as well do something a little more constructive with my time than just stare out the window.

Right?

So I'll be back here a week from today. It'll be a little summer vacation; perhaps not the one we were planning and certainly not one we wanted to have, but it'll be a little getaway nonetheless. So wish us safe travels and, if you would, keep Loraine's family in your thoughts.

I'm sure they'd appreciate it.

See you next week...

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 7/22

I don't get to be a dork this year.

Let me rephrase that, I guess, because as well all know I'm a dorky pretty much every day of every year.  This year I won't be able to, for the first time in over two decades, do my yearly counting of license plates n the week leading up to Art on the Rocks.  I've done it every year since at least 2002, and it always provides me with two things--fodder for these babblings, and an insight into just how popular Marquette has become and just how strong the US economy is.  Back in 2008 during the Great Recession I only saw plates from 17 other states, while last year I saw them from 45.  I'm guessing that with Marquette's exploding popularity and the continued strength of the US economy that I might top that number this year.

But I won't be able to find out.

The reason why?  Well, some of you may know this (although I'm guessing most of you don't), daily blog reader Betsy of downstate Reese--aka Loraine mom's--passed away earlier this month, and her memorial service (and a big family gathering) are set for later this week.  And since, as my sister is fond of reminding me, "family is the most important thing", I have places to be other than here counting license plates..

Betsy's passing, while not entirely unexpected, is still a shock. I feel not only for Loraine but for her dad, Floyd, who was married to Betsy for 60+ years, as well as their entire extended family.  We, of course, always try to get down there at least once a year and visit; it's just a bummer that this year's journey is under such sad circumstances.

But it's all part of the circle of life, I guess.

So the license pate count will have to wait until next year, I guess, unless I decide to just do it every year on another weekend; say, perhaps, NMU's "welcome back" weekend.  We'll have to see.  But for the first time in over two decades it won't be during Art on the Rocks week this year.

But that's okay.  After all, "family is the most important thing".

(jim@wmqt.com)

(ps--if you're in Marquette this week and see a strange license plate, pass it along.  After all, I'm still going to be curious about the whole thing!)

Friday, 7/19

A couple of days ago I had mentioned the randomness of Marquette, how, if you're on foot, you get to see things that most people in cars would just zoom by.

Well, since I posted those thoughts on Monday I have come across a few examples of that same phenomenon, so to wrap up the week pictorial proof that I'm not just making it up. For example...

Why is a single cherry tomato sitting n the street?

Seeing as how retainers are supposed to sit in your mouth, there are several questions I have about this one lying on a sidewalk. How did it get there? Shouldn't you notice it's not in your mouth. And, most importantly, just how much alcohol was involved in the retainer ending up on the sidewalk?

I assume with the leaf that you drew you're referring to cannabis and not the early 90's En Vogue song, right?

And finally...it's too bad hand signs don't come with spellcheck...

See? You'd probably miss most (if not all) of these by driving. But if you know where to look, the randomness (and the wackiness) of Marquette is all around you.

Hope your weekend is random and/or wacky!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 7/18

I think people need to rethink their definition of the word "legendary".

If you listen on the air, you know I do interviews with people on an almost daily basis. I did one a couple of days ago, and the person with whom I was speaking then put up a social media post saying that he'd be on with the "legendary Jim Koski" that afternoon, and everyone should listen to it..

First of all, thanks for the plug and telling people to listen. Second of all, "legendary"? Me? Are you quite sure about that?

8-)

I always have to laugh when someone calls me "famous" or, in this case, "legendary", because as both you and I know, I'm not. I'm just a dorky little kid who grew up into a dorky adult whose singular talent seems to be a bizarre propensity for showing up in the media on a daily basis. I would save the terms "famous " or legendary" for everyone from Jon Stewart to Princess Diana to Barack Obama. Those people are "famous" and/or "legendary". I'm just, uhm, a dork.

With a propensity for being in the media.

As I've gotten older, though, I have come to realize what might propel people to use those terms when referring to me. In this small pond in which we live I could understand why some people might believe me to be a big fish. I guess I get that, given my propensity for being on TV and radio and newspapers and walking tours. But when I think of the words "famous" or "legendary" I just have to laugh a little, thinking to myself "you really don't know me, do you?" In the grand scheme of things I'm neither famous or legendary, at least on a planetary basis. And to me, that's what's required to be "famous" or "legendary".

But...like I said, as I've gotten older I understand how those words can get thrown around, especially on a local basis. And in a way, it's actually kind of a cool thing. If I'm described as "famous" or "legendary" it means I've made a mark in the area. It means I've made some sort of impression on people. It means I've made a difference.

And in the end, isn't that the most important thing?

I'm guessing that no matter how "famous" or "legendary" I get locally, I'll still have the same reaction to being called those words. Between you & me, I'm neither. But I have gotten to the point where I do recognize how they could apply to a dorky kid turned even dorkier adult.

Even if we both know I'm really not.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 7/17

And just like that, another season is over.

Throughout the past couple of months I've been sharing many of the "Pieces of the Past" videos I've been making for the Marquette Regional History Center. It's hard for me to believe, but after today all 18 of them I've made since the beginning of the year will now be available to the public.

Series four of the "show" is now in the books.

I started these videos during Covid, when some people were stuck in their homes and looking for any sort of entertainment. Since telling historical stories seems to be my one and only skill, I figured I'd give it a shot, and voila--they were a hit. Since they're a little too labor-intensive to do them on a daily or weekly basis, I've just been doing a batch (or a "season", if you prefer) most Springs since, and after a hiatus for my restaurant documentary last year, I did it again in 2024.

And now, that season is coming to an end.

I'm still kind of on the fence as to whether there will be a "season" five, but then it's like that every time I finish a batch. I actually have interviews I did this year that I didn't use; plus, I have tentative plans to work with a Native Studies class at NMU to put something together about the peoples who lived here before Europeans showed up. So right there we have the basis for a bunch of videos next time around. or, we have the basis for a longer-length piece or two. What form that takes, I guess, will depend upon several different things.

I guess we'll just have to see how I feel next winter. If I'm bored and/or frustrated at being stuck inside because we have a real winter (unlike the one we had last year), at this time next year we'll be talking about how I'm wrapping up "season" five of the show.

We'll just have to see.

So on that note, I'll leave you with the season finale. It's actually pretty much a mirror of the season premiere, so because of that I'll say the same thing I said when I posted the first entry of "season" four--Watch it on as big of a screen as possible.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 7/16

For once, I wasn't kidding when I was on TV last night. Summer is half over.

Let's observe a moment of silence, shall we?

Like I said, I'm actually kind of serious about this. If you consider summer to be the months of June, July, & August (what weather professionals call “Meteorological Summer”) then yesterday (July 15^th) marks the half way point of the season. 50% of the days are behind us, and 50% still await us. I mean, to me, it barely seems like it's begun, but it seems like that every year, so I may not be the best person to judge. Days and weeks blend into each other; you go to bed in early May and then you wake up the next day to find out that it's mid-July.

And you know what that means, right? It's gonna snow next week.

Okay; that MAY be a joke. But like I said, the way days and weeks are blending into each other means it's not that long until we wake up one morning to find out that summer isn't merely half over but has somehow made the jump into November. I shudder at the mere thought, but I know it's coming.

Of course, summer's never long enough around here, and those weeks in June when temperatures didn't get out of the 50s and the rain seemed ever-present didn't help. But at least now the weather's where it's supposed to be so maybe, just maybe, that'll help slow down time just a bit.

I mean, I'm not counting on it, but a boy can dream, right?

So get out and enjoy the second half of summer while it's still here. After all, you don't want to leave anything undone on your summer to-do list, lest you wake up tomorrow and realize it is, indeed, November.

Because you know that IS going to happen.

(jim@wmqt.com) 

Monday, 7/15

There are many things to love about living in Marquette.  For me, it's sometime the sheer randomness of it all.

Let me explain.  I was out enjoying our toasty and sunny weekend when I came across something on the bike path by South Beach--

You might not even notice it if you're biking to the South Trails or out to Harvey, but on a picnic table aside the trail someone had put out a vase full of wildflowers--

I have no idea why the vase was there.  I don't know if someone left the vase there after a nice lunch in the sun, or if someone put the vase there on purpose.  All I know is that, on a picnic table alongside a bike path, someone had stuck a vase full of flowers.

How random is that?

And that's just one example of the "randomness" I was describing.  If you walk anywhere in the city (or, if you're like a dork and walk EVERYWHERE in the city) you see so many examples of it, from sidewalk art encouraging you to enjoy the day to a statue in someone's flower bed of Godzilla eating a garden gnome.   Unlike some places, you never know what you might see when you cross a street or round a corner..  And, of course, you miss it all if you drive everywhere.

But if you're in the right place at the right time, someone's random act can bring a smile to your face, give you a little encouragement, or stop for a second and just marvel at the randomness of it all.

Especially when you see things like a vase of flowers on a picnic table.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 7/12

I wonder if this is the weekend the ball finally dies?

As you know, Loraine and I play soccer at least once a weekend, and over the past couple of years have amassed quite the collection of balls. One of them, given to us by Loraine's niece and nephews, started to develop cracks in the leather exterior the first time we used it last year. We figured it wouldn't last too long, but we were wrong. A year later we're still wondering when the Zombie Ball will finally die--

Over the past year the cracks in the exterior that developed the first time we used it have (obviously) grown, but the interior rubber bladder just won't give up. We've tried kicking it as hard as we can, have tried bouncing it off net frames and concrete, and even used it several times when it was below freezing (but still snow-free) this past winter.

But no matter what we do, the Zombie Ball will not die.

Because of its tattered exterior and its guts sticking out like a weird rubber tumor the ball really doesn't travel like a normal soccer ball, but that doesn't stop us from using it. Every week we take it out and abuse it, and every week we think it's the week the ball finally gives up the ghost.

So far, every week we've been wrong.

I don't know what it's gonna take to finally kill the Zombie Ball; the way it's going it, like a zombie, will outlast every single good ball we're using. If nothing else, I'll give it credit for being tenacious. We have abused that ball more than any other we've ever had, and even though the leather exterior continues to fall apart the ball itself refuses to die. So if the producers of the "Walking Dead" franchise are looking for a star for their next show...

I have the perfect candidate.

We'll see how it turns out after we play this weekend. This might finally be the time the Zombie Ball gives up the ghost. I mean, I'm guessing it won't, but zombies DO have to eventually perish, right?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 7/11

Please try not to throw things at me, but I’ve just noticed that even though I’ve gained a pound or two all of my pants now seem too big.

Okay...go ahead and hate me a little, if you’d like, but I’m just as surprised as you are. Over the past month or so I’ve noticed that I’ve put on that extra pound (or two), and it’s surprised me a little bit. I mean, I think I look the same as I always do, and I can’t see where a pound or two of extra blubber might be hiding. I have, though, put on a pound or two, and as we all know, scales are NEVER wrong, right?

Then I went to put on a pair of shorts I hadn’t worn in those two weeks, and noticed that as soon as I put them on they started to slide down my waist a little. That got me to thinking; I’ve also had to tighten my belt one notch more than usual when I put it on every morning. And yet, I’ve gained a pound or two over the past month. Should my shorts not slide down? Shouldn’t I have to let my belt out a notch instead of making it tighter?

And that‘s when it hit me. I may finally be adding a little muscle to my body.

Those of you who’ve read this forever know that I’ve been trying to add muscle to my body for as long as you’ve been reading this. I work out, I eat lots of protein, but I’ve never succeeded, thanks mostly to my genetic makeup and thanks in a smaller way to the fact that I run, and you hardly ever see a bulked up runner, right? I mean, I’m not (in any way) trying to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger; I just don’t wanna be the skinniest dork on the block.

However, the fact that I’ve put on weight while shedding an inch or two from my waistline means that I must be adding muscle somewhere, even if I can’t see it. Muscle weighs a lot more than fat; that's why they’re always telling people who are trying to lose weight and get in shape not to look at the scale but to look at your clothes instead. When you replace fat with muscle you don’t necessarily lose weight, but you will lose inches.

Apparently, that’s what I’ve finally succeeded in doing.

I have no idea where this muscle is; like I said, to me, at least, I look pretty much like I always have. But it must be lurking in there somewhere, the same way that the fat it replaced was floating around. Hopefully, I’ll start adding more muscle, and then you may even be able to notice it. Of course, I’ve been trying to add bulk for 20 or so years now, and if it’s taken this long to add a couple of pounds, I’ll probably be in my 70s or 80s before I add enough that you can actually see.

Oh well; by then I’ll be old, but at least I’ll be the buffest guy at the Senior Center, right?

I’d be curious to know what finally prompted my muscles to start growing. I know that I’m always changing up my workout routine to trying and fool my body into thinking it’s working hard. Maybe that’s what caused it. Maybe playing soccer with Loraine on a weekly basis has done something strange to my body and/or metabolism. I don’t know; I’m just happy that it’s working.

Even if it does mean that someday soon I may have to go out and buy new shorts. And maybe a belt, while I’m at it.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 7/10

I've done almost 100 of these. I have no idea why I like this one so much.

The fourth season of the “Pieces of the Past” video shorts I do for the Marquette Regional History Center is coming to a close, with only two episodes left. For whatever reason, I try to make the final few every year memorable, and I think I've succeeded this year. Next week's entry—the final one—will echo the one with which we started the season back in April, but this week's was one that wasn't even on my radar when I started putting them together.

In fact, the idea for it came to me while I was running.

Like many things that pop into my head almost fully formed, the idea for this one came out of nowhere. Once it was there, I knew I had to do a video about it. But I didn't know where to start. There's not a lot of popular lore on how this particular Marquette tradition started, so I took advantage of a resource I never thought I'd need--

The City of Marquette Engineering Department.

They provided me with a rough date for the event I was hoping to chronicle. Once I had that, I was able to look up all the information I needed, added a bunch of pictures I've taken over the years (but never thought I'd use for anything), and voila--

The story of why you're not supposed to spit on Marquette sidewalks.

History's fun. It's also occasionally weird, too, but I don't think I'd want it any other way.

8-)

Enjoy the whole tale!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 7/9

It's okay. I had his permission to do it.

On my TV thingee last night I used my dad as an example of a “Cranky Old Man”, and may—just may—have joked that he was somewhere in the neighborhood of 190 years old. That prompted someone on social media to ask me if I meant to be “that mean” to my dad.

I don't know that I was being mean, but yes, I did mean to say what I said about my dad. It was all part of the gag. And he was cool with it because I cleared it with him before I even started writing about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have even thought about doing it. But seeing as how he was the person from whom I learned it's better not to take yourself too seriously, I figured he'd laugh at it.

And he did.

I needed an example of a “cranky old man” for the bit (which was about idiots shooting off fireworks every night for a week straight) and since my dad can, in several self-professed ways, fit the mold of a “cranky old man”, I figured he would be the perfect example. I also figured it would be an opportunity to share a few great things about my dad, as well as one of my favorite latter-day pictures of the two of us--

It all came off perfectly, and I'm thinking most people watching were in on the joke. In fact, the one comment I received about my dad was the only one on that subject, whereas I received somewhere between 20 and 30 about the idiots shooting off firecrackers.

And in a world where no one can agree on anything, in seems like that's one subject upon which almost everyone can agree.

If you wanna see what I talked about, JUST CLICK OR TAP HERE AND WATCH. And remember—no fathers were harmed in the shooting of this TV piece.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 7/8

I wonder if I could make a three-day week work?

First of all, welcome back to reality. Hope your holiday weekend, be it two or three or four days, was restful. Mine was okay; I would have preferred a little less in the way of clouds and a lot more sun, but these days, with the way the weather is changing, I guess we'll take what we can get. But it did make me think about something and that, as we all know, is a dangerous thing.

I enjoyed having four days in a row off. Sure, I had to work like the devil to get those four days off, but it was nice losing, in a small sense, the need of knowing what day it was or where I had to be. And while in my business it would pretty much be impossible, I started to see the appeal of what some people do for their job; namely, working insane hours for a few days and then having a big chunk of time off, week in and week out. Doctors & nurses do it, firefighters do it, aircraft crews do it.

Shouldn't dorks be allowed to do it, too?

8-)

I suppose what I'm thinking of is something along the lines of working three 12 or 13 hour days, and then having four days off. Like I said, in my current job, that's pretty much impossible when you're on the air. But if i wasn't on the air, is that something I might want to try? A 12 or 13 hour stretch is a LOOOOONG time at work, although I've done them many times, so it's not impossible. I guess my wonder is this--by the time you get done with your three 12 or 13 hour days, are you then so exhausted that you spend the first one or two of your four days off sleeping?

If any of you work that way, I'd love to know.

Like I said, this is nothing I will be doing any time soon. After all, having to be on the air kind of precludes it. But after I have a long weekend, like the one we just finished, it's always something that's been in the back of my mind.

After this past weekend, I guess it just moved to the fore of what passes for my mind.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 7/3

It's time to wish something a happy birthday...and it's not the United States.

Although...apparently this country has a birthday coming up soon, as well?

8-)

Anyway, here's the whole story on what actually IS about to celebrate a milestone birthday--

Because of the birthday celebration (the one for the US, not Marquette) I have the rest of the week off. Have fun, stay safe over the 4^th, and, if it's at all possible, behave yourself.

Back with a whole new week starting Monday!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 7/2

You'd think that, during the summer, they own Marquette.

Believe it or not, I'm not talking about tourists, although under different circumstances I could be. Nope; instead, I'm talking about these things--

Over the past couple of years these pooping machine seem to have taken over large swaths of Marquette, from bike paths to Park Cemetery to Lower Harbor Park, hissing when you walk (or bike) near, and leaving big piles of their byproduct all over said paths & parks.

It's not fun.

There's always been a goose problem in Marquette—one of the reasons, in fact, that we no longer have a Shiras Pool out at the island—but over the past few years it's become even worse, as climate change causes the geese to alter their migration patterns and think Marquette is home, and as a lot of people—tourists included—think they're cute and feed them, causing the geese to not want to leave.

Because if you have a fast-food restaurant in your garage, why would you ever want to leave home?

I can foresee this becoming a major problem, much like the deer were on Presque Isle a few years ago when they exploded in population and the city had to cull the herd. However, the geese are different. Unlike deer, they can fly, and unlike deer, they've taken over populated parts of the city, making any attempted culling of them problematic. Thankfully, they're not here year-round, but when they are here they're causing all kinds of issues.

But then...what do you expect when they think they own the city?

(jim@wmqt.com) 

Monday, 7/1

Okay...where has the first half of 2024 gone?

I mean, I’ve looked everywhere, and can’t find it. I even looked in the back of the closet, underneath the couch cushions, and in that little thing where you put change in your car, but yet. . .

Nothing. I can’t find the first half of the year ANYWHERE.

Actually, that’s not surprising; it seems like I have this same feeling every July 1^st, the feeling that an entire half year has disappeared before our collective eyes. I mean, it feels—literally—like I was just making our annual Kaiserschmarnn and playing soccer on a snow-free New Year's Day. Now, a day later (or so it seems) I’m trying to work ahead because it's the Fourth of July in three days and I have a long weekend in front of me

I mean, January 1^st and July 4^th. There’s only a day or two between those two dates, right?

But after looking back at a few of the blogs I’ve written since January 1^st, I can see where many of those days went. In fact, a couple of week ago I received a note from daily blog reader Kelly in Marquette, who asked if there was anything I HADN’T done in the previous few months. And after looking back at both the blogs I’ve written and the calendar on my office wall, I think I can say with confidence. . .

Nope. I think I’ve actually done everything I could humanly do since January 1st, with the possible exception of sitting back, relaxing, and taking the time to figure out what I actually DID do in the first half of the year.

But, then, that’s what the second half of the year is for, right?

RIGHT?!?!?!?

Sadly (or, depending upon how you look at it, fortunately) the second half of the year promises to be just as busy, with a few long weekend getaways, weekly TV gigs, the annual starting up of another weekly TV gig, and all the other stuff that comes up because I have an inability to say “no”. In fact, I'm pretty sure that when I wake up “tomorrow” it'll be December 31^st, and I'll be asking this question--

Just where did the SECOND half of 2024 go?

(jim@wmqt.com)