Monday, 10/11

I wonder how much money I could make doing even just one day a week?

Loraine and I had our usual Saturday this past weekend, albeit one where the temperatures were in the 70s in the middle of October.  We ran out to the Kaufman Sports Complex to kick a soccer ball around for an hour and a half, and then came back downtown to clean up and grab some lunch.  This was around 2, so it was way past a traditional "lunch hour".  Now, I don't know if was because the weather was nice and everyone was out enjoying it or if there was something going on in Marquette we didn't know about, but every place we stopped into and every place we called for takeout said they were filled up.

We ended up waiting until late afternoon and getting a couple of pizzas from Smelted, a truck parked at Blackrocks Brewery near where live.  But, I guess, such is life in 2021 Marquette.

As we all know and as most of us have experienced, there is a labor shortage these days, especially at restaurants.  Every single restaurant in Marquette has "help wanted" signs, some offering quite a bit more in the way of pay than food establishments used to.  Almost everyone is looking for experienced line cooks, and that's what got me to wonder how much money I could make doing it.  Admittedly, I have no experience in being a line cook, but I'd like to think I'm a quick learner and I'd like to think that I do know how to cook.

So if I ever need a fourth side gig, I'm guessing I could probably land one without too much effort.

Thinking about it, though, I realize that there are two other reasons why Loraine and I couldn't get lunch on Saturday.  One is because of the massive influx of people visiting the city in the past two years.  Last year everyone came to Marquette because it was one of the few places (relatvely) untouched by the pandemic that tourists could visit in Michigan.  And then this year the masses (and then some) continued to swarm into Marquette, even in mid-October.  All these visitors need someplace to eat, which has the unfortunate side effect of kind of crowding those of us who live here out.

And that, in a way, is connected to the other reason that popped into my head.  Despite the fact that downtown Marquette is home to amazing restaurants left and right, there aren't as many as there used to be.  I mean, think of five or six years ago when places like Upfront or the Marq or the Third Street Border Grill (& the Third Street Jimmy John's) were around.  They're not any more.  Plus, the New York Deli (one of our favorites) shut down a few weeks ago ahead of moving to a bigger location.  If any of those places were still around they'd be able to soak up some of the excess demand that's exploded among diners over the past few years.

I know that finding workers in the food service industry is almost impossible these days.  But if you could, having a few more new downtown restaurants open would, at least to me, seem to be a surefire money maker.

I don't write this to complain; I really do feel for not only the owners of restaurants these days, but also for the overtaxed and overstressed people who work in them.  Every single person to whom I spoke Saturday seemed almost apologetic about not being able to squeeze us in, even for takeout.  And it's not their fault, which is something I hope I got across to them after they were forced to say "no".  It's just a sign of the times, a sign of one of those periodic transformations in the way we live our lives.

Whether or not it'll be a good change is something that only time will tell.  But, if I ever need a few extra dollars or want to add "chef" to the list of garbage collector, astronaut, and media dork that I spoke of Friday, I know that I probably won't have to search very hard to make it a reality.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 10/8

Garbage collector, astronaut, and what I'm doing now. That's pretty much it.

Believe it or not I had someone at one of the Rotary meetings I've been making presentation to comment on that "Word on the Street" profile  of me that came out a few years ago. In all honesty, I had kind of forgotten about it. And when I did remember it it seemed like it came out a lifetime ago.

But apparently one person remembered it better than I.

Anyway, in that profile I came out of the closet as a lifelong space nerd, something that's no surprise to those of you who read these yet an apparent shock to some people. And because of that the person who brought up the interview wanted to know if I ever wanted to become an astronaut. After I got done laughing and saying “duh” to myself 28 and a half times, I started to to think. And as we all know, that can be a dangerous thing.

Did you know I only wanted to be three things in my life? It's true, which means I'm either the luckiest person on the face of the Earth or I really need to work on getting a little ambition into my life. I'll let you decide which it is.

According to my parents, when I was a real little kid I wanted to be a garbage collector. I was apparently transfixed by both the trucks that they used and the noise those trucks made. My mom, especially, says I would wait and look out the window in the morning when the garbage truck was scheduled to come, and then be all happy when they stopped and collected the trash. For the first five or six years of my life that's all I ever wanted to be.

Then I discovered space.

I probably spent, oh, the next decade or so wondering if I could become an astronaut...which, if I have to admit, is probably still a dream of mine. I know it probably won't happen, but if anyone has an extra quarter million bucks lying around and wants to buy me a ticket for one of Virgin Galactic or Blue Origin's suborbital flights, I wouldn't complain.

Really, I wouldn't.

What made me realize that I probably would never become an astronaut? Well, to be totally honest, it was math. Even today, when mission specialists and non-pilot astronauts abound, you still need to be smart. You need to be good at certain things like physics or biology or (ugh) math. You need to have a skill set that makes it worthwhile to send you up into orbit. And I don't have that sort of skill set.

Unless, you know, they need someone to be really sarcastic on the International Space Station for a few weeks. Then I might be at the head of the line.

So that brings us to the final of three things I wanted to be when I was growing up. I loved the media. When I was a kid I would take a radio at night and listen to clear channel AM stations throughout the country. I would be fascinated by TV shows, and how they're put together. And when I realized that my one true skill set in life—not math, not athletics, not being able to put a car together while blindfolded—was being able to get up in front of a microphone or a camera and perform, I was set.

And all these years later, I haven't had to pick out a fourth career choice.

Everything I'm doing now—radio, TV, history—all comes from that one skill set. It comes from me talking and me performing. And considering that I was a really shy kid, it's kind of astounding, when you come to think of it. I would've put good money on a bet that the 9-year old me would not have grown up to do what the adult me does. And there's not one point at which I can pinpoint the change from shy kid to “Jim Koski, Media Wh*re”; it just kind of happened over a couple of years, and before I knew it I could talk without thinking and work a crowd (perhaps my one REAL skill) like a pro.

Who knew?

So there you go. Yes, I DID want to become an astronaut. I just wasn't smart enough, just like I probably wasn't mechanically inclined enough to become a master garbage collector, either. It's a good thing that performing requires neither brains or muscle. That way, I'll (hopefully) never have to make that fourth career choice!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 10/7

 Three. There are three Rotary Clubs in Marquette, if you're curious.

As I had mentioned yesterday I made a presentation to a second Rotary Club in Marquette in as many weeks. I was actually a fill-in speaker, as their original speaker didn't make it, and seeing as how I had made the presentation to a first Marquette Rotary Club the week before, it was a breeze.

Now, how long until the THIRD Rotary Club wants to hear it, too?

8-)

The talk is one I've given several times this year, on exactly how Marquette has changed over the past 50 years. You see, it's kind of apt, because 50 years ago this December the last shipment of iron ore went out of Lower Harbor. For half a century now Dock #6 has sat silent, and that half century has seen a profound change in Marquette. No longer is it a dirty, grungy industrial city.   Now, it's a home to arts, education, medicine, and bike paths.

Lots and lots of bike paths, almost all of which were made possible because the train lines that ran through “old” Marquette made a perfect bed for them.

Just a few of ways the “old” Marquette has been radically transformed over the past half century? Well, the Coal Yard is no longer here. It went from this--

To this--

The old Roundhouse property went from this--

To this--

And so on, and so on. The transformation continues even today, as two old coal fired power plants are coming down in favor of beaches and other uses. It's a point I try to make in the presentation—Marquette has changed several times over the 172 years it's been around, but (at least in my opinion) the change has been the most profound in the past half century, during the lifetimes of most of us.

And if those pictures don't prove it, I don't know what does.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 10/6

 Yay, no one died. And that's always a good thing when you're doing a TV show.

8-)

The first half of the first episode of “High School Bowl” is now in the books. And if you don't believe me believe the slate on the studio monitor--

It actually went surprisingly well yesterday morning; everyone (including the dorky host) fell into the routine quickly, the new set worked amazingly well, and the audience (hi, mom & dad!!) were enthusiastic clappers. In fact, the only surprise, if you can even call it that, was that because I'm six feet away from everyone else I didn't have to wear a mask on camera.

Good thing I shaved before the show, huh?

That was the first half of the first show; next week, we shoot the second half of that show and the second half of the third show. We don't shoot the first half of the third show until, I dunno, 2023. And the first half of the second show?

Hopefully we'll get to that before I retire from hosting.

I joke about that, of course. We'll actually get to all segments of the first five shows before the end of October, even if we're shooting them (way) out of order. You shouldn't notice a thing, especially on Saturday, November 6^th, when the 43^rd season premiere of “High School Bowl” hits the airwaves.

Hopefully.

*****

On that note, I have to get to work early, if only because I'm leaving for a bit to be a fill-in speaker at my second Rotary Club meeting in two weeks. Apparently people at Marquette's many Rotary Clubs enjoy hearing about what the city was like 50 years ago. Either that, or I'm the only person who actually said “yes” in enough time.

I'll ask today and report back.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 10/5

 It's actually happening. For the first time in 21 months we actually get to shoot a TV show today.

Actually, technically, we shooting half of a TV show today. But that's not the point. In just an hour or so I'll be gathering with eight of the brightest young people on the planet to shoot the first half of the first episode of season 43 of “High School Bowl” on WNMU TV.

It's been a long time coming. And we can't wait.

Maybe it's a good thing we're only shooting half an episode today; after all, we haven't done it in 21 months, we have an all-new student crew and, as I mentioned yesterday, we have an all new set.

Wanna see it?

That's right--”High School Bowl” is finally entering the 21^st century. Gone are the set walls with the gray carpeting from the 1980s, replaced by LED lighting and actual video monitors. It looks even cooler on-screen than in the phone picture I took, so I can't wait to see what people think.

We're also expanding our reach this year. The Michigan Learning Channel, which feeds educational programming to every public TV station in the state, has picked up our little program for distribution. That means every person in Michigan can watch the show and shake their heads in wonder and/or confusion as they try to figure out just what in the heck a “Copper Country Death Match” is.

I think that's really cool.

I suppose I should stop now, as I need to get into the clothes I picked out this past weekend and get ready to head over there. After all, we get to do TV for the first time in 21 months today. Details tomorrow!!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 10/4

 Oh...what to wear. What to wear?

TV Jim has a problem that Radio Jim never has to worry about, and that's making sure I look good. Or, at least, look presentable, seeing as how I'm not quite sure that I can ever look good. When I'm just Radio Jim I can dress however I want, assuming that the clothes I choose don't have too many holes in them and are reasonably wrinkle free.

TV Jim? Not so much.

I bring this up because one of my projects the past weekend was to finalizing what I'm gonna wear this year on “High School Bowl”. We start taping the first show tomorrow, and as I've mentioned we're shooting the first few weeks in different segments, so I had to make sure everything (including what color mask to wear so it matches my tie for the week) was on point so I know which clothes to bring for which taping.

Because, for several of the weeks coming up I have to bring different sets of clothes and change them between segments.

A normal job doesn't really require that.

8-)

So here's what I did. I figured out what I have in my closet, and what I've been thinking of picking up for future use. I then (and don't laugh here) write down all the combinations on 3x5 cards. I stare at the 3x5 cards for a while, and then start to move them around, until I think I have a schedule that varies color & texture throughout the season. Then I write down which sets I needed on which dates

Once again, just let me say that a normal job doesn't require that.

There's actually no reason to do all that. I mean, I could probably wear the same clothes on the show for three weeks in a row and no one would notice. That way I wouldn't have to change clothes in the middle of a taping. There's no reason for me to go through all this effort, and yet all that effort has been gone through.

It's not easy being me. Really, it isn't.

Anyway, I seem to have worked out all the kinks, and think I know what I'm wearing each week of the show this year and which clothes to bring during which weeks. Of course, if this is like years past, I'll end up buying something halfway through the year and want to wear it as soon as possible, thereby throwing my system all out of whack. But if that happens, I'll just do what I always do...haul the 3x5 cards out again, and start the whole thing over.

Yes, I'm a dork. What's your point?

****

Like I said tomorrow we tape the first half (and only the first half) of the first show of the season, and we do it on a brand-new set! I'll share those pictures (and the story of how more people than ever will be able to watch the show) tomorrow.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 10/1

 Not that there was ever any doubt, but I guess I really AM a happy person!

I came across a list on a website a couple of days ago, a list of 10 items that may indicate you are, by nature, a happy person. Eight of them describe me perfectly, one doesn’t apply (yet), and I’m not totally certain about the tenth. The list?

1. You make good eye contact when you speak with someone.

2. You’re 95 years old, because happy people live the longest.

3. You’re kind, selfless, and empathetic

4. You’re distracted by things. Studies show that happy people are more easily distracted.

5. You’re generous and laid back.

6. You’re healthy.

7.You’re not addicted to anything.

8.You’re successful.

9.You have a lot to look forward to.

10. You’re very trusting of others.

Interesting, huh? Looking over the list I find that numbers 1,3,4,5,6,7,9, and 10 describe me perfectly to a “T”, I’m not the best person to judge if number 8 is accurate, and I still have quite a bit of time to deal with number two, although I am planning on living to be at least 100, so I guess we can put that one in the “pro” column, as well.

Cool!

I guess I’m lucky in that way, in that I’ve always been a glass half-full kind of person, and in that I’ve managed to find a life and lifestyle that seem to make me content. I know there are a ton of people out there who haven’t been able to do that; I feel incredibly fortunate that I’ve someone come out on the optimistic side of things. I don’t know if it’s because of background or temperament or brain chemistry (or any combination thereof), but I’m lucky. I like what I do. I like where I live. I truly like the people I hang out with. And even on those sucky winter days when it’s cold and windy and snowy and just generally crappy, I can take comfort that in a few months the sun will be out and I’ll be walking on a warm beach.

That’s a good thing, right?

I hope many of those ten items apply to you, as well, because everyone deserves to be happy in their lives. Oh sure, we may have setbacks along the way, and there may be stretches of time when things don’t exactly go the way we want them to, but everyone deserves a little happiness in their lives.

Everyone deserves to have at least 8 items on the list apply to them.

*****

Speaking of someone who deserves to have at least 8 items on that list apply to them, it's my sister's birthday Sunday! Mel's the hardest worker I know, so it wouldn't surprise me if she just kind of ignored the day while going about and doing 34,973 different things. But I hopes she stops long enough to realize that it's her big day over the weekend

So happy birthday!!

(jim@wmqt.com)