Friday, 12/9

Okay. It happened again, and I'm hoping this doesn't turn into a big problem.

Those of you who've read this on an on-going basis know how there are three or four “Jims”--Radio Jim, History Jim, TV Jim, and, if we're being thorough, Finish Line Jim (which we're still deciding if it has full “Jim” value). Those of you who've read this on an on-going basis also know that one of the many things I would change about myself is the fact that I have the worst problem trying to remember people; namely, if I've met them before, and in which context I met them.

Seriously. I really wish I could be better at that. But I'm not, and that sucks.

Anyway, I had to go to the Post Office to mail a package for Loraine yesterday. While I was waiting in line, a couple said “hi” to me, a couple that I knew I had met before, but couldn't remember how. They then started talking about a program that I have coming up. That's when I do something I hardly do, and I froze for a second. I mean, what kind of program were they talking about? Radio program? Episode of “High School Bowl”? Program for the History Center?

In all honesty, I had no idea.

Thankfully, they mentioned something about getting an e-mail from the History Center, so I was able to figure out that I had met them when I was “History Jim”. It was touch & go there for a second, but I was able to hold a conversation without sounding like an insensitive, forgetful fool. I mean, you know that I actually a fool, and I know I actually am one, but the whole outside world doesn't need to know, right?

So I get out of the Post Office with my dignity intact. Then as I'm heading back to work and crossing Third Street, I hear a guy's voice call out, “Hey Jim, how's it going”? I turn to see a gentleman I know I've met before, but don't remember where. He then says that he'll see me next week, and goes on his way. I stand there, with a stupid look on my face (well, even more stupid than usual), wondering where I've met him and why I'll see him next week. There isn't anything out of the ordinary on my schedule for then, so I really don't know. I'm not doing anything for the History Center, so that part of me is clear. I am taping an two episodes of “High School Bowl” & also doing my other TV gig, so maybe it's that. And I have a couple of things going on in my radio life, so maybe I'm doing something with this vaguely familiar gentleman then.

I just have no idea.

This is really stupid. There is no earthly reason why I shouldn't be able to remember people and in what context I've met them, but for some stupid reason, my brain just won't do it. It's been happening most of my life, but I've always been able to compensate for it. Now, though, there are so many different “me”s doing so many different things that it's starting to be a real problem.

And, like I said, that's not a good thing.

So let me issue a blanket apology in advance. If you come up to me on the street, or at the Post Office, or in a TV studio, or at the History Center, or at the station, and it seems like I'm confused, there's a good chance that I am. I don't wanna be, but I probably will be. Hopefully, I'll figure it out quickly, but if not, just take pity on me. I'll get it eventually, and then I'll apologize in person.

Many, many, many times...

Have a great weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 12/8

Well. Who knew people had such strong feelings?

Monday on one of my TV gigs I did an essay about what people put on their pasties—ketchup or gravy (or other). It got a good laugh from everyone in the studio, and it's gotten an even stronger reaction from people who've emailed me about it or people I ran into during the History Center's Open House last night.

Whether it's ketchup or gravy (or other), people have their favorites. And they stick to those favoites.

So what follows is the original bit I did on TV. It's up to you to decide on which team you are.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

******

Which team are YOU on?

I'm not talking Northern/Tech. I'm not talking Packers/Lions. What I am talking about is, perhaps, the most important choice that you, as a Yooper, can make in your entire life.

Are you team ketchup...or team gravy??

An iconic Marquette pasty place is closing in a few weeks, and ever since it was announced there’s been a lot of discussion about the UP’s national dish on social media.  But left out of that discussion has been what you put on your pasty…ketchup or gravy.

And yes, I’m aware that you can put other things on your pasty.  The radio station where I work once did a survey, and aside from those two choices people also mentioned toppings ranging from horseradish to cole slaw to (ugh) dill pickles.

But ketchup and gravy were, by far, the top choices.

For the record, I’m team ketchup.  However, I will not in any way judge your choice… unless, perhaps, that choice is dill pickles.  After all, a traditionalist will tell you that ketchup didn’t become popular until the end of the 1800s, years after Cornish miners first brought pasties covered with gravy to the UP. But a culinary expert will tell you that the sweetness of ketchup perfectly offsets the savory ingredients in a pasty.

So you can’t go wrong with either.

This may be a strange way to look at it, but the choice of ketchup or gravy in a way reflects life in the UP.  You have your traditionalists, the people who grew up with a certain lifestyle and still live that way.  And you have those who are willing to try something new & different.  It’s the choice offered by those two groups that make the UP such an amazingly unique place.

In a way, echoing the choice offered by ketchup or gravy.

So the next time you pick up a pasty, remember that you really can’t go wrong, no matter what your preferred topping.

Unless, of course, that preferred topping is dill pickles.

I’m Jim Koski, and that’s another slice of “Life in the 906”.

Wednesday, 12/7

Since I have to run out and do that TV thing in a few minutes, and since today's the anniversary of the start of a turning point in the country's history, I'm going to turn today's blog over to my favorite World War Ii researcher.

She's penned an epic blog about the war and the holidays and how it affected families throughout Marquette and Alger County. I think she did an amazing job on it, and who knows—maybe it make you appreciate the upcoming Christmas season just a little bit more.

CLICK HERE to check it out!

Back tomorrow with pasties. Well, more specifically, what to put on your pasties, something I had no idea people were so passionate about.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 12/6

 I wonder which it will be this year--white, or brown?

Here we are, less than three weeks before Christmas, and with just a smattering of flakes on the ground in a few select portions of Marquette we've started to settle into one of our new favorite holiday traditions--will it be a White Christmas, or a Brown Christmas?

Now, in the days before we wrecked the planet, that was never a question.  It would always be a White Christmas.  The only question was just exactly HOW white it would be.  But in the past ten or fifteen years, as climate changed has affected our weather in ways we never could have imagined, the big question has become whether or not we'll actually have snow leading up to the holidays.

Lest you think I'm joking, let me share a couple of pictures I've taken over the past couple of years, including one last December 19th--

One on December 13th, 2016 (and yes, those ARE sailboats out in the harbor)

And one on Christmas Day, 2015--

When you think of Christmas--specifically, when you think of Christmas in Marquette--you think of snow...lots and lots of snow.  But not these days.  These days, you're more likely to have green grass and sailboats on the lake than you are lots and lots of snow.

But that's life in the 21st century.

So like I said, the question is now White or Brown.  While it is cold out as I write this, there isn't much precipitation in the forecast the next few days.  And by the weekend, temperatures are looking to be in the upper 30s to around 40.

So which color will it be this year?  I know that if I had to put money on it that money would be on brown.  Whether or not that would be a misplaced bet...well, we'll find out in just a couple of weeks.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 12/5

It shocked the heck out of me, too.

I mentioned Friday that I'd share the story of how it went at the UP Children's Museum “celebrity” art auction Thursday, and since I always (try) to keep my word, here it is--

As you recall, I went as one of the “all stars” offering an experience as my contribution—I'd make the winning bidder a “Pieces of the Past” video, like those ones I do for the History Center. It could be about their family, their home, their business, or about anything they've ever wanted to know about. I had no idea if anyone would be interested, and when I got to the Museum Thursday I still didn't know.

My “art” was actually the third thing on the block. And I have to admit that I was surprised when a couple of people started bidding on it. The pair kept bidding and kept bidding, and as I was marveling at the fact that people would actually be interested in it, someone from the Children's Museum ran up to me and asked if I would do two of them, so they could get the money from two different people..

Since we all know I have an inability to say “No”, I said yes, and that way the Children's Museum was able to collect two $500+ bids.

That's right. I helped the Children's Museum make $1,100 because I can't say “no”. Nice to know I have a talent for at least one thing, right?

8-)

As of writing this, I still haven't been contacted by the winning bidders, so I'll be curious to see both what they want the video to be about and why they actually thought it was worth over $500 each. But it's nice to know that of the few talents I have, I'm at least able to help raise money for a good cause with them.

Who knew??

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 12/2

Well, the Celebrity Art Auction for the UP Children's Museum actually went well last night. No one died, and people actually seemed interested in bidding for the video I offered to make.

In fact, TWO people were so interested that I'm now making two videos, so I guess that's good, right?  The story on that Monday.

But since this non-stop thrill ride of a life I seem to have rolls on and I have to go shoot a TV in a couple of minutes, I'm going to leave you with something I wrote three years ago. Hope you don't mind.

And even if you do...well, there's not much either one of us can do with it.

8-)

Have a great weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com)

*****

(as originally posted 12/20/19)

I don't wear a hat because my head is too small.

There. You happy?

The past few days, with their bitterly cold temperatures, have led to several people ask me why I wasn't wearing a hat while walking to work or walking someplace else. One of them even went so far as to mention that they don't ever recall seeing me in a hat, which could very well be true, at least when I'm not running. I don't wear hats, and I don't wear them for one reason—because I have a very small head.

No, seriously, I do have a small head. In proportion to the rest of my body, my head is smaller than an average person. When discussing it with my dad over the weekend (he being one of those people asking why I wasn't wearing a hat) he noted that I get the small head from him. And it's true. I do get my small head from him. Yet that doesn't stop my dad from wearing a hat wherever he goes.

Probably because he's a normal person.

Maybe it's just me. Okay, it's definitely just me. But I think I look weird in a hat, especially a winter hat. It crushes the only thing that seems to make my head a normal size—what's left of my hair—and it makes my head look like a tan grapefruit sitting on top of a scarecrow's body. And I think I look strange enough as it is. So because I think it makes me look weird, I would much rather freeze my ears off than wear a hat.

Obviously, my dad's much more mature than I, right?

Like I said, I do wear hats when I'm running or skiing, because I really don't care what I look like, and during winter, if I'm gonna be outside for an hour sweating in bitterly cold temperatures, I do actually wanna stay warm. To quote a fake country song title I once came up with, “I May Look Stupid, But I'm Not That Dumb”. But if it's just a five minute walk to work, or a quick dash from one building to another; well, maybe I am that dumb. All because then I DO care what I look like wearing a hat.

I know. A shrink would have a field day, wouldn't they?

Anyway, that's the really bizarre reason why I don't wear a hat. So if you ever see me out in the cold, with ears red and steam rising from my neck, realize that I do know better.

It's just that my small head can't process it.

Thursday, 12/1

I think the definition of “All-Star” needs to be changed just a little.

The UP Children's Museum is having their annual “Celebrity Art Auction” tonight, and for this—the 19^th edition—they've decided to ask some of their favorite people—their All-Stars--back and, for some reason, I was one of them. I have no idea why; maybe it was because I actually said “yes”.

Who knows, right?

Despite my claims that some day I'll learn now to say “no”, I said “yes” this time around because the auction is honoring Nheena Weyer-Ittner, who's stepping down as the executive director of the museum. Nheena's helped build the organization from the ground up, so this is, I guess, my way of saying “thanks” for an organization that my nieces enjoyed when they were young and my nephews are enjoying now.

So that's why I didn't say “no”.

I still have to laugh at the phrase “All-Stars”, though. When you think of all-stars, you think of people who've reached the pinnacle of their professions or who have contributed to the world in some positive way. Or, at the very least, people who are actually good at art. Me? Well, in order, I'd have to say nope, nope, and nope to those three qualifications. Well, technically, I've TRIED to make a positive contribution to the world, but it's not for me to say whether or not I have.

But an “All-Star”? Me? It is to laugh.

As for my artistic contribution? Well, I am offering someone the chance to have their own personalized “Pieces of the Past” video I've been making for the History Center.. Whether it's about their family history, business history, or just a topic they've always wanted to know about, I'll make the 3-5 minute video for them. Whether or not anyone's interested, I don't know, but according to the people at the Children's Museum they expect a lot of bids on it.

So we'll see tonight. We'll also get an answer to the question of “what exactly constitutes an All-Star?”. And I'm guessing that won't be me.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)