Tuesday, 3/11

Okay...I AM on my way to Florida, but as promised--

This week's "Life in the 906".

Now, as I way saying--back Monday!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 3/10

Now, it's all over except the shouting.

Well, now that I think of it, I probably could have picked a better metaphor for the statement I'm trying to make; namely, this is my only day of work this week, as I'm heading down to Florida tomorrow to visit daily blog readers (and snowbirds) Chicky-Poo & Dar in Melbourne Beach.

And I really can't wait.

After the snow we had last week, I was heartened to see that this week's weather forecast appears to be conducive to flying tomorrow. That's always one of the big risks of trying to travel from the UP in January or February or March. You never know what the weather's gonna be like. But each time I've gone to visit them during a winter month I've lucked out, and I hope that string of luck continues this time around.

So keep your fingers crossed for me, if you would.

That, of course, means there won't be a new one of these for the rest of the week. Or, maybe I should say, there won't be a new one of these the rest of the week unless tonight turns out well. What am I babbling about, you ask? Well, I answered I have (what I hope) is an interesting “Life in the 906” planned, and if it comes off like I hope it will, I may post it several places, including here.

We'll see.

Otherwise, like I said, I'm off for the rest of the week. Back on Monday with, I'm guessing, pictures of things including but not limited to sun, fun, flowers, water, food, and space shuttles.

Because, you know, that's how I roll.

Behave yourself while I'm gone!!

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 3/7

This has been a week, hasn't it?

And to cap it off, here's a picture I took yesterday right after the Marquette Downtown Development Authority plowed the sidewalk outside of the station. Now, keep in mind that the sidewalk was clear as of Tuesday afternoon, and that the thing you see in the shot is a yard stick--

See? It HAS been a week, hasn't it?

And with that, I'm off to take care of my final “High School Bowl” responsibility of the year—shooting my segments for the “Year in Review” show that airs after the championship match.

Have a great weekend. Hopefully, have a snow-free weekend, as well!

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 3/6

To quote a great American, when I'm wrong I say I was wrong.

And boy, was I wrong about this.

As you may recall, when we last met I expressed a little skepticism about the possibility of a winter storm actually occurring, going so far as to post a picture of what it was like before it all began--

Well, if you're wondering how my prediction turned out 24 hours later, here's your answer--

Yup. I might have been a little off in my prediction. Just a little.

8-)

And that's just what it looked like here in downtown Marquette, where we really haven't had a storm like this in almost two years. Away from the city and away from the lake things were probably twice as bad, with more snow, higher winds, and additional junk that we didn't have to face here. I'm not surprised that almost literally every single school and business in the area was closed.

And since it's just starting to wind down, I'll be curious to see how many of them are closed today.

In a way, of course, I'm glad that if it had to happen that it happened this week. Can you imagine if I was trying to get to or from Florida, like I'm planning on next week? That would not be fun, and my heart goes out to anyone who's had a flight canceled or re-routed the past few days.

Let's just hope everything's back to normal by Tuesday. I'm going to delve into the cancellation list now, and see what's open & what's closed. After all, I'm sure that, with everyone still digging out, the former will outpace the latter.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Wednesday, 3/5

Well...this should be interesting. Or maybe it'll just be the same as it has been the past few years.

As I type this we're in the middle of a Winter Storm Warning for what could potentially be a HUGE winter storm, with up to a foot and a half of snow. Or, it could be a HUGE dumping of rain. Or both. At the moment, we've gotten rain mixed with maybe an inch of snow, which has made things a bit of a mess, but with the way our winters go, nothing we get over the next 24 hours would surprise me, up to and including a plague of locusts.

Because that's how we roll up here.

Yesterday, before the event started, I took this picture--

I took it as part of a “before & after” series, because every so often I'll get someone who doesn't believe that we don't seem to get major winter storms—or any major snowfall, for that fact—here in downtown Marquette any more. When I say there's hardly any snow on the ground, I'm not joking.

Really, I'm not.

So tomorrow (assuming we all survive whatever comes) I'll put up the “after” picture, and we can all compare and contrast. Will this storm (for once) live up to expectations? Will it be another tale of lots of snow to our east & west but nothing here? Or will this finally be (for the first time in a few years) “the big one”, and we'll get a taste of what winters used to be like around here?

I guess we'll find out in the next 24 hours, won't we?

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 3/4

Did I mention I'm going away for a few days?

That crossed my mind this morning when I realized it's just a week before I head down to Florida for a few days to visit daily blog readers Chicky-Poo & Dar in Melbourne Beach. I know I had informed my boss (who them promptly forgot) but I don't remember who else I had told. And looking back on the past few entries I noticed I hadn't mentioned it here.

So now I am.

It's actually going to be a quick jaunt for a variety of reasons. My TV schedule's one, while anther's the fact that I only decided to do this a month or so ago and, as you know, I have to work ahead and haven't had a lot of time to do so.

It's also quick (Tuesday through Friday) because, as I discovered if you want to fly on a weekend the cost of a ticket to Florida in March can double in price. And since I'm almost paying as much as I did to go to Europe last year...

Tuesday through Friday it is.

Actually, I'd pay any amount to hang out with my parents for a few days. They're snowbirds over half of the year, and those seven months can be a long time. Sure, I talk to them and video chat with them, but it's so much better when you can see them in person.

And I'm REALLY looking forward to it.

So next week when you don't see anything new here or I mention on the air Monday that I'll be gone the rest of the week, that's why. Seeing as how I keep forgetting to mention it, I figured I should do so now.

You know...just in case I forget to do so again.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 3/3

In case you're wondering, the traffic cone is still there.

You may recall when, at the beginning of the year, I wrote one of these blogs about some construction work they were doing on the upper floors of the building in which I work. The construction crew had left a couple of traffic cones around the building, to make sure that people walking by didn't wander into a dangerous area. Well, as often happens in downtown Marquette, one of those cones was picked up by (I'm guessing) someone walking home from a bar late one night, and placed (or thrown) on top of the Range Bank ATM building across the street.

As of last Friday, guess what was still on top of the Range Bank ATM building?

I'm not surprised; after all, when I wrote the original blog, I wondered how long it would be up there. And after two months, it's kind of become a piece of downtown. Every day when I walk to work I see iconic buildings & the equally iconic sight of Mount Marquette looming above the area. Now, I also check to make sure the traffic cone is still on the roof of the building.

And it still is.

I have no idea how long it'll be up there. Loraine works at Range Bank, and she's told several people about the cone, but it hasn't been removed. Maybe they feel about it the same as do I...that's it's now part of downtown Marquette, and as such, should be left alone.

I mean, I doubt you, but you never know, right?

Anyway, I'll keep my eyes on it. And who knows, maybe in another two months I can write another entry here, and further update everyone on whether or not the cone is still there,

I bet you can't wait, right?

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)