Wednesday, 11/12

It's not easy to combine chocolate and history. But you know what? I was able to thread that needle Monday night.

I wrote in here Monday about driving down to Escanaba over the weekend to buy chocolate at Aldi. That, however, wasn't the only reason we headed south for a couple of hours. The other was to scope out a road named after (we believe) the family of a Trenary man who died while fighting in World War II. There isn't much information available on Ralph Skinner, but what Loraine has found has been amazing, and it's been a story I've wanted to tell—in one form or another—for a while now.

On TV Monday, I finally had the chance.--

Loraine's still digging into the whole saga, and she (we) hope to come across, if nothing else, a picture of Skinner better than the horrid one I used in the spot (taken from a microfilm of a picture from a 1938 edition of the Escanaba Daily Press). With a better picture, I think I could tell the story better, although I hope I captured the spirit of it all Monday night.

If nothing else, I was able to, for perhaps the first time, combine history and chocolate into one little project. The fact that Ralph Skinner's story is so amazing was just the topping on the whole thing.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 11/10

It would be a hard choice. It really would.

Loraine and I did something just a little out of the ordinary Saturday. We wrapped up “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))” by taking her car for a little ride and went down to Aldi in Escanaba. The fact that we had to drive 70 miles—to a town with half the population of Marquette—to visit an Aldi is bizarre in and of itself. But we drove down, bought the things we like to buy when we visit the Aldi near where her dad lives (and that town, Caro, only has a third of Marquette's population), and then scooted home.

Oh, and Iron Mountain, a town with also only a third of Marquette's population, also has their own Aldi. Are you sensing that something's amiss here?

8-)

On the way back we got into a discussion regarding Aldi, a store we like to visit when downstate, and Trader Joe's, a store we frequent while in Chicago. And that got us to thinking—if you could only choose one, which would it be?

Hard choice, right?

In a way, the stores are very much the same, in that they have slightly different products than most stores, and some of those products are amazing. Because they're both stocked with their own brands, their prices are different than at “normal” grocery stores, as well. I suppose both of those are things that draw us to them. You could also consider the fact that Aldi's based in Germany and has some cool European products but Trader Joe's has one of the best selection of chocolates anywhere and, well, you can see why it might be a hard choice.

Even Meryl Streep probably couldn't help us choose.

I don't think we ever actually came anywhere close to a decision, other than the conclusion that we're far more likely to get an Aldi than we are a Trader Joe's. Of course, in a normal world we already would have an Aldi, while towns with a third of our population would say “when are we getting ours”? But that's neither here nor there. The road trip prompted a question, a question that—at least for now—has no answer.

But at least the road trip gave us all kinds of goodies to nibble upon as winter slowly descends--

*****

Because tomorrow's a corporate holiday I have it off, meaning there won't be a new one of these. Back with something new--in video form—on Wednesday!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Friday, 11/7

It's almost over.

As you may recall, we're smack dab in the middle of “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))”, in which I have some sort of insanely out-of-the-ordinary thing (or things) going on each and every day this week. So far it hasn't driven me over the edge, and I'm hopeful—actually hopeful—that'll I'll make it through the final two days without any further damage to my sanity.

Or, at least, what's left of my sanity.

You know, I really shouldn't complain about it that much. I'm lucky enough to be involved in all kinds of interesting and cool activities in my life, and I enjoy the heck out of what I do. Do I wish that, on occasion, they were a little more spaced out so I could sit back and reflect on what a great time I had, instead of rushing from one of those activities to another? Sure; in fact, I think any normal person would be like that. But sometimes we don't get the chance to do that. Sometimes, we just have to ride the rapids and see where they take us.

And this has been one of those weeks.

What's left? Well, I have to go shoot another episode of “High School Bowl” in a few minutes, and then head to work. Tomorrow, Loraine and I are actually giving her car a little exercise by driving down to Escanaba (I'll write about the reason why on Monday). Then after that?

Nothing. Except for finishing production on the final two “Pieces of the Past”. And writing my TV bit for Monday. And getting ahead up on my radio stuff because I won't be there Tuesday (Veteran's Day, and all). I'm not quite sure if anyone in their right mind would call all that “nothing”, but for me it's a normal weekend, and these days, I'll take it.

So with that in mind, I'm off to get through the final two days of “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))”. Should I survive it (and we're fairly confident I will) I'll share the story of just WHY we're heading down to Escanaba on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

(jim@wmqt.com)

Thursday, 11/6

Why yes, I WAS wearing a Christmas tie yesterday. Thanks for noticing.

Despite the fact that I'm smack dab in the middle of “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))” and despite the fact that the holidaze are a month and a half away, I was wearing a Christmas tie yesterday. Why, you ask? Well, I answer, you remember how I mentioned I had to go shoot an episode of “High School Bowl” yesterday?

Well, it was the episode that'll air right before Christmas. So, you know, I had to be dressed appropriately.

It was especially interesting since after I did the shoot I had an appointment to get a flu shot, and when I walked into the pharmacy I had a couple of people stare at me like I was just a bit off-kilter. Now, I get those looks all the time; usually, I'm not quite sure why. But yesterday was one of the few times when I DID know why.

After all, how many people wear a Looney Tunes Christmas tie at the beginning of November?

(And yes, if I'm going to wear a Christmas tie, you'd better believe it'll be a Looney Tunes tie).

Thankfully, the only reason I was decked out in holiday attire was because of the show. I actually know a couple of people who, as soon as the curtain falls on Halloween, go into full Christmas mode, putting their tree up, cranking up the tunes, and hoping the snow soon begins. And while I don't begrudge them their love of Christmas, for me it's just a little too soon.

In fact, once I took my Christmas tie off last night (before I hosted the “American Revolution” thing for NMU Public Media), I made a vow not to think about it for the next month or so. But that's just me.

Your timing may vary.

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

(ps—speaking of that thing for NMU Public Media, it went quite well, thanks for asking. Now I just have 3 interviews today, another “High School Bowl” tomorrow, and a jaunt to Escanaba Saturday, and we can finally call it a wrap on “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))”

Assuming, of course, I make it through these last three days.)

Wednesday, 11/5

We're right now smack dab in the middle of “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (So Far))”. And it's the big one--“High School Bowl” this morning, hosting a panel discussion for WNMU tonight, and in between?

Well, that would be the premiere of season five of “Pieces of the Past”.

I started making these video shorts for the History Center way back during Covid, they seem to have captured the fancy of people, and each “season” has gotten progressively bigger and produced with just a little more polish.

Especially this “season”.

I've been writing about production of the “Pieces” on and off for the past few months, because they've been in production the past few months. And the first one, the one that debuts today, goes far above and beyond anything we've ever done. It's a 16 minute adaptation of my “...And Put Up a Parking Lot” walking tour, with Steadicam footage shot by Emily Varga from the History Center, and a bunch of pictures most people have never laid eyes on.

If it's past 10 am this morning (when the “World Premiere” is set to, uhm, “premiere”), check it out on the fullest. biggest screen possible.  Trust me on that. Just remember that it's 16 minutes long--

With that in mind, I have to go shoot “High School Bowl” and do about a thousand other things. If I survive, details tomorrow!

8-)

(jim@wmqt.com)

Tuesday, 11/4

Why yes, I am insane. Thanks for asking.

I don't know if this describes the life of a normal person, but I did my usual TV gig last night. I'm on the newscast again tonight to promote something. Wednesday, I shoot “High School Bowl”, have the world premiere of the new season of “Pieces of the Past”, and then host a screening/fundraiser for Public TV at the Northern Center. I have three interviews for a documentary I'm noodling on scheduled for Thursday, and then I host even more “High School Bowl”s on Friday before heading to Escanaba Saturday.

I've had weird weeks before, but I think this one might take the cake.

And, of course, just showing up for the events is only a small percentage of what's going on. In some instances, I have to write a bunch. In others, I have to do research and/or prep work so I sound like I know what I'm talking about. And I get to do all this while I'm working this job.

So if, over the next few days, I sound semi-coherent or like my brain is is (at best) working on a quarter of its capacity, that's why.  I know it's not a good reason, but it's the only one I can come up with at the moment.

8-)

So with that in mind, here's what happened on night one of “Jim's Weirdest Week Ever (Or At Least Weirdest Week So Far)”. Wish me luck with the rest of it.

(jim@wmqt.com)

Monday, 11/3

I can't believe it's that time of the year again. I can't believe I have to start thinking about Christmas cookies.

It seems to me like I was just sending out all of the cookies I made last holiday season. Of course, it also seems to me like I was just graduating from college, but seeing as how that was last century (whimper), it gives you a pretty good idea of how I handle the passing of time. And since I've been so busy recently, and have had so many things I'm trying to keep up with, I figure I should probably get my butt in gear regarding this year's batch of cookies.

After all, I don't want to be passing them out next February or next March. I have a feeling they wouldn't be appreciated quite the same as they would be in December.

As you may recall, Christmas cookies used to be a big holiday tradition in the small Koski apartment. I would make five or six kinds, which we then pass out to family, friends, co-workers, and several old neighbors. Since Covid I've cut back on the number I make, but I still make some, so I hafta figured out what exactly TO make this year.

Like most things that have to do with the holidays, tradition abounds in my making of Christmas cookies. There are several kinds I have to make year in and year out—the Grandma cookie and the cherry one with the dark chocolate stuck on top, Now, I know those aren't the actual names of the cookies; that's just how they're referred to on the assembly line.

Along with those cookies, I always make a cookie I've not made before. So picking the “new” cookie is always a serious task, and one that demands some thought. After all, not only does it have to be something I've never made before, but it also has to balance out the rest of the cookies. Am I making too many with chocolate? Then maybe the “new” cookie should be something that's a little spicy. Do I have too many cookies that are green and/or red? Then maybe I should make a white cookie, or a yellow cookie, or even, I dunno, a black cookie. These are all things that a normal person, when deciding which cookies to make for the holidays, wouldn't even think about. But me?

Well, who ever said I was normal, right?

So I guess I should make that first step and decide—quite soon—what this year's “new” cookie should be. Then I can make up a shopping list, and hope I find some time to throw them all together in time for delivery BY Christmas. Otherwise, we'll have to call them New Year's Cookies. Or Valentine's Day Cookies. Or St. Patrick’s Day Cookies. Or even Arbor Day Cookies.

Wish me luck!

(jim@wmqt.com)