Halloween 2010

October 2010 marks the official four year anniversary for Luke's Ponderings, as it was four years ago that I began this venture on Blogger (although if you count the word press blog, it was earlier than that). Back then, the Detroit Tigers were in the World Series and all was right with the world - okay, things are pretty good today, too. I bet if you look back through the archives, you'll see that once October rolled around, I discussed Halloween more often than not. There might have been on year when I didn't, but it's something I've been pretty consistent with. So as October 2010 comes to a close, it wouldn't be right if I didn't discuss Halloween in some form or fashion.

Needless to say, I won't be able to enjoy Halloween much at all this year. I am currently working midnight shift and the next two days I'll be working 12-hour shifts. So when I get home from work after tonight's shift, I'll go to bed around 8 AM and wake up shortly before 3 PM. I'll have to wait and see if I get any trick or treaters at my house - last year I didn't, but then last year I got home from work a little after 7:30 in the evening; much too late for anyone to come to my door. Just to be on the safe side, I went out and bought a couple of bags of candy in case I do get some trick or treaters. Hopefully I didn't underplan! That is always something I worry about - crowds and crowds of kids coming to your door and you running out of candy. Hopefully that does not happen.

Last night, I began thinking back on some old Halloween traditions that I used to enjoy as a kid. TV Land used to air "Munsters" quite often - and they'd always have a marathon of that show on Halloween. And then you have those epic Halloween movies like "Friday the 13th" and the "Hallween" trilogy. Usually AMC or HBO is airing those movies and they are some of my all-time favorite thriller movies. Back at my parent's house, we'd set up this boom box near the front porch and we'd play this tape of scary Halloween sounds as the trick or treaters would come to the door. Most of the older kids thought it was a pretty cool thing, while some of the younger kids got a little freaked out by it. But it was always enjoyable to see the kids come to the front door in search of goodies and dressed up in a variety of costumes.

So as you can tell, Halloween these days are pretty uneventful holidays for me. I didn't even decorate too much for the holiday, although I did buy some new lighted figures for the window that I turn on each night. We shall see if I get any trick or treaters to the door or not this year. If I get a handful, great. If I get 20, that's tremendous. If I get over 50, I'll be in trouble because I didn't get enough candy! However, I don't forsee that as being a problem. I am sure many kids are out trick or treating right now in downtown Marquette or are attending other planned events in the area rather than sticking to trick or treating. I loved trick or treating when I was a kid and I can't understand why it's being done less often nowadays. Well, whatever happens, Halloween is still one of those holidays I always enjoy, even though I may be celebrating it less and less as an adult.

Conan O'Brien is Back

Beginning Monday, November 8, everybody's favorite red-headed comedian will be back on the air, hosting his own late night TV show once again. Conan O'Brien's new show will premiere on TBS, titled simply "Conan". For those who enjoyed Conan's work during his two other stints on late night, I am sure they are very much looking forward to this new venture. It's hard to say exactly what this new show will involve, seeing that Conan is barred from doing many of the things he used to do at NBC, such as having Triumph the Insult Comic Dog appear or doing a skit in which he and a guest will envision what the future will be like in the year 3000. However, I have no doubt in my mind that Conan will make the program his own and be just as entertaining like he was able to do at NBC. He has a great writing staff and I am sure they will not disappoint.

Andy Richter will be returning as the "side-kick" role to Conan, just as he did for a short while on "Late Night" and during Conan's short run on "The Tonight Show". However, Max Weinberg will not be returning as band leader to Conan's new show. I think it will be interesting to see a new face leading the band - although it certainly won't be unprecedented for the show because Max was quite often gone while Bruce Springstein was on tour (Max plays drums for Bruce Springstein's band). But Max was often a comedic foil to Conan and they played off of each other quite well. They had many great moments together during Conan's run on NBC so his presence will be missed. However, the show must go on and it'll be interesting to see who the new band leader will be.

I think Conan will benefit from being on the air a half-hour earlier than what he's used to. He's also going to be on cable as opposed to network TV. He just may get more freedom to do what he wants without network brass stepping in. And he still has a tremendous fan base that is greatly anticipating this new show. Obviously it's been a long while since we've seen Conan on television so seeing him back with a new show will be nice to see. I know the fans have been clamoring for it for awhile. And hopefully the show won't get yanked away from him after seven months of being on air (like it was with "The Tonight Show"). Unfortunately I'll be getting home a half-hour into Conan's first show on TBS on October 8. However, when I'm able to watch a full episode, I'll definitely prefer it to the other programs on late night right now.

Midwest Wind Storm

It was a memorable, history-making storm that many people across the country were affected by. Some say it's the worst storm to hit the Midwest in decades and it produced the lowest atmospheric pressure on record in the state of Minnesota. Its pressure was as low as a category three hurricane - and yet, it was purely a land-based storm. What an incredible storm it was. Not only did it produce a fury of wind and rain, but it also spawned severe weather further south along the cold front. North Dakota and Minnesota were hit with early season snows, even causing blizzard conditions with the high winds. Waves on Lakes Michigan and Superior were as high as 20 to 25 feet. We probably won't see a storm like this for quite some time - if ever again!

I was in a couple of different locations through the duration of the storm. In the area where I live, we were spared the worst of the damaging winds. Don't get me wrong, the winds were still very strong. But no visible damage could be seen around the neighborhood. I have a bunch of jack pine trees on the east and north side of my property and I was certain that at least one of those would come down in the wind event. But they held strong and not one fell. Some of you may not know, but jack pine is a soft wood and they are very susceptible to breaking in high winds. I had a flag pole come apart and the American flag on it was whipping around in the storm. The flag got a bit tattered but it looks to be usable next summer. My windsock also disappeared from the hook I had it attached to, but I later found it in the backyard, the strings all broken from the wind. But that was the extent of "damage" I found at my house.

Out at my parents house a half-hour drive away, they lost power for about a half hour on Tuesday but that was the longest the power was out. A few other locations around the area were without power for a few days. I noticed part of a pine tree had come down in my great uncle's yard - the one that I mow their lawn and rake the leaves in the fall. But even out there, the damage was fairly minimal. Just a few trees down here and there and some scattered power outages. Other than that, we seemed to have survived the wind storm quite well.

Other areas of the U.P. weren't so lucky, though. Areas in the southern U.P. appeared to be hit the worst from the storm. Lots of trees and power outages there. I know many, many radio stations had gone off air after losing power at their transmitter towers. Thankfully though, it was a storm that could have been much worse. You look at the destruction many communities dealt with after severe weather moved through their respective areas. October usually isn't a month where you see a widespread severe weather outbreak. But for a storm like the one we saw this past week, anything is possible.

We can all rest easy now for the major wind storm of 2010 is all but history. The National Weather Service station in Duluth, Minnesota is calling the storm the North American Extratropical Cyclone of October 26-27. In all honesty, the storm was deserving of its own name just like a hurricane because of its ferocity. However, memories of this storm will live on for a long while as people continue to clean up their yards, their communities, and their homes from the damage. The storm definitely lived up to its hype and it won't soon be forgotten by many people.

The Sauna

The sauna - not only is it a Finnish tradition, but it's also a tradition commonly enjoyed within the Upper Peninsula. As most Yoopers know, the Finnish heritage is quite common within the U.P. Not only did people from Finland immigrate to the Upper Peninsula during the 1800 and 1900's to find better lives for themselves and their families, but people from Sweden, Germany, Slovenia, and many other European countries did the same. They not only brought with them their lifestyles and beliefs, but also items that they enjoyed back in their home country. For the Finnish people, the sauna is one such item they thoroughly enjoyed. And I myself am glad that they did.

The first known saunas to ever exist were constructed out of a pit in the ground and basically served the same purpose as today's modern saunas. Stones were placed in the pit where they were heated. Then, water would be splashed onto the stones where steam would become produced and immediately, the temperature in the dwelling where the pit was located would rise. And thus, a traditional sauna could be enjoyed. Those kind of saunas are referred to smoke saunas - and it took about six to eight hours to warm a smoke sauna to the proper temperatures by burning lots of wood and then letting the heat out. This type of sauna gives heat up to 12 hours. Although not commonly enjoyed anymore, they are still used for more special occasions such as popular holidays in Finland.

Present-day saunas are commonly enjoyed with the use of stoves. Wood stoves seem to be the most conventional means of enjoying a sauna, however, electric stoves have become much more popular in recent years and new technology has even made gas stove and solar powered saunas an option. With an electric stove, you no longer have to worry about getting wood to heat your sauna, although you may be losing some of the tradition and nuance enjoyed with a true Finnish sauna. Whatever the case, a sauna can be enjoyed by anyone, and you certainly don't need to live in the U.P. or Finland to enjoy it. But if you are in the Upper Peninsula, at least use the proper Finnish pronunciation - SOW-na!

It seems that once you've enjoyed a traditional Finnish-style sauna, you get hooked. I've grown up with saunas all my life and I can't imagine my life without them. But some people just might not like the heat and will refuse to enter a sauna. Most saunas you see at motels or sports facilities aren't traditional Finnish saunas. Sure, you may take steam in them, but typically don't spend a lot of time within them and you certainly don't wash yourself in these facilities. At least within traditional Finnish saunas, not only do you enjoy the heat and steam of a sauna, but you also get clean, too. But there are a variety of saunas you can enjoy, from wet, dry, smoke, and steam saunas. Finnish saunas are generally of the smoke and wet varieties.

Whether you're new to the Upper Peninsula or are visiting for the first time, it probably won't be uncommon to hear saunas referenced or to see a sauna where you are staying. More and more people are building saunas within their homes or on their property if they previously didn't have then. It's a wonderful Finnish tradition that has taken root within the Upper Peninsula all thanks to our Finnish relatives from days gone by. And if you're leery about entering a sauna for the first time, it doesn't hurt to at least give it a try to see if you like it. If you don't, then you'll know for sure. At least we know one thing, the sauna is not in any danger of going away anytime soon.

Random Thoughts

Occasionally, there are several topics I like to discuss but not enough days in which to talk about them. Thus, the importance of Random Topic Fridays here on "Luke's Ponderings". No central theme is followed - just three different topics that I'm pondering about.

Election Day

Election Day isn't that far off now, and how thankful I'll be when it's over. Honestly, I've never seen such slanderous political ads like I've seen this year. Our district for the U.S. House of Representatives will be electing a new representative this year and the two candidates are slinging mud back and forth amongst their ads. One is accused of supporting a national 23 percent sales tax while the other was quoted as saying that seniors at the end of their life are costing tax payers too much. Their advertisements are the most vindictive of them all - even more so than the ads for the candidates running for governor. And I swear, at every commercial break, these TV spots keep getting played. I mean sure, political ads are fine, just so long as they don't get overplayed, which they are. And I know I'm not the only one to feel this way, not just here in the U.P., but nationwide.

New Television Soon?

So I definitely need a bigger TV for my living room - a fact that I've known since I moved into my house last year. Right now I have a 32 inch which is sufficient. It's still an older TV which I received as a gift about five years ago. But I definitely have the room in my living room to upgrade to at least a 50 inch TV. I guess I am waiting for the price on the LED TV's to come down. They are supposed to be the latest and the greatest TV's on the market and they consume much less energy than the current Plasma's and LCD's. I am keeping my eyes on the sales ads that are coming up and there's word that prices on TV's are supposed to come down quite a bit as we head towards the Christmas shopping season. And better yet, a new Best Buy store will soon be opening up in the Marquette area, which I'm hoping they'll have some decent grand opening sales on TV's. So needless to say, I'm definitely interested in getting a new TV but not quite serious about it yet. That is - until I see a really good deal on what I want!

My Dad's Old Car

The car my dad drives back and forth to work is literally falling apart. I followed him home from work one evening and I witnessed the tail pipe from his car begin to drag along the surface of the roadway. And then eventually, it came right off. The rest of the muffler is pretty loose as well, although he reassures me that it's stable and won't fall off. And now he tells me that the fuel pipe going to the gas tank is leaking. This along with the struts on the car which are in bad shape. But this is the dilemma he has - he can retire from work at anytime, but he's planning on retiring in 2012, during our next contract year. His goal is to keep the car running as long as possible; hopefully until he retires. The car has 277,000 miles and he says he's never had a car that's accumulated that many miles. This is the same car I drove for nearly a year when the frame of my other car nearly cracked in half and the one which needed a new transmission. It certainly proved to be the right decision to have a new transmission put into it at that time. He doesn't want to have to buy another car for work, especially when he's so close to retiring. So he's going to make minor repairs to the car when he can, otherwise just keep running it until it dies. I believe it's going to last him much while longer yet.

That wraps it up for this week on Luke's Ponderings. Have an enjoyable weekend and be sure to check back Monday for the latest blog posting!

High School Chorus

I don't think I ever explained the story regarding my own musical experience here on Luke's Ponderings. And so, for a little change of pace, here is my own personal story regarding music.

So I was in eighth grade, getting ready to transition into high school and trying to decide exactly which classes I wanted to take. There was the usual Algebra, Biology, and those kinds of classes. I even took high school art as a freshman even though I should have taken it much later in my high school career (I was one of only two freshman in a class of about 25). But it was my decision to take high school chorus for a class that not only changed my perspective on singing, but on music in general. And I can honestly say that it's had a profound effect on my life ever since.

I wasn't sure I was going to like high school chorus all that much. I was a pretty shy kid and being in front of an audience, let alone a group of your fellow classmates wasn't exactly my cup of tea. But I'm sure you all know how it is when you're 14 or 15 years old. It was definitely a trying time for me but I believe it made me stronger. When I first joined the class, I wasn't all that loud of a singer. I often stood in the back and I honestly did sing, but nobody out in the audience could hear me. But I did enjoy the class, minus some of the more obnoxious classmates I had to deal with. Our teacher at the time got so upset with us at one point she stormed out of the class and into her little office and wouldn't come out. Talk about an awkward situation there. Eventually she came around and the class settled down after that certain circumstance.

In all, I was in high school chorus during all four of my years in high school. It's a decision I certainly do not regret to this day. When deciding between chorus or Senior English for my 12th year of high school, I picked chorus. Obviously the English course could have helped me more as I entered college, but I don't think it hurt me in the least as I look back. At least I can say I was in a music program during high school. I was never interested in playing an instrument so being able to sing was the next best thing. Probably my finest (and our school's) achievement was when we were given a number one rating for sight reading at this regional choir competition that's held annually. Sight reading is when you harmonize the notes in a particular piece of music. Luckily for us, we practiced the exact same piece of music that was used for sight reading at the competition. It would've looked foolish if we received anything less than a two.

As the years slip by, my memories of high school continue to fade into oblivion. However, memories of high school chorus are still quite strong. It's hard to remember exactly what we sang in each of the years I participated in the class, but I recall quite a few of the songs. We sang selections by Garth Brooks, Queen, and did medleys from Disney movies "Aladdin" and "Beauty and the Beast," just to name a few. I ended up enjoying the class instead of loathing it. I enjoyed singing with my classmates. Instead of barely hearing me in the group, I eventually became the loudest male singer. It truly was a fulfilling endeavor and I am glad I pushed through all four years of the class in high school. I certainly have no regrets with that decision.

Celebrity Deaths

News broke this weekend and early this week regarding two legendary TV stars and their passing. The first was Barbara Billingsley, who was most famous for her role as June Cleaver in the classic TV show "Leave it to Beaver". And then we heard news of Tom Bosley's passing, who played the role of Howard Cunningham on the hit TV series "Happy Days". Both of those shows originally aired well before I was born (well, not "Happy Days, apparently. It went off the air when I was two years old), however, new generations are able to enjoy these classics all thanks to re-runs. I never really caught on to "Happy Days," but I knew of Tom Bosley. He had an iconic voice and presence that you just can't forget. So I was rather shocked to hear of his passing earlier in the week as it was pretty unexpected.

Now as for "Leave it to Beaver," it's a show I thoroughly enjoy. I first started watching re-runs of the show when I was in college and instantly, I was hooked. It came on after another classic TV show I enjoy, "Emergency!". I don't really know why I came to enjoy LitB in the first place - I guess I enjoyed the interaction between the kids on the show. As you know, "Leave it to Beaver" is a show from a kid's perspective. And that's really a unique thing.

Barbara played an iconic character in June Cleaver. It's a character considered to be one of the greatest TV mom's of all time. The show was based in an era when the man of the house went off to work while the wife stayed home and was the homemaker. June was often seen in dresses, wearing pearls, and especially later on in the show, wearing high heels. No, that wasn't how a typical homemaker dressed. The reason for the high heels on the show was because the creators of the show wanted June to always be taller than Wally and the Beaver. So if you remember seeing June vacuuming in high heels, that was why. As for the pearls, Barbara always wore pearls, even when she was out of character. The reason for it was because she had a hollow in her neck that would cast a shadow during filming. And it became somewhat of a comfort for her to wear them all of the time, so she did.

June Cleaver was a caring, loving mother and her character will live on for many generations to come. Many people have looked up to her through the years and there's no reason to be that won't continue as long as "Leave it to Beaver" airs in re-runs. Barbara Billingsley lived a long life - she was 94 when she died. Still, her presence as well as Tom Bosley's will be missed. They played iconic characters who in a lot of ways were inspiring. Even though they are no longer with us in person, their spirit will always be with us and we'll be able to enjoy a variety of memories of them as aired during re-runs.

Adults vs. Children

It's amazing how your perspective on things changes from when you're a kid to an adult. As a child, you might have thought that any adult that was in charge was against you, whether it was your parents, a relative, a teacher, or even a day care worker. You just didn't have the freedom as a child and couldn't get away with what you wanted. Oh how nice it would be if we could fast forward time to get a glimpse of what life would be like as an adult. Or even if a time machine actually did exist. I know there's always that risk of altering the past by visiting the future - but so long as you don't bump into your future self, there's really no harm in seeing what you may end up as an adult. But would any child really understand what the future may hold, no matter if one could advance time to the future?

Back when I was a kid, I always enjoyed trips to my uncle's garage just a short drive from home. I refer to it as a garage because that's basically what it is. Two separate pole buildings where my uncle stores an incredible amount of stuff in. And when I was a kid, it was like an indoor playground. One of my cousins was about my age and the other was a little bit older. But we always had a good time together. Whether it was riding go-carts and mini-bikes, to playing with matchbox cars, and even playing statues. There wasn't a game we didn't play together. And it was always special when I was able to stay over a night or two at their place because we always had a good time together. And then we grew up and now we hardly see each other anymore.

I remember discussing it with one of my cousins when I was a kid about how much fun it was to be over at his place while I was bored at my house. And then yet, he felt the exact same way as me, except that he was bored at his place while he had a blast being at my house. I guess I never really understood why that was when I was a kid. I mean, he had everything and anything to place with at his place. Heck, he was even able to swim everyday of the summer out at their family camp. Yet, he would rather be at my house. Well, I guess that was because we were together, and typically you have more fun playing with someone else than being by yourself. And it's also a new environment, a place completely different than what you're used to. And you may be able to get away with more mischief because whoever it watching you is not your parents. As an adult, it all makes sense now.

Now a days, I'd rather be at my house than out at my uncle's garage. I mean, it's nice to visit there from time to time, but to spend long periods of time there like I did as a kid; well, it would just get downright boring. More often than not I'm put to work there than anything else. And my cousins just aren't around as frequently anymore. They have their own lives and just can't come up to the U.P. like they could as kids. That's the disappointment in growing up. Things change and yet they ever rarely remain the same.

Autumn in the Upper Peninsula

We are now well into the month of October which means cold weather is on the horizon. In fact, our moderate temperatures and sunny skies are definitely numbered; and those of us living in the Upper Peninsula know that it's time to enjoy these days. Because we more than likely won't be seeing temperatures above 50 degrees until at least April. And many folks across the U.P. are getting prepared for the upcoming winter season. I know of people that are getting together enough firewood to last the entire cold weather season. Some individuals have wood stoves in their basements that they keep heated throughout the winter. Others have wood furnaces that are kept outside of the house but in which the heated is piped to the house. And let me tell you, those wood furnaces really do work in keeping a house warm in the middle of a good old fashioned U.P. winter! But they key to that is having enough firewood on hand to make it through. You just never know how long the winter will actually be until it's here.

This is also the time of the year where the farmers are beginning to cut down their corn crops. And I think I'm safe to assume that this year's corn crop was excellent, due to the warm and humid temperatures throughout much of the summer season. If you were to criss-cross the U.P. within the next few days, I am sure it'd be pretty easy to spot a farmer out on his tractor harvesting the corn. As for those that grew pumpkins in the U.P. this season, it sounds as if that particular crop wasn't as spectacular because of the ample amount of rainfall we received within the last few months - particularly September. The pumpkin crop is much less ample and the pumpkins themselves are either small, mishapened, and green. That's not to say that you couldn't find the perfect pumpkin, because there are still some good ones out there. However, it could take a bit of searching to find it.

We are also quickly approaching one of the most hallowed times of the year in the Upper Peninsula - a time of the year rich in tradition for many generations of families. It's the firearm deer season which starts November 15 and lasts for two weeks. I call it the U.P.'s unofficial holiday - even some school districts and places of employment recognize it as such. It's a time when people gather at camp, celebrate being together, and the thrill of the hunt. And not everyone goes home with a buck of their liking, however, just to be able to enjoy the comradery of others in an atmosphere almost similar to a kid in a candy store, well it's a feeling unlike any other. If you're driving through the Upper Peninsula just before and during the firearm deer season, you'll recognize the official color of the U.P. as being bright blaze orange. That's what everyone going hunting will be wearing (other than camouflage).

So with October coming to a close, summer is long past and now we're into the heart of the fall season. And with the trees quickly becoming more and more bare, it appears that there isn't a whole lot left to enjoy of the warm season here in the U.P. However, fall brings with it a whole bunch of new opportunities to enjoy the outdoors as I previously mentioned in this blog. That's the beauty about living in the Upper Peninsula, you learn to adapt to whatever season that you're in the midst of. And if you're not finding any luck enjoying a particular season, wait a few months. Things will surely get better for you.

R-40 Thinkpad

I believe I discussed my attempts at getting my R-40 IBM Thinkpad working again in one of my random topic blogs. It's been a good three years since it last worked, so I decided it was worth one last shot in trying to get the laptop functioning again. I mean, when it worked, it was a good laptop. Obviously it's not doing me much good now. I decided to track down a new system board for the machine, because everything pointed to that being the problem. The machine would proceed to start up, but nothing else happened. No beeping, the screen would remain blank, and the laptop would not continue the start-up procedure. I would insert a CD into the tray and it would try loading up. But obviously the machine was not responding.

I received my "new" system board in the mail about a month back and proceeded to put the machine back together. It wasn't exactly new; more along the lines that it was used. But the outfit I bought the board from had tested it before shipment and it worked fine. After I had everything put back together, I attempted to turn the laptop on. It ended up doing the exact same thing as it did before. Absolutely no change, no difference. Talk about a frustrating turn of events. So I am lead to believe that it might be a different problem, an issue that I am unaware of and that I plan on tracking additional information down on it.

So that particular project is on a stand-still for the time being. My hope was to have a back-up to my existing desktop unit which I discussed before as recently being slow. However, that machine has performed much better lately, partly because I unloaded a bunch of unused programming. Yet I still haven't given up on getting the R-40 Thinkpad up and running. I have read recently that that particular machine has had its fair share of issues and is probably not the most reliable laptop out there. Honestly, if I can't get the problem figured out, I am not going to go any further with it and will end up scrapping the project altogether. The prices of laptop computers these days are fairly reasonable and if I feel the need for one, I can always buy a new one.

So as we all know regarding life, not everything goes as planned. I was hoping that buying a new/used system board for the laptop would solve the problem and it'd be working today. However, that has not happened and I am still planning on digging into the problem further. I am beginning to wonder if it might be a power supply issue or something along those lines. Maybe there's a faulty wire or something. Whatever the case, it may take some time figuring out. And if I don't ever figure it out, there's always the trash bin where it can end up going.

Alger County H-58

In last week's Upper Peninsula blog topic, I discussed at length the city of Munising and everything that it has to offer for residents and visitors to the area. I made brief mention of Pictured Rocks and the main roadway that runs along it, H-58. It's a county highway maintained by the Alger County Road Commission and it had been a source of frustration and some controversy for many years. The road commission has been working towards getting the length of roadway paved for quite some time, as early as the 1960's. But with the lack of appropriate funding, it never came to be. In all, H-58 between Munising and Grand Marais is some 39 miles. However, after all these years, H-58 is officially paved between those two Alger County communities.

As for myself, I have never ventured on H-58 beyond Melstrand. I had heard stories regarding how rough the road was in certain areas along the unpaved stretches. It was like a washboard, with speed limits of 25 mph, if that. Believe me, the Alger County Road Commission did their best at maintaining what they could of the county highway. But a lot of times after a heavy rain, the road would be nearly unridable again. And I think that's a reason why many people decided not to venture upon H-58 beyond where the pavement ended. I mean sure, there were still lots that did. But then there were others who wouldn't. Now, there is no reason not to travel the whole length of H-58 through the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

A dedication is set for this Friday, October 15 at the new Hurricane River Bridge located just west of Grand Marais. A reception will be held starting at 10 AM at the Alger County Road Commission facility just west of Munising on M-28. Then, the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new bridge will start at noon and will feature several dignitaries such as state and national representatives, congressmen, and staff members. It will mark the official closing of the project that had been in the works for so long. It will be the first time that a hard-surfaced, paved roadway has existed between Munising and Grand Marais through Pictured Rocks.

So if you're looking for another alternative in getting to Grand Marais from Munising or vice versa, H-58 is now that option. As I mentioned earlier, the road had always existed between those two communities, but it often provided for a rough ride. Now visitors and residents alike will be able to traverse the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore will relative ease and possibly explore areas they had never visited before. It opens up a bunch of new possibilities for a lot of people and for myself, it'll be great to explore a new area I've never been. Don't know if I'll be able to get there before winter comes, but sometime soon. It's just one more reason why Munising and the Pictured Rocks area is a great area to visit.

On-Line Dating

I have undertaken a rather long and exhaustive search in trying to find that special someone to enter my life. And in doing that search, I've relied largely on on-line dating. In some ways, it's a method that can be considered even more difficult than finding someone on the street. Your profile has to be appealing, your picture(s) have to be decent, and you have to try coming across like a good, honest humane being. Needless to say, I've encountered my challenges in on-line dating through the years, but I am happy to say that the search is probably over - a search that although was very long and frustrating at times, has finally been worthwhile.

For those of you out there who have tried on-line dating, you know that there are a variety of websites in which to find your significant other. In the very beginning, I mainly relied on Yahoo! Personals and True.com. Yahoo! Personals has since closed down and is now merged with Match.com. True.com is probably one of the cheapest and least reliable on-line dating sites out there, but it had proven to be somewhat successful for me three years back. But that particular site always seemed so cluttered and the least updated. Eventually I moved away from those two sites and tried different places, with mixed results.

eharmony.com is probably the biggest and the best website when it comes to on-line dating. It's a bit cumbersome when answering all of the questions that are required to complete your profile, but it makes it worthwhile so that you're able to find the most compatible matches for you. And I'll be honest, it's been the site that I've had the most success with. So when you need the best, sometimes you have to go with the best. Match.com is another decent dating site but it's not as comprehensive as eharmony. plentyoffish.com offers a lot for standard members but I never got much success from that particular site. And then singles.net is a simple dating website but does not offer a lot for anyone, not even for those with a subscription.

So as you can see, there are a lot of options out there when it comes to on-line dating. If you're not into the bar scene and do not get out a lot, then it's definitely the best option for you. But on-line dating does have its fair share of downsides and you need to be resilient and patient when trying to find the love of your life. I am happy to say that it's finally worked out in my favor and if you're looking into trying it out for yourself, hopefully you'll experience success as well.

Songs I Dig - 20

The Songs I Dig blog is back with another edition this week. It's pretty rare that I write them in back-to-back weeks, but I still have music in which I am trying to catch-up on from earlier in the year. This week's edition is pretty unique, in that they are all first-timeers to appear here. One of the songs featured is a brand new tune that I am pretty confident will become a hit song, while the other two are established songs that have already done well on the charts. One was even recently featured on the hit television show "Glee" and has seen a recent climb back up the charts, too. So, let's see what this week's selections are:

Nelly - "Just a Dream" : If you asked me a year ago if I'd ever have Nelly on my "Songs I Dig" blog, I probably would've given you a flat out no. But I have really opened up to R&B style songs and honestly, the first time I heard this song on the radio, I instantly enjoyed it. What I like most about the song is the sound and the message portrayed in the song. The lyrics really say it all; the person who is singing the song has lost that significant other in their life and is really struggling with the loss. He left her and now he's lost. And then he's thinking about them as a couple and what they're going to be, then he goes to open his eyes and realizes that it was only a dream. It's a very harsh reality, I would say and the song definitely has sympathetic emotion to it. I have no doubt in my mind that this will be a hit for Nelly.

Paramore - "The Only Exception" : I wasn't all that familiar with the group Paramore or Hayley Williams up until she sang with B.o.B. in "Airplanes" and instantly, I was hooked. As you may or may not know, I kind of have a thing for Hayley Williams. She has a voice that is so pure and angelic. And it was a real treat when I heard the song "The Only Exception" start playing on the radio. I have to admit, I wasn't that big on the song early on and the repetitive "You are the only exception" of the chorus did get to me at first. But eventually, the soft, soothing tone of the song won out and I became a fan of the song since. The song is actually their third from the current album titled "Brand New Eyes." It has become Paramore's biggest selling album to date.

Mike Posner - "Cooler Than Me" : Seeing that summer has long since been over, how appropriate is it to feature one of this summer's biggest hits. "Cooler Than Me" became a top 10 single in the United States, which is no surprise given the steady airplay the song received. The song was the first from Mike Posner's debut album titled "31 Minutes to Takeoff." It has a definite laid back, hip hop vibe to it. It's about this guy who's trying to win over a girl bur cannot seem to get her attention no matter what he tries doing. She appears to be too stuck up and too good for the guy to even notice him. So he thinks that writing a song may get her to fall in love with him, but then it probably won't because she's "cooler than me."

That will wrap it up for this week's edition of the Songs I Dig. Will you see another edition next week (or should I say, later this week)? It's not out of the realm of possibility. There's still a lot of good music out there to promote. Until next time, be sure to enjoy as much music as you can! There is definitely something about music that really helps to make your day that much brighter.

The Weather Channel Changes

I've been a fan of weather phenomena for as long as I can remember. Back when I was little, I even used to pretend that I owned my own television station and presented a weather forecast to the viewers watching. I'd draw my own maps of the U.P. and Michigan and forecast the weather in addition to giving updates of current conditions. I had a blast doing this - even though no one really was watching. I've always been interested in major weather events, such as snow storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes. Mostly this is all watching from the sidelines as the U.P. is not a common place for severe weather events except for winter storms and lake effect snow. So, when a hurricane is barreling down on the United States or a major tornado outbreak is occurring somewhere in tornado alley, there's usually one source I always turn to on the television, and that's The Weather Channel (TWC).

In recent years, however, a variety of changes at TWC has made watching the cable channel nearly unwatchable. They've created more and more long-form programming, meaning documentary-type shows that air frequently. I know it's often quite difficult to get an update on weather conditions nation-wide during weekend afternoons and evenings because that's when the long-form programming airs the most. But such programming is also evident during weekdays, such as around 3 PM, 6 PM, and 9 PM eastern time. Shows like "It Could Happen Tomorrow" and "Storm Stories" air pretty frequently and a lot of times - it's all repeats. For the average person who flips through, they could probably give two-hoots what's airing on The Weather Channel at any time of the day, just so long as they get their local forecast during the Local on the 8's. However, for the weather buffs out there, not seeing much live weather forecasting during the day has put a hamper on viewing TWC.

In addition to less live weather forecasting, over the last few years, TWC has also gotten rid of several of its prominent on-camera meteorologists that have been with the cable channel for some time, in favor of new, younger faces. Much of the new direction of the cable channel has been blamed on NBC Universal's buyout of The Weather Channel which took effect on July 6, 2008. Shortly after the NBC take-over, popular meteorologists such as Dave Schwartz, Mark Mancuso, Cheryl Lemke, Rich Johnson, Kristen Dodd, and Kristina Abernathy were all let-go. Additional long-time on-camera meteorologists have been let go since, the latest being Bill Kenneely, who was with The Weather Channel when it officially launched back in 1982, and Alexandra Steele. The firings have brought with it a tremendous amount of outcry from fans of The Weather Channel, prompting people to boycott the channel.

That being said, we're in a new era and The Weather Channel on TV isn't as vital as it once was. Now with the internet and the advanced technology of cell phones and other mobile devices, people can receive the latest weather information for their location at a moment's notice. For fans of TWC and the great amount of broadcasting history it's achieved since its inception in 1982, seeing the amount of live weather forecasting get cut back is a bit disheartening. But, for those major weather events such as hurricanes, snow storms, or tornado outbreaks, TWC is still there and will always be there providing live coverage. No matter who the meteorologists are and no matter what the programming might be, there's always weather. And even though we might not like the changes that NBC has implemented since buying the cable channel a few years ago, at least we can get our weather information via the internet and other sources. So feel free to boycott TWC all you want, because the internet just may be more handy for you to get your localized weather information.

Fishing Adventures

Recently I've had fishing on my mind and how I'd like to start going again. It was a reminder of all the fun experiences I had when I was a kid and proved to be a great activity growing up. It's been years since I last cast out a fishing rod but it really would not take much for me to start going again. I have a fishing rod back at my parents house and all I'd have to do is buy the lure, find a river, and start fishing! I'm really not sure that I'd actually keep the fish because I don't really have much of an appetite for fresh fish, only when it comes to fish sticks. But still, the excitement of having a fish on your line and trying to reel it in - it's really a great feeling.

I believe the last time I went out on a fishing adventure was when my sister and I did some fishing near the old family farmhouse a short distance from my parents house. This was back when I was in high school and she in college - so over ten years ago. A river boarders the property line and there had been reports of trout in the river in the past. More often than not we never ended up catching anything, other than a sucker fish here and there. My sister ended up catching the suckers while I caught nothing. But despite the lack of catching anything, it was always a great experience being there with my sister. Now, it would be too difficult for her to break away from her family.

Those fishing experiences with my sister weren't the only ones I had. Back when I was about six or seven years old, my Great Uncle Elmer took me and my cousins on a few fishing trips. One trip it was just him and I, in fact. I was too young to really appreciate the time I had with him, but I remember having a ton of fun hanging out with him. My dad made a home video of one of our fishing trips. In the video, I had caught a fish but was having such a horrible time taking the fish off the hook. It was so slimy, gross, and dangling there wildly that I would just rather leave it dangling on the hook. Eventually my uncle came over and took it off for me - him chucking at my reaction to the fish. Now, I wouldn't have an issue taking a fish off the hook because I can grab the thing and twist the hook right out of the thing's mouth. But that was more of an issue back when I was just a kid.

I remember another memorable fishing trip when I went out on the lake at my cousin's camp to do some fishing. We ended up finding an excellent spot and caught an incredible amount of perch. Every time we'd cast our line out into the lake, we usually ended up with a bite. I remember us having a bucketful of perch before the day was out. I still remember that time with my cousin's very vividly and it's one of those trips I'll always remember.

So who knows, maybe next summer I'll get back into the swing of going out fishing again. But a lot of things have changed and even more things may be changing in my life before long. Will I even get the time to go fishing? That will remain to be seen. Whatever the case, I still have plenty of good memories regarding fishing adventures I've had in the past. And if I never go fishing again, at least I'll always be able to hold onto those.

Munising, Michigan

In this week's installment of U.P. Mondays, I will be discussing the community of Munising, Michigan located in Alger County. Munising has a population of roughly 2,500 people and is situated along the southern shore of Lake Superior. In fact, Munising Bay in which the city is located along, is actually the southern most point of the entire Lake Superior basin, which is actually a pretty cool fact. In my own personal view, Munising is probably one of the most picturesque communities in the Upper Peninsula and it has so many opportunities to capture the beauty it presents. Within short driving distances, there is a lot to see here and it's a location worth spending a few days at.

Munising is the largest community in Alger County and is the seat of the county. It's also home to the county's largest employers, which are Neenah Paper and the Alger County Correctional Facility. Munising is also home to a school facility built in 1980 situated along the lake shore, something that is certainly rare to find (it would be easy to day dream while looking out at the lake). And not surprisingly, it's also very big on the tourism industry. The Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore is just a short drive up the road from Munising, which is a national gem all its own. Boasting a variety of waterfalls and walking trails, Pictured Rocks is a naturist's dream. And with the expected completion of a paved Alger County H-58 from Munising to Grand Marais, the Lakeshore will be even more vehicle-friendly by the end of this fall.

Snowmobiling is also huge in and around the city of Munising. With the close proximity to Lake Superior and with persistent Northwest winds in the winter, lake effect snow is aplenty. And with miles and miles of groomed trails throughout Alger County, it's easy to spend a few days to a week exploring the rugged wintry terrain that Alger County has to offer. There are several hotels located right within the Munising city limits, so a snowmobiler can stay right there in the city limits and ride out to the trails. They can also enjoy the small town life of Munising and explore the variety of shops, bars, and restaurants. The Dogpatch restaurant located along Superior Street and M-28 has become famous not only in the snowmobiling world, but in general, too.

And what's a city along a lake without enjoying the pleasure of being on a boat? The city has a large marina and boat launch for a variety of sized boats. The glass bottom boat tours run out of the harbor and provide views of sunken ships located throughout Munising Bay. I haven't taken the tour myself, but from what I understand the bottom of the boat is glass so that you're able to view the shipwrecks with ease. In addition, the Pictured Rocks Boat Tour takes a cruise along the rock formations of Pictured Rocks. It's a three hour tour and it is definitely worth while. These are just a few of the bigger attractions - there really is so much more!

So if you're looking for a location in the Upper Peninsula with a lot to do year-round, be sure to consider Munising. It truly offers a lot and you'll be sure to be impressed with the small town, friendly atmosphere that the locals provide. For additional information on the community, be sure the check out the websites provided below.

Munising Visitors Bureau Inc.
Pictured Rocks Cruises Inc.
Shipwreck Tours: Munising Mi Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Alger County Chamber of Commerce