How Much Longer will the Empire Mine Run?

Ahh, to be a miner in the Marquette Iron Range.  I have been employed with Cliffs Natural Resources for over eight years now and have seen a lot of the ups and downs in the industry.  Luckily I have been able to avoid every layoff that has occurred during my employment, but all it would take is one major downturn and all of us miners would be laid off.  That is how volatile the iron industry can get.  Ten years ago, I was a summer student at the Empire Mine, the same facility I am employed at today.  There was a major flooding event that year that ended up closing a nearby power plant that supplied the energy needed to run the mines in the Marquette Range.  I missed out of a month's worth of employment that summer.  When the mine resumed production, I remember being at a meeting with a room-full of other hourly employees, discussing the future of the Empire facility.  In 2003, it was discussed that the mine would probably only run another three or four more years and then close.  Ten years later, the facility still operates.  But how much longer will it keep going?

Back in March of this year, the former President and CEO of Cliffs Natural Resources, Joseph Carrabba, spoke at a meeting of business and economic leaders in the Marquette area to discuss the state of the company and specifically, business interests in the Marquette Iron Range.  It was stated at that meeting that the Empire mine would be slowing down and would cease production at the end of 2014.  So far the company maintains that stance and nothing else has been released officially stating otherwise.  ArcelorMittal, a prominent steel-making company in the United States and world-wide, owns a percentage of the Empire Mine and has a contract to take a portion of the pellets that the Empire produces, a contract set to expire at the end of 2014.  Earlier this year, ArcelorMittal signed a new ten-year contract with a different supplier, Essar Steel in Minnesota.   They are set to produce the exact same type of pellet that the Empire mine produced for years.  However, there is a significant problem with that mine in Minnesota; it's not even built yet and far from producing any sort of iron ore pellets.

The Essar Steel plant is a completely new facility that is trying to get itself off the ground but has faced various problems in getting things up and running.  Supposedly one of the contractor's building the facility poured some of the footings for the main processing facility wrong, and that contractor went into bankruptcy.  So a new contractor had to be brought in to rip the old footings out and prepare new ones.  I am not going to get too in depth with the problems occurring with this facility in Minnesota, because I am unsure what is the truth and what is just hearsay.  What I will say is that there are many challenges that remain for the Minnesota facility in getting things up and running.  Initially they were hoping to begin production at the end of 2014, when they were supposed to take over our pellet contract.  Now that seems to be delayed much further.  That is one of the factors involved in potentially keeping the Empire going a little longer.  But there are other issues that remain in shuttering the facility for good.

The big issue that exists in keeping the Empire running is the lack of ore reserves.  The facility first opened in the 1960's and has been producing magnetite ore since.  After over 50 years of production, one can understand how a mine such as ours is starting to run out of ore to produce.  Supposedly there's still three years of exposed ore that we can process.  Which, if ArcelorMittal can't get any pellets from their new partner, the Empire could get an extension on its existing contract until the new mine is ready to ship pellets.  Some are speculating that it could end up being a two to four year extension.  Beyond that, the future of the Empire definitely looks bleak.  Don't get me wrong, there is still ore out there to mine.  However, it would take a lot of digging and stripping to get at, meaning it wouldn't end up being very cost effective for Cliffs to do on their own, unless another partner stepped up and put the money up front needed to retrieve that good magnetite ore.  There would be a ton more of blasting needed to loosen up the material, then the equipment would have to travel farther to get to it, resulting in higher energy and fuel costs.   If the iron industry is in fantastic shape and there is a huge demand for ore, then by all means it could happen.  However I don't think the demand is quite at that point, although it does appear to be rebounding somewhat from earlier this year.

So as you can imagine, a lot of speculation and rumors are being spread across the Marquette Iron Range about the future of the Empire Mine.  The end of mine life is a real distinct possibility as ever before.  But as I discussed earlier, that end of life could be extended a little bit longer if the circumstances end up being favorable for the venerable facility.  Me personally, I hope the Empire keeps going for a little while longer yet.  There are a lot of good people I work with who could be negatively affected by a long-term layoff if the Empire closes.  The longer they can work, the longer they can save up their earnings and prepare for the eventual outcome.  It's simply not a matter of if the Empire closes, but when now.  Like I have been talking with a few people out there, the remaining year is going to be an interesting one for everybody involved.  It's just part of the ups and downs of working in the Marquette Iron Range, and has been that way for years.  Certainly never a dull moment.

The Backlash Against Paula Deen

I am breaking out of my blogging hiatus to discuss one of the bigger hot topic items that has been in the news lately.  It is regarding the Paula Deen situation, where she admitted that in her past, she has used the n-word. First and foremost, I will say that I do not condone the use of the word.  It's a derogatory word that is not used in a positive light in the African American community.  However let me say this; aren't we being rather harsh on Paula Deen?  I agree that it was wrong of her to say the word, yet it was in her past and she apologized for doing so.  When is it that an apology just isn't enough anymore?

Everybody's immediate reaction is to fire her and boycott everything that she was involved in.  Can't we all just take a step back and analyze the situation, and then come to a resolution?  I believe that anti-Paula Deen people are out to make an example out of her; that whomever has uttered the n-word in the past must be banished and never see the light of day again.  Deen lived and grew up in the south, where slavery was once a big problem in the early 1900's.  The carryover from that era is around the time when she grew up.  Like all things in life, it's hard to change a stereotype that has existed over many decades.  It's kind of like how gay marriage is becoming ore accepted.  For awhile, saying the n-word was accepted.  Eventually it became to be frowned upon and now, it's just plain wrong to say.  Deen admitted her mistake and she never said she said it recently.  Why can't we just let bygones be bygones?

I will say this, I had heard of Paula Deen before and she most notably made news for her success at losing weight, in addition to her success at making a living preparing wonderful food dishes.  But I just can't believe that all of that could come crashing down, just over an admittance of saying the n-word during her younger years.  Does that mean we should go back to the era when stoning a person, or cutting off their heads in a guillotine are accepted ways of punishing a person for their crimes?  Why is it accepted when African American rappers can used the n-word in their lyrics over and over?  To me, if they get away with saying it, why can't all of the races?  It's just a puzzling issue to me.

Typically I don't comment on hot button topics such as this one, but I felt I had to say something.  I believe that Paula Deen is getting a bum rap here.  Everything that she prided herself on, everything that she has built her success upon is being destroyed and judging from the backlash, she may never recover.  I feel bad for her to be in this situation because she seems to be a nice person.  She said she was sorry for her mistakes, why can't that be good enough?  What more can Paula Deen do to improve her public image?  Like I asked before and I'll say it again; why did it become that an apology just isn't good enough anymore?

A Not-So-Perfect Life

I found myself watching the movie "American Reunion" tonight and it really began to make me feel nostalgic. Yes I know, it's probably not the type of movie that most would find nostalgic. But every time I've watched it (tonight was the second time), it reminded me of my high school days. The movie centers around the cast returning to attend their high school class reunion. They graduated in 1999 and there are many times throughout the movie where 90's music plays and boy, it really hits home for me listening to those songs. At the end of the movie, they show flashbacks of the cast when they played their roles in the first film of the series, "American Pie." It's amazing how much younger they looked compared to the present. It really is incredible how time flies.

"American Reunion" was released in 2012, and considering the original cast graduated from high school in 1999, the reunion was held 13 years later (yes I know, we're not supposed to focus on that stat). However, to make a connection to my life, I graduated in 2000 and we are now into the year 2013. So, just like the class featured in the movie, this year is my 13th year away from high school. In some ways it feels like it's been forever, yet in other instances it doesn't seem that long ago. To be honest, I have moved on from my high school days (as I'm sure most have). As you may remember from my blog in the past, I did not attend my ten year class reunion three years ago. At the time, I did feel bad about missing it, but work kind of complicated things. There were a few people I would have genuinely liked to have seen and caught up with. However looking back at things now, I think it was for the best that I did not attend. A lot of my former classmates I really hold no connection with anymore. Most are spread out around the country. We all have basically moved on, formed friendships with new people and our high school lives are fading more and more with each passing year.

And now 13 years later, it's time to look at where my life has gone so far. The only thing I am really struggling with right now is my love life. Once again I am single, but am trying my hardest to remedy it. It's a situation that will take time to resolve. It seems that when you date people on-line, it's never a quick plunge into finding that special someone. There were a couple of times where I thought things were going on the right track earlier this winter, but things have gone off the rails lately. I know she's out there somewhere but it's often hard to wait patiently for her to walk through that proverbial door. I am beginning to wonder if things might go faster if I check out the bar scene or not. The simple fact is that I don't have that many opportunities to meet single women. At work, the male gender far exceeds the amount of women that work there, and I'm certainly not going to meet anybody sitting around at home. I have set a goal of 2013 being the year that I find the love of my life and so far it hasn't happened. But there's still a lot of the year left.

Well, I wasn't planning on turning this blog into one highlighting my relationship struggles. But it is what it is. I wish time would slow down a bit so I can learn to enjoy things more and not be in so much of a rush to find that special someone. I'm 30 years old now and I am not getting any younger. I know my parents are hoping for more grandchildren and I am hoping I am able to fulfill that desire for them. But it's pretty difficult to accomplish that when there's no significant other. As I look back, I made my fair share of mistakes when it came to women. I was often too shy to ask any of them out when I had the right opportunities. I sure wish I could go back in time and correct some of the mistakes I made in that regard. Maybe things would be a lot different than they are now. The rest of my life I really have no complaints about. So let's hope that 2013 ends up being a significant year where my life becomes truly perfect.

What Has Become of American Idol?

Once upon a time, I used to be a huge American Idol fan. And I really mean HUGE. All you have to do is look back in this very blog to see how big of a fan I was. I recapped every performance show and gave my opinions on who I thought did the best and the worst of each week. But somewhere along the way, there was a disconnect. It just no longer appeals to me like it once did. It has become the same old show year in and year out and no matter what they try to do, they just can't capture the magic the show once held. Here are a few reasons why I think the show has slipped the way that it has.

The loss of Simon Cowell...It was after season nine where Simon bid adieu to the venerable singing show. At the time I thought it was a welcome change for the show to be Simon-less. But I quickly changed my opinion once I heard the critiques from newcomer-judges Jennifer Lopez and Stephen Tyler. They never could say a bad thing to any of the contestants unless they were really, really bad. Simon certainly had a way of letting people down on that show. He didn't mince words and he pulled no punches. He was honest when he needed to be and when a contestant gave a brilliant performance, he gave it its proper credit. To me, the show has yet to find that personality to be as harsh and honest as Simon was on the show. Randy tries to be harsh, but it isn't the same. You know, there will never be another Simon Cowell. He's just so irreplaceable. The show has tried to press on without him, but it hasn't had the success that it once did.

Winners not as successful on the charts...When you think of previous Idol winners, you think of Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood. They are the two biggest stars of the Idol franchise. And I have a feeling that will remain the same until Idol goes off the air once and for all. The show doesn't bring in the kind of ratings that it once did, thus it isn't drawing as many viewers in to watch the top ten contestants duking it out for the top spot. It doesn't have as much exposure to as many people, and the contestants that have been winning in recent years have been focused more towards a specific genre of music (i.e. gospel, soul) rather than being totally mainstream. People have tuned away from the show more than ever before, thanks to programs on other networks and cable channels. Idol just isn't as appealing as it once was.

The show has been on for too long...We are now upon the 12th season of Idol; 11 years in total. That's a long time to be on the air, especially these days. To maintain the 30 million people that it once was able to draw in for ratings would have been difficult for any TV program to do. Popularity for TV shows eventually wanes as the years go by. Now, it's lucky to draw 16 million viewers. But, the show still does quite well for the FOX network, so I doubt it'll go away anytime soon. It seems that reality/game based shows tend to lose ratings quicker in time than other genre of TV programs. Most comedy and dramas that are popular typically maintain 20+ million viewers. But 30 million is certainly not an everyday feat. I think Idol producers are trying every way they can to keep people glued to the set while Idol is on. And so far, it hasn't worked.

Those are just a few of the reasons why I think Idol's popularity has taken a hit, particularly after season eight wrapped up. For me, the greatest years of American Idol were seasons seven and eight. Season nine has been referenced as being Idol's worst of all, which just so happened to be Simon's last. And you could tell he was bagging the last season in as he seemed so disinterested in what was going on. Will Idol ever be able to retain the ratings death hold it once had? It likely never will. I think Idol producers were hoping that this season's star-studded judges panel would fix the ratings issue. But even Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj can only do so much. As for myself, I still watch it when I can, but I am no longer interested like I once was. Maybe I am getting too old, as all of the contestants are mostly in their late teens and early 20's. I am now 30 and even if I wanted to audition, I no longer can. So I am starting to get out of the demographic that the show desires. And as I mentioned earlier, it just isn't the same without Simon.

Jonathan

I feel as if I never really knew you, even though we were related; cousins to be exact.
And now you are gone, a life ended much too soon.
You were a troubled soul, crying out for help.
But nobody was there to lend a hand, to lift you up.
And now there is nothing to remember you by.
Just sad memories.
It's as if you never even existed.
I look in the newspaper, search on-line.
There's no obituaries, no tributes.
All I can say is that I know you once existed.
But now you are gone.

We were never all that close.
Yet, you are still family.
But there is nothing to remember you by.
Except for a few pictures in a photo album from a time long ago.
It was a much happier time, when things were so much more care free.
These days, life seems so hectic and lost.
I wish we could regain those innocent times.
And at least try to start over; to be more of a family than we ever were.
But that will never happen now.
It's a dream that will never come true because, you are gone.

You had a lot of potential, but were lead down the wrong path.
Perhaps if you lived in a less chaotic environment.
You could have been successful at life.
Instead, your life is categorized as a failure.
But it certainly wasn't all your fault.
You lived in chaos during your childhood, teenage years, and right into your adulthood.
Your upbringing was less than spectacular.
Yet you were never steered straight down the right path.
And we'll never truly know what might have been.
So dear cousin, this is my small attempt at a remembrance for you.
Because there really isn't much else to remember you by.
No obituaries, no funeral.
Just a lost soul, gone way too soon.
May you rest in peace.

A New Year

And so here we are again, another new year was just ushered in last night. To me, it seems like we just rang in 2012 six months ago. I'm sure I've said it before and I'll say it again but my elders are right. Time really does go by faster and faster with each passing year. And it actually kind of makes me a little bit sad. I mean, I am trying to make the most of every opportunity that arises, yet some days I feel like I am missing important things. Life was so much more carefree and exhilarating as a child. Now it's like I've gotten into that same familiar rut: Work, sleep, eat, work, eat, sleep, etc, etc. I think 2013 will usher in all sorts of new opportunities for me. I am going to start making the most of my life while I still can.

2012 wasn't exactly a great year by any means; it was just more or less okay. Firstly, there was a decent amount of turmoil that surrounded work. Would I be laid off, would I be working? It was a challenging year in the work department but I am happy to say that I was only laid off for one week. I mean sure, one side of you could think that getting laid off and receiving unemployment would be nice for awhile. But then awhile turns into too long. That wasn't the case for me in 2012. That's not to say that if I were laid off for a longer period of time that I'd be struggling from the get go. But it's always nice to know that you have a job to go to regularly. So all in all, everything in the work department turned out okay. Still, there were plenty of rumors and hearsay surrounding my place of employment, and we may be heading down a similar road in 2013.

The nearly three year relationship ended with my girlfriend in July. Honestly it was inevitable and it probably should've ended sooner. But I think I was holding on for as long as I could to see if our relationship really could be for the rest of our lives. It didn't end up being so. It ended rather abruptly and pretty foolishly on my part. Instead of confronting her and calling it off in a civil way, she had to find out in a way that still shames me to this day. I didn't cheat on her by any means; I am not that kind of man. But I wasn't upfront with my feelings from the get-go and it's something I truly regret. It's unfortunate that we weren't able to make things work, however life does move on. I am hoping that 2013 is an improvement in my relationship status.

I've brought this up before in the blog and it's still an ongoing issue. My mental health still isn't where it needs to be. I've been dealing with a form of anxiety for a couple of years now and I am on two different medications for it. Believe me, it's a lot better than what it initially was, but I still have some work to do. I have a doctor's appointment later this week that will hopefully correct these anxious feelings that I have once and for all. In 2013, I also look to be more up front about my anxiety than I have been. For one thing, I've never told my parents what I've been going through. I don't normally make resolutions, but one that I am making this time around is to tell my immediate family of what's been going on. It's going to be a struggle and I truly have let this "secret" go on for too long. I guess I am anxious to talk about my anxiety. I know I shouldn't be, but a part of me thinks that I'm going crazy and that once everyone else knows this, then they'll think the same. I know that's a foolish thought and it's one thing I look to correct in the new year. I also am hoping to improve my physical health as well, seeing as how I gained nearly 10 pounds from one year to the next. It's time to start cutting back on the sweets, working out at home, and to eat more fruits and veggies.

So, with 2012 out of the way, things can only get better in 2013. Like I said, it's not like the past year was all that terrible; it was more or less just average. I am hoping 2013 proves to be an exciting year with many great memories to cherish. Here's hoping that you and yours has a wonderful 2013. See you next time on the blog...

Holy Family Orphanage - Marquette, MI

It's a building that has sat largely vacant since the early 1980's and may soon come crumbling down. The Marquette City Commission has began preliminary planning to eventually tear down the old Holy Family Orphanage building in the city. A few weeks back the commission started plans to apply for a statewide grant to help fund the demolition of dilapidated buildings within a specific jurisdiction. Out of $15 million allocated to the demolition of such inhabitable buildings, $10 million is dedicated to the efforts in the city of Detroit alone, while the remaining $5 million is allocated to projects across the state. The city of Marquette is hoping that the Orphanage building is one of those projects selected for the year 2013.

For those unfamiliar with the Holy Family Orphanage Building in Marquette, it sits along the corner of Altamont and Fisher Streets. If you're traveling through the city along the US-41 bypass between the Grove Street intersection and the roundabout, you can't miss seeing the red-brick structure sitting from atop of a hill on the north side of the roadway. The majority of its windows and doorways are boarded up and it sits forlornly, waiting for someone to take it over and make it into something useful. However, it doesn't seem like that'll ever happen. The building has been owned by various owners since 1982 with nobody having a clear plan of what to do with the structure. It now sits in foreclosure and is in serious disrepair. A recent inspection done by the fire chief of the city of Marquette revealed that the roof has a couple of gaping holes and the structural integrity of the building is in serious doubt, with concrete crumbling inside and structural I-beams rotting away. At this point it seems it would take a miracle for somebody to swoop in and purchase the building, and at least make it safe.

Just think of the cost it would take in reviving a building like the Orphanage. It's a large, mammoth six-story building made of red brick and sandstone. It's a rather large building compared to Marquette's other buildings in the city. The Orphanage was constructed in 1915 at a cost of $100,000 at the time. It was considered to be a state of the art building for 1915 and it was the pride of the Most Rev. Frederick Eis, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette during that time, who fought to fund and build the structure for the Diocese to house orphaned Catholic children in the Upper Peninsula. But it was built during an era when lead paint was predominantly used and asbestos was a common building material used in building construction during that era of time. Lead and asbestos abatement alone could run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. That's not to say it isn't impossible for someone to step up and provide the money that's needed to rehabilitate the building. Just look at the history involving some of Marquette's other famous buildings that were close to being demolished, such as the Rosewood building and the Landmark in (once called the Hotel Northland). Both buildings were abandoned for years and were eventually overhauled into what they are today. Both are considered to be some of Marquette's finest and most historic structures standing today. Who's to say that same fate could become of the old Orphanage building?

Seeing that it has been since 1982 since the structure was last occupied and has gone through a handful of owners, it is likely the building will see the wrecking ball first before anyone puts together plans to save the structure. It's a shame because the building has been a part of the Marquette skyline for nearly 100 years. But as I mentioned earlier, the structural integrity of the building is questionable at best. Rehabbing a building like the Orphanage would probably take at least a couple of million dollars and it's much more cheaper these days to tear a building down rather than remodeling it. It's too bad that none of the owners since 1982 were really all that serious in turning the building into something useful. Then again, those that owned it were from out of state and probably never cared about one of Marquette's most interesting buildings. I guess time will tell regarding the fate of the Orphanage. If the grant money comes through for the city to tear it down, it likely won't see it's 100th year of standing.
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Recent Update:  The facility still stands and will do so until at least next year (2014).  So far it has not been determined whether or not the city and/or county will reapply for state grants to demolish the facility over the winter.  One would think so, considering it still stands in disrepair.  It's one of the buildings that the city of Marquette wants to see gone, as it is becoming a serious safety hazard.  That being said, I think if someone were to come forth and purchase the structure and put some serious money towards revitalizing the building and develop an aggressive construction schedule, I would think it would be saved from the wrecking ball.  Time will tell what ends up happening.

Trying to Make Sense of Tragedy

If you have watched the news lately, it's not hard to figure out what the lead story is. The senseless massacre of innocent children at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut is a nightmare and an unthinkable tragedy. We all hope it was only a bad dream, but when we wake up day after day, reality sets in once again - yes, it really did happen. There are many questions left unanswered, some questions probably won't ever be answered. I just cannot fathom what it must be like to be within a community that will be forever shaken by such a horrible event. I am hundreds of miles away from Connecticut and yet still feel close to the situation. I imagine many Americans and people around the world feel exactly the same way.

We have found out a few details regarding the killer. I am not mentioning his name because he doesn't need to be memorialized in any fashion. Apparently he was autistic, and people are quick to judge and say it's what caused him to kill 27 innocent people. Having autism does not automatically make a person "bad" and turn them into a killer. Obviously there is more to a person than just having a mental disease. They say he was quiet and described as a "loner." Some of his former classmates say they weren't surprised by his actions. Unfortunately nobody was able to step forward and lend a hand to this individual. Something obviously made him snap and he took it out in a gruesome manner. You know, not enough attention is ever brought towards mental health in this country. Obviously the killer had a problem and people knew it. Sadly, not enough was done to help this individual deal with his struggles in life. And 27 innocent victims had to pay for it.

In the days and weeks to come, gun control will become an issue of great importance in our country. As you can imagine, prior to this the focus was on the "Fiscal Cliff" and stalemate that exists within the government to solve this issue. Now an even greater issue is upon the representatives that make up the House and Senate, as well as our President. Something has to be done to combat these incidents from occurring time and time again. We need to look at better gun control measures, be it banning the purchase of semi-automatic weapons by any average American, stricter gun policies, etc. I am not an expert on guns and I do not propose the banning of all firearms in our country. I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where hunting is a big thing. We need to tread carefully on this matter and reach a solution that'll make the majority of American's satisfied. Rifles used for hunting are ok in my view. But something has to be done with the use of semi-automatic weapons. If these murderers are able to shoot round after round of ammunition and kill dozens of innocent victims and reload in seconds, there's definitely something wrong with that.

There's a rather poignant song out there that really speaks to me during times like these. It was released in 1987 by the hair metal group White Lion. The song is titled "When the Children Cry." The lyrics talk of the evil that exists in our world, situations in which our children are born into and have to deal with as they grow. Unfortunately for 20 young children, they won't know what it's like to grow up, gone way, WAY too young in life. I just can't imagine how sick an individual has to be in order to shoot innocent six and seven year old children screaming and not knowing what is going on. You just have to hope they didn't have to suffer. And the teachers and support staff who tried to apprehend the shooter, unsuccessfully. They are regarded as heroes, some even trying to act as shields in front of children as they took on bullets to the body. It's a sad situation that any competent human being can never comprehend. My condolences to the families of those who lost individuals in this heinous act and may someday, you are able to find peace.

I Will Return

Howdy folks. Yes, I'm still out there. Just wanted you all to know that I do plan on returning to the blog soon. I'm not going to give a definite time - I'll give you a heads up when the time comes. But this long, extended break has given me the opportunity to rejuvenate my batteries when it comes to writing. I'm not going to make any promises as to how often I'll write; it'll probably be slow at first and then gradually pick up as we head into the winter season. Anyways, I just wanted to give a brief update on the future of this blog. No, it's not dead - in fact it's far from being dead. So stay tuned, my ponderings will be returning soon.

Is It Really Global Warming?

Once again here in Upper Michigan, we've had a very slow start to winter. Actually today, January 2, 2012, we've finally experienced our first big snow storm of the season. And it's not exactly a true snow storm in typical fashion because it's all lake effect snow coming off Lake Superior. Not even southern counties in the U.P. are seeing this snowfall. I've never been a big believer of global warming and have thought all along that it's only been the media trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. But within the last decade, our winter's here in Upper Michigan have been unusual to say the least. I'm not saying I'm a total believer yet of the global warming hype, but maybe I am starting to open up more to the idea of it.

It probably took until the middle of November until we received our first measurable snows here in the U.P. Typically that happens a month earlier. If I remember correctly, we had a couple of decent bouts of lake effect snow from that point on, but then we experienced a couple of incredible thaws. They included stretches of days with temperatures in the 40's and low temperatures above freezing overnight. Needless to say, the snow cover dwindled to very little. Where I live along the Lake Superior shore east of Marquette, we didn't receive a decent snow cover up until the last few days. Here and in the city of Marquette, we were only a few days short of having a green Christmas - until a small clipper system dropped in about three inches of snow. So once again, similar to other winters within the last decade, we've had a very slow start to winter.

Back when I was a kid growing up in the U.P., there was never a doubt about us not having snow for deer season. It always helps the hunters to have some snow cover to track the deer after they shoot them. And then while spending Thanksgiving at my grandma's house, we'd be walking along the pathway leading up to her house, all bundled up, with a snowbank up to our knees. And barely having five inches of snow on the ground for Christmas day? Absolutely unheard of (except for the Christmas of 1994 where not one location in the Upper Peninsula had snow). But all of these seem to be the reality rather than the exception lately. Not to say that I've been disappointed with these mild winters because it sure makes it nice traveling on the roads with little snow. But in the end, it does hurt local businesses that depend on the snow. It seems like more and more of the mom-and-pop businesses are shutting down because they can't sustain themselves because of these goofy winters.

So despite our slow start to the winter season here in the U.P., maybe this storm will kick start things and produce epic snows that people seem to have been missing lately. I can't tell you when the last time we've had a truly monstrous blizzard. So we're definitely overdue. I wouldn't mind getting the opportunity to do some cross country skiing before the season is out. And then once March rolls around, it can melt on the way to a nice, mild spring. As for global warming - I'm still not entirely sold on it. It seems like we go through patterns in the weather where we have mild stretches, then cold stretches, and it cycles back and forth through time. I still believe that we're in a mild stretch, but I certainly no longer think that global warming is out of the question. We'll see if these mild winters continue in the years to come.

Who Knew Ponies could be so Entertaining?

Is it wrong to enjoy a cartoon whose target demographic is for young girls? I think that's a question that a lot of adults find themselves asking once they get hooked on a relatively new cartoon that airs on the Hub cable channel. That show is none other than "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic." I, myself, have recently discovered the series thanks to a couple of people I've come to know over the years who are big into the animation genre. I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". Yes, the title is very girly, but you have to look beyond the title to know what this show is all about. As a male in my late 20's, you can understand how awkward it might be to talk about a show like this. People might question a person's manliness when considering a person's association with such a show. But you know what, there are thousands of other male fans out there like me who enjoy the show just as much, if not more. So honestly, it does not bother me to bring up my thoughts and feelings on a show that is largely considered the best cartoon of 2011.

I guess I'll always be a kid at heart, but I think that's everybody. One such connection to living like a child for me is to watch cartoons on occasion. These days, however, my time watching cartoons is few and far between. I've written about it before, but "All Grown Up", the Rugrats spin-off was a huge favorite of mine during my late college years (I even developed a website about the show, for those out of the loop). I've watched every episode of that series a countless number of times. But lately, I can't tell you when the last time I watched a full episode of "All Grown Up". A couple of years ago, it was "The Secret Saturdays" that I was into. But that show eventually got cancelled after a couple of seasons. Now, the new cartoon that I can't stop watching is "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic."

Gosh, even typing out the title of the show sounds so wrong. But like I said, it goes far deeper than the title. There have been three other versions of the "My Little Pony" franchise, and the latest version is by far the best. The other versions really fit the mold as being a show for girls. They featured lots of pink, very cutesy and sweet storylines that could figuratively make your heart melt, and the characters would speak very corny dialogue that would make any person shudder. The new version is nothing like the old shows. Obviously it's modern, molded for 21st century eyes. It includes modern slang, excellent animation style, great storylines, and after watching a few episodes, it'll cheer you up. It certainly won't make you feel ashamed of watching it, especially if you don't think of the title too much.

I'm not going to describe the show in too much detail because I'm afraid that I would keep writing forever. But the basic jist of the show revolves around a pony who is out to find the true meaning of friendship. She's also a magical pony who is able to do a variety of tricks (she is a unicorn, after all). She befriends five other ponies and they together go on a variety of adventures, often to save the world from menacing beings looking to take over. Obviously nothing is perfect and they endure a multitude of problems along the way (something you probably didn't see in prior versions of the show) but eventually they reach their goal and truly make things happily ever after in Equestria.

This probably won't be the last time you'll hear me write about this show - I just might end up writing reviews of episodes that come out. But for now, I'll try to keep my fandom for "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic" to a minimum. I don't want to obsess about the show every waking moment (although lately that's been difficult not to do). This is after all, only my opinion about a cartoon that I think is really good and is something that anyone of any age can watch. So if you're a male, from the ages of 18-35, and you end up going completely head over heels for a show about six ponies, don't say I didn't warn you. For awhile I resisted the temptation of watching the show, but then I finally went all in. And you know something, I don't regret it for one bit. It truly is a quality show and is something everyone can watch. Embrace what the show can do for you, in potentially turning you into a brony.

NMU's Jamrich Hall...No More?

Jamrich Hall, on the campus of Northern Michigan University in Marquette, is the center piece of campus. It's where the majority of the university's classes are held, especially for those not majoring in a science-based degree. It was built in 1968 during a time when the university began constructing additional facilities west of the existing core of campus buildings. Since 1968, the building has remained the same; no significant renovations have taken place within the structure. Other buildings surrounding Jamrich have received their fair share of renovations yet, the most important campus building was untouched. All of that is soon about to change.

In fact, under a new plan announced by NMU officials last week, Jamrich Hall may not even exist in a couple of years. The university may be able to construct an entire new building with the same allocated money they received from the state. It would be a slightly smaller structure, which university officials say would make better use of classroom space than the oversized classrooms located within Jamrich and the most important part of the proposal: it would be a completely new structure. NMU would be able to take advantage of new "green" building concepts in today's modern era. Needless to say, the university is taking a serious look into this option.

However, I myself feel rather sentimental when it comes to Jamrich Hall and would hate to see it demolished. The critics out there contend that it's a rather boxy and plain structure, with the classrooms not having a lot of originality to them. Well what can you expect for a building constructed in the late 1960's? I like the fact that on each of the building's four corners, that's where you enter and exit. The first floor's interior hallway walls are constructed of brick which is something rather unique to most buildings. On the first floor is where the large auditorium classrooms are in Jamrich, the biggest being in room 102 where NMU often screens movies for the students on weekends. The second floor is home to the smaller classrooms, but even the critics contend that many of the classrooms there are too big, as well. I will say this, the HVAC and electrical systems in Jamrich are sorely outdated. In a lot of rooms, there's only one outlet. And the building does not meet today's technological standards. But, how can that problem not be solved with a major renovation?

I guess part of me will be sad to see it go because I have some good memories of being within that building. Often times in grade school, there'd be school functions held there, such as Young Authors, in which elementary-grade children would create their own books and show them off to other students from other schools. And then we had our Science Olympiad award ceremony, where our school would always be crowned first or second place. We had our fair share of exciting moments then. And then it was where I had taken the majority of my college classes when I attended NMU in the early 2000's. I was never happy having to attend classes as it was, but I didn't hate the building because of it. It's a major gathering place for all these students who attend NMU. That's not to say the same atmosphere wouldn't exist within a new building. It's just that for me, part of NMU's history would be gone forever.

A new building probably would look much more modern and classy compared to the plain brick-and-mortar construction of Jamrich. But who's to say they wouldn't be able to put some modern touches on a renovated Jamrich, too? As you can see, I have mixed emotions about NMU's construction plans, but whatever they decide, I will accept. It's not like I am overwrought with fret about the possibility of losing Jamrich Hall forever. After all, it's just a building. And if NMU is to accomplish their long-range goals in building a new structure and replacing Jamrich, then more power to them. Anyways, the focus is all about the students and creating a comfortable learning atmosphere for them. Whatever NMU decides regarding a renovated Jamrich or a new building, it'll definitely continue the university's path of modernization within the new century.
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Recent Update:  Construction of a "new" Jamrich Hall is underway and is about 40% complete.  It is currently being erected between the Learning Resources Center and the Hedgcock Building, where an old parking lot was.  The university states that the building will be ready for the new fall semester in 2014. Meanwhile, the old Jamrich building and Gries Hall will be demolished once the new Jamrich building is fully occupied.

6/27/14 Update:  The "new" Jamrich building is 90% complete while demolition on the old Jamrich Hall began this week.  Gries Hall will remain standing for at least another school year, according to NMU officials.  For a new blog I wrote on this subject, click here.

The Power of Recall Elections

Why does it seem like there are more and more efforts out there in recent years to recall elected officials from office? Years ago, you never seemed to hear about recalls. Is it that people are getting more involved in politics, not just locally but nation-wide? Or more because of the economic state? I'd have to think it's a little of both.

Back in 2005, a recall election ripped the city of Marquette apart. It was because of a decision by members of the city commission to terminate the employment of the city attorney without cause. Four members of the commission were targeted to be recalled, they being Mayor Jerry Irby, Mayor pro-tem Sandy Spoelstra, Stu Bradley, and Sue Kensington. Many in support of the attorney were outraged at the decision, which seemed sudden and abrupt. Some claimed that the commissioners had an agenda against the attorney, and once a majority of commissioners supported the decision to terminate her employment, they did just that. Their vote to fire her took place during a meeting on January 31, 2005 and a recall election was eventually held later in the year.

It was a resounding yes by voters in the city of Marquette to recall the four targeted commissioners during the election on August 2, 2005. Whether residents were for or against this particular recall election, it signaled an end to the strife that existed in city politics at that time. Not only could the commission move forward in a positive light, but they could also begin the process to seat new commissioners. Obviously just because those four particular commissioners were recalled, it still took some time for the healing process to complete itself. Nearly seven years later, the troubles during 2005 are gone but I don't think they'll ever be forgotten. You have to believe that those four ex-members of the commission still hear some negativity of their decision all these years later. Some residents may have even boycotted their respective businesses and/or services (a couple of those former commissioners were part of prominent Marquette-based businesses). But in time, I think a large majority of people in the community have forgotten. And when you get a new influx of people into the area, they know nothing of the past troubles that Marquette have gone through. As you can see, the power of recall can have a resounding effect even in a small city like Marquette.

More often than not, when a recall election takes place, those being recalled tend to be ousted from office the majority of the time. A few years back, voters in Marquette Township recalled four members of their township board. Other smaller elections U.P.-wide have resulted in people being removed from their respective boards. This year, three members of the Ishpeming City Council are being targeted for recall. It's because of their unwillingness to support the city's police chief, Jim Bjorne, in purchasing retirement service credit. Bjorne would like to retire due to health reasons, but the majority of the commission would not support his attempts to purchase the service credit. Ultimately, the strife ended up causing him his job, but that story is far from over as he is planning on suing the city of Ishpeming as well as the eventual recall election for the three members of the Ishpeming City Commission. It'll be interesting to see what happens with that in the months to come.

So as you can see within the local area, recalls have been a prominent part of local politics in recent years, and they have proven to be effective. Yet, you have those detractors of recalls who would rather see those individuals targeted for recalls get the chance to serve out their terms, and then get voted our or stay in office. These days it seems, if you make a decision that ultimately upsets a large majority of the population, it could end up costing a person their political job. Recalls are definitely a tough thing for a community to go through, but once they are over, it allows a community to start over and heal. At least that is one positive that a recall is good for.

My Dad's Old Car Gets Retired

Last year, you may have remembered me talking about my dad's Oldsmobile that he drove religiously to and from work for the past eight years nearing the end of its life (Read about it HERE). Last week, my dad finally made the decision to retire the old car. It had fallen in too much disrepair and would have needed a large amount of work to get everything working the way it should be. The car ended up with nearly 296,000 miles on it - the most my dad had ever accumulated driving a vehicle. Yes, it probably would have been pretty neat for him to surpass the 300,000 mile mark with it, but with winter fast approaching, it probably was for the best to retire it now rather than risk him driving it during bad weather. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.

I am sure you'd be the least bit surprised to know that my dad was a little sad to leave it behind at a local scrap yard. After all, the Oldsmobile proved to be the most reliable car he's ever had, with hardly any major problems to deal with since he owned it. As I mentioned before, it did need a new transmission, but other than that, the car just needed a little bit of minor maintenance every now and again. I know when I drove it for that one year during college, I didn't have one ounce of trouble with it. Now when you intend on buying a car, that's the way you want it to perform, with very little trouble. Obviously we can't all be that lucky, but who knew it would end up being so reliable for my dad when his brother picked it up for him in downstate Michigan and brought it to the U.P. It really did its job perfectly.

My dad has moved on to a different vehicle now to take him to and from work. It ended up being my old car, after I purchased a used vehicle from a dealer about a month in a half ago. Already he has quickly fallen in love with my old Pontiac Grand Prix. Heck, I was a little bit sad myself to see him drive off with it. But I felt it was time for me to upgrade to something a little bit newer - going from a 2001 to a 2009. He's enjoying many of the options that I was able to enjoy with that car - and a lot of those he never had with his Oldsmobile. They include the sun roof, the radio controls on the steering wheel, the speedometer projected onto the windshield, and just a better driving vehicle for himself. He just needs it until the end of next August, and I think he'll get through the winter just fine with it.

After that, what becomes of the Pontiac remains to be seen. My dad and I had discussed selling it once he retires, but then my mom is kind of looking forward to keeping it for awhile, since it is such a good car. My parents won't need nearly as many vehicles when my dad is retired, and there's some discussion that they may end up getting rid of their old 1994 Chevy pick-up. Lots of important decisions lie ahead in the upcoming new year. But one thing is for sure, it's going to take a little bit of time to forget about that Oldsmobile.

Getting Back Into Blogging

The days are gradually getting shorter and the colder weather is slowly settling in. That means I am hoping to get back into the swing of things and start blogging again! I really can't explain my absence, other than I just got sick of writing. Apparently it happens to all writers at some point in time - it just happened to be my time. As for the future of Luke's Ponderings; I have decided to go back to the random blogging subjects instead of coming up with "themed" days. I think in the long run, that will help me to churn out more blogs. So, for those of you who looked forward to reading what I had to say prior to my hiatus, I am hoping to make a big return.

In one of my previous blogs, I had mentioned a health problem that I had been experiencing that was nagging me. It wasn't anything overly serious, but it was a problem that needed some attention. After doing some research, everything pointed to it being an anxiety problem. After dealing with it for well over a year, I decided to take the first step and consult with a doctor. I have been prescribed some medication for it and all in all, I think it has helped. Initially the medication was giving me some side effects, such as light-headedness, nauseousness, and feeling sleepy, but I think I have acclimated pretty well to the medication and am feeling much better these days. Every now and again, the anxiety symptoms do show up in certain instances, but it's not nearly as bad as it once was. So that it definitely one good thing happening these days.

The summer was a busy one for myself, as I helped with projects not only at my house but at my dad's as well. The big project at my house was the installation of a basement entry door. The topography slopes away from my house in the backyard, so it made it ideal for an entry door into the basement. My brother-in-law owned a Case skid steer loader and brought it out one day and started mucking out a path to the new entry into the basement. Where I live, the soil composition is all sand, so it made the digging fairly easy, although it was also easy to get stuck with the loader, too! Needless to say, it took more than a couple of days to get the pathway sloped away from the doorway just enough so moisture getting into the basement wouldn't be a problem. Eventually, my dad and a friend of his came over to cut out an opening in the block and installed the new door. So far it has proven to be an excellent addition to the home! I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to bring things to the back of my house and into the new entry door instead of hauling it up and down the stairs of my house. All that is left to do on the project is to complete some landscaping and it will be 100 percent finished. But that will have to wait until the spring now.

As for the project at my dad's, we've finally wrapped up phase three of a project to install new siding on the house. All we needed to do during phase three was re-side the remaining four walls of the garage and house and installing three new windows. It took us a good couple of months to be finished with the outside of the project, which was wrapped up yesterday. And it wasn't like we had lots of days to work on it; we had to schedule the work around our days off. So there were plenty of gaps in between times when we actually could work on the project. Thankfully, we wrapped up that project before the cold weather really settled in. My dad has some inside work to do, including installation of new trim around the windows and finish one wall that he had to tear down. Other than that, it's another project that's closed to being finished.

So as you can see, I had a couple of projects that kept me pretty busy during my days off this summer. And it's no wonder than the summer flew by. Now, with the cooler weather settling in and winter not far off, it's time to settle inside and begin to work on the blog again! So don't be surprised to see a few new blogs pop up every now and again. I won't promise a bunch of blogs right off the bat; I think I have to slowly work into it. But in due time, it'll be just like the old days.

A Summer of Change

During a day off from work yesterday, I traveled out to my parents home in the hometown I grew up. It's a community where things often remain the same for years. The only thing that changes tends to be the people that come and go. Well lately, this summer in particular, there's a lot going on within the hometown. And during yesterday's visit home, I really gained a sense in that.

Road construction has been aplenty within the village. The Michigan Department of Transportation began a project earlier in the summer to replace curbing and gutters, along with replacing the pavement within the village. During the previous few summers, the village has been replacing a lot of sidewalk within the downtown area, and that continues along with the DOT's project. It's really helping to give new life to a community that hasn't had this kind of work done in quite awhile (even though the highway running through town was last resurfaced in 2003). When the homecoming and county fair takes place in early August, the community will look as good as new. It really has been nice to see, even though road construction can always be a bit of a headache to deal with.

Another dramatic change to the west side of town is the demolition of an old sawmill building. The sawmill industry had been a big part of the village's history, dating back to the founding of the community. However, a sawmill has not been in operation within the village since the mid-1990's. This particular sawmill went out of business in the late 1980's and early '90's, and all of the buildings were left behind and never kept up. Two out of the three buildings had begun caving in and thus had become a liability if someone happened to sneak in there and more of the building caved in on them. Plus, they were an eyesore to look at when driving by and made the village look shabby. So finally, after 20+ years of not being in use, one of the buildings is coming down and there's hope that the entire property will be cleaned up. Work is about finished on the demolition of the first building, so we shall see progress continues on the remaining others.

I know these two particular changes do not seem all that dramatic when compared to more populated areas, but to a community that only has a population of roughly 200 people, it's a pretty big deal. It signifies a new look to the village, making things look cleaned up and fresh. Nobody wants to see streets with a ton of potholes and buildings partially collapsed. What kind of statement does that say about a village when visitors pass through? 2011 has been a great summer of change to the village and one that has been a long time coming.

Tragic Weather Down South

I know it's easy for those of us that live in more cooler climates to complain about it being too cold and wishing the weather would be more summer-like. This spring here in the U.P., we've had a few nice, warm days. But so far, the cooler, rainy (and even snowy) weather has been winning out. For example, the last three days were miserable and cold, with plentiful of precipitation falling from the sky. Now today, we have bright sunny skies with temperatures predicted to reach near 60. After a cold front moves through tomorrow, we'll be back into the 40's for Sunday and Monday but sunshine will be abundant, at least. Yes, it would be nice to have more consistent spring-like weather, but we'll take it over the destructive and violent weather that other parts of the country have been enduring.

I am sure many of you have seen the images from the deep south regarding the tornado damage. The death toll from the last couple of days of violent tornadoes is close to 300. In today's modern times, a death toll that high is unheard of. The last major tornado outbreak to kill so many in the United States was in the 1970's. And I am sure the majority of the individuals killed during these storms knew they were coming. It's just that the tornadoes were so menacing and destructive. Unless you were in an underground cellar, it was a situation hard to survive. Now, for those that survived, they are left without homes and are needing to start over.

The 2011 tornado season as a whole has been one for the record books already; and we're only finishing up the month of April. Who knows what the rest of the year will bring - hopefully a much calmer season! And they are already predicting an active hurricane season, so it remains to be seen how potentially destructive the hurricanes that form this season will be. So as you can see, 2011 is proving to be a wild weather year across the country. From wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and incredible snow storms, it's been a year unlike any other. And we can't forget to include the devastating earthquakes and resulting tsunamis that other parts of the world have had to deal with. So yes, the cold and snow at the end of April can make anyone's heads spin. But in comparison to the rest of the country, I can definitely deal with it.

Catching Up on American Idol

So it has been awhile since I blogged about American Idol. In fact, this is probably the first time that I have stopped blogging about American Idol since I started back in season six. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. To be honest, I'm not missing doing the recaps all that much. Sure, I'm disappointed that my recap-streak had to end, but I actually find it pretty enjoyable just to watch the show at my own leisure and not worry about producing a recap. With that being said, I feel like there are a few things I need to discuss regarding the show, things that have happened within the past month that are hot-topic discussions.

First off is Pia Toscano's sudden and shocking elimination from the show. There's no question that ever since her performance of "I'll Stand By You" during the semi-finals that Pia became a front-runner and she had been at the top ever since. We haven't seen as shocking of an elimination as Pia's since Michael Johns was abruptly eliminated in season seven, thus the creation of the judge's save used since season eight. But there was just something about Pia that the audience did not connect to. She seemed to lack personality and seemed rather dull, most likely due to poor editing from the producers and directors of American Idol. Those in charge of Idol should have done a better job of highlighting Pia's personality better in the taped pieces that they do, filler-pieces as it's known in the television industry. Pia had probably the best chance out of the remaining two women to be the show's first female winner since Jordin Sparks. I mean, how often did she sing bad notes during her performances on Idol? She had the total package and for some reason the powers at be on Idol did not focus on that. And in the end, it resulted in a shocking elimination.

The judging panel appears to be receiving a decent amount of blame in regards to Pia's elimination. It seems like more and more people have been longing for Simon Cowell's presence on the show since the live voting rounds have taken place. The judge's just cannot say a negative thing about these singers week in and week out. Are they afraid of being booed by the audience, or for hurting the feelings of the contestants on stage? I think it was two or three weeks ago where it appeared that Jennifer was really starting to step to the plate to deliver constructive criticism to the contestants, but that was a very brief moment this season. Even Randy has reverted back to his repeated comments from year's past, acting like a total slug on the panel and not delivering poignant comments. Steven Tyler is basically just a male version of Ellen DeGeneres. And probably out of all the contestants during the week Pia was eliminated, the judges delivered (specifically JLo) the most constructive criticism to Pia and Stefano - the contestants in that week's bottom two. I really don't know what to say about the judging panel now - it seemed to work really good during the auditions and Hollywood week. Now, they appear to be utterly useless. It's up to America to be the real judge's anyway, since the current judging panel doesn't really have much of an influence on what the voters think.

Should the voting system used on the show be changed yet again? I've been an advocate for this in the past and although they tweaked it somewhat last year, it still hasn't been enough. Do as they do on shows like "America's Got Talent" and "So You Think You Can Dance" where the judges either have the final say or have some part in deciding who stays and who goes. Limit the amount of times a person can vote or text and make it more favorable for female contestants to stay in the competition. Yes, it's true that mostly females vote on the show as it is. But there has to be a way that can make the votes more uniform and to be more favorable for the female contestants to have a fighting chance.

And last but not least, the incorporation of the judge's save. During the two previous season's that the save has been used, it was used justly, but not in a manner that saved a front-runner from being eliminated. Honestly, did we ever believe that Michael Lynche and Matt Giraud were going to win their particular seasons? Much could be said of Casey Abrams. At this stage of the competition, I just don't see him winning at the end of the day, unless he puts together a couple of memorable and meaningful performances. So the use of the save on Casey Abrams during top 11 week has come into question, especially considering that the save could have been used on Pia Toscano. But to be fair, aren't shocking eliminations one of the reasons why Idol is great as it is? It seems that once Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson were eliminated far too soon on the show, they became mega-stars anyways. I have reason to believe that Pia will end up doing quite well as it is.

Mourning Two Family Losses

It was ten minutes before 4 PM this past Saturday when I got the call. My Great Uncle Les, who was diagnosed with colon cancer a few months ago, had passed away. I was prepared for his passing because I knew his cancer was terminal. So that didn't come as much of a shock to me. However, to hear that my Great Aunt Midge also passed away, just 12 hours later of her husband, was a total shock. She had undergone a leg bypass vein surgery that day and suffered one heart attack. She was stabilized and then suffered another heart attack which ultimately lead to her passing. As you can imagine, it wasn't easy to take the news so suddenly. I had gotten to know them both very well the past ten years at least so to have them both gone in such a short span of time is a difficult pill to swallow. However, I think with them passing in such a short amount of time together is a sign of their undying love for each other. I think it was meant to happen the way that it did.

Les and Midge were born and raised in the Upper Peninsula, eventually moving to Lower Michigan to raise their family, and would often come back to the U.P. in the summer and fall seasons. Approximately ten years ago, they purchased a home to live back in the Upper Peninsula full-time. My dad and I ending up doing a lot of work on their home for them, including mowing their grass, picking up the leaves in the fall, shoveling the snow off their roof, installing a new closet in the hallway, and painting the siding on their house, among other things. For me, I ended up becoming quite close with both Les and Midge during the past ten years, more so than I had earlier when my visits with them during their trips up north were fewer. I enjoy sitting down with them, hearing their stories, and even catching up on present day events. I sure am going to miss those visits with them.

Ever since moving to their new home in the U.P., I was entrusted with the yard work. There were only a select few times since they owned their home that I did not mow their grass. They liked the job that I did and the yard ended up looking better cut with a push mower. Their yard was not an easy one to mow, especially in the front near the highway. It was a steep grade and it was necessary for me to have decent shoes with good treads to tackle such a yard. But I can say that I've had a safe record mowing their grass. There were times where I didn't get over to their yard in a quicker fashion to mow, resulting in a yard that looked like a hay field. But they did not seem to care - and I could take care of it whenever I had the chance. They were good that way, not rushing me to get the job done and paying me whatever price I asked. They always provided me good refreshments for when I was done and I always enjoyed their company. They even provided me with dinner on occasion which proved to be an extra-special treat. Yes, mowing grass was a physically exerting job at their house, but for me it was all worth it, getting the chance to spend time with them.

Uncle Les wasn't in the best of health, particularly within the last year, even prior to his cancer diagnosis. He had gotten pretty weak and frail. But he still had a great desire and interest in life. Aunt Midge had one leg amputated about a year in a half ago due to veins in her leg being blocked. It was due to having diabetes. But other than that, she was in great health. And now, they are suddenly both gone. The blow of losing them both within 12 hours of each other came as a total shock to the entire family. For me, it was like losing a pair of grandparents that I never had. Both of my grandfathers passed away when I was five years old, so I never had the chance to really get to know them. For my Uncle Les, he kind of filled that role for me. Both Les and Midge led full lives, being married together for nearly 65 years, and were lucky to spend every possible moment together right to the very end. Wouldn't it be nice for all of us to experience that? I feel blessed for having known them and having gotten to know them better these past ten years. Maybe that's why it's been a lot more difficult saying goodbye to them both than I thought. R.I.P. Great Uncle Les and Aunt Midge. Until I see you again.

The Center of It All: Marquette, MI

Marquette is the largest city in the Upper Peninsula and in more recent years, has garnered several national honors bestowed on it. You could attempt to compare it to any other city of its size but more often than not, Marquette will have an advantage in something. Just take Lake Superior; the city is bordered by it to the east. The city owns the majority of the shoreline within its borders - a feat many communities along the Great Lakes cannot admit to. So, instead of condos blocking the view from the various roadways that parallel the shoreline, all one sees is the pristine lake and white sandy beaches. One of several examples that make Marquette a city unlike any other.

It's difficult to list everything that's great about the city in one blog posting, because there are virtually thousands of reasons why Marquette is so great. So, I'll attempt to list some of the finer points, including Marquette's vibrant downtown. These days, with bigger retailers building stores miles away from any center of a city, many downtown areas have suffered. The exact same thing has happened in the Marquette community; the bigger retailers have built stores out in Marquette township. However, Marquette's downtown has not suffered, not in the very least. It's probably the most vibrant downtown that one could expect, with very few shuttered store fronts and a plethora of activity. The downtown has a combination of unique and interesting stores, eating establishments, and even things tailored for fans of arts and culture. Historic businesses such as Donkers, Washington Shoe Store, and Getz's are just a few of the places that make up the heart and sole of Marquette's downtown.

The city also caters to the walking and biking crowd. It boasts a trail system that circles the city. With its bike path system in place, it's not uncommon for an individual to be able to walk or bike from point A to B. And the city even plows its bike paths in the winter time, so walking and biking is not limited to just the warm weather months. With the creation of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, Marquette's bike trails will soon be connected with other nearby municipalities. So that means a person would be able to bike from Harvey, Marquette, Negaunee, to Ishpeming without having to travel on a busy highway. And what biking community would it be without some bike races? The Superior Bike Fest is held annually in downtown Marquette, where they race the city streets, even at night. The Ore to Shore Mountain Bike Epic travels from Ishpeming to the finish line at the Superior Dome in Marquette. So needless to say, it's no wonder that Marquette has become such a notable destination for walking and biking.

There are some great things to see in Marquette as well. I already mentioned the relationship the city has with Lake Superior, but Presque Isle Park is another gem. It's a 323 acre park opened to the public year round, featuring scenic outlooks, wooded areas, walking trails, a gazebo, a pavilion, a marina, a band shell, the Moosewood Nature Center, a small ice cream shop (open seasonally), and public beaches. I mean honestly, the "island" has it all. It's easy to spend hours here exploring what all there is to see. Presque Isle Park Road, which circles the island, is closed during the winter months, but people are still able to visit the island's southern and western points as well as walk, snowshoe, or ski the closed roadway during the winter. And as one would expect visiting a wilderness area, it's not uncommon to see a variety of wildlife active on Presque Isle such as deer and many species of birds. It's a place unlike any other.

I've only scratched the surface when it comes to discussing all there is to see and do in Marquette. Honestly, there is so much to cover that I could write a series of blogs on what goes on within the U.P.'s largest city. And if what I've told you so far about the city has piqued your interest, be sure to check out the city's official website to find out even more. No wonder Marquette has received so many awards and distinctions within the past few years - because it's all deserving! Be sure to plan a visit to find out about it for yourself.