The First Year in My Home

Next week marks the one year anniversary of the closing on my home - and what a year its been, mostly positive. So far I've worked on a few smaller projects inside the house, mainly painting and minor cosmetic stuff. However, I will be tackling my biggest project so far when I'll be building a deck off the back of the house next week. It'll be ten by 16 feet which should be just right in my view. The entryway from the house is off the back of the garage and the deck will be on the north side of the house, so it won't get the full effects of the sun. All in all, it should be an interesting process in building a deck as I've never done so before. Thankfully my dad will be along to help so I won't totally be going into the process blind.

I have so many other projects at the top of my list that it gets to be a bit overwhelming trying to decide which ones to do next. This spring, I began to re-install the rain gutters that were removed by the previous owners (still never figured out why they took them down), but I am missing some parts. So I need to go to one of the hardware stores and pick up some rain gutter parts. There's lots of landscaping work I'd like to have done, but that is going to be an ongoing process. I'm sure I mentioned it before, but the property where I live is pretty much sandy soil. It looks like the previous owners have tried improving the lawn through the years by putting down topsoil, but it's not a very thick layer. I would like to buy a truckload of topsoil and re-plant the lawn. But pretty much the entire lawn needs to be done so as I mentioned, it will take time.

I have encountered a few troubles here and there since I moved into this house nearly a year ago, but they've mainly only been minor issues. The windows in this house were described as being "new," but I think they are cheap windows. During the winter, I had one window blow out, meaning the outer window pane shattered for no particular reason. There's a screen on the outside and it wasn't cut, so nobody attempted to break-in and no birds crashed into the window. I just think the window had a bad seal and with the cold air that particular day, it shattered. I've been trying to track down who made the windows but have not been able to find any kind of serial number to track down that information. One of the windows in the living room also fogs up quite frequently which means the gas inside the two window panes has escaped. So that one also needs to be fixed. Ah, the issues in buying a home I tell ya.

The appliances have also been a bit of trouble - mainly the fridge and the washing machine. The washer was only a little over a year old when I moved in, but I began to have trouble with the machine stopping halfway through the washing cycle. Well, it turns out the timer failed and so I had to track down a part for that. It wasn't a cheap part either, $140 to get the washer working properly again. I am happy to say, though, I haven't had issues with it since. Let's hope it stays that way! And then there's the refrigerator. Every three to four months, the freezer gets too warm and all my frozen goods start getting soggy. So I've been having to manually thaw out the freezer with a hair dryer to get rid of the ice build up and then it works fine again. It sounds like the fridge has a couple of issues, one a temperature sensor and the other I'm not sure about. But my uncle who's very good at fixing electronics and such, is supposed to come over one day and fix the fridge so that I don't have to keep thawing it out every three to four months. I'll be glad when it's fixed once and for all!

So needless to say, home ownership isn't totally easy, and I expected that coming in. But I have no regrets in buying this home - in fact, I think it all worked out exactly as planned. Even when I curiously look at homes currently on the market, I still haven't been able to find a place as good as the one that I have. And despite a few bumps in the road here and there, the first year living in my home has been overwhelmingly positive. Here's to several great years to come!

Upper Peninsula Highways

This weekend I spent some time in Wisconsin visiting my sister. The journey to and from where she lives is always a long drive, no matter which route we take. I went with my parents, which is always nice to have company on such a journey. But driving the roads between Michigan and Wisconsin is like night and day. The state of Wisconsin is putting billions of dollars into their road infrastructure statewide, not just in the most congested areas of the state like Milwaukee or Madison. Compare that to the U.P., where the roads have been status quo for years, except for the typical maintenance like crack sealing and roadway resurfacing. The Upper Peninsula is in need of an east-west four-lane divided highway, as well as a north-south divided highway to service the western and central portions of the peninsula. I-75 serves the eastern U.P. from the Mackinac Bridge to the Sault, but that's it. For the remainder of the Upper Peninsula, traveling to and from destinations is done by two-lane highways.

And I know there'll be people coming onto this blog completely denouncing the idea of additional lanes on U.P. highways, saying that traffic counts do not back up the idea of more divided highways in the Upper Peninsula. Drive on M-35 from Menominee to Escanaba and you'll see that traffic is starting to increase on that stretch of roadway. Or how about US-2 from St. Ignace to Escanaba or M-28 between Harvey and Munising? They are all roadways in need of expansion with increasing amounts of traffic. More and more people are driving these days and some are traveling more miles than ever just to get to work. You also have to include the increasing amount of truck traffic on highways. With railways becoming more and more extinct by the decade here in the U.P., how else are goods delivered here? The traffic is only going to get worse before it gets better.

Several years back, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) had the opportunity to bypass a few cities in the southern Upper Peninsula that were experiencing increasing traffic problems. Instead of developing plans to create bypasses of those two cities, MDOT nixed those plans and instead tried developing plans to improve the stretches of highways entering and exiting those cities. Four lanes of traffic became five and the roadways have received surface improvements. But yet, the traffic is still heavy and it's only predicted to get worse in the coming years. I realize that when communities get bypassed by new highways, it leads to decreased traffic within that city. Communities like Peshtigo and Oconto in Northern Wisconsin are facing that same dilemma these days when US-41 traffic was bypassed around their cities. However, when your community is the only major commercial and retail center for miles, I don't believe that problem will exist so much here in the Upper Peninsula. I know it's a very touchy subject for some, but I don't believe it would hurt communities in the U.P. like it would in other areas of the country.

For roadways to become reconstructed and expanded, it's going to take money. Unfortunately, the state of Michigan can barely fund essential services these days - let alone building new highways in the Upper Peninsula. It's why these dreams of east to west or north to south divided highways in the U.P. are a long way off. Believe me, the roadway infrastructure in the U.P. needs to be expanded. I know because I've seen it for my very eyes. Even U.P. representatives to the Michigan State Senate and House have bemoaned the fact that it takes so long to drive down to Lansing because the U.P. highways are so small and are only 55 MPH. So it's not like no one has complained about the issue. But right now, it all comes down to money. And in a state where they are actually talking about decreasing the amount of road projects that are completed in a year rather than increasing, I'd say those dreams of more U.P. highway work are a long, long ways off.

Deadliest Catch

With American Idol out of the way, I've finally been able to start watching one of my other favorite reality shows on television. It's the Deadliest Catch on Discovery, and who knew a show about crab fishing could be so intriguing? I didn't start watching the show until a couple of years ago but then I just so happened to turn to Discovery and watched an episode. Then I watched another and another and soon I was hooked. I think it was during a Deadliest Catch marathon and what a great way to get caught up on the show. Crab fishing is one of the deadliest jobs in the world, if not THE deadliest. And I can understand why when they deal with some unbelievable conditions. They certainly deserve the money they get when cashing in their crab deliveries.

My favorite crab boat out of the five featured on the show is the Cornelia Marie. Part of the crew is comprised of three family members, one of whom is Phil Harris, the captain of the boat. His two sons, Jake and Josh, are deckhands on the boat. They, along with a few others make for an intriguing group trying to capture as much crab as they can. Sadly, Phil Harris died earlier in the year after complications from a stroke. He initially suffered the stroke while off-loading crab at Dutch Harbor. He was medevaced to an Anchorage hospital where he was treated. Initially it appeared he would survive the stroke. But about a week later, he succumbed to the disease and died. He left behind an incredible legacy and his loss was felt across the Alaskan crab industry.

Last night's episode began to feature the initial stages of what leads up to Phil's stroke. Phil was incredible back pain and went down into the living quarters of the boat to retrieve some pain medication. Upon arriving to his sleeping quarters, he found his son, Jake, stealing his pills. That lead Phil to become unglued, calling Jake a thief and a liar, and disowning him in the process. He told Jake that once the boat arrives in the harbor, he doesn't want him to step back onto the boat ever again. Soon afterwords, Jake confesses to be an addict, and you could see the pain and shock on Phil's face at the revelation. And that's when the episode ended.

Next week's episode and those to follow before the season finale will prove to be pretty emotional. Phil's stroke will be documented on the show and I'm sure there'll be plenty of tears shed between those participating on the show and for viewers at home. Phil had a dynamic personality and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. However, he did have a soft spot inside of him and you could definitely tell his sons were a big part of his life. How special for him that he was able to spend a huge amount of time with them while crab fishing. And they were with him when he ultimately suffered the stroke and eventually died. I know it must've been very difficult for them to see him in that condition. However, I'm sure they are proud of the legacy Phil leaves behind and I bet they're pretty motivated to continue that legacy in his honor. I know I'm going to be glued to the TV set the next several Tuesdays at 9:00 PM.

Soccer is Boring

I don't know about anyone else out there in the United States, but for me, I find soccer quite boring. Wait, boring isn't quite right. How about mind-numbing, coma-inducing, and worse than watching paint dry. Okay, maybe it's not that bad. But still, I haven't watched a single ounce of the World Cup being held in South Africa yet. Maybe when the United States is playing, then I'll watch it. But for me and most Americans, I just cannot get into soccer. Meanwhile, the rest of the world continues to go ga-ga over it.

I remember when we played soccer in high school during P.E. and I was bored with it then. I just couldn't get myself to run up to the black and white ball and try kicking it around. Usually when I was trying to steal away the ball from the defender, they'd end up blowing by me. It's not that I was slow; I just didn't care. it seemed like I was always on the other side of the field of the ball - I acted more like a defender than an offensive player. Needless to say, I never caught on to the game of soccer early on in my life and that continues to this day.

That isn't to say the game of soccer isn't growing in the United States. It seems that in the more larger cities in the country, soccer leagues continue to sprout up. Yet, the majority of Americans still have no interest in the sport. Many largely place the blame on the fact that the game wasn't invented in our country (or nearby countries). Hey, if it ain't American, then forget about it, right?! I don't know if that's entirely true. I think the game itself is to blame. The matches seemingly go on for hours with very little scoring taking place. I dunno, that's just my opinion. If you love the game and are completely infatuated with the World Cup, then more power to ya. But unfortunately, I probably won't be watching unless the U.S. is playing. And let's hope the United States can actually go far this year. If the Americans have a good amount of success in the 2010 World Cup, then there's a potential for the game to grow that much more here. But even then, it's a toss up.

Growing Urban Sprawl

Just as with any location in the United States these days, the Upper Peninsula isn't immune to the problem of urban sprawl. Obviously it's not a problem for the entire peninsula - and it may only be an issue for one city in particular. But yes, urban sprawl does exist even in the U.P. The one location I am talking about is the city of Marquette and Marquette Township. I am sure that most people know that Marquette is the biggest city in the Upper Peninsula with a population of around 20,000 people. Yes, it's still not a very large city by most people's standards, but it is such in the U.P. Within the last two decades, more and more big box retailers have been opening their doors within the Marquette area. The city itself doesn't really have any buildable land along and near the highway anymore, so most of these large stores are building out in the township. And they are continuing to build westward further out into the township. It's an issue that many people saw coming but maybe not as fast as its started.

Within the past few decades, we've had companies like Wal-Mart, Target, Menards, and Lowe's build stores in Marquette Township. Those stores take up a lot of real estate within the township. Tractor Supply Company erected a store in nearby Negaunee Township which is just a few short miles from Marquette Township. Now, Best Buy is currently in the process of building a store along the highway - it being the furthest store west on the corridor. And I'm sure more stores will spring up eventually along the way. It's great to see companies still investing in our area even in today's tough economic times. And these stores are bringing with them jobs that are sorely needed. Do they pay great? No, but at least it's something. However, with urban sprawl comes other issues.

For one, traffic has increased quite substantially along the US-41/M-28 corridor. During peak traffic periods, the highway can get pretty jam packed and it can be quite difficult to cross the highway and get to where you need to go. Along the north side of the highway, there are enough access routes away from the highway so that you don't have to keep going on and off the busy corridor. However, the south side of the highway, where Wal-Mart and Menards are, there aren't any access routes between stores, so you need to go on and get off the highway in order to access these stores. That stop and go traffic can get to be quite hazardous. Then you consider the 50 MPH speed limit through the highway and the Michigan Lefts to boot, you really have to be paying attention to what the other people are doing. But that's not to say the 41 corridor is an accident magnet. It's actually been a pretty safe stretch thus far despite the increase in traffic.

Another side effect to the urban sprawl is the increasing presence of commercial properties being developed within former residential areas along the highway. First off, it's not like highway was lined with subdivision after subdivision. But there have been a few homes here and there that are now suddenly surrounded by these mammoth buildings. More often than not the people that lived in these homes feel suffocated and move away. There have been plenty of complaints from people within Marquette Township who may live near the highway but live off a side road about these mega-stores moving in. They may live far enough away, yet they still feel the effects when these stores start building. In the case of Best Buy, they are digging out the side of a hill for their store along the highway and are needing to blast large amounts of rock. The property is actually a corner lot also being along a side road. Yes, there are homes along the side road who are now having to deal with these blasts going off at different times during the day along with the heavy amount of earthwork that's currently going on. And once the store is officially open, they'll need to deal with traffic near the intersection to the highway. It may be a good thing for the area that this store is opening, but it's got to be hard for those people living along that side road. Their lives are changing with the addition of this new store just down the road from them.

So as you can see, even in the city of Marquette and the township, they are dealing with big city problems. But yet again, these stores are bringing new jobs with them in addition to increasing the tax base within the township. So it's not all bad. With any big store that moves in, there are pros and cons. Hopefully everyone is able to maintain somewhat of a positive outlook on the urban sprawl that exists within the Marquette area.

Songs from the Year 2003

So last week on Music Thursdays, I presented to you a listing of my favorite songs from the year 2002, as well as other songs that were hits in that particular year. This week, I will recap the songs that made it big in 2003. That year saw a variety of artists make it big on the charts, from rap artists to country to pop. By the way, the majority of the songs being recapped by me during these years fall into the pop or the adult contemporary charts. There may be a few country or R&B crossovers, but they are pretty limited. So here's looking back to 2003 in music.

2003 was the year for Outkast and it's popular anthem "Hey Ya!". The song is super catchy and can easily get you up on your feet. I remember hearing it quite frequently on the radio during its peak. Now I hear it very rarely and truthfully, songs that have a tendency to be overplayed tend to fall off in regards to popularity. And I think the same can be said for "Hey Ya!" I compare it to the song "Who Let the Dog's Out" by Baha Men. It was their one true hit and we haven't heard much from them since. The same can be said for Outkast, who had a few other hits from that particular album, but have fallen off the charts since. But that's the way the music industry tends to go.

3 Doors Down released a new album in 2003 after having a big success with their previous album. On their '03 album "Another 700 Miles" came the hit "Be Without You." It's a song that was ranked as the number three song of the year. 3 Doors Down is definitely a modern-day rock band and it mixes between ballads and upbeat songs, but they definitely give their songs that rock feel. "Be Without You" is definitely one of the most memorable songs to come from that group. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson began making a name for herself after winning the American Idol crown in 2002. She released the first song from her debut album called "Miss Independent." It proved to be a big hit for Kelly, as it ranked as the fifth biggest song for the year. She was beginning to prove herself to the critics that she truly was the real deal.

Matchbox Twenty had a very popular song in 2003 with "Unwell." It ended up being ranked as the 12th most popular song of the year. And although the groups' songs from the album that "Unwell" came from didn't garner as much critical acclaim as previous songs did, you still heard them on the radio quite often. In addition, Avril Lavigne continued the success she achieved during the previous year when she went on to release the ballad "I'm With You" which ranked as the 15th most popular song of the year. And she didn't stop there, either.

As for other songs which I enjoyed during 2003, they include: "Harder to Breathe" by Maroon 5, "Your Body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer, "Picture" by Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow, "Are You Happy Now" by Michelle Branch, "The Remedy (I Won't Worry)" by Jason Mraz, "Clocks" by Coldplay, "Stacy's Mom" by Fountains of Wayne, "All the Things She Said" by T.A.T.U., "If You're Not the One" by Daniel Bedingfield, "Headstrong" by Trapt, "Breathe" by Michelle Branch, "Calling All Angels" by Train, and "Bigger Than My Body" by John Mayer, among others. I am sure there are a few songs I missed, but these were ranked within the top 100 songs of 2003. Be sure to check back next week when I may (or may not) review the top songs of 2004.

America's Got Talent

According to overnight ratings since the new season started, America's Got Talent continues to be ranked as the summer's most watched program. I used to be an avid follower of the show. But this year, I am just not that enthusiastic about the program. The show has some serious flaws, yet people keep watching! The ratings seem to be as consistent as they were last year. I compare it to Britain's Got Talent over in the UK, which is a fantastic show. It's a well produced show and the talent really is there. Just look at world sensation Susan Boyle. Yet America's Got Talent just doesn't compare favorably to it. I just can't get into watching a full episode yet this season.

Last season was a down year for the show talent-wise, in my opinion. I thought winner Kevin Skinner was undeserving of the award, however, he was pimped so incredibly hard by the producers that he was an easy pick to win. The judges kept praising his off-key singing. It's not really much of a surprise to see he is not doing any large shows since winning the competition last season. He doesn't even have a professional-looking website. I have not heard any press regarding the Vegas shows that he did and really have not been able to find any information regarding those shows. Did his run end early? Were they canceled by AGT producers because of this underwhelming winner? If I were the producers, I'd be looking long and hard at who I'd be pimping this season. They really need to find a dynamic act that can sustain an audience. Yes, Kevin Skinner had a great back story. That's what America's Got Talent does best; showcases all of the great back stories of each contestants they find most compelling. But in my view, it's not always about the back stories either, and a lot of times they go overboard in bringing up back stories over and over again. Yes, it's great to hear those stories earlier in the season. But it gets old fast in the end.

In my view, the auditions go on for far too long. And I understand the show wants to display as much great/not so great talent that they can. But the auditions seem to go on and on. Why showcase the bad talent when there's plenty of good talent to show off? Why take a similar route like American Idol when they could be different? Condense the auditions and showcase the best of the best. Then let's see how they progress during the voting rounds. As we've seen in previous seasons, some acts may have great auditions but then totally tank once the voting rounds starts. It's all part of these kind of shows.

I may watch bits and piece of the audition rounds, but I doubt I'll be watching entire episodes. There's plenty of websites out there who do recaps of the show anyways. I'll probably start watching the show more regularly once the voting rounds begin. But if the judges and producers start pimping another "talent" like Kevin Skinner again, that may be my last straw with the show. As I said, it's not always about the back story. You actually need to have a talent to do well on this show.

Summer Cold

This past cold and flu season was a pretty good one for me. Good in that I did not get sick all that much. I did get a bad case of the stomach flu for a few days which was no fun. And I think I got a couple of minor colds - really no big deal. So I am left to wonder why I picked up the worst cold of the year during the summer months?! So far, this is the worst cold I've had since December 2008 - but I am thankful in that I haven't yet developed a serious cough. And I am beginning to feel better so I am hoping that the worst is over, right?

It seems I average about one cold during each summer, and usually it's this time of the year. I think there are a couple of culprits why I picked this up. Number one, the weather. The temperature has been so up and down lately it's been crazy. 50's one day and then 70's or 80's the next. That certainly doesn't help. Another excuse is the increased amount of hours I've been working thanks to the forced overtime. Usually working days is the shift where I get the least amount of sleep. So combining that with the increased amount of working hours, the roller coaster temperatures outside, and a little bit of stress added in - it all makes sense.

I honestly can't think of a place where I picked up this cold, though. I don't recall anyone at work getting all that sick and I didn't do any sort of shopping other than Tuesday of last week. Still, I never thought I'd have to deal with a cold in June. But like I mentioned, it's happened to me before and it'll probably happen again, too. It's just one of those things you have to deal with. For me, it includes getting plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and let it takes it's course. Before I know it, I'll be back to normal. Now I hope I don't get anyone else infected with my germs!

Employment Opportunities in the Upper Peninsula

Frequent commenter to Luke's Ponderings, B., prompted me to discuss a very important subject when it comes to living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. So, to start off the very first U.P. Monday blog, I'll be discussing employment opportunities in the U.P. I believe I discussed it before briefly when talking to those individuals who may be interested in moving to the Upper Peninsula to enjoy nature at its best. Let's be honest right from the start - finding good paying jobs that your entire family can live off of is difficult, to say the least. However, it's not totally impossible. And I know that more people are moving to the U.P. who can work at home via the internet. So that definitely makes it nice in today's technological era.

The good paying jobs are found in the following areas: mining, logging, paper mills, criminal justice and heathcare. The Upper Peninsula's founding was based on the rich iron and copper deposits that existed in the region. Currently, no active copper mines are in operation in the U.P., but that could be changing very soon as new companies are exploring the possibility of mining copper again - all thanks to the rise in copper prices. As for the iron ore industry, it's not as vibrant as it once was, however, it still does well in western Marquette county where the two remaining iron mines in the Upper Peninsula crank out iron ore pellets for shipment to steel mills. There's no question the U.P. will always have mining. Even if it's diminished compared to the mining heydays. And who knows; there very well could be a new mining boom of sorts in the years to come.

The Upper Peninsula is also known for its large abundance of trees and forestland. So, it's easy to see why both logging and paper production is big here. However, in recent years, paper mills have started to struggle. A few have closed up here and more may be on the way. The paper industry is having to compete with foreign entities who are able to produce paper products at a cheaper cost. So, it's easy to see why the paper producing industry will face a variety of challenges in the near future. As for the logging industry, it remains quite strong. Every place on this earth needs wood in order to build things. And as long as the forests keep growing, the U.P. will continue to be a powerhouse in the logging industry.

As for the final two higher paying income sources, it's probably typical to every other location in the United States. Heathcare is big region-wide. With the baby-boomer generation reaching retirement age, the need for healthcare in our country increases even more. The healthcare industry will remain very strong as long as an individual majors in a specific field in the medical industry. The Upper Peninsula also has several state prisons located within it - some of them are maximum security prisons. And that doesn't even include the local jails located in each county. Just as with healthcare, there will always be the need for prisons and jails, unfortunately.

And as I mentioned before, if you're able to work from home via the internet and still make an honest earning, then you're doing great. Also, if a person has a specific craft, such as carpentry or painting, then you'll probably do pretty well up here. People always need remodeling done to their homes. Still, it's quite common to see both adults in a household working in order to support a family these days - and that's not only here in the U.P. but nation wide. That's just the way things are these days, unfortunately. With the constant rise in cost of living, it's easy to see why more people need to work.

So that's answers the employment question here in the Upper Peninsula. But it's definitely a multi-faceted topic that'll continue into another day. The U.P. is certainly not immune to the unemployment struggles that have hit our nation in recent years. People are being forced to cut back in these tough times, regardless of the kind of jobs they have. What's important these days is if a person has a job. That certainly makes all the difference.

Random Thoughts

Four blogs in four days ... I'd say I've started out the new era of Luke's Ponderings quite well, wouldn't you say? And I'm hoping that with more blog postings, more people will visit and read what I have to say! I've heard from a lot of bloggers out there who started small and wrote mainly about personal things in their lives. But then they branched out - discussing music, entertainment, celebrities, you name it. More people visited their blogs and they continued expanding by including video content and holding live chats. If I work hard enough, that's definitely something I'd like to achieve. And hey, if I get popular enough and can earn money from this blog, then maybe I can quit my job! Ah well, one can dream, right? But it's certainly happened to a few out there.

RUMMAGE SALE
Its already been a week since my sister and I hosted a garage sale at my house. We were a bit skeptical at how well the sale would go, but all in all, I'd say it was a success. We had plenty of items for people to buy and we stayed quite busy until 1:00 in the afternoon. From then until the sale closed at 3:00, it slowed right down. A few people came, but they mostly left without buying an item. The way I feel about it is that if people come to check out a rummage sale, the least they can do is buy something. Heck, we had many different things priced at 25 cents. Yet, I understand if they come looking for one item and we don't have it. Some people look for collectibles like antiques and dishware. I had a few items for sale that could be qualified as antiques and they sold. Obviously you always hope that everything sells at a rummage sale, but that's quite impossible. I'd say we sold about half of everything we had on sale - which is pretty decent. And it ended up being the most profitable rummage sale my sister has been a part of. So that says a lot.

MUCH NEEDED RAIN
Our spring and early summer weather has been pretty spectacular for the Upper Peninsula's standards. But one thing we've desperately needed that we haven't gotten a lot of is rainfall. For the year, we're close to five inches short of our average rainfall. The month of May was very dry - I don't think we picked up even a half-inch of rain for the entire month. Fire danger region-wide was very high but luckily, no major wildfires broke out. But ever since the month of June has started, we've finally picked up some much needed rain. In fact today, we finally saw our first all-day soaking rainfall of the season. All of the rain events that have occurred since the snow melted have been quick, showery-type of events. So this was nice to see and it'll help green up the grass that has already started to dry out.

MANDATORY OVERTIME
We've been forced overtime at work this past week and next week as part of a major clean-up initiative in the plant. I am not a big fan of overtime in general, so being forced to work two additional hours ontop of an eight-hour shift can be a bit of a struggle. But I guess I shouldn't complain too much because in today's economy, finding work is extremely difficult, especially here in the Upper Peninsula where good paying jobs are few and far between. That's why I wish they'd hire more workers where I am employed. They claim it costs them less to force us to work overtime than to hire more people. And that makes sense, especially when they have to give new employees benefits. We are getting some relief in the form of summer students joining the various departments at the mine. However, they are only around until the summer months. Hopefully at least we'll be able to keep the plant clean from here on out!

Songs from the Year 2002

In tonight's edition of Music Thursdays here at Luke's Ponderings, I'll be going back to the year 2002 in music. That year in particular was a great one for music, in my opinion. I was in the midst of my sophomore year of college, soon to be followed by my junior year that fall. That year also ended up being the final year I spent long periods of time at my high school. During the summer of '02, I held a custodial/maintenance job there for $5.75 an hour. I really enjoyed the experience, yet the pay was so ungodly poor. However, to this day, I am thankful for the opportunity they gave me. But that story is for another blog entry.

I searched for the Top 100 songs of 2002 and instantly, I came upon some great ones. At the very top of the list was a Vanessa Carlson song called "A Thousand Miles." This proved to be the breakout song for Vanessa as the song soared to the top of the charts and helped propel her album "Be Not Nobody" to go double platinum. It's a gentle song with a quick beat, powered along with the rhythm of a piano. Another song from that album released by Carlson was "Ordinary Day," which in my opinion, was the best from the album. I don't know quite exactly why I became so enamored with that particular tune - it just seemed to speak to me. I remember quickly learning the words to that song and to this day, I still do. The sound of the piano is so strong in this song and Vanessa's vocals are extremely powerful. The lyrics hold such a great message. 2002 proved to be a very big year for Vanessa in her music career, probably a feat she'll likely never be able to repeat.

2002 also saw the Counting Crows release a new album titled "Hard Candy." They smartly covered Joni Mitchell's song "Big Yellow Taxi" which proved to be a big hit for the group. And the woman who's already been mentioned in this blog, Vanessa Carlton, provided backing vocals for the Counting Crows rendition of the song. But it wasn't that song that became my favorite from the "Hard Candy" album (but don't get me wrong, they made a classic song sound contemporary with their remake). My favorite 2002 song from the Counting Crows was titled "American Girls." It's a radio-friendly tune that's catchy as heck and fun to sing along to. I remember staying at my grandmother's house while at college and listening to my CD player singing along to this song. It provided a much more upbeat sound to the band - I know I was more familiar with their earlier works such as songs like "Cold December," although they did provide some hit upbeat songs earlier on as well. However, back in 2002, it was fun to see the Counting Crows back on the radio charts. And during that decade, that wasn't the last we'd see of the group either (that in a future blog entry).

As for other tunes from the year 2002, it was also a breakout year for Canadian rocker Avril Lavigne. She's been mentioned in my "Songs I Dig" blog in the past and 2002 was the year we heard songs like "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi". She definitely brought a new sound to the radio that year. Canadian rock group Our Lady Peace released an epic single titled "Somewhere Out There" that provided powerful lyrics and a wonderful message. It has remained their largest selling song to date. And a song that is probably known very little here in the United States became a favorite of mine in 2002. "Insatiable" is sung by Darren Hayes, formerly the lead singer of Savage Garden and is a love song in the truest fashion. It's passionate, emotional, and speaks of the true forms of intimacy. It's actually quite baffling to me why that particular song wasn't as big in the United States as it could've been. 2002 was also a big year for Pink, as "Get the Party Started", "Don't Let Me Get Me", "Just Like a Pill", and "Family Portrait" all charted. Other songs of note in '02 that were favorites of mine were "My Sacrifice" from Creed, "Whenever, Whenever" from Shakira, "Hands Clean" by Alanis Morisette, "Gotta Get Through This" by Daniel Bedingfield, "A New Day Has Come" by Celine Dion, "Everyday" by Dave Matthews Band, and "Soak Up the Sun" by Sheryl Crow.

It's hard to mention every song from a particular year that was a favorite of mine. In fact, I'm sure there are a few that I missed, especially those that charted below the top 100. Still, seeing that these songs came out of 2002 just shows how big of a year it was for music, especially in my life. Hopefully for those of you out there reading, maybe you had similar feelings as well.

American Idol 9 - Season Wrap-Up

It's Television Wednesday here on "Luke's Ponderings", which gives me the opportunity to look back on the American Idol season that just wrapped up last week. All in all, I wouldn't say it was a terrible season. Surely it never lived up to seasons seven or eight, which I think were two of the best in the series. I think early on, when the top 12 was announced, it was easy to see Crystal advancing to the final two. I think it was still up in the air whether or not Lee had a chance to make it to the finale, but he was starting to become more comfortable with performing live on television and on stage. Honestly, at that point in the competition, I thought Siobhan and Crystal would end up being the final two contestants standing. That's what I was hoping for, but Siobhan kind of fizzled until ultimately getting voted out at sixth place. Lee does make for a strong winner of American Idol, but is he, or will he live up to the legacy that Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, or even David Cook have left since being crowned winners of the show? That remains to be seen.

As we all know going into this season and watching during the finale, this was Simon Cowell's final year as judge on the show. You really can make the case that Simon was the show. But I really enjoyed his final comments last Wednesday when he said that the real judges of the show are those watching at home. The contestants and to a point, Ryan Seacrest are the show. The judges are replaceable. Even though we all hate to see Simon leave, it presents the opportunity for the show to bring aboard someone else with musical knowledge to critique the contestants and give constructive criticism. Sorry to all of the Ellen fans out there, but she has not lived up to her potential. Week in and week out, I heard her utter phrases such as "you're so good," and "that was great" to many of the contestants. You've got to say more than that. I really hope she brings her "A" game next season (reports say she will be back for season 10 as per the contract she signed prior to this past season). Brett Michaels has been rumored to be a potential candidate to replace Simon, which really intrigues me. He's been a judge on a TV singing contest before (anyone remember "Nashville Star"), he's experienced music success with his band Poison and other solo endeavors, and his recent health troubles make him an endearing figure and people will be willing to root for the guy. Plus, I have a feeling he won't be afraid to tell a contestant that their singing needs work when he needs to. That's not to say there aren't other people who can replace Simon's seat on the panel - it's just that Brett's name is one of the first rumored potential successors. And let's be frank, no one will ever be able to replace Simon on that show. He is one of a kind and it'll be interesting to see exactly how Idol adjusts in the new era, the Simon-less era.

I think the show is definitely in need of a major shake-up, and I'm not talking about new judges or new gimmicks - like the judge's save. Let's bring in some better themes instead of these recycles theme weeks we keep seeing season after season. I like one Idol expert's idea of having a contestant's originals week - in which a contestant would perform a song they wrote on their own. Or let the show feature more contemporary music from the past two decades. I think most Idol fans are getting tired of hearing the same songs performed season after season. The episodes also need to be cut down and condensed, which they are proposing for next season. Less filler during results night would be nice and please, less babble from the judges! Last but not least, let the show be more about the contestants. I think the producers are always trying to promise this but never prevail. How about additional behind the scenes footage when the contestants have some off time? I feel that during this season particularly, we just weren't able to connect to the contestants like I had hoped and often felt bored by them. And from their post-Idol interviews, they've been nothing but enjoyable to listen to.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the two-hour finale last Wednesday. Usually there are some surprises involved, and the finale certainly did not disappoint. Seeing Brett Michaels on stage singing with Casey James, so soon after getting out of the hospital, was pretty incredible. I've been a big fan of the Bee Gees for awhile, so it was nice to see the last two brothers reunite on stage again, performing with Siobhan and Aaron. Such great singing between the four of them! Alanis Morisette was amazing with Crystal and was another highlight of the evening. And what more can you say about Joe Cocker performing his classic tune with the two finalists? What a special moment. That's not to say the night didn't have a few duds, including the "Pants on the Ground" rendition and seeing some of the Idol rejects (along with Dane Cook) return to the stage. But all in all, it was a great night which in turn lead to the crowning of the new American Idol.

So that wraps-up my thoughts on the season that was. I wouldn't say it was the worst, nor was it the best. Kind of somewhere in the middle. And I look back at those surprising eliminations we had during the semi-finals, when Kately Epperly, Lilly Scott, and Alex Lambert were sent home. What might've happened if those contestants stayed on a little longer and attracted more attention from the voting audience? I think the season could've ended up a lot different than it did and Lee may have ended up taking fourth or fifth place. Ah well, it's easy to speculate and to wonder what might've been. This is the hand that we've been dealt and Lee is a decent recording artist. His live performances certainly need work, but not everybody does well singing live. I guess time will tell whether or not America made the right decision. In time, we'll certainly find out.

Cell Phone Frenzy

So, how many of you were thinking I'd forget to blog on the first day of the new "Luke's Ponderings" re-branding? I wouldn't blame you if you did. So tonight's blog entry will be a topic regarding my personal life. So here goes...

It's amazing how quickly we've embraced cell phones in our lives today. Back when I was in high school during the late 1990's, I could've never imagined each person carrying around their own cell phones and going text crazy. That's not to say cell phones didn't exist then, because they did. However, they were pretty pricey and it seemed the rich people owned them the most. E-mailing really became the fun way of keeping in touch with each other when we were out of school and soon came instant messengers like ICQ and MSN. It wasn't until I was in college when I really noticed the cell phone explosion.

Let me start by saying I still don't own a cell phone and have no desire to get one. Now, that may change eventually, but at this point in my life, my regular landline phone service works fine for me. I just don't see the point in owning a cell phone that I'd rarely use and still pay for a landline which would probably see decreased service. Yes, cell phones do have nice features and I'm sure anyone could find something positive in owning such a device. I have often thought about purchasing a cell phone, even if I bought a cheaper phone plan simply to have it for emergencies. My current landline service is through the cable company and when the power goes out, I have no phone service. If the cable service is off-line for more than a few hours, a cell phone would be nice to have in that circumstance. But then again, why have a landline when you have a cell phone?

It was during my last couple years of college, specifically the last year, when I really noticed the increase in cell phone usage among students. It surprised me because it seemed to come out of the blue that suddenly everybody, except for me and a handful of others, had cell phones. If I knew then what I know now, I'd probably own one. But even those phones didn't have the kind of features that today's cell phones do. So I guess it's just as well that I didn't get tricked into the cell phone frenzy that pretty much has captured everyone else. Otherwise I'd probably be paying two separate phone bills, or just using my cell phone exclusively.

American Idol 9 - Top 2

I don't have a lot of time to write today, so I will give brief comments on the performances from last night and make the all important prediction on who will win season nine of American Idol. For me and a lot of America, I felt Crystal performed the best. She picked the better of the two contestants' choice songs in "Me and Bobby McGee," which she absolutely nailed the first time out and did another masterful job with again. I guess I'm not all that thrilled when the contestants have to perform a song they've already done earlier in the season because you're not getting that same "moment" you first did, no matter how great the performance was. Nonetheless, Crystal's choice was much more energetic, fun, and it was right in her wheelhouse. Don't get me wrong, I love "The Boxer," but I felt Lee could've picked something a bit more upbeat for such an important night. He's had good performances recently and the momentum going his way, I'm sure he could've reprized something from then with a little more flair.

As for the producer's choice songs, I actually liked Lee's song better than Crystal's. Lee was pitchy in spots - I think he was quite nervous for being in such a huge venue. And I was a bit worried for him when the song started because the judges were harping on him for his first song choice and "Everybody Hurts" started out similar (even though he didn't pick this one). However, the tempo picked up and he used his rock growl to really make it great to listen to. As for Crystal and "Black Velvet," I'm just not a fan of that song. She did pretty decent with it and made a few changes to make it her own. But she struggled hitting the high notes and sounded strained at times. I think the moving around on the stage threw her off a bit. However, it wasn't her worst performance.

And last but not least, the winner's song which in the past was an original composition about magic rainbows or moving mountains, etc, etc. I actually miss the trainwreck that were those kinds of songs. Anyways, Crystal picked the far superior cover song. Does it sound good on today's contemporary radio? Probably not. But she was really in the moment with that song. I thought she was about to get emotional towards the end but remained strong. She was absolutely superb and last night was definitely for her. As for Lee, I felt the song was too big for him. It just didn't seem to fit his style and the music tended to drown him out. At least when he records songs in the studio, he sounds great no matter what the song. And if he wins, I think he'll sound great with this song.

MY PREDICTION: Now, who should win this season of American Idol? Crystal Bowersox should. She's been the most consistent performer on this competition since day one. And she performed the best last night. She's got a unique style and performs in a way that you don't really see in today's contemporary world. However, I don't feel she connects with America enough, particularly with the younger generation. So, with that being said ... who will win this season of American Idol? Lee Dewyze. He's improved week after week since the beginning and has gained incredible momentum to grasp the title. He still goes off pitch from time to time, but I think he will continue to become more and more comfortable singing in front of large audiences - the summer tour will do him well. And Lee is a genuinely nice guy who seems humbled by the whole American Idol experience. That, and he's got a huge fan base who I'm sure voted like crazy last night. Even though I would've like to seen a woman win this year in this heavily touted "the season of the women," and we're getting another guitar playing male for a winner, I think Lee is going to make a fine American Idol and he fits more into today's contemporary mold.

So that's it, American Idol is officially over for the season! Simon Cowell leaves after tonight and who knows who'll be judging next year. There's a rumor that the whole panel might be overhauled. I am hoping to write a recap of the finale in a few days after everything has sunk in, so be sure to check for that. Enjoy tonight's two-hour finale if you can!

The Heat Is On!

The Upper Peninsula is in the midst of its first real warm spell of the spring/summer season. We've notched two record highs for the previous two days and the night time lows have barely dipped below 70 degrees. This is a warm, sticky airmass we're not used to up here, but it's something we deal with on occasion. It's probably a bit more rough right now because we're not totally used to the heat yet, since we've just gotten over the winter season. As for myself, I don't find myself completely miserable yet. Being at work does take its toll as it's in the low 90's inside the plant - so you really have to pace yourself if you're doing a strenuous job. And then once I'm at home, all I have to do is turn the central air conditioning on. It was one of many pros when I decided to buy this home last year.

I remember when I lived in one particular apartment complex about five years back in the city of Marquette. The rent ended up being pretty reasonable for the city - and I could understand why! The apartment was actually a duplex, comprised of an old home built in the early 1900's. I lived in the upstairs of the house, which ended up being a one bedroom apartment for myself. The way the house was split up, the tenants downstairs also occupied space upstairs. But I had no access to their space as all the doorways between the complexes were sealed off. As I mentioned, it was an older home. The plumbing wasn't all that modern (modern enough in that I didn't have to use an outhouse!), the kitchen was pretty dated, and the floors creaked quite loudly. Also, the house didn't appear to be well insulated because in the summer time during a heat wave, it got downright hot in the upstairs. The temperature was easily in the middle 90's up there, if not hotter. During one heatwave in particular, I just could not handle living in such miserable conditions, so I went out and bought an air conditioner. It was a small window unit - but it didn't seem to be doing much good. I installed it in one of the small porch windows and tried directing the air into the rest of the apartment with a fan. Well, it still didn't help much. Thankfully my parents ended up stopping over and my dad helped me install the unit in my bedroom window. Wow, did it make a difference! I was pretty happy after that, at least I could sleep comfortably the next night. It was one of many reasons why I only spent 11 months in that one particular apartment.

It appears the heat will last for at least another day here in the U.P. before gradually subsiding after that. One thing we really could use is some rain and it still does not appear like we'll be seeing a whole lot of moisture from the incoming cold front. What we really could use it a good two to three days of soaking rains. We really have not picked up any decent rainfall since the snow melted in March. I'm concerned we'll get a dandy of a wildfire somewhere in the U.P. yet this spring. The grasses are starting to dry up already - so that's a clear sign we're in need of some rain. Hopefully sooner rather than later. Mother nature has a way of turning things around eventually. Let's just hope we won't be needing an ark by the time fall comes around!

Blog Re-Branding Starts June 1

After much contemplation, the re-branding of Luke's Ponderings will begin on Tuesday, June 1, 2010. The re-branding, which was discussed earlier in the month, will feature a specific topic-oriented blog for each work week. Here's the breakdown of what you will see here for each day of the week:

Monday's will be U.P. Mondays in which I will discuss a topic relating to the Upper Peninsula. Believe me, I've only scratched the surface when it comes to discussing the U.P. on Luke's Ponderings over the years. With this new format, you'll get to learn more about the U.P. even more. On Tuesday's, I'm simply calling it Luke's Tuesdays. It's a day devoted to topics from the past, present, and future in my life. So in general, you'll get to read more about me.

Wednesday's will simply be called Television Wednesdays. I think this topic is self-explanatory in that it'll deal with TV topics. Now, it could be about a specific show, an actor/actress, an episode, or a TV recap. Whatever it is, it'll be a specific TV topic. As for Thursdays, this will be a day set aside for another entertainment related topic. Thursday's are Music Thursdays (aren't these titles great?). So I will be discussing a music-related topic on this day. I'll be bringing back the Songs I Dig blog in full force, except this time around I may just talk about one or two songs of my liking instead of the five I used to discuss. Plus I'll bring up songs from the past that I still enjoy and talk about singers/bands that have dropped off the face of the earth and try to track them down.

Last but not least is Friday. This day will be called Random Topic Fridays because it could involve just about any topic I want it to be! Hey, I've got to have some freedom on Fridays after all, the weekend is just around the corner. So yeah, who knows what kind of topic I'll have on Fridays. Just know that it'll be something interesting.

Now as for the Idol recaps, those will fall under Television Wednesdays when the show returns in 2011. However, when there are two performance shows during the semi-finals, there will be more than one TV blog for that particular week. We'll just call it an extra for that week. Also, there will be times when I feel the need to address a topic immediately rather than waiting for that certain day of the week to arrive. It'll most likely involve a breaking news event of some sort. Whatever specific topic that was supposed to be discussed on that day will be pre-empted until the following week, just like in TV. And lastly, weekends. It'll be a blog-free period for me as I re-charge my batteries for a new week! That's not to say I won't always have free time for myself on weekends, just time away from the blog on those two days. But don't be surprised if I throw something special in during a weekend from time to time.

So I hope you are excited about the proposed changes to Luke's Ponderings. It'll be a bit of a challenge for me to see if I'm up to the task of writing a blog for at least 20 days per month, something I have yet to do! However, never say never, and to see if it comes true, check us out on June 1 as a new chapter begins here at Luke's Ponderings! See you then (as well as sooner, too)!

American Idol 9 - Top 3

Here we are again with another American Idol recap. It's really getting down to the wire now, with only three contestants left! I'm always amazed when we get to this point in the season because it always seems to go by so quick. And this year is no exception. Man, what are us Idol fanatics going to do once the show ends next week? Ah well, it's like this every year. At least the weather is nice enough outside now that we'll be able to spend it out there more than watching TV in the summer. At least that's my plans. Anyways, regarding last night's Idol performance episode. I think we all know how big of a disappointment season nine has been overall. Don't really need to emphasize it anymore than it already has been. So heading into Top 3 night, I wasn't all that enthusiastic about the night - not like in prior seasons. I think it's been pretty clear for awhile that we'll end up with a Crystal and Lee finale. The only way Casey has a slim chance is if the other two completely flounder with their songs and Casey absolutely nails his songs. Let's find out exactly what happened last night ...

CONTESTANTS' SONG CHOICES:

Casey James - "Okay It's Alright With Me" by Eric Hutchinson : Interesting song choice from Casey because it's pretty obscure and relatively unknown. This could either work in his favor or completely bomb. Did you notice he almost had a near disastrous moment when he forgot his guitar pick in his pocket and had to quickly fish it out before the song took off on him? Nice save there. My initial reaction to his performance was that it was just okay. I was definitely not jumping up and down about it as I listened to it. I kind of compare it to Lite FM music - nothing big or fancy, but easy listening. The song certainly didn't have a lot of range to it and Casey did fine with it vocally. But as I said, it's not a big, dynamic song and at this stage of the game, it needed to be a better song choice.

Crystal Bowersox - "Come to My Window" by Melissa Etheridge : When I first heard that Crystal picked this song to perform last night, I thought this could really be huge for her. It's a great song and you'd think it would fit her perfectly. Well, it kind of fell flat for me. I honestly don't think she did enough with the song to make it her own. The song kind of started rather awkwardly (after the harmonica solo) when it almost seemed like she was whispering. I'd agree with the judges comments about the arrangement being off because it was. Not as great of an arrangement as it could've been. And she was really straining on those high notes in the song, especially during the chorus of the song. So for me, it wasn't as great of a performance from Crystal as I was expecting.

Lee Dewyze - "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd : Now Lee picked the best song for himself out of all of the contestants on the night. It suited his style and you could tell he had a great time with it. I can't say I'm all that familiar with the original but it sounds as if Lee made it current and it could be a hit on today's radio. He is really beginning to own the stage now, as his confidence is there and he realizes he belongs there. I really think that visit home within the week did him some good. It goes to show what kind of impact he is having to those people watching at home. When you look back on the show in previous years and the kind of performances the contestants have at this stage of the game - this is the kind of performance Lee needed to have and he did exactly right by it.

JUDGES' SONG CHOICES:

Casey James - "Daughters" by John Mayer: Here we have the laugh-out-loud moment when Randy Jackson says "as Casey James leaves the show" when commenting why he and Kara chose the song for Casey. Nice, real nice Randy - as if Casey has no chance (well, he really doesn't). It was a real nice performance from Casey and it suited him quite well. He certainly didn't have a moment with it, as it's not one of those songs that'll wow a person. But he did a competent job with it, changed it up just enough to make it his own, and vocally it was quite good. I read or heard a comment during the week that Casey is probably the best guitarist that Idol has ever seen (contestant-wise) and we may not ever see someone that talented again, and that's true. He certainly knows how to wield out a guitar, that is for sure.

Crystal Bowersox - "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney : Coming into this performance from Crystal, I was wondering how'd she do with it and what she'd do to make it her own. She stepped out of her comfort zone a bit (even though we've seen her do that on occasion this season) by not playing her guitar and even performing from different spots on the Idol stage. I must say, this is the kind of performance that Crystal needed, especially on this night. I loved that she was able to show off the range in her voice. Wow, those high notes - who knew she could sing those? I really liked how she controlled the performance, from singing all out to dialing it back when it was appropriate. She is a true musician and is definitely deserving to be on that Idol stage next week in the finale.

Lee Dewyze - "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen : Oh my goodness, where do I begin. First off, the song choice by Simon. As we've seen earlier this season when Tim Urban performed it, it's one of those songs that can allow anyone to have a moment. As further proof, look at Jason Castro in season seven. It's got a great, haunting message to it and you can't go wrong with that. Secondly, the set-up by the Idol Powers-That-Be to bring in a choir and orchestra during the performance. An incredible effect but honestly, was it needed? Thirdly, Lee's vocal. It was awesome. He really excelled with the song and it suited him nicely. So taking that all into consideration, whether you want to call it over-pimping from the producers or what have you, I thought it was a nice moment for Lee. I actually got caught up into it all when I first watched it. But I can see why people would be turned off by all of the choreography going on within the performance. Lee's vocal shined on its own.

Top 3 Performance Rankings:
1.) Lee Dewyze
2.) Crystal Bowersox
3.) Casey James

Going Home: This really is a no-brainer this week, and after picking him to leave for awhile now, I honestly think I have a good shot at getting it right this week (whataya know!). Casey James' Idol journey ends tonight. Nice job on getting this far, Casey.

American Idol 9 - Top 4

It's another week of American Idol performances and this week, the theme is "Songs from the Cinema." Now I did not get a chance to view the list of songs the contestants had the choice to pick from, but from what I understand, it was not a good listing of songs. The songs the contestants ended up picking from were probably the best of the whole lot! So that might give you some indication at what kind of a night last night turned out to be. Jamie Foxx returned as mentor (after mentoring last season) and did a pretty decent job with the contestants. Let's see how they ended up doing this week...

Lee Dewyze - "Kiss From a Rose" by Seal (from "Batman Forever") : So Lee chooses another song that's been overdone on the Idol stage, or at least that's my feeling. And from what I can recall, I don't think anyone has done a particularly great job with the song over the years, either. It's a tough song to perform with many dynamic changes in key. I thought he struggled with the song in places, particularly more in the beginning where he was off-pitch in spots and his falsetto wasn't that great. I do agree with Randy in that he didn't do enough with the song to make it his own. He's more suited to perform rock songs and this song just didn't feel right for Lee. However, I don't feel that with one off-night, he'll be voted off. He's developed enough of a following and has had stronger performances prior tonight that should keep him safe.

Michael Lynche - "Will You be There" by Michael Jackson (from "Free Willy") : Hmm, interesting song choice from Big Mike this week, although he probably didn't have a lot of other options. This is a tricky one for me, because I thought Michael performed the song quite well like he always does. But I think he was just let down by the song - it just didn't do him any justice. I almost thought we were watching a performance during Idol Gives Back again. It seems like a powerful song, with a gospel influence, yet it just fell short for me when Big Mike sang it. I wasn't used to hearing Mike sing in such a low octave like he did in the beginning of the song, but I didn't think it was so bad. It was the song that did a disservice to Michael this week.

Lee Dewyze & Crystal Bowersox - "Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova (from "Once") : When I first heard Lee and Crystal were going to perform this song, my initial reaction was of surprise. Honestly, why would they attempt to tackle a song that Kris Allen had such a moment with last season and really, helped make the song become relevant? However, they really made it their own as a duet. I would say that Crystal was the stronger of the duo, as Lee had a few pitchy moments here and there. Still, it was a fabulous duet and the two really worked great together. It was really nice to see Lee come back after a pretty bland performance prior. That being said, I hope we don't get to see this song performed by anyone else on the Idol stage for a very long time!

Casey James - "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel (from "The Graduate") : First things first, I'd have to say how ridiculous is it for the judges to continue playing off this Kara and Casey crush incident that happened so long ago, just going off of Casey's song choice. I mean, when was the last time it was brought up; the semi-finals? And now it re-enters all thanks to this song. It's time to move on, judges. Anyways, as for Casey's performance, I thought it was okay. Certainly not spectacular, yet not terrible, either. It sits there in the middle for me, kind of where Casey has been all season except for a few notable performances where he was the best of the night. I think we've all seen the best of Casey and the kind of artist he's going to be already. I don't see anymore surprises coming from him regardless if he makes it another week.

Crystal Bowersox - "I'm Alright" by Kenny Loggins (from "Caddyshack") : I think most people out there are familiar with the original version from Kenny Loggins - it's definitely not one of the classics, yet it's a fun, upbeat song. I really don't know where it correlates to "Caddyshack" because I've never seen the movie! But it seems like it'd be a good fit for that particular film. As for Crystal's performance, I definitely believe she's back in the game after a couple of mediocre weeks. I liked how she began the performance with a soft start, and then really started rocking out. I think towards the end, however, she began sounding more sharp and a few of those higher end notes in her register weren't sounding that great. However, it was still the best of the night and it was great to see Crystal back in her element.

Casey James & Michael Lynche - "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Bryan Adams (from "Don Juan DeMarco") : When I first heard the duet pairings, I was kind of surprised. I thought the two front runners would be paired up with the other two contestants. However, I think both duets worked out very nicely. I was a bit worried for these two when I heard they'd be performing this song. After all, this Bryan Adams hit is another song that's been overdone on the show. I'd say Big Mike was the stronger of the pair as Casey had a few hiccups here and there. That being said, the overall performance was quite strong. Casey's guitar playing was outstanding, as usual and their harmonizing towards the end was spectacular. Both duets ended up being the best performances of the night!

Top 4 Performance Rankings:
1.) Crystal Bowersox
2.) Lee Dewyze
3.) Michael Lynche
4.) Casey James

Going home: Casey James appears to be the easy pick to go home tonight, and I think I'm going to go along with that. I think it's either between him and Michael Lynche and I still believe Big Mike has more momentum going his way more than Casey. Plus Casey has been in the bottom three/two more frequently lately than any other contestant. All of the contestants this week didn't have spectacular solo performances, yet they all contributed to some great duets. But after taking everything into consideration, I'll place my bets on Casey going home tonight.

Random Thoughts

So today's blog is going to deal with multiple topics - something I don't often do, but probably should. Especially when I'm having a hard time writing more than one paragraph on a particular subject! But I am going to try to worry less about writing a certain set number of paragraphs like I've been doing since starting up this little blog. So, on with today's blog!

A TASTE OF WINTER IN MAY
For those of you not following the weather today, the Upper Midwest is experiencing a bit of a wintry blast from Mother Nature. That just so happens to include the Upper Peninsula, where I live! Remember the last few Aprils (not this April, though) where I've complained about snowstorms then? Well I can't believe I'm having to compose part of a blog about the impending snowstorm in May this year! Just when you think you don't have to worry about hearing the "S" word or driving another day on snowy roads, here it is again! The good news is that it's not going to be like the snowstorm of May 9-10, 1990 where some parts of the U.P. picked up 20 inches of snow. The highlands of the central U.P. could pick up four to seven inches of snow during the storm, with lesser amounts near the lake shores. You have to remember that at this time of the year, it's very difficult for the snow to stick on the ground, especially considering how warm we've been this spring. Still, the snow is expected to fall overnight, and when the temperatures will be at their coolest during the night, snow will begin to stick on grassy surfaces and even the roads. It won't be a fun drive into work in the morning! But hopefully it's the final last gasp of winter for the U.P. I suppose we deserve it - winter did end rather abruptly for us this year.

AN INTERESTING SHOPPING TRIP
So yesterday evening, I ventured into town to do a bit of shopping for Mother's Day. Not knowing what the weather would be like today, I decided to get my shopping done yesterday. I went into one of my favorite stores to see what I could get for my mom. I always like to buy mom things that match the season for when that particular occasion is occurring. For example, Mother's Day is in the spring, so I shopped for some spring and summer themed gifts. Usually I buy my mom an outdoor flower arrangement, which I did. I bought this beautiful striped petunia pot at another store which has great outdoor gardening items. I also bought her some outdoor bird knick-knacks, because she's a wild bird enthusiast, just like myself. She's got quite a collection going, and some of the older birds in the collection are getting rather faded and old. In addition, I also bought her a bird wind chime. So, as I went to check out at the store, I swiped my debit card in the machine, made the final selections on the little keypad, and waited for my transaction to go through. The only thing is, it didn't! After the monitor said "approved," the machine froze. The cashier and I were waiting for the machine to finish processing, but it never did. So they had to reboot the system (which took an incredibly long time) and hope that they didn't have to re-ring all of my items through the check out again. Well, when the system finally came back up, my items were still on the screen, but I wasn't charged yet. So I had to re-swipe me debit card and this time the transaction went through. But that's something I never experienced before but I am sure its happened to others. The store manager was great, giving me a $5 gift card for my troubles (which I used the second time through). And I wasn't the least bit upset about having to wait, because I wasn't in a big rush to go anywhere. I was more amused than anything!

RANDOM IDOL NEWS
So I've heard a few interesting things the last few days when it comes to American Idol. First off, just like they did last year during the top four, the final four contestants will pair up with a fellow contestant and sing duets. Last season, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen were paired up, while Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta sang a duet. It's a nice concept, however, I'd much prefer that all four contestants get an additional song to sing like they've done prior to season eight. Having that fourth judge on the panel takes away from each of the contestants getting to sing another song! Hopefully with Simon leaving the show after this season, the producers will return to a three-judge format like they've had prior to season eight. In fact while they're at it, they should get rid of Randy, Ellen, and Kara as well! A brand new panel for a new era of Idol. Maybe that'll give the show some new life and the ratings will come back. But in general, I think people are tired of the show. In addition, next week the Idol will be singing songs from the cinema (a theme they had last year) along with guest mentor Jamie Foxx (who also appeared as a mentor last season). Honestly, why all these recycled themes and why the emphasis on having mentors each and every week again? Where are the producers' priorities when it comes to the show? Where's Nigel Lythgow when you need him?

New Blog Strategy

Just a quick note to pass on to everyone regarding the future of "Luke's Ponderings." I believe I made a posting earlier in the year about possibly taking a hiatus from writing during the upcoming summer. I don't foresee that happening at this time because I am planning on developing a new strategy for the blog in the coming weeks. It's an aggressive plan for me, seeing as I have yet been able to write five blogs in one week. But that's exactly what I am proposing to do. The plan is to write five blogs in one week, each dealing with a particular theme. As of now, the themes are not set in stone, but I am bouncing a few of them around in my head.

During one day, I'll write a TV-themed blog. During American Idol season, it'll be the recap for that week's performance show. And in the fall of 2011 with the launch of the U.S. version of the X Factor, I'll likely blog about that. That, in addition to other reality TV programming I like and other topics regarding television. I am also going to set one day to talk about a particular Upper Peninsula topic. Even though the U.P. is small population-wise, this great land I live in has a lot to offer. Expect something different each week regarding the U.P. here at "Luke's Ponderings". In addition, I also plan to devote one day during the week to discussing something in my personal life. It could be a story about my past, something going on in the present, or something potentially about my future. And I know I'm not the most exciting personality born on this earth, but my life hasn't been a total bore, either. I still haven't decided on two other possible topics yet, but I'll reveal those at another time (one might have something to do with music).

So there you have it, my latest aggressive plan for a re-vamped "Luke's Ponderings". Obviously this year has been rather difficult for me in keeping the blog up, although I'd like to think I've done a fairly better job recently. And I am going to try to be less picky about having longer blogs because sometimes, shorter is better. As long as I have something interesting to say, that should be all that matters! So, you should be able to expect these changes to take place at some point in the very near future, possibly as soon as the end of this month! And I am also debating about whether or not to incorporate some video blogs into "Luke's Ponderings" as well. Let me just say, I'm not the most articulate speaker on the planet. So if I do indeed decide to start filming video blogs, it'll certainly be a challenge. Let's just say I'll leave it out there, but it's certainly not a done deal at this point. In any case, I am looking to expand my horizons and I hope everyone will be able to come along for the ride.

10 Year Class Reunion

So this year marks ten years since I graduated high school. Ten years seems like such a long time ago, but thinking back to my senior year, it doesn't seem like all that long ago. I remember people saying "oh, your senior year goes by so fast." They gave the advice to enjoy it while you can, because before you know it, you'll be a high school graduate. And you know, I tried to make the most of that senior year, however, I don't feel I was able to. Because like everybody said, it went by so incredibly fast! And then everybody moves in so many different directions, you lose track so quickly. If it wasn't for myspace or facebook, I wouldn't know where anyone is these days! Thank goodness for ever improving technology!

Seeing that 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of my graduation from high school, that means an all important reunion is in the works (at least I believe it's in the works). Several of my old classmates began making plans late last year to plan a reunion of some sort. For several years now, I've had mixed emotions about attending such a reunion. It's amazing how close we were as a class and now fast forward ten years - and I haven't seen a majority of my old classmates since I graduated in 2000! I don't know what they look like (aside from my Facebook friends), if their personalities have changed, and how they might treat me ten years later. Attending such a gathering would honestly make me feel uncomfortable because I am so totally self-conscious of myself. Today and even back then, I was so concerned about making a good impression to anyone I met and was friends with. I've always been the good guy yet so incredibly bashful it's embarrassing. I don't want anyone to think negatively of me and if I overhear someone talking about me in a negative light, I honestly become depressed and ashamed. How does this relate to attending a reunion? Well to me, it means a lot. I guess I'm concerned what my old classmates might think of me ten years later - they'll probably think the same if not a little bit worse of me. It's a big fear of mine.

I've gone back and forth through the years about whether or not I should attend the ten year class reunion this summer. Honestly, if I had a girlfriend or I was married right now, it'd probably be much easier for me to attend and gloat myself up. I mean sure, I have a decent paying job, a nice house, and a lot going for myself. But lets face it, we all live for the American Dream. The American Dream (which is becoming more and more old fashioned these days) consists of marrying someone of the opposite sex and raising a family. Right now, that's non-existent in my life and I don't foresee that changing anytime soon. I'm sure to most of you reading this blog, you probably think it's really no big deal to be single in this day and age. After all, 50% of marriages end in divorce. But to me, it is a big deal. And I'm sure I'm making a bigger deal of it than I should be. But it's a really significant detail that's holding back my perfect American Dream. I am just afraid of feeling so out of place at my class reunion, not being able to mingle with my old classmates, and being forced to leave early because I am so miserable. Most of my old classmates that are my friends on Facebook are married. You know they are going to bring their spouses with them (and maybe their kids, too). Who will I have to parade around there? Myself? I've never been much of a drinker. Maybe I can really bring out my wild side and make people think negatively of me then.

Alright, so maybe I am just being too darn negative about this whole ordeal. After all, how often do we get to see these people in our lives after we graduate from high school? Honestly, I am not close to any of my old classmates anymore (well, maybe one). But for me, the event this summer seems like it's just going to be a big waste of my time. I know I am going to continue going back and forth about attending this shin-dig. I will continue weighing the pros and cons about going to my ten year class reunion. It could be nice seeing those familiar faces aged ten years. Yet, it could also be bad seeing those faces. It could bring back bad memories for me (not that high school was all that terrible for me, just that it could've been better). However, some of them could look so terrible and in comparison, I could look like a male model. So yes, I'm still undecided about attending my class reunion. I'm sure it'll be a last minute decision (and if I do go, I'll have to change my summer vacations around because I'm scheduled to work that weekend). Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of wonderful high school memories that I hold onto. However, they are slowly beginning to fade and after ten years, I've definitely moved on from those times. If I don't attend the reunion, I'm sure I won't be missed.

American Idol 9 - Top 5

Coming into tonight's episode, we have just a month left of this season and at the end of this journey, a new Idol will be crowned. I hate to be so negative, but I just have no enthusiasm for the finale this year. I don't know if it's because of the lackluster talent or the predictability of this season (not that I've been picking correctly in who goes home each week), but something is totally missing. I miss season seven and eight! Anyway, let's try and make the most of season nine and enjoy as much of it as we possibly can. This week the contestants perform songs from one of the legends himself, Frank Sinatra. And what a great mentor the contestants have this week in Harry Connick Jr. He's even helping to arrange the songs for them! What a cool guy. I hope this is a home run for all of the contestants this week.

Aaron Kelly - "Fly Me to the Moon" : Aaron has had his fair share of struggles as of late (however, last week was quite good for him, not surprisingly), and despite the criticism he gets from the judges, he's always positive and strives to improve. That's one thing you have to like about this high school student. As for tonight's performance, it was just okay for me. I wasn't jumping out of my seat because he didn't really do a whole lot vocally. I noticed a few pitchy notes and I thought the second half was better than the first. Sometimes when he stretches out a certain note, he goes off pitch. He has to continue working on his pitch problems, especially those in his upper register. He trended to strain a bit on some of those higher notes towards the end of the performance.

Casey James - "Blue Skies" : Casey has been molded into a decent lead singer in a cover band. However, there are times when he has shined on that big Idol stage - it seems to be during those performances where the tempo is softer and where he's able to show off his vocal talent. This week could work out very well for Casey if it's executed perfectly. However, it's executed horribly. It just goes extremely bad for Casey. He clearly shows that this is the wrong kind of music for him and he looks totally uncomfortable on stage. He tries moving to different points on stage but he looks so stiff. The singing is just way off; he's pitchy and his phrasing is horrible. Oh man, I had high hopes for Casey this week but it's just not working tonight. I'm afraid this may be the end for him.

Crystal Bowersox - "Summer Wind" : It'll be interesting to see how Crystal adapts to singing Sinatra songs tonight. What am I saying? She can sing anything! So far this season, she's stepped outside of her comfort level and have taken some pretty large risks, probably more so than any other contestant in season nine. So I am sure she can adapt quite well to performing a Sinatra song. And I must say she did a pretty good job tonight. I won't say it was her best and I am not completely comfortable hearing her perform these kinds of songs. However, she made it enjoyable to listen to and we got to see another side of the music machine that is Crystal Bowersox. I did think the beginning of the song was rather underwhelming compared to the last half of the song. Also, the band tended to drown out her singing towards the end. But vocally, it was quite good.

Michael Lynche - "The Way You Look Tonight" : Out of the five remaining contestants, I can definitely see Big Mike having the most success tonight. This is the type of music that he excels on. Maybe not so much the Sinatra-style of music, but more along the lines of a ballad. Those seem to be Mike's most memorable performances, when he's able to be vulnerable, emotional, and sing from the heart. And I must say, Mike was quite good tonight. Again, am I going to remember exactly what he sang tomorrow and how he sang it? Most likely, no. But so far tonight, he was far and away the best. Again, he sang the song with such emotion and you could feel his connection to the song. And yes, he still tends to be over dramatic on that stage, but that's just how he is. That's how he's able to remain comfortable on that stage and at least it's not completely awkward like Casey's stage presence.

Lee Dewyze - "That's Life" : First let me just say, nobody did "My Way" or "New York, New York"? That's rather surprising and a bit disappointing for me. Anyways, Lee is on tap with the pimp spot tonight. Let's see if he can close the show in a proper and memorable way. I've got to admit, I was a little worried with the way it started for me. I noticed a few off-pitch notes but Lee recovered quite nicely and made the song his own. Again, like a few of the other contestants, this is outside of Lee's comfort zone but he did a nice job of incorporating it into his style. Towards the end of the song he did get drowned out a bit by the band, but you could definitely tell it was Lee singing. He just continues to step it up week after week and after a couple of okay performances from Crystal the past two weeks, Lee is starting to inch his way ahead of her.

Top Five Performance Rankings:
1.) Lee Dewyze
2.) Michael Lynche
3.) Crystal Bowersox
4.) Aaron Kelly
5.) Casey James

Going Home: I think Casey's journey comes to an end after tomorrow. Last week he was in the bottom two, and that was after he delivered the best performance of that particular night! To me, that spells doom and gloom, especially after tonight's dismal performance. I think Aaron can be carried over one more week by the tween votes and Crystal is still a lock for the finale. As for Casey, I just think it's time.

Riding Lawn Mowers

My Dad and I picked up our "new" riding lawn mower from my Uncle's garage last night. It's not brand new, but it's probably the newest rider we've ever owned. Over the years, we've tried getting our hands on a riding lawn mower, but haven't had too much success. Back when I was really little, I remember my dad owning a rider, with the steering wheel right up front and the engine of the machine in the back. Unfortunately that's about all I remember of it. I recall my dad giving me a few rides on the contraption, but that's about it. I honestly don't ever remember what happened to it, but I'm thinking it simply broke down and was just too costly to repair. It did seem like a vintage mower with not a lot of hope left for it.

Fast forward approximately ten years when my dad and I was given an old relic to fix up from my Uncle. It was a Sears model - probably from the 1970's. It was pretty well beat up, but as long as we had all of the parts, we could make it work. We took it apart, grinded off all of the old rust and paint from the machine, re-assembled the riding lawn mower - now all we had to do is get it running. Only trouble is, we were missing the mower deck. For those unfamiliar with riding lawn mowers, the mower deck is what sits under the machine itself and does all of the cutting. Some mowers have two blades, others three that make up the mower deck. Well, I remember being assured from my Uncle that the mower deck was sitting around in his garage, somewhere. Well we found a mower deck, but it wasn't the right one. We never did find something compatible for that particular model, so we ended up scrapping that particular machine. Kind of tragic, considering all of the work we put into that machine.

Now, fast forward another five years. Ah yes, we basically repeat the story, only with a few details changed. Again, we received this old beat-up riding lawn mower from my Uncle. We actually had it running at first, but it was in desperate need of repair. I even remember the motor leaking oil. So we took the machine all apart and gave it a new look. I can't remember the make of this particular machine, but when we were finished giving it a makeover, we turned it into a John Deere designed riding lawn mower. At that stage in my life, I was collecting anything I could with John Deere on it. So I was pretty thrilled to be able to transform this rider into a John Deere. We even cut out a John Deere logo from a paper plate and used it as a stencil to paint it on the machine. It turned out really slick. We attached a new motor to it and had it running for awhile. But then we began experiencing constant trouble with it. The drive belts that connected the mower deck to the pulley on the motor kept slipping off. It began happening too frequently - and after being inspected by my uncle, it was determined we needed a new pulley. Well, how easy is it to find a pulley for such an old machine? Well, my uncle did find one. But we never did find out if it actually would've worked. This riding lawn mower either sat in the garage during the warm months or back in one of the sheds during the colder months. All it needed was this new pulley to be installed, but it never happened. Finally, my mom got so sick of seeing it just sitting there, she told my dad to get rid of it. And he finally did, dismantling all of our hard work. Today, the machine sits in the woods at my Uncle's property, rusting away.

Flash forward to late last year. I was with my dad while visiting my Uncle at his garage as we looked for stuff for my house (I was looking for any furniture items he could give me). In his garage sat a nice looking, 1990's style riding lawn mower. My uncle tells us it hadn't been ran all that often. And instead of giving us clunkers to try and fix up, he would let us have that particular machine, because it seemed like he had a bunch of modern-looking riding lawn mowers already! Needless to say, we were thrilled. My dad's not getting any younger and his lawn is quite hilly. So tonight, as the clouds roll in, I wonder if my dad is enjoying his first modern-looking riding lawn mower, the first he's ever owned. It's been a long time coming, believe me.