It was late Tuesday night and another midnight shift where I work. The good part about it was that it was the last midnight shift of the stretch before I started my long weekend. So needless to say, I was in pretty good spirits. Our previous night was horrendous with many different things going wrong, so earlier on Tuesday, I really did not feel like coming to work for that night and contemplated even taking the night off. The weather wasn't the greatest outside and I could've always used that as an excuse. But as I was about to leave, the weather calmed down and I knew I shouldn't let one bad night at work deter me from coming the next night. So I forged ahead and made the 20 mile drive to work. When I got there, I knew I should've taken the night off after all.
My job as an assistant plant operator at the mine includes operating the concentrator when our regular crew operator is not there. That was the case Tuesday night so I had to fill-in that role. Our crew was already short one person and without me on the floor, that left us without two people on the floor. So we were pretty short handed and when you throw in us having to shut the entire plant down within short notice, well it basically means all hands on deck for the crew. People are placed in positions that they wouldn't normally be in and things get to be pretty hectic. That was the case when I entered the control room. The previous crew and control room operator began the process of shutting the plant down because a set of very important pumps that brings water into the plant had kicked out due to an unknown electrical problem. Without these pumps, we cannot run anything. A tank stores the water short-time, so it allows us to shut things down in a relatively controlled manner. Seeing that we could not re-start these pumps in a timely noticed, the crew on afternoon shift began the process of shutting things down. The operator on afternoon shift was already scheduled to stay two hours over for casual overtime, so he assisted me in getting the rest of the plant shut down. By the time all was said and done, we had everything down within two hours into our shift and not much time left to spare. It was an interesting experience; never being in that role before of shutting things down like that. Then began the process of draining a pair of very important lines for our tailings system outside. That is where things really got interesting.
Even though I was a control room operator that night, I was techically not supposed to go out on the floor and lend a hand to the rest of the crew. But seeing as the afternoon operator stayed on (and didn't leave until around 4:30 AM Wednesday morning), I headed out into the storm (actually, I was sent on this very important mission with another person on my crew by the shift foreman). I dressed up as warmly as I could with the appropriate gear, gathered up some equipment to bring outside, and headed out with my partner in a company vehicle to one of the lines we needed to drain. Whenever we have to shut the plant down or we need to switch tailings lines, the line we are using needs to be drained. On the tailings line itself, there are six drains. We needed to open those up so the line could drain properly. Beyond this, there is another line with 11 drains that needed to be opened as part of the tailings booster line. This is located on our tailings basin which is an elevated area where the by-product of the mining process is pumped to. The condition atop of the dikes was just too bad. I didn't get out that far as some other members of my crew did, but from what they described, it was absolutely hellish. Blizzard conditions, blinding snow, winds in excess of 50 miles per hour greeted them. There was absolutely no way that line could be drained, so it was determined that we focus our sights on draining the other line; definitely the more critical line of the plant.
A total of five of us met at drain number three, where we brought along various torches, rose buds, and other heating utensils to try and thaw open valves and drains that were froze shut. Earlier that day, temperatures were in the middle to upper 30's and even some light rain fell. A cold front moved past earlier in the evening dropping temperatures fast. So it was easy to see why everything froze up the way it did. But we were on a fast track to try and drain the line because we didn't want the line to freeze, either. A few of the drains were stubborn and wouldn't unleash their material, but eventually we got them all opened up. But it certainly wasn't easy. The booster line was a lost cause because the conditions were very much life threatening. At least we were able to get the main tailings line opened up, however. Otherwise that really could've been a catastrophe.
I know everyone on my crew was hoping for an easy and quiet last shift before long weekend but it never materialized. And despite the craziness of the entire night, we accomplished pretty much all that we could do. We were satisfied with our job, even though the plant was never able to start back up again. I am happy to report that the mine is back up and running today after a day in a half break. Those kinds of shut-downs usually do not last that long unless they're because of economic reasons, etc. But as least things are relatively back to normal than they were late Tuesday night/Wednesday morning.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Weather Review
After a very chilly stretch of winter weather here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, the weather looks to modify within the next day or so. The last week in a half or so brought on Arctic Air down from Canada. We went through a stretch of about five days with high temperatures in the single digits and overnight lows well below zero. When it's cold, we haven't seen much snow. Things began to warm up very slowly and at the peak of the warmth on Monday and Tuesday of this week, temperatures rose to the low 40's. Some areas of the region even picked up some rain. But that is when the bottom dropped out.
A very strong cold front pushed through, dropping temperatures a good 20 to 30 degrees in an hour's time. The frontal passage also produced some meaningful snows in the general four to eight inch range, with higher totals in the northwest and northeastern U.P. Winds howled from the west-northwest; that combined with temperatures around zero brought dangerous wind chills anywhere from -30 to -50. We had a power failure to a very important set of equipment where I work which caused us to shut the plant down. All of my crew was out in the elements during the height of the horrendous weather and I can tell you one thing; it was VERY unpleasant. The wind was whipping the newly fallen snow and caused blizzard conditions. At times, it was very difficult to see five feet in front of you. Since then, the weather has calmed down and temperatures are beginning to warm up. Today, we experienced a high temperature in the lower teen's with ample sunshine. Things look to get even warmer in the days ahead with temps in the mid to upper 20's and continued sunshine. Now THAT'S enjoyable winter weather.
A very strong cold front pushed through, dropping temperatures a good 20 to 30 degrees in an hour's time. The frontal passage also produced some meaningful snows in the general four to eight inch range, with higher totals in the northwest and northeastern U.P. Winds howled from the west-northwest; that combined with temperatures around zero brought dangerous wind chills anywhere from -30 to -50. We had a power failure to a very important set of equipment where I work which caused us to shut the plant down. All of my crew was out in the elements during the height of the horrendous weather and I can tell you one thing; it was VERY unpleasant. The wind was whipping the newly fallen snow and caused blizzard conditions. At times, it was very difficult to see five feet in front of you. Since then, the weather has calmed down and temperatures are beginning to warm up. Today, we experienced a high temperature in the lower teen's with ample sunshine. Things look to get even warmer in the days ahead with temps in the mid to upper 20's and continued sunshine. Now THAT'S enjoyable winter weather.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Weather - 1/18/08
Things are REALLY starting to chill down in the Upper Great Lakes. An Arctic blast has seeped down from Canada and has caused the temperature to plummet. Most of this month, we've been experiencing pleasant winter temperatures in the 20's and 30's. Today, we only made it into the upper single digits for high temps. Overnight lows are expected to drop well below zero in many locations. We've also been getting our fair share of snow as of late - with as much as eight to ten inches of snow falling in some areas from the last storm system. So I guess we'll all have to get accustomed to these chilly temperatures for awhile. They look to stick around for the next seven days and possibly beyond. Who says that global warming really exists?
A Year of Rumors
As I said in one of my earlier blogs, 2008 could be a very interesting year for me. Probably the biggest wildcard for me this year would be at work, where a number of things may or may not happen. Our union's contract with the company expires on September 1, 2008. I experienced the company's last contract negotiations back in 2004 when I was a summer student and I can tell you, it was something I'll never forget. At that time, the company "threatened" to hire replacement workers to run the mine - so the word "scab" became a frequently used word throughout the mill; written on bathroom stalls and basically anything that could be written on. There were many rumors flying around about bringing in immigrants to run the plant. The company even planned to house the replacement workers on mine property as they started bringing trailers on company property a week prior to the strike deadline. Needless to say, the union never did strike as a contract was approved three days prior and ratified a week later. But, who's to say that'll happen this year.
The mine that I work at is on its last legs; I guess you could say. It has been in operation since the late 1960's and has mined millions of tons of iron ore from its large open pit. The ore reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2010, meaning the mine would be subject to closure if back-up plans weren't in place. Probably the biggest news that breathed new life into the old mine was the annoucement of a nugget plant that would be built near the old mine facility. It would create a ton of new construction jobs and would produce about 500,000 tons of nuggets a year. The nuggets are different from the pellets that we currently make. It's a completely different process used to create the nuggets; one that I am still quite fuzzy on. It basically re-invigorates the process used to create iron ore by incorporating new technology and equipment into the mix. This was all great news to those that work at the mine and was something that really rose the spirits of not only the employees, but for community members as well. But eventually we found out about the company's true intentions of the nugget plant and soon the picture wasn't as rosy as we invisioned.
The nugget plant would basically operate as its own company and be managed by the current company that operates the current mine. None of us that are employed with the mine would be eligible to work unless we quit first and then tried applying at the new plant. And what exactly are the chances that any of us would get hired at this new plant? The control room operator of the plant would be a salaried position and there would be no retirement plan in place. So for those of us that are currently employed with the existing mine, this really doesn't not sound all that appealing; not as great as it earlier seemed. I guess many of the details are still being worked out and many things are subject to change. Hopefully there is a better outcome to this than there is at this moment.
So the mine is running out of ore reserves in its pit, which would mean the possible closing of the facility by 2010. It has already been annouced earlier this month that the mine will be cutting back on its production; going from a 5.0 million ton operation to 2.8 million tons. Currently the mine is operated into four sections; one section being the original plant and the three other sections being additions made to the original structure. We only run one grinding line in the original plant, while section number two, three, and four have many grinding lines running. After June 2008, only the grinding lines in the fourth section of the plant will be running, with a few limited mills running in the third section. This is a dramatic cutback to how things are running now. With that news comes the likelyhood of cutbacks in staffing at the plant. It has already been rumored that 20% of operating (the department I am in) will be eliminated by the second half of the year. So as you can see, this could be a very tumultuous time for many people that work at the mine. But honestly, a lot of things could change between then and now.
There are some people who believe every little thing that comes out of the mouth of the company and there are those who choose to be resilient in these times of adversity. There are a lot of "positive" rumors out there including that we'll continue to maintain our current production levels throughout all of 2008. But then there are also other rumors that include us running more than one flux mill (flux stone is used in the production of iron ore pellets), which will help to supply our mill, the neighboring mine, and the new nugget plant with flux. There is also talk that additional ore reserves have been found and they are in the initial testing stages to see whether our facility can create pellets from these ore bodies. The point of all of this is that rumors are flying rampant all of the time regarding the mine's future. You just don't know what to believe until something really happens. I remember when I was a summer student in 2003 and they only gave the mine five more years in which we could process iron ore. It's five years later now and we anticipate running until 2010 at least; except at reduced capacity. So needless to say, things can change in a hurry. I am not going to worry about the impending doom and gloom. I'll believe it when it actually happens. When you work in the steel industry, you always experience your ups and downs. That's how it's been for my dad during his 35 years of employment. There were a couple of different times where he thought he'd never go back to the mine. But things change and the industry changes. Right now the price of metal is incredibly high. As long as this trend continues, the company is going to find any little way in which they can produce ore at our facility, whether it'll be using our current methods or implementing new technological advances. Time will tell what actually happens at our facility. Right now, all we can do is take it one day at a time.
The mine that I work at is on its last legs; I guess you could say. It has been in operation since the late 1960's and has mined millions of tons of iron ore from its large open pit. The ore reserves are expected to be exhausted by the year 2010, meaning the mine would be subject to closure if back-up plans weren't in place. Probably the biggest news that breathed new life into the old mine was the annoucement of a nugget plant that would be built near the old mine facility. It would create a ton of new construction jobs and would produce about 500,000 tons of nuggets a year. The nuggets are different from the pellets that we currently make. It's a completely different process used to create the nuggets; one that I am still quite fuzzy on. It basically re-invigorates the process used to create iron ore by incorporating new technology and equipment into the mix. This was all great news to those that work at the mine and was something that really rose the spirits of not only the employees, but for community members as well. But eventually we found out about the company's true intentions of the nugget plant and soon the picture wasn't as rosy as we invisioned.
The nugget plant would basically operate as its own company and be managed by the current company that operates the current mine. None of us that are employed with the mine would be eligible to work unless we quit first and then tried applying at the new plant. And what exactly are the chances that any of us would get hired at this new plant? The control room operator of the plant would be a salaried position and there would be no retirement plan in place. So for those of us that are currently employed with the existing mine, this really doesn't not sound all that appealing; not as great as it earlier seemed. I guess many of the details are still being worked out and many things are subject to change. Hopefully there is a better outcome to this than there is at this moment.
So the mine is running out of ore reserves in its pit, which would mean the possible closing of the facility by 2010. It has already been annouced earlier this month that the mine will be cutting back on its production; going from a 5.0 million ton operation to 2.8 million tons. Currently the mine is operated into four sections; one section being the original plant and the three other sections being additions made to the original structure. We only run one grinding line in the original plant, while section number two, three, and four have many grinding lines running. After June 2008, only the grinding lines in the fourth section of the plant will be running, with a few limited mills running in the third section. This is a dramatic cutback to how things are running now. With that news comes the likelyhood of cutbacks in staffing at the plant. It has already been rumored that 20% of operating (the department I am in) will be eliminated by the second half of the year. So as you can see, this could be a very tumultuous time for many people that work at the mine. But honestly, a lot of things could change between then and now.
There are some people who believe every little thing that comes out of the mouth of the company and there are those who choose to be resilient in these times of adversity. There are a lot of "positive" rumors out there including that we'll continue to maintain our current production levels throughout all of 2008. But then there are also other rumors that include us running more than one flux mill (flux stone is used in the production of iron ore pellets), which will help to supply our mill, the neighboring mine, and the new nugget plant with flux. There is also talk that additional ore reserves have been found and they are in the initial testing stages to see whether our facility can create pellets from these ore bodies. The point of all of this is that rumors are flying rampant all of the time regarding the mine's future. You just don't know what to believe until something really happens. I remember when I was a summer student in 2003 and they only gave the mine five more years in which we could process iron ore. It's five years later now and we anticipate running until 2010 at least; except at reduced capacity. So needless to say, things can change in a hurry. I am not going to worry about the impending doom and gloom. I'll believe it when it actually happens. When you work in the steel industry, you always experience your ups and downs. That's how it's been for my dad during his 35 years of employment. There were a couple of different times where he thought he'd never go back to the mine. But things change and the industry changes. Right now the price of metal is incredibly high. As long as this trend continues, the company is going to find any little way in which they can produce ore at our facility, whether it'll be using our current methods or implementing new technological advances. Time will tell what actually happens at our facility. Right now, all we can do is take it one day at a time.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
First Sickness
We are in the midst of the 2007-2008 cold and flu season and I can officially say I picked up my first cold of the season. Usually I get sick from my mom, dad or my niece or nephew, but I can't honestly think of where I picked up this cold from, seeing that non of them have been sick recently. Another culprit could've been someone from work, but I wasn't at work for five days because of my long weekend. I did bring my mom to the local medical center on Monday and we did go to a public restaurant afterwards. Maybe I could've picked something up from those places. Whatever the case, I'm not complaining about it too much because it's only a minor cold. I have a slight runny nose, a scratchy throat, and am a bit stuffed up, but otherwise I'm in fairly decent shape. Hopefully this is only as worse as it gets!
I am not one to get sick very often. If I do, they only end up being minor colds or a slight flu. Last year I had the flu a couple of different times. During one of the flu spells, I went to work feeling somewhat down but felt able enough to make it through the shift. Well, when all was said and done, I really felt awful and I probably should've went home early. All I did that evening and night was lay on the couch and rest. I don't even think I ate. I missed work the next day in hopes of trying to rest up for a weekend of 12-hour shifts. That's something you definitely don't want to miss out on. Later on that day, I felt much better and by that Saturday, I felt well enough to go to work and work that 12-hour shift. Not that working 12's are the greatest thing in the world, but it really hurts your paycheck in the end!
Back when I was a senior in high school, I was on a science team that competed at a regional level in this science-based competition that included many different categories. Our teams, both junior high and high school had an amazing track record (more so with the junior high team) where we'd win the regional level and won the right to compete at the state level. We were heading downstate towards Lansing where the state competition was taking place on the campus of Michigan State University. As we got closer to our hotel just outside of Lansing, I wasn't feeling the best. I started getting more and more sick and by the time I reached the hotel, I was miserable. The illness came on suddenly and shortly upon entering the room, I had to make a dash to the bathroom and started throwing up. I felt much better after I vomitted but that feeling didn't last long. I was miserable the rest of the day and elected to sleep and rest while the rest of the teams were out having the time of their lives. Even in the evening when we were supposed to be studying for our respective categories, I just didn't have the concentration to do anything. I felt that horrible. I had a fever and my body ached terribly.
The next day wasn't much better; but it was competition day. I had to do what I could for my team and fellow teammates. Between competitions, I rested. I laid back as well as I could in a chair in the auditorium where our team headquarters were, but after awhile that just wasn't good enough anymore. I ventured out to find a soft spot in the lawn outside of the building. I had an amazing rest; slept for a good hour or so. In fact, I woke up with enough time to make it to the competition I needed to be at. Luckily so or I would've missed out on a fifth place medal at the state level! I feel bad for my teammates who had to put up with a sick person as their partner. And I'll admit, I still didn't have 100 percent concentration even at those competitions. But I did what I could and I was there for support if anything else.
It's the weird thing about illnesses like a cold or flu because sometimes you can never figure out where you picked them up. But this time of the year, anything is possible and it's so easy for germs to spread. I attribute the illness I experienced in Lansing to food poisoning; as there were a couple of different instances where I could've had something that made my stomach churn. As for the newest cold I have, it's hard to speculate exactly where I picked it up. Needless to say, it always helps to wash your hands as frequently as possible this time of year, especially when you're in any public place. It sure beats having to be miserable and put up with any kind of illness, whether it's major or minor.
I am not one to get sick very often. If I do, they only end up being minor colds or a slight flu. Last year I had the flu a couple of different times. During one of the flu spells, I went to work feeling somewhat down but felt able enough to make it through the shift. Well, when all was said and done, I really felt awful and I probably should've went home early. All I did that evening and night was lay on the couch and rest. I don't even think I ate. I missed work the next day in hopes of trying to rest up for a weekend of 12-hour shifts. That's something you definitely don't want to miss out on. Later on that day, I felt much better and by that Saturday, I felt well enough to go to work and work that 12-hour shift. Not that working 12's are the greatest thing in the world, but it really hurts your paycheck in the end!
Back when I was a senior in high school, I was on a science team that competed at a regional level in this science-based competition that included many different categories. Our teams, both junior high and high school had an amazing track record (more so with the junior high team) where we'd win the regional level and won the right to compete at the state level. We were heading downstate towards Lansing where the state competition was taking place on the campus of Michigan State University. As we got closer to our hotel just outside of Lansing, I wasn't feeling the best. I started getting more and more sick and by the time I reached the hotel, I was miserable. The illness came on suddenly and shortly upon entering the room, I had to make a dash to the bathroom and started throwing up. I felt much better after I vomitted but that feeling didn't last long. I was miserable the rest of the day and elected to sleep and rest while the rest of the teams were out having the time of their lives. Even in the evening when we were supposed to be studying for our respective categories, I just didn't have the concentration to do anything. I felt that horrible. I had a fever and my body ached terribly.
The next day wasn't much better; but it was competition day. I had to do what I could for my team and fellow teammates. Between competitions, I rested. I laid back as well as I could in a chair in the auditorium where our team headquarters were, but after awhile that just wasn't good enough anymore. I ventured out to find a soft spot in the lawn outside of the building. I had an amazing rest; slept for a good hour or so. In fact, I woke up with enough time to make it to the competition I needed to be at. Luckily so or I would've missed out on a fifth place medal at the state level! I feel bad for my teammates who had to put up with a sick person as their partner. And I'll admit, I still didn't have 100 percent concentration even at those competitions. But I did what I could and I was there for support if anything else.
It's the weird thing about illnesses like a cold or flu because sometimes you can never figure out where you picked them up. But this time of the year, anything is possible and it's so easy for germs to spread. I attribute the illness I experienced in Lansing to food poisoning; as there were a couple of different instances where I could've had something that made my stomach churn. As for the newest cold I have, it's hard to speculate exactly where I picked it up. Needless to say, it always helps to wash your hands as frequently as possible this time of year, especially when you're in any public place. It sure beats having to be miserable and put up with any kind of illness, whether it's major or minor.
Weather - 1/9/07
After a very mild stretch of weather, temperatures are beginning to cool down. We even saw a light dusting of snow come down late in the evening yesterday to remind us all in the U.P. that it is still winter and not spring (afterall, it is January). Temperatures yesterday were generally in the lower to middle 30's and today they are expected to hover around 32 degrees. Only light snow is expected today; no significant accumulation is anticipated. No major snows are expected within the next seven days which means the winter sports lovers will be in agony at the lack of snows in our neck of the woods.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Weather - 1/1/08
Welcome to the new year (it will be hard getting used to writing/typing 2008)! The weather in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan this afternoon hasn't been too overly exciting so far. The much hyped lake effect snow event has been nonexistent thus far. Only 1-2 inches of snow has fallen in certain areas in the central U.P. Snows are expected to pick up this evening and overnight; dropping as much as five to eight inches of snow in the favored snow belt areas. Temperatures have remained in the middle 20's for much of the day, but they are expected to drop as night time approaches.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Songs I Dig - 5
It has been a long time coming, but "The Songs I Dig" blog has returned! There hasn't been a whole lot of new music that has interested me lately, but recently some songs have became catchy enough to earn a slot in this blog. And what better way to end 2007 on my blog than with a musical entry discussing the songs I think you should check out. Enjoy!
By the way, some of these songs have been out for close to two months, so if they seem a little dated for this blog, they probably are.
"Sorry" by Buckcherry - So Buckcherry is a band that I knew absolutely nothing about when I first heard this song hit the air waves. It's a softer sounding song with a rock edge to it. The song is basically one big apology for a variety of wrongdoings listed in the lyrics. It's quite catchy and has a nice tune to it. The group has been around since the mid-1990's and has had a few band members leave throughout their existence. According to their Wikipedia entry, "Sorry" is a release from their previous album and they are currently in the studio working on their latest album.
"The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls - Another group I was unfamiliar with up until the release of this song. And after doing some research about them, it's understandable why, because they formed the group at the end of 2005. "The Great Escape" was not a song I liked at first, but it was one that I grew into and now enjoy listening to. It's a youthful, teenage kind of song that evokes the message of freedom and independence. It's the first song released from their debut album. The next song to be released is called "Hero/Heroine" and may have already hit the airwaves where you live.
"Shadow of the Day" by Linkin Park - Linkin Park is back and better than ever (and apologies to those that disagree with me). I'll be honest, I never did care much for this group when they first began releasing music. But their latest album is like a breath of fresh air for me. "What I've Done" was the first song released from their latest album, "Minutes to Midnight," and I found that song to be exceptional. "Shadow of the Day" is more softer and an easy-listening tune. But it is just as good as "What I've Done." It's no surprise they've been as successful as they have and sometimes they are not afraid to take risks and re-engineer their sound.
"Falling Down" by Duran Duran - Here's another group that made a resurgence in 2007 with the long-awaited debut of their newest album. When I heard Justin Timberlake actually helped write this song for the group, I was pleasantly surprised. He actually made it sound really good for Duran Duran. The group has been around for a long time and have produced a number of hit songs including "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Rio", "Come Undone," and "Ordinary World;" the songs that are my most favorite from Duran Duran. It's nice to see a group that has had momentous success back in the 80's and 90's continue to have success today.
"Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance - It was nice to see the group My Chemical Romance return to the charts after releasing their 2006 song "Welcome to the Black Parade," which proved to be a nice hit for the group. "Teenagers" is a really fun song with an even greater video. It's a song that brings to life teenage angst and it really highlights the point that parents and adults do not understand teenagers - thus, the reason they need to rebel. But it's their message that continues to get lost in translation. This is a nice way of My Chemical Romance to reach out to the teenage crowd (if they didn't already) and write a song for them.
And so to wrap up 2007, I give to you my top 3 songs of the year! They are: "Dig" by Incubus, "Apologize" by One Republic, and "If You're Gonna Leave" by Emerson Hart. It was actually a pretty difficult decision, but I feel pretty happy with these selections. They proved to be the songs that I enjoyed listening to the most this year and songs I still like listening to! So with 2007 nearly in the books and a new year lurking around the corner, you can be sure 2008 will bring us some great new songs to enjoy and you can bet that I will be blogging about them. So to all of my loyal blog readers out there; Happy New Year!!!
By the way, some of these songs have been out for close to two months, so if they seem a little dated for this blog, they probably are.
"Sorry" by Buckcherry - So Buckcherry is a band that I knew absolutely nothing about when I first heard this song hit the air waves. It's a softer sounding song with a rock edge to it. The song is basically one big apology for a variety of wrongdoings listed in the lyrics. It's quite catchy and has a nice tune to it. The group has been around since the mid-1990's and has had a few band members leave throughout their existence. According to their Wikipedia entry, "Sorry" is a release from their previous album and they are currently in the studio working on their latest album.
"The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls - Another group I was unfamiliar with up until the release of this song. And after doing some research about them, it's understandable why, because they formed the group at the end of 2005. "The Great Escape" was not a song I liked at first, but it was one that I grew into and now enjoy listening to. It's a youthful, teenage kind of song that evokes the message of freedom and independence. It's the first song released from their debut album. The next song to be released is called "Hero/Heroine" and may have already hit the airwaves where you live.
"Shadow of the Day" by Linkin Park - Linkin Park is back and better than ever (and apologies to those that disagree with me). I'll be honest, I never did care much for this group when they first began releasing music. But their latest album is like a breath of fresh air for me. "What I've Done" was the first song released from their latest album, "Minutes to Midnight," and I found that song to be exceptional. "Shadow of the Day" is more softer and an easy-listening tune. But it is just as good as "What I've Done." It's no surprise they've been as successful as they have and sometimes they are not afraid to take risks and re-engineer their sound.
"Falling Down" by Duran Duran - Here's another group that made a resurgence in 2007 with the long-awaited debut of their newest album. When I heard Justin Timberlake actually helped write this song for the group, I was pleasantly surprised. He actually made it sound really good for Duran Duran. The group has been around for a long time and have produced a number of hit songs including "Hungry Like the Wolf," "Rio", "Come Undone," and "Ordinary World;" the songs that are my most favorite from Duran Duran. It's nice to see a group that has had momentous success back in the 80's and 90's continue to have success today.
"Teenagers" by My Chemical Romance - It was nice to see the group My Chemical Romance return to the charts after releasing their 2006 song "Welcome to the Black Parade," which proved to be a nice hit for the group. "Teenagers" is a really fun song with an even greater video. It's a song that brings to life teenage angst and it really highlights the point that parents and adults do not understand teenagers - thus, the reason they need to rebel. But it's their message that continues to get lost in translation. This is a nice way of My Chemical Romance to reach out to the teenage crowd (if they didn't already) and write a song for them.
And so to wrap up 2007, I give to you my top 3 songs of the year! They are: "Dig" by Incubus, "Apologize" by One Republic, and "If You're Gonna Leave" by Emerson Hart. It was actually a pretty difficult decision, but I feel pretty happy with these selections. They proved to be the songs that I enjoyed listening to the most this year and songs I still like listening to! So with 2007 nearly in the books and a new year lurking around the corner, you can be sure 2008 will bring us some great new songs to enjoy and you can bet that I will be blogging about them. So to all of my loyal blog readers out there; Happy New Year!!!
Weather - 12/31/07
I haven't done one of these in awhile ... so I think I'm well overdue. Anyways, the weather in my part of Upper Michigan has been pretty tranquil the last few days. We even saw the sun today for the first time in awhile. Temperatures were pretty moderate for this time of the year. Highs in the mid-20's and lows in the teens. Big changes are in the works overnight tonight into tomorrow as a brief shot of arctic air moves in. North to northwest winds will blow across Lake Superior causing heavy lake effect snow to drop along the leeside of the lake. As much as ten inches of snow could fall in favored snow belt areas. An even bigger change is expected as we head towards the weekend as a dramatic rise in temperatures are predicted with the potential for record warmth for much of the country; including the U.P. where rain is forecasted and temperatures will remain above freezing for an extended period of time.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Year that Was 2007
Christmas has now come and gone for another year and we have a new year in which we can usher in with a bunch of fanfare. Unfortunately I won't be able to ring in the new year like most people as I will be at work when the clock strikes midnight! Not like I've done all that much when I've been able to enjoy it in the past; but hopefully next year I'll be able to catch the ball drop that takes place in our small city every year - that is, if it's not cancelled because of a lack of funds like it almost was this year. Not that I am a big drinking person mind you like a lot of people are on New Years Eve, but it would be nice to check out that event for once in my life at least.
With 2007 nearly over, it's time to look back at the year that was in my personal life. And I can basically sum it up in one word: uneventful. Yep, that's right ... not a whole lot went on in my life this year and that's not necessarily a bad thing, because as the saying goes, no news is good news. My life was pretty stable in 2007. I lived in my current apartment the entire year (no moving this year), my employment status was stable (no layoffs, no shutdowns, no strikes), and my family life was stable as well (no deaths, births, illnesses, etc). In that regard I am very thankful. I guess probably one of the most exciting events of 2007 was going through a hellacious hail storm inside of an Applebee's restaurant with the lights flickering inside of the restaurant and watching the hail pound the heck out of my dad's 1994 Chevy pick-up. That took place in July and was an event that I'll never forget.
My love life, or lack thereof remained pretty much the same as it did in 2006. Although this year I did date a couple of different girls, but it just didn't work out. Hopefully the new year will help me find my true love. But I have come to find out that love ain't easy, and I am definitely someone not looking to rush into anything. I would like things for start slow, kind of get to know the person really well, and then see where things end up. I think in my last relationship, I kind of freaked the girl out by acting like she was the one for me when she didn't feel the same about me. Apparently she found her true match as she's looking to marry the guy and have his kids! So much for being patient and taking her time.
2008 should be a much more active year for me. It'll be an important year for my employer as our union's contract expires on September 1, 2008. If the contract negotiations go south, I may be headed to the picket lines as we go on strike. I hope that doesn't happen, but you never know exactly how things will end up. In this day of increasing health care costs and companies looking to eliminate pension plans, it may very well be an interesting round of negotiations with the company. Not only that, but there should be some stipulations in the contract that just might determine how long the mine I work at will remain open. Either it will remain open awhile longer but with a reduced work force or continue at the same work force and close sooner. Also additional ore reserves may allow us to remain open for a long time to come. Lets just say there are a lot of uncertainties with my job not only next year but for many years to come. 2008 is just the start of an uncertain time at the mine.
If contract negotiations go well and a strike is either averted or settled pretty quickly, I will begin the process of house hunting. I will be looking for a permanent place of residence somewhere relatively close to my place of employment. It should be an interesting challenge trying to find the right house for my needs. There is a lot of time between now and early fall to really decide on the kind of house for me. Whether it'll be fairly new or a fixer-upper or something small that I can eventually add-on to. I guess that remains to be seen as we progress through the new year. Maybe I can find a duplex and rent out the other half like my dad has suggested I do if I happen to find a duplex. House hunting should be an interesting thing to experience for the first time in my life.
Well, that just about does it for now. The new year is less than a week away. Hope that your new year ends up being a pleasant and enjoyable one for ya.
With 2007 nearly over, it's time to look back at the year that was in my personal life. And I can basically sum it up in one word: uneventful. Yep, that's right ... not a whole lot went on in my life this year and that's not necessarily a bad thing, because as the saying goes, no news is good news. My life was pretty stable in 2007. I lived in my current apartment the entire year (no moving this year), my employment status was stable (no layoffs, no shutdowns, no strikes), and my family life was stable as well (no deaths, births, illnesses, etc). In that regard I am very thankful. I guess probably one of the most exciting events of 2007 was going through a hellacious hail storm inside of an Applebee's restaurant with the lights flickering inside of the restaurant and watching the hail pound the heck out of my dad's 1994 Chevy pick-up. That took place in July and was an event that I'll never forget.
My love life, or lack thereof remained pretty much the same as it did in 2006. Although this year I did date a couple of different girls, but it just didn't work out. Hopefully the new year will help me find my true love. But I have come to find out that love ain't easy, and I am definitely someone not looking to rush into anything. I would like things for start slow, kind of get to know the person really well, and then see where things end up. I think in my last relationship, I kind of freaked the girl out by acting like she was the one for me when she didn't feel the same about me. Apparently she found her true match as she's looking to marry the guy and have his kids! So much for being patient and taking her time.
2008 should be a much more active year for me. It'll be an important year for my employer as our union's contract expires on September 1, 2008. If the contract negotiations go south, I may be headed to the picket lines as we go on strike. I hope that doesn't happen, but you never know exactly how things will end up. In this day of increasing health care costs and companies looking to eliminate pension plans, it may very well be an interesting round of negotiations with the company. Not only that, but there should be some stipulations in the contract that just might determine how long the mine I work at will remain open. Either it will remain open awhile longer but with a reduced work force or continue at the same work force and close sooner. Also additional ore reserves may allow us to remain open for a long time to come. Lets just say there are a lot of uncertainties with my job not only next year but for many years to come. 2008 is just the start of an uncertain time at the mine.
If contract negotiations go well and a strike is either averted or settled pretty quickly, I will begin the process of house hunting. I will be looking for a permanent place of residence somewhere relatively close to my place of employment. It should be an interesting challenge trying to find the right house for my needs. There is a lot of time between now and early fall to really decide on the kind of house for me. Whether it'll be fairly new or a fixer-upper or something small that I can eventually add-on to. I guess that remains to be seen as we progress through the new year. Maybe I can find a duplex and rent out the other half like my dad has suggested I do if I happen to find a duplex. House hunting should be an interesting thing to experience for the first time in my life.
Well, that just about does it for now. The new year is less than a week away. Hope that your new year ends up being a pleasant and enjoyable one for ya.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Christmas Day
It's finally here. December 25th, 2007; Christmas Day. You know, as I think back to previous Christmas days, a flood of memories come back. It seems as if Christmas traditions are ever changing for my family. For Christmas Eve, we always went over to my grandma's house and had dinner and opened presents. Then of course on Christmas morning, we'd all wake up and open presents brought to us by Santa. Now Christmas Eve is our traditional night we go to Christmas mass. Once we got home, we'd open up presents and then next day we'd have Christmas dinner. Well, seeing as both my dad and I were asleep by 9:30 last night (we both were up early that morning for work), we didn't get a chance to open gifts and that will wait until later today. But my mom and I did attend Christmas mass at our familiar community church where I hadn't been in close to three years. Nothing about the church itself had changed; all the asthetics were just as I had remembered. But the biggest change were the people and how much everyone had gotten older. Three years does not seem like a long time, but when you've been away for that long, it can be a long time. I saw many familiar faces, saw a couple of old classmates, shook hands with people I knew, and took in the whole atmosphere of the Christmas season within that church. It really was worth visiting that old church again; and what better time than on Christmas Eve.
Probably my most favorite present I had ever received on Christmas was when I got my first video game system, which ended up being the original Nintendo console. I remember lifting the large box the Nintendo came in and began to rip off the wrapping paper and saw what was on the box. I was overjoyed and excited. I don't think I stopped playing Nintendo at all that first day as it was the coolest thing I had ever played. But I tell ya, that gift of all of the ones I had received when I was young was probably my favorite and it ranks up there as one of my personal favorite Christmas moments of all - and it helps that my dad video taped it, too! In fact, I just might watch all of our past Christmas moments on tape today. Why not make that one of our newest Christmas family traditions. I know there are some great Christmas moments to look back upon.
Christmas Eve at my grandma's was always a blast. We'd get there fairly early, and some years we even arrived after church - but not always. A few of my cousins and uncles would already be there - and although I was never that close with a lot of them, it was nice being together even if it was just that one time a year. We'd open up presents, enjoy a good Christmas meal that my grandma had cooked up, and just generally enjoy each other's company. It has been some years now since we've been over at my grandma's house on Christmas Eve. People have grown up and it has no longer become an important destination for the Christmas season. My grandma has also been in declining health for some time now and she can no longer do the things that she used to be able to. So now we just hold our own immediate family traditions. At least we have the memories of those previous Christmas Eve's and are able to enjoy Christmas in a new way.
You know, even though we grow up and Christmas may not seem like it did when we were kids. But the holiday still gives us this special feeling and makes us feel great about things. We may be occupied with work or other activities that may not allow us to enjoy the season as much anymore, but when it comes to Christmas day - then it's a different story. Most everyone in the world has the day off so everyone is able to be with family. We're able to open presents, enjoy a wonderful Christmas meal, watch Christmas programming on TV, and everyone is in good spirits - even if it's just for one day. It's unlike any other day of the year. And unless you're a Scrooge about the day, it really gives you a good feeling about things. Now tomorrow things will probably go back to normal, but at least for one day out of the year - this day is really special for us all.
To all of my blog readers - whether you're loyal and always log in to see if there's a new blog posting each and every day, or those that happen to stumble upon it, I wish each and everyone one of you a very merry Christmas! May you be able to spend it with the people you love and have a most enjoyable and joyous time.
Probably my most favorite present I had ever received on Christmas was when I got my first video game system, which ended up being the original Nintendo console. I remember lifting the large box the Nintendo came in and began to rip off the wrapping paper and saw what was on the box. I was overjoyed and excited. I don't think I stopped playing Nintendo at all that first day as it was the coolest thing I had ever played. But I tell ya, that gift of all of the ones I had received when I was young was probably my favorite and it ranks up there as one of my personal favorite Christmas moments of all - and it helps that my dad video taped it, too! In fact, I just might watch all of our past Christmas moments on tape today. Why not make that one of our newest Christmas family traditions. I know there are some great Christmas moments to look back upon.
Christmas Eve at my grandma's was always a blast. We'd get there fairly early, and some years we even arrived after church - but not always. A few of my cousins and uncles would already be there - and although I was never that close with a lot of them, it was nice being together even if it was just that one time a year. We'd open up presents, enjoy a good Christmas meal that my grandma had cooked up, and just generally enjoy each other's company. It has been some years now since we've been over at my grandma's house on Christmas Eve. People have grown up and it has no longer become an important destination for the Christmas season. My grandma has also been in declining health for some time now and she can no longer do the things that she used to be able to. So now we just hold our own immediate family traditions. At least we have the memories of those previous Christmas Eve's and are able to enjoy Christmas in a new way.
You know, even though we grow up and Christmas may not seem like it did when we were kids. But the holiday still gives us this special feeling and makes us feel great about things. We may be occupied with work or other activities that may not allow us to enjoy the season as much anymore, but when it comes to Christmas day - then it's a different story. Most everyone in the world has the day off so everyone is able to be with family. We're able to open presents, enjoy a wonderful Christmas meal, watch Christmas programming on TV, and everyone is in good spirits - even if it's just for one day. It's unlike any other day of the year. And unless you're a Scrooge about the day, it really gives you a good feeling about things. Now tomorrow things will probably go back to normal, but at least for one day out of the year - this day is really special for us all.
To all of my blog readers - whether you're loyal and always log in to see if there's a new blog posting each and every day, or those that happen to stumble upon it, I wish each and everyone one of you a very merry Christmas! May you be able to spend it with the people you love and have a most enjoyable and joyous time.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A Time to Sing
Wow. Christmas is only two days away. To me, it seems the holiday season just started not that long ago. And now already it is nearing a close. The holiday season just isn't as fulfilling as it used to be when you're a child. Christmas really was the most wonderful time of the year then. Now it just doesn't have that same luster. Welcome to adulthood. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas just seemed to last so much longer when I was a kid. Now that I'm a full-time worker and don't really get to enjoy the holidays as much as I used to, it really seems to go by quick. I'd say this is probably the fastest the holiday season has gone by yet. And I don't even have any kids!
But of course when you're a kid, there are just so many more events to enjoy and participate in to get you in the Christmas spirit. One of those events that continues for children around the world to this day are Christmas programs. As part of the music program at our school, each grade would sing a Christmas song for the elementary program. I am sure many kids hated this part of the Christmas season, but I actually enjoyed it very much. I've always enjoyed Christmas and one of my favorite things about this holiday are the wide variety of Christmas songs that accompany it. I've always listened and sang along to Christmas songs, so the Christmas program at school was my cup of tea. We'd all arrive at the school for a designated time and meet in our classrooms. We'd take our shoes off and walk around in our socks since the program was taking place in the gymnasium and they wanted to protect the floor. From Kindergarten to sixth grade, each class performed a Christmas song. It was always nerve wracking to be up on stage in front of a large audience, but something that made it comforting was being amongst all of your fellow classmates. It made singing that much easier. Probably some of my favorite songs that our class sang during the elementary programs were "Up on the Housetop," "All I Want for Christmas," and "We Wish you a Merry Christmas." I can't seem to recall any others, but it was definitely an enjoyable time and really got me into the Christmas spirit.
As I moved into junior high, there were no more Christmas programs to take part in. My seventh and eighth grades lacked any kind of "choral" performances for me. But once I moved into high school, I took part in my school's choir. I was kind of hesitant to join the choir at first because I didn't know if it would be something I enjoyed. In time, I learned to enjoy it. And with being in a choir, we got to take part in the high school Christmas program. We usually ended up singing two to three Christmas songs. Some of them were Christmas medlies, others were classic Christmas songs, and one year, we even sang a song along with the high school band! Now that was a cool experience. During the final day of school before Christmas break and during our high school choir class period, we would parade around the school singing Christmas carols in the hallways. At first I enjoyed this, but once I got to my senior year, a part of me didn't like this tradition anymore. We went to sing to the elementary kids but when it was time to head down to the high school wing of the school, a bunch of us bolted and made a run for it back to the music room. Our teacher didn't repremand us for doing so; so maybe she didn't notice (but I think she did). All in all, high school choir ended up being a very fun class for me, especially during the Christmas season!
Even for church, as part of our catechism classes in high school, we'd go out in the community and sing Christmas carols to elderly citizens in our area. We'd visit the elderly apartment building, assisted living homes, and elderly residences and sing them songs of the Christmas season. We even made one elderly woman weep because she was so happy we stopped by to sing. It really made you feel good to see these people so happy and greatful for a visit by us. And church was another time when you'd hear songs of the season and plenty of them! I don't go to church much anymore which is a pity. But the Christmas season was definitely my most favorite time of year to attend church because of the Christmas songs and the way the church was decorated so beautifully. I just might have to attend mass tomorrow night on Christmas Eve at my church for old times sake. It's been a long time; and what better way to attend than for the Christmas season.
A good way to enjoy the Christmas season is to listen to the wonderful sounds of this holiday. Put in a Christmas tape, CD, or even a record (if you still have them) and sing or at least whistle along. It's something I haven't done a whole lot this Christmas and I've realized I'd better do now before it's all over.
But of course when you're a kid, there are just so many more events to enjoy and participate in to get you in the Christmas spirit. One of those events that continues for children around the world to this day are Christmas programs. As part of the music program at our school, each grade would sing a Christmas song for the elementary program. I am sure many kids hated this part of the Christmas season, but I actually enjoyed it very much. I've always enjoyed Christmas and one of my favorite things about this holiday are the wide variety of Christmas songs that accompany it. I've always listened and sang along to Christmas songs, so the Christmas program at school was my cup of tea. We'd all arrive at the school for a designated time and meet in our classrooms. We'd take our shoes off and walk around in our socks since the program was taking place in the gymnasium and they wanted to protect the floor. From Kindergarten to sixth grade, each class performed a Christmas song. It was always nerve wracking to be up on stage in front of a large audience, but something that made it comforting was being amongst all of your fellow classmates. It made singing that much easier. Probably some of my favorite songs that our class sang during the elementary programs were "Up on the Housetop," "All I Want for Christmas," and "We Wish you a Merry Christmas." I can't seem to recall any others, but it was definitely an enjoyable time and really got me into the Christmas spirit.
As I moved into junior high, there were no more Christmas programs to take part in. My seventh and eighth grades lacked any kind of "choral" performances for me. But once I moved into high school, I took part in my school's choir. I was kind of hesitant to join the choir at first because I didn't know if it would be something I enjoyed. In time, I learned to enjoy it. And with being in a choir, we got to take part in the high school Christmas program. We usually ended up singing two to three Christmas songs. Some of them were Christmas medlies, others were classic Christmas songs, and one year, we even sang a song along with the high school band! Now that was a cool experience. During the final day of school before Christmas break and during our high school choir class period, we would parade around the school singing Christmas carols in the hallways. At first I enjoyed this, but once I got to my senior year, a part of me didn't like this tradition anymore. We went to sing to the elementary kids but when it was time to head down to the high school wing of the school, a bunch of us bolted and made a run for it back to the music room. Our teacher didn't repremand us for doing so; so maybe she didn't notice (but I think she did). All in all, high school choir ended up being a very fun class for me, especially during the Christmas season!
Even for church, as part of our catechism classes in high school, we'd go out in the community and sing Christmas carols to elderly citizens in our area. We'd visit the elderly apartment building, assisted living homes, and elderly residences and sing them songs of the Christmas season. We even made one elderly woman weep because she was so happy we stopped by to sing. It really made you feel good to see these people so happy and greatful for a visit by us. And church was another time when you'd hear songs of the season and plenty of them! I don't go to church much anymore which is a pity. But the Christmas season was definitely my most favorite time of year to attend church because of the Christmas songs and the way the church was decorated so beautifully. I just might have to attend mass tomorrow night on Christmas Eve at my church for old times sake. It's been a long time; and what better way to attend than for the Christmas season.
A good way to enjoy the Christmas season is to listen to the wonderful sounds of this holiday. Put in a Christmas tape, CD, or even a record (if you still have them) and sing or at least whistle along. It's something I haven't done a whole lot this Christmas and I've realized I'd better do now before it's all over.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Weather Review
The weather has been relatively tranquil the past three or so days. Saturday morning brought some lake effect snow showers into the area, depositing around three to four inches of snow. Other than that, the conditions have been pretty spectacular for early winter. We've had generally sunny skies with temperatures mainly around 20 degrees. We've had a few days where the temps stayed in the teens and overnight lows dropped below zero, but it's really nothing unusual. Yes, those temperatures are below average, but we've been above average for so long that it's actually kind of nice to be below average. And it's not like we're getting pounded with snow for days on end. Our next significant chance of snow could come through next week as a clipper looks to drop through and crank up the lake effect snow machine.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Weather - 12/5/07
What do you know? The snow finally stopped! It snowed quite heavily overnight, with some locations picking up an additional six to eight inches of lake effect snow. But finally by this afternoon, the snow moved off to the east and the sun finally appeared for the first time in several days. Total accumulations from the past five days in certain locations have reached 30 to 35 inches. Temperatures remain pretty chilly, staying around 20 degrees during the day and in the teens at night. The winter weather appears to stick around for the next five days with additional chances of snow and chilly temperatures.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Weather - 12/4/07
The weather word of the day is - SNOW! Yes, we have picked up an additional accumulation of snow since yesterday. Anywhere from four to six inches of snow have fallen. Temperatures remain rather chilly with highs around 20 and lows in the teens. This time of the year, the sun is rarely out. The last few days have been very cloudy. Things don't look to change within the next few days. The lake effect appears to remain rather dominant with northerly winds and chilly temperatures forecasted.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Memory
Have you ever encountered this problem before? You're having a conversation with someone and you're discussing a particular individual. The only problem is, you can't think of their name! It happens to me all of the time, especially when it comes to remembering people from my past. I've always admitted that I am terrible with names. If I haven't been around a person for five years or more and they're someone that I never really socialized with that often, their names eventually become filtered out of my mind. Sometimes it's like a vacuum, a wasteland of memories that get erased after a period of time. Unfortunately that's how many people are when it comes to remembering things; not just names, but memories, too. You hope that someday you will always remember things when you were a kid, or in high school, and even college. But after awhile, only the most significant memories remain and all the rest become forgotten.
Do you ever try to think back to when you were a little boy or girl and try to recall the earliest memory that you can think of? I've tried doing this before and I believe the earliest memory from when I was a child was when I was still in my crib and I was picturing these green scary faces on the ceiling of my bedroom in the middle of the night. I kid you not, for I remember standing up in my crib, crying as these images swirled around the ceiling. I do believe this is why I had a nightlight in my room for most of my childhood as I was picturing these scary creatures in my room. But isn't that how it goes for most people when they're kids; imagining scary creatures in a room or closet? This is definitely the earliest memory that I can recall. At times certain memories will pop up of your childhood but after your mind drifts away for a long period of time, they vanish like thin air.
Unfortunately I have very few memories of both of my grandfathers; as they both passed away around the time when I was five or six. I honestly could not believe myself today when I couldn't remember my one grandpa's name (my dad's father) right away. I had to think about it; but then I realized he had the same first name as my uncle. But wow, just that example right there is an instance where not seeing someone for a long period of time and especially someone with whom you have very few memories of is when you can't remember a name. Too bad it's that way, but I guess it is what it is. Thankfully we're able to ponder for awhile and in due time, the name will come up. In most cases that's how it is for me, but there are certain names that I continually draw a blank on, even though I can see their faces! It's definitely hard getting old.
I've definitely learned one thing as I've grown into adult-hood. Enjoy your youth while you can. Do you remember the song, "Everyone's Free to Wear Sunscrean" almost ten years ago? If you haven't heard it in awhile, it has some rather inspirational words. In fact, I consider it to be an age-less song, because today's and future generations can follow its message. With age comes the continual loss of memory. Alzheimers or dementia are memory-depleating diseases. Keep a journal, create a blog, jot down some notes of the activities of your day. Someday, they will definitely come in handy when you try remembering certain activities back in the day. And at least one thing it'll accomplish is hopefully bringing back to life some wonderful memories for years to come.
Do you ever try to think back to when you were a little boy or girl and try to recall the earliest memory that you can think of? I've tried doing this before and I believe the earliest memory from when I was a child was when I was still in my crib and I was picturing these green scary faces on the ceiling of my bedroom in the middle of the night. I kid you not, for I remember standing up in my crib, crying as these images swirled around the ceiling. I do believe this is why I had a nightlight in my room for most of my childhood as I was picturing these scary creatures in my room. But isn't that how it goes for most people when they're kids; imagining scary creatures in a room or closet? This is definitely the earliest memory that I can recall. At times certain memories will pop up of your childhood but after your mind drifts away for a long period of time, they vanish like thin air.
Unfortunately I have very few memories of both of my grandfathers; as they both passed away around the time when I was five or six. I honestly could not believe myself today when I couldn't remember my one grandpa's name (my dad's father) right away. I had to think about it; but then I realized he had the same first name as my uncle. But wow, just that example right there is an instance where not seeing someone for a long period of time and especially someone with whom you have very few memories of is when you can't remember a name. Too bad it's that way, but I guess it is what it is. Thankfully we're able to ponder for awhile and in due time, the name will come up. In most cases that's how it is for me, but there are certain names that I continually draw a blank on, even though I can see their faces! It's definitely hard getting old.
I've definitely learned one thing as I've grown into adult-hood. Enjoy your youth while you can. Do you remember the song, "Everyone's Free to Wear Sunscrean" almost ten years ago? If you haven't heard it in awhile, it has some rather inspirational words. In fact, I consider it to be an age-less song, because today's and future generations can follow its message. With age comes the continual loss of memory. Alzheimers or dementia are memory-depleating diseases. Keep a journal, create a blog, jot down some notes of the activities of your day. Someday, they will definitely come in handy when you try remembering certain activities back in the day. And at least one thing it'll accomplish is hopefully bringing back to life some wonderful memories for years to come.
Weather - 12/3/07
Needless to say, the weather has gotten quite wintery in the Upper Peninsula. A major winter storm overspread the region on Saturday and continued into the next day. Six to 12 inches of snow blanketed the region; with residents also enduring strong winds at times. The temperatures warmed into the low to mid 30's on Sunday but the precipitation continued as snow with some freezing rain and drizzle mixing in at times. There was a break in the snow for awhile during the day on Sunday, but then the lake effect snows kicked in. In the lake effect snowbelts, an additional six to 12 inches has fallen. The snow continues tonight and the temperatures have cooled off some into the 20's. It's definitely got that winter-time feel around these parts; just in time for the Christmas season!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Weather - 11/30/07
The weather today was very chilly. Temperatures hovered around 10 degrees all day; making today the coldest day of the season thus far. The sunshine was out all day, though, but it did not make a difference in warming things up outside. A cool northerly wind made it feel that much colder. Last night we had temperatures below zero with clear skies, as well. We are definitely in a chilly pattern right now - and a big storm looks to move in just in time for the weekend.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Favorite Christmas Specials
Tis the season to be jolly - and what a great way to get into the Christmas spirit than by watching some awesome Christmas specials from the past. A lot of these air to this day, making them long-time classics. It's not Christmas until you've seen all of these, and thanks to YouTube, it makes it that much easier to watch them!
Here is what I consider to be the most classic of all Christmas Specials: "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
PART 1 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
PART 2 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
PART 3 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
The next is a special that used to air every Christmas season on CBS, but nowadays, the only way you'll be able to watch it is if you have it on DVD or you watch it on YouTube (thankfully someone uploaded it there). I guess CBS stopped airing it around the time they cancelled the Saturday Morning cartoon. It's "A Garfield Christmas"!
PART 1 - A Garfield Christmas
PART 2 - A Garfield Christmas
PART 3 - A Garfield Christmas
And what's a Christmas special without Santa and his reindeer? In fact, this next Christmas special is about one of Santa's reindeer that was born with a shiny red nose. You guessed it; it's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This long-time special dates back to 1964 and has been a long-time staple for CBS during the Christmas season. In fact, it is set to air this Tuesday, December 4 at 8:00 PM (EST). But, if you can't wait until then, here is your chance to watch it now!
PART 1 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 2 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 3 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 4 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 5 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 6 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Next up is the special that features an inanimate object that suddenly comes to life when a magic had is placed on his head. That's right; it's Frosty the Snowman! I'm sure you all know the carol by heart and if you've watched this special year after year, you should know the details of the story pretty well, too. A newer adaptation was created in the late 1990's, but doesn't nearly hold a candle to this one that still regularly airs on CBS every Christmas season. Happy birthday!
PART 1 - Frosty the Snowman
PART 2 - Frosty the Snowman
PART 3 - Frosty the Snowman
Last but not least is a Christmas special that I consider to be a more recent classic but one that has quickly become forgotten by many that grew up as kids in the 80's. It hasn't been on television since at least the early 1990's and can only be seen on DVD and on YouTube. It's called "A Claymation Christmas" created by legendary claymation artist Will Vinton. Some rather kooky characters are featured in this special (including the California Raisons) singing classic Christmas carols. If you haven't seen this one in years, it'll sure to bring back some good memories. Enjoy!
PART 1 - A Claymation Christmas
PART 2 - A Claymation Christmas
PART 3 - A Claymation Christmas
So there you have it, some of the very best Christmas specials that exist to this day. Hopefully by watching these, it'll help you get in the Christmas spirit as well. Enjoy!
Here is what I consider to be the most classic of all Christmas Specials: "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
PART 1 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
PART 2 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
PART 3 - A Charlie Brown Christmas
The next is a special that used to air every Christmas season on CBS, but nowadays, the only way you'll be able to watch it is if you have it on DVD or you watch it on YouTube (thankfully someone uploaded it there). I guess CBS stopped airing it around the time they cancelled the Saturday Morning cartoon. It's "A Garfield Christmas"!
PART 1 - A Garfield Christmas
PART 2 - A Garfield Christmas
PART 3 - A Garfield Christmas
And what's a Christmas special without Santa and his reindeer? In fact, this next Christmas special is about one of Santa's reindeer that was born with a shiny red nose. You guessed it; it's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This long-time special dates back to 1964 and has been a long-time staple for CBS during the Christmas season. In fact, it is set to air this Tuesday, December 4 at 8:00 PM (EST). But, if you can't wait until then, here is your chance to watch it now!
PART 1 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 2 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 3 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 4 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 5 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
PART 6 - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Next up is the special that features an inanimate object that suddenly comes to life when a magic had is placed on his head. That's right; it's Frosty the Snowman! I'm sure you all know the carol by heart and if you've watched this special year after year, you should know the details of the story pretty well, too. A newer adaptation was created in the late 1990's, but doesn't nearly hold a candle to this one that still regularly airs on CBS every Christmas season. Happy birthday!
PART 1 - Frosty the Snowman
PART 2 - Frosty the Snowman
PART 3 - Frosty the Snowman
Last but not least is a Christmas special that I consider to be a more recent classic but one that has quickly become forgotten by many that grew up as kids in the 80's. It hasn't been on television since at least the early 1990's and can only be seen on DVD and on YouTube. It's called "A Claymation Christmas" created by legendary claymation artist Will Vinton. Some rather kooky characters are featured in this special (including the California Raisons) singing classic Christmas carols. If you haven't seen this one in years, it'll sure to bring back some good memories. Enjoy!
PART 1 - A Claymation Christmas
PART 2 - A Claymation Christmas
PART 3 - A Claymation Christmas
So there you have it, some of the very best Christmas specials that exist to this day. Hopefully by watching these, it'll help you get in the Christmas spirit as well. Enjoy!
Friday, November 23, 2007
Weather - 11/23/07
It was a very chilly day today, overall. Temperatures hovered in the low 20's all day, but the sun did appear for most of the day making it seem better than what it was. Those who ventured out early this morning for the deals at the stores had to endure temperatures in the teens and a slight northerly wind. This evening is proving to be quite chilly as well, with a brisk wind and temperatures dropping quickly under a clear sky. We are definitely easing into that winter mode, despite not much snow on the ground.
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