Mourning Two Family Losses

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

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

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

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

The Center of It All: Marquette, MI

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

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

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

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

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

American Idol 10 - Top 13

I barely have enough time to finish writing this week's top 13 American Idol performance recap before the night is over - in fact, the results show has already been over for almost an hour! Well anyways, I finally got it completed. You know, it takes a lot of time recapping all 13 contestants. I try to keep my comments fairly short, but some need longer recaps than others. Nevertheless, here is this week's recap. It's featuring songs from each contestant's musical idols, and some have some interesting choices for idols. Here's how it all went down...

Lauren Alaina - "Any Man of Mine" by Shania Twain : One of the proverbial favorites goes first tonight with another country tune. I wasn't aware she was a big country fan, so color me surprised two weeks in a row. Yes, the song is a fun one to sing, particularly in a karaoke bar. But by no means do I think it's a smart song to sing on American Idol. It was just an okay performance by Lauren. I mean sure, she sang it fine but it's not a performance I find to be all that memorable. She seemed rather surprised by the negative critiques she got from the judges. Lauren must not be lazy with her song selections from here on out, otherwise she'll be in for a rude awakening and an even quicker departure from the show.

Casey Abrams - "With a Little Help from My Friends" version from Joe Cocker : Casey is one of this season's eclectic performers, who you cannot help but root for. He has a comedic side to him, yet he's a pretty good singer, too. I wasn't sure if this was going to be the right song for Casey, but he was absolutely stellar. He infused a lot of energy into the performance and gave it all he got. It's not a song that really shows off a singer's vocals per se, yet it suited Casey quite well. He really got the crowd into his performance and it was one of the most energetic of the night.

Ashthon Jones - "When You Tell Me That You Love Me" by Diana Ross : Ashthon is one performer with big potential; she just needs to know how to use it and in the perfect moment. She could even be this season's diva; that is if she can stay in the competition long enough. She barely made it through last week, so we'll see if she's able to capitalize on another opportunity. All in all, I didn't think it was too bad of a performance. It was slightly boring and not all that memorable, but I did like the fact that she was able to turn the song into something current. It had a contemporary feel to it and the song didn't over power her. It was a decent performance, but there's definitely room for improvement.

Paul McDonald - "Come Pick Me Up" by Ryan Adams : Paul is up next and his song choice has me scratching my head a little bit. I know of Ryan Adams and I am familiar with a couple of his songs, but is he that mainstream nation-wide? Is enough of America going to recognize the song to connect with Paul's interpretation? I do rather enjoy his shout-outs to America before he sings - like he is so comfortable being out there. Yep, my earlier fears as to whether this song will work for Paul are confirmed. It started out rather slow and pretty low for Paul's range. Then as the tempo picked up, so did his pitchiness. Although I do enjoy his random movements on stage most of the time, I think it kind of threw him off during this performance. Certainly not his strongest night on the Idol stage.

Pia Toscano - "All By Myself" by Celine Dion : Here is one of last week's brightest stars - a memorable rendition of "I'll Stand By You" that had everyone on their feet after she had concluded singing. She has raised the bar quite high for herself so it will be interesting to see if she's able to keep that momentum going. I would like to see her experiment a bit and go away from the ballads, but there is no denying that she excels at performing the slower-tempo songs. And again, it's another strong performance by Pia. She even hits higher notes with such ease. She is quickly becoming one of this season's front runners with her vocal prowess.

James Durbin - "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney : As James performed this song, I think back to last season and remember Crystal Bowersox singing this song, hitting it out of the park. Let's see if James will have similar success. Despite some of his unfortunate comments during Hollywood week, I think James changed a lot of people's opinions of himself last week. And I think even more people are becoming Durbin fans after this week's performance. James picked a very smart song by one of the world's most enduring singers. I really enjoyed his look this week and I enjoyed his performance even more. His vocals were spot on, he didn't overdue it with his rocker-esque screech, and he presented himself quite well. Another strong week for James.

Haley Rinehart - "Blue" by LeAnn Rimes : Haley is one contestant who has sort of flown under the radar, but she has a unique sound to her voice that is unforgettable. However, she has to know when to use that uniqueness, otherwise it sounds off. Whether it was nerves or what-have-you, she's pitchy right from the get-go. She almost sounds like a strangled hound dog at times with her howl. Needless to say, I am not a fan of this performance and this song just not suit Haley all that well. She thinks she did well and had fun, but it did not translate well on the Idol stage. I think she could find herself in trouble during result's night.

Jacob Lusk - "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly : Here's one song that should be permanently banned from being performed on the Idol stage from here on out - because it's been performed too darn much, and to mixed results, too. However, I'm not upset that Jacob is performing it because maybe he'll be able to work his magic on it. It seems that thus far, everything he's performed has turned into a gospel affair, which is definitely not a bad thing. But tonight, it did not work. I actually thought the second half of the song was better than the first and I wasn't a huge fan of the falsetto-portion of the song, but he did seem to get things together at the end. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to save his performance this week. However, he's in no danger of going home anytime soon.

Thia Megia - "Smile" version by Michael Jackson : I don't entirely get Thia yet - and I understand that's how many people feel about her at this stage of the competition. A lot of people are wondering about her personality, because at this point it looks as if she doesn't have one. Yes, it's obvious she loves to sing and she is totally passionate about it. But we don't know much else about her, do we? What other hobbies does she enjoy, does she like school, etc? I mean there's no question she's an excellent singer. However I don't think she is connected to the American audience like she could be. Tonight's performance was great again, albeit not too memorable and kind of sleepy. Let's see if she's able to pick up the pace a little bit more one of these weeks.

Stefano Langone - "Lately" by Stevie Wonder : I have really been finding myself enjoying Stefano as a performer lately. I did not get a chance to comment on the wildcard performances of last week, but my god, the passion and soul he poured into that wildcard performance that solidified his spot in the top 13. It was well-deserved and so I am looking forward to more awesome performances by Stefano, now that I know that he is capable of such. Now this week wasn't quite as memorable as last for Stefano, but I did find his performance of this Stevie Wonder song to be enjoyable. I liked how the tempo picked up, although it was a tad-bit corny. However, he sang it well and every note was spot on. Now THIS is how you perform an up-tempo song.

Karen Rodriguez - "If I Could Fall In Love" by Selena : There is something very intriguing about Karen and I think it could be her bubbly personality. I enjoy her smile and she appears to be a very positive person. Now Karen is an example of someone who's personality we can connect to. Let's see if she's able to connect to the audience with her singing this week. All in all, I wouldn't say it was too bad. It certainly wasn't her best vocal. She seemed to struggle with the lower-end notes in the song, particularly in the beginning. It was a bit of an underwhelming performance from Karen and I know she is capable of much more.

Scotty McCreery - "The River" by Garth Brooks : Another one of this season's proverbial favorites, who had a bit of a rocky road, particularly during Hollywood week, but now seems to be hitting his stride. You know what would really surprise me one week, if he did anything but a country number. I am sure later on that could happen, especially if there are more specific themes. But Scotty is in a league of his own and totally excels on any country song he sings (except when he doesn't know the lyrics). I'm not a huge country fan but I've always enjoyed Garth Brooks' songs. So needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed Scotty's performance this week. It was a song that virtually everybody knows and he performed it splendidly.

Naima Adedapo - "Umbrella" by Rihanna : There have been a few contestants who have picked questionable song choices this week and Naima can be included in that bunch. It reminds me of Jordan Dorsey singing "OMG" and Ta-Tynisa Wilson singing "Only Girl" last week. These are not songs that caters to an individual's vocals. And Naima's performance was all over the place. However, she did something different with the song with the infusion of reggae into it and the little bit of rapping. And her dance moves were pretty cool. No, it wasn't the best vocal this season, but she made it very entertaining and it proved to be a nice way to cap off the night. I think Naima will be around for a few more weeks, at least.

Top 13 Performance Rankings:
1: Casey Abrams
2: James Durbin
3: Pia Toscano
4: Scotty McCreery
5: Naima Adedapo
6: Thia Megia
7: Stefano Langone
8: Lauren Alaina
9: Jacob Lusk
10: Paul McDonald
11: Karen Rodriguez
12: Ashthon Jones
13: Haley Rinehart

UPDATE: Ashthon Jones is sent home during tonight's results show. The judge's do not invoke the save.

American Idol 10 - Top 12 Girls

Here we are back at it again for another recap, this time the top 12 girls. The semi-finals this season are going to be much shorter, as tonight there will be a massive cut in contestants. We'll go from 24 down to 10 in one night! There is talk that next week, a wildcard show will take place which will allow two contestants previously eliminated the chance to join the ten that made it through and form this season's top 12. So we'll see how that all pans out next week. As for last night's girl's performances, here's how it all went down:

Ta-Tynisa Wilson - "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna : I guess I am a bit perplexed as to why Ta-Tynisa chose this song because it is not a song that really caters to a person's vocal abilities (much like Jordan two night's ago). It's such a fast-paced song that she seemed out of breath at times with it and she had difficulty keeping up. Plus the background singers and herself did not match up very well together. Her voice just didn't sound very good performing the song and it was just okay for me. It does not look like she'll be moving forward.

Naima Adedapo - "Summertime" by Ella Fitzgerald : Another questionable song choice, particularly when Fantasia in season two absolutely killed it, making it one of the greatest Idol performances of all time. So you know those comparisons are already going to take place. I actually thought she sang it pretty well, but I'm not sure that she made it all that memorable. She created this jazzy, loungy feel to it which is a pretty interesting combination. Naima definitely proved that she has the pipes to sing such a song; now we'll see if the voting audience connected with her.

Kendra Chantelle - "Impossible" by Christina Aguilera : Kendra had a couple of memorable performances prior to the green mile selection show, including her rendition of "Georgia on my Mind" and her duet with Paul McDonald on "Blackbird." So you know she has the capabilities of doing something special this season. And there's a lot of risk in doing a Christina Aguilera song but Kendra proved she was up to the challenge. She was in tune, she made the performance interesting, and she's got a pretty darn good voice. Nice job to Kendra.

Rachel Zevita - "Criminal" by Fiona Apple : The judges and/or producers in previous seasons (and to some extent this season) have always been on contestants to turn songs into their own. But, you don't want a song completely rearranged into something that makes it unrecognizable from the original. And that's exactly what Rachel did with "Criminal." I liked her attempt with the song, but it was just too much. I agree with Steven's assessment that it turned into a broadway-type performance, whether Rachel wanted to hear it or not. It just did not work on the Idol stage.

Karen Rodriguez - "Hero" by Mariah Carey : So Karen did something to turn this Mariah classic into her own; she sang half of it in Spanish! Prior to tonight, I didn't think she had much of a chance to make it to the top 12, but she just might have a fighting chance after last night's performance. I don't know that she did anything else different with the song, other than sing half of it in Spanish, but she proved that she can sing with the very best of the best on the girl's side of the competition. I certainly thought she made the song interesting to listen to.

Lauren Turner - "Seven Day Fool" by Etta James : Now here's a contestant on the girl's side in which I don't know very much about! I don't know if she received as much air time compared to the rest of the girls, but she proved with this performance that she belongs within the top 24, at least. It was such a fun, upbeat little ditty and she made it so contemporary! It's as if you could listen to that on the radio today, it sounded that good. Now that's how you perform an old classic like an Etta James song.

Ashton Jones - "Love Over Me" by Monica : This is one Monica song I am not familiar with, so Ashton is doing good by me in picking a more unfamiliar Monica song (at least in my eyes). I mean, she sang it pretty well, I'll give her that. But I don't know if it's a performance I am going to remember again tomorrow. Actually I don't remember any of her other performances prior to tonight! So that doesn't bode all that well for her. I will say this, she performed this Monica song pretty well, even though I wasn't a huge fan of the song when all is said and done.

Julie Zorrilla - "Breakaway" by Kelly Clarkson : There is always a risk in choosing a Kelly Clarkson song on this show, considering that she is THE original American Idol! If you choose such a song, you have to nail it, and sadly Julie did not. There were a lot of high expectations for Julie - she did such a stellar job during Hollywood week. But alas, it did not pan out as well during the first live show. It just wasn't the right song for her style. She was off-pitch and sharp in spots and it just did not flow together as well as when Kelly sang it originally. It just did not work.

Haley Rinehart - "Fallin'" by Alicia Keys : She has a really unique female voice, doesn't she? I remember her being rather up and down during Hollywood week, so we'll see if she can step it up here. It usually never bodes well for a contestant to perform an Alicia Keys song - nobody ever seems to have much success doing it! And I'd have to say the same for Haley. Right off the bat I knew it was going to be the wrong song for her. It just did not suit her vocal style. It almost seemed a bit too theatrical for me, as well. She should have tried a little less harder to prove herself - and to pick a different song, too!

Thia Megia - "Out Here on my Own" from the musical Fame : Thia is an amazing vocalist for someone so young, but some people do not find her singing to be all that endearing. Let's see if she's able to prove herself to those folks tonight. I actually thought it was a pretty decent performance. Maybe she wants to focus her talents towards broadway singing, because she performs those kinds of songs quite well. Her performance seemed to be controlled more so than usual, as if she was holding back a bit, and I didn't mind that at all. Nice first try on the big stage for Thia.

Lauren Alaina - "Turn on the Radio" by Reba McEntire : Here we have one of this season's front-runners, even Steven has her picked as being the winner already - and that was after her audition! Well, she has a long way to go yet, but she's off to an exceptional start. I actually thought she made a smart move by choosing a Reba song as opposed to choosing a Mariah, Whitney, or Alicia Keys song like a few of the others. She knows exactly who she is as a singer and she proved that she can sing country, too! It was an enjoyable, upbeat performance and she should glide right into this season's top 12.

Pia Toscano - "I'll Stand By You" by the Pretenders : Pia had that memorable moment in Hollywood week when she was with two other girls performing the song "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. Their performance of that song made me enjoy that song all the more. So we know Pia can definitely sing, and she proved it by knocking "I'll Stand By You" right out of the park. It was soulful, sensual, and just plain good. She was very deserving of that standing ovation from the judges and it looks like she's capable of going very far in this competition.

The Top 12 Girl's Performance Rankings:
1: Pia Toscano
2: Lauren Turner
3: Kendra Chantelle
4: Lauren Alaina
5: Thia Megia
6: Karen Rodriguez
7: Naima Adedapo
8: Ashton Jones
9: Ta-Tynisa Wilson
10: Hailey Rinehart
11: Rachel Zevita
12: Julie Zorrilla

So there we have it; the top 24 performance shows are in the books. The semi-final results shows are always so unpredictable - last year we definitely had a few shocking eliminations at this stage. So we'll see how it all goes down this season; especially when 14 contestants will be sent packing tonight! Enjoy the fun! I will recap the wildcard show next week.

American Idol 10 - Top 12 Boys

So I haven't had much time to blog lately, and that's especially the case this week with me being on afternoon shift (not exactly the best week for the American Idol live shows to start!). But I will do my best to get through last night's episode, where the top 12 boys sang from a pretty wide-open theme. There were a few stand-outs as well as some disappointments. Let's see how it all shook down:

Clint Jun Gamboa - "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder : I don't know if I was totally impressed with Clint's rendition of a song that's been overly-done on American Idol through the years. Yes, he definitely can sing as I did not detect too many botched notes. However, he did tend to overdue it with the runs and over sang at times. It is a very energetic song to perform and he definitely had people clap along. He certainly is no karaoke singer and proves that he has the vocal chops but I wasn't totally won over quite yet.

Jovany Barreto - "I'll Be" by Edwin McCain : The song is kind of a safe one for Jovany to pick as he did not change it up too much from the original. I was actually pretty bored by his performance and it was just okay. There's no question he can sing; heck they all can if they made it to this point in the competition. But he has to bring a lot more fire and intensity if he wants to make it further than the top 24. It probably would've done him better if he selected a song a little more upbeat, or if it had a more upbeat chorus. "I'll Be" is pretty much a simple, syrupy ballad and it did not do Jovany any justice.

Jordan Dorsey - "OMG" by Usher : I'll let you in on a little secret (last night's episode was actually taped this past Friday!)... so, spoilers were released as to which songs each of the boys picked. Usually I can't wait to find these things out, so I checked it out and to me, Jordan's choice of this song probably left me the most bewildered. It isn't a song that allows an individual to really show off their vocal abilities. I mean sure, it's a fun, upbeat song but it does not cater to a singers vocals. And just as I figured last week, it was not a good song for Jordan. Unfortunately I don't think he'll make it beyond this week.

Tim Halperin - "Streetcorner Symphony (Come on Over)" by Rob Thomas : I can honestly say that from out of the top 12 guys, Tim is probably the least I know about. He kind of flew under the radar, even though he did get screen time prior to the live rounds starting. I'm not sure that this particular song did Tim any justice. It started off pretty underwhelming and it kind of ate him up. I don't think he's all that comfortable performing on stage without a piano in front of him. It was just an okay performance for me as he could've done much more to the song to make it his own. To me at this point, he's just an average singer.

Brett Loewenstern - "Light my Fire" by the Doors : So Brett is one contestant we've been following right from the very beginning and could be considered as one of the early favorites. I must say his song choice was a little odd as I figured he would pick something a little more contemporary. However, I think he did a pretty decent job with it. I wouldn't say it was his best vocal, particularly early on in the song. But I think he did make a pretty positive impression on the voting public tonight (if he didn't already). Brett is definitely unique and different, and that should help in his favor.

James Durbin - "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" by Judas Priest : James is a bit of a controversial contestant, especially in regards to his stage-parents comment during Hollywood week. However, he does have a bit of an endearing side to him, too. He really wants to make it big with a singing career. And honestly, out of all of the male contestants tonight, I think James' performance was the best of the night. It was controlled, he didn't overdue it with the rock screech and it was an absolute fun song to hear James perform. It was as if he was already a professional on stage. He certainly hit a home run with this song.

Robbie Rosen - "Arms of an Angel" by Sarah McLachlan : Robbie was one of those stand-out younger contestants featured during the early rounds of the show who could go far, if he can just get through the semi-finals! He did a pretty decent job with the song vocally, although it wasn't totally perfect. However, it was a boring and safe song choice. If I would've watched it live, I probably would have been in danger of dozing off. He needs to carefully choose his songs; there's no question he can sing great ballads, but it needs to be a ballad with a little more energy, too.

Scotty McCreery - "Letters from Home" by John Michael Montgomery : Scotty needs no formal introduction; he could quite possibly be this season's most famous contestant thus far. No real surprises from Scotty this week as he stays true to his roots and selects a country song. And I think that's good because if he chose to take a risk and deviate away from country and fails miserably, he could never recover. And he did a solid job performing "Letters from Home." I wouldn't say it was anything outstanding, but it was much better than a lot of the performances we saw last night. He certainly has great quality and control with his vocals.

Stefano Langone - "Just the Way You Are" by Bruno Mars : Stefano is going very contemporary with this Bruno Mars hit and he does an admiral job with it. Obviously it wasn't perfect particularly in the end with that falsetto, but it was pretty decent. I enjoy it more when a contestant chooses a song that's more relevant to today - not that there's anything wrong with songs in the past. But more people, particularly the younger voters, can relate to a modern song more. I really enjoy the tenor sound to his voice - he's another contestant that can stray higher in his range and still be comfortable doing so.

Paul McDonald - "Maggie Mae" by Rod Stewart : Here's a contestant who has the ability to make anyone smile when he sings. Yes, he's quirky and unique and he's also a pretty good performer. Just look at the way he acted on stage last night; just like a true professional. I think "Maggie Mae" is a song that suited Paul well and he did an exceptional job choosing it. And yes, the way he moves around on stage is a little quirky as well; fits in perfectly with Paul's style. I think he already has a big audience following and he should be able to advance quite far.

Jacob Lusk - "House is Not a Home" by Luther Vandross : Here's the guy that is totally passionate about singing and really gets so emotionally involved within a song. Earlier on, we did not really know too much about Jacob, that is until he blew the box out of "God Bless the Child." Now Jacob has become a household name. He was back in true form last night singing "House is Not a Home," infusing his own style into the song, yet still keeping true to the original. He is such a delightful contestant and honestly, a breath of fresh air to the Idol stage. At this point there's nothing that Jacob cannot do.

Casey Abrams - "I Put a Spell On You" by Jay Hawkins : My goodness, what a potentially great season we have unfolding, and we haven't even seen the girls perform yet! Casey is another one of those unique birds, as we saw him perform with a large bass instrument during Hollywood and do exceptionally well with it! I liked it last night that he took an old classic and brought it to the forefront on American Idol and knocked it out of the park. Was it as unique memorable as some of his Hollywood performances? Probably not, but it was still a great way to end last night's episode.

Top 12 Boys Performance Rankings:
1: James Durbin
2: Jacob Lusk
3: Scotty McCreery
4: Casey Abrams
5: Paul McDonald
6: Stefano Langone
7: Clint Jun Gamboa
8: Brett Loewenstern
9: Robbie Rosen
10: Jovany Barreto
11: Tim Halperin
12: Jordan Dorsey

And there we have it, the first night of live performances is in the books (although it wasn't technically live). All in all, it was a decent night with the latter half of the episode being the best. Tonight, it's all up to the girls to show off their vocal talents. Be sure to check back here tomorrow for a recap of that.

President Obama in Marquette Tomorrow

Marquette has been in the news a lot lately. Last week it involved the threat of a mass shooting on the Northern Michigan University campus (which thankfully, it was only an on-line threat) and now this week with the expected arrival of President Obama to Marquette on Thursday. Both items have made national headlines and I am happy to say that Obama's trip to the Upper Peninsula will bring bigger headlines and will involve a much more positive storyline than last week's story. Needless to say, security is heightened around Marquette and Northern Michigan University with the president's arrival. Air Force One is expected to land at Sawyer International Airport sometime around 11:45 AM. His visit will be short, but it's an exciting time for a region like the Upper Peninsula. It's not often that a sitting president of the United States visits.

So exactly why is President Obama visiting a small town like Marquette during the middle of winter? It involves a subject that he highlighted in his state of the union speech involving wireless internet access to rural areas. His goal is to see 98 percent of rural areas in the country have access to wireless internet. It's a lofty goal, but the city of Marquette and Northern Michigan University are perfect examples where it actually works. NMU has a WiMax wireless broadband internet system that allows students, faculty, and staff to connect to the internet county-wide. Northern is the only known university to set up such a network for its campus and President Obama is looking to highlight NMU's technological advances. There are also several tech-savvy businesses in the Marquette area that Obama will be visiting to see how their businesses have thrived thanks to the internet. It will definitely be an exciting time to be on NMU's campus.

Obama's visit will be the first time an incumbent president of the United States has come to the Upper Peninsula since George W. Bush campaigned in July 2004 at the Superior Dome. Prior to that, it wasn't until 1911, when William H. Taft visited the U.P. So as you can see, it's a pretty monumental occasion to get any president to come up here. And actually, out of all presidential visits to the Upper Peninsula, this will mark the first time that an incumbent president will NOT be campaigning. That's a pretty remarkable fact in of itself.

Many of the events set up for President Obama in Marquette are not open to the public and the speaking engagement at Vandament Arena is by invitation only. So for those lucky enough to get an invite or to be at one of the destinations where Obama will be visiting, it should prove to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime events. Marquette will be buzzing with excitement tomorrow, even though President Obama will only be in town for roughly three hours. Still, his visit will linger with the community for sometime. And with Marquette continuing to get a ton of press for being such an accommodating, livable community, having President Obama visit will help all the more in attracting new people to the area and also to help launch new businesses on the heals of the area's internet capabilities.

Update: Classes Resume at NMU

A day after an on-line anonymous blog posting targeted the Northern Michigan University campus for a potential shooting rampage, life gradually returns to normal for students, faculty, and staff of the university. Still, that doesn't mean the anxiety and jitters will immediately go away. It's never easy for things to return back to normal after such a frightening experience. Yes, there was no shooting, no hostage situation, and nobody was injured. But just knowing there's a potential threat out there and not knowing when or where it's going to take place is certainly scary. All in all, I must say NMU handled the situation well and the campus was locked down in no time.

Last night, Northern officials along with NMU Public Safety determined that the threat posted against the university was no longer serious enough to cancel classes for a second day. It appears that the blog posted targeting NMU was also similar in fashion to other threats against other schools in the United States. The investigation continues as to whom sent the message and whether the posting actually was credible. At the time, NMU officials felt that the posting was credible and called on a lock-down of the campus immediately after being tipped of the posting. The decision from NMU caused a ripple-effect across the city as all of Marquette public schools were closed in addition to Marquette General Hospital increasing its security measures.

As always when something like this happens in a community, rumors start flying about circumstances that just did not occur. One involved a hostage situation on campus, others involved deaths, the city of Marquette being on lockdown, and the need of the National Guard coming in to help deal with the situation. All of those were unfounded and simply not true. You have to wonder if people like to stir up even more trouble than what's already happening. They're taking advantage of a troubling situation to get noticed and to help spread rumors, which only help to make things worse. Thankfully everything ended up well in the Marquette community and all that the situation involved was this blog posting that was threatening to the NMU campus community.

Of course there are going to be those people who think the situation could've been handled better. It seems that no matter what happens and how quickly an area is evacuated and locked down, there's always room for improvement. All in all, I think NMU handled the situation very well and alerted people in a very fast manner. The threat targeted the campus for 10:11 AM and there was little, if any activity going on at that time, except students being locked down in their residential halls. What more can you expect in a situation like the one that occurred yesterday? As the saying goes, alls well that ends well. But that doesn't mean the anxiety experienced by students, faculty, and staff at NMU will be leaving right away. And who can blame them.

'Serious Threat' Closes NMU Campus

It's a crazy world we live in these days - as exhibited by the September 11 attacks on our country, attacks on our public transportation systems, and school shootings. A few months ago, there was a school hostage situation that hit close to home to many of us in the Upper Peninsula at Marinette High School. The hostage taker was killed from a self-inflicted gun shot wound, while the hostages themselves were uninjured. Thankfully that situation wasn't any worse than it could have been, but it was still bad enough. And having a situation like that happening so close to home really shakes a person up. And now we're dealing with a serious situation in the city of Marquette today...

The campus of Northern Michigan University has been shut down due to a serious threat it had received via a blog. According to NMU officials, they are unsure as to which part of the campus was being targeted so as a precaution, they have shut down the entire campus. The message posted on the blog apparently said that they would break the record of those killed during the shootings on the Virginia Tech campus during a rampage at NMU. One of the local news stations in the Marquette area, WLUC TV6, has not been able to locate the blog in question and so it is not known exactly what the blog says. It is very evident that officials at NMU have seen the blog posting, however. But NMU officials are taking the situation very seriously by closing the campus and restricting all activities until everything can be investigated.

In addition, because the NMU campus is close to several of the Marquette Area Public School buildings, Marquette schools will be dismissing early (most of the buildings have already released students as of this time). Marquette General Hospital is also very close to the NMU campus so they have greatly increased security in and around the facility but are not totally closed. Access can be made at five different points within the MGH building complex. If you have appointments, Marquette General is still open, but you may need to search around for an access point.

For continuing updates on the threat posed to the campus of NMU, please follow a few of the sites I have linked. I will not be able to update throughout the day, so these other sites will be your best bet. As of now, this has just been a safety precaution taken by officials at NMU to prevent a potentially serious situation to its students and staff. In this day and age, you can never be too safe. And yes, it just goes to show you that a situation like this can happen here in the Upper Peninsula. Thankfully, the authorities were alerted of the situation before something actually could happen. Preventive measures need to be taken to avert a potentially terrible situation here in Marquette.

UPDATE (12 PM): As per some rumors floating around out there - there has not been a hostage situation on NMU's campus and no arrests have taken place as of yet. The situation is under control. NMU officials remind people to stay away from the campus today and a determination on whether classes will be held tomorrow will be made later in the day. Marquette General is still open, just access to the various MGH building is restricted to five entryways. The Marquette YMCA facility is also closed, due to its close proximity to NMU's Berry Events Center. This closure also includes Marquette's Lakeview Arena. Traffic in and around NMU's campus and various Marquette Public School facilities has been hectic so please avoid those areas, if you can.

-WLUC TV-6 Facebook Page - Their website is currently down due to traffic demand. Their website is uppermichiganssource.com

-The Marquette Mining Journal

Changes for the Blog in 2011

Hey folks, I know that things have been a little more quiet than usual here on Luke's Ponderings, but I am looking to start ramping up the content featured here again. Also, I will be implementing a slight change in content on a couple of the days. Wednesdays will feature television AND/OR music content, as opposed to those topics being separated during different days. Thursdays will feature a brand new topic here on Luke's Ponderings - sports. Sports is another topic I am definitely involved in and look forward to discussing a plethora of sports topics here on the blog in the week's to come. I know not everyone enjoys reading sports topics, but I hope for those that don't, it will help bring in a new audience for those that do. And in turn, I am hoping that this slight change will keep my writing motivation up, too.

I know I promised a recap of the Top 10 songs of 2010 as part of my Songs I Dig feature blog and it is still in the works! In fact, I am over half-way done with it; I just need to recap the remaining four songs left and it will be posted. So stay tuned for that. I will also be looking at incorporating a new look to the blog in the months ahead. So there are many new things to look forward to in this new year.

Just a few things I wanted to share with you as we head into the second month of 2011. And as always, thanks for your interest and loyalty to Luke's Ponderings. Believe me, I have plenty more in store for the months ahead.

American Idol 10 - Auditions Continue

The second week of America Idol's newest season commenced last week with auditions taking place in Milwaukee and Nashville. For those of you who may be getting tired of the audition rounds already, you only have a couple of more weeks in which to suffer. According to the schedule, the Hollywood week shows begin airing on February 16. Actually, I find myself to be enjoying the audition shows this season more than ever. So far, there have been far less mind-numbingly bad singers featured and more of the quality singers shown. So that is a big plus for me. Still, some 50 plus singers made it out of the Milwaukee auditions and how many actually made it on screen, probably less than that? Surely Idol producers could've been able to squeeze in a few more of those hopefuls in.

Although one of the intriguing factors to seeing the awful contestants that couldn't sing was to hear the insults Simon would retort at them. Obviously that's missing and nobody on the panel really fills those shoes, although Randy does seem to be stepping up and being harsher in his criticism of some of those contestants. However, this may be one of the reasons why fewer of the bad singers are being featured, because the interaction between the current panel and these contestants just doesn't make for as good TV as it once did. Still, no matter how you slice it, those contestants who can't sing will still get treated the way that they deserve to be treated, regardless of who is sitting at the judge's table. It's just the way the game is played.

As for the better singers who made it out of the Milwaukee auditions with a Golden Ticket, here are a few of them who caught my eye. Scott McCreery is the 16-year old with the freakishly-low country singing voice. Clearly the show has not had a country-sounding male contestant with the talent that Scott has and he could go far. Naima Adedapo is the 25-year old working at the Milwaukee Summerfest Amphitheater, helping to support her family. It has the potential to be a real nice rages to riches kind of story for her. I really liked her soulful sound. Thia Megia is one of the 15-year olds featured on the show with a strong, confident voice. She was also on America's Got Talent a few seasons ago. Molly DeWolf Swenson is the 22-year old White House Intern, currently working for the Obama administration. She really surprised me with her vocal talent and I look forward to seeing what more she can do in this competition. Steven Begun is the 27-year old CPA and another one that surprised me with his voice. I thought he was going to be one of those awful singers but was anything but. Scott Dangerfield is the unassuming 22-year old that wowed the judges. I don't know if he has me entirely sold yet, but he definitely had a good audition. And last but not least, Chris Medina, the contestant who's fiance was involved in a car accident that resulted in her having a brain injury. It was a touching and heartfelt story to end the night, but I am hoping this doesn't turn into another Danny Gokey situation.

Now, for the contestants featured on Thursday's Nashville audition episode that caught my eye include: Chelsee Oaks and Rob Bolin - a pair of contestants who were once involved with each other but whom are now separated. They both sang well together and individually and both deserved a shot to move forward. Adrienne Beasley, the 22-year old African-American girl who was adopted by white parents at the age of two. She had a wonderful country-sounding vibe to her voice and could go far. Jackie Wilson is the 28-year old contestant who had a stunningly-strong audition that had the judges clapping after she was done. Paul McDonald didn't have as long of an audition as some of the others, but he's another one to watch with his smoky vocals. And last but not least, Lauren Alaina, the 15-year old contestant that sure didn't look or sound 15 years old to me. She sounded way beyond her years and has already been chosen as "the one" by Steven Tyler. Sure, her audition may have been out of this league, but let's wait until she has to sing live before we get way ahead of ourselves here.

So yes, there are definitely a few hopefuls in the midst of all those auditioning for this season's American Idol. We look to have a good crop of singers and it'll be interesting to see how things get whittled down as we head towards Hollywood Week and the live voting rounds. I honestly don't know what will make up the semi-final rounds, whether viewers will be voting or not or how many contestants will make up that particular round. All of that appears to be a surprise for the viewers that we'll just have to wait out until it comes. In the meantime, be sure and enjoy the audition episodes this coming week! Let's see who steps forward as front-runners in these upcoming episodes.

A Brand New TV

I've had my eye on a new television for awhile; ever since I moved into my house. The living room can accommodate a big TV, but I made due with my 27" Toshiba that I had for awhile - the one I received as a gift from my parents six years ago. It's still a nice TV; a flat screen with a nice picture. But compared to today's TV's, it was still a behemoth to move around. And it isn't compatible to today's HDTV standards. As I mentioned, I had my eyes on a new TV for awhile but I wanted to wait until after Christmas before I bit the bullet. Now I finally have that TV I had been looking forward to having.

Best Buy opened a store in Marquette this past November and I had been keeping my eye on their sale's paper for a good deal on a TV. It seems like every week, they have a deal on a different brand of TV. A few weeks back, I was looking into the Best Buy brand on TV's, the Insignia. Overall it had decent reviews, but they weren't over the top. So I decided to hold out for a little while longer. Then, last week they had a sale on the Sharp brand of TV's, specifically the Quattron, which uses a fourth color subpixel, that being yellow, in addition to red, blue, and green. It produces a much clearer and more vibrant picture. I went into Best Buy and took a look at the picture in person. Yes, the Quattron TV's had an equally, if not better picture than the rest of the TV's. I was pretty happy with how they looked, but I wanted to ponder my decision a little more, so I left.

Not only was I looking at a much bigger TV, but one that also conserved energy. TV manufacturers nowadays build TV's with LED technology, thus using less electricity to run. The LED technology wasn't quite there last year - if it was, those kinds of TV's were way expensive. LED TV's have come down in price since, but they are still higher than their plasma counterparts. But hey, no matter what you buy in regards to LED technology, it will always be more expensive in comparison to something that uses the standard methods of powering something up. I wanted a TV at least 50" big, so I settled on a Sharp Quattron TV that was 52" in size. I suppose I could have went with a 55" or even a 60" TV, but I was satisfied with the 52". So, I ordered the TV on-line and within a few days, went and picked it up at the Best Buy store in Marquette. It was as easy as that.

You can either put the TV on a pedestal that comes with the TV or mount it on a wall. I had it on the pedestal for a few days but ultimately wanted it mounted to the wall. And honestly, it looks the best of all being on the wall. I got rid of the old clunky TV cabinet which the old TV sat on and purchased a new shelf unit that mounts to the wall where the cable box and DVD/VCR player sits upon. Everything in front of the living room takes up so much less room now, I've added more space in there. I waited awhile to buy a new TV for my house and it was certainly worth the wait. Now I'll able to enjoy the comforts of watching anything I want on that TV for many years to come. I certainly have to regrets in making that purchase.

U.P. Packer Pride Runs Deep

In some locations from the U.P., the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin is an hour away. Where I live, it's three hours away, which in comparison to bigger cities like Detroit and Chicago, a very short drive. So as you can imagine, there are a lot of Green Bay Packer fans in Upper Michigan. It's probably the largest following of fans for one professional team here in the U.P., with the Red Wings and Lions closely behind. Generations of Packer fans have listened to the games on radio, personally gone to Lambeau Field to watch games, and faithfully watch them on television. Me personally, I am not a Packers fan and never have been. But the loyalty to the team from my fellow Yoopers is amazingly strong, in both times of good and bad.

As you can imagine after yesterday's victory against the Chicago Bears, Packer fans are gleaming with pride today. The team finished off the Bears at Solider Field in the NFC Championship Game with a score of 21-14. They will now face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 6 in Dallas, Texas. It's the Packers first Super Bowl appearance since 1997, when they lost to the Denver Broncos. As a Detroit Lions fan, it's always difficult for me to root for the Packers all that often. The Packers and Lions are conference foes and in most recent years, the Packers have won most of the contests between the two teams (if you don't follow the NFL that much, the Lions have been horrid the past ten years). However, I must admit that I was rooting for the Packers to win more so than the Bears yesterday. I don't know what it was; maybe to see Aaron Rodgers have success or to have the city of Green Bay experience the euphoria of the Packers having this much success again.

I remember the Packers' last two Super Bowl appearances in the mid-1990's extremely well. Brett Favre was the quaterback and Mike Holmgren was the coach. There was so much Packer pride going around it was crazy. I was in high school and the kids that were Packers fans were so boisterous about the team it was driving me bonkers. Back then, the Lions were still mediocre but they weren't as bad as they have been the past ten years. So it was always tough to hear the Packers fans yuck it up during those two successful seasons. But then, when the Packers lost in the Super Bowl in 1997, they weren't so boisterous anymore. But now, with maturity and understanding the fierce loyalty that Packers fans hold, I am compelled to show unity with those Packer fans as they march towards the Super Bowl.

It's hard to say exactly whom I will be rooting for come Super Bowl Sunday. I may have been rooting just a little bit for the Packers this past Sunday, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to keep that up two Sunday's from now. But hey, how can you not admire the way the Packers have played in the playoffs thus far. They certainly have a legitimate shot to win it all, especially considering their playoff performance. And all this for a team just a few hours away from the Upper Peninsula. You can't say that about any other professional sports teams in existence.

American Idol Season 10 Begins

For American Idol fans, once January rolls around, you know it's not too much longer before the new season starts. And sure enough, last night the premiere episode of the new season aired on FOX, featuring a new judge's panel and a new enthusiasm for the show. Preliminary ratings numbers from last night show that the show continues to lose some of its ratings compared to the season premiere from a year ago, but with 25 million people still tuning in, I'd say that's a pretty healthy number. Heck, the show may never again see the 30 million viewer benchmark like in previous seasons, but if it can halt the ratings drop that has been witnessed during the past few years, the show will be okay for awhile.

I think the biggest thing that was on all of the minds of Idol fans was how well the new judges would do. Aerosmith front-man Steven Tyler exceeded my expectations and proved to be a very valuable addition to the judge's panel. He was funny, witty, and yet constructive when he needed to be. No, he's no Simon Cowel - in fact, I don't think anyone should try to fit Simon's shoes. Those that make up the panel this year are doing exactly what they should be doing - being themselves and not trying to replace someone. Jennifer Lopez also proved to do well, although she did have some difficulty saying no to a few of the contestants whose singing wasn't up to par. I think she got the hang of it after awhile. I think she'll end up being the nicest judge of the group - the one to be motivating and not so harsh when a contestant isn't singing the greatest. However, I do think she'll be tough when she needs to be.

The remaining judge on the panel has been a constant since the show began nearly ten years ago and actually, it was nice to see one familiar face still there. Randy Jackson shines the most during the audition rounds and he tends to lose his luster once we reach the live rounds with some of his repetitive critiques and phrases. However last night, Randy certainly did not lose his touch, still using his usual "dawg" tendencies and turning away contestants that honestly did not have a chance. While Stephen and Jennifer fall pray to the "puppy dog pouts" of certain contestants, Randy stays firm and turns contestants away because their vocal abilities just aren't there. He often says "this just isn't for you" when describing their singing skills. Although he's no Simon Cowel either, he may be stepping into that roll in his own way.

As for the contestants themselves, there was nobody that really stood out to me as having a jaw-dropping audition quite yet. It's just too soon to tell who might wind up being the favorite in these early rounds - but once we get into Hollywood week, then the favorites begin to sprout up. Time will tell on who becomes the stand-outs on this season of American Idol, but all in all I'd have to say that this season is starting out much better than I had hoped. The judges seem to know what they are doing and aren't annoying the heck out of me just yet. Steven Tyler surpassed my expectations as a judge and Jennifer Lopez did fine out of the gate, too. Let's hope this momentum continues this season and we'll end up with one of the best season's yet.

Snow Clean-Up Methods

For those familiar with the Upper Peninsula, they know that in the winter months, the region picks up a lot of snow. Thanks to northerly winds off of Lake Superior, the snow can quickly pile up under the right ingredients. But it's not only lake effect that the peninsula receives but a good deal of system snow, too. Under the perfect scenario, the Upper Peninsula receives the most snow when a low pressure system forms around the four-corners region of the United States and tracks northeasterly, with a target near the Northeast portion of Lower Michigan. The snow produced by the system combined with lake enhanced snows sometimes produce storm totals in excess of 30". We haven't seen one of those epic kinds of storms in awhile, so we're overdue. Living up here, we need all the tools necessary in order to dig out.

Probably one of the greatest inventions ever created for someone living in the Upper Peninsula is the snow scoop, or also known as the Yooper Scooper. A couple of companies manufacture snow scoops in the U.P. and they are handy for any type of snow accumulation that needs to be taken care of. My dad has had his own snow scoops for years and now that I am in my own place, I have one myself. The majority of the time, I clean up my driveway with it unless the snow gets really piled up, then I resort to using the snowblower. Silver Bear Manufacturing of Atlantic Mine in the Keweenaw Peninsula is one such builder of the snow scoop and they also build snow rakes for the roof as well as include wheels to install on a snow scoop for those locations who may not get a lot of snow. The wheels help to move the scoop a lot easier on concrete and asphalt surfaces. Without the snow scoop, us Yoopers would be having more of a difficult time clearing all of that snow!

Now for those individuals with long driveways or for those who plow other people's drives, a snow scoops is definitely not the way to tackle that endeavor. The next best thing is to own a plow to push all of that snow away. There are a couple of different kinds of plows including the V-shaped plow or a straight-blade. More often than not, they are attached to the front of a vehicle, preferably a pick-up truck of a Jeep, but some people have been known to attach plows to the rear of a tractor. Whatever the case, a plow does make quick work out of cleaning a driveway free of snow. And for residents in the Upper Peninsula where it often snows days on end, a plow is definitely a handy thing to have.

And then you have the snowblower, which is what I have when I need to clear an excess amount of snow from my driveway. I don't have a real long driveway, so I don't necessarily feel the need to get a plow. Maybe once I get older, I'll probably feel more of a need to get a plow. But when I purchased my home nearly a year in a half ago, it came with a new Ariens snowblower. It really works well for breaking through any amount of fresh snow. Ariens brand snowblowers are one of the top brands out there, but there are many other good snowblower brands on the market. It's easy to find snowblowers at home improvement retailers such as Lowe's and Home Depot. And when you live in the Upper Peninsula, the wider the cut on the snowblower, the better when cleaning up after snowstorms!

So yes, when you live in snowy locales such as the U.P., you definitely don't want to go on the cheap when trying to buy something to clean up after winter storms. As I mentioned, there are a variety of options to choose from, and it'll all depend on the type of snow clean-up you have to do. So, consider your options carefully and make the most of a snowy winter after everything's cleaned up. It goes a long way in enjoying the most that life can offer.

Christmas Greetings to You

Hello all and Merry Christmas! I hope today has allowed you the time to spend it with the people that matter the most in your life. Unfortunately for me, I have to go in for a 12-hour shift in a matter of a few hours, so it's not exactly the most joyous of Christmases for me. Never the less, I was able to spend a little of my day today with members of my family, so all was not lost. And even yesterday, I had the entire day to be with a large group of people that matters the most to me. So even though when you're an adult and have to juggle around work in order to celebrate Christmas, you do what you have to do to enjoy it as much as you can. Oh how nice it would be to be able to have the week between Christmas and New Years off just like when we were kids.

It's been a particularly hectic month in a half for me, which is why you haven't seen nearly as many blog postings here as I would've liked. They have been forcing a lot of overtime on us at work lately, including the past two weeks where they had us working 68 hour weeks. When you're working a lot of 12-hour shifts, it really eliminates a lot of your personal free time. During that time, I still had Christmas shopping to try and complete as well as to find something for my mom's birthday. I did manage to find a few items on-line, but I had to resort to being one of those last-minute shoppers to get everything done that needed to be completed, in the shopping sense. No matter, though, as there sure seems to be plenty of last minute shoppers in the world out there.

I have also been trying to work on projects around the house and to keep up with the shoveling and snowblowing outside. Yes, winter is in full force here in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It's amazing how quickly things can change in just a matter of a couple of weeks. The first week of December, we basically had very little , if any, snow. But then the lake effect machine started kicking in and we were even hit with a significant winter storm at one point. So yes, it's like the dead of winter around here - which isn't any surprise seeing that it's December after all. I have a couple of rooms in my house which I am looking at painting here very soon. When I have a stretch of days off coming up, I'll be looking to get that project completed. So as you can see, things have been very, very busy for me. Hopefully once we get into the New Year and beyond the holiday season, things will begin to settle down. No rest for the weary, as the saying goes!

I sure don't plan on this being the final blog posting here at Luke's Ponderings for 2010, but ya never know considering how things have gone since November. But here's hoping your Christmas holiday has been worthwhile and filled with joy. The New Year is coming upon us quickly, so make sure and enjoy the remainder of your holiday season and here's wishing you a joyous 2011. It's hard for me to believe that 2010 is just about over; how quickly the year went! Here's hoping for a wonderful 2011 here at Luke's Ponderings with plenty of new blog postings to come. Cheers!

An Ever-Changing World

As we all know in life, things never stay the same. Physical changes are constant and the landscape is always changing. I was thinking back on a lot of things that have changed within the area where I live. Old buildings and structures coming down and new ones replacing them. New projects beautifying an area - enhancing the look of the community and making it look better than it already is. New residential properties and developments - bringing in more people in a particular area to live. Like I said, there is always something that changes and more often than not, it's for the better.

And yet, there are some negative changes that occur within a community; things that go away and are never to return. ShopKo stores built a retail store in the Marquette community in the 1970's and with it a full service gas station along Washington Street in front of the store. Back then, ShopKo wasn't the only entity that provided a full service fuel station in the community. But gradually through the years, full service stations have been fading away. Eventually, ShopKo became the only fuel station to provide full service the entire duration that the station was opened. That officially ended this fall when ShopKo abruptly shut down its gas station due to deteriorating underground fuel tanks.

According to a story released by one of the local news stations, ShopKo stores felt it was not economically feasible to replace the tanks and continue operating the gas station which is why it was shut down. Apparently the station had been experiencing problems with its tanks for a few years. But it got to a point where the tanks needed to be replaced and it's an extremely costly operation to replace underground fuel tanks. More often than not, gas station owners prefer going out of business rather than having to replace fuel tanks. But they were the original tanks that ShopKo opened with in the 1970's; so they got a lot of life out of those tanks. And that ShopKo store was the only store in its chain to has a gas station situated on its property. So the Marquette store was rather unique in its own way. That all came to an end earlier this year.

But then you look at other businesses or changes the occurs in a community through the years. The Bunny Bread bakery had a significant presence in the Marquette community for quite awhile. During the night time hours, the iconic Bunny Bread sign could easily be seen as you traveled along the US-41 bypass between central and south Marquette. The lights on the bunnies ears would flash slowly, as if the bunny was moving its ears. It was a really unique sign and I was just a young kid up until it last operated. Soon after, it was removed and a part of Marquette's night time landscape was changed. I am happy to say, however, that the sign is still intact just inside of the entrance to the U.P. Children's Museum in downtown Marquette. Even though you cannot see it from the highway, that particular piece of Marquette's past is still alive and well.

For good and for bad reasons, change is always happening within a community. Even the historic Delft theater marquee in downtown Marquette is no longer lit up at night due to the freak mid-summer hail storm from three years ago caused significant damage to a number of the lights. Hopefully that is one change that won't be a permanent one. More often than not, we adjust to the changes and life goes on. Obviously things like losing the last every-hour full service fuel station and historic signage will be missed, but we'll get by and move forward. And more often than not, new things come along to replace some of those things that change. It's an ever revolving world that we live in and at least in that sense, it's never boring.

Second picture is of the Bunny Bread sign located inside the main entrance of the U.P. Children's Museum in Marquette, MI.

My Dad's Accidents

My father has had his fair share of accidents through the years, some requiring trips to the hospital. Once such accident I was a witness to - and that night I thought I lost him forever. It was a harrowing experience I'll never forget but I will say this, he's taught me very valuable lessons in most of his incidents. I wouldn't say my dad is overly clumsy - he's no Tim Allen by any means. But I am sure if he could do it all over again, he probably would've thought things a little more thoroughly before each incident occurred. But that's life, isn't it? You may have regrets about certain things, but you can never go back and change things. At least in these circumstances, everything turned out alright for him.

One incident involved him cutting the top of this large flower pot with a box cutter. It was a huge pot that was very difficult to carry around. The top of the flower pot got damaged somehow - I don't remember how. Well, it was just the very top of the pot that had a chunk broken off of it and my dad was cutting around the entire circumference of the flower pot and then it'd be as good as new. I wasn't there to witness this particular accident, so I don't know the exact details as how he got cut - and I never did ask him to recount the exact details. I think what happened is the knife slipped away from the flower pot and cut him right in his left arm muscle. It definitely required a trip to the hospital for stitches, but nothing worse than that.

It was several years later that another scary incident occurred, one that could have been much worse than it was. We were at my uncle's garage, just a short drive from our home. We were dealing with this cement mixer that was jamming up and we were needing to use it (it was my uncle's and he has practically everything a person could never need). My uncle had turned the mixer on and my dad was standing in close proximity to it. As the mixer became jammed again, the handle and the spinning drum began to slowly flip over until it was in the dumping position. Well unfortunately my dad wasn't paying attention and the handle of the mixer struck him in the stomach. Luckily it only left a red mark on his stomach and didn't impale him. I think because it was moving at a relatively slow speed, it didn't stab him like it could have. Still, a very scary situation to watch as it happened. Yes, I was there during that one.

And the scariest incident of them all occurred during a cool, fall day at my grandma's farm. It was in 1994 when I was 12 years old. We had just remodeled a part of the house and had brought a ton of demolition material out to my grandma's farm and stored it in an abandoned building that was ready to cave in. My uncle who lived with my grandma allowed us to store the materials there, which then we could set on fire and burn it all. It would be like this one giant bon fire. My dad and I had already transported all of the demolition debris there, so all we had to do is go there and set the building on fire and watch everything burn. We were planning to have a good time with it, so we brought candy and sodas with us. He also brought along gasoline - plenty of gasoline. Actually, TOO MUCH gasoline. He poured way too much gasoline inside the building and the biggest mistake of all was that he lit the fire with him still inside the building. I had my back turned away from the building when suddenly there was a huge explosion and I was pushed down to my knees by the force of the explosion. I turned around to see the building in flames and me quickly in a panic wondering where my dad was. I thought he was a goner but then suddenly, I see him walking through the flames and out of the building. Yes, he was burned, but thankfully nothing too serious. Just first and second degree burns. But my god, that was probably the scariest night of my life, the night when I thought I lost my dad.

So needless to say, I have a fair share of memories involving my dad's unfortunate circumstances in life. As I mentioned, thankfully they have all turned out okay. He has a few scars but nothing that has lead him to be disabled or disfigured. He's been able to enjoy his life despite a few hiccups along the way. And I am hoping to have him around for a lot longer into the future. It's incidents like these, especially one in which you're a witness to a potential fatality, that makes you realize how precious life can be. You can't take life for granted and it's very important to live life to it's fullest. That's probably the greatest lesson of all that my dad has taught me.

Songs I Dig - 21

The Songs I Dig blog is back and we are now on our 21st edition! That means we're legal (sorry, dumb joke). There are a few new songs that have come out recently that I've found myself enjoying, so what better way than to write about them in the latest SID blog. They are very pop-oriented songs - no R&B or rap this time around. And one of them makes an appearance on the blog for the very first time - and I doubt it'll be the last time you see him here, either. On with the review!

Bruno Mars - "Just the Way You Are" : 2010 was a very big year for Bruno Mars - and it wasn't until later in the year when he released his debut album! He helped co-write several popular hit songs as well as having his vocals featured on most of them. "Nothing on You" by B.o.B and "Billionaire" by Travie McCoy were two of the songs you heard Bruno in. "F*** You" by Cee Lo Green was one of the songs he helped pen. And now, the first single off his debut album "Doo Wops and Hooligans" has already skyrocketed to number one. "Just the Way You Are" is a simple song - yet it has a very effective message. Bruno's second single has already raced to the top of the charts and I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot of him in the year's to come.

Pink - "Raise Your Glass" : You want to talk about a catchy, new party anthem? Pink's newest song from her first greatest hits album fits that mold. "Raise Your Glass" is from the album titled "Greatest Hits ... So Far!!!" and the song has already topped the charts in the United States and has become her second solo number one song of her career (third overall). Pink is heading into some downtime in the months ahead with the expected birth of her first child. But what a way to start that downtime with a hit song. It's a fun song that you can't help jamming to. It's one of those songs that says no matter what race, color, sexual orientation, or personality an individual might be - just to raise your glass in promoting all equality. We are one human race so let's embrace it.

Katy Perry - "Firework" : Katy is back on the SID blog with the third single from her current album "Teenage Dream." "Firework" has quickly raced to the top of the charts worldwide, peaking at number one on the Billboard Top 100 and becoming Katy's fourth overall number one song and third off the album. At first, the song seems to be a bit out of character for Katy's style; after all, her two previous songs "California Gurls" and "Teenage Dream" are nothing like it. However, it provides a breath of fresh air and sends a very uplifting and positive message from Katy. It's one of those songs that anyone who's feeling down on life can turn to, because the message is a definite self-esteem booster. And who doesn't like a song about Fireworks and a Forth of July reference?

That concludes this edition of the "Songs I Dig" blog. The next edition will feature the always popular Top 10 songs of the year, as we are quickly closing in on the end of the year. As I'm sure some of you recall, I did not post a top 10 songs blog last year as I initially promised. Rest assured, I am working on posting one this year and it will be up before New Year's Eve rolls around. So, be sure and look for that soon. Until then, cheers!

Shows on HGTV

I have always been a fan of home improvement-type shows (and no, I'm not talking about Tim Allen's hit series - although I enjoy that one, too!). The home improvement series called "Hometime" with Dean Johnson that still airs on PBS Sunday remains as one of my all-time favorites. I remember when it used to air in re-runs daily on one of the local stations and I'd watch it every time it came on. Now a days, there are so many different "home" type shows that it's difficult to keep track of them all! Not only do we have the home improvement or do-it-yourself brand of shows, but also home designer shows as well as first-time home buying shows. They are all pretty interesting to me and on one particular cable channel that you can find those varieties of shows is on HGTV.

"Income Property" with host Scott McGillivray is one such show that I find to be intriguing. Typically the show features an individual or a couple who has recently purchased a home and are looking at ways to reduce their mortgage. One such way is to transform the basement or an attic into a rental property. A lot of these spaces are unfinished or in serious need of transformation. Typically, locations in the basement are featured on the show and mold is often a problem when demolition is occurring within a previously finished space - most notably in a bathroom. But more often than not, the end result of any of the spaces featured on this show is a luxurious and beautiful new income property for the respective home owner. Often, it cuts down the mortgage payment buy at least half, if not more. It's really interesting to see what Scott is able to do to a space that is in serious need of an overhaul.

"Holmes on Homes" is another great program on HGTV. It features Mike Holmes, a renovation expert who goes to homes that have previously had renovation work done within a portion of it. More often than not, Mike is able to find shoddy work that has been left behind by the previous contractor which ultimately results in Mike having to re-do the majority of the work. The end result is always better than the first attempt at a renovation. He's uncovered just a ton of problems in all of the homes featured on the series. During a recent episode that I saw, Mike had to completely re-do this front porch on a shared housing complex that these two women owned. The old porch had previously been repaired - but the repairs were very minor and did not address the most important needs. If Mike did not make the necessary repairs - which he ended up tearing the entire porch off the front of the house - that porch would have collapsed that next winter. He created a new sitting area in front of the house and left off the roof. That way, the two women were able to enjoy the sun on those nice, warm days.

"Property Virgins" features host Sandra Rinomato, in which she takes an individual or couple on a tour of potential first time homes. More often than not, the first few homes she takes these individuals to see aren't exactly what they are looking for. They're more in the ballpark, but either the price is too high, or the home doesn't have the right concept. She always asks these individuals what they think the price of each respective home is. Ultimately by the end of the episode, the people featured on the show end up finding the home of their dreams all thanks to Sandra's help. It honestly takes me back to my experience as a first time homebuyer so I can relate pretty easily to all that is going on during these episodes.

"Curb Appeal: The Block" features host and designer John Giddings arriving in a certain neighborhood and completely overhauling one home's exterior that is in major need of word. More often than not, these are homes that are lacking curb appeal, meaning it's lacking a contemporary look. So Giddings, along with contractor Chip Wade, and project manager Kimberly Lacy help transform the home from one of the drabbest to the envy of all the neighborhood. They don't just target one home for added curb appeal, but they typically look at two others in which they do a more smaller-scale makeover - which could be painting, to new shrubbery, to new railings around a porch. It's really interesting to note the changes that take place in a neighborhood by the time an episode comes to an end.

These are just a few of the most intriguing shows I end up watching on HGTV - obviously there are a ton of others to watch! And hopefully at some point in the future, I'll talk about some more of them. So, if you are into these kinds of programs like I am, be sure to check out HGTV. You never know what you might find!

Dealing with Anxiety

You honestly don't know what having anxiety feels like until you experience it first hand. I remember when my ex-brother-in-law took medication for it - and we'd secretly make fun of him behind his back for it (there's more to that particular story though, partially because he is no longer married to my sister). But having anxiety is no laughing matter - especially once you realize you have it. I have no doubt in my mind that I am suffering with anxiety these days. I've probably had it for some time but the sensation that the disorder brings has been getting worse and worse for me. Lately I just have not been feeling normal. I have been tense and worrying a lot lately - and for no apparent reason for it. My blood pressure is elevated, have been more irritable, especially at work, and have had certain bouts of headaches. I honestly believe it's related to work, although things there are better than they once were. I don't understand why people have to suffer from it but I know there are medications out there to help it. I certainly think that will be the next step I need to take.

I've had certain instances prior to this year where I've had anxiety attacks - but they've been brief and I've gotten over those particular attacks on my own. But I'm not much of a social person, especially in larger groups. Those certain situations make me tense, and most nervous. For awhile I was a fill-in boss where I work and it got to a point where I just became too nervous and stressed out to deal with that particular job. At work, especially in the industry I'm in, you deal with a variety of personalities. And when you're a boss, you try your best to make everyone happy. Well, ultimately no matter the decisions you make, you still manage to upset someone. I have to deal with a co-worker everyday who is very unpleasant to deal with and who I'd rather not having anything to do with. So to be his boss, even if it's on a temporary basis, is something that is a monumental challenge for me. So I gave up the fill-in bossing job because it became too much of a hassle and was stressing me out more than I was liking.

Earlier this year, I switched to the current crew at work that I am currently on. That's when the anxiety got to be more pronounced than ever before. It wasn't just a one-day thing; it lasted for weeks. Finally I began to get comfortable with my surroundings and the anxiety went away. Much of this summer, I was fine. But now, within the past two or three weeks, it has come back, and I really can't pinpoint a certain reason why that is. Like I said, I am comfortable with the situation at work now and my personal life is fine. So why am I feeling so lousy, like something bad is about to happen? I guess we don't understand why the brain acts the way that it does. I certainly don't understand why I am so affected by anxiety. I am a pleasant person with good intentions. Why am I targeted by this?

I have not yet gone to see somebody about this latest bout of anxiety but I think I ought to and the sooner, the better, too. No person should ever feel this way - and I'm not the least bit comfortable dealing with it, either. But I guess I am at a loss at where I should go. Do I go see my family doctor and talk to him about it? Or do I make an appointment to see a therapist? Part of me doesn't want to see anyone about it - thinking that it'll go away on its own and knowing that I'll need to take medication for it on a regular basis. Yet, it becomes a health concern for me. If I continue to ignore it, I know my health will go down hill. And I am hopeful that if I do see someone about it and get prescribed something for it, that it will change my life for the better. I guess all that remains to be seen. But yes, I have decided that I must see someone regarding my anxiety. It will lead to a much calmer life for me.