The UP in Winter

For valentines weekend we went to the UP (Northern Michigan... the upper peninsula). It was so pretty and cold. It's been so cold this winter, that now that it's in the 30's, I get too hot at work if I wear a sweater and when I go outside I just wear a light jacket or no jacket at all. I got in the car the other day and it had been really cold that morning, so my heat settings were at the highest temp but on low and it was WAY too hot! I should not think that's too hot when it's still 30 degrees outside. I hate to admit, I'm used to the cold. Not many Michiganders that I know like the weather here, but I love winter. Here are some really cool things we saw where there is always a lot of snow in the winter, even long after it's all melted at home. Tequamenan Falls. Look close, there are tons of snow flakes in the air, and a giant mound of ice at the base of the falls. Those falls look short and stubby, but they aren't, they are just frozen really high in the water. This is Lake Superior. The great lakes freeze in waves. Pretty cool looking.

In this picture, you can see where an ice breaker came through the frozen lake and broke up a path.

Mackinaw Bridge.

Lost my camera cable.

I'm sorry I haven't been blogging. I lost my camera cord so I can't load anything to my computer. And if you are like me and skip over most of the words and go for the pictures, you're not gonna get what you came for anyways, so I don't want to waste my time. Sorry. I will look long and hard for that cable or buy a new one soon if it doesn't show up. I promise I will be back.

Going Private

I've decided to make my blog private. There is no reason in particular. Nothing happened. I just think it's safer that way. I just wanted to let everyone know, in case they enjoy reading my blog. In order to be able to view my blog, you will have to send me your email address so I can send you an invite.

You Might Live In Michigan...

This morning on the way to work the rear view mirror that houses the thermometer fluctuated between -15 & -21. It warmed up to a mere -17 degrees by noon; and now it's -1, 'feels like -19'. That's cold! (unless you live somewhere crazy like Alaska).

Francie sent me a forward this week about the crazy things you might see if you live in Michigan. I'll share with you the ones I've found to be true and then I made up a couple of my own:

Jeff Foxworthy says:

• If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March, You might live in Michigan.
• If you have worn shorts and a coat at the same time, you might live in Michigan.
• "Vacation" means going up north on I-75.
• You measure distance in hours. (mom, you do this too!)
• You think owning a Honda is Un-American. (I can't help but think my sisters will laugh when they read this one.)

Here are a couple I came up with of my own to add to the list:

• If your SUV looks like a conversion van, you might live in Michigan. (This is after brushing off what I can reach and driving around several days.)
• If your Christmas tree is still on your front porch (because you are too cold and lazy on trash day to drag it out to the curb at 6am) but it is okay because its covered in snow and blends in with the bushes.

Don't worry, she's home safe in the garage.

Another DOG post.

My carpet is no longer pied, as it was never intended to be. I wish for all of you that you never get caramel and chocolate on your carpet. Walter has been exceptionally sorrowful. He kept trying to get our attention to be petted. Since then, he has been careful to stay out of trouble. We left him home alone for nearly 5 hours today. I thought for sure we would have a mess to clean up... we must have made a big enough impression on him the night before because there was not a mess in sight. Here he is chasing his beloved laser light and trying to get to that nasty squirrel family that harass him all day long. And seriously people, how naughty are your children? If my kids ever eat candy on my carpet and smear it in and then poop in the dining room and throw up in my path, I swear, I will sell them to the gypsies. Should I just skip that milestone entirely? Be honest with me. Then again, by the time I have kids old enough to walk, my carpet won't be new and clean anymore (Thanks again Walt), so it may never matter. And I can always set up a little bunk in the half assembled shed by the water if I have to.

Guess who's at the top of my BAD list?

WALTER is! He was terrible last night. I was so mad at him! We left him home alone for a couple of hours while we went to a movie. When we got home, we found throw-up in the entryway.... contents: foil wrappers, dark brown stuff, caramel and green apple pieces. Our luck didn't stop there. In the kitchen there was a plate upside down on the floor, stuck in place. Underneath it: caramel apple. He managed to eat THREE caramel apples, a giant king size bar of chocolate and a hand full of Hershey kisses. His eating place? The carpeted living room and my carpeted bedroom. Caramel and chocolate gooped to the carpet. It was bad! We went through a can of spot shot within 5 minutes. Adam had to run to the store, thankfully they were open on new years eve, and get more stain remover and a rug doctor at 10 pm. Have you ever had to clean caramel from carpet? Imagine it to be similar to hot wax on the carpet. Wait, it gets better... He felt compelled to top it off with a pile of poop in the corner of the dinning room. Oh, and more throw-up throughout the evening in random carpeted areas. So, lets hope this is not going to be out New Years Eve tradition! So, do you think he was rebelling, or just being a dog? I think he knew exactly what he was doing, because he doesn't do that kind of stuff when we are home, so I know he knows better. What a bad dog.