Author: RTOlson

HANCOCK, Mich. — Home again after being in motion for about 21 hours. I thought that digging out my car at Marquette Sawyer Airport and scooping my driveway after such a long day would’ve been a momentous task. It was surprisingly easy to dig out my car — all the snow came right off my windows and there was no ice. I was able to easily unlock my car and open the door (instead of both being iced over). It was sweet.

Getting home wasn’t bad as the roads were clear. Although there was a bit of snow in my parking spot, it was actually quite pleasant (despite some salty chunks of ice) and quite a pick-me-up after such a long day. My parking spot is interesting — it’s the furthest from where I can dump the snow, but it’s sheltered from a lot of drifting snow too.

Memo to self: Don’t start watching a movie after midnight if you’ve got to get up four hours later. D’oh!

More later, but my bed beckons for now and I won’t resist its siren call.

HOUSTON — Well, after nearly two terrific weeks in sunny climate of San Diego, I’ll be back in the snow-covered Copper Country in about 12 hours. In the next couple of days, I’ll reflect on many of the fun things I got to do in San Diego and Poway including visiting the band, New Year’s Eve, the family and getting frisked by the UCSD police.

Until then, here’s just a couple of thoughts on the Houston-George Bush International Airport. First of all, the layout of this airport is as chaotic and hard to navigate as the Minneapolis and Detroit airports. The thing is those airports have tried to implement solutions to try and ease the flyers’ travels through the terminals (through the use of trams). Despite a renovation, Houston doesn’t seem to be going that route just yet with the fleet of mini-cars hauling some of the passengers through the concourses.

Secondly, there’s only a handful of Internet terminals and wireless access is limited to the Presidents’ Club. Again, with a recent renovation underway, adding wireless Internet to the airport would’ve been an easy amenity to provide. Oh well. The Neptune networks terminal that I’m writing this on is fast and responsive. However, with my right arm perched on top of the cash box and my neck craned to the right to read the LCD, it’s not the most ergonomic. Still, I’m addicted and I need my fix.

There’s an interesting commentary from the CBC’s Rex Murphy calling on the people of the “First World” to help those stricken by the disaster (who are typically from the “Third World”).

Some interesting thoughts and I think helps illustrate some of the differences between action and deed. I was especially struck by his last words — “And if an earthquake and a tsunami can’t wake us out of the slumbers of complacency and prosperity, well then there’s nothing that can.”

The news about the aftermath of last week’s earthquake and subsequent tidal waves just continues to get worse. BBC News is reporting that more than 68,000 are confirmed dead and the Red Cross is saying that the toll could be more than 100,000 soon.

Seeing the video of the waves crashing into the resorts is sad — no one on holiday would’ve anticipated such a life-altering disaster. Hopefully, relief organizations can help alleviate the situation soon.

If you’d like to help the recovery effort, this BBC News story links to 10 care organizations.

SAN DIEGO — It’s the Monday after Christmas and most of the stores are packed with shoppers and those seeking to make returns. My family went to Fashion Valley Mall and I naturally went to the Apple Store.

I was very surprised about how many people were at the Apple Store. The line for returns seemed pretty long (for mostly iPod accessories, it seems), But there were big crowds looking at all the shiny new Apples. It’s a wonderful sight.

I hope I’m getting in the holiday mood — I’ve been listening to the soundtrack from A Charlie Brown Christmas for pretty much a whole month now. There’s snow on the ground and I’m desperately trying to think of last-minute gifts for the family.

Since it’s probably my last season in the Copper Country, I’m working on something with a local appeal. I think I’ve got an idea, but it’s going to require a bit of a drive. We’ll see if it pans out.

Until later, have a happy holiday!

There was an interesting story on CBC News: Morning about a Toronto-based group called the Serial Diners. Their goal for the past 15 years has been to eat their way through all the restaurants in the phone book — from A to Z (or Zed, for the Canadians out there).

It’s a very interesting idea — I just wish I thought of it. If variety is the spice of life, they’re certainly zesty. At the same time, they apparently have never utilized back-up fast-food restaurant Harvey’s in case their restaurant doesn’t pan out (they’ve just gone to other restaurants).

I’d write more, but my computer crashed twice already trying to play a RealMedia link through an extremely outdated version of Mozilla.

I know I’m a few days late, but this whole area got socked with a huge winter storm over the weekend. There were over 18 inches of snow.

Of course, tis the season to feel full of the winter spirit. And I definitely felt that walking to the bar Sunday night for a little bit of exercise. I thought about how neat it was that the roads hadn’t been plowed yet and how my car was buried in. The drifting snow being blown about by a gusting wind as Christmas lights blinked on and off as they were draped atop neighbors’ houses.

Then I started walking through the drifts of snow that sunk when I tread on them. The wind started to push past my toque as I passed by the site of the condemned house that was torn down a few months ago. On Main Street, the sidewalks paid the penalty of a clear road as the plows pushed the snow piles on the sidewalk ever higher. Truly, I felt I had “earned” the drink when I arrived at the bar.

Walking back was a much nicer experience, the mini-tractor had cleared the Quincy Street sidewalk.

Now, it’s great because the area is now covered with beautiful white snow. Aside from the stuff alongside the road, things generally stay pretty white and beautiful until spring rolls around.

Awhile back, I got into a little debate with my friend Steve about television. I argued that it’s all right to have some TV as long as it doesn’t overrun your life and that includes spending a little extra to get basic cable in the home. Steve took another position essentially that letting the TV into the home _is_ going to overrun your life — especially because the glowing box is practically begging for attention.

Well, we parted ways and I was inclined to think that a little TV is all right. However, I was at the House of Blues in Chicago last Thursday listening to Big Al and the Heavyweights. It’s a great venue with the friezes of blues legends gazing downing from the ceiling and a great Louisiana blues band, but I was constantly being distracted by the bloody TVs in the venue. I can understand why one might position TVs in a bar area (or even a whole sports bar), but it’s sooo distracting to have my attention diverted by needless glowing screens during a concert (publicizing upcoming events at the venue).

Perhaps I’m like a moth being drawn by flame, but some television has got to go.