Snow is On The Way

This has been a very mild winter according to all the locals in Superior, WI.

Beginning tomorrow we are expecting snow for most of next week, according to the forecasters.  We have heard expected totals of anywhere from 3-12 inches from the local forecasters.  A week of snow will be unusual for us, the most we normally see is a day.

I am looking forward to staying home most of the week and enjoying the warm house and the relaxing sight of the falling snow.  I really love having the time to relax and enjoy the beauty of God's creation.

We did wake up to snow a few days ago and everything was so beautiful.

By the time the sun came out the snow had diminished to a few flurries but the ground was well covered.  These photos were taken from our back patio.

These are from the front of the house.

Rain or shine, snow or whatever, the city services continue to run and the trash can had to go out.  Glad I have a sweet husband to take the can to the curb for me.

Notice his coat is not closed.  The temperature was in the low 20's but as long as you are not in it for a very long time, you do not feel it.  This is so unusual to cold weather in the south where the humidity is so high, anything below 32 feels like it reaches your bones.  Much nicer up here.

Hope to get more photos if the forecast proves true.  Have a warm week.

Sunday Phunnies

Husband Tech Support

Dear Tech Support:

Last year I upgraded from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 and noticed that the new program began making unexpected changes to the accounting software, severely limiting access to wardrobe, flower and jewelry applications that operated flawlessly under Boyfriend 5.0. No mention of this phenomenon was included in the product brochure.

In addition, Husband 1.0 uninstalls many other valuable programs such as Dinner/Dancing 7.5, CruiseShip 2.3, and OperaNight 6.1 and installs new, undesirable programs such as PokerNight 1.3, SaturdayFootball 5.0, Golf 2.4 and ClutterEverywhere 4.5.

As well, Conversation 8.0 no longer runs, and invariably crashes the system.

Under no circumstances will it run HouseCleaning 2.6. I've tried running Nagging 5.3, to fix Husband 1.0, but this all-purpose utility is of limited effectiveness. Can you help, please!!!!

Signed, Jane
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Jane:

This is a very common problem women complain about, but it is mostly due to a primary misconception. Many people upgrade from Boyfriend 5.0 to Husband 1.0 with no idea that Boyfriend 5.0 is merely an ENTERTAINMENT package. However, Husband 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and was designed by its creator to run as few applications as possible.

Further, you cannot purge Husband 1.0 and return to Boyfriend 5.0, because Husband 1.0 is not designed to do this. Hidden operating files within your system would cause Boyfriend 5.0 to emulate Husband 1.0, so nothing is gained. It is impossible to uninstall, delete, or purge the program files from the system, once installed. Any new program files can only be installed once per year, as Husband 1.0 has severely limited memory.

Error messages are common and a normal part of Husband 1.0.

In desperation to play some of their "old time" favorite applications, or to get new applications to work, some women have tried to install Boyfriend 6.0, or Husband 2.0. However, these women end up with more problems than encountered with Husband 1.0.

Look in your manual under "Warnings: Divorce/Child Support." You will notice that this program runs very poorly, and comes bundled with HeartBreak 1.3. I recommend you keep Husband 1.0, and just learn the quirks of this strange and illogical system.

Having Husband 1.0 installed myself, I might also suggest you read the entire section regarding General Partnership Faults.

My Contribution to the Political Fanfare

ON UNEMPLOYMENT
 COSTELLO: I want to talk about the unemployment rate in America.
 ABBOTT: Good Subject. Terrible Times. It's 9%.
 COSTELLO: That many people are out of work?
 ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.
 COSTELLO: You just said 9%.
 ABBOTT: 9% Unemployed.
 COSTELLO: Right 9% out of work.
 ABBOTT: No, that's 16%.
 COSTELLO: Okay, so it's 16% unemployed.
 ABBOTT: No, that's 9%...
 COSTELLO: WAIT A MINUTE. Is it 9% or 16%?
 ABBOTT: 9% are unemployed. 16% are out of work.
 COSTELLO: IF you are out of work you are unemployed.
 ABBOTT: No, you can't count the "Out of Work" as the unemployed. You have to look for work to be unemployed.
 COSTELLO: BUT THEY ARE OUT OF WORK!!!
 ABBOTT: No, you miss my point.
 COSTELLO: What point?
 ABBOTT: Someone who doesn't look for work, can't be counted with those who look for work. It wouldn't be fair.
 COSTELLO: To who?
 ABBOTT: The unemployed.
 COSTELLO: But they are ALL out of work.
 ABBOTT: No, the unemployed are actively looking for work... Those who are out of
 work stopped looking. They gave up. And, if you give up, you are no longer in
 the ranks of the unemployed.
 COSTELLO: So if you're off the unemployment rolls, that would count as less unemployment?
 ABBOTT: Unemployment would go down. Absolutely!
 COSTELLO: The unemployment just goes down because you don't look for work?
 ABBOTT: Absolutely it goes down. That's how you get to 9%. Otherwise, it would be 16%.
 You don't want to read about 16% unemployment do ya?
 COSTELLO: That would be frightening.
 ABBOTT: Absolutely.
 COSTELLO: Wait, I got a question for you. That means they're two ways to bring down the unemployment number?
 ABBOTT: Two ways is correct.
 COSTELLO: Unemployment can go down if someone gets a job?
 ABBOTT: Correct.
 COSTELLO: And unemployment can also go down if you stop looking for a job?
 ABBOTT: Bingo.
 COSTELLO: So there are two ways to bring unemployment down, and the easier of the two is to just stop looking for work.
 ABBOTT: Now you're thinking like an economist.
 COSTELLO: I don't even know what the heck I just said!

And now you know why the unemployment figures are improving!

Sunday Phunnies

Technology for Country Folk

Log On - Making a wood stove hot

Log Off - Too much wood on fire

Monitor - Keep'n an eye on the wood stove

Down Load - Gitten the farwood off'n the truck

Mega Hertz - When yer not keerfull gitten the farwood

Floppy Disc - Whatcha git from tryin to tote too much farwood

Ram - That thar thang what splits the farwood

Hard Drive - Gitten home in the winter time

Windows - Whut to shut when its cold outside

Screen - Whut to shut when its black fly season

Byte - Whut dem dang flys do

Chip - Munchies fer the TV

Micro Chip - Whut's in the bottom of the munchie bag

Modem - Whatcha do to the hay fields

Dot Matrix - Ole Dan Matrix's wife

Lap Top - Whar the kitty sleeps

Keyboard - Whar you hang the dang truck keys

Software - Dem dang plastic forks and knifes

Mouse - What eats the grain in the barn

Mouse Pad - That's hippie talk fer where the mouse lives

Main Frame - Holds up the barn roof

Port - Fancy flatlander wine

Enter - Notherner talk fer "C'Mon in y'all"

Click - Whut you hear when you cock yer gun

Double Click - When you cock the double barrel

Reboot - Whut you have to do right before bedtime, when you have to go to the outhouse

Culver's

It is a really terrible thing to live in a town with a Culver's.

Culver's is a fast food restaurant that is so far removed from the typical there is no comparison.

We fell in love with Culver's on our first trip to Superior last year.  Someplace along the road we started seeing their signs and noticed they were always busy.  We decided to give them a try and fell in love.

We started seeking them out as we traveled and were delighted when we discovered one right down the road from us in Superior.  We were delighted at first.

Culver's quickly became and still is, our favorite place to eat in Superior.  We went there often and everything they serve is good, from the Butterburgers, to the chicken tenders, to the roast beef, and especially the Concrete Mixers.  OH, MY!!

The Concrete Mixers were our downfall.  They are similar to a Dairy Queen Blizzard or a McDonald's McFlurry but so much better than either.  Culver's uses frozen custard, so they are creamy and they never go easy on the add-ins.  Our favorite is Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and it is really good.

Well, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Concrete Mixers are the reason for it to be a terrible thing to have a Culver's in the neighborhood.  About 10 pounds later we decided we better lay off of these things. 

Oh, it was hard but we stayed away and when we were relocated to North Dakota we were rather glad there was no Culver's nearby.  However, we are back in Superior and once again, Culver's has become our favorite restaurant and those Concrete Mixers just keep calling our names. 

Since we have no self-control over these things-we better get moved back to North Dakota soon or all of our clothes will need replacing.  That being said, if you are ever near a Culver's, give them a try, I promise you will not be disappointed.

Visiting Grand Marais

This winter has been so lovely up in the north-not much snow and lately the temps have been going above freezing every day.  We decided to enjoy the beautiful day and take a ride up the Minnesota eastern coast to Grand Marais, MN.

We left Superior, WI around 9AM and within minutes were enjoying the scenic byway that hugs Lake Superior.

As you can see there is still a little snow on the ground but it is melting and there was lots of water on the roads and walkways.

I just love these trees and they grow all over up here.  Christmas trees year round, what a blessing.

We passed through 2 tunnels on the way.  It seems unusual for a tunnel to be made through a mountain or hill.  In the south the tunnels run under water.

We traveled through several state and national forests along the byway.  The assortment of trees was really pretty.  Even the deciduous trees which look naked right now are standing tall in their natural beauty.

We passed many places where the rock has been cut away to make way for the road.  The tall rock walls reminds me of Tennessee.

Hiking trails are very popular up here.  The Superior Hiking Trail is over 200 miles long and runs parallel to Lake Superior from Duluth to Canada.  Another popular trail is the Gitchi-Gami Hiking Trail which runs from Two Harbors to Grand Marais, MN.  The Gitchi-Gami trail is a paved trail for hiking or biking and for the most part runs between the road and the lake.

At one point on our trip we saw what looks like chunks of ice floating in the lake.  It was too far away to get a good picture but to the naked eye it looked like ice and since much of the southern part of the lake is still frozen, it is quite possible.

The farther north we went the more snow and ice remained on the sides of the road.

This truck has a snow plow attached to the front.  This is a very common way of clearing snow in parking lots and driveways.  Of course, the cities have huge snow plows but for small scale clearing, these are popular.

Grand Marais is a little over 2 hours from our home and eventually we arrived.

It is a very cute little town that seems to specialize in tourism.  I am sure glad we came up here in the winter and not the peak tourist season.  It was a little busy but not crowded.

The shoreline is really pretty.  The ground is covered with some sort of crushed stone.  The waves lapping up on the shore reminded me of home, except our beaches are white sand.

Evidently a few weeks ago there was a snow sculpture contest and the only remaining entries were this lighthouse and,

this cupcake, which my other half just had to try to lick.  Good thing his tongue did not stick to it.

I took this photo for my sis-in-law.  How long has it been since you have seen a Ben Franklin?  Here it is right in downtown.

We had lunch at a cute LITTLE restaurant called The Crooked Spoon and it was so good.  Homemade carrot cake was the special of the day and it was really good.

Then we headed home.  I am so glad the weather had warmed up enough for us to venture this far north.  We would never have tried this if the roads had still been icy.  So grateful for a fun, safe trip we arrived back in Superior around 4:30 and went to bed early that night!

Sunday Phunnies

Signs! Signs!

Actual Signs Posted by Businesses

On an electrician's truck: Let us remove your shorts.

Maternity Clothes Shop: We are open on Labor Day.

On a Front Door: Everyone on the premises is a vegetarian except the dog.

On a Maternity Room Door: Push, Push, Push!

Non-smoking area: If we see you smoking we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action.

Optometrist's Office: If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.

Scientist's Door: Gone Fission.

Taxidermist Window: We really know our stuff.

Podiatrist's Window: Time wounds all heels.

Sign on Fence: Salesmen welcome. Dog food is expensive.

Car Dealership: The best way to get back on your feet ... miss a car payment.

Muffler Shop: No appointment necessary. We'll hear you coming.

Hotel: Help! We need inn - experienced people.

Butcher's Window: Pleased to meat you.

Sign in an office: We shoot every 3rd salesman, and the 2nd one just left.

Veterinarians Waiting Room: Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!

The Electric Company: We would be delighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don't, you will be.

Beauty Shop: Dye now!

Garbage Truck: We've got what it takes to take what you've got.

Computer Store: Out for a quick byte.

Diner Window: Don't stand there and be hungry, come in and get fed up.

Bowling Alley: Please be quiet. We need to hear a pin drop.

Cafeteria: Shoes are required to eat in the cafeteria. Socks can eat any place they want.

Music Library: Bach in a minuet.

Funeral Home: Drive carefully, we'll wait.