Tuesday 10 - The Good and The Bad

I almost forgot about this weeks list but I remembered. Here's this weeks list in honor of the good and bad things going on in my life right now, was it sir issac newton who said - for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction well I haven't figured them all out yet but seems that with some of these he might have been right.
Tuesday 10 The Good and The Bad:

1. Good - Went to the track Saturday with Jeanne and Rick!
   
2. Bad - I got really really sunburnt at the track Saturday.
3. Good - My sunburn might turn into a nice tan. :)
   
4. Bad - I pulled some muscles in my back.
5. Good - Jay's now in charge of all the house work and cooking (it's just a like a maid only much cuter).
   
6. Bad - My project at work might be coming to an end soon (September).
7. Good - Some of the next projects sound like lots of fun - India or NYC!
8. Bad - My grandpa is in the hospital.
9. Good - My aunt is able to stay and take care of him and my grandma.
10. I could have tossed in another bad one but I want to end on a positive note so - Good - I got a nice Box in the mail from Laura today.
    

TGIF!

Back to work. Ugh! I rather liked getting up early and playing in the afternoon while I was in Michigan, but at least today is Friday and I can now sleep in tomorrow although not to late as we are meeting miss Jeanne and her husband at the track for brickyard qualifying hopefully it will be a fun time. I don't think I've ever been to qualifying for the race so it's also something new. I'm in the process of uploading all 335 pictures from Michigan to the internet. At about 2.1 mb per file it's taking quite some time. cross your fingers it doesn't time out! Well I should stop breaking for lunch and get back to work.

TGIF!

Tuesday 10 - 10 Michigan Moments

I should have wrote things down as they happened like Mom but I'm not anal enough for that. So here's my Tuesday 10 a day late.
Tuesday 10 - 10 Michigan Moments:

1. Grandpa telling Grandma that "those people" emailed her. ("Those People" = their longtime friends Neil and Mary I think it was).
   
2. Hanging out at the Beach in the Fog.
3. Mom telling me that even though she couldn't read the actually locations on the map that since she could see the curve and it looked the same as the one we were on we must be getting close.
4. Feeding the chipmunks. I think they love Grandma their cheeks were so packed with food I'm quite sure if they actually ate the food they would explode.
5. Mom asking the AAA tire guy - "How do we avoid running over screws?"
6. Looking for beach glass.
7. The freezing cold lake superior water nothing like going into shock when you stick your toes in.
   
8. Guy on porch telling Aunt Thea that the Berry Patch was out of ice cream and her believing him.
9. Sharing Onion Rings, Nachos and Black Bean Salad with Aunt Rachel for dinner I'm sure that sounds appetizing doesn't' it?
   
10. Watching the sunset.
    

Dear Jeanne -

My timer takes 3 pictures on the timer so I don't look so goofy in the other two. No worries.

:) Katie

What Have I (We) Been Up Too?

Quincy Mining and Eagle Harbor

Well we spent a little bit of the afternoon at Quincy Mine we didn't have enough time to see if we could get some copper out of the mine. But we did walk around the graveyard of old mining tools (check out my ride below).
After that we went to Hancock Airport as Aunt Thea was arriving on the 4:50 flight. The airport was much smaller than I imagined I was surprised how close you can park to it. But surprisingly the plane that arrived was bigger that I imagined I thought it would be about the size of the one that USAir put me one when they tried to send me to Bangor. Thea made it here safely and actually a little early and G&G met us at the airport to pick her up too. We drove the scenic route to Eagle Harbor passing the dunes and the thimbleberry patches. We got to G&G's cottage and took in their groceries. Then we headed to the Eagle Harbor Inn for supper. They have the cutest little restaurant in there with these big windows. After supper mom and thea walked back to the cottage and Grandma and I drove back.
After a little chat mom, thea and I went for a little stroll to see the sunset on the lake. The Rocks and lighthouse are almost the same as I remember except there seems to be many more trees and bushes growing amongst them. We took the long way back and looked for someone's hand prints but we didn't find them.
Mom and I left not long after we got back to the cabin as it was getting late. On the way home the low tire pressure light came on in my car and of course I'm all worried about this as there's not really much in this area. Luckily we came across the Calumet gas station and we were able to get air into the tire just in time - at some point we must have run over of something as it was VERY low when I added air to the tire. So I filled it up and we crossed our fingers we would make it back to the hotel. Luckily we did and I stopped at the walmart gas station across the street just to be sure there would be enough air so I can take it to the tire place tomorrow. More adventures tomorrow I'm sure Aunt Rachel and my cousin Sara will arrive too so it shall be fun I'm sure.

Oh and here's a few photos we snapped. Me at Quincy mine do you like my Jeep? it was very very rusty and not really stable but I couldn't resist the photo opp.


Mom with a pulley that once pulled the miners and copper out of Quincy mine doesn't she look nice?

Eagle Harbor Light House just as I remember with a few more taller trees.
Rocks in Eagle Harbor. Aunt Thea on the the rocks and amongst the vegitation.

And last but not least one of the sunset.

Houghton, Michigan

We took a little journey into Houghton this morning - I haven't been here since I was a small child probably 10-11. Anyhow Houghton once was a copper mining town. It is connected to Hancock Michigan via a lift bridge I think it move so tall boats can pass under it (not sure how that works but I hope my grandpa can explain it). This is also the home of Michigan Tech University (maybe you've heard of it maybe not). Lots of Finnish settlers came here way back when probably because of the long cold snowy winters - in fact one of the shops sold these little finish bags and games and things made by a company called marimekko - too cute! We walked around downtown there's not many people around in fact most of the little shops didn't open until 11. We bought some souvenirs and postcards and then drove around a bit. Here's a few of the things we saw.

I believe this is an old copper mine along the river. It's partially falling down but isn't it cute. Look at how rustic and perfect it is along the waters edge.
Here's the lift bridge according to my postcard it once allowed Trains to pass on the lower level; however today that's used for foot traffic.
Mom outside of the old Daily Mining Gazette Building - the Gazette had been the local area paper since 1858 - that's a LONG time. A little miner statue. This may or may not be my great-grandmother's childhood home we haven't talked to grandpa yet to confirm and mom isn't quite sure as she hasn't been here in a long long time and she hasn't been by her house in even longer.




Now we are off to see ourselves a copper mine. More Soon.

Mom and Katie Road Trip Day 1

We made it to the Upper Penisula and yes there's Wifi! :D It only took 13 hours to get here. Here's some of the few photos we took along the way.

Paul Bunyan's Shanty. Look I'm not even as tall as his boots.


The Pine Trees I love how they are naked at the bottom and all the needles are at the top.
See we made it to Michigan we stopped in Land O' Lakes for gas and the welcome to michigan sign was right there it was too perfect.
And here we made to Wisconsin (note we got to wisconsin before Michigan).

15 Things I love!

Since I'm on a roll with all these lists I thought I would keep it rolling since this is this weeks challenge. (Blog about 15 things that you LOVE right now. They don't have to be things you have always loved (but that's not to say they can't) but try and include things that reflect where you are in your life right now and what you are truly enjoying and passionate about. )
So here is my list 15 things Katie Loves Right Now 07.18.07:

1. Buttons - They seems to be all over lately I just found one in my bathroom sink (not the drain that goodness), I love scrapping buttons, crafting buttons, sewing buttons, keyboard buttons, buttons on my pants, button shirts, elevator buttons, vcr buttons what's not to love.
2. Polka Dots - I don't know why but I'm crazy for polka dots all the sudden. I just bought polka dot red flats that I can wear to work too cute (not this is where I would insert a photo if I took one).
3. Talking on the Phone - Sure I love just talking in general I can hold my own in most conversations that don't involve religion or politics but I mostly just enjoy rambling about nothing or everything on my mind. In the last two days I've been over 4 hours on the phone each day. SHOCK FACTOR - I've even been enjoying talking on my cell phone I've never been a big advocate of this before, but I'm finally annoyed that it's got horrible coverage.
   
4. Messes - I don't like to clean them up. But I love to make them! I even actually enjoy having them it's like a sense of accomplishment to me it says "someone lives here and enjoys life".
5. Little tiny miniature things - What is it about these that I'm just drawn to them. I see them and I want them I want to examine them and see how they got so dang little. Micromachines and Polly Pockets where are you?
6. Rain storms - I especially enjoyed these the last few days as it brings a little hope that might grass might turn a nice lush green again. There's just something about the smell of rain that appeals to me too it's yummy! (Please note I don't really give a hoot about big sticky rain though as there is a difference).
   
7. Cheesy Bad British Soaps - Hip Hip hooray for BBC America I can get my fill of bad tv now that all my shows have officially been canceled. If you aren't watching Footballers Wives or Hollyoaks you are seriously missing out on some cheesy bad (good) television.
8. Working from Home - At first this is a hard transition as I so miss seeing my office buddies but after a while I've become accustomed to having a shower at noon and working from the couch as opposed to my desk.
9. The Best Year Ever - Everyone should be jealous you don't have a year like I do! As I am so in love with it I might redo 2007 next year! I mean how can you not be jealous of changing jobs and taking one that involves lots of travel and slightly higher pay, tons of BFF get togethers and road trips, free vacations in DC and Phoenix, Scrap Retreats out the wazoo (yes I said wazoo), Rodeos, Trips to Amish Country, Milwaukee cheeses, a birthday that lasts 10 days, and much much more. Seriously you should be jealous! ;)
10. My New Purses - I must say I like my red one much better than the black even though I thought I would heart the black one the most, the are both a downsize from my old purse but sometimes you don't really need to carry around a 10 pack of batteries or an extra pair of glasses when you are wearing one already.
11. Jay's passion and excitement for making homemade pizza - (yes I also love Jay) He thinks he's on Top Chef or something on the food network ever since I taught him how to make his own pizza for like less than $3 and you can eat if for more than 2 meals. Unforunately I'm not as excited to want to eat it every night as he would like but I do like a little homemade pie.
12. The Parking Button in my "newer" car - What's not to love - see item #1 but this button is so much more. When it's pushed so it's on it tells me when I'm going to back into the garage door, or that I'm getting too close to the neighbors fence (which I did run into a time or two). It even beeps like a garbage truck that's backing up! How stinkin cool is that!
13. The Mailman - I've not yet seen him or I'm sure I would have kissed him by now he's been bringing me all sorts of goodies in the mail lately sure sometimes they come with bills and all that jazz, but he's brought me some sort of treat in the mail every day probably since June 27th. I wonder how long this can keep up.
14. My BFFs - I'm sure you were wondering if I would go through this entire list without giving them a plug I almost didn't give them a second plug as they are on #9, but I bumped off travel just so I could get them on here again so Travel I do love you so but I love my BFFs a tick more. So here's too my very special BFFs as Kim would say LYLAS!
15. 79 Cent Slushies From Speedway - What a fabulous treat this is! Hello what is not to love! All summer long Speedway is offering Slushies for less than $1. And Double bonus if you buy 6 and have a Speedy Reward card you get one free! Ching Ching Ching! I am not kidding when I say I have drank no fewer than 12 slushies since they middle of June when I discovered this little deal. Of course they aren't like blue Slushies from J's Dairy Inn. But who the heck cares when it's so freaking cheap. If you haven't had one yet this summer you better run out to your local Speedway! (Dear Speedway Executives - If you are reading this. Let me personally volunteer to be your slushie machine tester. I'm even willing to travel to Alaska to test slushies and how they taste in the super cold if it means drinking more slush, while I'm there I will drink enough for the whole state to make it well worth your while to put a machine in that store. XOXO yours truly Katie (that's big K, littl e a, t, i, e :))
    

Tuesday 10 - Looking Forward to Michigan

Well I'm starting to look forward to going to Michigan with Mom. I haven't really thought about it much until I realized we were leaving this Friday. So here's 10 things I'm looking forward to.

1. The Car Ride - well not really so much it's much to far but it will be fun to catch with Mom.
2. Cooler Weather - I think the UP is in the 70's yay!
3. No Humidity - Need I say more.
4. Nature - Okay I'm not much of a nature person but sometimes it's good to see it anyhow.
5. Jam - I heard someone was making some.
6. Black Bears
7. Seeing my Aunts. I haven't seen Rachel or Thea in over six years.
8. Seeing G&G.
9. Lake Superior in all it's coldness.
10. Working remotely.

Now I'm sure you would have also enjoyed the list of things I'm not looking forward to as well, packing, gas prices, traffic.