Listen to "Blue Collar Town" written by Escanaba resident, Chris Brooks

I was tipped off to "Blue Collar Town" by Christina Henderson via Twitter. You can follow Christina at twitter.com/ChrisQuick. The song's writer, Chris Brooks, happens to be her boss and when she first made mention of it it was something like, "listen to boss' new song, "Blue Collar Town" and I thought that perhaps it was THE Boss - Bruce Springsteen. Instead, it's a great song written by an Escanaba resident about what's happened to Escanaba over the years and it can be equated to what's happened in Michigan and across the country as well.

Listen to "Blue Collar Town".

As seen at the bird feeders this morning

This morning I made sure to fill up all of our bird feeders so our feathered friends would have some yummy treats to help keep them warm. Not five minutes after I filled them up we had quite the assortment of birds. I counted two blue jays, a handful of male and female cardinals, a few snow birds, and the ever present sparrows. In addition to that was a big fat red squirrel that was on the prowl for an easy meal.

I have a feeder designated for this squirrel that I always keep filled with some shelled corn. Today, he decided the new birdseed was a step up from corn and camped out in one of our feeders. After stuffing his cheeks with seeds he took a brief nap and then fled for parts unknown. I'll have to do a little extra engineering on that feeder so he can't get to the birdseed and move on to the one I have set aside for him. He's getting a bit greedy.

Anyway, stay warm and if you're on the roads - stay safe.

Surfing the Great Lakes

You can't surf the Great Lakes. At least that is what the "experts" say. This video proves otherwise. This documentary is called, "Unsalted: A Great Lakes Experience." When they show guys surfing Lake Superior wearing extra thick wetsuits and talking about the water being 33 degrees - it made me shiver. It's an incredible sight to see guys surfing with ice chunks floating amongst the waves. That's dedication to a sport or just plain crazy.

Have you read Mitch Albom's Courage of Detroit article in SI?

If you haven't read The Courage of Detroit yet, you should. Read it at SI.com. For those of you have already read the article - take a second to vote in the poll and please continue to share your comments and thoughts. I'm really enjoying reading everything that people are saying about the article.

[poll id="11"]

The 2009 Michigan Notable Books

The list of the 2009 Michigan Notable Books is already out and I didn't even get to all of the ones I wanted to read from the 2008 list. My how time flies. The titles in bold are the ones that I have added to my "to read" list which (as hard as I try) never seems to shrink. Also, I've created an online bookstore featuring the 2009 Michigan Notable Books as well as some other non-fiction Michigan books. Check it out at 2009 Michigan Notable Books.

It was on the 2000 list (back when it was merely called Read Michigan Selections) that I found one of my favorite Michigan authors, Steve Hamilton. If you love mysteries and have not read any of his - do yourself a favor and start with his first, "A Cold Day in Paradise." It won the prestigious Edgar Award (top award for a mystery novel) and introduces us to Alex McKnight and the mysteries that await in Michigan's picturesque Upper Peninsula.

• Asylum for the Insane: A History of the Kalamazoo State Hospital
• The English Major
• The Expeditions: A Novel
• "Jiffy" A Family Tradition: Mixing Business and Old-Fashioned Values
• Knucklehead: Tall Tales and Mostly True Stories of Growing Up Scieszka
• Looking for Hickories: The Forgotten Wildness of the Midwest
• Measure of the Heart: A Father's Alzheimer's, a Daughter's Return
• The Model T: A Centennial History
• Ninety Years Crossing Lake Michigan: The History of the Ann Arbor Car Ferries
• A Picturesque Situation: Mackinac Before Photography, 1615-1860
• Ravens in the Storm: A Personal History of the 1960s Antiwar Movement
• Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer
• Sirens of Chrome: The Enduring Allure of the Auto Show Model
• Summer Dreams: The Story of Bob-Lo Island
• The Toledo War: The First Michigan-Ohio Rivalry
• War as They Knew It: Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, and America in a Time of Unrest
• When the Church Becomes Your Party: Contemporary Gospel Music
• Who's Jim Hines?
• Wreck of the Carl D.: A True Story of Loss, Survival, and Rescue at Sea
• Historic Cottages of Glen Lake

There is a plethora of great items from Michigan history in the 2009 list and as you can see, that's the bulk of what I have added to my "to read" list.

Have a Great Friday!

I give a standing ovation to Mitch Albom's Sports Illustrated article

Wow. I just read Mitch Albom's new article over at SI.com, "The Courage of Detroit." As a native Michigander whose heart goes out to our entire state I just think he hit it right on the head. My favorite quote? "We are downtrodden, perhaps, but the most downtrodden optimists you will ever meet."

Yep, that sums up Detroit and the rest of the state quite nicely. I'd wear a shirt that says, "Welcome to Michigan, home of the most downtrodden optimists you will ever meet." I'd wear that like a badge of honor.

I'm proud of our state and the people that live, work, and die here. They're the type of people that make America great.

Do yourself a favor and read The Courage of Detroit. Heck, print it out and tack it to the wall or stick it to the fridge. Pass it on and share it with everyone you know.

Thanks to the heads up on the article by Big Al over at The Wayne Fontes Experience. He mainly covers the Lions, but other Michigan sports teams are also mentioned from time to time. He tells it like it is.