The outside temperature on the right pretty much sums up this past week. This picture and those  following of the Iron River Light Parade were taken Saturday evening by a friend of Yooper Brother Mark's.

December 12, 2013 – Thursday

-9 degrees/cloudy/calm winds

Pentoga Road

Talk about lazy. I’ve been up for well over an hour. Other than stoking the fire and writing a couple of emails, I’ve accomplished nothing. I don’t know where the usual zip and vinegar is… I feel as though I’m zipped out and the day hasn’t even started.

The 2013 Iron River, Michigan, Christmas Light Parade

Who's that jolly old elf in the back of the dump truck? Why, that's Yooper Brother Mark. Mrs. Claus, Sheri, who is much better looking than her husband, is hidden by Santa's "girth."

We may be a small community, but the celebration and true meaning of Christmas is still alive and well in the UP. We're not afraid to say Merry Christmas and if anyone's offended... well, that's too bad. 

Wednesday was a different one of sorts. I was inside all morning, watching the wind blow as the temperatures hovered between -5 and -10 degrees. I was itching to do something, anything.

The moneyman, my financial advisor, who takes care of the IRA that directly pays the mortgage on the house, was available to meet with me at 2 PM in Iron Mountain. If my timing was right, I could run several errands and kill multiple birds with one stone. I was soon on my way driving east.

Some interest was made on my mortgage account this past year, more than that charged on the house loan, so I was happy. I’ve instructed the financial advisor that I wanted to remain conservative in my investment strategies so my profit wasn’t as great as it could have been. Still, I didn’t lose any money. With today’s out of control, big government, liberal print-and-spend economics, I’m content. Sometimes I wish I could be more of an adventurer when it comes to finances, but in this case, two in the bush is definitely worth one in the hand.

The meeting ended early enough that I could meet Sargie for a late lunch. With the wind howling and temperatures well below zero, it wasn’t nearly as pleasant meeting in the cemetery in December as it is on a warm August day under the spreading shade of a maple tree.

I filled both vehicles with gas, $3.21 a gallon, the cheapest it’s been locally in a couple of years (or more). With a hug, a kiss, and a promise to be careful, I headed the car towards home.

I can’t drive after dark, but quickly discovered driving into the sun with its glare off the snow was as bad or worse. I could feel my heart pounding my head by the time I pulled into the drive.

Neighbor Mike called and asked if I could check on his camp and turn up the thermostat. I was walking up his lane at sunset when a flock of wild turkeys, about to roost, spooked and flew out in front of me, one almost hitting me in the face. I swear, for an instant, my life passed before me, but thankfully, it was just an oversized bird.

Speaking of wildlife, there are no deer in the yard this year. In fact, it seems there are no deer anywhere. I’ve put out corn, but not a one has made an after dark appearance.

There are a number of theories of why the deer herd is so thin: it was a very difficult and hard spring last year, it’s a natural cycle, chronic wasting and other disease has taken its toll, but the one I most subscribe to is that our large wolf population has thinned the deer herd to miniscule numbers. I’m certain Brutus isn’t at fault. He doesn’t chase deer (in fact, he’s afraid of them) and what few have seen him, merely stand and watch. They seem to sense he’s about as fear-mongering as Winnie the Pooh.

 Whatever the reason, we’ve gone from feeding as many as ten to fifteen deer down to none. I miss looking out the living room window and watching them graze.

Sargie was home early last night. She worked on preparations for Christmas most of the evening. We watched the newer version of Bonnie and Clyde and though I fell asleep after almost four hours of nonstop shoot ‘em up action and Model T car chases, I’m pretty sure they still were shot in the end.

Sargie works late today and it will be late evening before she arrives back home. Thankfully, she’ll be off on Friday, her birthday, and Saturday, a rare two days off in a row. We’re planning going to Green Bay tomorrow so she can finish her Christmas shopping. No doubt, I’ll spend most the day sitting in the middle of the mall with the other old guys, gabbing with my newest best friends, and watching shoppers as they walk past.

It’s time to wake up Sargie and get the day started. After all, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…