Mary Drew gives us a Keweenaw report:

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This is a sight I've been seeing for the past couple weeks on my morning walk in Lake Linden. I thought maybe the pasty.com viewers, especially the U.P. viewers, might need some hope that Spring can't be far behind. These hardy Robins are here and staying besides! I'd be a bit more worried if they had turned around and headed back south! Looks like they have plenty of crabapples to eat, so they're sticking around.

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I saw this local gang of robins hanging out by the high school in Lake Linden, throwing apple seeds at passersbys. I'm fairly certain one of them scoffed at all of the snow on the ground.

By the way, has anyone gotten their AAA report on the best time to convert to summer air in our tires? As I recall, last year it was on the 15th, but word on the street is that with all this snow it may not be until May 1st. Any guesses?

RGH,WI The Pasty Koop is located at 135 E. Wisconsin Ave. It's in a small strip type mall next to an antique store. The person that runs it is from Keasarge.

Looks like the sun is out in the Keewenaw this morning. Down here near Lansing it's all dreary and drizzly. Lots of accidents last night (radio reported 500) and they closed down I-96 and 496 for a time. Also had lots of trees and branches down from the ice storms last weekend. Robins are confused here also!

Looks like the Pasty.com arrow on the photo is pointing at the yellow spot on the snow bank. : ) I also saw a robin last week. It hasn't been around since so figured it flew the coop. It must have flown to Lake Linden.

"Watch out where those huskies go and don't you
eat that yellow snow."

Here in Lodi Ca. I had to explain about Robin sightings in the spring to my Ca. girlfriend.
We are to hit 75 today here. Hang in there spring is on the way. Love the weather here but miss Mich.

Well, robins may be here but so is their "white carpet" afoot.

Can anyone answer this question for me? On the 11/99 and 9/27/99 or was it 00? site there is a picture of an old abandoned house. In November of that year, folks were writing in that it looked like a ghost was in the window of the upper right hand corner of the house. I checked back on the 9/00 site and again saw something in that window (can't say it was ghost-like tho). Can anyone shed any light on this? The story of the house and/or the "ghostly" apparition in the window?

Thanks.

Sandy: Reference November 13th, 2000 pasty cam. John Dee was out in Mandan when he noticed 'something' in the window. He described his trip out there and the dogs reaction to the area that particular day. I believe it was deteremined that the "apparition" is some sort of insulation in the window.

To Charles C. Martin: What is this "summer air" that you put in your tires?

Puzzled in IL: Summer air is less dense, therefore lighter per cubic foot, improving fuel economy. Typically I convert mine when the service stations switch to "summer gasoline" which is a slightly different chemical make-up than "winter gas". They use different chemicals to control the octane in the gas. "Winter gas" uses a recipe that burns easier at lower temp for easier starting in the winter. "Summer gas" uses a cheaper recipe to obtain the octane rating, but is slightly more difficult to ignite at the colder temps, but causes no problems in the summer.

Retired GM Engineer in MI - Thanks for the info. Learn something new everyday and I thought we suomalainens knew it all. : )
Frank Zappa - I liked your little rhyme.

some info indicates that octane is not important-just add your own alchohol in the winter for humidity. check web.

Indeed "summer air" causes a more pronounced tire hum what with the high density of mosquitos per cubic inch of air forced into said cavity.

Did somebody forget to change their calendar? Today is Tuesday April 8th, not Tuesday April 1st. If you're not sure whether to fill your tires with winter or summer air, you could just bleed the stale air out, buy the adaptor and then fill the tire with bologna, which doesn't seem to be in short supply today.

Good One GARY, CO, that was my chuckle of the day.

Please do not kid about car care. There are some people (no names mentioned) who are trying very hard to keep up with modern technology, and just might go to a mechanic to have it done, and there are mechanics here who will do it, and charge an arm and a leg!

KLS in AZ: Accept my apologies, winter air and summer air is indeed a joke. Although, it is good to check tire pressure once a month due to change in climate, leaks, etc. The "winter and summer" gas formulas are a fact in the colder climate areas of North America. The chemical recipe used to produce the octane during the "winter gas" months can increase detonation and "vapor lock" in the summer months due to easier vaporization (hence easier starting engine), therefore a different recipe, for lack of better terms, is used in the summer. Maybe if there are any petroleum experts out there, they could expand on this with more authority.

To the fellow in need of summer air for his tires.
I have a left handed Monkey-Wrench that he might need to install that air that I would be interested in selling to him!!

And I thought I was beyond the age of gullibility. I thought this summer air thing was another yooper thing, like pasties and panking...

The "summer" vs. "winter" gas also has to do with the oxygenation (is that a word?) compounds, like ethanol and MTBE. With greatly increased driving in the summer months, many states require different formulas in the summer months to cut down on smog.

I wonder what kind of gas Toivo's car uses - leaded? :)

Toivo's car might run on pasties... :)

What's the matter for you? It uses Toivo's & Eino's Secret Sauce!

Sandy:
The apparition in John Dee's photo may have been insulation, but as several other's posted on the Nov. 13, 2000 page, Ghosts do exist. The last house I lived in in Marquette was visited several times by the spirit of a little girl of about 7 or 8 years old... we actually saw her one time. Other times she just played games with us... things like pulling at your covers at night or bouncing on your bed while you were studying... I wouldn't have believed it myself, but I was there! It is true!

I charge my air compressor up with summer air on high humidity days in August. Then I shut the compressor off until April or May. In these spring months I invite all my friends over for a free tire inflation. They all have had good luck with the wear on their tires.

As to Toivo's car running on pasties, the octane rating of the pasty is directly related to its rutabaga content.

Hey Toivo, if you get to Albuquerque while you are in NM, make sure you take the tram ride up to Sandia peak. The view is worth it!

Hei, Toivo, like Bugs bunny said, "I shoulda toined left at Albaquoicky!"
Hei, Gary,CO. I liked your bologna thoughts. Maybe some of us would have phrased it differently. :o) Pytavay, I changed our air just yesterday. Hei hei!

Frank Zappa:
Frank, are you old enough that the following series would mean anything to you... Zappa, Gorup and O'Brien??

Suomalainen,
Do you live in Southern Illinois?
It has been a while since I've heard the name.
An old friend lives down there I think.
I read an article where he referred himself as
"100 percent Suomalainen"! Just thought I'd ask.
It is a longshot if you are the same person.

Yooperwannabe - No, I live in God's Country - the great U.P. so I am a yooper & not a wannabe. Thanks for asking. Never been to IL. Why leave the U.P.? Heheee!

I am so jealous! I only have the "yoop" for two weeks each summer. One good thing, my son is starting at NMU this August. I should be able to fit in a few more trips during the year.

One thing I don't miss yet is having snow in April!! Its great not having snow for 8 weeks or more now...minus a storm here and there, but it melts in a day. And I have NEVER EVER wore shorts in April...it was 76 2 weeks ago!!!Miss everyone at Lindells and at LLHS.

Heck I remember being bit by a skeeter one Easter Sunday while waist deep in snow out Bootjack