Oy Vey

My daughter ended up in the ER last week. We didn't know it then, but we now know it was due to complications from Mono. Thankfully, with a lot of rest and some time off work, she's going to be fine. I thought you could only get Mono once in your lifetime; according to our doctor, it's rare but you can get it more than once, especially if you have a weakened immune system. Thankfully, her employer on the island is very understanding and she has as much time off as she needs to recuperate.

In case you're curious, this is the ER on the mainland. She was taken to the Mackinac Island ER first, but patients are often sent to the mainland if they require an MRI or CT scan - two machines we do not have in the island's ER.

Nothing to See Here

Yep, nothing to see here; it's just a guy enjoying Mackinac with his trusty canine companion. I just love how the pup has his paws up on his owner's shoulders - almost like he's whispering directions into his owner's ear. I've seen little dogs in backpacks before, but never one this big!

Glorious

While I'm sure hollyhocks grow all over the place, they are quite common in the gardens on Mackinac. I love them, but I don't have any at my house because they need six (or more) hours of sunlight to blossom, which I don't have. So, instead of growing them myself, I admire them in other people's gardens.

Street Legal

If you were on the island this week, you may have gotten the rare opportunity to see a motorized vehicle.  Lots of people visiting the island get frustrated when they see something like this because they think cars are completely banned on Mackinac. They aren't. During the summer they only come out only when absolutely necessary - fire, EMS, the electric company's bucket truck, etc. 

This house had a blocked sewer so there was no choice than to call in the big guns to dig up and replace the sewer line. You see, the law on Mackinac Island is clear: everything that can be done by horsepower, must be done by horsepower. Generally, the work requiring vehicles happens after the tourist season during the winter months, but some things, such as a clogged sewer, can't wait until the season ends. The law is also clear about the "health, safety, and welfare" of the island's residents; if a motorized vehicle is needed for an emergency, it is going to be allowed.  

Non-emergency vehicles, other than those used by public utilities, must be granted a Vehicle Permit by the City Council. They are easy to get as long as what you need it for can't be done by horses. A moving truck, for example, is not going to get a permit. You can move your household to the dock with a dray and then load the truck on the mainland. Is it more work? Sure, but it's one of the things we accept as part of living on Mackinac. The only time Allen and I have needed vehicle permits was when we built our house. We needed one for both the truck and the crane; two jobs that definitely couldn't be done by horsepower!

One Guess

I'll give you one guess about where I went this week. The photo above is your first clue. Not enough? OK, here's another one:

Still not enough? 

Any thoughts yet?

How about now?

That's my mother-in-law, Janet, by the way. She wanted a traveling companion to go to her family reunion, I had time in my schedule, so I got to add a new state to my "traveled to" list. 

OK, here's your last clue:

You guessed it, we went to MAINE!

And a word to the wise for you: don't go to the LL Bean Flagship store on a rainy day. Everyone, and I literally mean everyone, visits when it rains. It took us at least 15 minutes just to find a parking spot!

Good Morning

The quiet before the first boat always puts a smile on my face.