Don't Forget to Adjust Your Clocks

Yes, it is time once again to wake up to darkness and have an extra hour of light in the evening. You will need to set your clocks forward an hour before you go to bed Saturday night unless you want to stay up and change them at 2a.m. when the time change officially takes place. Just when it was getting nice and light out at 6 a.m. - rats! Remember that next year the time change will begin the second Sunday in March and end the first Sunday in November. This is due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which is supposed to help us save energy. I don't see how this is true since you will just have to have your lights on longer in the morning and less in the evening. Oh well, trying to make sense of it makes my head hurt too much on a Friday afternoon.

Protesting Detroit Students Arrested

32 Mackenzie High School students were arrested or "detained" on Wednesday during a protest of the school's conditions. About 200 students staged a walkout yesterday afternoon to draw attention to the school's poor conditions and supposed lack of textbooks. The protest turned ugly with students reportedly began swearing and blocking traffic. The article in the Detroit News has more details on the alleged conditions of the school. I hope that these conditions do not really exist. I also hope that it is not the students bringing this upon themselves by destroying school property and textbooks as the school's principal, Bernard Bonam, believes.

Today is Beautiful, go Outside!

If you haven't been outside yet today, you had better get out there now. It is the best day of the year as far as the weather goes. Temperatures are hovering around the 60s (downstate anyway) and there is plenty of sunshine. I was actually able to do some gardening with my 19-month-old son this morning. He was even saying he was hot. I tried to find a photo on flickr.com from Michigan that did justice to today's weather, but so far I have come up empty.

Daffodils and Tulips had to have their winter covering of leaves pulled back. They should be blooming in another week or so. It would appear that we have finally shaken the shackles of winter from our lovely state and can begin to embrace the warmth of spring.

Go outside today and at least go for a walk! It is just too nice of a day. :)

Michigan Tourism to Increase This Year

An article in the Detroit News predicts that Michigan's tourism industry (our state's second largest industry) should increase by 2% this year. I am not sure how you come up with an estimate like that. The hard evidence that does exist is that travel agencies and hotels are seeing an increase already from last year. The article does state that a big reason is that the tourism increase will largely come from Michigan residents that want to save money on gas and vacation in their home state. You should check out the article, it is an interesting read.

Mich. tourism expects to see slight rebound

Deal on a Stay at Great Wolf Lodge

From April 9 through April 20, you can stay at the Traverse City Great Wolf Lodge for as little as $179 per night (Sunday through Thursday). They are calling the special - "Spring Break Fever Reliever!" You can also save an additional $20 during the week of 4/9/06 - 4/13/06. The pricing includes one night in the Family Suite, four waterpark passes, Cub Club daily activities for the kiddies, and the Nightly Storytime. Just use the promotional code TESCAPE when booking online at tc.greatwolflodge.com or mention the special if you call 1-866-GR8-WOLF.

If you have never been, you should. It is a great place to take the kids. You don't even have to leave to eat - they have excellent pizza and a breakfast bar that can't be beat.

Michigan Average for Gas is $2.50

The Fuel Gauge Report states that the statewide average for regular unleaded in Michigan is $2.501 as of today, March 28, 2006. Last month the average was $2.244 and it was only (only?) $2.133 one year ago.