What a beautiful weekend to travel across the U.P.! Edie and I made a quick trip downstate, with this update being phoned in from Clarkston. On our way through the Mackinac Straits, we spotted two new points of interest.

I'm not sure when last we crossed the bridge, but neither of us recalled seeing this star-spangled moose. It stands at the entrance to the Howard Johnson on US-2.

Even a long way off we spotted a new feature above the skyline of Mackinaw City... Does anybody know the scoop on these towering windmills?

Charlie- These windmills are an effort for the utilities to produce "GREEN" power instead of using fossil fuels or nuclear. We have one here in Traverse City for those wishing to pay a little extra for the generated power of the windmills. I don't know who owns the ones in the picture, but I would guess that they are also owned by the local power company.

No wonder it wasn't remembered last year when I went by it was all stickers and such. It looks better this way.

If you have ever been to southern California, you will have seen a forest of these windmills. I would rather see more of these than to see more nuclear power plants. The windmills are not obtrusive in my opinion. Keep reading, I want to start a new paragraph.

Yesterday, I noted a question about statehood for the UP. That reminded me of something I have been wondering for quite some time. I do not understand where "Michiganian" came from. Previously, I have only heard or used the term "Michigander". Has the latter fallen into disuse or something? Can someone enlighten me about this? Thanks

Hi Beverly - My father's family is from the UP.
Many years ago I was told the story about how the
UP almost became a state. It was to be named
"Superior" - With the capitol in Marquette. A
small war was fought over this movement with an
"invasion" from Mackinac City to St.Ignace. Some
lives were lost in the battle. This all sounds
strange because it's never mentioned anywhere.
The only problem is that after He told me this
story - He gave me the flag to be used when
" Superior " became a state. I'll try to find it
and send a picture of the "State Flag Of Superior"

Beverly,
Michigander is no longer politically correct, I would guess, since a gander is a male goose. Several action groups have undoubtedly protested the term "Michigander". First among these were the geese rights organizations who felt the term was demeaning to geese. Then there were those against gender bias who objected to the implication that people from Michigan were all male. They mounted an effort to change the term to "Michigeese" or at least "Michigander" and "Michigoose". Since any of those would be offensive to the geese groups, "Michiganian" was the most politically correct solution. (Disclaimer: the above was not meant to offend any group or individual advocating geese rights or the elimination of gender bias - it is not fact and is just a comment on our times!)
The UP was involved in another, earlier war. It was removed from the Wisconsin Territory after the new State of Michigan lost the Toledo Strip War to Ohio. The UP was the consolation Prize! One might say Michigan really didn't loose that one.

Well hey, I guess moose (...mooses? ...meese?... LOL) can be patriotic too, can't they?! :o)

I may not be living in Michigan at the Present, but I'll refer to myself as a Superior Michigander, Thank You.

If you're born above the Bridge, you're a "YOOPER"; if you're born below...you're a "TROLL"; if you attend Tech, but aren't 'local', you're a "TOOT".....forget all the other 'stuff. :)

Imagine my surprise when I was able to turn the 'puter back on (it's been stormy here) and found that I had been politically incorrect all these many years! I never intended to offend the geese or their supporters. I am sure, way back, someone just got careless and added that "d" to what was supposed to be Michiganer - well, that doesn't sound right. But ah swanee folks (there I guess I've offended a river) Michiganian doesn't sound right. Guess it will have to do unless someone can come up with something better. Thanks to Win Tucker and Paul in Illinois for all their help. (Now illini, that's got to offend somebody doesn't it?)

Sam in Alabam - technically, wouldn't you be a redneck super yooper?

So, what is the story on this patriotic MOOSE? Does anyone know??

Ah, yes! Much to do about Illini. Right now it is centered about UofI's mascot, but surely the whole state will be next.
Actually I am a Cheese Head with Yooper roots who lives in the non-Chicago part of Illinois. We have a stong "Chicago - the 51st State" movement here.

Here are some parting words of advise. One: if you play blackjack on the msn game thingy, don't pick up the ringing phone, people say really rude things. Two, don't go to the chat room "computer for dummies". All those people are really smart. Also, I wasn't sure if Chicago wanted to be the 51st state or the rest of Illinois wanted Chicago to be the 51st state. But I am sure that everybody who plans on being in church in the morning, needs to get to bed. Good night, sleep tight...

To Moose Lover in WA State,
We Yoopers had an air-lift of moose from Canada a few years back. There were a few local moose, however, probably the DNR wanted to get some of the animals that were here many years ago back.
As a fund raiser Chicago had artists paint cows made of concrete and sold them. Norfolk, VA had mermaids of concrete painted. Many of these were outstanding! Could this moose be one of many? It is so much more pleasant to see concrete painted artistically than to see it covered in graffiti.

Let me add my two cents in. Yes there's much to do about the Illini mascot. Being a Flatlander, as I was told us Illinoians are called, I don't see the problems with the cheif. Oh, I also have always heard about the Yoopers and Trolls but never about the Toots and I've got a bunch of friends that work at Tech. Thanks for all the great pictures wish I was coming up to visit again!

Carol, ya'll must come up with a better name. How do you pronounce it? Ill annoyans? Speaking of nicknames, in southwest Mississippi, small children are referred to as "chaps". I have been unable to find out how that came about. I am familiar with the English version. Speaking of pictures, I am really fond of the Still Waters blue shepherd motif. Maybe Charlie could enlarge a picture of that one day for me to copy. There is probably a way to do it myself but I am not that computer smart. Of course, I wouldn't want to infringe upon anyones copywrite.

Passed the patriotic moose on the way home last Wednesday morning. It definitely stood out along US 2. Also noticed the windmills as we were crossing the brigde and wondered who had them installed and using the power they generate.

For those wondering about the moose... A coupla years ago Toronto had a moose thing going - like Chicago's cows. I believe this moose came from Toronto and has been there in St. Ignace for quite awhile - a year or more. I think that the new red-white-blue paint job makes it stand out more.

As far as the Michigan-Ohio war over Toledo. We may have lost that battle, but we sure ended up with a treasure up north!

Hey, thanks for the info Granny (and ShawnR, too)!! I figured that might be a MOOSE from Canada! How neat!! We had a similar fund-raiser in Seattle last summer - Pigs on Parade - there was a MOOSE-Pig as well! There were some really creative ideas. We also, of course, have the Mariner Moose!!!!!! Go M's!

Probably some guy named IAN will be offended that the word MichiganIAN is being used. Then again, he may be happy about it. Maybe we should ask him ;o]

The wind power project in the Straits is owned and operated by the same company that has one near Traverse City. Their website provides some nice info: www.baywindpower.com.

Great website! Like so many others, I check in daily. Thanks.

I will always be a Michiganer And a lowly troll but I can still vist the great state of superior.And be in Heaven.

I LOVE the photo! I gotta come up and see it in person.

Personally, I prefer "troll" to "fudgie".

The Moose was painted this way just after the 9-11 Tragedy.

Is it the same "MOOSE" that was painted in Vegetables, in front of the Howard Johnson's in Manistique on Hwy 2, last fall?

I had to stop and take many pictures, as a moose lover from Caro, MI

Wannabee Yooper

I was wondering if anyone had any pictures of the moose lift in Marquette County in the 80's. I'm doing a presentation on the reintroduction of moose and I would love to have some moose hanging from helicopters pictures. If you could email them to me that would be awesome. Thanks much.

The moose has been there for several years. I've been going to the UP since I was three weeks old.

I heard that the difference between "Michigander" and "Michiganian" was a matter if whether you were born here or not. A "Michigander" was a native, a "Michiganian" was a settler from another place. I will always think of myself as a Michigander.

There are a couple of cement statues along U.S.2. I have seen the one in St.Ignace,and Manistique both brightly painted. I hope we can get more moose (the live version) in the superior state. My favorite saying is (just north of the bridge,just south of heaven).