DEFEATING THE DOLDRUMS

THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF

CADILLAC NEWS -- FEBRUARY 3, 2024

We're in the middle of the winter doldrums. This is when we all feel sluggish, sad, and overly fatigued. The recent weird weather is contributing to this. There are very few outdoor activities that are pleasurable in forty degrees and rain. The fog outside seems to illustrate how we feel inside. 

 

One way to defeat the doldrums is to focus on news that is uplifting, inspirational, or just plain fun to know. A good example is something that is going on in Flint. 

 

“Sacred Heart Veteran Village is expected to break ground in June 2024 aiming to provide housing for veterans. The Village will be the central hub of a bigger program targeted at filling the gap of transitional housing that’s available to veterans, regardless of discharge status and service time.” The Village will consist of twenty-four tiny homes located on the site of the former Sacred Heart church and school on Flint's north side. (https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/2024/01/tiny-homes-for-veterans-expected-to-break-ground-in-june-2024.html)

 

There's an obscure Cadillac connection to this story. Back when Sacred Heart operated a small high school, the head coach for its three major sports (football, basketball, baseball) was Ed Abraham. Ed is the brother of Dick Abraham, legendary Cadillac High football coach.  

 

Speaking of Cadillac, the region was featured in a recent article: “Five things to do this winter in Cadillac.” The article in “A Healthier Michigan,” highlighted Caberfae Peaks, Lake Cadillac, the Cadillac Pathway, William Mitchell State Park, and Shamhader Dog Sled Adventures.

 

“Cadillac is the second-biggest city in Northern Michigan. There’s lots to do in Cadillac during the winter, from skiing to ice fishing. With a regional snowmobile trail network topping out at nearly 500 miles through five counties, the winter sports trail network is one of the best in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The Cadillac area is a winter destination in the heart of Michigan.” (https://www.ahealthiermichigan.org/stories/community/5-things-to-do-this-winter-in-cadillac)

 

Whether you want to or not, you are going to witness Midwest history this spring. “Get ready for the rarest of rare cicada events. Thomas Jefferson was President the last time this happened and Michigan wasn’t even a state. And no one alive today will be around the next time this happens. We’re talking billions and billions of the insects. They will be all over the place from late April through June.” (https://www.mlive.com/news/2024/01/get-ready-for-cicadas-in-2024-like-the-midwest-hasnt-seen-in-221-years.html)

 

This last happened in 1803. The good news is that cicadas don't bite. The bad news is that when the event is over there will be piles of dead cicadas. Don't put away your snow shovels just yet.  

 

While cicadas may seem like a big problem, it might not be as daunting as a situation being faced by the residents of Bainbridge, Georgia. Local officials recently approved a startup’s plan to build one of the largest monkey breeding facilities in the nation. The long-tailed macaques will be bred and sold to pharmaceutical companies, universities and laboratories for medical research. The complex would hold up to 30,000 monkeys – double the city’s human population.” 

 

As you might guess, not all the residents of Bainbridge are in favor of this project. “They fear the monkeys might spread diseases and – in the case of a major hurricane or tornado – escape.” This story will be interesting to watch play out. (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/28/monkey-farm-breeding-medical-science-research/72339272007/) 

 

Cicadas and monkeys aside, most of us are more concerned with animals of a different variety. “Dogs are the most popular pet, occupying forty-nine million households, according to the United States Census Bureau. The Pew Research Center found that fifty-one percent of pet owners view them in the same light as any human in the family.” 

 

The APPA National Pet Owners Survey has tracked pet ownership since 1988. “We know Americans love pets, but which breed is most popular? We uncovered that during our study, in which we analyzed more than a quarter of a million data points to find the favorite dog breed in each state.” (https://www.usnews.com/insurance/pet-insurance/most-popular-dog-breeds-study)

 

Nationally, the most popular breeds were the Chihuahua, French Bulldog, and Golden Retriever. In Michigan, the top five were: Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, and Goldendoodle. “Many midwest states also share a love for the Golden Retriever, as it’s the most popular breed in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Nebraska, and Ohio.”

 

If you took advantage of the open house at the new Cadillac Senior High School, one of the cool new features is the state of the art cafeteria. Students now have a vast array of lunch menu options. Gee, when I was a youth we had only two choices – lunch or no lunch. (Let me tell you, on the days at Fllnt St. Mike's high school when they served beans and corn bread, the afternoons could be both musical and pungent.) 

 

These days it's different. In fact, a project entitled "School Lunches Around the World,” shows photos of school lunches in several countries. See at: https://mymodernmet.com/sweetgreen-school-lunches-around-the-world/.

 

Finally, lunch is one meal, but my favorite has always been breakfast. Cereal is a mainstay and a box of Wheaties is always in our cupboard. A related fun fact is that an ad for Wheaties is the first advertising jingle ever heard on radio. 

 

“In 1926, General Mills predecessor Washburn-Crosby was looking for a way to boost the languishing sales of Wheaties. Radio station WCCO head of publicity Earl Gammons wrote a song about the cereal called 'Have You Tried Wheaties?' and Washburn-Crosby hired a barbershop quartet to sing it, thus creating the first radio jingle.” (https://historyfacts.com/science-industry/article/5-facts-about-the-golden-age-of-radio/)

 

Want more fun? Because of that internet thingy, you can hear the jingle via the YouTubeamabob: https://youtu.be/nB1nGnYeMOw?si=D4pPwDSI5j4kYuni. A catchy tune and the Breakfast of Champions is a great way to start an anti-doldrums day.  

 

Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/caillacnews.