August 12 - Athens, WI and Minneapolis, MN

I was determined to actually spend a little time in an "open" Athens, so I drove back this morning and had lunch at the cafe that is normally closed on Mondays. I then drove around and took a couple of pictures. While refueling, a local lady came in with a box of t-shirts for the gas station to sell that were in celebration of the Athens World Fair (they obviously have a sense of humor). These were being sold in anticipation of this weekend's fair and Centennial celebration of the town's founding. The only problem is that the town, as stated on the shirt, was founded in 1904.

I heard on the radio that the president of Iran has created a new law that outlaws certain foreign words. Pizza is now elastic loaf; cabin is now small room. I imagine that "hut" will be coverd by "small room." Thus, whenever my wife wants to order a delivered pizza, we will know call Elastic Loaf Small Room. MMMMMM, yum!

Speaking of odd sounding things heard on the radio (and, no, I do not mean Air America), one d.j. in Houghton had a very thick "hot-dish" accent. He wondered "if Madonna had ever been on viagraphy." After about the third time, I figured out he was trying to say "Biography" as in the show on A&E. He wasn't trying to be funny, but he was. Actually a show called "Viagraphy" would probably sell.

Let me get out of the gutter. I am going to St. Boniface Catholic Church tonight for Mass. I thought I might as well stay with the ancestry theme and attend a church that was originally founded by German settlers.

Last point: the name of the restaurant I went to last night was The Pub at the Inn on Madeline Island. It really isn't a pub at all, and can be described as upscale. It also appears to have nice accomodations, and it is located right on Lake Superior, so you can swim as many people were doing last night (along with the ducks and some geese).