I'm not actually sure if my dad is still in Newberry or not, but he sent me this article yesterday. Enclosed is a picture of him and the Governor; not sure who is telling whom to get lost.

Anyway, the link is here.

Remember how I mentioned that my dad was up in Newberry, playing with fire? Well it seems as if the venerable Gov. Granholm made a PR-driven visit to the fire to observe and encourage the "troops."

(What I mean, of course, was that she was there to help out. Because we all know that politicians visiting sites of natural disasters and tragedies are never there for approval ratings)

Needless to say, my dad the safety officer ended up being in one of the two photos released to the AP from the governors office. Watch out world, he's an up and coming celebrity!

In other news, I visited an allergist for the first time in 5 years and learned that, in fact, a decade of allergy paid off. I am now only allergic to dust mites (come on, who isn't?) and of course, things that involve hard labor. And NASCAR. And Coldplay.

No 4 Non Blondes music allowed kids, I'm sorry. But I did want to include a brief update as to what my dad is currently occupied with.

You see, it seems that a rather large portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula has caught on fire. My dad, being an employee of Ye Old State of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources, was recently dispatched up to play with said fire. In a rather CIA-esque calling, he tour of duty is undetermined.

Anyway, for more info on the rather-exciting Sleeper Lake Fire, the venerable Detroit Free Press has a great article here.

Also, the Department of Natural Resources is regularly updating their site here.