[jeeg]

Originally Posted by darstar

WOW , they are really beating up on you today ! Not fair at all , and , for no reason. I too am tired of the "generalities" that surface on these threads. If someone has a specific comment that makes a negative statement , they should back it up with facts , and , as well disclose their local , experience, .etc. ,

Yeah, let them. They must be having a bad Monday. Good thing I don't let such trivialities bother me!

Did you catch the fireworks here Friday?? My in-laws came up from Grand Rapids and we were all quite impressed! Of course they haven't bothered to go see any fireworks in almost 20 years so they were definitely amazed at some of the new technology available now.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by jeeg

Yeah, let them. They must be having a bad Monday. Good thing I don't let such trivialities bother me!

Did you catch the fireworks here Friday?? My in-laws came up from Grand Rapids and we were all quite impressed! Of course they haven't bothered to go see any fireworks in almost 20 years so they were definitely amazed at some of the new technology available now.

Yes , saw then from my patio. Great display ! , All paid for by donations , lots of civic spirit around here. have you tried Latitudes yet ? ,Real nice casual dining , on the water front. Marquette has a wonderful down town , that just keeps getting better......reminds me of a city with four times the population.

[cloudy_mae]

I was born and raised in the Upper Peninsula! Its far better then down state, and the economy is doing much better too. I'd choose Upper Michigan. I wouldn't even have to think about it! You'll love it there!

[jeeg]

Originally Posted by darstar

Yes , saw then from my patio. Great display ! , All paid for by donations , lots of civic spirit around here.

That's what we were talking about after the parade. None of us have ever been to a parade where there was such a showing of support and gratitude for our veterans!! Very touching

Originally Posted by darstar

have you tried Latitudes yet ? ,Real nice casual dining , on the water front. Marquette has a wonderful down town , that just keeps getting better......reminds me of a city with four times the population.

Latitudes?? I can't even find that on the Marquette '08 Menu guide I have sitting here. Is that the new restaraunt right across from the harbor? Next to the new condos they just developed?
We don't go out to eat much (have two little ones) but it sounds like a nice one to try out next time one of the grandparents come up and want to watch the kids while we get a night out.

I fully agree with your sentiments regarding downtown!

[Bluefly]

Geez- relax people. Jeeg was just pointing out that when you make a statement like:

Another problem that I've encountered in the U.P. is with the medical care. We have to drive almost 3 hours to see qualified specialists. With chronic medical illnesses, it is not only inconvenient, it gets expensive. If you have a disabled child, you will not find appropriate care unless you go to the L.P.

that you should qualify it. I live in the UP and could walk to a great hospital. I know people with a disabled child that has adequate care (with periodic trips downstate).

The rest of this statement, however, is an issue with which I am grappling:

When the public school doesn't suit you, the choices are next to none. If you don't fit into a certain mold that is expected, you are alienated from the majority.

The lack of resources here are enough to tell me that this isn't the best place for us. I want my children to be brought up around family. I want them to have the best they can without having to sacrifice their own dreams. I believe there are places between here and the big city that will meet our expectations. Maybe if I was a native yooper, where the children knew of nothing else, this would work. But they do.

I struggle because I come from a culture in which the world is your oyster. Highly educated, highly mobile... I know what else is out there. I've experienced in first hand. It's not malls or professional sports or that trivial stuff, but the possibility of waking up every morning and doing something you really love for a living - something that could make a difference in the world. I have a friend who's almost 50 years old and just moved away from the UP for the first time. He was amazed at what it was like to actually like his job and contribute something to society. On the other hand, I know many people who simply love being here and are willing to do whatever they have to to survive.

I don't know if I'm one of those people. I don't know if I want my children to be either.

There seems to be a general aspiration to mediocrity. Living a life of quasi-retirement is the status quo. There's no truly great schools. There's few people doing truly great and interesting things to serve as inspirational models. Great UP sports teams tend to get trounced downstate. It's just the reality of an isolated, rural area. So long as things stay insular, it works. But I don't know if I want my children to go to the only school available in Marquette where girls frequently get pregnant, homosexuals are treated like pariahs, and many women aspire to open yet another hair salon. As great as Marquette can be, there's a cultural undercurrent to this city I'm not sure I like.

I was exposed to people from all over the world in my high school, here - even at the universities - you're pretty much surrounded by Yoopers. Would that be the most enriching environment for my child? I don't know. I didn't find it to be.

[darstar]

Originally Posted by jeeg

That's what we were talking about after the parade. None of us have ever been to a parade where there was such a showing of support and gratitude for our veterans!! Very touching


Latitudes?? I can't even find that on the Marquette '08 Menu guide I have sitting here. Is that the new restaraunt right across from the harbor? Next to the new condos they just developed?
We don't go out to eat much (have two little ones) but it sounds like a nice one to try out next time one of the grandparents come up and want to watch the kids while we get a night out.

I fully agree with your sentiments regarding downtown!

Yes , its below the Waterfront restaurant, on Lakeshore , just a nice place , with outdoor dining , thats becoming very popular this time of year. Not expensive , yet , with a food flair thats hard to find up here......more is not always better !.........There are a lot of places to eat in Marquette, some quite tasty , others , that suffer from trying to be , what , they are not. Its fun to eat out , once or twice a week , try different places , and some regulars. Eating out , a food hobby , I find necessary , to survive. ( I understand what with small children ).

[ryanco]

answer: watch nimrod nation

[Torrid]

L'Attitudes looks too ritzy for us but, looks like a nice place. It's in a perfect setting though. I had to work Friday night so I watched the fireworks from Snowberry's 5th floor lobby lol. They were not bad at all. I think Gwinn's were nicer though.....maybe they went all out cuz it's their centennial?! Or, maybe they just seemed better cuz I wasn't watching them through a screened window?!

[Bluefly]

L'Attitudes isn't ritzy at all. It's just a little bit funkier than Marquette is used to. You can get a meal for about $10.

[Torrid]

Oh wow. That's not bad at all. We're gonna have to try it now. That's a lot cheaper than Laniappe (1 N or 2?? lol) and I wasn't too crazy about their food. Of course, I'm not much for seafood anywho. Cool atmosphere though. Thanx for the info!!

Originally Posted by Bluefly

L'Attitudes isn't ritzy at all. It's just a little bit funkier than Marquette is used to. You can get a meal for about $10.