JIM HEFFERNAN'S BLOG

Humor, Opinion and Slices of Life from a Veteran Newspaper Columnist

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

It's a New Day...



Posted by Jim Heffernan at 8:47 AM
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Labels: Barack Obama, change, new day, Presidential inauguration

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COOLER NEAR THE LAKE–BY JIM HEFFERNAN

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE–BY JIM HEFFERNAN
"Cooler Near the Lake"" is a collection of 52 of my classic newspaper columns. Click on the cover–above–to learn all about the book and how to buy it.

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Jim Heffernan's Blog

Jim Heffernan's Blog
(Jim Heffernan–James F. Heffernan) In addition to the magazine writing and my book, I'm posting my opinions, perspectives and outrageous nonsense pretty regularly here on this blog. So hope you'll stop by and catch up on my musings. Your comments on the blog or by e-mail are always welcome!

Amazon Author page...

https://www.amazon.com/author/jimheffernan

WHERE'S DULUTH?

WHERE'S DULUTH?
DULUTH MN–BY THE BIG LAKE

ABOUT ME...

Jim Heffernan,
freelance writer, living in Duluth, Minnesota.
e-mail: vheffernan@earthlink.net

I'm a semi-retired newspaper journalist/columnist who currently writes a monthly "slice of life" column for the Duluth~Superior Magazine.

I've written a book, Cooler Near the Lake, a collection of some of my classic newspaper columns while employed with the Duluth News Tribune. The book is for sale in all area bookstores and many shops. Information about ordering the book is available on my author's web site. To learn more, check out my author's web page.

DULUTH VIEW

DULUTH VIEW
Pot of Gold

POPULAR BLOG POSTS.....

  • Barack Obama: Left-handed Commentary
  • Barack Obama: Urban Legends Cloud Obama's Birthplace
  • Brett Favre: So Favre, So Good
  • Buddy Holly: 50th Anniversary of the Day the Music Died
  • Buddy Holly: Three Days Before the Rock Stars Died
  • Bye-bye Blago, Hello Ice Storm
  • Can Bob Dylan Save the County Jail?
  • Duluth Denfeld High School Graduation Speech
  • Elvis Presley review (1976): Elvis Sang... and they just loved him
  • Elvis Presley: Ol' Swivel Hips Wowed Them
  • Happy Birthday Enger Tower
  • In Praise of Battle-axes
  • Indiscretions of a Wal-Mart Customer
  • Lions in Winter
  • Lord Love a Lame Duck
  • Mash Revisited
  • Merry Christmas from Duluth MN
  • Movies That Changed my Life
  • NorShor Theatre Remembered
  • Pirates Return in Evolution of Change
  • Pontiac Without Tears (Pontiac Demise)
  • Sarah Palin: A Limerick
  • Song of Minnehaha
  • The Truth about Vicks VapoRub
  • Trash Talk

Duluth–Our Crescent City

Duluth–Our Crescent City
Thanks to Northern Images Photography

BOOK EVENTS...

Click HERE for event schedule.

Speaking to your group...I'm available to speak to your group about the changes in newspapers over the years, Duluth history, journalism and writing, outrageous nonsense... or just about my book, Cooler Near the Lake. Contact me at (218) 728-2854 or at vheffernan@earthlink.net to make arrangements.

web links...

  • Adventure Publications
  • Amazon.com
  • Barnes and Noble
  • Cloquet River Press
  • Duluth Superior Magazine
  • Northern Images Photography
  • Travis Chadwick Photography
  • X-Communications
  • Zenith City Online

Blog Archives...

  • ►  2012 (19)
    • ►  May (3)
      • A & Dubs is back!
      • Zenith City where east meets west...
      • Duluth's Tycoons in New York Times
    • ►  April (5)
      • The Lone Ranger rides again--on stranger plains
      • Smelt memories...
      • Lost Duluth and Zenith City Online Launch...
      • Mayors stage dive for Trampled by Turtles Day in M...
      • A penny for your thoughts and $50 for a tank of ga...
    • ►  March (4)
      • Where have all the pseudo-intellectuals gone?
      • Minnesotans rein...
      • Lost Duluth documentary airs March 8.....
      • Cop shop memories: If the walls of the vacated Dul...
    • ►  February (3)
      • Severity of blizzards increases over time...
      • Me and Dmitri and Vladimir and Luciano
      • A Kennedy affair to remember–even in Duluth...
    • ►  January (4)
      • Mardi Gras hype...
      • The land of Mardi Gras....
      • A short jaunt up the North Shore by way of the dig...
      • Here's news for Bachmann: America not missing...
  • ►  2011 (65)
    • ►  December (3)
      • A Christmas Gift: When my Grandma played Jingle Be...
      • Christmas Memories: The Coal Man cometh, with the ...
      • Devil missing from hell; said lurking in details.....
    • ►  November (2)
      • When wolves almost got the deerslayer...
      • Reflections on 11/11/11: The ignominious final sal...
    • ►  October (5)
      • Trick or treat, smell my feet...
      • Norwegian royalty in Duluth today....
      • Norwegian royalty visit prompts interview by MPR
      • Norsk royalty visit goes to head of local Norwegia...
      • Aha moment: Fight your own battles
    • ►  September (6)
      • Birthday confession: I’m older than Johnny Applese...
      • We left our cheese in Baraboo...
      • The Norwegians are coming...
      • Contagion: Pandemic hits Northland in current movi...
      • Northland population almost free of scurvy, beribe...
      • True confessions of a phonephobe...
    • ►  August (6)
      • Local publishing house changing gears...
      • Lew Latto: Memories of a 65-year friendship
      • What I did on my summer vacation...
      • Hampston's Swinging Doors...
      • The ghost of Calvin Griffith lives on...
      • A farewell to Goosetown...
    • ►  July (7)
      • NorShor and Duluth's historic theaters...
      • Stage to Screen: Northland's historic theaters...
      • Kick the can now the favorite game of politicians....
      • Come to the Duluth production of 'Cabaret', old ch...
      • Minnesota Shutdown ends with a whimper...
      • I Am Anne Frank...
      • Duluth fireworks always a winner...
    • ►  June (6)
      • Fourth Fest in Duluth....
      • Black spaghetti, tuna balls and maybe Michele....
    • ►  May (5)
    • ►  April (7)
    • ►  March (6)
    • ►  February (8)
    • ►  January (4)
  • ►  2010 (86)
    • ►  December (10)
    • ►  November (5)
    • ►  October (5)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (10)
    • ►  July (7)
    • ►  June (2)
    • ►  May (9)
    • ►  April (6)
    • ►  March (8)
    • ►  February (8)
    • ►  January (11)
  • ▼  2009 (128)
    • ►  December (8)
    • ►  November (8)
    • ►  October (12)
    • ►  September (9)
    • ►  August (12)
    • ►  July (14)
    • ►  June (12)
    • ►  May (10)
    • ►  April (13)
    • ►  March (7)
    • ►  February (9)
    • ▼  January (14)
      • KUWS hosts Winter Dance Party anniversary program....
      • Saturday night: I'll be there...
      • Howie Hanson Live at 2 pm Today....
      • More on the Winter Dance Party in Duluth
      • 50th Anniversary: The Day the Music Died...
      • Buddy Holly: Three Days Before the Rock Stars Died...
      • Howie Hanson Live on January 26th...
      • It's a New Day...
      • Ferreting out truth about Vicks VapoRub
      • My year of the book...
      • State of the Mayor...
      • The Lions in Winter...
      • Bringing in the new year...
      • Happy New Year!
  • ►  2008 (27)
    • ►  December (9)
    • ►  November (7)
    • ►  October (5)
    • ►  September (3)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (1)

BOOK REVIEWS AND MEDIA PUBLICITY....

Thanks to the gang at the DNT for the nice press about my book (11-6-08 Duluth News Tribune story by Janna Goerdt). You can read the story HERE.

Matthew J. Perrine authored a complete review of my book, The World According to Jim Heffernan, in a recent edition of the Duluth Budgeteer News (11-06-08). It was fun meeting with this young and talented news writer. Thanks for the great story, Matt!

The Hermantown Star wrote up nice piece about the book (October 30-November 5 edition). Thanks to Wade Petrich for the excellent coverage.

Click Here to check out media publicity for Cooler Near the Lake.

BOOK REVIEW BY A READER...

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny, touching, insightful book, July 31, 2009–on Amazon.com
By readingmom (Minneapolis, MN United States)
"Heffernan's sense of humor and gift with words combine to make this a great read. The book includes columns previously published in the Duluth News-Tribune over the course of this gifted writer's 34 year career. Many of them are universally laugh-out-loud hilarious, while others are touching commentary on life. There are a number of columns that provide very interesting accounts of history, including brushes with famous people and big moments in Northern Minnesota history. Although it's hard to put down once you get started, it is the kind of book you can read a chapter of when you have time, since each chapter is a separate essay. This book would make a great gift for anyone who enjoys commentary/humor type writing or for anyone with a connection to Minnesota -- especially Duluth and the North Shore. Highly recommended!"

Book–back cover

Book–back cover
Yes–I'm standing in the water for real!

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE BOOK NOTES...

About the cover... Veteran Duluth photographer, Ken Moran, suggested the book cover to fit with the book title. We traipsed to Park Point on a warm day and he positioned me standing in Lake Superior waters with my pants rolled up for his cover photo. The cover only shows me waist up (with a rolled newspaper in my arms, of course) and with the Duluth skyline in the background. But... if you turn the cover over, you'll find the verification that I am actually standing in the water, as my lower body half is pictured on the back cover to prove it. The day was warm but Ken's photo shoot was cool!

About the title: It came from a poem I wrote for the DNT in June of 1979. It became a popular piece and reprints often requested. In fact I have heard from some readers that the poem was found in the effects of loved ones. I guess those of us living by our lake know how important that phrase the weather forecasters use is when they tell us that everywhere else is warm but it's "cooler near the lake." We always bring a jacket when venturing out on a summer day because it sure can be "cooler near the lake" with a quick change to a noreaster.

About the book: The book provided for me a fun trek down memory lane. There is something for everyone in this collection of my past Duluth News Tribune columns, spanning 34 years of subjects. While I fancy myself as a humor columnist, I also wrote some serious heart-felt columns and hit on many "slices of life." Although I did not include all of them in the book, I did include some of my writings about famous people and Duluth, including Buddy Holly in his final trip before the plane he and other entertainers were on crashed. And… a whole lot more. Guess you'll have to check it out for yourself. I hope you'll enjoy the columns I chose.

Heff's DNT Retirement Party in 2005

Heff's DNT Retirement Party in 2005
Jim Heffernan

A Visitor at Heff's DNT Retirement Party in 2005

A Visitor at Heff's DNT Retirement Party in 2005
Is this the real Blanche?

WARMER NEAR THE OCEAN...

WARMER NEAR THE OCEAN...
February vacation

A WONDERFUL LIFE...

I've decided I lead a great life. I retired in 2005 from my full time journalism career but was invited to write the fun stuff (my column) as a free lancer in retirement. Now I enjoy new ventures in writing–a blog, magazine writing, and a book. Not a bad turn of events for a retiree who loves to write. 

A toast: Here's to the words I've yet to write and to those of you who continue reading those words. Thank you! Jim

BRIDGE VIEW

BRIDGE VIEW
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge

SHORELINE OF DULUTH

SHORELINE OF DULUTH
Aerial Lift Bridge from Brighton Beach

bookstore window

bookstore window
Bookstore at Fitgers...our son caught this holiday window at an Indie.. Hmm... what book is in that window?

Christmas Dwarf and me...

Thanks to Kevin Pates for remembering me in his yearly Christmas Day "year in review" column (for 2008). Kevin, as most of you know, is a noted Duluth News Tribune sports writer who covers the UMD Bulldogs, Grandma's Marathon and more–and is a true pop culture aficionado. Kevin has been writing these yearly reviews since the seventies. These yearly columns are popular with readers for putting together his wry humor, sensitive analysis along with world events. I am honored he found a place in history to include me.

ENGER TOWER

ENGER TOWER
Enger Park Tower/Duluth, Minnesota

vintage NorShor theater in Duluth

vintage NorShor theater in Duluth
A new day is coming for the NorShor

North Shore...

North Shore...
Split Rock Light House

Cooler Near the Lake, a book by Jim Heffernan

Bring your sweater when you head down the hill 'cause it's cooler near the lake!

My book title, "Cooler Near the Lake" was inspired by a poem I wrote of the same name while writing a weekly column for the Duluth News Tribune. While the poem is included in my book–along with many other of my musings as a newspaper columnist–I've also copied it here for you to read. (on your right)

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE
Duluth Lake Walk/ Aerial Bridge

Tall ship enters Duluth Harbor

Tall ship enters Duluth Harbor
Tall ship and escorts under Aerial Bridge

Christmas City of the North

Christmas City of the North
Bentleyville–Thanks to Tony Rogers for this great holiday shot of Duluth

Duluth harbor in winter

Duluth harbor in winter
by Travis Chadwick Phtography

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE (the poem from the book by the same name)

COOLER NEAR THE LAKE
by Jim Heffernan

They say we're in God's country;
And few could argue that,
With forests tall and waters blue
And folks who’ll go to bat.
But one thing gets my dander up,
Beyond just give and take,
And that’s the report on the radio
That it’s cooler near the lake.

It happens every springtime,
And in the summer too,
Just when buds are popping
And the skies are getting blue,
When the world embraces sunshine
And our bones for warmth all ache,
It’s then you know the reports will show
That it’s cooler near the lake.

It’s only here, and nowhere else,
That such a case is true;
In nearby towns and villages,
There’s no need there to rue;
They get the balmy breezes,
They’re out with hoe and rake,
But in Duluth, you know it’s the truth,
It’ll be cooler near the lake.

Just take a ride to Hermantown,
Or Hibbing or Virginia;
Go down to Minneapolis
If you think you’ve got it in ya.
You’ll find that they are basking
In the heat, make no mistake,
But in Duluth, you know, forsooth,
It’ll be cooler near the lake.

I sometimes think the weather here
Will never get past fifty;
If it happens to rise to sixty-five
Everyone thinks it’s nifty;
By afternoon you can bet your boots,
If you don’t you’ll be a fake,
By eventide the temp will slide,
And it’ll be cooler near the lake.

We love our lake, don’t get me wrong,
Its gorgeous shining water,
But looks are only surface deep,
There are other things that matter;
Like warming bones that winter froze,
And limbs that quiver and quake,
Fat chance we’ve got to heat ‘em up
When it’s cooler near the lake.

It’s not as though we don’t get warned
By all those darn forecasters;
I swear each night, as they give our plight,
That they’re no-good dirty --------.

They say the same thing every time
When they describe our fate:
We’re sorry folks, and it’s no joke,
It’ll be cooler near the lake.

I know the day is coming when
The real God’s Country beckons,
And when St. Peter meets me there,
He’ll ask my home, I reckon.
And when I tell him it’s Duluth
He’ll say, “For heaven’s sake,
“Ain’t that the place everyone says
“Is cooler near the lake?”

“That’s it,” I’ll cry, “oh kindly saint,
And in this realm please spare,
From chilly off-lake breezes,
And winter underwear.”
“If it’s heat you want,” he’ll reply,
In the other place you’ll bake.”
“Fine, send me any place except
Where it’s cooler near the lake!”

Originally appeared in the Duluth News Tribune
on Sunday, June 3, 1979

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