June 30, 2000: Upper Peninsula Trip with Kara & Leah

Kara, Leah, and I left early for our trip to the Upper Peninsula to stay at her grandparent's cabin in the remote part of the the UP.   Leah and I played the traveling bingo game.   It was hilarious.    Our first trip was to Mount Pleasant, so Kara could pick up her mail and do some errands. Central Michigan University was pretty quiet, which was an unusual sight to see.   

I did the driving up to the Mackinac Bridge.   We stopped in Mackinaw City to take a break.   Leah was afraid of heights, so she sat in the backseat, while Kara did the driving across the bridge.    The view of the lake over the bridge was beautiful.   

We stopped at the casino in Sault Ste. Marie.   It was Leah's birthday, so she wanted to go to the casino.    Kara won $50.    Then, we stopped at this store and I got some delicious peanut butter fudge.

Then, we had lunch at this restaurant that sold chicken pasties.    The Upper Peninsula was known for their beef and chicken pasties.        If you are a native of the UP, you are referred to as a "Youpper".  People from the Upper Peninsula are known as trolls.

We got into a bad storm, so Leah did the driving.   

The cabin was about 30 minutes from the main road.   We went through big mud puddles and over a tree that you could feel on the floor of Kara's car.   

The cabin looked like one on "Little House on the Prairie".   It was 1 room with 2 beds, a table, and the top of a range.  

There was no running water or electricity.   We unpacked and opened the outhouse to air it out.  

Leah and Kara started pumping the water, so we had it for cleansing and cooking.  

Kara taught us the card game, "Hand and Foot". 

Every time we came into the cabin, we had to check each other for ticks.  They are very small bugs that can bury themselves into your skin.  They are known to carry the Lyme disease.

I couldn't believe how dark it was at night. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face.  We were all paranoid over the bugs around the cabin.     I had a hard time going to sleep, as I was so fearful of those ticks.   

I heard a coyote outside and mice running on the floor.    Leah and I are both city girls, so this was not an easy experience for us.  

June 24, 2000: Reba McEntire Concert in Wisconsin

Brandie Darr asked if I would like to take the second ticket to the Reba McEntire concert, as her boyfriend, Brian didn't want to go.   I was really excited about going.    Brian did the driving up to Wisconsin.  We got in an argument, as he wouldn't follow the directions I gave him.     Needless to say, I was not too happy with him and wished it was just Brandie and I that went on this trip.

I will say that it was very nice of Brian to take me to my friend, Dawn Mehren's house in Appleton, Wisconsin.   I had wanted to see her new house.  Dawn was really happy that I came to visit. She was working at Kimberly Clark.

Then, Brandie, Brian, and I went to dinner at Ponderosa.   Brandie and I drove to the county fairgrounds in Osh Kosh to see the Reba McEntire concert.

I told Brandie I was planning to move back to Michigan in the next 2 years, as I missed my family.
We both got fake tattoos on our ankles.  

Then, I saw this palm reader and decided to have my palm read as I had always wanted to do that.   The dark haired lady looked at my hand and then up to the sky, as if she was thinking.
She said that I had been unhappy for some time, but that it would take 3 years before I was truly happy.   She said I would be moving somewhere else in the next 1 1/2 years.    She said I would have 3 kids and one of those kids would have a successful business.  The fortune teller said that I would get married and that the man right now had a hard time expressing his love for me, but that he soon would be coming around.    She said that I have struggled with money, but eventually those troubles would subside.  

I was simply amazed how much she could figure me out and how accurate she was with my present feelings.    I know they have a way of figuring out people and just want to take your money, but it was interesting.  

After going to the palm reader, I felt guilty for doing it. I asked God to forgive me for having it done.  

Reba McEntire did an excellent concert, but it wasn't worth the $70 for the ticket.

June 15-17, 2000: Charlene & Steve's Visit to Chicago

Charlene and Steve came Friday night to stay at my apartment located at 553 W. Oakdale, Apt. 209.   Charlene went to sleep early, so Steve and I took a walk down the street to get ice cream.   We sat on a bench and had a nice conversation.    I think that was the first time I had been able to talk with Steve, without a bunch of others around.    

On Saturday, Charlene, Steve, and I went to get coffee/hot cocoa at Seattle Coffee.  Then, Charlene and I had breakfast at Panera Bread which was right near my apartment.    We had a nice conversation.  She said don't ever settle for a man, as many of her friends did that and have had a life of misery and regret.   She said God will find me a good man at the right time.   

She said she and her friends had a slumber party in Washington D.C.  I thought that was pretty cool. 

Then, I showed Steve and Charlene around my neighborhood.   We browsed around Cost Plus and the toy store on Broadway.   Then, they got dressed for her nephew, Brandon's wedding to Carolina.   Their wedding was going to be at the same church that Lilly Dunson got married at.  

After the wedding, Kelsey and Matt came to my apartment.  They really liked my apartment. It meant so much to me that they came to see my place.   Then, they all went to the wedding reception.  Kelsey said I gave her good directions to her hotel.

On Sunday, Steve and Charlene left for Door County, Wisconsin.  I was sad to see them go.