May 31, 2014-Grand Haven, Coast Guard, and Josh's Art Show

Summers are a busy time in my life which is just the way I like it.  I hate everyday life.   I love to explore the world and see new things. 

Today,  we met my mom's friend, Judi Zubrickas, in Grand Have at our favorite breakfast spot, Morning Star Cafe.   We also stopped at our favorite bakery,  Great Harvest Bread Company.   

Then,  Judi came to our house and we took Maggie on a walk on our trail around the property.  I wore my flip flops which was a big mistake as my feet here hurting by the end of the trail.   

Mom and I drove down to Pere Marquettte park to go to the open house of the Coast Guard.   We got to walk in the south pier lighthouse to the top.  It was not very easy to walk up the steps and ladder to the top.  There was only enough room for 4 adults at the top.  The Coast Guard only has to maintain the light but they don't own the rest of the lighthouse.  There is an organization started that wants to preserve lighthouses.   

There are about 40 people that work at the Muskegon Coast Guard station.

We toured two of their rescue boats.  One was made in the 70's and one was made just recently.  They are going to replace the older one with a new one.

The new vessels cost about $650,000.   

In the evening,  we drove to Grand Rapids to see my coworker, Josh Maitner's art show at the Splurge Salon at 1168 Ionia.   He did a terrific job on his art.  They were selling for about $300 a piece.  He did one for me a few years ago which is on the wall as you go down the steps downstairs.  

It was nice to see other coworkers come to his art show.  Ann Schrader was in charge of the drinks.   Kathy Gardner and Doug from Environmental Health came too.  Kathy is now working for the State in Lansing.   She likes her new job but says it's complicated work.

We stopped at the Woodland Mall before coming home.

May 28, 2014: My Little Sister's Graduation from Muskegon High School

Words cannot express how proud I am of my little sister, Brittanie Kammers.  After struggling my first time with depression in 2003, I started to involve myself in some positive things to help me take my focus off myself and onto other things.   One of the things I got was a dog named Maggie.   The second thing I did was become a Big Sister in the Big Brother, Big Sister Program.  I wanted to be a positive influence in another person's life.   I was interviewed and then matched with Brittanie Kammers when she was 8 years old.

I remember the first day I met Brittanie, which was in October 2004   She was the cutest little kid.    I met her mother and then asked if Brittanie could come to my house on Lawnel Avenue.   Brittanie and Maggie were sitting in the back yard playing in the leaves.    I took a picture of the two of them together.  Then, Brittanie and I made chocolate chip cookies.   That was our first day together.  

Over the years, we did alot of fun things together.  I took her to Chicago with my friend Beth Alkema Short and her 2 daughters, which was a blast.  Brittanie and I went to Mackinac City with my Mom and Maggie.   We went to a nice luncheon at the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island. We went to Michigan's Adventure,  had Glamour Shot photos taken,  manicures and pedicures, went to a Tigers game, etc.    I truly had alot of fun with Brittanie.  As she became a teenager, she became more interested in her friends, which is typical at that age, so we did fewer activities.   I have remained a part of her life, even if it has been more in the background in the past couple of years.

I was so excited to get the opportunity to see her graduate from high school.  Tonight, she graduated from my dad's alma mater, Muskegon High School, exactly 50 years later.     

It brought tears to my eyes to see her get her diploma.  Her mom, dad, 2 brothers, grandparents, and her first teacher from Head Start came for the occasion.

Brittanie had tears in her eyes when she saw all of us there to greet her after the ceremony. I pray that she has a successful college career and life and that we stay in touch forever.    

Brittanie's grandmother, Rosemary George, put our picture on facebook and wrote these beautiful words about me which meant the world to me.  She said "This is my granddaughter BRITTANIE and AMY GONYO.  Amy has been Brittanie's Big Sister for the past 10 years! She is a wonderful person and has always been there for her.  She is so compassionate and dedicated to her!  We/Brittanie have been truly blessed to have her in Brit's life!  Thanks Amy! 

May 26, 2014: Memorial Day Parade in Lakeside

My friend Mirelda Tokarczyk had asked if I would like to walk in the Lakeside parade in order to advertise their family snow plowing and lawn care business.  I told her I would love to.

We met at her sister, Laura's house on Crozier St.  There were a bunch of her kid relatives that were going to be in the parade,  too.  We all put on the Tokarczyk Services shirts.   

I got to sit in the trailer in the back of the car while we drove through Glenside to the start of the parade.  it was fun being in the trailer and having the wind hit my face while we drove through town.  Of course, it could have been dangerous had we for in an accident.   kids under 16 can't ride in the trailer or you would be ticketed.

Mirelda had made up 500 candy bags for all of us to pass out to the kids at the parade.  We ran out halfway through the parade.  I saw Rhonda Collins at the parade and gave her some candy. Jennifer Elenbaas,  Sara Luna, and Lisa Wolters saw me in the parade and waved.

Mirelda invited me for hot dogs and chips at her sister's house after the parade which was nice. We had a nice visit.   

May 24, 2014: Annual Trip to Baldwin

We decided to take our neighbor Kay Mueller on our annual trip up to Baldwin. Of course, we had to stop at Hillyop Bakery near Grant for their rolls.   

Then, we went to Newaygo and wandered around the art fair.  Mom and I got this cute handmade necklaces for $10.  They were made out of magazine paper.   We found some clothes at the 37 North store. We had a nice lunch at the Train Stop Depot restaurant.

We continued up through White Cloud.  I wanted to find this hotel that my coworkers, Deb Wilson and Kevin Green had talked about.  It was called "The Shack" which is in a little town called Jugville.  Its a beautiful resort near White Cloud.  They serve banana splits at night if you stay at the hotel.  Some of the rooms have jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces.  

They also have breakfast and dinners.  

I thought it was a beautiful place to stay.

We showed Kay where our cabin was located.  Stopped at Peggy Katt's store, Katt's Meow. She had some beautiful clothes in the store.   Peggy says she is having a harder time walking around.   She has fallen twice recently and become black and blue.  She and Kenny are going to start going to Florida in October and come back in April as the winters are too dangerous in Michigan for walking.

We had ice cream at Jone's Ice Cream.

We went to the gravestone for my grandparents and my dad to plant flowers.  Uncle George had come up about a week ago to plant some geraniums. We planted some day lilies. 

Showed my Mom and Kay the Amish Community and the school where I helped with the shot clinic.

Overall,  we all had a lovely day.   when we got home,  I lauds on the couch and fell right asleep. I was exhausted.

May 21, 2014: Immunization Clinic in the Amish Community

Today, Shari Resnick and I were able to go with the nursing supervisor, Pat Krehn, and another nurse, Christie, to the Amish community in Holton, Michigan. It isn't too far from Hesperia and Fremont. Shari had never been to the Amish area in Muskegon, so this was a real treat for her. I had been to the Amish Country Store a few times, but never drove around the Amish neighborhood. We rode in a county van, which turned over its mileage to 100,000, while we were driving. Pat has been giving shots in the Amish community for about 20 years. She has worked hard to convince them how important it is to get vaccinated against diseases. We went to Meadowview School and set up a clinic to administer the MMR shot for around 60 people. It is a one room school house which educates children from first through eighth grades. When we arrived, the Amish, dressed in their fashion, all looked at us as if we were from another country. The children are all so cute and well behaved. It was a little chaotic in the beginning as everyone had to fill out registration forms. Some of the families had 8 or more children. They were all very kind. There were a few teary eyed children after receiving their vaccine, however, they were 100 percent better than the kids we vaccinate in our health department, who can often be screaming or running around. I think many of the kids we normally vaccinate could use a summer boot camp in the Amish community, in order to be well mannered. I found out today that if an Amish man has a beard, then it means he is married. Also, found out that when they have a dinner, the men and boys are served first, followed by the teenagers, children, mothers, and then the elderly. We stopped in the Amish Country store, which was rebuilt after having been burned in a fire last year. We all had lunch together at the Russ's Restaurant on Holton Rd. I had the reuben soup which was wonderful. That may be my new favorite soup there.

February 15, 2014: Kevin's Funeral

I was supposed to go to Becky Ruger Stowe's wedding reception last night, but with how I felt, I decided not to go.   I got to see photos on Facebook that were posted by her husband, John.   She looked so beautiful.    Becky said she had been praying for me all week.  

I really wanted to be there for Kelsey & Matt today at Matt's brother, Kevin's funeral.   Matt's 35 year old brother, Kevin VanZanten, died on Monday from myloma (cancer of the blood).   He was diagnosed in September 2012.  Kevin left behind a wife and 2 daughters, ages 3 & 5.  Kevin had been a captain of Richard Devos's yachts and traveled all over with him.   He was good at fixing boats.  His hard work gained Mr. Devos's respect so he was hired.  He got to help design some of the yachts that the Devos family bought, including carpeting, interior design, etc.   Kevin ordered the food and alcohol for the trips.  Mr. Devos sent him to captain school in Traverse City for a month.

Kelsey was so happy we came to the funeral.  I got to see Devon all dressed up in a shirt and tie.   His girlfriend, Taylor, came too.   Devon and Matt were very close to Kevin.  Kevin dressed up like a geeky Matt for one Halloween.  He wore Grandpa Thomas's apricot leisure suit which was very funny.

I had a nice conversation with my Uncle Steve about my battle with anxiety and depression that has occurred this past week.  He said there was a class of drugs back in 1985 that made people commit suicide, which I think is what my dad was taking before he died.     

November 15, 2013: Meeting Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss)

Originally, we had tickets for November 17th to see Buddy Valastro, the Cake Boss, on tour in Kalamazoo, but it was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. So, I got my mom on board to go see him on tour in South Bend, Indiana. We got a reservation at an Irish Bed & Breakfast for the night. The day before, I had found online that Buddy was going to appear at the Kroger grocery store on Ireland St. in South Bend, so we made sure we left early enough to go to that.

I thought it would be nice to use our travel mug to get our 50 cent coffee refill at the Great Harvest Bread Company in Grand Haven, so we stopped there on the way to South Bend. I was glad to see the owner, Cindy Wisen, at the store, so I could tell her about going to see the Cake Boss. She watched the show and loves Buddy, too. She put some apple pie bread in a bag for me to give to Buddy. She said if we couldn't give it to him to just eat it ourselves. She said if I got a picture of him with the bread, she would post it on their facebook page.

It was about 98 miles to South Bend from Holland, so it wasn't too long of a drive. We got to the Kroger store around 2 p.m. There was already a line in the store and a small line outside. One of the workers took several of us from outside into the line in the store. We were standing at the end of an aisle, in just the right place to see Buddy give his grand entrance. He was in the break room taking photos with Kroger workers. One of the managers said Buddy is very personable. So, when Buddy finally came out, he came right where we were standing. I got to shake his hand. Both my mom and I got our photo taken with Buddy Valastro. He is very handsome and personable. He let me have the Great Harvest Bread bag in the picture to advertise it. He gave my mom a hug and a wink which made her day. He signed our books, as well as the cake box. I told him I went to his bakery in May. Of course, I think of things I wanted to say to him after my turn is done. Oh well. I still was excited to finally meet my idol from the TLC show, "Cake Boss". We found out that Buddy and his crew were staying at the Doubletree Hotel across the street from the Morris Theater, where he would be performing at night. 

We got to our Bed & Breakfast and the owner was not there. We were surprised. I called her twice and got a call back that she is a nurse and would get out of work at 5:30, but she gave us the code to get into the house. This was our first Bed & Breakfast and we were wondering if we had made a mistake. Mom and I had pizza at Bruno's pizza in downtown South Bend and visited the South Bend chocolate store before walking to the beautiful Morris Theater to see Buddy Valastro's show. The Morris Theater is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever seen. Buddy showed us some cake decorating tips and had contests for the audience to participate in, in order to win the item he decorated. It was a fun show, but I have to say that meeting him in person at Kroger was actually more of a highlight for us. We bought one of the Cake Boss cakes at Kroger and had a slice before we went to bed. I was reading the box which said it was made at Dawn products in Jackson, Michigan. Really? It wasn't even made in New Jersey. Overall, I was in high heaven after meeting Buddy today. I think he is now the 15th famous person I have met in my lifetime.