July 31, 1996: Mom's 50th Birthday

Today was Mom's 50th birthday.   We went out to breakfast at a restaurant next to the Grand Theater in Grand Haven.    Then, we took a trolley ride around Grand Haven.    

We had a surprise birthday for my mom.    I rented a limousine to drive the whole family around Grand Rapids and to the Amway Grand Hotel for dinner at the Cygnus Room.   Grandpa and Grandma Thomas, Kelsey, Grandma Gonyo, and I were in attendance.  Steve and Charlene were coming back from a vacation in Colorado so they weren't able to come.   After dinner, we went to the Grand Rapids airport to surprise Steve and Charlene.

July 15, 1996: Plumb's Evaluation

Anita Hasper gave me an excellent evaluation.    She said the manager, Mike Jones, from the Apple Ave store said I worked well with the customers in promoting the preferred customer card.     Missy and I were the best promoters.    I got a superior rating for dependability and working well with customers.  

Charlene took me to dinner at Bil Mar's Restaurant in Grand Haven.      Then, we walked along the pier and watched the musical fountain. 

July 14, 1996: Mary Poczik

Mom and I drove to Frankenmueth to see her college roommate, Mary Poczik, who lived in Farmington Hills.    We had a chicken dinner there and then went shopping at Birch Run.     Mary gave me a card with some money in it.   I thought that was so nice of her. I didn't expect that.    

July 5, 1996: Plumb's Food Booth at the Art Fair

Today, I took the place of Anita Hasper at the food booth at the art fair. I worked with Monty and his wife, Marsha.    We served vegie trays, turkey sandwiches, caramel apples, and chips.     Everything was $1.    I worked 3 hours there.     Grandma Gonyo stopped by the booth to say hello.  My mom said she watched me work for 1/2 hour and couldn't believe how busy it was.      

June 19, 1996: Nina's Father's Funeral

Stayed at Kimberly & Beverly Richardson's house in Northville last night.    Kimberly, Beverly, Kevin, and I went to the funeral for Nina's father. He had passed away on June 19th in a freak accident.  Her father left for work in pouring down rain and cut across a church parking lot and his car ended up in pond.  He passed away, which was very hard on Nina.  She was very close to her father.    

There were alot of people at the funeral.    There were about 80 cars in the procession to Oakland Cemetery. I had never seen anything like it in my life.    Nina's friends, Kiersten, Trisha, and Tom were at the funeral.     After the burial, we went to Nina's house for a meal.   We had to take off our shoes in order to go in the house.  That was a tradition in India.    I was glad we were able to be with Nina at this difficult time.   

June 18, 1996: Mark Craig's Open House

Mark Craig graduated from Mona Shores High School and had his open house at his home at 878 West Mount Garfield.  He invited me to come.    He was my date at the Christmas Dance back in 1992.    Also, I went to Chad Johnson's open house.  His brother, Matt Johnson, was a good friend of mine since elementary school.   They lived on Norton Avenue, not far from Roosevelt Park Rd.

June 17, 1996: Internship at Plumb's Corporate Office

I was so relieved in April when Anita Hasper from Plumb's called and said I could do a summer internship through their corporate office.   I would get 40 hours a week and get paid $6.00/hour.  My job was going to be promoting the preferred customer card in all of their stores.     I had to do an internship for the food marketing program.     I also got to learn about electronic marketing programs.     My first store was on Laketon by Grandma Gonyo's house.  I was so nervous working in that store.   I visited my grandma on my lunch hour. I also worked during the summer in the Muskegon Heights, Apple Ave., Whitehall, Wolf Lake, Newaygo, and Big Rapids stores.