June 15, 2006: Girls Weekend in Chicago

Beth, Bekky, Gracie, Brittanie, and I drove to the suburbs of Chicago and took the Metra train into the city, so the girls could experience the train ride.      We stayed at a hotel near the Chicago River in downtown Chicago.    We went shopping at the American Girl store, Marshall Fields, Navy Pier, had a meal at Ed Debeviks, and went on the Sky Deck tour of the Sears Tower.   We met up with my friends, Crystal and Ceylon at Bubba Gumps at Navy Pier and had dinner.   Brittanie loved hanging out with Bekky and Gracie.      

November 30, 2005: Maggie's 2nd Birthday

Again, I decided to celebrate Maggie's birthday, by having some friends and their dogs over for her birthday.  I got a cake for her birthday and we did games.  This time, I got take home gifts for the dogs to take home.     We played games and had food.     Brittanie, Jim, Melanie, Julie & Scott, Kathryn & Kenny Kibbey, and Chrisie Langlois Workman came over.  Everyone brought along their dogs.  We were now living at the Hampton Court apartments on Grand Haven Road, so it was pretty wild.   

August 6, 2005: Lucille Ball Birthday Bash (Jamestown, NY)

We got to Jamestown, New York, Friday night around 6:30.  We are staying at the Holiday Inn hotel which is right around the corner from where most of the events are taking place.  Last night, we went to the showing of "Yours, Mine, Ours" which Lucille Ball was in.  It was a cute movie. Afterwards, the museum was open to fan club members only for free.  So, we wandered around there. They had some desserts in there, too.

This morning, we went to the Giuseppe's Birthday Brunch with "I Love Lucy" actor, Bart Braverman.  This brunch was hosted by Melody Thomas Scott, who plays Nikki Newman on the "Young and the Restless".   First, we had brunch, then saw episode 149 of "I Love Lucy".  The Italian shoeshiner kid was the actor that was here to chat with Melody about his life on the set, as well as what he has been doing since then.

At the end of the brunch, Melody Thomas Scott, had to leave, so couldn't get formal autographs and photos, but me and about 3 others hopped on stage right away and I asked Melody if I could get a picture next to her and so she did.  I lucked out as she had other engagements to go to, so she was in a bit of a hurry.

Then, my mom and I did the candy wrapping contest. You have 1 1/2 minutes to wrap candies.  We ended up wrapping about 19 candies.   I had to use large scissors to cut the tin foil (which was hard to do) and then my mom wrapped the chocolate and had to run over and put them in this basket.

We went to the Lucy Desi playhouse and got to see the sets from the New York city apartment, as well as the Hollywood apartment.   I am used to watching the show in black and white, so it was nice to see it in color.   The walls are light pink, the couch in the living room is blue, and the kitchen is a pale yellow.  We couldn't take pictures in there, so that was a bummer.

Then, we got books signed by Keith Thibodeaux who played "Little Ricky" on the show.  

At 4, we went on the LucyTown tour and got to see Lucy's birth home, childhood home, and the cemetery where she is now buried (Lakeview cemetery).  Lucy's chauffeur for 30 yrs was a host on this tour and told us about his experience will Lucille Ball.   His name is Frank Gorey. We got pictures with him, too

Tonight, we went to a Variety show. It was supposed to star "Edie Adams", but she fell ill, so they had a variety show.  Melody Thomas Scott and a Lucy impersonator did this show.   It was quite cute.

I really wanted to go to the Meet and Greet the stars, but couldn't afford it.   I begged my mom to go with me, but she wouldn't.   I was quite bummed about that.  

At least, I got my picture with Melody and Keith.   

Tomorrow, we are going to a Mystery Luncheon starring Wanda Clark, who was Lucy's personal secretary.

July 5, 2005: Volunteering at Summer Celebration

I decided this year to volunteer to work at the Muskegon Summer 

Celebration,so I chose the concerts that I wanted to see: Boyz II Men, 

Smokey Robinson,Rick Springfield, and Journey.  I was listening to the 

radio and I was the 8th caller and answered the trivia question and won 

2 VIP passes to Rick Springfield and then 2 General Admission tickets to 

see Styx.
 

While working at the Summer Celebration, I got tokens which is the 

form of payment for your volunteering. So, I used those for the concert, 

Brad Paisley.    So, I am seeing 6 concerts totally free.
 
Tonight, I am going to be at the front gate for Rick Springfield.  I will do
the same thing for Journey on Thursday night.   I worked at the 

Merchandise tent for Boyz II Men and Smokey Robinson and had a 

nice view of the show.
 
I guess Brad Paisley is almost sold out.   I think Rick Springfield and
Journey will be a big seller.
 
There were 13,000 people at the Boyz II Men concert and about 

12,000 at Smokey Robinson.
 
I am amazed that little ole Muskegon has been able to have these 

concerts every year and bring in all kinds of artists, some the oldies

and some fairly new.
 

June 17, 2005: Dog Walk & Badger Trip

Yesterday, I took Maggie and my little sister, Brittanie to Spring Lake 

for the Dog Walk. 

It was quite a long walk. There were probably around 25 dogs and their 

owners there. 

It was probably around a 4 mile walk all together.  They played 

some games and Maggie won.

She got some treats and I got a $10 certificate for this restaurant.
 
My little sister stayed over night as we had to get up early tomorrow 

to go on the Badger from Ludington to Wisconsin. 

The Big Brother/Big Sister organization was having the Bigs and 

Littles go on the trip. The Badger paid for the trip.   This was going to be

the first time I had been on this ferry. 

April 2005: Disney Cruise

We went to Epcot, Magic Kingdom, MGM, and Animal Kingdom. The first day, we went to Epcot. We had a nice lunch at the Morrocan restaurant at Epcot with a belly dancer. We took a picture of grandpa next to the dancer and he said he didn't even realize she was next to him. 

Later on in the evening, we met one of my aunt's friend's cousins who

lives in Orlando and works for Disney.   He gave me some information 

on housing, jobs, etc there.  He started out with ticketing at Disney for 

1 1/2 yrs before getting an accounting job there.  He took us to MGM to 

see this neat water/laser show.    Luckily we went to the early show, as it 

rained out by 9 p.m.   We had dinner at the ABC Commissary and went 

to the Muppets 3-D show and after that, we ran like mad in the rain to 

the park exit.   We grabbed some garbage bags from a worker and 

used that for ponchos.

It was quite funny.
 
My mom and I spent the next day at Magic Kingdom and went on the 

rides. We really liked the log ride.   We had a nice lunch at the Crystal 

Palace Restaurant there and the different Disney characters came around 

your table.The buffet was really good.  It overlooked the Magic Castle 

which was neat.
Then, at night, Charlene, grandpa, Beulah, mom and I went to this 

Hoopty Du dinner show at the Wilderness campground.  We took a boat 

from Magic Kingdom over to the campground.    It was a nice show.  They 

served us chicken, ribs, mashed potatoes, salad, bread, and strawberry 

shortcake for dessert.
 
The 3rd day, the whole family went to Animal Kingdom and took the 

safari ride and then we split up for the afternoon.
 
 
We got on the cruise on Sunday, April 1st at Port Canaveral.  The cruise
itself was ok, but more geared for kids and families. I did get my picture
taken with Mickey and Minnie. I still have to download those pictures.
 
My mom and I went Parasailing on the trip.   It was fun, but scary being 

way up there in the air.   I was able to see the whole island that Disney 

owns (Castaway Cay).
 
But, I am glad to be home now.   I have been on 5 trips this past year 

and exhausted.    Lately, I have felt stressed out for some reason and

that has been bugging me. I sure hate feeling so down.    I sure hope I 

start to feel better soon.

March 2, 2005: Grandma Gonyo's Advice

"Don't dwell on the past. I know at this time of the yr. it is hard not
to think about it but remember ACCEPT THE THINGS YOU CANNOT CHANGE- COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS YOU CAN AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bob worshipped both you and Joannie and he was a wonderful son to me always so thoughtful to everyone. He would always remember his Grandma with little gifts and she thought the sun rose and set in him. You know how much Pauline thought of him. She always said he seemed more like her son as he was so considerate and good to her as Ken was not that thoughtful at times. We cant change things but I do know Bob would want the very best for you and would want you to be happy. Nowadays more is understood by the Doctors than it was long ago. I was always so proud of both of my boys . I thought they were both good looking and so good always to me. We had many good times together. We can't go back and change anything so the best thing is to keep your mind busy, don't sit around and brood about something you can't do anything about. You can take care of yourself. I try to delve into some project around here.  I work on Norms book work which keeps me from thinking about how old I am and how wrinkled I'm getting. As Abraham Lincoln said, "You can be as happy as you make up your mind to be. No one's life is perfect and no one gets thru life without troubles. You think some people are so happy but you find out everyone has a cross to bear. Remember everyone who took their troubles in a sack to church and put them on the altar, the priest said you could pick anyone's sack to take home and everyone took home their own sack. When you think of what a sweetheart you are, you are able to walk, see, have a job and a nice car to go places, how many people would love to be in your shoes. When I see these young gals (renters of Norms) tied down with kids, no money, waiting table to make enough for food and rent and they come up short all the time, my cleaning lady cleans every day to make ends meet and her one daughter ran away and the son is hyperactive and she is so tired when she comes, she goes with a crumb bum who drinks
and one door is off his car and it is painted 3 different colors and I think WHAT A LIFE !!! Be thankful for all the good things."

Love
Grandma