July 31, 2016: Mom's 70th Birthday

I came home from my beach sleepover to find my mom hula hooping.  She was able to do it 700 times without it falling.  

We drove to Frankenmueth to meet her friend MaryAnn Poczik and her husband, Nandor.  We had a delicious dinner at Zehnders.  Then, Mom and I walked around the shops.    I was quite tired from the night before so had my mom drive the last two hours home.  I was practically falling asleep at the wheel.

July 30, 2016: Josh/Sleeping on the Beach

Today started out to be a relaxing day with getting my haircut at Salon 297.  Lynn fixed my hair from the perm I got a few weeks ago.  I'm starting over with growing my hair out into a bob cut.   I decided to sell our computer and the 46 inch TV in my bedroom to Betsy.   As I was playing with the computer,  I heard a car pull up in the driveway.   It was Josh. He had brought over my camping gear and a blanket of his to use for my beach sleepover.   I asked him if he would help me bring the TV to Betsy's apartment and he said he would if I bought him a mocha at Barnes.   Josh got to ride in my new Honda Civic.   I traded in my CRV for a Civic as I thought it would be cheaper and better gas mileage.    

We got both the TV and computer to Betsy's apartment and I set them up for her.    

Josh and I had fun listening to his playlist in my car.  I had to stop at the Honda dealership to give them a check.   The finance manager,  Lieschen, got to meet Josh.   It was funny when she said she had heard all about him.   He said he was building his own car.   

Then, Josh and I went to Barnes for a mocha and to Taco Bell for a late lunch.

In the evening,  I drove out to the cabins that my Aunt Charlene and cousin Kelsey rent for the week.  I wanted to sleep out on the beach as it was on my bucket list.  

Joe's girlfriend, Deanna, came.  LImda, Kelsey, Emma, Charlene, and I slept in the beach. Linda also had this on her bucket list.   We had smores and did sparklers.      Linda and I slept right by he water.  It was neat to look up at the stars and watch the shooting stars and planes.   I loved listening to the sound of the waves.  It was a little uncomfortable laying in the sand and I got a little cold.    It was a beautiful evening so I shouldn't haven't got cold.   

It is an experience I will never forget.   

July 18, 2016: Kelsey and Duck Lake

This morning,  I had coffee with Josh and his friend, Crystal, who was helping mow his dad's yard.   Chance and Bree had stayed the night and we're going to help out around the house.   I went to lunch at "The Deck" restaurant at Pere Marquette park with my cousin,  Kelsey.  We got there at 11 and were the only ones in the restaurant until after 12.   We had a real nice visit.    It's always nice to see family.  

Went back up to Whitehall.   Josh, Chance, Bree, and I went for a pizza at Little Caesars and then to Duck Lake and swam until sunset.   Josh had his tube which we all liked.   I will have to get one for myself.       

July 16, 2016: REI, Gonyos, and Hell, Michigan

Today, Josh and I drove to Ann Arbor to the REI store to get the rest of my camping gear.  We had fun singing to our songs on the trip.    I had trouble finding pants to fit me as my booty has gotten so big so bought some men's pants.    I know I have to get this weight off, but it's such a struggle.

Then, we went to Briarwood Mall and met my aunt Marianne and cousin Joy at the Vera Bradley store.  The 4 of us had lunch at Olga's Kitchen which was fun and also gave them a chance to meet Josh.   

Then,  I drove Josh to Hell,  Michigan which I had wanted to do.   It was hell trying to find it as it's in the middle of nowhere.   I felt bad that the constant turns in the road were making Josh queasy, but it was worth it in the end as he seemed to enjoy visiting Hell.   He bought a funny tshirt that said "The Beer in Hell is safer than the water in Flint".   We also bought coffee cups that said. 

"Coffee from Hell". Overall,  I think it was a nice road trip.     

July 15, 2016: Car Accident

Well, we made it all the way through Indiana and yo Grand Haven and a stupid young girl rear ended us and we rear ended the car in front of us on US 31 at Robbins Road.  Everyone was ok but my car had some damage.   To think, we got almost all the way home without a problem and then this happened.  

July 14, 2016: Loretta Lynn's Ranch

Mom had talked to a neighbor who said we should go to the country singer, Loretta Lynn's ranch in Hurricane Mills, TN so we set out for it.  It was about a 2 hour drive from Memphis.  Construction was bad around Memphis so I was glad to get out of there.   

Loretta Lynn is 84 years old and still performs about 30 shows a year.   She was heading to Texas for her next show.  She doesn't fly anywhere but has an RV which we could see from the old house kitchen window.  She lived in the big mansion until 1988 and then built a smaller home behind it which she currently lives in.  Her sister is Crystal Gale who was popular in the 70s and 80s.    Crystal had very long hair.  

Loretta came from a family of 8 kids and had 6 kids of her own.  One of her son's died in a drowning at a lake nearby and 1 of her daughter's has passed away.

The ranch includes some stores and a coal mine.   We went in a tour of her first home and the coal mine.

We drove through 6 lanes of traffic in Nashville and were so glad to get to our hotel in Scottsberg, Indiana which was just north of Louisville, Kentucky.  

July 13, 2016: Sun Studio

We took the free shuttle from our hotel to see Sun Studio which is where Elvis got his start in recording music.   

Sun Studio is a recording studio opened by rock-and-roll pioneer Sam Phillips at 706 Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 3, 1950.

We got to hold the same microphone that Elvis used which was pretty cool.   

Then, we took the shuttle to the Rock and Soil museum which was quite interesting.    We wanted to go to the Gibson Guitar factory tour but it was all sold out.    We walked to the Peanut Shop and got peanuts.  Elvis used to go to this shop and got kicked out many times fo flirting with the girls.

Stopped by Hard Rock Cafe for a drink and to cool off as it was 92 degrees outside.

Had dinner at the Rock and Roll Cafe and watched an Elvis impersonator show.  The impersonator's name was Michael Cullipher.  He was very talented.