May 29, 2001: Baldwin, Michigan

Mom and I drove up to Brunswick to fix the flowers at dad and grandpa's gravestone.   Then, we continued to Baldwin and drove around the streets near the cabin that Grandma Gonyo owned off Pere Marquette Street.  The street has since been renamed. I think the new name was 81st street, but not positive.

We saw someone cutting the grass at Pauline's cabin, but didn't realize until later it was Ken Baker.   We didn't recognize him, as he had a long beard.  His mother, Pauline, was my Grandma Gonyo's older sister.

We drove by the bridge that we used to walk over back in the day. The bridge was torn down.  Now, there were just rocks and a stream going through it.   It was sad to see the changes, as you remember how they once were.

We stopped at Peggy Katt's store in downtown Baldwin.   They had sent her granddaughter, Nicole, to Hawaii for a few weeks for getting good grades in college.  Peggy said I would like to live in Sarasota, FL, as there was so much to do there.   Her store name was:  Katt's Meow.  She had beautiful things in her store.  She bought many of the items for the store at a convention in Atlanta each year and had them shipped to her store.

Then, we had ice cream at the famous Jone's Ice Cream and looked inside Ben Franklin's, which was our favorite store to go to when I was a kid.     Our last stop was to see Pauline at the nursing home.  She had been in this nursing home in Baldwin for 2 years now.    I didn't recognize her with her gray hair. She used to have such beautiful red, wavy hair.   She was half asleep in the day bed.  I don't think she knew we were there or could talk much.   She used to travel all over the world when she was younger.    Pauline used to always tell us girls not to get married.   My mom and dad took a few trips with Pauline over the years.  My mom remarked on how Pauline Kimball was the best dressed lady on the trip. She brought a carry on with a base color for clothing.   She didn't bring many clothes, but she always looked like a million bucks every day. Half of her luggage would be full of make-up.   She and my grandma always had their make-up done so well.

May 26, 2001: Wendy's Cottage

I drove to Temple, MI to visit with Wendy, George, Marianne, and Joy, and to see Wendy's cottage.

Temple was between Clare and Harrison and not far from Cadillac.

Wendy had a nice cottage.   George, Marianne, Joy, Wendy, and Todd's sister, April, and I went shopping in Cadillac.  Then, we had dinner with Todd, his brother, and brother's fiance.   Joy and I took the 2-track to the bar in Temple and played pool.   Todd's brother's fiance broke her back in a snowmobile accident this past March.   

Joy went with Todd, his brothers, and girlfriends mudding on the two-tracks with their pick up trucks.   I could have gone, but decided I really didn't want to do that.  I was scared that we would be in an accident.    Wendy didn't go, but that was more because she was pregnant.  Glad I didn't go, as they got their trucks stuck in the mud and had to clear that out.   It was nice to see everyone.

May 25, 2001: Office Team & Anna Marie Muirhead's Classroom

I drove down to Holland to sign up with Office Team for temporary work.  I found out that I was proficient with Word and Excel. I typed 61 words per minute.  I scored 700 on the data entry test.   I thought that was very good, considering I haven't worked in a position with just data entry.   A 2-year employee with data entry experience should be able to do 10,000 characters.

Then, I went to Great Lakes Elementary to see my friend Anna Marie Muirhead's classroom.   It was an interesting experience for me.   She taught 5th grade.   The students were pretty rowdy.  I couldn't believe how modern this school district was.  The students were required to type their reports and there was a computer lab in the library.   Also, the students took turns reporting school news at the end of the day, which showed up on TVs in each classroom.   She also taught the class using Powerpoint.   I had thought about going back to school to get my master's degree in education, but not sure as it was alot of work.  

Anna Marie said it was stressful during her first year of teaching.   Student teaching was a requirement for a year after the education portion was complete. Many times,  it was unpaid, which would be hard when I still had bills to pay.     Anna said the teachers had to take continuing education in the summers in order to keep their teaching certificate.      Most teachers got their master's degrees.   This career was something I would seriously consider.

May 16, 2001: Interview at AC Nielsen

I had my 2nd interview at ACNielsen for an on-site account executive position working at Meijer.  I thought I did very well on the interview.   From what was said in the interview, there would only be one on-site person there.   I would be working with the Vice President and the buyers of Meijer.

After the interview, I stopped over at Kelsey's house and visited with she and the kids.   I had an enjoyable visit with them.

May 12, 2001: Charity Walk

Leah Engle and I went on a charity walk from McGraft Park down to Pere Marquette.    We walked down Lakeshore Drive, along the boardwalk, and then back.  It was 6 miles.   We ran into Angie from high school.   I had some food on my tooth, so  Angie picked it off.   I know it sounds gross, but she had kids, so she was used to doing this.  

May 4, 2001: Chicago Trip & IRI

Drove to Chicago with my new silver 2001 Honda Civic.  It was sure a fun car to drive.   The traffic was horrible there.  I got to my old work and parked in a lot across the street.  Went up to the 2nd floor and surprised everyone.  Ceylon and Crystal were so glad to see me.  Darren Hobson, Ceylon Hayes, Jeanette Walls, Ron, Yolanda Thomas, Bryan Kerr, and Crystal Cooper came out to see my car.   Yolanda said the backseat was the most comfortable one she had been in. She said she could sit there all the way to Mississippi.   Ron sat in the front seat and wanted to hear the bass on my stereo and see my rims.   Bryan Kerr wanted to see the trunk and said I had a spot for a CD changer. He wanted to see the engine, so we put up the hood.   Jeanette liked the car, as well as the sunset on the Michigan plate.

Ceylon, Crystal, and I drove to Ed Debeviks for lunch.  Ceylon surprised me with this nice CD visor for my car and this friendship frame with a crystal teddy bear.  She said she wanted me to think of her when I saw them.    I thought that was so sweet.

We came back to IRI.  Jamie Nailer wanted to see my car.  Alison came out to see it.   It was fun to see everyone.  

I drove to the outlet stores in Michigan City. I bought a case at the Coach store for my palm pilot for $60.  

May 3, 2001: Manpower

Today, I got signed up with Manpower, in hopes of getting some temporary work.  I was anxious to get working full-time again.  I got my job in Chicago pretty quickly, so was hoping the same thing would happen again here.  Muskegon was not the best place to look for work.    I was looking in the Grand Rapids area, too.

I was going on a European cruise in June, so not sure if finding a job this month was the best thing.