Money

I just balanced my checkbook. I couldn't figure why I was off by 21 cents. Then, I figured it out. What a relief! I hope that 2009 brings a lot less stress financially for me. I literally live paycheck to paycheck, as I am still paying off old debts. Hoping to have them paid off in 2 yrs, along with my car.

My mom is getting me interested more in the financial stuff in the books and such. I am hoping to be able to put more in savings this year, as I have been struggling for the past 4 years trying to clean up past mistakes. Glad, though, that I am learning this at a young age.

Sometimes I miss my extra paychecks at my 2nd job at Younkers, but then, I also spent money there, as I saw things I wanted. That is probably not a place to work, if you like clothes shopping. lol

So, wish me luck that things will get better for me, so I can be in better shape to move out of Michigan.

Calvary Bible Church

Now that Christmas has passed, I decided to go to a different church today. I went to Calvary Bible Church in Fruitport. I was going there about 3 years ago, so thought I would go back. Bill Rudd is the pastor there.

Back in 2002, I was in a bible study through Calvary on Sunday nights, until I started working my 2nd job, where it got to be too difficult to go.

Finding a church home is difficult, especially when you are in your 30s, single, with no children. Some churches have mom groups, which I would not be comfortable in. Some have high school youth groups, which is too young for me, and then some have singles groups for those 50 and older. So, I am left in the middle, wondering where to go to find people like myself.

Christmas Cookie Decorating 2008

Brittanie, her friend, Maria, and I went to Beth's house for our annual cookie decorating. It had been 2 years since we last did it as we both were so busy. Last year, I was working at Younkers alot of hours. Anyway, I will always remember Gracie's cookies she decorated when she was a kid. She would put on gobs of frosting and sprinkles and make a double decker cookie. Bekky is 10 and Gracie will be 9. Brittanie is now 12. It is amazing how fast kids grow up.

Maggie came along, too. She enjoyed playing with the girls.
She was tired out, though, when she got home.

Christmas Story Movie - 25th Anniversary Convention in Cleveland

 

Christmas Story 25th Anniversary Convention: Cleveland, Ohio

We left for Cleveland, Ohio on Friday, November 28, 2008. We stayed at George and Marianne’s Thursday night and picked up my mom’s college friend, Maryann Poczik, in Ann Arbor and left for Cleveland.

We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel right in the Public Square in downtown Cleveland. The first event we went to was to meet the stars of the movie, “A Christmas Story”. They had a long table up with each star sitting behind it. We got to meet “Miss Shields”, “Randy”, the two bullies, the guy who delivered the lamp, “Flick”, and the two elves at Higbee’s Department store. I only bought 1 photo which was of Ian Petrello, who played “Randy” in the movie. It was $20 so I only picked one photo.

We took the trolley over to the Christmas Story House, as well as the museum. It was a cold day and there was a long line at the house, so we decided to do that on Saturday. But, we did go through the museum where they have several photos from the movie, Ralphie’s jacket, Randy’s snowsuit, as well as some of their toys they received on Christmas.

The museum gift shop was crowded. We took a look at everything but thought we might wait to buy anything until later.

We took the trolley back to the hotel. Then, we went to a viewing of the movie. I love that movie. I watch it every Christmas. It continues on TNT for 24 hrs on Christmas Day.

We had dinner at the Hard Rock Café which was in the Tower City mall that was attached to our hotel. We all enjoyed our cheeseburgers, which were really good. I haven’t had that good of a cheeseburger at the Hard Rock Café.

From 9-11, we went to the cocktail gala at the hotel and got to have our photo taken with each of the actors from the movie. We learned a lot from the guy who delivered the lamp in the movie. He lives down the street from the Christmas Story house. He helped out on the set with watching the boys, as well as being the gopher.

This was a great opportunity to talk with the actors/actresses from the movie.

Saturday, November 29th:

We got up early in the morning so we could be at the Christmas Story house around 10 a.m. We got on the 2nd trolley ride there. It was neat to be able to go in the house. They guy who bought the house, bought the house over the internet. It was selling for $90,000. He put a bid in for $150,000 and asked for the bidding to stop. He spent about $250,000 getting the house to look like the house in the movie. When he bought it, it had been remodeled with grey siding and new windows. So, began to change that. Before buying the house, he made some of the leg lamps and sold about 1,800.

The house was officially opened in 2006. The actors from the movie came out for the grand opening. The owner has a little apartment on the 3rd floor that he stays in when he comes to town. He lives in San Diego, CA.

We found out that the school teacher in the movie was 8 months pregnant in real life when she filmed that movie.

We found out from the lady elf that they haven’t received residuals from the movie in the past 15 years.

The shorter bully is now a hair stylist and has a son who was there.

We drove out to the Chinese restaurant, Pearl of the Orient, in one of the suburbs. When we got to the door, it said it wasn’t open at lunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We couldn’t believe that the official Chinese restaurant of the Christmas Story would be closed on the weekends, especially this weekend.

The actual restaurant is located in Toronto, which is also the city where much of the movie was filmed.

They had a costume contest at the festival

Mom, MaryAnn, and I went shopping at Jones New York and each got matching blazers. So, we had our picture taken together with our matching jackets. It was so funny.

There was a beautiful Christmas parade in front of the hotel. They lit up a big Christmas tree and shot off fireworks.

The public square was all decorated beautifully.

Then, we went to the screening of Bob Clark’s world. They want to get it into the movie theater, as a tribute to Bob Clark. He was the writer and producer of “A Christmas Story”.

Overall, the trip has been quite fascinating and I have learned quite a bit.