September 28, 2013: Art Prize 2013

 

 

Art Prize, in Grand Rapids, started about 5 years ago.   We have been going for the past 3 years.  It is one of the festivals I now look forward to going to each year.    

This time, we took one of the Barnes & Noble girls, Kathy Rabbit.  She had never gone to the festival before, so she was looking forward to it.

Before we went to Art Prize, we had to stop at the Michaels Craft Store on 28th Street, as the new Cake Boss bake ware was unveiled.    The store was having some free giveaways, so I had to go.     We got a frosting scraper for free.   We bought the cake spinner, a cookie sheet, and cookie dough spoon.    Buddy Valastro (Cake Boss) and his family were going to be at the store in Dallas, TX, for the celebration.

After Michaels, we went to Fred Meijer Gardens to get our wristband in order to take the shuttle down to Art Prize in downtown Grand Rapids.     No one told us they no longer had the shuttle from the gardens, which made us mad.   An Asian lady saw us waiting and told us they discontinued the shuttle from the gardens and we could catch the city bus from the Meijer store across the street. It was nice of this lady to tell us this, or we might have sat there much longer.  I was not too happy that they discontinued the service.    We went to Meijer and took the city bus downtown.    It seemed like it took forever.

We walked around the usual spots downtown in order to see the art displays.     I liked the Dog House art, as well as some pieces inside the Amway Grand.  We weren't able to see the displays in the Gerald Ford Museum, as the lines were so long.  the winner of Art Prize had their quilt on display at the Gerald Ford Museum, which we didn't get to see.  The winner received $200,000.    

Someone called out my name there and I looked up and it was my friend Becky Ruger.  That was so exciting.  I got to meet her fiancé, John Stowe.
I was supposed to go with Becky and Molly to Art Prize, but it didn't work out this year.

Walked around the Grand Rapids Public Museum to see more art work.  Of course, I took a bunch of photos.

I think we wore out Kathy, as I could see her pale face.  We sat down for a bit so she could rest up.  I don't think she is used to my Mom and I walking for miles.

We went to the art museum, which didn't have as much on display, as prior years.

We had a nice dinner at our favorite pizza restaurant, then had ice cream at Kilwin's.  I got salted caramel ice cream which is my favorite.  Yummy!

I had a great day at Art Prize with Kathy and my Mom.    

September 27, 2013: Shores vs. Muskegon Football Game

Kay Tobey, Karen Scraver, Rhonda Collins, Drew, and I decided to go to the Shores vs. Muskegon football game at the Mona Shores stadium.      I hadn't gone to a football game at this new stadium, so this was a nice experience.   They did a great job with the remodeling of that area.    

Karen, Rhonda, and Drew sat on the Muskegon side, as they graduated from Muskegon.  Karen graduated with my dad in 1964.  My dad used to play on Muskegon's football team.  I remember how proud he was playing football on that team.

Kay and I sat on the Shores side, as we both graduated from Mona Shores.     

We got one of the last seats in the general admission section, so we were right next to the student section.  The students kept wanting to climb over the rope to come to our section and vice versa.  It was right in front of us, so quite annoying.  I decided to stand next to the rope and tell the kids to walk down the steps and walk around to the other sections.     I started to enjoy being the guard.  I saw one kid with some dollar bills in his hand, so as a joke, I told him he could climb over the rope for $1.  He handed me the $1, but I didn't take it.  I just told him I was joking.   You should have seen the look on his face.  He didn't think that was too funny, but Kay and I got a good chuckle.

Ran into my coworker, Poppy Hernandez, at the game, which was pretty cool.  She really wanted to see the band perform at half time.      

I thought it was pretty neat that the cheerleaders from both Muskegon and Shores did a cheer together.   That was awesome!

Muskegon beat Shores, but only by about 6 points.    We were told this was the largest crowd Shores has ever had for football.  Before the game, it was predicted there would be between 7,000 and 11,000 spectators.     

September 20, 2013: Devon's Football Game at Northview High School

My Mom and I wanted to be sure we went to one of Devon Vanzanten's football games, so we decided to go tonight. This fall has been fantastic.  It has been such a nice, warm fall, which is great for a football game.    Charlene, Steve, Kelsey, Matt, Emma, and Matt's parents and brothers were all there.   Devon's number was 9.    

The students were in their own section and tonight's dress up theme was 'Superheros'.

Had a nice conversation with Kelsey.  I didn't realize she coached an elementary volleyball team.  Their games are on Saturday mornings.  So, between her coaching, Emma's volleyball, and Devon's football, she is kept pretty busy in the fall.   I think I would be worn out.   

It was great to see everyone and see Devon play football. I still can't believe he is a senior in high school.

September 15, 2013: Michigan Irish Festival

Every September,  my Mom and I like to go to the Michigan Irish Festival, which is at Heritage Landing in Muskegon. My friend Milly Dreleozis, whom I met while working at the Health Department, came with us last year and again this year.      Our neighbors, Kay, Connie Martin, and Diane also came with us.   They had dinner with us.    I think they were overwhelmed at the size of the festival.   I think it is the best festival around here.

On Friday nights between 5 and 6 p.m., there is no charge to get into the festival.   After 6 p.m., the cost to get in is $15.     Of course,  I try to get in when it is free.    

As I was driving around on Friday night to get a parking spot,, which can be hard to come by, I saw Eric Justian and his two boys crossing the street in front of me.   He said hello and that he was going to meet up with a fellow Mona Shores classmate of ours, Samantha Packingham.

Seamus Kennedy is one of the entertainers.   He performs a great show.    The Irish music is fun to listen to.    

Mom and I both got a genuine Irish sweater for $150.  My sweater is going to be my Christmas gift from my mom, so I cannot wear it until Christmas.   The sweaters are gorgeous and so classy looking.

On Sundays, they have a Catholic Mass, followed by an Irish breakfast.     The breakfast is $7.  
We got our seats for the mass.    In front of me, I saw a fellow co-worker of mine, Vince Port, talking with some people.   He ended up sitting next to us for mass.

Vince saw his daughter and her deadbeat boyfriend (as he refers to him by), so he went to give her a hug. He got the surprise of his life.  She showed him her engagement ring.   Oh boy,  he was not happy about it at all.

After mass, we had our Irish breakfast and lost track of Vince.   Later on, we saw him again and chatted with him. He told us the story about his daughter and her, now fiancé.     He was not happy about this engagement.    He called his wife to tell her the news.     

Vince used to come down to the cafeteria for lunch at work.   I will chat with him and Linda Neal, which was always a lot of fun.   He used to work in the Community Corrections department, which was eliminated, so he lost his job after 9 years of service.  That was 1 year shy of being vested.   His wife is a guard at the Sheriff's department.

Mom and I were waiting for the tea tasting to open, so we wandered around the area.    There was a tent set up with information regarding an Irish wake, so we learned a little about that.  Back in the day, the deceased body was dressed in their fine clothing, and placed on a door in the parlor at home.  Two coins were placed on the eyelids to keep them shut.   There would be a deck of cards, a jar of snuff, and a bible set on their chest.      Friends and family would come over to see the deceased, take a snuff of tobacco, and then have a party in memory of them.

They had tea tasting at the festival, so we all went to that. Vince told us his life story.    He asked my mom what she would do if her daughter was going to marry a guy she didn't like.   She didn't know what to say.    I can see how frustrated it would be to see your step-daughter marry someone you don't like.   I'm sure God shakes his head when he sees us doing dumb things in life.  

I will never forget what Vince said to me.  He said that I am a millionaire, as I have a wonderful mother who I can confide in and know it will be kept secret.    Also, I have a mom who cares about me, when so many other people in the world don't have this.

September 7, 2013: Mini Reunion

Jeanne (Kenney) Proefroeck invited a few of us to her house for a mini reunion, which I was looking forward to attending.   As a surprise, we brought gifts for Jamie (Moen) Wilczak, who was expecting twins in a few weeks.  The girls that were able to make it to the party were:  Jeanne (Kenney) Proefroeck,  Molly (Piersma) King and her family, Michelle (Zimmerman) Bourdon and her daughter, Missy (Hawrysz) Young, Crystal (Williams) Hall, and myself.   

Jeanne did a great job putting together this party. She had so much wonderful food for us.  
She also compiled several old photos into a DVD which she had playing on her TV.
I wish I had spent more time hanging out with them in high school, as they are a great group.

I had a good time at this party chatting with everyone and hearing about their lives after high school.

Missy lost her mother this year to cancer, which was sad to hear.    She has been helping out her dad around the house.     Crystal lost her father a year ago, which was sad too.     Some of them wanted children, but had a hard time, but a miracle came and they had children, which was such an inspiration.     I heard stories of life struggles with their kids, as well as in their own lives.  It truly was a voice of hope for me, as I have long struggled with singleness.     It was nice to hear their stories of both happiness and sadness over the years.  These gals are such wonderful ladies.       I truly hope we can get together more often, instead of letting 20 years go by without a reunion.