October 31, 2013: Halloween

I had been following the actress, Melissa Gilbert, on Twitter, who would tweet about watching the show "Breaking Bad". I also heard some people at work watch it, so we watched all of the episodes for several weeks on Netflix. It is a very addicting show to watch. The pilot first aired in 2008 and finished in the fall of 2013. The show received several Emmy Awards. I wanted to dress up like the main character, Walter White (aka Heisenberg). This character was played by the actor, Bryan Cranston. He did an excellent job portraying a geeky chemistry teacher, who was diagnosed with lung cancer, and started a meth lab out of an RV in order to pay for his cancer treatments. His side kick, known as Jesse, was pretty entertaining too.

 I decided I wanted to dress up like Walter White in his lab outfit, with meth in the bag. Well, it was actually blue pop rock candy. I had received the OK from our deputy director to wear the costume for Halloween, so bought all of the stuff I needed to transform myself into Walter. A few days before Halloween, my supervisor and I were called into the deputy director's office and shown this email that my coworker, Penny Boynton's son, had written to the County Administrator and the commissioners regarding my Halloween costume. I was furious that they would do something like this, especially since I had bought all of the items for the costume. So, of course, I was told I couldn't wear the costume to work, but I could have changed it to 'Breaking Good' and worn it that way, but I decided not to do that. I decided I wouldn't let the costume go to waste, so I dressed up in it and wore it for the girls I hang out with at Barnes & Noble. It was fun dressing up in the costume. I looked like the craziest man. The mustache itched quite a bit, too. 

For Halloween at work, I borrowed my coworker's angel costume and wore that instead of the Walter White costume.

October 27, 2013: Demolition of Sappi (the old S.D. Warren Paper Company)

Both my mom and I were looking forward to seeing part of the Sappi Building demolished, with the use of explosives. I had read in the Muskegon Chronicle that the best spot to see it was on Edgewater St, so we got there around 9 a.m. It was in the 30's outside, so pretty cold. One of the Muskegon Chronicle photographers, Natalie, was down there setting up her cameras to capture the big event. Mom found a rock to sit on and I found one nearby. Here is what was posted on Mlive regarding the momentous occasion. "With a thud that hit in the middle of your stomach, the former Sappi paper mill power plant came tumbling down Sunday morning apparently without a hitch. The son of property owner Doug Melching and sons of Trinity Industrial Services Tom Frost pushed the plunger down about 10:40 a.m. to set off the explosions that brought down the 10-story, 200-foot industrial building. Within a matter of seconds the steel structure was lying crumpled, falling to the north just as the Melching demolition team had planned. The event was witnessed by several hundred on site and thousands more to the west and east of the site at 2400 Lakeshore Drive. Within several minutes the big black cloud of smoke and dust had cleared and the Melching team began to inspect the area with Muskegon police and fire officials. “We are going to bring this down with one mighty boom,” a Trinity crew member said over the radio before the 10-second countdown began. “Let’s keep everyone safe.” Initial reports are that the nearby Habs Good Eats n’ Treats at 2445 Lakeshore Drive is fine. Houses are being checked, with a cracked window reported so far." After the building came down, we drove closer to the demolition site, in order to get a better look at it. It was pretty impressive. Lakeshore Dr. from McCracken to Cottage Grove was closed, so we weren't able to walk around there. Then, we stopped at Tim Hortons for hot chocolate and donut holes to celebrate the big day.

October 19, 2013: Grand Haven and U.S.S. Silversides

 

 

 

What started out to be a relaxing weekend with no plans turned into a weekend full of plans.    I like to be busy, so it was a nice welcome to have some unexpected plans.

My Mom and I decided to go to Grand Haven to get our free loaf of bread from Great Harvest Bread Company.     We have a frequent customer card and had filled it up, so we could get a free loaf.    The owner, Cindy Wisen, from my church happened to be there so we had a nice conversation.  
Before we came to the bread store, we saw an open house sign for a condo in the Grand Theater condos.       The one we went through had 1 master bedroom and 1 small bedroom.     The kitchen was beautiful    It had dark brown cupboards and beautiful black granite countertops.    It overlooked the parking lot, which I didn't like.   They were asking about $339,000 for the condo.      A nurse, who lives in the building, owned 3 other condos in the building and was trying to downsize.     
The association fee was $125.  It came with some cool amenities.    You could have a personal chef from one of the 5 restaurants downtown.  The chef would come to your condo and cook your meal for you and your guests.    You could get deferred restaurant billing, which meant you didn't need to pay at each meal at one of those 5 restaurants, but would get a bill for them at the end of the month.   Also, you had a private entrance to the wine bar next to the condo complex.

After my nap, I was looking on facebook and came across some photos Nina Ganesh Nandish had posted at the U.S.S. Silversides.   I was so excited that she was here in town.   I responded on facebook and we made plans to get together.   I hurried up and drove down to Pere Marquette to see her.  

I had about an hour wait at the Silversides museum for her, as she and her son were going on a tour of the submarine.     I finally hooked up with her.  It felt like old times with my old roommate, Nina, from Western Michigan University.  We were also in a co-ed professional business fraternity called Phi Chi Theta in college.       It felt like no time had gone by since our last visit, which really was around 5 or 6 years ago.    Her son, Nilan, is now 9.  He didn't know who I was as I don't see them that often.

She and Nilan came with his Boy Scout Troop, #746, from Northville.    The Scouts and their parents got to sleep on the submarine for the night. It cost the child $40 and the parent another $40, which also included pizza and breakfast in the morning.

I got to go on the submarine and see where they would be sleeping.    They were tight quarters.  Due to Boy Scout rules regarding females, the females were upgraded to the officer quarters, which was simply a private room holding 4 beds and a green privacy curtain.

So glad I was able to hook up with Nina and hang out for a bit.   

October 11, 2013: Mona Shores Homecoming

I had been wanting to go to the Mona Shores High School Homecoming football game for several years, but just didn't make it.    It has been a nice, warm fall, so I invited a few people to come.   Sue wasn't able to come. Some others didn't want to go or couldn't go.    Mirelda and her family were going to come.  My classmates, Charles Bengsten and Mark Douglas, were going to meet me there.   

I came after work to get my ticket.    They did a parade down Seminole Rd.   The band and a few floats went down the road. It is different from when I went to high school.  They used to have the class floats go around the track at the football stadium, so not sure when they changed it to a parade down the street.  

Since I had about an hour to kill, I decided to go to the tailgate dinner.  It was $5.  The proceeds went to a band student who passed away this summer.     The proceeds from each tailgate dinner go to a different charity.     Sue, from Sue's Catering, did the dinner.    She saw me there.    She used to come to the deli when I worked at Plumb's back in high school and college.   
The food was very good.  It was awkward, though, going to it by myself, but a girl has to eat.  

I met up with Mark Douglas and his son.   Then, we sat up in the stands with Charles Bengsten and his son.     I was impressed with the interaction I saw with Charles and his son.    He married a nice gal and has 3 children.

I finally got a hold of Mirelda, who said her sister-in-law had got them reserved seats so I didn't get to see her until halftime.      I was happy to see Mirelda and her kids.  

Ashley Arnouts came to do some cheers as an alumni cheerleader. 

I was glad we won the game against Zeeland East.   It was announced that we had made the playoffs, which is a first in the history of Shores.   I think school of choice has helped bring on some better players from other districts, as we have a good team this year.