July 4, 2015: Abi & Lakeshore Art Show

My mom’s friend, Abi and her fiancé, Tom, came to visit us in the morning.     We had never met Tom so that was nice to finally meet him.   Mom, Abi, and Tom went on a walk on our trail.     After their walk, I gave them a glass of wine.    I had received several bottles of wine from my supervisor, who used to own a winery in downtown Muskegon.     She was trying to get rid of the bottles of wine from the business.

We went to the Farmer’s Market late in the afternoon and had pizza at Whistle Punk Pizza, which tasted delicious.   Then, we wandered around the Lakeshore Art fair, which we always like to do.     I saw a booth where you could do your own canvas art, so I paid the $5 and spent 45 minutes doing my own painting, which is something I have wanted to do.     Usually, the canvas painting costs about $35 at other places.   It is a larger canvas, though.        

Found a new spot to watch the fireworks this year.  I remembered driving down Grand Haven Road into Ferrysburg and turned by the fire department.  Went to the Ferrysburg side, across from the Grand Haven Coast Guard Station and watched the Grand Haven fireworks.    It was a great place to go, as you didn’t have to deal with the traffic jams after the show. 

July 3, 2015: Downtown Rockford

It was nice to have the day off of work for the holiday.   Mom and I drove to Rockford to meet Betty & John Westra.  We had hot dogs for lunch. It was one of their favorite places to eat.     I got a Reuben dog which wasn’t too bad.      Of course, I love to eat at Arnie’s.     Then, Betty, Mom and I went shopping in the stores.    I found a cute orange purse at this boutique called Jade.       I had been looking for an orange purse, too.    They have some nice stores in their downtown.      We took Betty home and stopped at Aunt Charlene’s house to pick up the Tupperware order I placed for my mom.    It is my mom’s early birthday gift.  Then, we went shopping at Woodland Mall and the Younkers store in Grandville.        

June 27, 2015: Seaway Run

I walked with Mirelda Tokarczyk, her 2 daughters, and niece in the Seaway Run.  They had a community walk that was 3.5 miles. I was proud of myself for making it in 1 hr 6 minutes.      I think a good goal would be to run the 5K.   I met Mirelda and her daughters at Tim Hortons on Norton Ave.   We had nice fellowship for about an hour.   In the evening, we went to a potluck with our neighbors at Stillwater Springs. The food was all very delicious.  Mom and I brought our gigantic plates which many of the people thought was funny.     My body was pretty tired by the end of the day.

June 26, 2015: A Day in History: Supreme Court’s Decision on Same Sex Marriages

I thought this would never happen in America.    The Supreme Court voted 5-4 to allow for a federal law that homosexuals could legally marry.    Nancy Waters, the County Clerk in Muskegon County, spent $40 of her own money and bought roses and corsages for those same sex marriages that were performed.     I saw in the parking lot at the Hall of Justice that Wood TV8 and WZZM13 were there interviewing the homosexual couple to get married.     They were two young college girls who were the first to be married.   Nancy Waters waived the 3 day waiting period and had a minister there to perform the marriages.    There were 5 marriages that day.     

Also, Pat Krehn, the nursing supervisor at the health department, was having her retirement party.    Brenda let me go to it.   It was nice to see so many former retirees there such as:   Sharon Mack, Barb Prior, Jean Buckmaster, Carolyn Warren, Roberta Dress, and Mary. I told Pat she was one of my best supervisors I had there and hoped that she would have a nice retirement.       It was nice to see the present employees there, too.   They had sloppy joes, crackers, cheese dip, cheese, and Rykes cake.    It was all tasty.    Went shopping at Younkers and then to Barnes & Noble to see the gang.   Most of the gang wasn’t there. The store was pretty slow.

June 14, 2014: From Concert to Moving Upstairs

I didn’t plan for the day to turn out the way it did.     Becky and I were supposed to go to the B-93 Birthday Bash, but it was cancelled due to the flooding.     They had a lot of the past few days.     I had my parking pass which cost me $60 for the 2 days. Luckily, my friend Missy Gallegos gave me $30 as she used it yesterday.   Missy said that at one point they had to tell the crowd to go back to their cars as the rain was so bad.     Missy wore some cute beige shorts which got all muddy at the concert.   She said she had fun, but the people there were quite crazy. She didn’t think she would go again.

On Thursday, mom and I moved the twin bed back downstairs as I felt bad that she had given me the master suite.  Well, mom decided she liked that twin bed and wanted it back, so that started a day of moving.  Becky and I picked up her step-daughter, Jazzy Stowe, in Grand Haven and we all helped with the move of all of the furniture from downstairs upstairs.  We put my downstairs sofa in the 4-season room.     Brought the twin bed upstairs to what was the office.     Moved my clothes back upstairs to the master suite.       Moved the entertainment upstairs to the living room, as I was going to have the 55 inch TV remounted in the living room and then put the 46 inch TV in the master bedroom.   Becky had me send pictures of some of the furniture I was selling to her mom, who said she would buy most of it.   Luckily, our neighbor, Mr. Labash was outside in his golf cart, so he and another guy brought the entertainment center from downstairs on the golf cart and brought it up to the front door.     The Lord is always at our rescue.   We worked most of the day moving furniture all around.   They were all a big help.   I bought us pizza from Dominoes. Becky, Jazzy, and I went to the movie “San Andreas Fault” which was pretty exciting.  Like I said, what started out to be the day to go see a concert, ended up to be a completely different day.

June 13, 2014: Shopping in Grand Rapids & Becky

I was looking all over the stores last night for cowgirl boots that weren’t too expensive. I found some at DSW shoes in Muskegon; however, they didn’t have my size.    Mom and I were going to Grand Rapids shopping so we stopped at the DSW Shoes there.  I found a cute pair for $60. I wanted to wear them to the B-93 Birthday Bash. I hadn’t been to the bash since it was held in Ionia.    Met my friend Becky Stowe at the Macy’s in Grandville mall. I hadn’t seen here in a while. She was going to go with me to the bash tomorrow.     We had a nice dinner at Cracker Barrel and came back to my house.  Becky stayed over our house.

May 25, 2015: Memorial Day Weekend

I was so excited that my new Apple I-watch was going to be delivered on Friday.   Unfortunately, my mom was on her walk when UPS came, so had to go at 6:30 to pick it up from the UPS facility.   We had dinner Friday night at Fricano's in Muskegon.  I love their pizza.

Saturday, we had a funeral to go to in Kalamazoo for my mom's friend, Diane Kobza Skiba whose husband passed away on May 7th.      Judi and George Zubrickas were there.    Judi had a crush on Diane's brother, Tom, back when she was 13 so she was telling him that. It was funny.  Judi was telling us about George smoking pot and drinking in college.     I was surprised.  I thought he was an upstanding citizen.  :o)

Mom and I drove by to see where Diane lives as I had never seen it.    She lives on Austin Lake in Portage.   Then, we drove around Western Michigan University to see what changes have occurred. They are building a new dining hall in the valley dorms and there is a new Sangren Hall and some other new dorms.      Every time I visit WMU, there is something new.  Drove by my apartment at Dover Hills Apartments on Drake.   It all brings back good memories.  

Sue Arnouts came over as we were going to Shari Resnick's daughter, Julianne's wedding at 5:30. Julianne had a beautiful day for a wedding.  It was sunny and in the 70s.    She had an outdoor wedding behind the Trillium Banquet facility and then the reception was inside the facility.     She had a pasta bar for dinner and Ryke's cake. I took 2 pieces as I love Ryke's.     Met some nice people at our table.  They were friends of Shari's.     Her hairdresser and her friends Jackie and Vivienne were at our table.      They had a photo booth there which was fun.  Sue wouldn't do it, but Shari and I did some funny poses.

Sunday, we had breakfast with Judi and George at Toast N' Jams, then went to Grand Haven with Maggie and walked towards the lighthouse, but only went about half way as it started to rain.    We went to Judi's favorite clothing store there called Clothes Time.    I bought a cute top there.      

Then, went to the movie "Age of Adeline" in the evening.

Monday, Maggie and I walked in the Lakeside parade representing my friend Mirelda's husband's business, Tokarczyk Services, which does snowplowing and lawn care.      Mirelda had put together 1,000 treat baggies with business cards and we handed them out to the spectators.  Saw a high school friend, Jon Huizenga at the parade as well as Candace Fox, mother of Dave Fox.

Mirelda and Frank took all of us who walked in the parade out to a nice lunch at Pizza Ranch.      

I think Maggie had a good time walking in the parade.  I heard people remarking how cute she is.       Maggie is now worn out from a busy weekend.