Saturday Afternoon

Alex came in this morning and John, Brandy and the girls came this afternoon. Since I knew that John was coming over for his present I just said we might as well all have lunch. Was just hot dogs, chips and birthday cake. Everyone was here for a couple of house and then John and all went back home to to get ready to go to Clarkston and Alex went to see Lynn in Taylor before going to Clarkston. Not exactly sure what they all will be doing in Clarkston. Tomorrow they all will be back again for ribs, corn, beans, cobbler and watermellon.
Rest of the photos from today are futher down on this page.

Happy Birthday, John!

Thirty years already! Geeh...time goes by so fast. John has already informed me that he wants a yellow cake with chocolate frosting...his favorite. Alex is coming down tomorrow and they are all suppose to be going out to Clarkston tomorrow night. I believe they are going to a Shark's Club out there. Since John has to work today we all are celebrating his birthday tomorrow. Sunday, have to go somewhere in the morning and then in the afternoon Juan is making baby back ribs. Hummmmm!
So...have to get going....stuff to do.

Middle of the week

Did the above layout yesterday from some of the photos of the State Fair. The frog reminded me of Michigan J. Frog. Know you remember him....he's singing right now. Used to love that cartoon. Can tell that fall is just around the corner as the nights are beginning to get cooler. Still have more running around to do today. And still have more to clean in this house. Remember someone in the family....think it was my Aunt Bea....used to clean one room a day. Hummmm...should try that.

Can't seem to stay in one place Tuesday

Trying to straighten up this house and I keep going from one project to another. Like now....back on the computer. Ah well....will get done eventually. The above photo is of a Polish Chick we saw at the fair yesterday. Cute little things...they have this poof on the top of their heads. John had called yesterday that on the way to Cedar Point he had a flat tire. Seems there was a screw in the tire. Got it fixed and all was well. He, Brandy, Sierra and Tim all went together. Guess they had a good time...will find out more when he come by later today. We won't have the girls at all this week as John starts work at 4pm instead of 3pm.....only for this week then back to his regular schedule.
Have to call Alex to find out if she is coming down this week-end. Not sure about her plans. And...Mexico is getting closer and closer. We received our itinerary in yesterdays mail along with two carry-on pieces of luggage and all the rest of the stuff they send. Will use both the carry-ons as we don't really have any...at least not as nice as these.
And....the "Chicken Dance" that's playing....sounds like that Polish chicken is part Mexican! :)

State Fair Day

Well....Juan and I went to the State Fair today. Must say that I sure am glad that it wasn't warm outside....really a very nice day. The fair just doesn't seem to be as exciting as it once was for me. I mean we didn't go on any of the rides...just walked around trying to find stuff interesting to look at. Walked by where they were looking for the oldest, longest married, etc. seniors. The only category I heard they were looking for at the time was the person with the most grandchildren. Someone who had 59 grandchildren won. 59! Good grief! We stayed for about two hours and then left. Of course, parking was a mile away. Afterward we went to Mexicantown and had a late lunch at a place we had never been...El Comel...not spelling that last part right. Anyway...it was okay...nothing special. We forgot to go visit the new place in Mexicantown that just opened up a couple of days ago. Next time.
Photos from the fair on further down on this page.

Wednesday night...soon to be Thursday morning!

The state fair will be starting this Friday and I have decided that Juan and I should attend. Not on Friday but Monday which is Senior Citizen Day....hehehehe. We get in FREE!!!! And like Juan and I always say...."Free is Good!" He bucks me a little on going places but in the end he tags along. :) Haven't been there in quite a while...think the last time was with Alex. She won second place in a present wrapping contest. There will be Senior Contests but will have to see what they are before entering. Know there will be the oldest man and woman, longest married couple, most grandchildren, recently married couple, baldest head and prettiest hat. Hummmm.....that leaves us out on all of those categories. Unless I stick a flower in my sun hat. Maybe a big sunflower. Nah...I'll just cheer on all those Easter baskets the women will be wearing.

A Cooler Tuesday

Did the above layout from photos at my friend's 60th birthday party. Hard to believe that Mary Ann and I have known each other for over 41 years. Have to go out today and get adapter/converter plugs for our trip next month. Would think that Mexico had the same electricity but noooooo. Also have to go to the grocery store and pick up some items. Other than that...just a regular day.
Don't forget....the photos from Mary Ann's party are further down on this page.

Monday, Monday

Did the above scrapbook page from photos of the pig roast we went to on Saturday. Didn't take as many pictures as I had planned as I was busy talking to neighbors we hadn't seen in years. Was a good time and it is planned for next year. Yesterday we went to a surprise birthday party for my friend Mary Ann. It was her 60th birthday. Mary Ann was matron-of-honor at our wedding and we have known each other for over 41 years....yikes! Photos from her party are further down on this page but will be working on a scrapbook page. She was really surprised and a lot of fun seeing everyone again and catching up on all the happenings.

Pig Roast Day

Today is our subdivision's first annual Pig Roast. It's not really the first. We had them years ago but, it has been too many years now since we did have one. For this one the subdivision is paying for everything...(really, it's being paid by the dues we pay each year). We just have to bring a dish for ourselves. There will be a tent, table, chairs, portapotty's (not sure of that spelling), paper products, water, lemonade, games and a movie to be shown when it gets dark. Should be fun.
The above scrapbook page are of photos Alex took on her drive back from Wisconsin. She has never been to Chicago so she stopped at the Navy Pier and took some photos.
Tomorrow we have another doing to go to.

GiGi's Birthday!!!

Today is our GiGi's 4th birthday. Yesterday we went to Lansing to have dinner with Alex for her birthday. She took us to a really great restaurant called Mango's. It is a Mexican restaurant and was a fantastic place...food was excellent and they gave you so much. I had the beef fajita dinner and both Juan and Alex had the carnita dinners. For dessert we had deep fried ice cream. We ordered two of those but should have ordered one as they were huge! Still all was excellent. Don't think we will be going out to dinner for GiGi's birthday. :)
Today have to go and get the oil changed in my car and run over to Randazzo's for some fruits and vegetables. Tomorrow is the subdivision pig roast and we will be going.

Today is Alexandra's Birthday!!!!

It's my little girls birthday today. We are going up to see her after Brandy's girls leave. Taking her out to dinner. Back when she was born I always liked Stevie Wonder songs. "Isn't She Lovely", You Are The Sunshine Of My Life", "For Once In My Life", etc. Here are the lyrics to "Isn't She Lovely". Stevie wrote this song right after his first child, Aisha, was born.

Isn't she lovely
Isn't she wonderfull
Isn't she precious
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she pretty
Truly the angels best
Boy, I'm so happy
We have been heaven blessed
I can't believe what God has done
Through us he's given life to one
But isn't she lovely made from love

Isn't she lovely
Life and love are the same
Life is Aisha
The meaning of her name
Londie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That's so very lovely made from love

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TO OUR LOVELY ALEXANDRA!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Alex returned from Wisconsin yesterday and I finished a baseball page for her...pictured above. It reads, "While in Wisconsin, went to see the Milwaukee Brewers vs. the Washington Nationals play at Miller Stadium. Over 42,000 were there for the game. The stadium is huge and has a retractable roof. While watching the game was fun, the thing I was most excited about was watching the Klement’s Sausage Company Sausage Race. I had seen clips of the race on YouTube before and thought it was cool to actually see it in person (I have simple joys). I tried to find a Chorizo doll, but they were all sold out. I settled for a pic with the statue. The race is during the 6th inning and I was rooting for Cinco the Chorizo. The other sausages are Brett Wurst the Bratwurst, Stosh the Polish Sausage, Guido the Italian Sausage and Frankie Furter the Hot Dog. The race was tight, but as they rounded the turn past Home Plate, a group of kids dressed in mini-me sausage costumes bolted out to finish the race and Stosh the Polish Sausage won. The Washington Nationals have copied this idea and their version is the running of the Presidents. The Brewers creamed the Nationals 6-0. Saturday, August 9, 2008"

Copied the above from her blog. :) Since her birthday is this coming Thursday, Juan and I will go up there in the afternoon to take her out to dinner. John's is coming up also on the 29th. He'll be 30....good grief!

A Beautiful Monday

Finally finished the above scrapbook page. Geeh...only took me over a week. Heard from Alex a few minutes ago. She was in Wisconsin visiting her friend Beth. Beth and her husband Dale used to live in the D.C. area and that is where she first met them. Anyway, she called from Chicago. She decided to stop there on her drive home to see some of the city for a bit. That's the one place I had wished she would have worked. Always thought Chicago was a neat city. It's her birthday this coming Thursday. Think Juan and I will head up there to help her celebrate. This coming week-end we have a couple of places to go. Saturday we will be going to a pig roast...and not one that Juan is cooking. Should be interesting. Have to get a move on and do a couple of errands.

Sunday Morning

Well, the Olympics are in full swing and yes, I had watched them most of the day yesterday. What did you think of the opening ceremonies? Long....yes....Colorful....yes....but for some reason I just wasn't that impressed with them. Of course, they were really staged well...I mean all that precision but to me it kind of looked militaristic or mechanical. Did like the lighting of the torch...pretty neat. But my all time favorite lighting of the torch was the one at the Lillehammer, Norway winter games. The guy that shot the flaming arrow...that was cool.
On another note....still haven't finished the scrapbook page from the wedding. It just keeps sitting here. Am still really disappointed about the photos. Here it is...my niece's wedding and I take lousy pictures. Ahhhhhh.

Vote

Yesterday was a primary election and the very first time I had ever really worked for a candidate. The candidate I worked for is a neighbor who is running for Trustee of Canton. My job yesterday was to pass out fliers telling about him to all the voters coming to vote at the middle school where I was stationed. This was from 7am until 6pm. Yes...a long time but, I did get a break for about 1-1/2 hours. Hot...Hot....Hot. And yes, he did win but this is just the beginning. Now more campaigning up until the November election. Door to door, group to group, interview to interview. Was thinking about the presidential candidates and all that they have to do to try and win....yikes! You really have to be very fit to be a politician. And even though I won't vote for him, my hats off to McCain for being able to do all the running around that a person has to do to become an official. Exhausting!

Day After the Wedding

Wedding was yesterday and a great wedding it was. Only problem....I didn't take enough or very good photos. Shouldn't say "only problem".....the main problem was the shoes I wore. Ahhhhhhhhh.....decided to not wear nylons with these shoes and that was a BIG mistake and I think, the main problem of why I didn't take very good photos. Was going around barefoot at the reception but felt kind of silly doing it so really didn't walk around much. Alex took some photos for me but being not familiar with my camera some of the photos were a little far away and not too bright or in focus. Oh well...live and learn. The above photo is really the best one I have of the bride and groom together. All the photos are near the bottom of the page in a slideshow.
Ann Marie looked beautiful! Ceremony was held at the National Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak and the reception was at the Green Oaks Country Club in Rochester Hills. Think that might have been the first time I was ever at this particular church. There was a wedding just before Ann Marie's and it ran a little long as the bride was 40 minutes late. ???? Guess the people were thinking it was a no show but she finally showed up. After the ceremony we went back to Ann & Reno's to wait until it was time to go to the reception. Very pretty place and the food was good. Juan's sister Fran came to the church but not the reception as Ray is really not doing well and gets very unedged in the late afternoon and into the night. Believe it is called Sundowners and is associated with Alzheimer's and Dementia. But is was nice to see other family members from both sides. John had a little too much to drink and we have to stop the car for him on the way home. He called this morning and said he is doing fine with no hangover. Youth! Alex left already to go back to her home and took a bag of GiGi's food with her. GiGi will be staying with Alex while we are in Mexico. Just thought it would be easier to start taking some stuff with her now so she won't have to be draging all the things later.
And that's it.

Thursday, July 31, 2008

Did I tell you that last week Juan, during one of his garbage picking days, found some coloring books and crayons? Well...he did! Not just a few crayons.....a whole plastic shoebox full of them....mostly new. The people were moving and for some reason decided not to take these items. Don't know...maybe the kids are not kids anymore...who knows. So, we have the two girls for today and tomorrow and they like to color. This should keep them busy for quite some time....I hope. I don't know....we only have them for one hour but that hour just seems so long. Guess I'm not used to little ones anymore.
Nothing else new. Wedding is Saturday and for us will be an all day affair. Ann had said she was taking time off from work...yesterday, today and tomorrow. Lots of work planning a wedding. Think if I had to plan one I would just hire an event planner. Let them do the running around for stuff and finding the best prices or best DJ's or whatever. And!!!!!....you have to be calm about everything. I'm not calm anymore....sigh too many times. So....that's that!

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Heard from my sister-in-law today. She wants us all to come to her home after the wedding ceremony this Saturday. Guess I told you that our niece is getting married. There is a gap between the ceremony and the reception...wedding at 2pm...reception at 6pm. I had originally thought that we would go to the ceremony and then come home, change and go to the reception. Thought that there would be too much going on at the bride's house but the wedding party will be driving around in a limo, taking pictures until the reception. Going to their home afterward will make it easier for us to just follow them to the reception. We haven't had a big wedding on that side of the family since the bride's parents were married. Yikes!
Made some stuffed peppers today for our dinner. They are in the oven right now...ummmm. Love green peppers! Juan does not really care for green peppers but he likes this recipe. It calls for a can of tomatoes and since he won't eat chunks of cooked tomatoes, I have to blend them up so he can eat them. I'm telling you...ahhhh!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Today, had a surprise visit from an old neighbor. Was sitting out on the front porch when who rides by on their bikes were Carol and her son Frankie. They used to live right next door to us. Frankie is now 11 years old and I told them how when I look at the tree planted on their old lawn I always say to myself, "That's Frankie's tree." Carol planted the tree the year that Frankie was born. The tree is really huge now...very tall. Showed her all the stuff we had done inside and outside our home and she loved it all. Wants to know the name of the guy who redid our bathroom as she wants their bathroom redone. Frank wasn't with them as he was golfing so just told her to say hi from both of us. While she was here Aunt Bea stopped by. She had called earlier that she was coming over so knew she was coming. She didn't really stay that long. Told me all the goings on with Sandy, Lenny and all the girls. Juan came home while she was still here. He had with him a whole big container full of coloring books, crayons, regular books and a few toys. We sorted through it all and put aside what we are going to keep for the girls when they come over. Lots of new stuff to keep them busy. :) Have to go the store now and pick up a few things for the week.

Friday, July 25,2008

Another product I really love....Clarisonic Skin Care System. Know it's on the pricey side but for me it really works. Have some psoriasis on my face and this product keeps it in check. Just bought it in, I believe January, and today the base charger won't charge. Called the company and they are sending me out a brand new system...the Clarisonic and it's cradle charger. The brush head I will keep. Very pleased with this company. Noticed on their site that they now have a universal charger cradle. Will probably use an adapter for when we go to Mexico so don't think I will get that product. Their web site is: www.clarisonic.com ...if you are interested.
Have to watch the girls a little longer today as there is a union meeting right after work for Brandy. Have the movie "Alice in Wonderland"....hopefully this will keep them amused.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Finished the above scrapbook page for Alex's album. Put all the wording from her blog about Camp Dearborn onto the page....except added the "can't go back" part. Alex is going to be watching GiGi for us when we go to Mexico. She will just block her off in the kitchen during the time when she is at work. You know...newspapers and all that stuff. Should save us a lot of money than having her in a kennel. Hopefully she will be a good girl...but that's not for a while yet.
Need a haircut but will have to wait until next week as the girl who does my hair is on vacation this week. If I need a haircut that means GiGi also needs one. Maybe next week also for her.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Camp Dearborn. Alex went yesterday for their 60th anniversary and took some pictures. Don't know...maybe because it was a cloudy, rainy day or ??? but, looking at the pictures just made me sad. I know things are bound to change but we had such happy times there and the pictures don't show anything happy. The tents where we camped on Row E have been taken down and it's just all grass. The place used to be packed with campers and now doesn't look like many are there. The playground equipment looks all forlorn. Where is everyone? Well, you can't go back but you can in your mind. It's brighter there.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Did you ever find a product that you just love? It's these Green Bags that keep fruits and vegetables fresher, longer. They really work! The are reusable bags, up to 8 to 10 times, that are made with some natural mineral called "Oya" (yeah, like I ever heard of that mineral). Anyway....they are a great product! I use a marker to write on the bag which fruit or vegetable I have used it for as you are suppose to use the same product in the same bag. They cost $9.99 but if you have one of those 20% off coupons from Bed, Bath & Beyond, you can get it for $7.99 which isn't too bad. There are 20 bags to a box of two different sizes. So try it...you'll like it. Ü
Went to the birthday party today. So many little kids! But it was fun watching them all. Came home and a short while later Alex and Caroline stopped by after going to Camp Dearborn for their 60th reunion. Wow....60 years already.
Getting dark outside....think it's going to rain again.

Friday, July 18, 2008

The last scrapbook page I did of Traverse City is above. Photos are of Juan in the famous cherry tree grove that actually were apple trees....cherries....fish town....dog tricks in downtown Traverse City....young people who were the entertainers at a dinner show we attended and Juan standing in front of a huge tree. Going to be another hot one today. Still not dressed and have to go get a card for the birthday party we are going to tomorrow. I know.....I could make one but don't feel like doing that right now. Will just run over to Target and pick one up. Our niece will be getting married in two weeks and will make a card for her. Have to say that GiGi is lovin' the front porch. I just tell her "come on...let's go on the porch" and she runs to the front door. Of course, she would love to be able to run after every dog, squirrel or bird she sees go by. So nice to sit out there without all the bugs! Heard through the grapevine that some people I know are going to Camp Dearborn tomorrow for the reunion....hummmmm. Wonder if they will stop by?

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Everyone seems to like our front porch. I was out there late last night during the thunderstorm. Pretty cool. The Canton siren went off but the all clear one never did go off. ?? Guess we should still be taking cover. Have some running around to do today and it's going to be another hot one. Saturday we are going to a two years old birthday party. Our neighbor across the street from us and the party is at one of the Summit's pavillions. The mother has it planned for 3 hours.....like yeah. Don't think so.