Queen of Royal Cove

LISTS

2011-03-26T11:40:00.005-05:00

Today's list:

Bank - deposit expense check of $800, reimbursement for work purchases made to my personal credit card. Will I pay the money on my credit card immediately? hmmm

Starbucks - venti latte, non-fat, extra hot

Weigh in - up .5, still have total loss of 10lbs, recommitted to working the plan.

Barnes & Noble - buy Success magazine to study for sales group.
Home for protein - must eat more of this. The recommended Greek yogurt is yucky. Much prefer the old stuff. Hunt for protein continues.

One laundry load in.

Can't resist using Michael's 50% off coupon.

Hook up mom's internet, even though she hasn't a clue how to use a computer, family needs it for visiting!

Get tape at her house to secure boxes from her former dish tv

Take boxes to UPS

Groceries - need car charger for new phone, usb cable for new printer.

Pick up dry cleaning

Listen to Success magazine CD in the car.

YAWN - nap time.

Looks like somebody gave me an office!

2011-03-18T15:51:00.001-05:00

REX

2011-02-11T22:19:00.005-05:00

For some reason I was wondering when Mardi Gras starts this year. That got me thinking about Rex and the Queen of the parades. (Don't even try to figure out my thought process) I found out the Rex website has names of kings and queens and their courts all the way back to the 1880s. I looked through at least 50 years and didn't find one queen by the name of Jewell or Hubbard.

I also discovered there is an official Mardi Gras song: If Ever I Cease to Love. It's a crazy jingle about sheep heads growing on apple trees! So I listened to it on YouTube.

Been to New Orleans a couple of times but never went at Mardi Gras. My last time there was with Mary Dinkel for a follow-up doctor visit from mastectomy reconstruction. Funniest thing was Mary and I wondering about all the NOLA signs everywhere. nolausedcars.com... etc. Finally asked the doorman at Commander's Palace who looked at us like we must be the dumbest middle aged women and said slowly: "NEW ORLEANS LOUISIANA."

There was a wedding reception in our hotel that ended with a dixieland band parade that went down the street and back to the hotel lobby. It was a wonderful celebration.

It must be time to get back to that city and hope it's recovered from the hurricane. There could be a place for me as a float queen - and maybe my REX will be there waiting for me.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

2011-01-15T15:19:00.003-05:00

In my mind I am 27 and wear a size 10. Reality only smacks me in the face in photos - until I joined the gym. There are mirrors on three walls of the place. On most of the equipment I can avert my eyes. But the sit-up torture ramp is positioned so that every time you sit up you see your full on self. SCARY! Did two days of zumba this week, and one day of weights. Got my own personal work-out plan. It's exactly the same as Sandy's - who weighs 40 lbs less than me and is 2 inches taller. Maybe they craft the workout based on your age?

Weighed in today 3 pounds down. Probably fewer clothes on than last week. It's cold here and we're wearing lots of layers. I'll probably have a huge loss when spring arrives

Holy Crap it's 2011

2011-01-09T22:42:00.002-05:00

How do these years creep up on me like this? Long days at work, but not enough time to get everything done. I spend way too much time on my butt, so I'm pretty determined to get off of it more this year. It's the one thing that bugs me the most. Weight watchers, workouts and blogs. So it's 10:30 pm and I still have 9 points left. What should I eat?

Missing Christmas

2009-12-18T10:35:00.004-05:00

Prince Mikey enlisted in the Navy this year, and he won't be home for Christmas. But he wasn't home last Christmas either. Just disappeared with the dog. Called his cell, left messages. His brother called him, my sister called him. No response. We knew where he was, with Kim at her cottage. Still, he could have called to send wishes. Text even?

This year, he's writing letters. Even says "Love you Mom" in closing! He reassures me that he's healthy and warm, and thanks me for sending things. Boot camp is good for him! He's been named Education Petty Officer and the guys call him "Teach." He says that's better than Old Man, since he's 10 years older than most of them.

My friends tell me this will be a life-changing experience for him, that he will emerge respectful and kind. I'm thinking, he won't change THAT much! I just hope he finds a purpose and direction for his life - and he can keep being a brat.

Tribute to my Uncle Joe

2009-08-09T19:34:00.002-05:00

Kings Landing owner Joe Piechura will be missed
A genial host
By Phil Foley
Staff Writer

DEERFIELD TWP. -- Less than 12 hours after returning home from the hospital, Joseph A. Piechura, 88, passed away in view of the lake where he'd spent nearly the last four decades, with his family nearby.
Piechura and his wife, Peggy, and two other couples bought Kings Landing Kampground on Miller Lake in 1972 and over the next 37 years the Piechuras became a summertime fixture in Deerfield Townsip. As recently as June Piechura could be found in the store still selling penny candy to kids or making cotton candy.
"My parents were social people," said their son, Craig.
"My dad was big and loud, quick with a smile and a teasing joke," he added. "He loved his family and he loved life. When we were kids we'd invite friends into the home where we grew up in Warren, and they'd be surprised to see him singing a song -- and screwing up the words in the process. He was the kind of guy who'd give you the shirt off his back. But don't cross him. He was no pushover."
The son of Polish immigrants, Piechura moved to Detroit from Pennsylvania, with his mother, Cecilia, and his four sibilings following the death of his father, Michael.
At 18, the year before the U.S. entered World War II, Joe went to work the assembly line at Chrysler's Warren Truck Assembly. Like most of his generation, the war interrupted his life, and he served in the Army as an anti-aircraft gun mechanic. He rose to the rank of sergeant and fought his way to Germany by war's end.
After the war, Piechura returned to the assembly line and worked his way up to become a superintendent in management at the plant before retiring in 1979. Craig said his father was a hard working man, who at one point held a second job as a mechanic at a car dealership in addition to his day job at the Dodge plant.
Along the way Piechura and his wife raised five children Paul, of Farmington, Craig (Louise) Piechura of Milford, Rick (Kelly) Piechura of Clarkston and Kathy (Jay) Piechura-Couture of Deland, Fla., in their Warren home.
Camping enthusiasts, Joe and Peggy became partners in the campground at Miller Lake in 1972 with Ed and Jane Clark and Al and Betty Ross, before becoming sole owners of the park. Craig noted that owning a campground isn't for everyone, and eventually the Clarks and Rosses lost interest and sold out to his parents.
For years, said the younger Piechura, his parents spent their summers at Kings Landing Kampground in a small trailer, with his father coming up from Warren on the weekends until he retired. They eventually put in a double-wide overlooking the lake, and after Joe retired, like many of their contemporaries, the Piechuras spent their winters in Florida.
Craig said his father a became well-known, well-liked, figure in the community north of Lapeer due to the popularity of his lakefront campground, picnic grounds and store. He recalled the park held annual events such as Fourth of July fireworks displays and pig roasts, corn roasts and Halloween celebrations.
Some campers are third-generation regulars at the park. "Mom and dad watched people grow up, have kids of their own and bring them back to the campgrounds," said Craig. He noted that his father, through the campground, touched the lives of literally thousands of people in Lapeer and Southeast Michigan.
Two years ago, realizing that the workload, like their ages, was rising, the Piechuras brought in Columbiaville residents Fred and Helen Monreal as partners in the campground business. Craig said his mother, at 85, plans to continue on at the campground.
About six weeks ago, said Craig, complications from diabetes and a heart condition took his father from his beloved campground. Tuesday his family brought him back to Kings Landing from the hospital for home hospice care, and before dawn Wednesday he passed away.
Along with his children, Piechura is survived by six grandchildren: Katy, Lance and Jody Piechura; Cecilia Lazar; and Alex and Kendall Couture as well as two older sisters, Helen Vanacek of Attica, and Adele Bobiney of Rochester Hills.
JA funeral mass was planned for Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Lapeer, followed by burial in Flint. His son noted that one of his father's friends placed a vial of beach sand from the campground in his father's casket.
"He was a tough old guy," said Craig, "but he was a real sweetheart."

V-A-C-A-TION in the summertime

2009-07-19T10:46:00.004-05:00

While the Queen is loving the moderate temps in the royal state of MI, she longs for sun, sea and sand. Therefore, let it be known -- the bags are packed for TEXAS. Little sister is hosting the bigs this week at her mansion in Mansfield. She's already fixin up a batch of her famous spicy chex mix, and gettin the boat and jet ski in prime condition.

Her husband and manservant Tony will chauffer the three sisty uglers (as our daddy used to call us, and yes we do have self-esteem issues from this) wherever we want to go, which will include a trip to Steinmart! He'll carry us to Target too for the sister discount. Nancy's daughter Lindsay is coming along too. I called Karen yesterday and told her I was bringing a boyfriend....................... just not mine! Lindsay's Biff can't be without her. Little does he know we'll make a manservant out of him too!

When the three sisters are together, we sing! Two of our favorties are "whisper a prayer" and "titanic." Mostly we laugh, and laugh, and laugh. Did I mention we can get loud? We were once shushed at the fourth of July fireworks -- for laughing too loud. I swear.

Celebrity Deaths

2009-06-26T11:01:00.005-05:00

OK -- the Queen feels compelled to weigh in on the three celebrity deaths of the last couple of days, and the ONLY thing that has my sympathy is that Gen X may be mourning the loss of its collective youth. (OH BOO HOO)

Start with Ed McMahon -- he was a chummy schlummy sidekick for Johnny Carson, heh, heh, heh. Star search was cool, Publishers clearinghouse was a strange spokesperson gig. All in all, the guy had a good run and was probably worth some coin.

Farrah? ALL the guys loved Farrah in 1976. ALL the girls wanted that flip-banged long-haired look! She shouldn't have quit Charlie's Angels after the first year, because her acting career wasn't stellar after that. But she was a one name wonder - FARRAH! No denying she was beautiful -- even as a 60-something. Anal cancer must have been horrible, humiliating, and painful. We should mourn her death, as we mourn everyone who dies from this disease.

The Queen cannot possibly conjure feelings for MJ's passing. Was he talented? Absolutely. Was he sick in the head? ABSOLUTELY. Did our culture allow him to take advantage of young boys, his celebrity and wealth? Without a doubt. Shame on us for allowing the emporer of pop to go so long without clothing. He's wearing a suit of a different color now.

Overshare

2009-06-10T18:40:00.004-05:00

The Queen was not amused when today a quiet, to the point of mute, commoner decided to dump his recent woes at the foot of her throne. This shopkeeper and others like him come together monthly to swap secrets of their trades in hopes of becoming rich someday. The Queen hosts these meets to spread the wealth. Seems this shopkeeper had missed the last meet and felt it his duty to spin a tale of suffering for the Queen's what... forgiveness? ... entertainment? The Queen is unsure...

Alas, the shopkeeper found himself in hospital last month due to internal bleeding. Through self-discovery, he sent the doctors on a search of ruptured piles. "Oh dear!" said the Queen, with an instinctive sphincter spasm, and a certain wince on her face. Yet, on he went to describe his anorectal condition, and on... and on...

"Be well!" said the Queen and tried mightily to escape. The once quiet commoner had felt the power of share, and things in the group may never be the same.

QIT - Queen in Transition

2009-05-29T18:12:00.005-05:00

Queen had to pack up her treasures today. Been stuck in limbo land of the lost island of misfit toys for the past 18 months after the new library opened at Walsh. Not sure where they'll stick me while the old library is renovated into faculty offices. Tis discomfiting to not have a home. But thankful to have a job, and one that I love at that.

Prefer to be in a place of hustle and bustle - keeps my senses keen. When I first moved to the office in the old library, there was enough commotion I kept rockin. Once the library moved into its new, clean and very modern space, and I was left in the dead zone, I find I must get up and get out so as not to fall into a zombie-like state. Hopeful more people will come with this move.

Already missing the special features of the current little castle. The built in shelves are a perfect place to display crown jewels. Two sets of cupboards are alongside. Good hiding places for piles of junky jewels that seem to accumulate.

Packing provided little pleasures remembering the gift giver and the picking of a new possession. Funny how a little whim of buying one tiny plastic crown a few years ago has become a fully disfunctional obsession for everything queenly in such a short time. And it's not just me. Oh no. Friends find crowns -- they buy them or email links for me to buy.

So while not exactly dethroned, I am throneless, and must find a spot fitting for a queen. Fresh hell would be a doorless half-walled cubicle with no space for visitors - and I do have them!

For now, the treasures can stay in a box at home until a new special spot is found.

Scrapbookin

2009-04-18T22:42:00.007-05:00

Finally finished an album of Prince Dan's football career. Newspaper clippings mostly, I had saved from his sophomore year on. Turned out pretty well. Now the decision is, save it here, or let him take it home?

Surprising, there were a lot of pictures with Princess Laura in them! They didn't date in high school, but they were in band together.

I'll post the rest of the pictures on my picasa pages.

I might be a hopeful cynic

2009-04-01T20:09:00.001-05:00

Snapshot Report
Cynicism
33
According to your responses, you are generally the type of person who believes in the goodness of humankind. You give nearly everyone the benefit of the doubt (at least until proven wrong), and will often accept what people say and do at face value instead of making conjectures about their motives. You will at least try to find the good in even the most difficult of people, and are willing to place your faith in others. Unlike their more positive counterparts, pessimists have a lot of difficulty trusting others, believing that most, if not all people have hidden agendas. Tempered with that necessary dose of skepticism, your fairly trusting and accepting nature is refreshing, and likely provides you with a much more balanced and upbeat perspective overall.

Queendom

2009-03-08T20:12:00.002-05:00

I've found the perfect website that blends my world of work with my queenliness. Queendom has dozens of tests for personality, winning the lottery, sales skills, you name it! One of my classmates found it, and put it on her blog. We had to do a blog in my leadership class this semester. I started mine on leadeership tests, then switched it to help for displaced workers since so much of my work is focused on putting together workshops for the unemployed. Now, everything comes together. Queen of Royal Cove + leadership tests = Queendom.com!

Extended Resume for an Extensive Career

2009-03-03T21:35:00.002-05:00

One of the last assignments in my grad class this semester is to create an online portfolio and an extended resume. It's making me feel very old.

I've been at my current job 8 years, and the one before that for 13 years. Not much advancement in my career moves; been a "director" for 25 years. Certainly there have been new challenges, and I've taken on new projects, but my resume looks dull. The fact that I convinced a conservative board of directors to spend $10,000 on the organization's first website was HUGE in 1997; but seems silly today. Can't even link to it - the organization doesn't exist anymore.

That's probably why I strongly believe that should be running a queendom.

Facebook 25 Random Things

2009-02-06T21:29:00.006-05:00

1. Poking a hole in the toe of my sock makes me nuts.
2. I have a fabulous collection of crowns and queenly things.
3. Had my pichur took with the O-fficial Sweet Potato Queen.
4. I had the lead in almost every play in high school
5. Once upon a time I was very skinny.
6. I love nuts and berries.
7. I made more friends when my kids were in high school than when I was in high school.
8. The best laughs are with my sisters.
9. Short hair probably does look better on me.
10. For over 40 years I’ve had the same best friend.
11. I’ve read all of the Stephanie Plum mysteries.
12. Sting’s music is very sexy to me.
13. My kids make fun of me, but I know they love me.
14. Vince Lombardi is the name of our dog.
15. Scrabble is my favorite game.
16. I’m not the oldest student in my grad school class.
17. The two people who knew me best in my 20s are dead.
18. My maiden name is Jewell.
19. When I was 22 I got married, when I was 32 I got divorced.
20. Most of my clothes are black.
21. Ten hours of sleep is easy for me.
22. Marching bands make me smile.
23. I used to waterski a lot.
24. I lived in Washington DC in the 80s.
25. There are three green rugs in my bathroom.

Superbowl 1984

2009-02-02T19:07:00.005-05:00

The 1984 Superbowl was held on January 22. I know because I gave birth just hours after the game ended. Mike and I watched the game at the home of our friends Kenny and Helaine. There were a lot of people there. Robyn already had Jake - he was born a couple weeks earlier; and Linda had yet to have Allison. (she was born Feb. 1) We had a very close group during our time in Maryland. Three of us were pregnant at the same time. We have a great picture from New Year's Eve at the Montgomery Village steak house, three big bellies in our fancy maternity finery.

I sat like a blob through the entire game. Then as soon as it was over I picked up all the trash, did all the dishes, and essentially "nested" at someone else's house! I drove home and put the intoxicated hubby to sleep on the recliner only to start labor as soon as I got into bed. I gave the drunken daddy a couple more hours of sleep, but grew excited to get the baby delivered!

We got to the DC hospital with plenty of time to spare, but not enough time for the doctor to make it. My guess is that he was at a Superbowl party himself. My Superbowl baby was born on January 23, an icy day in Washington DC. Now he's 25 and married. I sort of hoped that he would one day play in the Superbowl. But I'm happy with the three years in high school he played in the Silverdome!

Threes?

2009-01-31T00:59:00.004-05:00

If it's true that deaths come in threes, then I've had my three and deserve a respite. I adamantly declare that I've had enough of people and pets dying. I'm done, I'm sad, my whole body is sad. I loved my dad, though he was the hardest one of the three to be around. I loved my Mary, and really admired her fight right up to the end, but we didn't see each other every day. The damn dog was part of my every day. Even at work I was thinking about him when I had to brush dog hair off my clothes.

So I hereby declare that noone close to me can die for quite a while so I can recover.

Vince

2009-01-29T20:33:00.004-05:00

Our dog died today, two years after the vet said he had six months. He was a giant yellow lab and once belonged to my ex-husband. Prince Mikey brought him home after their dad died. He's been here five years and was almost 14 years old. I'm allergic to dogs, and this guy shed like torrential rain. But he was such a sweet old dog. I loved him, groomed him, walked him, fed him. He was gentle with kids, only barked when a stranger was at the door, came when called (most of the time). Just wanted to be loved. He slept on my bed when Mike wasn't home. He loved to be chased around our little condo with his toys. I had a stuffed Detroit Lion that roared, and that became one of his favorites. I loved seeing him run around with the lion in his mouth and I would say, "look, even my dog can beat the Lions!" My heart is broken.

2009

2009-01-11T12:58:00.003-05:00

Here we go - it's already 11 days into 2009 and I'm still not done processing everything from 2008. I'm becoming more and more feeble-minded - or I've just lived through one hell of a year. Maybe both? Here's what I wrote on the first of last year, and I'm surprised I didn't write anything about the wedding or weddings that consumed the first nine months of 2008.

I've got a lot to do in the next ten years. I have to stay healthy because they don't deserve to lose another parent too early. I have to get my finances in order because I don't want to be poor. I'm nine credits into this master's degree, so it would be good to finish - and keep the 4.0 I've got going so far.
I'd like to move to a warmer climate and hope the boys won't be too far away so that we can always be together at holidays. I hope to go to Paris or Rome or both. I'd like to visit Las Vegas and Honolulu too. I would really like grandchildren, and I'd like to still have my parents around. They are 76 and 78 now, and going strong! I'd like my brother to get his act together - that would certainly increase the life expectancy of mom and dad.

I haven't done much to be healthier; I still need to get my finances in order; I have 12 credits done and a 3.9 gpa and am enrolled again this winter semester. Thinking more and more about the warmer climate as I look at 10 inches of snow, another week of below zero temps after having spent the last week of December in sunny Florida.

Still plan to visit Paris, Rome and Honolulu, went to Vegas -- BORING. Still want grandchildren, will wait patiently. Don't have both parents around. (see earlier post) Brother still needs to get act together.

Started 2008 with Dad and college roommate Mary. Ended the year with both of them gone. Luckily both were at the wedding and could share in my very happy time. I wish Mary had a better spot in my girlfriend picture, she was ready to end the night though, and I made her stay for the picture. She's in the very back row, last one on the right.

For 2009

I am so thankful that Prince Dan lets me share in his life, and I will do what I can to help him start anew with Laura now that they are back in Michigan. I just wish that Prince Mike would understand that's all I need and want from him. He probably does understand, because he withholds it like a weapon. But I will do what I can to help him be a grown-up, because he resists that as much as he resists my love. I will also encourage my mother's independence. She's smart and capable and she needs to boost her confidence. The crazy thing is - she's totally dependent on me one minute, then tells me what to do the next!! I need to remember these things with my own children.

I'll look for baby steps to improve my health, bought vitamins yesterday! And pay down the credit cards - $10,000 less debt by this time next year, since I'm not paying anyone's tuition or car payments or weddings. Only three weddings on the horizon for this year, compared to last year's five; and two graduations - Lindsay and JJ.

Most of all, I will let my girlfriends know how much they meant to me through the year, good times and bad. All the chicks in that picture, including my two sisters, helped me and my family in some way this past year, and I love them dearly for it.

Mary Dinkel

2008-12-14T13:35:00.001-05:00

Mary Dinkel, 54, of Ada, died peacefully at home on December 12, 2008. In later life, Mary was a walking miracle, outliving her doctors' prognosis by more than seven years through tenacity, research and intuition. She learned a lot about herself and life's priorities during her illness, especially the value of honoring her spiritual intuition to guide her life and treatment. She enjoyed many personal and professional accomplishments and died with few regrets. Mary's personal life-spark lit up many individual lives as well as any room she entered. She met her beloved husband and closest friend, Mark Johnson, at a concert when she was in her late 30s. She described Mark as a fabulous father to their twin children, Lauren and Will, whom she loved from the moment she was pregnant and who were the lights of her life. She had a deep appreciation of motherhood and felt blessed to enjoy thirteen years with her children. Some of her happiest days were spent watching Lauren and Will playing with their dogs, and she hereby reminds Mark to spend half an hour walking Champ every day.

Mary was smart, independent, irreverent, loving, funny and caring. Her gifts were displayed in varied careers as a journalist, lawyer and artist. She grew up in Grand Rapids, the oldest of 10 children, attending St. Thomas School where she wrote and produced plays, an early indication of her literary talents. She later was Arts and Entertainment editor of the Western Michigan University student newspaper. Her writings included essays, short fiction and poetry. After graduating from WMU, she won an Associated Press award for feature articles while on the Decatur, Illinois Herald and Review staff. She hit a glass ceiling early in journalism and transferred her writing and analytical skills to the legal profession. After graduating from the St. Louis University School of Law, she returned to Grand Rapids and was in private practice for 25 years. Her legal practice was varied and she ultimately "hung out her shingle" as a sole practitioner. She always tried to help her clients see the light at the end of the tunnel, and describes her fellow lawyers as good people doing their best to help their clients. She was active in bar activities at the local and state levels such as the Grand Rapids Bar Association and Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, West Michigan Region. She was a card carrying member of the ACLU. When breast cancer forced her to retire from a growing and successful legal practice, she was able to explore more fully her artistic side; her paintings are a source of beauty to her family and friends. She was a voracious reader and contemplative writer, who perceived the spiritual essence in life and the many people she met. Mary was preceded in death by her father, Lawrence Dinkel and her baby sister, Betsy. Mary is survived by her husband, Mark Johnson, and their children, Lauren and William Johnson. Other family survivors include her mother, Elizabeth Dinkel, and siblings, Lawrence (Ruth Ann), Cathy (Bruce) Newell, Paul, Joe (Deb), Chris (Kim), John (Robin), Stephanie and Jennifer (Tim) Brom; her mother-in-law, Thelma Johnson of Glenarm, Maryland; many nieces and nephews and extended family members. Mary asks her family and friends to remember that love is everywhere, to celebrate her life and help her children recall her personal essence. "A child is born, the old must die. A time for joy, a time to cry. So take it as it passes by and let it be a dance." Visitation will be Monday, December 15 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the O'Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Chapel, 3980 Cascade Rd. SE. Family and friends will pray the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by a short memorial remembrance service. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Robert of Newminster Church, 6477 Ada Drive, Ada, on Tuesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m., Rev. R. Louis Stasker, presiding. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the William and Lauren Johnson College Fund through Putnam Investments, 1430 Monroe Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 49503, (616) 458-8990, attention John Parras. She loved daisies. O'Brien Eggebeen Gerst

2008-12-07T20:51:00.006-05:00

Spent a day and a half saying goodbye to the bravest woman I know. For the past 8 years, my college roommate Mary has been outsmarting cancer. We met for lunch in Lansing after the holidays in 2000. A couple of weeks later I called to ask her where she got the boots she had worn to lunch. The breast cancer diagnosis had been delivered that day. There were many other times when I called on the day she needed me. I expect she'll speak to me some way when the battle is over. In late fall of 2001 I accompanied her to New Orleans. The reconstruction surgeon, she found the best one in the country, tatooed nipples for her after all signs of cancer were gone. We shopped and savored the city. One evening found us following a Dixieland band into our hotel lobby where a bride and groom ended their reception with one last dance. It was delightful. Mary saw a psychic who told her to leave her job and be more creative. She closed her law practice, went to writer's retreats and took painting classes. Today she wanted me to take the outfit she bought during that trip.
After the New Orleans trip, we began our Labor Day weekends together at Gun Lake. Most every year we spent the summer days at her cottage, with her two young children running around us while we talked and laughed, read books and remembered our 20s. I had my children at 27 and 30. Mary was 42 when she had the twins. I married at 22, divorced at 32; we were 38 when Mary and Mark were married. Mary was a bridesmaid in my wedding.
In the fall of 2002, just when I was feeling empty-nested, the cancer had spread to her liver and bones. She found a treatment in Germany and I went along for the first week. It was my first trip to Europe. She had backpaced around four or five countries as a college sophomore. Mary was feeling good enough to have dinner out most of the week. We had Chinese food, Italian food, everything but German food. Daytimes she had infusions and tests. I read a lot of books, met a lot of people from various European countries who all spoke English, who all had cancer. Mary returned to the BadAibling clinic a number of times to receive the treatment that isn't approved in the states. Her liver was cancer free after a year.

For the past five years we've stayed in touch more than we have since we left college. She was here for my 50th surprise birthday party; and I went with her to Chicago for a new doctor and treatment. I didn't go to Gun Lake this Labor Day because it was the week after the wedding. Mark and Mary were at the wedding with the kids. She had said it for many years: "cancer free by Christmas." I was sure she was right. She attacked the monster with strategy, finding the best doctors and treatments; with lifestyle, changing most food to organic; and with karma, by being creative, and utilizing every spiritual tool available.
A few weeks ago her energy was fading, and she found out her liver was filled with the monster. When I left today they were going to celebrate Christmas early.
I have always called her "my Mary." I'm certain we'll stay connected.

Holiday Shopping

2008-11-30T12:04:00.004-05:00

Visited the dollar store last night to pick up gift bags and little add-ons for the presents I'm wrapping. One birthday and the first Christmas party this week. At the check out, along with the gum and eyeglass repair kits, hung home pregnancy tests. Talk about your impulse buys. I don't think I've ever seen condoms at the dollar store, have you? Are dollar stores owned by pro-lifers?

I'm imaging the checkout conversations. "No Billy, you can't have any more candy, pick something without sugar, how about this home pregnancy test." Or maybe, "Oh honey look, a home pregnancy test, I've been meaning to grab one of those." "Get a couple, they're only a buck."

Crafty Women

2008-11-16T17:28:00.005-05:00

Sat with BFF Sandy on Saturday at her mom's women's club expo. Sandy is selling her crafts under the business name: Eye Candy By Sandy. Gotta love it. She is crocheting scarves and making purses out of placemats. Rain kept the crowds away but we enjoyed the day anyway. I brought a few crafting supplies of my own and made some Thanksgiving cards.

My baby is the same age I was when I had him

2008-10-21T21:59:00.003-05:00

27 years ago yesterday, I had my first child and I was 27.

I left home at 17 and never returned, but always knew my family was there if I needed them.

He left home at 15 to live with his dad, and I thought he would never return. His dad died five years ago and that brought him back to my home for the last four. At 27, I had been married five years and would only be married for another five, though I already knew it wouldn't last - we weren't a good match. My boy has had a casual girlfriend for the last three years, but he says they aren't a perfect match. He's had a couple of other serious girlfriends - and still talks to them on occassion. He's nowhere near ready to be married. I was eager to get back to work after having my baby - I had a great career started at AAF in DC with lots of travel and exciting events. My baby eagerly awaited the release of a new video game last night. He rarely leaves his room and has two computers set up to play the games. Sometimes the sound of the shooting shakes the walls of the house. His unemployment was extended - he's been out of work since January.

Now my dad is gone and I don't really have that feeling of safety anymore. I have to take care of my mom and I don't really want to be taking care of a kid. Time for my 27 year old to be a grown up.

Homecoming

2008-10-18T21:14:00.006-05:00

Lindsay and her boyfriend only posed for a few minutes with us. Then they were on their way to dinner, ice cream, dance, afterparty. Here's my favorite shot.

Staying Home

2008-10-17T21:50:00.008-05:00

This is the first weekend since Dad's gone that I haven't spent at Mom's. She was supposed to come to visit us but instead will only come for a couple of hours Saturday to see niece Lindsay in her homecoming glam. We love taking those girlie pictures after suffering through all the boys and their black tuxes. And our Lindsay is a stunner so it will be fun.

So Friday I went with my Sandys to a little expo with makeup and massages and jewelry and purses. I had to buy this one. It just called to me!

Then on to Fintini's for a pop. My second Sandy went nuts over the band's cover of Jethro Tull's Locomotive Breath. Now, I remember the chorus from the days of my youth.... "you know it won't slow down..." But I'll be damned if I knew it was about trains. Isn't it?

Two months ago my plans were to be in Texas today for a four day weekend and sister Karen's 50th birthday. Couldn't do it with all the time I was off for the funeral and mom's affairs. Let's hope her family treated her like a queen!

Feeling Blue

2008-10-02T18:04:00.005-05:00

Why is that just when you think you're really rolling, have everything under control - SLAM - you're stopped in your tracks and - SLAP - it hits you right in the face that everything is in chaos. The house is a mess; work is screwed up; nothing to wear to the early morning meeting because clothes are in a pile waiting to go to the cleaners instead of hanging neat in the closet waiting to be worn.

Bad hair and a giant pimple always seem to show up at the same time. If you wear glasses too, well, you know what they say about glasses and passes.

Last week during the dad crisis, I was a rock. Today, I'm a wreck. It's cold and rainy too. So -- I'm going to eat Cocoa Puffs in hot milk wearing bright green sweat pants, big socks, turn on the gas fireplace and watch crap TV. I have ice cream if that's not enough chocolate. Pray for my blood sugar.

Missing my Daddy

2008-09-27T19:19:00.003-05:00

Who takes pictures at a funeral? My family. Last Sunday night at 11:30 pm my mom called to tell me my dad had collapsed and the EMTs were with her at their condo. He had played golf all day, enjoyed dinner with friends, entertained the group with his napkin tricks, home at 9:30 and gone in an hour. He was only 79 but had a great wild of a life. http://www.gramerfuneralhome.com/html/obits/obituaries.asp?listing_id=115932

We spent Monday making arrangements, Tuesday greeting more than 700 people at the visitation; and held the service and wake on Wednesday. Here's what my sister Nancy wrote to the family on Friday:

The funeral was wonderful. My sister Jan, Leroy Hocking, Larry Ode, Mike Tow, Ken Muxlow, and Uncle Robert, all made us laugh and cry with the stories they shared about our dad.

I'm still crying writing this because I loved my dad so much.

There were around 210 people at his funeral and 55 cars in the funeral procession. A motorcycle escort of friends and Shriners followed the hearse. We beeped our horns as we passed URP.

I took pictures at the cemetary because it will be so hard to picture in our minds years from now, and I want to remember. I want to remember everything about my dad. Well, almost everything!!

The pictures you see with mom standing behind the casket are with the grandchildren, every one of whom was hit hard by their papa leaving.

Those of you who knew Jim and his goofy jokes will understand that at his wake we had to do napkin tricks, balance spoons on our noses, and the really talented ones could balance spoons on their noses and put creamers in their eyes both at the same time!

If any of you have any digital pictures of our dad you'd like to email to the rest of us, we'd love to have them. Please forward these on to those people who would like to see them.

Thank you all so much for your love for my dad.
Nancy

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=81sacaq.cdf6op5u&x=0&h=1&y=-tk2l8w&localeid=en_US

Live From New York

2008-09-14T13:25:00.000-05:00

They did not disappoint! Amy Poehler and Tina Fey as Clinton and Palin hit it spot on. Oddly, I'm more proud of the comics than I am of the women running for national office.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/34465/saturday-night-live-palin--hillary-open

Confessions of an MOG - the retrospective

2008-09-07T19:26:00.006-05:00

Here's the dress I wore to the wedding. I think it looked pretty good and I liked my hair too. My family is all behind me: dad, mom, Karen, Tony, Ryan and Kevin. The high school was a great place for the wedding. The staff did a nice job setting up the chairs so everyone could see. We covered the risers in white paper, and the windows behind them in white muslim. The arch turned out pretty well too.

Voter-Constituent

2008-09-05T23:16:00.006-05:00

Suddenly, I'm interested in this election. I didn't care until now. Probably there wasn't anything funny enough. Yesterday the mayor of our metro city finally resigned after months of arrogance and denial of corruption. He admitted guilt, and boldly swore he'd make a come-back. He'll be doing his 120 days in November, so he can't run this year. Maybe next year.

At the same time I saw t-shirts touting the super-powers of Baracktimus Prime; my kids played with Transformers. I also remember the tagline for those toys: "more than meets the eye!" So what's he hiding?

And then of course, there's the GOP VP, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. She looks exactly like Tina Fey. I keep expecting something hysterical to come out of her mouth. Turns out, I'm not disappointed - she's a hoot! Baby Mama is her tagline.

MOG Reflections

2008-08-25T13:44:00.003-05:00

It's over, and it was a slam bang, awesome, rocking wedding. We had so much fun! I think everyone did. Every detail worked perfectly. Prince Dan married Princess Laura at the high school where they first met. The officiant was a friend of a friend. There were 14 attendants and the marching band. Rev. Jacque announced them man and wife and asked for "the drum roll please..." and then came the drum line and the cadence, and they kissed and left the stage with everyone following behind. The entire band was waiting outside playing music from The Blues Brothers, where a trolley picked them up and took them around for more pictures.

At the reception we did every line dance and I danced with my son to Lynyrd Skynyrd's Simple Man with a trio of Dan's rock band pals serenading us. Cakes decorated every table and ampersands perched on top. Dan did most of the work transforming the hall into a reflection of the delightful people they are.

My biggest surprise of the night, and second most prideful moment was Prince Mike's toast to his brother and new wife. See for yourself...http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=580853208568

CONFESSIONS OF AN MOG

2008-08-19T22:37:00.004-05:00

OH MAN -- THREE DAYS!!
I am keeping up with all my projects, but the house is a disaster area. Prince Dan says the groomsmen may be staying here Thursday night through Sunday, and we're having all the families over for brunch (leftovers) on Sunday. I've washed some sheets and pillows, and lots of towels. There's sofa space and mattresses in the basement where they can crash. I'm loading up on cold cuts and bread, need to get more snacks and beer because my boys keep eating everything that's here.

The kids showed up this afternoon with a big box. I thought it was a wedding gift to add to the store that's in the basement. It wasn't. They got me the scrapbookers dream machine! I am so excited to get it going, but I have to learn how to use it. That would take way too much time that I don't have right now, so I'll concentrate on mastering the art of the cricut once they've left. Maybe it will keep me from being sad. My other MOG and MOB friends tell me it's like post-partum all over again. I guess I'm looking forward to scrapbooking the wedding!

MOG Confessions: The Countdown

2008-08-11T18:39:00.007-05:00

12 Days To Go!

Wedding number 4 starred Brent, former teammate of Prince Mike from peewee football to
AAU basketball and Prince Dan for high school football, and his beautiful bride Erin. We've known this family the longest, and I teared up the most at this wedding!We danced and drank like we were kids, and went back to our hotel and passed around a bottle of Boone's Farm provided by the Groom's aunt and my stylist until about 2 in the morning. I took just a snippet of the MOG dance and had to wipe my eyes during it.

Here's all the girlfriends in our finest:

Confessions of an MOG

2008-08-08T19:45:00.005-05:00

Got fake fingernails put on today, now I can't type! Wedding number 4 is tomorrow so I thought I would get the nails now and just refresh before our big day.

Don't know if I can do two weeks.

I think we have all the big things done now. Turned in the final count to the caterer. Here's a lesson -- if you have a minimum dollars or people, you better invite 30 percent above. We invited 310 and will have 220.

I've found myself distracted very easily lately, maybe from overload. I was looking for guest books on the Hallmark site, when it occured to me the similarities. So I spent a couple of hours creating the Queen's new logo.

Confessions of an MOG Episode Six

2008-07-17T14:53:00.008-05:00

Invitations are out, halleluia. The little packages became increasingly complicated as the bride and groom insisted on adding embellishments including:

not one but two ribbons around the reception, response, driving directions cards and return envelope.
a trinket tied to the ribbon; some were ampersands, but there weren't enough so they turned to small hearts - same as were used on the shower invitations.

a wax seal in blue of an ampersand closing the inner envelope. Here's a picture of my son with the seal.

Luckily there was nothing fancy added to the outside envelope because as they were, they were nearly a dollar to mail.

They are lovely, and the kids are thrilled. As the responses come in they are alternately worried there will be too many people and they'll owe more money; or worried they won't meet their minimum of 225 people.

Here's the final product! And the bride printing the envelopes. Wedding planning is not for the faint of heart.

Scrapbooking

2008-06-27T19:53:00.006-05:00

eOn my list of links to the left, I've added the blog for my favorite scrap shop. The girls who own it and run it are so cute and I want to help them in their quest for small business success. My scrappin pal Coco and I are weekly croppers.

I've been making a book for my friend Sandy's birthday. Here's a couple of pages I did the other night at the scrapbox.

Confessions of an MOG: The Shower Edition

2008-06-22T11:12:00.008-05:00

We did it! The shower is over and everyone was fed and photographed. My sister and friends Sandy and Sandy were over the top taking charge and getting stuff done. So were niece Lindsay and Stacy, girlfriend of Sandy's son. Danny and Mike were bartender and barrista, and friend RJ hung out and helped out while his wife attended the shower. The bride and groom have lots of great gifts to somehow get back to CT.

Many Bailey's lattes were served - with whipped cream and chocolate powder. Bloody Mary's were favored by the senior set. Vodka and most juices were served. We made a Bellini punch and most of that was gone. I didn't have any pop, and probably should have.

Quiche and crepes were catered, Nancy made fruit salad; Sandy made pasta salad and we cut up two whole boneless hams. There's still SO MUCH food leftover. Mostly the little pastries - donuts, muffins, banana bread; and then the desserts - cupcakes, and mini cheesecakes, tarts of all flavors! Finally - the chocolate - in the coffee mugs, sprinkled on the tables, in the prize bags! Laura had made chocolate coffee spoons that we also used for place card holders.

The best part of the day was bringing together people we love - and sometimes don't see as often as we should. My auntie and my mom ... both wore pink! (Good thing I have big boys so I can look smaller because these two are tiny little things).

Of course, I wish I'd had more time to chat with everyone, and thank them for coming. But I did a lot of hugging.

Here's a link to Sandy's pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/sacook51/LauraDanSShower

Confessions of an MOG: Episode 3

2008-06-16T21:37:00.003-05:00

Wedding number three this past weekend. Danny and Laura were invited too. We had fun, danced a lot! The bride and groom were high school sweethearts, and so cute together. The reception was at a country club, windows along the whole west wall so we could see the sunset.

The flowers were fabulous colors. The florist had a few issues delivering exactly what the bride ordered, but they added more gerbera daisies in more colors to make up for it. Each daisy had a jewel stuck in the center.

My friend Johnette, the MOG, seemed to enjoy herself. That's the key, so much work, and it is over so fast.

I think you probably need to PLAN to make sure you have fun. Half hour of visiting, half hour of dancing. Fit it all in and try to remember each moment.

Confessions of an MOG; Episode 2

2008-06-10T20:58:00.005-05:00

Today is Tuesday and I haven't been in my office since last Thursday! The power is out at the college where I work, so we've had "snow days." This has given me extra time to get things ready for the shower. We put polka dotted ribbon on these little pots of tulips with a hot glue gun. That stuff can burn!

Eleven days away, and I see I have lots of gaps to fill. For instance, we will have 8 tables, but I only bought six of the little pots. So I'll have to get back to that store for more, and just hope they still have them.

Better planning, rather than whimsical buying, would have prevented extra trips and time. In an attempt to be better organized, I am now making lists; and there are about five in my purse right now. I was looking for what to do next, when I decided that Laura and I needed to get pedicures! Much more fun!

Confessions of an MOG, Episode 1

2008-06-09T19:56:00.004-05:00

Two weeks to the shower. It's not even at my house, but I feel compelled to make repairs and get things cleaned up. Had the leak in the kitchen ceiling fixed and the whole kitchen painted last week. Decided to go with a new color. Laura described it as "leather." Seems right. Now I want to replace light fixtures, faucet, chairs, and repaint all the doors. These will have to wait. Wedding first.

Wedding Gowns

2008-05-28T21:31:00.004-05:00

The mothers of the bride and groom displayed their wedding gowns at the last shower I attended. We won't be able to do that. Both sets of parents are divorced. Both Laura's parents are remarried. I wore my gown for Halloween as Bride of Frankenstein. I think I played that one well.

Their gowns were very typical of the 70s look! We all wore long sleeves, high necklines, lots of lace and ruffles, very virginal. Most gowns I've seen today are strapless and show lots of cleavage. Not much lace, but pretty details just the same. Jenny and Chad's wedding was last weekend and her gown was fabulous with little crystals all through it. The bridesmaids were strapless too. Not me!

Wedding Showers Shared with Good Friends

2008-05-13T20:52:00.004-05:00

I have the coolest friends. Here's one response to the shower invitation. Her son's wedding is the week before.

For the bride’s shower
You chose the perfect date
Our wedding will be over -
Still lots to celebrate.
We will dress in our finest
When we come for the fun

Good food and friends
To celebrate your son.
This is my reply –
Couldn’t you guess?
I’ll see you at noon,
The answer is ‘yes’
.
(P.S.
I just have to tell you,
sure you already know,
The invites were groovy,
And so tres beau!)

Finally Spring

2008-05-10T21:45:00.009-05:00

Spring comes late to Michigan. When I've traveled south for work in March or April, people are wearing pastels and linen. March and April in Michigan means wool and winter coats. Finally it's May and the light colors and fabrics are finely on parade. The snowbirds who winter in Florida migrate back to their summer homes (including my parents). The grass is green and trees are in bloom. My eyes are red and watery and there's always a kleenex at my nose.

These beautiful blossoms make me miserable! I dread their seasonal show. It seems there are no drugs that can mask the symptoms, I've tried them all. When I was first pregnant with Prince Mike, we lived in Washington DC where the Cherry Blossoms are celebrated. I had to stay in the house with air conditioning running since antihistimines are harmful to the unborn. Non-sufferers can't imagine the feeling of nose prickles and the constant manufacture of mucus.

Ah Spring. Ah Choo.

Queenly Crafting

2008-05-04T20:29:00.005-05:00

Inspired by my cousin's Scrub Oak blog, and all the beautiful things she creates, I'm going to try to take pictures of my projects. So here are the shower invitations I made. Every frickin polka dot was done by hand. I even got a blister!

Here's the poem that appears inside:

Laura will be an August bride
Her family has announced with pride.
Let’s honor her with a special brunch
We’ll have lattes and crepes and
champagne punch.
To celebrate her marriage to Daniel J. Hubbard
And shower her with gifts for their
newlywed cupboard.

It’s all set for Saturday
the Twenty-first of June
The time to be there is right at noon.
Vista Lakes Clubhouse is where you’ll arrive
West off of Shelby, just south of Twenty-five.

We hope you can join us, so please let us know
By email or phone, reply yes or no.

I think my favorite part is the circle address label.

Princess Laura

2008-04-09T14:09:00.004-05:00

Princess Laura has selected her china pattern. It is absolutely fabulous! I knew I liked this girl!! Can't wait to see what else she puts on her registry! Not only is she smart -- getting a PhD; not only does she have great taste -- choosing my son. But she's beautiful too!

Wedding Season

2008-04-05T13:45:00.010-05:00

Wedding season has begun! The first of the bachelorette parties and showers took place in the last couple of weeks. I'll be invited a total of five weddings between May and August. One I won't be able to attend because it's in Delaware and I need to save the money for Prince Dan's. It's the wedding of beautiful bride Lori, daugther in law to be of my friend Amy. Lori just finished med school and will start her residency in Philly just after the wedding. Amy's son Mike will move there and Amy will be very empty nested. Her daughter Kate moved to Nashville and will be married there next year.

My friend Correen had a shower for her daugher Jenny last night. Jenny and younger daughter Stephanie are gorgeous girls. Jen is marrying a Beverly Hills Cop, BH MI that is. Correen has four sisters and their names are Cathleen, Colleen, Maureen, and Noreen. They were all there, and we had a grand time playing bride bingo.

Stephanie (on the right side of the bride) graduated from high school with Prince Dan and her best friend Jenna Z. went all through school from kindergarten with him. Jenna is also in med school. I'm so proud of these girls! Big fashion item of the night: giant gold hoop earring. I think the queen needs a pair!

Leaving Las Vegas

2008-03-11T20:36:00.007-05:00

Spent last week in Las Vegas. YAWN. I always thought if I ever got married again I would do it with an Elvis impersonater wearing a leopard jumpsuit. Not gonna happen. Couldn't possibly wear a jumpsuit, I didn't find any of the all-night wedding chapels or Elvis impersonators, not to mention the lack of a groom. It wasn't my kind of place. Gambling's not fun to me. I thought I'd love the lights and the hotel decor -- I did, it's just all so far apart. Those hotels are freaking HUGE! My feet ached every day, and I never got through it all. Check out the pictures http://picasaweb.google.com/home. I actually took more pictures of the lion than anything else.

Little Motown, Lotta Blues

2008-02-19T22:43:00.005-05:00

Watching the grammys last week I heard a couple of amazing songs performed by this crazy looking girl. She appeared to be a screaming punk rocker, but she sounded like janis joplin. I'm haunted by her music now, bought her CD at meijer and keep playing the video on youtube. Apparently she has substance abuse issues; which is a shame. Wonder why this happens to talented people? Also read she writes most of the music and lyrics. There's a little motown beat, her voice is pure blues, and lots of horns! I told my drummer boy he should learn her songs. Take a listen to Amy Winehouse.

My Role Model

2008-02-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

I finally had a chance to meet my hero, the queen who started it all, Jill Conner Browne, THE Sweet Potato Queen. And don't you know she's in town the ONE day I'm busy - on a MONDAY for heaven's sake. Jill was in Birmingham at Borders and I drove over there after class. It was nearly 10 at night, blowing snow and freezing cold. But the Big Ass Bus was still in the parking lot. I parked my car so the lights shined on the bus, propped my camera on the roof of the car, set the time and ran over for the first picture. Inside the store the clerks told me to knock on the door, that she was probably inside. Sure enough. I knocked on the door of the Big Ass Bus and out comes the cutest boy in the world saying "Well there you are, we've been waiting for you." Jill's husband has been well-schooled in how to make a wind-blown tired middle aged woman feel all warm and welcome. He gave me a HUGE hug before I even got up the steps! Inside Jill was making sandwiches, and asked me if I wanted one. Of course I said no, but just wanted a couple of pictures when she was done. Kyle took the pictures and Jill gave me a pair of her signature sunglasses. Now, here I am ON THE SWEET POTATO QUEEN WEBSITE! It just doesn't get any better than this.

Welcome New Year - And A Look Back

2008-01-01T16:52:00.000-05:00

It is the first day of 2008. Ten years ago in my early forties, I couldn't imagine being over 50, or being single this long. I would never have guessed that my ex would have died. Ten years ago Mikey went to live with his dad in MD. I was devastated and I thought he would never be back. Joke's on me, he's been living here with his dad's dog for the past three years! Adding further irony, the dog often sleeps on my bed with me.

My goals in 1998 for 2008 were to have a new job - done. Make a lot more money - done, but not enough.

My biggest goals were to graduate both boys from high school with...

no sexually transmitted diseases - done, I'm pretty sure!
no incarcerations for more than 30 days, none - not even an arrest!
no children - none!
no addictions - none -- and continuous warnings of a predisposition to alcoholism.

That was my job and I'm done, everything else they accomplished was their own. Though neither has graduated from college yet, I'm still hopeful they'll finish. I'm very proud of them both, they are good people and will lead good lives, taking good care of their families.

I'd like to move to a warmer climate and hope the boys won't be too far away so that we can always be together at holidays. I hope to go to Paris or Rome or both. I'd like to visit Las Vegas and Honolulu too. I would really like grandchildren, and I'd like to still have my parents around. They are 76 and 78 now, and going strong! I'd like my brother to get his act together - that would certainly increase the life expectancy of mom and dad. One thing I learned during his past rehab was the serenity prayer and I greatly respect and rely on it:

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I'd add strength to that too, because it's hard to make changes. But here we go... and here's to a great 2008!

2007-12-16T14:10:00.000-05:00

We celebrate Chrisgiving in the Jewell Family. Gaga and Papa Jewell now stay in Floriday through the holidays. Thanksgiving became a dual holiday for us. We love to laugh!

Make a free ecard - it's easy!

Elbert Hubbard and The Philistine

2007-12-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

In my search for other things, including googling my own last name, I came across Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters. I think it's serendipitous that my passion for the Arts and Crafts era was actually lived by a member of the Hubbard clan. Elbert was most known for his writings including Message to Garcia. But it was his commune in East Aurora NY and the hand-hewn furniture made by the residents that have stood the test of time. The Roycroft Shops still sell China and misc items. His philosophy is immortalized in publications like The Philistine. I hope to visit the campus that still operates as an artist community.

So Silly

2007-10-20T20:40:00.000-05:00

Silly is a supreme state of being. Silliness systematically triggers one of two responses: giggles or sarcasm. Both are highly regarded in the royal household. Book smart - phooey. Smart alec - bravo! Fart jokes - fits of giggles. Gastro anatomy - fits of yawning. Hence the love of the Sweet Potato Queens. And Saturday Night Live. Maybe there were a few years when it wasn't cool to laugh with the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. But they are funny again. Their website is funny too. You can watch skits! Be sure to watch the emmy-winning ** in a box music video with Justin Timberlake.

Silly is a requirement on NPR's Quiz Show "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me." There are sample questions. Take the quiz and see how well you're tuned in to the world of the absurd!

Mark Your Calendars

2007-09-30T09:27:00.000-05:00

Mr. Earl Tackett and Mrs. Sheila Hoover announce the engagement of their daughter Laura Anne Tackett to Daniel Hubbard, both of Shelby Township. Mr. Hubbard is the son of Mrs. Janet Hubbard and the late Malcolm Hubbard. Ms. Tackett and Mr. Hubbard are 2002 graduates of Eisenhower High School and Ms. Tackett is a recent graduate of Central Michigan University. The couple will be continuing their education in Connecticut. Their wedding date is set for August 23, 2008.

The Kids Are Alright!

2007-09-09T15:40:00.000-05:00

This is Lauren Conn, she's the girlfriend of our family friend Brian Sims and she's breaking into television with this cable show! You go girl! http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2023712687006860109&pr=goog-sl

2007-09-05T22:37:00.000-05:00

Click to play Make your own Smilebox

Click on this link

2007-08-29T21:29:00.000-05:00

This is the Bill Cowher appearance improvement page. Drag your pointer anywhere on his face. OMG it's hysterical. http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/a/d/ads102/warp.html

Cowher Cowtowed

2007-08-26T23:27:00.000-05:00

I've had the hots for former Steelers Coach Bill Cowher since I ran past him at the Thanksgiving Day game in 1998. He was a sexy, gritty football guy. A bunch of us were in the United Way half-time show at the Silverdome and when I caught sight of Cowher, I might have growled. During the next 8 or so seasons, catching a glimpse of him was a Sunday hightlight! I was thrilled when he took his team to the Super Bowl and won, right here in Detroit. I wished I had been there.

That was then, this is now...

What the hell happened to him? Was it the hat? The anger on the field? Did he lighten his hair? NO - he got his teeth hollywooded. Hope you like em billy-boy, changed your image totally! You even talk funny now, like your lips don't fit over the teeth. I won't want to hear your color commentary, it might sound pretty instead of gritty.

Now who will I watch on Sundays, the Lions?

My Sofa on a Saturday Night

2007-08-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

ROYAL sofas require regal behavior. Not true in this castle. My sofa has been slept on, wept on, jumped on, **ed on, and last and least of all, sat on. It is 11 feet long and can hold two tall people laying end to end and five very large people playing Wii.

At the far end is prince Dan, next to him is princess-to-be Laura, friend Christina, future groomsman Mike and poopy prince Mike - also best man. At their feet is King Vince, ruling the royal roost. When they left at 11 pm to hit the bar, their litter included beer bottles, controllers, sticky glasses half filled with blue gatorade and rum (blech!), chip crumbs and bottle caps. Think I'm mad? I'm sad. Prince Dan and Laura moved 800 miles away yesterday. This is different than going away to college. They will be back for Christmas (I hope) and next summer for their wedding. But, I think the sofa full of kids days are largely over. I haven't sat in there since Saturday.

UP NORTH

2007-08-01T23:08:00.000-05:00

The Queen spent the weekend in Harrison. Some would call it God's country, I say, thank you God for electricity and indoor plumbing. Royal friend Sharon has a cabin down a secluded dirt road. Two nearby houses are inhabited by year-round residents. Most are vacation and hunting cabins that families bought decades ago before air-conditioning. Some still have feeders to lure the white tails and turkeys.

Several species of wildlife were spotted during our three day weekend, including mosquitos. One must have been caught in the queen's shorts because there were four clustered bites at the top of her thigh! After that, not much time was spent outside at night. Also because the royal friend told a story the first night about a bear that had recently visited a neighbor's porch tearing up plants and a hummingbird feeder.

Sharon and I have been friends since 1972, as college freshman roommates. After 35 years we can still talk for hours and have found new things to share. A couple of years ago she got me hooked on scrapbooking! At least one day of our time together is spent shopping at Arnie's, a huge craft store at Houghten Lake. Then we sit and drink and talk and scrap. I completed 8 pages to her 32. She's on a deadline, I'm only doing it for fun.

This year Sharon added a new highlight to the UP NORTH experience. She transformed the little shed behind the cabin into a TIKI HUT! It's the cutest thing! This is her daughter Jenah and boyfriend Scott inside, and Sharon and I outside. We played island music, mostly Jimmy Buffet and drank margaritas and our take on the bay breeze with blueberry vodka! She serves only imported Hawaiian coffee, and always has Bailey's and Kaluha on hand to make the mornings extra special!

7-7-7

2007-07-14T22:46:00.000-05:00

July 7, 2007 was the biggest wedding day of the year! Las Vegas chapels expected to marry a couple every few minutes. I was invited to Tricia and Matt's wedding that day. They are a cute couple: Shrek and Pooh. Tricia is my best friend Sandy's niece and I've known her since she was born. I first met Matt through the newspaper when he was a senior in high school. He's a year older than Prince Danny and played O-line in Brandon. The article said his dad made him push a truck uphill for strength training. He's 6-6 and about 300 lbs, played for Michigan and was drafted by the Giants last year. The ceremony was lovely. Dancing at the reception included the Greek circles and the hustle -- and everyone participated -- giant football players and Sandy's 75 year old mom dancing right next to each other! That's why I love weddings.

Adios to the Autos

2007-07-03T15:39:00.000-05:00

Adios Autos

We came to Michigan from points east and west
From poverty and oppression
And brought pierogi and pasties and parkas
We came to Michigan where we worshipped without fear.
As perdition became independence.

We came to Michigan from Mississippi
From Memphis and Montgomery
And brought macaroni and Methodists and mittens
We came to Michigan where we were needed for work
As agrarian became industrialization.

When we came to Michigan we lived well
We met and married and bought housesAnd worked and worried and had benefits and babies
We spanked them and spoiled them and spent money on college
As our boomers beget generation next.

When we came to Michigan we were well
And found that contented comes with compensated
Because we were well fed and well clothed and well sheltered
And that was why we came to Michigan in the first place
As pay and perks become pensions.

We are not needed in Michigan now
We have overstayed our welcome
Because we eat sushi with chili dogs
And celebrate Christmas and Kwanza and Chanukah with equal glee
As suburbans and silverados become sonatas and passats

We will move away from Michigan now
And wonder where our children’s children will work
Because they live in blended, bi-hyphened, step-cycled families
And text and type and take-out and multi-task
As we lived in Michigan we were well.

Dog Days of Summer?

2007-06-28T17:47:00.000-05:00

Her Royal Highness, The Queen of Royal Cove, had an HHH day. Hazy, Hot, and Humid. Low visibility with temperature and humidity above 85. Cleverly called the "humiture." In the queen's pursuit to practice positive thinking she will extol the virtues of an HHH day:

1. Everyone's hair looks equally bad -- straight or curly -- nothing holds.

2. It's a good day to get dog hair off the car seats -- no static to keep it stuck there.

3. Indoors is better than outdoors -- because air conditioning is lovely.
Adding to the sensual pleasures of the day is the steamy aroma of tar as the queen's royal road was resurfaced yesterday. If this were a scratch and sniff blog the smell would send you to another site. As the day wore on, the temp dropped, the barometer rose, as did the clouds and now the windows are open.

As soon as it gets dark (about 10 pm in this far western region of the eastern daylight savings time zone) the fireworks will begin. The royal province of Ontario is just across the river and international independence day lasts two weeks long. The Royal Hound hates the sound of the fourth of July! He quivers -- all 99 pounds of him -- and hovers and won't go outside. Prince pup Vince will pant and pin his hairy self to her highness for the next three hours.

Best Movies Ever

2007-06-21T21:27:00.000-05:00

LAST NIGHT, the American Film Institute released the survey results of the top 100 movies from the last 100 years. Here's the top ten:
10 Wizard of Oz 1939
9 Vertigo 1958
8 Schindler’s List 1993
7 Lawrence of Arabia 1962
6 Gone with the Wind 1939
5 Singing in the Rain 1952
4 Raging Bull 1980
3 Casablanca 1942
2 The Godfather 1972
1 Citizen Kane 1941

The only movie above I haven't seen is Raging Bull. I barely remember Vertigo and Lawrence of Arabia. The other seven are classics that I've seen more than once. Citizen Kane is the only one I studied in college. It was probably ranked the best movie ever made in 1975 too.

The Queen's top ten lists of movie classics include comedies and dramas, and love stories and Wows.

Comedies

1 Ferris Bueller's Day Off
2 Animal House

3 Stripes

4 Blazing Saddles

5 A Christmas Story

6 Ghostbusters

7 Groundhog Day

8 Some Like It Hot

9 Fargo

10 Bull Durham

Dramas

1 The Godfather

2 The Godfather Part II

3 The Player

4 Diner

5 To Kill a Mockingbird

6 Short Cuts

7 Grand Canyon

8 Nashville

9 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

10 The Great Santini

Love Stories

1 Terms of Endearment

2 Officer and a Gentleman

3 Big Chill

4 Steel Magnolias

5 Sleepless in Seattle

6 Hope Floats

7 Serendipity

8 White Christmas

9 The Big Easy

10 Phenomenon

WOWS

1 2001 Space Odyssey

2 Apocalypse Now

3 Pulp Fiction

4 The Women

5 The Grifters
6 Michael
7 Annie Hall

8 Wizard of Oz

9 It's A Wonderful Life

10 Citizen Kane

Sister's Wish Sister

2007-06-14T19:46:00.000-05:00

The Queen's sister gifted her with a "Wish Sister" for her birthday. Isn't she cute? The Queen will now need a room for all her Queenly gifts! Wouldn't that be a wonderful wish? Maybe new carpeting, and a paint job for the whole castle could come along with the new queen room? In the new room I will also put some of the art work of Louise Hopson. I found a great piece in downtown Ada, when visiting Mary. I will need to wish for it because it's very expensive. The piece said "In This House We Dance." This one is similar. We dance in this castle!

TWO ON THE SAME DAY?

2007-06-07T19:59:00.000-05:00

COINCIDENCE? I don't think so. I had dinner at Andiamo tonight for the Athena Awards. The macomb chamber prez hooked me up. Last time I was there I saw Steve, brother of my next door neighbor in DC. Tonight I was seated at the overflow table. A woman sat down and introduced herself as Dawn. I looked closer at her, asked her leading questions, and finally figured out is was the Dawn whose parents ran the funeral home and were friends with my parents who owned the parts store a block away. She was in a play with me in high school! It was great catching up.

And best of all.... I bought a crown necklace.

Serendipity or Coincidence? You decide.

2007-06-07T12:08:00.000-05:00

Coincidences are funny, aren't they? Today in my email was a note from my BF Sandy that she forwarded from her college roommate, Laura, recommending the Sweet Potato Queens Big Ass Novel. I read this just after opening the mail to find a package from MY college roommate, Mary who sent..... you guessed it .... the Sweet Potato Queens Big Ass Novel.

In case you weren't aware, SPQ were the motivation to my becoming a queen. A few years ago I used a picture of an SPQ in one of those online dating sites, in place of my own picture. I had over 1,000 hits to my profile. Once I switched it to a picture of me, I had no hits. Which proves that it pays to be the queen.

Antique Cursive

2007-06-05T21:36:00.000-05:00

The queen has decided that cursive is forbidden! Please print or type.

When the queen was in high school, the queen mum made her take "typing." NO said the queen, "I'll never have to type, I'm the queen, I'll have someone do it for me." Well, of course the joke's on the queen! Everyone in the kingdom must now type! From this day forward it shall be called KEYBOARDING. Teaching cursive is a waste of teaching time!

I wonder if teenagers in the Victorian era complained about learning calligraphy? Can you hear them smart-mouthing their mothers: "I'll never use calligraphy, it's so yesterday. All my friends are only taking cursive." Now it's time for cursive to go the way of calligraphy. Weeks are spent teaching cursive instead of keyboarding in elementary schools. Years ago I heard someone on television say "have you ever filled out a job application where it said please use cursive?"

The queen has written!

The Queen is One Year Older

2007-06-01T20:51:00.000-05:00

It's the Queen's special day on June 2. All will be hailing the queen at her Royal Cove castle. We're going to have a multi-celebratory day. Prince Dan is engaged; princess in waiting Laura has graduated from CMU; the queen's niece Emily will turn 17 and the Queen's mum and da are married 54 years! Last weekend the Queen and her sisters were in TX to celebrate the 18th birthday and high school graduation of nephew Kevin. Karen's castle is opulent, fit for a king! The queen tried to water ski; but her royal booty stayed in the water so she went tubing instead. The brother-in-law tried to tip the queen to no avail, she hung on tight. Her arms wept the next day.

The Queen Meets Chuck

2007-05-21T21:59:00.000-05:00

Me and Chuck Woolery hung out last week. We played a little lingo, love connection, extreme small business makeover. Nice guy! He's now on my top 10 list of celebrities I'd be stranded in the castle with. Today's list includes:

John Cusack
Richard Gere
Tom Selleck
Richie Sambora
John Travolta
George Clooney
Scott Foley
Bruce Willis
Dennis Haysbert
Matthew Fox

OOps, forgot Chuck. Oh well, I'll deal with that when the moat rises.

KINDNESS

2007-04-29T18:01:00.000-05:00

TheQUEEN is declaring the next decade - for constant acts of kindness. Too many horrible things have been happening in the queen's country. A very young college student had so much hate in him that he murdered more than 30 people at a glance. It's time for us to be kinder. Not saying the queen doesn't occassionally get a bee in her bonnet, but no more taking it out on other people. The queen has said "off with her head" for the last time. Now kiss and make up everybody and spend more time laughing!

Gorgeous Hollywood Men

2007-04-22T19:56:00.000-05:00

Men
Sometimes when I'm watching a movie I'll google it to find an actor's name. Yesterday I ran across Tom Selleck and I've decided that he's got my vote for most gorgeous celebrity male over 50. I sent the link to my friends and asked for their votes. We all had different opinions. One picked Richard Gere. He's still as handsome as he was younger, but I just like Tom better. My sister says only Russell Crowe gets her heart racing. But he's too young - only 42. Another friend said, "Don't make me choose - and who cares about age!" and found this:http://www.rollingstone.com/photos/gallery/10225154/hollywood_men/1/ . She added: "I obviously am in need of looking at good looking men!" and found this site:http://movies.toptenreviews.com/actors/list_1955_actor.htmwhere you can get a list of actors born the same year as you. So based on her year, Bruce & Kevin are on her list of men she would go out with if she had to. On that site I found that Dennis Haysbert was born on the exact same day and year that I was. I think he and his co-stars on The Unit are all verrry sexy virile men; but the most gorgeous man on that show is Scott Foley. He was born the year I graduated from high school. Oh man my life is pitiful!

Michigan Weather

2007-03-13T21:31:00.000-05:00

Today's temperature reached 76 degrees. We turned off the furnace, threw off our coats and opened all the windows; for a couple of hours. There are no buds on the trees or crocus shoots poking up yet. Neighbors were out - it was good to see them after all these months. Crazy thing is, it will probably snow again this weekend.

Winter started before Thanksgiving last year, it's been mild for most of it. Except February. February was really cold - single digits. You haven't truly experienced a full life until you've experienced a 4 degree day with a clear blue sky as bright as in the tropics, and you can't see your breath because it's crackly dry. Your hair stands up straight when you pull off your knit cap and you have to be careful how you touch things for fear of static electric shock. Pant legs stick to socks like velcro.

Today we had summer weather, with snowdrifts still frozen in the shade. Dogs don't get it. It's hard for them to get a consistent sniff going when there's mud then dry grass then snow.

Queen Me

2007-03-03T23:33:00.000-05:00

There's a line in The Sweet Potato Queens that says all women should get a crown and name themselves the queen of something. So I did.

I've always felt regal, probably because I'm the oldest of three sisters. On Saturday mornings I would don my royal apparel, (bedspread cape) and make my little sisters serve me Cocopuffs on a tv tray while we watched cartoons.

Now my friends give me queen stuff like crown ornaments. I even have a "Kiss my Tiara" t-shirt. But I'm not sure over what I reign. Not root vegetables; or any festival. Parades are good though. Marching bands are good too. A parade for the queen of Royal Cove Drive. That works.