Holy Crap it's 2011

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.