Friday, June 27, 2008

Weekend in Charlevoix

Larry and I drove up to Charlevoix last night after we met Bill and Melody in Grand Rapids for dinner.   They were on their way home from the airport and we were on our way to Charlevoix so that worked out well.  Melody and I were "celebrating" our June birthdays.  It was nice to see them and catch up a little again.

This afternoon Mom Hilldore, Uncle Ray and Aunt Shirley are arriving for a visit for the weekend.  We are looking forward to having them here.  Mom says Aunt Shirley just "loves" Charlevoix.  It's always fun to have visitors and show people around this beautiful area.

So far it is a nice sunny day so we are hoping to have some good weather this weekend so we can take a boat ride and just enjoy the area.  Maybe I will even take some pictures and get them posted.  That would be quite an accomplishment for me!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Another trip to Grand Haven

This morning I "got" to go into Grand Haven again to report for jury duty.  Only 7 jurers needed today and I didn't get picked so I was on my way home again by 10:30.  Only one more day left of jury duty possible so we will just see what tomorrow brings.  

It's a rainy cloudy day so maybe I can get some stuff done in the house today.  I have started sorting through things in the basement and have a few boxes to take away to the mission so that is my goal today and also to pay some bills.  I know that sounds like pretty simple goals but it seems the day can just fly by and I keep getting distracted by other things - like writing on my blog :-).  So I will keep this short and get my "rear in gear"!!!!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Is it summer yet?

The weather keeps going back and forth.  Warm then cool then warm then cool again.  Usually once it gets warm a few big storms to through and cool it off again.  Oh well, not complaining, just a nice warm sunny beach or pool day would be nice!

The past couple weeks have been somewhat busy in that I had jury duty last week Wed. and was chosen for the jury also.  They had the jury of 12 selected but the attorneys took turns dismissing some of the people for various reasons and I was then selected to replace the 3rd person out of 4 that they dismissed.  The trial was for possession of cocaine and it was pretty clear cut especially after the judge gave us the instructions for what we could use to determine guilty or not guilty and also read the law that determines that possession means having control of the substance.  Anyway it was all a very interesting experience but it makes you wonder how a person gets themselves into a situation like that in the first place and what will happen to her and her children now.  I tried looking it up on the Ottawa County web site to see if I could find out what her sentence is but I guess I will have to do some more searching to find out.

This past weekend we went up to Charlevoix again.  Still trying to get some things done there and then the TV and internet were out so Larry spent most of the weekend trying to get someone there to fix it or waiting for someone to come.  No one ever did come or call so when we left it still was not fixed.  Very frustrating.  Jamie and the kids decided last minute to come up with us.  I don't think Jacob missed TV as he played Wii most of the time anyway.  He was also looking forward to watching the movie "Cars" on the "cars" TV that is in the kid's room there.

Larry left ahead of the rest of us Thurs. night as he drove the Jeep up to leave in Charlevoix so we have a car there all the time.  Jamie and the kids rode with me and we left about an hour behind Larry.  He called a few times to see where we were and said there was a lot of lightning up ahead.  Anyway by the time we got to Cadillac it was pouring so hard I couldn't see the road (also dark as it was about 11:30 or 12pm).  First we stopped under and overpass and waited for it to let up a little.  Jamie and I both got out the phones with their internet links to see if we could get some radar of the storm to get an idea of how long it would last.  We moved on to the next exit and got under a cover at a gas station and found that there were two lines of heavy storms and it looked like even when the first one went through we would just end up driving into the next one as we went north.  So.............we tried to make it to the Hampton Inn on the other side of town but came across some flooded roads with cars stopped in the middle of the road.  Thank goodness for GPS - we found our way around to a Super 8 were we spent the night.  Oh, on the weather with the radar we also found out that there was a tornado warning for the county we were in.  Another reason to stop and find "cover" and not keep going on the road.  It wasn't a very restful night, especially for Jamie.  Ashlyn had had a nice "nap" on the way up so she thought it was time to play.  

But we finally made it up to Charlevoix later Friday morning and had a nice weekend there playing with the kids in spite of having to wait around for Charter to come to fix the TV.

Today I do not have to go in for jury duty so I can try to get some things done around here.  Yesterday we had someone here cleaning the pavers in the driveway and walkway.  They powerwashed then put down new sand.  Today they are putting a sealer on.  Hopefully that will keep the weeds out better and maybe also the ants from coming through.  

I do see a pretty blue sky so maybe summer is here after all.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

June Birthdays

Since my last post I have returned to Michigan (last Sat.) been back to Charlevoix to do more work around the boat house then back to Holland and up to Grand Haven on Wed. for my first day of jury duty.  Didn't get picked for a jury on Wed. and haven't had to go back either.  I need to call again Monday night to see if I have to go in on Tues.  It is only Tues., Wed., and Thurs. that are possiblilities that I might have to go in unless I get picked for a jury then it might run into a Friday but never anything on Mondays.  (Totally confusing, I know).  Anyway it keeps me closer to "home" for the month of June at least during the week.  

Tonight we celebrated my Dad's birthday and the whole family was there except for Ben, Amanda, Travis and Allison and Ashley.  Brad waited on us at Beechwood Inn and then we went to mom and dad's for cake and ice cream.  It was nice to see everyone and to be together for the night.  Seems like there are lots of June birthdays between family and friends.