Monday July 16, 2018

Monday July 16, 2018

Blog time 1130 at Panera

Good Grief July is half over!  Doesn’t seem fair.  How come February doesn’t move this fast?

Got up at 0615.  It was warm, 72, and humid this morning.

Light exercises, breakfast and then biked to the Y.  I took my normal route.  Despite being an easy ride I was drenched in sweat when I got to the Y.  I dried my shirt under the hair dryer.

The summer youth camps at the Y seem to get bigger and bigger.  The kids are all having fun.

This morning Nancy is taking AJ to the Public Museum.  They have a new show at the planetarium.

POTUS’s visit with Russian President Putin is the main news story.  Our President’s confusing comments about U.K. politics is not making many friends.  The trade wars are said to have a negative impact in the economy but the stock market is holding its own.  Does anyone really understand?

As soon as I get home I grab several items I want to put in our safe deposit box and bike to Macatawa Bank.  Deposited the items and got some cash for our trip to the LA area.

Nancy said the planetarium at the GRPM was boring.  She was also disappointed that the venue she wanted to see was closed.

After lunch I drove to Meijer’s to get some toiletries for our trip.  Also bought apples, bananas and some school supplies for grand kids.

I have been having some problems with my reading glasses.  I used the strength test machine and determined that my glasses, 2.0, were too strong.  I bought a 1.5 strength and they work great.  

I spent some time packing before taking a short nap.  It was so hot and humid that Nancy and AJ left at 1600 for a swim at MVP.  

Nancy called me at 1730 and said AJ had found some friends so they were staying longer.  I took my walk before dinner.

We had a light dinner about 1900.  We watched an episode of Inspector Lewis before turning in.

Sunday July 15, 2018

Weekend Update;

Blog being written on Monday at 1120 sitting at Panera

Saturday July 14;

After breakfast at Hampton Inn we picked up AJ at Helen’s and headed back to GR.  The trip was uneventful.

Spent the rest of the day unpacking.  Nancy even did several loads of laundry.

The Direct TV repair man arrived at 1700 and he seems to have fixed our problem.  Light dinner and then some Netflix shows.

Sunday July 15,  it rained last night.

Nancy and I got up early and took our Sunday walk around the block. After breakfast we headed to Meijer’s for gas and supplies.  Gas was $2.97.

Spent some time reading the papers.  Nancy started the laundry.

Early lunch and then AJ and I headed to the movie.  We saw Hotel Transylvania 3.  I bought AJ an ice cream cone after the movie.  Did you know they have a bar inside the theater?

As soon as we got home Nancy took AJ to her friend Kathi’s home for a swim.  I took a quick nap.  We had a heavy storm roll through this afternoon.  It rained buckets.

For dinner Nancy fixed her world famous scrambled eggs.  After the dishes I took a walk around the block. Finished the evening watching Netflix.

Friday July 13, 2018

Friday July 13, 2018

Blog being written on Monday July 16, 1100, sitting at Panera

I am a little behind on my blogs.  It rained in Gaylord on the morning of July 13.  Yes it is Friday the 13th.  I forgot to buy a lottery ticket.  Bummer!

Today we are going to Mackinaw Island.  Breakfast at the Hampton Inn and then we headed to Helen’s place.  We took two cars for our short trip to Mackinac to catch the ferry to MI.  In our Escape were Nancy, sister Helen, nephew Jason Crandall and Jenner’s daughter Paige.  Shirley Short drove her rental van and she had all the kids, 5, and her daughter Hanna.

Slight screw up with electronic tickets so our group missed the ferry.  Luckily the ferries run every fifteen minutes.  We walked around the island and visited a butterfly house and then walked through downtown stopping at several fudge shops.  

We walked to the Grand Hotel so we could take a group picture with the hotel in the background.  Had lunch at a nice restaurant near the hotel.  We sat outside.  We were lucky.  It was cloudy but no rain.

After lunch we took the ferry back to the main land.  I love MI and hope in the near future to be able to take my bike and spend several days riding around the island.  

At the entrance to the MI harbor is a small Statue of Liberty replica.  The statue was dedicated on Memorial Day in 1950.  I know because I was there.  I was with my Boy Scout troop from Alpena.  We spent several day on the Island.  We slept in tents pitched inside the fort.  One of my favorite Boy Scout memories.

The drive back to Gaylord was uneventful.  This evening Jerry attended his 50th High School reunion.  Helen and Donald also attended because they were faculty members.  The rest had dinner at the Alpine Bar a local favorite.  We sat outside and we did encounter some rain but we had umbrellas.

About 2000 Nancy and I headed back to the hotel.  The rest attended a concert.  A great 13th.

Thursday July 12, 2018

Thursday July 12, 2018

Blog time 0700 Friday sitting in breakfast room, Hampton Inn, Gaylord 

Thursday our first full day in Gaylord.  Nancy and I slept in until seven.  The breakfast selection at Hampton Inn was good.  I had oatmeal with banana, yogurt, scrambled eggs and sweet bread.  

We met up with the kids at the main pavilion at Alpenfest at 1000.  The events and rides opened at 1000 and already the place was crowded.  Kennedy, the group’s star rope skipper, took part in the rope skipping contest. 

Having ridden on all the best rides yesterday the kids walked around the festival area and visited several booths.

The weather was cooler today.  Rain is expected tomorrow so Nancy and I visited the Dollar Store to buy ponchos for our Friday visit to Mackinaw Island.

We had lunch at the festival.  I had a super brat.

This afternoon the group spent several hours swimming at the local state park.  I was not needed so I took a short nap.

For dinner Helen set up at taco bar.  It was great.  In addition to last night’s crowd was Jerry, Don’s son.  Jerry flew in from Colorado to attend his 50th High School reunion this weekend.  Joining our group after dinner was Helen and Don’s son Jason.  Jason drove up from Frankenmuth after work.

While the adults sat around talking, the kids were kept busy drawing with chalk on the Crandall’s large concrete drive.  Who would have thought chalk could keep kids busy for several hours.

Nancy and I headed back to the hotel at 2200.  A busy but enjoyable summer day.  Tomorrow Mackinaw Island!

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Wednesday July 11, 2018

Blog being written Thursday morning, 0830, sitting in breakfast area at the Hampton Inn in Gaylord.  We got up at 0515 and finished loading the Escape for our trip to Gaylord.  We made a quick stop at Panera for coffee and bagels.

The trip to Gaylord was very relaxing.  Not much traffic or construction.   AJ slept all the way to Gaylord.

First stop was at my sister and husband Don’s home on McCoy Road in Gaylord.  The other guests had already arrived.

The guests were;

Kennedy Crandall the daughter of Jason Crandall, Helen’s son.

Don’s daughter Shirley and her daughter Hanna.  Hanna’s two children son Krue and daughter Elle.  Shirley also had another granddaughter, Emma, her son Andrew’s daughter.

Shirley lives in Colorado Springs, Granddaughter Emma lives in Texas.  Hanna and kids live in California.  Kennedy lives in Frankenmuth, MI.  A fine looking group.

After introductions we all headed to Alpenfest in downtown Gaylord.  The kids all headed to the rides.

AJ, Kennedy and Emma are about the same age and they headed for the wild rides.  Hanna’s two children were too short for these rides but the festival had plenty young children rides.

I split from the group to check into our hotel, Hampton Inn.  Returning to Alpenfest I found everyone taking a break.  They were eating pizza in a local restaurant.  The pizza was good.

Joining the group for pizza were Helen’s daughter Jennifer and her three daughters, Paige, Amallia and Meadow.  Jennifer and family live in the Gaylord area.  Meadow the youngest just graduated from high school.

The kids finished the afternoon drawing pictures at an art tent.  It was a good break from the mid 80s heat.

Helen has a huge attached garage.  She has it outfitted for large parties.  Jointing us for dinner was Jennifer’s husband Sean Finnegan.  Sean took over the grilling.  He grilled white fish, burgers, hot dogs and shrimp.  It was a great meal.  A fine way to end a great summer’s day.  

At 2100 Nancy and I headed back to the hotel.  Helen had outfitted her upstairs to accommodate all the kids.  AJ was spending the night with the other kids.

   

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Tuesday July 10, 2018

Blog time 1050 sitting a Panera

Cloudy with temp of 72 when first went out this morning.  Nancy decided to take a break from MVP so no swimming today.

AJ must have conquered jet lag because we had breakfast together.  After breakfast I bike to the Y.  Took the five mile route.  Reduced stretches and calisthenics today.  I am winding down.  

Tomorrow we are leaving early for Gaylord for Alpenfest and a family get together.  Friday we are going to Mackinaw Island.  We drive home on Saturday.  Recuperate for several days and then on Wednesday the 18th we fly to CA  to take AJ back and visit son Steve and family.  The 18th is Steve’s 45th Birthday.

The Cave rescue, SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh and the political upheaval in the U.K. still dominates the news.  Of course, outside the USA the World Cup dominates.  

Nancy and AJ stopped at Costco and bought more snacks for the trip to Gaylord.  They then headed to MVP to swim in the outdoor pool followed by a trip to the beauty shop.  Busy day for the women.

I finished packing this afternoon.  For dinner we headed to Culver’s.  AJ had their chicken nuggets and I had a cod sandwich.  Nancy just had a soft drink and my French fries.  AJ topped off her meal with ice cream.

Our Direct TV is down so I watched Netflix while  Nancy and AJ played mah Jong.  We were all in bed by 2130.

Monday July 9, 2018

Monday July 9, 2018

Blog time 1245 sitting in den

It was sunny again this morning.  Temp will reach mid 80s today.

I did all my stretches and calisthenics at home today.  Today we decided to visit John Ball Zoo.  Before leaving I made a quick trip to Panera to get Nancy and I a coffee.

We arrived at the zoo at 1030.  The parking lot was already crowded.  Been several years since we have visited the zoo.  We were impressed with the improvements.

After lunch Nancy and AJ are going swimming at MVP.  I will take a bike ride.  

For my bike ride today I rode to Orvis and bought a summer shirt.  Although the ride was 12 miles it was easy because no hills.

AJ did not want to go swimming but she did want to see a movie.  The movie Show Dogs was playing at 1820.  We had an early dinner before heading out.

AJ and I were the only people in the movie.  AJ loved the movie and I thought it was ok.  

Nancy and I watched Secret City on Netflix.  Nancy headed to bed and I stayed up and watched The Forest.  

This and that;

They have rescued the kids stuck in the cave in Thailand.  Hats off to all those involved.

POTUS has made his Supreme Court selection.  Now the nastiness begins.

Will BRexit ever happens.  It looks like the Gov in the U.K. has imploded.