We had a great time at the Corn Maze last weekend! We do this every year but this is the first time Luke has been old enough to go. They have this really cool little kids maze and he had a great time in there trying to hide from Kelsey :-) Then the 'big kids' stayed after dark and went into the BIG maze.

Did you say Dry Heat or Dry Heaves??

It became the running joke this past week that I spent out in Palm Springs, CA, where the temps averaged around 105 every day...every time someone would gasp "it is SOOO hot", someone would inevitably say, with extreme sarcasm, "yeah, but it's a dry heat." I think that is a fair assessment for anything under 100 degrees...once you start getting into the 100s, tho, dry or not, it's just HOT.

I was fortunate to be in a VERY nice villa all week with my friend Sue...we had the second-best villa at the La Quinta resort. We were in the Eisenhower Villa. The only better one was the El Presidente Villa, and that went to Phil Jackson, the coach of the L.A. Lakers. So I don't think we did too poorly. Here was the view out of the front of our villa - pool and mountains. In the mornings it was VERY nice out...cool and dry. I wish I had had time to go for a run or something in that weather. Ah well.

It was a loooooong, hot week, and I was VERY happy to come home yesterday and see Brendan and to just be relaxing most of today. Back to the office tomorrow for what will be 3 very busy days, I am sure, but then Brendan and I go to Vermont and New Hampshire on Thursday. Can't wait for that cool weather, some changing leaves, real maple syrup, a trip to the Ben and Jerry's ice cream factory, and just some nice time off.

Luke's Birthday

Sorry this is so late, but I'm finally getting around to posting a picture from Luke's birthday. He had such a blast! There were 6 or 7 other 2-year olds there, and it was a 'Cars' theme, of course. He didn't quite understand why everyone was singing and he sort of just stared at the candles, not sure what to do. I was trying to show him how to blow them out when one of the little boys there swooped in and did it for him :-) It was actually really cute, and Luke obviously didn't mind. He just wanted that cake with Lightning McQueen on it! So my little baby is 2...unbelievable! By the way, the reason he looks naked is because he is wearing a swim suit. Right before the cake, all the kids were running through the sprinklers. It was quite a sight! Love to all...now that I've got the hang of this, we'll be posting more often.

Gitchee Gumee

Standing here at Whitefish Pointe we can see the opposite shoreline where we were on the train going to the Agawa Canyon... and then beyond that for another 150 miles to where we got on a Pontoon boat and rode to an island resort in the middle of Lake Wabatongushi... a really big lake in itself. An interesting trip but we could have used another day on the island to explore.

Tuz's also took us on a side trip on the way back to visit the Tahquamenon Falls where we enjoyed a nice lunch prior to heading home. Missed everybody. sPike was glad to see us when we picked him up Sunday morning.

Words of Wisdom for the Winter Months!

For those with discerning taste...

....I give you....SHEENCOLA!!!!

It is, undoubtedly, very refreshing.

(This beverage brought to you by my good friend and extreme lover of sPike, founder of the sPike rEport, Sue "Brilly" Brill She is always looking out for the Sheens).

Jutro, juz my nie mam

For all those who do not get the Polish, it mean, Tomorrow, we're out of here. Actually, the literal translation is something like, "tomorrow, already we are not here." But you all get the idea. We are off to tour the Agawa Canyon in Canada with the Tuzinowski's. Will be back late Saturday or sometime on Sunday. I have decided to take all my medications and keep them in their original containers. Do not want to be strip searched like Bob Probert and nabbed for drug running. Anyway, you all hold the fort and we will see you when we get back.

Dowidzenia (good bye)

Look who's having a baby....

Congratulations to Amy and Adam. Grandchild no. 11 is due in March, 2010. Very exciting!

Very nice breakfast with the newest parents to be this morning. Then a hectic but fun afternoon with Kate, Eric, Dani, and Terry....The rowdy boys... Tom, Bill, Ed, and Jim and the lovely girls... The Soccer Boomers, Natalie and Nicole... joined by Kathy and Tony and Uncle Stan (US) and Phoofie... all come to spend time with Kirsten Elizabeth and bid her a fond farewell as she leaves tomorrow back to Orlando... and Meems is working tomorrow, as am I... one of my few stints as a Case Evaluator at Macomb Circuit Court. My head is spinning.

The Weekend Begins

Kirsten arrived in town pretty much on time. Picked her up at the airport and now the various activities begin.... visit the boys... girls soccer game tonight.... maybe some Polish food from the mall later. Sunday, everyone should be over for the family cook out and visit. I wil be picking up my mediation summaries at Macomb Circuit Court today and read them all before my Mediation hearings on Monday. It will be a nice diversion and a way for me to keep my hand in, however, alas, I will not be there to see my daughter off when she once again wings her way back to the land of Disney.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUCAS RYAN!!

Happy 2nd Birthday to our darling Luke. Continue to stop and smell the roses, little one. We love you!

FDR - just for Daddo

9-9-9

9 is a lucky number, or so say people who say things... Today. it is a Slo Flo day... also a payday for me... Thank you FDR. What a program. I always liked the picture of him with the cigarette holder jutting from his teeth, but for some reason, the blog would not let me upload that picture. Weird. Maybe later.

Labor Day

Was this Armistice Day too, at one time. Hard to keep track. Anyway, I guess the proper thing to do today is something traditional, like walk the Mackinac Bridge. But that is too far away ... maybe walk the Woodward Avenue Labor day walk. Do they do that anymore?

Oh well... I know it isn't Veteran's Day, but lets just visit good old Bill Mauldin and quaff a few root beers.

I Nicole'd Brendan!

I have never beat Brendan at Wii bowling...but tonight is momentous. 258 to his 230-something. I looked at him and crowed "you're going doooowwwwn!" I "Cole'd" him! She would be proud of her Aunt Kee.

How did I not get invited to THIS meeting????

They actually had some cupcake shoppe owner in here to show samples of golf-themed cupcakes for the company to possible use at events.

And every cupcake on this tower got eaten by someone at the meeting.

I am obviously working in the wrong department. Sigh.

Joe Cool...

.... on the first day of school. Hanging out at the drinking fountain. Driving all the girls crazy.

Autumn

You can tell its fall around here when Meems buys things to reflect the season. So, by popular demand, I have posted her latest purchase from Sam's Club. We also bought a large bundle of leaf and yard trash bags which I will need... but not for I while... unless there is a very early frost.

Welcome, Welcome, glorious September!!!

Yes, it is still grossly hot and humid down here in Florida, but the month I dislike the most, August, is OVER and now begins my most favorite time of the year....Fall and the Holidays. September will still be hot down here, but now I can say "next month is October" and "next month is Halloween" and that is something I couldn't say in August.

I look forward to my Michigan visit in just 10 short days, and mine and Brendan's New England trip a month from today...and lots of Fall colors and crisp air and the smell of a fireplace burning... In fact, it is so chilly in my office right now that if I close my eyes, I can almost imagine I am up north in October right now....