Fun Days in Rogers City

Rogers City had a Independece Day type celebration on Friday July 6th. I was lucky enough to be loading stone at Stoneport, MI (30 miles away). We were at anchor just before that for about 16 hours while we waited for another boat to finish unloading before we could get space at the dock. I got home and found Loralee, P. Dot and Darleen at the house waiting for Denise to get home from work. P. Dot was making her famous and the family's favorite meal, Gleasons. That in itself was fantastic enough but Pat came over to join us for supper and after supper we played a little of the golf game in our back yard. Pat and Denise were champions for the day. Then we decided to go down to the Lakside Park where the group "Chasing Steel" was preforming a free concert. This was a bluegrass band of four men (three were brothers) from the U.P. They were not playing my favorite type music but Loralee was really getting into it. I'm not an expert in music but I thought they were pretty good if you liked that type of music. There was a pretty big crowd there for Rogers City. There was even a few that were from Onaway and Tower. In fact even Minnie and Merv were there. There was a big fish boil going on all day there. And a big slide for the kids. I guess they were displaying the big equipment at Calcite Plant at the gate. Many people were getting their picture taken in front of these huge pieces of machinery.

The day was topped off with a very nice fireworks display. All in all, it was a very nice break. I am glad I got the 3rd mate to work my shift so I could get more time at home.



And now for the answer for trivia question #5: The answer was supposed to be Broccoli but more information was found to support artichoke for an answer, also. So Denise and Darleen were both correct.



Now interesting fact #7: Mosquitos are attracted to people who just ate bananas.



Trivia question #7: What two animals can not walk backward?

Update from Lake Michigan

How 's everyone enjoying the summer weather? It has been cooler than normal on Lake Michigan (about 60 degrees) that's both in the air and in the water. Right now, Saturday, I am in Buffington, IN. unloading stone. We are due to go up into the big lake, Lake Superior. I may not get home again until 2nd week in July. Countdown for my vacation in October is at 100 days. Maybe that is a little early to be counting but that's what I do.
I want to wish a couple people a belated birthday wish. Rosey's birthday was the 14th and Kim's birthday was the 15th. I hope they had a great day. And don't forget Loralee's birthday July 9th. If I have missed someone just send a comment.

Now for the trivia question answer, the answer is Pope Benedict IX at age 11. But I guess there is a lot of contrversy concerning his correct age but the oldest they have him listed is 18.

Interesting fact #6: A bal of glass will bounce higher than a ball of rubber.

Trivia Question #6: What is the only vegetable that is also a flower?

On Line On Boat

I am offically on line from the freighter Arthur M. Anderson. I will be posting a little more often. Maybe we can get Denise to put in a post or two. I am in Stoneport, Michigan as of 2200 (that's 10:00 P.M. for you landlubbers). We are heading for Huron, Ohio which is (interesting fact #5) the most southern point a ship can be on the Great Lakes. It is near Cedar Point for all you amusement park goers. Then it is off to Toledo to load coal for Detroit, then back to Toledo to load coal for Escanaba, MI then back to Stoneport, Michigan on the 18th.



My last day of vacation I went and saw the Detroit Pistons lose to Lebron James and the rest of the Cleveland team. But we did see an exciting double overtime game. We, being Denise, Logan, Loralee, and myself. Denise and I took Loralee's bed and made her sleep on the sofa. She lives

just a few miles from the Palace of Auburn Hills. The very next morning Denise and Loralee had to to take me to Detroit to meet the boat. They got an unexpected treat. They got to take a ride on the J.W. Westcott (the only floating post office in the U.S. and the only boat with it's own zip code: 48222)



By the way there were no correct answers to my last trivia question. The correct answer is: Back in the olden days in jolly old England they used to serve beer in pints and quarts. When the customers got rowdy they were told to mind their own pints and quarts. This got shortened to P's and Q's. Better luck next time.



Trivia Question #5: How old was the youngest Pope?

Back to Work Again

After 30 days of vacation, it's time for me to go back to work again. But this time it will be 4 months before I get another vacation. I had a great time only wish it could be longer. Maybe in 4 years or so I could make it a permanent vacation, if you know what I mean. it was great getting together with you. If you were not one of the ones I got together with on my vacation...I'm sorry and I promise to do better in October on my next vacation.

I'm not getting much response to my trivia questions....are you shy? I will try one more time to peak your interest. By the way the score is Lauren 2, Denise 1 (and she did not cheat) Everyone Else 0.

Interesting Fact #4: There are only 2 days of the year in which there are no professional sports games played....meaning the NBA,MLB, NHL, or the NFL.

The day before and the day after the Major League All-Star Game

Question #4: In the expression "Mind your P's and Q's", what do P and Q stand for?

Good Luck and see you in October

Whale of a Good Time!

Lucas and Kim treated Denise, Grandma, Aunt Debbie Coon and me to a whale watching excursion and a trip to the Aquarium when we got back on shore. It was a beautiful day and we saw lots of whales after going 20 miles off the coast. Someone didn't want to go because she gets a little seasick... so she says. We won't mention names... Debbie Coon. It was nice to have her with us and never once did she feel sick, she was so amazed at the whales and the beauty of it all.

We also brought a blow up doll with us in this orange jacket who looks just like... Debbie Coon and it didn't get seasick either. So next time Deb Coon tells you she gets seasick don't believe her and let her get on your boat.

Other news from our trip was a visit to Kim's workplace. Grandma and Aunt Debbie couldn't believe how big and nice it was. When we arrived, Kim was playing Deal or No Deal with the residents who were really happy to see all of us. We got introduced and then Kim went around and told us all their names and what they did when they were younger. To top off the night we spent 3 plus hours at a furniture store. It wasn't your typical furniture store at all. Here are some pictures to prove that.

There was a Fudruckers, Ice Cream place, Jelly Belly place, a place to learn how to do Trapeze tricks, and Liquid Fireworks (water show with color lights done to music).

As for the reason we were in the Boston area...Luke's graduation from Gordon-Conwell Seminary. We went to his Baccalaureate on Friday night. And then there was the actual graduation on Saturday morning with 290 graduating.

Then we just went back to Luke and Kim's apartment and relaxed. Luke made us his famous pizza. Luke and Kim's friends Joel and Allie Schellhammer came over to help us celebrate.

On Sunday morning we all went to Westgate Church in Weston, MA where Luke is now working as Associate Pastor. Luke introduced all of us. But first told the congregation that he said good things about the people at Westgate so he expected them to be on their very best behavior. That received a good hearted laugh. After the service we went downstairs to their fellowship hall were we visited and had a bite to eat. Then we went upstairs to see Lucas's new office.

After church we went back to Luke and Kim's place in Watertown, MA and had a lite lunch before heading into Boston for a day of sightseeing. But to get there we had to go by subway...something Grandma had never done until this trip. (She had never flown in an airplane either until she flew out to Nebraska for Luke and Kim's wedding.) Grandma and Debbie got tired on the sightseeing trip so they tried to hitch a ride on a donkey.

We capped off the day by going to to an authentic Italian restaurant in "Little Italy" part of Boston. Luke treated his mother to dinner on Mother's Day and I treated Grandma.

Seems like eating had a big part in our trip because we also went to an authentic Mexican restaurant Thursday night. The rumor is true some ice cream got eaten, too.

All in all it was a fantanstic trip. Our hosts were were great. Thanks for everything Luke and Kim. We can't wait for our next trip out to Watertown.

And now for the fact and question but first...the question is.....Is Lauren that much smarter than the rest of our readers or.......is she the only one playing. :-( Right now the score is Lauren 2 Everyone Else 0.

Interesting fact #3: 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Question #3: What are the only mobile National Monuments?

On Our Way

We are on our way downstate today with mother-in-law in tow. Tommorrow we grab Aunt Debbie Coon and fly out of Detroit Metro to Logan Airport in Boston. Maybe we will be able to post some pictures while we are out in Boston so keep checking the blog.

Also, apparently my question was too easy so I will have to find a harder one for you to ponder until I return.

But first... interesting fact #2: Coca-cola was originally green.

Now for question #2: What was the first novel ever written on a typewriter?

I'm Back Home

Well, I am back home after 42 days of work. One of my shortest work periods ever. In recent years I have been taking an August vacation, so this is very early for me. But there is going to be a special event this May that caused me to take an early vacation. As most of you know, my son Lucas has been attending Gordon-Conwell Seminary in Massachusetts.

Lucas will be graduating May 12, 2007. In recent years, I took one week's personal leave to attend Loralee's, Kim's and Logan's college graduations but with the added travel to the Boston area that would be unfeasible.

Traveling with Denise and me will be Lucas's grandmother Dot and Lucas's Aunt Debbie Coon. Lucas's grandmother promised me that she renewed her driver's license, so we will not have wait for her to be thoroughly searched at the airports. Grandma Dot's first plane trip was to Lucas and Kim's wedding in Nebraska and apparently she posed a potential security risk due to a piece missing on her driver's license.

After we get back from Boston, we are planning on going to a Detroit Pistons playoff game with... da Bulls. Detroit leads that series 1 game to none with the 2nd game tonight. So, I'm sure we will be watching the game on television tonight.

I will be home for the rest of May. Denise is still working every day but she has the week-ends off. If you would like to get together with us just give us a call.

I will give one interesting fact and one question for all viewers of this blog site to respond to on each of my posts from now on. I will come up with some sort of a prize for the first correct responder.

Interesting fact #1: Each king in a deck of cards represents a great king from history.

Spades: King David; Hearts: Charlemagne; Clubs: Alexander the Great; Diamonds: Julius Caesar

Question #1: What is the only food that does not spoil?

Good luck to all of our readers.