Dear FFF:
Been busy helping a few friends but finally got moved into my little condo!!! Of course, now I have to furnish it! But I guess that's the fun part isn't it? I've been shopping all the best resale shops and finding all kinds of good things.
I am going to continue to travel a little, and do some volunteer work so I plan on staying busy.....however, not to busy for you all to come visit. I'm going to shut the blog down for now, but you can still call or text me at 734-788-2799
email me at backyardegypsy@yahoo.com
or just come on over to 34714 Spring Valley, Westland, MI 48185
Love ya all, keep in touch
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Saturday, October 12, 2013
BACK TO MICHIGAN
Dear FFF:
Made it back to Michigan! Left California and drove a little over 2,000 miles to Nashville. Took me 3-1/2 days but stopped often to stretch and pee (Dr. told me to drink a lot of water while on the road). Spent a week with Suzie and her family playing and just enjoying each other's company. Went shopping at a great flea market and found a few good buys. Sue and I also went zip lining!!! Had a ball......will definitely do that again!
I then headed up to Columbus to spend some time with Michele, Mark and Abbey (she had a few days off from Cincinnati. Was going to stay a week but got a call from the townhouses I had applied for and they had one come up, so I only stayed a few days and headed on up to Michigan last Tuesday.
It was PERFECT! It faces the woods so I will be able to sit at my picture window having my coffee every morning and watch my birds!! It is also on the side of the park that has gas appliances which also makes me happy. Mary Etta (the lady that is living there now) says she can be out in three weeks, then it only takes a week or so for the closing, so I should be in for the holidays. I am going to have the inside painted and hopefully Marc will have time to put a new ceramic floor in the vestibule and bathroom. The main part has all hardwood, which is in good shape. It is quite small (587 sq. feet) but has a basement the same size so I think it will be perfect. I am excited to get a "nest" again. I started out in Westland when Marc and Michele were little and here I am back again. It is in Holliday Park at Wayne Rd. and Joy Rd. About a mile north of Westland Shopping center, and only two miles from where Mom and Dad are at rest. I think I am going to enjoy being close to everything again.
Will get some pictures and give you address as soon as I have the closing.
Happy Halloween to everyone!!
GJ
Made it back to Michigan! Left California and drove a little over 2,000 miles to Nashville. Took me 3-1/2 days but stopped often to stretch and pee (Dr. told me to drink a lot of water while on the road). Spent a week with Suzie and her family playing and just enjoying each other's company. Went shopping at a great flea market and found a few good buys. Sue and I also went zip lining!!! Had a ball......will definitely do that again!
I then headed up to Columbus to spend some time with Michele, Mark and Abbey (she had a few days off from Cincinnati. Was going to stay a week but got a call from the townhouses I had applied for and they had one come up, so I only stayed a few days and headed on up to Michigan last Tuesday.
It was PERFECT! It faces the woods so I will be able to sit at my picture window having my coffee every morning and watch my birds!! It is also on the side of the park that has gas appliances which also makes me happy. Mary Etta (the lady that is living there now) says she can be out in three weeks, then it only takes a week or so for the closing, so I should be in for the holidays. I am going to have the inside painted and hopefully Marc will have time to put a new ceramic floor in the vestibule and bathroom. The main part has all hardwood, which is in good shape. It is quite small (587 sq. feet) but has a basement the same size so I think it will be perfect. I am excited to get a "nest" again. I started out in Westland when Marc and Michele were little and here I am back again. It is in Holliday Park at Wayne Rd. and Joy Rd. About a mile north of Westland Shopping center, and only two miles from where Mom and Dad are at rest. I think I am going to enjoy being close to everything again.
Will get some pictures and give you address as soon as I have the closing.
Happy Halloween to everyone!!
GJ
Sunday, September 22, 2013
IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT..............
......................I had to leave Hawaii. I am so disappointed! I started getting sick every day with dizziness, nausea, and just hot, hot, hot! My adviser said it takes time for the body to adjust to the heat and sun (so close to the equator) and to drink at least 8 bottles of water a day. I did that and STILL could never cool off (no ac at work or dorm). Then on Friday I started having light flashes and I broke out in a rash all over. Yikes! I was getting worse not better. I talked to my advisor and decided I needed to get back to the main land. I am so disappointed!!! I wanted to do this project so badly. I got a quick flight out of Kona that night and arrived in Los Angeles Sat. 4:30 am. and my feet were the size of helium balloons. My nephew Chris picked me up and I went to his house, elevated my feet and just rested!! I guess I have to readjust again.
I must tell you of my nightmare getting out of the airport. When I first found out I was going to leave and had to change my ticket, I called Cheryl (Chris's wife) and ask if they could pick me up on Saturday morning. Yes was the answer but see if I could get a flight to Ontario airport which was so much closer and not as crazy as LAX, because it is two hours away from them and they have the little guy so I wanted something easier for them. The only way to do that was to fly to LAX, change planes to Salt Lake City, UT, then back down to Ontario. I went ahead and booked (an additional $381.00 to change my reservation...$150.00 of it was because I had booked my original flight through a travel agent instead of directly through Delta) to change my ticket) and figured I could endure. Just as I hung up from agent, Cheryl called and said don't worry about drive to LAX, they would manage. Maybe I could just hang at LAX until a more reasonable time which would be a lot better that taking three flights. Great. I called Delta right back (three minutes) and explained my problem to the agent. No problem! Just get off at LAX and don't continue flight.....just inform the gate when I exited at LAX. Problem solved! I called Cheryl and said I would just hang at the airport until 9 or 10 and they could come whenever. Sounds good right? Wrong!
I go to Kona airport, check my suitcase (another $25.00 charge) and when I informed the agent that I was just going to get off at LAX and not continue she said fine, but my luggage would go on to the Ontario airport!! I asked, couldn't you just put LAX tag on suitcase.....no, computer reads the ticket and prints final destination for the tag! You got to be kidding me! She calls customer service (takes 30 minutes for them to answer) and am told they can just change the flight to be to LAX without the 2 additional flights for an additional $289.00. Now I really am sick! I say no way and the agent suggests I go in airport, buy a carry on (sure, $100.00 for carry on I don't need and throw away my perfectly good large suitcase......AND, stuff 50# into a suitcase half the size) Call Cheryl again!! She says just get off at LAX, we will pick you up at 10:00, go for breakfast then drive to Ontario airport (mostly on the way to their house) and pick up my suitcase) Tell you what, when I got off at LAX I DID NOT tell agent was not going to continue to Salt Lake City. Hope they called my name 20 times. If they hadn't been so greedy, they could have sold my seat to someone else!
I beg all of you NEVER GIVE DELTA ANY BUSINESS!!!
Anyhow, I am resting at Chris's house, feet starting to get back to normal and if all is well, will start my drive back to Michigan on Monday morning. Probably 3 days to Nashville where I will stay with my daughter Sue for a few days, then to Columbus to Michele's then on to Michigan. With some luck, a townhouse will become available and I will have a place to go to. If not, I will go to plan (I don't know what that is yet). I don't worry, because God always finds a way for me. I am so blessed.
Will let everyone know when I get somewhere!!! Love you all!
GJ
I must tell you of my nightmare getting out of the airport. When I first found out I was going to leave and had to change my ticket, I called Cheryl (Chris's wife) and ask if they could pick me up on Saturday morning. Yes was the answer but see if I could get a flight to Ontario airport which was so much closer and not as crazy as LAX, because it is two hours away from them and they have the little guy so I wanted something easier for them. The only way to do that was to fly to LAX, change planes to Salt Lake City, UT, then back down to Ontario. I went ahead and booked (an additional $381.00 to change my reservation...$150.00 of it was because I had booked my original flight through a travel agent instead of directly through Delta) to change my ticket) and figured I could endure. Just as I hung up from agent, Cheryl called and said don't worry about drive to LAX, they would manage. Maybe I could just hang at LAX until a more reasonable time which would be a lot better that taking three flights. Great. I called Delta right back (three minutes) and explained my problem to the agent. No problem! Just get off at LAX and don't continue flight.....just inform the gate when I exited at LAX. Problem solved! I called Cheryl and said I would just hang at the airport until 9 or 10 and they could come whenever. Sounds good right? Wrong!
I go to Kona airport, check my suitcase (another $25.00 charge) and when I informed the agent that I was just going to get off at LAX and not continue she said fine, but my luggage would go on to the Ontario airport!! I asked, couldn't you just put LAX tag on suitcase.....no, computer reads the ticket and prints final destination for the tag! You got to be kidding me! She calls customer service (takes 30 minutes for them to answer) and am told they can just change the flight to be to LAX without the 2 additional flights for an additional $289.00. Now I really am sick! I say no way and the agent suggests I go in airport, buy a carry on (sure, $100.00 for carry on I don't need and throw away my perfectly good large suitcase......AND, stuff 50# into a suitcase half the size) Call Cheryl again!! She says just get off at LAX, we will pick you up at 10:00, go for breakfast then drive to Ontario airport (mostly on the way to their house) and pick up my suitcase) Tell you what, when I got off at LAX I DID NOT tell agent was not going to continue to Salt Lake City. Hope they called my name 20 times. If they hadn't been so greedy, they could have sold my seat to someone else!
I beg all of you NEVER GIVE DELTA ANY BUSINESS!!!
Anyhow, I am resting at Chris's house, feet starting to get back to normal and if all is well, will start my drive back to Michigan on Monday morning. Probably 3 days to Nashville where I will stay with my daughter Sue for a few days, then to Columbus to Michele's then on to Michigan. With some luck, a townhouse will become available and I will have a place to go to. If not, I will go to plan (I don't know what that is yet). I don't worry, because God always finds a way for me. I am so blessed.
Will let everyone know when I get somewhere!!! Love you all!
GJ
Sunday, September 15, 2013
ALOHA
Dear FFF:
Arrived in Hawaii last Wed. evening 7:30 their time (6 hours earlier than MI, 3 hours earlier than WA) and as they opened the door I could smell flowers!! And no jet way! We just walked down the steps to the tarmac..........I felt just like the first lady so waved to everyone!! Was met by our RA, Elijah who is super nice....had a wife, Destiny and baby boy. They live here on the complex and are available for our needs. It was only a 20 minute drive to our dorm and we got unloaded. Also on the plane were 4 other new volunteers, 2 from Denmark, 1 from Germany and 1 from Korea.
I met my roommate, Yoko (she is from Japan but has been living in Ariz. for the last 13 years) who is about my age. There are two other bedrooms on our first floor (all to share the one bath) but they are not occupied at this time so it is only the two of us for the bathroom. Don't know how it will work if 4 more gals move in. We'll just have to wait and see. Yoko lost her husband and has made several trips here to Kona with Mission Builders.
Thursday was orientation, so they gave us until 9:30 am to get rested up before our regular schedule got started. We got a tour around University of Nations campus which is where I will be working Mon. through Fri. with Sat. and Sun. off. Our dorms are a short ride from the campus with shuttle service back and forth.
Friday I had to be on the shuttle by 5:50 am to get to campus for a 6:05 devotion (every M W F) then walk up the hill to get breakfast. Served in a buffet line and then to a table.............all outdoors. I report into the kitchen at 7:00 where I am on the prep team chopping veggies, making sandwiches, etc. for about 400 people (will increase to over 600 Sept. 26) I work till 10:30 or 11:00, have lunch before the rest come then off to the library to assist there until 3:00 pm. Catch the shuttle back to the dorm, crash on my bed with 3 fans blowing on me. No ac here because electricity is so expensive. Shuttle back to campus at 5:00 for dinner.
Thursday I thought I would die from this heat...........90 with high humidity! Found out that dehydration is a big problem here so need to drink at least 8 bottles of water a day. Can't drink the water at the dorms but on campus is good. I start out with a fresh bottled water on my way and then just keep refilling all day. I drank a lot on Friday but still felt wilted by end of day. Elijah says it takes about a week for your body to adjust.
Saturday was a tour to Volcano (name of city) and site of the most active volcano on the island. The crater is huge with steam vents coming out of the earth all over. They are VERY HOT, so you are careful where you view. There hasn't been an eruption for several years but there is lots of activity underground.
After the volcano, we drove down to the most southern tip of the US (no it is not Key West) where there is a 40 foot cliff overlooking the ocean. The kids had all heard about it and wanted to JUMP! It is into 20 feet of water and 14 out of twenty made the big leap. I had fun watching them. Some were able to go right away others need 30 minutes of coaxing. They said "you go now grandma" not hardly!! Maybe 50 years ago.
Arrived in Hawaii last Wed. evening 7:30 their time (6 hours earlier than MI, 3 hours earlier than WA) and as they opened the door I could smell flowers!! And no jet way! We just walked down the steps to the tarmac..........I felt just like the first lady so waved to everyone!! Was met by our RA, Elijah who is super nice....had a wife, Destiny and baby boy. They live here on the complex and are available for our needs. It was only a 20 minute drive to our dorm and we got unloaded. Also on the plane were 4 other new volunteers, 2 from Denmark, 1 from Germany and 1 from Korea.
I met my roommate, Yoko (she is from Japan but has been living in Ariz. for the last 13 years) who is about my age. There are two other bedrooms on our first floor (all to share the one bath) but they are not occupied at this time so it is only the two of us for the bathroom. Don't know how it will work if 4 more gals move in. We'll just have to wait and see. Yoko lost her husband and has made several trips here to Kona with Mission Builders.
Thursday was orientation, so they gave us until 9:30 am to get rested up before our regular schedule got started. We got a tour around University of Nations campus which is where I will be working Mon. through Fri. with Sat. and Sun. off. Our dorms are a short ride from the campus with shuttle service back and forth.
Friday I had to be on the shuttle by 5:50 am to get to campus for a 6:05 devotion (every M W F) then walk up the hill to get breakfast. Served in a buffet line and then to a table.............all outdoors. I report into the kitchen at 7:00 where I am on the prep team chopping veggies, making sandwiches, etc. for about 400 people (will increase to over 600 Sept. 26) I work till 10:30 or 11:00, have lunch before the rest come then off to the library to assist there until 3:00 pm. Catch the shuttle back to the dorm, crash on my bed with 3 fans blowing on me. No ac here because electricity is so expensive. Shuttle back to campus at 5:00 for dinner.
Thursday I thought I would die from this heat...........90 with high humidity! Found out that dehydration is a big problem here so need to drink at least 8 bottles of water a day. Can't drink the water at the dorms but on campus is good. I start out with a fresh bottled water on my way and then just keep refilling all day. I drank a lot on Friday but still felt wilted by end of day. Elijah says it takes about a week for your body to adjust.
Saturday was a tour to Volcano (name of city) and site of the most active volcano on the island. The crater is huge with steam vents coming out of the earth all over. They are VERY HOT, so you are careful where you view. There hasn't been an eruption for several years but there is lots of activity underground.
After the volcano, we drove down to the most southern tip of the US (no it is not Key West) where there is a 40 foot cliff overlooking the ocean. The kids had all heard about it and wanted to JUMP! It is into 20 feet of water and 14 out of twenty made the big leap. I had fun watching them. Some were able to go right away others need 30 minutes of coaxing. They said "you go now grandma" not hardly!! Maybe 50 years ago.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
FROM SNOW COVERED GLACIERS TO PALM TREES
Got to Chris's house and are basically staying in and playing cards (after all he IS an Utley) because it is over a 100 degrees outside.
BACK TO ALASKA:
While in Fairbanks for three days, we took a short drive to North Pole, Alaska. Saw Santa and 4 of his reindeer (Vixon, Dasher, Comet, and I think Blitzen. No Rudolph in sight. Everyone sent letters and post cards to grandchildren. Also went to more yarn shops (I think we are at 15 or 20 now) Boy, I hope to see some beautiful knitted things! Found a couple of micro-breweries and wine tastings.
From Fairbanks we headed down to Tok, the last stop in Alaska before we started the trip on the Alcan Hwy. Saw more glaciers from the road. We had reservations at Burnt Paws Cabins which was settled in a nice wooded area. The reason I booked a spot here was because their online ad said they raised sled dogs. When I called to make reservation, the lady told me they would probably have some new puppies about the time we were going to be there. Checked in and went looking for dogs. Found empty kennels with a stuffed husky sitting in an old dog sled. The next morning at breakfast, I asked the server where all the dogs were. Her response: "We haven't had any dogs since I started working here and that has been 9 years" Later that day, we saw the owner and she said, "we sold the last puppy yesterday". It wasn't worth an argument (mainly because the owner looked old and in poor health) so we brushed it off as just another chapter in our book!
From Tok to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory...........that's where we saw the grizzly walking along the road. Also saw more moose but I didn't get any pictures. I was busy driving and trying to creep along on the side of the road without being hit from behind. The girls got some good pictures so when I get them I will add a new post.
From there to Watson Lake, BC where we had reservations at the Dragon's Den. Need I say any more? Pretty old and in need of repair, but we couldn't find any bed bugs so we went to find something to do so that only had to sleep there! Found a theater that had an exhibit on the Northern Lights. Since we didn't see them while in Alaska (it never got dark enough) we paid 10 bucks to see them on the ceiling of the theater!
From Watson Lake to Iskut for the night. Next day we took a little side trip west which put us back into Alaska (Hyder) and just enjoyed the old town and unique buildings from back in the gold rush days. We decided to push it a little and drive on to Hazelton. Got there at 8:00 pm and everyone was getting tired. Started calling motels and EVERYTHING was booked. Couldn't believe it. The next town would have been another hour but we had no choice so started calling everything there. ALL FULL! Lauri went over to the motel across the street to see if they had any suggestions and I started calling the 2 B and B's. We found one about 10 miles way (down a dark dirt road) but hey, we were desperate!! The opened and a delightful German woman welcomed us in and gave hugs! What a slice of heaven. We had two rooms with a huge bath AND an indoor dry sauna. Slept like babies and in the morning had a wonderful German breakfast and Klaus told stories of how he got out of Eastern Berlin when the wall came down. God was definitely watching over us that night.
Next day to Prince George, BC then to Cache Creek then home.........another 6 or 8 yarn shops on the way! We crossed the border into Washington and as border control was checking our passports and asking all the questions about smuggling, he said "which one of you is Lauri? Did you know you have an expired passport?" She had brought the WRONG one. We had crossed over the border two other times and no one even caught it.
Well, to say the least, the whole trip was more than fantastic!! We saw new things, made some great friendships, and had a lot of laughs!!! I leave Wednesday for Hawaii and will try to keep you up on my new adventures. Until then, Aloha!
I sure am Blessed!!!!
Love, Gypsy Joyce
BACK TO ALASKA:
While in Fairbanks for three days, we took a short drive to North Pole, Alaska. Saw Santa and 4 of his reindeer (Vixon, Dasher, Comet, and I think Blitzen. No Rudolph in sight. Everyone sent letters and post cards to grandchildren. Also went to more yarn shops (I think we are at 15 or 20 now) Boy, I hope to see some beautiful knitted things! Found a couple of micro-breweries and wine tastings.
From Fairbanks we headed down to Tok, the last stop in Alaska before we started the trip on the Alcan Hwy. Saw more glaciers from the road. We had reservations at Burnt Paws Cabins which was settled in a nice wooded area. The reason I booked a spot here was because their online ad said they raised sled dogs. When I called to make reservation, the lady told me they would probably have some new puppies about the time we were going to be there. Checked in and went looking for dogs. Found empty kennels with a stuffed husky sitting in an old dog sled. The next morning at breakfast, I asked the server where all the dogs were. Her response: "We haven't had any dogs since I started working here and that has been 9 years" Later that day, we saw the owner and she said, "we sold the last puppy yesterday". It wasn't worth an argument (mainly because the owner looked old and in poor health) so we brushed it off as just another chapter in our book!
From Tok to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory...........that's where we saw the grizzly walking along the road. Also saw more moose but I didn't get any pictures. I was busy driving and trying to creep along on the side of the road without being hit from behind. The girls got some good pictures so when I get them I will add a new post.
From there to Watson Lake, BC where we had reservations at the Dragon's Den. Need I say any more? Pretty old and in need of repair, but we couldn't find any bed bugs so we went to find something to do so that only had to sleep there! Found a theater that had an exhibit on the Northern Lights. Since we didn't see them while in Alaska (it never got dark enough) we paid 10 bucks to see them on the ceiling of the theater!
From Watson Lake to Iskut for the night. Next day we took a little side trip west which put us back into Alaska (Hyder) and just enjoyed the old town and unique buildings from back in the gold rush days. We decided to push it a little and drive on to Hazelton. Got there at 8:00 pm and everyone was getting tired. Started calling motels and EVERYTHING was booked. Couldn't believe it. The next town would have been another hour but we had no choice so started calling everything there. ALL FULL! Lauri went over to the motel across the street to see if they had any suggestions and I started calling the 2 B and B's. We found one about 10 miles way (down a dark dirt road) but hey, we were desperate!! The opened and a delightful German woman welcomed us in and gave hugs! What a slice of heaven. We had two rooms with a huge bath AND an indoor dry sauna. Slept like babies and in the morning had a wonderful German breakfast and Klaus told stories of how he got out of Eastern Berlin when the wall came down. God was definitely watching over us that night.
Next day to Prince George, BC then to Cache Creek then home.........another 6 or 8 yarn shops on the way! We crossed the border into Washington and as border control was checking our passports and asking all the questions about smuggling, he said "which one of you is Lauri? Did you know you have an expired passport?" She had brought the WRONG one. We had crossed over the border two other times and no one even caught it.
Well, to say the least, the whole trip was more than fantastic!! We saw new things, made some great friendships, and had a lot of laughs!!! I leave Wednesday for Hawaii and will try to keep you up on my new adventures. Until then, Aloha!
I sure am Blessed!!!!
Love, Gypsy Joyce
Thursday, September 5, 2013
ADD ON
Don't know what I did, but published new adventure before I finished............still need some lessons on this computer. Anyhow, after the police I decided that was enough for one day.........besides I had driven over 600 miles. Just before I decided to get off and find a good hotel, I saw about 4 miles of working oil wells!! Sure covered a lot in one day. Tomorrow I will go on in to L.A. and have a good visit with my nephew Chris and his wife Cheryl and son Callan. Will get back to Alaska soon!!
Love ya all
pictures to follow
Love ya all
pictures to follow
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