#kids photos kalamazoo

[flannelepicurean]

Karate's Bad Boy Mike Barnes

Okay, I FINALLY, LITERALLY, ACTUALLY got around to watching The Karate Kid Part III, and first off, this film is an absolute GIFT. I have...so many. Just so many. But I really needed to take the time to address a big point that was brought up by the excellent friendo who made sure I could see TKK3. Here you go:

I don’t think Mike Barnes is actually that bad of a karate boy.

I know what the article said. I saw the picture. It does indeed beg the question, “What did he do to get an entire article written about him, with the headline, Karate’s Bad Boy, Mike Barnes, emblazoned over THAT PHOTO? What deeds did he do that made him exactly the right candy to tickle the fancy of a towering toxic waste billionaire in a single-serving hot tub?”

Here are some FACTS, my sweet Cadbury snake eggs.

Mike Barnes is not karate’s bad boy, and he never was. Terry Silver is. You know it. I know it. Everyone in LA knows it. Mike Barnes knows it. And the minute he laid eyes on that shoujo-manga villain from afar, he was like, “I’m gonna sweep the leg on that man’s heart and get swept off my feet into a billionaire romance novel. [Dramatic turn] But HOW…”

Next thing you know, he’s storming into the HQ of The Karate Times to rock them like a hurricane, demanding they write an article about how he’s Karate’s Bad Boy. They scoff at him because, no, TERRY SILVER is karate’s bad boy. What, did you just get off the bus from turnip town?

And Mike is like, I dunno, “Actually, Kalamazoo, and I’ve been here for a couple years, but THAT’S NOT THE POINT, MAN! YOU GOTTA WRITE THAT ARTICLE!!!”

And the editor, whose name is Paulie, is like, “Why? You already knocked over Denise’s typewriter and a filing cabinet. Why would we do anything for you?”

And Mike’s like, “BECAUSE…[breathing with maximum nostrils] BECAUSE… [eyes becoming shiny] ...because…” And then he breaks down anime-style about how he needs senpai to notice him so he can do an elaborate scheme to win the heart of a billionaire villain.

Paulie and the entire staff lean forward like, “Wait…you’re saying that…you…and Terry Silver…”

Mike looks up. Fingers snap a jaunty rhythm in the background, and his eyes glow like prom-night lights as he begins to explain, “He…he…” A basso voice drops a jelly-bouncing, “JITTERBUG,” into the soundtrack. Mike’s grin twinkles. “Just…awakened something, I guess…”

JITTERBUG.

Paulie slams his palms on his desk and rockets to his feet, hollers, “Why didn’t ya say so?! If you say you can break boards…let’s go see if you can break hearts.”

Mike looks around as the staff mobilize with gusto, hardly believing his luck. “Really? You’ll help me?!”

Paulie spreads his arms wide. “This is KARATE TOWN, kid! We do wacky shit like this all the time! Come on, let’s get you a PHOTO SHOOT!” Mike follows the staff to a warehouse area off the side of the office, where the lights are bright and the possibilities are endless, breathes with amazement, “Wow, so many punching bags…”

He hits that high with all the kicks. So many beats per minute on those punching bags. Puts the boom boom into everyone’s hearts and goes bang-bang-bang until Paulie shouts, “THAT’S IT! THAT’S THE ONE! START THE PRESSES!!!”

The building’s doors WHAM open a few hours later, and Mike steps out, a big stack of newsprint headshots clutched to his chest, his smile as dazzling as the California afternoon as he twirls like Mary Tyler Moore and releases them like doves or parade confetti into the air, then goes skipping down the sidewalk toward his destiny.

A cop snatches one from the air and calls, “Hey! That’s littering!”

Paulie sidles up next to him and warns, “Careful, Arnie—that’s karate’s bad boy, Mike Barnes.”

Arnie rolls his eyes. Scoffs, “C’mon. Terry Silver’s karate’s bad boy.”

Paulie gazes off at the trail of litter in Mike’s wake, a twinkle in his eye, and a gnomish smile on his face. “Not anymore.”

Arnie looks down at the picture in his hand: A sharp face, and fists poised, a mean mug like a mad mongoose, ready to take on a snake ten times his size. Raises a brow. Remarks, “Wow.” Turns to Paulie. “You’re gonna be busy.”

Paulie shrugs. “Denise is already workin’ on a wedding feature and a couple obituaries.”

Arnie shakes his head. “You picked the right town to do business.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Paulie chuckles. “It’s freakin’ bonkers here.”

[cruetrimeblog]

The Unfortunate Story of John List

John List was the only child of German American parents born in Bay City, Michigan. His parents' names were John and Barbara List. John grew up in a Lutheran household which led him to become a Sunday school teacher just like his dad. John worked as a lab tech during World War Two. He served three years before being discharged in 1946. John went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration. He then earned a master's degree in accounting.

John was called back into active duty in 1950 due to the advancement of the Korean War. He met a woman named Helen Taylor while stationed in Virginia. They began a romantic relationship and got married in December of 1951 in Baltimore. The two decided to live in California. Due to his work as a successful military accountant, John was reassigned to the Finance Corps.

John completed his second tour in 1952. He went on to work as an accountant in Detroit. He later took a job as an audit supervisor in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is where he and Helen raised three kids together. John became a general supervisor by 1959.

Unfortunately, Helen suffered from alcoholism. She became increasingly unstable over the years. Her daughter (before she met John) Brenda, moved out of the family home in 1960. The rest of the List family moved to Rochester, New York where John was offered a job with Xerox. After becoming the director of accounting services, John accepted a job as Vice President and comptroller of a bank in New Jersey. This is where the family moved into a large estate in Westfield, New Jersey named "Breeze Knoll." The home was a 19 room victorian mansion.

John decided to kill his entire immediate family on November 9, 1971. When the kids left for school that day, he shot Helen in the head. She was 46 years old at the time. He then went upstairs where he shot and killed his mother Alma who was 84 years old at the time. Then John decided to sit and wait for his kids to come home from school. Patricia and Frederick List were the first to arrive. The were 16 and 13 years old. John shot and killed them both. Afterwards, John proceeded to make himself lunch, run to the bank to drain his mother's accounts, then went to the local high school to watch his eldest son John Jr. play soccer. When John Jr. was finished playing, John drove them both home. John attempted to shoot his son shortly after they entered the home, but the gun misfired. This gave John Jr. a chance to fight back against his father. But it was to no avail. John shot him several more times. John Jr. was the only victim to be shot more than once.

After the murders, John placed the bodies of his family into sleeping bags and lined them up in the ballroom of the family home. However he had to leave his mother’s body upstairs, claiming she was too heavy to drag downstairs. John then sat down to write a five page letter to his pastor stating that he killed his family to “save their souls.” He proceeded to try cleaning up the scene, but he also eerily cut his face out of all of the family photos in the home. He turned the radio all the way up, turned on every light in the house, and left without a trace to start a new life.

The bodies of the List family weren’t discovered until around a month after the murders. The neighbors weren’t suspicious at first, because the Lists tended to keep to themselves. John wrote letters to his kids schools and jobs to explain that he was taking the family out of town on a trip. He canceled the milk, mail, and newspaper deliveries. Neighbors finally alerted authorities when the lights in the home started burning out.

Investigators started by examine the outside of the house and determined that nothing seemed amiss. Police returned on December 7th after getting a call from Patricia’s drama coach when she couldn’t get an answer at the door while trying to pick Patricia up for her lesson. Police entered the home through a small window in the basement, and found the bodies.

This crime was the most notorious felony in New Jersey since the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby. There was a nationwide manhunt issued for John. The family car was later found at JFK airport, but there was no evidence that John ever got on a plane.

Breeze Knoll was eventually burned down nine months after the murders. The fire was ruled as an arson but is still unsolved. A new house was built on the land in 1974

John took a train from New Jersey to Michigan, and then to Denver where he settled in 1972. He got a job as an accountant and started using the alias Robert Peter Clark. He joined his local Lutheran church. It was while attending this church that he met his next wife Delores Miller. They got married in 1985. The couple moved to Virginia in 1988, and John got a new job there as an accountant.

An episode of America's Most Wanted covered the List murders in 1989. A forensic artist assembled a bust of an age progressed John. This bust was eerily similar to John's current appearance. Less than two weeks after the show aired, John was arrested. John denied his true identity for months. He was extradited to New Jersey in 1989. John didn't admit to being who he was until February of 1990.

During the trial, John admitted that the family was struggling financially after he was laid off from work in 1971. However, he kept his unemployment a secret from his family. He would leave for work at the normal time, but just spend the day reading the newspaper at a local train station. He made ends meet by stealing money from his mother's bank account. Some of the List children had taken on part time jobs to help out the family.

During the trial, John was diagnosed with OCD. John was too proud to accept welfare, so he saw his only financial option to be killing his family, sending them to heaven, and starting a brand new life.

John was convicted of five counts of first degree murder on April 12, 1990. He was quoted saying, "I feel that because of my mental state at the time, I was unaccountable for what happened. I ask all affected by this for their forgiveness, understanding, and prayer." The judge responded, "John Emil List is without remorse and without honor. After 18 years, 5 months, and 22 days, it is now time for the voices of Helen, Alma, Patricia, Frederick, and John F. List to rise from the grave." John was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences. This was the maximum penalty at the time. John quickly filed for an appeal, but was equally as quickly denied.

John admitted during an interview with Connie Chung in 2002 to not considering suicide as another viable option because it would bar him from entering heaven where he hopes to reunite with his family someday.

John died at the age of 82 in 2008 from a bad case of pneumonia. He was being held in New Jersey at the St. Francis Medical Center. He has since been referred to as "The Boogeyman of Westfield."

[aestheticvoyage2024]

Day 273a: Sunday September 29, 2024 - "Brunch in The Burbs with Blaklee"

Had a hilarious time entertaining Cliff's daughter as she sat at the head of a booth of burly boys eating skillets and telling old stories, trying to impress the whims of a 4th grader. I loved it. I hope it was as memorable for her, and that some day we cross paths and shes using that allergic to mustard line that crazy uncle Jake taught her.

Later, Id have myself a real good cry over the phone with Audrie, missing my old buddy Shane and really wishing he'd been here in this very photo with us. I sat there looking at this and really felt all of that and how close we would have gotten. I felt the hole in my heart - he would have really loved this. I know we did. I messaged his sister and shared this over, that we're keeping him alive with us. Id call James later in the week and tell him I love him and how great it was that he came over from Kalamazoo and how I wish we were closer (on the map). I told him I dont ever want to take any of this for granted. I think thats what Shane was trying to tell me. Its really beautiful to think so. What a unique and special gift to have these great men in my life - I dont half deserve it. They've made such awesome lives and I am proud to consider them lifelong friends - indeed its been 25 years this fall. And we still tell the stories like the best of last week. I hope for my kids and theirs, that they all grow up with a tight-knit like this.

Song: Eric Church - Round Here Buzz

Quote: “I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.” –D.H. Lawrence

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

306 of 2023

True or False inspired by random posts in my Facebook newsfeed!

Created by joybucket

You've considered becoming a foster parent. Pastel colors are your favorite. You've been to a Hippie Fest. You've never been to a Hippie Fest, but you like the idea of it and wonder if it would be something you'd enjoy. You spent all day today with your favorite person. You often snuck candy into your room as a kid. 🍬 You have two or more siblings. You wear blue-rimmed glasses. (used to) You've given someone bunny ears for a photo. ✌️ You've filmed and uploaded a lot of videos for TikTok. You've contemplated filming a TikTok video, but you haven't done it yet. ....and you're not sure if you're going to. You could really use prayer right now. (Share why if you want, and I will pray for you! 🙏) You own a shirt that has a picture of Snoopy on it. There is a Biggby Coffee shop near you. You think babies are cute. You're happy spring is near! 🌷 You had a banana and oatmeal for breakfast. 🍌 🥣 You like Van Gogh's paintings. You've sat on top of a washing machine. You wish you could lay in your bed all day. You think it would be fun to be a bartender. You've worked as a bartender. You wish time didn't fly by so fast. You have health insurance. Batman is your favorite superhero. 🦇 You enjoy taking pictures of pretty flowers. 💐 📸 You own a pastel pink cardigan sweater. At least one of your friends you went to school with was Asian. You've done a craft project using seashells. 🐚 You're counting down the days until spring. You believe that Jesus is the standard. You know someone who has or who has had multiple sclerosis. (my godfather) You enjoy watercolor painting. 🖼️ You're a Snoopy fan. You're at peace today, because no matter what you're facing, God is with you. 💜 You love cheese. 🧀 You're passionate about helping others reach their health and fitness goals. You've driven a Ford. You're in love with your life right now. You hope you fall in love with being alive again. You've taken pictures of cherry blossoms in the spring. 🌸 You own a sweater with a big giant heart on the front of it. You had eggs for breakfast this morning. 🍳 You've painted a picture of a flower. 🌺 You're friends on Facebook with a Hannah. You enjoy the pretty things in life. 🌸 You have unique parenting methods. You use Snapchat. Some people just make you feel better when you're around them. You've been to Italy. 🇮🇹 You've been to a city called Kalamazoo. You've worked as a henna tattoo artist. You currently have a pet on your lap. You owned a black baby doll as a child. You went to a church service this morning. ⛪️ You've seen a real live flamingo in person. 🦩 You have no plans to take a 21-day course on how to survive singleness. ...and you think it's ridiculous some of the ways people try to make money. Your town has a Dairy Queen. A new fast food joint just opened up in your town. You enjoy using Buy One Get One Free coupons. You love purple flowers. You love the simple things in life. You've planted a garden in your yard. You own something colorful from the brand Natural Life. You think London is a beautiful city. Your nails are painted pink right now. You've recently attended someone's Sweet 16 party. 🎂 You've worked at a hair salon. 💇‍♀️ You love coffee, tea, and treats. ☕️ You've gotten married a second time and left all of your Facebook friends wondering whatever happened to your first husband, since you never announced anything. You've wondered what you would look like as a cartoon character. You enjoy oil painting. You love double bacon cheeseburgers. 🍔 You own a faux succulent. You've made a Facebook profile for your dog. You need a new mattress. You've sent in a postcard to PostSecret. You've had a black and white dog for a pet. You've seen Hanson in concert. You take birth control pills. You've taken a selfie with your dog. 🐶 🤳 Change isn't always a bad thing. You've purchased a donut from a bakery within the past week. 🍩 You've looked up medical information on WebMd. You have an Uncle Joe. You collect rocks. 🪨 (used to) You've seen a pigeon flying around Walmart. 🐦 You can play the guitar. 🎸 You enjoy reading your Bible. 📖 You're a Michigan State fan. You believe you have bipolar disorder. You've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You've wondered if you had bipolar disorder. You don't believe that everyone who claims to be bipolar actually is. ....or that everyone who claims to be depressed actually has clinical depression. You've tried macarons. You've made your own macarons. You've made a play driver's license for your pet. 🪪 Slow progress is better than no progress. You've tried to sell something in a Facebook status. You have a toddler. You've had a friend named Stella. You enjoyed this survey.

[jacksonvillehomepros4]

Cottage Meets Craftsman Style in a Michigan Lake House (20 photos)

After their kids had grown up and moved out, this couple decided to build their forever home on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo, Michigan. The design pros at Visbeen Architects and its in-house interior design firm, Vision Interiors, created a 2,781-square-foot house that feels much larger than it is and has...

[kwadejoslin]

Cottage Meets Craftsman Style in a Michigan Lake House (20 photos) https://www.houzz.com/magazine/cottage-meets-craftsman-style-in-a-michigan-lake-house-stsetivw-vs~126756807/

After their kids had grown up and moved out, this couple decided to build their forever home on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo, Michigan. The design pros at Visbeen Architects and its in-house interior design firm, Vision Interiors, created a 2,781-square-foot house that feels much larger than it is and has...

Becky Harris

[thebuckblogimo]

Beyond the fun and games of family vacation: great conversation, revelations and insights.

August 9, 2017

The Buck Family Vacation has become something of a spectacle since Debbie and I started hosting it a few years ago in conjunction with Grand Haven’s annual Coast Guard Festival.

There have been a couple of times, for example, when the millennials amongst us converted a canopy into a Twerking Tunnel over the sidewalk, enabling family members to hoot and holler at passersby inclined to shake their booties to the music from a bluetooth speaker. And somehow, two years ago, I wound up being interviewed on the 11 o’clock news after a street reporter from Kalamazoo drove by while we we were in the midst of a fish tossing contest on the front lawn. This year the main attraction was “fowling”-- a game featuring large boards set up on the sidewalk to accommodate bowling pins that opponents attempt to knock down by throwing a football.

Meanwhile, I don’t think my big-mouth brother (just kidding, Mark) has lost more than a couple of games of corn hole over the years to any challenger among the Coast Guard softball players who have rented the house across the street from us during each festival since 2013. And my sister, Big Bad Betty, always shows up with a box of stupid games, and awards what she calls “fabulous prizes” to the winners. Oh, and then there’s sister Mary who creates bubbles as big as a bathtub every year with dowels connected to rope, dipped into a large jar of her homegrown bubble-making concoction.

Little wonder that some neighbors sit on their porches, beverages in hand, to watch the shenanigans that emanate from the grassy area in front of our house.

But it isn’t always chaos and hilarity during the Buck family “vacay.” Throughout the week there are invariably deep, meaningful conversations among the cousins, among the “old people” and between the generations that, I think, really strengthens the bond that exists among the members of our family.

For example, the day that four or five of the aunts and uncles went over to the local Eagles club for beers with a couple of the nephews turned out to be one of the best afternoons of straight talk that I’ve experienced in a long time. We all sat around a table, debating the pros and cons of one of the kids possibly leaving the questionably managed, albeit fast-growing, start-up where he works for an opportunity with a big-time, new-economy company.

He declined the offer a few days later.

And practically every morning my brother and I, early risers that we are, drive to a small restaurant where our daily ritual includes downing three or four cups of coffee, reading the morning paper--in silence--and finally ordering breakfast before we discuss Spartan sports, world problems and, eventually, what we’ve observed in the ongoing maturation of the nieces and nephews.

As for revelations, during the two-hour (at least) Coast Guard Festival parade, one of my sisters asked a young mom if it would be okay to take a picture of her adorable young daughter, all decked out in red, white and blue. “Sure,” said the mom, “as long as you take her photo from the neck down.” Seems as though the woman feared having her daughter’s face plastered all over social media.

To the baby boomers among our family, that little incident seemed astonishing. As was the revelation that the 19-year-old girlfriend of one of our college-age nephews was considering the purchase of a handgun because she fears such things as human trafficking.

So this is what it has come to.

And who knew that there’s something called “coochie cream,” popular among young coeds these days? I sure as heck didn’t. I didn’t even know the meaning of “coochie.” (You can look it up in an urban dictionary, if you’re as clueless as me.)

On the last night of vacation, Debbie and I took our turn at preparing dinner for the family. Afterwards, I and the son of my brother Paul, who will soon be starting his sophomore year in college, found ourselves sitting alone at a table on the back porch outside. We got into some deep conversation about a range of things: his changing views regarding the career path he hopes to pursue after graduation, the evolution of his thinking about how best to deal with the widening gap between the haves and have-nots of the world, as well as the interesting dynamics among the members of our extended family.

That’s when he told me that there hasn’t been a single time--not a Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Eve or Easter Sunday or Father’s Day--when he didn’t take something of value, some sort of insight, away from one one of my brothers or sisters or me during a family get-together. Bam. Linebacker moment. I sat straight up as I processed his words. And felt, very, very proud.

That singular moment on the porch, beyond all the shenanigans on the lawn in front of our house, sums up what a Buck Family Vacation is really all about.

[jodybouchard9]

Couples (Couch) Therapy: How to Choose a Sofa You’ll Both Want to Snuggle On

zeljkosantrac/iStock

Just as it’s no simple feat to find your soul mate, it can be equally challenging to score a sofa that ticks all the boxes for quality, style, and comfort. And that’s before taking your significant other’s opinion into account.

A recent study found that one-quarter of couples get frustrated when furniture shopping with their partner. The same survey found that 15% actively avoid going to the furniture store altogether if it can be avoided.

Snuggle up, because we’ve got tips that’ll help you shop with your partner to choose a new sofa that makes you both happy.

Find the right fit—for both of you

Photo by Van Metre Homes  Even if you and your significant other are prone to disagreements, you can’t dispute the hard facts of room dimensions. Remember this rule above all others: Measure your space before you go shopping. (And then measure again.)

“There’s nothing worse than getting your heart set on a sofa that ultimately won’t fit in the space and have to start all over,” says Washington, DC–based decorator and real estate agent Amber Harris of At Home DC.

And when you break out the measuring tape, make sure you do it together so you agree on the measurements—this will quash any fight over who didn’t measure properly.

Aside from taking measurements of the sofa’s final destination, you should also measure doorways, stairways, and hallways to make sure you can get your new sofa in your home, around corners, and into the desired space.

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Watch: Freshen Up Your Furniture With These Fun DIY Paint Projects

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Do a little online sleuthing

Before you step foot in a furniture showroom, sit down with your sweetheart and assess your options online. This preshopping exercise will ensure you both have an idea of what a sofa costs—and allow each of you to discuss frankly how much you’re willing to spend. (Don’t forget to factor in delivery fees!)

Starting online also gives you a crash course on the variety of sofa options available, including sectionals and sleepers. Plus, retailers such as Crate & Barrel share dimensions for furniture online so you’ll know whether a sofa will fit your space before you go to a showroom. Send, pin, and share ideas about the kind of sofas you like with your partner.

Decide on your sofa vibe

Photo by Tara Bussema  “A sofa is just one piece of the design puzzle,” notes Beverly Solomon of Beverly Solomon Design outside Austin, TX. “A couple should first have a clear idea of how they want their living space to look and feel, as well as the image they want to project.”

So if he wants a comfy, overstuffed sofa ideal for football Sundays, you might need to remind him it doesn’t jibe with your home’s midcentury aesthetic. It can be a fraught discussion, but make sure your decor preferences are aligned.

Lay out your lounging style

Photo by Dotter & Solfjeld Architecture + Design  Consider how a new sofa will be used on a daily basis, including how you and your partner prefer to lounge around. Love to doze off on the couch? A firm sofa with deep button tufts might not be the best pick.

Then, pull out that measuring tape again because you’ll want to consider the depth and height of the sofa seat.

“A sofa should fit the person with the shortest leg length for proper seat depth and seat height,” advises interior designer Steven C. Adamako of Spectrum Interiors in Kalamazoo, MI.

Keep in mind seat cushion materials play a factor as well. Soft cushions will cause you to sink into a seat more than a firm cushion. A lower seat height can offset a deeper seat depth to help ensure good back support.

Think about who’s going to clean it

There’s form, and then there’s fabric—which is a key factor to consider if you have kids, pets, or just generally plan to use the sofa on a daily basis.

“Pay close attention to the durability and washability of the fabric you choose,” Harris says. An argument about who’s cleaning (or refusing to clean) the new sofa might mean someone might be sleeping on it.

Engineered fabrics such as indoor-outdoor upholstery have come a long way. They’re easy to clean, and many are as supple as indoor fabrics. Protectant sprays (e.g., Scotchgard) can also help keep your new sofa clean.

Canoodle to test comfort

Photo by Alex Maguire Photography Your partner is the center of your life, and your new sofa will be the centerpiece of your living space. When shopping together, don’t hesitate to spend time sitting, lounging, and stretching out on floor models. Give your bodies time to sink into a sofa and evaluate the feel of the fabric.

Keep in mind that a sofa may feel like the right fit in the showroom, then lose its comfort and appeal halfway into a Netflix binge. With this in mind, do a deep dive into the company’s return policy so you’re not stuck with a dud.

Shop as a team (the same team)

Photo by Danielle Trippett Interior Design & Decoration  To make it as a team in life, you must first make it past the hurdles of furniture shopping. Neither partner should feel snubbed, unheard, or disappointed.

Set a budget, educate yourselves on options, and get excited about (don’t just settle on) a brand-new sofa to feather your nest.

And remember: You probably didn’t find your partner on the first go, so don’t feel pressured to find a sofa you both love on your first shopping trip.

The post Couples (Couch) Therapy: How to Choose a Sofa You’ll Both Want to Snuggle On appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

[romantic-barista]

All of the history questions. All of them.

1. Who is your favourite historical person?

- I’m interested in world leaders and finding out why they were so fucked up lmao. But, I think FDR is pretty interesting, I guess.

2. What is your country most famous for in history?

- abolishing slavery?

3. What is your country most infamous for in history?

- slavery and slaughtering natives

4. Favourite historical era?

- ... tbh, industrial. 

5. Favourite weapon?

- ... hmm, i’m not sure but i like guns?

6. Military unit?

- don’t have one!

7. Historical dressing, uniform, or costume?

- all the victorian dresses that aristocrats wore

8. What is the last thing you have read, listened to, or spoken of with historical reference?

- ... hmm, my american government book? 

9. Favourite historical film?

- ... Life is Beautiful. It’s so fucking sad but amazing.

10. What pieces of art (i.e. paintings, sculpures, lithographies, etc.) related to history do you like the most?

- ... I don’t really have art that relates to actual history that i like, mostly just art of gods/goddesses that’s “old”

11. Have you ever participated in reenactment? What it was like?

- haven’t. 

12. Would you take part in reenactment? In what era and as whom?

- possibly and would do some sort of medic, but I don’t know what era appeals to me.

13. [share some random historical trivia!]

- FDR had polio and they would make him stand in photos so that he would appear to be able-bodied for the press and to the american people. there’s only one pic in existence of him in his chair.

14. Why are you are interested in history?

- I really like knowing what things happened so that we won’t repeat them. Also, some old ads really interest me as a comm major.

15. Were the history classes taught in an interesting way in your school, college, or university? What would you do to improve them if you were the teacher/lecturer?

- They were sorta taught interesting. My history high school teacher let us watch Spirited Away, Life is Beautiful, and some other films from around the world for world history, told puns, and he had this amazing charming laughter if he wasn’t older than me and married with 3 kids i’d so date him

- In college so far, it hasn’t really been interesting. :/ 

16. Do you own some historical item (e.g. coin, clothing, weapons, books, etc.) If yes, which one is your favourite?

- I have replica ww2 spectacles from a friend that I’m pretty sure killed himself from online bullying and dress gloves from my aunt mary that are also circa ww2 (and authentic). My dad has a bullet shell from my uncle bud that passed away that he got from my aunt mary one year for christmas. my fav are the gloves.

17. What historical item would you like to own?

- I’d like to own some old swords or guns or old everyday items like brushes and combs.

18. Look at the clock and assume the numbers are forming a historical year (e.g. 17;58 would be 1758) What is the world like in that year? Any important events? 

-10:16. 

19. What's your favourite historical book?

- I don’t really have historical books that I like, but I like historical fiction?? 

20. Who, if anyone, is your historical crush?

- ... hmm, I don’t think I can crush on people from before our time bc they’re dead and bc I’d have to like their personality too

21. What is your favourite history-based game?

- ... I don’t play history-based games bc they’re boring lol.

22. [random historical fact about the place you're living in right now]

- In 2000, Kalamazoo Valley Museum was voted the top small museum in Michigan by readers of Michigan Living Magazine. (the museum is owned by my college)

23. What's your favourite historical song or song containing historical references?

- I guess, Senbonzakura or 1925. both are vocaloid songs bc i’m a nerd.

24. Who do you consider to be one of the most underrated historical figures?

- ... I’d say there’s a lot of underrated lgbt icons. 

25. Who is the most overrated historical figure, in your opinion?

- Christopher Columbus. He raped native women, cut off native’s tongues, and killed them with the spread of disease + would torture them. He’s not fucking cool. 

26. Who do you think is a forgotten hero we should know about and admire?

- Idk, there’s not really any people I think that I can admire because they’re all secretly assholes...?

27. What's your favourite historical "What if..." scenario?

- What if we didn’t participate in ww2?

28. Do you have a favourite "dream team" of historical figures living at the same time in a specific era of history?

- nope

29. Are there any great historical mysteries that you are interested in?

- ... hmm, I’m interested in assassinations and all the “mysterious” deaths/unsolved cases but that’s not really history, lol

30. [ask me a question of your own devising]

- you didn’t ask one

[chaplaingumdrop]

My Boss the Scam Artist

 I figure the best place to start writing memoir is from the back. So let me show you the back half of my story.

My grandfather died on New Year’s Day. I went home for the first time in two years for the funeral. I saw my father for the first time in ten years. Not that I hadn’t already been kind of a big smoker, but from the time I left Kalamazoo to go north until just a few days ago, I’ve been pretty much high non-stop. Some of it was good and fun bonding with my uncle, who can’t smoke much because of his job, and my little brother, who is an MRA and possibly the angriest MMJ patient I’ve ever known. A lot of it was me toking up by myself every few hours. To be perfectly honest, if I hadn’t taken that job working for my friend’s fledgling law office, I’d be baked now, not writing this memoir, and my rent would be paid.

When we first met, my employer-to-be was a prostitute. She worked under the name of Sophie St. Clair, servicing the men of Kalamazoo to pay her way through law school. She was also my primary source of marijuana. I used to come visit, smoke and watch Game of Thrones with her, and duck into the kitchen when a gentleman came to call. She had two kids, a live-in partner who was super chill but had a nasty temper and scared the shit out of her kids. Fun to smoke with though, fascinating human being. The kids were pretty cool too. They weren’t super verbal, but they were toddlers, so it’s to be expected. Over the next year of knowing Sophie they grew into awesome little kids, and I would begin to learn how messed up things were.

Sophie was smoking quite a bit of pot until she started actually working in law, then she transitioned to harder drugs with much shorter half-lives. I never realized the extent of her drug use, but only because I was in my own head too much and ignored the obvious signs of very serious addiction. I also understood having an opiate problem. I had watch my mom struggle with her addiction to prescription pain-killers following several hospital stays complete with very regular administrations of morphine. Sophie had been a veteran and was badly wounded in Iraq, so her replacement parts caused her a great deal of pain. She had gotten addicted to morphine and transitioned to heroin when the VA cut her off, as it was cheaper than pharmaceutical drugs. She had borrowed, as well as stolen, several hundred dollars from me. It all culminated in my paying an electric bill for her and then having her ghost on me, moving a few times, business, rehab, what have you.  After rehab she’s still hooking, and she’s smoking crack now, but I never saw her injecting drugs again. Progress, I figure. I introduce her to my roomies because we play D&D and I want to provide her with some social support so she can stay clean and happy. Sometime around the holidays I meet her new assistant, who does not remain her assistant long, leaving after he learned of her prostitution days, taking the dog with him. Enter Rain, grieving my grandfather, smoking too much, and desperately needing a distraction other than my single graduate class.

So it started normally enough, I was given some tasks and we had a lot of boring lawyer talk. I made my own contract on RocketLawyer and did W4 and insurance. Her retainer accounts were apparently messed up however, so I needed to cover some retainers to keep handling business. No big deal, I have some cash from student loans and can loan my lawyer friend some money, it’s in my contract that I get reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs. Her daughter gets a bad urinary tract infection and her ex hits her up for money to take care of it, which I agree to because I adore her children and want them well and happy.

We have to cancel our first business trip because of an unreliable driver (she isn’t allowed to drive because of seizures related to a TBI), and then a client who fucked up really bad and got locked up. Steadily and surely our trips get canceled, I wonder why I ever try to plan anything with her, and I keep smoking to deal with the stress that she’s causing me.

Then she started getting sick. Frequent seizures, general tiredness, bad shit. She had some scans done, there was a shadow on the scan, which upon biopsy would turn out to be a malignant tumor pressing on her TBI. A month goes by, I’ve loaned her money without a scrap of repayment, much less my wages. She’s sleeping on my couch with my youngest roommate, who has taken it upon himself to look after her health. They’re also fucking. It’s sort of cute, so I enjoy it for a bit. We keep doing lawyer things, I am suspicious but not enough to not continue going along with it all. Eventually, my accounts are drained. That’s when I notice a lack of documents coming my way and she’s started doing her lawyer talk stuff with her nursemaid. Every time I mention to her that she owes me 10k she says I’m next in line, she’s being hit up by everybody and has these medical bills and all. Predictably, she is never able to go out and get me my money or to go to the office to pick up the mail with my bar card and insurance information. She says her colleague Mark was going to drop it off, but then got stuck in Detroit helping sort out the travel ban, which was among my early work for her and a cause that I care about very deeply as a person of faith.

As of today two months have passed. I am unpaid. She is still on my couch, fucking my roommate. By this point I had started to shake off the haze and bothered to do some research. My active mourning period had mostly ended, or at least paused. My partner has been immensely helpful to me. She’s a student, an activist, and worthy of far more respect than I afford her due to her age and experience. She happened to meet Mark (the very same) at a meeting regarding the creation of a new county ID (we’re a sanctuary city, so the county is creating identification cards to help refugees and immigrants get around more easily). They had the chance to talk and as it turns out my boss has never been a lawyer. This disturbs me greatly, as I realize I don’t have a signed contract because of reasons. First it was a lost file, then it was her just never getting around to it, so I had asked my partner to print off a couple of copies so I can just make my “boss” sign. She claims to need her notary stamp, which brings us to the meeting. My partner had the good fortune to not interact much with Sara and brought fresh eyes and a sober mind to my life. She found that super sketchy and made a point of helping me when I wasn’t sure how to help myself or sort out what I believed about anything or anybody. Nobody is objective about their partners, but it’s nice that she’s better at addressing my suffering than I am. What she learned from Mark was that Sophie had worked with him once on an assignment in law school and then proceeded to throw his name around a lot. He was also never stuck in Detroit helping out refugees, she did not rent the office space next to his, and he’s really tired of having people call up to ask about her. Upon further research we determined that the registration number she gave me belongs to a lawyer with a very low internet profile a few towns away, and I had never bothered to look into it until now. It was fairly clear that I needed to force a signature and begin preparing to take action.

Thursday, March 16, Sophie told us her five year-old daughter had just died. I loved this child like one of those friends your kid calls auntie or uncle but actually isn’t. The thing is, I’d begun to suspect something was up with the kids for a while. I messaged a friend who had been ripped off by her, who told me to message the children’s grandmother, who could answer my questions for me. I was then contacted by the children’s stepmother, who very angrily informed me that the children are secure and happy, with parents who love them. She shamed her/us for having the nerve to intrude into their lives with Sophie’s scams and lies, that she had plenty of chances to get her shit together and be a mom to the kids. That it was her choice to be a hooker and abuse heroin. That the police keep coming to her home trying to arrest Sophie, that she’d received a letter from the Sheriff stating that she’d jumped bail too many times and would remain in jail until trial, and that if she ever wanted to leave Kalamazoo forever, this would be a damned good time. Then she promptly severed the line of communication and I was unable to reply. Today I sent a message to her husband to thank him and assure him I’d do what needs to be done. I assured him that Sophie had not been using my Facebook to access photos of the kids for one of her schemes, that I had been burned by her to the tune of 8-10k, and all I needed was answers. He asked for her new phone number, just to try to keep tabs on her. I gave it, and he began to answer my questions.

He told me she has around six active warrants for her arrest, and some waiting for her back in California. One of them for prostitution, one for impersonation of a court official, three theft warrants (one being for guns), and one for failure to pay child-support. He also told me she was never in the Marines, and that her hips are 100% real and made of bones growing in her body. He told me they split because the Sheriff picked her up and took her to prison in another state. That the “rape” (quotations his) she had blamed the dissolution of their relationship on had occurred when she got released and started turning tricks down there. He told me she’s got a teenage kid somewhere in Arizona, and that this isn’t the first or even the second time she has pretended one of her kids had died so she could run a new scam on somebody.

Hours later, an old friend visited. We’ll call her Alyssa. She had overdone it one night and struck a housemate in drunken rage. Police were called. She went to jail. She just got out today and she’s not allowed in her house while the housemate is still living there. She had contacted Sophie for help with the situation. The moment she and Sophie had stepped outside to talk I immediately informed her partner that Sophie was not a lawyer and that Sophie’s daughter had not died. He seemed puzzled, but also like he’d expected to find out that Sophie was a fraud. I shared as much as I could before they returned inside. Alyssa’s partner told me about her situation and that she didn’t have a place to go at the moment. I offered my bed should she require it, and he went to retrieve some things from the house and bring her an overnight bag. Shortly after he left I retreated downstairs while Sophie and Alyssa talked. I began to hear powerful weeping and realized that Sophie was telling Alyssa about her daughter. I bit my tongue while waiting for an opportunity, which arrived shortly. Alyssa joined me in my bedroom and we talked. I told her what I knew and showed her what I had gathered. I told her of my plans to file a police report after the holiday weekend (St. Patrick’s Day, I expect the police to be processing drunks through Sunday, so finding time to meet me for paperwork seems unlikely).

Alyssa and I make our reports on Monday.

[spanglerscribbles]

Sticky Notes on My Face.

Considering what is going on in the world at this point, I thought I’d share I bit of my personal history regarding a certain psychological battle (albeit still ongoing) that I’m sure many of you will relate to. No politics here. This will be a safe space. Plus, I need to write this out and get it off my chest. I figured those who read this will get a better understanding of the human being behind the screen and/or find out more about themselves after reading my story. 

I want you to pay close attention to this next paragraph. 

I’m the first born child in my little family, and soon became an older sister to my baby brother after 3 years of waddling on planet earth. As I grew up, I was homeschooled. Despite the social stigma regarding this private system, it’s made me who I am today. I would go back and do it all over again. I was raised by my mom and dad, my mom being a highly esteemed worship leader at our local church, and my dad being on staff at said church as the kid’s ministry pastor. I would have been around 10 when they got these positions. I followed after my mom’s footsteps and joined our youth group’s worship team as a singer. Later, I began to discover a more creative side of myself. I’m an artist, in the general term. To narrow it down, I am in the visual arts, dappling in graphite and digital mediums. But to be even MORE specific, as I grew older I became a conceptual developer, character designer, digital illustrator, graphic designer, animator, screen writer, and creative director, to name a few. I am now a graduate of Kalamazoo Valley Community college, with a degree in animation with honors. Currently, I am nearing the end of production for my first collaborative, animated short film that will release in the coming months. 

Wonderful. Now that I’ve talked about myself, I want you to do something for me. Count all of the titles I have stated in the segment above. Adding the obviously worded statements plus the one’s loosely mentioned… that’s 17.

17 titles mentioned about myself. Out all those 17, which stood out to you the most? Which sounded more appealing to you? Were they intriguing? Relatable? Likable? 

Whether we like it or not, we are all labeled. There will always be some aspect of us that people identify with as soon as our name is mentioned, and it will always have a name. 

I want you to think up a list of all the titles and labels others have given you or that you’ve given to yourself. Think up as many as you can. A contractor, Pastor’s kid, singer, university student, doctor, engineer, couch potato, foodie, pretty, ugly, football player, band geek, hyper, emo, conservative, liberal… 

It could be a small list or an extensive list. Think of all of yours? Great. 

Who would you be if they all just went away? 

Photo by Kelsey Wilson

Are These Labels What Really Define Me?

I want you to go back to the list of my own titles. There were plenty to choose from such as homeschooler, worship leader’s kid, pastor’s kid and artist. Those were the labels I was known for growing up. 

When my family moved to Michigan and started going to our awesome local church, I had to start my life over. I was a fresh face, a newbie. I had to start making new friends, but I didn’t know how. I grew up with friends already by my side back in Indiana. Meeting new people and befriending them was a foreign concept to me at the time. 

But soon, kids and adults alike began to address me as Karen’s kid or Brad’s kid… since my parent’s faces were quickly becoming well known in the community. Which, for some reason, made me popular. I befriended other PKs (pastor’s kids) while my dad was on staff. I remember two or three kids in particular I gravitated towards during those first few years in the mitten state. We would often stay in church all day on Sunday because of our parent’s pastoral obligations, so we would run up and down the office space and just be goofy kids. 

I was homeschooled from 1st grade onward, which was another label I was recognized for as I went into middle school. I never went to co-op, or went to many outside classes with others in the homeschool community, so all of my friendships were cultivated in our church’s youth group. Everyone knows once you go into middle school, things start to change… everywhere. Kids start to judge things they don’t understand a little more harshly than before. So a lot of the kids I tried to be friends with picked on me for having that label. So for a long time, I tried to suppress that and make my PK status more prominent. 

But I was in middle school now and my dad wasn’t overseeing these grades. So that title was only visible to a select group of kids along with the adults in my life who respected my parents. With my credibility gradually declining, I had to find another title that would help maintain what social status I had. So I started bringing my sketchbook to youth group with me. 

Kids were drawn to me like a moth to a flame. It was like I had these sticky notes on my face that listed all the titles I had in my possession that molded me into this appealing museum piece. I was shocked to see so many kids I’ve never met just walk up to me and gawk at my drawings. I did’t even need to initiate anymore… I just had to create interesting things to gain the interest of others. Almost every week I would come in early, sit down on the couch, just draw whatever come to mind, and let people come my way. From then on, I was known as the artist. I would post art on Facebook, I would create more drawings on my off time to show off on social media and in person. This went on, and it worked. Until life decided to not go my way. 

Photo by Gregg Lawson

Loss of Self.

It was the summer of my last year in middle school. I remember my family sitting down at the dinner table and my dad telling us the news that he was leaving his position as the children’s pastor. Soon after that, my mom stepped down from the worship team after singing in every morning service for nearly 5 years. Just like that, 2 prominent titles that the world identified me with were gone. I wasn’t the pastor’s kid anymore. I wasn’t the worship leader’s kid anymore. 

I panicked. I literally had anxiety attacks over this for months. I had no idea how this would affect me and my friendships and other people’s perceptions down the road. It got worse once I transitioned into high school. 

I was friends with all lower classmen, besides a few guys I hung out with in my same grade. But they changed drastically in short span of time, and seemed as though they did’t want anything to do with me. I was in the midst of an identity crisis, and I had to figure out someway to make myself appealing to these new, older, taller group of students with the only positive label I had to my name. 

I worked my butt off to be known as the creative artist. 

I didn’t bring my sketchpad with me as often as I used to, but I drew almost every day. I honed my skills, and got better. I posted more online, I made more friends over seas because of my art. I had a batch of “online friends” to brag about to people. I wrote stories to draw more characters about. I did everything to make myself look as impressive as a freshmen could with the talent that I had. 

Come sophomore year, I gradually found my people. I clung to these new friends every weekend, because they were the only ones that accepted me. I drew for them. I made art for them. I tried to appeal myself to them as often as I could. In hindsight, the smothering of creative adulation was farfetched and unnecessary, but back then that was the only thing I knew to do to maintain a relationship. 

So I got better. I drew more and more. I wrote creative stories, and built magical worlds with my visual talent. I made all of my work known to people. Creating art began to transform into an obligation than a pleasant pastime. Once I graduated high school and my friends parted ways, it crashed on top of me like a dump truck. The friends I thought I had weren’t intentional about keeping in touch. They found new labels, and were drawn to those of the same name. I was left alone, on my own path. All the work I poured into art was squandered. It meant nothing. Even in the midst of working towards my animation degree, I had no passion for it. Not only did I lose my love for creativity, I lost my identity. 

Photo by Chris Holt

Who Are You, Really?

Freshman year of college was a rough time for me. In the midst of change, I had to take a few steps back to rediscover myself. My whole perception of love and friendship came out of the mindset that I had to perform. I felt I needed to create more content, to live up to my artistic title in order to get the admiration I wanted from the people around me. Because that was what I was known for. That was who I was. 

But was it really? 

It was’t until a year later I went to a conference with dozens of like-minded creatives, passionate about their craft as well as their calling that I began to understand. I had conversations with people that were twice as old as me who had been dealing with these same issues. There were professionals in the industry who talked about these things. It was then I knew I wasn’t alone on this journey of self discovery… but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as one might think. 

So what if all my labels disappeared? I was no longer an artist. I could’t sing. I have no talent to speak of. I was’t pretty, but I was’t ugly. Not athletic or smart. No notable works to be mentioned. I have done nothing to entertain the masses or add to society. Who would I be then? 

To my surprise, I’m more than all of those labels combined. I went back to my roots. The foundational truths of God’s Word that I was raised on. It’s amazing how we can go throughout life and sometimes forget or completely disregard what the Bible says about God’s love and promises. 

  In Romans 8 it describes us as heirs to God, adopted into His family through faith in Jesus. Going on it mentions we have a purpose in His plan as His children. 

I am a new creation. 1 Corinthians 5:17

I have not a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

I was bought with a price. 1 Corinthians 6:20 

I am a light. Matthew 5:14 

I am blessed.  Ephesians 1:3 

I am an overcomer. 1 John 5:4 

I am more than a conqueror. Romans 8:37 

I am loved. Romans 5:8

The list can go on and on. There are so many places in the Bible that state God’s opinions about me. The kicker is that he thought of these things before I was even conceived. Before my heart started beating, before my eyes saw the world, He loved me. I didn’t have to do anything to earn it. He loves me, because He loves me, because He loves me… just because. 

  I didn’t do anything.   

Do you know how much relief I felt when I was reminded of that? There was NOTHING I could do that would make Him love me any more or any less than He does right now. He’s always been in my corner, I was just too blind by my own warped mindset to perform and succeed to gain admiration from others. In reality, it was far simpler than what I imagined. 

Photo by Luke Spangler

The Love that Defines You.

I didn’t need to put sticky notes listing my accomplishments and my titles all over me. Those are just things I happen to be called or that I happen to do. Those can come and go. Life has a habit of shifting your perspective that way. But what I know for sure, where my foundation lies and what I am grounded in is the fact that I’m loved by the Creator of the Universe.   

You may be reading this with one or two or fifteen labels spinning in your mind that you’re known for. You may feel the pressure to uphold those titles because you feel that if those sticky notes fall away, you would be left with an empty canvas that no one would love or admire. 

But know that in the very heart of it all, the treasure of your being is the unconditional love that burns inside you. The Love that wants you to prosper in life. The Love that had a plan and a purpose for you before you were born. The Love that loves your abnormally large nose, the one dimple on your left cheek, your bushy eyebrows and frizzy hair. The Love, that no matter how screwed up you are, or what awful things you may have done, or how many people you’ve hurt,  He is there by your side, willing to walk life out with you as you rediscover yourself in Him again. 

No matter how others see you, know without a shadow of a doubt, you will always be loved by the One who wanted you here in the first place, just because you’re His creation. 

Cheers, 

Hannah Spangler 

[eileensmith]

My Save The Monarchs Project and Pollinator Sanctuary Garden

The Milkweed Is In!

This blog post is dedicated to the late Homero Gomez, champion of the Monarch and warrior of the forest

Monarchs are in serious decline. As are all insects and pollinators. Please see the list of resources and articles at the bottom of this post for more information and how to create your own pollinator garden.

I planted both swamp milkweed and the common milkweed. Both are beautiful and have a light fragrance. Milkweed is a perennial and will propagate itself.  I grew both from seed. I decided to devote one of my garden squares to the butterflies entirely. I used to grow vegetables in it. There is still some garlic, lettuces and a cucumber there, but most of it is parsley for Painted Lady larvae. Something said to me "Just do it! Make it a sanctuary for both the larva and the adults." And so I did. It now has both varieties of milkweed, the parsley, dill, lavender and zinnias.

Don’t Forget Nectar Plants

Adult Monarchs need nectar plants, so it’s important to provide that so they have something to eat laying their eggs and after they emerge.

I learned so much from Jersey Friendly Yards and the Native Plant Society. My favorites for both beauty and what the pollinators seem to love are zinnia, aster, goldenrod, purple cone flower, bee balm, Joe Pye ,french marigold, Michaelmass daisy. The asters (of all kinds) seem to be a real hit. And in the sun, they have a spicy honey like smell. I will continue to add to this list as I discover them through the Native Plant Finder and Audubon Plant Finder

I took these photos of Monarchs last fall on their way south towards a major migration route in Cape May, New Jersey. They took a break in my yard and the gardens I created to help them survive. I can't tell you how thrilling it was to have them come into the sanctuary I created as they make their long trek south.

What I do know is that the monarch larvae that were in my garden this year will come back to me in the spring, like kids coming home to where they were born and raised.

And that my friends, is a beautiful thing.

Eileen

This blog post is dedicated to the late Homero Gomez, champion of the Monarch and warrior of the forest.

© Copyright The Path of the White Rose LLC

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Resources to Create Your Own Backyard Sanctuary

I found some additional sites for further reading about the monarch crisis and planting milkweed for them.

National Wildlife Federation: Garden for WildlifeNational Wildlife Federation: Native Plant Finder

National Audubon Society: Native Plants Database

Landscape for Life

Duke Farms Stewardship at Home

EPA GreenScapes Program

Stewardship Garden: http://www.ourhabitatgarden.org/creatures/milkweed-growing.html

Ecosystem Gardening: http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/butterfly-gardening-for-monarchs-got-milkweed.html

Michigan Live: (Great photos and Video) http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/10/bring_on_the_milkweed_to_bring.html

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Where Have All the Monarch Butterflies Gone To?

[dalovelee1]

Hey, hey now. Thank you for stopping by my blog. There are some spectacular events coming up that my Sistah Queens should not miss. I promise you will not be be disappointed.

HAIR Is Where You’ll Find the Love

Today

It’s my Anniversary. Shout out to my husband of 13 years. Cheers to us! We’re celebrating all weekend at an undisclosed location. I love you Deon. We both need this time away from the world. Let’s wild out.

Pitch Competition sponsored by Michigan Good Food Fund. Grand Rapids is a mecca for black entrepreneurship. That’s one of the many reasons I love my city. It’s nice to see so many brothas and sistahs turn their visions into executed plans. That’s the company I need to keep, positive and determined. Anyway, this is a competition in which six food businesses will compete for $7,500 by pitching their grind to a live audience. I hear the audience will also have an opportunity to vote for one of the business to receive $2,500. The food business are Forty Acres Soul Kitchen, Malamiah Juice Bar, Royal Jelly Foods, Dreamgoats, Good Life Naturals, and The Only Bean. I’ve heard of a few of these places but I’ve never tried them. You know if I did, I’d give you the low down. That’s what my blog is all about. It lasts from 4-7 PM at the Downtown Market, 435 Ionia SW.

Tomorrow, September 15

End of the Summer Food Truck Festival is taking place at the Kent District Library in Kentwood. Go  get your grub on with some of the most fastest-growing businesses around. Come back to this post and let me know what was good and what wasn’t.

The Haunt opens. The Haunt is Grand Rapids’ scariest haunted house if you like that kinda thing. It’s at a new location, 1256 28th Street in Wyoming. Go on and face your fears. Scare your kids. Enjoy life. It’s too short. Don’t forget to look in the mail for a get a free admission with a paid admission coupon. They have them every year.

Monday, September 17

The Touch Skin Soft Heart discussion is taking place at the Grand Rapids Public Library downtown. If you haven’t got the book, it was written by Grand Rapid’s very own Shannon Cohen, a true leader and inspiration. She will have a conversation with attendees and Mayor Rosalynn Bliss is moderating. How about that? Go head Shannon. We’re proud of you. She’s going to teach women how to take care of themselves while still taking care of everyone, and everything, else. It’s a free event, but make sure you grab a copy of the book.

Tuesday, September 18

Bax to the Future is an open house for those interested in learning about Baxter Community Center. it’s free and a light lunch is provided. Baxter has several programs that benefit the community, including a child development center, a wholistic health center, mentors and market place where families can get food and clothing. There’s a huge gym with a kitchen that can be rented to the community for birthday parties, resource fairs and other events. Go take a look.

Thursday, September 20

Master Mind Sessions by the Urban Core Collective is taking place at the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. If you aren’t familiar with the Urban Core Collective, it’s a non-profit that addresses systemic racism.  the Master Mind Sessions empower minority leaders through a panel discussion on the third Thursday of each month. The focus of September’s session is When the Well Runs Dry – Navigating Burnout,  Loneliness, Anxiety As a Black or Brown Leader. I think I might need to get my butt up in there. It’s a luncheon that costs $10. There’s only room for 50 people so don’t miss out.

Friday, September 21

Venture Launch is a workshop for new entrepreneurs hosted by the GR Chamber. It’s a FREE 3-hour workshop designed to help you get your business off the ground. We need to fill this up so the Chamber will continue to provide free events. It’s happening from 9 AM until 12 PM. You can register by clicking on this link. Thank me later by becoming a sponsor of my blog. #eachonereachone

The African American Art & Music Festival is also jumping off this weekend at Calder Plaza, in the middle of downtown GR. This is a two-day event so you won’t miss out if you can’t make it on Friday. It kicks off at 5:30 PM and will last until 10 PM. On Saturday the hours are 10 AM until 10 PM. There will be be great food, a DJ, a basketball tournament, African drumming, and many other exciting ways to celebrate black culture and unity. I know my natural Sistahs are gonna show out. I can’t wait to get my hair crush on. I’ll definitely write an article about it with tons of pictures.

The 65th Anniversary Civil Rights Celebration & Gala is taking place that same night. The City of Grand Rapids’ Office of Diversity & Inclusion is hosting this event. It will be at the JW Marriott downtown so you it will be classy and elegant. Whew! Turn up. According the the Facebook event page, “The theme of the Gala is, “Braiding Generations: Past, Present and Future.” The entire city will be celebrating and honoring our past, looking at the present state of civil rights in Grand Rapids and helping us shape and design the future of Grand Rapids. It starts at 5:45 and costs a $100 for a ticket. Click here if you want to purchase one.

Saturday, September 22

The African American Art & Music Festival will still be going on.

Sunday, September 23

Brunch #18 for the WOC Creatives in GR group will be held at Forty Acres Soul Kitchen. The theme is “All. Black. Everything.” I love it! There will be a photo shoot, food and great company. This will be a strategic planning session for the group so if you ever wanted to come to a brunch, this is the one you don’t want to miss. Get involved. Support. By the way, wear black and bring black shades for the shoot.

Tuesday, September 25

Hook-A-Sista-Up will have their monthly support group and accountability check-in. I’m not sure of the location or presenter, but it’s always from 6 PM – 8 PM. I’ll update this article when I have the info. I want to send a special shout out to the ladies of HASU for allowing me to feature photos from our lasting meetup on this article.

Thursday, September 27

Angela Davis is coming to Kalamazoo, MI. Wow! One of the originators of the afro. A true Sistah of tha struggle. The event is called Black Lives Matter Then & Now. Power to tha people! The Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership is sponsoring the event. It will be held at Dalton Theater at Kalmazoo College. Get your tickets here.

Support, Support, Support

We have to support events that are relevant to the natural hair community. I’m so proud to be able to highlight so many positive and  uplifting events. Get connected. Buy products and network. Let me know if you have an event that I should share with the community by shooting me an email at msleonica@dalovelee1.com.

Until my podcast is edited. Peace!

We Show Love Around Hair: Grand Rapids Area Natural Hair Meet-Ups & Related Events: Sept. 14-27, 2018 Hey, hey now. Thank you for stopping by my blog. There are some spectacular events coming up that my Sistah Queens should not miss.

[jacksonvillehomepros4]

Cottage Meets Craftsman in a Michigan Lake House (20 photos)

After their kids had grown up and moved out, this couple decided to build their forever home on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo, Michigan. The design pros at Visbeen Architects and its in-house interior design firm, Vision Interiors, created a 2,781-square-foot house that feels much larger than it is and has...

[kwadejoslin]

Cottage Meets Craftsman in a Michigan Lake House (20 photos) https://www.houzz.com/magazine/cottage-meets-craftsman-in-a-michigan-lake-house-stsetivw-vs~126756807/

After their kids had grown up and moved out, this couple decided to build their forever home on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo, Michigan. The design pros at Visbeen Architects and its in-house interior design firm, Vision Interiors, created a 2,781-square-foot house that feels much larger than it is and has...

Becky Harris

[thomasreedtn]

Earth Day Celebrations and Happy Ending

David and I have so enjoyed our reunion after nearly three weeks apart due to my trip to Pennsylvania and his own two weeks of training in Arkansas. We spent this weekend hiking and enjoying delicious vegan food, mostly prepped by other people so we could relax and reconnect. Huge thanks to sweet Tania Marie for recommending Veestro, frozen, restaurant quality, preservative-free vegan meals and juices delivered to our door on Friday — with lots of gluten-free options. During our resettling process, David and I decided we wanted some ease and please in the kitchen, with minimal work by either of us. Veestro has been perfect!

Yesterday, we celebrated Earth Day with some yummy veggie juices and a green smoothie while watching our Zen new groundhog, yet to be named. This little one is definitely not Kalamazoo Kal, whom I suspect our neighbors trapped and released far away at the end of last year. I had seen him late one night and felt that as a goodbye, but when this year’s groundhog first appeared, I assumed it was Kal after a winter weight loss regime. Not so! The coloring, temperament and behavior patterns are completely different.

This new groundhog alternates between meditation and yoga — I kid you not. S/he (yet to be determined) has much more feminine energy and spends most of the day basking in sunshine by the shed, perching in a fabric garden pot like a cat, or staring off into space like a star child. S/he and the robins make synchronized swimming type motions together with their heads and bodies, and watching groundhog-squirrel interactions this year mystifies as much as amuses me.

The new one has the dark tail of Tucker Rat Boy from last year — the very naughty adolescent who fortunately hightailed it ten lots down the street. Behavior wise, though, this one’s so different. S/he eats only dandelions and presumably clover once it comes out, and s/he knows exactly when we’re talking about him/her, as s/he turns to listen. The appearance also morphs between groundhog, miniature bear and a baby javelina that came to me in a dream before I went to PA. In any case, we enjoyed watching this little shapeshifter Zen master yogini while we drank our juice and smoothies.

We then headed out to Pasches Lakeside, a Battle Creek restaurant located on Goguac Lake, with water views from all windows. It felt like a very old dream I used to have of living in a house on stilts, surrounded by water on three sides. Pasches features a full two page vegan menu, and we enjoyed some down home and cajun classics turned plant based:

Above you can see BBQ tempeh “ribs” with baked beans and mac n “cheese,” alongside yummy pickles. Below shows our very first “Beyond Burger” experience on tapioca buns, with sides of fries and coleslaw. We had seen the Beyond Burgers at various health food stores in Kalamazoo but never tried them. They really do taste and look like an actual burger. It was kind of freaky — almost like very old flame broiled Burger King memories, and I especially grooved on the coleslaw. I wouldn’t call this a healthy lunch, but for an Earth Day celebration, it delighted us!

We then headed over to Fort Custer State Recreation Area, on the side by Jackson Hole Lake and Lake Whitford and Lawler. The place was beautiful and eerily quiet, almost like another dimension. As David said, “Even the streams are quiet!” We passed people, horses and mountain bikes, but somehow, the near silence remained. David took photos along the way:

When we finished our three plus walk around Lake Whitford and Lawler, I felt led to sit on a pier before heading home. David joined me, and a few minutes later, a couple ran up to us frantically looking for their lost dog. Their rat terrier had jumped out the window as they drove away after their own hike, and they had been searching for her for three hours. We promised to call them if we saw the dog, as they mentioned their cell number was on the dog collar.

We continued to sit in the sun, and I put out a gentle call and prayers for the dog. Within ten minutes or less, little “Mini,” the very wet rat terrier ran onto the pier and jumped on my lap! She snuggled and licked me, and I managed to grab hold of her collar before she bounded into that very tempting water again. David called her humans and snapped a few photos while we waited for them to return:

I ended our adventure with a happy reunion of dog and humans and a huge hug from the human mama. David’s and my day and evening continued in synchronous fashion until lights out. All in all, a beautiful Earth Day, filled with nature and little winks from the interconnected multiverse. Every day is Earth Day in my life, but it’s nice to give Mama Nature an extra special day, too.:)

  from Thomas Reed https://laurabruno.wordpress.com/2018/04/23/earth-day-celebrations-and-happy-ending/