So after dropping off the dog to the kennel and loading up the van with a dishwasher and suitcases, the kids(minus Tom) and I headed out to Michigan. Since I am not a very good long distance driver, I like to stop near Youngstown Ohio/Boardman Ohio(about half way to Detroit). I enjoy the area since they have lots of hotels, restaurants, shopping and movie theaters.

We got to our hotel around 530-plenty of time for me to walk across the street from our hotel to get a manicure for my high school reunion on Saturday night. The kids were anxiously awaiting the Phineas and Ferb 2 hour movie, so we searched for a pizza place for dinner that night. We were pleasantly pleased when we stopped into a Little Caesars for a Hot and Now meal-a pepperoni pizza, breadsticks and 2L bottle of soda ready to go-no waiting. How wonderful. We ate dinner at the hotel and the kids settled in for their movie. I fell asleep. I had hoped to take the kids to the movie theater next door to see CAptain America, but they had their hearts set on seeing the tv special.

The next morning SCott and I enjoyed a swim(I was too tired the night before) and a brief work out in the exercise room. After we dressed and packed up it was time to go. I made great time getting to Detroit since they upped the speed limit on the Ohio Turnpike to 70mph. I even had plenty of time to stop into Meijers on the way to my parents to check out MSU and Red Wing stuff and start stocking up on Vernors ginger ale soda. While shopping I gave my parents a call to see if they needed anything for the week since they had just returned from Charlevoix. They were busy visiting with Dan and Sheila and their twins, CAroline and Clayton as well as Dave and his two boys, Nicholas and Christopher at the lake house. They drove back down to Detroit to spend time with us. That afternoon they were headed off to church, so we joined them for the 430 mass. Afterwards, DAd and I unloaded the dishwasher into his Expedition, and unloaded the van. I had to hurry and shower and dress and head out to my 30th High SChool REunion at the Somerset INn near the Somerset mall on 16 mile road.

I decided to go to my reunion since I have never had the opportunity. The reunion is usually scheduled in September and it is too hard to get off work and the kids out of school to travel. I went not knowing who would be there-I was hoping to see some old friends from grade school as well as high school, and even my cousin Anne Marie. Turns out that is exactly what happened. I was sorry more of my high school and grade school buddies did not show up. WE had about 60 students from a class of 350 show up. I really had a wonderful time and enjoyed talking to so many people and trying to catch up with 30 years! I even chatted with a fellow high school student who is also an occupational therapist and even works for the same company I work for, Erickson Living, just in the Michigan facility down the road from my parents house. The reunion went from 7-1 and I stayed until 130 helping to clean up. I also helped take out supplies brought in by one of my grade school/high school friends who I was very sorry to hear has lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and was hit by a car not long ago with lots of residual physical problems. She also was wearing a boot on her foot from torn tendons and was recently divorced from her husband, can't have children, lost her house where she and her husband were living in Buffalo NY and had recently moved back to Sylvan Lake, Mich. She just did some renovations on her newly acquired house when the basement flooded. And she can't work. I cannot believe these people are my age with so many problems. But also many doing well(of course not for the dozen or so that had already died!). Amazing what can happen in just 30 years!

I am truly blessed with a wonderful family, job, home and life!

On Sunday I talked my parents into joining us at the Detroit Science Center. We all have accounts at BAnk of America, and they offer free admission to local museums twice a month. The Detroit Science center was on the list for the day so off we went. I hadn't ever taken the kids there either, so it was a new adventure for all of us. We even had tickets for two movies, all about dinosaurs.

On Monday I took the kids over to visit with my wonderful friends Laura and Dan Hejza. I can't believe that both Laura and their son Brandon had just been up to Boyne City that weekend dancing for the Polish Festival and marching in the parade. How many times we have been to the Polish festival(love the Polish mass-good accordion music!) and Laura has never been there. She and Brandon are in a traditional Polish dance group and were asked to perform. They even stayed at Shanty Creek which looked so nice.

We took the kids out for the day after a quick lunch at CJ Barrymore's-an outside play area with midget race cars, putt putt golf, rock walls and video games. We spent most of the afternoon outside. Before dinner, we headed back to their house and SCott swam in their pool while their son Brandon went to soccer practice. Allison and their daughter Katelyn practiced volleyball and ran the neighborhood since both girls had tryouts coming up for high school sports.

We visited Dave and Busters for dinner and video games and then back to their house for a sleepover. I enjoyed sharing our photos from Hilton Head, and the Hejza's shared their photos from their recent trip to Poland.

ON Tuesday we said our goodbyes after a great breakfast, and I stopped into the Somerset Mall for some souvenir shopping. The have a Detroit shoppe which is almost like a small museum itself. I found a great poster of old Detroit landmarks(thanks for the tip Laura!). After some back to school shopping with the kids, I drove Allison to the West Bloomfield library so she could log onto a Webinar for Girl SCouts and her trip to Houston in November. She sat for an hour on her laptop while Scott surfed the web. Afterwards, mom and dad Bozyk came over and also got to see my photos from Hilton Head. All this while a big storm was blowing and raining over our heads. It knocked down quite a few trees in my parent's neighborhood.

On Weds the weather cleared and we decided to head to the Detroit Zoo since I have zoo passes. We got in for half price. And everyone else still living in Detroit decided to join us that day! It was absolutely packed. But we got to see everything and mom and dad B made it all around the entire zoo(walking!). We were there from open to close at 8pm and stopped to have a picnic lunch. They even had a dinosaur exhibit with lifesized models which I took the kids through. Afterwards, we decided to introduce CiCi's pizza to my parents-an all you can eat pizza, soup and salad bar. Then we all headed home exhausted.

ON Thursday I decided to get my oil changed before heading home to Baltimore. DAd and I got up early and visited a Toyota dealership in Farmington Hills. I have free service for 2 years, no matter what dealership. We were done in an hour and headed home so I could pack up. While I was packing I noticed that the wheel key was missing from its pouch. I called the dealership and they thought it was in the glove compartment(it wasn't). INstead they asked me to drive back so they could find it. ON my way back to Baltimore, I had to swing back over to the dealership just to find out that the kid that worked on my car threw the key in the storage in the back where they keep the car jack and it fell down in the wheel well and he couldn't get it out. But he did not say anything after he saw they had brought me my car. It took 5 guys to get the key out and the manager was not happy. Neither was I that I had to discover this problem on my own. Anyhow, I had to stop into one more Meijer's to pick up Kogel Vienna Hot dogs, more Vernors and Detroit REd Wing flip flops, and then we were on our way.

We arrived in YOungstown around 730 pm so we missed the first movie at the very cheap movie theater I located while hunting for a CiCi's pizza during our trip out. So instead I took the kids shopping! We ended up catching the 945 movie of Xmen the Beginning. This movie theater shows last months movies at only $2 per person(.75cnets on Tuesdays). Allison and I really enjoyed the movie, Scott did not know exactly what was going on since he doesn't know the Xmen. I really liked the movie, and since it was so late when it was over, we decided to sleep in the next day. WE got up just in time for the free(not really) breakfast, showers and repacked for the end of the drive home. ON my way I almost got run off the road and a rock hit my brand new windshield-lovely crack.

Of course. I decided I had to take a break with the kids(shopping of course) at the outlet stores in Maryland before arriving home.

Overall it was a wonderful trip and I loved seeing my parents and visiting with Laura and Dan and their kids. It was a quick trip, but very productive, fun and a nice break at the end of summer.

Tom meanwhile made it to Virginia on Sunday night. He spent Saturday installing our new water heater. He bought a new one for the savings and because our water heater kept turning itself off. At least it wasn't leaking. He managed to carry the new monstrosity downstairs to the basement and hook up the gas and water lines, but could not carry the smaller tank upstairs by himself. He is waiting for the men to visit during Monday night football for some extra help. The weekend before he was busy installing a new garage door opener(of course on our extra long garage). He was happy I had given him a Home Depot gift card at Christmas. It came in handy. He also spent a day washing and sprucing up our bikes that were a bit abused at the ocean in Hilton Head. They were full of sand, and Scott's bike chain rusted. And they did not like being smashed together on the bike rack. We needed to make sure Allison had an operational bike to get to school and back for Field Hockey try outs the next day.

Tom was supposed to travel to Virginia and return to Baltimore on Tuesday. Then fly out to LA until Sunday. Instead, they kept him in Virginia(sorry Mike) and he came back on WEds night. He decided to pick up Cookie early too from the kennel.

We had to get back by Saturday since Allison had Field Hockey try outs. She spent two hours in the morning with several Freshman girls who were trying out from our neighborhood. Allison however can only make Varsity or she can't play. Wish her luck.

That evening, I was hoping to invite some friends over who just bought a CAvachon puppy, but they were at the beach. Instead, we cleaned house, bought food and invited our neighbors over for dinner. The husband just returned from China and the Phillipines and we wanted to hear about his trip. He brought Tom back some strong alcohol from china which we all drank. Don't think there will be any risk in us dying from lead poisoning-I am sure the alcohol content would kill us first!

I added two photos of our visit to the Girl Scout Founder, Juliette Gordon Lows house in Savannah as well as the visit to the Detroit Zoo.

More to come! Kathleen