Delegated Authority

 Bobby was my mom’s sister Liz’s son, who at a quite young age, died suddenly of a heart attack, the same evening as my Aunt Barbara, my moms younger sister (see below).

(from the Detroit Free Press): 

February 26, 2008

Age 66, resident of Wyandotte, died February 24, 2008 at home. Born February 13, 1942 in Highland Park, Michigan. Survived by brother Thomas Avery, one niece and nephew, several cousins, aunts and uncles. Preceded in death by his parents. Visitation Tuesday 5-9 p.m. and Wednesday 2-9 p.m. at HF Thon Funeral Home, 2760 Biddle Wyandotte, condolences www.rjnixonfuneralhome.com. Additional visitation with funeral Thursday 5-9 p.m. and Friday 2-9 p.m. with funeral Saturday 10 a.m. at Gramer Funeral Home, 705 N. Main St., Clawson. Burial at White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, Troy. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Cancer Society, American Diabetes or American Heart Association. Condolences www.gramerfuneralhome.com

Barbara Ann Popa  

(Courtesy of Traverse City Record-Eagle):  TRAVERSE CITY — Barbara Ann Popa, age 76, of Traverse City, passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008, at the Grand Traverse Pavilions. She was born June 28, 1931, in Clawson, the daughter of Frank and Agnes (Spanke) Krolikowski.

Barb married the late Harry Popa Sr. on Oct. 21, 1950, in Clawson. Together they had six children.

She worked in the fruit industry for most of her working life, but she enjoyed working with the people at Morrison’s Orchards, where she retired after 18 years.

Barb was a faithful servant to the Lord. She was a member of the Church of the Living God, regularly read the Bible and devotionals, and she was always willing to pray for family and friends. Barb also enjoyed word search.

Barb is survived by her children, Kathi (Joe) Dwyer of Traverse City, Harry Jr. of Traverse City, Frank (Connie) of West Milford, N.J., Beverly (Rick) Flees of Grawn and Bruce of Suttons Bay; six grandchildren, AmberRae, Eric, Andrea, Mark, Renee and Wayne; three great-grandchildren, Ian, Ashley and Crystal; brother, Raymond (Lena) Krolikowski of Royal Oak; sister, Donna Sweeney of Canton; many nieces and nephews, including a special nephew ,Tom Avery of Raleigh, N.C.; and dear friend, Sally Carlisle of Traverse City.

Besides her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her husband in 1969; a daughter, Susan Lamie in 2006; brothers, Gerald and Donald; sisters, Dorothy, Elizabeth and Cecelia; and another special nephew, Bob Spanke.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, at 1 p.m., at Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City, with visitation two hours prior. Pastor Ted Smith will officiate. Burial will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
�

Happy Anniversary Guys!

Of the 3 of the “cousins” born within 365 days of each other (literally) you guys took the plunge first. . .3 very fast years ago!  It is SO hard to believe its been 3 years already!

 

Ellen & Charlie are up next (June) with Adam & Megan hot on their heals in September!

Hope you celebrated in style and have many more to come!

Love ya!

 

What in the world was on their mind?

Its snowing again. 

Do you have any idea what that does to a 2.25 hour commute?

Lord, please help the driving idiots tonight.  I have homework due by midnight, and I need the internet to do it.

Yep, that’s right! BASEBALL! I smell spring training in the air, and exhibition games are already on the March calendar! Waahoo! Since I am incapable of picking just one team to be “mine”, I’m following both the O’s (Baltimore Orioles) and the Nat’s (Washington Nationals). I’ll admit to being partial to the O’s, but that’s another story all together.

My buddy and brother-in-law Warren has already contacted me about getting tickets to a few games- we go see both teams (he lives in Arlington, VA where the Nat’s are big, and I live, of course, in Maryland, and follow the O’s) – and I’ve got the baseball fever already coursing through my blood!

I’m not sure where I get that from. I remember as little girl coming home from school in the afternoons and seeing my mom ironing, watching the Detroit Tigers play. Maybe she watched baseball when she was pregnant with me, too, and it was passed on genetically? I only know I picked up on her love of the game. For. Sure. I played on one of my (many) high school girls’ softball teams (good enough to make the team, but only good enough to warm the bench, unfortunately). I also remember watching my brothers play many little league games when we lived in North Carolina. At some point, one of their coaches was one of Jim “Catfish” Hunter’s brothers! (Catfish is a Yankee’s Hall of Fame pitcher). Catfish even showed up at at least one of their practices and autographed baseballs for them! To this day, there is a billboard when you head into Hertford, NC on Route 17: Welcome to Hertford, Home of Jim “Catfish” Hunter! [insert long groan from my kids here- for hearing that story for the millionth time!] I remember a few pick-up games with my brothers, too; tho, since I am the youngest and a girl I’m not really sure how much I got to play!

I drug my own boys, (sometimes unwillingly, I think), to the baseball fields as young as they were allowed (5 I think). I just knew we had home-grown our very own Hall-of-Famer! I went to every single one of their games, practiced, pushed, cajoled and prodded until they finally told me they just didn’t want to play anymore L. Alas, I did let them go their own way.

To this day I love baseball and will go see a game every chance I get. We live relatively close to an “A” team (the Delmarva Shorebirds, an Orioles farm team), and get to a game or two of theirs occasionally, but really enjoy keeping up with the O’s and Nats at every chance.

I hear Nick Markakis is going to show his colors as a true leader for the O’s this year. After last years awesome accomplishments, I’m truly looking forward to watching him play!

Its going to be a great summer!

Batter Up!

Its here!  My new elliptical has arrived.  I’ve wanted one for a while, and now I have one.  Lets hope I use it as much as I want to use it.

Progress reports to come. . .

(via text)

Me:  You alive?

J3:  Negative. I’m a large fiesta basket in Guatemala.

Me:  Cool.

Its here.  Its installed.  It works. . . . .(very quietly, I might add!)

I think I’m going to go dirty some dishes, just so I can use my new dishwasher!

p.s.  Yes.  That is unstained wood around the sides of the dishwasher.  Big deal.  The contractor tried.  They only had huge cans of the right color, so we agreed to wait and let me get the right color and stain it later. . . . it will take all of 5 minutes.  I can live with it!

By the way, the Contractor was awesome.  Here’s his advertisement.  If you live on the Shore and need a handyman or light renovation, call Bill!  I highly recommend him!

Innocent Man By John Grisham

Good book.  His first, I believe, non-fiction.  I’m a *huge* John Grisham fan, and unabashedly consume every book he writes as soon as it is available in print.  I was not sure how I’d react to a true story.  I think he did a great job.  The story moved along and was detailed enough that you could feel like you were there (a must when I read).  (I want to feel the thrill and cry the tears right along with the characters.  I know that sounds weird, but if you know me personally, then you know that statement probably describes me pretty good.)  John Grisham is one of the best authors I know to keep you “involved” in his stories.  Its what makes him great in my mind.  On to Innocent Man: 

I dont want to give any spoilers to anyone who has not read it, so I [hopefully] will only give vague comments.  The book chronicles the life of a wrongly accused/incarcerated, ahem, Innocent Man.  He had a promising professional baseball career.  His life was pretty much ended by the vigilanteism of a small town small minded person of authority.

Two big impressions.  First.  They put pictures in the middle of the book.  Kind of gives away a lot of the story.  I know its a true story and we know how it ends. . .  but it did take a lot of the oomph out of the rest of the book for me.  Second.  It gives me chills.  To think that someone can literally be minding their own business and because one person in power wants to believe you did something, they can ruin the rest of your life.  Everything, and I mean everything pointed to this man innocence.  Everything.  Yet not only was he convicted, he was minutes away from being executed.  Literally.  Minutes.  Kind of creeps me out and has me worried.  It really can happen to anyone.  Gives. Me. Chills.

Have you read it?  What did you think?