Oh what a Week!

Richard, Barb, Dad, Mary, and Art, together again on sunday morning! In this picture, I am holding the camera!!!!

Wow!! What a week!!! I am sorry I haven't posted for a while, but I have been out of time for a week, and I didn't have time while attending to my busy social life!! I went down to the condo in Rochester with my dad and mom, and we had a meeting with a realator, who is also a handy man. He gave us a plan to fix up the condo so we could sell it this summer. Gosh, it was 1975 when we moved to Rochester from the old house on San Juan in Detroit, and it seems like it has always been a part of my life. In a way, it has. 30 of my 38 years were spent in that condo at one time or another. School, the military, holidays, graduations, party's and such are all so much of the fiber of who and what I am, in a way I will miss the old place. I am ultimately happy, though, because this marks the time that my parents will be able to retire and move up here full time, which has been their dream for ever.

The next day, mom went to FLA to babysit the grand kids while Diane and Dennis go on a caribean cruise. I hope they all have fun. Mom is taking the kids to a Tigers spring training game in Lakeland, which is only the coolest thing of all time. I know they will have fun, I just hope the weather cooperates with them.

I worked on cleaning out the basement for a couple of days, but didn't have as much success as I would like. You see, I had a little gravity problem going down the steps one time, and took a nasty fall. Nothing was broken, but I have been sore ever since. It really cut down on my effectiveness.

On St. Patricks Day, dad and I drove to Battle Creek to spend the weekend with the Swains! We started off with dinner at the American Legion post 298 (which I am a proud member) of the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage, with carrots and potatoes. It tasted GREAT, but the serving was HUGE!!!!! We loaded up on their great salad bar, then the waitress brought us out 4 platters (I swear, they were platters!) with the food piled high, and hanging over the sides. We took 4 full boxes home, and had another meal (breakfast omelette, of course) with half of the left overs, and then threw out the rest. Oh well, it tasted great though. If you head out to Battle Creek, you might want to try the Legion for a good meal that is inexpensive!

After spending the rest of the night kibitizing and catching up on all things Bronder/Swain, we turned in and got ready for the big day that was going to be saturday. After lounging in the morning, Richard and the Bronder Boys went to Richard's golf club (Cedar Creek, which is quite nice and reasonable) for an open house. Richard is hanging in with lukemea, and has been week for a couple of months, but is going on a golf trip to Georgia in about 3 weeks. He wanted to see if he could still hurt a golf ball, and who are we to stop him!!! After putting on his new golf sandels, Richard walked in and got a small bucket of balls, and the three of us went out on the range and moved them up the green grass! Who cares if it is only 40 degrees outside? Nothing stops a Marine, right Richard!! Well we all felt good that Richard was able to do it, and look forward to seeing him whop some tail in Georgia!

From there, the three of us headed to a Texas Hold em' Tournament to help raise money for the local little league build a skills center to practice their game. With our combined skill and wits, we put a little scare in very few people, but had a good time doing it! Richard held out the longest, but ultimately fell short. The other 2 players never had a chance!!! After that, around 7 pm, we went back to the Swains, and decided to try our hands at a game we all rule, EUKER!! 2 or so hours later, we hit the rack and got ready for the last treat of the weekend!!

Sunday was a pajama day, and how I love those!! We spent the morning and early afternoon talking and then around 2pm, Art and Barb Lord came over. They had just flown back from a business confrence in Dallas for Barb's company, and came right over so they could see us. They are doing well, and it is always a treat to see them. On the scale of great people in the world, the Lords are top grade for sure. Barb is batlling breast cancer, and is still one of the most up beat people in the world. I don't know how she does it, but she always does with a gusto!! Art is joining the Michigan contengent on the trip to Georgia, so we know of at least 5 for sures who are going (Art, Richard, Owen, Dad, and Me), so Michigan will be well represented.

At 5pm we headed out with a heavy heart. It is always sad to leave that group, but the memories are always wonderfull. We got back to the cabin at 7:30, so we had time to setle in for West Wing. All is right in the world!

I will post again in a day or 2 and update you on Dad's desk, like I promised last time. Take Care!

Dave