Because of the Sun

Leaving the house this morning, I smiled. It was noticeably lighter outside. Snow was melting off the roof making puddles on the driveway. It was "warm". Did I even hear a chirping bird?

My heart tried to convince me that these were sure signs of an early Spring. However, my brain knows that a) I'm in Michigan, and b) It's January. Spring, and signs of this lovely season are a long way off. The little flitter of hope was nice, though.

After some gray, rainy moments throughout the day, the sun shone clearly when I left school at 4pm. It was 40 degrees warmer than it was one week ago. I was sure it'd be a good day for a run. Outside. Finally.
(Please note that my last outdoor run was New Years Day. Outside. In South Carolina.)

Forty degrees warmer means it was actually 40F. Not warm. Not even warm(ish). I'm a wuss. My fingers were frozen long after the run was over. Even after a hot shower I was shivering. Yes, I have run in colder weather and worse conditions. I'm just not ready for it yet. However, starting next week I don't have a choice.

Remember this moment of time when I was excited about life and running and I decided it would be a great idea to register for a marathon? Well, my training schedule begins next Sunday and I do not want to be the woman crying from boredom whilst running away the miles on the treadmill.

Time for this little (well, "big and strong" some say!) to grow up, pull herself together, and get out and run!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Monday, January 5 was to be the first day back for students in West Michigan after Christmas break.

Heavy snows and harsh winds disallowed that.

Tuesday, January 6 was the next first day back for students in West Michigan.

Heavy snows, harsh winds, and below freezing wind chills disallowed that.

Wednesday, January 7 should be the next first day back for students in West Michigan.

We will see...

Beauty

There is not a single person in West Michigan right now whom you will find complaining about the weather. We are living daily with temps 40degrees above average and everyone is happy. Everyone.

This past Friday night, I was drawn to visit Lake Michigan, walk along the beach, and watch the sunset. It was an amazing experience. Only a few people. An expansive gorgeous sky. Peaceful rolling waves.

It was an evening of quiet, reflection and restoration after a full week consisting of both good and bad days.

This moment of calming gratitude set my mind at ease from concerns that had been swirling and filled my heart with peaceful assurance that my life is truly blessed.

For the good and the bad, past mistakes and triumphs, I am thankful. Days ahead will consist of the same, and God will be faithful still.

He is there.

He has created the beauty of the sunset.
He has created the beauty of friendships.
He has created the beauty of memory and the beauty of dreams.

Re-Centering

12 very formative years of mine were spent sitting in poorly heated (or extremely humid!) classrooms, waiting on steps and running around in the tiny gym of this little red brick building.
On a recent trip to Holland, Michigan, I chose to return to this little school on Plasman Avenue after many years. I sat on the steps and wandered around the fenced in playground. I allowed a myriad of memories to wash over and flood through me as I remembered year-by-year and classroom-by-classroom. I recalled friends, teachers, coaches and pastors. I remembered choir rehearsals, sports games, chapels and study halls. Laughter, sorrow, fear, accomplishment, anger, gratitude and regret walked with me through these memories.

I had no agenda in this visit. I just sat. I just remembered. I just re-centered. I surveyed my current life and the recent events which brought me to this place. I traced the years backwards to the day I left those school corridors for good, what carried me from there and now what took me back.

It's an incredible story. It's a lovely story. It's a bumpy story. It's my story. I don't want to lose it. I fear moving on too quickly and forgetting each important chapter with each particular character and event. My passions and motivations and dreams are still alive, but easily get lost in the melee of the adult world. But sitting on the steps of this old brick building set in West Michigan, the ghosts of school days passed whispered messages of refreshment and refocus.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Calvary building is now only an elementary school, though during my years it was kindergarten through 12th grade - lest you think it took me 12 years to get through my first six years of schooling!!!

Blizzard Benefits

Today was a snow day for most of West Michigan and beyond. "Snow day" meaning schools and some businesses were canceled because the snow made it impossible to move beyond your front door.

It was absolutely delightful. At 22.00 (10pm) yesterday evening, we were informed that Calvin (who never closes) had shut its doors for Wednesday and thus began my 'Friday night' planning to stay up late, sleep in (but not too much to miss enjoying a day off) and enjoy my free mid-week Saturday.

It was successful planning. During this day away from the office I:

~sorted out a few work e-mails to lighten the load for Thursday's return to the office. I'm convinced that if Calvin incorporated one day a week in which staff could stay home, do e-mails in cozy clothes with a cup of hot chocolate at hand and a dog at their feet, productivity and staff morale would be through the roof.

~learned this greyhound loves to play in the snow. I so wish I could have videoed him diving over huge snow piles which I was hiding behind, bounding through snowdrifts and digging into the fluffy white stuff with fervor. I know I'm not supposed to let him off his leash, but it was so much fun and so far whenever I've hollered, "Silas, come here, I have a treat." without hesitation he comes racing in my direction - which can be slightly unsettling because a greyhound doesn't really stop too well on ice.

~visited the gym which is only a 5 minute walk from my apartment and nearly empty today. I ran five miles whilst watching some incredibly poorly scripted and acted daytime TV dramas. This was followed by resting in their leather couches, drinking their free, freshly brewed coffee and munching on cornbread I carried along for a treat.

~invited my parents over with shovels in hand to help un-snow my little Honda which had disappeared in the blizzard. At this point I was very thankful for a small car and apartment complex who cleared the lot and I just needed to release my car from the snow piles surrounding it.

~ate and drank some tasty morsels in my freezer and cupboard whilst sorting through a few more e-mails and watching some a bit better quality TV dramas via the internet and snooping through friends' blogs and Facebook pages.

~finished the evening with a warming drink and the company of Robert Louis Stevenson.

All in all, I enjoyed today to its fullest knowing the rarity that such a day will come again. Thank you, VPA of CTS for making the long cold days of our Michigan winter that much more bearable.

The House that Craig built

Out of the need for change, which I think is a common characteristic amongst our female population, yesterday evening I moved the furniture of my little apartment around.

However, I realised that prior to this point, I've not yet given my faithful readers the grand tour of my abode.

So below is a video of my home. Enjoy! (The furniture has now been relocated, but this is how it's been for the last 7 months)

Most of the furniture and wall decorations were purchased on Craigslist, for which I'm extremely thankful.

Hope it works and ... sorry, if you get a bit dizzy.
(and my phone started ringing, thus the quick ending)

Catching Up! A missed weekend 2:

It's true. When you live somewhere you are less likely to be the tourist, until the opportunity comes along!

My tourist trip opportunity to Mackinac Island came at the invitation of one of my uncles. Having this plan in the works already in May, I was like a child waiting for Christmas when the weekend trip in late July finally came!

The day was idyllic. Mid-morning we drove up to Mackinac city (still on the mainland), loaded our bikes and ourselves on the ferry and spent the better part of a gorgeous Friday in July riding around the island, enjoying each others' company, sampling the Island's delicacies (one fried pickle, please) and purchasing the necessary fudge and postcards, before riding the ferry back across to the mainland.

Again, below are a few photos from the day :)

Anyone traveling from the Lower to the Upper Peninsula always holds an in-car competition as to who sees the Bridge first. Can you see it?

A gorgeous day and a beautiful place to spend it.

Lining up to get on the ferry to cross over to Mackinac Island - unless you go by plane (or swim...) this is the only way to get there.

On the island.

My little Fit resting at a scenic overlook on my way back down south to Grand Rapids.

Catching Up! A missed weekend 1:

The first weekend of August/last of July, my mom and her sister, my cousin and I took a trip up to the UP (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) to visit my Grandparents at their cottage in the middle of nowhere (Iron River).

Having gone up there every summer as a child, it evoked such nostalgia to go again.

The grandparents regularly have a list of chores (shoveling gravel, cutting the grass, staining the deck) and in between them we jump in the lake as a reward and a refresher.

Below are just a few photos taken by my dear cousin from our adventure to the UP.

Me proudly displaying and devouring my chocolate-covered Twinkie at the Northernmost point of Lake Michigan on our drive up.

My Grandparents' cottage in Iron River, Michigan.

Stanley Lake from their deck.

My aunt and I zooming through the property with a load of gravel. ("Zooming" meaning puttering along at 10 mph)

Grandpa and I testing out my skills as a marksman on an unsuspecting milk carton.

My cousin and one of our incredible "schmoes".

Mine having just disappeared.

The Rodeo Days parade of Iron River brought out the best of the city...

Admiring Stanley Lake the evening before my long drive home.

Greyt Show

Daily I receive an e-mail from Allies for Greyhounds of West Michigan. It includes greetings and updates from others who've adopted greyhounds, questions and answers regarding behaviour of their pets and upcoming animal friendly social events.

I was pleased to find that this Saturday was a 'meet & greet' at a local Farmers' Market, so I was happy to cart Si along as I filled my bag with cherry plums and green beans. Seeing two ladies hiding in the shade with 5 or 6 greyhounds swarming around them I surmised this must the Greyhound corner. (Quick, I know).

The following day an e-mail with this excerpt was distributed:

"Well our first meet and greet at this location went greyt. It was a little slow at first, but picked up later. … Vanessa stopped out with Silas, formerly Lonesome Hawk who is looking wonderful and entertained us all with his funny ears and nonstop tail."

Yep, I was proud of my little showman, who after greeting the others immediately laid down, as clearly the ten minute trip around the market wore him out.

Good Neighbours

She was my early evening visitor on Friday - this photo from my dining room window. I had thought she left when I went to take my bike out for a ride, but as I turned the corner of my apartment building she was waiting to wish me a good ride.

I've also seen her and one of her girlfriends off the side of the trail cheering for me as I run in the Michigan humidity - ugh.

I hope to soon add my chipmunk and hummingbird when they show up for their photo-shoots. The chubby lazy squirrel is begging me to allow him to contribute his mug as well, so he may appear.

On today's bike ride, I saw numerous rabbits including some babies and a number of wild turkeys. Ah, West Michigan, thank you for the wildlife big and small!

AAVPAA

Ladies and Gentlemen, We would like to draw your attention to the smiling brunette to the left of this text.

Her name is Vanessa Lynn Lake, date of birth 21 August 1979 and current resident of Grandville, Michigan.

We are delighted to announce that this ever-so-delightful young woman has been offered the full-time position of Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA.

Yes, of course, she accepted!!

YIPPEE!

Pickyourchurch, USA

This is my short 1.7 mile (2.74 km) walk from my parents' house to the local public library.
It's a quite straightforward and pleasant walk. Low traffic and friendly people.

My Friday library walk had a photo-theme:

Grandville Baptist Church

Grandville Protestant Reformed Church

St Pius X Catholic Church

Grace Bible Church

Bethel Lutheran Church

Grandville United Methodist Church

First Reformed Church

Did you notice my theme? Amazing, eh?
I swear I didn't wander from the path!!

Woes of the Workless

I've only been officially unemployed in Michigan for 3 1/2 days and perhaps I should be enjoying the unexpected holiday and bask in the lazy glow of responsibilitilessness. But I have this bug which is pinching me to get on with finding activities to give me something to look forward to when I wake in the morning.

Realising that the employers for whose jobs I've applied have yet to recognise the great addition I would make to their workforce, I decided to move forward to see what the state of Michigan could offer someone in my situation.

Thinking that I could have a minimal income during these weeks and possible months of waiting for a job, I decided to look into filing for unemployment benefits. However, because I've not worked in Michigan before, I'm ineligible.

Thinking then that I could help my parents out a bit with food consumption I looked into applying for a special Michigan debit card (a Bridge card) which allows an unemployed person to purchase food (even seeds for growing gardens!) up to a certain amount per month. However, because I live with my parents I'm again ineligible.

Ah, but not to worry! My parents are happy to feed me and I'm happy to eat their food whilst on the job hunt. And I remain in good spirits about what the future may present.

I've also begun exploring possibilities for volunteering within the community and finding random free events for people just like me. This Saturday will be the first adventure, so stay tuned!

Michigan Math

Michigan - the US state with the highest unemployment rate




PLUS


Holland, Michigan - the US city with the happiest people



EQUALS



Many happy unemployed folk !




Welcome to my world !

The CCCP strikes again

Many, many stories lie behind the smiles of these two ladies (and myself!) below. Broken teeth and plastic robots, pogoballs and frogs BUT best of all...
...the Chocolate Chip Cookie Pizza! For nearly 10 years the famous CCCP regularly appears in the arms of my beloved third grade Sunday school teacher - above on the right.

This nearly devoured CCCP is evidence as to why in the last week I've gained five Michigan pounds... and counting! Though I'm not concerned - again, it's worth it!

Santa Sighting

Every year at this time he appears in shopping centres and parades, on television and magazine covers. This weekend I had my 2009 encounter with the famous jolly fellow.

My parents and I (along with many other parents and their children) took the 'Santa train' this past Saturday beginning and ending in the small city of Coopersville.

Mr Claus made his appearance with his pointy eared elf on the small train in which under two hours, the Big C heard each child's Christmas wish, a Christmas story was told by a teenage Miss Coopersville 2008 and young five year old Landon was told to sit down one hundred and thirteen times by his frustrated parents.

All in all a good trip, concluding with our taking advantage of the coupon on the back of our train tickets for a pizza place in Coopersville.

St Nick and his elfess greeting the train passengers.

Me, the oldest 'child' on the train, with our Conductor (Tom), who I'm convinced was actually the real Santa undercover.

My wonderful parents on the Santa Express.

Have you seen me?

"Hello! I'm red, soft-sided, durable, not at all new and smell of German sausages.

Oh, did I mention I love to travel - and to my own time schedule."

Yep, I've arrived to the winter-wonderland of West Michigan. The trip was a long one during which I was transported by taxi (1), plane (2), bus (2), train (1), underground (1), foot (many), airport shuttle (2) and an old green Alero (1).

Half-way through the trip my luggage had had enough and decided to spend a day among the French speaking population of our globe before making its entrance to Michigan.

The last three times I've visited the US of A, my luggage had its own independent adventure.

The first was on my return trip to Prague from visiting my wonderful nephew on the West Coast in 2006 - my bag followed me two weeks later. Yes, two weeks - I had given up hope by then.

The second was a trip to see my parents a year and a half ago when my case never appeared on the baggage carousel in Grand Rapids. Upon tracking my bag I learned that when it did arrive the next day a confused old man took it home with him. He then showed up at my parents' door to return it with great apology.

The third - this trip. I think I could fill out these lost baggage claim forms with my eyes closed!

More to come regarding my Christmas Michigan adventures - don't worry!