Michigan Trip

It is hard to believe our trip has already come and gone and the first week of July is gone! We had a terrific 8 day road trip out to Michigan - I wouldn't change anything about it. We came back a bit early since the weather was not cooperating 100%. I, however, must be in a 'nesting mode' since I was perfectly fine with coming home a few days earlier. Our first adventure with Faustina proved to be both relaxing and fun. Faustina was wonderful and she seems to already have a great love of the outdoors! ;) Here are a few of our highlights:


Seeing Grandma Mary. We stayed 3 nights at her home in Allen Park. She made her famous mostacolli and meatballs, had many stories to share, and Faustina met her great grandmother for the first time!


Spending a day at the Serge household. We were able to spend time with Uncle Bob, Aunt Loretta and Molly. Molly showed us her college campus and we had a relaxing day hanging out with family.

Visiting cute small towns and walking around. We spent time in Charlevoix, Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinaw City and other places. Seeing these cities was especially fun since Mike and I did the Michigander Bike trip in 2006 and saw these towns for the first time on our 350 mile tour. We kept remembering our previous trip and all the things we had done and seen.

Here in Frankenmuth we had an authentic German 8 course dinner. Num!


Charlevoix



Here in Mackinaw City we actually stayed in a nice hotel for the night since all our camping gear was soaked from the previous nights' downpour. We discovered fudge is a main attraction here and we did not hold back!





And of course all the camping fun of sleeping in tents, campfires, camp food and enjoying the outdoors.

Great Granny

'Destroyed' Lions: 0 wins - 16 losses

Above are some nostalgic images that come to mind when I think of Detroit.

I had to post this story about my apocalyptic hometown's football team...

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -The Detroit Lions own a distinction no team wants: worst in NFL history.

Facing one last chance to avoid their dubious destiny, the Lions lost Sunday's season finale to the Green Bay Packers 31-21 to complete the league's first 0-16 season. The 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-14) were the last NFL team to complete a season without a victory.

It didn't come without a fight. After falling behind 24-14 midway through the fourth quarter, Kevin Smith's 9-yard touchdown run put Detroit back within a field goal.

But Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded with a 71-yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver and the Lions' Dan Orlovsky threw an interception on fourth-and-27 with 3 minutes left, dooming Detroit to futility of historic proportion.

Here's the rest of the story.

visiting Granny (or Great-Granny for Faustina)

Jason and I visited Granny this past weekend in Michigan.

We arrived Thursday evening and talked with Granny for a while.
Friday morning we went to mass as Sweetest Heart of Mary parish.
Afterward we headed of to DIA or Detroit Institute of Art and had
lunch; we toured the museum and saw some fine pieces of art.
As usual, I was confirmed that most modern art 'sucks'; Granny agreed,
but said it this way: "What is that supossed to be? What is the point of that? Michael, you could easily paint that, don't you think?!" Hilarious and correct.
Friday night we sat around and watched "Live Free or Die Hard" with Bruce Willis... always entertaining.
Saturday we headed off to Uncle Bob and Aunt Loretta's place where we hung out with cousin Molly, who's at Madonna University in Livonia, MI. We also got to see 'Uncle' Marty, who is a living legend; you can count on getting his latest account of the state of things whenever you see him (I was briefed on the latest regarding the bailout of the 'big 3' auto companies). We visited with our cousin Gary, Lannie, and Kathy and their families at Big Boy (classic MI establishment). The William/Potbury clans number at 14 currently with 2 more on the way- impressive! (So stupid... we didn't get any pictures with them!) We ended the evening back at Granny's watching Fr. Corapi tell more of his conversion story.
Sunday we headed off to mass at St. Josophat (literally right next to Sweetest Heart of Mary), and participated in a Tridentine Latin Mass (the old mass); it was quite lovely. Granny said, "We really felt like we went to church today didn't we?!" Yes, indeed. Brick by brick.
Back to Granny's for mostacolli and her famous meat-balls and sauce followed by several plates of her famous cheesecake. We hung out with Uncle Bob and Aunt Loretta until we were off to the airport, back to MN.

I must say that I find Detroit a fascinating place. It is literally apocalyptic! Very sad.

It was a great visit. Thanks to Granny and everyone for hosting us!

-Mike

St. Josaphat Parish (1889)


Sweetest Heart of Mary (1887)