Kalamazoo and Tigger too
So today's my last post for a few days kids. I'm off tomorrow to see the wonderful sites of Kalamazoo, Michigan. I've never been to MI (the hand) so this is a first. But Gnat, why are you going to Michigan?? You ask? :wink: Well my stepdad is a softball nut and plays on a team that is involved with a semi-annual tournament called the CanAm, or Canadian/American tourny. One part is played up in Canada and the other is played somewhere, usually in the Midwest, in the US. Last year was the first time he's taken the family. This year is my first time going along. We're driving. Which will be interesting given two younger children and gas prices being what they are. (Yesterday when I was coming home, a station by my house showed low grade gas for $4.07/gallon. Which was up about $.22 since 12 hours earlier.) But apparently there are 2 very lovely wineries up there that we'll be going to at some point. True, it's not Sicily. But I can't expect Sicily every year (until I get me lots of money). And it's at least time away from my job. Four days off work is four days off work. So how am I feeling?? Kinda excited, mainly just to not have to be up so God awful early. It'll be nice to get away and get some new scenery. Anyway, everybody here have a wonderful weekend!! Talk to you guys next week!

I was in Kalamazoo about thirty years ago, checking out Western Michigan University. It was a pretty town then. It's also fairly close to Battle Creek where my grandparents took me for the Kellogg's factory tour. My Grandfather's family came from the Niles and Bucchanan area. From what I've seen of Southern Michigan, it is very nice. Have a great time visiting there. Enjoy the family time, too. And as you said, if nothing else, it is four days away from work. :mrgreen:

4 days off work and a trip to Michigan with your family is an exciting perspective, Gnat. Enjoy.

Gnat, Kalamazoo is a nice Michigan city. I go there frequently. And everytime I hear the name I can't help but start singing: K-A-L-A-M-A-Z-O-O I've got a gal In Kalamazoo zoo zoo zoo zoo. My take on the famous Glenn Miller classic. And if you don't know it, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFv_PoZ2iP0 Have a lovely trip, Gnat, GinaP :cool:

That sounds like a nice vacation for you. Hope you have fun!

A few days off sounds heaven, Gnat - wherever it may be! Enjoy yourself; see you next week!

That song popped into my mind too,as I was reading. :rotf: Have a fun trip,Gnat, sometimes it isn't necessarily where you are......sometimes it's got a lot to do with who you're with.......

Hi ladies! I'm back! I've never heard that song and I can't access YouTube at work, so I'll have to wait for another opportunity. But I agree Matie, it is the company more than the place sometimes. Especially when you're talking about Kalamazoo. It wasn't bad. We actually stayed just outside of Kalamazoo. So we had to drive passed the WMU campus to get to the ball fields where my stepdad was playing. The drive up there was cool. Once we got out of the city of Chicago. :construction: :construction: :construction: :construction: Yes every major highway out of Chicago was under construction. As the old joke goes: there's only two seasons in Chicago - winter and construction. :roll: It took over 2 hours just to get out of Chicago. But once in Indiana, we flew. We got to eat at a Big Boy's for dinner Saturday night. I know they're big out in California, but seeing as I've never been out that way this was my first Big Boy experience. Not bad. Burger I had was excellent as was the chocolate shake. Yum to tha O! On our way back, we stopped in Paw Paw (nope, not a typo. That's the actual name of the town) at St. Julian's Winery. Had ourselves a little wine tasting and excitingly enough I found some wines that I actually liked. So my mom and I split a case (12 bottles) and I now have my own little wine collection. Now I need to buy a wine rack. :happy We also stopped at a place called The Chocolate Garden. It's basically this tiny little house that sells only chocolate truffles. Various truffle flavors. But that's it. It's about a 2 mile drive off the beaten path of the highway. And in the end we decided it wasn't entirely worth that. We bought some truffles, but they were expensive!!! I mean, I could go to Godiva and get a bag of truffles for less than the 4 I bought. But ah well. You only live once right??? :wink: So all in all, it was enjoyable. We had fun watching my stepdad play softball. The weather was a little :cold: . Especially on Sunday. But it was sunny anyway. Thanks for all the well wishes!! It was nice to get away.

Glad to hear you had a great time. Ah! it makes me think of driving through Northern Indiana which for me always held a flavor of anticipation because I knew we were near the end of a long trip across country. That was our usual vacation from California. We used to eat at an Azar's Big Boy somewhere near Goshen, IN or Elkhart growing up. I loved to get the Big Boy magazine and drink their shakes. Ah Memories! Hope you enjoy your wine collection.

Welcome back, Gnat. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your short vacation. :cool:

Sounds like you had a pretty nice time. Glad you could get away for a little bit and relax. That's always a welcomed feeling.

Hi Gnat, Sounds like fun! I'm glad you had a lovely weekend. Do access that video, one of the great Big Band performances, singing and dancing too! You'll be tapping your feet in no time. See you, GinaP :cool:

:happy Gina! I will definitely have to do that sometime this weekend. Thanks!