Ponderosa/Mt Pleasant/Michigan Last Will & Testament
Alright, I've put this off long enough. And frankly I haven't typed it up yet because I just want to forget about Ponderosa and the whole Michigan experience (well most of it). So here I am, about to just bang this out so I can spit out some memories and then just clear them out of my head. I can't say that my total experience in Michigan was horrible and what not, but it completely side tracked my path. But all of that doesn't matter, cause it was part of our path, and that's why we went there. So with the help of a few friends, I've come up with this handy little list of things to "leave" people. ((No, Brent, I don't actually own anything at Ponderosa–why would i want to?–but I think you didn't understand the whole point of this as I worked on it my last few days at work–so I'll just take what you said as your last chance to rain on my parade–yeah, too bad I was wearing a raincoat)).
Ponderosa People
to Krissy - the T section, a 12 pack, all day-shifts, breakfast shift on the weekends that are actually busy, your 9am server coming in on time western weekend, a man who has a job, someone to shoot the shit with, and some makeup to cover any black eyes in the future
to Deb - a severance check with an early retirement package, unlimited ice or just one of those machines that makes ice so you don't have to fill it, 168 cups, folded napkins, a closer that actually restocks, open to 4 Monday thru Friday money without actually having to work
to Marvin - my Main Man. A backup dishwasher who's awesome, sound effects in the dish room, a new person to borrow money from, pictures from Manhattan and Jersey so you can remember home, and a 100 reggae cds
to Jen Sheriden - table 71, 2 football players, eye makeup, a couple black eyes, a cup to puke in, a tucked in shirt, a cigarette break, and stomach medicine to let yourself party on
to Sarah Dumas - that Ice Tea guy who hasn't come in for a while and used to sit in the booths, one Pat and Gerry table a week, smoking section on Thursday nights, pager number 4, and the recipe for Earth Punch (70% Lemonade, 25% Ice Tea, 5% Fruit Punch)
to Chris Hough - The huffstar, couple long sleeved shirts, staying up all night before a double, and bandanna lady in your section cause she loves you (and Tammy)
to Sherrod - Lebron's facial expressions, smoking section banquet room closing shift or being a first out, every girl's number in the whole world
to Steve - an alarm clock, a pint of jack, a pack of gum, a Guitar Hero player 2, and the ability to match shapes
to Greg - a challenging game of NCAA with controllers that actually both work, 4 hours a week, and someone to bus your tables
to Stephenie O'Brien - part time hours and someone to clean up the ice cream area after little kids destroy it
to Caroll - someone new to sing to her and never having to work seafood night on friday
to Courtney - unlimited Mountain Dew refills and all the guy's phone numbers
to Becky - an hour lunch rest and someone else to do prep and make salads
to Nicole - she wanted a boob job, a new car, and a vacation, but she'll have to settle for a 2 liter of Diet Coke
to Timmy - a basketball, a coach from the Big East, and some coleslaw
to Amanda - high heels and a silverware roller
to Ashley Hunter - a pregnant angel and a padded mat to fall onto
to Doda - orange section and those guys who call you Do-Da (2 ice teas and 2 pepsis)
to Tony - the pondo myspace page, a deep voice, and the nickname Two-Tone
to Lisa - pager number 5
to Stacey Reid - someone to vent to, a sketchy guy with his hat pulled down at O'Kellys, your college degree so you can be done already, partying down on your birthday, and a e-pail to keep in touch with
to Robby - a night at the bar, a game of pool, tossing the darts, a few rounds of jack and cokes, the Pistons and Chris Webber
to Johnny Beem - a mohawk
to Kris Beem - my replacement, and a bet you'll never win
to Lindsay - the name Zindsay and a game of air hockey
to Josh Colombini - a winning fantasy team, a tennis match victory, and a Guitar Hero face off
to Chris Colombini - Jordan on expert level
to Josh Ruth - Tim Lincecum, another Barry Bonds home run, and the remote to the TV
to Sara Guzowski - closing shift on a Friday and then opening shift on a Saturday with the ability to know the difference from when I'm joking around and when I'm not
to Steph Meckoff - actually she's the one who needs the alarm clock, but how about we just don't schedule you to open on the weekends
to Nic - the venture brothers and a steak re-cook slip with the belief that you actually care
to Nelson - just a job somewhere else so you don't always have to be at Pondo every day of the week
to Kim - a mop to mop the floor with and another closing shift
to Mack - the right to seat people in your section when you are in a good mood and the opposite when you are in a bad mood
to Andrea - 3 jobs and a skin tone that doesn't require you to go to the tanning salon to shade
to Jackie Jaxa - a big pile of E-Clubs so you can catch Deb and Krissy
to Travis - day shift hours so you can work with your mom, the Pondo NCAA college file
to Monica - the nickname MONTY and it better freakin' stick
to Ashley King - a smile even if you hate being told what to do
to Neil - how about a retirement party
to Joe - a ride home, NOT
to May - a chair to sit down in
to Stacy Brown - 50hrs a week and a key to the front door
to Jessica Kroll - you can have purple 12-4 M thru F and the Rolling Stone cover that had Jack Bauer on it that you ripped off my copy without asking
to Jen Martin - kid's night, somebody to wipe down the buffet area, respect from your employees as a manager
to Jim - hangover medicine, Kenny in your section, bowling tricks, new servers to train, the football team including a poster autographed by the whole team, and a Magglio walk off home run
to Randy - a winning season for the lions, cold soggy fries, a Cotton Eyed Joe Riverdance at the Wayside, and Magic-Balloon-Michael
to Brent - a winning football/basketball team at Mich State, turning Pondo into a club at close, an employee who never complained to you once about what section he got or what hours he got without asking for anything in return, punching in on time and checking the log to reaffirm that, a positive attitude at all times, this list cause apparently you have to actually own something to give it away
to Kelly - an mp3 player with everyone's favorite songs on it so you can play it at close and be cool and an ice machine that never breaks
to Tammy - a box of lemons, a month long vacation twice a year, a college degree, a spell checker and grammar police, a season pass to Cedar Point and transportation to get there
to the Managers in general - how to respect and appreciate your employees, even if they are just minimum wage replaceable subordinates
to Rich/Darren - resubmitting the survey answers I typed up at home cause I guess I didn't click the final button at the end and I had some pretty priceless long-winded responses, but in the end I couldn't care less to even bother
Customers
to the Whiteheads - Table 42 for 3 hours on a Friday night and a couple rounds of Diet Pepsi
to Carroll - Table 65, 2 pepsis and a water
to her brother Jim - a hot tea and no service cause you stopped tipping me a long time ago, but I'll still talk about the Tigers with you
to Pat & Gerry - a pitcher of tea, ketchup, A1, and 2 ribeyes (well and medium well), plus a side of mushrooms, coffee with cream if its breakfast time
to redbird lady - a bowl of lemons and a half cup of water with no ice
to that couple that didn't like me last summer - a reason to not like me
to the CMU Football Team - Great service for 75 cents a piece. Quit making them run around for you, you're so needy.
to the corn family - a table to eat off of and 2 extra sides of mushrooms
to bandana lady - Chris as your server and lessons on how to use a bissel. Quit leaving a huge mess and stiffing them every time.
Mt Pleasant/Michigan People
to Todd Rigney - an obscure greatest hits collection from the 80's and early 90's and a big ole pile of steaming Ballsagna
to Paula - Thom Kha chicken soup and the recipe and vendor list for it
to Clay - the Tigers actually having a good team for once and apparently a no hitter for Verlander
to Brad - another Grad Student as awesome as Sara
to Peter Mackinlay - biomixers and a party in the loft at the Brass Cafe
to Darren - many late nights mixing it up at the Bird, Heroes, an attempt to get you started with Lost, a sidekick who's into Politics as much as I am into Sports, a Kirby demonstration, a hook up, Ben Rickle, an apartment so I can come turn the heat up on you when I stay over, a job while Rhylynd is at school, something to do all summer while Rhylynd is at his mothers, some cds for your car, and a place to unwind in Mt Pleasant after dropping the boy off. Thanks for keeping me somewhat sane in Mt P dude! I'll miss ya!
I leave myself the title of Employee of the Month for any of the months that I worked because it will bother me 'til my grave that they never rewarded me for all of my hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence that I put into that place.
Okay kids..
I'm about to take the cable modem back to charter-- so this is the last post you'll get written from Michigan for a long long long long time. (at least 2-5 years). I'll be posting more blogs when I get relocated cause it will be my only other job besides finding a job. Still working on that. So on that note, we are out of here.. about to pick up the Penske load it up and rock it out. Give me a call if you are around if you want to hang out tonight one last time.. I'm probably hitting Freddies up around 10. Look early next week for my official last will and testament send off to all my peoples in Mt Pleasant. But for the most part, Michigan, we won't miss you.
10 or so days..
Til we are officially out of here. Can't wait. Michigan you are so 2005.
Living on the streets and in storage units is so 2007.
I can't wait til I
-never have to wait on a CMU football player again
-never have to wait tables again
-never have to work for tips again
-never have the option of going to Rubbles again (ban temporarily lifted for Thursday to see Chris's band play)
-have trees in my yard (that'd be nice)
-move out of Michigan
-move back to NY
-am closer to my friends
-am closer to my family
-don't have to drive through Canada to get home
-get a new job that I'm excited about
-make a new circle of friends wherever we end up living
-find a new tennis/disc golf/guitar hero partner
etc
IT’s OFFICIAL!
We are officially leaving the state of Michigan June 2nd. Now if we could just find some jobs and an apartment to move to... but it's more important at this point to get out of here. This is the second happiest day since we moved out here.
Go Tigers!
Go Tigers!!
Yeah Baby! Go D-Town!
I was 50-50 for the record. I have been following the Tigers for a couple years now as it is I am able to see a lot of their games...
I'm from NY and was never really a Yankee fan at all. I was more of a yankee hater for quite a long time until about 5 years ago when I just sorta started to say that if I were to follow an AL team, it might as well be the Yankees.
But with this series I said to myself, either way.. whoever advances is who I will pull for 100 percent so I'm all about the Tigers right now.
Go Tigers!
Kenny Rogers, Justin Verlander, Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Joel Zumaya, Todd Jones...
You are in trouble!
Curtis Granderson, Placido Palonco, Magglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge, Pudge Rodriguez, Marcus Thames, Craig Monroe, Sean Casey, Carlos Guillen, and whoever else is a Tiger..
but that was pretty good. I know quite a few. so yeah.. go tigers!
Disc Golf
Here is an article about Disc Golf and the local course here.
A different kind of par
CMU's disc golf course draws hundreds' on sunny days
By Mike Ellis, Staff Reporter, July 06, 2006
This is the last in a six-part series showcasing ways to have summer fun in Mount Pleasant.
His first shot of the day landed perfectly in the water “not a good thing for Mount Pleasant disc golfer Leon Reed.
Reed waded in three feet of water and retrieved the disc out of the pond near the first hole on CMU's disc golf course, located in the Center for Applied Research and Technology area, south east of CMU's campus.
Reed and friend Mike Weidner, also of Mount Pleasant, played a round of disc golf Thursday. They said they play disc golf about three times a week.
It's better than work, Reed said.
Players stand on a rubber mat and throw the discs at metal and chain targets that range from 179 feet to 456 feet away. Score is kept in much the same way as golf, with a recommended number of shots per hole, or par.
Unlike traditional golf courses, however, disc golf courses often take players through hazards like stands of trees and bushes or even into more heavily wooded areas.
Weidner said the game is good exercise that doesn't feel like exercise.
(On) a beautiful day like (Wednesday), a couple of hundred of people use the course, said Laurie Braden, associate director of facility operations.
University Recreation runs the disc golf course, which has 18 holes and its own parking lot, located just off West Campus Drive on University Park Drive, south of Fairfield Inn. It is free and open to the public.
The last time Reed and Weidner played, the beginner (Reed) beat Weidner. Although they do not use a scorecard, they keep an eye on how they are scoring based on the par for each hole.
The discs, which are made more aerodynamic than Frisbees, enable players to throw them at long distances with accuracy.
One thing that is commonly associated with disc golf on CMU's course is alcohol.
While alcohol is not allowed on the course, Mount Pleasant senior Kessler Valentin said he has seen beer bottles on the course.
I haven 't seen unruly behavior or anyone with alcohol, Weidner said.
The course opened in 2002, and a few of the target baskets, which run a few hundred dollars each, have been stolen since then.
But despite a few sparse, petty occurrences, CMU's disc golf course still offers students a fun “and free“ way to relax and have fun during a sometimes boring Mount Pleasant summer.
A fall class on disc golf will be offered and Braden said it fills up every semester.
Spring and fall tournaments are played on the course, but the date for the fall tournament has not yet been set, Braden said.
Upcoming Trip
Mount Pleasant > Midland > Saginaw > Flint > Imlay City > Port Huron > Sarnia, CA> London, CA > Woodstock, CA > Burlington, CA > St Catherines, CA > Niagra Falls, CA > Niagra Falls > Buffalo > Batavia > Holley > Brockport > Rochester > Syracuse > Fonda > Jamestown > Saratoga Springs > Wilton > Saratoga Springs > Gloversville > Schoharie > Oneonta > Albany > Saratoga Springs > Wilton > Saratoga Springs > Holley > Mount Pleasant
Anyone see the end of the Alamo Bowl?
between Michigan/Nebraska...
despite the fact that Michigan blew a 28-17 lead to lose 32-28
the last play was crazy
Eight laterals, 1 that looked like an incomplete backward pass (but theres no such thing, its a LIVE ball).. which caused Nebraska's coach to get gatoraded, all the players ran on the field, chad henne started walking, michael hart picked it up and got by a defender, lateralled it again.. some backup tight end got the ball and was basically about to score a touchdown that would have given michigan the win, (or at least upon further review, when they probably would have just replayed the down, whcih the should have anyways).. but basically 1 player on nebraska was paying attention and forced the runner out of bounds.. Even the michigan coaches could have made blocks since they were all on the field too. All he had to do was make 1 more lateral to Michigan's steve breaston who is there punt/kick returner and he would have scored easily. Camera-men were on the field. It was nutty. but the play stood and that was it, Nebraska 32 Michigan 28
Here it is
Turkey Day in Mt Pleasant
My parents and sister are en route to the metropolis that isn't Mt Pleasant right about now. May they have a safe journey.
Traveling Today
Heard last night that the Nor'easter is supposed to be today's big story. Rain, Sleet, Snow even in the Mid-Atlantic today. Great! We'll be driving from Michigan to New Jersey through Ohio and Pennslyvania today.. Should be at least interesting with the weather I guess.
Here is the Travel Advisory from weather.com
Nasty Northeast
10/25/2005 2:25 a.m. ET Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
Northeast
A coastal storm will develop rapidly early this morning and produce rush hour misery across the Northeast from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to New England. Energy from Hurricane Wilma may also energize this system slightly and make the results even worse. Wind gusts from 50 to 60 mph seem likely along the New England coast and over Long Island, with possibly higher gusts around Cape Cod and the Islands. Moderate coastal flooding is expected and a storm surge of 3 feet may occur in Boston. Rainfall is expected to be heavy, probably in the range of 2 to 4 inches in areas already saturated. Coastal flooding and heavy surf can also be anticipated. Accumulating snowfall, primarily above 1500 feet, seems likely from West Virginia into the Green Mountains of Vermont. Heavy wet snow on leaf-bearing trees any cause tree and power line damage and a resulting loss of power for some. Winter storm watches extend from West Virginia to New England for the higher elevations. Temperatures will be chilly so keep the heavy jackets handy.
From the road
So after a relaxing time at the Park and a great visit to Kate and Chris's for Anna's First birthday party we are slowly about to get back on the road and travel the 600+ miles back to Michigan so I can make it on time to work tomorrow morning. What a blast. Sage has been behaving quite well. Saturday night in the tent she slept on our pillows that little perra. Anyway. Braves won a few games this week, and Mets lost even more so everything is copesitic. In a dazed sleepy dream I was even able to catch Robert Horry's shot with 5 seconds to go last night. That guy is a monster. Okay I'm out. The French Toast calls...
Talk to you around 2AM or so after 10 coffee breaks.
Mount Pleasant
Downtown Mount Pleasant just the other day. 
The Chippewa River is definately full of water. Looks pretty mighty.
4yr Old Drives
Michigan boy, 4, drives mom's car to video store and back
SAND LAKE, Mich. (AP) — A boy drove his mother's car to a video store in the middle of the night, police said — and he's all of 4 years old.
Unable to reach the accelerator, the boy managed to put the car in gear and make his way to the store, a quarter-mile from his home, about 1:30 a.m. Friday, Sand Lake Police Chief Doug Heugel said. Finding the store closed, the youngster began a slow trip home.
Weaving and with its headlights off, the car got the attention of Officer Jay Osga, who first thought he was following a car that had been left running at a gas pump.
He flipped on his lights when the car turned into the apartment complex and struck two parked cars. The boy put the car in reverse and struck Osga's cruiser.
The mother told police her son tried to drive the car earlier after she let him steer from her lap.
"He's 4 years old. His mom didn't even know he was up," Heugel told The Grand Rapids Press. "I don't think he even realizes what he did."
No charges will be filed against the boy or his mother, Heugel said.
Martens
These are the guys Sara will be trapping and studying very soon.
Martens are taller and stouter than mink. Adults are about two feet long, including their long, bushy tails. They usually have orange or buff-colored throat patches. Secretive and elusive, martens spend most of the time in the trees and are rarely seen.
From the Michigan DNR
According to records, the American marten was eliminated from Michigan around the 1930s. Removal of the mature evergreen forests and unregulated harvest of martens reduced the species to small populations in the Upper Peninsula. These eventually disappeared from the state. The 1927-28 Biennial Report stated, "They (marten and fisher) are so nearly exterminated in Michigan that there appears no chance they will ever come back." Recovery efforts were initiated as early as 1958 with releases of captured martens into the Upper Peninsula Porcupine Mountains. Additional releases in the UP were conducted in the 1970s. As part of the continued efforts to restore this native species, a translocation of 40 martens from the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve in Canada to the Mackinac State Forest area of northern Michigan occurred in 1985.
Biologists have followed their progress over the years tracking pine martens to learn about their habitat use and home range needs. These studies along with sighting reports from hunters and other recreationists and incidental catches indicated the martens were readapting to their native Michigan.
During the review of the current Endangered Species List, biologists felt the population has recovered enough to upgrade its status. Martens are frequently becoming a part of the outdoor experience in Michigan with more and more encounters reported by hikers, campers, trappers, and hunters.
Once gone, the martens have returned home due to the efforts of many private organizations and agencies, but especially due to the support given by the donations of Michigan's taxpayers to the nongame income tax checkoff.
Year End
I don't really have too many ideas for year ending posts... I would like some ideas, I just don't have any. Here is all I remember from 2004 in no particular order.
Working, Going to Rezi shows, Moving, and Driving.
I'm in NY. I've been in NY since Friday. Tomorrow I am heading to the Capital Region (Gloversville/Saratoga) for some Rezi shows at Zacquor (12/30, 12/31) and to visit the old working place, and to see Kate and the baby.
I'll be driving back on Saturday and will stop here in Holley to pick up Meg and the rest of my other crap and then hit the rest of the road onwards back to Michigan.
It's been an entertaining week. I got to see some family members I hadn't seen in a while. I got to see some friends I hadn't seen in a while. I shot some pretty mean darts at C&S. I got dealt some pretty decent Euchre cards. Not much else exciting happened.
Have a good one.
Hit the Road Time
It's just about time to take the first bms tour of the year with this morning being the kick start. I'm off to Buffalo to visit my sister and then on to Holley to see the folks and watch the dog whimper over the new cat. Then tommorrow it will be time to witness the nuptials of Sir Thomas Stanton and Jamie Vendetti of Holley High School fame. Then onward to Oneonta for a Halloween dose of Rezi and a visit to the Oneonter boys. Then come Monday it will be high time to get back Jack to Michigan in time to enter my swing vote in Tuesday's election. Yee-haw skadoodle. Maybe I'll check in from the road. Adios.
Bla Bla Bla
Nothing to do but tie my shoes..
Here I sit. What to do?
I could really be doing something now.
Anyway.. so guess what. Michigan is the only state in the United States that has No Fault auto insurance or something like that which basically means that no matter whose fault it is in any accident, the insurance company has to pay for it.
Do you know what that means kids?
Auto Insurance is extremely expensive here.
It's basically double what we were paying in New York, and that is after combining our plans. Ahh. So annoying. But whatever...
Ramen Noodles and working at the gas station here I come.
Destination Reached
Team Penske has touched down in Mt Pleasant MI and has arrived. The apartment is sweet. So much nicer than the last one. It's the little things that make us happy. You know, like cupboards, windows, driveways, garages, closets, and lots and lots of space to breathe. In that picture below, at that intersection we are below the softball field in the bottom left, so to the left of where that red pin is. That house has two apartments and we are on the left hand side. My parents and Joanna took off about an hour or so ago and we are doing some things and then taking the truck back. I'll have to post some pictures later on to give you an idea. Not very much is setup yet.. but.. we have time. Anyway, thank you to everyone for supporting us. This is a big change for us. We are a little farther away from everyone than we would have liked but... that just means you have to come visit us more. Alright, time to try out the shower.
New Apartment Talk
Okay, so here is our confession. We are moving. Yet, we haven't even seen the new apartment we are moving to. Truck loading and driving is going to start tomorrow and run through Thursday into Friday. Here is the description of the apartment from our new landlord. This is all we know about it :)
Sara: The duplex with a garage is a good choice. I am not real savy
about pictures, but I will try an outside one if you desire. I will
try to use my written descriptive abilitiy to help. As you look at
the front of the duplex, there is an attached garage, separate by a
wall for each unit. There is a door from the garage into the house.
There are also a front door and a side door. The outside-from the
side door has a cement patio area. There is also a small side yard
and a larger back yard. THe house is across from a youth baseball
diamond area, two blocks away from an elementary school and three
blocks away from the city's largest park. The inside of the unit has
a living area, large enough for two couches, large TV unit and several
chairs. That rooms goes into a small dining area (large enough for a
4foot round/square table or maybe a little larger if a rectangle.
This then goes into the kitchen, which has a newer stove, refrigerator
and dishwasher. Then a hallway to both bedrooms and bathroom. In the
hallway, is a closet with washer/dryer and another closet for storage.
The master bedroom is large enough for a king size bed and dresser-it
has two closets. The smaller bedroom is large enough for a nice
office with one closet. It will be all painted new, with some or all
new flooring and carpeting. The outside is yellow vinyl siding. It
is in a neighborhood where students, families and renters live, but
mostly families. It is close to campus, parks, etc. Let me know if
this helps. Don Schuster
And this is the closest we have come to seeing it.
In All Honesty
Well, I guess now is a good time to say that Detroit is my second favorite team. Go Michigan!!!
They outplayed, outwitted, and outlasted the LA Lakers.
It's over and I am happy for Rasheed Wallace and Larry Brown.
I am glad the Lakers made it this far. To be honest, suprised. Goodbye Gary Payton! Karl, I hope that you are able to make a return, but respect whichever choice you make, Phil and Kobe, I really really really really really really really hope you can come back. As far as everyone else. (Besides Luke Walton and Derek Fisher) SEE YA!!! Nice meeting you. Rick Fox, your welcome in my crib, but you know your role now. I want Chris Duhon. I want some other quality free agents. Some shooters. Some Big Players. And I want Phil to get his tenth, Shaq and Kobe their 4th. Bring it on! I'm ready
Go Vick!
Good morning
Hey good morning everyone.
I got my #21 tooth drilled this morning and my mouth is numb. Yee.
This weekend we are driving to Mount Pleasant, MI to check out Central Michigan where Sara will probably be going to school next fall. Yee