Disclaimer: not to be confused with the "Dream Cruise" . . .
I'm spoiled; there I admitted it. The Metro Detroit Dream Cruise spoiled me years ago.
I grew up just north of the Dream Cruise route, had birthday dinners at Ted's and so forth. However; some years ago I moved to west Michigan and left the Dream Cruise behind.
This year a friend of mine persuaded me to attend the fledgling "Metro Cruise" on Kent County's famous 28th Street. There was a threat of rain but not until later in the afternoon. We got started about three-ish in the afternoon while it was still as muggy as a Louisianan swamp.
As it turns out; we were in the wrong spot all together for the sorts of cars we would have liked to spend the bulk of our time viewing. We stayed down on the east end of 28th street. We saw a few cars we liked but we really should have been at the half-way point. Roger's Plaza is where I will spend most of my time next year.
My Flickr photo-stream has shots from this year's Metro Cruise. I am disappointed in that I did not get near the variety or novelty I used to get from the Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise. However; give Grand Rapids time, maybe two or three more years and some good weather. Then watch out metro Detroit!
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
@ the MetroCruise
Monday, August 18, 2008
@ the Office
I have returned to 'the bridge' for a spell and am doing double duty in the computer lab. I forgot the one part of the old job I really missed; tutoring. I have not tutored in two years, since the last stint at the mentor desk in the lab. Yes it has been two years since I sat at this desk, broke my first bone [link], sported a 'blue-star-mom' banner, had short hair and actually taught someone something useful to benefit their life.
On a brighter note, back in June just before the first ArtWalk show, I accidentally sprayed some of my jewelry with white paint instead of clear coat. I could not get all the paint off a couple of pieces, so I processed them with a patina. At the August ArtWalk the second of those pieces sold. I'm pretty happy they were not a total waste as they are made of a particular copper fiber I cannot easily replace. I was so exhausted I did not take pictures this month. [link to flickr]
The other show I was supposed to do in July has been reschedualed for September at Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Commerce St. I am looking forward to that show. I am not in as much of a panic as I was in July; I have more than enough stock to show at two different locations without short changing either location.
In October, I will be donating a piece for auction at the annual Heartside Gala. Egyptian Coil will be the thing. I'd like to create a necklace or collar of that pattern however I am running low on wire of the correct gague in copper. Perhaps there is enough brass wire? {note to self . . .}
Somehow I am missing a beautiful summer here, what happened?
Monday, September 17, 2007
Purple Heart Veterans receive Unique Memorial
Saturday September 15, 2007 Purple Heart combat wounded veterans and the citizens of Grand Rapids Michigan dedicated a new memorial in Veterans Park. There was a chilly start but the sun shone down on Veteran's Park as the memorial was dedicated.
This is the first new monument in Veteran's Park in 33 years. Don Kramer and his fellow vets ran into some real opposition with regard to the placement of this memorial in Veteran's Park.
You can read the Grand Rapids Press coverage here:
Arts Council Rejects Monument
and Saturday's Coverage here
Here for more on purple heart memorials
and
and
Friday, September 14, 2007
Purple Heart Memorial - Grand Rapids Michigan Gets a Unique National Monument
On Saturday September 15, 2007 at 10:00 am the veterans and citizens of the city of Grand Rapids Michigan will dedicate a brand new, Veteran's monument in Veteran's Park.
This monument is unique in several distinctive ways:It is the first national memorial monument in the city.
The driving force behind the effort to add this monument to Grand Rapid's Veteran's Park was Mr. Don Kramer, U.S.N. (Ret) of the Lamoreaux chapter of the Purple Heart Vets. His tireless effort to ensure that all his fellow wounded combat veteran's received the recognition they deserve in perpetuity, was not without challenge from several surprising sources. Mayor Hartwell believed this monument would be more appropriately placed at the Veteran's Home on Coit, far away from Veteran's Park in the central city. Don Kramer and many others disagreed.
It honors all recipients of the Purple Heart medal,
in all branches of service to the United States and all campaigns they were asked to serve.
It is the only memorial to be engraved on both sides.
It was designed by the Lamoreaux chapter (91) of Purple Heart Veterans.
It was funded by and for Purple Heart Veterans.
The committee of veterans who designed this monument had some pretty specific symbols and message they wanted this piece to convey. Susan Cheslek, is the artist responsible for weaving together all the elements of this unique Purple Heart memorial. Susan's meticulous attention to detail, from the proper uniform on George Washington, to the placement of the message the combat wounded wish to convey, exemplifies the American Patriot. She was a little camera shy as they shrouded the monument however, she was not shy in expressing her passion for "getting it right". We join with the combat wounded and her fellow Grand Rapidians in saying to her;
"Thank You for a job well done, mission accomplished!"
We would also like to acknowledge Rapid Concrete and it's owner Rick Freiburger.
Thank you for your donation of time and material which gives this wonderful memorial it's firm foundation in Veteran's Park. Rick Freiburger is the son of Don Freiburger, U.S.N. (Ret), a World War II veteran.
Join your fellow Grand Rapidians at Veteran's Park on Saturday, to give these wounded warriors your heartfelt; "Thanks for Your Service!"
and 
this guy.The car is the Lamoreaux chapter (91) car and is driven by Don Kramer. Tell him "Thanks", and watch him grin.
For more photos of the shrouding and dedication, see the Flickr collection of WBF 8)
To see other Purple Heart Memorials, see this collection
"purple heart" @Technorati.Purple Heart Veterans can be found @Technorati here
"purple heart veterans"For more on Veterans, jump to
"veterans"Friday, February 16, 2007
January College St Fire
Current mood: pretty stressed, thanks for asking
Category: Blogging/myspace
I respectfully request all my friends and aquaintenances check themselves, seriously. Another aquaintence has donated some stress...
[excerpted & reprinted from Grand Rapids Press without permission]
Nine residents, cat escape Heritage Hill fire
GRAND RAPIDS -- Todd Reinholt was taking a shower shortly before midnight when he heard the smoke detectors go off in the hallway of the apartment he lived in for four years.
"I heard the alarms, and I ran," said Reinholt, 41, who 12 hours later was in pajamas and a coat assessing the damage to the historic home.
Value of the home at 46 College Ave. NE destroyed in the Saturday night fire was estimated at $300,000.
"That's my house, right there. It's gone," Reinholt said as he choked back tears. "They won't let me go back up. They say there's no floors. I don't have anything. I don't have my ID, I don't have no keys to my car. My fish is gone. That's all I have," he said.
Reinholt, eight other tenants and a cat made it out alive.
But it took firefighters eight hours to put out the blaze, fire investigator Pablo Martinez said.
"These people are alive because of the smoke detectors," Martinez said. "Everybody is fine. We were very fortunate."
I did not know about the fire because I have been eyeball deep at school. However I do know a couple of the former tennants. I wish them well starting over.
WBF8)
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