Ikea!

Here it is - the result of 4.5 hours in Ikea! (The lower, white cabinets, not the shelves). Now that we have the cabinets, we're going to move that table. We're also going to take the CDs off of that wooden book shelf (on the left) and stick 'em in the new cabinet. That should open up some space in the living room - woo hoo!

Just thought I'd show you what's going on at the house on Brand Street.

Now Playing: "Moon Over Buffalo"*

Moon Over Buffalo opened to a full house and lots of laughs at the Historic Town Hall in Elk Rapids last night. The Elk Rapids Players performed Ken Ludwig's adult comedy with a mixed cast of veteran and first-time actors. The show included slapstick humor, some sexual innuendo, and lots physical humor at the expense of George Hay, played by Ron Schmidt. Set in a Buffalo, New York theater in 1953, some of the references may be lost on younger audiences, but the acting and delivery help the meaning come through.

This is only the third show by the Elk Rapids Players. Though they've been gaining support throughout the community, they weren't prepared for the sold out show Thursday night. With almost 100 people in attendance, they had to add extra chairs for the overflow.

“We're thrilled,” said Karen Kaspas, a founding member of the Players and lead actress for Moon Over Buffalo. “We have such wonderful community support here,” she said. “We're so thankful.”

Schmidt, who was last seen in Barefoot in the Park said he felt good about their first performance. “This was as good an opening night as I've been around,” he said.

The play continues this weekend and next, April 28-30 and May 6-7 at 8 p.m. at the Old Town Hall. Tickets are $12 per person.

There will be a special Mother's Day matinee on Sunday, May 8. Tickets are $32 and include a full, buffet-style meal catered by Chow Bella. The menu includes stuffed pork tenderloin, crusted whitefish, roasted vegetables, potatoes au gratin, and dessert. Lunch starts at 1 p.m. with the show at 3 p.m. Seating is limited to 50 people.

Advanced ticket purchases are encouraged. Tickets are available by calling 231-620-0415. For more information on the Historic Elk Rapids Town Hall, visit www.ertownhall.org or send an email to info@ertownhall.org

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*From the Elk Rapids Progress.

Easter Weekend

Matt and I just got back from Vegas, and it was a great trip. We especially enjoyed our overnight stay down state with my College Bud and her boy, Matthew. We spent Saturday night with Big Matt and Little Matt watching movies and eating pizza (this is downtown Milan, where we got our pizza).

Sunday morning, Little Matt got some Legos from a giant bunny. He and Big Matt worked hard to put everything together.

One of their creations ...

After breakfast and Legos, Big Matt and I headed to Canton, Michigan for Big Matt's first ever Ikea experience.

Matt with his brand new Tim Horton's travel mug (which doesn't get you any type of discount ... blah), our new(er) car, and the store!

Matt loved this, but I wasn't up for spending $450 on it, so we settled on the $15 pillow.

I didn't realize until we got home that his hand was in front of the food! :) His first Ikea Swedish Meatball dinner. He's a fan!

Pudding Cup Photography

Sorry it took so long to get these posted - it was a fun-filled adventure in Vegas! We didn't take as many pictures as we usually do because we were just too busy to pull out the camera. That didn't stop Pudding Cup, though. She managed to get a few pictures for you to enjoy. It starts with the portraits, then goes to still life :)

Close up of Aunt Karin, post-swimming

  

Babcia at the magic show

PC snuck up on Big Sister...

Big Sis really did enjoy herself :)

PC tried to get a photo of herself with Babcia and Aunt Karin, but with the zoom on, this is what she got!

Still life - she has such an eye for these sorts of things...

Showing off her pruney post-swimming fingers.

Book Review: Tea for Two by Trish Perry

Counselor Tina Milano has been visiting Milly’s Tea Shop regularly for the past several months. She has many friends but no steady man in her life. Zack Cooper is a local farmer who provides Milly with fresh fruit and vegetables. As a single parent, Zack is doing his best to raise his teenage son and daughter on his own.

When the kids get in minor scrapes with the law, Milly gently encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before their rebellious natures land them in even hotter water. At first Tina sees the relationship in only a professional capacity, but soon her friends notice the luscious scent of romance in the air and decide to help things along.

Tea for Two is a faith-filled novel that explores the delight of second chances, warm friendship, and unexpected romantic encounters.

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This book delivers exactly what it promises - a faith-filled novel of second chances, friendships, romance. It's a fun, light-hearted love story full of miscommunications and reconciliations.

As engaging as this story is, however, if you've read any of Perry's other books, as I have, this might disappoint a bit. Something was missing - it didn't pull me in the way her other books did. I felt more like an observer, whereas her other books made me a participant.

My pickiness aside, "Tea for Two" truly is an enjoyable book...but all of the talk of shortcakes and finger sandwiches will definitely give you the munchies!

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.

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Now it's YOUR chance to read "Tea for Two"! Leave me your name and email address. On May 1 I'll pick a winner!!

Book Review: Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot

Harriet Kirk is certain that becoming Ladreville's schoolteacher is just what she needs--a chance to put the past behind her and give her younger siblings a brighter tomorrow. What she didn't count on was the presence of handsome former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood--or the way he slowly but surely claims her fragile heart. But can Harriet and Lawrence ever truly put the past behind them in order to find happiness?

This is book three of the Cabot's Texas Dreams trilogy. I have not read the first two books, but that didn't matter. This story picks up with a different character while giving a glimpse as to what happened in the first two books.

I admit that it took me a few chapters to really get into the story, but once I was hooked I had to know what would happen next. Cabot spares no detail in describing the characters, town, and situations that draw Harriet and Lawrence together. "Tomorrow's Garden" is a heart-warming historical romance, full of intriguing characters and intricate detail. If you enjoy Lori Wick's western romances, I think you'll enjoy "Tomorrow's Garden".

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In an effort to share the experience, I'm going to give away my copy of "Tomorrow's Garden". Just leave a comment and an email address. KEEP READING!!

I noticed that I still have two other historicals that I reviewed but did not give away, so I will actually be picking THREE winners this time! The first person gets "Tomorrow's Garden", the second get "Kaydie", and the third will receive "Love on Assignment". I've linked the reviews so you can see what I'm giving away. 

I'll pick winners on May 1 - good luck!!

Book Review: How To Be God's Little Princess by Sheila Walsh

What does it take to be a princess? Sheila Walsh has some important answers to share for every little girl. This trendy design features black & white line art and a two-color pink and black interior. The art will tie to each how-to topic in the book—how to make the best pink cookies, how to wear a tiara, how to earn money at home, how to care for a royal dog, how to be respectful, how to use good manners, how to help Mom, how to follow Jesus, how to act like a princess when things go terribly wrong, and many more.


This is a cute book, but I'm not really sure for whom it is written. I got it with my 4 1/2 year-old niece in mind, who is very into pink, purple, and princesses, but a lot of the tips are more appropriate for my 11 year-old niece. The thing is, my older niece is "over" the princess thing, so even though there's good tips, I don't think I could get her to read this book.

As far as the tips and suggestions, I appreciate the Scripture verses, and Walsh's constant reminders to consult with "royal advisors" (parents). The interactive quizzes are nice, but, again, they're too old for my young niece, and too pink for my older niece. If nothing else, it gives adults a lot of good ideas on how to talk with their daughters about certain things. Definitely a good way to introduce younger girls to manners and etiquette.


I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 

It's a Hairy Mess

Guess what's now available on Blu-Ray?! To be a part of the Beery Movie Library by the end of the week!

Francine Rivers: Tyndale Giveaway!

Tyndale is giving people the chance to register to win a Francine Rivers library. Just follow this link for your chance: http://www.tyndale.com/blog/?p=1042

Good luck!

Happy Spring!

I'm not kidding...someone cross country skied in front of my house today...

Good-Bye Blue & Red - Let's Try Purple

You might remember that last year I had some fun with Delta Airlines and Big, Fat, Stinky Leroy. Well, I took some of the color out of my blog post and submitted an official complaint with Delta. This is what they had to say:

Dear Mrs. Beery,

Thank you for your e-mail to Delta Air Lines.

I appreciate your comments concerning your recent experience with our Reservations department. We treat any report of customer dissatisfaction very seriously and regret your disappointment with His reply. The airline industry is very competitive, and the goodwill of our customers is important to the lasting success of our company. Your feedback is important to us and we incorporate customers' views and opinions as we make decisions.
Please accept our apology for the unfavorable impression you received in this instance. We appreciate your selection of Delta and will always consider it a privilege to be of service.

Polite and to the point, but it really doesn't mean anything to me. In fact, they did a nice job of making this response all about themselves - our industry is competitive, you make us successful, feedback is important to us because we can use it later. By the time I finished reading it I didn't feel like they cared about my experience as much as they appreciated that I told them about it. Of course, by the time I read this my opinion of Delta was already pretty low, so it would have taken something exceptionally generous and personal to make an impact. This didn't quite cut it.

Still, I had high hopes, but not anymore. My flights were okay. Nothing spectacular. I had to pay for everything: luggage, food, headphones (I refused to pay for those, and am glad - people kept complaining that they could hear the video anyway). Sure, Delta's rates were originally the cheapest, but by the time I tacked on everything else, I barely saved anything. I'm not sure I want to save $50 to be treated as if I'm as important as a piece of luggage.

And I never did get a travel voucher from anyone.

It may not be a lot of money to Delta, but flying 2-4 times a year adds up for me. Even when I use points programs for free tickets, someone is getting that money, and I refuse to continue to pay people to treat me like crap - as if I owe them something for flying with them. I'm sorry, but my $500 should be enough for them. It obviously isn't enough for Delta.

That's why my next trip is booked with Southwest. My sister has never had a problem with them, and they actually compensate travelers if they change/cancel flights (unlike Delta, who told me to make the change of cancel my ticket). Yes, I have to drive four hours (instead of 40 minutes) to get to the airport, but it'll be worth it to be treated like a human passenger and not just a revenue-earning piece of cargo.

Okay, Southwest - show me whatcha got.

Now That's Progress!

It's up and running, folks! The Elk Rapids Progress is now available on-line. Here's a letter from the editor explaining why we started it. You'll most likely find me in the Student Elk section, though I may occasionally get another gig.

I hope you'll stop by and get to know my little town.

Cry Babies: What Dems and Reps Teach Each Other

Time and time and time again I get really worked up by goings on in the world. I can absolutely handle it - I don't expect everyone in the world to agree with me, and I don't think everything will always work out the way that I want. I'm okay with that. However...I get really riled up at double standards (and really, who doesn't). Sometimes it can be difficult to bite my tongue.

I mean, closed door meetings have not place in politics. Neither do congressmen who push through bills without letting everyone read what's in them. Who in Wisconsin thinks it's okay to abuse their majority power and push through a bill that is obviously controversial and not approved by all?

I'm not sure, but I think I've seen this before. Closed door meetings. Long bills that no one has read. And suddenly we have nationalized health care.

Where did the Wisconsin Republicans learn their tactics? Probably from the Federal Congressional Democrats.

And isn't it those Federal Congressional Republicans that are promoting hate in this country? Did you see how they yelled during health care debates? They interrupted people, used their outside voices, and generally lacked respect for the legislative process.

I suppose that's where the Wisconsin Democrats learned how to behave during the recent collective bargaining debacle.

So who's the bad guy here? What we should be upset with is the fact that these people don't seem to be able to act like adults - if they can't have it their way they either exert their power with no regard to others, scream like children, or run away so they don't actually have to do their jobs.

Everyone had a chance to voice their opinion - it's called VOTING. In 2008, the majority of the country favored a liberal government, so we got healthcare. In 2010, the majority of Wisconsin favored a conservative state, so they're losing collective bargaining.

It's time for everyone to RESPECT THE PROCESS. The current government reflects the people. Let them do their jobs. If Wisconsin is making a mistake, they'll realize it soon enough and then the state can vote in another group of people to represent their desires. That's what makes this country great - we can change the balance of power every few years, but if we don't respect the way it works then we might as well close the voting booths and kowtow to the loudest whiners.

Your voices have been heard. Now go home, go to work, and let the government represent the people.

Didgie & Buck

Now that I've finally taken the time to learn how to use Skype, I spend way too much time playing with my niece and nephew (I'm pretty sure I'm my sister's emergency babysitter). When I'm chatting with Pudding Cup and Butter Bean, I like to walk around the house and show them different things. Two of their FAVORITE things to see are my cats - Midgie and Bucket. Two year-old Butter Bean affectionately calls them Didgie and Buck.

Puddin'...Butter...these are for you...

They love you, too...

Kitty TP (subtitle: Yooper Stewart Saves the Night)

Sunday afternoon my four year-old niece got to attend her first ever jewelry party (that's a big deal for any princess). Unfortunately for my Pudding Cup, her tummy hurt. It hurt so much that she sort of turned into a stinker and her mom called Daddy to pick her up.

Daddy did as he was asked. He picked up Pudding Cup and took her to Costco, where she promptly puked. She barfed again on the way home, and a few more times over the next 24 hours.

Yeah, that's gross. Vomit is never fun. I felt pretty bad for my sister (and my niece) until I went to bed that same night. Nothing could have prepared me for the horror that is my lil' Midgie.

Midgie Moomer is one of my cats. She's mostly white with some big black and brown patches. She is a true princess kitty - she'll cuddle with you when she's good and ready, but not a moment before.

During the winter Midgie likes to be roasty, toasty warm. During the day she lays on her big brother, Bucket, to soak up his heat. At night, she prefers to crawl under the covers and snuggle up to her mama. While it can be annoying when she steps on my bladder, I usually enjoy our cuddle fests. Sunday night she jumped right on the bed as soon as I turned out the light. I held up the edge of the blanket and she scurried on under.

Like many cats, Midgie has to investigate many possible resting locations before she'll commit. Sunday night was no exception. She walked in circles, stopped so I could pet her, then stepped onto my gut, backed up, walked up toward my head, crossed my chest and scouted out my left side.

During all of this, I continued to pet her. Midgie loves to get petting, and if you do it long enough, she drools. Yuck. Sunday night she drooled. Gag. I wiped it on my t-shirt.

Then she farted.

Then she drooled some more.

Then I noticed that my hand wasn't wet from being near her mouth...I was petting her hips.

Hips. Wetness. Stinky farts.

I whipped back the covers, turned on the light, and forced the bile back down my throat. Midgie had dingle berries. Wet, sloppy, dingle berries. I did what any tired, disgusted woman would do.

"Oh, God - Midgie!!"

Yooper Stewart woke up and did what any protective man would do when his wife starts yelling the cat's name - he pinned her to the bed.

"No! Let her go!!"

The cat escaped, but her damage was done. Poop smear on my duvet, hands, teddy bear, and pajamas. I ripped everything off the bed and jumped in the shower. When I came back, Midgie had finally realized there was something amiss in her butt region and cleaned herself.

And because we each have our own twin sized down comforters for the winter, Yooper Stewart was sound asleep again on his unscathed side of the bed.

Give me a puking kid any day.

Let's Make It Interesting...

It's official - Fox is preparing to cancel Fringe. Any day now I expect to hear the news.

Okay, it's not actually "official" in the sense that Fox hasn't actually said they're going to cancel it, but the signs are there. It's been on the edge since it started playing on Thursday nights in 2008. It's now on Friday nights. That, my friends, is the Prime Time kiss of death.

I don't know all of the statistics about TV ratings and network schedule planning. What I do know is that Friday night television shows are generally crappy. There are always a few exceptions, but Friday nights tend to be a dumping ground for the iffy shows. I can't only postulate that's because most people are out doing things on a Friday night (though I doubt many of them are in church like your's truly). No matter where they are, if they aren't at home, they aren't watching the tube. And if they aren't watching the tube, the shows aren't getting the ratings. And if the shows aren't getting the ratings...if I have to finish this thought process for you please contact me privately.

It breaks my heart to think of Fringe disappearing. As far as sci-fi shows go, this is truly one of the better ones. It's not nearly as cheesy as the shows on SyFy (maybe they've gotten better over the years...I haven't checked recently). And it's not quite as disturbing as Buffy or Angel (I'm sorry, but there are no good demons, but that's a whole different subject).

My point is that Fringe fills the void for us sci-fi fans - we deserve top quality weirdness (thank you J.J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman). Since I fear that this may be my last season of Fringe, I'd like to offer the writers a suggestion - let's make this interesting. Here are my ideas:

- Faux-livia is pregnant with Peter's child: give the baby some kind of medical condition where s/he can only survive in this universe. Then Walternate will have to decide - kill this universe, or let his grandchild live.
- Destroy this universe: Let Peter pick Faux-livia, go to the other side and overthrow Walternate.
- Build a time machine: You've toyed with it before. This time, make it happen - let Walter go back in time to heal his Peter. Since it's this side that figured out how to travel between universes, neither side would ever be harmed because Walter never would have crossed over. Therefore Fringe Division would never really exist, thereby making the entire series it's own alternate reality.

So there you have - my suggestions for ending a good run. I hope to see you around again next season, but, in case I don't, I'd appreciate it if you would consider my suggestions.