The latest on Baby G!

Update from Karen at 9:08 a.m.

Nick just called...broke her water...things are moving along...I'm taking off soon. Will keep you up to date...all is well.


Written by Grandma Karen early Tuesday, Sept. 30...

The "kids" have been at the hospital since last night. Nick has been in contact (whew) and things are progressing very slowly. They will probably induce this morning/today.

Heidi (Beata's mom) just called and they are leaving for the airport within the hour. They won't be here until about 6 p.m. and I'll be picking them up in Flint (another whew...hate Detroit Airport).

Dad will be leaving for home on Saturday and sister will stay until about Wednesday. Mom will be here for at least 3 weeks.

I have an air bed from Dan to take down for me when I'm there in the next days/weeks. Janet A. and I are working the Obama rally on Thursday morning so this baby should definitely arrive before then!

Heidi said she and her sisters had fairly long labors (36 hours) so we'll see. Heidi told me a funny story this morning. When her brother's wife gave birth to the first girl in forever she said that there were about 100 people at the hospital waiting and when the nurse announced it everyone started giving her money and coins, etc. (tradition in Iran when girls are born because they are so treasured). The nurse said "where are you from anyway? I think I'll move there!"

The plan is that I will take off here before noon and hang out at the hospital and then retrieve the family when they get here. I get the feeling that Beata is in no rush because she so wants her family there.

Another funny story from Heidi: She said when Beata was born they took her home and laid her on the bed and looked at each other like "ok...what do we do now?" They had no training, no books or classes, etc. Got that "plastic" changing table put together but every time they put her on it she screamed. Turned out that it was "cold" as hell because they didn't know to put a blanket or towel on it.

They began to scramble reading books but with the language barrier some things were not that clear. When they ran out of lotion to put on her they really panicked because they thought without it she would die...in other words, every single thing was crucial in their mind...thank God for friends who calmed them down. They had no family here at the time.

Enough for now...I'll keep you all informed and lets keep our fingers crossed that it will be sooner rather than later.

Harriet & June 2008 (aka Baba & Gigi)

Our “Thelma (Paula) & Louise (me)” trip commences from Ionia on Saturday, Oct. 4, returning Saturday, Oct. 11. We will not be driving off a cliff because we would never leave our grandchildren (kids, yes, grandchildren, no). And it is highly unlikely that we will meet the likes of Brad Pitt, although I will be “looking” for someone to hog tie and bring back to Ionia so I can cook him terrific meals and bake awesome pies with my new appliances in my almost done kitchen

…most things will be done this week. (The first two apple pies were baked last night in my new oven….not like baking in my 38 year old gas stove but it will do).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the movie, please read the synopsis below. We will report in when we return (if we return).



"Thelma & Louise" 1991
Thelma is a passive, goofy housewife, married to a controlling husband, Darryl. Louise is a single waitress who appears organized and strong, with some unnamed trauma in her past. The film follows the women as they head out in Louise's blue 1966 Thunderbird convertible for a two-day vacation of fishing in the mountains that nosedives into a nightmarish situation before they even reach their destination, but which sees them change from victims of circumstance into outlaw heroines of the road.

At the Silver Bullet, a cowboy bar and dancehall, Thelma meets a man, Harlan, with whom she dances. She gets drunk and the man attempts to rape her in the parking lot. Louise finds them and threatens to shoot Harlan if he doesn't stop, using a gun Thelma brought with her. Harlan stops, but then defiantly tells Louise that they were "just having a little fun." Louise replies that when a girl is crying like that, she's not having any fun. Harlan mouths some obscenities and at that, Louise shoots and kills him. Thelma wants to go to the police right away, but Louise is worried that because Thelma was drunk and had been dancing with Harlan, no one would believe he was trying to rape her. Afraid that the authorities will prosecute her, Louise decides to run away, and Thelma follows.

Louise is determined to reach Mexico but is unwilling to do so via Texas, despite the fact that they are in Oklahoma and the fastest route to Mexico leads through Texas. It is revealed that something bad happened to Louise in Texas years ago, though Louise refuses to say exactly what it was. They flee west, and on the way they meet a handsome young man, J.D., whom Thelma immediately likes. She convinces Louise to let him hitch a ride with them.

Louise, meanwhile, contacts her boyfriend, Jimmy, and asks him to send her life savings via Western Union. But when she goes to pick it up, she discovers that Jimmy has come to see her in person. They go to talk in his room, while Thelma guards the money. Thelma invites J.D. into her room; it turns out that he is a robber who has broken his parole. He and Thelma become intimate, and Thelma experiences a sexual awakening. During their time together J.D. describes how he conducted his hold-ups.

Meanwhile, Jimmy asks Louise to marry him, and she refuses, as well as refusing to tell him what is going on. They spend the night together, and then he leaves after breakfast the following morning. The next day, J.D. is gone and so is all of Louise's money. Louise is distraught, and a guilty Thelma decides to take the lead while Louise is frozen with fear. She uses what J.D. taught her to rob a store. All this time the FBI has been tracking them and getting closer and closer to their trail. Det. Hal Slocumb (Harvey Keitel) finds out what happened to Louise in Texas, and appears to be sympathetic to her predicament.

Their actions continue to spiral out of control as the two of them make their way across the country, particularly with the ever more daring Thelma, who has shed her giggly, goofy personality for a determined, aggressive, hard-drinking one. When a policeman stops them for speeding, Thelma threatens the policeman with her gun, steals his gun, and locks him in the trunk of his cruiser.

Another character they encounter is a truck driver who repeatedly makes obscene sexual gestures to them on the road. They pull over to demand an apology from him, but he refuses and they shoot his tanker truck, which explodes. In the end, with the police on their tail, Thelma and Louise are cornered near a rim of the Grand Canyon.

Rather than be captured and spend the rest of their lives in jail, they make a final choice. They decide to drive the car over the cliff into the canyon, which would either injure or kill them both. Before the car drives over the edge the women firmly brace hands and kiss. The film ends with a freeze frame of the car in midair. End credits begin over a montage of their happiest moments together during the weekend.

The latest from the West Coast

You won’t believe this….Joe went on Craig’s list and signed up to be a “filler” in audiences for shows that are taping. They called him today but they don’t tell you what show you are doing until you get there and guess what…he was in the second row of the Dr. Phil Show and he had to go because he was going in for another taping. These older women were there and asked him if he was excited and he said, “Not really, but my mom will be”. They pay cash about $8 an hour. He was having a lot of fun obviously.

- Gupp

And the latest from Milford:
(Close up by Aunt Kirsten, distance shot by Lucas)

Way to go!

Happy Birthday Uncle Dan and Happy Anniversary Sarah and Loren!

Update on Gupp's kitchen

Here are the latest. I expect more in the next week or so!

He made it!

Joe made it out to L.A. all in once piece! Here are a few pics from his 2 nights with Kirk and Charlotte Bennett in Arizona, a few hours from L.A.

Joe said he and Kirk bonded over guitar hero and Joe apparently ate the biggest burger on the planet.

Fun at the Baidases

Just thought I would share some photos taken recently at Sarah and Loren's.

The first group was taken last weekend when I was hanging out with Sarah and the boys. Believe it or not -- these were not staged!







Anthony thought it was hilarious



Then Uncle Joe and Lucas did some "dancing" and spinning around in the basement.






My camera was all wet and fogged up, but when we arrived for Joe's farewell dinner, Lucas was burning some steam running around in the rain and Claire joined in the fun. The photos are hard to see, but I think they're clear enough to see the absolute elation on their faces.

Crrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

Saturday was a busy one. I got up, got some work done and headed out to Sarah and Loren's to do some extreme cooking. I got back and continued the cooking, making soup and cupcakes for Joe's Sunday dinner. Finally, around 11:30, I sat down to watch Tina Fey do a spot-on Sarah Palin impersonation.

Not long after I sat down, I heard this "creeeeeeak."
I looked out the window and, through the dark and rain, saw taillights. So, I just assumed it must have been the car cutting through the parking lot next to our house running over a plastic bottle or something.

About three minutes later the loudest, most thunderous "CRAAAAAAAACK!" and I was sure the giant tree next to our living room was crashing into the house, destined to crush me. (It's amazing the thoughts that can go through your head in 1.2 seconds).

I yelled for Dan and ran into the bathroom. Not to the back of the house, away from the tree, but to the bathroom, on the other side of the living room, which makes no sense at all.

Once I realized the tree didn't actually crash through the roof, I ran into Dan's workroom in a panic and we headed outside. This is what we saw from our front porch:



A giant portion of this huge tree fell directly over Dan's Jeep, which was parked in the driveway. And when I say over, I mean over. It was hovering over his Jeep and on all four sides of it, but didn't actually come to rest on the Jeep and doesn't seem to have done any actual damage.



He backed through all of the branches to get his Jeep out of there. At the time we didn't know that that branch was still barely attached to the tree, so we weren't really sure what was going to happen.



But, he got it out and everything seems OK. The landlord is getting a tree service here first thing in the morning and we're trying not to take it as some kind of an omen. :)

And he's off!

Tonight the Buys clan met at Sarah's for one last dinner before Joe shoves off for L.A. To gather around the table for us to create some last memories before we're begging security to get backstage and Joe doesn't admit that he knows us. Here's a little note from Joe to the family...



4 My Family…

Well, I’m out – I wasn’t sure if I could pull it off but I’m on my way, and there is no way it could be possible with out the help of all of you. This is beyond crazy for me, rewind even 2 years ago and I never would have imagined even thinking of wanting to do this…but here I am. And you know, it’s not like I’m the only person who’s ventured this route – clearly others from our family and went down a similar path, but in this case for me…it’s definitely different. “Oh so and so is going to…” no big deal, but now I am? It’s every emotion in the world.
It’s not that I feel the need to prove to anybody that I can do this –but that I want to follow a dream in which I believe will make me extremely happy as a career choice. Since I can remember music and more importantly, hip-hop music, has been in my bloodline. I don’t know how I got my mom to purchase unedited west coast “gangsta” rap for me at age 10 – but she did, and aside from my 8th grade stint, it worked out for the best.
There is a love and joy that music brings me – first by listening, but more importantly by recording and especially performing. I love it – and if anybody has told me anything from our family its 1) get your education and 2) follow your dreams – you can be what ever you want. Granted, nobody knows the outcome, but I truly believe if you stick to your vision and just work hard while being good to not only life but people, success will follow (not to be confused with money and fame).
I’m so blessed to have the people close to me that I do – how many families can get irritated because there whole family, not just mom or dad, is so involved. And though it can seem like a bad thing, it rarely is (except of course from Karen’s numerous death threats about relationships – which she’s often right). My head has been spinning the last week because of how many contacts I’ve received and advice I’ve been given, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. Thank you so much.
I guess all I want to make clear in this letter is that, no matter how long I’m away – whether it’s 2 months, a year or 10 years; I know where home is. I know how hard this is on a lot of people (including myself), but I just have this feeling in my heart that I need to do this. It may work exactly the way I envision or it may be a little different, but regardless, due to the way I have been brought up by so many great people – I will be okay. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible, because with out all the things I’ve learned from that fall day in 1984 to this moment – I wouldn’t be able to do half the things I’ve achieved today. So thank you, keep in touch and visit my mom frequently. I love you all.

Joseph ‘JBiZzNys’ Buys

Knitting for change.

OK, so the knitting had nothing to do with Obama, change or wanting change, or needing change for a dollar.

But last night I had to cover Barack Obama speaking at North Farmington High School. The only problem? Press had to arrive about 2 1/2 hours early. One of the Secret Service agents searching my bag found my knitting (with wooden needles so as to not set off any detectors) asked, "Expecting him to be boring?"

I responded, "Not at all, when he starts in two and a half hours."

My two competitors and I took our spots behind the media barricade on the floor when we noticed they put chairs up on the balcony behind us for overflow press. We decided it would be a better vantage point and moved up there. It was perfect. Obama's press entourage took up more than the space below, so it was a wise choice to move regardless.

Although at first I kind of dreaded the circus I thought it would be, I actually got in and out quite easily. It was an interesting night, an interesting event, and no doubt a snapshot in history (in a way).

And to top it all off, I got quite of bit of knitting done on one of my custom orders done before it started.

Click HERE to read my story.

Kirsten

Update: Gupp's kitchen masterpiece continues

Here are a few new photos from the chaos that currently is Gupp's kitchen. It's looking awesome already. I can't wait to see it.

Joe's Journey

As a mother I will admit that I don’t like the idea of Joe going to California. No mother would like that idea…at least any mother that is worth her “salt” as a mother. I now have an idea how Mom felt when Maggie left for Hawaii. The fear of the unknown is not a comfortable feeling for a mom. Although we all like to think we raise our kids to be independent, to go after their dreams and to take risks to reach their goals, we really don’t like it when they finally decide to do what we have been preaching about their entire lives.

I know I am prejudiced, but I think JBizznys is quite a unique individual. We butted heads on several occasions in junior high, a few times in high school and a little when he was in college. I’m sure he would be glad to tell you stories of me hanging up on him, not answering the phone or locking myself in my room with the TV up loud so I couldn’t hear him. Through it all he somehow came through the other side and ended up doing (for the most part) the right thing in my eyes and, after all, doing the right thing by a mother’s standard, is very comforting.

Well, here we are at a crossroads in life. It all started at my house on weekends with his friends, doing rap and now several years later he has a CD and additional songs and public appearances in different venues under his belt. One of the highlights for me was watching him perform at the Detroit State Fair in 2007. It was exhilarating for all of us and especially for “the mom.”

The time has come for this ole’ mom to let her baby boy spread his wings and do what he wants to do. I am proud that he graduated from the best school in the country (right, Dan?) and that he has set an example for many young people whose lives he has touched. I’m grateful that he came into my life, even though I was way too old to be pregnant in 1984….God knew what He was doing by sending him. For the most part he has contributed many interesting stories in the Balice history and has provided us with lots of entertainment. I feel blessed that “he’s…a…my boy” and I feel proud of all that he is and all that he will become.

Joe’s departure will be on September 15. Please join us at the best watering hole in town on Tuesday, September 9 at 6:00 (or whenever) to wish him well on his journey. You will probably witness “the mom” crying. Don’t worry about it too much, crying cleanses the soul and it is as much a part of my life on a regular basis as breathing.

SEE YOU AT GREGORY’S


To Joseph Clayton Aka JBizzNys

COCOON

Along a dusty road in India there sat a beggar who sold cocoons. A young boy watched him day after day, and the beggar finally beckoned to him.

"Do you know what beauty lies within this chrysalis? I will give you one so you might see for yourself. But you must be careful not to handle the cocoon until the butterfly comes out."

The boy was enchanted with the gift and hurried home to await the butterfly. He laid the cocoon on the floor and became aware of a curious thing. The butterfly was beating its fragile wings against the hard wall of the chrysalis until it appeared it would surely perish, before it could break the unyielding prison. Wanting only to help, the boy swiftly pried the cocoon open.

Out flopped a wet, brown, ugly thing which quickly died. When the beggar discovered what had happened, he explained to the boy "In order for the butterfly wings to grow strong enough to support him, it is necessary that he beat them against the walls of his cocoon. Only by this struggle can his wings become beautiful and durable. When you denied him that struggle, you took away from him his only chance of survival."

May the walls of your cocoon be just thick enough to allow you to struggle just long enough to emerge the beautiful person I already know you to be. M.D.

Maggie's heading north!

I will be attending this event on September 21st in Traverse City. This
guy's book moved me, big time. I would highly recommend his book, Three
Cups of Tea. If anyone would like to join me, please let me know.

-- Maggie

Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 2:00 PM

TRAVERSE CITY FUNDRAISING TEA

Firefly Restaurant

310 Cass Street

Traverse City, MI

Contact: Sally Stilwill

Email: sstilwill@gmail.com

Presentation to follow at the State Theater, 233 E. Front

Tickets Required - $50 -ticket request should be sent to Stilwill/Three Cups of Tea,

PO Box 352, Traverse City, MI 49685. Checks made out to CAI, all proceeds to

benefit Greg’s Work. Please include self addressed stamped envelope and contact info.

Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 7:00 PM (Sold Out)

TRAVERSE CITY COMMUNITY READ

City Opera House

106 East Front Street

Traverse City, MI

Contact: Ruth Bay

Email: jackbay@charter.net

Reception prior to event at 6:00 PM

Tickets $10

Monday, September 22, 2008 at 9:25 AM

TRAVERSE CITY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

5376 N Long Lake Rd

Traverse City, MI 49684

Contact: Ruth Bay

Email: jackbay@charter.net

Find out details about Greg Mortensen, his book 3 cups of tea and his appearance in Traverse City CLICK HERE.

And, we're back!

Sorry for the lack of posts (though, sadly, I've not gotten one complaint) but it's been super crazy time around here moving to the new house in Royal Oak, etc.

I will have photos of the new pad soon. Dan's got it in tip top shape.
The other night, we made personal pizzas and decided to take it to our front porch for dinner.

(face paint courtesy of the Detroit Zoo)

I surprised the troops with dessert -- cake and pudding
and fruit and whipped cream and chocolate

Then I taught Claire how to squirt whipped cream right into her mouth.
I told her to close her eyes and open her mouth. Though she later admitted she was
worried I would put a raspberry in her mouth ("yuck!") she did as I instructed. It paid off
handsomely for her. Especially the time I also dripped chocolate in her mouth on
top of the whipped cream.

The next day, I woke up to find a fully dressed and accessorized Claire watching "The Littles." I made her a waffle and let her eat it in front of the TV, since she was sitting so sweetly on the chair "Kirsten's mom" gave her.



Later in the day, we decided to let her stretch out her legs for a bit at the park, considering it was her last day before starting school!

It turns out a park we often go to is only about 3 blocks away and we hadn't figured that out yet.





Other than that, Claire started Kindergarten yesterday and came home full of first-day-of-school adrenaline and excitement. She has at least one new friend already, went to gym class for the first time and doesn't like her after school room because there are Power Rangers on the walls.

Here are a couple of pics of the proud daddy and his baby heading out the door for the first day of school.





Dan's working hard on various projects, including pitching an original score for a Nike spot today, which is quite impressive. If and when I can, I'll post it here. Also, he's leaving taking off for NYC for 11 days.

His production partner on many of the aforementioned various projects, as well as the Nike ad, is Paul Simon's engineer and is bringing Dan in to work as his assistant on the recording of Simon's wife -- Edie Brickell's new album. So, he'll be gone from Sept. 15 to Sept. 26. I will be lonely. Come visit. :)

Of course, I'll have plenty to do. In addition to my gig at the paper,this week I begin in my new capacity as marketing director for my chiropractor. She's putting me on the payroll and Saturday we will meet to make my plan of attack. I'm not sure where I'll find all the time to do this, but I will and I'll do it well (hopefully). Wish me luck. :)

On top of that a couple of weeks ago I started a volunteer position as newsletter editor for VegMichigan.

AND I just got two custom blanket orders off of my last round of e-mails so I have to get to those, as well as stockpiling scarves and other items for the Detroit Urban Craft Fair (tired of hearing about it yet?) Sounds like "the aunts" are considering a visit during the fair, and I think that sounds great!

On that note, it's my one night with no late meetings, so I'm going to get knitting and try to get to bed early!

Sorry if you're tired of hearing about us. There's a solution to that: send me some stuff!!!!

And please, someone comment so I know you're at least reading this. :)

xo, Kirst