Here he is, the newest member of the family….Brutus 
He was found by a dog rescue organization as a stray about four weeks ago. They are estimating his age at 1yo. He appears to be an unusual mix of boxer, mastiff, bulldog, terrier, & “Who knows”. He is stocky, has a sweet personality, is VERY strong, and needs to learn some doggie manners, but he is an eager learner. Let the good times roll!
This is the dance that Abby did for the 2009 AOG National Fine Arts Competition in Orlando, FL. Out of 92 entries, she is one of 16 who received the highest ranking, but even more important — she had a great time!
That’s right, my daughter’s artistic ability has resulted in a new hobbie of sorts: Sharpie Tattoo Artist
In these pics, Abby is “tattooing” the bald head of one of her youth leaders during a youth group picnic.
This one ended up going all the way down his neck to his shirt collar. I don’t think his wife was thrilled, but he loved it. What a guy!
Almost 12 years ago, a small black standard-poodle puppy walked into our lives. Twelve years is a long season, but sadly the season is over. Shadow passed away earlier this week.
His name didn’t simply come from his color, but from his attitude. He literally shadowed me from day one, wanting nothing more than to be with us anywhere, anytime. He was a “people dog”. He had difficulty relating to other dogs, but he loved people and loved being in the middle of whatever was going on.
He firmly believed that he was on equal footing with all other humans, and we unashamedly encouraged that. We took him with us anywhere that he was welcome – vacations, parties, stores, etc.
He loved to play with his ball. He wouldn’t quit even if he was aching, freezing or bleeding. He also loved to go for walks and rides in the car. His least appealing quality was his constant need to “talk”, but we learned to live with that.
Shadow has left a large hole in our household. It’s amazing how these four-footed creatures who love unconditionally can hold such prominent places in our lives. Not a day passes that one of us hasn’t been reminded of his absence in a memorable way.
We miss you, buddy.
In the Michalowski home, we often try to remind each other that we can’t do it all. Then occasionally there 
comes a period of time when you can’t help but try. This was one of those weekends.
It all started Friday afternoon when we drove to Ohio for a quick overnight visit with some of our “genetic family”. These are dear friends & families who also live with the Basal Cell Carcinoma Nevus Syndrome. We had dinner together, stayed up late catching up with each other, breakfast the next morning, and some lovely time enjoying the outdoors. Then we zipped home after lunch because Saturday evening was…
Homecoming!
Abby attended the high school 
Homecoming Dance with a group of friends. Immediately upon returning from Ohio, we threw our overnight bags in a corner and switched gears. The afternoon turned into “Hurricane Homecoming”. Three girls descended on my cozy small-bathroomed home and soon there was a whirlwind of dresses, make-up, blow-drying, curling, and straightening. We stopped long enough to have pizza (using the good china & crystal). Then family and friends descended to take pictures and see the girls off to the dance!
Today (Sunday) is a well-earned a day of rest. This weekend was great fun, but exhausting!
<– Here’s my “little” girl in her homecoming dress.
Now I’m going to take a nap!
We took Mike’s 97yo grandmother on a great adventure into the NorthSide of Pittsburgh so she could visit her 96yo sister in the hospital. We talked her into allowing us to push her in a hospital wheelchair (saved at LEAST an hour — she moves kinda slow). After a lovely visit, we left the hospital and took the scenic route home. As we pulled in the driveway, Gram started looking for her purse which lead to a conversation like this:
“I thought you had it.” “No, I thought YOU had it!” “Well, I don’t have it!!”
It was left hanging on the back of the hospital wheelchair in the drop-off/pick-up zone of the hospital. Mind you, this hospital is not in the best part of the Big City, so when I called their Security Department I could HEAR their eyes rolling. They promised to send someone right out there to check and then call us back, which they did. It wasn’t there. With hope in my heart, I left our name and number in case someone turned it in.
Normally Gram carries little more than tissues and sunglasses in her purse, but not this time. This time she had her wallet. Even though she doesn’t own credit cards, what little ID she has was in that wallet along with “some money”. With visions of identity theft dancing in our heads, Mike and I drove home. Within 20 minutes, Mike’s mom called to tell us that someone had turned the purse in!! There was no money in it, but everything else was there, and we made arrangements to pick it up.
I guess no one wanted to pretend to be a 97yo woman. Gram was thankful that “an honest person” found her purse. I amused myself thinking it was more likely a very disappointed less-than-honest person.
My soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter has entered the blogosphere! She has an amazing gift for words, and her thought processes have been astounding ever since she could vocalize them. If you’d like to take a peek at“Off The Deep End”, here’s the link:
Twenty years ago today, Mike and I became parents for the first time. We were so young. We had NO idea what we were doing. This child came with no instruction manual, and no warranty!!! But the medical professionals let us take Stephen Michael home.
He started out at 9 lb 1 oz and 22 inches long. Today he stands at 6′ 4″ and weighs 180 lb. (Lots of pizza and bacon cheeseburgers)
During his first 3-4 years, his head was too big for him to manage well, so he had lots of bruises, and his “head butts” were killer!
At four years of age, he handled the invasion of his domain (the birth of his sister) quite well.
He tried gymnastics, soccer and baseball, but found his passion in puppetry, drumming and drawing.
He’s been homeschooled all his life which, he will tell you, has its pros & cons. He’s always marched to the beat of his own drum, and continues to do so. He loves working with his hands, he loves a good debate, and enjoys hanging out with friends and family.
In his teen years, he discovered that he loves kids and they actually like him! He babysits, helps in the church nursery, teaches Sunday School, coaches an elementary basketball team, and at any group function or party — you’ll find him playing with the kids.
He’s well-traveled for his age: he’s been to Africa; Canada; and all over the United States.
It’s been a pleasure watching him grow in so many ways.
I can’t believe I’ve known this kid for 20 years!! Happy Birthday Steve!
Over the fourth of July weekend, we traveled up to the shores of Lake Ontario to pick cherries. We had glorious weather — temp in the mid 80′s and clear blue skies.
What a blast! These are sweet cherries, which turn dark red (almost black) when ripe. The trees are kept 
short, much like apple trees, and the cherries are just hanging within arms reach. They were exceptionally ripe, plump and juicy. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this farm allows you to eat while you pick and I ate myself sick!
I think I came close to experiencing what life must have been like in the Garden of Eden. Picking a sun-warmed cherry off the tree and popping it into my mouth is now on my list of Life’s Most Memorable Moments. A happy thought that I’ll be able to use for years to come!
Given the price of gas, these ended up being very expensive cherries — but each one was hand-selected and picked at the peak of ripeness. Well worth the trip!
HOW TO CHANGE A DIAPER, ACCORDING TO A DAD:
Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher’s mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again. ~Jimmy Piersal, 1968 (For those too young to remember, this story involves a CLOTH diaper)
Hopefully, that put a smile on your face and caused you to think of someone today. This weekend is Father’s Day. The man in 
this picture is my father. Since I forgot to put a card in the mail in time (Sorry Dad!), I decided that I’d better pay tribute to him on my blog!
My Dad is a remarkable man. He is a life-long learner and has remade himself many times over. He’s been a college physics professor, a geophysicist, a stock speculator, a real estate agent, an insurance agent and he isn’t finished yet. His life started out in California and he’s made his way to Florida, with many, many stops along the way. He enjoys poker, technology (all the latest toys), music, and a good discussion. He loves to think about things, rework them, and improve them.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!!
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