The past week was a whirlwind. One of my best friends passed away, I had a birthday, work was crazy, but between it all I worked to try and find ways to have fun with the kids. I feel like Megan would of reminded me to do that as things got crazy and I did... quick recap.
Since my birthday was on a Thursday, and we normally don't do much, with no real plans I decided to donate my big day to La Casa. Instead of just a FB fundraiser, I planned a work day for people to come and help with our project. I posted an event and figured lets see what happens...
Unfortunately a few days before I found out one of my best friends, Megan Baker, passed away. It came out of nowhere, it was a major shock, and all I knew was that I wanted to see her mom and write a blog. One of my gifts is saying the right thing, and it's the gift I tried to give the family. I wrote "Thanks Megan" for her, and then planned what I would tell Lois. Ultimately I decided I actually didn't know what to say, but instead of giving her my condolences, I told her thank you. I told her thank you for then gift that Megan was to the world, and I felt bad more people would not get to experience the gift. Hopefully I can still get to a Baker Holiday party in the near future like the old days. Love you Megan and the entire Baker clan.
I left Detroit in time to get home and get to my planned excursion the day before my birthday... on September 2nd Gingerman Raceway had a test and tune track night and I thought I would slide up there and get a few laps in. It was a long day, it started with a #SunriseRun on the Detroit coast of Michigan past Megan's house and church, and ended having a #SunsetDrive in South Haven on what people call the third coast (Michigan). The track night was an adventure, shattered my driver window, I went into the sand, and then my headlights didn't work on the way home. I made, it was fun... I tried to get some rest.
On my actual birthday we worked... I was at our construction site from about 11AM to nearly 9PM. I had people drop off donuts, dilly bars, jimmy johns, drinks, cupcakes and my kids brought me balloons. About twenty people showed up to help with the building project and whew wee we got a lot done! Part of our project us that we do a lot of the work to save ourselves money. So cha ching we working off the debt!
I celebrated over the weekend... it was great Novali called and told me she was coming down for my birthday. I asked her to wait for Friday and it worked great because our SB Cubs stadium was hosting a family movie (Rookie of the Year) on the field with fireworks so what a treat for my birthday that we were all together.
Saturday more stuff I love... N and Cruz came with me to Cars and Coffee at the Studebaker National Museum here in South Bend. We saw some cool cars, talked to some friends, Cruz smashed some donuts while I chugged coffee. Then N asked about going garage saling... can't turn that down so we dropped off the dude and hit up some sales. She found some more cute stuff for her apartment and asked about lunch... I suggested Puerto Rican Bakery and off we went...
Basically the entire weekend was me eating all the things... Friday my cheese steak nachos at Four Winds Field, Saturday carne frita Puerto Rican style with tostones, I had a Jimmy Johns cookie, and while grocery shopping I snagged a deal on some wings that I made as a midnight snack on Saturday.
Sunday woke up late, took the day off of working out, and cooked sausages for breakfast. Did house work and then Mari asked about going to Strikes and Spares, for indoor go karts... you know this Papi can't turn that down... and she made me proud. Her first time out she started in fourth, behind three boys, she passed them all, while a flustered dad egged on his son to not get passed by a girl... well he did, and she was stern faced and serious and mad that he kept cutting her off... but she got him. Didn't even smile, she just kept looking ahead driving. When I congratulated her after all she said was, "he kept bumping into me".
Then we did garage and yard work. They rode scooters and kinda helped me clean, but at least hung out with me outside and we enjoyed some sun between the rain showers. I have several projects to finish on my Z that has either broken recently or that need to get wrapped up before my next few events. I think for the next weekend Cars and Coffee event I am going to put my black wide rims back on, then I can clean my Shelby Cals well for the next couple track events...