Pepe's not a happy camper!

Pepe isn't happy right now! And frankly, neither am I.

There is a random assortment of creatures that inhabit the wooded area around my apartment. I've seen the 2 bunnies and the fox. And smelled the skunk. Apparently, one of the other creatures doesn't like said skunk or thinks that he'd make a tasty morsel to eat. So once again, my apartment reeks of skunk. You can hear the skunk fighting with something outside. Then BAM, there goes the spray!

That smell doesn't just go away. It lingers like a bad dream in the air for days. And since the stupid thing insists on fighting something every night, the smell permeates the building. Either it's mating season and he's trying to attract a female, fighting with another creature, or he's marking his territory. Whatever it is, he needs to stop.

I'm totally exhausted. So, I'm going to go to bed. Have fun tomorrow. Reffie

Bunnies, Dealers, and John Q. Fans...

Ok, Vacation's over. Time to go back to the real world. I got home at 1 this morning. Unloaded the car and my suitcases until 2:30. And then crashed until my alarms went off at 5. (And then hit snooze a couple times.)

I had a great time up in Traverse City. It was good to see all my friends, watch the Wings again, and just get away from the day to day of my regular life. I was able to get tons of autographs for both the auctions that I am participating with. (Mom's Rotary auction and the benefit for my co workers baby.)

I was able to spend alot of time people watching the last couple of days. Hockey fans come in all sizes and sorts. You'll come across the Puck Bunnies, the Dealers, and the John Q. Fans. As previously mentioned, I usually sit outside and hold spots in the autograph line so my friends can go in and watch the practices. (I go inside for a couple hours one day to watch.) You'll see me sitting in my little red chair with my trusty back pack and a pocket full of sharpies. Neither rain nor snow nor sleet nor hail (or roasting sun) keeps us fans away.

You can usually tell the dealers by the stacks of stuff that they haul out of their vehicles. Which they constantly refresh depending on which players come out the doors. The puck bunnies show up in skimpy outfits, more make up than a mime, and hair styles that defy gravity. And finally there are the John Q. Fans. The people who want the experience of meeting their favorite players. Each group making each camp more memorable.

I took my mother with me to the Charity Dinner. She said she'd take pictures for me and that way she would be able to get more autographs for her auction. (She's a member of the Rotary that I was getting things for.) That was my night. All the signatures that I got that night were for myself. She went back home the following day. The rest of the week I spent with my friends. I hope that the players don't think that I'm a dealer. I do try to get allot of signatures, but the ones I don't keep for my personal collection are donated to charities or given to friends back home who cant go to camp themselves.

One special memory for this camp for me is when Datsyuk and Igor Grigorinko (draft pick) game out on the last night. They came out the door only to discover that all the cars to take them back to the hotel were gone. They looked like deer in headlights when they realized that there were still fans out there and no vehicles for a quick escape. I have been trying to teach myself Russian, and since it was the last day I was there, I decided to try what I've learned out. I said thank you in Russian to them after they signed for me (again.) Grigorinko who doesn't speak any English whipped his head up and smiled really big. I told him that I was learning Russian just like he was learning English. He was happy with that. Then when I did the same with Pavel, he responded with what I think is "You're welcome" in Russian.

Well gang, I've written a book here tonight. I'm sitting here typing and listening to the 1st preseason game via online radio from Minnesota. I'm exhuasted like you wouldn't believe. See ya'll tomorrow.

Vacation Day 4 part 2.

Today was a fun day. The last full day of Wings training camp for me. There is the red and white game tomorrow evening. But today was the last up at 6, to the arena by 7:30 and sit out in the sun to get autographs until 4 pm. All my days are beginning to run together. I tried to go to the mall this afternoon only to remember that it was 6 pm on Sunday and the mall was closed.

Most of my friends have gone home. So, its just me and 1 or 2 others that I have to worry about saving seats for. I went inside and watched some of the practices today. It's alot faster than I remember. Must be all of the new young guns zipping around. I got a fun little book for my niece Leah today. It's the Red Wings Alphabet book. I got it signed by a couple players as well. Soon she'll be as big of a Wing nut as her favorite Auntie Jo. Got a couple more signatures for the auctions as well. I was really excited to get the game used puck that I had won on Redwingsworld.com signed by Zetterberg. That one's for me. It will be showcased in my personal collection.

The weather was beautiful today. I got a tich of sunburn on my arms even. It was a nice break from the rain and cold. My tennis shoes are still wet from yesterdays storms. I'm glad that I remembered to bring more than one pair for this week. The only major thing that I forgot to bring was paper for my photo printer. But, I haven't really been taking a ton of pictures that I need to have printed out right away. It's strange, none of us in our group really has been taking many pictures this year. I'll still get the inside action shots from them, but there haven't been alot taken out side in the line.

Since tomorrow's game is in the evening, I'll have tomorrow to run around town one last time. I'm going to go over to the Grand Traverse Hotel and see about getting a stained glass angel for Susanna (my niece to be soon....) I'm also going to go take pictures of the sun rise on the bay. Then I'm going to come back, load up my car, take a quick nap and check out of the hotel. After the practice, I have to drive back home. I'm debating about driving back to mom and dad's house to drop off the auction stuff or going straight to my apartment and bringing all the stuff over to mom and dads this coming up weekend.

Night all. Hope something good happened for you today.

Love always and forever, Reffie!

Vacation Day 4 part 1.

Ok, its 6:35 AM on Sunday. I've been up since 5, and 3, and 2 AM. I finally gave up on trying to get any decent sleep. I took a anti inflammatory on an empty stomach last night. Remind me never to do that again. My back feels a ton better, but my stomach will never forgive me. That's what I get for standing around for hours in my cute "bar" shoes. They are designed to look good, not to be comfortable.

I'm really enjoying my vacation so far. It's good to see all my friends again. I've been able to get more autographs to help out the rotary and my friends baby's auctions than I expected. I feel great. All that hard work that I did dieting really is worth it. (41 lbs off in 9 months) Now if only I could grow a few more inches taller and take dancing lessons, things would be just about perfect. Yes, I dance like a white guy. It's not pretty.

The weather is finally supposed to get nice today. It's been cold and rainy for the last couple of days. I got all these great new clothes, but no one can see them because I have to wear my coat and huddle under a blanket to keep warm while I wait for for the players to come out. I've come to the Wings camp for the last 8 years or so, I usually will save spots in the autograph line while my friends go in and watch the practices. It's a great system really. They periodically will come and sit out so I can have a potty break and some food, and I get to get copies of all of their pictures from inside. 10+ friends = alot of really cool pictures.


Well gang, I'm going to finish getting ready for today. After the practice, I'm going to go shopping. I need to get something for my nieces. I LOVE to shop! My friends are leaving tonight because they all have to work tomorrow. So I'll be all by my lonesome for tomorrow. I'll talk at ya more later today. Have fun, do something you'd not normally do today. Life is short and you have to enjoy it while you can... I wonder if there are any tattoo parlors around here.... j/k mom! :)

Vacation Day 3.

It's hard to believe that my vacation is more than halfway over already. Everything is going great. It's almost one in the morning, so this is going to be a short blog. I'll have lots of stories and yes, some pictures to post when I get back home. Went out to breakfast this morning, hung out at the Wings practice, and then went to the bar. The bar in itself was quite the experience. Tomorrow is going to be a slower day. Maybe I'll be able to catch up on some sleep. Funny how when you go on vacation, you seem to get less sleep than you do normally.

Night all, see ya tomorrow.