Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien
Secret Lives of the First Ladies, Cormac O'Brien

Currently Reading: The Man Who Made Vermeers: Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren

Exhibitions

I will be viewing two gallery exhibitions inside the Studio Angelico building at my alma mater later this afternoon. Both of these shows are for faculty members that passed away within the last year or so. Both of them were art professors while I attended Siena Heights University. Wittersheim taught metalsmithing and Demots taught watercolor. I didn't have them as professors, but I did interact with both of them. Both were wonderful people and artists.


John D. Wittersheim: A Retrospective
August 26 - October 2, 2014
Klemm Gallery

Lois Demots, In Remembrance: A Memorial Exhibition
September 22 - October 3, 2014
Gallery Ten

Siena Heights University
1247 East Siena Heights Drive
Adrian, MI  49221

Painting

I finished my first painting on canvas yesterday. It is of a cardinal.

I haven't painted since high school. I now regret not taking any painting classes during college. As an art major, I should have at least taken one semester outside of my concentration. I opted for graphics and printmaking instead.

At least I can paint on my own and take classes through the internet. It's not the best painting, but I think it looks good for a beginner.

Drawing

I bought all new art supplies a few weeks ago. I finally picked up my drawing pencils two Sundays ago.

I found a few bird photos on the internet. I really loved a Blue Jay photo, so I decided to draw that one.

Within a half hour, I had finished my drawing. Looking at it after I completed it, I saw a few flaws. The body of the Blue Jay is a little too long. I should have made the body shorter just above the wings. The beak also looks a little weird to me. It just doesn't seem right.

I'm happy to be drawing and creating art again. I have taken photographs for years. But it is nice to get my hands dirty again. I hope to never lose touch with my physical art background again. 

Miss America

Associated Press/Julio Cortez

Associated Press/Mel Evans

Associated Press/Julio Cortez

The 2015 Miss America Pageant took place Sunday, September 14 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Miss New York Kira Kazantsev was crowned Miss America by 2014 Miss America Nina Davuluri, who was also Miss New York.

Kazantsev sang 'Happy' by Pharrel Williams and used a red plastic cup while sitting on the stage floor. Kazantsev said she was inspired by 'Pitch Perfect', the 2012 movie starting Anna Kendrick.

For the on stage question, Miss New York was asked by Lee Meriwether about women leaders in the Senate and what they should be taking the lead on. Kazantsev said that sexual assault in the military is an issue that the women senators have to fight for.

4th runner up: Miss Massachusetts - Lauren Kuhn
3rd runner up: Miss Florida - Victoria Cowen
2nd runner up: Miss Arkansas - Ashton Jo Campbell
1st runner up: Miss Virginia -  Courtney Paige Garrett

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.
Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien

Currently Reading: Secret Lives of the First Ladies, Cormac O'Brien

WNBA finals

Kamil Krzaczynski

The Chicago Sky hosted the Phoenix Mercury for Game 3 of the WNBA finals on Friday. Chicago Sky needed to win Game 3 to continue the series in the best 3 out of 5 games.

The game was much closer then the first two because Brittney Griner, center for the Mercury, was sitting out due to an eye procedure that took place after Game 2. Even with Griner sitting out, the Mercury was able to top the Sky 87-82 to win their third WNBA Championship.

USA Today Sports

Coming up big for the Mercury was Diana Taurasi, who was named the MVP, and Candice Dupree. Taurasi and Dupree both scored 24 points for the Mercury. Taurasi was fouled when she made a basket with 14.3 seconds left in the game to break the tie at 82 points. She made the free throw to put the Mercury up 85-82. Leading the way for the Sky was Elena Delle Donne with 23 points and Sylvia Fowles with 20 points.

Anniversary

Deloris Clark-Osborne

My husband and I are celebrating our 13th wedding anniversary today.

I have enjoyed every minute spent together. These past 13 years have flown by. I wouldn't want to spend them with anyone else.

Skipping

I have run a local half marathon for the past three years. The race is this Saturday and I didn't sign up this year.

I had the entry form at my house for about a month and a half. I didn't want to sign up because of a few reasons. I didn't know if my husband and I would be going out of town to celebrate our anniversary, which is the 15th. I didn't know if we were going to be on vacation. Finally, I needed to save money to have my car's back break line replaced. Granted if I registered early, I could have saved a few dollars. I just kept putting it off and missed early registration.

I could still run the half marathon this weekend, but I won't. I have already run 13 races this year. I'm tired. For a good chuck of 2014, I was preparing myself for a fall ultra. That didn't happen because money is tight. I only work part-time and I can't run every race I want to.  Even though I really want to.

This is also the year my car decided it needed to have every part replaced. I didn't plan on spending that much money to have my car repaired. I plan on making the appointment this week to have the rear brake line replaced. It will cost a couple of hundred dollars, but that is money I wish I didn't have to spend.

I'm sure the local half marathon will be on the calendar again next year. Even though I'm not signed up to run that half marathon, it's OK. I will wake up that morning, change my clothes, put on my shoes and run anyway.

WNBA Finals

USA Today Sports

The WNBA Finals started Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona. The Phoenix Mercury hosted Chicago Sky.

The Mercury dominated Game 1 from the start and defeated the Sky 83-62 Sunday. The largest lead the Mercury had over the Sky was 30 points in the third quarter. Mercury's Brittney Griner set a playoff record of eight blocks. Griner also scored 12 points and had seven rebounds. Candice Dupree was the leading scorer for Phoenix with 26 points. Dupree made her first 10 shots. Diana Taurasi chipped in with 19 points and 11 assists.

Chicago's Sylvia Fowles led the way for the Sky with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Allie Quigley was also in double figures with 13 points and 4 rebounds. Elena Delle Donne's back hurt and only played 11 minutes in the first half. Delle Donne sat out the rest of the game to rest up for Game 2.

Game 2 of the best of 5 series will be played Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET at US Airways Center in Phoenix, Arizona and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Books read in 2014

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead do Tell Tales, William Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Roads, Earl Swift
Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI, Dana Kollmann 
Confessions of a Surgeon, Paul A. Ruggieri M.D.
Lincoln's Grace Robbers, Steve Sheinkin
Why Your Prescription Takes So Damn Long to Fill,Drugmonkey
Beyond the Body Farm, Dr. Bill Bass & Jon Jefferson
The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession,Mark Obmascik
True Hollywood Noir: Filmland Mysteries and Murders, Dina Di Mambro
Island of Vice: Theodor Roosevelt's Quest to Clean Up Sin-Loving New York, Richard Zacks   
Mortal Evidence: The Forensics Behind Nine Shocking Cases, Cyril H. Wecht
Amelia, Nancy Nahra
Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue the World's Stolen Treasures, Robert K. Wittman & John Shiffman 
The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
Hot Lights, Cold Steel, Michale J. Collins, M.D.
Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs, Michael J. Collins M.D. 
Dark Dreams: A Legendary FBI Profiler Examines Homicide and the Criminal Mind, Roy Hazelwood & Stephen G. Michaud 
Swim, Bike, Run: Our Triathlon Story, Alistair Brownlee & Jonathan Brownlee
The Stranger Beside Me, Ann Rule
Beauty, Disrupted: The Carre Otis Story, Carre Otis & Hugo Schwyzer
House of Versace: The Untold Story of Genius, Murder and Survival, Deborah Ball
Trama: My Life as an Emergency Surgeon, Dr. James Cole
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies, J.B. West
Kitchen Confidential, Anthony Bourdain
Back of the House: The Secret Life of a Restaurant, Scott Haas 
Shooting Stars: My Unexpected Life Photographing Hollywood's Most Famous, Jennifer Buhl
Trauma Junkie: Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse, Janice Hudson
You'll Never Nanny in This Town Again: The True Adventures of a Hollywood Nanny, Suzanne Hansen
NYPD Confidential: Power and Corruption in the Country's Greatest Police Force, Leonard Levitt 
The Things That Matter, Nate Berkus
Chicago Cop: Tales from the Street, Star #14931
The Making of a Chef: Mastering Heat at the Culinary Institute of America, Michael Ruhlman
Monica's Story, Andrew Morton
All Too Human: A Political Education, George Stephanopoulos
Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews
Petals on the Wind, V.C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, V.C., Andrews 
How I Helped O.J. Get Away With Murder, Mike Gilbert  
Rawhide Down: The Near Assassination of Ronald Reagan, Del Quentin Wilber
Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside The Secret Service, Joseph Petro & Jeffrey Robinson  
Intensive Care, Echo Heron
Condition Critical: The Story of a Nurse Continues, Echo Heron
Cabin Fever: The Sizzling Secrets of an Virgin Air Hostess..., Mandy Smith
Dancing with the Devil: The Windsors and Jimmy Donahue, Christopher Wilson
The Season: A Summer Whirl Through the English Social Season, Sophie Campbell
Joe and Marilyn: Legends in Love, C. David Heymann
Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies and the Making of a Medical Examiner, Judy Melinek, M.D.

Currently Reading: Secret Lives of the U.S. Presidents, Cormac O'Brien

Gwen

Competitive Image/Paul Phillips

American Gwen Jorgensen was able to overcome a 68 second deficit off the bike to win her fifth World Triathlon Series race and first world championship title in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. American Sarah Groff finished the race in fourth place, but was runner-up to Jorgensen in the world championship series.

Jorgensen is the only woman in World Triathlon Series history to win five events in a year. She ties the record with Olympic Gold medalist Alistair Brownlee of Great Britain, who won five events in 2009.

ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – Aug. 30, 2014
1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run

Women
1. Gwen Jorgensen USA 2:00:05
2. Andrea Hewitt NZL 2:00:21
3. Nicky Samuels NZL 2:00:31
4. Sarah Groff USA 2:01:20
5. Aileen Reid IRL 2:01:21
6. Claudia Rivas MEX 2:01:22
7. Sara Vilic AUT 2:01:24
8. Pamela Oliveira BRA 2:01:26
9. Katie Hursey USA 2:01:27
10. Rachel Klamer NED 2:01:30

Final 2014 Threadneedle ITU World Triathlon Series Rankings
1. Gwen Jorgensen USA 5085
2. Sarah Groff USA 3987
3. Andrea Hewitt NZL 3845
4. Jodie Stimpson GBR 3453
5. Nicky Samuels NZL 3073
6. Helen Jenkins GBR 2903
7. Emma Jackson AUS 2647
8. Aileen Reid IRL 2543
9. Kirsten Sweetland CAN 2540
10. Alice Betto ITA 2518

Michigan

mgoblue.com

The fall sports season for the University of Michigan started on Friday. The women's cross country team participated in the Michigan Open at Hudson Mills Metropark in Dexter.

Michigan's Shannon Osika won the race by inches over teammate Erin Finn. Osika and Finn both finished with the time of 17:01.5. Brook Handler was third in 17:35.8. Taylor Pogue was fourth (17:45.4) and Anna Pasternak rounded out the top five in 17:51.9.

According to mgoblue.com: "Finn, Osika, Handler and Pogue led the group from the gun and helped pace a group of Wolverines that remained tightly knit through the first mile. Over the second mile, Finn and Osika spread things out and with about 500 meters to go, the two were deadlocked. Both finished strong over the final stretch, with Oiska earning the win by the slimmest of margins."

mgoblue.com

The Wolverines will be back in action at the Black and Gold Invitational in Iowa City, Iowa on September 20.

Michigan Wolverines football team opened their season Saturday against Appalachian State. This was not a repeat of 2007 when Appalachian State defeated the Wolverines. The Wolverines beat the Mountaineers 52-14. Michigan's quarterback Devin Gardner and wide receiver Devin Funchess hooked up for three touchdowns before half time. Tailbacks Derrick Green and De'Veon Smith had a good day as well. Green rushed for 170 yards and Smith had 115 yards.

Michigan will travel to South Bend, Indiana next week to take on Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on NBC.

Fun weekend

My husband and I had fun plans made for the last weekend of summer.

We traveled up to IKEA in Canton, Michigan on Friday afternoon. My husband wanted to buy glass cabinet. In 2013, we went to IKEA for the first time and my husband found this glass cabinet. He has since filled it up and needed another one. While walking around the store, we saw items that we would love to add to our home. A house is never complete, but we also discussed ideas of how to change rooms in our house as well. I wish I had these ideas when we were renovated our house back then. Oh well. It's great to keep learning and expand your knowledge.

After IKEA, we continued north to Novi and the Twelve Oaks Mall. The only reason for driving north to Novi was we wanted to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. Novi is the only Cheesecake Factory location in Michigan. After visiting the Michigan State Fair last year, we wanted to eat there. We found out the wait was 1.5 hours, so we left. This visit was different. We were told our wait would be 15 minutes. Not even five minutes later, we were at a table.

I ordered the lunch size Four Cheese Pasta: penne pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, roman cheese, Parmesan cheeses, marinara sauce and basil. It was very good and I cleaned my plate. I did order cheesecake for dessert: Toasted Marshmallow S'mores Galore: Hershey's cheesecake topped with housemade marshmallow and Honey Maid graham crackers. It was so rich and good. I actually didn't finish it all. The leftover is still sitting in my refrigerator. Next time I visit a Cheesecake Factory again, I will be ordering my go-to favorite: Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake. If you know me, I love red velvet anything. I have ordered this is Portland and Chicago. I didn't order it in Novi because I wanted to try something new.

On Saturday afternoon, we crossed the Ohio border to attend the Fulton County Fair. I attended this fair as a youngster with my family every year. The last year I attended the Fulton County Fair was 1998. It was only a few weeks after my Dad passed away and my whole family went. It was nice to attend again after such a long time away. Even though I did participate in the Lenawee County Fair for years showing hogs and displaying art, I really enjoy this fair. The fairgrounds has two show barns, two show rings for horses: open air and roofed arena, many food vendors and the fairgrounds are large. I was disappointed that I couldn't pet the hogs in the barn. The barn was closed because the 4-H kids were participating in the hog judging show. We watched one of the Heavy Weight market hog shows. I picked the hog I thought should win and the judge picked the same one. I do miss being around hogs every day. Before leaving, we did walk through the arts building. Not many submissions, but the quality was good. I asked a volunteer if someone outside of Fulton County could submit work. I was told I could. I think I may do so next year.

We drove to Toledo after leaving the fair. We looked at furniture at a few different places. Our main focus was couches, reclines and dinner tables. Not too many selections caught our eye, but at least we did decide what we both wanted. The next stop was to the mall, as always. My husband bought some clothes and I bought a magazine at the bookstore across the street. The night ended with dinner at Famous Dave's, as always. 

Such a great weekend. Summer is the best time of the year.