WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!
WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!
WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!
WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!
FINALLY!
Well, our trip across the U.S. has been interesting to say the least. We spent three days in Minnesota with Dean's family. He has a cousin who is getting married and while we were there, the couple had a "co-ed shower." It really wasn't as fun as it sounds. It was just a party for the two of them and men and women both were invited. Ha. They opened presents from everyone, and we went on a hayride out in the country then came back to a barbeque and a party around the campfire for the rest of the night. Actually, it was great. Minnesota summer nights are beautiful. It actually gets dark so you can see the stars and it's sooooo warm. There's loons on all the lakes and they call to each other all night long. I loved it. I could've stayed there forever. We were also there in time for the annual Bovey Farmer's Day parade. That's always a big party.
We flew to Grand Rapids on Sept 3rd and stayed at a hotel downtown for a week. The first weekend we were there, there was a big celebration happening downtown that we decided to go check out one evening. The Grand River runs right through downtown Grand Rapids (thus the name of the city, although I haven't found any rapids yet - it's pretty slow) and once a year they have their "Celebration on the Grand." We decided it would be a cultural experience and we'd get to know the city a little bit. They closed off all the downtown streets, there were thousands of people walking around, all the museums and parks were open for free, there were live bands on every corner and down by the river there's a hillside park with a stage right on the water. The bridges over the river are all arched and lined with lights - it was pretty. Victoria Shaw and Collin Raye were here giving concerts so Dean and I bought a gyro and sat down with everyone on the hill to watch for a while.
About 20 minutes later there was a clap of lightning and everyone dove under their blankets or jumped up and ran for cover under the bridges. We didn't understand what all the excitement was about until about 10 seconds later it felt like somebody had dumped an ocean of water on us. It started to rain like I've never seen it rain before and we were soaked!. We looked at each other and started laughing. We made our way back to the hotel laughing the whole way. I looked like a drowned rat and my sandals were soggy and squished on every step. That was enough of the Grand Rapids cultural experience for me. We watched the storm and fireworks from the hotel room after that.
Sigh. Welcome to the midwest.
We bought a truck for Dean and a new snowmachine trailer then had to make a road trip to Maryland to pick up our snowmachines. Don't ask, it's a long story. We made a thousand miles in one day all the way to the coast and visited some friends of ours that live there and stayed the night with them. The next day we drove up to Delaware, picked up the machines, then hit the road again. We drove through D.C. and I wanted to stop and see Colleen but Dean was determined to cover as much ground as he could that night, so I called her when we were in the area and promised to fly out to visit soon. Hopefully I can do that before I get settled in a new job. We made it all the way through Pennyslvania Amish country and into Ohio before we finally stopped for the night. It was 2:00 a.m. and I was very tired and grouchy because he insisted on driving for so long. I wanted to see the Amish country during the day and I also wanted to have dinner with Colleen and Mark. Let me just say Dean is very lucky to have made it through that evening alive. The next day we drove the Ohio turnpike into Indiana then back up to Michigan.
Actually, in all fairness, we had to race to get back because the movers were supposed to be here that day (Friday) and we were only allowed 24 hours to offload everything from the container. Well, we about killed each other to get here, we signed all the paperwork for our apartment, got the keys, got in the door, called the moving company and guess what? Our container had been sitting in Chicago since the day before (Thursday) and they couldn't get a driver to bring it over to Grand Rapids until Monday. Chicago is only a 3 hour drive away, I just couldn't believe there wasn't one driver in the entire city of Chicago that couldn't make the 3 hour trip, and, yes, I was furious. We could've stayed in Maryland for the weekend, our friends have a beautiful place right on the ocean and a sailboat, we could've toured D.C. and visited Colleen, we could've taken our time on the way back and enjoyed the trip more. Aaargh! Oh well.
So, as a result, we were stuck in an empty apartment for the weekend with nothing but our suitcases. We made a trip to the store, bought some food, an air mattress, sheets and a blanket, one pillow, one towel and washcloth and some plastic bowls, plates, cups, forks and spoons. We also had to buy one pan and one Corningware pot to cook with. Talk about frustrating. It took an entire day, but we finally saw the humor in it and I got out the camera. I'll send pictures of our whole "adventure" soon.
The movers did get here on Monday, which was the first day of training camp for Dean and he had a hard time rounding up guys to help offload our furniture. They were all dead from working out so hard. I guess training camp is a lot like Army boot camp. The coach runs you into the ground just to see how much you can take and see who's in the best shape. Dean was in the top 5 I'm proud to say. It took us two nights to offload everything. I had no idea we had so much stuff, I don't ever remember owning half the stuff that came off that container. I think next time it would definitely be worth it to pay the movers to offload everything for us - that was HARD work. In the humidity, everyone was drenched, too. By the way, my new car made it just fine and the car cover did its job beautifully - thanks so much to everone who contributed for that gift. It was very thoughtful and I was very thankful to have it for the move.
I've spent some of my empty time out shopping around town and I've discovered that Grand Rapids is the furniture capital of the world. There are more furniture stores around this place than you can count. We bought a very nice, new formal dinette set, and I've got my eye on a Scandinavian armoire and bedroom set. Dean's guilt for moving me here is stretching pretty far and our home is showing it. Ha. Just kidding. Actually, he's helping me shop - that's new.
The apartment that we found is in a great area. We're a few miles out of town, so it's nice and quiet, it's pretty big with high ceilings and lots of windows, we have a view of a pond and there's a small mall less than a mile from our front door that has a grocery store, hair salon, dry cleaners, video store, Hallmark, and a bank. We have everything that we need. Right across the street there is even a good sized Baptist church that I went to last week and I really liked it. I may become a regular again. Also, all the Griffins and their wives get a free membership to a really nice gym downtown. It's kind of an odd place, though. The outside of the building looks a little older like it's built in 19th century style with bricks and very high ceilings. The inside is incredible, though. There's a big marble atrium and it's a lot like the Alaska Club. Membership is on the low side, though, and Scott at the front desk told me that they let the Griffins work out there for free hoping that some of the public will join for that reason. It seems to work, Dean has been asked to sign autographs during his workouts already and the season hasn't even officially started until today.
I have only found one real department store in the area, but I got lucky - it's Hudson's, one of my favorites. Also, our friends in Maryland are originally from Long Island, New York and Marlo promised that she and I would go to New York shopping at Christmas when the city and stores are decorated for the season so that should be an adventure, too. I'm also going to Vegas in January to visit family and Dean has a game against the Las Vegas Thunder on the 14th. There's shopping there, too, so I'll get my share in this year, I'm sure.
Dean's first pre-season exhibition game was in Cincinnati so he had to leave for an overnight road trip. The very hour that he left home, a storm rolled in. There was a clap of lightning and thunder rolling every 10 seconds. It was raining so hard, I couldn't see out the window past 50 feet. It was one of the most fantastic electric storms I've ever seen. But then I turned on the TV and every 10 minutes the news team interupted to give an update on a tornado warning. Yes, I said TORNADO. They were telling people to go to the basement and get under something heavy and stay away from all the windows. Scared me spitless. There never was a tornado that dropped out of the clouds or touched down anywhere but there was circular rotation in the clouds and I was saying my prayers, believe me. I really didn't know what to do, we're on the third floor of the building and I couldn't very well knock on our basement neighbors door and ask to come in for a while. We have yet to comprise a plan of attack when this happens again. Tornado season, I'm told, is fall and spring. I guess I'll get used to it.
Dean's first home pre-season exhibition game was this past week, also. They've sold out all the October games already and draw about 11,000 people per game - it fills the arena to capacity. The cheering and noise is so loud it absolutely rocks the house! It's really a lot of fun. I'm getting to know a few of the wives, all our seats are together in the same few rows and there's a room downstairs that they've provided for us, also. It has closed circuit TV so we can watch the game, there's couches and snacks - it's really nice. They provided it so the ladies with children could have a place to take them and it's also where we go to wait for "the guys" after the game to go home. It doesn't matter where we are in the nation, though, Dean is still always the last one out of the shower.
The job interviews are going well. I do believe I will be among the employed again soon. One ad agency sent me to what I thought was an employment agency for my initial interview. It was called Human Resource Associates, but as it turns out, it's an office of psychiatrists. I spent three hours in an interview with a Dr. Van Ostenburg then came back the next day for four hours of testing, examining, and evaluating. I asked for copies of my test results for my files because something came out of it that I'm kind of proud of. The very first test was a timed problem solving exam and it measures your quickness and intelligence. It goes a step beyond verbal IQ to written application problems. He told me that as an industry average, architects score 28, engineers score 29 and no single profession as a whole scores 30 or better. I scored a 32, which puts me in the 91st percentile! He said I was "very bright and astute with exceptional creativity." I said,"my mom would've told you that four hours ago." He didn't laugh. I won't bore you with the rest of the personality profile, but it was one of the most interesting things I've ever done.
I went the next day to interview with the president and vice-president of the agency and they offered me the job as an account exec. My office would be right downtown and it overlooks the Van Andel Arena, where the Griffins play. This agency also won a CLIO in 1990, so that was impressive. For those of you who haven't heard that term - what the Oscars are to acting, CLIO's are to advertising. It's a national television broadcast awards ceremony that happens every year from New York, I believe. Regarding the job, though, I'm still negotiating the compensation and I have another interview for the same position with another agency next week, so I put them off for a week. I think I would fit in with the people a little better at this other location, but we'll see how the interview goes. Wish me luck. Any words of advice would be very welcomed.
Well, folks, I know this was long, but a lot has happened since I saw you last. When we get further into the hockey season and I start a new job and get back into school, I'll write again and tell you everything. I'll wrap it up for now. I miss you.
Tiffany
P.S. For your Christmas card list:
Dean & Tiffany Trboyevich
1384 Saffron Lane SE #3B
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
616.554.4668
turbo@kvi.net
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