Mega Dork

Had to share... keep watching until the end!

Invasion of the Purse Snatchers

My next blog was going to cover my vacation road trip through Ohio but sometimes life gets in the way and you have something more immediate to say. So here's the story:

It was after pole dancing class and Jen, Monica and I decided to go get a drink at the Village Inn in Sylvania (nice area.) We sat outside because it was a warm night. Soon Monica got tired and left as it was starting to get dark, Jen and I stayed for a few more drinks.

We were talking, laughing, drinking... when all of a sudden I see this hand reach over my shoulder and grab my purse... which was sitting right in front of me on the table. At first I thought it was a joke, maybe somebody I knew messing with me. But as I heard the feet pounding farther away I realized I'd just been robbed!

It's been awhile since I moved so fast, trying to run down two teenage boys (and I say boys because they were very very young.) But I was wearing crappy shoes, and I'm not exactly a long distance runner. Knowing I was falling behind, I did the only thing I could think of... I shouted obscenities and tried to get a good description of the punks.

Walking back to the bar I saw several other distraught women jogging toward me (man I must have been moving fast,) seems the assholes had gotten more than just my purse. When I got back Jen was on the phone with the cops, she had reached for her phone the second I took off. Within minutes Sylvania cop cars were all over the place looking for the thieves.

I called JR(with Jen's phone) and left a message since I had no keys, no wallet, no cellphone. I think I was most upset about my phone. The other stuff can be replaced (although I knew it'd be a pain in the ass) but the only phone numbers I know by heart are JR's, my parents, and work.

Anyway, thank god the bartender had gotten an upclose look at the kids, she had kicked them out a few times already that night. So she went with the police who actually had a pretty good idea who the robbers were (guess there was a big party with kids going on down the street) to ID the suspects. At this point Jen just kept handing me drinks, which I was slamming back.

JR showed up about the same time the cops came back... now with a brown evidence bag in hand. They asked for Elaine.. which threw me for a second until I realized they probably meant me since that's my middle name. With rubber gloves on the (sweet) cop gingerly pulled my purse out of the bag... wallet, cellphone, and keys... all there, but out of place. Apparently the kid dropped it in the nearby church parking lot because we were chasing him.

The officer had me go through my stuff to see what was missing. Three bucks, some change... and my sense of security was all I lost last night. He asked me if I wanted to press charges, my answer... "Hell Yes."

I was so relieved to get everything important back, but I felt bad for the other girl who was robbed. They found her wallet, but not her purse. Still, they captured one of the purse snatchers (the one who grabbed mine) and you know he'll squeal on his friend.

I've got to hand it to the Sylvania PD, I'm not a fan of cops, but they were all over this incident and did a really good job catching the bad guys. I thought I was safe in Sylvania, lesson learned. But on the same note if this had happened in Toledo I doubt the police would have been so quick to respond.

Home Sweet Home

I thought I'd blog and catch everyone up on my life. We went up north, to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan for a friend's wedding back in June. Mt. P is the home of Central Michigan University, where we went to college. JR goes up there all the time since his parents live nearby, but I haven't been since Thanksgiving. While it was only a weekend trip, it felt like a summer vacation. I took a ton of pictures as we revisted our old haunts.

Here's a map, Mt. Pleasant is located in central Michigan (under the flying "C") which is about 3 hours north of Toledo.



Our first stop was one of our favorite restaurants.



We used to go here for special dates, like birthdays and anniversaries. It was a delight to go again after so long (although the food wasn't as good as I remembered.) It was a totally new experience, we had forgotten all the little things... like the waitress writing her name upside down in crayon on the table.



The next day we hung out at his parent's house.



His parents love being outside, and it shows.



They live on 40 acres and have a huge pole barn...



filled with tons of toys...



including JR's baby...



an '85 Chevy 4X4.



We went for a ride.



Then cleaned up for our friend's wedding. It was beautiful.



But sunny. Only 15 minutes without sunblock and I got a nasty sunburn (the line is from my dress strap, which is pulled down.)



Sun aside, we had a great time and got to hang out with friends we hadn't seen since our wedding.





And oh yeah, it was one of "those" weddings.



After the wedding came the bar(s). The first stop was the downtown bar where the groom works. They've added on since I was last there, but it still feels the same. Whenever I'm there I can't help but hear Toby Keith's song "I Love this Bar" playing in my head.



We met up with some other friends and hopped over to the new piano bar in town.



Then we were hungry, so we hit up another college favorite, always open.



Est. 1973



The next day, more food at the Hunan House buffett (best Chinese food in the world) then a tour through campus.



Before heading out of town. I used to work at this 7/11.



It was wonderful to get away from Toledo and hang out with some of my favorite people. I miss them all so much. Coming back to Ohio was really hard. The trip made JR and I realize how much we love Mountain Town, and while we know things will never be the same as when we were in college, I think we would both be a lot happier if we moved back. Maybe we'll get the chance some day.