Un Exito

Relay for Life keeps walkers close to home
Saturday, July 28, 2007
By Matt VandebunteThe Grand Rapids Press
COMSTOCK PARK -- The first four years after her mother died of cancer, Ingrid Fournier and the rest of "Barb's Bunch" walked in the Relay for Life of Rockford.
This year, the group is staying closer to home for its annual effort to honor the memory of Barbera Hekman, taking part in the American Cancer Society's first 24-hour walk-a-thon in Comstock Park.
"This is so much more meaningful," said Fournier, 40. "It belongs to Comstock Park now. We're doing this with neighbors and we're meeting new people. It's a community."
Fournier and her teammates from Zion Lutheran Church are one of 14 teams at the inaugural Comstock Park event, one of about 20 relays in West Michigan this year. Another relay is scheduled for next weekend at East Grand Rapids High School.
The Comstock Park walk started Friday afternoon and continues through 3 p.m. today, with people on the track the whole time to symbolize that cancer never sleeps.
To meet a $35,000 total fundraising goal, teams collect donations for the cancer society and during the relay sell food, toys and services out of large tents.
An evening ceremony was to feature candles inside decorated bags.
Held on the track at Comstock Park High School, the relay includes live entertainment and hourly themes such as a lap Friday in honor of Chris Pierson, a Greenridge Elementary School teacher who died in February 2006 of leukemia.

A note from the P.Suave Editorial Board: Both Barb's Bunch and the Comstock Park event as a whole exceeded their goals; a total of $35,100 was raised during this inaugural event, $1,590 of which by the Barb's Bunch team.

Que duerman bien,

Pepino Dormilon

Team Suave

Comstock Park: Teacher to be remembered
Thursday, July 26, 2007
By Matt Vande BunteThe Grand Rapids Press

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP -- Chris Pierson led her colleagues to Relay for Life events in Ada and Rockford on several occasions.
On Friday, when the American Cancer Society's 24-hour walk-a-thon comes to Comstock Park for the first time, staff and supporters of Greenridge Elementary School will again rally around the former special education teacher.
Pierson died of leukemia in early 2006, but many said she will be there in spirit at the inaugural event, scheduled to step off at 3 p.m. on the track at Comstock Park High School, 150 Six Mile Road NE.
Of the many special activity laps planned hourly, a Kids Lap with balloons and signs in honor of Pierson is slated for 4 p.m. Friday.
"You can just show up, even walk around the track to show your support," said Emily Garneau, a Greenridge office aide and co-captain of the school's relay team. "I'm sure she'd be happy that (Relay for Life) has come to Comstock Park. We just want to make her proud."
The relay will include about 16 teams that keep at least one member walking on the track until 3 p.m. Saturday. The public is invited to the fund-raiser, which will feature live music, volleyball and several activities planned by individual teams.
The Greenridge squad, for example, plans to set up a Hawaiian-themed tent where members will sell nail polishing and hair-braiding services.
Walkers are encouraged to take part in hourly themes including trick-or-treating, pajama party, jump roping and ball bouncing. A "Miss Relay" fundraiser at 8 p.m. Friday will crown the man dressed in drag who collects the most donations. At other times, people can pay $5 to change the song being played.
And at 9:30 p.m. Friday, a luminaria ceremony, featuring candles inside decorated bags, will honor cancer victims and survivors, as well as people still fighting the disease. Bags are available for $10 by calling Garneau at 647-4071.
Greenridge staff plan to remember Pierson by spelling out her name with one letter per bag.
"That is going to be very impressive to see," said Pierson's father, James Pierson, who will walk with his wife, Paula. "It really brings to light just how many people have died.
"We know that Chris would have been one of the organizers had she been here. (Relay) has been a very big part of our life, and especially my daughter's."
Chris Pierson died in February 2006 from complications with leukemia. She previously survived a bought with ovarian cancer and got active in Relay for Life, serving on an organizing committee for the Rockford relay.
Pierson's former students and their parents are invited to be part of the Greenridge team.
"She absolutely adored those children," James Pierson said. "They were her whole life."

Bob the Gorilla Editorial Board notes: Barb's Bunch, the famed relay team from Pepinoville, will be in attendance at the Comstock Park inaugural event, after a few years of participating in the Rockford Relay. Li'l Pepinita and cousins Salchicha, Bailarin, Fotografa, Linguista, and El Tigre, will be in attendance as well. Bompa Suave may dress and walk as a women (sic) if Pepina uses her communications degree effectively.

Andale,

P. Suave y La Junta Directiva Gorila

Los Chavitos

Above are some shots taken at the orphanage we visited outside of Cuernavaca. The bottom picture is the cafeteria and the orphans doing clean-up.

Me queda impresionado,

P.Suave

Traviesa

Li'l Pepinita is a caution. While in Mexico, we visited a spring-fed water park. It was 4-some acres of water ponds, pools, rivers, and crazy trial lawyer loving recreation stuff: cement diving boards, slippery cement steps, deep water with currents, swings, rope walks, Tarzan ropes, and so much more.
Li'l Pepinita is pictured here just before, and while, she jumped from about 20 feet into the mouth of the spring. The spring itself was about 40 feet wide and spewed hundreds of gallons of water every minute, feeding the park with crystal clear, cool water.
She surfaced unscathed several times. Her day was cut short, though, when she belly flopped 8 feet off the rope bridge into a swift river. I dropped my taco and dove in to assist mi vida, only to have her hand me her pink swim shoes so she could swim herself to shore. Hardy stock.


No nado nada,

Pepino S.

A Pezcar

Li'l Pepinita and cousin Salchicha passed the morning along the shores of Rio Dill. After using a dozen worms, and at least as many various lures, they went home fishless.

Me encanta el verano,

P. Daddy

Chicharrones

Chicharrones, called pork rinds on this side of the border, have no carbohydrates. Besides that, fried pork skins have nothing to contribute to overall health. Yet, they are crunchy, salty, melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I love them so much that, occasionally, I eat enough in one sitting to satisfy my saturated fat level for a month. Front-loading.

During our Mexico trip we had the opportunity to witness the confection of the tasty porcine treat. We visited a self-sustaining orphanage. That is, the residents (children from infants to teen-age) and the staff cultivate and prepare their own food. During our entire visit, I never saw an infant cultivating anything. They're such babies.

At the top of this entry, you see a coldron of hot oil with pig skin floating on top, followed by a picture of a future bag of pork rinds. Just below him is a wheel-barrow of slop gleaned from the cafeteria left-overs, and used to feed the hogs. You can also see the cooking area, with wood piled high to fuel the cooking fire. The last picture shows the pig pens (similar in sight and smell to Li'l Pepinita's bedroom).

Sabrosisimo,

Pepino Puerco

Independence Day

During our lay-over in Dallas today, soldiers began walking from their arrival gate along a mezzanine concourse above the airport mall. Everyone in the mall began to applaud. Those sitting stood up and clapped. Those wearing hats took them off and clapped. Little kids joined in, as did people from all walks of life. Some folks had tears in their eyes. Everyone applauded until the last soldier was out of sight.

Dichoso ser Norteamericano,

P. Suave

Volvemos

Gemela and Li'l Pepinita became fast friends during our short journey to Cuernavaca. Although tears were shed when we had to leave, we were thrilled that Li'l Pepinita had a great experience (thanks to our new friends Paco, Cheli. and sweet Gemela, our hosts during our stay).
Muchas gracias to nieghbor Pelotero and two of the four best grandparents in the world, Bompa and Abuelita for caring for La Gata Diabolica and the Hacienda Suave during our absence.

!Viva America!

P. Gringo Andariego Suave