Coach Karen

The phone call came late in the week, as IMG Sports General Manager Steve Klein invited Karen to join the staff of honorary assistant coaches on the sidelines of Saturday's Central Michigan University spring football game.
How can anyone say no to an offer like that?
Saturday, the Maroon team tangled with the Gold team - and Karen was on the sidelines.

Football graduate assistant Jameson Zacharias listens to his headphones as honorary assistant coach Karen Ranzenberger observes during Central Michigan University's annual spring football game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Central Michigan University Student Government Association President Chuck Mahone, left, an honorary assistant coach, listens as coach John Bonamengo explains the role of the honorary assistant coaches during a briefing in the Indoor Athletic Complex.

Coach Bonamego tells the honorary assistants they'll get to call some plays.

Honorary assistant coach Maggie Blackmer, center, a Lake Orion junior and vice president of SGA, practices a play-calling signal as Karen, left, and football graduate assistant Jameson Zacharias look on.

Karen and Maggie prepare to call a play.

Starting quarterback Cooper Rush, a junior from Charlotte, drops into the pocket.

Kicker Brian Eavy, a Grand Ledge junior, attempts an extra point as the Maroon team jumps out to a commanding lead.

Karen Ranzenberger looks at the scoreboard.

Bonamego gestures to the sidelines from the field.

The honorary assistant coaches pose at midfield during halfime.

Coach John Bonamego talks to his honorary assistant coaches at the half.

Quarterback Ryan Lamb, a junior from Cardiff, California, drops back as Bonamego and his staff take a look at the reserves.

Karen  likes what she sees.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Zach Oakley of Osceola, Ind., gets some playing time.

Maggie and Karen confer during CMU's annual spring football game.

A Titan Equipment scissor lift carries video gear; a solid parts department is ready to supply any needed repair parts during the season. 

Karen takes her own shots from the sidelines.

A homicide down the street

This is too close to home. A man from Fenton was shot and killed, seemingly execution-style, in broad daylight in the parking lot of Chase Run Apartments - just across the field from where we live.

Michigan State Police evidence technicians collect evidence from the Dodge Journey where a 39-year-old Fenton man was killed in the parking lot of Chase Run Apartments Saturday, April 18, in Mount Pleasant.

Chase Run Apartments residents watch as Michigan State Police evidence technicians collect evidence from the Dodge Journey where a 39-year-old Fenton man was killed just steps from their door Saturday, April 18, in Mount Pleasant.

Children's toys and an evidence collection kit sit next to the Dodge Journey where a 39-year-old Fenton man was killed in the parking lot of Chase Run Apartments Saturday, April 18, in Mount Pleasant.

A Michigan State Police evidence technician confers with a Mount Pleasant Police officer near the scene where  a 39-year-old Fenton man was killed in the parking lot of Chase Run Apartments Saturday, April 18, in Mount Pleasant.

Chase Run Apartments, where a 39-year-old Fenton man was killed in the parking lot Saturday, April 18, in Mount Pleasant, is across a field from a popular park and a quiet, upscale condominium development. The apartment complex is located next door to the building housing Isabella County Central Dispatch and the Michigan State Police Mount Pleasant Post. 

New Years in Chicago

I'm not sure whose idea it was, but sometime after Christmas, Kissy Missy and I decided that it would be fun to celebrate New Year's in Chicago. We had no solid plans, but we knew it would involve good food, some interesting places, and some wind chill. We dressed warmly!

One of our first stops was the Bohemian House, styled as BoHo, in River North. It's central European cooking the way I wish my grandmother had done it. For an appetizer, a fabulous knackwurst.

Kissy Missy got the chicken paprikash - excellent!

I dined on pork schnitzel.

And they call the dessert "coffee and doughnuts." Those are fresh - right from the fryer - doughnut holes, still warm, served with coffee-flavored gelato. And yes, that's real coffee.

We stayed at a hotel called the Club Quarters, in the tall, spired building to the left. It's on East Wacker, right on the Chicago River. It's a business hotel, but on weekends and holidays, when there aren't many business travelers, you can get great rates there.

It's a 41-story spire on a tiny piece of land. It was built in 1923 and refurbished in the 1990s.

New Year's Day was sunny and bright - and Millennium Park, with its famous Bean, was full of people.

The skating rink was open.

And the city was beautiful!

Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, Chicago, next to Chuck Berry's guitar.

While we were there, we decided to check out some Chicago history. Say hi to your Uncle Al, Al Capone.

Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse on West Kinzie, on the Near North Side, has a marvelous display of Mob memorabilia. Ya just gotta know who ta ask!

They even have mobster Frank Nitt's draft card!

The Biograph Theater, in the 2400 block of Lincoln Avenue near Lincoln Park, is where the FBI found bank robber John Dillinger. The theater is still standing, and now presents live shows.

Kissy Missy does her best Dillinger in the very alley where the feds took him down in a hail of gunfire.

Later, we discovered Harry Caray's actual Holey Cow.

And who would have thought that Cheech and Chong were so hot?

One of Chicago's best performance venues is the House of Blues, part of the Marina City complex.

Dinner at the House of Blues' restaurant was excellent!

And the show featured five Chicago bands, including Fletcher Rockwell, which combines rock and roll and the heartland sound. Watch for these guys on an alternative station near you!

Fly me to the moon

Skies were clear over central Michigan as the moon went into total eclipse Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014.

October's full moon featured a total eclipse during the early-morning hours. The eclipse was visible across North America, and conditions in central Michigan were nearly perfect to watch the moon slide into the vast shadow cast by the Earth.

The moon didn't disappear, but shown with light reflected back from the Earth's surface.

It turned a dark red in the skies behind Kesseler Hall at Central Michigan University,

The campus was quiet in the predawn darkness as the celestial show went on.

The moon remained in eclipse as twilight began overtaking the sky.

As the sun rose and the moon set, the full moon remained in shadow.

Matthew and Amanda get married - #FuzzyNAmanda

Amanda and Matthew Ranzenberger emerge from Amanda's family church near Holland, Mich., after being married Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014.

Amanda, welcome to the Ranzenbergers.
I looked it up: In 2000, the latest data available, the census bureau found just 154 people in the entire United States with the last name Ranzenberger.
Talk about unique. More than 318 million people live in the United States, and only about 150 of them have the name Ranzenberger. I did the math. It’s not a one-in-a-million thing. It’s a one-in-two-million thing.
You have joined, Mrs. Ranzenberger, a very exclusive society.
Let me tell you about the benefits:
• You now can tell people your name is Amanda Ranzenberger-Let-Me-Spell-That-For-You.
• You get to watch people’s eyes get real big when they read your driver’s license
• You might not be able to have your name fit into one column in a newspaper or some credit cards. Ask your sister-in-law Katherine about that.
• and, you always will know that if you run into someone else with the name Ranzenberger, you know there’s some connection out there, somewhere.
Amanda, on behalf of the family, we are so glad to have you. I hope you’re glad to have us. Really. You are bringing up the quality of the family – I want you to know that. You are the best thing that’s happened to that kid of mine, and we love you.
Matthew, Amanda, you love each other. Keep it up. Don’t lose the faith. Don’t lose the love. Carry that name proudly. And, please … spell it right.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ranzenberger!

Before the ceremony, Matthew and groomsman Andrew rush to attend to last-minute details.

In the bride's room of Graafschap Church, Amanda simply looks radiant.

Ringbearer Logan is ready to rock.

Flower girl Kendall looks a bit worried.

Bridesmaid Katherine has it together.

And they even managed to get the father of the groom into a suit.

The congregation is ready to celebrate.

Matthew awaits the arrival of his bride.

And I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Photos! A perfect spot on the dam on the Rabbit River. Really?

Really.

The Ranzenkids.

Andrew is pleased.

Kissy Missy plays her role perfectly.

As does Kay.

Uncle Arnold sees his first nephew get married.

Grandma Kay and Grandpa Bryce enjoy the reception.

The off-and-on rain ends, and a rainbow appears.

Obviously, the wedding cake is delicious!

The couple seems pretty serious about this.

And Sunday morning, the Ranzenclan gathers for brunch.

From Facebook:
Amanda Ranzenberger: I’m the happiest I've ever been in my life. I have a hot hubby and a last name twice as long to prove it. I feel incredibly blessed to have such amazing parents, friends and family. I don't think I've stopped smiling in the past 24 hours!!!
Matt Ranzenberger: Everybody keeps saying "Fuzzy's been tamed,” but they're all wrong. Amanda is just wild enough to run with me.