Jeff and his wife, Denise, are planning to get a puppy just like Joe's (Marley) - a Havanese. In the French tradition, we'll be naming the puppy, T'Choupi, after a very popular French children's cartoon. Joe concocted a very appropriate graphic for this proposed new addition to the Widen family... Good work Joe... I bet that really WOULD be a great book for kids.
Welcome to the Midwest Petanque Alliance BLOG. The MPA includes: Zanesfield Petanque Club, Chicago Petanque Club, Minneapolis Petanque Club, Rocket City Petanque Club, and Detroit Petanque Club. The main purpose of this BLOG is the promotion of petanque and petanque related news and photos for the Midwest community. See the links to actual club sites on the right...
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
T'Choupi Plays Petanque
Jeff and his wife, Denise, are planning to get a puppy just like Joe's (Marley) - a Havanese. In the French tradition, we'll be naming the puppy, T'Choupi, after a very popular French children's cartoon. Joe concocted a very appropriate graphic for this proposed new addition to the Widen family... Good work Joe... I bet that really WOULD be a great book for kids.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Widen Family Plays Petanque in York Beach, Maine
The Detroit Petanque Club shifted to the East Coast to play a series of games in York Beach, Maine. That's my Mom, Dad and Sister playing very good petanque. We played the Girls against the Guys (note: both Don and Jeff were playing against absolute novices) - and we (the guys) only JUSt squeezed in the win. My sister, Alixandra, went home with her own set of boules to play at Boule New Yorkaise in Bryant Park, New York.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Alliance de Francaise Held a Wonderful Event
Alliance de Francaise event went great. Joe attended and it was announced that the Michigan Petanque Club's President was there for any questions. He was warmly welcomed by all and many people actively asked Joe for handouts after the announcement. To ensure complete and thorough coverage, Joe also visited all of the tables to show them the boules, and passed out information about the club...
Cochon Bank for Club
Joyce was very thoughtful in buying a "Piggy Bank" for the club. So far we collected over $19 in the piggy bank for treats, water, etc.
Big Thanks to Joyce--for buying it and also to Anita for coming out this Sunday to deliver it for Joyce (we missed you!)
MOST IMPORTANT: the piggy bank is only a give what you feel thing... NOT a "you better pay up" type thing...
Everyone should just put in a dollar now and then if they'd like some of the water Joe brings, etc.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Monday, June 20, 2005
MPC Women's Team is Gaining Strength!
Cathy, Marie, Joyce, and Maude are gunning for us guys! Where are all of the guys in this picture!? We (the guys) need to watch these girls... Joyce has the tape measure to keep everything honest, Joyce and Marie will do some pointing, and Maude can do the shooting! Don't let them fool you, they mean business!
Greg to take Cyrille's Job!?
Gregory filled in perfectly for his brother Cyrille to help Joe sort out all of the boules on Sunday. Another great day produced many boule throwers on the piste today. Luckily Greg was more than willing to stand in for his brother... Will Greg stand in while Cyrille goes on vacation to France!? I'll let the Didierjeans figure this out... but the club would very much appreciate the expertise!
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Bocce Players Convert to Petanque?
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Team LaChance Has PERFECT 10 Record Against Team Z
[Report from Ken]:
Team LaChance now has achieved a Perfect 10. That is, as of last night, I took Joe down 3 games to nil, finishing out the TENTH Best of Nine in a row.
South West Regional Tournament Results
And the winners are:
1st Place Gerard And Maggie Canabou
2nd Place Max legrand and Sandra Bonneville
3rd Place Michel Cardon and Olga Benson
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Detroit Petanque Club Utilizes Pointing Trainer Tool
To secure it's tournament victory against the Michigan Petanque Club, we used the Pointing Trainer Tool.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Didierjean Family Hosts Feast
Greggory and the rest of the Didierjean's held a feast at his new home. The air was thick with the scent of all the wonderful food and French language.
It was indeed very gracious of the Didierjean family to invite the Michigan Petanque Club. We thank you all for your kindness - and wish Greggory all the best in his new home.
Full Day of Petanque for All
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Mid-West Boule Challenge a Successful and Fun Event
Detroit Petanque Club Sweeps Michigan Petanque Club
The Detroit Petanque Club SWEPT the Michigan Petanque Club in all three games: 13:2 13:10 and 13:5 this all due to the masterful shooting and strategy of Michel, along with the crucial pointing by Don and Jeff.
Joe and the rest of the MPC team (Dan & Dave) played extremely well, but they simply couldn't crack the gameplay of DPC. We can't wait until the next challenge! (hint hint)
Friday, June 10, 2005
Who Is M.P.C.'s Ringer for the Mid-West Challenge?
Joe has been keeping his third-player TOP SECRET, but by noon tomorrow (Saturday) we'll all know. I suspect Joe will arrive at the Detroit Petanque Club's terrain at sunrise to map out strategy and tactics with his "posse" The DPC, in the meantime, will be casually biding its time, shopping for vegetables at the Detroit Eastern Market.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
EVENT: Festival of the Hills and Petanque
Possibly the largest Fireworks event in Michigan (if Kwame puts the kibash on Detroit's show) and the Michigan Petanque Club will be right there demonstrating our sport to potentially thousands of people.
The wide-open park has four baseball diamonds where we could set up our courts. There will be plenty of people sitting around and waiting for the sun to set. Surely the club will bring in a lot of curious new players!
Earl E. Borden Park
1400 E. Hamlin
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
(southeast corner of Hamlin and John R)
Feeling the tremors, is it an Earthquake?
Oh no, it's just the terrible shaking of the DPC Prez as Saturday grows closer! But all the way from Detroit?? He must be pretty nervous...
MPC is already making preparations and had significant practices last night...
Predictions re: DPC: dainty strokes of a paint brush... a training drill of some sort in disguise!? I think not!
Psy-Ops are already working! I predict stronger tremors after receipt of this email! I'm trading up from the Stratus to a HummV today just to make sure its not a tactic to keep MPC from making it downriver...
I'm even starting to feel a little sorry for the little DPC... who would have though it...
[Note to Joe from Jeff]: Make sure you bring extra money to fill up that gas-hog, at 3 miles-to-the-gallon, you'll need 15 gas-station stops to get down to Detroit!
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Mid-West Boule Challenge Approaches
The 1st Mid-West Boule Challenge will be held at the terrain of the Detroit Petanque Club on Saturday, June 11th at Noon. The format will be 1 Triplette team from DPC and 1 Triplette team for MPC. (as depicted above... Joe has yet to announce who will be his 3rd player).
There are two terrains at the Wyandotte location (which offer two pistes each); but the terrain not being used at present is a bit rough for petanque play (until we groom it - which will be shortly). As such, there may not be available, this Saturday, a non-tournament piste, for play. Stay tuned for grooming reports.
Shop at L'Occitane for Father's Day Boules
Joe stopped by L'Occitane in the Somerset Collection Mall in Troy, Michigan to see the beautiful sets of boules the shop has available for sale. The price for the set is very reasonable because it includes men's cologne, two boules, and a cochon. The boules are from Obut and have the L'Occitane logo stamped into them - very nice and unique.
The boules & cologne promotion is directed for Father's Day (June 19th) - and what dad wouldn't want such a thoughful gift?! Better yet, and here's the New Yorker in me (Jeff) - you can buy the set, give your father the wonderfully scented cologne, and keep the boules for yourself! It's almost a no-brainer!
If it's more convenient, you can also obtain them at the Twelve Oaks Mall (27494 Novi Road, Novi, Michigan).
And for our BLOG-viewers elsewhere, L'Occitane is carrying this special Father's Day gift set at all/most of their shops. Check out their website: http://usa.loccitane.com/ to find a boutique nearest you.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Mid-West Boule Cup Challenge Trophy
On Saturday, June 11 (noon) at the Detroit Petanque Club in Wyandotte, the First Mid-West Boule Cup Challenge will be played.
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Meet Virginie - one of our Newest Members
Joyce welcomes our new players
Joyce ("Rubber Ducky") really made our new members feel welcome. Joe and I feel she should be our Promotions director for all of the time and kindness she takes with our newest friends. Francois (pictured to the right) is from Toulouse, France. He is in Michigan for the Summer and plans to keep returning to play until he has to go back to France.
Cyrille Organizes a Wonderful Day
Twenty-Five Play - and two new members
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Beautiful Weather for Saturday's Petanque
D.P.C. measures carefully
cottontree's "snow" gave us a false blizzard
Denise points close almost every time
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Petanque Written Up in MetroTimes
Check out the FREE street copies of this week's MetroTimes (page 22);
or visit the MetroTimes website: WWW.METROTIMES.COM
While it's true that we enjoy "petanque trash talking" - that's only because I know it improves our game!