Well, this is one heck of a surprise, isn't it? Sunday afternoon and I'm on a computer at the library! I figured you'd probably be watching the Lions vs Packers game and never even notice I wasn't at home waiting for you to call (smile)!

It's another chilly day here, but it's winter, right? it's supposed to be chilly. The weather people are talking really chilly for Wednesday and Thursday with lows in the single digits, not counting likely below zero windchills. If that happens, and it probably will more than likely because it'll be January by then and January is always wicked cold, I'm going to have to come up with an alternative for staying warm at my house. Yesterday I was cold all day, well, until I went out to get some dinner at the Chinese place near my house. For some reason that finally warmed me up. The restorative properties of egg drop soup probably (smile). And it's not like I wasn't dressed for warmth at the house--I had on a long underwear shirt, a to-the-floor sweatshirt dress, heavy socks and slippers. Any more clothes and I wouldn't have been able to move (smile). I keep the thermostat set at 58, the temperature gauge in the kitchen (I have one of those atomic clocks that give you all sorts of interesting information hanging on one of the walls in the kitchen) said 55, I think because it was real windy outside and, obviously cold, like maybe 26. I'm not cold at 58, not even cold at 56, but 55 and lower, brrrrrr.

That egg drop soup I spoke of? It is so good, the best I've ever had anywhere. The Chinese restaurant is owned by a man from Vietnam and I'm guessing it's a Vietnamese egg drop recipe. There's creamed corn in the soup. And the creamed corn, well, the corn anyway, sort of tastes like it's been toasted. Maybe it sounds wierd to you, I don't know, but the soup is amazingly good. I keep telling myself all I'm going to order is a humongous bowl of the soup, but then, because everything he prepares is so doggone good, I end up orderring a meal too. Last night I had #3, I think it's called volcano something or other. It's chicken, scallops and assorted veggies in garlicky sauce, Oh my, I could eat my dinner there every day the food is just that wonderful.

I was surprised at how empty the library is today. More than likely it's because of all the football on tv. That and the school aged kids either have done all of their homework/research already or they're going to cram it in next weekend. But hey, I'm thankful to be able to use a computer here for whatever reason.

Are you good about keeping your spare change to a minimum (spending it as you get it)? Or are you a saver, tossing it on your dresser or in a container when you empty out your pants pockets at night? Me, even though I try to use my change when I'm out, I still end up every so often dumping it all out of my wallet and putting it in a smiley cup I keep for just that purpose on the desk in my office. I found the smiley cup at a dollar store. It's yellow and has, duh, a big old smiley face on it (smile). When I used to tend bar there was one just like on the bar for tips. So then when the smiley cup gets full I go to the bank and pick up a stack of free change wrappers, come home and count and wrap, then turn them in at the bank for paper money. I'm thinking it's time to do the count and wrap again, like maybe this evening, because my smiley cup runneth over. I think it's mostly pennies in there, but I'm hoping it's predominately quarters (smile). I already have $36 worth of rolled change from the last time that I haven't turned in yet so, with any luck, I'll be able to get everything to the bank tomorrow morning.

My father used to save his change. Every night he'd empty his pockets and put his quarters in this little white bank, his dimes in another container, his nickels in something else, and his pennies in a can. He and I would sit down and roll it all up once a year. I'm fortunate, my parents, through little things like that, taught me how to save. I'm big on saving too. Okay, for all the money I've made over the years doing phone, my savings account doesn't reflect it like it ought to, but at least I've got two savings accounts and a business checking account. And a stash of mad money hid away (smile). Used to be a time when I was tending bar, instead of putting my money in the bank where it could draw a little interest and be safe, I had it in my purse. When I went to buy my house, the one I'm living in now, the real estate agent said I should go by the bank and draw out x-amount for a good faith deposit. How much do I need? I asked her, and then rifled in my purse and pulled out about 3 grand. She about fell over! Why do you have that much money in your purse? she shrieked. Because I was working 15 hour days and never hardly had time to get to the bank. I'd get to the bank maybe 3 or 4 times a year, cash old paychecks and deposit them and tips I hadn't spent. She made me promise I wouldn't do that any more, it was dangerous to hold so much cash.......and so now most all of what I make and save is in the bank. She'd be proud (smile).

Well, I think it's time to sign off for now. I still have a few things to take care of while I'm out. Until next time, you be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.

hugs,
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Don't you know, as soon as I logged off the computer yesterday I remembered all sorts of things I wanted to share with you. Of course I didn't write them down, now I've forgotten them again!

What's a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline going for in your neighborhood? It had been holding steady at the BP here in town at $2.99 per gallon. Then yesterday, I swear within minutes (or so it seemed) of news of that former woman leader in Pakistan, I can't recall here first name but her last name is Bhuto, being assasinated it jumped to $3.09 per gallon. I know, it's been explained to me countless times about how when the price jumps up it's based on what gas is going to cost the company in the future, but still....I've resolved to quit complaining about the high price of gas when it gets to $1.45 per gallon. Why that price? Because that's about what it was up to when I began to seriously complain about it years ago.

You should see my truck, it's coverred in mud almost up to the windows, I have to get it washed on my way home. My uncle saw it yesterday and he marvelled at how it could be mud drenched when 1. I never hardly ever leave town and 2. all the roads here are paved. But not all the roads are paved! There's a little stretch of old Nine Mile that is dirt and gravel. I cruise down it every now and again because it's scenic. In the fall the leaves on the trees are amazing. And you never know when you're going to spot a deer! Yes, I realize that there are deer in just about every county of Michigan, even the heavily populated ones. But this is right in town! Now my friend Tallulah, who lives up in Marquette, Michigan, emailed me last night that she saw a deer in her driveway! And she lives in the city. Said her dog, this little prescious bit of fluffly fur, Maddie, was perched in the window seat in her living room barking her little head off. When Tallulah got up to check and see what was going on, she saw the deer. That is so cool!

There wasn't any fog this morning, hooray! First day in awhile that not only could I see my truck in my driveway, but the neighbors houses too. For awhile it's been like foggy old England (smile). I had to scrape ice off my truck windows before I could roll out this morning, I don't mind doing it. I don't like doing it, but I don't mind doing it. It takes me a while to get it done but that's because the locking part on my scraper doesn't work any more and I have to hold it 'funny'. Why don't I just get off my wallet and purchase a new scraper? Because this is the best scraper I've ever owned or seen. It has a telescoping end that stretches all the way out to reach both sides of my windshield at once. And it's sturdy.

Are you doing anything special or exciting for New Years Eve? I shouldn't tell you this, my friends all say it makes me sound like I don't have any life at all, but here's what I absolutely love to do on NYE. Besides talking to you, that is. I haul out all of my receipts, cancelled checks, anything and everything to do with filing my income taxes, put it all together, fill out this organizer-thing my accountant sends me to make it easier for the both of us, then make a list of everything I still have to wait on to roll in before I can send it all to my accountant. Oh, and I also address the priority box so it's ready to go! Okay, so maybe that's not how you like to spend a portion of your NYE (smile), but it gives me a great sense of completion. And then, when I'm all finished with that, I move on to other fun things. Like eating and watching the ball drop, etc. So what do you do? I'm curious?

And on that note I'm out of here (smile). I have to get the truck washed and I need to stop by the post office. I have a package to send off to Talullah. I'd tell you what was in it but I don't want to spoil the surprise in case she reads this. And I want to go by Dollar Tree, I need some more packaging tape. And did I tell you the weather people are calling for a storm for tonight? They say it's just going to be rain for us, but hey, they're wrong so often that you have to plan for the worst. So I need to get some Hagen Daz (smile).

Take care, stay strong, be good, be careful.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I think yesterday was the day for crazy people. Remember me telling you about the foul mouthed psycho on the computer adjacent to the one I was using here at the library? the one that troubled me so much that I fled from the library? Well, my next stop was the post office to pick up the mail. The post office is located in a strip shopping center and there are numerous other stores in the center. One, a hardware. So I'm driving through the parking lot, I pass the hardware store and what do I see? A woman loading packages into her vehicle. Not so unusual, right? Lots of people buy things at the hardware store. Thing is, she wasn't wearing a coat and she had on summer sandals and no socks. Not so unusual, I don't suppose. Except that it was 27 degrees here! Then as I'm driving down my street, maybe 12 houses away from mine, I see a guy scooping his mail from his mail box. Our mail boxes are located at the very end of our driveways so it's a bit of a walk to fetch your mail. He's got his pajamas on, okay....he's standing on the cement, okay....there's maybe four inces of snow that he's standing in, okay....and he's barefoot! Did I say it was 27 degrees out?

Now maybe all this kind of behavior is normal where you live, maybe you go out in the winter sockless and in sandals and no coat on, maybe you walk in the snow and ice barefoot, maybe (and if you do this please don't ever tell me because I don't want to classify you as a psycho) you even get foul mouthed on a computer out in public. But I've never encountered anything like this ever before and it disturbed me. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad if I'd just seen one thing, but three in a row, way too much for me.

So far today all is well. I walked the library computer area before I picked a machine and signed on. I was looking for the psycho. If I'd seen him then I was out of here, talk with you later. Thankfully he's not here. Or if he is, he shape shifted and I don't recognize him. Yes, I think he was a demon because apparently no one else noticed his behavior.

On another note, the post office is back to normal. By that I mean no horrendous lines like there were in December. Hooray! I was in and out this morning in less than five minutes and that included having a package weighed and mailed and checking two poboxes.

There was heavy fog again this morning, followed by an inch or two of snow, and now it's 34 degrees so things are melting. They're talking a storm tomorrow. I hope they're wrong, or that it comes late tomorrow evening because I have some errands I need to run. Trader Joe's is calling my name (smile).

Did you see on the news this morning that the former leader of Pakistan, I don't recall her name, Bhuto maybe? was assasinated? Terribly sad for everyone around the world when even one person is murdered, I think.

I guess that's it for this morning. I still have time left on the computer but I've run out of things to talk about. You watch, I'll get home and then I'll remember everything I wanted to share with you (smile). That would be so typical for me. A senior moment and I'm not even a senior yet. Old age does not bode well for me (smile).

Take care, stay strong, be good and be careful.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I'm getting a late start this morning because we had freezing fog (?) and visibility was, well, it was so poor that I couldn't see my red truck parked in my own driveway! Around 10:45am it lifted enough for me to find my truck and the rest is history---here I am (smile).

I'll tell you though, this is going to be rough writing for me, I think. Why? For the first time since I've been using the computer here at the library I'm a little nervous. Okay, more than a little nervous but less than scared. Why? The fellow using the computer directly across from me--there are two desks pushed together, a computer at each one, 'my' monitor backs up to 'his', and each time I lift my eyes from my keyboard I can see him, plus I can hear him--is in a foul mood. He's cursing at his computer, muttering about what a sorry world this is, etc. Just about every keystroke he lays down elicits some sort of obscene comment from him.

On a brighter note, last night I went to the Chinese buffet with friends for dinner and it was great! I love Chinese food! I had some General Tsao chicken, vegetarian fried rice, those long green beans, some sort of a noodle dish, bourbon chicken, peanut butter shrimp (?), three egg rolls, a cup of egg drop soup and lots of other stuff that I can't recall the names of which means, I know, that I filled up my hollow leg I ate so much (smile). For dessert I had chocolate ice cream, an almond cookie and a fortune cookie. Burp!

When I get back home I'm going to clean out the garage, that and talk with you. The last time I shovelled it out was early fall and it's that time again. I have lots of stuff to set out at the curb on garbage day which will be Saturday, a day late because of the 24th and 25th. Because the garage is attached to the house I clean it out much more often, I think, than if it was detached and sitting in the backyard. Why? Because more times than not visitors come through the garage to get in to my house and it's embarassing if it's messy. I have lots of exercise equipment out there, that's staying, but I also have leaves that blew in last fall, half a dozen chairs with wheels that used to live in my basement and which I no longer need or want (those I'm putting out a day early because I know they'll get snapped up, they're still in good shape) and lots of the usual garage filler (smile). It should only take a couple of hours and then it'll look ship shape.

Other than that my big plans for the day include defrosting two turkey carcasses and making stock out of them, and reading a new James Patterson novel that picked up here at the library. No, I haven't finished reading that trilogy I was telling you about, yes I still like it, I'm just taking a break from it. Why? Because one of the main characters did something that really irked me and I'm mad at him. Laugh if you want to, I don't care (smile). After the Patterson book I should be able to forgive him, or at least move past it and get back to enjoying the book(s).

Well, much as I don't want to log off early, I still have 40 minutes left on the computer, that guy across from me wins. I can't listen to his filth any more. I think he's got a demon up inside of him and I'm out of here before he does something really bad.

Take care, stay strong, be good, be careful.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I told myself, or more accurately, I promised myself that I wouldn't talk about my family any more unless I had something nice to say. As you may have noticed, I haven't said a doggone thing about them since Thanksgiving when the family dinner at the hall turned out pretty okay, all things considered. I was prepared to keep my silence for ever if need be. And then the phone rang early this morning.

Who was it? My cousin's woman. His second woman to be precise. That differentiates her from woman #1 and woman #3. I know, you need a scorecard. Woman #1, he has three children with her, all girls, all in their late teens. Woman #2, he has two children with her, one of each, elementary school aged. Woman #3, he has two children with her, boys, toddlers.

What did she want? Could she borrow $200, she can't work for awhile. Why can't she work? My cousin broke her arm last week with a 2x4, she says.

Now normally I would be shocked and outraged if someone, man or woman, told me something like that. I mean, damn! But nothing this cousin does surprises me. Nothing at all. All three of his mothers-of-his-children women say he is violent to them. He's done too many things to each of them for me to recount them here to you, the library computer only gives me 60 minutes.

Now in the past year, among many other things, and merely as an example, my cousin broke into #3's momma's house (where she and her kids live) by way of the upstairs bedroom window. How? By doing a Spiderman impression and jumping in through the closed and locked window. He scared the shit out of the children, got the oldest, who's 7, wetting the bed. The police came and arrested him, charged him with what I don't remember, she wouldn't press charges, and he made bail and that was that. Fact is, every time he's done anything to any of the 3 they never press charges. Why? Because they love him. Because they wear his injuries to them like a badge of honor, like a medal, like a special something that proclaims to the whole world that he loves them so much he did-----whatever, that hurt them.

So when #3 called this morning the first thing I asked her was did she file charges. No surprise, she said no. I decided a long time ago I wasn't getting involved in any of 1-3's domestic issues with my cousin. They keep taking the abuse, they must like it. If they like it, I love it. Leave me out of it.

I've given up trying to figure out why my cousin does the stuff he does. All I've been able to come up with is 1. he must have seen his own momma get her ass beat by her men and he figures that's how you show love, or 2. he feels so inadequate that he beats his women because it makes him feel like a man, or 3. he's just a sick fuck.

I don't know what you do about men like that, I really don't. Jail, or even prison, at least that would get him off the street and give some respite to his women. Would it change his behavior? Probably not, he'd just be pissed he was locked up and then when he got out he'd really hurt one or all of them. Enroll him in a class of some sort, anger management? Maybe. All the women get together, form a plan, gang up on him and kick his ass? That one appeals to me. Would it work? I don't know, probably not.

Thing is, it isn't even about him or the 3 women anymore. What it's about are his seven kids. His kids are growing up seeing him beat their mama's asses, causing so much pain, yet all the while these stupid women and his stupid ass are proclaiming their undying love for each other. So what does it show the kids? That love hurts. That if you love someone you beat them (if you're a male) or put up with it (if you're a female). I keep telling these dumb ass parents that their male kids are going to grow up being abusers and their female kids are going to be abused women. It's like talking to the wall.

I hope you're not an abuser, I hope you're not an abused person, I hope you're not living any of this personally. But if you are, obviously the thing to do is get yourself some treatment or therapy, stop doing these hurtful things or accepting this hurtful behavior. If you can't or won't, then fuck you. But at least do something for your kids. Don't let them grow up to be such a sorry piece of ass.

Harsh, so what? That's my take on it. You want to hear sugar coated stuff? Watch Dr. Phil.


Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

So it's been awhile since I wrote anything here. You know how that goes, feast or famine sometimes. I was on a roll there for awhile, writing my fool head off and getting Home School Mom to cut 'n paste and post it for me. And then, well, something happened and I just didn't have anything to say. By the time I was ready to write again, HSM and her brood were down with what I guess is the stomach flu--projectile vomiting and diarrhea--and they're all still ill. I was over there this morning, just as far as the front porch, I'm not going in, I don't want to get sick, but they needed supplies--bananas, Gatorade, rice. So I met the oldest, he's 18 and not sick (yet) on the porch and handed him the bags. I tucked a few magazines in there for them too, tv gets old, you know.

Now I'm at the library. Who would have thought there'd be a free computer at noon? Not me, I just took a chance and got lucky.

It's not exactly true that I had nothing to say for those days. I had something to say, I just didn't know how to say it without crying.

I've been doing phone since the fall of 1993 and have owned the business since the spring/summer of 1994. Surprise surprise, there are some folks I've been talking with since 1993. And some that came onboard later, but who aren't any less dear to me than the 1993'ers.

There's a gentleman who's local, we've been talking since maybe 1996 or 1997. We talk about everything. I mean everything. Sex, sure. But everything else in life as well. I know all of his children and grandchildrens names, what his wife does for a living, everything. He and I would talk for hours. And when something was going on in my life, and he didn't necessarily have time for a 'call', he'd phone for just a few minutes to ask how such and such turned out for me.

The last time I spoke with him was on October 21st. He said he hadn't been feeling real well. He was sick on and off a lot over the years, pnuemonia, etc. So I didn't think anything about it when I sent him a note and didn't hear anything back. And then another note, and another note and finally on the last note, after signing my name I wrote my phone number.

A few days after that I got a phone call from his wife. He had died at the end of October. He went from okay to pnuemonia to septic (?) to dead in 96 hours.

I know his family is grieving for him. He was a good man. He loved his family to death. I asked him once how come he never spoke of going anywhere with his buddies. He told me he didn't have friends outside his family, his family were his friends and he loved doing things with them. Every week his family--wife, kids, grandkids, sisters-in-law, whoever was free--would get together for dinner. On a Tuesday night maybe, everybody would bring a dish so it wasn't a burden for the house hosting the meal.

I'm grieving for him too. While he and I never met in the face-to-face, we met as pure friends over the telephone. I learned a lot from him.

Others who use the service have passed away over the last 14 years, that's to be expected I guess. Some I didn't learn about until I sent them a note or a card and it came back marked deceased. Others, their loved ones called me after finding my photos in their loved ones private papers.

I don't know where I'm going with this exactly and it doesn't seem to be flowing very smoothly either, sorry for that, but I just wanted to tell you about this really nice man who left his mark on his family, on the world, and on me. And to let you know that each and every one of you that I talk with, each and every one of you are prescious to me.

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I'm trying really hard to temper my reaction to today's weather in viewof the fact that people, hundreds of thousands of them, are still tryingto manage without electricity and often times heat in other parts of the country. Last night before I went to bed the news guy said 1 MILLION people were still in the dark. This afternoon I heard that several hundred thousand had been reconnected today.

Here it was a perfectly lovely day. They, the crazy weather forecasters, had predicted snow and ice but they were oh so wrong, thankfully. There was sunshine, abundant sushine and temperatures in the mid 30's! I did the happy dance all day as I travelled out and about for the first time in days.

Where did I go? First stop was the bookstore in town to see what magazines they had for a dollar. Yes, $1.00 magazines, you read that correctly. They are not the latest issues, but rather the ones that preceded the latest issues. But hey, I'm good with that. I love magazines and this way I can buy them by the armfuls and indulge my passion (smile).

I picked up some gossip too. Did you know that all the stores have to b eout of Livonia Mall by March because they're tearing the mall down? And that Lowes is going to open up a store where the old Walmart used to be? That's the word on the street (smile).

Next stop was Sam's Club. Okay, you may not find this exciting, but I needed some things---cat litter, laundry soap, croissants, etc. and anyway, I love going to Sam's. When I have the extra time I like looking at everything. I especially like the showroom with the furniture. I've got my eye on a light green couch, with a matching love seat and chair that would be just perfect in my basement.

After that it was the post office. Lots of cards and letters were waiting for me. Thank you (wink!). Then I came home and dropped everything off, put it all way, and headed out again, this time for a ride.

Now remember, this may not be your idea of fun things to do, but it worked for me! I needed out of the house something fierce.

Received an email from Talulah today, she says they're expecting more snow in Marquette. Better them than us (smile).

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

So what I've been thinking about a lot today is how thankful I am that the freezing rain has not been as huge an issue here as it has been in other parts of the nation. What did I hear, 600,000 maybe? without power across the US. That's just awful. Here it is winter and most folks need their electricity to keep the furnace operating. A year or two ago the power went out here one wintery day and it was terrible. I stayed in bed as much as I could, Kathleen huddled under the covers with me, but it was still freezing cold. I hope and I pray that these people without power will have it restored as soon as possible, and that until it's restored they have a warm place to seek refuge at.

Here it's raining. If it wasn't for the fact that it's cold, temperature hovering right around 33, you'd think it was spring. I still haven't been out of the house and if I thought I was feeling buggy yesterday, well, yesterday was nothing compared with today (smile). Rumor has it tomorrow is going to be a nice day and if it is, I am so out of here for a few hours!

Aside from talking with you on the phone today, I've stayed busy doing laundry, reading and surfing the internet. I'm making progress on that book I told you about, Palace Walk, and I'm enjoying it. I also read the latest issue of A Little Good News, the newsletter of the Human Kindness Foundation www.humankindness.org that arrived in today's mail. I don'tknow if this latest issue, Christmas 2007, is online yet but you could always send them a donation and then they'd send it to your house. They're good people, Bo + Sita Lozoff, who run the HKF, and they sure could use a donation to keep their work going. Think about it, okay?

Another thing that showed in today's mail was a letter from Harpers magazine informing me that their December 2007 issue is the last one that will be accepting phone sex ads. Wow, that knocked the air out of me. No explanation as to why, just not going to do it any longer.

Okay, so if you know of any main stream magazines (NOT sex magazines) that accept phone sex ads in their classified section, please email me. tawnyford@webtv.net I am running out of places to advertise.

Background music for all this has been the new Alicia Keys cd. I've been playing it over and over. Right now it's my favorite cd.

Oh yeah, I've been pedaling that weird 'bike' I probably told you about. It's just the bottom part, the pedals, I bought it out of the JCPenney catalog months ago. I pedal for as long as I'm surfing the interneteach day. I'm just sitting surfing, might as well get some exercise too. The 'bike' is pulled up to my chair, the keyboard is on my lap, I'm exercising without even realizing it (smile). Yes, sometimes I can still fool myself (smile).

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I'm hungry. Can't think when my stomach is talking to me (smile).

Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
tawnyford@webtv.net

Not going outside all day sure can make you wrong about the weather.Yesterday I told you that we dodged the bullet and never got the freezing rain the local weather forecasters were calling for. Well. Come to find out we did, just not in sufficient quantity to knock down tree limbs and power lines. My truck, as it turned out, was encased in ice and my driveway and sidewalks were slippery, as was the street out in front of my house. Oh well, I'm not perfect (smile).

I haven't left the house yet today. It's cold and damp and I just couldn't talk myself into it this morning. Yes, I'm feeling a little buggy from being in here all weekend, but that still hasn't been a good enough motivator for me. And with it going on 4pm, well, maybe I'll go to town tomorrow.

How am I posting this if I'm not at the library? Did I get a computer? My friend the homeschool mom, when I don't feel like travelling to the library for whatever reason, lets me send them to her from my webtv and then she cuts 'n pastes them at the blog site. Isn't that nice of her? I think so.

What's on your agenda for tonight? Football? Me, I'm going to watch theTLC cable channel show, Little People Big World. Last weeks episode, which I missed, comes on at 7 pm est, and the new episode follows at 8 pm est.

I've probably asked you this before but do you get Canadian televisionwhere you live? Living as I do in the metro Detroit area, not all that far from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, we have always been able to accessthe CBC channel. They have the cutest show, Little Mosque On ThePrairie, now in it's second season. If you get Canadian tv, check it out, you might enjoy it. If you don't, well, I do believe you can purchase season 1 on dvd.

My order from Femail Creations www.femailcreations.com arrived today and one of my items was a pink and white sign that says 'Put on your big girl panties and just deal with it!' I hung it on the wall over my desk in my office. It makes me laugh and I think it's a superb motivator for when there's something I have to do that I don't particularly want to do and I'm procrastinating.

One of the first things I purchased after I bought this business was a large, colorful poster showing a woman leaping from the edge of one cliff to another, a deep chasm beneath her. 'The Greap Leap Of Faith' is what it's titled. It reminded me of what I did--refinancing my home to purchase the phone sex business. It took a whole lot of faith in myselfto do such a thing.

Yes, I'm big on little signs and posters, how could you tell (smile)? They make me think, they motivate me, they make me laugh. There's one inthe bathroom that says 'Confidence is the feeling you have until you fully understand the situation'. How true is that one?

Some of them I pick up at garage sales for next to nothing, some I order from catalogs and online. They're all over the house. 'Life is fragile, handle with prayer', that's a good one and it's in the living room. This one's in my office, it's supposedly an old Gaelic blessing:

'May those who love us, love us
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn't turn their hearts
May He turn their ankles
So we'll know them by their limping'

If only (smile).

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

As someone pointed out to me the other day on the phone, it sure does sound like I love living in this little town of mine. And I do love living in Farmington Hills, it's a great place. But, truth is, it's only a little town in my mind. Fact is, it's the most populous town/city in Oakland County, Michigan. According to the 2000 census there are 82,111 people living in FH.

Farmington Hills is sister city to Farmington, Michigan. A great manyservices are shared between them--school district, libraries, parks,etc. The city of Farmington has a population, according to the 2000census, of 10,423 people.

Lookswise the two cities are a donut. Don't laugh! Farmington Hills is the big round part, Farmington is the donut hole. I don't mean donut hole in a bad way. FH surrounds F, F is right in the middle, bordered on all sides by FH. See, the donut analogy fits (smile).

Compared to places like New York City, well, Farmington/Farmingon Hills, with their combined population of 92,534, is a teeny town. But comparedto Marquette, Michigan, the largest community in the whole entire upper peninsula of Michigan, population of 20,714, we're a megalopolis (smile).

I think I've mentioned to you that my friend, we'll call her Talulah, not her real name but it sure makes her sound oh so mysterious!, lives in Marquette, right? She made the big move up there in early fall after selling her home in Westland, MI (population 86,602). It's kind of funny her living up there.

See, and you may remember this, for several years I scouted properties in the upper peninsula. I wanted to live up there something fierce. Housing is much less expensive and I knew that whatever I sold my house down here for, the profit would enable me to buy a house up there outright and get me out from under a monthly house payment. Doesn't it sound heavenly to not make a house payment? It does to me. Anyway, I subscribed to the Mining Journal www.miningjournal.net the largest paper in the UP and devoted myself to reading the real estate section. I looked at properties online. I even enterred into dialogue with residents of the UP on internet message boards, all in an effort to find the right house in the right location. And I made several trips to the UP armed with real estate listings so, with the help of an agent, I could 'see' the houses up close and personal.

I figured, realisitically, since I was accustomed to living in the metro Detroit area, my best bet was to live in Marquette since that's the biggest city up there and has the widest selection of stores and restaurants. I toured some interesting houses. One, a huge 3,500 square foot home, priced at $75,000. A comparable home in FH would list at$300,000. But for all of the places I looked at, nothing was right, nothing called my name.

I said then to Talulah, you watch you'll end up living up there, not me and she said no way, she never wanted to live in the UP. And look how it turned out (smile).

If you're the least bit curious about Marquette, an old and interesting city located on the shores of the mighty Lake Superior, go to http://hunts-upguide.com/marquette.html Not only is there lots of good info there, but they link you to all sorts of places. Hunts is the best guide to the UP, look at all they have on the entire area. And then, of course, google is your friend too, you can run a search on Michigan's Upper Peninsula and be absolutely astounded at all of the wonderful and amazing things you find--from waterfalls to mountains to........

And that's it for me for today. It's cold and dreary, although not as bad weatherwise as it could have been, they were calling for feezing rain. Thank goodness it missed us. I always worry about losing power. No electricity in the summer is a royal pain in the patooty, but no electricity in the winter means the furnace doesn't work.

Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I have a confession to make. Here goes. My cat, the beautiful Kathleen, is a closet Christmas lights junkie. Oh, the shame of it (smile).

The neighbors who live two doors down and across the street have decorated the exterior of their home with gazillions of colored lights and those enormous blow-up Santa's, Rudolph's and three or four other characters whose names I don't know. Me, I don't look at their house at night because it's so bright and the lights flicker on and off at such a fast pace that it makes me feel queasy and I'm afraid I might suffer a seizure (smile). Kathleen, on the other hand, lays on the back of the couch with her head stuck between the panels of the drapes and stares and stares at the lights. I can't prove it because I fall asleep beforeshe does but I think she stays up at night until they turn them off. That would account for why she's so cranky in the morning (smile).

Be good, be careful, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

PS Speaking of Christmas decorations, there's an enormous store inFrankenmuth, Michigan (a small town maybe an hour and a half north of the metro Detroit area), Bronners www.bronners.com that is the place to go if you're looking for unique decorations. They bill themselves as the largest Christmas store in the world. Aside from decorations for the home, they also provide those enormous displays you see at the shopping malls. Even if you're not a Christmas practicioner, the store is still interesting to walk through because there is so much to see.

The town of Frankenmuth is one of the major tourist attractions in the state. It's nick named 'little Bavaria' because of the old German style of the buildings. It is famous for family-style chicken dinners. I know that sounds hokey, but you should see the crowds. They line up outside even when the weather is awful. Zendhers www.zendhers.com is one of the restaurants and their food is good. I've been there lots of times and it's fun. When you have a minute google the city.

See, I didn't forget! I told you yesterday that I'd let you know the author's name, as well as the titles of the books that I'm reading.

The author is Naguib Mahfouz. The titles of his 3 book trilogy are Palace Walk, Palace of Desire and Sugar Street. The books were originally written in Arabic and are now translated to English. I'm reading the first book, maybe halfway through it, and I like it. Checkit out on www.amazon.com and perhaps you'll find it appealing.

Still in the spriit of sharing, if you're looking for unsual and clever gifts for the woman in your life, look at www.femailcreations.com I love shopping with them!

I ran across these web sites in a magazine and thought you might findthem helpful:
www.fuelcostcalculator.com
www.cellswapper.com
www.coupondivas.com

And, last but not least, I read where African Shea Butter is what youneed if you suffer from intensely dry skin. I have dry skin in the winter and I'm going to give that stuff a try as soon as I can find some. Thing is, I don't have a clue where you get it. The magazine article acted like it was a staple so hopefully it shouldn't be too tough to find.

I don't know how much gas is by you but here in the metro Detroit area regular is under $3.00 per gallon. I paid $2.89 a gallon yesterday at the BP in Farmington and I think it may be a bit lower than that in some of the other suburbs around here. I get so sick and tired of hearing people on tv, the news anchors as well as the folks that get interviewed on the street, saying how glad they are that gas is cheap now. Excuseme, cheap? Are they smoking crack? They must be to think this is cheap. Okay, it's not as expensive as it has been, $2.89 a gallon beats $3.46 a gallon. But that still doesn't make it cheap. I refuse to be all giddy and thankful about it. That means I'm accepting this high price BS and I'm not. Let it get to $1.45 a gallon, where it was when I initially started crabbing about it, and then I might, maybe, say something pleasant about it. Until then, please.

Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Even though it's much colder outside this morning than it was yesterday I am going to try my hardest not to whine about it (smile). The fact that there is brilliant sunshine goes a long way towards making the morning more pleasant. There's (almost) nothing worse than a grey and gloomy day.

You're not going to believe this but I kid you not, the hummer is back! and she's sitting right across from me again. Apparently I'm going to have to learn her winter coat and gloves because they were at that computer desk when I sat down. If I wasn't already logged in I'd move to another machine. Oh well, guess she likes this spot too. As far as I'm concerned it's the best spot because you're out of the main flow of traffic, but close enough to the librarians desk to holler for help if you need it. But next time I come I'm moving over by the windows, that should keep her away from me.

On the ride to the library this morning the country radio station I was listening to, 99.5FM, was jabbering away about the Hannah Montana concert last night in metro Detroit. From all the media coverage of it for the past few weeks--tv and radio stations doing giveaways of free tickets--you'd have thought the Beatles had been resurrected (smile). I don't have children or friends with daughters, but apparently Hannah Montana is a hot ticket. I'm not familiar with her at all except to know it's a hugely popular tv show and Billy Ray Cyrrus's (the country singer) daughter plays Hannah Montana. Me, I don't know if I had a child if I'd have taken her to the concert. I saw little girls on the news that appeared to be 7-8 years old screaming their heads off about the concert. That seems kind of young, to me, to have your child all agog about something like that. She should still be playing with dolls and having tea parties, not badgering her parents for concert tickets. But what do I know.

I'm guessing it's cold where you are too, right? So what are you doing to stay warm? and occupied when it's just too cold to be outside?

I'm reading. I'd tell you the name of the book but, and I know this is going to sound pathetic, I can't remember the title. My friend, the homeschool mom, loaned me a series of three books she had greatly enjoyed reading. Not mainstream, nothing you'd probably be familiar with, written by a foreign author and translated to english. Next time I'll write the author's name and the titles of the books down so I can tell you.

I'm also crocheting. I have so much yarn it's almost unbelievable. All sorts of different types, from cotton to wool and all the synthetics, and in a range of beautiful colors. I'm working on a scarf now, a really long one that'll wrap three times around your neck, in black and white. I have a gorgeous blend of purples and pinks that I'm planning on using for another scarf and I'm kind of eager to get started on it because the yarn is so pretty. And then there's the bag I want to crochet. I saw a woman on tv, I think a DIY show, who did something she called free form crocheting, and I'm eager to try it on a bag pattern I found in a magazine.

Well, that's it for this morning. The hummer is on my last nerve and I told you I wasn't going to whine so in order to keep my promise I have to sign off (smile).

Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong. And stay warm!

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Well, it's another interesting day here at the library. I'm not sure if that's a good thing.

It snowed last night, not a whole lot, just enough to mess up the roads and to make parking lots a bit slippery if they weren't shovelled and salted too. The library parking lot, well, every winter some knucklehead decides to pile the snow up between the cement parking blocks. You know, those 3 or 4 foot long cement thingies that define parking spaces, that keep cars from physically touching nose to nose. It may not seem like a big thing to you either, but that's only because you're a rugged man. If you're a senior or a woman with children or just a clumsy, not so sure on her feet person (that's me!) they pose problems and are logistical nightmares as you try to get from your parked vehicle to the entrance of the building.

And then I get in here and don't you know the woman who sits across from me at one of the other computers is a hummer! No, nothing sexual (smile). I mean she is literally humming as she does whatever she's doing at 'her' computer. So what's the big deal, you ask? I wish you were here with me so you could hear the big deal.

Part of all this crabbing I'm doing, I think, is because I've had better days. You too?

The house was cold this morning when I got up. Yes, I keep the thermostat turned down, 58 degrees all of the winter unless it gets frightful out there, and I'm okay with it except for today. It took awhile for the shower to warm up, I was cold while I combed out, dried and then braided my hair. My clothes were cold when I put them on. And then I had to go out and scrape the windows on my truck. The darn thing never fully warmed up until I got about 2 blocks from the library.......whine whine whine, sorry (smile).

I had plans to go to the outlet mall in Howell, maybe 50-60 miles away, but I have a thing about driving in crappy snowy weather. I don't do it. At least I don't venture any farther than town and I'm there now (smile). No, I didn't need anything at the outlet mall, not really, I was just going to look, to walk around a bit.

And speaking of walking around. You know those things you clip to the waistband of your slacks, those little battery operated gizmos that measure how far you've walked? Have you ever used one? I bought one last week at KMart for grins and giggles and chuckles and laughs. I thought it would be fun to know how many miles I log in a day. Well talk about demoralizing, doggoneit. Do you know last night when I finally crawled in to bed, so tired I couldn't hardly even see straight, my gizmo said I'd walked a whopping 3 miles! Three miles!!!! For the whole day!

Okay, I'm done whining to you (smile). Thanks for putting up with me (smile).

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.


Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

We finally did a count on all of the stuff we have stock piled for our next give out to the homeless. This was not a minor undertaking by anymeans. You never quite realize what all you have put away until you dragit all out and start counting.

At this point we have enough items to assemle 180 hygiene kits. That's a plastic ziploc baggie with a full size bar of soap, a full size washcloth, a full size toothbrush with a plastic end cap to keep it clean, a small tube of toothpaste, a small personal size deodorant and for some (as only have a small number)--a disposable razor.

We have enough socks, 208 pair, to be able to give 104 people two pairs of brand new socks so they can layer them on for extra warmth.

We have 100 pairs of gloves, 85 hats and 23 headbands (you know, like the skiers wear to keep their ears warm). The goal is to grind up on 15 more hats, 77 more headbands and 100 more pairs of gloves. We want to be able to provide at least 100 people with 2 brand new pairs of gloves so they can layer them on for extra warmth, 1 new hat, and 1 new headband to wear under the hat for extra warmth.

We have ziploc baggies on hand for the sandwiches and brown paper bags to put the lunches in. Come January we'll get the loaves of bread, turkey lunch meat, cheese slices, candy and whatever else we have money for to add to the lunch bags. The goal is to assemble 200 bagged lunches so we can give folks 2 each.

We still have to buy a case of those plastic shopping bags like you get your groceries packed in at the grocery store. They are an essential component as the recipients need some way to easily carry all of the things we hand out to them.

Things are coming together nicely. The way we all see it, there but for the Grace of God it could be us, or even you, needing help.

Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong.

Tawny
http://www.tawnyford.com/

It's funny, isn't it, how everything can be going peachy keen and then all of a sudden--pow! It's like that this morning. I sat down at "my" computer here at the library, did all the little things you have to do in order to use a computer at the luibrary, got to the blog site and google lost it's mind and didn't recognize me! And it took a prescious four minutes to jog their memory.

Do you shop at dollar stores? I never used to, I always turned my nose up at them like I'd gotten a whif of stinky something (smile). And then I discovered Dollar Castle, a local store, and they had all sorts of good merchandise, not that crappy chintzy stuff some/many/most dollar stores are noted for. You could get 24 oz. bottles of 100% juice for a dollar! Then, don't you know, just when I was a Dollar Castle junkie, they sold to someone else and before you could say boo the store not only was loaded up with junky junk, but everything that had been cool to buy there was now upwards of $2.00! That ended my love affair with them.

Then I discovered Dollar Tree (www.dollartree.com), the best dollar store around. Sure, there's a bit of that junky junk, but the bulk of the merchandise is good stuff like you'd find in 'regular' stores.

I was there yesterday and found cds, music cds, for $1.00. And the selection wasn't bad. Plus, for only a dollar, you can venture out there and try artists that you normally wouldn't because who wants to drop $10+ on someone they may have never heard of?

I also bought 50 pairs of mens insulated socks and 14 winter headbands. Why so many? Well, have I ever told you about the homeless project we have going? A group of us save our little dollars, then use them to purchase socks, gloves, hats, headbands, hygiene kits that we assemble ourselves (toothbrush, toothpaste, wash cloth, bar of soap, deodorant, sometimes a razor), food (bread, lunchmeat, cheese, candy, etc.) that gets made into a care package, etc. We collect previously worn winter coats and sweaters, anything that'll keep a person warm from anyone who'll give them to us, plus whatever we have ourselves at home that we aren't wearing anymore. Then we take all of these goods into the city of Detroit, set up near one of the shelters, and pass out until it's all gone.

We don't pass out goods in November and December. Why? Because that seems to be when the homeless are popular. When they have almost a celebrity status about them and everybody wants to do something for them. Like donate to a food bank, or go down and serve meals at the shelter. Thing is, come January and February and March it's cold out and there's still homeless people out there trying to survive and all of a sudden the world forgets they're even there. And that's when we step in to try and fill the void for the remaining monthes of the year.

We have lots of goods stored at several of our people's homes and we're always trying to stock pile more. Dollar Tree has been one of our best sources for purchasing what we need. Those insulated socks for $1.00 are a good buy, as are the rest of the things we get there.

I'm sure you're already giving money and goods to charitable organizations in your area. But if you have a couple extra dollars we sure could put it to good use. Don't want to send money? That's okay. You can either go to your local Dollar Tree (or any dollar store in your area) or go online to www.dollartree.com and have them ship to us what you picked out.

We'll definitely see that it gets in to the hands of those who need it most.

And yes, I'm sure it seems a little wierd to you to have the phone sex lady talking to you about helping the homeless, but hey! we are all much more than we what we do for a living.


Take care, be good, be careful, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

ps The address to send donations or shipped goods is on my website. TMC, POBox 191, Farmington, MI 48332

It's kind of funny, not in a hahaha way, more in an ironic way, how some folks feel about the wars the USA is fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

From talking to people on the phone, those who are the most rabid and gung ho about these wars, and who cop attitudes and get pissy, nasty and irrational when I say anything at all about how wrong those two wars are, much less if I post anything in this blog disagreeing with Bush's policies, those are the folks who--almost 100%--have never been in the military and who have never gone off to war.

Folks on the phone who have served in the military and fought in wars (from WW2 to Vietnam), they are the ones, almost every single last one of them, who fervently wish and hope and pray that Bush and his cronies would end the war and bring the troops home now, this minute.

When I was with my family members on Thanksgiving I got to thinking about all of them who have either fought in Iraq or Afghanistan or who are waiting for deployment to one of those places. And the list was a long one.

My cousin, Prescious (her mother was very young and very thankful when she gave birth to her), was in Iraq. Now her husband is over there. More than two dozen other cousins have been or are waiting to go back again.

My aunt, Uncle Robert's wife, was telling me about her three sons, all in the service, who have been in Iraq more than twice each and are awaiting orders to return again.

And the thing is, all of my aunts and uncles and cousins, every single one of them say the wars are bull shit. Every single one of them who has been in Iraq and Afghanistan say that. And every single one of them who has ever been in the US military, during war time or peace time, say that.

I've got a bunch of links to share with you:

www.HollyNear.com (Yes, she's my favorite singer, you remembered! Check out the link on her page to Oppose the war(s)! It's interesting and informative.)

www.forusa.org (This is the oldest and largest interfaith peace group in the USA.)

www.donnellycolt.com
www.northernsun.com
www.syracuseculturalworkers.com
(These are places to purchase bumper stickers, buttons, tshirts, etc.)

I think it says something real profound about people who have never been to war and are blood thirsty for it. And it's not a profoundly good or complimentary thing either.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I sure do wish I could have gotten to a computer sometime yesterday so I could have told you about this. Do you have cable or satellite tv or ?, whatever you need in order to watch the National Geographic channel? I ask because last night there was an excellent documentary, PrisonNation. It replays on Sunday, December 2nd so you still have anopportunity to watch it. Here's the website so you can check it out andfind the air time for your area:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/popup/200711252300.html

Because I am as familiar with all things prison as one can be without ever having actually done any time (email me and I'll explain how I came to know so much about prison), I can say to you that this show is worth the watching.

In addition to the show. this is a good book to read:
Prison Nation ISBN 9780415935388
publisher: Routledge
7-17-2003 release date
$25.95 paperback

No, despite the title, it's not affiliated with the National Geographic show or channel. While I haven't had an opportunity to read the book, the contributors to it are all good sources and authorities on prisons.

I tried to order it through Amazon but it told me that the book cost $125 ??? so if you're interested in purchasing it I suggest you gothrough this place:

www.akpress.org

Either enter in the title of the book, or scroll down the website and click on Prisons/Prisoners and you'll easily find the book along with a review.

I ran across a book on that site, an old favorite of mine, Hauling UpThe Morning. A prisoner In New York sent me a copy some years ago and I loved that book, still do as a matter of fact.

Maybe you figure because you don't have a loved one or a friend locked up the show and the books aren't relevant to your life, or maybe you figure the hell with criminals, they did the crime, they can do the time. No matter what you figure you still ought to take the time to watch that documentary. For real.

Take care, be good, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Black Friday was yesterday, right? Did you go shopping?

I bought both papers on Thanksgiving, the Detroit Free Press and the Oakland Press (Oakland County, MI not California), and ended up with about 30 pounds of newspaper! It was nice reading the news, but I'd purposely picked them up so I could peruse the sale papers for BlackFriday. I wasn't planning on doing any shopping, I was just curious tosee what was being used as bait to lure folks to the malls at midnight.

Now maybe it's just me, I know I don't tend to think like everyone else, but I didn't see anything for sale that even remotely enticed me to get up out of my warm bed in the middle of the night, go stand in a long line out in the cold waiting for the store(s) to open, and then gladiate with ten thousand others to purchase said items.

I've done the Black Friday disaster once in my life and once was enough. It was 2000 and Walmart had some doggone tv on sale for $100. It was adeal, a good deal and I wanted to get it for three of my then very young cousins who didn't have too much of anything.

It was scarey. Mob mentality ruled and, scariest of all, I had the mob mentality devil running hot through my veins. I scared myself so bad that after I scored the tv I had to go home and go to sleep. I vowed never again.

Now a couple of my good friends love doing battle with the crowds. Joan, who has since passed away, couldn't hardly sleep the night before BF because she was so keyed up and excited. My other friend, the one who just recently moved to the upper peninsula of MI, to Marquette, is a dedicated shopper who scours ads, makes lists and knows how to get the best deal out there. Any time I'm looking to buy something and I want the best price, all I have to do is email her and she knows where to get it. A gift, truly a gift! she has.

I left the house yesterday, just once, in mid-morning, to go and dropoff the cable bill payment because I waited too long to mail it in time. And I stopped at the library so I could 'talk' at you. I wasn't even tempted to hit any of the stores.

So tell me, if you went shopping on BF, what did you buy? Enquiring minds want to know (smile).

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day yesterday! Did you eat too much? Watch the Lions + Packers game? Enjoy being with your friends, family and loved ones? Me too!

I should just slap myself for dreading yesterday's TDay dinner with my family, I really should. But I always get like that, every single time there's something family-like I have to make an appearance at I get the dreads and the regrets and my stomach gets to talking back to me....and then lo and behold! it all turns out okay-dokey. Part of it, I think, is because deep down I'm shy. Not the kind of painful shy where you can't even hardly look at people, much less talk to them, that was the old shy me when I was a child and a teenager. I'm the new and improved shy now, the kind that can function with others, make conversation, look them in the eye even, but deep down inside I'm screaming AAAAAAAAAGGGGHHHH (smile)!

The to-do started, officially, at 5pm. Most of my relatives got there around 3, I rolled in at 5 on the dot. The dinner was held at the clubhouse of my aunt who lives in an apartment in the next city/suburb over, maybe 4 miles from here. The clubhouse was nice, but cramped, since there were so many of us.

Relatives came from across the country. Uncle Robert and his wife drove in from California. They left on a Friday, got here on a Tuesday, they don't ever drive at night so it took them a bit longer. Uncle Ricky drove in from Indiana alone, his wife works at the new casino on the Michigan-Indiana border and she couldn't get time off; Uncle Johnny from Kentucky alone because Aunt Betty wanted to spend the day with her kids and grandkids and Aunt Sister took the train from Indiana two weeks ago (she always takes the train, hates riding in a car and doesn't fly) and she's always alone since Uncle Gunk died in '04. Uncle Walter was supposed to come from Mississippi but his wife didn't want to and she wouldn't let Uncle Walter come on his own. Uncle George, I don't know why he didn't make it, he lives in Minnesota these days, maybe his money was funny.

Cousins, oh my goodness! There were hundreds of cousins, ranging from 3 monthes old on up to 50-something (it's a big family). And Aunt Shug, the oldest of our aunts, stopped in after she had dinner with her children and grandchildren at Gloria and Bob's home.

There was tons of food and yes, those disgusting chitlins and hog maws were right there on the buffet but down at the end where you could avoid thyem if you had a weak stomach or you were offended by them. There was collard greens cooked with smoked turkey parts, dressing, black eyed peas, macaroni and cheese, barbecued chicken, roast turkey, corn, shrimp alfredo and lots of other stuff that I can't remember. Desserts too, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, pound cake, apple walnut cranberry pie, etc. And rolls and muffins and cranberry sauce.

My Uncle David brought a home video of his father, our grand daddy, and qued it to the spot where granddaddy was saying blessing the food at a TDay dinner ten years ago. When he clicked it on you almost couldn't hear granddaddy because everybody was crying (he died in 2000, two monthes after grandmama).

The other weepy part was when the music was on. I think someone must have had a Sirius radio because it was continuous music. Anyway, a song by the Temptations came on, Just My Imagination, and Uncle David told everyone to tip their drink (whether it was booze, water, pop) in memory of Uncle Mack (he was murdered in 2004) who would have loved to be at this big family party. Uncle Mack was also a major Temptations fan so everybody sang along with them just like he would have done if he'd been here. Uncle Junior (I forgot to say he was there, sorry for leaving him out) grabbed the microphone and sort of led us and it waas fun,

All of my uncles can sing. Back in the day (Detroit in the Motown heydays) they had a little group they put together and they wanted to audition for Berry Gordy. My granddad said no, he didn't want his boys singing devil music (rock 'n roll) and that was the end of that. It's kind of too bad because Uncle Junior and Uncle Mack, they are/were amazing singers. Maybe all of their lives would have been different for the better if granddad hadn't been so adamant. Oh well.

One of Uncle Junior's sons is a rapper, a Christian rapper, and famous. I'm not going to mention his name because he just may not want it known that he has a cousin who owns a phone sex business (smile). If he was a gangsta rapper it would be a feather in his cap (smile).

I had an opportunity to reconnect with cousins I haven't seen in years, not all of them make the family events for a myriad of reasons. One of them, Angie, I hadn't seen in so long I didn't recognize her. She's cleaned up and on her feet and that's a good thing. For years she was a prostitute supporting her crack habit. She's had a really hard life. Crack is nasty and evil. I've seen up close and personal in my family just how wicked the crap is. So many of them have been addicted to crack it would take more than two hands to list them all. Such a shame.

Well, the clock on the library computer says it's almost time to give up the machine. It's been really good talking with you. I always enjoy it. Give a call when you get a minute, I like that too, then it's not so one-sided (smile).

Be good, be careful, take care, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I'm having a serious bout of regret. Don't you hate when that happens to you?

Remember me saying how my friends and I had an early TDay dinner a couple of weeks ago because my favorite uncle laid a guilt trip me on me about family and Thanksgiving?

Well, I stopped by my aunt's place this afternoon, the one who is doing the bulk of the TDay cooking, and found her in the midst of cleaning chitlins. Yuck. Talk about something nasty, that's chitlins. You know what they are, right? Pig intestines. No, I'm not joking, wish I were but I'm not. She was also cleaning hog maws. That's pig stomach.Disgusting to even talk about.

I hadn't realized she was cooking up that nasty pig crap as part of the dinner. If I had, I never would have agreed to do dinner with the family. Never.

Okay, no one's going to make me eat any of that, that's not the issue. It's the fact that it's going to be served that's got me upset. That stuff is disgusting to look at and it stinks to high heaven. And it's going to be on the buffet table along side everything else.

I don't eat pig, not as ham or bacon or anything else. Religous reasons. While I knew there would be ham (the family is big on pig), it never occurred to me about the chitlins and hog maws.

Silly as this may sound to you. I honestly don't think I'll be able to eat anything after seeing them on the table and watching people devour them. I have a strong stomach but that's too much even for me.That stuff is so disgusting.

I wish I hadn't said I'd go

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

So tell me, how do you feel about pomegranates? Do you like them? Have you ever had one?

When I was at Costco on Friday I bought a box of them, six to a box, for just shy of $13. These are the big ones, like softballs. You cut into one and that red juice squirts and runs all over the place. So so good.

And you know, if you're going to bother with a pomegranate, you have to buy a softball sized one. Don't waste your time with those small ones. Nine times out of ten those little ones are dried up and sour and a total waste of your money.

But the big pomegranates, oh my! They are so good. I sat at the kitchen table and ate a whole one all by myself. Red sticky juice running all down my arms, my fingers picking out the seeds and eating them one by one, enjoying the luscious taste of them.

Truth be told, weather permitting, the best way to eat one is out in the back yard naked as the day you were born. That's right, I mean it too.That way when the seeds get away from you, and there's always a few that do, they won't stain your table or your carpet. And when the juice runs down your arms it won't stain your clothes.

An even better way to eat a pomegranate is with someone else (smile).

Wish you were here.........

Be good, be careful, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Good morning! No more Mr. Nice Guy weather here! Today it's just barely above freezing. But it's sunny and any day with sunshine is a good day, right?

Did you watch the Democratic Debate last night from Las Vegas? Doesn't it seem more and more like the debates, both the democrat and republican, are nothing but travelling side shows? Still a year to go before the actual election, the 'real' candidates haven't even been chosen, yet every time you turn around these folks are on tv debating each other. I'm as tired of them as I am of the ever earlier Christmas displays. Was a time Santa Claus didn't come to town until the end of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, remember? Yesterday he arrived at an outlet mall north of Detroit, Michigan. Last night they turned on the Chistmas lights in the park the next county over. Tonight they turn on the huge Christmas tree in downtown Detroit. Thanksgiving is still a week away. And the Christmas merchandise, everything from decorations to presents, were in the stores around here before the Halloween stuff.

Saw on tv the other day that Walmart is pretty convinced that they'll do better this holiday season profitwise because they have the right mix of discount and upscale goods on their shelves to entice shoppers with. Saw that Home Depot's last quarter sales were down and they attributed it to the economy and the mortgage mess. Can't remember the other companies that were down profitwise, way too many of them to keep track of.

Gas prices are up. Here in Farmington/Farmington Hills regular unleaded is running anywhere from $3.19 to $3.26 a gallon. Heating costs for this winter will be higher than last year because of the rising price of a barrel of oil. Milk is somewhere around $4 a gallon.

I don't know if I'm expressing this right or not, but there's something horribly wrong going on.

I understand profits being down. I understand companies being dismayed at lower profits. Hell, my profits are down. And they've been down since, believe it if you want to, I don't much care, since they announced that Bush had won the election the first time. And while they've gone up a little bit, then back down, kind of yoyoing, my money still isn't right, still isn't where it was seven years ago.

But, and even though I know the American way, the democratic way, is for companies to keep making higher profits each year after year after year, how much damn money do they need to make? If profits for x-company were $240 million last year, isn't that good enogh? Do they have to raise prices so the next year's profits are $320 million? When is enough enough?

Do the heads of these companies really and truly deserve to earn 10, 20, 30 million a year?

I know I'm not saying any of this right, and I apologize for that, but I'm frustrated. So many people are getting their guts sqwoze right out of them. We all only have so many dollars at our disposal. When gas goes upupupupup, when food prices soar, when utilities skyrocket--what are we supposed to do? We all only have so many dollars and sometimes they just run right out of stretchability.

All those folks who are losing or who have lost their homes. All the folks who are losing or have lost their jobs because either the company decided to move out of the US (thereby increasing their profits by lowering their 3rd world employees pay scale), or they majorly cut back on their work force in order to take a bigger piece of the profit pie.

Yet every time I turn around that darn travelling side show of debates is in my face. All that talkety talk they're doing and you know it's not changing anything for any of us.

Too frustrated to write any more today.

Be good and be careful, stay strong.

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

You're probably not going to believe this, what with all of your preconceived ideas about Michigan's weather, but it was an absolutely phenomenal day here yesterday. Sunshine, abundant sunshine in weather-speak, bright blue skies, and temperatures in the 60's!

It was such a nice day that I just couldn't bring myslf to stay coopedup in the house. This time of year, mid-November, it's usually damp, grey and chilly here. To have a day so outside of the norm, well, it only seemed fitting to do something outside the norm.

First thing, I gathered up Kathleen, my beloved cat, and we went out in the backyard. I dragged her cage out of winter hibernation mode, spread out some soft comfy towels for her to lay on, and set her up in the middle of the yard in the warm sunshine. I dragged out a lawn chair for me, grabbed the 5 pound bag of peanuts from the kitchen and we fed the squirrels while we worked on our fall/winter tans (smile).

The squirrels, oh my! They are so fat! I almost couldn't recognize one from the other. They are definitely on their job, getting themselves super ready for the upcoming snarly winter.

Because the weather has been so different from past typical falls, there are still leaves on the trees. See, generally by Halloween, with all ofthe rain and wind, the pretty colored leaves are on the sidewalks and the grass. When you want to look at the fall colors you look down, not up. This year half of them are still on the branches. I haven't even raked once yet, what's the point? makes more sense (to me, at least) to let them all fall off, then rake them all up one time.

Anyway, Kathleen had a wonderful time in the yard. The fresh air wore her little furry butt out and when we got back in the house she went and passed out on her recliner in the family room (smile).

I got in my truck, rolled down the windows, cranked up the radio and went for a ride. My first stop was the big park here in town, Heritage Park. It's 211 acres of forest, wetlands, meadows and hills, with 4 anda half miles of walking and hiking trails. I walked around a bit, then grabbed a seat by the pond and watched about 100 geese land and look for lunch. I even caught a glimpse of a deer!

Next stop was the smaller park right in town, locals call it city park, I wandered over to the little off shoot of the Rouge River, the ducks were hanging out along the banks sunning themselves. The parks and rec guys have already removed all of the picnic tables for winter, ggrrrrrr, so I didn't stay long. Sitting on the grass amid the duck doodoo was not an option (smile).

Last stop was the dairy queen, they're still open, and treated mysef to a soft serve chocolate cone. One of life's little pleasures (smile).

By the time I made it home I was ready for a nap too. Fresh air and exercise will do it every time (smile).

I hope it was pretty where you were and I hope you had an opportunity to get outside and enjoy it! Before you know it, it'll be winter.

hugs, Tawny
http://www.tawnyford.com/

Thanksgiving at my house this past Sunday (two days ago) was wonderful! I know that to some this was one of the craziest things I've ever said, but if you give it some thought, not a little, just a tiny bit, you'll see that it really isn't so far out there after all. Every single day of our lives should be a day that we are thankful for our blessings, right? I declared this past Sunday Thanksgiving At My House, and I celebrated likewise with friends.

The turkey, all almost 22 pounds of it, came out perfect. Used to be a time I cringed at the thought of turkey. Not because I didn't like it, but because unless you scored a piece of dark meat it was so dry and unappetizing. But, thanks to the magic of tv cooking shows, I have perfected a way to insure that the turkey, the whole turkey, even the white meat, comes out moist and succulent to the last bite. Here's the secret:

Carefully, veryveryvery carefully slide your fingers up under the skin on the front of the turkey. You know, under the breast part. Don't tear the skin. Take pats of butter--REAL BUTTER, not margarine or oleo or any other wierd concoction--and gently slide them up under the skin. As many as you can get under the skin, thin pats of butter. Even in the area under the leg skin, and in the cavity of the bird.

Melt a stick of butter, add some dry white wine (doesn't have to be expensive wine, but not rotgut either), and use that as your basting sauce. Baste every so often.

Your turkey will come out bronze like it spent a week at the beach basking in the sun!

Now if you're making gravy, here's what I do. Okay, obviously the drippings are going to be tasty but kind of greasy (all that butter, remember?). The day before TDay I simmer a couple of legs, a few wings, etc. turkey parts that I bought seperately at the grocery store. You've seen them, this time of year all grocery stores have them in the turkey/meat section (NOT smoked turkey parts, uncooked/raw ones). When it's done simmering, when you've gotten every bit of flavor you can from those parts, fish them out, refrigerate the stock, and the next day you can skim the top fat off of it. Use that for the base of your gravy.

The actual turkey drippings, I strain those as best I can to get the bulk of the buttery grease out of it, then add it to my stock, Season with salt + pepper, thicken with cornstarch. Lovely gravy.

Okay, in addition to the turkey we had cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes + gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, yeast rolls, cole slaw, cranberries, olives and pumpkin pie and pecan pie, and two pounds of Godiva chocolates. Burp (smile).

If you want to know how to make killer cornbread dressing, email me. I make it from scratch (no Pepperidge Farm for me!), but it's easy and tasty.

The mix of friends at the dinner table was wonderful too. It was fun to sit down and share a good meal, but it was also wonderful to have the time to really talk with them, to find out what was happening in their lives. After the meal there were rousing games of spades (the card game). And of course, the doggone football games were playing in the background.

By the time everyone left around 11pm I was ready for bed. It's hard work having so much fun (smile). But I'd do it all again in a minute, that's how much fun it was.

Since we're talking about being thankful, here's something else. I saw this address in a magazine:

A Recoverring Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

The article was asking that you take a moment to send a Christmas card to the above address to brighten up the day for a recoverring soldier. Now me, I don't do Christmas, it's not a part of my belief system. And no, I do not support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the troops, the men and women who have been sent over there to fight, to die and to get wounded--I want them to come now, right now.

And as part of my support for them, in addition to asking God to please stop those asinine and unjust wars, I'm going to send get well type cards to the above address. I think it's a nice thing to do. Perhaps you'll take a moment to send one yourself.

Well, that's it for today. It's a bit chilly, a tad damp, but there's sunshine! Any day with sunshine is a good day!

You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.

hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

It dawned on me yesterday as I was eating my lunch that it's been awhile since I've shared another one of Tawny's Fabulous Recipes with you (smile)! Okay, now this is really easy, tastes good and is perfect for summer barbecues. Obviously it's also good in the winter because I was eating it yesterday (smile).
---
Take 1 can of baked beans. I use Buschs Vegetarian, but that's because I don't eat pork and just about all of the other brands, at least the ones available around here, are laced with pork.

Take maybe 1/2 pound of hamburger, more if you like super meaty, less if you're ambivalent (smile). Fry up the hamburger like you were making tacos or spaghetti. You know, break it up good, cook it all the way, then drain the fat/grease.

Cut up an onion. I love onions so I use several, but this is about your taste so however you feel about onions use the appropriate amount. Dump them into the pan with the cooked hamburger. Saute until the onions are soft(er).

Pour the can of beans into the pan with the onions and hamburger. Add about a half a cup of brown sugar. Stir well. Cook until bubbly and thick. You'll know it's done, don't worry, bubbly and thick.

This is good, at least I think it is. It's hearty, sticks with you and reheats well. You can even cut up a couple of hot dogs and add them in.
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Have you seen the movie Transformers? I watched it last night and it was pretty good. Talk about action packed, wow! Amazing what computers can do. In the 'olden days' they'd have had to make it a cartoon movie because there's no way they could have pulled it off otherwise.

It's chilly here again, still not as cold as it's going to get before spring arrives, but chilly enough to have me hauling out my winter coat and sweatpants. I like cold weather, I just don't like how much longer it takes to get ready before I can leave the house, and having to warm up the truck. Having to scrape the windshield is also on my do not like list, but that hasn't been an issue yet, leastwise not here.

My friend lives up in Marquette, that's along Lake Superior in the upper peninusla of Michigan. This is her first real winter up there. She moved from a suburb of Detroit to God's Country, that's what folks who live up north call it (?). Sure, she's spent bits and pieces of winters there before, but she's in for the long haul this year. She tells me she won't get cabin fever, she has cases of yarn so she can knit things, lots of dvd's to watch, enough supplies to bake breads and cookies, etc. I hope she's right. It gets veryveryvery cold up there. They've already had snow.
I've been telling her she ought to start a blog so her friends, who are probably never going to live in the UP, can live the experience through her. So far she's been ignoring my suggestion (smile).

My turkey is thawing okay. I have it in the refrigerator, still in its wrapper, just like how they say you're supposed to do it so you don't get sick. Now my Mom, maybe yours too, used to thaw the frozen bird on the kitchen counter and we never got sick. I mean, you cook the turkey, right? so if it gets a germ, well, you're going to cook it out. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to unwrap it and, if it's still got icicles, plunge it into a bath or two or three of cold water to finish the process.

I have my lists with me, things I still have to get for the dinner. Sam's Club and the produce store are next after I leave here. Sam's sells produce but unless you need a ton of it, and unless you're going to use it the same day you buy it, well, the stuff never holds up for me. Mushrooms and asparagus do, but not lettuce or tomatoes or.....

So I guess that's it for today. I look forward to chatting with you this evening. In the meantime be good and be careful, stay strong.

hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Don't pay the ransom, I'm free (smile)! Whew, can you believe it's been so doggone many days since I last talked with you? This whole week has one been one busy thing to do every morning, all things that had to be taken care of first thing, all at the very same time that I need to be at the library if I want to snag a computer and not wait 'in line'.

Yesterday it was a trip to Sam's Club. I can get in there early, any time after 7am, because I have a business membership. While I wasn't there right at 7am, not because my heart wasn't in it but because by the time I take a shower and dry my hair (it's cold here now, although nowheres near as cold as it's going to get before winter is finished)and get the truck warmed up, well, it's getting close to 8:30am. So anyway, I was looking to buy a new mattress for my bed. I figured odds were good I could get a fair price for a good mattress at one of the warehouse stores, Sam's or Costco, with Sam's being my first choice since I can get in there early before the masses arrive.

There were four different grades of mattresses in queen size. I sort of felt like the princess and the pea, remember that fairy tale? as I streteched out on each one. Thing was, the 2 grade, the least expensive, was too flimsy. It didn't strike confidence in me that it would last more than a year, at best. Grades 3 and 4, moderately priced, they were too soft. I don't want a mattress I sink into. Now grade 5, ooooh that was a comfy one! But it was in the mid-$500 range, plus another hundred for a new box spring, and I just wasn't looking to spend that kind of money,

When I get a chance I'm going to Costco, yes, I have a membership there too, and check out their mattresses. And if nothing suites me there then it's off to a mattress store. But I seriously need a new mattress. Mine is over 10 years old, sort of saggy, and it's no wonder I don't get a good nights sleep and I wake up sore and achy.

Tuesday I never left the house. Why? It was cold and windy and I just didn't have it in me to deal with it. I spent the day on the phone, on the internet, and just generally putzing around the house. Monday, I don't remember what it was that kept me from the library, oh, a doctor appointment, that was it.

Thanksgiving, I know, isn't for a couple of weeks. But, at least to my way of thinking, any day, every day really, can and should be a day to be thankful. This Sunday I'm not going to be able to talk with you all day because that's when a goodly number of my friends are gathering at my house to have our own Thanksgiving. I bought an almost 22 lb. turkey, it's defrosting (I hope!) as we speak. Side dishes will be the usual--dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberries, rolls. Dessert is two pies, pumpkin and pecan, and my friend is bringing them.

I'm really looking forward to this dinner. I am thankful to have such close friends and it's going to be fun to celebrate with them. This is the crew I always have Thanksgiving with.

On the state sanctioned official Thanksgiving Day I will be with family, well a faction of them, at the clubhouse of my one aunt's apartment building. Family members are coming in from all over the US--California, Mississippi, Indiana, etc.--so that makes it like a mini family reunion. I wasn't going to go, I'd rather hang with my other family, my friends, but, as my favorite uncle pointed out, I didn't go to the big reunion in Mississippi this past summer (who in their right mind goes to Mississippi in July????), nor did I go to the other big reunion in Michigan City this past summer. How many opportunities does one have to get with their whole family, he said, better take advantage of it.....so I'm going. On the plus side, this aunt lives nearby, in the suburbs, not in the hood, and for that I am truly grateful. I am not a big fan of the inner city of Detroit, and even less a fan when I have to venture there. Call me a scaredy cat if you want to, sticks and stones and names don't bother me, safety is a big concern to me.

Well, I guess that's it for todays ramblings (smile). I still have a few more places to get to before I head home. Sure hope you call today, I love talking with you!

Be good and be careful, stay strong,
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Well, this is so much better than yesterday. Why? Because I'm using one of the computers that gives you 60 minutes worth of access instead of a mere 30. The 30 minute machine from yesterday was in a nice secluded spot, my back was to the windows, I could see everything going on in the room, too perfect--except for the 30 minute limit. And it was a different computer. Still a Gateway (the library uses Gateways exclusively), but an older model, I think. Now I'm back on one of the new ones, my back is to the room, I can't see anyone, oh well, it still works for me (smile).

So today is Halloween. The last day of October. Don't forget to turn your clocks back come Saturday night before you go to bed!

Are you passing candy out tonight? I'm not. Halloween isn't on my list of 'holidays'. I won't bore you with the reasons, but if you're interested, drop me an email and I'll explain it to you. tawnyford@webtv.net

When I left the library yesterday I stopped at the post office to pick up the mail. There was a young man, he looked to be between the ages of 18 and 25, and he was learning how to use one of those canes, the red and white ones, the ones blind people use to navigate their way around. I sat in my truck and watched him for awhile as he tap-tap-tapped his way in front of the various stores, managing to dodge the cement flower planters, the bistro-style tables and chairs in front of the restaurant, and fellow walkers. There was a woman with an id tag trailing him, back about 10 feet or so, noting his progress.

My first thoughts were 'you poor child'. Because he was just learning how to use a cane, and because his eyes weren't shielded by sunglasses (as many blind peoples are), I assumed he was newly blind and formerly sighted. He was young, very good looking, in great physical shape. I thought about all of his lost opportunities, how difficult life was going to be for him. And I felt so bad for him I could have cried.

He was in my thoughts for the rest of the day and again this morning.

I don't feel pity for him any longer, and that's what I was feeling yesterday, pity, big buckets of it. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not glad he's blind, and I sure don't ever want to go blind myself. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that all of us are blind to one extent or another. That young man just couldn't see with his eyes. How many of us, with eyes that work just fine, still can't see? Can't see our fellow travelers on this earth who are hungry? in need of shelter? longing for a kind word? How many of us can't see what a little bit of kindness can do for someone down on their luck? There's all kinds of blindness, not just the one where you need a dog or a cane to get around.

The homepage of my webtv had a blip on it yesterday about how there's a dam in Iraq that, if it bursts, will kill half a million people. The news stations talk about the possibility of the US invading Iran. The folks down south who survived Katrina are still struggling to survive post-Katrina. It goes on and on.

We get fed so much heartbreak on the news, so much devastation, so much murder and mayhem, I have to wonder do we really see it anymore? Are we becoming blind to the plight of our fellow human beings? We must be because if we weren't, well, more of us would be doing something about all of this awful stuff.

We're blind just like the young man I saw yesterday with the cane. But he has a reason, an excuse for his blindness. God saw fit to take his sight. What about us? What's our excuse?


be good and be careful,
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Okay, I don't know what's going on this morning with this computer, it's a different one than I usually use and it's got a mind of it's own, or so it seems (smile). I don't know if there will be two posts for today, one blank and one real or not.

So much to tell you and so little time. This computer gives me thirty minutes, what's up with that???

Movies---Have you seen Evan Almighty? If not, oh my gosh! you need to rent it. It is hilariously funny. Bruce Almighty, it's predecessor, was funny, but this is too, just on a slightly different level. I laughed out loud through most of it.

Squirrels---Remember my troubles with the squirrel that did the b+e (breaking and entering) at my house via the chimney and fireplace? Okay, so for awhile after that I just couldn't bring myself to go outside and feed them anymore. Why? Because I felt like I'd been betrayed by my buddies, don't laugh. But I finally did get back to feeding them and you know what? The one that b+e'd me, he came right up to me like he was asking forgiveness. And yes, I knew it was him, they all look different.

But yesterday morning, out in front of the house, by the edge of the driveway, there was a dead squirrel. Someone hit them with their car, more than likely on their way to work. I never went outside to identify the squirrel, I just couldn't, silly as it may sound to you because I know all of them. My uncle came by and scooped up the body for me.

What I'm worried about, and don't laugh, is that it was the Old One. That's what I called him, the Old One. He was old, you could tell, real old, whatever that is in squirrel years. He was slow too. So slow that if I saw him coming across the front yard, I had enough time to get to the kitchen, grab the container of peanuts, unlock all of the doors and get to the patio at the same time he did.

My uncle says 'it's a squirrel, you know what happens to squirrels' and he's right. Squirrels live a dangerous life out there. Cats, dogs, cars, everything is out to get them. But I still hope it wasn't the Old One, I really liked him.


hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

I have to tell you, I didn't think I was going to be able to 'talk' with you this morning. Why? For starters, I got a late start. Woke up a little bit later than usual, then got busy on the phone. By the time the dust had cleared it was going on 9:30am. I thought for sure all of the library computers would be taken. Surprise! when they weren't.

Only thing is, someone is on MY computer! Okay, it's not really and truly mine. I didn't pay for it, not unless you count that my property tax dollars do kick in for library purchases. But it's the one I always use. Hmmmmppphhhh. So here I am, in the computer lab, where it's four computers to a row, and it's primarily men. No, men aren't bad, not hardly, I like men. But I prefer MY computer at MY desk in the main room (smile).

I'm guessing that the weather in your neck of the woods has been unseasonably warm too. Here it was mid-80's yesterday. I wandered down to the park, not one of the ones here in town, but one that is nearby, where there's water, almost like a lake, where lots of folks come to fish and picnic. As you sit on a bench facing the water, it's almost like you're Up North, all you can see is water, beautiful trees, and wildlife.

The other big draw to this spot is on weekends in good weather there are musicians who hang out and, while the crew changes from time to time, mostly they play pretty well. Okay, nobody in Nashville or Motown has to worry that these guys will put them out of business (smile), but it's live music, it's free, and it's fun.

Sometimes we just have to take a break from work, or whatever is going on in our busy lives, and stop to smell the roses (or check out the fall foliage). Even though it may first seem like we're losing ground and falling behind, gold bricking if you will,it pays off in the long run. Me, I know I feel better for having hung out in the park yesterday. I'm happier and more relaxed.

And you know what else I did? I had dinner at a wonderful little (non-chain) Italian restaurant. Mama Mia's. Chicken Piccata, a side of pasta, a cup of some incredibly good creamy chicken noodle soup, and an almost endless supply of fresh from the oven garlic buttered soft breadsticks.

Life is good!


Be good, be careful, stay strong, talk to you soon,

Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

So yesterday was the final day of Heritage Week here in Farmington/Farmington Hills, Michigan. Earlier in the week there had been a free movie, The Namesake, which explored the integration, assimilation and cultural identity of two first generation Indian immigrants from West Bengal to the USA. Obviously, at least to me, it served to show the struggles that all newcomers face when relocating to another country. Among the many varied activities held during Heritage Week, there was also a two day workshop which explored rac and culture in our community. As I may have mentioned before, there are something like 30+ languages spoken here in our community, plus numerous religions and races (which is crazy as hell because there's only one race, the human race.

For me, the part of the Heritage Festival that I most look forward to are the festivities on the final day. There is a huge, day-long festival at the activity center, running from 12:30 to 5:30pm. There are tables set up in one huge room with 'stuff' (clothing, books, etc.) from each country, along with folks from each country who can answer any questions you may have regarding their homelands. There are also numerous food boothes set up in the gym, food from many many countries, all economically priced, so that you can taste test your way around the world! I got a huge plate of Chinese food--General Tso (sp?) chicken, vegetable fried rice, those long Chinese green beans and some sort of a noodle dish (and a fortune cookie!)--all of that for only $5.00! And then later I had a large plate of Mexican food--burrito, enchilada, beans and rice--$5.00. And before I went home, who wants to get hungry later? I got a side order of barbecued chicken, macaroni + cheese, greens and hot water cornbread--$5.00. Oh, and two humongous chocolate chip cookies for $2.00. Burp (smile)!

And then, if that's not more than enough fun, there was musical entertainment. It started off with one of the high school's marching bands playing the Star Spangled Banner. Then it was dancers from the School of Highland Dance who did jigs and other dances native to both Ireland and Scotland.

Next, and this group was so excellent that they have to have their own paragraph, came Like Water, Like Rain. They are a group of folks, men and women alike, making music and dance from West Africa. Surprisingly, and I think this amazed everyone in attendance, all but one of the group is white and American. They travelled to West Africa and sought out teachers who taught them to play the native instruments and perform the native dances. They were excellent! They got a standing ovation from the crowd. I bought their cd, Like Water To The Roots, and if you'd like one too, or just want to check out their website, www.likewaterdrumanddance.com www.likewaterdrumworks.com Two web sites.


They were followed by kids from the Michigan Chinse School performing the Chinese Lion Dance. They were good. Then it was Korean Fan Dancing by the cutest little girls you'd ever want to see. And then the Sinaboro Junior Drumming Troupe. Those kids were absolutely incredible! Korean drumming is powerful stuff. If you ever have the opportunity to hear a Korean drum show, do not pass it by, it's amazing. They were followed by the Finnish-American Singers of Michigan. There were a dozen or so singers with piano back-up. I can't tell you if they were good or not. Why? Because they didn't sing loud enough for you to hear them and I was sitting maybe 8 feet from them. They had a 45-minute block of time and I just couldn't hang, my eyes were glazing over from not being able to hear them. Unfortunately I missed the Traditional Japanese Dancers, the next and last act, because I went home. I've seen traditional Japanese dancing before and it's beautiful.

I don't know how it is where you live. I don't know if everybody looks like everybody else or not. For me, one of the things I love most about Farmington Hills is the fact that everybody looks different. I think it makes our town/city richer, and greatly enhances us personally. When I was a kid and my folks would take me to Ann Arbor, MI, my head would spin because I was so caught up, so mesmerized by the vast array of people, colors, scents, foods, languages, etc. I vowed I would one day live someplace like that. For me, it's Farmington Hills.

One of the folks from the West African group, he said we should look at ourselves from the point of how we're all alike, not like how most go at it--first our differences, then seeking commonality. We all have so much in common. We all want the same things out of life. I agree.


Take care, stay strong, much love to you + yours.

hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com tawnyford@webtv.net