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
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
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
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
Monday, October 22, 2007
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
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
Monday, October 15, 2007
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
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
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Are you having a chilly and rainy day today? Amazing what a difference two little old days can make! From 90-something to barely 50. I've gone from shorts and a tshirts and sandals, to sweatpants and a longsleeved shirt and socks. Mymymymymy!
I have several things to yak about today. Ready (smile)?
1. Do you have cable? Maybe they have these two documentaries available on dvd to rent, like maybe at Blockbuster, but I don't know. 'Why We Fight' and 'Iraq For Sale: War Profiteers'. These are both excellent and well worth your time to view. That's all I'm going to say about them, I sound like Forrest Gump don't I (smile), but both films (documentaries) speak eloquently for themselves. Catch them on cable or look them at your dvd rental place of choice. I don't think you'll be sorry you did.
2. Are you an Arlo Guthrie fan? I am! I've seen him live in concert a couple of times and he is a hoot! Arlo doesn't release new cds anywhere near as often as I'd like him to (doggone you, Arlo!), but when he does, well, they're always wonderful and worth waiting for. He has a new one out now, 'In Times Like These', I received my copy yesterday and it's probably semi-worn out from being played half to death already. If I spoke with you yesterday afternoon, well, you heard it in the background.
This new cd of his has the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra backing him. You know, usually it's just Arlo and his guitar and it's great, or it's Arlo and his band and they sound wonderful. Well, Arlo with a full orchestra behind him is unbelievably wonderful!
I read a review of this cd at Amazon.com after I had already purchased it. Okay, it's backwards, big deal, that's how I roll (smile). The fellow who wrote it, Jim Newsom, is a professional reviewer for a newspaper. I'll tell you, Newsom gave such an eloquent review that you need to read it even if you don't care about Arlo's new cd (HOW COULD ANYONE NOT CARE?????).
Go to www.amazon.com. Click on music on the drop down menu. Type in Arlo Guthrie. Type in In Times Like These. Scroll down to customer reviews. Click on Jim Newsom's review.
If you decide you want to buy the new cd, www.amazon.com is as good a place as any to get it from, or www.risingsunrecords.com is good too. Arlo's cd is on that label. Or heck, your local cd emporium should work too, although if the music stores where you live are anything like the ones where I live, well, unless you're interested in the Top 40--good luck. That kills me too. I hear (on public radio especially) buy your music locally at the mom 'n pop places......So I've wandered into a couple of them, couldn't find what I was looking for and they offered to order it for me. Come back in two weeks, we'll have it for you. Shoot, I can order it myself off the internet and have it in 3 or 4 days.
3. Is anyone out there looking for a pen pal? A snail mail pen pal? I have a friend, a dear friend, who is in prison. He's been locked up for over 20 years, probably closer to 25 years. I've known him for almost forever, he's from Detroit. We're not romantically linked with each other, never have been, always been friends right from the get go.
Rick, that's his name, is doing a forever. That means that--barring a major miracle-- he is going to continue to spend his life in prison here in Michigan, and he is going to die locked up in a Michigan prison.
I'm not going to plead his case and tell you I think he should be released. That's not for me to decide. What I will say is I think after prisoners get so old and have so much time in they should be considerred for release. Statistics show that after x-number of years in custody, and after a person reaches a certain age, the odds of them committing a new crime, of reoffending, are practically nil, zero, zilch.
But what I'm saying here today is if anyone would like a snail mail pen pal, if anyone would like to do like Jesus said and 'visit' those in prison (remember, Jesus said a bunch of things we should do but probably don't because we're busy or we don't want to be inconvenienced)-and by 'visit' I mean by letter, I'm not asking you to hop on a plane, train or automobile and come to Michigan to see Rick-then drop me an email and I'll give you his address.
Rick is a nice man, he won't try to 'work' you for money, he'll just write back and forth with you. He's smart and interesting and has a great sense of humor.
Let me hear from you about this.
Okay, so that's it for today. I still have to get to the store. I'm going to dinner at a friend's house tomorrow night and I'm taking two homemade pumpkin pies with me. I need evaporated milk and eggs before I can bake pies. And I need to stop at JoAnn Fabrics. And pick up the mail. Whew! I'm wore out just thinking about it all (smile)!
You take care of yourself, be good, stay strong. I look forward to hearing from you.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
tawnyford@webtv.net
I have several things to yak about today. Ready (smile)?
1. Do you have cable? Maybe they have these two documentaries available on dvd to rent, like maybe at Blockbuster, but I don't know. 'Why We Fight' and 'Iraq For Sale: War Profiteers'. These are both excellent and well worth your time to view. That's all I'm going to say about them, I sound like Forrest Gump don't I (smile), but both films (documentaries) speak eloquently for themselves. Catch them on cable or look them at your dvd rental place of choice. I don't think you'll be sorry you did.
2. Are you an Arlo Guthrie fan? I am! I've seen him live in concert a couple of times and he is a hoot! Arlo doesn't release new cds anywhere near as often as I'd like him to (doggone you, Arlo!), but when he does, well, they're always wonderful and worth waiting for. He has a new one out now, 'In Times Like These', I received my copy yesterday and it's probably semi-worn out from being played half to death already. If I spoke with you yesterday afternoon, well, you heard it in the background.
This new cd of his has the University of Kentucky Symphony Orchestra backing him. You know, usually it's just Arlo and his guitar and it's great, or it's Arlo and his band and they sound wonderful. Well, Arlo with a full orchestra behind him is unbelievably wonderful!
I read a review of this cd at Amazon.com after I had already purchased it. Okay, it's backwards, big deal, that's how I roll (smile). The fellow who wrote it, Jim Newsom, is a professional reviewer for a newspaper. I'll tell you, Newsom gave such an eloquent review that you need to read it even if you don't care about Arlo's new cd (HOW COULD ANYONE NOT CARE?????).
Go to www.amazon.com. Click on music on the drop down menu. Type in Arlo Guthrie. Type in In Times Like These. Scroll down to customer reviews. Click on Jim Newsom's review.
If you decide you want to buy the new cd, www.amazon.com is as good a place as any to get it from, or www.risingsunrecords.com is good too. Arlo's cd is on that label. Or heck, your local cd emporium should work too, although if the music stores where you live are anything like the ones where I live, well, unless you're interested in the Top 40--good luck. That kills me too. I hear (on public radio especially) buy your music locally at the mom 'n pop places......So I've wandered into a couple of them, couldn't find what I was looking for and they offered to order it for me. Come back in two weeks, we'll have it for you. Shoot, I can order it myself off the internet and have it in 3 or 4 days.
3. Is anyone out there looking for a pen pal? A snail mail pen pal? I have a friend, a dear friend, who is in prison. He's been locked up for over 20 years, probably closer to 25 years. I've known him for almost forever, he's from Detroit. We're not romantically linked with each other, never have been, always been friends right from the get go.
Rick, that's his name, is doing a forever. That means that--barring a major miracle-- he is going to continue to spend his life in prison here in Michigan, and he is going to die locked up in a Michigan prison.
I'm not going to plead his case and tell you I think he should be released. That's not for me to decide. What I will say is I think after prisoners get so old and have so much time in they should be considerred for release. Statistics show that after x-number of years in custody, and after a person reaches a certain age, the odds of them committing a new crime, of reoffending, are practically nil, zero, zilch.
But what I'm saying here today is if anyone would like a snail mail pen pal, if anyone would like to do like Jesus said and 'visit' those in prison (remember, Jesus said a bunch of things we should do but probably don't because we're busy or we don't want to be inconvenienced)-and by 'visit' I mean by letter, I'm not asking you to hop on a plane, train or automobile and come to Michigan to see Rick-then drop me an email and I'll give you his address.
Rick is a nice man, he won't try to 'work' you for money, he'll just write back and forth with you. He's smart and interesting and has a great sense of humor.
Let me hear from you about this.
Okay, so that's it for today. I still have to get to the store. I'm going to dinner at a friend's house tomorrow night and I'm taking two homemade pumpkin pies with me. I need evaporated milk and eggs before I can bake pies. And I need to stop at JoAnn Fabrics. And pick up the mail. Whew! I'm wore out just thinking about it all (smile)!
You take care of yourself, be good, stay strong. I look forward to hearing from you.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
tawnyford@webtv.net
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Today is all about yesterday. Nope, not trying to be profound. You'll see what I mean in a minute.
Do you have a fireplace at your house? If so, what type of a thing do you have in front of it? I mean, is it one of those things (sorry, don't know the proper name for it)that tightly fits the opening, with glass doors? Or is it one of those less expensive, decorative screens that folds open?
I have a fireplace in my family room. It came with the house, the previous owners had it built when they added the family room addition. I've used it a little bit, but not in a number of years, mostly the first year or two after I moved in. I used to tend bar at a bowling alley and every year when they replaced the pins they'd give them to any of us who had fireplaces. The pins are solid heavy wood and they burn for a long time. I used to have cases of them in my garage.
Anyway, I have one of those looks-like-it-was-built-in enclosures for my fireplace. No thanks to me, not a bit. Left up to my own devices I'd still probably have the decorative screen thing that the previous owners left when they moved.
When I first bought the house I had a roommate, her name was Mary, and we worked together at the bowling alley. Okay, for me it was my primary job. I tended bar five and six nights a week, putting in over sixty hours a week. With time and a half over 40 hours, generous tips, and employer fully paid health insurance, I was doing just fine and dandy. Fine and dandy enough to buy a new car and take out a mortgage on a house in the suburbs, in Farmington Hills no less! in the same year. Mary's first job, her primary job, was as a dental assistant. And she made good money at it. But Mary, well actually Mary and all of her siblings, 12 of them if I count correctly in my head, had serious major work genes. All of them, Mary included, worked primary 40 hour jobs, as well as at least two part-time jobs. And that's how I met Mary. One of her part time jobs was at the bowling alley.
That first Christmas (I was still observing the day back then) Mary bought me that gorgeous fireplace enclosure I've been talking about, as well as matching accessories for the hearth (the broom, etc.). And I've always kept it closed, except for back when I was burning in it, because it keeps the cat out of there.
So yesterday I was on the phone talking with a friend and I kept hearing all this racket outside. It sounded like someone was throwing something at the aluminum siding. I kept asking my friend to hang on while I looked out the window to see what was going on. Each time I looked, I'd see nothing, but then it would start up again. I finally told her look I have to go see what this is, call you back in a bit.
And just as I hung up the phone I heard serious clatter coming from the fireplace. A squirrel, play acting he was Santa Claus, came tumbling down and landed right smack dab in the fireplace and sat there looking out at me through the glass enclosure!
I caled my girlfriend back and said HELP! She said her husband, sons and herself would be over within the hour. I called my uncle and said HELP! He said he was on his way.
In the meantime that Santa Claus squirrl started trying to nose his way out of the enclosed fireplace. He couldn't have managed it, the enclosure fits tight like a glove, but, and understandably so, he was upset and he just wanted to get the hell out and go home. That's what I wanted for him too, but not while I was home alone. So I hollered at him and banged on the glass and he changed his mind, thankfully.
It seemed like hours, remember I was stressed, but was less than an hour in real time, and everyone pulled up at the same time to help me. They took the screen out of the family room window, set up something like a chute so that when they opened the doors on the enclosure the squirrel had only one way to go---out the window---and that's where he went. He was airborne and fast! Over the fence and gone!
Apparently what happened was the doggone squirrel someway somehow knocked off the screen that was over the chimney, tumbled in, hit the flue (is that what's it called? that thing you have to open when you have a fire going or your house gets filled with smoke?, knocked it open even though I had it shut and jammed/propped with a piece of wood, and voila! there he was!
So now the squirrel is gone and I have a new screen over my chimney. No one got bit, the squirrel didn't die, and my house didn't get tore up.
But, and this is important so keep reading, please, do you have a fireplace? If you do, and if you don't already have one of those enclosures for it like I've been saying I have, GET TO THE STORE IMMEDIATELY! If I'd just had that folding screen thing, and the squirrel had tumbled down the chimney like he did, he would have been loose in my house.
Everything turned out okay at my house and I want it to turn out okay at your house. Home Depot and Lowes are your friend (smile)!
So be good and be careful, stay strong. You're in my thoughts.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Do you have a fireplace at your house? If so, what type of a thing do you have in front of it? I mean, is it one of those things (sorry, don't know the proper name for it)that tightly fits the opening, with glass doors? Or is it one of those less expensive, decorative screens that folds open?
I have a fireplace in my family room. It came with the house, the previous owners had it built when they added the family room addition. I've used it a little bit, but not in a number of years, mostly the first year or two after I moved in. I used to tend bar at a bowling alley and every year when they replaced the pins they'd give them to any of us who had fireplaces. The pins are solid heavy wood and they burn for a long time. I used to have cases of them in my garage.
Anyway, I have one of those looks-like-it-was-built-in enclosures for my fireplace. No thanks to me, not a bit. Left up to my own devices I'd still probably have the decorative screen thing that the previous owners left when they moved.
When I first bought the house I had a roommate, her name was Mary, and we worked together at the bowling alley. Okay, for me it was my primary job. I tended bar five and six nights a week, putting in over sixty hours a week. With time and a half over 40 hours, generous tips, and employer fully paid health insurance, I was doing just fine and dandy. Fine and dandy enough to buy a new car and take out a mortgage on a house in the suburbs, in Farmington Hills no less! in the same year. Mary's first job, her primary job, was as a dental assistant. And she made good money at it. But Mary, well actually Mary and all of her siblings, 12 of them if I count correctly in my head, had serious major work genes. All of them, Mary included, worked primary 40 hour jobs, as well as at least two part-time jobs. And that's how I met Mary. One of her part time jobs was at the bowling alley.
That first Christmas (I was still observing the day back then) Mary bought me that gorgeous fireplace enclosure I've been talking about, as well as matching accessories for the hearth (the broom, etc.). And I've always kept it closed, except for back when I was burning in it, because it keeps the cat out of there.
So yesterday I was on the phone talking with a friend and I kept hearing all this racket outside. It sounded like someone was throwing something at the aluminum siding. I kept asking my friend to hang on while I looked out the window to see what was going on. Each time I looked, I'd see nothing, but then it would start up again. I finally told her look I have to go see what this is, call you back in a bit.
And just as I hung up the phone I heard serious clatter coming from the fireplace. A squirrel, play acting he was Santa Claus, came tumbling down and landed right smack dab in the fireplace and sat there looking out at me through the glass enclosure!
I caled my girlfriend back and said HELP! She said her husband, sons and herself would be over within the hour. I called my uncle and said HELP! He said he was on his way.
In the meantime that Santa Claus squirrl started trying to nose his way out of the enclosed fireplace. He couldn't have managed it, the enclosure fits tight like a glove, but, and understandably so, he was upset and he just wanted to get the hell out and go home. That's what I wanted for him too, but not while I was home alone. So I hollered at him and banged on the glass and he changed his mind, thankfully.
It seemed like hours, remember I was stressed, but was less than an hour in real time, and everyone pulled up at the same time to help me. They took the screen out of the family room window, set up something like a chute so that when they opened the doors on the enclosure the squirrel had only one way to go---out the window---and that's where he went. He was airborne and fast! Over the fence and gone!
Apparently what happened was the doggone squirrel someway somehow knocked off the screen that was over the chimney, tumbled in, hit the flue (is that what's it called? that thing you have to open when you have a fire going or your house gets filled with smoke?, knocked it open even though I had it shut and jammed/propped with a piece of wood, and voila! there he was!
So now the squirrel is gone and I have a new screen over my chimney. No one got bit, the squirrel didn't die, and my house didn't get tore up.
But, and this is important so keep reading, please, do you have a fireplace? If you do, and if you don't already have one of those enclosures for it like I've been saying I have, GET TO THE STORE IMMEDIATELY! If I'd just had that folding screen thing, and the squirrel had tumbled down the chimney like he did, he would have been loose in my house.
Everything turned out okay at my house and I want it to turn out okay at your house. Home Depot and Lowes are your friend (smile)!
So be good and be careful, stay strong. You're in my thoughts.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Okay, so the other day (last blog entry) we (the royal we!) talked about things that were in bad taste. Today I'm giving you a link to something else that's distasteful, something that should make you feel creepy and slimey and in a hurry to get to the shower and wash it off. No, not Halloween stuff, and not perverse sex stuff either. So much for your guessing abilities!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_USA
Yes, it's the Wikipedia encyclopedia entry for Blackwater, that US-based private security firm that's busy as can be over in Iraq. And who, I do believe, is the subject of an ongoing senate hearing.
I'm not going to rehash the site, you can read it for yourself. There are numerous links to other Blackwater-related sites in the wiki entry that will keep you busy for a long time.
Two things (among oodles) I found really interesting:
1. We, that's you and me, us taxpayers, paid Blackwater over 20 MILLION dollars to protect Bremer over in Iraq! I know, how can you put a price on human life, right? But 20 MILLION dollars to protect some guy in a place we shouldn't be causing trouble and wreaking havoc in? Just think of all the people, all the human lives, that dough could have saved/helped over here. Not just food, or jobs, but healthcare too.
2. Blackwater recently purchased and renovated a huge parcel of land in Illinois. They are looking to do the same in California. Hmmmmmmm. Prison camps for US dissidents someday??????
Anyway, read the wiki site. Then, if you're not feeling too creepy and crummy, do a google search on Blackwater. It's enough to curl your hair.
New topic.
This is something that I shouldn't even have to make mention of, but something has come up that's forced me to write about it here.
Okay, even though I go to great lengths to protect my off-the-phone personna and have done everything I can think of to make it doggone nearly impossible for anyone to track me down and show up on my porch, we still know that if anyone was in the stalking mode and determined to catch up with me, well, with enough hard work, a load of luck and good sleuthing tactics, they could manage it.
Over the years I've had several instances where people got it into their heads that we (them and me) had something 'special' and they owed it to the both of us (?) to come a-calling. They thought of themselves as suitors, I called them stalkers.
I even had one crackpot, and, sad to say, that's the nicest thing I can think to call him, who said he 'was coming for me' and he didn't mean it sexually, nor like he wanted to have a cup of coffee down at the local diner and buy me a meal. No, it was that he wanted 'to do' me in that Soprano-like mode where you sleep with the fishes, or get found in a landfill cut up and packaged in garbage bags.
Like I told him, and like I'm telling anyone reading this who has similar crackpot/stalker ideas, come for me if you want to, but be prepared. I am not going easy. And, if you're lucky, crackpot, you'll end up in prison.
Now for all of you wonderful folks reading this, I'm real sorry for having to expose you to this nasty stalker stuff.
On a much more pleasant note, it's going to be several wonderfully warm and sunny days here. A warm front in October, who'd have thunk (smile)!
Take care, stay strong and keep in touch.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackwater_USA
Yes, it's the Wikipedia encyclopedia entry for Blackwater, that US-based private security firm that's busy as can be over in Iraq. And who, I do believe, is the subject of an ongoing senate hearing.
I'm not going to rehash the site, you can read it for yourself. There are numerous links to other Blackwater-related sites in the wiki entry that will keep you busy for a long time.
Two things (among oodles) I found really interesting:
1. We, that's you and me, us taxpayers, paid Blackwater over 20 MILLION dollars to protect Bremer over in Iraq! I know, how can you put a price on human life, right? But 20 MILLION dollars to protect some guy in a place we shouldn't be causing trouble and wreaking havoc in? Just think of all the people, all the human lives, that dough could have saved/helped over here. Not just food, or jobs, but healthcare too.
2. Blackwater recently purchased and renovated a huge parcel of land in Illinois. They are looking to do the same in California. Hmmmmmmm. Prison camps for US dissidents someday??????
Anyway, read the wiki site. Then, if you're not feeling too creepy and crummy, do a google search on Blackwater. It's enough to curl your hair.
New topic.
This is something that I shouldn't even have to make mention of, but something has come up that's forced me to write about it here.
Okay, even though I go to great lengths to protect my off-the-phone personna and have done everything I can think of to make it doggone nearly impossible for anyone to track me down and show up on my porch, we still know that if anyone was in the stalking mode and determined to catch up with me, well, with enough hard work, a load of luck and good sleuthing tactics, they could manage it.
Over the years I've had several instances where people got it into their heads that we (them and me) had something 'special' and they owed it to the both of us (?) to come a-calling. They thought of themselves as suitors, I called them stalkers.
I even had one crackpot, and, sad to say, that's the nicest thing I can think to call him, who said he 'was coming for me' and he didn't mean it sexually, nor like he wanted to have a cup of coffee down at the local diner and buy me a meal. No, it was that he wanted 'to do' me in that Soprano-like mode where you sleep with the fishes, or get found in a landfill cut up and packaged in garbage bags.
Like I told him, and like I'm telling anyone reading this who has similar crackpot/stalker ideas, come for me if you want to, but be prepared. I am not going easy. And, if you're lucky, crackpot, you'll end up in prison.
Now for all of you wonderful folks reading this, I'm real sorry for having to expose you to this nasty stalker stuff.
On a much more pleasant note, it's going to be several wonderfully warm and sunny days here. A warm front in October, who'd have thunk (smile)!
Take care, stay strong and keep in touch.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! The website address I am going to post for you today is hilariously funny, but also in very bad taste. Don't email me and say 'but Tawny, that was in such bad taste' because I am warning you right from the get go. It's not sexual, you won't get bounced off the library or work computer if they find it on the hard drive, your spouse won't run to her bedroom in tears because you're looking at it. But it's still in very bad taste. But funny, don't forget funny.
www.bradrand.com/Pages/redneck_page.htm
Something else that's in bad taste, very bad taste, and not even remotely funny, was the way the leader of Iran was treated when he was invited to speak at that US university a week or so ago. I'm sure you saw it all over the news, both on the cable news stations as well as on your local broadcasts.
Now it's not like the leader of Iran just ran up into that university and snatched up the podium and microphone. Oh no, he was invited. And he accepted the invitation.
And then the moderator, the gentleman who invited him, went out of his way to disrespect the man. And the audience, all future leaders of tomorrow, went out of their way to be impolite, ignorant and downright disrespectful.
Since when is that the way we treat people?
I was extremely embarassed by their actions. I've had a half a mind to send a note to the Iranian embassy in DC apologizing for the way those people treated him. The only thing that's stopped me is the realization that doing such a thing just might land the feds and a plethora of other governmental types on my front porch.
I don't know about the folks who were in attendance at that New York university. Maybe they were raised in a barn, as the old saying goes. But I was taught to treat guests politely. You treat them the way you would like to be treated. You treat them with kindness, respect and dignity.
It troubles me that I haven't heard a single elected official speak out against the way the leader of Iran was treated.
Your president, (not mine, I didn't vote for him) it would seem, is beating the drums, trying to gather up support so he can declare war on Iran and invade that country. Is that why those people were disrespectful? Because they think that as 'good Americans' it was acceptable behavior?
Since when is Iran a threat to us? There weren't any Iranians involved on 9-11, it was Saudis and Egyptians. How come those countries aren't 'axis of evil'?
There's been a whole lot of sad stuff occurring in the USA as of late. Disrespecting a leader of a country is one more thing to add to the list.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
www.bradrand.com/Pages/redneck_page.htm
Something else that's in bad taste, very bad taste, and not even remotely funny, was the way the leader of Iran was treated when he was invited to speak at that US university a week or so ago. I'm sure you saw it all over the news, both on the cable news stations as well as on your local broadcasts.
Now it's not like the leader of Iran just ran up into that university and snatched up the podium and microphone. Oh no, he was invited. And he accepted the invitation.
And then the moderator, the gentleman who invited him, went out of his way to disrespect the man. And the audience, all future leaders of tomorrow, went out of their way to be impolite, ignorant and downright disrespectful.
Since when is that the way we treat people?
I was extremely embarassed by their actions. I've had a half a mind to send a note to the Iranian embassy in DC apologizing for the way those people treated him. The only thing that's stopped me is the realization that doing such a thing just might land the feds and a plethora of other governmental types on my front porch.
I don't know about the folks who were in attendance at that New York university. Maybe they were raised in a barn, as the old saying goes. But I was taught to treat guests politely. You treat them the way you would like to be treated. You treat them with kindness, respect and dignity.
It troubles me that I haven't heard a single elected official speak out against the way the leader of Iran was treated.
Your president, (not mine, I didn't vote for him) it would seem, is beating the drums, trying to gather up support so he can declare war on Iran and invade that country. Is that why those people were disrespectful? Because they think that as 'good Americans' it was acceptable behavior?
Since when is Iran a threat to us? There weren't any Iranians involved on 9-11, it was Saudis and Egyptians. How come those countries aren't 'axis of evil'?
There's been a whole lot of sad stuff occurring in the USA as of late. Disrespecting a leader of a country is one more thing to add to the list.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
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