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
Friday, December 28, 2007
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
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
Thursday, December 27, 2007
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
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
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
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'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
Friday, December 21, 2007
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
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
Thursday, December 20, 2007
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
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
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
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
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
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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
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
Monday, December 10, 2007
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
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
Sunday, December 09, 2007
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
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
Saturday, December 08, 2007
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.
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.
Friday, December 07, 2007
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
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
Thursday, December 06, 2007
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
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
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
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
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
Sunday, December 02, 2007
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/
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/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
