I hope you are having an absolutely wonderful Thanksgivng Day! Aside from my birthday, which I love because it means presents (smile), Thanksgiving is my next favorite day to celebrate because it gives me an opportunity to give thanks for all of my many blessings. Okay, true enough, I can give thanks each and every day on my own, and I should, and I try to remember to but I don't always do it. But today, well, I remember and I am very thankful.
Did you have turkey for dinner? I did! I LOVE turkey! I tell you, I could eat it every single day. In fact, as we speak, I have two huge frozen turkeys in my big freezer, and two frozen smoked turkeys as well. That means at least four more scrumptious turkey dinners in my future.
I had dinner at HSM's today. Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, corn, cucumber salad, cranberries and rolls. Oh my goodness, such good stuff. We finished that wonderful meal a little bit ago. And dessert, which we haven't had yet, is going to be pumpkin pies with whipped cream, and cheesecake with cherry topping.
They're going to have to roll me out of here (smile).
Too late to help you out with today's dinner, but----here's the skinny, or the 411, on how to roast a moist turkey. Take some butter, not oleo or margarine, real butter. Cut it into thin slices and gently, oh so gently slide it under the skin of the breast. At least half a stick worth. Also slide some under the skin of the legs, inside the cavity, wherever you can work it in. And baste that bad boy with a mixture of melted butter and white wine. You end up with a moist turkey that tastes so yummy!
When I get home tonight I have one more Blockbuster movie to watch (if I can stay awake after all this food!)--Get Smart. HSM said it's funny, they rented it last week. Last night I watched Tropic Thunder. Have you seen it? Isn't it just a hooty-hoot?! I laughed so hard.
They said on tv yesterday that the night before Thanksgiving is the biggest bar night in the USA. I already knew that because I used to tend bar back before I became Tawny, the phone sex goddess (smile), and the place used to rock on the night before TDay. There used to be this one guy that got loose every night before TDay, rip off his clothes down to his scivvies, then jump up on a table and dance! The funny thing was, every other night he came in he was Mr. Shy + Reclusive.
Me, last night the only place I went was out for dinner. I was at the Chinese Buffet scrarfing down stir fried green beans, General Tsao chicken, noodles and lots of other tasty tidbits. According to the tv though, most Americans order pizza in on NBTD. Oh well. I'm always out of sync (smile). What did you do?
Are you going shopping tomorrow on Black Friday? Not me. No way. I don't do Christmas so I have no incentive to get out there, but my friend Tallulah, well, like Santa, she's made her list and checked it at least twice. She's going to be at Kohls at 4am when they open, then at every other store in Marquette scooping up great deals on everything under the sun. In fact, she told me she's going to Michaels, the craft store, tonight when they open from 6pm to 8pm (or maybe 9, who remembers) for their deals. Tallulah is the consumate shopper.
She said she wished she could get down here. Why? Well, the outlet mall at Birch Run, Michigan is opening tonight at midnight for their Black Friday sales. And if you're one of the first 500 to show up in your pajamas you get some special gifts, plus coupons, plus deals on all kinds of stuff. It rolled off me like water on a duck. There is no way in the world I would go to something like that. I don't mind shopping. I like to shop. But I hate crowds and that's all any of that is going to be--a serious crowded mess.
The last time I was at an outlet mall was, I guess, a month ago, the one in Howell, Michigan. My favorite store that trip was Bath + Body Works. The one in Howell isn't a regular store, it's an outlet store, which means that everything is at great prices. Like, lotion that's usually $15 a bottle is $5 at the outlet. Okay, they don't have all the choices like you find at a regular mall store of theirs, they seem to carry the scents that are being phased out, but who cares? Not me. Good lotion at good prices? I'm there. I don't care if it's last year's scent.
I'm thinking, weather permitting, maybe next week I'll go back out to Howell. I'd like to stock up on some more of the lotions and shower gels, I really like that brand. By next week, particularly if I'm not there on Thursday thru Sunday I should be able to avoid hordes of Xmas shoppers.
If you have a female you need to purchase a gift for, no matter the occasion, odds are good she'd love something from the Bath + Body Works store. Buy her the shower gel, the body butter, the lotion and the body spray--all in the same scent. Can't decide what scent to buy? Anything vanilla is always good. She will love you to pieces for it, trust me.
Okay, that's it for me for today. Dessert is being discussed and I don't want to miss out on it (smile).
You be good and be careful, take care and stay strong. And know that I am very grateful for you, too.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I'm Back!!!
Okay, so the last time I wrote anything here was the 14th of November and I mentioned that it was warm, in the 50's. My oh my how things change! Since then temperatures have plunged to the teens and we've had some snow, although nothing of any real significance. And today, while it's a balmy 35, overcast, no sunshine at all, it's snowing like crazy but melting as it hits the ground.
My friend Tallulah of Marquette, Michigan, last time I spoke with her (over this past weekend) she said they already had at least 20 inches of snow! And, worse yet, her snow blower was broke. Said she took it in for repairs and the fellow told her he didn't know when he'd get to it…it's deer season! Apparently everything comes to a halt up there during deer season.
Tallulah sent me this photo to share with you of sunrise over a cold, frozen Lake Superior. It gives me goose bumps just to look at it!
Tallulah said she was driving through Marquette the other day and came upon a pickup truck heading through town with a dead deer tossed in the bed. Because the deer was so large the gate was open and, when the driver stopped at a red light, the deer slid out onto the road. Poor Tallulah was both shocked and appalled smile).
But a fellow I was talking with last night told me this deer story:
He said a hunter with his deer in the bed of his pickup truck stopped for a beer on the way home from deer camp. A passerby saw the deer, had a brainstorm, ran to the hardware store, bought a can of red paint and painted the deer's nose bright red. When the hunter came out of the bar there were a handful of kids standing by his truck crying their eyes out. Why? They thought he'd killed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (smile)!
To all of those who've asked about Tallulah and how she's handling her second winter in the Upper Peninsula, well, she hasn't killed anyone yet (smile). She stays busy knitting, watching her soaps and movies on demand, and talks about buying a condo down south to winter in. Where down south? The metro Detroit area (smile).
And speaking of my friends, here's some really wonderful news. HSM's oldest is now enrolled in college! When he spoke with his counselor, as she reviewed his admission test results, she told him that not only did he not need to take any remedial courses (as the majority of incoming students must do), but that she was recommending him for enrollment in advanced courses! HSM's son told the counselor that he'd been home schooled since the 4th grade and she said 'tell your Mother she did a fine job teaching you!’
While everyone who knows her has told HSM for years that she's doing a great job home schooling her brood, validation from a source outside her social network, particularly from a college counselor, has thrilled her to no end. She always thought she was doing well, but now she knows it. She says her other three sons will test even higher because they've been home schooled much longer. In fact, the two youngest have always been taught at home.
Now I know you've been jonesing for stories about my family so here's a cute one (smile). One of my aunts, when she belches, well, she really lets it rip. Not that she does it on purpose, she doesn't, she tries hard to be ladylike, and it just doesn't work for her. Don't give her a bottle of IBC root beer and not be prepared for some sound effects. So she was babysitting one of her nieces wee ones. She had a root beer and--sound effects! The child asked her, 'Auntie, are you a lion?' I rolled when I heard that because she does roar like one (smile).
On a not-so-sweet note, although it could turn out peachy keen in the long run, my 83-year-old Aunt Shug has been enduring more abuse from her son Michael, the predatory crackhead. Word is that Michael has been getting in her face, calling her all kinds of bitches and stuff. Shug refuses to let anyone check Michael.
So last week Shug's grandson, we'll call him Fred (not his real name), a Detroit police officer, stopped by while he was on duty to see his grandmamma for a minute. Michael was pushing Shug around, talking nasty to her, and Fred took exception to it. When Michael refused to stop, he and Fred got to tussling, body slamming each other around the house.
The fight spilled out on to the front yard where Michael, bless his little vicious heart, pulled a knife on Fred. Next thing you know, Fred's partner radioed for help and 20 squad cars rolled up!
Michael was hauled off to jail for--assault on a police officer, assault with intent to do great bodily hard on a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer!
Any one of those charges should, God Willing, be enough to send Michael to prison for a number of years!
I know, it's bogus to be happy about someone possibly going off to do hard time, but if you knew Michael you'd be doing the happy dance, too.
Shug has been trying to get family members who were present when all this went down to say that Fred started it, but they're all hanging tight to the truth. Everyone is sick to death of the way Michael treats Shug, sick of how he bullies them as well, and ready to puke because Shug keeps protecting his sorry ass.
It could have only been better if Fred's partner had just shot Michael's sorry ass. By now Michael would be in the ground and he'd be history.
Hope all is well at your end of the world. You need to stay warm and stay safe.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
www.tawnyford.com
My friend Tallulah of Marquette, Michigan, last time I spoke with her (over this past weekend) she said they already had at least 20 inches of snow! And, worse yet, her snow blower was broke. Said she took it in for repairs and the fellow told her he didn't know when he'd get to it…it's deer season! Apparently everything comes to a halt up there during deer season.
Tallulah sent me this photo to share with you of sunrise over a cold, frozen Lake Superior. It gives me goose bumps just to look at it!
Tallulah said she was driving through Marquette the other day and came upon a pickup truck heading through town with a dead deer tossed in the bed. Because the deer was so large the gate was open and, when the driver stopped at a red light, the deer slid out onto the road. Poor Tallulah was both shocked and appalled smile).
But a fellow I was talking with last night told me this deer story:
He said a hunter with his deer in the bed of his pickup truck stopped for a beer on the way home from deer camp. A passerby saw the deer, had a brainstorm, ran to the hardware store, bought a can of red paint and painted the deer's nose bright red. When the hunter came out of the bar there were a handful of kids standing by his truck crying their eyes out. Why? They thought he'd killed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (smile)!
To all of those who've asked about Tallulah and how she's handling her second winter in the Upper Peninsula, well, she hasn't killed anyone yet (smile). She stays busy knitting, watching her soaps and movies on demand, and talks about buying a condo down south to winter in. Where down south? The metro Detroit area (smile).
And speaking of my friends, here's some really wonderful news. HSM's oldest is now enrolled in college! When he spoke with his counselor, as she reviewed his admission test results, she told him that not only did he not need to take any remedial courses (as the majority of incoming students must do), but that she was recommending him for enrollment in advanced courses! HSM's son told the counselor that he'd been home schooled since the 4th grade and she said 'tell your Mother she did a fine job teaching you!’
While everyone who knows her has told HSM for years that she's doing a great job home schooling her brood, validation from a source outside her social network, particularly from a college counselor, has thrilled her to no end. She always thought she was doing well, but now she knows it. She says her other three sons will test even higher because they've been home schooled much longer. In fact, the two youngest have always been taught at home.
Now I know you've been jonesing for stories about my family so here's a cute one (smile). One of my aunts, when she belches, well, she really lets it rip. Not that she does it on purpose, she doesn't, she tries hard to be ladylike, and it just doesn't work for her. Don't give her a bottle of IBC root beer and not be prepared for some sound effects. So she was babysitting one of her nieces wee ones. She had a root beer and--sound effects! The child asked her, 'Auntie, are you a lion?' I rolled when I heard that because she does roar like one (smile).
On a not-so-sweet note, although it could turn out peachy keen in the long run, my 83-year-old Aunt Shug has been enduring more abuse from her son Michael, the predatory crackhead. Word is that Michael has been getting in her face, calling her all kinds of bitches and stuff. Shug refuses to let anyone check Michael.
So last week Shug's grandson, we'll call him Fred (not his real name), a Detroit police officer, stopped by while he was on duty to see his grandmamma for a minute. Michael was pushing Shug around, talking nasty to her, and Fred took exception to it. When Michael refused to stop, he and Fred got to tussling, body slamming each other around the house.
The fight spilled out on to the front yard where Michael, bless his little vicious heart, pulled a knife on Fred. Next thing you know, Fred's partner radioed for help and 20 squad cars rolled up!
Michael was hauled off to jail for--assault on a police officer, assault with intent to do great bodily hard on a police officer and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer!
Any one of those charges should, God Willing, be enough to send Michael to prison for a number of years!
I know, it's bogus to be happy about someone possibly going off to do hard time, but if you knew Michael you'd be doing the happy dance, too.
Shug has been trying to get family members who were present when all this went down to say that Fred started it, but they're all hanging tight to the truth. Everyone is sick to death of the way Michael treats Shug, sick of how he bullies them as well, and ready to puke because Shug keeps protecting his sorry ass.
It could have only been better if Fred's partner had just shot Michael's sorry ass. By now Michael would be in the ground and he'd be history.
Hope all is well at your end of the world. You need to stay warm and stay safe.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
www.tawnyford.com
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Things You Overhear
So today I'm back at the library using one of their (I mean mine, after all I am a taxpayer! smile) computers, not at HSM's house on her Gateway. It's warm today, somewhere near 60, but it's overcast and raining. The weather person on the local ABC affiliate is talking snow, 1-3 inches, for Sunday into Monday. I'm hoping he misread his doppler (smile). On top of that, money/finances being as tight as they are here in Michigan, word is that the tri-county area of Detroit, all three counties, are cutting back on their plowing and salting this winter. Terrific.
Okay, so when I got to the library today, for some reason the place was jumping. I circled the lot so many times looking for a parking spot I thought I was riding the merry go round! Then I got in here and, don't you know, every computer was busy. Okay. So I found a seat and I waited.
Thing is, for some reason, maybe the planets are perfectly aligned or something, but there were lotslotslots of young adults (and I use adult loosely here) hanging out. Not necessarily a bad thing, libraries are for us all to use. But these young'uns, well, sitting quietly was not a part of their plan. They were talking to each other.
And you know like how you never really mean to listen in on someone elses's conversation but sometimes you have no choice because either they're talking just a little too loud or you're so bored silly you tune in just to keep your sanity? Both were in play here for me.
The young man was telling three young women how he was going to get his penis tattooed. Yep. His full name, Antonio, along the length of it. So when he was erect it would read Antonio and when he was flaccid it would read Ant. And he was tickled pink, proud as anything about what he was going to do. The young women, for the most part, were saying 'that is so gross'.
Me? I was biting the inside of my cheeks, almost hard enough to draw blood, because I didn't want to start laughing. I knew if a laugh got out it was all over with, I'd be crying from laughing so hard.
Antonio, bless his stupid little heart, probably thought his conversation was going to wow the ladies and they would be begging him and falling all over each other to get a look at his going-to-be tatooed member.
Me? I think Antonio was telling too much about himself.
Okay, most tatoo shops are run by men, right? Sure, there are female tatoo artists, I see that one woman on A+E's reality tv show but in real life I can't say I've seen many. So that means some guy is going to have to not only watch Antonio get a woodie, but then the guy is going to have to hold Antonio's woodie while he tatoos it. How many straight men want some guy holding and/or touching their penis, erect or not?
Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Antonio has some sissy in him (smile).
Prior to the library, I went to Dearborn, Michigan to the area populated by the Arab Muslims. New Yasmeen Bakery has been calling my name for a couple of weeks. I bought a couple dozen meat pies, some sausages and some kind of rolled up sandwiches. Plus, pastries. They have got the prettiest and tastiest pastries! Next time I go there I'm going to have lunch, as well as purchase things to take home. They have a wide array of foods that can be eaten easily on premise--plates and flatware provided!--and their prices are good and the quality of everything I've ever gotten from them is fantastic. If you're ever in Dearborn get thee to New Yasmeen on Warren Avenue, east of Greenfield Road.
So that's it for today, I suppose. I want to borrow a few books, stop at the post office and then it's home. Maybe you'll call me. I miss speaking with you.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Okay, so when I got to the library today, for some reason the place was jumping. I circled the lot so many times looking for a parking spot I thought I was riding the merry go round! Then I got in here and, don't you know, every computer was busy. Okay. So I found a seat and I waited.
Thing is, for some reason, maybe the planets are perfectly aligned or something, but there were lotslotslots of young adults (and I use adult loosely here) hanging out. Not necessarily a bad thing, libraries are for us all to use. But these young'uns, well, sitting quietly was not a part of their plan. They were talking to each other.
And you know like how you never really mean to listen in on someone elses's conversation but sometimes you have no choice because either they're talking just a little too loud or you're so bored silly you tune in just to keep your sanity? Both were in play here for me.
The young man was telling three young women how he was going to get his penis tattooed. Yep. His full name, Antonio, along the length of it. So when he was erect it would read Antonio and when he was flaccid it would read Ant. And he was tickled pink, proud as anything about what he was going to do. The young women, for the most part, were saying 'that is so gross'.
Me? I was biting the inside of my cheeks, almost hard enough to draw blood, because I didn't want to start laughing. I knew if a laugh got out it was all over with, I'd be crying from laughing so hard.
Antonio, bless his stupid little heart, probably thought his conversation was going to wow the ladies and they would be begging him and falling all over each other to get a look at his going-to-be tatooed member.
Me? I think Antonio was telling too much about himself.
Okay, most tatoo shops are run by men, right? Sure, there are female tatoo artists, I see that one woman on A+E's reality tv show but in real life I can't say I've seen many. So that means some guy is going to have to not only watch Antonio get a woodie, but then the guy is going to have to hold Antonio's woodie while he tatoos it. How many straight men want some guy holding and/or touching their penis, erect or not?
Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Antonio has some sissy in him (smile).
Prior to the library, I went to Dearborn, Michigan to the area populated by the Arab Muslims. New Yasmeen Bakery has been calling my name for a couple of weeks. I bought a couple dozen meat pies, some sausages and some kind of rolled up sandwiches. Plus, pastries. They have got the prettiest and tastiest pastries! Next time I go there I'm going to have lunch, as well as purchase things to take home. They have a wide array of foods that can be eaten easily on premise--plates and flatware provided!--and their prices are good and the quality of everything I've ever gotten from them is fantastic. If you're ever in Dearborn get thee to New Yasmeen on Warren Avenue, east of Greenfield Road.
So that's it for today, I suppose. I want to borrow a few books, stop at the post office and then it's home. Maybe you'll call me. I miss speaking with you.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Warm, No Sun, Not Today
Another warm day here, 50 degrees so far and it isn't even 10am. If only there was sun it would truly be a wonderfully, glorious day! But hey, here it is mid-November, so all things considered, this is good.
Not much going on here in my little life. Today I'm babysitting, that's why I'm not home to speak with you. Okay, maybe not technically babysitting, I mean HSM's brood, the ones I'm hanging out with while she's taking care of business with her oldest, are 10, 12 and 15. She wasn't sure how long she'd be gone and, well, she was reluctant to leave her brood totally on their own for an indefinite period of time. Perfectly understandable.
Where is HSM and her oldest? At the local community college. He's enrolling for classes starting this January. How exciting, huh? Because he was homeschooled there are a few extra things to be done before he can begin classes so.....
I brought my bag of yarn with me this morning. I'm crocheting a scarf for my Uncle David for his upcoming birthday. I have numerous skeins of a nice, soft black and white yarn. I think the scarf will be pretty. I know, how chintzy, making a birthday present, but Uncle David is really hard to buy for. I mean, he has everything. Okay, he doesn't have a flat screen tv, and he wants one something fierce, but that's way out of my price bracket. If I get the scarf done in time then I'm going to crochet a matching hat, too.
Speaking of yarn, and I know you're enthralled with this subject (smile), for those of you who knit or crochet (YES! men knit and crochet, too!), you should check out www.smileys.com I'm pretty sure that's the site. They sell yarn at incredibly low low low prices and they throw in free shipping as long as your order totals at least $50.
The yarn I'm using for my uncle's scarf, the pretty black and white stuff, I bought at a garage sale. Don't you roll your eyes (smile)! The woman I bought it from had tons of yarn at incredibly low prices. She said she'd been knitting afghans and sweaters for her family the previous winter and she had bought her yarn online at Ebay. Once she finished her projects, well, she didn't want to even look at yarn for awhile so she was clearing out her stash. The black and white I bought from her at 6 skeins for $2.00? JoAnn Fabrics sells the same exact stuff for $5.99 a skein!
I was in Michaels a couple of days ago to look at their sale yarn. Oh my gosh, just about everything was on sale and my fingers loved all of it (smile). Going in a yarn store is so hard for me. Okay, it's not hard to walk in but it's almost impossible to walk out without spending a nice little chunk of change.
Tallulah sent me a book on felting---felting is knitting/crocheting an item in 100% wool yarn, then putting the finished item in hot soapy water to shrink it, thereby making it look like fabric not yarn. I want to make a tote bag/purse and felt it, but I didn't have any wool yarn. That's where Michaels came in. They had wool yarn on sale for 2 skeins for $7. Such a deal.
Well, I guess that's it for now. If I keep typing I'll never get any crocheting done.
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong. Don't let the news on tv get you down.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Not much going on here in my little life. Today I'm babysitting, that's why I'm not home to speak with you. Okay, maybe not technically babysitting, I mean HSM's brood, the ones I'm hanging out with while she's taking care of business with her oldest, are 10, 12 and 15. She wasn't sure how long she'd be gone and, well, she was reluctant to leave her brood totally on their own for an indefinite period of time. Perfectly understandable.
Where is HSM and her oldest? At the local community college. He's enrolling for classes starting this January. How exciting, huh? Because he was homeschooled there are a few extra things to be done before he can begin classes so.....
I brought my bag of yarn with me this morning. I'm crocheting a scarf for my Uncle David for his upcoming birthday. I have numerous skeins of a nice, soft black and white yarn. I think the scarf will be pretty. I know, how chintzy, making a birthday present, but Uncle David is really hard to buy for. I mean, he has everything. Okay, he doesn't have a flat screen tv, and he wants one something fierce, but that's way out of my price bracket. If I get the scarf done in time then I'm going to crochet a matching hat, too.
Speaking of yarn, and I know you're enthralled with this subject (smile), for those of you who knit or crochet (YES! men knit and crochet, too!), you should check out www.smileys.com I'm pretty sure that's the site. They sell yarn at incredibly low low low prices and they throw in free shipping as long as your order totals at least $50.
The yarn I'm using for my uncle's scarf, the pretty black and white stuff, I bought at a garage sale. Don't you roll your eyes (smile)! The woman I bought it from had tons of yarn at incredibly low prices. She said she'd been knitting afghans and sweaters for her family the previous winter and she had bought her yarn online at Ebay. Once she finished her projects, well, she didn't want to even look at yarn for awhile so she was clearing out her stash. The black and white I bought from her at 6 skeins for $2.00? JoAnn Fabrics sells the same exact stuff for $5.99 a skein!
I was in Michaels a couple of days ago to look at their sale yarn. Oh my gosh, just about everything was on sale and my fingers loved all of it (smile). Going in a yarn store is so hard for me. Okay, it's not hard to walk in but it's almost impossible to walk out without spending a nice little chunk of change.
Tallulah sent me a book on felting---felting is knitting/crocheting an item in 100% wool yarn, then putting the finished item in hot soapy water to shrink it, thereby making it look like fabric not yarn. I want to make a tote bag/purse and felt it, but I didn't have any wool yarn. That's where Michaels came in. They had wool yarn on sale for 2 skeins for $7. Such a deal.
Well, I guess that's it for now. If I keep typing I'll never get any crocheting done.
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong. Don't let the news on tv get you down.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
This + That
Geez Louise! I hadn't realized it'd been five days since I last wrote to you! Time flies, doesn't it (smile)? To tell you the truth, I honestly didn't think I was going to be able to write anything here today. Why? Well, first of all, the library computers are usually jammed up on Wednesday mornings unless you're one of the first so-many when they break the doors open at 9am, and, secondly, because the server at the main library is messing up this morning. Both of those helped to get me not only a parking spot, but also a computer. How so? Well, lots of folks, when they had a bit of trouble connecting online this morning, aborted and left. Me, I guess I'm too stubborn to just throw in the towel---plus, I wanted to talk with you!---I figured out a work around to get online. Okay, really it was the teenager at the machine next to me. Young folks are whizzes when it comes to this kind of stuff.
We've had some down right cold weather the last week or so. It went from mid-70's to where's my down coat? seemingly over night. There was even snow a couple of days, although nothing that needed to be shovelled. The ground isn't cold enough yet to sustain snow, thank goodness.
Are you familiar with Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim? Both men are/were authors. Goines is dead, murdered quite a few years ago in Highland Park, MI, a city right on the outskirts of Detroit. I don't know about Iceberg Slim, he may still be alive. Anyway, both men were the first of the ghetto/black experience authors who wrote about the underworld. I've read a number of books by both men and I've enjoyed them greatly. There's a biography of Donald Goines on the market today, Low Road by Eddie (geez, what's his last name? Allen maybe?) and it's a good read. There isn't all that much about Goines exactly, the author had some trouble finding people to give anecdotes about his life, but it's a great piece on the turbulent times of the 1950's thru to today in Detroit. It's recent history. I just returned it to the library on my way in this morning so it's here if you want it (smile).
Now here's something I've been meaning to speak on and keep forgetting about. Words. Hang with me here, please. Like when people, particularly those in power and on tv, say 'God bless America'. To me, and maybe it's just me but I don't think so, it's like they're orderring God, The Most High, to bless America. Not asking Him, orderring Him. Or when folks say 'God damn you'. Geez, do they really and truly want God to damn (send to hell for all eternity) whomever they're angry with? Words are powerful. I think it's something we all need to be aware of.
The other thing, and this is something I've discussed with a number of folks, the word 'mulatto'. That's a word that we all learned about back in history class when we studied slavery. Because it's a word that was in our textbooks, and because it's a word that our teachers used, we came up thinking it was the proper word to describe a person who is of mixed race--part black and part white. But it's not. Mulatto is a slavery word. It's a word that the slave owners used to describe the racial make-up of their property. We have to find another word because that just isn't the word to use.
To be perfectly honest, a person of mixed racial heritage--part black, part white--in America, no matter the color of their skin, is a black person. Right? Don't most folks, whether they realize it or not, feel/believe that even one drop of black blood makes a person black? Despite the fact that Obama is the president-elect, I think that still holds true for most. I mean, who says Obama is a white man? Nobody. Yet his Mom was white.
Well, that's it for today. I still have some errands to run and then I need to get home so I can speak with you.
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong and don't let the stuff on the news mess you up or make you fearful.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
We've had some down right cold weather the last week or so. It went from mid-70's to where's my down coat? seemingly over night. There was even snow a couple of days, although nothing that needed to be shovelled. The ground isn't cold enough yet to sustain snow, thank goodness.
Are you familiar with Donald Goines and Iceberg Slim? Both men are/were authors. Goines is dead, murdered quite a few years ago in Highland Park, MI, a city right on the outskirts of Detroit. I don't know about Iceberg Slim, he may still be alive. Anyway, both men were the first of the ghetto/black experience authors who wrote about the underworld. I've read a number of books by both men and I've enjoyed them greatly. There's a biography of Donald Goines on the market today, Low Road by Eddie (geez, what's his last name? Allen maybe?) and it's a good read. There isn't all that much about Goines exactly, the author had some trouble finding people to give anecdotes about his life, but it's a great piece on the turbulent times of the 1950's thru to today in Detroit. It's recent history. I just returned it to the library on my way in this morning so it's here if you want it (smile).
Now here's something I've been meaning to speak on and keep forgetting about. Words. Hang with me here, please. Like when people, particularly those in power and on tv, say 'God bless America'. To me, and maybe it's just me but I don't think so, it's like they're orderring God, The Most High, to bless America. Not asking Him, orderring Him. Or when folks say 'God damn you'. Geez, do they really and truly want God to damn (send to hell for all eternity) whomever they're angry with? Words are powerful. I think it's something we all need to be aware of.
The other thing, and this is something I've discussed with a number of folks, the word 'mulatto'. That's a word that we all learned about back in history class when we studied slavery. Because it's a word that was in our textbooks, and because it's a word that our teachers used, we came up thinking it was the proper word to describe a person who is of mixed race--part black and part white. But it's not. Mulatto is a slavery word. It's a word that the slave owners used to describe the racial make-up of their property. We have to find another word because that just isn't the word to use.
To be perfectly honest, a person of mixed racial heritage--part black, part white--in America, no matter the color of their skin, is a black person. Right? Don't most folks, whether they realize it or not, feel/believe that even one drop of black blood makes a person black? Despite the fact that Obama is the president-elect, I think that still holds true for most. I mean, who says Obama is a white man? Nobody. Yet his Mom was white.
Well, that's it for today. I still have some errands to run and then I need to get home so I can speak with you.
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong and don't let the stuff on the news mess you up or make you fearful.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, November 06, 2008
It Is A Beautiful Day!
Was I right or was I right? The sun came out and shone yesterday, the day after the election, didn't it (smile)?
My friend Tallulah, up in the wilds of the upper peninsula of Michigan, despite being in the largest town/city of the UP--Marquette--a university town, too--said yesterday when we talked that it was unreal up there the way people were acting. What were they doing? Well, they'd come up to each other with sincere and deep concern in their voices and ask 'how are you doing? are you okay?'. Sure, that sounds lovely doesn't it? I mean, how nice is that people have such concern for their fellow townspeoples well-being?
Thing is, their concerns were regarding the presidential election. For the most part, the Yoopers found it troubling and disconcerting and just downright almost apocalypse-like that Barrack Obama was the new president-elect.
When people asked Tallulah how she was doing she told them 'it's a beautiful day, isn't it!' with a big, bright, happy smile on her face.
Tallulah said election night when the results were coming in she spoke with her 17-year old next door neighbor girl who told her she didn't want Obama to win because he'd make abortion legal. Hmmm, abortion has been legal in the USA since Roe vs Wade, over thirty years ago, Tallulah told her. Well, it's not legal here in Michigan, the girl told her. Yes, it is, Tallulah told her, all over the USA it's legal. Well, not up here in the UP it isn't, she countered with. ?????
So Tallulah went online and, sure enough, despite being legal all over the USA, there were no womens clinics/abortion clinics in the entire UP. Near as Tallulah could tell, the closest clinics were in Saginaw, MI and Grand Rapids, MI, both cities hundreds of miles away. Or, heading west, in Appleton, WI and Milwaukee, WI, again, hundreds of miles away.
So, Tallulah told her, you have a legal right to have an abortion in Michigan, even citizens of the upper peninsula have that legal right, you just have to have a good car, lots of gas money and the ability to be out of town for close to a week if you want to avail yourself of that right.
Around here, when I was out and about yesterday, and even today so far, people have been greeting each other--even strangers--with big smiles on their faces, touching hands and arms and saying 'we have a new president! isn't it wonderful!'.
And I have to agree with them. It is a wonderful thing. A perfectly wonderful thing.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
My friend Tallulah, up in the wilds of the upper peninsula of Michigan, despite being in the largest town/city of the UP--Marquette--a university town, too--said yesterday when we talked that it was unreal up there the way people were acting. What were they doing? Well, they'd come up to each other with sincere and deep concern in their voices and ask 'how are you doing? are you okay?'. Sure, that sounds lovely doesn't it? I mean, how nice is that people have such concern for their fellow townspeoples well-being?
Thing is, their concerns were regarding the presidential election. For the most part, the Yoopers found it troubling and disconcerting and just downright almost apocalypse-like that Barrack Obama was the new president-elect.
When people asked Tallulah how she was doing she told them 'it's a beautiful day, isn't it!' with a big, bright, happy smile on her face.
Tallulah said election night when the results were coming in she spoke with her 17-year old next door neighbor girl who told her she didn't want Obama to win because he'd make abortion legal. Hmmm, abortion has been legal in the USA since Roe vs Wade, over thirty years ago, Tallulah told her. Well, it's not legal here in Michigan, the girl told her. Yes, it is, Tallulah told her, all over the USA it's legal. Well, not up here in the UP it isn't, she countered with. ?????
So Tallulah went online and, sure enough, despite being legal all over the USA, there were no womens clinics/abortion clinics in the entire UP. Near as Tallulah could tell, the closest clinics were in Saginaw, MI and Grand Rapids, MI, both cities hundreds of miles away. Or, heading west, in Appleton, WI and Milwaukee, WI, again, hundreds of miles away.
So, Tallulah told her, you have a legal right to have an abortion in Michigan, even citizens of the upper peninsula have that legal right, you just have to have a good car, lots of gas money and the ability to be out of town for close to a week if you want to avail yourself of that right.
Around here, when I was out and about yesterday, and even today so far, people have been greeting each other--even strangers--with big smiles on their faces, touching hands and arms and saying 'we have a new president! isn't it wonderful!'.
And I have to agree with them. It is a wonderful thing. A perfectly wonderful thing.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
The Sun Will Still Shine Tomorrow
"No matter who's elected president, daffodils will still bloom in the spring. Men and women will fall in love and, sadly, out of love. Inconsolable grief will still be inconsolable. A broken heart will nonetheless keep beating one hundred thousand times a day. No matter who's elected president, writers will still write. Painters will still paint. Three in the morning will still be three in the morning. The door in our psyche we don't want to walk through will still be just down the hall. No matter who's elected president, life will hand us the invisible thread that connects us all; love will hand us the needle."
Sy Safransky, editor and publisher of The Sun
www.TheSun.Org
Hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Sy Safransky, editor and publisher of The Sun
www.TheSun.Org
Hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, November 03, 2008
I Just Want To Share
I hope it's as beautiful a day where you are as it is here. We had rain through the night and into the wee hours of the morning, thunder and lightening, too. But now, wow! It's getting warm, everything is clean and bright and fresh. A very good day!
I know I haven't said too much about the election lately. Some of you, and you know who you are (smile), are thankful because you were tired of it, But today, well, today I've got some final words on it.
From the get-go I wasn't keen on either of the candidates for president. Obama was a come-out-of-nowhere guy and McCain, well, McCain is just flat out Bush in an older version with a few new scarey twists of his own. My intent was to vote in this election, just not for the president. There are enough local items on the ballot here to keep me busy and civically minded.
But after monthes and monthes of pre-election drama I came to realize a few things. One, not voting for either Obama or McCain (even voting for a third party candidate) was, in essence, voting for McCain. Two, after watching the campaign stuff on tv (from debates to speeches to rallies, etc.) McCain and Palin are not who I want leading this country. I don't like anything about either one of them. Three, I realized what my Uncle David is always telling me is true--racism is alive and well in this country.
Because I am still hobbling asnd limping, I was entitled to an absentee ballot this year. If the expected voter turnout is as high as some/many/most think it will be, there is/was no way in the world I would be able to stand in line for an hour or two or ? in order to cast my vote.
I voted for Obama.
Who you vote for is your business. I chose to share my vote with you.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
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