And The Beat Goes On

Like Sonny and Cher said, "and the beat goes on and on and on...", that's how life is.


On the home front, someone, it seems, is determined to steal my truck. I have two trucks--a 2000 Ford F150 and a 2003 Dodge. Both are standard, nothing fancy at all about them. The Ford is a stick shift, the Dodge is an automatic.


A few weeks ago, after visiting at HSM's house one evening, I opted to get a ride home instead of driving myself. It had been snowing, the roads were slick and I hate driving in that stuff. I left the Dodge parked in her driveway.


The last time one of the kids looked out the window was at 3:30am. At 4am, they later found out, their neighbor noticed their garage door was open. The neighbor thought 'wow, they're up early' and that was that. At 7:30 whem ABM went out to leave for work he saw my truck was messed up. It would seem the crooks struck between 3:30 and 4:00am.


The crooks busted the driver side door, they busted the steering column, they busted a whole lot of stuff on my truck all the while trying to get it started so they could steal it. Thankfully they weren't the best or the brightest in their profession.


We had the truck towed to the repair shop and made out a police report. I called my insurance company, you know the rest.


Two weeks later the body shop finished fixing my truck. I went by and signed the insurance check over to them. They said come back tomorrow to get the truck, we want to clean it up real nice before you take it. Okay dokey.


The next morning, just as I'm getting ready to head to the body shop, my phone rings. 'Are you sitting down?' the owner asked. Just as soon as they'd finished washing the truck and making it all nice-nice for me, and parked it on the side street right next to the shop's door, some crooks tried to steal it. Again.


The crooks busted the driver side door, they busted the steering column, they busted a whole lot of stuff on my truck. Fortunately, this crew was as inept as the last one and they didn't make off with my truck.


Once again the truck is in the shop. Once again it's another almost 3 grand worth of damage. Differnce is this time it's being fixed on the body shops insurance, not mine.


Before I take delivery of the truck this time I'm having an alarm installed on it.


I'm starting to get a little paranoid about all this. It would seem someone has an order in for a 2003 Dodge truck and the crooks have decided mine fills the bill. I'm afraid they'll come for it again, but this time with a flat bed truck and just load it up and take it away.


I'm thinkng what I need is a little person. You know, a dwarf. A gangster dwarf. A gangster dwarf to lay down in the back seat of the truck armed with a semi automatic weapon. When the crooks come for the truck, and I'm just paranoid enough to think they'll try again as soon as it's repaired and back on the road, the gangster dwarf will rise up from the back seat and blow the crooks to smithereens.


Fight fire with fire!


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

much peace to you and yours--
Tawny



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Sleeping Is Over Rated

For whatever reason it's going on 3am and I've been up and awake since 1am. Went to bed at 10:30pm so tired I couldn't hardly see straight. Don't understand why I couldnt stay asleep.

I never have trouble sleeping. This makes no sense at all to me.



Tawny

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Life Is A Beach

I was talking with someone last night and they said they were so tired of hearing my answering machine say I was at a doctor appointment. Yeah, well, if you're tired of it just think how tired I am--I'm the one doing it and I'm the one paying for it.

Give me a break.


Tawny

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Walking Wih A Wiggle

I figured it was about time to do another update on my health status. Doing it here is much easier than repeating it over and over on the phone.

Okay, so I finally have a primary care doctor. Yay! I've seen her twice so far and have another appointment scheduled for the first part of December. Being out of touch with 21st century healthcare, as I was prior to the heart attacks, makes for a number of doctor appointments until everything is taken care of.


I've had a mammogram done, twice actually. The first one showed 'something', 'something' that, thank God, wasn't there in the second one. My mother died from breast cancer but I don't think it's genetic. I think she got it from taking medications, hormones specifically.


I've had my medications changed. I am now down one less prescription and no longer feel like there are baby robins fluttering in my chest. I also no longer have to run to the bathroom every fifteen minutes. I kept telling the cardiologist it was the meds but he disagreed. I was right.


I've had an MRI on my knee, the one that I injured two years ago when I fell on the jagged concrete. I'm waiting for the results. The doctor wanted to make sure I didn't have a torn ligament.


I go to physical therapy three times a week for the knee. It's painful as can be but my knee is getting better, I think.


If you call in the mornings and I'm not around, do not panic. I'm probably at physical therapy or yet another doctor appointment. And if I sound exhausted when we talk, it's the therapy. It's really hard work.


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


hugs, Tawny

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My Aunt's Funeral

Today we buried my aunt, Big Gal. Her real name was Lillian but everyone called her Big Gal for most of her 83 years. Yes, she was big so she came by the nickname honestly.

Big Gal died last week Wednesday. Everyone thought her kids would have buried her this past weekend. It's not like people were coming from down south and needed traveling time, the furthest anyone came was Chicago. One of her sons, Terry, is in Mississippi but he couldn't come for the funeral. He's within maybe 45 days of being released from prison and they wouldn't give him a furlough. More than likely the hold-up was the undertaker insisting on up front payment and having to wait on her life insurance check.

There was a big turn out. It was almost like a family reunion. I saw cousins I hadn't seen in years.

When I pass on I don't want a funeral. It seemed so sucky that the one day everybody showed up to see Big Gal she couldn't see them. I want people to visit me while I'm alive, not after I'm dead and laying out in a casket.


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

hugs, Tawny

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Foreclosure X 2

A few years ago I was telling you about the house next door to me. How Dave and Diane, two of the hardest working people I knew, had lost their home to foreclosure. What made it doubly sad was Dave's father, Bud, had built the house all by himself back in the 1950's.The family lost a piece of their history when Dave and Diane lost their home.

A fellow who fancied himself a 'house flipper' bought the house from the bank. He completely redid it---new carpeting, kitchen counters, appliances, aluminum siding, etc. Then he put it on the market, expecting to reap humongous profits.

When I heard what he was asking for it I tried explaining to him that his asking price was unrealistic. Even though property was selling at an all time high, he was asking 40 grand more than any of the rest of us on the street could sell our homes for. And our homes were decades newer and almost twice the square footage, and had basements. He paid me no mind.

The neighbor across the street and down one, Ed, he tried explaining it to the owner too. But the flipper knew what he knew.

So months and months went by and no one bought the house. He offered deals, sort of---he tacked another 20 grand onto the selling price and said he'd refund the 20 grand to you at closing. Nobody was interested. Then he tried auctioning it. Nope, didn't work.

His next step was to rent it out. It took him almost a year to get a renter. The family stayed less than eight months. The house is empty once again, this time for almost a year. Another couple rented it for one year, then moved. Empty again for many, many months until a year ago this past August when a family with a child moved in.

But now the house is empty again. Not because the family wanted to move. Nope, they liked the house even though the rent was a bit high.

This time it's empty because it's in foreclosure. The landlord, the 'house flipper', was collecting the rent but he wasn't making the house payments with it. The family moved out this weekend.

I don't know how it is where you live but here in Michigan there are so many foreclosures it isn't funny. This one makes at least two on my street, and maybe the tenth in a four square block radius.

Aside from the obvious sadness and heartbreak when a family loses their home, it's also not a good thing for the rest of the neighborhood, the city, or the state. Whatever I could have expected to get for my house if I wanted to sell it, now it's thousands less because the foreclosures sell for mere pennies on the dollar.

I don't know when or even if this will ever correct itself. Michigan is a mess.

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

Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

L Is For Lust

Have you ever lusted for an inanimate object? If you'd asked me that question prior to yesterday I would have said 'no'. But now? YES!


I was at Costco yesterday and I saw the most beautiful watch! Anne Klein. $169.99 (which means it probably sells for at least $400 anywhere else). I fell in love. It was all I could do not to purchase it yesterday. I kept telling myself 'are you crazy? $169.99 for a watch?'.


All last night I thought about that watch. I even dreamed about that watch. I want that watch in the worst way.


I don't think I have ever lusted for an item before. I'm not real materialistic. I have a watch that works just fine. It's utilitarian and practical and will probably last me another twenty years.


But that Anne Klein watch from Costco is beautiful. It's white gold with a large face and it has diamonds on it. I'm going to have to stay out of Costco for awhile.


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

hugs, Tawny

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Ringing My Bell

Had some excitement here in the wee hours of the morning. I woke up at 3:30am to what I thought may have been the doorbell ringing. Nope, must have been a dream I figured because nobody would be ringing my bell at that hour. But then I saw Kathleen, my beloved cat, hunkered down in the hallway and knew that the bell must really be ringing because that's where she sits when the doorbell rings or someone knocks on the door.


I turned on the flood lights and didn't see anyone at the door as I peered out the picture window. The bell kept ringing and ringing. No way in the world was I going to open the front door. The bad guys are going to have to work harder than that to ambush me.


Finally, after about an half hour of this craziness, I unplugged the door bell from inside the house. Immediate peace and quiet!


I think the doorbell must have just gone crazy last night. Like when a car alarm goes off for no apparent reason.


Kathleen and I were up until almost 5am. It's hard to go right back to sleep after so much craziness. I slept in until 8:30am and I had to roust Kathleen at 10am as I was going out the door. I know she went right back to bed as soon as I left, the lazy cat (smile).


Had it not been that today is the last warm, sunny day for who knows how long, I may have stayed in bed, too. But I wanted to go to the lake and sit in the sun. And watch the beautiful swans. Can't do that and sleep so...


It was nice at the lake. I sat there for a couple of hours soaking up the rays, then hit the grocery store, and then, for the first time in six monthes, I stopped at McDonalds. Have you ever had one of their frozen strawberry lemonades? Me neither until today. Right around $2.40 for a large one and it was great.


Hope you're having a good day. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.

hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

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No More Waiting

Okay, so I know you've been on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what my next crocheting project is and now your wait is over! Drum roll......I am in the midst of crocheting a deep purple lap afghan with pale yellow trim!


I've never used the Caron pound of yarn before this project. They sell it at JoAnn Fabric + Crafts (probably other places, too) for somewhere around $8, just shy of $6 on sale. The skein is enormous. Absolutely enormous. It's sort of a heavy yarn, worsted weight I believe, and is probably more suited for a rug than, say, a sweater. It doesn't have any 'drape'.


But I like it for this small lap sized afghan precisely because it is heavy and has no 'drape'. It'll keep the lap and legs toasty warm this winter.


My lap and legs, I should have said. That doggone medicine they have me on makes me cold when nobody else is. Inappropriately cold is what I call it. And it drives folks crazy when I'm saying 'please turn the car heater up' when they're in a fall blown sweat.


I figure this lap afghan will be worth it's weight in gold this winter when I'm riding in other peoples cars. I'll be warm and they won't be sweating.


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

hugs, Tawny

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Saturday

Yeah, I know, what a title, huh? But I couldn't think of anything wise or witty or even funny so I opted for the obvious.


It's a rainy Saturday here. We need rain in the worst way. While much of the country has been up to its eyeballs in wet, we've been pretty much bone dry. I haven't cut my lawn in a month, guess that tells you something (and not that I'm lazy, but that it hasn't grown).


I've spent a goodly portion of my day going through my clothes. Trying stuff on to see what still fits, making give-to-the-Salvation-Army piles of what's much too big. So far I have three huge garbage bags to give away. Tomorrow, or later this evening if I can work up the ambition, I have one more box of clothes to sort through. From the looks of it I need to purchase some new sweat pants and long underwear shirts for this winter. And maybe a few new tops. And I need a new winter coat. I'm thinking Lands End.


Last nights dinner out was fun and the food was good. I had grilled salmon (I know, who orders fish at an Italian restaurant? that's what TWG said this morning), a baked potato, brocccoli, and a salad. Oh, and too many hot from the oven rolls. I went to bed with a full tummy.


It's a peaceful, quiet day here and I'm good with it. I've been listening to cds, going through my clothes, doing laundry, etc. Kathleen has been following me around the house, napping wherever I spend any lengthy period of time. I like days like this.Hope you're having a good one.


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

hugs, Tawny

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The Last Day

Well, here it is, the last day of the Holy Month of Ramadan. At sunset, here in North America, it is officially over for this year.


This evening I'm going out for dinner with HSM and her family, and some other friends, to celebrate. We're going to an Italian restaurant. The same place we celebrated Uncle David's tenth year of being home. I'm looking forward to it.


While I was sitting in the drive thru at the bank this morning waiting for the teller to return my receipt, I saw that the condos directly across the street were having a garage sale. Every year they hold a garage sale over there and they always have the most amazing stuff at the best price. I bought a bunch of cds for fifty cents each! My favorite, Bob Seger + The Silver Bullet Band "Nine Tonight", recorded live in Detroit and Boston in 1980. It is spectacular! I also picked up some books.


I haven't been to many garage sales this summer and it's unfortunate because I love garage sales. Maybe it's the lousy economy, but the few I did go to, well, they just didn't have anything. I don't know if it's because people don't want to part with what they have, or because they've already gotten rid of excess previously. But it got so demoralizing finding nothing that I just stopped going. Until today when I spotted the annual condo sale.


I also went to JoAnn Fabric + Crafts and picked up some really pretty bronze colored yarn. It's going to be lacy shawl.


I think I mentioned that I finished that multi-colored afghan, right? Then I crocheted a dozen wash cloths. Big, bright, pretty ones. Now I'm ready to get to work on a shawl. And when I finish that.......I like to stay busy with crocheting. I like making things.


Since this is the last day of Ramadan, I am officially off the hook for mandatory once a week blogging. If you'll recall, my friend suggested I 'do' something rather than 'not do' something for Ramadan. And I also accomplished reading the entire Holy Quran, as well as charitable giving. It's been a good, fulfilling month for me. Any time I can accomplish my goals I feel better for it. It makes me feel stronger.


Hopefully I'm back in the swing of blogging....


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

hugs, Tawny

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Burn Baby Burn

So last night I was watching the local Detroit 10pm newscast. Fires, fires, fires all over the city, west side and east side. They had a reporter doing a live remote and the more I was wacthing the more I was recognizing the area on fire. In fact, I recognized a house. So I called a friend and asked 'you watching the news?' and when he said 'no' I said you'd better call your Mom and see if she's okay because I think her house is on fire.


Yesterday was a warm windy day here. The high, I think, was somewhere in the mid-80's. It was sunny and bright and windy. Gusts were 50 mph. And the gusts sort of transcended gusts because it felt like 50 mph all the time.


Between the high winds, the dry weather, the fact that there is LOTS of bootlegged electricty going to houses and businesses (bootlegged as in you pay a crackhead a few dollars to climb the electric pole and re-hook your power and then you have electricity and no bill to pay) and some of those connections are poorly done and they arc and have flames---over
85 houses burned to the ground in Detrot yesterday.


Because so much of the city was up in flames, and because services are so poor in Detroit, some neighborhood fires had to wait over an hour for a fire truck to show up. The trucks that did show up were poorly staffed and many of the neighbors pitched in to help the firefighters fight the fires. And some suburban cities sent units to Detroit to help out.


Hot, sad time in the city.


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

hugs, Tawny

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Confession Time

Confession, or so they say, is good for the soul. Here goes:


Today I did a very bad thing. When I was at Sam's Club this morning to pick-up small curd lowfat cottage cheese and roasted turkey breast (heart healthy eating) I also bought a package of chocolate frosted, glazed Krispy Kreme donuts. Actually I bought two packages. They sell them by the twosies at Sam's. I knew when I was putting them in my shopping cart that they were nothing but trouble, but I bought them anyway.


My intention was to eat one donut after I ate my turkey sandwich and cottage cheese. A reward, sort of, for all the health eating I've been doing. Okay, well, one donut turned into two and then, before I knew what happened, it turned into all six. I ate the whole package! Before I could mess up any further I ripped open the second box, rushed out front and tossed them to the birds and the squirrels.


I knew when I saw those Krispy Kremes they were trouble, and I was oh so right.


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

hugs, Tawny

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Labor Day Happenings

So what are your plans for today? Anything special?


Here in the metro Detroit area there are about a gazillion things going on for folks who like to mingle with masses and masses of people. The first two I can think of are Arts, Beats + Eats in Royal Oak, and the jazz festival in downtown Detroit. Both are HUGE! Tallulah even drove all the way down from Marquette, close to 500 miles one way, to party for 4 days at the jazz festival.


Me, I'm not wild about crowds. And I suppose in a way that's too bad because otherwise I would have gone to the Eminem and JayZ concert at Comerica Park a few days ago. I bet that was a great concert.


So for me, I'm hanging at the house for most of today, then going over to HSM's house for dinner, cake and ice cream. It's #2 Son's birthday, he's 17 years old. Dinner is pizza (homemade by ABM) and salad, with peanut butter pie for dessert. I haven't had pizza since my health troubles began so I am really looking forward to it.


I'm still playing that Bettye LaVette cd I bought yesterday. I think I just may pick up a few more of her cds. Her voice and the lyrcs are amazing.


Hope you have a good day whatever you decide to do. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.

hugs, Tawny

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Good Day Sunday

I hope you've been having a good day today. Mine has been downright excellent!


I went to Barnes + Noble this morning. I've been searching for a particular crochet book, a how-to-make-lace book by either Doris or Lily Chan, I can never remember the correct first name. I want to say it's Doris because I think Lily Chan is the one who does a lot of work for Vogue knitting, but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's her first book on lace that I'm looking for. The cover is sort of green, the author has blonde hair. I first saw the book at the library a few years ago, borrowed it, loved it! and now want to own it.


I was at Borders last week and they didn't have it. B+N didn't have it this morning either. I'm going to try Bargain Books in town here next week and if I still haven't scored a copy, well, then I guess it's time to order it online. So while I wasn't able to get that book, I found three others that are amazing. One is nothing but urban inspired hats. I am going to have so much fun crocheting them. And the other two books are crocheted versions of popular fashions. Those patterns will be fun, too.


But truly my best finds were two cds. I bought Bettye LaVete, 'The Scene Of The Crime' and it's excellent. I don't know why it took me so long to discover LaVette. She's amazing, both her voice and her lyrics. If you like bluesy soul she's what you're looking for. I've been playing her cd continuously since I got home.


The other one, Carrie Newcomer, 'Before & After', is really good, too. Newcomer has an incredibly sexy voice. I have several other of her cds and every song is good. I think she's considered folk.


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


hugs, Tawny





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It's Time To Play Catch Up

I just hate leaving you in the dark about anything so it's time to play catch up.


I saw the cardiologist on Tuesday and told him I'd been having what felt like baby robins flapping their little wings in my chest ever since the heart attacks. Not all the time any more, but sometimes. Why didn't you tell me this before? he asked. I don't know, I don't know what's important and what isn't. So anyway, he said he'd suspected all along I had sleep apnea--he never said a word about this before! He wants me to come in next week and wear a heart monitor for 24 hours so he can see what's up. I went online and read all the symptoms for sleep apnea and I don't match any of them, not a one. So unless there's a secret symptom list somewhere this is going to be a huge waste of time.


And Wednesday I went to the hospital and had blood drawn. All those meds I'm on, my blood needs to be tested every so often. It went pretty well. Normally the person pokes me half a dozen times before they hit my vein, then I end up bleeding for about an hour after it's all over and I have bruises like I was in a fight. This woman got it on the first try, no bruises and I didn't bleed at all!


Last but not least, I finally found a primary care physician. The cardiologist has been on me about having one. I think he just wants someone to send copies of my paperwork to (smile). Anyway, I'd interviewed a number of doctors and just didn't like any of them. HSM sees a female doctr that she likes a lot so I figured if HSM likes her then I'd like her. My appointment is for the end of the month. I'm working on my list of questions to ask her.


That's sort of it healthwise. I'm still feeling pretty darn good. Okay, I get tired sometimes but that's because of that stupid medicine I take. It's a noted side effect. But otherwise all is well and I'm keeping on with my life. And my cold is almost 100% gone.I just have a bit of a cough.


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


hugs, Tawny





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Still It Continues

It feels as if I'm in Day 102 of the cold. My nose is red and sore from all the sneezing and blowing. My stomach hurts from all the coughing. And my voice is raspy. I assumed I'd be able to talk on the phone by today, but nope, not going to happen. This all so sucks.


I told HSM that since I had to see the cardiologist tomorrow he could give me something to make me feel better. 'It's a cold' she said. 'You don't get prescription meds for a cold!' Okay then. That leaves me right where I am--drinking lots of fluids and hanging with the box of kleenex.


Had to run out to the store this morning. I was out of yogurt and cottage cheese. Don't laugh. Since the heart attacks I eat a lot of low fat yogurt and low fat cottage cheese. I also bought six more boxes of kleenex.


I've been talking wih the insurance agent on and off all morning. Thinking of switching my homeowners insurance from State Farm. SF must be on drugs, I swear. They want waaay too much, even with a two grand deductible. I'm leaning towards Allstate. I have my car insurance with them already and they've quoted me a pretty reasonable price. Lower than SF and with a $500 deductible.


It's wicked hot here today. Yesterday was 93 and they're talkng that for today, tomorrow and the day after. I'll be glad when summer is over. I like warm weather but not this warm.


Remember, keep washing your hands. You don't want a cold. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.

hugs, Tawny

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Maybe I Should Buy Some Stock

I'm thinking maybe I should buy some stock in the Kleenex company. Why? I'm still sick and going steady with the box of tissues. They are my most constant companions. I have a big, brand new box in every room of the house because you just never know when a sneezing fit will over take you. This so sucks.


I know, who likes being sick? Nobody I know, that's who. Okay, so the first day, while I was feeling really crappy, it was maybe kind of fun in a sick way to play hookey from work and curl up in the recliner and watch tv most of the day. I am all caught up on back episodes of Hung, the HBO series, season 2. Except for episode 5 which for some goofy reason isn't available on my On Demand.


I have Bright House Network cable and it happens a lot that an episode of some series is missing from On Demand. When I call to complain they're always like 'really?'. And I'm always like 'doesn't anyone there have the job of making sure everything is as it should be?'.


So that was Friday, day 1 of the cold. Yesterday I felt so awful that all I did was nothing but sneeze, blow my nose and eat cold grapes to help ease my sore throat. Oh, and take Tylenol.


Today, day 3, I've been napping. I'm not sleeping much at night and I'm awake and up by 6am. Nothing like getting a head start on feeling crappy (smile). Got to cram as many hours as possible of it in!


I have an appointment with the cardiologist on Tuesday morning. It's a follow-up to when I was an add-in back the first part of June. He wants to make sure the new blood pressure medication is working. I was kind of looking forward to the visit because I have lots of questions. Like--why is my pulse so high? And maybe he can do something about this damn cold.


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

hugs, Tawny

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What A Difference A Day Makes

And aint that the truth?! One day can make a monumental difference in all sorts of things.


Yesterday I was feeling good. So good that I went out and purchased several cans of Resolve (carpet cleaning foam) and a sponge mop and went to work cleaning the carpet in the hallway that leads from the public parts of my house to the bedrooms. It came out pretty nice, too. Not as good as if I'd used a machine maybe, but clean enough to pass my inspection.


Today I woke up with every intention of going to the lake in the morning for a few hours, then coming home to clean the carpet in the living room. And that's where one day makes a difference comes in. Feeling good yesterday, woke up this morning with a cold. A cold! in August! This so sucks.


So instead of the lake and carpet cleaning, I'm doing laundry. Okay, laundy is an important function. We all need clean clothes. But that's not what I wanted to do today. Unfortunately, it's about all I'm up to.


I'm listening to zydeco music, cranked up loud enough to hear it all over the house, as I do laundry. It's a cd I picked up when I was on vacation in Ludington. It's put out by Putumayo World Music and it's a compilation of various zydeco artists. Music of southwest Louisiana roks! It's happy stuff. You can't help but grin, at least I can't, whenever I hear zydeco.


Other than that it's a sneezy sniffly where is my box of kleenex kind of a day here.


Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong and make sure you always wash your hands so you don't get sick, too.

hugs, Tawny

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Theoretically

Okay, so theoretically, despite the fact that I haven't written anything in the blog for a while, I am still on track, sort of, with my Ramadan mission to write at least one blog per week. Granted, I wrote five of them almost back to back, but they count, right? So that means I've got a months worth finished already (smile). So this one is pure gravy!


I think the reason I'm not keen on writing so much is that my life, while perfectly fine by me, is not the sort that keeps readers sitting on the edge of their seat to find out what happens next. My life is quiet, peaceful, and uneventful. And I love it like that. Drama, to me, is for the TV screen, not day to day living.


My enormous extended family lives a life totally opposite mine. And so, because I don't think you particularly want to read about how well my hallway carpet cleaned up this afternoon when I used a can of Resolve and a wet mop on it, that's who I'm writing about today.


I have an almost 30-year old cousin, single mother to one boy child, who is being evicted at the end of this month. Oh, she's been prompt with her rent, it's not that. See, she lives in a rent controlled apartment and, as she was told both verbally and in a letter when she first moved in a year ago, she was required to perform several small acts of specified community service because of the low rent. My cousin, who has always thought rules were for someone else, most certainly not her, even when reminded, blew it off. The complex took her to court and she has until August 31st to get her and her stuff up out of there.


Another cousin, his third oldest child who is 19, is pregnant with twins. The baby’s daddy has been history almost since they were conceived. An ultra sound taken last week showed that one of the twin’s legs isn't developing properly.


Yet another cousin, this one a single mother of two (a boy 10 and a girl 18), is getting ready to move in with her boyfriend. Her 18-year old daughter, who is strikingly beautiful, is not welcome to make the move because her mother is afraid her boyfriend will like her daughter better than her. So the young woman will be homeless and out on the street in another week or so.


It's sort of a fucked up family tradition in that branch of the family to put your daughters out at 18. My aunt did that to her three daughters when they had their 18th birthdays. She didn't want them to be competition with her live-in man.


Another cousin, his 11-year-old son was caught throwing a chunk of concrete off the overpass at moving cars on the freeway. It was God's Sweet Grace that he didn't hurt or kill any one. His granddaddy, when he found out, well, he punished him big time.


Yet another cousin, his son is 13, he stole his father's car and went joyriding with his buddies. Okay, he's not really his father but he's been raising him with his wife (the 13-year olds aunt) ever since the boy's mother went crazy and ditched her kids with various relatives. He has been severely disciplined, too.


And his 11-year old brother, who lives with his grandmother, got caught downloading gay porn off the computer.


Another cousin, his 20-year old daughter and her same age pregnant cousin, have been robbing family members. They got their grandmother for a grand. Stole a brand new flat screen TV from her half-brother's mother. And all sorts of other stuff from cousins, aunts, uncles, etc. I don't condone stealing from anyone, but stealing from your family???

They are both persona non grata at my house. And so non grata that I told them I'd call the police if I even saw them in my town.


And that's not even the half of it with my family.


So I hope all is well with you and yours. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


Hugs, Tawny

Getting With The New

I got with the new week before last. No, I didn't buy a computer (smile), although that's what TWG said I should pick up as long as I was at Costco. I bought a new tv. The old one, a 25-inch which was at least 10 years old, had been on it's last leg for a very long time. I replaced it with a 47-inch Vizio from Costco. Oh my goodness! what a difference! I had no idea those people on tv looked like that (smile).


I don't watch all that much tv, but come Fall it'll be time for the new season of Little Mosque On The Prairie, that runaway Canadian hit show that I'm crazy about. And it would have really sucked if the tv had gone out then.


I don't know if it's only people who live in border states who have access to Canadian tv or if it's available on cable/satellite services as well. Because I've always lived in the metro Detroit area, well, Canada has always been a part of my life. Shoot, until recently you could use Canadian coins at the local stores and nobody thought anything about it. As a child, before my Dad got sick, we spent a week each and every summer in Ontario, Canada at a cottage. It was no biggie to cross back and forth across the border.


Nowadays though it's a biggie. Used to be you only had to tell the border agent where you were born and you could cross over. Then, after 9-11, you had to present your birth certificate and your picture id. Now it's either show your passport or an enhanced drivers liscense, neither of which are inexpensive to get.


As a result of all this new rigamarole, I haven't been to Canada in a few years. I don't want to spend the big bucks on a passport or the semi-big bucks on the enhanced divers liscense. And it's too bad because Canada is a pretty cool place to visit. It's clean and safe and just like the US only different.


I know, all this new stuff is supposed to keep the terrorists out and keep us safer in the US. Like I believe that.


Even though I'm no longer traveling north to Canada, although it's actually south if you cross at the Detroit/Windsor tunnel or bridge, I am still able to watch their tv shows. Some of them, like Little Mosque, are world-wide hits. Others, like Being Erica, are also carried on US channels. And others still, like Fifth Estate or The Hour, your only option, at least as far as I know, is to have access to Canadian tv or perhaps catch them on the computer. And there are lots of other good shows, those are just a few of my favorites.


And in the same vein, have you had an opportunity to listen to satellite radio? Syrius? I rented a car for the trip to Ludington last month (no, there's nothing wrong with my truck!) and it had satellite radio. Wow! Totally amazing! I got caught up with the country music stations. Found an hour long show that played nothing but yodelling, I LOVE yodelling! I keep meaning to look into a satellite radio for the house as I spend more time home than I do on the road. I think I'd get a lot of enjoyment out of one.


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


hugs, Tawny

--
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Nothing Matters But The Weekend!

Except that isn't true in my life, I work a seven day week and each day is pretty much the same as the one before it and the one following it. That's not a bad thing, I'm not grousing about it, it just is what it is.


I sort of like my life like this. I mean, when the stores are jammed on the weekends, or after the traditional daily work hours, I'm not a part of it. I am able to tailor my work hours so that I can grocery shop during the day during the week when the stores are the least crowded. Same way with restaurants for eating out. I'm sort of like retirees except I'm still working (smile).


Someone asked me how Ramadan was going. It's going well for me. Remember, I don't fast so I'm not plagued with hunger or thirst issues. I'm doing okay with my Holy Quran reading. I think I've got close to sixty pages read as of yesterday. I haven't sent the check off to the foob bank yet but I will this coming week.


I've been invited to dinner on Thursday at HSM's house. She's making chicken parmesan, salad, rolls and I'm guessing a side of spaghetti. I'm bringing dessert. Hopefully it'll cool off some and I can bake a cake. If not, well, I'll find something good some where to purchase.


Everyone at her house is fasting, even the two youngest (the soon-to-be 12 year old and the 14 year old). They get up early, before 6am, and eat breakfast and drink as much water as they can before sunrise which is roughly around 6:30am. Then it's nothing until sunset which is roughly some time around 8:30pm.


What else is new here? Well,it's still hot and humid. The tv weather people say rain for this evening and tomorrow morning. I hope it cools things off. It's hard to roll with this day after day.


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


hugs, Tawny

--
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Backwards

I know what the proper name for it is, I just don't think I can spell it correctly. Dyslexsia. Is that how you spell it? Today I discovered that I had a dyslexic moment back on June the first. How so? Well, that was the day I had an imprompto doctor appointment. And when it was over, they gave me a card with my next appointment date and time written on it. I dutifully marked it on my calendar. Just one little problem. I wrote the 13th when it should have been the 31st. Imagine everyones surprise when I showed up this morning (smile).


On the plus side, and it's a good thing when there's a positive flip side to our mistakes, that gave me an extra two hours that I hadn't planned on. I was able to go to the bank and pay my property taxes, as well as swing by the cable company and pay the cable tv bill.


And I was able to get it all done and get back home before it got even worse outside. Today, as was yesterday and the day before and the day before ad nauseum, it is so humid that you feel like a wet dish rag. You almost think it's raining, when it isn't, because the air is so heavy and so wet.


The tv weather people say the weather is going to break and it'l cool down next Monday. I truly hope they are right. This has been a hot and humid summer.


I've been eating more fruit this summer and that's a good thing, a healthy thing. I'll bet I've eaten my weight in strawberries. And I've polished off a lot of watermelon, too. The watermelon I bought the other day is really sweet but best of all, the fruit is a bright red not pink. It tastes good and it's pretty to look at.


Hope you're doing okay in the heat. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


hugs, Tawny

--
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The Old Meets The New

HSM sent me this article and I found it really interesting. TWG was kind
enough to cut and paste it into the blog for me.


By SAMANTHA HENRY, Associated Press Writer Samantha Henry, Associated Press Writer ˆ Wed Aug 11, 1:28 pm ET


PATERSON, N.J. - The most ancient traditions of Islam are going high-tech, with a slew of modern offerings for those observing the holy month of Ramadan, which begins this week.



Cell phone applications such as "iPray" or "iQuran" offer a beeping reminder of requisite prayer times, while the "Find Mecca" and "mosque finder" programs help the Muslim traveler in an unfamiliar city find the nearest place to pray.



"When I saw these applications for the first time, I thought: this is amazing," said James Otun, who has several Islamic applications on his Apple iPhone and iPad. "Whoever came up with this idea: God bless him or her."



The applications aren't just for Ramadan; there are Islamic-themed programs that help users find the nearest Costco offering foods prepared according to Islamic dietary rules, learn the correct Arabic pronunciations in a daily prayer, or count how many pages of the Quran they’ve read that day ˜ all on a mobile phone.



There also are applications, or apps, for the holy books of several other religions, from the Catholic Holy Bible to the Bhagavad Gita, a sacred Hindu scripture.



The first time Sumeyye Kalyoncu heard the Adhan ˜ or call to prayer ˜ through surround-sound speakers on her iPhone dock, she was overcome with nostalgia for her native Turkey. Such applications are especially popular in the U.S., Kalyoncu said, as U.S. mosques do not broadcast daily calls to prayer from external loudspeakers, as they do in Muslim countries. 



"These are traditions and these have been in our lives for ages, like almost 15 centuries, so they seem very old," Kalyoncu said. "I think this is like combining together the technology and the things that we do daily.

"

Kalyoncu uses an iPhone app called iPray Lite, keeping track of requisite daily prayers with a program that simulates the clicking sound of prayer beads or the turning wheel of a handheld metal counter Muslims use to keep count of prayer repetitions. Using headphones, the 24-year-old says she can now fulfill her daily spiritual obligations by counting prayers on her iPhone while on the commuter bus to Manhattan from her Edgewater home.



Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company doesn't track the more than 225,000 apps for its phones by category so she doesn't know how many are Islamic-themed. The programs aren't just offered by Apple; Nokia has a Ramadan suite for its cell phones that consolidates everything worshippers need to know to observe Islam's holiest month, in which Muslims worldwide observe daily daylight fasting.



Some apps are free. Those that are not generally range from about 99 cents to $2.99, although some are more expensive.



The dates of Ramadan still are determined by the lunar calendar, and calculations can differ among Islamic communities around the world. In North America, many Muslims will mark the first day of Ramadan on Wednesday.



But Islam never has been at odds with innovation, said Zinnur Tabakci, who runs an Islamic religious book and gift shop in Paterson, N.J.

"Islam is not against technology. Now you can do it easier, faster," said Tabakci, who recently supplemented the strings of traditional prayer beads and religious texts he sells with a wall of mobile phone accessories to keep up with demand.



"Islam started 1,400 years ago, and at that time, they didn't have that much technology, but they knew everything," he added.



The mosque Tabakci attends in Paterson, called Ulu Cami, or "Great Mosque," has gone high-tech, too. After 16 cameras were installed for security purposes, one innovative mosque attendee began using them to broadcast services live over the Internet so those too sick or otherwise unable to attend could watch daily prayers online from home. Mosque leaders say the live broadcasts have become especially popular among relatives of immigrants who like to tune in from overseas to hear the same prayers as their loved ones in New Jersey.



Otun, a technology aficionado, says the apps on his iPhone and iPad make him a more observant Muslim. From the beeping reminder to stop and pray during his busy schedule running a limo service, to an app that tells him which nearby restaurants serve food prepared within Islamic guidelines, Otun says there's no longer an excuse to live an unobservant life.



"If you forgot to pray, you might not be responsible, because you're human; you forget and you can make it up later," said Otun, 35. "But not now that you have those apps, that might change things in God's level.

"

Otun's favorite application, called Find Mecca, is a compass-like program with an electronic indicator that changes from red to green when you've reached the requisite prayer angle of 58 degrees, Northeast, to ensure you're facing Mecca from any location ˜ a requirement of all Muslims when praying. 

Otun said he was amazed to see an image of Mecca on his cell phone screen for the first time, and to realize he could carry a library of religious texts with him everywhere.



"iPhone makes you emotional," he said. "I can't carry 10,000 pages of books, now, you have it in your phone ˜ it's priceless."


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



Hugs, Tawny

The Month Begins

Tonight at sunset, approximately an hour and a half from now, the holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims. The easiest way to explain Ramadan to non-Muslims is to say that we may consume no food or drink between sunrise and sunset for the entire month.


There is a great deal more to Ramadan that that but whenever I attempt to explain it to a non-Muslim their eyes cloud over. If you are interested in learning more there are numerous sites on the internet.


I have never been able to fast. Long story. This year, because of the heart attacks I am exempt due to illness. In the past I have always given something that I love up ala Catholics and Lent. And sent a donation to an organization that feeds the poor. And tried to be nicer which I always fail miserably at.


A good friend of mine suggested I take a new approach this year. He said I should 'do' something instead of not doing something. Something, he said, which I hardly ever do. What could that be? Write a blog at least once a week during Ramadan.


After thinking about it I had to agree that was a very good idea. For some reason blogging is hard for me to do any more, why I don't know. I have a month ahead of me to do something I find difficult.


So I'll send my check to a food bank, I'll blog at least once a week and I'll read the entire Holy Quran during Ramadan.


And I'll continue to work on the afghan I'm crocheting for my Uncle David. I'm using yarn left from other projects, my stash if you will. Every two rows I change colors. It's amazingly (surprisingly!) beautiful.


Be good and be careful, take care, say strong.


hugs, Tawny

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

There's No Place Lke Home!

Getting away from the grind and stress of daily life is great. Going to new places, seeing new things, it's all good. But coming home, even after you've been away having the time of your life, well, it's the best.


Vacation is over and I'm back to my regular life. It ws great fun while it lasted but it's good to be home.


I spent my vacation time in the great state of Michigan, in a little beach town named Ludington which sits on on the shores of Lake Michigan. It's where I almost always go when I have an opportunity to get away.


The first time I went to Ludington was when I was sixteen years old. Prior to my father's first (in a series of) heart attack we went on vacation every single summer. My father enjoyed Canada, the Bruce Peninsula of Ontario to be exact, maybe a dozen or so miles outside of the town of Wiarton. We would rent a cabin/cottage at either Stokes Bay or Old Womans River and spend a week. My father had a boat we would tow behind our car and he loved to go fishing. My mother would lather up with some sort of wild and crazy guaranteed to tan but not burn you homemade suntan goop (baby oil,iodine and who knows what else) and spend hours laying on the beach. Me, I'd wander around, play in the water, make friends with any other kids staying in the vicinity. That happened every single summer until the year I was a freshman in high school. After my father's heart attack(s) we never went on vacation again.


That's when my best friend, Linda, and her family took me under their wing one summer and brought me along to Ludington with them. I immediately fell in love with the town and every chance I had I'd try to get back there.


Ludington is maybe three and a half hours from here. You go west on I96 until it runs out at Muskegon, then head north to Ludington on 31.


This summer, for the first time in years, I stayed at a place other than my usual motel. I was at Naders Lakeshore Lodge www.nadersmotel.com which sits on North Lakeshore Drive, just a few blocks from Lake Michigan. All of the rooms and suites have sliding glass doorwalls that open onto either a private balcony (if you're upstairs) or a paved patio. There are chairs on each rooms patio, rocking chairs on each balcony. There's a swimming pool, shuffleboard court, basketball hoop, as well as grills and picnic tables. It's a pretty nice place, clean, very wholesome and family oriented.


I ate my meals out at local restaurants. When I had leftovers, which was rare, I kept them in the small fridge in my room, then heated them in my rooms microwave.


Because Ludington is a tourist town there are restaurants up the gazoo. Most of them are great, at least one of them is horrendous.


Handsdown, Mancinos is the best place for pizza, grinders, salads, etc. The portions are huge. In all the years I've been going there I have never, never ever had a bad meal at Mancinos. Kuntry Kitchen Kupboard is also an outstanding place to eat. The food is moderately priced and wonderful, and the waitresses are the best I've seen anywhere. Lots of locals eat there.


The worst place to eat is Luciano's Ristoranti. www.lucianosristoranti.com I think it's the only Italian restaurant in town and maybe that's why it's so bad--no one has anything else to compare their food to. I had chicken piccata and it was awful. A couple sitting near to me had veal parmesan and needed a sharp steak knife to cut the veal. The salads were warm (?), the bread basket was paltry and service was pitiful.


I spent most of my time at the beach. There is a large free public beach at the end of the main street. The sand is clean, the water is clear and I came home brown as a nut! I've always loved laying in the sun, particularly at a beach. The sun bakes whatever is ailing you right up on out of you



I had an opprtunity to do some reading on the beach---The Warden Wore Pink by Tekla Miller (she was a warden here in Michigan), Same Sweet Girls by Cassandra King, and I'll Fly Away: Further Testimonials From The Women Of York Prison, edited and introduced by Wally Lamb.


My friend Tallulah gave me the Warden Wore Pink. She ran in to it at a library book sale in Marquette and knew I'd enjoy it. Same Sweet Girls, an oversized paperback, I bought at DollarTree for $1. Same way with the Wally Lamb book, brand new and $1 at DollarTree. I enjoyed all three of the books immensely.


The vacation did just what I'd hoped it would---it made me feel like the old me again, not that fragile post heart attack woman.


If you have the opportunity, get away from home for awhile. A couple days away is enough to give you a whole new perspective on everything.


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

hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

--
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It's That Time Of The Year

And what time is that? Vacation time!


I know, you'd think that after being away from the phones for close to two monthes the last thing in the world I'd be doing is taking a vacation. And under normal circumstances that would be the case. Thing is, those darn heart attacks so utterly changed my life that going on vacation seems totally reasonable to me.


I may have mentioned this to you already, but I learned a lot, a whole lot, from the ordeal. I learned that life isn't all about working. Yes, we have to work in order to provide a house and food and clothing for ourselves. But we don't have to work to excess. (Or at least I hope you don't.) For years I worked the phones seven days a week, eighteen hours a day. Sure, I occasionally took a day off here and there, once or twice I even a whole week off. But mostly I worked.


I've always been the kind of person that works a lot of hours. When I tended bar I worked six day weeks, thirteen hour days. It seemed normal to me to bust my butt like that. Working long hours enabled me to purchase a home, new vehicles, nice furniture and clothes, etc.


Since the heart attacks, well, I've decided to take life easier. I'm going to stop and smell the flowers.


So that's why I am out of touch until Tuesday, July 13th at 9AM EST.


Where am I? Basking in the radiant sunshine on a beautiful beach somewhere in the state of Michigan. I am eating fresh fruit and broiled fish. And I am having the time of my life!


Until the 13th be good and be careful, take care and stay strong


hugs, Tawny
tawny_ford@webtv.net

--
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It's Been Awhile

I've missed talking with you the last few days.


I haven't been feeling good. Not sick, just not 'right'. I've been tired. Dragging ass tired. The kind of tired where you just can't do anything. Even watching tv or reading a book was too much.


I think it's the high heat and humidity. Coupled with those darn precription meds I take. The meds pretty much keep me from feeling hot. But just because I'm not feeling the heat, that doesnt mean I'm not overheating. I stay in frot of a fan and I try to remember to drink plenty of water but I guess I wasn't diligent enough.


Today seems better. I've already got one hour of pedalling in and I've worked out on the weight machine.


I look forward to speaking with you.


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

hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

--
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Good For Me, Good For You

I've always tried to eat healthily and since my recent medical troubles I'm trying even harder. Fast food and pizza are no longer my friends, and fried anything is my enemy. Even ice cream, with all of it's fat, is on my try to stay away from list.


The other day when I was at Costco I purchased a tub of Sunshine Energy Bars. I've never been a big fan of bars. Generally speaking, they're kind of pricey and pretty tasteless (at least the ones I've sampled). But when I saw how loaded up these were with all sorts of good for you ingredients, well, I caved.


Talk about having the kitchen sink in them! Oats, dried fruit (cranberries, raisins, apples, apricots), nuts (cashews, walnuts, almonds), sesame seeds, flax seeds, coconut, etc.


Okay, they're kind of dry. You need a glass of something wet to easily get them down. Or at least I do. And they're not as sweet as I'd like. I like things for-real-sweet. But I solved that by mixing together a bit of powdered sugar and a few drops of orange juice and then drizzling the glaze over the bar.


Since I'm really trying to make each morsel of food that passes my lips count nutritionally, these bars are working for me for breakfast and also as a snack. And they help keep me 'regular' (smile).


Perhaps you would like them, too.


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


Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

Get Thee To A Costco!

Here in town, well, in downtown Farmington, there are a good many elderly and disabled people out and about. I think it's because the neighborhood around the downtown area is still inhabited, for the most part, by the men and women who purchased their homes in the 1950's during the boomer years of child bearing. While the neighborhoods have turned over some, it's still predominately populated by folks in their late 70's on up. Also, there is a high rise of sorts that rents only to the elderly and the infirm and disabled.


On nice weather days you see lots of these folks out walking. While a goodly number of them are able to walk unassisted, there is an equally good number of them using canes, those motorized 'carts' and---I don't know the name for it--a sort of push walker that also has a seat on it.


That push walker thingie, whenever I see folks using it they're always hunched up over it. No one stands straight as they walkwith it. And it's always a lame shade of dark blue, and flimsy looking.


I was at Costco yesterday after the doctor visit and, lo and behold!, there was a large endcap over in the drugstore section of the store filled with these walker thingies. I think it must be a sooper dooper version because they weren't flimsy looking, they were black, they could support folks up to 300 pounds, and the handlebars rased up high enough for people over 6 feet to use without having to stoop!


And they were right around $95! I don't know what those flimsy looking ones sell for, but this was the Cadillac Escalade version and I think worth the price.


So if you could use one of those, or have a family member, friend or loved one who could--get thee to a Costco!


hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com




--
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I Was An Add-In

Doesn't that title just shout National Enquirer (smile)?


But that's what I was this morning at the cardiologists office, an add-in, because I didn't have an appointment and they had to add me in/work me in to the patient flow. I only had to wait about 40 minutes and I didn't think that was bad.


I have never been one to go to the doctor, nor to take prescription meds. So I figured when I had a reaction (swollen feet and ankles) to that Diliazen they had me on, and they abruptly removed me from it, well, I thought that would mean I was on one less prescription. Nope. They replaced it with Lisinopril. Oh well.


On the bright side, the doctor who did the heart catheter on me when I was in the hospital, turns out he works in my cardiologists office and I saw him today. I told him I didn't think I'd ever see him again. And that had grieved me because he's very nice and kind.


Another bright note is that the drugstore only charged me eight dollars and some change for the new prescription. Okay, it was a generic so that cut the price down, but still. I have a copay with my health insurance and that's great but sometimes the prescriptions are still pricey. One of them runs me $60. I'm hoping they'll replace it with a less costly drug. Sooner rather than later.


I'm feeling really good today. That old drug used to make me so tired and draggy. It feels good to feel good again. I'm going to try and never take feeling good for granted ever again.


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

hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

--
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Have You Noticed How People Talk A Lot About Their Illness?

And I'm not making any apologies either. Me being sick, and the fall out from it, pretty much dominates my life these days whether I want it to or not.


So the blood pressure monitoring kit that HSM sent over for me to use, well, it proved to be too much for my Uncle David. I am now the proud possessor of a 21st century automatic battery operated model, compliments of Uncle David.


This new one is really cool. I can do it all by myself. You just place the cuff around your upper left arm, press a button and voila! It self-inflates and then gives you a digital readout of your blood pressure and your pulse rate. Easy!


I spent yesterday afternoon and evening at HSM's for a bbq. It was fun and the food was good. I even had two s'mores for dessert! And when I got home and took my blood pressure, it was the lowest it's been since I started charting it.


Today is another hot and humid day. There are wicked storms just southeast of here, winds clocking at 60 mph and hail. I don't see how it's going to miss Farmington Hills. As such, I have to wind this up so I can start shutting windows, etc.


You be good and be careful,take care, stay strong. And remember I'll be gone for part of the day tomorrow at the doctors.

hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300



--
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Who me? A whiner? Oh no!

That stuff I wrote yesterday, while all true, I sure do wish I'd found a better way to say it minus the whining. I have nothing to whine about, absolutely nothing. I am so blessed to have come through all of those medical things as well as I have.


This morning HSM's #1 Son came by with their blood pressure kit. Those darn homeschoolers have everything! Not only did he take my blood pressure, but he showed me how to do it myself. Unfortunately, for some goofy reason, I can't get the hang of it. My Uncle David has now been taught how to do it and he is my designated twice daily blood pressure taker.


Changing the subject, are you a Ray Charles fan? I like him okay, but I'd never bought any of his cds, leastwise not until I picked one up for $1 at a garage sale. 'Visonary Soul' is the title. I've been listening to it most of the afternoon and it's really good.


Another thing that's really good is the reality/documentary show '30 Days'. I caught an old episode of it on the Green Channel last weekend and loved it. Apparently, the FX channel is where it originally ran. Amazon is my friend and the entire series arrived in Thursdays mail. If you've never seen any of the episodes, oh my goodness but you've missed a good show.


And, last thing for today, my Uncle David became a great grandfather for the first time today. His oldest grandaughter had a baby boy, 7 lbs. 1 oz. He is so thrilled!


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

hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

--
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It Only Gets Better

I'm on all sorts of medication these days. All of them have the potential to have side effects. Some of the various possible side effects are silly, some are annoying and some have the potential to be hazardous to ones health.


Lucky me, I am experiencing side effects that, unless immediately dealt with, have the potential to be health busters.


One of the meds I take is Diltiazem. That's the generic name. I take the generic form because, while it's still pricey, it's less expensive than the name brand drug.


My feet and ankles are swollen. Initially I figured it was a result of the high heat and muggy, humid days we've been having. Nope. Starting tomorrow I am off Diltiazem. Just like that. They say within 7 to 10 days it should be totally out of my system. And my shoes will once again fit, and I wont walk funny anymore.


I was also told that now I have to have someone daily take my blood pressure and record the numbers. Then on Tuesday I must go to the doctors and have the nurse write my daily bp numbers into my file. And I need to see the doctor. This is serious business, I was told.


My game plan was to fully return to answering the phones on the 1st of June. This just may be a minor setback. I hope quitting the darn drug doesn't mess me up or make something else worse.


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


hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Update!

So how tired are you of hearing that on my answering machine (smile)?


I saw the stomach doctor earlier this week. After looking over the ultrasound of my stomach he agreed that it appeared as if I had gall stone(s). After examining me, and finding no tenderness in that area, he said that while he could send me for an additional test, something nuclear (?), there was no sense in doing that. Better I should continue on as I have been--with my new low fat diet and the meds the cardiologist gave me (one of which is for cholesterol). He said if the whites of my eyes turn yellow, if my urine and/or excrement turn a funny color, or if I have another gall bladder attack, I should call him.


My game plan is--should any of those above mentioned things occur--to proceed immediately to the emergency room. Since a heart attack happened in conjunction with the last two gall bladder attacks, well, I'm not taking any chances.


I've been following the cardiologist's orders--taking my medicine, eating a low fat/low salt diet. He said I should exercise so I pedal. I started out pedaling for one hour a day and now I'm up to three hours a day, seven days a week. I have the bike thingie set up in front of the tv I use the webtv on, so I pedal as I surf the internet.


The rest of my day I spend reading and crocheting. I'm working on my second afghan since the heart attack(s). I listen to cds. And Facebook is my friend because it lets me stay in touch with my friends at my own pace.


In the beginning, I wasn't permitted to drive. Once the cardiologist restored my driving privileges that gave me the opportunity to get out of the house by myself and freed up my friend, HSM, who had so kindly been chauffeuring me. HSM still takes me to my doctor appointments though. And then we go to lunch afterwards. I have become a Lady Who Lunches (smile).


I'm eating more now, although often times I still have to force myself because it's rare for me to be hungry. I think it's all the darn medication I'm on. And I don't get hot, not even when it's 80+ degrees out. The meds have made me elderly-like (smile).


I'm starting to answer the phone every now and again. I don't catch it each time it rings so you still catch the update message, but when I'm feeling good I pick it up. I still get tired, but not as wore out as I was a month ago so that's a very good thing.


My life is quiet and peaceful. I'm still blown away by all that's happened to me. And I am so thankful to the Most High for getting me through it all. Heart attacks are life changers.


I'm looking forward to speaking with you again. Until then you be good and be careful, take care and stay strong.


hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
248-615-1300


--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

The 411 On My 911

Begin at the beginning is the general rule of thumb and it's really great advice but sometimes the beginning is difficult to locate. Please bear with me.

The last blog entry, March 25th I believe, I spoke about a life changing experience for me--what I self-diagnosed as a gall bladder attack. Well, that was nothing compared to my next life changing experience on April 10th.

I had another (self-diagnosed) gall bladder attack in the wee hours of Saturday, April 10th. It was horrendous. Between vomiting, bathroom issues and pain in my chest, under my right breast and the right side of my stomach, I was messed up. When the pain was still with me many hours later I called HSM and she and her #1 Son drove me to the emergency room at the local hospital.

I walked in talking about gall bladder and ended up diagnosed as a heart attack!

And if that wasn't shocking enough, they said that was my SECOND heart attack!

They did gazillions of tests on me. Everything from chest x-rays to ekgs to echocardiograms to heart ultra sounds to, and this was the whopper of them all, a heart catheterization. And blood? They drew enough blood from me to satisfy the cravings of a starved vampire colony.

The first blood they took from me, someone in the emergency room was not real skilled at it. Instead of hitting a vein they skin-popped me. My hand swelled up and was so bruised it looked like I was wearing gloves. That hand is still tender. And the many, many, many bruises on my arms have finally healed.

The heart cath, as they called it, was a risky one. They said I had a 1 in 1,000 chance of it causing me to have a stroke, a heart attack or die. They also told me that after the heart cath was done I would immediately be transported by EMS to a nearby hospital to either have something inserted in my arteries to open them, or to have heart surgery.

They shockingly found, however, that I had no blockages. My arteries were clear. After two heart attacks--one of which went untreated--I had no damage to my heart!

I started crying. Not boody-hooing, no hiccupping, just tears falling from my eyes. Are you in pain? They asked me. Oh no, I replied, God has given me a miracle!

As you can imagine, when I was finally released from the hospital some days later, it was wonderful to be home. I missed Kathleen, my cat, something fierce. I missed my home. I missed my life.

I have since been to see a family-type doctor who arranged for me to have an ultra sound of my stomach. It appears as if I may have gallstones. I see a stomach specialist at the end of this month.

When I saw the cardiologist last week he said I was very fortunate. Most people, he said, never know what type of shape their heart or arteries are in until there's something wrong and then they find there are problems. Me, my heart is fine and my arteries are clear. I have no heart disease.

He said that while they can't figure out why I had the heart attacks, he could say that the odds of me having another one compare with the possibility of me hitting the lottery.

I've also been to see an eye doctor. Come to find out I need glasses for distance! And I need stronger reading glasses than the 3-pack of readers I've been buying at Costco for years. My new glasses should be arriving in about a week.

As the message on my answering machine has been saying, I am home and convalescing. I am taking it easy. While I am doctor certified as healthy, the whole ordeal has tired me out. It's also given me a whole lot to think about.

I feel incredibly blessed. So blessed that it just about blows me away whenever I think about it.

If you are a woman reading this, or you have women in your life that you care about, insist that they learn the warning signs of a heart attack. Men and women have different indicators. And learn them for men, too. This is so important.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, like what the stomach doctor decides to do when I see him, I anticipate being back on the phone by the first part of June.

Until then, please be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


Hugs, Tawny
tawny_ford@webtv.net
248-615-1300
www.tawnyford.com

Feels Like April!

It's raining here today. A little chilly, although not really I guess. It's the grey sky and rain that makes it feel chilly. My guess is it's somewhere around 43 and that's a decent temp. On the plus side, the warmer temps and rain are making the trees bud up and the flowers poke their little heads up through the earth. Spring is going to be wonderful. I'm looking forward to it.

A couple of Sundays ago I had a major (to me) life changing experience. I had a gall bladder attack. Okay, I didn't see a doctor about it but after talking to Tallulah who, I swear, should be a diagnostician (I hope I didn't make that word up!), and then googling, well, I had every symptom.

I hope none of you never ever never have one. Never. It was the most painful thing I have ever experienced in my life. At first I thought it was gas, then I thought it was a heart attack. I had a running plea going on with God for the seven (yes, I said seven!) hours that it lasted. It hurt so bad.

The following day, when I was convinced I was going to live, I changed my life style. Just like that. You don't have to hit me over the head but once.

So what did I do? Okay, I changed the way I eat, when I eat and how much I eat. According to the internet, greasy and fatty foods can trigger a gall bladder attack. Okay, gone. No more fast food anything, no more fried chicken, no fried seafood, etc. Pork can trigger an attack but I don't eat pork so that was a non-issue for me. Beans--no more refried beans, or bean soup or bean dip, etc. Eggs and onions--now those two grieved me for about thirty seconds. I am crazy about eggs and onions are my best buddies, but if they have the possibility to make that awful pain come back, well, sayonara. Overeating was on the list, too. No more smorgasborg or buffets. I eat dinner by 6pm and then that's it, not another morsel of food gets past my lips until the next morning.

But see, this is where it gets funny for me. I've never been a breakfast/morning eater, never, not even when I was a kid, but my last food intake is by 6:30pm and so come, say, 11am the next morning I would expect I'd feel hungry. But I don't. Generally by 1pm, hungry or not, I eat brunch now. But it's weird to eat when I don't feel hungry. And by 6pm I'm not hungry again either but still I eat dinner. Oh well. Maybe it's just my system getting used to the new regime.

I will say though, I feel better these last couple of weeks than I have in years.

Hope you're feeling good, hope you're happy. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Phone Systems 101

Okay, so yesterday around 2 p.m. the UPS fellow delivered my new phone system. Hurray! I was thrilled to be able to unplug that darned old RCA system and hook-up my new AT+T. That’s an AT+T, model 1080, 4-Line Small Business System. Sleek, black and silver, what a beauty.

Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and pretty is as pretty does.

Three phone calls to support later; Sam (the customer support representative) and I were reluctant BF.

Turns out that if I'm on line 1, the phone cannot answer line 2 because there is only one answering system in the unit and it only answers line 1. It also turns out that if I'm on line 2 (or 3 or 4), the answering machine won't answer line 1 because; well, because I'm on line 2.

So, despite the fact that I spent over $200 for this new system, I now have a cheapo answering machine plugged into an extension phone line 2 so calls will be answered if I'm previously engaged on line 1. And, as soon as I can get out of here today, I'm going to buy a second cheapo answering machine and hook it into another extension phone, this time to line 1, so if I'm on line 2 the phone will get answered.

Does this sound as crazy to you as it does to me?

Why in the world would AT+T, or any phone company for that matter, produce a phone system that is so, well, so limited in its functions? And then, in the promo literature, not mention a word about its severe limitations?

None of this makes a lick of sense to me.

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


Hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
tawny_ford@webtv.net

Yesterday

I'll tell you what, apparently yesterday was just a bad day all around for me.

If you called me yesterday between 9am and 3pm, I wasn't home. You were supposed to get my answering machine message. You know my typical message---sorry not home, gone, back at....

I came home expecting all to be well and instead discovered that my phone system had taken a poo.

Not only was the ringer sounding like something straight from the depths of hell, the answering machine message was inaudible.

Truth be told, I've hated that phone system (RCA 2-line with built in answering machine and caller id) since the day I bought it. And I fully expected to replace it, but at my own time, not because it took a poo while I was gone.

So some time today I should be receiving a brand new phone system, an AT+T, my preferred brand. I had HSM order it for me yesterday and it went out overnight.

If you phoned me yesterday, I'm really sorry you got caught up in answering machine hell. Things should be all better later today.

And then on top of my phone woes yesterday, WebTV was having brain farts and I kept getting weird pop-ups whenever I tried to email or surf or anything. And the blog piece I wrote for yesterday is still somewhere out in the universe floating around.

Today will be better. Positively.


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


Hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

Spring Has Sprung, Maybe

The past few days have been wonderful around here. Not only has there been brilliant sunshine, but also temperatures have been hovering in the just-shy-of 50-degree range. Okay, nights are still cold, usually below 30, and yes, you still need your winter coat in the morning, but after about 10 am---oh boy!

The birds are coming back, too! I have this enormous tree in my front yard that serves as a super high-rise bird condo in spring and summer. I can hear the birds setting up house keeping and it's great to have them back home. I love their chirping.

I'm also wild about not having to wear four layers of clothes just to keep warm. Not only is it more freeing, but also it cuts down on the laundry and that's a good thing.

I'm trying really hard not to get too excited about the lovely weather. Why? A few weeks ago it was just like this, and then BOOM! Snow, snow and more snow.

Hopefully, despite the fact that this is only March, the snow is finished and spring is truly on the way. I'm ready for it.

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


Hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

The Winter Olympics

Not to get you all paranoid or anything, but I know you're watching the Olympics (smile). Okay, maybe not right this minute, but I know you've been keping tabs on them.

Personally, I'll be glad when they're over. Not because I want to take your joy away, but because I want regular programming to resume on Canadian tv.

Every Monday evening at 8:30pmest I tune in to watch Little Mosque On The Prairie. For the past two weeks it's been reruns. Because of the Olympics.

Thank goodness, according to the next weeks previews, it's a new episode. Happy days!

Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong. And if you get the snow storm we got today (8 inches), becareful shovelling. I don't want anything to happen to you.


hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Finally!

Really, finally! Here I am again! It's been awhile since I last wrote anything. Maybe a couple of weeks? I'm not sure. But I've been busy, too busy to blog, and that's a good thing. That means the phones have been ringing and I've been making money. And that is a very good thing, as Martha would say (smile).

I don't know how it is at your end of the world, but here in the metro Detroit area the day before Lent starts is the day everybody and their brother thinks they're Polish and they gobble up paczkis (pronounced poonch keys). There's a city just on the edge of Detroit, Hamtramck, that has always been predominately Polish. Okay, until recent times it was, like, 99% Polish. Nowadays new immigrants are settling there and I don't think Polish is the dominant ethnic group any longer.

There are several Polish bakeries in Hamtramck and die hards stand in hours long lines in order to purchase their paczkis straight from the source. The original/true flavor/filling is prune but, because prune is not such a favorite among most people, there are also strawberry, lemon, apple, etc. fillings too.

What is a paczki? Well, traditionally it's a filled donut that is bigger and has more filling than a regular donut. It's got more sugar, more butter, more of the good stuff in it. It was a way for Catholics to use up extra sugar, etc. so they could more easily fast during Lent. Think sugar blow out before forty days of abstinence.

Around here grocery stores carry paczkis, too. Hell, even Walmart has them. They are very popular in the metro Detroit area.

I didn't go out to purchase any. But today when I hit the grocery store for yogurt, well, I bought a dozen day old paczkis. Marked down 50%! Such a deal.

I saw on tv last night that a bar in Hamtramck had a paczki eating contest yesterday. I believe the winner scarfed up 14 of them. At approximately 600-800 calories per paczki, well..............

I realize those eating contests are all the rage. Thing is, I'm horribly offended by them. Why? All the people in this country who are struggling to put food on their table because of the economy. All of the people in the world who are starving. And here we have people gorging food for a contest. Playing with food essentially. I think it's sinful.

Until next time, you be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


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

Super Bowl Sunday

All of the Super Bowl Sunday tv hype started hyping about an hour ago. Folks should be plum wore out by the time the game finally starts in 5 1/2 hours.

I'm not a sports fan so I won't be watching any of it today. I'm going over to HSM's house this afternoon to celebrate her birthday. Actually the tenth is her birthday, but a Sunday celebration is convenient.

I finally finished the shawl I was making for her yesterday. It's really pretty. A nice deep purple, Vanna White yarn purple to be exact. The pattern is sort of lacy looking, but will still provide warmth. I hope she likes it.

I have a few other things for her, too. A thingie (I don't know what you call it but I bought it at Bed, Bath and Beyond) you rest your book on so you can comfortably read in bed, a long handled lotion applicator, a bottle of cologne from Bath + Body Works, a Sponge Bob computer mouse pad (because it's silly) and a $50 gift card for Barnes + Noble because she loves books.

We missed that enormous snowstorm that hit back east yesterday, thankfully. We're low on snow so far this year. I think we've had around 14 inches this season--an inch here, 2 inches there. Normally we'd have 42 inches by now. The tv weather people are saying 4 to 8 inches Tuesday into Wednesday, so we'll see. On the off chance they're right, I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow morning, checking the mail at the post office and returning my library books. Better safe than sorry.

Hope you enjoy the football this evening. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


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

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

October 28, 2009

On October 28, 2009, there was a shoot-out with federal agents at a warehouse in the city of Dearborn, Michigan, a suburban city on the outskirts of Detroit. You may have seen something about it on CNN. All of the cable channels were abuzz about it. Here in the metro Detroit area we got our coverage from our local channels, as well as the local newspaper.

Initially, the feds said they raided the warehouse because of terrorist plots. It eventually became known that was hogwash. The people targeted in the raid, both at the warehouse and at their homes, were Muslims. I guess any more anything to do with a Muslim makes it terrorist.

Anyway, these Muslims were black, as in African-American. Not Muslims from Iran or Yemen or any place overseas. Us citizens born and raised here.

A number of them were ex-cons. US ex-cons. Men who had converted to Islam while doing time in our prisons. Men who, once released, began attending the mosque led by Luqman Ameen Abdullah.

The economy here in Michigan is very bad. I believe the national unemployment rate is maybe 10% right now. In Michigan I believe it's closer to 20%. In Detroit it's guesstimated to be close to 50%.

Because these men, many of them anyway, were ex-cons, their chances of finding gainful employment were slim to none. Why would any business hire an ex-con when there are so many people out of work in this state who have never committed a felony?

My friend, HSM, says any Muslim who is committing crimes, no matter what they are, is not a Muslim because that type of behavior is forbidden in the Holy Quran. She says to commit a crime, even if it is to put food on your table, shows a lack of faith in God to provide for you.

I'm not a hard liner like that. I believe that any one--you, me, your neighbor, your mom and your dad, etc.--when faced with poverty-no food to eat, no money for rent, etc.--will do whatever they have to do to provide for their families and loved ones.

The feds now say they raided that warehouse because of weapons they believe were being bought and sold.

I don't know what those folks were doing. Maybe they had a little criminal enterprise going on, I don't know. Would it totally surprise me? shock me? Hell no. They were ex-cons and ex-cons and their families have to eat, too.

What I do know is that the people in his neighborhood loved him. I'm talking about Luqman Ameen Abdullah.I have yet to hear a bad word spoken about him or his followers. And it's not just his neighbors, or the people in Detroit who loved him. Nope. The man was loved and respected throughout the entire Muslim community--black, white, Pakistani, etc.

It has been said that if you came to him and needed food, he fed you and your family. If you needed rent money, he gave it to you. He was a charitable man.

Anyway, on 10-28-09 the feds raided that warehouse in Dearborn where the Iman (Luqman) and some of his people were. Shots were fired, say the feds. The police dog the feds sent in was shot, by the Iman according to the feds. And the feds shot and killed the Iman.

The police dog was air lifted somewhere and later died.

There was outrage from Iman Luqman Ameen Abdullah's followers at his death. The entire Muslim community was upset. Al Jazeera, the Arab tv network, has been to the metro Detroit are several times, as recently as a week or two ago, reporting on the event.

Followers of Iman Luqman say that a white man, a white man purporting to be a Muslim, joined their mosque some time ago. The day of the federal raid on the warehouse was the last time any one saw the white guy. A couple of minutes prior to the raid he said he had to get a drink of water. And he disappeared. Common sense says he was the federal informer.

Anyway, Luqman's autopsy was never released despite the act that the local newspapers, the Muslim community, etc, were filing FOIAs (Freedom of Information Act) to obtain copies.

Last night on the Detroit local Fox channel affiliate (channel 2) they broke the story on Luqman's autopsy results.

The Iman had been shot 21 times. All of the shots were either in his chest or below, many of them in his genitalia. At least one shot was to his back. He was found handcuffed.

The tv reporter relayed this information to the head of a Muslim orhganiztion in Dearborn, Dawud is hs first name but I can't recall his last name, while he was on camera. Dawud looked as though he took a physical punch to his stomach when he heard it. And his eyes filled up.

The police dog had not been autopsied, apparently. The feds say Luqman shot the dog but with no autopsy, well, who is to say that the feds didn't accidentally shoot their own dog and then used the dog's shooting to justify killing Luqman.

It has been said that Luqman and his followers were entrapped, is that the word? That they were getting along just fine and someone--more than likely the white guy who infiltated their mosque--offered them a deal or a plan and they foolishly took it.

That wouldn't surprise me. In fact, it's been alleged to have happened numerous times around the country over the years. Often times it's the result of a snitch (someone who has gotten arrested for something) making a deal with their arrestors to give them info on something in order to get themselves out of their own mess.

Whatever happened, however it happened, it's still all wrong.

By all reports fom those who knew him, Iman Luqman Ameen Abdullah was a good man. And now he's dead. Shot 21 times. At least once in the back.

And this is America.


Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
tawny_ford@webtv.net





--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

TV Benefit Concert For Haiti

Did you watch the benefit concert for Haiti on tv tonight? It was on a gazillion channels, even Canadian tv, from 8pm est until 10pm est

I watched it. I loved most of the musical acts.

Mary J. Blige was amazing. That woman has a voice. She was dressed really nice, too. Properly dressed for her age. I love to see that on people. And I think I really like her because she was once a crackhead. A crackhead that got off the pipe and that's not an easy thing to do.

I also enjoyed Jennifer Hudson. She's another one gifted with a voice. I almost didn't recognize her though. She's lost a lot of weight and she looks beautiful.Truth is though, she was beautiful when she was a big girl, too.

The show opened with Alicia Keys. You know, the very first time I ever heard Alicia Keys sing was on the tv benefit for Hurricane Katrina. I had to ask someone who she was. I've bought ever single one of her cds since.

And did you see Kid Rock? He sang with Sheryl Crow and Keith Urbam. I really like Kid Rock.

Hope you caught the show and enjoyed it as much as I did.

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


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


--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Before I Forget

I'm starting to feel like an old timer with a case of alzheimers with the way I preface so many sentences with 'before I forget'. I don't know if it's a result of just too much stuff in the memory banks, lack of sleep, improper diet, chemicals in the atmosphere, etc. Whatever is causing it,it wouldn't hurt my feelings if it went away.

Anywy, before I forget, do you get the Create Network/Channel (it's a Public Tv station)? If you do, and if you or a loved one like to knit and/or crochet, they're supposed to be running those types of shows all day this Saturday, January 24th. I'm looking forward to it.

Lack of sleep, at least for the past couple of days, could be contributing to my forgetfulness. For some reason I have been plagued with insomnia-like symptoms the past two nights. I have never had a problem sleeping, never, so this is all foreign to me. And I'm not liking it.

Hope all is well at your end of the world. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.


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

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Haiti

I've been trying not to watch the horror that has been Haiti for the past week. It quite literally hurts my heart to see the people and what they are enduring. On the news tonight they estimate that there are at least 100,000 known dead--so far.

I saw film of people--the tv people called it looting, not me--looting stores in Haiti. So what? Why is that a crime? Those buildings, and their inventories, are going to be bulldozed, destroyed. Why can't the people help themselves to what is left?

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


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

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Saturday Yawnings

I've got a severe case of the yawns today. I stayed up much too late last night watching a movie on cable. 'Day Of The Dead', have you seen it? It's sort of an in color version of 'Night Of The Living Dead' but not as scarey. Much gorey-er though, and pretty funny.

Because I stayed up so late I over slept this morning. I don't mind sleeping in, that's all good. What I mind is, because it was an unplanned sleeping in, everything I had planned to do today is waaaay behind now.

For the crocheters and knitters in your life, www.knitandcrochetnow.com It's the companion site for the show by the same name that runs on some Public TV stations. I watch the show when I am able and I always learn something from it. The website is good, too, and will only get better as they keep adding content to it.

I've been struggling for days with a new (to me) crochet pattern for a shawl I want to make. The pattern is named 'tranquil shawl'. Yeah, right. For some reason I can't 'get' the pattern right. I can do all the stitches called for, I know how to count, but it still keeps turning out messed up. I am so far from feeling tranquil that I find myself talking to my yarn and I'm not saying anything nice either (smile).

I'm still reading that Stephen King book. I think I'm about halfway through it. Only 600 pages to go.

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


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

--
Sent on a phone using T9space.com