It's been an exciting couple of days in the Tawny Ford Nation.
Yesterday, hold onto your hats, I went to a rummage sale at the neighborhood Catholic Church. I probably should have told you to make sure you were sitting down and not drinking anything, that's how exciting that bit of news was, right? They had lots of stuff, as church rummage sales tend to, and most of it, bless the hearts of all those lovely folks who donated it, wasn't worth too much of anything. I'm always looking for music cds and books and most generally I find neither. Okay, I find lots of cds and lots of books but nothing I'm interested in. It's disappointing but I'm used to it so it doesn't, like, ruin my day. I always peruse everything else just in case and their everything else was tired, really tired. Towels and bedding and clothing that looked like all the life had already been worn, used, washed right out of it. Oh well. You donate what you have and that must have been what the folks were able to part with.
The other exciting news is the dog next door, I forget his name, but he's less than a year old, white, one blue eye and one brown eye, pit bull got loose from the house (?) and yard (?) next door and one of the neighbor ladies and I tried really hard to get it back in its backyard (the people next door weren't home). The dog wasn't going for it though. He was having too much fun teasing and taunting us, running up to give is kisses and then taking off again. Fortunately, about the time the neighbor lady and I got tired, the teenage daughter and her boyfriend came home and then he was their problem.
I had noticed the pup running loose when I got home from the library the other day. My first thought was 'oh no!'. Being as he's a pit bull, and you know how frigging paranoid people seem to be about pits these days, I was afraid a neighbor would panic, call the police and they'd come shoot the dog. And the little boy next door, who loves that dog with a passion, would be devastated. Hell, I'd have been devastated, too. The pup isn't dangerous, he's just a silly dog with energy to burn and a million kisses to give. Apparently, while we weren't able to shoo the dog into the backyard, we did keep him busy and out of trouble until one of his family members got home and could take over. The girl and her boyfriend, when the neighbor and I walked away and said 'he's your problem now', said 'aren't you going to help us catch him?'. Uh no, we're tired. You're young, go chase him down.
When I told HSM about this she about lost her mind. She's all for dog owners, particularly pit bull dog owners (because pits are so maligned these days), all but being hung and gutted for not properly restraining their animals. And I can see her point. Dogs are like small children. You have to watch out for them and protect them. The pit next door should have been secured in the house before the girl left. Obviously, he wasn't. It was a blessing the other neighbor and I were able to keep him safe until she could get home to try again.
As tiring as it was messing with that silly dog, it was a lot of fun. I like dogs. A lot. It was fun petting him and getting kisses and playing with him. Kathleen, when I got back in our house, was not so amused. She hissed when she smelled dog on my hands. Oh well.
So that's it from here. Hope all is well with you.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300 tawny_ford@webtv.net
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
So Did You Miss Me?
A fair question, I think, because it's been four whole days since I was able to get to the library and 'talk' with you. I missed you. Big time.
Sunday, the 23rd, was HSM's #1 Son's birthday. He turned 23. While he handles his whole family being over 12 hours away in Alabama admirably well, he still misses the dickens out of them. You can see it on his face and you can hear it in his voice. Typically, HSM will fix the birthday persons favorite dinner and make them the cake of their choice, in addition to a plethora of presents, and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, most of it purposely sung off key. But when your Mom is 12 hours away.......
#1 Son's girlfriend stepped up to the challenge. They've only been together maybe four monthes, not a huge investment of time, but still....She got her whole family involved. Her mother and father, her brother and his girlfriend, and her brother's little girl. They got #1 Son out of the house for a few hours and then the birthday decorating team took over. Balloons everywhere. So many balloons that you couldn't walk through the living room, you had to wade. And there were Happy Birthday banners strung from the walls and the light fixtures. Picture New Years Eve and balls of mistletoe, but HB banners instead. And the food. Her Mom baked a savory pastry, sort of like a leek tart but not (they're from Macedonia originally and I don't recall what she called it), and she made baklava. There were grilled hamburgers with all the toppings, a potato dish, and a salad of tomatoes, green onions and cucumbers.
The birthday cake came from Shatilas, a Lebanese bakery in the Arab part of Dearborn. The women who work there, the bakers, were taught by the French when they occupied Lebanon and they crank out the most wonderfully delicate and flavorful French pastries at a mere fraction of the price you'd pay for them anywhere else. They also bake Lebanese pastries, sweet and savory, and have wonderfully rich Arab ice cream. Shatilas is one of my favorite places. I always pretend I'm a Saudi princess when I'm in there. It is a beautiful store with small tables and twinkle lights on pretend palm trees.
The cake they chose for #1 Son was chocolate, his favorite, with a white icing and fresh fruit on the top. It was spectacular to look at and delightful to eat. It was so rich and wonderful you didn't need ice cream to accompany it.
#1 Son was overwhelmed by the whole event. He was so pleased that these people thought enough of him to go the extra mile to make his special day so very, very nice.
I was there in my (un)official capacity of representing his family. I was the stand-in Mama, sort of, since his Mom and I have been BFFs forever. I'm glad I was invited. It did my old jaded heart good to see the love that #1 Son's girlfriend has for him, and the love and respect her family has for him. Her family is nice people. They told me stories about Macedonia, how they came to America to make a better life for their children. It was a good day. I only wish HSM and ABM and their sons could have been there. It would have been extra icing on the cake.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300 tawny_ford@webtv.net
Sunday, the 23rd, was HSM's #1 Son's birthday. He turned 23. While he handles his whole family being over 12 hours away in Alabama admirably well, he still misses the dickens out of them. You can see it on his face and you can hear it in his voice. Typically, HSM will fix the birthday persons favorite dinner and make them the cake of their choice, in addition to a plethora of presents, and a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday, most of it purposely sung off key. But when your Mom is 12 hours away.......
#1 Son's girlfriend stepped up to the challenge. They've only been together maybe four monthes, not a huge investment of time, but still....She got her whole family involved. Her mother and father, her brother and his girlfriend, and her brother's little girl. They got #1 Son out of the house for a few hours and then the birthday decorating team took over. Balloons everywhere. So many balloons that you couldn't walk through the living room, you had to wade. And there were Happy Birthday banners strung from the walls and the light fixtures. Picture New Years Eve and balls of mistletoe, but HB banners instead. And the food. Her Mom baked a savory pastry, sort of like a leek tart but not (they're from Macedonia originally and I don't recall what she called it), and she made baklava. There were grilled hamburgers with all the toppings, a potato dish, and a salad of tomatoes, green onions and cucumbers.
The birthday cake came from Shatilas, a Lebanese bakery in the Arab part of Dearborn. The women who work there, the bakers, were taught by the French when they occupied Lebanon and they crank out the most wonderfully delicate and flavorful French pastries at a mere fraction of the price you'd pay for them anywhere else. They also bake Lebanese pastries, sweet and savory, and have wonderfully rich Arab ice cream. Shatilas is one of my favorite places. I always pretend I'm a Saudi princess when I'm in there. It is a beautiful store with small tables and twinkle lights on pretend palm trees.
The cake they chose for #1 Son was chocolate, his favorite, with a white icing and fresh fruit on the top. It was spectacular to look at and delightful to eat. It was so rich and wonderful you didn't need ice cream to accompany it.
#1 Son was overwhelmed by the whole event. He was so pleased that these people thought enough of him to go the extra mile to make his special day so very, very nice.
I was there in my (un)official capacity of representing his family. I was the stand-in Mama, sort of, since his Mom and I have been BFFs forever. I'm glad I was invited. It did my old jaded heart good to see the love that #1 Son's girlfriend has for him, and the love and respect her family has for him. Her family is nice people. They told me stories about Macedonia, how they came to America to make a better life for their children. It was a good day. I only wish HSM and ABM and their sons could have been there. It would have been extra icing on the cake.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300 tawny_ford@webtv.net
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Rain Rain Here Today
It's raining this morning. We haven't seen a whole lot of rain in the past so many monthes so when it does rain, well, you peek out your window to see what that noise is because you just can't believe it's actually raining. Thunder earlier. Poor Kathleen, who is scared half to death by the sound of thunder and crackle of lightning, was torn between wanting to sit on my lap and running for cover to the basement. The basement won out. And while she was en route I slipped out the front door so I could begin my errands.
And talk about errands, I have a list of them. A big list. Costco is one of them and that's going to suck on a rainy day. Even if I am able to park sort of near the door I'm still going to get drenched. And when I get home and unload my truck, well, another drenching because I'll have to take everything in through the front door instead of through the garage. Why? The big spring on the top of the garage door broke yesterday. Out of the blue. I heard an enormous bang and went running to the front window half expecting to find that one of my truck tires exploded--that happened a few years ago--and instead it was the garage door spring. It's on my list of things to have fixed, along with finding a plumber for an issue in the bathroom.
I want to buy some beef short ribs. Not to cook for a meal, but to use in soup. I'm thinking a nice hearty beef vegetable soup. And not for today, but for the weekend. Tonight I'm fixing chicken. A Martha Stewart recipe from a few years ago that I found in one of her little magazines. Chicken, potatoes, asparagus and lemons. All roasted together in layers. Wonderful stuff. I was supposed to fix it last night but.....
I had lunch out yesterday. A big lunch. A hot turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans and all the soup and rolls I wanted. All for $6.00! Such a deal! Choice of three soups at the soup bar--chili, minestrone and cream of potato (no swine in it, thank goodness). I opted for the potato. Anyway, I was too full to want another big meal last night so I had a sandwich and potato chips and dip instead.
I wanted to go to Trader Joes this morning too. A bottle of that two buck chuck (that's actuall $2.99 here in Michigan), not to drink, I don't drink, but to use in a shrimp and pasta recipe. TJ is contingent upon the rain and just how wet I can deal with getting. It's right near Costco it would be a shame if I didn't stop there as well.
So that's about it for me and my proposed day. I stopped at the post office before I got to the library. How come there wasn't any mail from you????
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
www.tawnyford.com
And talk about errands, I have a list of them. A big list. Costco is one of them and that's going to suck on a rainy day. Even if I am able to park sort of near the door I'm still going to get drenched. And when I get home and unload my truck, well, another drenching because I'll have to take everything in through the front door instead of through the garage. Why? The big spring on the top of the garage door broke yesterday. Out of the blue. I heard an enormous bang and went running to the front window half expecting to find that one of my truck tires exploded--that happened a few years ago--and instead it was the garage door spring. It's on my list of things to have fixed, along with finding a plumber for an issue in the bathroom.
I want to buy some beef short ribs. Not to cook for a meal, but to use in soup. I'm thinking a nice hearty beef vegetable soup. And not for today, but for the weekend. Tonight I'm fixing chicken. A Martha Stewart recipe from a few years ago that I found in one of her little magazines. Chicken, potatoes, asparagus and lemons. All roasted together in layers. Wonderful stuff. I was supposed to fix it last night but.....
I had lunch out yesterday. A big lunch. A hot turkey sandwich with gravy and mashed potatoes, green beans and all the soup and rolls I wanted. All for $6.00! Such a deal! Choice of three soups at the soup bar--chili, minestrone and cream of potato (no swine in it, thank goodness). I opted for the potato. Anyway, I was too full to want another big meal last night so I had a sandwich and potato chips and dip instead.
I wanted to go to Trader Joes this morning too. A bottle of that two buck chuck (that's actuall $2.99 here in Michigan), not to drink, I don't drink, but to use in a shrimp and pasta recipe. TJ is contingent upon the rain and just how wet I can deal with getting. It's right near Costco it would be a shame if I didn't stop there as well.
So that's about it for me and my proposed day. I stopped at the post office before I got to the library. How come there wasn't any mail from you????
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
www.tawnyford.com
Monday, September 17, 2012
Shhhh!
You know, all through my school years, from kindergarten straight until I graduated high school, I never once, not even once, got shushed for speaking during class or assemblies or any place else I was supposed to be quiet at. Not even once. Must be some kind of a record, huh? But today, just a few minutes ago actually, while I'm sitting here at the library using the computer, some squirrely looking guy turned around, rolled his eyes at me, and shushed me. Me!
Okay, yes, I was talking. To the lady sitting three seats down from me who was using the computers, too. Personally, and this is just me, but I think he shushed me because we were talking about the upcoming Presidential election. The lady I was talking with, we chat every time we run into each other at the library, said how she wasn't voting for Obama or Romney. She couldn't, she said. She didn't like Romney's politics and she didn't like the fact that Obama supported the gays. I said yes, I know what you mean, and that's when the guy shushed me. Not her, nope, not her, me. I rolled my eyes and laughed. He jerked his hoody over his head. I'm still laughing. He's still sulking.
But there are numbers of folks who don't plan to vote this November, and not because of the attempts of the Republicans and Tea Partyers to make it nearly impossible to have adequate documentation to do so. Lots of people think Mormonism is a cult. And if it's not a cult then they think it's just plain dumb. Did you ever catch that South Park episode where they poke at the Mormons? Dumb, dumb, dumb was the refrain of the episode. Lots of people don't like the fact that President Obama openly supports the gays.
I have a friend who isn't planning to vote. She says nobody is going to hold her feet to the hell fires on Judgement Day because she voted for either one of them.
Me, I'm voting. Why? Because I just can't stand the thought of Mitt Romney winning the election. If I have to look at him for four years, or listen to his wife, bless her heart, say anymore dumb stuff, I just might lose what little I have left of my mind. I mean doggone, I was forced to watch the last President Bush smirk at me for eight years. How much can one woman take????
Plus, despite the gay stuff, I like Presedent Obama. And I firmly believe, no matter who happened to be in the White House at this time, the gays were going to get 'pushed' on us. I think someone, I don't know what their name is, or who they are, but the someone who is actually running stuff (and I'm not alluding to God) and they decreed it was time for the gays.
I guess the way the propoganda machine is working overtime to make the 'gay lifestyle' acceptable to the population , making us embracing it, is a sort of good thing. How is that? Well, it's not against the law to be mean to/and or discriminate against gays. At some point, maybe, one day it will be illegal to be mean to/discriminate against fat people, poor people, Muslims, etc. Maybe we'll all get a shot at equality. Who knows, stranger things have been happening.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
Okay, yes, I was talking. To the lady sitting three seats down from me who was using the computers, too. Personally, and this is just me, but I think he shushed me because we were talking about the upcoming Presidential election. The lady I was talking with, we chat every time we run into each other at the library, said how she wasn't voting for Obama or Romney. She couldn't, she said. She didn't like Romney's politics and she didn't like the fact that Obama supported the gays. I said yes, I know what you mean, and that's when the guy shushed me. Not her, nope, not her, me. I rolled my eyes and laughed. He jerked his hoody over his head. I'm still laughing. He's still sulking.
But there are numbers of folks who don't plan to vote this November, and not because of the attempts of the Republicans and Tea Partyers to make it nearly impossible to have adequate documentation to do so. Lots of people think Mormonism is a cult. And if it's not a cult then they think it's just plain dumb. Did you ever catch that South Park episode where they poke at the Mormons? Dumb, dumb, dumb was the refrain of the episode. Lots of people don't like the fact that President Obama openly supports the gays.
I have a friend who isn't planning to vote. She says nobody is going to hold her feet to the hell fires on Judgement Day because she voted for either one of them.
Me, I'm voting. Why? Because I just can't stand the thought of Mitt Romney winning the election. If I have to look at him for four years, or listen to his wife, bless her heart, say anymore dumb stuff, I just might lose what little I have left of my mind. I mean doggone, I was forced to watch the last President Bush smirk at me for eight years. How much can one woman take????
Plus, despite the gay stuff, I like Presedent Obama. And I firmly believe, no matter who happened to be in the White House at this time, the gays were going to get 'pushed' on us. I think someone, I don't know what their name is, or who they are, but the someone who is actually running stuff (and I'm not alluding to God) and they decreed it was time for the gays.
I guess the way the propoganda machine is working overtime to make the 'gay lifestyle' acceptable to the population , making us embracing it, is a sort of good thing. How is that? Well, it's not against the law to be mean to/and or discriminate against gays. At some point, maybe, one day it will be illegal to be mean to/discriminate against fat people, poor people, Muslims, etc. Maybe we'll all get a shot at equality. Who knows, stranger things have been happening.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Garbage Day
I suppose we all measure our week in a way unique to our lives and circumstances. Because I work seven days a week one day is pretty much the same to me as any other. Unlike the forty hour a week person, the weekend isn't what I'm living for because I don't have a work off weekend. I hope you followed that convoluted thought (smile). I measure my week by Thursdays. That's the day the garbage goes out to the curb for pick up on Friday morning if we're lucky, Friday afternoon if we're not.
Some weeks it seems like Thursday is every day. That means the week is flying by. Some weeks I think I must have blinked and missed Thursday and that's an indicator that if the week was going any slower I'd be moving backwards, not forwards.
I also, since I'm on wierd subjects here, sleep different, I think. If I can get to bed by 10:30pm I sleep so good, passing out almost before I can get my prayers said. If I miss that window of opportunity for any reason, well, I could easily pull an all nighter because sleep just isn't on my horizon.
Last night I missed my window of sleep opportunity. I think I was watching the local news. Because sleep wasn't even a word I could spell, much less do then, I took to the internet, then late night tv.
Does anyone reading this have Parkinson's? I ask because that's what I was reading about on the internet. One of my uncles thinks he may have it. He has a slight tremor in his hand. From what I read at various sites, the Mayo Clinic being one of them, the thought seems to be that it's a result of a mutated gene, or exposure to chemicals. They said if it runs heavy in a family then it's thought to be the mutated gene. But what is a heavy run of people? My Grandmama had it. One of her sons has it, and another one thinks he may have it. But she had 12 kids so is 1 confirmed, plus her, does that constitute a lot of people?
From the internet I moved to cable tv, hoping to find something that would lull me to sleep. For all the money I spend each money on cable, and the hundreds of channels at my fingertips, I have to tell you sometimes the pickings are still slim. I ended up watching the TLC channel, some new show called (I forget the first part of the title) but Honey BooBoo something or other.
Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I am sure the family on the show, it's a reality show, are really nice, good and kind hearted people. I am certain of that. They live somewhere in the US where a southern accent is prevalent so I'm thinking what? Kentucky? Tennessee? Alabama? Mississippi? And they live in a small town, around 700 people. Their house looked nice, the man of the family drove a fairly new and spiffy pick-up truck, and the kids were clean, all four of them (I think there were four daughters).
The family is heavily invested in pageants. You know, those 'beauty' pageants for kids from the age of maybe newborn to 16 years old. The youngest daughter is their pageant girl. These folks do not look like they are wealthy so I imagine, like most other pageant families, that this stuff takes a big bite out of their income.
I think, and I'm not knocking this family, I think it applies to all families who are involved in this stuff, that something is amiss with the mother. I mean, it's not like the 'winners' of these pageants ever go on to lucrative modelling careers, nor do they end up having tv or movie careers. Okay, except in the case of reality shows. So what's the point of it all? If they win any of them I'm betting that they've spent way more over the course of the pageants than what their winnings bring in. Like the person who goes to the casino all the time. Every once in awhile they're going to win, and maybe win a nice little chunk of change, but will it offset their past costs? will it be such a huge windfall that they're waaaay ahead of the game? Odds are good that the answer to that is no.
This family, from their loud, 'large' personalities (I'm trying to find a nice way to say this) to the way they look, well, God bless them. I hope they're making a boat load of money from TLC for this because while I think people laughed watching the show, I think most of it was laughing at this family, not with them. And that's sad.
So that's it from me for today. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
Some weeks it seems like Thursday is every day. That means the week is flying by. Some weeks I think I must have blinked and missed Thursday and that's an indicator that if the week was going any slower I'd be moving backwards, not forwards.
I also, since I'm on wierd subjects here, sleep different, I think. If I can get to bed by 10:30pm I sleep so good, passing out almost before I can get my prayers said. If I miss that window of opportunity for any reason, well, I could easily pull an all nighter because sleep just isn't on my horizon.
Last night I missed my window of sleep opportunity. I think I was watching the local news. Because sleep wasn't even a word I could spell, much less do then, I took to the internet, then late night tv.
Does anyone reading this have Parkinson's? I ask because that's what I was reading about on the internet. One of my uncles thinks he may have it. He has a slight tremor in his hand. From what I read at various sites, the Mayo Clinic being one of them, the thought seems to be that it's a result of a mutated gene, or exposure to chemicals. They said if it runs heavy in a family then it's thought to be the mutated gene. But what is a heavy run of people? My Grandmama had it. One of her sons has it, and another one thinks he may have it. But she had 12 kids so is 1 confirmed, plus her, does that constitute a lot of people?
From the internet I moved to cable tv, hoping to find something that would lull me to sleep. For all the money I spend each money on cable, and the hundreds of channels at my fingertips, I have to tell you sometimes the pickings are still slim. I ended up watching the TLC channel, some new show called (I forget the first part of the title) but Honey BooBoo something or other.
Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I am sure the family on the show, it's a reality show, are really nice, good and kind hearted people. I am certain of that. They live somewhere in the US where a southern accent is prevalent so I'm thinking what? Kentucky? Tennessee? Alabama? Mississippi? And they live in a small town, around 700 people. Their house looked nice, the man of the family drove a fairly new and spiffy pick-up truck, and the kids were clean, all four of them (I think there were four daughters).
The family is heavily invested in pageants. You know, those 'beauty' pageants for kids from the age of maybe newborn to 16 years old. The youngest daughter is their pageant girl. These folks do not look like they are wealthy so I imagine, like most other pageant families, that this stuff takes a big bite out of their income.
I think, and I'm not knocking this family, I think it applies to all families who are involved in this stuff, that something is amiss with the mother. I mean, it's not like the 'winners' of these pageants ever go on to lucrative modelling careers, nor do they end up having tv or movie careers. Okay, except in the case of reality shows. So what's the point of it all? If they win any of them I'm betting that they've spent way more over the course of the pageants than what their winnings bring in. Like the person who goes to the casino all the time. Every once in awhile they're going to win, and maybe win a nice little chunk of change, but will it offset their past costs? will it be such a huge windfall that they're waaaay ahead of the game? Odds are good that the answer to that is no.
This family, from their loud, 'large' personalities (I'm trying to find a nice way to say this) to the way they look, well, God bless them. I hope they're making a boat load of money from TLC for this because while I think people laughed watching the show, I think most of it was laughing at this family, not with them. And that's sad.
So that's it from me for today. Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Second Installment Of We Are Family
As long as I'm telling you about my extended family, for good or for bad, I might as well fill you in on the rest.
My cousin, second or third, I'm not sure, 'lost' her husband a few years ago. Don't you hate that expression? 'Lost', like they went to the mall and she forgot to hold his hand and that was the end of him, he just up and disappeared on her. I forget what he died from, some type of illness, not murder or mayhem. Several weeks ago she discovered a lump in one of her breasts. Last week she had both breasts removed. Prevention was on her mind, best to get the other one before it has a problem, too. Thankfully, the cancer did not spread to her lymph nodes so full recovery is anticipated.
Her sisters, and their girl children, are extremely unsettled about it all. Their mom died from cancer fifty some odd years ago and now it's in one of them. There has been a mad rush to get mammograms.
Another of my cousins, one that lives in the Michigan City, Indiana area, is dying. I'm a little unclear as to what's wrong. My one aunt says she got bit by a bat. Another says no, not a bat, but she got bit by something. According to the aunts, the doctors don't have any medicine that will cure her and so have told her to get her affairs in order. I'm not understanding any of it.
Uncle Bug, the one who recently had emergency gall bladder surgery, wouldn't let anyone, not even his sisters, who all love visiting people in the hospital almost as much as they love playing bingo and going to the casino, because--get this--they had him on a morphine drip. I still don't see what that has to do with visitors, but that's Uncle Bug.
I've been trying to talk one of my old(er) aunts into going to JoAnn Fabrics with me tomorrow. Why? Tomorrow is Senior Day and everyone 60 years of age or older, and who has state identification to verify their age, will receive 20% off just about everything in the store. Even sale prices and clearance. I would love to get some yarn and some fabric, and I would love to get 20% off of it. So far I've had little luck in talking any of them into going with me. Now if I was trying to get a partner for a casino run they'd be all over me.
HSM's #1 son, the one who was left behind to attend UofM, is searching for a job. He needs at least $10 an hour, preferably $12 or more, and 40 hours per week. He's been trying to not have to take out any student loans and so far he's been successful. But he needs a job in order to keep his dream going. He's resigned to the fact that he'll probably need student loans for law school, but until then.....Anyone in the metro Detroit area, and I don't mean the City of Detroit, who would like to hire a bright, young man, give me a holler-----248-615-1300 or tawny_ford@webtv.net.
And speaking of the City of Detroit, they've cut the pay of their police officers by 20%. And it's not like they were making much before the cut. I figure, unless a major miracle occurs, the Detroit police officers will end up having to resort to graft and robbing the dope dealers in order to make their mortgage payments, etc. New hires, I believe, will make a mere $12 an hour. Wrong wrong wrong.
So that's it for today. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
My cousin, second or third, I'm not sure, 'lost' her husband a few years ago. Don't you hate that expression? 'Lost', like they went to the mall and she forgot to hold his hand and that was the end of him, he just up and disappeared on her. I forget what he died from, some type of illness, not murder or mayhem. Several weeks ago she discovered a lump in one of her breasts. Last week she had both breasts removed. Prevention was on her mind, best to get the other one before it has a problem, too. Thankfully, the cancer did not spread to her lymph nodes so full recovery is anticipated.
Her sisters, and their girl children, are extremely unsettled about it all. Their mom died from cancer fifty some odd years ago and now it's in one of them. There has been a mad rush to get mammograms.
Another of my cousins, one that lives in the Michigan City, Indiana area, is dying. I'm a little unclear as to what's wrong. My one aunt says she got bit by a bat. Another says no, not a bat, but she got bit by something. According to the aunts, the doctors don't have any medicine that will cure her and so have told her to get her affairs in order. I'm not understanding any of it.
Uncle Bug, the one who recently had emergency gall bladder surgery, wouldn't let anyone, not even his sisters, who all love visiting people in the hospital almost as much as they love playing bingo and going to the casino, because--get this--they had him on a morphine drip. I still don't see what that has to do with visitors, but that's Uncle Bug.
I've been trying to talk one of my old(er) aunts into going to JoAnn Fabrics with me tomorrow. Why? Tomorrow is Senior Day and everyone 60 years of age or older, and who has state identification to verify their age, will receive 20% off just about everything in the store. Even sale prices and clearance. I would love to get some yarn and some fabric, and I would love to get 20% off of it. So far I've had little luck in talking any of them into going with me. Now if I was trying to get a partner for a casino run they'd be all over me.
HSM's #1 son, the one who was left behind to attend UofM, is searching for a job. He needs at least $10 an hour, preferably $12 or more, and 40 hours per week. He's been trying to not have to take out any student loans and so far he's been successful. But he needs a job in order to keep his dream going. He's resigned to the fact that he'll probably need student loans for law school, but until then.....Anyone in the metro Detroit area, and I don't mean the City of Detroit, who would like to hire a bright, young man, give me a holler-----248-615-1300 or tawny_ford@webtv.net.
And speaking of the City of Detroit, they've cut the pay of their police officers by 20%. And it's not like they were making much before the cut. I figure, unless a major miracle occurs, the Detroit police officers will end up having to resort to graft and robbing the dope dealers in order to make their mortgage payments, etc. New hires, I believe, will make a mere $12 an hour. Wrong wrong wrong.
So that's it for today. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
tawny_ford@webtv.net
Monday, September 10, 2012
We Are Family
As you know, while I don't have any brothers or sisters, I have a humongous extended family. I have so many extended family members that even though I don't talk or associate with at least 50+ of them, I still have hundreds I do interact with. Sometimes I think of them as a nation, Ford Nation. Sometimes, when I'm feeling benevolent, or when at least the majority of them haven't stomped on my last nerve, I wish I could live in a family compound with them, ala the Kennedy family at Hyannis Port. And then there are the days when I think calling in an air strike on Ford Nation would be the best thing anyone could do.
This past weekend out of the blue I got a call from one of my uncles. Not my favorite uncle, Uncle David. Nope. And not my least favorite uncle, the one that's in prison. He can't call me any more. I had my phone number blocked at the institution. One of the many others. Uncle Bug.
Caller id showed it was coming from the hospital. My first thought was--I don't owe them any money, why is the hospital calling me? Turned out it was Uncle Bug, calling to say he was going in for emergency gall bladder surgery in two hours. He wanted to let someone in the family know where he was so just in case he didn't make it, well, we'd know where to collect his body from. All righty.
I called Uncle David to let him know where Bug was. And to tell him I was going over to the hospital to sit with him so he wouldn't have to be alone. No, said Uncle David, don't you waste your time driving over there. Huh??? He reminded me that the only time I ever heard from Bug was when he needed something. Like three monthes ago when he called to borrow some money that he never paid me back. Like usual. He'll be just fine, Uncle David said, let his buddies and his lady friends deal with him, stay home. So that's what I did.
On another note (more extended family, although not blood related), today I went to Meijers, a huge grocery store/discount store (think Super Walmart, but manymanymany years before Super Walmart came into being) and purchased UofM tshirts, hats and a tote bag to mail to HSM and her brood. So they can represent down in the land of Alabama. I saw some really cool I Am Detroit tshirts, too, but she's not wild about Detroit so I had to pass them up. Maybe a glimpse of home via UofM gear will brighten their days.
Well, that's it for today. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
tawny_ford@webtv.net
248-615-1300
This past weekend out of the blue I got a call from one of my uncles. Not my favorite uncle, Uncle David. Nope. And not my least favorite uncle, the one that's in prison. He can't call me any more. I had my phone number blocked at the institution. One of the many others. Uncle Bug.
Caller id showed it was coming from the hospital. My first thought was--I don't owe them any money, why is the hospital calling me? Turned out it was Uncle Bug, calling to say he was going in for emergency gall bladder surgery in two hours. He wanted to let someone in the family know where he was so just in case he didn't make it, well, we'd know where to collect his body from. All righty.
I called Uncle David to let him know where Bug was. And to tell him I was going over to the hospital to sit with him so he wouldn't have to be alone. No, said Uncle David, don't you waste your time driving over there. Huh??? He reminded me that the only time I ever heard from Bug was when he needed something. Like three monthes ago when he called to borrow some money that he never paid me back. Like usual. He'll be just fine, Uncle David said, let his buddies and his lady friends deal with him, stay home. So that's what I did.
On another note (more extended family, although not blood related), today I went to Meijers, a huge grocery store/discount store (think Super Walmart, but manymanymany years before Super Walmart came into being) and purchased UofM tshirts, hats and a tote bag to mail to HSM and her brood. So they can represent down in the land of Alabama. I saw some really cool I Am Detroit tshirts, too, but she's not wild about Detroit so I had to pass them up. Maybe a glimpse of home via UofM gear will brighten their days.
Well, that's it for today. You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
tawny_ford@webtv.net
248-615-1300
Thursday, September 06, 2012
Under Seige
That's how I'm feeling lately, like my house is under seige. Why? Well, let me tell you....
As you know, I have a cat, Kathleen. She and I have been together since she was around 10 weeks old. She's 16 years old now. And beautiful. And sweet. And just about the smartest cat in the whole wide world. Kathleen is an indoor cat. She has always been an indoor cat. I think, unless you live way out in the country, it is totally irresponsible to let your cat roam free and loose outdoors. Apparently that's just my way of thinking and not a universal concept.
It seems like there are always stray cats, or cats whose owners let them outside to roam and pillage the neighborhood. And it seems as if more than my fair share of them end up in my backyard. Over the years I have been blessed to know Glo (my name for her), Stray Kitty and Grey Kitty. All of them homeless.
Glo was the first one I found a home for. Glo deserved to have a home and someone to love her. She did everything in her power to get me to take her into my home but I couldn't, Kathleen was not going for it. Then along came Stray Kitty last summer. She was exceptionally beautiful, sweet and it was painfully apparent that her previous owners had just booted her out the door and left her to survive on her own. Stray Kitty had no clue how to fend for herself. I wanted to bring her in, I liked her so much, but Kathleen is accustomed to being an only cat and she's old, so I found Stray Kitty a home. A good home. With a nice couple I knew from online who were local. Stray Kitty has been renamed and is thriving with their love. Grey Kitty, now that's a different story. I think it's feral. It'll sit as close as ten feet from me outdoors, and has for two years, but won't come any closer. Oh well.
Lately there's been another orange cat in my yard. At first I thought maybe Stray Kitty had somehow gotten loose from her new house and found her way back to me, but I emailed her new family and nope, not the case. This new orange cat is a loose cannon. I assume it's a female but I don't know this to be a fact. I also assume she's a stray but I don't know this to be a fact either. I just know that I only see her in the wee hours of the morning and after dusk settles in. Either she's homeless or her people put her outside for the night.
Anyway, numerous times this new orange cat has attacked my house. Attacked as in jumped up to the window, dug her nails into my screen and had a spitting, snarling, yeowling scream fest at my dear sweet Kathleen. It has been horribly upsetting, both for Kathleen and for me, each time it's happened. I'm at a loss as to why this cat is bothering us (yes, I've taken it personal). Since Kathleen never goes outside, is neutered and has no prior interactions with this, I liken it to the neighborhood bully picking on the homeschool kid. My friend, HSM, says yeah, let a neighborhood bully pick on her homeschool kids and watch them get their as beat.
This morning the orange cat attacked at 7am and woke me and Kathleen up. Kathleen, ever the warrior even though she's never had a 'real' fight in her life, hit the bedroom window screen and gave as good as she got, maybe better. It was a wild, loud, nasty mess.
When I hollered out the window the orange cat, while not exiting my yard, did move about ten feet from the window. I then went to pet Kathleen, to calm her down, comfort her, tell her she did a good job. Kathleen obviously was not in the mind set to calm down yet because she turned to me still snarling, still yeowling and spitting, and smacked the crap out of my right hand. Nope, she doesn't have claws so I didn't get tore up. But she hit hard. I mean really hard for a small cat. My right hand is always a bit tender anyway from just below the thumb to my wrist, I think it's maybe arthritis, all those years of tending bar and having my hand in the icy bins. I didn't surprise me a bit, after feeling the power behind Kathleen's smack, when my hand turned a lovely shade of bruise.
Not only do I not know why this darn cat is attacking our house, but I don't know how to make it stop. Someone suggested I spray it with water out the window but I'd have to strap a water source to a tool belt in order to have it with me when I needed it because you never know when this crap is going to occur. I thought about shooting it but you can't discharge a fire arm in the city. Unless you're in mortal danger and I don't think we're in mortal danger from this stupid cat. I thought about trying to poison it but I can't bring myself to do that.
Have you ever had anything like this happen? If so, how did you deal with it? I need advice, please. tawny_ford@webtv.net or 248-615-1300.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
As you know, I have a cat, Kathleen. She and I have been together since she was around 10 weeks old. She's 16 years old now. And beautiful. And sweet. And just about the smartest cat in the whole wide world. Kathleen is an indoor cat. She has always been an indoor cat. I think, unless you live way out in the country, it is totally irresponsible to let your cat roam free and loose outdoors. Apparently that's just my way of thinking and not a universal concept.
It seems like there are always stray cats, or cats whose owners let them outside to roam and pillage the neighborhood. And it seems as if more than my fair share of them end up in my backyard. Over the years I have been blessed to know Glo (my name for her), Stray Kitty and Grey Kitty. All of them homeless.
Glo was the first one I found a home for. Glo deserved to have a home and someone to love her. She did everything in her power to get me to take her into my home but I couldn't, Kathleen was not going for it. Then along came Stray Kitty last summer. She was exceptionally beautiful, sweet and it was painfully apparent that her previous owners had just booted her out the door and left her to survive on her own. Stray Kitty had no clue how to fend for herself. I wanted to bring her in, I liked her so much, but Kathleen is accustomed to being an only cat and she's old, so I found Stray Kitty a home. A good home. With a nice couple I knew from online who were local. Stray Kitty has been renamed and is thriving with their love. Grey Kitty, now that's a different story. I think it's feral. It'll sit as close as ten feet from me outdoors, and has for two years, but won't come any closer. Oh well.
Lately there's been another orange cat in my yard. At first I thought maybe Stray Kitty had somehow gotten loose from her new house and found her way back to me, but I emailed her new family and nope, not the case. This new orange cat is a loose cannon. I assume it's a female but I don't know this to be a fact. I also assume she's a stray but I don't know this to be a fact either. I just know that I only see her in the wee hours of the morning and after dusk settles in. Either she's homeless or her people put her outside for the night.
Anyway, numerous times this new orange cat has attacked my house. Attacked as in jumped up to the window, dug her nails into my screen and had a spitting, snarling, yeowling scream fest at my dear sweet Kathleen. It has been horribly upsetting, both for Kathleen and for me, each time it's happened. I'm at a loss as to why this cat is bothering us (yes, I've taken it personal). Since Kathleen never goes outside, is neutered and has no prior interactions with this, I liken it to the neighborhood bully picking on the homeschool kid. My friend, HSM, says yeah, let a neighborhood bully pick on her homeschool kids and watch them get their as beat.
This morning the orange cat attacked at 7am and woke me and Kathleen up. Kathleen, ever the warrior even though she's never had a 'real' fight in her life, hit the bedroom window screen and gave as good as she got, maybe better. It was a wild, loud, nasty mess.
When I hollered out the window the orange cat, while not exiting my yard, did move about ten feet from the window. I then went to pet Kathleen, to calm her down, comfort her, tell her she did a good job. Kathleen obviously was not in the mind set to calm down yet because she turned to me still snarling, still yeowling and spitting, and smacked the crap out of my right hand. Nope, she doesn't have claws so I didn't get tore up. But she hit hard. I mean really hard for a small cat. My right hand is always a bit tender anyway from just below the thumb to my wrist, I think it's maybe arthritis, all those years of tending bar and having my hand in the icy bins. I didn't surprise me a bit, after feeling the power behind Kathleen's smack, when my hand turned a lovely shade of bruise.
Not only do I not know why this darn cat is attacking our house, but I don't know how to make it stop. Someone suggested I spray it with water out the window but I'd have to strap a water source to a tool belt in order to have it with me when I needed it because you never know when this crap is going to occur. I thought about shooting it but you can't discharge a fire arm in the city. Unless you're in mortal danger and I don't think we're in mortal danger from this stupid cat. I thought about trying to poison it but I can't bring myself to do that.
Have you ever had anything like this happen? If so, how did you deal with it? I need advice, please. tawny_ford@webtv.net or 248-615-1300.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
September Has Finally Arrived
What a stupid, yet dramatic title for a blog post, huh? That's what happens when I can't think of anything snappy (smile). But it is true, it is September, finally.
So how was your Labor Day Weekend? Did you go any place? Bbq?
I can say yes to both. Saturday night I had dinner with HSM's #1 son and his girlfriend. She made lasagne (from scratch, she didn't heat up Stouffers) and a nice salad with cauliflower, radishes, tomatoes, cukes, etc. I am a sucker for a good salad so I was a happy camper. And her lasagne, well, I just always add a layer of cheese on the very top/last layer of noodles when I make it, but she whipped up an egg, some cottage cheese and some freshly grated parmesan and spread it on the top. Gosh but it was good! She gave me leftovers to take home, of salad and lasagne, and, don't laugh, but that's what I had for breakfast yesterday morning. Look, anybody can eat Fruit Loops. I had lasagne!
Monday I bbq'd in my backyard. Chicken wings, sliced potatoes with onions in foil packets, and beans with hamburger and onions and cole slaw. I cooked enough so I have leftovers for a few days.
Have you ever used an ereader? #1 son's girlfriend loaned me hers. It's not the one from Barnes + Noble, it's the other name brand. It was awfully nice of her. You know me, I'm pretty much the last one to take up with new technology so first she had to give me a lengthy tutorial on how to use it. Yes, I'm slow to adapt, so what? Last night I read almost a whole 'book' on it. No, I don't recall the name of the book, it was one I wasn't familiar with. It was about phone sex. Go figure. The heroine was a phone sex worker who was intent on solving the murder of her best client. What a girl (smile). You know, while it's convenient as can be to have a gazillion books in a device the size of a small notebook or diary, it's also, I don't know, not quite right. I guess I'm old school but I like the feel of a 'real book' in my hands. And to tell you the truth, I'm a little concerned that if these ereaders become terribly popular then 'real' books will disappear like 'real' newspapers have. Something to think about.
Did you watch any of the Democratic National Convention last night? I tuned in to hear Michelle Obama speak. She sure seems like a nice lady, and she dresses well, too. I liked the way she spoke about her daughters and her husband. I plan to watch the night President Obama speaks, too.
Speaking of the President, you know what I'm sick and tired of? Well, two things. One, people talking that stupid stuff about where he was born. Birthers have got to be some of the stupidest people on the planet. Two, people insisting he's a Muslim. Remember back when he was going to church in Chicago? to the Christian church where Reverend Wright was the pastor? and people complained so bitterly about Wright's politics that the Obamas switched churches? Now he's at another Christian church and people fuss that he's a Muslim. You know what I think? Well, I'm going to tell you. I think people fuss that he's a Muslim because they don't have the balls to say he's a ni--er in public. So, because they still want to be insulting to him, they say he's a Muslim. They think calling someone a Muslim is a dirty, nasty insult. You know, like how people used to call people faggots when they wanted to insult them, even though the people weren't homosexuals. Of course now you can't say stuff like that. That's a hate crime to pick on/insult homosexuals.
I'll tell you what. It's not an insult to be called a Muslim. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a Muslim if you are one. I should know, I am a Muslim.
Remember when the US (under President Bush's leadership) insisted, swore up and down, their hands on a stack of Bibles, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? And so we went in and laid waste to that country, the people, everything they held dear. Remember that? And remember how there weren't any weapons of mass destruction? Just like how Saddam said? Well, that's eerily familar. President Obama says he's not a Muslim but idiots swear he is.
But do you know what Muslim means? It means a person who submits their will to God. I'm thinking, particularly if y'all want to get to heaven someday, that it might be a good thing to start submitting your will to God. Just a thought.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
So how was your Labor Day Weekend? Did you go any place? Bbq?
I can say yes to both. Saturday night I had dinner with HSM's #1 son and his girlfriend. She made lasagne (from scratch, she didn't heat up Stouffers) and a nice salad with cauliflower, radishes, tomatoes, cukes, etc. I am a sucker for a good salad so I was a happy camper. And her lasagne, well, I just always add a layer of cheese on the very top/last layer of noodles when I make it, but she whipped up an egg, some cottage cheese and some freshly grated parmesan and spread it on the top. Gosh but it was good! She gave me leftovers to take home, of salad and lasagne, and, don't laugh, but that's what I had for breakfast yesterday morning. Look, anybody can eat Fruit Loops. I had lasagne!
Monday I bbq'd in my backyard. Chicken wings, sliced potatoes with onions in foil packets, and beans with hamburger and onions and cole slaw. I cooked enough so I have leftovers for a few days.
Have you ever used an ereader? #1 son's girlfriend loaned me hers. It's not the one from Barnes + Noble, it's the other name brand. It was awfully nice of her. You know me, I'm pretty much the last one to take up with new technology so first she had to give me a lengthy tutorial on how to use it. Yes, I'm slow to adapt, so what? Last night I read almost a whole 'book' on it. No, I don't recall the name of the book, it was one I wasn't familiar with. It was about phone sex. Go figure. The heroine was a phone sex worker who was intent on solving the murder of her best client. What a girl (smile). You know, while it's convenient as can be to have a gazillion books in a device the size of a small notebook or diary, it's also, I don't know, not quite right. I guess I'm old school but I like the feel of a 'real book' in my hands. And to tell you the truth, I'm a little concerned that if these ereaders become terribly popular then 'real' books will disappear like 'real' newspapers have. Something to think about.
Did you watch any of the Democratic National Convention last night? I tuned in to hear Michelle Obama speak. She sure seems like a nice lady, and she dresses well, too. I liked the way she spoke about her daughters and her husband. I plan to watch the night President Obama speaks, too.
Speaking of the President, you know what I'm sick and tired of? Well, two things. One, people talking that stupid stuff about where he was born. Birthers have got to be some of the stupidest people on the planet. Two, people insisting he's a Muslim. Remember back when he was going to church in Chicago? to the Christian church where Reverend Wright was the pastor? and people complained so bitterly about Wright's politics that the Obamas switched churches? Now he's at another Christian church and people fuss that he's a Muslim. You know what I think? Well, I'm going to tell you. I think people fuss that he's a Muslim because they don't have the balls to say he's a ni--er in public. So, because they still want to be insulting to him, they say he's a Muslim. They think calling someone a Muslim is a dirty, nasty insult. You know, like how people used to call people faggots when they wanted to insult them, even though the people weren't homosexuals. Of course now you can't say stuff like that. That's a hate crime to pick on/insult homosexuals.
I'll tell you what. It's not an insult to be called a Muslim. There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a Muslim if you are one. I should know, I am a Muslim.
Remember when the US (under President Bush's leadership) insisted, swore up and down, their hands on a stack of Bibles, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction? And so we went in and laid waste to that country, the people, everything they held dear. Remember that? And remember how there weren't any weapons of mass destruction? Just like how Saddam said? Well, that's eerily familar. President Obama says he's not a Muslim but idiots swear he is.
But do you know what Muslim means? It means a person who submits their will to God. I'm thinking, particularly if y'all want to get to heaven someday, that it might be a good thing to start submitting your will to God. Just a thought.
Be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300
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