Good morning! No more Mr. Nice Guy weather here! Today it's just barely above freezing. But it's sunny and any day with sunshine is a good day, right?
Did you watch the Democratic Debate last night from Las Vegas? Doesn't it seem more and more like the debates, both the democrat and republican, are nothing but travelling side shows? Still a year to go before the actual election, the 'real' candidates haven't even been chosen, yet every time you turn around these folks are on tv debating each other. I'm as tired of them as I am of the ever earlier Christmas displays. Was a time Santa Claus didn't come to town until the end of the Thanksgiving Day Parade, remember? Yesterday he arrived at an outlet mall north of Detroit, Michigan. Last night they turned on the Chistmas lights in the park the next county over. Tonight they turn on the huge Christmas tree in downtown Detroit. Thanksgiving is still a week away. And the Christmas merchandise, everything from decorations to presents, were in the stores around here before the Halloween stuff.
Saw on tv the other day that Walmart is pretty convinced that they'll do better this holiday season profitwise because they have the right mix of discount and upscale goods on their shelves to entice shoppers with. Saw that Home Depot's last quarter sales were down and they attributed it to the economy and the mortgage mess. Can't remember the other companies that were down profitwise, way too many of them to keep track of.
Gas prices are up. Here in Farmington/Farmington Hills regular unleaded is running anywhere from $3.19 to $3.26 a gallon. Heating costs for this winter will be higher than last year because of the rising price of a barrel of oil. Milk is somewhere around $4 a gallon.
I don't know if I'm expressing this right or not, but there's something horribly wrong going on.
I understand profits being down. I understand companies being dismayed at lower profits. Hell, my profits are down. And they've been down since, believe it if you want to, I don't much care, since they announced that Bush had won the election the first time. And while they've gone up a little bit, then back down, kind of yoyoing, my money still isn't right, still isn't where it was seven years ago.
But, and even though I know the American way, the democratic way, is for companies to keep making higher profits each year after year after year, how much damn money do they need to make? If profits for x-company were $240 million last year, isn't that good enogh? Do they have to raise prices so the next year's profits are $320 million? When is enough enough?
Do the heads of these companies really and truly deserve to earn 10, 20, 30 million a year?
I know I'm not saying any of this right, and I apologize for that, but I'm frustrated. So many people are getting their guts sqwoze right out of them. We all only have so many dollars at our disposal. When gas goes upupupupup, when food prices soar, when utilities skyrocket--what are we supposed to do? We all only have so many dollars and sometimes they just run right out of stretchability.
All those folks who are losing or who have lost their homes. All the folks who are losing or have lost their jobs because either the company decided to move out of the US (thereby increasing their profits by lowering their 3rd world employees pay scale), or they majorly cut back on their work force in order to take a bigger piece of the profit pie.
Yet every time I turn around that darn travelling side show of debates is in my face. All that talkety talk they're doing and you know it's not changing anything for any of us.
Too frustrated to write any more today.
Be good and be careful, stay strong.
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, November 15, 2007
You're probably not going to believe this, what with all of your preconceived ideas about Michigan's weather, but it was an absolutely phenomenal day here yesterday. Sunshine, abundant sunshine in weather-speak, bright blue skies, and temperatures in the 60's!
It was such a nice day that I just couldn't bring myslf to stay coopedup in the house. This time of year, mid-November, it's usually damp, grey and chilly here. To have a day so outside of the norm, well, it only seemed fitting to do something outside the norm.
First thing, I gathered up Kathleen, my beloved cat, and we went out in the backyard. I dragged her cage out of winter hibernation mode, spread out some soft comfy towels for her to lay on, and set her up in the middle of the yard in the warm sunshine. I dragged out a lawn chair for me, grabbed the 5 pound bag of peanuts from the kitchen and we fed the squirrels while we worked on our fall/winter tans (smile).
The squirrels, oh my! They are so fat! I almost couldn't recognize one from the other. They are definitely on their job, getting themselves super ready for the upcoming snarly winter.
Because the weather has been so different from past typical falls, there are still leaves on the trees. See, generally by Halloween, with all ofthe rain and wind, the pretty colored leaves are on the sidewalks and the grass. When you want to look at the fall colors you look down, not up. This year half of them are still on the branches. I haven't even raked once yet, what's the point? makes more sense (to me, at least) to let them all fall off, then rake them all up one time.
Anyway, Kathleen had a wonderful time in the yard. The fresh air wore her little furry butt out and when we got back in the house she went and passed out on her recliner in the family room (smile).
I got in my truck, rolled down the windows, cranked up the radio and went for a ride. My first stop was the big park here in town, Heritage Park. It's 211 acres of forest, wetlands, meadows and hills, with 4 anda half miles of walking and hiking trails. I walked around a bit, then grabbed a seat by the pond and watched about 100 geese land and look for lunch. I even caught a glimpse of a deer!
Next stop was the smaller park right in town, locals call it city park, I wandered over to the little off shoot of the Rouge River, the ducks were hanging out along the banks sunning themselves. The parks and rec guys have already removed all of the picnic tables for winter, ggrrrrrr, so I didn't stay long. Sitting on the grass amid the duck doodoo was not an option (smile).
Last stop was the dairy queen, they're still open, and treated mysef to a soft serve chocolate cone. One of life's little pleasures (smile).
By the time I made it home I was ready for a nap too. Fresh air and exercise will do it every time (smile).
I hope it was pretty where you were and I hope you had an opportunity to get outside and enjoy it! Before you know it, it'll be winter.
hugs, Tawny
http://www.tawnyford.com/
It was such a nice day that I just couldn't bring myslf to stay coopedup in the house. This time of year, mid-November, it's usually damp, grey and chilly here. To have a day so outside of the norm, well, it only seemed fitting to do something outside the norm.
First thing, I gathered up Kathleen, my beloved cat, and we went out in the backyard. I dragged her cage out of winter hibernation mode, spread out some soft comfy towels for her to lay on, and set her up in the middle of the yard in the warm sunshine. I dragged out a lawn chair for me, grabbed the 5 pound bag of peanuts from the kitchen and we fed the squirrels while we worked on our fall/winter tans (smile).
The squirrels, oh my! They are so fat! I almost couldn't recognize one from the other. They are definitely on their job, getting themselves super ready for the upcoming snarly winter.
Because the weather has been so different from past typical falls, there are still leaves on the trees. See, generally by Halloween, with all ofthe rain and wind, the pretty colored leaves are on the sidewalks and the grass. When you want to look at the fall colors you look down, not up. This year half of them are still on the branches. I haven't even raked once yet, what's the point? makes more sense (to me, at least) to let them all fall off, then rake them all up one time.
Anyway, Kathleen had a wonderful time in the yard. The fresh air wore her little furry butt out and when we got back in the house she went and passed out on her recliner in the family room (smile).
I got in my truck, rolled down the windows, cranked up the radio and went for a ride. My first stop was the big park here in town, Heritage Park. It's 211 acres of forest, wetlands, meadows and hills, with 4 anda half miles of walking and hiking trails. I walked around a bit, then grabbed a seat by the pond and watched about 100 geese land and look for lunch. I even caught a glimpse of a deer!
Next stop was the smaller park right in town, locals call it city park, I wandered over to the little off shoot of the Rouge River, the ducks were hanging out along the banks sunning themselves. The parks and rec guys have already removed all of the picnic tables for winter, ggrrrrrr, so I didn't stay long. Sitting on the grass amid the duck doodoo was not an option (smile).
Last stop was the dairy queen, they're still open, and treated mysef to a soft serve chocolate cone. One of life's little pleasures (smile).
By the time I made it home I was ready for a nap too. Fresh air and exercise will do it every time (smile).
I hope it was pretty where you were and I hope you had an opportunity to get outside and enjoy it! Before you know it, it'll be winter.
hugs, Tawny
http://www.tawnyford.com/
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Thanksgiving at my house this past Sunday (two days ago) was wonderful! I know that to some this was one of the craziest things I've ever said, but if you give it some thought, not a little, just a tiny bit, you'll see that it really isn't so far out there after all. Every single day of our lives should be a day that we are thankful for our blessings, right? I declared this past Sunday Thanksgiving At My House, and I celebrated likewise with friends.
The turkey, all almost 22 pounds of it, came out perfect. Used to be a time I cringed at the thought of turkey. Not because I didn't like it, but because unless you scored a piece of dark meat it was so dry and unappetizing. But, thanks to the magic of tv cooking shows, I have perfected a way to insure that the turkey, the whole turkey, even the white meat, comes out moist and succulent to the last bite. Here's the secret:
Carefully, veryveryvery carefully slide your fingers up under the skin on the front of the turkey. You know, under the breast part. Don't tear the skin. Take pats of butter--REAL BUTTER, not margarine or oleo or any other wierd concoction--and gently slide them up under the skin. As many as you can get under the skin, thin pats of butter. Even in the area under the leg skin, and in the cavity of the bird.
Melt a stick of butter, add some dry white wine (doesn't have to be expensive wine, but not rotgut either), and use that as your basting sauce. Baste every so often.
Your turkey will come out bronze like it spent a week at the beach basking in the sun!
Now if you're making gravy, here's what I do. Okay, obviously the drippings are going to be tasty but kind of greasy (all that butter, remember?). The day before TDay I simmer a couple of legs, a few wings, etc. turkey parts that I bought seperately at the grocery store. You've seen them, this time of year all grocery stores have them in the turkey/meat section (NOT smoked turkey parts, uncooked/raw ones). When it's done simmering, when you've gotten every bit of flavor you can from those parts, fish them out, refrigerate the stock, and the next day you can skim the top fat off of it. Use that for the base of your gravy.
The actual turkey drippings, I strain those as best I can to get the bulk of the buttery grease out of it, then add it to my stock, Season with salt + pepper, thicken with cornstarch. Lovely gravy.
Okay, in addition to the turkey we had cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes + gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, yeast rolls, cole slaw, cranberries, olives and pumpkin pie and pecan pie, and two pounds of Godiva chocolates. Burp (smile).
If you want to know how to make killer cornbread dressing, email me. I make it from scratch (no Pepperidge Farm for me!), but it's easy and tasty.
The mix of friends at the dinner table was wonderful too. It was fun to sit down and share a good meal, but it was also wonderful to have the time to really talk with them, to find out what was happening in their lives. After the meal there were rousing games of spades (the card game). And of course, the doggone football games were playing in the background.
By the time everyone left around 11pm I was ready for bed. It's hard work having so much fun (smile). But I'd do it all again in a minute, that's how much fun it was.
Since we're talking about being thankful, here's something else. I saw this address in a magazine:
A Recoverring Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
The article was asking that you take a moment to send a Christmas card to the above address to brighten up the day for a recoverring soldier. Now me, I don't do Christmas, it's not a part of my belief system. And no, I do not support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the troops, the men and women who have been sent over there to fight, to die and to get wounded--I want them to come now, right now.
And as part of my support for them, in addition to asking God to please stop those asinine and unjust wars, I'm going to send get well type cards to the above address. I think it's a nice thing to do. Perhaps you'll take a moment to send one yourself.
Well, that's it for today. It's a bit chilly, a tad damp, but there's sunshine! Any day with sunshine is a good day!
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
The turkey, all almost 22 pounds of it, came out perfect. Used to be a time I cringed at the thought of turkey. Not because I didn't like it, but because unless you scored a piece of dark meat it was so dry and unappetizing. But, thanks to the magic of tv cooking shows, I have perfected a way to insure that the turkey, the whole turkey, even the white meat, comes out moist and succulent to the last bite. Here's the secret:
Carefully, veryveryvery carefully slide your fingers up under the skin on the front of the turkey. You know, under the breast part. Don't tear the skin. Take pats of butter--REAL BUTTER, not margarine or oleo or any other wierd concoction--and gently slide them up under the skin. As many as you can get under the skin, thin pats of butter. Even in the area under the leg skin, and in the cavity of the bird.
Melt a stick of butter, add some dry white wine (doesn't have to be expensive wine, but not rotgut either), and use that as your basting sauce. Baste every so often.
Your turkey will come out bronze like it spent a week at the beach basking in the sun!
Now if you're making gravy, here's what I do. Okay, obviously the drippings are going to be tasty but kind of greasy (all that butter, remember?). The day before TDay I simmer a couple of legs, a few wings, etc. turkey parts that I bought seperately at the grocery store. You've seen them, this time of year all grocery stores have them in the turkey/meat section (NOT smoked turkey parts, uncooked/raw ones). When it's done simmering, when you've gotten every bit of flavor you can from those parts, fish them out, refrigerate the stock, and the next day you can skim the top fat off of it. Use that for the base of your gravy.
The actual turkey drippings, I strain those as best I can to get the bulk of the buttery grease out of it, then add it to my stock, Season with salt + pepper, thicken with cornstarch. Lovely gravy.
Okay, in addition to the turkey we had cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes + gravy, whipped sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, yeast rolls, cole slaw, cranberries, olives and pumpkin pie and pecan pie, and two pounds of Godiva chocolates. Burp (smile).
If you want to know how to make killer cornbread dressing, email me. I make it from scratch (no Pepperidge Farm for me!), but it's easy and tasty.
The mix of friends at the dinner table was wonderful too. It was fun to sit down and share a good meal, but it was also wonderful to have the time to really talk with them, to find out what was happening in their lives. After the meal there were rousing games of spades (the card game). And of course, the doggone football games were playing in the background.
By the time everyone left around 11pm I was ready for bed. It's hard work having so much fun (smile). But I'd do it all again in a minute, that's how much fun it was.
Since we're talking about being thankful, here's something else. I saw this address in a magazine:
A Recoverring Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Ave NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001
The article was asking that you take a moment to send a Christmas card to the above address to brighten up the day for a recoverring soldier. Now me, I don't do Christmas, it's not a part of my belief system. And no, I do not support the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. I support the troops, the men and women who have been sent over there to fight, to die and to get wounded--I want them to come now, right now.
And as part of my support for them, in addition to asking God to please stop those asinine and unjust wars, I'm going to send get well type cards to the above address. I think it's a nice thing to do. Perhaps you'll take a moment to send one yourself.
Well, that's it for today. It's a bit chilly, a tad damp, but there's sunshine! Any day with sunshine is a good day!
You be good and be careful, take care, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Friday, November 09, 2007
It dawned on me yesterday as I was eating my lunch that it's been awhile since I've shared another one of Tawny's Fabulous Recipes with you (smile)! Okay, now this is really easy, tastes good and is perfect for summer barbecues. Obviously it's also good in the winter because I was eating it yesterday (smile).
---
Take 1 can of baked beans. I use Buschs Vegetarian, but that's because I don't eat pork and just about all of the other brands, at least the ones available around here, are laced with pork.
Take maybe 1/2 pound of hamburger, more if you like super meaty, less if you're ambivalent (smile). Fry up the hamburger like you were making tacos or spaghetti. You know, break it up good, cook it all the way, then drain the fat/grease.
Cut up an onion. I love onions so I use several, but this is about your taste so however you feel about onions use the appropriate amount. Dump them into the pan with the cooked hamburger. Saute until the onions are soft(er).
Pour the can of beans into the pan with the onions and hamburger. Add about a half a cup of brown sugar. Stir well. Cook until bubbly and thick. You'll know it's done, don't worry, bubbly and thick.
This is good, at least I think it is. It's hearty, sticks with you and reheats well. You can even cut up a couple of hot dogs and add them in.
-----
Have you seen the movie Transformers? I watched it last night and it was pretty good. Talk about action packed, wow! Amazing what computers can do. In the 'olden days' they'd have had to make it a cartoon movie because there's no way they could have pulled it off otherwise.
It's chilly here again, still not as cold as it's going to get before spring arrives, but chilly enough to have me hauling out my winter coat and sweatpants. I like cold weather, I just don't like how much longer it takes to get ready before I can leave the house, and having to warm up the truck. Having to scrape the windshield is also on my do not like list, but that hasn't been an issue yet, leastwise not here.
My friend lives up in Marquette, that's along Lake Superior in the upper peninusla of Michigan. This is her first real winter up there. She moved from a suburb of Detroit to God's Country, that's what folks who live up north call it (?). Sure, she's spent bits and pieces of winters there before, but she's in for the long haul this year. She tells me she won't get cabin fever, she has cases of yarn so she can knit things, lots of dvd's to watch, enough supplies to bake breads and cookies, etc. I hope she's right. It gets veryveryvery cold up there. They've already had snow.
I've been telling her she ought to start a blog so her friends, who are probably never going to live in the UP, can live the experience through her. So far she's been ignoring my suggestion (smile).
My turkey is thawing okay. I have it in the refrigerator, still in its wrapper, just like how they say you're supposed to do it so you don't get sick. Now my Mom, maybe yours too, used to thaw the frozen bird on the kitchen counter and we never got sick. I mean, you cook the turkey, right? so if it gets a germ, well, you're going to cook it out. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to unwrap it and, if it's still got icicles, plunge it into a bath or two or three of cold water to finish the process.
I have my lists with me, things I still have to get for the dinner. Sam's Club and the produce store are next after I leave here. Sam's sells produce but unless you need a ton of it, and unless you're going to use it the same day you buy it, well, the stuff never holds up for me. Mushrooms and asparagus do, but not lettuce or tomatoes or.....
So I guess that's it for today. I look forward to chatting with you this evening. In the meantime be good and be careful, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
---
Take 1 can of baked beans. I use Buschs Vegetarian, but that's because I don't eat pork and just about all of the other brands, at least the ones available around here, are laced with pork.
Take maybe 1/2 pound of hamburger, more if you like super meaty, less if you're ambivalent (smile). Fry up the hamburger like you were making tacos or spaghetti. You know, break it up good, cook it all the way, then drain the fat/grease.
Cut up an onion. I love onions so I use several, but this is about your taste so however you feel about onions use the appropriate amount. Dump them into the pan with the cooked hamburger. Saute until the onions are soft(er).
Pour the can of beans into the pan with the onions and hamburger. Add about a half a cup of brown sugar. Stir well. Cook until bubbly and thick. You'll know it's done, don't worry, bubbly and thick.
This is good, at least I think it is. It's hearty, sticks with you and reheats well. You can even cut up a couple of hot dogs and add them in.
-----
Have you seen the movie Transformers? I watched it last night and it was pretty good. Talk about action packed, wow! Amazing what computers can do. In the 'olden days' they'd have had to make it a cartoon movie because there's no way they could have pulled it off otherwise.
It's chilly here again, still not as cold as it's going to get before spring arrives, but chilly enough to have me hauling out my winter coat and sweatpants. I like cold weather, I just don't like how much longer it takes to get ready before I can leave the house, and having to warm up the truck. Having to scrape the windshield is also on my do not like list, but that hasn't been an issue yet, leastwise not here.
My friend lives up in Marquette, that's along Lake Superior in the upper peninusla of Michigan. This is her first real winter up there. She moved from a suburb of Detroit to God's Country, that's what folks who live up north call it (?). Sure, she's spent bits and pieces of winters there before, but she's in for the long haul this year. She tells me she won't get cabin fever, she has cases of yarn so she can knit things, lots of dvd's to watch, enough supplies to bake breads and cookies, etc. I hope she's right. It gets veryveryvery cold up there. They've already had snow.
I've been telling her she ought to start a blog so her friends, who are probably never going to live in the UP, can live the experience through her. So far she's been ignoring my suggestion (smile).
My turkey is thawing okay. I have it in the refrigerator, still in its wrapper, just like how they say you're supposed to do it so you don't get sick. Now my Mom, maybe yours too, used to thaw the frozen bird on the kitchen counter and we never got sick. I mean, you cook the turkey, right? so if it gets a germ, well, you're going to cook it out. Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to unwrap it and, if it's still got icicles, plunge it into a bath or two or three of cold water to finish the process.
I have my lists with me, things I still have to get for the dinner. Sam's Club and the produce store are next after I leave here. Sam's sells produce but unless you need a ton of it, and unless you're going to use it the same day you buy it, well, the stuff never holds up for me. Mushrooms and asparagus do, but not lettuce or tomatoes or.....
So I guess that's it for today. I look forward to chatting with you this evening. In the meantime be good and be careful, stay strong.
hugs, Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Don't pay the ransom, I'm free (smile)! Whew, can you believe it's been so doggone many days since I last talked with you? This whole week has one been one busy thing to do every morning, all things that had to be taken care of first thing, all at the very same time that I need to be at the library if I want to snag a computer and not wait 'in line'.
Yesterday it was a trip to Sam's Club. I can get in there early, any time after 7am, because I have a business membership. While I wasn't there right at 7am, not because my heart wasn't in it but because by the time I take a shower and dry my hair (it's cold here now, although nowheres near as cold as it's going to get before winter is finished)and get the truck warmed up, well, it's getting close to 8:30am. So anyway, I was looking to buy a new mattress for my bed. I figured odds were good I could get a fair price for a good mattress at one of the warehouse stores, Sam's or Costco, with Sam's being my first choice since I can get in there early before the masses arrive.
There were four different grades of mattresses in queen size. I sort of felt like the princess and the pea, remember that fairy tale? as I streteched out on each one. Thing was, the 2 grade, the least expensive, was too flimsy. It didn't strike confidence in me that it would last more than a year, at best. Grades 3 and 4, moderately priced, they were too soft. I don't want a mattress I sink into. Now grade 5, ooooh that was a comfy one! But it was in the mid-$500 range, plus another hundred for a new box spring, and I just wasn't looking to spend that kind of money,
When I get a chance I'm going to Costco, yes, I have a membership there too, and check out their mattresses. And if nothing suites me there then it's off to a mattress store. But I seriously need a new mattress. Mine is over 10 years old, sort of saggy, and it's no wonder I don't get a good nights sleep and I wake up sore and achy.
Tuesday I never left the house. Why? It was cold and windy and I just didn't have it in me to deal with it. I spent the day on the phone, on the internet, and just generally putzing around the house. Monday, I don't remember what it was that kept me from the library, oh, a doctor appointment, that was it.
Thanksgiving, I know, isn't for a couple of weeks. But, at least to my way of thinking, any day, every day really, can and should be a day to be thankful. This Sunday I'm not going to be able to talk with you all day because that's when a goodly number of my friends are gathering at my house to have our own Thanksgiving. I bought an almost 22 lb. turkey, it's defrosting (I hope!) as we speak. Side dishes will be the usual--dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberries, rolls. Dessert is two pies, pumpkin and pecan, and my friend is bringing them.
I'm really looking forward to this dinner. I am thankful to have such close friends and it's going to be fun to celebrate with them. This is the crew I always have Thanksgiving with.
On the state sanctioned official Thanksgiving Day I will be with family, well a faction of them, at the clubhouse of my one aunt's apartment building. Family members are coming in from all over the US--California, Mississippi, Indiana, etc.--so that makes it like a mini family reunion. I wasn't going to go, I'd rather hang with my other family, my friends, but, as my favorite uncle pointed out, I didn't go to the big reunion in Mississippi this past summer (who in their right mind goes to Mississippi in July????), nor did I go to the other big reunion in Michigan City this past summer. How many opportunities does one have to get with their whole family, he said, better take advantage of it.....so I'm going. On the plus side, this aunt lives nearby, in the suburbs, not in the hood, and for that I am truly grateful. I am not a big fan of the inner city of Detroit, and even less a fan when I have to venture there. Call me a scaredy cat if you want to, sticks and stones and names don't bother me, safety is a big concern to me.
Well, I guess that's it for todays ramblings (smile). I still have a few more places to get to before I head home. Sure hope you call today, I love talking with you!
Be good and be careful, stay strong,
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
Yesterday it was a trip to Sam's Club. I can get in there early, any time after 7am, because I have a business membership. While I wasn't there right at 7am, not because my heart wasn't in it but because by the time I take a shower and dry my hair (it's cold here now, although nowheres near as cold as it's going to get before winter is finished)and get the truck warmed up, well, it's getting close to 8:30am. So anyway, I was looking to buy a new mattress for my bed. I figured odds were good I could get a fair price for a good mattress at one of the warehouse stores, Sam's or Costco, with Sam's being my first choice since I can get in there early before the masses arrive.
There were four different grades of mattresses in queen size. I sort of felt like the princess and the pea, remember that fairy tale? as I streteched out on each one. Thing was, the 2 grade, the least expensive, was too flimsy. It didn't strike confidence in me that it would last more than a year, at best. Grades 3 and 4, moderately priced, they were too soft. I don't want a mattress I sink into. Now grade 5, ooooh that was a comfy one! But it was in the mid-$500 range, plus another hundred for a new box spring, and I just wasn't looking to spend that kind of money,
When I get a chance I'm going to Costco, yes, I have a membership there too, and check out their mattresses. And if nothing suites me there then it's off to a mattress store. But I seriously need a new mattress. Mine is over 10 years old, sort of saggy, and it's no wonder I don't get a good nights sleep and I wake up sore and achy.
Tuesday I never left the house. Why? It was cold and windy and I just didn't have it in me to deal with it. I spent the day on the phone, on the internet, and just generally putzing around the house. Monday, I don't remember what it was that kept me from the library, oh, a doctor appointment, that was it.
Thanksgiving, I know, isn't for a couple of weeks. But, at least to my way of thinking, any day, every day really, can and should be a day to be thankful. This Sunday I'm not going to be able to talk with you all day because that's when a goodly number of my friends are gathering at my house to have our own Thanksgiving. I bought an almost 22 lb. turkey, it's defrosting (I hope!) as we speak. Side dishes will be the usual--dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberries, rolls. Dessert is two pies, pumpkin and pecan, and my friend is bringing them.
I'm really looking forward to this dinner. I am thankful to have such close friends and it's going to be fun to celebrate with them. This is the crew I always have Thanksgiving with.
On the state sanctioned official Thanksgiving Day I will be with family, well a faction of them, at the clubhouse of my one aunt's apartment building. Family members are coming in from all over the US--California, Mississippi, Indiana, etc.--so that makes it like a mini family reunion. I wasn't going to go, I'd rather hang with my other family, my friends, but, as my favorite uncle pointed out, I didn't go to the big reunion in Mississippi this past summer (who in their right mind goes to Mississippi in July????), nor did I go to the other big reunion in Michigan City this past summer. How many opportunities does one have to get with their whole family, he said, better take advantage of it.....so I'm going. On the plus side, this aunt lives nearby, in the suburbs, not in the hood, and for that I am truly grateful. I am not a big fan of the inner city of Detroit, and even less a fan when I have to venture there. Call me a scaredy cat if you want to, sticks and stones and names don't bother me, safety is a big concern to me.
Well, I guess that's it for todays ramblings (smile). I still have a few more places to get to before I head home. Sure hope you call today, I love talking with you!
Be good and be careful, stay strong,
Tawny
www.tawnyford.com
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