Update to the Ongoing Saga

Remember how I once said people who are ill just love to talk about their illness(es)? I guess I'm no different than them. In fact, I guess I am one of 'them' because here I go talking about my ailments (smile).

A few weeks ago I ended up at the doctor on an unplanned visit. I'd noticed a lump or a bump behind my left ear, and a swelling on my neck on that same side. At first I didn't think anything of it, I mean who doesn't have lumps and bumps every now and again? But when the one behind my ear got to hurting, so much so that it was really uncomfortable to wear my reading glasses, well, I called the doctor.

I was hoping to score an appointment the next week, she's really busy so even that was going to be a challenge, but when I explained why I wanted the appointment I heard COME NOW!

So there I was getting all poked and prodded about forty-five minutes later. She even drew about a gallon of my blood. 'Look', she said, 'don't worry about this until I tell you to worry about it, okay?' Worry? Me? I hadn't been a bit worried until she told me not to worry!

The doctor gave me a prescription for some kick-ass antibiotics, told me to take 2,000 milligrams of them each day, come back if it wasn't gone in two weeks and then she'd run a CT-scan and do a biopsy, etc.

Thankfully within two days the pain behind my ear was a thing of the past. That meant I could wear my glasses and get back to reading!

HSM had loaned me four books that I was yearning to dig into--the Dexter saga! You know, from the Showtime series? Dexter? The sensitive serial killer?

Within a week and a half the lumps and bumps were all gone. I don't know what caused it but I'm thankful as can be that it's history.

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

Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

School Is In Session

It's been more than a little while since we've had Tawny's Cooking
School and today just feels right somehow to have a session.

Okay, I'm gong to explain how to make a Banana Pudding. First off, this isn't a traditional Banana Pudding. Your Mamaw down in Alabama would be appalled at this method, unless she's thoroughly modern and is tired of standing over a hot stove to make one (smile).

Ingredients:

2 packages (3.4 ounces each) vanilla instant pudding

3 cups cold milk

1 (8-ounce) container Cool Whip whipped topping (or the store brand where you shop)

1 large box of vanilla wafers

At least 6 good-sized ripe bananas

In a good-sized mixing bowl add the milk and vanilla pudding. Whip with electric mixer at medium speed until it's nice and thick.

Fold in the container of whipped topping. Make sure it's all mixed together.

Peel and then slice, medium thickness, your bananas.

Line a fairly good size glass bowl or glass pan with a layer of vanilla wafers. Then:

Add a layer of sliced bananas.
Add a layer of pudding mixture.
Add a layer of vanilla wafers.
Add a layer of sliced bananas.
Add a layer of pudding mixture.

And you keep going like this until you either run out of bananas and pudding or your bowl is full, ending with vanilla wafers on the top.

Cover with a lid or saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
Overnight is best but sometimes you just can't wait to eat it.

This is so good! And it's not super-duper sweet like the traditional ones are.

I made one of these this morning for dinner for tomorrow night. I'm roasting a turkey with all the trimmings and banana pudding will be the perfect dessert.

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

Hugs, Tawny
248-615-1300

Tired? Who's Tired?

Talk about tired. I think that's my new name. My new middle name. Tawny Tired Ford. Yeah, that's it.

I'm still not sleeping very well. It's after 3am and I've had maybe 45 minutes of shut eye all night. So far. It's the 'so far' that's keeping me going. I still have high hopes that I'll sleep tonight. Some time.

Nope, didn't nap all day. Wanted to be sure I'd be tired at bed time. Yeah, that worked well. Not.

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

hugs, Tawny

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Sometimes You're Right When You Don't Want To Be

Some time last year, probably in the Fall, I'm too lazy or I'd dig through the postings to find the exact blog entry, I told you about my cousin. The one that put her ravishingly beautiful 18 year old daughter out so she, the Mama, could move in with her latest man. And I said how my cousin's Mama had done it to her when she turned 18 because my aunt was afraid her man would prefer her daughter.

I'm not using any names in order to protect the guilty so I'm sorry if this all gets confusing for you.

The 18 year old that got put out, she's been working two jobs, neither one of the jobs provides very much income for her but she's unskilled labor. Each month she scrambles to make her apartment rent.

She had no high school diploma, no drivers liscense either. Her Mama didn't think they were all that important. She also had no clue how to live on her own. Thanks to my uncle she now has a drivers liscense, she took and passed her GED, she has a car my uncle bought for her so she's not waiting for busses at 2AM, and she's enrolled in a trade school (in addition to working her two jobs). Her life has promise.

Her Mama, true to form, has now left the man she dumped her daughter for. All of a sudden he's a freak, she can't stand him. Thing is, she was staying at his house so when she left him that meant she had no place to live.

Now the Mama is staying at her daughter's apartment. She doesn't work, doesn't contribute to the rent.

I think my cousin, the Mama, needs to have her ass kicked. First of all, you don't get rid of your child for a dick. And if you do, when it all falls apart, you don't go back and suck off the child you kicked to the curb.

My cousin can never keep a man. Or a job. She thinks she's so fly, so hot, that everybody owes her something. She's pushing 42 years old, dresses inappropriately for her age, not to mention immodestly (think hootchie mama) and hasn't got the good sense God gave her.

When she ditched her daughter I told her that must be some dick, hope it's all worth it. And I told her this wouldn't last. She hasn't een able to keep a man her whole life. I was right.

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

hugs, Tawny

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Sent on a phone using T9space.com

Winter Wonderland

This past Sunday it snowed big time here in the metro Detroit area. Ten inches! While some US cities are getting walloped like that on a fairly regular basis this season, that was our first. I was house bound until yesterday, Wednesday, because the city never got around to powing our street until late Tuesday. From the looks of the ruts my neighbors were getting out before the street was plowed, but they were also getting stuck a lot. My truck is lousy in snow, no weight in the back end (I never got around to putting the concrete step in the bed this winter), so I opted to stay home and avoid all that drama.

Last night the local weather forecasters predicted 1 to 3 inches before day break. It's going on 4am (the darn blood pressure med has me up in the middle of the night pretty much every night) and from where I'm siting on the couch looking out the picture window, well, it looks like there's almost 3 out there.

They are also calling for 3 to 6 inches tonight into Friday.

For the most part, because I'm self-employed and keep my cupboards and freezer stocked with groceries, I don't have to go out if I don't want to. That's a luxury I am thankful for.

But if you're not that fortunate, and you're getting snow like we are, make sure you dress warm and drive safe.

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

hugs, Tawny

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Sent on a phone using T9space.com