Normally I abhor the practice of blaming the victims, but tonight I feel I must cross that line. I am so pissed at all the East Coasters jumping in front of TV cameras and demanding Help Now! I am totally behind Governor Chris Christie, who told the people of his state: you were warned to evacuate. Those of you who ignored that warning and now need help? We're not sending anyone out in the DARK to go rescue you, and you'll just have to wait your turn to get water, blankets, gas, etc.
Honestly, people, Katrina was not that long ago. Did we learn nothing from that?
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Boo-boo Foot
My left foot is all black and blue, and so puffy I can't get my custom made orthotic shoe on it. In fact, I have trouble getting my Happy Feet slipper on it. And it hurts! I need to keep it compressed, but I can't get an Ace bandage to stay smoothly on my foot. (I'm very good at strapping and ankle, but how do you wrap the front of the foot, including the toes? I try to keep it elevated but I'm home alone with the two dogs while Wild Bill works 12 hour shifts the next few days.
Yesterday and today actually haven't been too bad, boredom-wise, because it's been raining. Tomorrow, though, it's going to bad. Real bad. Because the temps will be in the low 80's, the sun will be out and the dogs will want to play!
Yesterday and today actually haven't been too bad, boredom-wise, because it's been raining. Tomorrow, though, it's going to bad. Real bad. Because the temps will be in the low 80's, the sun will be out and the dogs will want to play!
Is an RV for me?
Wild Bill's favorite activity in the whole wide world is lawnmower racing. He belongs to the Michigan chapter of the US Lawn Mower Racing Association, and races all over the lower half of the lower peninsula as well as in nearby states such as Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Minnesota, Wisconsin and even Georgia once. I like to go with him when I can, but being a large, gimpy lady presents an odd, amusing, but nonetheless serious problem for me. Let's call it Potty Access.
Most races are held either in large fields with temporary tracks or else in fairgrounds with many fences. This limits my Potty Access to either porta-johns that are nearly impossible for me to use or to indoor flushies that are a quarter-mile away or more the way the crow flies--not including the zig-zagging one must do to get out of the pit area and past the spectator areas via the small, hard-to-spot gates and going against the flow of body traffic. Difficult for anyone who has trouble walking any distance, not to mention that the ground is usually very uneven at a fairgrounds or event center. Porta-johns? Forget it. They are rarely placed on level ground and usually any handicapped accessible units are placed only on the spectator side of the fence, not on the pit side. So it's not unusual for me to have to "hold it" for 9-12 hours on an event day. In my case, I not only have trouble walking--I had a kidney transplant 14 years ago, and I need to keep my kidney "flushed," for lack of a better term. I also need to be able to maintain a certain level of cleanliness. Not "bubble-boy" level but definitely higher than porta-john level!
I had hopes when we bought a used, enclosed trailer two years ago that we might get a camping toilet and stash it somewhere in the nose of the trailer, so I could quickly duck behind something, anything, and relieve myself 2-3 times per race day, but although it sounds easy in theory, it's harder to accomplish than one would think. Then we started looking at toy-haulers. Camping trailer in the front, cargo area in the back. Perfect, right?
Until we started looking at them up close and realized that many of them have you stash your "cargo" right in the sleeping area of the camper. Fold up the bed and voila! Room for your dirt bikes! We don't need to actually SLEEP in the trailer--unless Bill wants to save $$ by camping at the track instead of paying to sleep on a bedbug-ridden mattress in a sponsoring motel. To get one large enough to hold two racing mowers, however, would cost more than we can afford to spend and then would require a bigger truck to tow it!
But an RV now...we've looked at a few. We would like a smallish, used Class C that I can climb into fairly easily, and we think we've found one in the Fleetwood Tioga. Although we would have to construct our own step for me to go in and out of the camper portion, I can easily jump in and out of the passenger door of the cab and swing my legs around to stand up between the seats. The toilet is on a raised platform and is easy for me to use without having to add safety rails. It's a very small size. Behind the driver's seat is a dinette/sleeper, the fridge, some storage and the bathroom (sink, toilet, tub/shower). Behind the passenger seat is a swivel chair, the door, a rannge, kitchen sink, and the main bed. There is also sleeping space above the cab but I've no idea how a person could use it, ha ha!
So, a way to bring the dogs along, a place for me to rest, a way for us to bring food to the track instead of having to buy questionable fair food, and maybe I could rustle up some supper before we hit the road afterward? Shade (I think they all have awnings), and a potty! Plus we can use it at times we are not going to a race, if we care to take off for a weekend! Now all we have to do is educate ourselves on how to buy a used RV.
Fortunately THIS gimp can do a tiny bit of climbing with enough safety rails to pull myself up and in with!
Most races are held either in large fields with temporary tracks or else in fairgrounds with many fences. This limits my Potty Access to either porta-johns that are nearly impossible for me to use or to indoor flushies that are a quarter-mile away or more the way the crow flies--not including the zig-zagging one must do to get out of the pit area and past the spectator areas via the small, hard-to-spot gates and going against the flow of body traffic. Difficult for anyone who has trouble walking any distance, not to mention that the ground is usually very uneven at a fairgrounds or event center. Porta-johns? Forget it. They are rarely placed on level ground and usually any handicapped accessible units are placed only on the spectator side of the fence, not on the pit side. So it's not unusual for me to have to "hold it" for 9-12 hours on an event day. In my case, I not only have trouble walking--I had a kidney transplant 14 years ago, and I need to keep my kidney "flushed," for lack of a better term. I also need to be able to maintain a certain level of cleanliness. Not "bubble-boy" level but definitely higher than porta-john level!
I had hopes when we bought a used, enclosed trailer two years ago that we might get a camping toilet and stash it somewhere in the nose of the trailer, so I could quickly duck behind something, anything, and relieve myself 2-3 times per race day, but although it sounds easy in theory, it's harder to accomplish than one would think. Then we started looking at toy-haulers. Camping trailer in the front, cargo area in the back. Perfect, right?
Until we started looking at them up close and realized that many of them have you stash your "cargo" right in the sleeping area of the camper. Fold up the bed and voila! Room for your dirt bikes! We don't need to actually SLEEP in the trailer--unless Bill wants to save $$ by camping at the track instead of paying to sleep on a bedbug-ridden mattress in a sponsoring motel. To get one large enough to hold two racing mowers, however, would cost more than we can afford to spend and then would require a bigger truck to tow it!
But an RV now...we've looked at a few. We would like a smallish, used Class C that I can climb into fairly easily, and we think we've found one in the Fleetwood Tioga. Although we would have to construct our own step for me to go in and out of the camper portion, I can easily jump in and out of the passenger door of the cab and swing my legs around to stand up between the seats. The toilet is on a raised platform and is easy for me to use without having to add safety rails. It's a very small size. Behind the driver's seat is a dinette/sleeper, the fridge, some storage and the bathroom (sink, toilet, tub/shower). Behind the passenger seat is a swivel chair, the door, a rannge, kitchen sink, and the main bed. There is also sleeping space above the cab but I've no idea how a person could use it, ha ha!
So, a way to bring the dogs along, a place for me to rest, a way for us to bring food to the track instead of having to buy questionable fair food, and maybe I could rustle up some supper before we hit the road afterward? Shade (I think they all have awnings), and a potty! Plus we can use it at times we are not going to a race, if we care to take off for a weekend! Now all we have to do is educate ourselves on how to buy a used RV.
Fortunately THIS gimp can do a tiny bit of climbing with enough safety rails to pull myself up and in with!
Late Summer Sunday in St Helen
Today was the only day Wild Bill had off from work, and we decided that even though we had no one to go trail riding with, we'd drive over to St Helen and check it out. I'm so glad we did! We haven't been over there in years, and it's so different from what we remember!
St Helen is only an hour's drive away, down M-55 and Old 55. It seems to be a very complete small town, with a sparkling new grocery story emphasizing "fresh" foods, drug store, auto parts store, dollar store, power sports shop, storage yards, builders, eateries, and lots of Mom and Pop-style motels and cottages. The outsides of these places all seemed well mowed, trimmed and painted, suggesting that business is thriving, and why shouldn't it be? Most of their clientele consists of dirt bike and ATV riders, perhaps a few visitors to Kirkland Community College, maybe some hunters in the fall, and snowmobile riders in the winter. A room or cabin need not be fancy, just clean with a comfy bed, a shower, heat and a/c and a convenient location, and I'm sure most, if not all of these places provide it! Also there is a bare-bones place to park your camper or RV right across the road from one of the main trail heads--what could be more convenient?
It was fun seeing all the ATV's, side-by-sides and golf carts toodling down the sides of the streets in town! Although the day was chilly with a few short showers here and there, people were out and about enjoying the day. Most of the businesses were open, as should happen in a town that draws many tourists! After stopping at the very friendly St Helen Power Sports to buy a map and ask a lot of questions, it was time for lunch. We passed the Hen House and the Peach Pit and chose the Firehouse Bar and Grill. They were hosting a party of some kind on the fireplace side so we ate in the bar side. I suggest you bring a small flashlight to read the menu because it's very dark, especially on such a cloudy day. But the food is great, as is the service. The decor is what I'd call "firehouse chic," as opposed to being so over-the-top that it's distractingly tacky. The waitress station at the bar has a sign that warns patrons to stand back 500 feet and there are a few fire truck touches but no obnoxious flashing red lights, sirens or bells. Drums in a corner and a dance floor indicate life music, Friday night "bonfires" (we guess in the other side, where the fireplace is) and reference to a Saturday night "foam party" indicate lively entertainment. But on a Sunday afternoon, parents with kids filled the booths along the walls and middle-aged men lined the bar watching the Tigers game on the big-screen TV's. There is an old fire truck parked at the north end of the parking lot, looking dusty and retired, and we wondered if they get it running for local parades or the yearly Firemen's Memorial Ceremony in Roscommon, a few miles away.
Other things we noticed about St Helen included the Charlton Heston Academy. At first I chuckled and said this must be where all the local gun-hunters send their kids to school, but then I remembered that Charlton Heston did frequent this part of Michigan "back in the day." I've seen photos of him, along with some of his Hollywood friends, at a small ski resort in Ogemaw County. A Google search confirmed that he is, indeed, from the St Helen area and inherited a Christmas tree farm near there when his parents passed away. The Academy is slated to open right after Labor Day this September.
Now the parts that make St Helen worthy of praise from the Gimp: in a word, the town is LEVEL. Hardly any steps or stairs to be seen anywhere. If you can get around on an ATV, UTV, golf cart or snowmobile, you can enjoy this town in exactly the same way as everyone else! Sidewalks and parking lots are even, curbs are low. Locals are used to seeing out-of-towners and are friendly and welcoming, unlike some tourist towns that we won't mention today.
Bottom line: if you love the outdoors and have some mobility issues, there's a good chance St Helen is the answer to your search!
St Helen is only an hour's drive away, down M-55 and Old 55. It seems to be a very complete small town, with a sparkling new grocery story emphasizing "fresh" foods, drug store, auto parts store, dollar store, power sports shop, storage yards, builders, eateries, and lots of Mom and Pop-style motels and cottages. The outsides of these places all seemed well mowed, trimmed and painted, suggesting that business is thriving, and why shouldn't it be? Most of their clientele consists of dirt bike and ATV riders, perhaps a few visitors to Kirkland Community College, maybe some hunters in the fall, and snowmobile riders in the winter. A room or cabin need not be fancy, just clean with a comfy bed, a shower, heat and a/c and a convenient location, and I'm sure most, if not all of these places provide it! Also there is a bare-bones place to park your camper or RV right across the road from one of the main trail heads--what could be more convenient?
It was fun seeing all the ATV's, side-by-sides and golf carts toodling down the sides of the streets in town! Although the day was chilly with a few short showers here and there, people were out and about enjoying the day. Most of the businesses were open, as should happen in a town that draws many tourists! After stopping at the very friendly St Helen Power Sports to buy a map and ask a lot of questions, it was time for lunch. We passed the Hen House and the Peach Pit and chose the Firehouse Bar and Grill. They were hosting a party of some kind on the fireplace side so we ate in the bar side. I suggest you bring a small flashlight to read the menu because it's very dark, especially on such a cloudy day. But the food is great, as is the service. The decor is what I'd call "firehouse chic," as opposed to being so over-the-top that it's distractingly tacky. The waitress station at the bar has a sign that warns patrons to stand back 500 feet and there are a few fire truck touches but no obnoxious flashing red lights, sirens or bells. Drums in a corner and a dance floor indicate life music, Friday night "bonfires" (we guess in the other side, where the fireplace is) and reference to a Saturday night "foam party" indicate lively entertainment. But on a Sunday afternoon, parents with kids filled the booths along the walls and middle-aged men lined the bar watching the Tigers game on the big-screen TV's. There is an old fire truck parked at the north end of the parking lot, looking dusty and retired, and we wondered if they get it running for local parades or the yearly Firemen's Memorial Ceremony in Roscommon, a few miles away.
Other things we noticed about St Helen included the Charlton Heston Academy. At first I chuckled and said this must be where all the local gun-hunters send their kids to school, but then I remembered that Charlton Heston did frequent this part of Michigan "back in the day." I've seen photos of him, along with some of his Hollywood friends, at a small ski resort in Ogemaw County. A Google search confirmed that he is, indeed, from the St Helen area and inherited a Christmas tree farm near there when his parents passed away. The Academy is slated to open right after Labor Day this September.
Now the parts that make St Helen worthy of praise from the Gimp: in a word, the town is LEVEL. Hardly any steps or stairs to be seen anywhere. If you can get around on an ATV, UTV, golf cart or snowmobile, you can enjoy this town in exactly the same way as everyone else! Sidewalks and parking lots are even, curbs are low. Locals are used to seeing out-of-towners and are friendly and welcoming, unlike some tourist towns that we won't mention today.
Bottom line: if you love the outdoors and have some mobility issues, there's a good chance St Helen is the answer to your search!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
You're Only As Fat As You Feel
Lately I've been forgetting that I'm fat.
I don't know when it started, or how, but my size is becoming less and less of an issue. Sometimes it catches me by surprise when I see my reflection and realize I'm still a size 2X from the waist up!
I think there are several causes for this forgetfulness. One is, I'm getting older and growing senile.
Second, the adaptive changes I've made to my environment are paying off, and I'm getting around and doing day-to-day activities with more energy and less pain. So perhaps my subconscious lumps my weight problem in with my disability, and my more "normal" feelings somehow include a "normal" size as well.
Thirdly, I have had some very vivid dreams this summer, probably due to the heat and the "upside down" schedule the dogs and I are keeping. I'm not doing anything bizarre in my dreams--rather, I'm going to work or taking classes or somehow maintaining regular daily activities. In my dreams, I'm either a "normal" size or my heaviness is never a problem.
I think I'll be in for a shock Monday when I weigh in at the doctor's.
I don't know when it started, or how, but my size is becoming less and less of an issue. Sometimes it catches me by surprise when I see my reflection and realize I'm still a size 2X from the waist up!
I think there are several causes for this forgetfulness. One is, I'm getting older and growing senile.
Second, the adaptive changes I've made to my environment are paying off, and I'm getting around and doing day-to-day activities with more energy and less pain. So perhaps my subconscious lumps my weight problem in with my disability, and my more "normal" feelings somehow include a "normal" size as well.
Thirdly, I have had some very vivid dreams this summer, probably due to the heat and the "upside down" schedule the dogs and I are keeping. I'm not doing anything bizarre in my dreams--rather, I'm going to work or taking classes or somehow maintaining regular daily activities. In my dreams, I'm either a "normal" size or my heaviness is never a problem.
I think I'll be in for a shock Monday when I weigh in at the doctor's.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Young American Idiots
For a 50+ year old with no kids, I seem to have acquired a lot of young Facebook and Twitter friends and followers. Have I mentioned lately how much I dislike children? Anyway, I can't figure out why these young idiots feel the need to post their thoughts online, because they have so few of their own! With few exceptions, their statuses are something copied from somewhere else, either song lyrics that don't apply to them, unattributed "quotations" that aren't as wise as the child thinks they are, declarations of love or pain on the loss of the boy or girl they've been "in a relationship" with for less than two weeks,.or photos or videos they are "sharing."
Some days like today, I'll be in a perfectly good mood, but I'll read something that I SWEAR is calculated to reward me with a one-way ticket to hell. I have this intense urge to reply to these statuses (statusi?) and point out how dumb they are. My mature side prevents me from doing this, but I have to reply somewhere. So since no one reads my blogs anyway, why not here?
So in no particular order, here we go!
AW:
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game
Some days like today, I'll be in a perfectly good mood, but I'll read something that I SWEAR is calculated to reward me with a one-way ticket to hell. I have this intense urge to reply to these statuses (statusi?) and point out how dumb they are. My mature side prevents me from doing this, but I have to reply somewhere. So since no one reads my blogs anyway, why not here?
So in no particular order, here we go!
AW:
Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
East Tawas, Michigan
East Tawas is a GREAT town to take Grandma and/or Grandpa to! The sidewalks are evenly paved with bricks, making it easy to walk or roll over, but textured enough to not be slippery. ALL of the shops, and businesses we encountered today on Newman Street, the "main drag" were easily accessible with my rolling walker, although some were a bit of a tight fit. Elevators are available for the second floor spaces, and public restrooms are plentiful and clearly marked. I would avoid Norman's, the big green monstrosity on the corner of Newman and Bay Streets, however. It's cluttered enough to be a fire hazard.
Besides Newman Street, the state dock and adjoining day-use park are also easy to get to and pleasant. There is also a sidewalk along the bay side of US-23 from East Tawas all the way back to Tawas City, with many benches along the way if you need to stop and rest.
Several of the East Tawas eateries have outdoor dining available. Just today we noticed G's Pizzeria, Marion's Dairy Bar, Barnacle Bill's and Jacks's with outdoor seating. It was just a touch on the chilly side today, though, so only Marion's actually had diners outdoors. But we did notice on Newman Street several of the decorative benches were occupied, as people enjoyed the weather and visited.
We were excited to see that several of the "gift shops" carried unique items that you just don't find in your run-of-the-mill tourist trap shops. Our favorite stop of the day was Brew Crew. My sister was intrigued by several series of unique figurines. One group was some freaky frogs, and another series were just regular people. I fell in LOVE with a mirror/art piece that I thought would be great to put on the wall of the living room to serve as a "last glance" before heading out or a place to fix your hair when you took your hat off. BUT it was over $90 so I had to pass. I did buy a bag of cherry dog treats, made in Michigan, not China, so I feel perfectly safe feeding them to my beloveds.
The other side of the store sold wine and wine-related items, spice mixtures, bottled sauces, and spiffy kitchen tools. They had a section of Michigan wines, and I was delighted to be shown two labels I'd never heard of before. The staff were all so helpful and knowledgeable; a real pleasure to browse!
There were at least two antiques shops on the main drag, and who doesn't love antiques? There is also a small restaurant on US-23 between Tawas City and East Tawas called Augie's On The Bay. Good "home cooking" type place with a wonderful view!
Bottom line, take Grandpa fishing at the state dock, Grandma to the antique store, and on a hot Saturday afternoon take them to the matinee at the Family Theater. In the evenings, look for shows at the Playhouse, band concerts at the park, or for a drive out to Tawas Point or Lumberman's Monument/Iargo Springs when the wildlife starts stirring before dusk. I'm sorry I have no idea about the accessibility of any of the family-owned motels or cabins, but there are several chain motels between the Tawases and Oscoda.
Besides Newman Street, the state dock and adjoining day-use park are also easy to get to and pleasant. There is also a sidewalk along the bay side of US-23 from East Tawas all the way back to Tawas City, with many benches along the way if you need to stop and rest.
Several of the East Tawas eateries have outdoor dining available. Just today we noticed G's Pizzeria, Marion's Dairy Bar, Barnacle Bill's and Jacks's with outdoor seating. It was just a touch on the chilly side today, though, so only Marion's actually had diners outdoors. But we did notice on Newman Street several of the decorative benches were occupied, as people enjoyed the weather and visited.
We were excited to see that several of the "gift shops" carried unique items that you just don't find in your run-of-the-mill tourist trap shops. Our favorite stop of the day was Brew Crew. My sister was intrigued by several series of unique figurines. One group was some freaky frogs, and another series were just regular people. I fell in LOVE with a mirror/art piece that I thought would be great to put on the wall of the living room to serve as a "last glance" before heading out or a place to fix your hair when you took your hat off. BUT it was over $90 so I had to pass. I did buy a bag of cherry dog treats, made in Michigan, not China, so I feel perfectly safe feeding them to my beloveds.
The other side of the store sold wine and wine-related items, spice mixtures, bottled sauces, and spiffy kitchen tools. They had a section of Michigan wines, and I was delighted to be shown two labels I'd never heard of before. The staff were all so helpful and knowledgeable; a real pleasure to browse!
There were at least two antiques shops on the main drag, and who doesn't love antiques? There is also a small restaurant on US-23 between Tawas City and East Tawas called Augie's On The Bay. Good "home cooking" type place with a wonderful view!
Bottom line, take Grandpa fishing at the state dock, Grandma to the antique store, and on a hot Saturday afternoon take them to the matinee at the Family Theater. In the evenings, look for shows at the Playhouse, band concerts at the park, or for a drive out to Tawas Point or Lumberman's Monument/Iargo Springs when the wildlife starts stirring before dusk. I'm sorry I have no idea about the accessibility of any of the family-owned motels or cabins, but there are several chain motels between the Tawases and Oscoda.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Downtown Mt Pleasant
One of my many physical weaknesses involves my vision. I am completely blind in my right eye. The left eye has a narrow field of vision, does not see colors the same way other people do, and is sensitive to bright light. Having sight in only one eye makes depth perception difficult, and 3-D movies are wasted on me. Then there's the whole problem with driving.
I love driving on wide-open two lane highways through farmland. I generally don't mind driving 25 mph through residential neighborhoods in town. But freeways, particularly in heavy traffic; busy city traffic; driving after dark; and driving through wooded areas where you drive in and out of the sunlight is difficult for me and makes me very nervous. And since nearly everywhere I might want or need to drive involves traveling east to get there and west to get home, or at least part of the trip is, I prefer to make appointments in early afternoon to avoid driving into the sun when it's low on the horizon.
My LEAST favorite place to drive is Mt Pleasant. Mission Road makes even my friends from metro Detroit cringe to drive. Downtown is peppered with one-way streets, stop signs along streets lined with parallel parked cars. Also the city is densely populated with young, silly adults, especially during the school semesters, and these people tend to step of the curb into traffic, ride their bicycles erratically and drive out of side streets with little or no regard to traffic many times more often than old people drive into farmer's markets.
So! Yesterday I drove into downtown Mt Pleasant for my first visit to my new shrink, Lynn. Downtown meaning almost right on Broadway, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. There is much more free parking downtown than I anticipated, and there is a good sized lot right across the street from Lynn's office. The downtown sidewalks are very smooth and have sloped curbs with some kind of anti-slip texturing at each corner. Lynn's building is easy to get into, as well--no steps, stairs or steep slopes, and the door stays open when you swing it open.
I'm looking forward to visiting downtown Mt Pleasant a few times per month during the summer. Maybe I'll do a bit of "spinorting" before and/or after each visit. It looks very handicap and foot traffic friendly from what I've seen. I know the theater is easy to navigate, but there are other buildings like Gray's furniture that are impossible for the differently-abled. As I find out more, I'll report on it.
I love driving on wide-open two lane highways through farmland. I generally don't mind driving 25 mph through residential neighborhoods in town. But freeways, particularly in heavy traffic; busy city traffic; driving after dark; and driving through wooded areas where you drive in and out of the sunlight is difficult for me and makes me very nervous. And since nearly everywhere I might want or need to drive involves traveling east to get there and west to get home, or at least part of the trip is, I prefer to make appointments in early afternoon to avoid driving into the sun when it's low on the horizon.
My LEAST favorite place to drive is Mt Pleasant. Mission Road makes even my friends from metro Detroit cringe to drive. Downtown is peppered with one-way streets, stop signs along streets lined with parallel parked cars. Also the city is densely populated with young, silly adults, especially during the school semesters, and these people tend to step of the curb into traffic, ride their bicycles erratically and drive out of side streets with little or no regard to traffic many times more often than old people drive into farmer's markets.
So! Yesterday I drove into downtown Mt Pleasant for my first visit to my new shrink, Lynn. Downtown meaning almost right on Broadway, and it wasn't nearly as bad as I feared. There is much more free parking downtown than I anticipated, and there is a good sized lot right across the street from Lynn's office. The downtown sidewalks are very smooth and have sloped curbs with some kind of anti-slip texturing at each corner. Lynn's building is easy to get into, as well--no steps, stairs or steep slopes, and the door stays open when you swing it open.
I'm looking forward to visiting downtown Mt Pleasant a few times per month during the summer. Maybe I'll do a bit of "spinorting" before and/or after each visit. It looks very handicap and foot traffic friendly from what I've seen. I know the theater is easy to navigate, but there are other buildings like Gray's furniture that are impossible for the differently-abled. As I find out more, I'll report on it.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
I'm BAAAAAAAACK!
I stopped blogging for a few months because I busied myself with animal rescue efforts. But now that my page is established I needn't treat it like a full-time job anymore.
But I have some news on the Gimpfront! If you need to take Grandma, Grandpa, or any differently-abled loved one somewhere nice, take them to Gladwin! Start with the city park, with their nicely paved trails along the shady river. A person with a rolling walker, a motorized scooter or a manual wheelchair can easily stroll along the riverbank. Many benches are provided if you need a lot of rest breaks. The sound of the river is soothing and drowns out the traffic on M-61.
Need a relaxing lunch or dinner? Head across the street to Riverwalk Place. The parking lot features easy parking with amply handicap spaces near the front door. The entire parking lot is on level with the front door, and the Riverwalk Grill entrance is on the same level. They feature everything from daintily delectable salads to hearty full meals, have Sunday dinner buffets and special buffet dinners available for holidays such as upcoming Mother's Day. Some of the seating is on an upper level, but the same-level seating is along the window side. You can call ahead and let them know you have a party with one or more member who can't use stairs, and they will happily have a window table waiting for you. But if you are merely going for a weekday lunch, you won't even need to call ahead.
After lunch, the women of your party may wish to visit the Oasis Salon and Spa--and you need appointments for this. The spa offers the usual massages, body treatments, and soaks; facials; pedicures, and a variety of packages to choose from. The Salon can work wonders on your hair, give you a makeover, and teach you how to keep it all up yourself at home. Although most people use the wide, elegant stairway to reach the Oasis on the second floor, there is also an elevator for those who need it.
Riverwalk Place offers weekend, overnight, golf, and girls-only packages that take advantage of the condos, hotel rooms, the grill and the spa. The prices may seem high, but in terms of what you get, they are worth it for special occasions! I was there twice in April to have my hair styled (finally! I got the cut I've been wanting for years!), and colored (much more "natural" and believable than the color job I had from another business last year!); and later for a spa afternoon. I have another hair appointment a few days before my birthday in May, and plan to take my sister there for her 50th birthday.
But I have some news on the Gimpfront! If you need to take Grandma, Grandpa, or any differently-abled loved one somewhere nice, take them to Gladwin! Start with the city park, with their nicely paved trails along the shady river. A person with a rolling walker, a motorized scooter or a manual wheelchair can easily stroll along the riverbank. Many benches are provided if you need a lot of rest breaks. The sound of the river is soothing and drowns out the traffic on M-61.
Need a relaxing lunch or dinner? Head across the street to Riverwalk Place. The parking lot features easy parking with amply handicap spaces near the front door. The entire parking lot is on level with the front door, and the Riverwalk Grill entrance is on the same level. They feature everything from daintily delectable salads to hearty full meals, have Sunday dinner buffets and special buffet dinners available for holidays such as upcoming Mother's Day. Some of the seating is on an upper level, but the same-level seating is along the window side. You can call ahead and let them know you have a party with one or more member who can't use stairs, and they will happily have a window table waiting for you. But if you are merely going for a weekday lunch, you won't even need to call ahead.
After lunch, the women of your party may wish to visit the Oasis Salon and Spa--and you need appointments for this. The spa offers the usual massages, body treatments, and soaks; facials; pedicures, and a variety of packages to choose from. The Salon can work wonders on your hair, give you a makeover, and teach you how to keep it all up yourself at home. Although most people use the wide, elegant stairway to reach the Oasis on the second floor, there is also an elevator for those who need it.
Riverwalk Place offers weekend, overnight, golf, and girls-only packages that take advantage of the condos, hotel rooms, the grill and the spa. The prices may seem high, but in terms of what you get, they are worth it for special occasions! I was there twice in April to have my hair styled (finally! I got the cut I've been wanting for years!), and colored (much more "natural" and believable than the color job I had from another business last year!); and later for a spa afternoon. I have another hair appointment a few days before my birthday in May, and plan to take my sister there for her 50th birthday.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
I'm A Heartless, Cruel Wife!
A few days ago Bill got off the phone with one of his lawnmower buddies and said, "I don't want to go to Florida. It takes about 24 hours to get there, then you're racing for two days and come right back."
Now, no one was saying he HAD to go, but he had a few friends that were making it sound tempting. And after almost 20 years of being with Bill, I know that if he out of the blue says "I don't want to," it usually means we DOES want to!
So it was no surprise when I got home yesterday and his first words were, "I've decided to go to Florida!" After teasing him a bit about his Florida "vacation" and how I deserve one so much more than he does, I told him there were just a few things he needed to do before he went. He needed to line someone up to plow the driveway and shovel the ramp for me if it snowed while he was gone, because I can't afford to be trapped here and can't plow or shovel myself. The second thing was someone needed to get the trash can out to the road Sunday night or Monday morning, because there again I'm physically unable to do it. And the third thing was,he needed to find someone to exercise his dog every day. I do the best I can, and sometimes he misses a day of walking, but there's no way I can handle him if he goes six days straight without a walk!
Tonight he told me he "can't" go because he'll never find anyone to plow the drive or walk the dog. I can't believe it, in this economy? This morning half the vehicles I saw driving through Harrison were trucks with plows on the front! I'm sure at least ONE would be willing to pick up an extra customer for one weekend! The same with Jerry - - he is fun to play with, for someone who is familiar with big dogs.
So I guess I better be ready to hear him say over and over again that the reason why he's not going is because "my wife won't let me go." This is so unfair, because I don't care if he goes or not! I'm so used to him being gone, I rarely miss him anymore! But I think it's unfair of him to keep gallivanting off having fun with his friends and leaving me in dire straights like this. He NEEDS to start taking my safety into consideration! How can anyone with any kind of brain at all think that this behavior is in any way okay???? I just don't understand him at all, how he can be so thoughtless and so resentful when I point out the obvious to him!
Now, no one was saying he HAD to go, but he had a few friends that were making it sound tempting. And after almost 20 years of being with Bill, I know that if he out of the blue says "I don't want to," it usually means we DOES want to!
So it was no surprise when I got home yesterday and his first words were, "I've decided to go to Florida!" After teasing him a bit about his Florida "vacation" and how I deserve one so much more than he does, I told him there were just a few things he needed to do before he went. He needed to line someone up to plow the driveway and shovel the ramp for me if it snowed while he was gone, because I can't afford to be trapped here and can't plow or shovel myself. The second thing was someone needed to get the trash can out to the road Sunday night or Monday morning, because there again I'm physically unable to do it. And the third thing was,he needed to find someone to exercise his dog every day. I do the best I can, and sometimes he misses a day of walking, but there's no way I can handle him if he goes six days straight without a walk!
Tonight he told me he "can't" go because he'll never find anyone to plow the drive or walk the dog. I can't believe it, in this economy? This morning half the vehicles I saw driving through Harrison were trucks with plows on the front! I'm sure at least ONE would be willing to pick up an extra customer for one weekend! The same with Jerry - - he is fun to play with, for someone who is familiar with big dogs.
So I guess I better be ready to hear him say over and over again that the reason why he's not going is because "my wife won't let me go." This is so unfair, because I don't care if he goes or not! I'm so used to him being gone, I rarely miss him anymore! But I think it's unfair of him to keep gallivanting off having fun with his friends and leaving me in dire straights like this. He NEEDS to start taking my safety into consideration! How can anyone with any kind of brain at all think that this behavior is in any way okay???? I just don't understand him at all, how he can be so thoughtless and so resentful when I point out the obvious to him!
Friday, January 20, 2012
Rescued! Is My Favorite Breed!
I've always wanted to do work with pet adoptions; work with a rescue group or shelter in some way. But with my physical gimpiness and my immune deficiency, it wasn't very feasible. If I put myself in a position to be knocked down, bitten, generally be in contact with an infected or diseased animal or its feces, I was just asking for trouble.
But last summer I joined a Facebook group called Rescued! Is My Favorite Breed. Basically they had some cute designs and slogans for tee shirts and bumper stickers, and if a particular rescue group wanted to use their products as fundraisers it was a match made in heaven. If you bought a certain minimum number of shirts, they could even design one specifically for your rescue group.
I thought the designs were pretty cool, so I ordered shirts for my kidney walk team, to set us apart from the other walkers. Also I helped them update their national directory in December, and spread the word to California rescue groups about their latest sweepstakes, yay me.
Today the group started making new pages for each state and signing on admins, so naturally I volunteered for the Michigan page! So I've found a way to promote animal adoption and be involved in pet rescue without putting myself at risk! Feeling pretty good about myself today!
But last summer I joined a Facebook group called Rescued! Is My Favorite Breed. Basically they had some cute designs and slogans for tee shirts and bumper stickers, and if a particular rescue group wanted to use their products as fundraisers it was a match made in heaven. If you bought a certain minimum number of shirts, they could even design one specifically for your rescue group.
I thought the designs were pretty cool, so I ordered shirts for my kidney walk team, to set us apart from the other walkers. Also I helped them update their national directory in December, and spread the word to California rescue groups about their latest sweepstakes, yay me.
Today the group started making new pages for each state and signing on admins, so naturally I volunteered for the Michigan page! So I've found a way to promote animal adoption and be involved in pet rescue without putting myself at risk! Feeling pretty good about myself today!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Volunteer Success!
Over the past week, I did some volunteer social networking for "Rescued! Is My Favorite Breed" regarding a sweepstakes sponsored by Woofsticks. The winner was to receive a Woofstick dog toy package and the rescue group of their choice was given $200. The winning group was one that I contacted and heard back from a few nights ago, yay me! If I thought Cooper or Jerry would play with a Woofstick, I'd order them one in celebration!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Boots
I am so mad at Jerry today I could spit! This morning he ran out the doggie door with one of my boots, and I had to go out in my robe and slippers to retrieve it. Later while I was busy doing laundry, he stole the OTHER boot, and dropped it in the deep snow near the fence. Cooper went out and sniffed it but did not bring it in to me. There is nothing in the house I can put on my feet to wade through the snow to fetch it, so there it sits, being snowed upon, waiting for Wild Bill to get home from work tonight. I gave him so much attention yesterday and today, and this is how he repays me! Meanwhile, the first boot is in my bathroom, door closed, laying on its side next to the heat vent. Maybe some day it will dry.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Notice: I'm Not The One Burned
In my dream this morning, I discovered that Mom and Dad had bought a cottage in Sugar Springs and never got a chance to live in it, or tell us about it. I drove over to check it out and found Michael Westin (of Burn Notice) and Fiona there, but not Sam. I knew who they were because I follow their exploits on TV, but they didn't know me; alas, they'd never read my blog or followed me on Facebook! About the time I discovered the two "intruders" in my vacant cottage, they were realizing Michael's secret hiding place (the cottage) had been "compromised" and the terrorist villains were on their way! I look in a file cabinet drawer, the cabinet being the only piece of furniture in the whole house, and luckily there's my dad's handgun. I am free to carry this gun with me because I am now familiar with Michigan's Open Carry Law. (Nevermind that the gun is not registered to me, it's a dream, remember?)
Michael and Fi left in a hurry in their Plymouth Fury (go ahead, say that out loud, it's fun!), leaving me behind to deal with the bad guys. When they surrounded the cottage and pounded on my door, I decided to mistake them for potential buyers of the cottage, and that the Michael Westin they were talking about must be a realtor, but no realtor had contacted me. "I only just now arrived, you see, and until about a day or so ago, I didn't even know about this house...are you interested in buying? It's been empty for a long time, so I'll make you a good deal on it...."
Later, I'm in a bigger city, and I come across Michael and Fi again, still running from the bad guys. I invite them to come with me into a nearby highrise building, where I'm about to look up a new dentist. After all, who would look for Michael Westin in a dentist's office, with his big white perfect teeth?
I must have started waking up then because that's all I can recall about the dream's events. But I had my "old" body back, the young, lean, fit body I had all through my 20's, plus a self-confidence I have NEVER had at any time in my life. I was confident in my looks, in my shooting ability, in my running speed and endurance, and my ability to out-think a bad guy. This dream was almost as good as the dreams I used to have about my ability to fly!
Michael and Fi left in a hurry in their Plymouth Fury (go ahead, say that out loud, it's fun!), leaving me behind to deal with the bad guys. When they surrounded the cottage and pounded on my door, I decided to mistake them for potential buyers of the cottage, and that the Michael Westin they were talking about must be a realtor, but no realtor had contacted me. "I only just now arrived, you see, and until about a day or so ago, I didn't even know about this house...are you interested in buying? It's been empty for a long time, so I'll make you a good deal on it...."
Later, I'm in a bigger city, and I come across Michael and Fi again, still running from the bad guys. I invite them to come with me into a nearby highrise building, where I'm about to look up a new dentist. After all, who would look for Michael Westin in a dentist's office, with his big white perfect teeth?
I must have started waking up then because that's all I can recall about the dream's events. But I had my "old" body back, the young, lean, fit body I had all through my 20's, plus a self-confidence I have NEVER had at any time in my life. I was confident in my looks, in my shooting ability, in my running speed and endurance, and my ability to out-think a bad guy. This dream was almost as good as the dreams I used to have about my ability to fly!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Gimps on the beach!
I heard some really great news for northern Michigan beach lovers this morning. The Disability Network of Northern Michigan (I'll have to look into this group) has made it possible for Clinch Park to add mats to their beach to allow wheelchairs and walkers to go right to the water's edge! The network is also providing wheelchairs that go into the water and float. I'm sure I'll never make it to Clinch Park, since it's in Traverse City. It's too far away for me to go on my own, Bill would never "waste" his precious time off from work to do anything I might enjoy (more on that some other time), and I don't have anyone emotionally close enough to be that would be willing and able to make the trip either.
But still, maybe this will catch on in other places! I can still remember when most of the scenic beauty of the Huron National Forest was lost on everyone but the most athletic.
But still, maybe this will catch on in other places! I can still remember when most of the scenic beauty of the Huron National Forest was lost on everyone but the most athletic.
I Am A Terrible Dog Mom!
This morning I took my car to the dealership for scheduled routine maintenance. It takes about half an hour to drive there, so I left at 10:30 am for an 11:00 appointment. Getting out the door is difficult for me these days when I'm here alone with the dogs: Jerry knows when he sees me put my "outdoor" shoes on that I'm leaving, and he hates being home with no humans! To prevent my departure, he will grab something--usually one of my shoes--and run out the back door with it. And that's what he did this morning, along with many other tricks to keep me from leaving. Knowing he was full of vinegar, I decided to close the doors to the bedrooms and bathrooms to limit the damage he could do.
When I came home, he jumped all over me and in general was an incredible nuisance! I had text messages to reply to (because I NEVER text and drive!), a phone call to make, an e-mail I wanted to send before I forgot, and I had to go to the bathroom! I could hear whining when I came out of the bathroom, but thought it was coming from Jerry, lying in the hallway and taking up all the room. So I went to my desk, returned all my messages, sent off that e-mail, and decided to grab some lunch.
I don't remember why I opened my bedroom door, but I was shocked to see an empty shoe box, a box of greeting cards and a chunk of wood on the bedroom floor! "What happened in here?!?" I thundered, knowing the room didn't look like that when I closed it off earlier. And then it dawned on me: I must have locked Cooper in there. I don't know how it happened; I'd looked to make sure he wasn't in there when I closed the door, and didn't see him come out when I opened it back up again. And yet, I'm sure that must be what happened. My poor panicked pooch had torn part of the trim off the door frame trying to get out of the room. In my tunnel-visioned efforts to make one dog "be good," I'd neglected the safety and well-being of a very good boy, who certainly deserves so much better than he's been getting these days!
*FAIL
When I came home, he jumped all over me and in general was an incredible nuisance! I had text messages to reply to (because I NEVER text and drive!), a phone call to make, an e-mail I wanted to send before I forgot, and I had to go to the bathroom! I could hear whining when I came out of the bathroom, but thought it was coming from Jerry, lying in the hallway and taking up all the room. So I went to my desk, returned all my messages, sent off that e-mail, and decided to grab some lunch.
I don't remember why I opened my bedroom door, but I was shocked to see an empty shoe box, a box of greeting cards and a chunk of wood on the bedroom floor! "What happened in here?!?" I thundered, knowing the room didn't look like that when I closed it off earlier. And then it dawned on me: I must have locked Cooper in there. I don't know how it happened; I'd looked to make sure he wasn't in there when I closed the door, and didn't see him come out when I opened it back up again. And yet, I'm sure that must be what happened. My poor panicked pooch had torn part of the trim off the door frame trying to get out of the room. In my tunnel-visioned efforts to make one dog "be good," I'd neglected the safety and well-being of a very good boy, who certainly deserves so much better than he's been getting these days!
*FAIL
If Money, Skills and Strength/Stamina Were No Object
I would buy one of the mansion/cottages on Tawas Point Road and turn it into an inn. With a regal sounding name, a chef or two, elegant rooms with views of the bay, and a second building with a conference room/banquet hall, an indoor swimming pool (this is Michigan, after all!), and an underground tunnel connecting the two buildings for use during inclement weather. Maybe a connection with a charter boat for fishing and moonlight cruises. My staff would all wear uniforms, but they would be casual-looking, like polo shirts and walking shorts in the summer, with my inn's logo embroidered on the shirt pocket. It would be MORE than a B & B, but not a full-scale resort with it's own golf course, etc. There are plenty of great courses in the area already without adding another. I think putting such a place together would be so enjoyable! Not sure I'd want to run it once it's finished though!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Meth Lab Raid!!!
I heard on the news tonight there was a meth lab raid in Harrison earlier today! Naturally I assumed it would be in that little subdivision on the other side of Cranberry Lake Rd from us, but I was wrong. They showed the house on TV and it was pretty nice looking. They said the name of the road and I found it on a Google map: about two blocks long in the subdivision between Budd Lake and Long Lake. You know, the kind of neighborhood I still can't afford to live in? Just goes to show you, your income and lifestyle are not a true indicator of your character!
The Highs
Late, I know, but as promised here are the highs. Having Bill around for ten out of eleven days was pleasant, and gave us the most "normal" week and a half since we moved here. Bill's cold kept him from being TOO active, but he still walked his dog, puttered in the shop and took me on a short excursion one day.
Christmas Day started a little frantically, giving the dogs their Christmas presents. Jerry was not patient at all! He was "mine! mine! mine" with ALL the toys and goodies! Bill seemed to like the blue fleece hoodie I gave him, but he was a little annoyed that I hadn't noticed the envelope on the tree with my name on it. I'm sorry, honey, but you put it on the OTHER side of the tree than the side I always see!
He had gone to Gladwin and stopped at Riverwalk Place and bought a gift card for me to the Oasis Salon and Spa for $150, plus there were $5 coupons enough for another $25! I was blown away! I'm pretty sure my helpers told him to get that for me, but he took the idea and ran with it!
We had a nice but overpriced buffet dinner at the Doherty in Clare. I saw an elderly, senile old gentleman that I used to know from my old church; he was there with his family. I'd heard his wife had passed away several weeks before, and I gave him a hug and told him I was sorry to hear the news, and that I hadn't heard until after the funeral. I was tickled that although he couldn't remember my name, he knew where he SHOULD remember me from and that he really liked me. Then one of the waitresses was Debbie, a woman who tried a secretarial job once that she wasn't really capable of doing, and I guess she thought I was kind to her at the time because she certainly seemed glad to see me! We had really fabulous service for a buffet dinner, I must say!
The day after we had our furnace installed, we decided to go to Ebel's General Store in Falmouth. We'd both seen many local commercials for the store but had never been there, and weren't exactly sure where Falmouth was either. It's one of those odd little places that is too small to be a destination, but isn't on the way to anywhere, either. No main roads, just a slow spot on a zig-zagging county road somewhere between here and Cadillac. We saw a sign for the store but no front door, so Bill drove around the block looking for one. The building WAS pretty much the whole block, and we found the parking lot and entrance hiding behind a restaurant--you almost had to already know where it was in order to find it!
Once inside the store, you are greeted by a flight of stairs leading down to the hardware section. I am sure there is an elevator of some kind down to that level but we never saw one. Bill found some parts for his mower right on the shelf that he always has to special order from any other store, so he bought one while we were there. The main floor features a clothing department that carries mostly Woolrich brand clothing (read that as: nothing big enough for me so I didn't even look), a giftware department, a small grocery store and a HUGE meat counter!
They make their own sausage, summer sausage, beef sticks and other meat sticks, jerky, smoked hams, and probably cure their own bacon. We bought several flavors of summer sausage and jerkies: some were elk and venison! We also bought a NY strip loin,which they sliced thick for us and trimmed off the larger chunks of fat. It was only about $3/lb, how could we lose?
On the way home, we decided to stop following the Tom Tom directions and take a "short cut" through Leota. We ended up driving several miles down some dirt roads, but we did eventually end up in Leota.
I am glad I didn't have to go there on my own, because I don't have GPS in my car!
More on the meals: After we were done shopping at Ebel's General Store, we cut through the parking lot at had lunch at a restaurant called Duane's. It is the building that prevents us out-of-towners from finding Ebels' front door. It was a nice "Mom's Home Cooking" kind of place, and we were lucky it was there because the town doesn't seem to have so much as a Subway!
The day after Christmas, my sister and her husband and son came up to exchange gifts. They arrived half an hour earlier than their "normal"time, and were all excited to go eat burgers at Pudgy's for lunch! Then we all opened our presents, chatted a bit and they took off again for Novi. I'm glad I've decided not to work myself silly preparing a delicious meal if they are only going to stop by long enough to eat and run. Funny thing happened while we were there: the man who waited on us, probably one of the owners or a relative, is no one I've ever seen before in my life, but when Bill and I walked in a few minutes after the Klanns did he greeted me (not us, me) like I'm an old friend. Later my brother-in-law commented about how quickly I seem to be making friends here in Harrison, and how nice that must be! Cracks me up.
Burgers were great, btw.
Christmas Day started a little frantically, giving the dogs their Christmas presents. Jerry was not patient at all! He was "mine! mine! mine" with ALL the toys and goodies! Bill seemed to like the blue fleece hoodie I gave him, but he was a little annoyed that I hadn't noticed the envelope on the tree with my name on it. I'm sorry, honey, but you put it on the OTHER side of the tree than the side I always see!
He had gone to Gladwin and stopped at Riverwalk Place and bought a gift card for me to the Oasis Salon and Spa for $150, plus there were $5 coupons enough for another $25! I was blown away! I'm pretty sure my helpers told him to get that for me, but he took the idea and ran with it!
We had a nice but overpriced buffet dinner at the Doherty in Clare. I saw an elderly, senile old gentleman that I used to know from my old church; he was there with his family. I'd heard his wife had passed away several weeks before, and I gave him a hug and told him I was sorry to hear the news, and that I hadn't heard until after the funeral. I was tickled that although he couldn't remember my name, he knew where he SHOULD remember me from and that he really liked me. Then one of the waitresses was Debbie, a woman who tried a secretarial job once that she wasn't really capable of doing, and I guess she thought I was kind to her at the time because she certainly seemed glad to see me! We had really fabulous service for a buffet dinner, I must say!
The day after we had our furnace installed, we decided to go to Ebel's General Store in Falmouth. We'd both seen many local commercials for the store but had never been there, and weren't exactly sure where Falmouth was either. It's one of those odd little places that is too small to be a destination, but isn't on the way to anywhere, either. No main roads, just a slow spot on a zig-zagging county road somewhere between here and Cadillac. We saw a sign for the store but no front door, so Bill drove around the block looking for one. The building WAS pretty much the whole block, and we found the parking lot and entrance hiding behind a restaurant--you almost had to already know where it was in order to find it!
Once inside the store, you are greeted by a flight of stairs leading down to the hardware section. I am sure there is an elevator of some kind down to that level but we never saw one. Bill found some parts for his mower right on the shelf that he always has to special order from any other store, so he bought one while we were there. The main floor features a clothing department that carries mostly Woolrich brand clothing (read that as: nothing big enough for me so I didn't even look), a giftware department, a small grocery store and a HUGE meat counter!
They make their own sausage, summer sausage, beef sticks and other meat sticks, jerky, smoked hams, and probably cure their own bacon. We bought several flavors of summer sausage and jerkies: some were elk and venison! We also bought a NY strip loin,which they sliced thick for us and trimmed off the larger chunks of fat. It was only about $3/lb, how could we lose?
On the way home, we decided to stop following the Tom Tom directions and take a "short cut" through Leota. We ended up driving several miles down some dirt roads, but we did eventually end up in Leota.
I am glad I didn't have to go there on my own, because I don't have GPS in my car!
More on the meals: After we were done shopping at Ebel's General Store, we cut through the parking lot at had lunch at a restaurant called Duane's. It is the building that prevents us out-of-towners from finding Ebels' front door. It was a nice "Mom's Home Cooking" kind of place, and we were lucky it was there because the town doesn't seem to have so much as a Subway!
The day after Christmas, my sister and her husband and son came up to exchange gifts. They arrived half an hour earlier than their "normal"time, and were all excited to go eat burgers at Pudgy's for lunch! Then we all opened our presents, chatted a bit and they took off again for Novi. I'm glad I've decided not to work myself silly preparing a delicious meal if they are only going to stop by long enough to eat and run. Funny thing happened while we were there: the man who waited on us, probably one of the owners or a relative, is no one I've ever seen before in my life, but when Bill and I walked in a few minutes after the Klanns did he greeted me (not us, me) like I'm an old friend. Later my brother-in-law commented about how quickly I seem to be making friends here in Harrison, and how nice that must be! Cracks me up.
Burgers were great, btw.
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