Remembering........

I had a friend, long since dead, who left an indelible mark on my life. Two memories stand out. The first. She cradled our Spina Bifida, hydrocephalic baby in her forearms and gently told him how beautiful he was. Secondly. I and two of my children came down with the chicken pox at the same time. She took my eight month old home to care for her without a seconds hesitation. Some time later, I told her how grateful I was. She looked at me in astonishment and said, "You don't know how honored I was you asked me!" Her name was Audrey Clapham. Never to be forgotten. Remembered with the greatest of love..........marge

news media alert - don't label us

If an adult gets knocked down, injured, robbed or anything else, that person doesn't need a special age label by the news media. It may matter if one is a child or infant, but not an adult, please! The worst being, labelling us 'elderly'. Are we older than average? Certainly, but tagging us as 'elderly' is totally unnecessary and quite frankly, insulting. Are you telling us the sum total qualifications for our years of living comes down to 'Elderly'? Does this make your story more compelling, sympathetic or dramatic? It shouldn't. We are more than that............marge

Detroit Lions Coach, sending wrong message to players?

I don't know who is to blame more, the Lions players who flagrantly disregard basic decency rules on the field and then try to tell the public its just part of the game so the deplorable behavior is ok, or their head coach, who appears to do nothing to correct it. But perhaps even worse, sadder, or scarier, they believe the hype they say on camera. If one behaves like a total jerk, perhaps one IS a total jerk.........marge

Michele Bachmann

Listened to Michele Bachmann this morning (for as long as I could stand). She appears to have mastered the art that instrumental musicians have to not break the sequence of their playing (talking) by taking an obvious breath. The moderator is thus effectively thwarted in asking more than one or two probative questions in say, any given half hour. She gets an 'A' in clever avoidance.

blood sugar levels

There may be the possibility now of testing ones blood sugar level using ones own 'tears' instead of finger poking. All you need to do is to get someone to slap you in the face a few times a day..... Sorry. Couldn't help it.......marge

health foods

TV and the internet news are bombarding us with health food tips. The biggy? Healthiest colors. So far, red, yellow, green and blue are leading the pack. Those to beware? Black, white and brown. Black is to go immediately into the trash container, for obvious reasons. White? Not good at all for us, except, perhaps, for a heaping spoonful of mashed potatoes, hollowed out with warm melted butter sprinkled, lightly of course, with salt and pepper in the center. Finally, we come to brown. This is where the experts go wrong. We come to ever so sweet chocolate anything. Oh dear gawd. Bad? Bad they say? Could they be more mistaken? I think not. Let's take a vote. I knew it! They were wrong! It is so nice to be vindicated!..........marge

Education denied

To those of you in Macomb County who on 11-8-11 voted down a millage for Special Education Funds, or didn't bother to vote to support it. May you or your loved ones never be blessed with the need to use these kind of funds. Is it 'God helps those in need' as long as I don't have to chip in??..........marge

Professional Football/female outlook

I'm watching Detroit Lions games now. I have to. Three pseudo 'grandsons' moved in next door and I have to be able to discuss 'current events' with them. I have a decent working knowledge of the game of football. I understand 'downs' and how they work. I know the titles of some of the players, such as 'receiver', 'tackle' and 'quarterback'. The one that I haven't gotten the grasp of yet is, 'tight end'. I questioned a younger female relative about it. She looked at me and said, "you have to ask"??.........marge

2 1/2 Men show

Yes, I watch reruns of 2 1/2 Men and thoroughly enjoy them. Its not the content thats so funny, Its the facial expressions of the actors. The best were Charlie and the teenager. That kid at an early age was priceless and amazing. I think when Charlie left the show, the good writers went with him. The new show is more shock value and really cornball humor. The teenager has basically been left out in the first two episodes of the new show. If the third episode is no better than the first two, I'm out.........marge

Drama interrupted

I confess. I occasionally (I swear) (maybe) watch soap operas. In the two I recently viewed, the women and perhaps one male, in the middle of tear jerker scenes, pushed their hair back behind their ears at least 230 times, honest....... I've considered trying to contact the Producers, but not sure how and tell them to either get new stylists or have the actors use bobbie pins. The latter may be a problem as anyone under 50, may not know what a 'bobbie pin' is. Still, a few stores might carry them.......marge

Sanitation?

I just watched a chain seafood restaurant commercial. Smiling young ladies were carrying large trays of food on their shoulders. What I saw was bouncing ponytails swinging over the food. Would I want to eat that food? I don't think so!........marge

Pondering....again.

Ever watch Wheel of Fortune? I have never seen such unbelievably fortunate married contestants. Almost every one is married to their 'WONDERFUL' husband/wife/ Joe/Betty. Only once did I see a woman rock her hand followed by an 'eh'. She did however smile shortly thereafter..........marge

Sex Offender Registry-Letter to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard

The following is a letter almost verbatim, I recently sent to Sheriff Michael Bouchard of Oakland County, Mi. Dear Sheriff Bouchard. I understand that you were actively inpart or all, responsible for the SOR Registry in Mi. With all due respect, I am hoping you may be able to influence major changes in its structure, requirements and what really seems to be excessive, if not totally unnecessary rules(ergo) punishments. Many agree that the vast majority are on the list for reason that don't or shouldn't apply to these people. I think the saddest part, is at present, there is no recourse for anyone to reasonably and or without major financial cost and I do mean major, to be removed. I believe there is not even a board to do this, again at a reasonable cost AND time range. Michigan's list is by far excessive to all other states. The scary part is that when people see the list, the first thing that pops into their heads is 'Pedophile'. We know this in not the truth. I don't even pretend to understand all the catagories nor I presume do others that choose to look up 'offenders'. I personally do not look up anyone, in part, for that reason. It bothers me greatly that the public is continually being frightened by the lumping of everyone on the list as the 'worst offenders!' One person on the list was told by a Mi State Trooper, "why, you shouldn't even be on this list!" If at the time, this person couldn't afford a good attorney, or a prosecutor leaned heavily on words by a disgruntled woman with an agenda, they didn't stand a chance. This is not to leave out all the teenagers who did what many teenagers do. Since it isn't a politically correct problem, legislatures seem to shy away from doing something good for the people on the 'list'. I'm hoping maybe you can. PS I have no doubt that many many of our grand and great grandfathers would be on the list had there been one back then. Most sincerely, Margaret B. Birmingham, Mi. 8-11-2011 The following is the reply I received on 8-16-11. "Dear Ms B----: "Thank you for your email. I did, in fact, support changes to the law and there has been a number of changes over the last few years. In fact, some of the more recent requirements do not come from the state but come from congress. Again. Thank you for writing. Sincerely," Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard Oakland County President Emeritus, Major County Sheriffs of America. That is the response I received......marge

Professional (cough cough) athletes

I hope a night out in the City of B'ham isn't becoming a place where pro athletes habitually ask, "Do YOU know who I AM?" Surely that isn't what this town is about. We all have low self esteem at times but high paid pro athletes seem to have more than their share. Bragging about who you are because you have athletic abilities (along with that exceedingly high income) just proves the point. Try growing up. It that doesn't work, wear a T shirt with your name and occupation on it (in case not all of us recognize wonderful you) or go to where you won't have to wear the shirt OR ask the question. If possible, please try to do it outside of Birmingham.......marge

Little leaguers safety?

Little Leaguers have their heads and groins protected. What's taking so long to figure out their chest/hearts need protecting too? Come on experts, get with the program!.....Now!......marge

meow........

Walking steadily, across a stage in high heels, is far from my strongest point. I can however, while stationary and holding onto someone's arm, remain quite balanced. Bad hair days are not uncommon in my life. AND..I also have a wardrobe that includes the likes of a 'Gone With The Wind' drapery gown in forest green. So why aren't I a wealthy household name? Oh what were my mistakes.........marge 2.......

Charlie Sheen

To those individuals who find Charlie Sheen's 'condition' the least bit humorous or entertaining and are willing to spend big bucks to see and hear him, you are truly pathetic. If he IS Bipolar and in a manic phase, its painfully sad. For you to want to watch someone in that condition, makes me think you'd probably have bought tickets to see the Christians thrown to the lions. You need as much, if not more help than he does..........marge

Danger Of health drinks, especially for seniors

Thanks to a lady in line at a local pharmacy, my senior friend and I were warned of the danger of drinking Ensure with vitamin additives, particularly vitamin K. Anyone on Coumadin (Warfarin) a blood thinner, should be aware of the danger of combining the two. Patients on blood thinners must get their Coumadin blood level checked every couple of weeks. Ensure with vitamin K in it, counteracts the drug and plays havoc with desired blood clotting levels. Doctors and Pharmacists should inform those on the drug of the serious ramifications of drinking Ensure, or any other high nutrition, protein drink that has vitamin K in it. Perhaps its time the companies making these products (often aimed at Seniors), put more thought into what they are doing and to the danger in which they are exposing these people......marge

Grandchildren. Just in case you see this.

To two of my grandchildren whom I haven't seen in almost 12 years. You are and always have been greatly loved and sorely missed by all of us, Aunts, Cousins and especially Me, Margaret..........marge

makeup

The idea of applying makeup daily isn't what frightens me (I'm greatly remiss in this area), the thought however, of looking into the evening mirror after removing the makeup, scares the bageebies out of me and no, I don't know what 'bageebies' are, nor am I too worried.........marge

Why and why not...

1. If smoke always rises, why not, in buildings, put red EXIT signs at the bottom of the doors?? 2. If bank robbers wear hoods, why not put cameras angling upward to see under the hoods??.........marge

Jerry Springer...a must

The long standing Jerry Springer Show should be required watching for all 10th graders. Let them see first hand how life and relationships should NOT be lived. An alternative title, 'Idiotic behavior at its best'........marge