February 14, 2013 by tinadawn
Today, as you all know is Valentine’s Day. A day when we’re all supposed to be lovey dovey, romantic and gooey-eyed. Well, I have to say as a die-hard romantic I’m going to cut loose today and go see “A Good Day to Die Hard” tonight with my wonderful hubby Jim. No dinner out for us, no sirree……..meatloaf, potato wedges, green beans and corn for our homemade dinner tonight followed by snacks, candy and soda at the movie theater!!!!
Category Holidays | Tags: , die-hard, dinner, movie, valentine | No Comments
April 27, 2013 by tinadawn
Don’t you just hate trying to find new dentists or doctors when you move? I think most of us do. I know I wasn’t looking forward to doing that when I moved to the USA back in 2010. After all, I’d been used to the NHS Service (National Health Service to my non-British readers) and although you might be lucky enough to find a wonderful Doctor or Dentist who actually treated you like a real person instead of just another number, not all of us were so lucky. I have to say that during the 20 years that I lived in Fort William, I was lucky enough to have had two really good, friendly Doctors. However, I wasn’t so lucky with the Dentists. The last time I had a Dentist that I actually looked forward to seeing, was when I was living in Bicester, Oxfordshire waaaaaay back when I was just 17!!! Probably why I never really got back into the swing of regular 6 monthly check-ups eh??
Anyway, when I first moved over here I nevertheless had to sign up with a Doctor, just in case 
so I did. I went with Dear Hubby to his Doctor, a very nice Dr Atto in Wyandotte. He just loved that I was British and that he could talk about FOOTBALL!!!! The REAL football, his words not mine…….Manchester United!!! He even had MU stickers on his car! Unfortunately, I didn’t stay with him for too long. Whereas Dear Hubby had originally registered with Dr Atto many years ago when he lived in that neck of the woods, I just felt that a 45 minute drive from Ypsilanti was too far a drive just to see the Doctor. So, I registered with a Doctor just a mile away from our new house, at the Washtenaw Medicine Group. He was actually recommended to me by my Physical Therapist, so that at least saved me the agony of deciding who to go and see.
Dr Kristopher Aalderink Orthopedic Surgeon
The really big difference here in the USA is that patients organize their own healthcare and procedures, whereas in the UK, you go and see your GP and he (or rather the admin staff) organize referrals and appointments and then the referred office organize any treatment or surgeries. My first real experience of healthcare other than a regular check-up in the US, was when my left shoulder started playing up again. Back in 2005/7 while I was still in the UK, it became frozen and required an intensive course of physical therapy and in total, took almost two full years to resolve. However, this one day in August 2011, my shoulder damn near locked up and I was in so much pain that I came home from work and went straight to an Urgent Care Center in tears. (For UK readers, an Urgent Care Center is pretty much like the walk-in A & E Unit at a hospital or an Out of Hours Doctor’s Clinic, sometimes they are located at a hospital and other times in a separate office location). While I was there, they examined me, took x-rays and told me that I would need to see an Orthopedic specialist, so they gave me a referral slip to see one. I then found the specialist myself and made my own appointment! Actually not as scary as it sounds BUT great as far as NO WAITING, and appointment times on YOUR schedule are concerned (subject to their own availability of course). I had an appointment within two days!!! Saw the Orthopedic surgeon – Dr Kristopher Aalderink, was given a referral for an MRI scan, which I arranged for the next week (Thursday night)- and this only took so long as I had to wait for Dear Hubby to get home from work to take me, so we had to wait for a night-time appointment. Yes!!! They have late night appointments here too!!! My appointment was for 9.45pm. Once the Orthopedic Surgeon had seen the MRI the day after it was taken (Friday), he called me in for another appointment the following Monday morning and I had the surgery on Wednesday morning. In at 8.30 am and home by lunchtime. In fact, Dear Hubby who had come with me to the hospital, had gone to the hospital restaurant for a coffee and sandwich when they wheeled me in for the surgery, and he was only just back in time for me coming out again! Once I was discharged Dr Aalderink called me at home a few times to check that I was OK – never ever experienced that in the UK!
Afterwards, once the initial healing part had taken place, I was given the all clear from the surgeon and a referral for Physical Therapy. Again, I found my own PT and arranged my own appointments. Jim, the PT was another very nice guy and he is the one who, as I said earlier, referred me to my Family Doctor (GP as we say in the UK) Gary Peppin at Washtenaw Medicine in Ypsilanti.
Dr Cameron Mouro MD, Ob/Gyn
My other hospital experience was more recent. Mature lady problems, so my Family Doctor referred me to a Gynecologist. This time, I found Dr Cameron Mouro who, really holds true to the theme that at my age practically all Doctors and Policemen look waaaay too young, in fact they (especially Dr Mouro) look as young as my 27 year old son!!! though I know they can’t be, as the learning takes way longer than that. But, young he looks – and he is a fabulously, kind and gentle young man. Makes you feel wonderful and lose any hint of embarrassment you might have. He was very attentive and caring at the hospital for my procedure, lost count of the number of times he actually stopped by to check on me. He also called to check on me when I was at home. Scheduling my procedure with Dr Mouro was a little more difficult and it took almost two months to get it finally booked – however, that was entirely because I was trying to schedule it to coincide with MY days off and work timetable! If I’d wanted to and was able to go anytime, I would again have had the operation within a week!
As for dentistry in the US – this I came to via an Emergency appointment!!! My canine tooth decided to develop an abcess without warning, the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving in 2010! Over the weekend, the right side of my face literally blew up like a balloon and of course with it being a holiday NO-ONE was available!!! We managed to get an appointment at All Bright Smiles in Dearborn with Dr Zia Rafiq first thing on the Monday morning. After his exam and x-rays he told me that I would have to see an Endodontist!! Now, being from the UK – I’d never heard of one of those!!! There, your dentist will do pretty much all dental procedures. However, here in the US, the dentist community operate more like our doctors do in the UK, in that you see a general dentist for basic work and cleanings, and will be referred to a specialist when necessary for problems such as root canals (this is what an Endodontist does), extractions (Oral Surgeon) and gum disease (Periodontist). Anyway, back to the story…..Dr Rafiq sent me to an Endodontic colleague of his who luckily was able to see me right away (for the life of me I can’t remember his name). I had been worried that he would just send me away with anti-biotics to get the swelling down, but he said that as I was in so much pain he would be able to do it immediately. Now, I can’t say that it was a pleasant procedure this time, I actually left the office looking like I’d gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson and really needed Dear hubby’s support to walk out to the car as I was so woozy with meds and pain BUT the dentist WAS very considerate and took his time making sure I was OK throughout and, along with Dr Rafiq, called me the following couple of days to check up on me.
Dr David Schmidt DDS
General & Cosmetic Dentist
More recently of course, I started work (October 2011) with Dr David Schmidt’s office as a Hygiene Coordinator/Receptionist (https://www.facebook.com/ypsilantidentist). NOW, I am learning a LOT more about dentistry as well as having access to wonderful dental care. For the first time since I was pregnant with my now 27 year old son, I had my teeth cleaned!!! In the UK it seems that dentists are not so much into preventative care as much as reactive care. I have never, other than when pregnant, been offered an opportunity to visit a Dental Hygienist ! Thankfully, I must do a pretty good job of cleaning my teeth as Claudia, who did the cleaning, was pretty impressed with the state of them. I had actually been quite embarrassed prior to the appointment as I thought my teeth would be terrible. When Dr Dave (my boss) did his exam, he told me that I needed a couple of fillings and possibly a root canal. Now this I DID know having been told this before I left the UK, but had never got around to it. So he did the fillings and had a proper look and attempt at the root canal, before deciding that I’d be better off seeing a specialist and referring me to his colleague, Dr Brian Meade, an Endodontist.
Dr Brian Meade DDS, Endodontist
Another great dentist…….who is also a great gift giver. Last week we got a cake delivered to our office and the week before, chocolates!! His thank you’s for the referrals that Dr Dave sends him for root canal work 
. But, I digress……the only problem I have with Dr Meade is that his TV showing what he is doing (he wears a TV camera on his head and uses a microscope to do his work on you) is BEHIND you – I think it should be on the ceiling because I’d love to watch what he’s doing. Medical/Dental procedures have never bothered me – even when I’m the patient!!! My boss, Dr Dave came down to the office (Brian’s office is downstairs from our in the same building) and watched the procedure and checked I that was doing OK.
All in all, and notwithstanding the fact that medical and dental insurance DOES cost more than the NHS, the care that you receive here is infinitely better and more patient oriented than it is in the UK. At least it certainly has been in my own experience. Yes, the facilities here are usually in building that look more like fancy hotels. Yes, a lot of offices are equipped with the latest technology. Yes, there are lot more individual Doctors/Dental offices around. BUT quite frankly, even though the related costs are higher it STILL does not excuse the general lack of ‘caring’ that you get from the NHS Doctors or Consultants in the UK. A simple, “How are you” in a caring voice. A bedside manner that makes you feel like you’re cared about. Patients, whether they are rich, poor, covered by insurance (NHS or private) or indeed welfare patients are still patients. They are real people with real feelings and real ailments and should be always treated with consideration, concern and a sense of being important as a person. The NHS could take a few pointers in the after care of patients – it wouldn’t hurt for a follow up, or for that matter take up much time.
Category Health & Medicine | Tags: , A & E, dental, dentist, doctor, Dr Brian Meade, Dr Cameron Mouro, Dr David Schmidt DDS, Dr Kristopher Aalderink, endodontic, Family Doctor, frozen shoulder, GP, medical, MRI, NHS, orthopedic, physical therapy, surgeon, urgent care center | No Comments
March 29, 2013 by tinadawn
Last night a friend of mine held a PartyLite event in her home. A very beautiful home she has too, warm, inviting and very comfortable. Of course last night it was also enhanced by the fragrant scents emanating from the various candles that were placed around the room by the PartyLite representative.
Now, I don’t know about you, but it has been a long long time since I attended such an event. The last party plan event that I went too was long before I left the UK and let’s just say that the products that were on sale are more usually found in stores with the XXX’s outside. Two TOTALLY different parties with TOTALLY different atmospheres and BOTH equally enjoyable. Makes me reminisce about the days of parties for this and parties for that…….at one point I remember that you couldn’t go ANYWHERE without hearing about someone hosting a party at their house.
I remember fondly the Tupperware parties that were all the rage at one time …well, actually, what I was really fond of was the little party games the agent always held, just to warm everyone up and get us to relax. Nothing to do with getting us all so relaxed so that we would order more of course, no……just to relax us so we’d have more fun eh??? Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink (actually it was more probably Nudge Nudge, Wink Wink at the Naughty Knicker parties really) but no, really, I LOVED the little gadgety things you got as prizes at the Tupperware parties, I mean, who WOULDN’T love an orange peeler;
a toothbrush cover;
or a mini picnic salt and pepper pot????
I still have all of mine, they’ve traveled all the way from the UK with me.
However, last night I came away from the PartyLite party with a tea light and a votive candle and a booking for a party of my own. Which, I have to say, I am really looking forward to. Been a while since I’ve known enough people to invite to a party, it’s really nice to feel like I’ve finally settled in now. I have a network of new friends here in America to complement my network of old friends in the UK. I just wish my pal Shona was here as I know she loves PartyLite candles.
Just have to get some contacts for other kinds of party plan parties now….perhaps;
and of course can’t forget these two;
Category Hobbies, Miscellaneous | Tags: , friends, network, parties, partylite, prizes, tupperware | No Comments
February 28, 2013 by tinadawn
This is beautiful Downtown Ypsilanti – the main drag through town, Michigan Avenue, the Old US 12 which takes you all the way from Detroit through to Chicago, Illinois. Nowadays, more people will use the I94 and I90 BUT I like the US 12, you get to see more, going through towns instead of going around them via the gouged out trail of concrete and trees that they use for the freeway system. Of course, the photo is from warmer days……oh, so long ago it seems…….today’s picture is more like this…..
Snowy Ypsilanti……we got hit with a big winter storm and got roughly 6″ of snow over Tuesday night. Not much in the scheme of things compared to what the North East states got a couple of weeks ago, but more than enough for me. The photo by the way, is of McKenny Hall, Eastern Michigan University.
Anyway, got to go out in it now to take little Tawny for her bathroom visit at the fire hydrant on the corner of our lot, aka her Facebook time
Category Local stuff | Tags: | No Comments
February 17, 2013 by tinadawn
Hi Everyone…….Yep!!!!! Actually getting around to the next post PDQ this time. But then, I have an excellent reason. I want to introduce the newest arrival in our family……Esme Ivy Jade Bishop. She arrived on Wednesday February 7th at 11.58am (GMT) and weighed in at 8lb 6oz. Isn’t she beautiful??? One very happy and proud Nana here in Michigan but, also one very sad Nana as I’ll have to wait until the end of April/early May until I get to see her in person. In the meantime, the US Postal Service is making a mint off me…….
Here is one quilt I made for her….
….and here is the next one that I am working on;
Got to keep my mind off the fact that I can’t see her yet eh???
Category Grandhildren, Health & Medicine, Hobbies, Holidays, United Kingdom | Tags: , afghan, craft, Disney, family, generation, grandchildren, kids | No Comments
October 19, 2012 by tinadawn
OK!!! The Boss is away for the weekend…….off to her Law School Reunion, so…….taking the chance to get some away time myself with Dear Hubby. Off up to Davison to a lovely wee log cabin. Will be visiting Frankenmuth at last!!!! So far, have only been into Bronners. The twice before I’ve been in the area it was too late in the day to head into the town itself. So really looking forward to FINALLY getting a chance to look around Frankenmuth.
Our home from home for the weekend
Category Vacation | Tags: , Bronners, Frankenmuth, log cabin | No Comments
October 18, 2012 by tinadawn
Well……it’s only been Heaven knows how long since I actually got around to posting anything on this site!!!! Really not good enough at all!!!! Procrastination has definitely the theme for the past year!!!! I PROMISE, I will do better this time around….and yes, I know that this is directed at myself since it’s only me that will probably read this post.
OK….I have been busy this year though and recently I have decorated the house for Halloween……
One decoration, was a Silly Witch who flew in to my porch!!!! The boots ($2.80) and the broom ($1.50) were from the goodwill store ($2.80), the hat, gloves, socks and hair were $1.00 each from the Dollar Store and the cape was a trash bag (practically nothing). So for $6.80 I think I did a pretty good job of making the witch, saving myself quite a bit into the bargain, as most ready-made ones I’ve seen start at $20!!!!
Category crafts, Holidays | Tags: , craft, Dollar Store, Halloween | No Comments
March 7, 2012 by tinadawn
Just over a week ago, I took my friend and her son to a little place in Plymouth for the afternoon. Creatopia (http://www.creatopiapottery.com/aboutus.htm) is the name of the place and they offer a ‘Paint-your-own-Pottery’ experience, along with ‘Glass Fusing’, various events and the opportunity to host all kinds of parties there. We had a great time there and will definitely be going back again. Junior is well impressed with his Basketball moneybank and Mom loves her plate and bowl.
As for me, well, I am really pleased with my results……shows that I haven’t lost my touch. When I still lived in Fort William, Scotland, I frequently visited the wonderful ‘Fired Art – Pottery Painting Cafe’ and spent many hours painting away, drinking the best coffee in town and listening to some wonderful music.
Here are my pieces of ‘art’…..
Originally, I was only going to do the cupcake plate…….until I noticed the mug. I just loved the rear view so much I HAD to do it!!!The only thing missing that day was the chance to have a good coffee and wonderful cake while working hard painting…..perhaps Creatopia could consider offering this service too….. Disclaimer: I was not reimbursed financially or in any way for this post – just having a great time
Category crafts | Tags: , Creatopia, fired-art, Fort William, plymouth MI, pottery painting | No Comments
March 5, 2012 by tinadawn
My life changed in December 2007 when, thinking that I should try the ‘Love’ thing again, I joined a dating site on the Internet (largefriends.com – yes, I’m a big(ish) girl and thought that at least that would be one expectation out of the way). In January 2008 (the 12th to be exact), James McKee from Michigan USA contacted me and, after several visits backs and forth, HUNDREDS of hours IM’ing, Yahooing, emailing and talking on the phone, not to mention the enormous amount of $$$’s and £££’s spent obtaining a visa, I finally said Goodbye to Old Blighty on June 10th 2010 and set off on my intrepid new life adventure in Michigan, USA. We were married 16 days later and are very happy. 
We now own a beautiful home in Ypsilanti, MI having spent the first year in Jim’s apartment in Belleville deciding where we would like to live. I have a wonderful job now and am making some good friends while keeping in touch with my old friends back in the UK.
However, for some unknown reason, the last couple of weeks, I have been really homesick. I miss the wonderful bunch of people I know in Fort William. The small town on the West Coast of Scotland where I lived for the previous twenty years.
Fort William pedestrian High Street
Neptunes Staircase
Myrtlebank Guest House
Although I love where I am, and have no desire to move – I just miss what I still think of as home. There are many many similarities between the UK and the USA but there are also many many differences. It’s like we’re not only divided by a common language but lots of little things and it’s the little things that I miss. For the most part life is pretty similar…….but the multitude of tiny little differences is what I am now craving; a High Street to walk along, shopping without having to drive your car to the next store because it’s too far to walk, calling up my pals and saying do you fancy going for lunch (here, they live too far away for impromptu lunches or coffees), going for a walk in the beautiful Lochaber Countryside, going to the Pub, fish and chips, haggis neeps and tatties, driving on the left side of the road, real English butter, proper sausages, Nescafe Gold, looking out of my window and seeing mountains everywhere, the Scottish accent (though funnily enough, I’m English), seeing one Doctor for everything instead of having to go and see different ones, the pottery painting cafe, the Lochs, somewhere I don’t have to explain anything I say ie; saying trousers not pants, Mum not Mommy, tights not pantyhose, knickers not panties, pudding meaning anything from Steamed pudding and custard to apple pie and ice-cream not just something similar to Angel Delight or Instant Whip, biscuit not cookies, scones not biscuits, bacon not Canadian bacon or ham (and not smoked), shops not stores, Hoover not vacuum, chemist not pharmacy, paracetamol not acetaminophen, plasters not Bandaids, spag bog not spaghetti and so on and so on….not forgetting the fact that sooooo many words are spelt differently, it seems that Americans can’t use the ‘ou’ or ‘ae’ pairings…….
Of course, I love the fact that I can pretty much shop any time of the day or night (if needed). Particularly useful when you get sick, as most if not all of the pharmacies and several grocery storesare open 24 hours, 365 days a year. I love that you hardly need to reserve dinner out even at Christmas, though Thanksgiving is a problem as it’s about the only time places DO close early. Oh, and when you DO eat out, it is not frowned on if you want to take your leftovers home and most restaurants (even posh ones) do a takeout service.
Maybe, it’s just that I’ve been here long enough to start forgetting what it’s like back home and the brain is subconsciusly rebooting the Home programme….don’t know. Just as well, we get free calls back home with our Vonage……
Category United Kingdom | Tags: , fish and chips, Fort William, homesickness, largefriends, Lochaber, Oban, Vonage | No Comments
March 1, 2012 by tinadawn
Ok……I have to admit that I (along with several million others) am a Facebook addict. BUT, given that (apart from a rapidly growing collection of cookery books) I don’t have any other vices, I suppose that’s not too bad.
However…..I just recently joined Pinterest and am finding that it too is becoming addictive. A great place to put stuff that you want to keep, ie; ideas, craft projects, photos, wish lists for the home etc. Unfortunately, of course it means that you spend endless hours roaming the ‘net’ looking for new images or getting caught up in all the stuff you already have filed away on your pc/laptop/phone. Lovely though it is reminiscing and getting lost in your old memories or your dreams, I sometimes wonder if we’d be better off actually being out there living our lives for real.
Category Blurb, crafts, Hobbies | Tags: , craft, dreams, hobbies, memories, photos, Pinterest | No Comments