Birkenstocks musings

Yes, it is true that I have a love - hate relationship with my Birkenstocks.

love
• I am flat footed and used to have to wear orthopedic shoes with arch supports that paid no attention to style. It is safe to say I had the clunkiest shoes in the third grade. Birkenstocks provide the support without the clunk.
• Birkenstocks slip right on.
• Birkenstocks allow my feet to breathe.
• Birkenstocks are good quality and last a LONG time, well until they need to be re-soled and then another LONG time.
• Birkenstocks make the statement that I put my health first.

hate
• I could have sworn that I'd never wear Birkenstocks to work when I switched jobs. But daagumit, they are more comfortable and when everyone else is in heels how can I not make my own personal statement?
• Birkenstocks are expensive
• Many people think the wearing of Birkenstocks says much more than it actually does. I know. I used to be one of these people. Here is my message to these folks: Take the time to make sure before you assume.
• Some people sell used Birkenstocks on eBay. This is just gross.

Bodary to run for Council Ward 2

Michael Bodary announced today that he is running for Ypsilanti City Council as a Democrat from Ward 2.

Bodary says, "I am running for Council because the city needs new leadership, new ideas, and a new voice with honesty and integrity. The City has wasted millions on Water Street. The Council spent two years on a City Income Tax that was defeated by the voters 2 to 1. Days after the election, the city announced they had a $1.3 million budget surplus. Residents have rightful questioned the council's ability to make proper use of the city's money. Ypsilantians deserve better than that."

"I will focus on rebuilding trust in the community through open government. We must preserve vital services like police and fire", said Bodary. "We have to work to keep the Pool and Senior Center open, and we have to work with our neighboring communities and universities to make sure we keep our public buses rolling."

Bodary, a 12 year employee of the U of M Department of Parking and Transportation, believes he can bring a unique perspective and new thinking for regional transportation. Bodary, 57, was born and raised in Ypsilanti. He has a BBA degree in management from Cleary University.

Bodary is a member of the U of M Parking and Transportation Department's Safety Committee, S.O.S. Community Crisis Center, Stop the City Income Tax Initiative, and Measure for Measure, a men's chorus based in Ypsilanti. He is past president and current treasure of the Michigan Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association and a retired State Director of Referee Assessment, United State Soccer Federation.

Editor's Note: This blog will run an announcement for any candidate running for Ypsilanti City Council that sends their release to LooseTeaInfoATgmail.com.

The Marie Antoinette of Ypsilanti

This past weekend my family had a celebration of multiple Spring graduations. As part of this I decided to order celebratory cakes from locally owned bakeries. I ordered a cake from Dom Bakery, one from Terry Bakery and one from the Queen of Hearts.

Dom Bakery

I have an old roommate who worked for a short period of time for Dom Bakery when it was on Main Street in Ann Arbor. I believe she said that Dom is a shortened combo version of the original owners' names: Tom and Don. The best features of Dom Bakery today are the ultra-cool 24 hour donut drive thru and the way you can sit inside and eat a donut in the morning while watching the staff ice sheet cakes. The most annoying part is when someone arrives at the drive thru and a piercing beep shoots through the inside of the bakery, putting the holes in all the donuts.

From Dom's I ordered half a chocolate sheet cake with chocolate icing for $22.90. The cake was good and the favorite of those who said, "I just love chocolate."

Dom's is located in Ward 2 at 1305 Washtenaw Rd. Their phone number is (734) 485-3175.

Queen of Hearts

The Queen of Hearts used to be next door to the Drowsy Parrot coffee shop in Saline before their relatively recent move to the old Quizno's spot in Depot Town. They make elaborate cakes and pastries and of the three are the only to have their own website. All this suggests whatever they do is a cut above ordinary hometown bakery goodies. My friend's mother gave me a $30 gift certificate for them last July for my birthday and I just knew this was the perfect opportunity to dust it off and put it to use.

I ordered a round 9" Mother's Day cake with buttercream frosting and real raspberries inside for $45 minus the $30 gift certificate, so $15 total.

My friend whose mother gave me the gift certificate loved the frosting and was most enamored by this layer cake. The cake was quite delicious.

Queen of Hearts is located in Ward 3 at 32 E Cross St in Depot Town. Thier phone number is 734.487.9223 and the website is located at http://www.queenofheartspastries.com/index2.html.

Terry Bakery

For some, Terry Bakery is best known for its old style neon sign on Michigan Ave. with two bakers carrying an enormous rolling pin. Terry no longer owns the bakery. This site [link] says that the building is the oldest bakery in continuous operation in Washtenaw County. If you aren't lucky enough to chance upon the bakery when it is open (Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings) the means to place an order is proprietary information. Well, ok. You have to call and leave the order on their answering machine. Best to ask them to call back to confirm.

I left a message and they called back later that same afternoon. I ordered half a sheet cake in a pan for $30. Half of this cake was cherry and half was white with white icing. When I arrived Saturday morning a real young fellow of about 4 years helped me pick up my cake and take it out the door, supervised by Grandma.

This cake was super moist and my favorite by far. It is about all I've been eating for the past week.

Terry Bakery is located at 119 W. Michigan Ave. Their phone number is 734.482.9511. I think they are also Ward 3.

Beagle audience with First Lady

I wonder what my beagles would have to say in their audience with the First Lady. Would they be as laid back about it as Uno. Definitely not. It is not in their nature.

I do believe they'd express sympathy . . .

but then they'd most certainly outline their concerns. Baying would be involved and maybe marking.

After a pause, an Emerson quote

"The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

Loose Tea no boon for Tigers

It might not have escaped your attention that ever since I announced on this blog that I'd begin following the Tigers again, they have pretty much hit rock bottom. They have gone from a pre-season where debate was in the air about whether they could be the best Tiger team ever to a place where they have their first pitcher with 2 wins this season.

This past weekend I saw the Dalai Lama (no there is no transition, don't worry, there isn't one in my mind that was missed somehow, either). The Dalai Lama pretty much blew my mind. He is inspiring and challenging and at the same time, non-threatening. He made me realize the degree to which I spend my day doing and working on pointless tasks. He pointed directly to the need to be more altruistic. He linked friendship clearly with happiness. He talked about "good selfish" . .. . and a million other things that will cause my head to storm with ideas for a long time to come.

He also made me consider that Twitter and this Blog and the Internet and my computer might be just a whole lot of wastefulness, a means to shunt off the really important things in life.

There is a lot more to this. For a long time, I have been considering what the "quest for truth" is all about, especially if the "truth" hurts other people. In my mind, the Dalai Lama reinforced the idea that this is all a "striving after wind," that what is important is caring, not truth.

I discussed this with my sister last night. It all seems very La Petite Prince, "It is only with the heart that one sees rightly. That which is essential is invisible to the eye."

You can't measure anything worthwhile. OK, so the implications for this in my life could be huge. I'll just have to go down the road a ways and see.

The Dalai Lama emphasized how advancement in spiritual matters comes only after a long, long time with study and prayer.

Still an amazing presence, still a hopeful being. I'm really glad I went.

A note from Emily . . .

A LITTLE madness in the Spring
Is wholesome even for the King,
But God be with the Clown,
Who ponders this tremendous scene—
This whole experiment of green,
As if it were his own!
—Emily Dickinson (1924)