29. October 2007 by Tara.

DONATE 

Calling all animal lovers…I’d like to introduce you to two little doggies that could use your help and generousity right now:

This is Daisy…

She’s a 7-year-old Maltese mix who’s been through a lot in her short life! She had 6 different homes before she found her forever home with us when she was 2 years old, and she’s had a lot of health problems that we think were because she came from a puppy mill. We never confirmed it, but all the signs point to that being the case…

Click here to read more about Daisy.

This is Cuddles…

She’s 3 years old, 5 pounds soaking wet, and a Chihuahua/Dachshund mix. We adopted her from our elderly neighbor who had to go into a nursing home and leave her behind. Little did we know, but Cuddles had some health problems that needed to be addressed and we were not prepared for the expense…

Click here to read more about Cuddles.

If you’re already in love with these two sweet faces, they would appreciate a donation toward the cost of their surgeries, which combined, cost around $1,000 including medications. Any amounts donated above the cost of the surgeries will be donated to the Humane Society of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

DONATE 

Both Daisy and Cuddles say “Thank You!” for your generosity.

Posted in For Generous Folks | Print | 1 Comment »

19. October 2007 by Tara.

Pop’s Restaurant
1339 Walker Village Dr NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49544
 

I remember when I was a kid, my parents would sometimes take us out for breakfast at what they called the “greasy spoon,” which was a little family-owned restaurant within walking distance of our house. Since then, that has been our term for the type of place where you can usually get breakfast all day, the meals are greasy and wonderful, and the atmosphere is laid back. The waitresses have worked there forever and love it for some reason, and they always recognize you when you come in.

We’ve got a great greasy spoon here in town called Pop’s, which is in an older strip mall by where they closed down a thriving D&W store and haven’t put anything back in there yet. So I think Pop’s might be hurting for business since last week, they had a coupon in our mailer for 20% off the total check. Of course, Jeff and I went in since we usually end up going there once every couple months anyway, and they serve breakfast all day, which is what Jeff wanted. It was dinner time and I needed something salty and greasy!

Jeff got their signature Jumbo Breakfast with 3 eggs instead of 2, scrambled, with bacon, toast and American fries with onions. It’s a heart attack on a plate, but so good! I ordered the 8 ounce boneless chicken breast dinner, and had my chicken batter fried. My 2 sides were a house salad and mashed potatoes with gravy. Another heaping plate full of comfort food in all its greasy goodness.

They offer a wide variety of meals, from breakfast including steak & eggs, lighter lunch foods like sandwiches (a great rueben), along with Mexican dishes like a fantastic wet burrito, and comforting dinners like meatloaf and fried chicken. To end your dinner, as if you could eat any more after their generous portions, they always have pie or cake and other yummy desserts to go with your after-dinner coffee. Check the board by the door when you come in or the ones up by the kitchen for daily and weekly specials.

My next visit is going to include their new appetizer sampler–fried mushrooms, chicken strips, fried green beans and more! I usually have the sweet potato fries with my dinner, but this last time the mashed potatoes sounded better, and they did not disappoint!

The only downside is that they still have a smoking section along the south wall, with no barrier in between them and the non-smokers, so we usually leave there smelling like smoke, but if you end up going when they’re not so busy, there’s a good chance there won’t be any smoking patrons there, so it’s not as bad.

My friend had moved from Michigan to Tennessee and missed the variety of restaurants we have here in Grand Rapids, so I took her to Pop’s when she visited, since she had never been there before. She ordered the mini meat and bean wet burrito and couldn’t get over how great it was. So next time you’re in town, Pop’s is a great place to check out for some local flavor. If you come and visit me, I’ll take you there myself! My treat.

Posted in Grand Rapids Reviews | Print | 1 Comment »

11. October 2007 by Tara.

Well, it happened. But not because a plant closed down or a huge corporation moved their operation to Mexico. No, my husband was “laid off” from his job a couple weeks ago merely because of nasty office politics. He won’t be called back, but who would want to work with such dishonest, ruthless people? Anyway, due to the lack of manufacturing jobs here in Michigan, he’s hard-pressed to find something else. Fortunately, the unemployment will kick in and he will have time to weigh his options. By the way, if anyone knows of a company that needs a talented, experienced, seasoned tool maker, let me know!

Having this happen makes me appreciate what I do so much more. I have the Internet as an almost endless source of contacts and clients from all over the United States and also from different countries like the U.K. This new era of virtual assistance and digital products opens up so many opportunities for someone with an online business! Granted, I work hard for my pay and I’m not a millionaire, but it’s fulfilling work and I’ve learned a lot from it.

So now I’m trying to get my husband to remember his 8th grade typing class well enough to pitch in and help with some projects. He gave it a try…finished about 3 minutes of a 60-minute audio! I think it took him a good part of an hour to do that, so maybe everyone isn’t cut out to transcribe, but now he knows that for sure!

Posted in A Day in the Life | Print | 1 Comment »