Community

A friend told me a friend of hers had moved into South Lyon, and I called her. We met today and I feel strongly that we will be sharing: the neighborhood, questions, thoughts, nature. We are both learning and growing, and it feels good and I am grateful! Susan shared this image today (as well as good company and good coffee.)

VocaBeans

VocaBeans is an iPhone, iPhone touch, iTunes-downloadable application designed to assist people with aphasia, autism, closed head injury, or any language-access related issue to find words. Using VocaBeans by subject, the application allows a person to navigate their personal communication day. The VocaBeans are sorted into categories. Clicking on the category reveals pictures of everyday items in that category. A picture of a couch will show the couch, and when clicked, an audio prompt will say "couch." The user can also upload personal pictures. "Aunt" can show a picture of your favorite and say "Aunt." A new collection of VocaBeans (a BeanPod) can be gathered into favorites. An example could be titled "Medical" and have icons for requests a person in the hospital or an assisted-living facility might need. Lights off. Lights on. Need massage. Need shot. Please go. Need water. Pain levels are also addressed by degree and sort. Stings, burns, deep pain, dizzy. Bob Gallagher, the Saline, Michigan CEO of VocaBeans developed this application because he identified a need for a low-cost language assistance application. The application is new, comprehensive and it is valuable and easy to use for language retrieval. There are Beans for most subject conversations anyone would confront from waking up in the morning through going to bed at night. The application download is free, along with a basic VocaBeans BeanPod, and other BeanPods are available for purchase.

Yes to Ltd.

Hand lotion that moisturizes is as hard to find as the Fountain of Youth. Some make me itch, some sting, and most just don't work. Went to Walgreens today to find a hairbrush and a hand lotion. We have lots of drugstore choices in South Lyon, including either CVS 1.8 miles from each other. Walgreens has the nicest people, who all have coupons you can use falling out of their pockets, and I swear each person has the coupons memorized. I like that as it frees up my brain and skinny wallet. I stood in front of the hand lotions for 20 minutes. I've tried most all. On the top shelf was a small collection of Yes To products - Yes to carrots, Yes to cucumber. Paraben free, although I'm not sure what that does for me, and Dead Sea mud might be nice, but isn't the Dead Sea going to run out of stuff soon? Not tested on animals is extra good. The ingredients list looked appetizing with all the beneficial stuff at the top. I hesitated at the price, but I liked the art, so that's worth a couple dollars. The woman who rang the sale said if it didn't work, bring it back. Rather than risk going home and then trying, I put some on my hands in the car. I'm happy. My hands are happy. My local economy is less depressed. Animals who weren't slathered with junk are happy. Eventually high schools with gardens will be happy getting some loot from the Yes to Seed Fund nonprofit. Life is good again. I'm clapping my soft hands.

Nihilist

I bought this gum at the Rocket in Ypsilanti, MI. The store is fun, the owners great and the products will cheer you no matter what your malady. The store is moving across the street on Michigan Avenue into larger quarters. Terrific to hear in this economy! Go Localmotive!

Localmotive: Sweet Retreats Chocolate Shoppe

Having landed some loot recently, I went mall shopping, which I do once a decade. I needed the Apple Store, Crabtree & Evelyn, so amalling I did go. Too many kids in the Apple store, playing with every device available, so I then needed chocolate. Immediately. Mall chocolate is Godiva. I got chocolated, against my better judgment. That's what loot does: the more you have, the less sense you use. It's a mathematically proven correlation. I ate the Godiva chocolate. What this did is remind me that Godiva is not great chocolate: I don't know why it's waxy, but it is. It does not taste good. It doesn't melt in your mouth (although it did melt in my car.) I don't like Godiva chocolate, it's expensive for no good reason and I wish I remembered that, even if I think it's a chocolate emergency.

Truly great chocolate can be had at reasonable prices at Sweet Retreats Chocolate Shoppe. Much of the delicious chocolate is made by Proprietor, Colleen LaClair. I walked in last Wednesday to find her banging a tray of bark on the table, an act she learned through years of experience wrangling chocolate, explaining it helps the chocolate settle better. I am a frequent customer, and Colleen remembers my name, what chocolate I prefer (only dark: no jellies) and has a pretty good idea of my background. All that is lovely and welcome, but primary is the succulent chocolate she carefully places in my bag. She has the chocolatier's sense of a true fancier, and repeat customers come back for the camaraderie as well as the chocolate. Sweet Retreats chocolate is rich in flavor and possesses every welcome trait of fine, fine chocolate. Like great wine, Sweet Retreats chocolate has multilayered flavor, nuance and an aftertaste that lives in taste memory like a favorite song. The store is a place to indulge all senses, to revel in chocolate snobbery and share space with people who know and understand.

It took a half-pound of Sweet Retreats chocolate to make me forget Godiva. My palate is cleansed, my spirit eased and I am restored to relative wholeness and sensibility. Thank you Colleen and Sweet Retreats! Sweet Retreats is located at 314 Main St., Milford, MI just past the first light into town from I-96. Park in free public parking, and wander around Milford. It's a lovely town, home to the best chocolate in Michigan.