I don't have a handheld devise to get online. I have to use my super slow dial-up when I can squeeze out a couple of minutes of computer time at home. I haven't been good about my resolutions either. I started putting on weight when I cut out Diet Coke because I snacked instead. So I'm back off the wagon (or is it on? I can never remember). I keep the plastic bottles and recycle them and I drink from cans at home. I do try to cut back.
For lent this year I gave up sweets and TV. I also do Wild Wednesdays where I only eat things that come from the earth directly (fruits, veggies, nuts, and seeds) on Wednesday. Nothing processed - no bread or grains since I wouldn't eat a grain that hasn't had something done to it. It's only been a week and a half, but so far so good. I'm on Spring Break this next week. Yay! Rabies shots for all the animals since I will actually have time to take them!
I am dog tired. I got back from Houston last night about midnight and THEN lost an hour from the time change. I skipped Sunday school this morning, but I had to sing in choir at church. I brought a black belt home with me from Houston, though. :-)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Canned vs Dried Beans
Back to the original intent of the blog...
I am in love with my pressure cooker for cooking dried beans. I get home from work at 6:30 and can have a side of beans ready to eat by 6:45 or a bean soup or main dish by 7:00 (I don't bother soaking though). I prefer the taste and texture of cooked dried beans, they are less mushy and healthier because I tend to use a lot less salt than canned. It is also MUCH cheaper! A 16 oz bag of black beans costs .99 cents and makes 12 servings vs the same amount for a can of black beans that makes about 3.5 servings. (These are Grocery Store Outlet prices) There is less waste; 3-4 empty cans vs 1 single plastic bag that also makes a handy doggie poop bag. Dried beans also take up less space in my cupboard. And did I mention they taste better?
I haven't been as successful making other things, namely grains that are supposed to be much easier with a pressure cooker but then I haven't tried much. Maybe that can be a March project.
I am in love with my pressure cooker for cooking dried beans. I get home from work at 6:30 and can have a side of beans ready to eat by 6:45 or a bean soup or main dish by 7:00 (I don't bother soaking though). I prefer the taste and texture of cooked dried beans, they are less mushy and healthier because I tend to use a lot less salt than canned. It is also MUCH cheaper! A 16 oz bag of black beans costs .99 cents and makes 12 servings vs the same amount for a can of black beans that makes about 3.5 servings. (These are Grocery Store Outlet prices) There is less waste; 3-4 empty cans vs 1 single plastic bag that also makes a handy doggie poop bag. Dried beans also take up less space in my cupboard. And did I mention they taste better?
I haven't been as successful making other things, namely grains that are supposed to be much easier with a pressure cooker but then I haven't tried much. Maybe that can be a March project.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Medical Problem Solved
After having a vertigo attack last Saturday (while driving) I went to see an ENT doc who referred me to an ear specialist who was able to see me yesterday.
It turns out I have Meniere's Disease - an inner ear problem related to my vertigo and sudden hearing loss in my left ear. The disease is incurable, but the symptoms can be treated sometimes. Treatment cannot begin until I return from Egypt, but the ear doctor said I might as well go on my trip and just live with any attacks I have. He will inject antibiotics in the ear when I am tired of the attacks and want to try treatment.
good website is http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp
Ben is already in Egypt and has sent me his cell phone number. He will be our guide in Luxor and has planned some great stuff for us (or just me depending) in Cairo too. I have been packed for a week and thought I might have to cancel at the last minute. I think the stress has probably added to the disease. It is not hereditary - due to some trauma to my ear or a virus.
So, don't expect to hear from me until March 7.
It turns out I have Meniere's Disease - an inner ear problem related to my vertigo and sudden hearing loss in my left ear. The disease is incurable, but the symptoms can be treated sometimes. Treatment cannot begin until I return from Egypt, but the ear doctor said I might as well go on my trip and just live with any attacks I have. He will inject antibiotics in the ear when I am tired of the attacks and want to try treatment.
good website is http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance/meniere.asp
Ben is already in Egypt and has sent me his cell phone number. He will be our guide in Luxor and has planned some great stuff for us (or just me depending) in Cairo too. I have been packed for a week and thought I might have to cancel at the last minute. I think the stress has probably added to the disease. It is not hereditary - due to some trauma to my ear or a virus.
So, don't expect to hear from me until March 7.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lead in Toys Imported from China
I don't know how to do the links like Roothy but this was in yesterday's San Jose Mercury News. After you read it look at my comment about it... (sorry I'm making our blog look stupid because I'm internet UNsavvy)
Librarians relieved that most children's books exempted from new lead law
By Suzanne BohanOakland Tribune
Posted: 02/09/2009 06:39:34 PM PST
Libraries are the latest organizations to win relief from a tough new federal law taking effect today that all but bans lead in children's products.
On Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission exempted children's books printed after 1985 from the new law's enforcement provisions, which allow fines of as much as $100,000 per violation for selling or distributing products that contain more than 600 parts per million of lead intended for use by children 12 and younger.
"We're jubilant," said Barbara Roberts, president of the California Library Association on Monday. Before the exemption, Roberts said libraries across the nation faced the prospect of closing their children's sections and discarding thousands of books from their collections.
Roberts added that she was bewildered that lawmakers would pass a law with such broad reach "without thinking of the ramifications in the field."
Like many libraries hoping for a last-minute reprieve, the Oakland Public Library monitored the situation without taking action, citing the "enormity of the process," said Diane Satchwell, administrative librarian for policy and strategic planning with the Oakland library.
The new law, called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, heralds the most sweeping change in consumer product safety law in decades. It aims to protect children from lead, which at any level of exposure is deemed a threat to the developing neurological system. The law
also limits the amount of phthalates, a chemical used in plastics, to 0.1 percent in children's products.
But Jennifer Baker, library director with the St. Helena Public Library in Napa Valley, said the law still puts off limits to children rare, older books. She said one library at which she worked kept a collection of Mother Goose books from the early 1900s, while others retain original copies of old classics, like those from the Nancy Drew or Tom Swift series, she said.
Librarians relieved that most children's books exempted from new lead law
By Suzanne BohanOakland Tribune
Posted: 02/09/2009 06:39:34 PM PST
Libraries are the latest organizations to win relief from a tough new federal law taking effect today that all but bans lead in children's products.
On Friday, the Consumer Product Safety Commission exempted children's books printed after 1985 from the new law's enforcement provisions, which allow fines of as much as $100,000 per violation for selling or distributing products that contain more than 600 parts per million of lead intended for use by children 12 and younger.
"We're jubilant," said Barbara Roberts, president of the California Library Association on Monday. Before the exemption, Roberts said libraries across the nation faced the prospect of closing their children's sections and discarding thousands of books from their collections.
Roberts added that she was bewildered that lawmakers would pass a law with such broad reach "without thinking of the ramifications in the field."
Like many libraries hoping for a last-minute reprieve, the Oakland Public Library monitored the situation without taking action, citing the "enormity of the process," said Diane Satchwell, administrative librarian for policy and strategic planning with the Oakland library.
The new law, called the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, heralds the most sweeping change in consumer product safety law in decades. It aims to protect children from lead, which at any level of exposure is deemed a threat to the developing neurological system. The law
also limits the amount of phthalates, a chemical used in plastics, to 0.1 percent in children's products.
But Jennifer Baker, library director with the St. Helena Public Library in Napa Valley, said the law still puts off limits to children rare, older books. She said one library at which she worked kept a collection of Mother Goose books from the early 1900s, while others retain original copies of old classics, like those from the Nancy Drew or Tom Swift series, she said.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
The Truth Will Out
I know I've been delivering up a lot of disaster porn lately. I know a lot of it is hard to take; maybe even a little hard to believe. But I've just learned something that explains everything that has happened in our economy over the last few months. Seriously, it is all perfectly clear now.
And the truth is terrifying.
Click at your own risk; not for the squeamish.
And the truth is terrifying.
Click at your own risk; not for the squeamish.
Remember TARP I?
When Paulson got on his knees before Nancy Pelosi, to literally beg for her help in getting Congress to pass the bailout? Ever wondered what Paulson and Bernanke told Bush for him to (stupidly) announce on television, "This sucker's going down"? I know I sure have. Well, one of the Congressmen involved in the negotiations finally spilled the beans:
"Over a period of an hour or two, there was a "tremendous draw-down of money market accounts in the United States, to the tune of $550 billion dollars. ... The Treasury opened its window to help. They pumped a hundred and five billion dollars into the system and quickly realized that they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. They decided to close the operation, close down the money accounts, and announce a guarantee of $250,000 per account so there wouldn't be further panic and there. And that's what actually happened. If they had not done that their estimation was that by two o'clock that afternoon, five-and-a-half trillion dollars would have been drawn out of the money market system of the United States, would have collapsed the entire economy of the United States, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed."
"It would have been the end of our political system and our economic systems as we know it."
Well, guess it has to happen sooner or later.
"Over a period of an hour or two, there was a "tremendous draw-down of money market accounts in the United States, to the tune of $550 billion dollars. ... The Treasury opened its window to help. They pumped a hundred and five billion dollars into the system and quickly realized that they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. They decided to close the operation, close down the money accounts, and announce a guarantee of $250,000 per account so there wouldn't be further panic and there. And that's what actually happened. If they had not done that their estimation was that by two o'clock that afternoon, five-and-a-half trillion dollars would have been drawn out of the money market system of the United States, would have collapsed the entire economy of the United States, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed."
"It would have been the end of our political system and our economic systems as we know it."
Well, guess it has to happen sooner or later.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Another Economic Bellwether
During tough times library usage increases and I am really seeing that at my library. We have an intra-county system where you can borrow or place holds on any material and at any library in the county (county library or city owned library) and return it and our central sorting will send it back to the right library. Since my office is up at county central I can see how many bins the sorters have to go through and deliver each day. In the last 6 months the bins have almost doubled. In the morning when I come in I can barely make it to my desk because of all the gray bins and that's with reduced book buying. As far as jobs go, my library position is pretty secure. I may start to see a tougher time getting the money to buy all the outreach give away books and materials than I've gotten used to but at least my paycheck is secure. Worse case scenario is they'd send me to one of the branches (and I am making SURE the branches like me by offering to cover other peoples story times and giving away lots of Saturday's for outreach events).
That said I am still worrying. I am thinking of looking for a second, very part-time job. Just in case.
That said I am still worrying. I am thinking of looking for a second, very part-time job. Just in case.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I'm Here!!!!
I'm kind of chicken to post on my work computer (although I've done it once or twice). One time I did it, and it didn't show up. That was SUPER annoying! I've been working soccer games about 4 times per week. I still have tae kwon do classes to attend and sing in the choir at church (and UMW on the first Wednesday of the month). I don't get online at home much. I'm doing well to keep up with laundry and the dirty dishes. Things will slow down mid-march. A little.
I kept a spending journal last month, but I haven't analyzed it. When I do, I'll post anything I find interesting there. For the first time in my 6 years as a school counselor, my campus celebrated National School Counselor Week. I got a card which people signed and wrote nice things on, and they got me a $25 gift card to JoAnn's. It's so nice to be somewhere I fit in and am appreciated.
Since I can't comment from home, here are all my comments from various posts:
Uncle Sam, another good way to get rid of unwanted pantry items is to donate them to your local food bank. I bought some black beans that were the same brand where someone found a rat's head in a can of their green beans, so I decided I didn't want those beans. I took them to the food bank. The TV said it was a fluke and that brand is OK, but I just couldn't bring myself to open one up.
Momcat, it freaks me out that my cholesterol isn't a whole lot lower than yours (who eats white bread, butter, and cheese). My ratio was a lot better, but my overall is 183 and my HDL is 72. I'd like to know what the other sisters' numbers are like. It will be interesting to see if cutting back on protein will improve my numbers.
Roothy, the dental hygenist I go to says my teeth are in exceptional shape and she credits the Sonic Care for that - so splurge away. You'll save money in the long run by protecting your oral health (since it appears we got crappy cardiovascular genes and will need extra money to keep our arteries clear).
As far as the economy goes, I know my personal retirement accounts have lost money, but I just live on the hope that the stock market has these dips periodically, but that the overall trend has always been up. I should be able to count on my teacher retirement. The other accounts are just extra for me. Worst case - I have to continue to work well into my 60's instead of retiring in my late 50's or early 60's.
(I just had to edit my post because I misspelled school!)
I kept a spending journal last month, but I haven't analyzed it. When I do, I'll post anything I find interesting there. For the first time in my 6 years as a school counselor, my campus celebrated National School Counselor Week. I got a card which people signed and wrote nice things on, and they got me a $25 gift card to JoAnn's. It's so nice to be somewhere I fit in and am appreciated.
Since I can't comment from home, here are all my comments from various posts:
Uncle Sam, another good way to get rid of unwanted pantry items is to donate them to your local food bank. I bought some black beans that were the same brand where someone found a rat's head in a can of their green beans, so I decided I didn't want those beans. I took them to the food bank. The TV said it was a fluke and that brand is OK, but I just couldn't bring myself to open one up.
Momcat, it freaks me out that my cholesterol isn't a whole lot lower than yours (who eats white bread, butter, and cheese). My ratio was a lot better, but my overall is 183 and my HDL is 72. I'd like to know what the other sisters' numbers are like. It will be interesting to see if cutting back on protein will improve my numbers.
Roothy, the dental hygenist I go to says my teeth are in exceptional shape and she credits the Sonic Care for that - so splurge away. You'll save money in the long run by protecting your oral health (since it appears we got crappy cardiovascular genes and will need extra money to keep our arteries clear).
As far as the economy goes, I know my personal retirement accounts have lost money, but I just live on the hope that the stock market has these dips periodically, but that the overall trend has always been up. I should be able to count on my teacher retirement. The other accounts are just extra for me. Worst case - I have to continue to work well into my 60's instead of retiring in my late 50's or early 60's.
(I just had to edit my post because I misspelled school!)
Rebooting the Economy
Found this online, thought it was very funny:
kernel panic detected in worldcrisis.sys
C:>del financial.sys
Can't delete, corrupted file
Please insert *.* cash into system
C:> run TARP_01.exe
Can't reload ponzi_scheme.sys, cash.tmp not found
C:> run TARP_02.exe
Can't reload ponzi_scheme.sys, cash.tmp not found
C:> restore economy.sys
fatal error- File is corrupted or missing
C:> reformat /S
Can't reformat obsolete system... Please upgrade to economy 2.0
kernel panic detected in worldcrisis.sys
C:>del financial.sys
Can't delete, corrupted file
Please insert *.* cash into system
C:> run TARP_01.exe
Can't reload ponzi_scheme.sys, cash.tmp not found
C:> run TARP_02.exe
Can't reload ponzi_scheme.sys, cash.tmp not found
C:> restore economy.sys
fatal error- File is corrupted or missing
C:> reformat /S
Can't reformat obsolete system... Please upgrade to economy 2.0
Friday, February 6, 2009
Salmonella Poisonings
I was just reading about the peanut butter plant in Virginia. Reports are coming out from past inspections and ex-employees that the plant was known for being filthy. I'm expecting that we may also eventually hear about some kind of pay-off from the family owned company to the inspectors or some other egregious misdoings. In China they sentenced 2 or 3 dairy company executives to death for the 3 deaths in China from melamine added to artificially increase the protein of baby formula. So far 8 people have died from the peanut butter/salmonella in the US. Do you suppose any of the owners of this peanut plant are going to do so much as community service for this?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Lab Report
I want to brag about my lab report re cholesterol.
12/5/07 Overall 223 HDL 56 LDL 143
1/20/09 Overall 218, still high BUT HDL 71 and LDL 118 and the ratio is 3.1
It is either exercise or Niacin, the only changes since the first results.
I am eating yogurt daily to cleanse my intestines of bacteria so I won't get sick on my trip. I read about this in a Consumers Report health newsletter.
12/5/07 Overall 223 HDL 56 LDL 143
1/20/09 Overall 218, still high BUT HDL 71 and LDL 118 and the ratio is 3.1
It is either exercise or Niacin, the only changes since the first results.
I am eating yogurt daily to cleanse my intestines of bacteria so I won't get sick on my trip. I read about this in a Consumers Report health newsletter.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
January Savings
I deposited a little over $2,000 than I spent in January. This was definately helped by the fact that there were 3 pay periods in January but I also paid the big X-Mas bill this month too. Next month should give me a truer picture of what I can really save following my "buy nothing new and only if you really need it year".
I still have a ways to go on emptying everything in my pantry and fridge but I can now see the back of the top shelf of my freezer. I vow to continue my quest to "eat from the pantry" one more month with the single addition of soy milk & vegetables.
I did not go to the Y at all in January so according to my rules I am supposed to drop it. I am going to give myself one more week on that one and if I don't go it's history. I am also going to drop Netflix. I keep the same 3 DVDs for over a month. That's another one where I really like the company so I want to support them but they will just have to do without my $26 bucks a month.
I still have a ways to go on emptying everything in my pantry and fridge but I can now see the back of the top shelf of my freezer. I vow to continue my quest to "eat from the pantry" one more month with the single addition of soy milk & vegetables.
I did not go to the Y at all in January so according to my rules I am supposed to drop it. I am going to give myself one more week on that one and if I don't go it's history. I am also going to drop Netflix. I keep the same 3 DVDs for over a month. That's another one where I really like the company so I want to support them but they will just have to do without my $26 bucks a month.
Costco Coupons!
Does anyone else look forward to getting her Costco coupons in the mail, wanting to sing like the town waiting for the Wells Fargo Wagon in the Music Man?
I wait and wait and wait to refill staples, because I just know that the coupons are going to come and I'll regret it if I buy now. I really hit the goldmine with today's batch: toothbrushes, cat litter, cetaphil cleanser, jet dry, V-8, new pillows for my guest room. I'm bummed, though, that a couple of months ago I broke down and bought a bunch of stuff for which I now have useless coupons: ziplocs, tooth floss, and worst of all, contact lenses ($20 off, dammit!)
What do you hold off buying until a coupon comes along, if anything?
I wait and wait and wait to refill staples, because I just know that the coupons are going to come and I'll regret it if I buy now. I really hit the goldmine with today's batch: toothbrushes, cat litter, cetaphil cleanser, jet dry, V-8, new pillows for my guest room. I'm bummed, though, that a couple of months ago I broke down and bought a bunch of stuff for which I now have useless coupons: ziplocs, tooth floss, and worst of all, contact lenses ($20 off, dammit!)
What do you hold off buying until a coupon comes along, if anything?
So, what's the difference between a recession and a depression?
It's like the government wants to deny how bad things are, so they just call it a 'recession'. And it took them forever to officially acknowledge it was even a recession.
I have never seen generalized pessimism like this ever before, even after the dot-com bust.
I was reading in the paper about how economists are decrying the fact that people are saving more now than they were before (over 2%, when it was less than 1% about a year ago.) That means we aren't spending, so the economy is not recovering. It's as if the economists hope that we can somehow resurrect the 'old economy' by doing the same old things and everything will come up roses.
Blogs like this, discussing how to live as cheaply as possible, will be considered un-patriotic and banned.
I guess that will take care of the 'dead blog' argument.
I have never seen generalized pessimism like this ever before, even after the dot-com bust.
I was reading in the paper about how economists are decrying the fact that people are saving more now than they were before (over 2%, when it was less than 1% about a year ago.) That means we aren't spending, so the economy is not recovering. It's as if the economists hope that we can somehow resurrect the 'old economy' by doing the same old things and everything will come up roses.
Blogs like this, discussing how to live as cheaply as possible, will be considered un-patriotic and banned.
I guess that will take care of the 'dead blog' argument.
Blog
I am proclaiming this blog legally dead. Time of death = last post by someone other than me, well over a week ago.
I'll start posting again if you guys do. Otherwise, I guess we had a pretty good run of about a month. Longer than most blogs last, anyway.
I'll start posting again if you guys do. Otherwise, I guess we had a pretty good run of about a month. Longer than most blogs last, anyway.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Double Plus Good GDP
The newspapers are crowing that the GDP is better than expected; we "only" dropped 3.8% instead of the forecast 5+%.
Unfortunately, this is because the agency that released the numbers counted unsold inventory as "growth." Think about that: that means that if a company increased its output of widgets by 20% but wasn't able to sell them, and instead has them languishing on warehouse shelves, gathering dust and carrying costs, and might eventually have to sell them at a steep loss to get them out the door, then we count that increased output as "growth."
I think I'm going to write myself a check for $20,000 today, and crow about how I just got a raise.
Naturally, as soon as you exclude that stagnant inventory from the GDP estimates, we contracted at a rate of... 5.1%.
We are through the looking glass.
Unfortunately, this is because the agency that released the numbers counted unsold inventory as "growth." Think about that: that means that if a company increased its output of widgets by 20% but wasn't able to sell them, and instead has them languishing on warehouse shelves, gathering dust and carrying costs, and might eventually have to sell them at a steep loss to get them out the door, then we count that increased output as "growth."
I think I'm going to write myself a check for $20,000 today, and crow about how I just got a raise.
Naturally, as soon as you exclude that stagnant inventory from the GDP estimates, we contracted at a rate of... 5.1%.
We are through the looking glass.
Friday, January 23, 2009
This Weekend
Watch your headlines, ma famille--this is Obama's first weekend. Most of the interesting and most aggressive fiscal/monetary/macroeconomic activities happen between Friday close-of-business and Sunday evening before the Asian stock markets open.
I predict (or at least hope for) big things for this weekend.
I predict (or at least hope for) big things for this weekend.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Being Bad Feels So Good
AnnRichards was visiting me over the new year, and I was hemming a new pair of jeans I bought at Costco. The jeans were Sevens, and I paid way, way too much money for them. (Okay, fine, confessional is open: they were $115, before tax.) As I worked, I mused to AnnRichards about how I was really developing rich people's tastes. He laughed in my face, saying, "You are sitting there, hemming your own jeans, that you bought at COSTCO, and you are telling me you are developing rich people's tastes?"
I guess he had a point.
But not really. My taste in jeans has become almost irretrievably fancypants (so to speak). I have already confessed to you guys my taste for expensive sunscreen and my absolute refusal to clean my own bathtub. Sure, sure, when I overpay for an item that I really don't need, that I simply want because I enjoy the luxury, I do try to get the best price possible. So those $115 jeans would have cost me $250 at Macy's. But hell, I know that $15 Target jeans (or $10 used one) would have served the purpose just as well.
So what are your unnecessary luxuries? I know for Momcat one is new clothes purchased at places like Talbots. For her, UncleSam and Kipsy, it is buying cars new instead of used. I don't know what it is for Chip. And I know there are more for all of you. The question is: what do you spend on? Come up with all the lame rationalizations you like ("But they fit so well, and they last so much longer!"), but come clean.
I guess he had a point.
But not really. My taste in jeans has become almost irretrievably fancypants (so to speak). I have already confessed to you guys my taste for expensive sunscreen and my absolute refusal to clean my own bathtub. Sure, sure, when I overpay for an item that I really don't need, that I simply want because I enjoy the luxury, I do try to get the best price possible. So those $115 jeans would have cost me $250 at Macy's. But hell, I know that $15 Target jeans (or $10 used one) would have served the purpose just as well.
So what are your unnecessary luxuries? I know for Momcat one is new clothes purchased at places like Talbots. For her, UncleSam and Kipsy, it is buying cars new instead of used. I don't know what it is for Chip. And I know there are more for all of you. The question is: what do you spend on? Come up with all the lame rationalizations you like ("But they fit so well, and they last so much longer!"), but come clean.
Health Issues etc.
I have not submitted a blog for some time because I was dealing with health issues and didn't want to send out information until I had a complete picture. Shortly after Christmas I had what seemed to be a period. I went to the doctor and she took an endometrial biopsy and did a sonogram. The results of the biopsy led her to do another test to rule out ovarian cancer - which came back negative for cancer but still not completely clear, so I am going to have a CT scan when I get back from Egypt.
The blood was the disintegration of a polyp which I have had before. My cholesterol is back down as low as it was in 2003 (218) so I guess the Niacin, flax seed oil and exercise are working.
Meanwhile I am cramming on Egyptology and learning about Jordan - which lies just south of the Gaza strip. The cruise company sent a letter saying we are perfectly safe. (right) I leave on Feb. 14 and return March 6. I am traveling with Edie Jones (Heil) and expect to have a grand time.
I can't compete in the recipe department. I am taking rolls to my potluck dinner Saturday night. I am cutting way back on my buying - except I splurged on a scarab bracelet at the Tut exhibit in Dallas. I organized a train trip, lunch at the museum and half-price tickets for the exhibit for my Wednesday lunch buddies. The lunch was the highlight; they have not let the best Tut goodies out of Egypt this time. I will see them in Cairo! I am only buying clearance half-price books and am reading a novel a week or more. Nothing on TV except Lost.
I passed up an opportunity to go to our local Dems inaugural ball because it cost $50, but my friend Ann's husband was sick and she offered to take me. There were 1,000 decked out in their finest at the Hilton hotel - historic and exciting. I even got a vegetarian meal, squash raviolis. I had watched the swearing in and Obama's speech in the doctor's full office, and I was the ONLY ONE watching. Did you notice he mentioned the nonbelievers? There were 11 from my church in attendance at the ball.
It's a good thing I have been saving money because I just found out that USAA has not been redistributing my IRAs since I turned 70 and a half. They said there was a problem with how I filled out the request form and they couldn't reach me by phone so they just didn't do anything. There is a huge penalty for not complying but my tax man says there is a 20% chance I will get by without penalty. If I am charged, USAA is going to get a very nasty letter and a demand that they pay the fee.
Speaking of fees, I got 2 tickets for supposedly going through a red light. You can clearly see in the photos that I have turned right and not gone through the light. I get my day in court next Wednesday. I may ask them for damages for my time and suffering.
The blood was the disintegration of a polyp which I have had before. My cholesterol is back down as low as it was in 2003 (218) so I guess the Niacin, flax seed oil and exercise are working.
Meanwhile I am cramming on Egyptology and learning about Jordan - which lies just south of the Gaza strip. The cruise company sent a letter saying we are perfectly safe. (right) I leave on Feb. 14 and return March 6. I am traveling with Edie Jones (Heil) and expect to have a grand time.
I can't compete in the recipe department. I am taking rolls to my potluck dinner Saturday night. I am cutting way back on my buying - except I splurged on a scarab bracelet at the Tut exhibit in Dallas. I organized a train trip, lunch at the museum and half-price tickets for the exhibit for my Wednesday lunch buddies. The lunch was the highlight; they have not let the best Tut goodies out of Egypt this time. I will see them in Cairo! I am only buying clearance half-price books and am reading a novel a week or more. Nothing on TV except Lost.
I passed up an opportunity to go to our local Dems inaugural ball because it cost $50, but my friend Ann's husband was sick and she offered to take me. There were 1,000 decked out in their finest at the Hilton hotel - historic and exciting. I even got a vegetarian meal, squash raviolis. I had watched the swearing in and Obama's speech in the doctor's full office, and I was the ONLY ONE watching. Did you notice he mentioned the nonbelievers? There were 11 from my church in attendance at the ball.
It's a good thing I have been saving money because I just found out that USAA has not been redistributing my IRAs since I turned 70 and a half. They said there was a problem with how I filled out the request form and they couldn't reach me by phone so they just didn't do anything. There is a huge penalty for not complying but my tax man says there is a 20% chance I will get by without penalty. If I am charged, USAA is going to get a very nasty letter and a demand that they pay the fee.
Speaking of fees, I got 2 tickets for supposedly going through a red light. You can clearly see in the photos that I have turned right and not gone through the light. I get my day in court next Wednesday. I may ask them for damages for my time and suffering.
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