We went and got our taxes done last night. It was not pretty. We owe lots of money and then some. Lots of money. Like Keith says, what's the point of working hard WHEN THEY JUST TAKE IT ALL AWAY?
Sigh...
Self employment is great until you see your profits get eaten away by those pesky self employment taxes.
Sigh...
So, this year will be even more of a budget living year than it already is. We hadn't planned on any fancy vacations or big purchases anyway, but since Mr. Tax Man is taking all of our money, we REALLY won't be planning that vacation now! Or buying anything.
Sigh...
I thought we were getting a tax break this year? So that we all have a little more discretionary income to go out and spend to help the economy get rolling again? Sorry, Mr. President, but we aren't going to be able to help out this year BECAUSE YOU ARE TAKING ALL OF OUR MONEY AWAY!!
Sigh...
Okay, enough whining, let's bite the bullet and keep working and paying more taxes because SOMEBODY has to pay for all the bailouts and bonuses! Might as well be me!
And, what really gets me, is that our so called federal tax break is going to be eaten up with all of the tax hikes here in California. They all start tomorrow, so if you were going to buy anything, do it today before the sales tax goes up!
Sigh...
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Another Great Escape
They did it again.
Yesterday Keith had been working in the garage and yard all day and had the kitty door locked and the garage door open, frustrating the heck out of all the kitties who couldn't get into the garage and out the open door. So, after he was finished and the garage door was shut, I opened up the kitty door so that they could go in the garage.
About twenty minutes later Keith runs in the house and says that Buddy and Mimi are out running around the front yard. Huh? Apparently, the garage door wasn't shut all the way with a few inches open at the bottom, so the two of them managed to squeeze themselves under the door to freedom.
We did finally get them back in the house. Again.
Yesterday Keith had been working in the garage and yard all day and had the kitty door locked and the garage door open, frustrating the heck out of all the kitties who couldn't get into the garage and out the open door. So, after he was finished and the garage door was shut, I opened up the kitty door so that they could go in the garage.
About twenty minutes later Keith runs in the house and says that Buddy and Mimi are out running around the front yard. Huh? Apparently, the garage door wasn't shut all the way with a few inches open at the bottom, so the two of them managed to squeeze themselves under the door to freedom.
We did finally get them back in the house. Again.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Fun at the Supermarket and Those Rascally Cats!
I went grocery shopping this morning and since I left Keith at home, it wasn't too bad and didn't take too long. Vons was having a mix and match 10 items or more sale, so I stocked up on some basics, got stuff so that we actually have a meal plan for the week, and saved $71.00 in the process. Of course, what they don't tell you is that the prices on the sale items are the actual real life price they should be, they just jack it up and then lower it again so you think you're getting a bargain.
Newman's Own has come out with a frozen pizza that we tried, and like the rest of good old Paul's line, it was good! Very thin crispy crust, think Dominicks for those of you in Ventura. Keith added a little extra cheese, but even without extra cheese, we've got a frozen pizza winner here!
It's up in the 80's today, but we can't open the sliding glass door because...last night Buddy managed to open the sliding screen and escaped. I was on the couch in my pj's and Keith had run over to Home Depot, and the cats were enjoying the nice cool breeze coming in the house, when I look over just in time to see Buddy stand up against the screen, hook his claws in, and then kind of slide to the right, taking the screen with him and sliding it open. I could see his little pea brain go 'Hey!' and before I could catch him out the door he was. Followed closely by Lucy. I'm following them right out to try and grab them, but right behind me is Mimi and Pepper, also going 'Hey!' so I had to run back in, scoop them up, and lock them in the bedroom so I could leave the screen open to chase Buddy and Lucy back in.
They must have thought they were in Wonderland, they ran around the back yard sniffing and smelling, me chasing behind them, and then they went down the side yard towards the gate. I couldn't tell if the gate was open, so I ran out the front door to check and possibly head them off at the pass, then ran back out the back door and finally got Buddy to run inside, me right behind. I shut the screen and tried to grab him to put him in the bedroom and he was so wound up he started hissing at me. So, I got the bag of kitty treats, and Buddy being the 'I'll eat anything anytime' kind of cat that he is, he calmed down and followed me and the treat bag down the hall to the bathroom where I put treats on the floor and shut the door on him.
Now to get Lucy back inside. Back outside, shaking the treat bag the whole time, trying to round her up. She finally ran inside and I shut the slider, never to be opened again while cats are about. Whew.
The rest of the evening Buddy kept going over to the glass sliding door and kind of inspecting it like 'I figured it out once, I think I can do it again!'
Oh, and I am sad to announce the untimely demise of our little quail. We hadn't seen it for a few days and Keith found it dead yesterday, the apparent victim of the stray cats in the neighborhood. He was SO upset last night, he's such a big softie!
Newman's Own has come out with a frozen pizza that we tried, and like the rest of good old Paul's line, it was good! Very thin crispy crust, think Dominicks for those of you in Ventura. Keith added a little extra cheese, but even without extra cheese, we've got a frozen pizza winner here!
It's up in the 80's today, but we can't open the sliding glass door because...last night Buddy managed to open the sliding screen and escaped. I was on the couch in my pj's and Keith had run over to Home Depot, and the cats were enjoying the nice cool breeze coming in the house, when I look over just in time to see Buddy stand up against the screen, hook his claws in, and then kind of slide to the right, taking the screen with him and sliding it open. I could see his little pea brain go 'Hey!' and before I could catch him out the door he was. Followed closely by Lucy. I'm following them right out to try and grab them, but right behind me is Mimi and Pepper, also going 'Hey!' so I had to run back in, scoop them up, and lock them in the bedroom so I could leave the screen open to chase Buddy and Lucy back in.
They must have thought they were in Wonderland, they ran around the back yard sniffing and smelling, me chasing behind them, and then they went down the side yard towards the gate. I couldn't tell if the gate was open, so I ran out the front door to check and possibly head them off at the pass, then ran back out the back door and finally got Buddy to run inside, me right behind. I shut the screen and tried to grab him to put him in the bedroom and he was so wound up he started hissing at me. So, I got the bag of kitty treats, and Buddy being the 'I'll eat anything anytime' kind of cat that he is, he calmed down and followed me and the treat bag down the hall to the bathroom where I put treats on the floor and shut the door on him.
Now to get Lucy back inside. Back outside, shaking the treat bag the whole time, trying to round her up. She finally ran inside and I shut the slider, never to be opened again while cats are about. Whew.
The rest of the evening Buddy kept going over to the glass sliding door and kind of inspecting it like 'I figured it out once, I think I can do it again!'
Oh, and I am sad to announce the untimely demise of our little quail. We hadn't seen it for a few days and Keith found it dead yesterday, the apparent victim of the stray cats in the neighborhood. He was SO upset last night, he's such a big softie!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Scrubs
Every time a commercial would come on for that show Scrubs, Keith would say 'That is the stupidest show! I can't stand it!' Well,never having seen the show myself, I thought I'd give it a try, mainly because it comes on right before the new show Better Off Ted. Now, Better Off Ted looks promising, we watched the premiere show and thought it was pretty clever. Ellen's wife Portia is perfect in her role as the clueless cutthroat ice queen, plus Keith likes to look at her, thinking 'what a waste, and which one wears the pants so to speak, Ellen or Portia?' We also thought that it was kind of interesting that the Ted guy looks a lot like John Hamm from Mad Men.
So, this week I decided to check out Scrubs. I lasted not quite five minutes and had to turn it off. Ick. I think a lot of it is that main character with the goofy face, he is just annoying, not funny. Now I'm sure many Americans enjoy Scrubs and watch it every week, but remember, many Americans still think that Gilligan's Island was the funniest show ever.
Yes, we have become boring middle aged people with the highlight of our week being what's on TV tonight.
So, this week I decided to check out Scrubs. I lasted not quite five minutes and had to turn it off. Ick. I think a lot of it is that main character with the goofy face, he is just annoying, not funny. Now I'm sure many Americans enjoy Scrubs and watch it every week, but remember, many Americans still think that Gilligan's Island was the funniest show ever.
Yes, we have become boring middle aged people with the highlight of our week being what's on TV tonight.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I'm Just Waiting
For someone to complain about the new Carl's Jr Bourbon Burger commercials.
You've probably seen or heard them by now, the surgeon talking about how he has to have his bourbon by lunchtime and the radio commercial about people being bourbonaholics. Personally I think the commercials are funny and clever, and they do make you want to go try a bourbon burger.
But, any minute now, AA is going to make a statement about how this trivializes people who are alcoholics, and the AMA is going to make a statement about how this makes doctors look like alcoholics, and MADD is going to make a statement about how this commercial glorifies alcoholics. Or something like that.
In today's world we have to be so very very careful about EVERYTHING that is said and done because no matter what, you are going to offend someone somewhere. So, Carl's Jr, be prepared to have to make a counter statement about how sorry you are that your marketing effort has offended so many people.
That's all.
You've probably seen or heard them by now, the surgeon talking about how he has to have his bourbon by lunchtime and the radio commercial about people being bourbonaholics. Personally I think the commercials are funny and clever, and they do make you want to go try a bourbon burger.
But, any minute now, AA is going to make a statement about how this trivializes people who are alcoholics, and the AMA is going to make a statement about how this makes doctors look like alcoholics, and MADD is going to make a statement about how this commercial glorifies alcoholics. Or something like that.
In today's world we have to be so very very careful about EVERYTHING that is said and done because no matter what, you are going to offend someone somewhere. So, Carl's Jr, be prepared to have to make a counter statement about how sorry you are that your marketing effort has offended so many people.
That's all.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
How to Freak Out your Cats
Overload your washing machine with some heavy towels and jeans so that when it starts to spin it goes BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!!
Watch as six cats run in different directions because it's so LOUD!
Sorry, kids! I really hate when they get so scared, especially if I'm running to the washer to stop the noise while dodging terrified kitties.
Watch as six cats run in different directions because it's so LOUD!
Sorry, kids! I really hate when they get so scared, especially if I'm running to the washer to stop the noise while dodging terrified kitties.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The Blind Leading the Blind
Last night I was going to clean my glasses with the special glasses cleaner wipe things that we bought that are those pre-moistened little wipes that come in the little foil packets. So, I take off my glasses to clean them but then realized that I can't see to open the packet without my glasses on so have to put them back on to try and find the little 'tear here' notch in the almost indestructible foil packet.
And this is what someone (not sure which kitty, but I suspect Lucy) was doing while I was busy yesterday morning.
These paper towels were on top of the washer so someone had to be poking around up there and managed to drag them 10 feet away into the living room. Or maybe they just rolled them along the floor. The salvageable part of the roll has teeth marks that go all the way through it.
And this lolcat made me laugh.
And this is what someone (not sure which kitty, but I suspect Lucy) was doing while I was busy yesterday morning.
These paper towels were on top of the washer so someone had to be poking around up there and managed to drag them 10 feet away into the living room. Or maybe they just rolled them along the floor. The salvageable part of the roll has teeth marks that go all the way through it.
And this lolcat made me laugh.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Cute Stuff on Dawanda
I've been poking around dawanda a little bit, filling up my shop and figuring out how everything works. The site is very nice looking and I haven't seen any poor photography skills much, not like half the stuff on etsy where it's out of focus or shot from so far away that you can't tell what it is. This shop caught my eye, mainly because of the licorice candy bracelet. My favorite candy as a kid was the licorice allsorts, except for the gummy ones that came in the packet. Plus, I'm hungry and waiting for dinner time so anything food related looks good right now!
This is from a shop called Dingalin. Sorry, I still don't know how to make clickable links in my blog posts, and am still too lazy to learn how, so here is the shop address:
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/Dingalin
And, as Homer Simpson would say: mmmm...donuts...
And, for some protein, how about a bacon necklace?
Or, you could just do as the shoppers in this supermarket do and drink your breakfast:
This is from a shop called Dingalin. Sorry, I still don't know how to make clickable links in my blog posts, and am still too lazy to learn how, so here is the shop address:
http://en.dawanda.com/shop/Dingalin
And, as Homer Simpson would say: mmmm...donuts...
And, for some protein, how about a bacon necklace?
Or, you could just do as the shoppers in this supermarket do and drink your breakfast:
Sunday, March 22, 2009
It's Cold Outside!
On Friday we had a high temp of 82 degrees here in Bakersfield. It was a beautiful day, the air was clear and the skies were sunny, and it was so nice to have the windows and doors open. The cats love it when they can hear the birds and smell all the spring smells coming through the windows. (Not like summer here, where it smells of smog and the air is 'unhealthy for sensitive persons' or on the really bad days, unhealthy for everyone and don't go outside.)
So, today, we get a cold front moving through, complete with high cold winds and a tiny bit of rain this morning. It was cold! And windy! If our tree hadn't already been blown down by the wind, it would have been today.
Brrrr...
So, after getting breakfast and going grocery shopping today, I stayed in and worked on my shops. I had kind of forgotten about the European version of etsy, Dawanda, and thought maybe I should give it another try and see what happens. It's still free to list and the site is easy to use and really nice looking, so I've been loading up my shop there today.
Breakfast was at IHOP this morning, we had woken up early and got there before the place got too packed. It's a popular Sunday morning thing here in town, we all go out to breakfast because we're all too lazy to cook, or as in our case, we hadn't been to the grocery store yet. I had the mega bacon omelette thing, with bacon and cheese and tomatoes, and the harvest wheat pancakes (very tasty those are). The grocery trip was done as quickly as possible, but it still seemed like we spent a whole lot of money for not a whole lot of food. And there's still nothing to eat.
So, today, we get a cold front moving through, complete with high cold winds and a tiny bit of rain this morning. It was cold! And windy! If our tree hadn't already been blown down by the wind, it would have been today.
Brrrr...
So, after getting breakfast and going grocery shopping today, I stayed in and worked on my shops. I had kind of forgotten about the European version of etsy, Dawanda, and thought maybe I should give it another try and see what happens. It's still free to list and the site is easy to use and really nice looking, so I've been loading up my shop there today.
Breakfast was at IHOP this morning, we had woken up early and got there before the place got too packed. It's a popular Sunday morning thing here in town, we all go out to breakfast because we're all too lazy to cook, or as in our case, we hadn't been to the grocery store yet. I had the mega bacon omelette thing, with bacon and cheese and tomatoes, and the harvest wheat pancakes (very tasty those are). The grocery trip was done as quickly as possible, but it still seemed like we spent a whole lot of money for not a whole lot of food. And there's still nothing to eat.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Lets Go To The Movies!
I just had to get a little clip of Buddy acting like a baby. Bear has always been a surrogate mama to the young ones, and they still come to her for some cuddling and comfort now and then.
Are People Really This Stupid?
Silly question, right? Yes, people really are stupid, so stupid that we need to have warning labels on everything we buy.
I got these Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubbers to clean the shower, thinking that maybe I'd clean it more often if I had some action scrubbers to clean it with. So, this morning I opened up the package in preparation for some action cleaning of the shower, and thought maybe I should read the warning label on the package. Good thing I did, because damned if you're not supposed to use these things 'for personal hygiene, dishwashing, OR AS A BABY WIPE!'
I can just hear the conversation that lead up to having to put this warning on the package.
'Hon, we don't have no more baby wipes and little Bubba's got a big load in his diaper. Can you run down to the Stop and Shop and pick me up some baby wipes?'
'Oh, hell, hon, I ain't got my check yet this week and I spent the last of my money on beer, can't you find something else to wipe him up with? I can't go to the store right now anyway, WWF is on TV!'
'Oh, alright, let me see what else we have. Hey, these action scrubbers might do the trick, lets give one of these a try! Oh, crap! Bubba's butt is covered in blisters and he won't stop howling! Better run him down to the free clinic and see what's wrong with him.'
'Damn, those action scrubbers are just stripping the skin right off his butt! I'm gonna sue the hell out of those people, they should have told us not to use these as a baby wipe!'
I got these Scrubbing Bubbles Action Scrubbers to clean the shower, thinking that maybe I'd clean it more often if I had some action scrubbers to clean it with. So, this morning I opened up the package in preparation for some action cleaning of the shower, and thought maybe I should read the warning label on the package. Good thing I did, because damned if you're not supposed to use these things 'for personal hygiene, dishwashing, OR AS A BABY WIPE!'
I can just hear the conversation that lead up to having to put this warning on the package.
'Hon, we don't have no more baby wipes and little Bubba's got a big load in his diaper. Can you run down to the Stop and Shop and pick me up some baby wipes?'
'Oh, hell, hon, I ain't got my check yet this week and I spent the last of my money on beer, can't you find something else to wipe him up with? I can't go to the store right now anyway, WWF is on TV!'
'Oh, alright, let me see what else we have. Hey, these action scrubbers might do the trick, lets give one of these a try! Oh, crap! Bubba's butt is covered in blisters and he won't stop howling! Better run him down to the free clinic and see what's wrong with him.'
'Damn, those action scrubbers are just stripping the skin right off his butt! I'm gonna sue the hell out of those people, they should have told us not to use these as a baby wipe!'
Friday, March 20, 2009
Sigh...
Slow slow slow. My online shops have been slower than molasses this past week or so. It's hard to get motivated to make new stuff when nothing is moving. I'm trying to think of other ways to make money without having to go back and cashier at walmart.
So, after following all the news about octomom and seeing all the other families that cash in on their kids and have reality tv shows, I was wondering if I could pitch a show about having six cats. Don't you think that would be as exciting as watching octomom on radaronline bitch about her mother and how the paparazzi are driving her crazy and terrorizing her kids? The whole time having tons of photographers and videotapers in her home while she's bringing the brand new fragile little preemies home? Sorry, I swore that I'd never rant about this weird woman, but after seeing some of her 'online diary' on radaronline, it just confirms my suspicions that this woman sees her babies as an untapped gold mine. Who in their right mind would allow a living room full of people taking flash pictures and videos while bringing home new babies from the hospital? Someone who *isn't* in her right mind and is charging these photographers BIG BUCKS to take said pictures.
So, if octomom can do it, why not have a reality show about life with six cats?
Watch as they poop fifty times a day. Watch as mom scoops poop fifty times a day. Watch as Buddy terrorizes Bear and Harri by chasing them around the house when they least expect it. Watch as Pepper snarls at anyone who gets too close to her. Watch as Lucy gets back at Buddy for being such a bully and backs him into a corner. Watch as we shop for numerous cans and bags of cat food and huge tubs of cat litter. Watch as Mimi jumps onto my shoulders while I am trying to brush my teeth or fix dinner. Watch them sleep. Sounds exciting, huh? About as exciting as most of those other reality shows I think.
Oh, and speaking of reality shows, there is one that I'm totally hooked on, embarrassed as I am to admit it. It's called Jail and comes on after Street Patrol, which is sort of a Cops type show, only a little more graphic. Jail shows what life is like inside, you guessed it, JAIL. I'm always kind of surprised that people would actually allow themselves to be filmed on this show in their worst moments in life, like being arrested for prostitution or falling down drunk, but I guess everyone wants their 15 minutes, no matter what. Plus, I guess they get paid for it, and money is a good motivator to get people to do stupid things, that's for sure.
So, after following all the news about octomom and seeing all the other families that cash in on their kids and have reality tv shows, I was wondering if I could pitch a show about having six cats. Don't you think that would be as exciting as watching octomom on radaronline bitch about her mother and how the paparazzi are driving her crazy and terrorizing her kids? The whole time having tons of photographers and videotapers in her home while she's bringing the brand new fragile little preemies home? Sorry, I swore that I'd never rant about this weird woman, but after seeing some of her 'online diary' on radaronline, it just confirms my suspicions that this woman sees her babies as an untapped gold mine. Who in their right mind would allow a living room full of people taking flash pictures and videos while bringing home new babies from the hospital? Someone who *isn't* in her right mind and is charging these photographers BIG BUCKS to take said pictures.
So, if octomom can do it, why not have a reality show about life with six cats?
Watch as they poop fifty times a day. Watch as mom scoops poop fifty times a day. Watch as Buddy terrorizes Bear and Harri by chasing them around the house when they least expect it. Watch as Pepper snarls at anyone who gets too close to her. Watch as Lucy gets back at Buddy for being such a bully and backs him into a corner. Watch as we shop for numerous cans and bags of cat food and huge tubs of cat litter. Watch as Mimi jumps onto my shoulders while I am trying to brush my teeth or fix dinner. Watch them sleep. Sounds exciting, huh? About as exciting as most of those other reality shows I think.
Oh, and speaking of reality shows, there is one that I'm totally hooked on, embarrassed as I am to admit it. It's called Jail and comes on after Street Patrol, which is sort of a Cops type show, only a little more graphic. Jail shows what life is like inside, you guessed it, JAIL. I'm always kind of surprised that people would actually allow themselves to be filmed on this show in their worst moments in life, like being arrested for prostitution or falling down drunk, but I guess everyone wants their 15 minutes, no matter what. Plus, I guess they get paid for it, and money is a good motivator to get people to do stupid things, that's for sure.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Switched at Birth?
For some reason, every time I see this guy on our local news, he reminds me of that upside-down head kid from Family Guy. Do you see the resemblance or is it just me? We actually saw the news guy at the train show last weekend, one of our local 'celebrities', and the day before Keith saw the weatherman there, too. Whoo-hoo!
Something about that big forehead, I guess.
And this lolcat totally reminds me of something Pepper would do. Damn whatever is in my way, I'm laying here whether you like it or not!
And this from the fail blog is just so true:
Something about that big forehead, I guess.
And this lolcat totally reminds me of something Pepper would do. Damn whatever is in my way, I'm laying here whether you like it or not!
And this from the fail blog is just so true:
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Train Show
Keith had a good time at the train show on Saturday, buying magazines and books and some train cars for his train set that he will build 'someday'. Someday after he finished the HOUSE!!
He saw son Joe there, the train club that Joe belongs to was putting on the show, and after the show they had an open house at their train club, so we went over there Saturday night to check out the layouts. They have two floors filled with trains in this funky old downtown building. Very impressive! Sorry, didn't take the camera, so no pics, but the layouts were HUGE!
Keith wanted to go back to the show on Sunday, so I tagged along, mainly to see the layouts he had told me about. The circus town is really fun, this huge layout that depicts a small town with a circus parade and big top. Joe said the layout is built on a trailer, so the people just haul it around to different shows. And here are some pics!
I've always been fascinated with miniatures, but just don't have the patience to make something small, and definitely don't have the money for dollhouses or anything like that, so it's fun to see scenes like these.
Here is a house on fire in one of the other layouts.
And, just to prove that son Joe is still alive and well:
We probably should have had him hold up a newspaper with the date on it or something!
He saw son Joe there, the train club that Joe belongs to was putting on the show, and after the show they had an open house at their train club, so we went over there Saturday night to check out the layouts. They have two floors filled with trains in this funky old downtown building. Very impressive! Sorry, didn't take the camera, so no pics, but the layouts were HUGE!
Keith wanted to go back to the show on Sunday, so I tagged along, mainly to see the layouts he had told me about. The circus town is really fun, this huge layout that depicts a small town with a circus parade and big top. Joe said the layout is built on a trailer, so the people just haul it around to different shows. And here are some pics!
I've always been fascinated with miniatures, but just don't have the patience to make something small, and definitely don't have the money for dollhouses or anything like that, so it's fun to see scenes like these.
Here is a house on fire in one of the other layouts.
And, just to prove that son Joe is still alive and well:
We probably should have had him hold up a newspaper with the date on it or something!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Foo Foo Food
I went grocery shopping yesterday, leaving Keith at home. Taking your husband with you to the store is like taking small children who fill up the cart with stuff just because the package looks good or you get a prize inside. In other words, you end up buying a bunch of crap that sits in the cupboard or fridge until next time you clean said cupboards and fridge out and throw away all the expired food.
So, not taking the husband results in not spending as much.
But, I did waste $4.99 on this magazine that I put in the cart because, well, because the package looked good and it promised a prize inside with ways to save money at the supermarket. Note to self: save money by NOT ever buying this magazine again.
I've never watched the Rachael Ray show, and I'm sure she has many fans who enjoy cooking her fancy foo foo menus, complete with the oh so cute EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) that every recipe seems to call for. Obviously lots of people must read this magazine or it wouldn't still be on the newsstand, but I'm just not impressed. I like my food a little less 'gourmet' I guess.
I was flipping through the magazine and came across this picture of what's supposed to be healthier for you nachos. Keith glanced over and said 'what the hell is that, it looks like vomit!'
I don't like broccoli, I know it's good for you and all, but even the smell of it is totally disgusting to me, so nachos with broccoli on top of them is just a waste of nachos. Give me unhealthy nachos loaded with beans and cheese and damn the calories!
And what's up with this fried egg on a salad nonsense?
So, not taking the husband results in not spending as much.
But, I did waste $4.99 on this magazine that I put in the cart because, well, because the package looked good and it promised a prize inside with ways to save money at the supermarket. Note to self: save money by NOT ever buying this magazine again.
I've never watched the Rachael Ray show, and I'm sure she has many fans who enjoy cooking her fancy foo foo menus, complete with the oh so cute EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) that every recipe seems to call for. Obviously lots of people must read this magazine or it wouldn't still be on the newsstand, but I'm just not impressed. I like my food a little less 'gourmet' I guess.
I was flipping through the magazine and came across this picture of what's supposed to be healthier for you nachos. Keith glanced over and said 'what the hell is that, it looks like vomit!'
I don't like broccoli, I know it's good for you and all, but even the smell of it is totally disgusting to me, so nachos with broccoli on top of them is just a waste of nachos. Give me unhealthy nachos loaded with beans and cheese and damn the calories!
And what's up with this fried egg on a salad nonsense?
Saturday, March 14, 2009
A Robin
Buddy was transfixed by this fat juicy bird that was just outside the window. This is the first robin that I've seen in our yard. He was feasting on all the little berries that fall from our tree.
Today Keith is going to the model train show at the fairgrounds. This does not sound like fun to me, so I'll let him go by himself. I'm sure he's glad that I won't be there to nag him about how bored I am.
Today Keith is going to the model train show at the fairgrounds. This does not sound like fun to me, so I'll let him go by himself. I'm sure he's glad that I won't be there to nag him about how bored I am.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Oddities on Etsy
I haven't done a strange finds on etsy for a while, and have been saving these finds for just the right time. Now is the right time since there's not a whole lot else going on around here other than the usual sometimes cleaning the house, our regular Thursday night dinner out at Spencers, scooping cat poop, and working on stuff for etsy. Hopefully my stuff is not as strange as this stuff:
These are 'earrings' that go in those big ear holes that are popular these days, but oh, so creepy. And what happens as these kids get older and want to get a real job but have these huge droopy earlobes? Plastic surgery to close up these giant size holes in their ears?
These things make me feel a little queasy.
These are 'earrings' that go in those big ear holes that are popular these days, but oh, so creepy. And what happens as these kids get older and want to get a real job but have these huge droopy earlobes? Plastic surgery to close up these giant size holes in their ears?
These things make me feel a little queasy.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Cute Kitties and Bird Update
I was actually doing some housework this morning and even making some homemade granola bars (shocker of the century, that) but decided to wait until tomorrow to vacuum the living room. I hate to scare the bejeezus out of the kitties when they are so sound asleep and so cute and comfortable.
Lucy was awake laying in the sun under the chair.
These two look like bookends and I guess the sunshine was a little too bright, so they both needed to cover their eyes.
And, our little bird was still in the yard yesterday. I was googling birds trying to figure out what this is, it's not a california quail since it doesn't have the plume on top of its head, but it does appear to be some type of quail from what I can find.
We're just amazed that this bird is in our yard, and where the heck did it come from?
Lucy was awake laying in the sun under the chair.
These two look like bookends and I guess the sunshine was a little too bright, so they both needed to cover their eyes.
And, our little bird was still in the yard yesterday. I was googling birds trying to figure out what this is, it's not a california quail since it doesn't have the plume on top of its head, but it does appear to be some type of quail from what I can find.
We're just amazed that this bird is in our yard, and where the heck did it come from?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Planting
We've been real tightwads these past few months, not buying anything but the daily essentials, but this past weekend we stimulated the economy a little by buying some shrubs for the backyard.
The same backyard that Keith started working on last summer, building planter boxes and buying paving stones to make a patio. Patio equals less grass, which equals less work in maintaining and mowing said grass. Someday we'll have a backyard that's going to look nice and will be usable instead of a vast wasteland of weeds and dirt. Someday.
So, we went to OSH and Home Depot and found some flowering shrubs that weren't too pricey. Home Depot had these big shrubs (not flowering but pretty leaves) on sale for half price. Score! I think we'll go back and get a few more before they're all gone.
You can see the half finished pavers in these photos. We were buying them like 10 at a time and spreading the cost out over the months. Cheaper than having someone pour concrete!
More shrubbage. Of course, they are not planted yet. Keith is a little OCD about how and where these get planted, so I'm leaving this project to him. And our trees have been blooming, just wish they'd grow a little faster!
The same backyard that Keith started working on last summer, building planter boxes and buying paving stones to make a patio. Patio equals less grass, which equals less work in maintaining and mowing said grass. Someday we'll have a backyard that's going to look nice and will be usable instead of a vast wasteland of weeds and dirt. Someday.
So, we went to OSH and Home Depot and found some flowering shrubs that weren't too pricey. Home Depot had these big shrubs (not flowering but pretty leaves) on sale for half price. Score! I think we'll go back and get a few more before they're all gone.
You can see the half finished pavers in these photos. We were buying them like 10 at a time and spreading the cost out over the months. Cheaper than having someone pour concrete!
More shrubbage. Of course, they are not planted yet. Keith is a little OCD about how and where these get planted, so I'm leaving this project to him. And our trees have been blooming, just wish they'd grow a little faster!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Name That Bird
We have a lot of birds that fly around our neighborhood, eating seeds and bugs and whatever else birds do. We have the fat cooing doves that our cats really really want to go out and catch and will sit by the window and salivate over. Then we have the black birds that I'm assuming are crows, because their call is kind of raucous. We have the cute little brown sparrow type birds, and then the big mean but beautiful bluejays that chase off all the little sparrow types. But I've never seen this bird around here before.
Keith thinks that it is a pheasant. Or maybe it's a quail. Or maybe just a weird little chicken.
Keith thinks that it is a pheasant. Or maybe it's a quail. Or maybe just a weird little chicken.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Tennis Shoes and Gym Clothes
I was walking along the street today and saw one tennis shoe in the road, which got me to thinking about George Carlin and his thing about the one shoe in the road, which got me to thinking about tennis shoes flung around wires above the road and hanging by their shoelaces, which in turn got me to thinking about the time I was walking home from school and my friend's balled up gym uniform got stuck way up in a tree. How did her gym uniform get stuck in a tree? And see how my mind wanders? It's a wonder I ever get anything accomplished.
Okay, first off, back in the late sixties/early seventies they had this thing called Junior High School, which usually consisted of grades 7 thru 9. Nowadays, they call it Middle School, which just doesn't have quite the same ring to it as Junior High, which is almost like High School, which is just the coolest thing ever to a Junior High Schooler, and we all couldn't wait until we got to High School. And, second, back in those days they made everybody take Physical Education classes every day of the week, something that I don't think even exists any more in these modern budget cutting times. Every day, just like any other class, we all had to go into the locker rooms and change into PE uniforms and go out and do whatever our gym teacher said to do. This class was quite traumatic for a lot of us-we had to UNDRESS IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO TAKE A SHOWER IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE!!! And, not only did we have to be naked in a big smelly locker room with thirty other girls, we had to wear the most unflattering uncomfortable stupid looking gym outfits that were ever created. Whoever thought that girls would enjoy gym class in this mortifyingly horrible outfit must have secretly hated young girls and found it uproaringly funny to design this outfit.
This is what the uniform looked like-an all in one suit with snaps down the front and elastic bloomer legs. Made out of the scratchiest woven cotton fabric ever made-fabric with absolutely no stretch or sweat soaking up abilities to it whatsoever. This thing was a pain in the ass to get in or out of, and for those of us with chubby thighs, the elastic was torturous to have cutting into said chubby thighs and you would always end up looking like you were wearing baggy underwear or loaded diapers after the elastic rode up all the way into your crotch area.
Yes, they really made us wear these!
This girl looks perky and cute in her gym uniform only because she is thin and the elastic in the legs is not cutting off all circulation to her lower extremities and SHE WAS PAID TO MODEL THIS OUTFIT!
Okay, so how did the gym uniform get up into the tree? Well, on Fridays we were supposed to remember to take our uniforms and gym socks home to be washed so that you could start out the new week of gym class not having to wear stiffened sweat encrusted uniforms and socks. The only good thing about the elastic legs was that you could ball up your uniform with the socks inside it and kind of stick it all in one leg of the uniform and stretch the elastic around the whole mess, making a ball shape out of it. A ball shape that you could toss around on the long walk home from school. A ball shape that my friend was tossing up into the air and catching it. A ball shape that she tossed up into the air while we were walking under a tree. A ball shape that got stuck up in the branches of the tree.
I don't really remember exactly how we got the uniform down from the tree, I think some other kids came along and we either shook the tree or threw rocks at the uniform or something, but we finally did get the uniform back out of the tree. I know her mother would have been really mad at her if she'd had to go buy another ugly uniform.
Okay, first off, back in the late sixties/early seventies they had this thing called Junior High School, which usually consisted of grades 7 thru 9. Nowadays, they call it Middle School, which just doesn't have quite the same ring to it as Junior High, which is almost like High School, which is just the coolest thing ever to a Junior High Schooler, and we all couldn't wait until we got to High School. And, second, back in those days they made everybody take Physical Education classes every day of the week, something that I don't think even exists any more in these modern budget cutting times. Every day, just like any other class, we all had to go into the locker rooms and change into PE uniforms and go out and do whatever our gym teacher said to do. This class was quite traumatic for a lot of us-we had to UNDRESS IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE AND ALSO TAKE A SHOWER IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE!!! And, not only did we have to be naked in a big smelly locker room with thirty other girls, we had to wear the most unflattering uncomfortable stupid looking gym outfits that were ever created. Whoever thought that girls would enjoy gym class in this mortifyingly horrible outfit must have secretly hated young girls and found it uproaringly funny to design this outfit.
This is what the uniform looked like-an all in one suit with snaps down the front and elastic bloomer legs. Made out of the scratchiest woven cotton fabric ever made-fabric with absolutely no stretch or sweat soaking up abilities to it whatsoever. This thing was a pain in the ass to get in or out of, and for those of us with chubby thighs, the elastic was torturous to have cutting into said chubby thighs and you would always end up looking like you were wearing baggy underwear or loaded diapers after the elastic rode up all the way into your crotch area.
Yes, they really made us wear these!
This girl looks perky and cute in her gym uniform only because she is thin and the elastic in the legs is not cutting off all circulation to her lower extremities and SHE WAS PAID TO MODEL THIS OUTFIT!
Okay, so how did the gym uniform get up into the tree? Well, on Fridays we were supposed to remember to take our uniforms and gym socks home to be washed so that you could start out the new week of gym class not having to wear stiffened sweat encrusted uniforms and socks. The only good thing about the elastic legs was that you could ball up your uniform with the socks inside it and kind of stick it all in one leg of the uniform and stretch the elastic around the whole mess, making a ball shape out of it. A ball shape that you could toss around on the long walk home from school. A ball shape that my friend was tossing up into the air and catching it. A ball shape that she tossed up into the air while we were walking under a tree. A ball shape that got stuck up in the branches of the tree.
I don't really remember exactly how we got the uniform down from the tree, I think some other kids came along and we either shook the tree or threw rocks at the uniform or something, but we finally did get the uniform back out of the tree. I know her mother would have been really mad at her if she'd had to go buy another ugly uniform.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Almost Sugar Free Cookie Bars!
I don't bake very often, it's just not something that I really enjoy that much and I always make a big mess when I do attempt to bake. But, in an effort to find granola bars and cookies and other such sweets that don't have tons of unpronounceable ingredients in them I am trying to do my best to come up with some sort of healthy alternatives to store bought.
Vons had the mega huge canisters of oatmeal on the buy one get one free sale last weekend, so we now have two mega huge canisters in the cupboard. I had tried a recipe for granola bars that came out tasting good but kind of crumbly and was planning to add a little more honey to the recipe to see if they'd come out a little better. I was sidetracked by the recipe for oatmeal cookies on the lid of the canister first, though, and last night made a mess and made the cookies, substituting splenda for the sugar, and adding some chocolate chips instead of the raisins. Since I didn't have any raisins. I got everything all ready, softening the butter and opening the huge canister of oatmeal, and then went to get the flour, and of course we had no flour, so I had to make a trip to the store for the flour. I suppose I could have gotten the raisins, too, but really like chocolate chips better than raisins anyway.
Because I am so lazy I opted to make the bar cookies instead of the drop cookies-way easier and none of that baking a batch, cooling a batch, putting another batch on the cookie sheet, ending up spending hours making cookies crap for me. Stick it all in one pan and shove it in the oven!
They came out good, and the house smelled deliciously cinnamony (very unusual, usually it smells a little like cat poo). And, since they are made with oatmeal, you get that lowering your cholesterol thing (at least I think it works if you eat your oatmeal in cookie form) and also the fiber in the oatmeal helps in many other ways-wink wink (helps you go poo!)
I'm eating one right now. Yum.
Vons had the mega huge canisters of oatmeal on the buy one get one free sale last weekend, so we now have two mega huge canisters in the cupboard. I had tried a recipe for granola bars that came out tasting good but kind of crumbly and was planning to add a little more honey to the recipe to see if they'd come out a little better. I was sidetracked by the recipe for oatmeal cookies on the lid of the canister first, though, and last night made a mess and made the cookies, substituting splenda for the sugar, and adding some chocolate chips instead of the raisins. Since I didn't have any raisins. I got everything all ready, softening the butter and opening the huge canister of oatmeal, and then went to get the flour, and of course we had no flour, so I had to make a trip to the store for the flour. I suppose I could have gotten the raisins, too, but really like chocolate chips better than raisins anyway.
Because I am so lazy I opted to make the bar cookies instead of the drop cookies-way easier and none of that baking a batch, cooling a batch, putting another batch on the cookie sheet, ending up spending hours making cookies crap for me. Stick it all in one pan and shove it in the oven!
They came out good, and the house smelled deliciously cinnamony (very unusual, usually it smells a little like cat poo). And, since they are made with oatmeal, you get that lowering your cholesterol thing (at least I think it works if you eat your oatmeal in cookie form) and also the fiber in the oatmeal helps in many other ways-wink wink (helps you go poo!)
I'm eating one right now. Yum.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Recession Pricing
The other day a thread was started in the etsy forums about whether or not to lower prices in an effort to sell in this recession that we are all affected by.
My answer was that I already had lowered my prices, but many etsyers won't because 'we are not competing with walmart and target and handmade should be more expensive than something that you could go to walmart and buy'. Yes, but are people buying handmade in these uncertain times or only buying the absolute necessities at places like target and walmart? I know I'm not buying much in the way of non-essentials these days, and I'm certainly not buying expensive handmades.
We are in a retail business, no matter how much you want to romanticize the 'I'm an artist' thing, the bottom line is that we are selling things that people can live without. So, we either need to make things that are so unique that they create a want, or affordable enough for that little impulse luxury buy. Kind of like buying that premium cup of coffee once a week, or treating yourself to a movie out. We still want to have a little luxury in our lives no matter how hard times get.
So, I've lowered my prices and am working on some new little trinkets that I can sell for just a few dollars (but still make a little profit on). The soldered wood pendants just didn't come out as nice as I wanted, and I don't like to sell things that I'm just not happy with. I'm working on pendants made with chipboard since unlike the wood, I can cut it to any size that I want with a paper cutter, and the supplies are readily available and don't cost a lot.
Plus, I'm having a lot of fun fooling around with this idea!
This is one of the new paper and chipboard pendants, and I'm also working on some inexpensive little pins.
My answer was that I already had lowered my prices, but many etsyers won't because 'we are not competing with walmart and target and handmade should be more expensive than something that you could go to walmart and buy'. Yes, but are people buying handmade in these uncertain times or only buying the absolute necessities at places like target and walmart? I know I'm not buying much in the way of non-essentials these days, and I'm certainly not buying expensive handmades.
We are in a retail business, no matter how much you want to romanticize the 'I'm an artist' thing, the bottom line is that we are selling things that people can live without. So, we either need to make things that are so unique that they create a want, or affordable enough for that little impulse luxury buy. Kind of like buying that premium cup of coffee once a week, or treating yourself to a movie out. We still want to have a little luxury in our lives no matter how hard times get.
So, I've lowered my prices and am working on some new little trinkets that I can sell for just a few dollars (but still make a little profit on). The soldered wood pendants just didn't come out as nice as I wanted, and I don't like to sell things that I'm just not happy with. I'm working on pendants made with chipboard since unlike the wood, I can cut it to any size that I want with a paper cutter, and the supplies are readily available and don't cost a lot.
Plus, I'm having a lot of fun fooling around with this idea!
This is one of the new paper and chipboard pendants, and I'm also working on some inexpensive little pins.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Has Anyone Else Noticed
That the prices of stuff you need for everyday living have gone up a lot? I don't keep track of what I paid last week for laundry soap or anything, but while shopping this weekend for groceries and cat litter, it seems like the stores have been sneaking up the prices hoping that we won't notice or something. We needed cooking oil, not something that we use a whole lot of, but it seemed like the prices had gone up by a couple of dollars since the last time we bought it.
And, I'm supposed to take fish oil capsules four times a day and am getting low on my supply, so was checking the prices planning on getting a new bottle at Target yesterday. $20.00 for a bottle of 100 capsules? Huh? I seem to remember getting the huge mega bottle of thousands of capsules for about $10.00 a few months ago, what happened?
Not to mention the price of toilet paper going up. Since Montgomery Wards went out of business, we can't hang the catalog in the outhouse so we really do need to buy toilet paper.
And, in other exciting news, we had a high of 86 degrees yesterday. It didn't seem that warm since it was breezy and overcast, but it sure was nice to have the windows and doors open and to not have to wear long sleeves. All of the trees have been blooming, spring comes early in these parts!
And, I'm supposed to take fish oil capsules four times a day and am getting low on my supply, so was checking the prices planning on getting a new bottle at Target yesterday. $20.00 for a bottle of 100 capsules? Huh? I seem to remember getting the huge mega bottle of thousands of capsules for about $10.00 a few months ago, what happened?
Not to mention the price of toilet paper going up. Since Montgomery Wards went out of business, we can't hang the catalog in the outhouse so we really do need to buy toilet paper.
And, in other exciting news, we had a high of 86 degrees yesterday. It didn't seem that warm since it was breezy and overcast, but it sure was nice to have the windows and doors open and to not have to wear long sleeves. All of the trees have been blooming, spring comes early in these parts!
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