The Boring Blog Box Giveaway.....FINAL WEEK TO ENTER!

Time for another......

Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY!

Here's how it works.....

I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received.

Week 4  and here is what went into the Box today.....

1.  Crest Clinical Mouth Rinse

2.  2 x Johnson & Johnson Soap Buddies bars
3.  Visine Eye Rinse

If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways HERE.  *As always, if you are located outside the US, you CAN enter and win but weight restrictions/shipping costs may mean your prize box will contain less items.*

***Time to enter.....You can enter on this Giveaway post until the end of this Giveaway which will be October 7th at 11:59pm Eastern Time.

1 entry per person per day on THIS POST.
Leave your name/email addy and a COMMENT on this post.  

This week I want to hear about if you put up any fruits or vegetables, as in canning.  What type of foods do you can.  How long have you been canning?  Do you do both water bath and pressure canning?
Me?....I put up Pepper Relish this year.  Years past I've also canned assorted jams and tomatoes.  I only know how to do water bath canning as I've never had access to a pressure canner.

You can come directly to this blog post or find it through the link on the right side bar to leave 1 comment per day.  The current Giveaway Post will be linked right at the top of the side bar.

Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway.  If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower.

There are 2 ways to get 2 EXTRA entries on this and each new Giveaway Post.......

1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST with the URL of your blog so I can go check it out. **If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra entry comment once each week of this giveaway.

2.  Blog about this Giveaway on your blog with a link to this post.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST with a link to your blog post so I can go view it.  You can do this extra entry once each week of this giveaway.

Remember-this Giveaway ends nest Sunday,  October 7th at 11:59pm Eastern Time.  I will draw a winning entry randomly from all valid entries received on Monday, October 8th and post the winner.  The winner will have 48 hours to respond via email.  If they don't I'll pick another winner at random until someone claims the prize.

Here is everything that is now in the box that's up for grabs.....Yes, you get it ALL!

1 bottle of Garnier Fructis Shampoo
1 Dog Frisbee (from Purina Fit & Trim)

1 box of Reach Dental Floss

1 tube of Colgate Toothpaste

1 Air Wick air freshener
1 Halloween miniature stuffed M&M plush

3 sample sized products--Colgate wisps, Eucerin lotion, Pledge wipes

1 tube of Pepsodent Toothpaste

1 Oral-B battery powered toothbrush

1 Scotch pop-up wrist tape dispenser1 Crest Clinical Mouth Rinse
2 x Johnson & Johnson Soap Buddies bars
1 Visine Eye Rinse

That's over $50 in total retail value.  Don't believe me?.....go check out the prices in the stores. ;-)

Any questions on the Giveaway?  Just email me.

Happy Entering!! 

Sluggy

Finishing Up This Week at Rite-Aid

Ok, since it's Saturday, the last day of the sale so nobody needs/wants to see the big honking long breakdown of what I bought and what I paid, etc. PLUS.....after the week I had, the week of buying and returning crap because I couldn't figure out which toothpaste qualified to which deal(Yes! I am THAT dense some days.), I don't even think I can remember how it all went down. 
So I am just doing 1 big lovely photograph and summing up the totals for what turned out to be 7 separate transactions over the course of 4 days.

But first.....to refresh your memory of what I bought on Tuesday.....

And now, for your viewing pleasure, as Paul Harvey would have said, "Here's the rest of the story.".....

7 tubes of Crest Toothpaste
6 boxes of Kotex Tampons
6 bags of Brach's Sugar Crack
4 sleeves of Incense
2 packets of Sashet
2 Oral-B Toothbrushes
2 bottles of Scope
1 box of R-A brand Tea Bags(only $1!)
2 bottles of Nexxus Shampoo
2 bottles of Clean & Clear Face Wash
4 tubes of Olay Cleaners (thanks Sheila!)
I also got a blue step stool(a house full of short people can always use another step stool)on 75% clearance that isn't pictured.  It qualifies for the $5 wyb2 items Gracious Living SCR EXCEPT I can't find any more Gracious Living items to buy to get to 2 items purchased to get the rebate.  It was honestly the LAST Gracious Living item in a 4 store area.  bleh.
But I'm keeping it anyway....

Total spent OOP......$3.09 put on my Rite-Aid gift card
Total value of items....$173.71
Total +Ups used.....48.00+
Total +Ups gotten.... 59.98+
Total +Ups left.....25.98+
Plus I got $1.50 cash back after a transaction when a coupon was missed.
AND the $20 Nexxus purchase will get me a $5 cash rebate from SavingStar.

I think I actually spent more than $48 in +Ups but my head hurts already from staring at these receipts so I am going to call it all good and leave it at that. lol
I just know I have $25.98 in +Ups left now & I didn't spend any cash. 8-)

I am so done with Rite-Aid this week!
Next week for me will be light--some lunch meal thingys for Hubs, some Puffs facial tissue, dish soap, Comet, Herbal Essence shampoo, chili, chips, R-A brand paper towels....on second thought, next week might not be so light!lol
I don't see anything that will be free so far.   Just cheap and/or cheaper than getting it at the grocery stores here.

Have you decided what you'll be popping into Rite-Aid for next week?


And now the Grand Total so far for September.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought.....$561.88
Savings Rate of  93.12%
Single Check Rebate due....$10.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $25.65
Savings Rate  95.43%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$160+
+Ups received...$167.98+
+Ups currently...$25.98+

Sluggy

Is It October Yet?

September has kicked my butt in the financial realm of things.
When we finally bid it adieu on Monday, I won't be longingly looking back at it....no siree!

I am known far and wide for my skinflint ways.
But even as uber frugal as I can be, the expenses were out of hand for September!
The ones that I could plan for I did, but there were unplan-able ones as well.
It all converged into the Perfect Storm and wiped my budget out!
ugh

Yes, having a month where you bring in LESS than you need to spend happens.
Even too me.....
Shocking I know, right?!?! lol

But you know what?
It's not the end of the world around here.

Mostly because we don't make a habit of it.
We don't spend every blessed nickel we make each month, every month.
We put aside a nice chunk of our income each month.
So that when something happens in any given month....like this one!.....we have money to spare to get us past the ugliness of spending more than we made in September.

Having a bad month or three can happen, even if you do everything right.
Having bad months happen on a regular basis though, means you need to rethink what you are doing with your money.

Sometimes the Universe IS out to get you.....and sometimes you are your own worst enemy and create your own problems by not planning and sticking to that plan.

The take away for me on September?
Using it as a reminder that given the choice, living below ones means is always the best plan.
And how!

Well everybody come on back in a few days when I have to do my Savings Challenge Post for September and you can gawk at just how badly the month was for our finances.

Sluggy

Today's Theme Is......

Since we were on the topic.....We were?!?!......I must update you on this globe crisis.
Is it global warming?
Is it extremist radical religious fanatics?

WORSE!

Take a look....HERE.


And then go check this out......

Sometimes I think I live under a rock.
I had no clue about this group of folks and the "Culinary Magic" they pull off online.
I showed it to my teens and they rolled their eyes and said, "Yah MOM....we've seen it like, a hundred times!  Geez.....*insert eye rolls*......"

Anyway, go have a look at these crazy Canadians and smile....or laugh out loud like I did and have a Good Friday!





Sluggy

A Letter to Anonymous Who Thinks I am Poisoning My Dogs

Dear Anonymous Reader and Wannabe Commentor,

Thank you for reading my blog first off.
I love readers!
And thanks a lot for attempting to leave not one but TWO comments on the blog.
Comments on a blog post from 2+ years ago.

Two Comments that basically asked me what is wrong with me as a human being and accused me of being stupid and for trying to intentionally poison my dogs.

Because I buy canned mass produced dog food and feed it to my pets in small quantities, along with some kibble and the 'people' food I also use to augment their diets.

       One of my poor unfortunate "victims".  Doesn't her expression just say I am a monster?

And thank you for providing me with a website address to check out, where I can purchase other mass produced kibble and wet food for my pets, that this website says is much better nutritionally than what I buy.
Tell me Anonymous....do you profit from sales made by this website in any way, shape or form?
Or are you truly leading me onto the path of better pet nutrition for only altruistic reasons?

Is this part of a personal Crusade to make all pet owners who can't or don't or even won't spend ridiculous amounts of money on a pet feel badly?

Or do you just like to go around and tell everyone who doesn't spend $200 a month on ready-made pet foods, or doesn't want to/or can't spend all their time homemaking by-hand, food for their pets, that they are the scum of the earth?

Tell me........are you or have you ever been a member of PETA?
I bet you want to come here and liberate my dogs from my cruel and inhumane treatment right this minute, don't you?

If that would float your boat, feel free to come and get them!  And you can take over the vet bills, medications, grooming costs, the cleaning up after them costs,  as well as the food costs associated with them.

      Another mistreated animal in my care.  Somebody call the authorities!

Sorry I don't live up to your expectations as a pet owner.
But you see, I have these things called children too.
In the Family hierarchy here, spending money on the care and feeding of my children outranks that of my
animals.
The pets get adequate care, medical attention, fresh water, walks, sunshine, grooming and lots of belly rubs and ear scratches.
Oh and love too.
I think they have reconciled themselves to their awful fate so go find someone else to chastise and make feel badly.

Signed,

Sluggy--the unfit dog mother

Preying On the Lonely

If you are a woman out there looking for a good man, please watch this and take heed.
This is a tv news report from my area about a skanky guy who really deserves to be stung up and then authorities need to let a whole bunch of women he duped go after his "junk" with dull plastic butter knives.

If you are using the internet maybe you should rethink that online dating thing after watching this........



Sluggy

What I Bought At Rite-Aid This Week

I didn't get to the store until Tuesday night but here is what I bought......

2 x Tampax on sale $3.50=$7.00
2 x Nexxus Shampoo w/20% wellness discount $5.03=$10.06
2 x Oral-B toothbrushes on sale $2.99=$5.98
2 x Brach's candy corn on sale 2/$2=$2.00
1 x Olay Regenerist Cleanser w/20% wellness discount=$6.63
SubTotal....$31.67

Coupons Used
2 x $3/1 Tampax Radiant(from inside last 2 packages I bought)=$6.00
2 x $3/1 Nexxus item IPQ(Walmart site)=$6.00
1 x $1/2 Oral-B or Crest complete item ManuQ(P&G insert)=$1.00
1 x $1/1 Oral-B Oral Care Book Q=$1.00
1 x $1.50/2 Brach's candy items IPQ=$1.50
1 x $7 In-Ad Regenerist Q=$7.00
Coupon Total....$22.50

$31.67-$22.50=$9.17
I used $9 in +Up Rewards to pay and put the .17¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I received back $7.98 in +Up Rewards(1 x $1 wyb2 Brach's, 1 x $1 wyb2 Tampax, 2 x $2.99 Oral-B).
So all this "cost" me $1.02 in +Ups.

The Tampax Radiant with this symbol and wording......

Have this inside.....

A $2/1 Tampax Radiant Q.....along with a $1/1 Venus, $1/1 Cover Girl and a $1/1 Always radiant Q.

Last time I bought these the Tampax Q was for $3/1(which are the Qs I used on this transaction).

If they hadn't made these Qs $1 less, everyone who buys 2 boxes this week can open them up and use the Qs inside to get them for FREE after getting the $1 +Up wyb2 back.  Now?  You end up paying $1 a box after the sale/Qs/+Up back on 2.  So much for my evil plan to get 8 boxes free(using my card and B-IL's card).

Curses.....thwarted again!
Well played Rite-Aid, well played...... ;-)

The plan now is to maybe do the Tampax Deal again this week, since with these Qs and after $1 +Ups I get back, they will "cost" me $1 a box.  I liked it so much better when they were FREE! lol

The definite plan is to do more candy corn.......candy corn=sugar crack!.......more toothbrushes(on B-IL's card)......and buy $10 more in Nexxus and get the $10 +Up Rewards(for buying $20 total).

And if some promised Qs from a blogging friend get here in time, more Olay Regenerist products.....because we all know how vain I am about my beauty.......snort.......

What are you buying at Rite-Aid this week?


September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$388.17
Savings Rate of  90.04%
Single Check Rebate due....$10.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $25.65
Savings Rate  93.39%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$112+
+Ups received...$108+
+Ups currently...$14+

Sluggy

Something To Think About.......

Hubs & I spent Saturday afternoon taking a walk.  It was a lovely day so we got some exercise and went strolling.......through a graveyard.

Yes, I am strange that way. ;-)

I took a photo of this headstone to share with everyone.
I thought it was "wonderful"........

Isn't that great?
When you go, will someone think THAT highly of you that they want to say this about you into eternity?

No recounting of his titles in life or the high station he held(if any).  This epitaph blows away the ones I've seen extolling a list of accomplishments on far grander monuments.

This one gets it right.
It's not about WHO you are/were in life, it's about how you treated those around you.
Isn't it?

I wish I had had a chance to know just how wonderful Bennett Ruddick was, don't you?! 8-)

Who would have thought I'd find an Affirmation like this in a Cemetery......

Sluggy

It's a Rigged Game Folks

I ask that anyone who votes and/or is planning on watching the TV Presidential Debates, please watch this short film.
Or go to Youtube and search for "No Open Debate" and watch it there.

It's a whole 26 minutes out of your life, but it's worth watching to the end.

If you don't care to watch it then let me give you the Cliff Notes on it.  
What we call Presidential Debates are a sham....and I am not talking throw pillows here!

The Presidential Debates are run by a private corporation founded by past chairmen of the DNC and the RNC. 
The corporation is staffed by Dems and Reps only but they dare to call it a nonpartisan affair.

The Debates and the Commission on Presidential Debates(aka CPD) that runs them is a Duopoly and they keep out any candidate who isn't Dem or Rep. in a myriad of ways.

One way is by "polling" statistics.   First, the PDC never discloses which pollsters they use.  Then many polling companies don't even give those who are polled a choice other than Dem, Rep or Undecided.
***We got a call just last night from a polster.  When Hubs responded that he was voting for Gary Johnson, the woman didn't know what to say/tick off.....it's like whomever trained her to call didn't even imagine the possibility that someone would answer something other than Rep, Dem or Undecided.  She ended up just hanging up on Hubs.  I guess we don't count. 8-(
It's impossible to poll high enough for inclusion for ANY candidate if you aren't even included in the polling choices!

They also have secretive contracts which the debaters(and their handlers) construct so that they can NOT actually debate each other nor be forced to answer any real questions since they screen ALL questions and pick and choose which ones they'll answer.

It's really just a big old press conference and a 2 party system lovefest.....and it has got to GO!

And the people, as in "We the People" need to let this CPD and the business entities that sponsor(meaning pay out loads of money to the CPD)these non-events that it's a load of bullshit.
 
And we're not going to take this anymore!

If you want things to actually change in this country for once, you need to stand up and speak out.
If you think the PDC should actually let every viable candidate into the Debates, call/write/email the Commission on Presidential Debates--google to get the contact info. or go to their website and leave an email comment.

Also contact the business sponsors of these Debates.  Tell them you will boycott buying their products unless they support a fair and truly open debate format.
 In 2012 these companies would be.....

* Anheuser-Busch Companies
* The Howard G. Buffet Foundation
* Sheldon S. Cohen, Esq.
* Crowell & Moring LLP
* International Bottled Water Association (IBWA)
* The Kovler Fund
* Philips Electronics North America
* Southwest Airlines
* YWCA USA

Write the news networks too......ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNN, FOX, etc. and likewise let them know that the Debates are rigged.

It's time to stop letting political insiders and big business collude and push the little guys(US!) around.

Sluggy

Food Spending Sept. Week 3, Meal Planning Week 4

 

Another Food Waste Poster from the US Food Administration during World War II

***********************************

And here is the "meal plan" that actually happened last week.  It was pretty close to what I had planned....

Sunday--Burgers on Rolls, Corn

Monday--Stuffed Shells, Green Beans

Tuesday--Pork Chops, Potatoes au Gratin, Beets, Apples

Wednesday--Beef Enchiladas, leftover Corn

Thursday--Leftover Pork Chops on Biscuits. leftover Apples--only 2 home

Friday--Chinese take-out--only 2 home

Saturday--Pizza

The weekly food spending was  $157.04 in reg. grocery spending.

An insane amount for me but I did do some deals.....Nesquick & 22 boxes of Kraft dinner for Son, instant coffee for Hubs, coffee-mate, Lean Pockets & juice for Daughter, 10 boxes of oatmeal, 4 boxes of trash bags for me, and 7 lbs. of ground beef(which I used to make a LOT of meatballs!lol), 3lbs. of bacon(I found some clearance packs that didn't cost up the wazoo finally!lol), fresh fruit, milks, evaporated milk(pumpkin pie making Season is coming!), and a pie just because I wanted it. ;-)

Oh, and 11 bags of salty snacks(house brand AND I got $5 back so they cost .55¢ each to hide and dole out over the next 3 months to Son to make them last.

Yah I bought a bunch of crap this week along with the good stuff......crap I don't eat(Kraft, Coffee-mate and Nesquick)but I DID eat some pie.....so kill me. ;-)

I've spent $410.86 of my $400 monthly food budget so far this month.  

I'll try to not spend on food this week.  Looking at the ads it WILL be easy as there are no deals I like.  I'll just pick up what is needed for this week's menu.

I am going into the new week with these leftovers......1 Beef Enchilada, a couple of Biscuits.  Nothing to incorporate into a new dinner but stuff I can finish up at Lunch time.

***********************

This week's menu.....

Sunday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Caesar Salad

Monday--Taco Bell or Make Something Yourself-I ain't cooking!

Tuesday--Gourmet Onion Soup

Wednesday--Quiche Lorraine, Tossed Salad

Thursday--Fried Flounder, Fries and Green Beans

Friday--Corned Beef, Cabbage, Potatoes

Saturday--Leftovers

 

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....Cabbage, Milk.   We should have enough fruit to get us through the week.  Might need some bread though.  I'll try for $10 or less in food spending this week.

Wish me luck....lol

So what are you cooking at your house this week?

Sluggy

Sometimes I Don't Like Being a Grown Up

This title means I sat down today and paid bills and it wasn't pretty.  But at least it wasn't as ugly as it could have been. ;-)

The second paycheck of the month hit the bank account credit union account on Friday, so I sat down this morning and paid the rest of the bills that need paying this month.
That would include the "monthlies"--electric bill, the credit card bill(which includes most of our gasoline purchases and some eating out).  The "rest of the bills" also includes the non-montlies like a $1197.71 car repair(I can now state for the record that I hate catalytic converters!) and the yearly school taxes(ditto school taxes).  I did receive a 5% discount for paying the taxes before Oct. 1st so it was a mere $1940.81.  I got about $76 off....go me!

After writing out the checks that needed writing, I now have $1246.24 LESS in my account than I had BEFORE the paycheck hit the account.!
Or to put it another way, I just spent $1246.24 MORE THAN the paycheck brought in.

Yah, still wrapping my head around that one!lol

Oh, and that doesn't count the $480 IN CASH Hubs took out of the bank on Saturday.  Ok, some of that was for me for my food budget, but most of it I will never get a single receipt back on what he blew it on.  I am guessing coffee and crap he buys at the hardware store.....crap he HAS already in the garage but he can't find because he refuses to CLEAN HIS WORKBENCH!
End of rant.......

I'll just say here that I am so glad that I put money aside each month for that tax bill(plus the other tax bill that comes due April 1st), plus the car insurance bill which I pay semi-annually. 

If I didn't and I had to basically pull money out of my ass for some of these bills, we'd be in a bad bad place financially....
A place called "Hello Credit Card!, let's put what we can't pay on YOU" and then only make minimum payments and stay in and increase our debt until we end up on Suze Orman's show as a warning to the world on how NOT to handle money, instead of downsizing out lifestyle and spending less on crap or "wants" so we can only be in debt for a short time while we turn our ship and get headed in the fiscally responsible direction.

But still......sometimes I hate being a Grown Up and doing the responsible thing instead of the easy thing or the thing I see other people doing that I know is only going to cause them pain at some point in the future.

But I have my eye on the prize.....the prize of a financially secure retirement.
Well, as secure as it can be considering the political atmosphere in this country. ;-) 

When I retire, THIS is the view I want to have when I have to pay my bills.....but with cuter feet......

Sluggy
 

Rite-Aid Quickie!

Finishing off the Spend $25 on Cold Meds, Get $10 +Up Rewards Deal....

2 x Incense w/20%wellness discount $1.19=$2.38
1 x Alka Seltzer cold BOGO50%off sale=$6.49
 1 x Alka-Seltzer reg. BOGO50%off sale=$2.14
SubTotal....$11.01

Coupons Used
1 x $3/2 Alka Seltzer IPQ=$6.00
Coupon total.......$3.00

$11.01-$3.00=$8.01 + .04¢tax=$8.05

I used $8 in +Ups and put the .05¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received back $13 in +Up Rewards($10 Spend $25/Get $10 Cold Meds, $3 WYB 2 incense).

In total,  I spent $26.99 on Cold Meds, used $13 in Qs, got a $10 +Ups and got a $5 SCR, so Rite-Aid paid me $1.01 for buying 6 boxes of Alka-Seltzer!
Dontcha love that?!

And the Flora Incense deal has changed.  There is a LIMIT OF 2 DEALS on it now.
If you bought incense last week,before Monday, it doesn't count toward your total of Deals done.
So going forward, buy 2 incense, get a $3 +Up Reward, limit 2 Offers.
This means Free incense if you have NO Wellness discount and a small Moneymaker if you have either Silver or Gold level Wellness discount.

As for this coming week's ad?
I'm getting free toothbrushes(Oral-B)or free toothpaste(Crest)-both are $2.99 and give a $2.99 +Ups and after using a Q also will be a moneymaker.
I'm also getting free Kotex tampons since I have $3/1 Qs from previous boxes of tampons-I'll show y'all Sunday night what I did there.
Rite-Aid brand hand sanitizer($1) is also free after $1 +Ups you get back but I don't need anymore of that.

Anybody see any other good deals for next week?

September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$344.96
Savings Rate of  88.80%
Single Check Rebate due....$10.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $25.65
Savings Rate  92.56%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$103+
+Ups received...$100+
+Ups currently...$15+



Sluggy


 

The Boring Blog Box GIVEAWAY....Come Enter Again!

Time for another......

Sluggy's BORING BLOG BOX GIVEAWAY!

Here's how it works.....

I put things in the box(mostly what I have gotten for free or almost free)each week and when the box is filled we draw a winner from all the entries received.

Week 3  and here is what went into the Box today.....

1.  1 tube of Pepsodent Toothpaste

2.  1 Oral-B battery powered toothbrush
3.  1 Scotch pop-up wrist tape dispenser

If this is your first time, please go read all the rules for these Giveaways HERE.  *As always, if you are located outside the US, you CAN enter and win but weight restrictions/shipping costs may mean your prize box will contain less items.*

***Time to enter.....You can enter on this Giveaway post until I close this post to entries.

1 entry per person per day on THIS POST.
Leave your name/email addy and a COMMENT on this post.  

This week I want to hear about how you feel about Halloween. 

Here's some questions to get you started....

What was your most favorite costume you wore as a kid and why?

As an adult, do you decorate for it or do you wish it would just go away?  

Do you party or do you feel it's a holiday for the kids?

And do you give out candy at your house to trick-or-treaters and if so, what kind?

 

You can come directly to this blog post or find it through the link on the right side bar to leave 1 comment per day.  The current Giveaway Post will be linked right at the top of the side bar.

Please NOTE--You MUST be a follower to enter the Giveaway.  If you aren't one, just click on the "Follow" button on the right hand side of my blog to become a follower.

There are 2 ways to get 2 EXTRA entries on this and each new Giveaway Post.......

1. Put my blog on your blog's Blogroll.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST with the URL of your blog so I can go check it out. **If I'm already on your Blogroll, say so in an extra entry comment once each week of this giveaway.

2.  Blog about this Giveaway on your blog with a link to this post.  Leave an extra comment for this entry on THIS POST with a link to your blog post so I can go view it.  You can do this extra entry once each week of this giveaway.


Any questions?  Just email me.

Happy Entering!! 

Sluggy

You Have To Watch This!

This hits a little too close to home so it's scary.
Will someone hold me please?!





"I love my country, but fear my government." --Mark Scott

Sluggy

Ramblings About Ancestors, The Lot of Women in History and Such

As I add ancestors to my family tree, it becomes more and more clear to me why the women in decades and centuries long past have not made more of a mark on history.
Let me rephrase that.....it becomes clearer why our female ancestors have not made more of a mark in the big historical events of history.
As a whole, they were not out exploring, discovering, building, running, creating in the big ways of history.
Like being the first person to found a town, creating a railroad, exploring a new passage somewhere, discovering a new scientific process to make civilized life better for all, etc.
They were contributing to the Progress of Civilization in the smaller, embedded, quiet ways that don't leave the big marks in the history books.

It's not that our foremothers weren't as smart as their forefather counterparts.
They were running the homes and raising the children, the children who would grow up to leave their footprints prominently in the Sands of Time if they were male OR be the next generation of females to be mostly invisible while they rocked the cradles, fed the family and keep the human race chugging forward.

Men left big loud "Look at me!" marks on the events of civilization's timeline while Women for the most part left their marks almost invisibly on the hearts of the people they knew in their corner of the human race.
The old saying, "The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world." is so true.

So I get to thinking, why was it that way for so many centuries?
Men aren't any smarter(many of my female readers will say that THAT is so true!), and while men are raised and accepted in society as being louder, why are there so few women in past generations who passed through life not making their presence more noticeable to those who came after them?

And then it hit me......Sex!
Or rather the lack of choice in controlling the outcome of sex impacted their lives greatly.

Then I think about if women had been given the tools to be the masters of their own fertility in earlier times in our history, what could have resulted from this knowledge and power.

Women up until very recently in history had to make a choice in life.
Up until the 20th century, they either had to stay unmarried and then rely upon their male relatives for support, or marry and endure a life with a never ending string of pregnancies forced upon them until the menopause kicked in.
Without birth control of any kind, women faced 20 or more years of giving birth, even if it was deemed unsafe in the face of their health, medical condition or age.
And the staying single and chaste thing?  Remember that a woman(single OR married)had few rights in life.  If a husband wasn't controlling her destiny, then a male relative was.

The few women through history who have left specific marks on our society were mostly women freed from the pregnancy child-rearing cycle due to organic infertility or abstention from copulation(remaining unmarried).
Like these women.....

Catherine de Medici
Queen Elizabeth I
Dorothy Parker
Araminta Harriet Ross(Harriet Tubman)
Clara Barton
Phoebe Ann Moses(Annie Oakley)
Amelia Earhart
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Susan B. Anothny
Emily Dickinson
Rosa Parks
Georgia O'Keefe
Eva Peron

All barren or remained single throughout their lfe.
All freed from domesticity and pregnancy perils, and  because of their spirits, smarts and timing, accomplished amazing things!

But I digress.....

As I turn up more ancestors I find more and more like this one.....

This is Carrie Holmes Elder.

She married Henry Hugh Harper, the brother of my Great Grandfather Robert William Harper.
She was born in 1886 and married at age 19 in 1905.
She lived on a farmer in a rural area of south central Virginia.
Over the course of the next 15 years, she gave birth to 8 children, from 1906 to 1920.
Though I don't have proof, I suspect she died from complications in childbirth, as her last child was born the year she died.
She was only 34 years old.
She left 8 children, aged from 14 yrs. through infant motherless when she passed.
Her husband remarried within 2 years and went on to have 7 more children with his new wife.

In that time and place in history, Carrie Holmes Elder Harper had few options in life.
Imagine if there had been more medical education, sanitation, enlightenment and tools in healthcare in Carrie's day.
She might have opted to have had fewer and/or better pregnancies or have been able to plan them out better for her family's well being and her own.

Maybe she always dreamed of writing a book, or had a sharp mind and always wanted to go to college or travel the world and see the great sights in the world.
Being born in her time, life was often an "either/or" proposition.  There was no having it all.

Having children is a special kind of joy but there should be more to a woman's life than raising children if that is what she wants.
You can have it all to a degree in this era but you can't have it all at the same time.

I am grateful in this way that I am alive now in this time and don't have to live a life of reduced expectations.

I mourn for the women in my past who didn't get to fulfill their dreams.

Sluggy

What I'm Doing This Week at Rite-Aid

New week at Rite-Aid.
Here is what I got on Monday......

1 x Samy Foam Hair Color raincheck=$8.99
2 x Bliss candy bags on sale $3=$6.00
3 x Alka Seltzer cold BOGO50%off sale=$16.22
1 x Alka-Seltzer reg. BOGO50%off sale=$2.14
SubTotal....$33.35

Coupons Used
1 x Samy Foam In-Ad Q from raincheck week(stapled to raincheck)=$6.00
1 x Samy Foam $5/1 IPQ=$5.00
1 x $1/2 Bliss candy ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Bliss candy AdPerksQ=$1.00
2 x $3/2 Alka Seltzer IPQ=$6.00
1 x $3/1 Alka Seltzer cold Load2CardQ=$3.00
1 x $1/1 Alka Seltzer reg. Load2CardQ=$1.00
Coupon total.......$23.00

$33.35-$23.00=$10.35
I used $10 in +Up Rewards and put the .35¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.

I got back $2 in +Up Rewards($2 wyb2 bliss bags), and I have $18.36 tracking toward spending $25 in select cold products toward a $10 +Up Reward.
I also qualified for SCR #8 for $5.00 for buying those 3 Alka-Seltzer cold meds.

I'll go buy $6.64 more in cold meds to get the $10 +Ups later this week.

Why I bought what I bought.....
--We lurv the white chocolate here.  I'll put 1 of these bags into someone's stocking.  The other bag?.....I'm not telling.lol
--The hair color is my shade....it's a bit subtler than "I Love Lucy" Red.....
--The Alka-Seltzer is for Hubs.  He swears by this stuff when he gets sick.  I have other stuff but not this, so I thought I'd pick it up for him since it was so cheap and all after sales/Qs I love him this much! ;-)


September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$331.20
Savings Rate of  88.33%
Single Check Rebate due....$10.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $25.65
Savings Rate  92.25%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$95+
+Ups received...$87+
+Ups currently...$10+

So what are you buying at Rite-Aid this week?

Sluggy

Hog Love & My Usual Breakfast

I am truly in mourning here today.
I just discovered that we are down to our last package of bacon.

Once upon a time there use to be regular bacon deals when I could stock up on that magical meat product until the next deal rolled around.
The last bacon stock-up deal was at Price Chopper back in 2010.  You can read about it HERE.
If you don't want to look, the deal was 4 packs of bacon for $10.98 total and a $7 Catalina Q.....so after the 1st transaction I was paying $1 a package for 1lb. of bacon.
Stupidly easy and cheap!!!

Well, we are down to the last package.
And while I KNOW in this economy and inflationary period that I won't find $1 bacon now, I've been looking around for the last 2+ months for a real deal on bacon.
And the best I've been able to come up with is $3.49 a package....and only once that low.  The other best prices have all been about $4 a package.
And I'm having a hard time getting myself to pay that for bacon.....because I hold out hope of finding it for a better price after sales/Qs/whatever.

So I shed a tear today for the depletion of my stash of "the gods elixir".
Bacon, how we hardly knew ye......


And since I don't have any pork products to fry up this morning I rustled up my "go-to" breakfast instead.

Have a look at my "go-to" breakfast.

It's plain Greek Yogurt(for my digestion).
I put a tablespoon of flax seeds(for my heart) on it.
Then I put a teaspoon of local honey(for my allergies)on it.
Finish it off with a 1/4 cup of granola with nuts and raisins(nuts for protein and 'cuz I like granola)on top.  If I don't have granola I break up some walnuts and add those instead.

Along side is a banana, though sometimes it's an orange or an apple or some other whole fruit.  The fruit is to help get things moving....if you know what I mean. ;-) 
It also helps ward off scurvy, you know, if I ever decide to take to the sea and become a pirate.

In warm months I have a big glass of ice water, in cold months a big mug of red zinger herbal tea or something similar to wash this all down.


What price are you willing to pay for bacon? 

What is your "go-to" breakfast?

Sluggy 

Food Spending Sept. Week 2, Meal Planning Sept. Week 3

       US Govt. Poster From WWII
***************************************

And here is the "meal plan" that actually happened last week.....

Sunday--Chicken Enchiladas, Caesar Salad

Monday--Steak Tips in Gravy over Brown Rice, Green Beans

Tuesday--Tacos

Wednesday--Pizza

Thursday--Leftovers

Friday--Salmon, Asparagus on the Grill

Saturday--Chinese take-out

The weekly food spending was  $170.02.  $130.37 in reg. grocery spending and $39.65 at Rite-Aid.

Ugh.

While I got some really good deals and accomplished a savings rate of between 45.55% and 56% at the grocery store, it's still a big chunk of money spent.

I spent the $50 on needs as planned and then I did some stock-ups/rock bottom prices on yogurt, spaghetti sauce, chicken, steak, salmon, taco shells, whack biscuits, dehydrated potatoes, pizza rolls for the teen and I bought 4 boxes of cereal.  

I had to laugh at myself buying cereal again.  Besides the casual box or two of cereal I got for free or almost free in my Rite-aid scenarios over the last few years, I haven't 'on purpose' bought cold cereal since the Fall of 2009.

That Summer and Fall I took advantage of a couple of amazing Sales Promotion by Acme markets.  Here's a couple of photos of some of what I got back then....

Let me also mention it was the last time I bought a nasty Pop-Tart....lol

One of those hauls included 19 boxes of cereal, the other one included 45 boxes.  Of course 27 of those boxes ended up going HERE, but I digress.

The point is, I haven't gone out of my way to buy cereal for us until last week, when I bought 4 boxes.  When it was here in such large quantities the kids ignored it and had to be threatened with bodily harm to get them to eat it.  Bring 4 boxes into a "cereal barren landscape" and they are fighting over who gets it first!  I guess it's basic economic theory--the scarcity of a product imbues it with magical powers and the marketplace will set it's value.

Go figure......

I've spent $249.92 of my $400 monthly food budget so far this month. 

I am going into the new week with these leftovers......a tiny bit of taco meat, which I will add to the new filling for the Enchiladas.

***********************

This week's menu.....

Sunday--Burgers on Rolls, Corn

Monday--Stuffed Shells, Green Beans

Tuesday--Beef Enchiladas, leftover Corn

Wednesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad

Thursday--Pork Chops, Potatoes, Beets

Friday--Leftovers-only 2 home

Saturday--Leftovers

 

What I need to buy this week to serve this menu?.....Ground Beef, Salad Greens.  

Milk, Fruit and some stock-ups('Crack' noodles aka Kraft boxed dinners)will also happen this week.  I'm hoping to "get by" spending $65 this week.

No wait!  There is a Catalina Deal and Hubs needs coffee.

Oh crap.....looks like I'll be going over $400 this month too.

Come back to see how badly I stray from my budget next week! ;-)

So what are you cooking at your house this week?

Sluggy

Are You A Racist?

This is great!
How was I so blind to not see how racist I am against this particular class of people!? lolol




Sluggy

Saturday's Rite-Aid Bounty or Booty-You Decide

Though I am bummed that I had only 3 days to do my "Rite-Aid Thang" this week, and because of the new "can't use the +Ups the same day you get them" rule I had more out of pocket actual spending, I am also soooo glad too that the shopping week is over!

I am spent....literally and figuratively!lol

I noticed last night that R-A had the boxes of full sized candy bars on sale this week for $9.99 AND they gave a $1 +Up Reward, limit of 4.
We have a rep in the neighborhood of giving out awesome Halloween treats, which usually means full sized candy bars.  I'll just say we are very popular on Oct. 31st here. ;-)
Since I wanted to max out on the Gatorade Deal and I lacked enough +Ups to do it without forking out more cash AND I had to buy these candy bars anyway and this is the best price around here for them, I went ahead and hiked up to Rite-Aid last night AGAIN and bought 4 boxes.  While I don't count these in my food budget(the money comes out of the holiday/special occasion budget)I won't count their cost under my monthly food spending.
But.....hehehe....I will take the $4 in +Ups and add it to my stash to spend on food/toiletries this month.
If anyone out there has a problem with this, I suggest you take it up with the Board of Directors here at "Don't Read This; It's Boring!".

And I have no photo of the candy since it got hidden away immediately to keep certain teenagers from devouring it all.
Ok....who am I kidding!  I had to hide it from myself as well..... 8-P



So with that said, I started this morning with $30(the $26 I had + the $4 from the Halloween candy) in +Ups just burning a HOLE in my pocket. ;-)

This went on the BIL's card....

2 x Whole Goodness Grain chip Things 25%off=$4.92
2 x Whole Goodness Oatmeal like substance 25%off=$5.98
2 x No Nononsense Men's sock packs(7 pr. in each)50%off=$6.98
2 x Kotex tampon on sale $3=$6.00 
6 x Regular sized Candy Bars on sale B2G1Free=$3.96
SubTotal......$27.84

Coupons Used
4 x .50¢/1 Whole Goodness product IPQ=$2.00
1 x $2/2 Kotex IPQ=$2.00
1 x $2/2 Kotex Load2cardQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Kotex AdPerksQ=$1.00
2 x .50¢/2 Reese's bars AdPerksQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$8.00

$27.84-$8.00=19.84 + .06¢tax=$19.90
I used $19 in +Up Rewards and put the .90¢ on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received back $9 in +Up Rewards($3 WYB $10 in Whole Goodness, $5 WYB2 No Nonsense, $1 WYB2 Kotex).
So after Qs and +Ups the Kotex was free, the 4 food products were $5.90 for all 4(or $1.475 ea.), the Socks were $1.98 for 14 pairs(or .14¢ ea.) and the candy bars were .49+¢ each.

Then on my card I gots this............

And this.....

2 x Kotex on sale $3=$6.00
2 x Brach's candy corn mix on sale $1=$2.00
2 x Stride gum on sale $1=$2.00
10 x Gatorade on sale $1=$10.00
SubTotal.....$20.00

Coupons Used
1 x $2/2 Kotex IPQ=$2.00
1 x $2/2 Kotex Load2cardQ=$2.00
1 x $1/1 Kotex AdPerksQ=$1.00
1 x $1/2 Brach's candy IPQ=$1.00
1 x BOGOFree Stride IPQ=$1.00
Coupon Total.....$7.00

$20.00-$7.00=$13.00 + .06¢tax=$13.06
I used $11 of yesterday's +Up Rewards and put the $2.06 on my Rite-Aid gift card.
I received back $9 in +Up Rewards(2 x $3 Gatorade-1 monthly/1 weekly deal, $1 WYB2 Brach's, $1 WYB2 Stride gum, $1 WYB2 Kotex).

September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$286.47
Savings Rate of  86.51%
Single Check Rebate due....$5.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $30.65
Savings Rate  89.30%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$85+
+Ups received...$85+($18 today plus adding in the $4 from late last night)
+Ups currently...$18+


As for next week at Rite-Aid?

Not a lot that I want/need.
Maybe some "Bliss" chocolate, a Sammy Foam raincheck and some Incense to roll about $5 of the +Ups....that way I only have to roll/spend $13 of the $18 I have the following week.

What's looking like a deal to you at Rite-Aid next week?


 Sluggy

Where Did Precious Go?

I'm hoping Precious at "Frugal Makes Cents" reads this.
We can't get on your blog again.  We're getting the "Only Invited Readers" Message.
I don't know if this is a snafu or an accidental change, so could you email me as I don't have your email addy.
I hope everything is ok...
Thanks!

Sluggy

Friday's Rite-Aid Pillaging

Here's what we did Friday on BIL's card after he opted out online in the morning.

Remember, he has $6 in +Ups loaded onto his card from last week. And I have $35 in paper +Ups, $32 of which I can use today.

10 x Assorted 2ltr. sodas on sale $1=$10.00
2 x Glad Trash Bags on sale $4.49=$8.98
2 x No Nonsense Socks BOGO50% sale=$6.48
1 x Plastic Drawer thing 50% off=$3.49
1 x Plastic Tote thing 50%off=$1.49
SubTotal.....$30.44

Coupons Used
2 x $1/3 2ltr Dr. Pepper sodas AdPerk Qs=$2.00
2 x $2/1 Glad trash bags AdPerk Qs=$4.00
2 x $1/1 Glad trash bags IPQ=$2.00
Coupon Total....$8.00

$30.44-$8.00=$22.44

The $6 load2card +Ups applied bringing my total down to $16.44.
I used $16 of my +Up Rewards from yesterday and put the .44¢ on my gift card.
I received back $14 in +Up Rewards(2 x $3 Gatorade/Pepsi weekly and monthly, $3 WYB2 Glad, $5 WYB2 Nononsense).
And I'll submit the 2 plastic things for SCR #65 Get $5 cash back WYB 2 Gracious Living plastic ware items.  My local store doesn't stock this stuff. I spent $4.98 in +Ups and I'll get $5 cash back....sweet!

Basically with this order, plastic containers were free, the trash bags were free,  the 6 pr. of socks were $1.48 for all and the 10 2 liter sodas were $2 for all after coupons and +Up Rewards.

I'm 'down' $2 in +Ups but "up" $5 in cash rebates. 8-)

Transaction 2 went like this.....

10 x Gatorade NO BLUE ONES!lol on sale $1=$10.00
2 x Brach's Candy Corn Mix on sale $1=$2.00
2 x Mott's Applesauce on sale $2=$4.00
SubTotal....$16.00

Coupons Used
1 x $1/2 Brach's bagged candies IPQ=$1.00

$16.00-$1.00=$15.00
I used $15 in +Ups so $00 OOP.
I received $8 in +Up Rewards back (2 x $3 for Gatorade/Pepsi weekly and monthly, $1 WYB2 Mott's, $1 WYB2 Brach's candy corn).

In this order, after coupons and +Ups, the Gatorades were $4 for all(or .40¢ a piece), the candy corn was free and the applesauce cups were $1.50 per 6 pack(cheaper than the house brand on sale at the grocery store).
I used $15 and got $8 +Ups back, so I am 'down' $7 +Ups.

I now have $1 +Ups left from Thursday, $3 +Ups from this morning and $22 +Ups from Friday, so a total of $26 to use on Saturday.

The problem is only having 1 day left to roll these +Ups.  I planned out 2 transactions and I need to use $28 in +Ups for them(but I can only use $26 tomorrow), and I'll get back $18 in new +Ups.  This means if I buy everything I want to tomorrow, I'll have to spend $2 of ACTUAL money again!
Not liking this new rule at Rite-Aid.

September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$206.37
Savings Rate of  81.28%
Single Check Rebate due....$5.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $30.65
Savings Rate  85.15%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$55+
+Ups received...$63+
+Ups currently...$26+ 

More from the Rite-Aid front lines on Saturday....

Sluggy

Thursday Rite-Aid Trip

Since I got use of my car back, I hiked up to Rite-Aid to see what was left to buy.

Now I want to prepare y'all before I start.
Please sit down so I can tell you......I actually spent money yesterday!
LOTS OF MONEY.......ugh

Since the +Up Rewards can't be used immediately anymore and you have to wait until the following day to use today's I only have 3 days to earn and roll the ones for this week.
Kind of sucks for me, but whatever....

So I have to compress all my buying into 3 trips or less before the sale week ends.

So Thursday's trip was all about the food and drink mostly....

** 2 x No Nonsense Socks 3 packs on sale BOGO50%.....*This rang up strangely.  Instead of $5.29 reg. price for 1st and $2.64 50%off for the 2nd, the 1st set rang up with my 20% off Wellness discount at $4.23 and the 2nd set rang up 50%off at $2.64.....for a total of $6.87 and I received a $5 +Up Reward making 6 prs. of socks cost $1.87.  Not a bad price for 6 pr. of socks!  Ssshhh....don't tell, these are going into Xmas stockings....

** 10 x Gatorade on sale $1=$10.00  *I was suppose to get 2 x $3 +Ups--1 $3 for spending $10 on select drinks for this week and 1 $3 for spending $10 on select drinks under a Monthly +Up Deal.  But you will see that I bought 2 of the dreaded BLUE Gatorade, that have been reported to not trigger either the weekly +Up deal or the monthly +Up deal, I can't remember which.  I did go back Friday morning and returned and then rebought 2 non-blue Gatorades to get the 2nd $3 +Up Reward to print.  So now I spent $10 and got $6 +Ups back, making the drinks cost me .40 each.  Pretty good for something I have to buy for marching Band anyway. ;-)

** 2 x Stride gum packs on sale $1=$2.00  *I used an IPQ BOGO Free Stride, paid $1 for both and got a $1 +Up Reward back, so this was free after +Ups.

** 2 x Chips Ahoy! on sale $3(must buy 2)=$6.00  * I used 2 x $1/1 IPQ Nabisco Cookies Facebook Qs from the beginning of the month and paid $4.00 for both and got a $2 +Up Reward so $2 for both packages after +Ups.

**  4 x Nabisco Crackers on sale 2/$5=$10.00  * I used a B2G1Free IPQ and a $1/2 IPQ.  I forgot to also use my .75¢/1 AdPerk Ritz Q...argh.  I "should" have paid $5.75 and gotten 2 x $1 +Ups back for a total spent of $3.75 for 4 boxes.  But I'll have to settle for $4.50 after +Ups.  Still not bad for 4 boxes.
And I would have only bought 3 boxes but it was one of those MUST BUY in multiples of 2 to get the sale price.  ick.

**  2 x ProGlide Razors on sale for $9.99, but with 20% Wellness discount they were $9.03=$18.06.
I used 1 x $4/1 ManuQ Proglide and 1 x $5/1 ManuQ Proglide=$9.00 off and paid $9.06.  I received back 2 x $4 Gillette +Up Rewards for a total spent of $1.06 for 2 razors.

**  2 x Lysol Cleaners on sale $2.79=$5.58.  I used 1 x $2/2 Lysol Cleaners ManuQ and 1 x $3/2 AdPerks Lysol Cleaners Q for a total spent of $1.58.  I then received back 2 x $1 +Up Rewards(1 for each bottle), making this a $.42 moneymaker.
**  1 x Lysol Wipes with 20% Wellness discount=$3.19.  I will submit for the FREE Lysol Wipes rebate(Buy 3 Lysol products-1 of which has to be the Wipes-and get up to $3.00 back.)  So after rebate all 3 products will still be a .23¢ moneymaker.

**  6 x Flora Incense at $1.19(with 20% Wellness discount)=$7.14
I received back 3 x $3 +Ups, 1 for every 2 packages of incense I bought.  $7.14-$9 +Ups==$1.86 moneymaker.  Another Ssshhhh, don't tell, it's a Xmas stocking stuffer. ;-)

In the end I spent OOP $38.65 including tax, after also using my $12 in paper +Ups I had left.
I got back $35 in +Up Rewards and I'll be getting $3 in cash rebates too.

If I had more days left to break this into more and smaller transactions, I could have covered most of the cash spent OOP and not had to fork over so much green stuff.
Oh well....
I still got good deals and I'll be going back later today for more stuff I didn't get yet....like garbage bags, tampons, candy corn, more incense, more Gatorade.
A little more Rite-Aid pillaging to come--stay tuned!  I went back this afternoon and rolled yesterdays's +Ups.


September Grand Totals so far.....

Out Of Pocket....$38.65  cash
Value of items bought....$124.27
Savings Rate of  68.90%
Single Check Rebate due....$0.00
Other Rebates due......$3.00
After SCR applied, Out of Pocket.... $35.65
Savings Rate  71.32%

+Ups at beginning of month...$18+
+Ups used....$18+
+Ups received...$41+
+Ups currently...$41+ ($6 on my card, $35 on paper)

Sluggy

Gone Too Soon

I wanted to post something about it being Nell Carter's Birthday.
I'm a bit late though since her birthday was Sept. 13th and it's now after midnight.lol

Anyway, she was an amazingly talented singer/actress.
Most people know her from popular culture and her tv sitcom called Gimme A Break in the 1980's.

I know her from her work on the stage mostly.
She was wonderful in "Ain't Misbehavin' ", on Broadway, on the cast recording and on the tv special.
She won a Tony Award for that show but did others.  I know her mostly from her Broadway days since she was at the top of the heap there when I was in my college "theater" years.   I had looked to her as a professional role model during that time.
She was also in the film version of "Hair" around this time.
Don't go to this link HERE if you are easily offended.  This is "Hair" we are talking about.... ;-)

She was born in Alabama, coming from a humble background and as they say, "made something of herself" in spite of her beginnings.
She gave birth once as a result of being raped at 16, was raised with her siblings by her grandmother as they were unwanted by their mother, lost her father in a tragic freak accident, had two failed marriages and her younger brother, whom she was very close with, died in 1989 from an AIDS related cancer.  Bernard was a lawyer, musician and dean of a college.  He was 42.

She got swallowed up into that Hollywood lifestyle of the late '80s and ended up addicted to cocaine like many others of the time.  She kicked the habit eventually but had many other struggles in her personal life. 
Nell survived two brain aneurysms surgeries and numerous miscarriages & infertility. She adopted 2 more children and had other adoptions fall through.  Her kids were her life from all I have read.

Nell Carter died over 9 years ago this year.  She was 54.
She's entertaining the angels above now.

I found this strange clip from her Gimme A Break series.
Seems Andy Gibb made a guest appearance on an episode back in1983.
5 years later he died of myocarditis after struggling with a drug habit and depression.  He was 30.

All taken too young.

It's not a blockbuster performance but this clip is a sweet small duet of Nell and Andy from that episode of the series he guested on.




Sluggy

Almost Runway Time!

Rather late post today.....I've been out most of the day.
That means I got my car back...yay!

Had some Rite-Aid and some Weis shopping to do to catch up for the week.
And because I was such a good and productive gal today, I get to watch me some tv tonight!

Project Runway is coming up within the hour.
Of all the 'reality' type shows, this one is the one I don't get tired of and enjoy watching.
Because it's not just a group of weirdos fighting it out for a big cash prize like all the other 'reality' tv shows.
It's a group of weirdos with an actual skill.....and some even have talent. ;-)

Plus I get to watch Tim Gunn.  If you ever get the chance, pick up the book he wrote last year(or was it the year before?)in which he talks about his rules for life AND his own personal life.

And along with the fashion, the designers and Tim I get to see if Michael Kors comes up with another awesome Kors-ism.
He's had some funny stuff come out of his mouth over the years.

And it's easy to make up your own MK-ism.
Just think of 2 incongruent things......for example--An Amish girl and a $2 Venezuelan hooker, and then describe one of the designer's works using these things in a metaphor......"That evening gown looked like an Amish girl who had just gone off duty as a $2 Hooker on a Venezuelan street corner."

And then there are the simpler MK-isms like "that skirt looks like a baboons ass exploded on her".

Oh Micheal, you never fail to make me laugh!


Do you watch Project Runway?
Who do you like this season?

Sluggy

Midweek Rantness.......The Word of the Day

And yes, I do believe RANTNESS should be a word......
No matter what the "red squiggly lines" under it in my spellcheck program say.
It's a darn good word and appropriate for this post.

* I am still grounded at home.  The part STILL has not come in from the car company.  I have my suspicions....ever the conspiracy theorist here!.....that since I am having the repair done at a NON-CAR DEALER shop that the CAR COMPANY is in no freaking hurry to ship the part out.  Had an authorized "this brand of car" shop ordered the part?
Yah, that baby would have been hand delivered and installed last week already.
So because I refuse to put more money into the hands of "BIG CARMA" (aka big car manufacturers)by having them overcharge me for repair labor, I still sit at home.

I have important places to go and people to see dang it!.....like the grocery store and Rite-Aid.
This makes me figgity as a bubble dancer with a slow leak!

Yes, I subscribe to the Foghorn Leghorn school of insults......




* I have decided that being Grumpy is good for my bottom line.
And here is why.
I go to a particular gas station when my vehicle needs refilling.  It's one of 2 in my town in close proximity to the other and it's easiest to access, as it is at a traffic light.
The problem I have with this gas station is that they never EVER refill the pumps with receipt paper so that even if you push "YES" when the screen asks you if you want a receipt to print, at the end of the transaction, a receipt never prints out.....because......there is no paper in the machine!
Every.
Single.
Time.

So back a couple of weeks ago, before I lost the use of my car, I was at said gas station, filling up my tank.
As always I pushed YES for the print receipt? question, and yet again, no receipt printed out when I hung up the nozzle.
I got back into my car and instead of driving off straightaway, I sat and fumed and fussed at no one in particular.  I was just so exasperated by it all I had to sit and vent.
And while I was ranting, I was looking around out the windshield and I saw this laying on the ground about 10 feet away from my car........

HELLO ANDY JACKSON!

Nobody around to see if they lost this, so I picked old Andy up and tucked him into my pocket. 8-)

I had a thought initially to turn Andy into the clerk inside the minimart in case someone called about losing some money.
But then I thought that even if someone called looking for lost money, the clerk would probably just say no, keep the money and not turn it over the the manager or the owner.....and if he did, they would keep the money.

So now I have this problem....what to do with the 20 bucks.
I could give it to charity.
I could spend it on my family's needs.
I could spend it on myself.

So if you were me, what would you do?

And be honest.....if you would spend it on yourself don't be afraid to say so.
This is the anonymous internet so everyone who thinks they are morally superior to you can think you are a jerk but you don't have to care. ;-)
We all aren't cut out to be Mother Teresa, are we?
Some of us have to be Foghorn Leghorn.

Sluggy