Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Dear America

Dear America,

Please get your shit together.

It's been a week now since the election.
It's time to get it together and move on.

I know some of you still can't believe Mr. Trump won.  We could spend months on analyzing why....and I am sure those who don't want to acknowledge this fact will and we'll all have to hear about it ad nauseum.

Those of you who don't agree with who won the election....
You want to tell the world you feel "unsafe".
You want to protest.
That's fine.

But most of us out here need to take care of our families and earn our daily bread and get on with living.

If you just don't understand why Mr. Trump won I doubt you ever will.

But here are some clues for you....

It wasn't about his divisive language and personality traits during the campaign for those who voted for him who aren't likewise minded.

Like in Bill Clinton's campaign back in 1992, the catchphrase voiced by James Carville comes to mind--"The economy stupid."

In 1992 we were in the throes of a recession, much like the one we are still emerging from that came to a head in 2008.

People vote with their wallets.

Those of you who have jobs that are part of "global economy" just don't get that many Americans who aren't part of your bubble are suffering and sliding backwards economically into poverty.

And they don't want a handout from the government to keep them afloat.
They are a proud people and have always worked hard for what they have.
This is a trait in Americans that I hope I don't live to see disappear.

The citizenry has shown time and again that it can put up with ignorant and crash language from our leaders if they think he/she can changed their economic futures.  Heck, Lyndon Johnson had one of the dirtiest and racists mouths known to man.

Evidently enough people in enough states thought Trump would do a better job seeing to their personal financial needs than Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Johnson or Mrs. Stein.

Racism, misogyny, or hate of any other ilk never went away and is not making a comeback like some would have you think.
Hate has always been there.

But I have to believe that most Americans aren't haters.
It's just that many are frustrated and have been ignored for many years by the current administration.
And they chose to change it.

And like a Fellow Blogger raised in his post today, I also have to ask you protesters(just like I inquired with all those Occupy Wall Street folks back in 2011)--what is your point?

Fellow blogger said it more elegantly....
"What do you want? I'm all for protest. But there has to be a solution. Marching in the streets because you don't like something is not protest, it is a tantrum. There is no indication the election was fraudulent. Trump was elected. Is your endgame to overthrow a duly elected government Isn't that the best example of the very tyranny you are protesting against? Is your riot the ultimate blackmail -- elect my guy or I will break your stuff?"

Let's all show a bit more sanity out here.



Sluggy




Monday, November 14, 2016

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Super Moon" Edition--


I went outside about 9 pm and took this photograph of the Super Moon with our Thanksgiving flag also in the shot.  Can't say that the moon looked closer than it ususally is at this time of year but it certainly was significantly brighter.
I'll try another shot tonight.

Moving on......
Onward to the meal planning!

Here's what was planned last week--

1. Sunday--Meatloaf, Broccoli, Au Gratin Taters
2. Monday--Chicken Parmesan, Corn Casserole
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Teriyaki Flank Steak with Stir-Fry Veggies(leftover taters for BF), Rice
7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Meatloaf, Broccoli, Au Gratin Taters
2. Monday--Chicken Parmesan, Corn Casserole
3. Tuesday--Leftovers
4. Wednesday--Hubs got Take-Out(I was sick.)
5. Thursday--Spaghetti w/Meatballs and Sausage, Garlic Bread(nobody was up for a salad too)
6. Friday--Fried Chicken(take-out), Mashed Taters, Macaroni Salad
7. Saturday--Spinach Salad and Leftovers

5 meals cooked at home, 2 of them a night of leftovers, and 2 nights of Take-Out.
I was fighting a cold/sinus thing all week so we got Take-Out twice and I used 2 premade meals from the freezer(meatloaf and meatballs)plus another dinner that was easy to prepare(chicken parm using breaded precooked patties).  I got a good deal on lovely spinach Friday at Weis so we had a big old Spinach Salad on Saturday and the Teriyaki Flank Steak meal moved to this coming week(I actually made that last night.).

As for the grocery spending.....3 trips to Weis and 1 trip to the Shursave market and free drinks at Kmart using a free gift card and $3 spent at Dollar Tree(18 ct. eggs for $1!)brought my weekly spending to $173.24 and my November food spending Total so far is $322.05.
I've got another $130+/- to spend next week and I am done spending actual $ on food in November.

So far, so good in my savings percentages in November at this point.  This week the savings rate average was 43.15% and the month-to-date stands at 50.44%.

Leftovers going into this week.......chicken thighs, salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, corn casserole, chicken parm, spaghetti, meatballs, sausage.  Leftover barbecue got put into the freezer.
Some of this will be eaten for lunches and some for dinner on Leftover Days.

Here is this week's "food plan".

1. Sunday--Teriyaki Flank Steak, Stir-fry Veggies, Fried Rice
2. Monday--Macaroni and Cheese, Broccoli
3. Tuesday--Kielbasi, Pierogies, Sauted Cabbage
4. Wednesday--Fajitas, Refried Beans
5. Thursday--Leftovers
6. Friday--Tacos
7. Saturday--Leftovers

This week will see 5 new meals cooked and 0 nights of Take-Out and 2 nights of Leftovers.

What I need to buy for this menu?  Not a thing.  I earned $20 in free food chits last week so I'll be buying items to fill out the Thanksgiving menu-cranberry glop, whipped cream, etc.

What is getting fixed and served at your house this week?

Was last week's plan successful, did you go off plan or did you not even plan what was going to be eaten last week?

Any great deals on food at your stores this week?


Sluggy

Sunday, November 13, 2016

Don't Forget

The Giveaway is still open.
Link on the right side bar.....take a look!
Don't forget to make your daily entry.

I am off into the garage today.  The weather is bright and warmish and I hope to get a lot accomplished.
Wish me luck! ha

Sluggy

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Epic Rite-Aid Shop...Paid $6.22 to Buy All This

After I sat down with my pencil, paper and calculator and figured out this deal fully, I just had to go to Rite-Aid and bring home some more freebies(after sale/coupons/points earned/cash rebates).
I had gotten a $10 off wyb $50 non-prescription items coupons printed on a receipt last week so it made this transaction a moneymaker. 8-)))

Here is what I got.....




1 x Caress Body Wash 20% Wellness disc.=$4.23
1 x Axe Shower Gel 20% Wellness disc.=$4.79
1 x Dove +Men's Body Wash 20% Wellness disc.=$5.03
2 x Dove Soap 6 pack on sale 2/$14=$14.00
2 x Suave Body Wash 20% Wellness disc.$2.31=$4.62
3 x Tresemme Shampoo on sale $4=$12.00
2 x Suave Profesionals Shampoo on sale 2/$6=$6.00
2 x Suave Gold Shampoo on sale 2/$6=$6.00
SubTotal........$56.67+$1.61 tax=$58.28

Coupons Used
1 x $10/$50 R-A receipt Q=$10.00
1 x $1/1 Caress ManuQ=$1.00
1 x $3/2 Dove BW or Soap ManuQ=$3.00
1 x BOGO Suave BWash IPQ=$3.00(scanned automatically for $3 off)
1 x $5/3 Tresemme ManuQ=$5.00
1 x $2/2 Suave Professionals ManuQ=$2.00
1 x $3/2 Suave gold ManuQ=$3.00
Coupon Total......$27.00

$58.28-$27.00=$31.28
I used $31.28 in Plenti Points to pay.

Then I earned the following with this transaction........

* $9 in new Plenti Points($3 wyb $12 in Dove soap/body wash(men's didn't count for this), 2 x $3 wyb $10 Suave/Tresemme)
* $8 in my Checkout51 account($4 for buying the Caress/Axe and $4 for buying 1 Dove soap/Dove +Mens body wash).
* $9 in my Ibotta account($4 for buying the Caress/Axe and $5 for buying 1 Dove soap/Dove+ Men's body wash)
* $11.50 in my SavingStar account($1 Caress, $1 Dove soap, $1 Dove+Men's, $2/2 Suave body wash, $3/2 Tresemme, $2/2 Suave Gold, $1.50/2 Suave Professionals)

So in the end, I "spent down" my Plenti Points by $22.28($31.28-$9 in new points)and earned $28.50 in cash rebates, making this a $6.22 "moneymaker" purchase.

This Plenti card had over $102 in points on it so I can afford to lose some of my point tally on it, even with Black Friday coming, I still have $80 in Plenti Points to roll on the freebies for the BF sales.

Sluggy

Goings On Around Chez Sluggy Lately


Oh, where to start.

My drug regime shake up has had some positive results on me.....well, after my angioedema/hives episode happened.
First off I had ENERGY last week!  That's something I've had none of most of this year.
I am actually getting things accomplished that I've wanted to do for months.
Go me.

Last week I........
* Cleaned out my painting supplies(plus washed the tubs I keep these in).
* Cleaned out the pantry
* Cleaned out the cabinet to the left of the stove
* Did some reorganizing in the garage/stockpile
* Cleaned the bookcase next to my desk
* Got together a Food Bank Donation
* Got a Salvation Army Donation ready to go
* Went through some files and purged a bunch of paper
* Cleaned and vacuumed my car(This is something I NEVER do!)

All this was in addition to my usual routine of cooking/laundry/shopping/blogging/etc.

And all this moving around has had me losing weight too, 8 lbs. so far.  I suspect one of the meds I was on that I am now off of was hindering me dropping weight.  Has to be a combo on exercise and off the drug as my food type/intake has not changed at all.

And then Daughter got sick and shared her grunge with me.
Ugh.
This week has been spent in a brain fog and 1 activity.....just trying to be able to breath out of my nose. ;-)
I suspect if this thing doesn't loosen it's grasp on me by Monday I'll be sitting in the Urgent Care early next week.

Another thing I got done last week was to prepare a whole slew of Giveaway boxes......



The open box is for December's Giveaway and the stack contains goodies for 6 Giveaways for 2017.
As long as the blogging ad revenue continues to come in(in drips and drabs)and I can cover the postage to mail these boxes with that tiny income stream(and I get stuff for Free to use as prizes)the Giveaways will continue!
Rah.

So barring catastrophes I am well ahead of the game for at least half of next year on this score.
I just need to figure out where to store these boxes in the house until needed. First world blogger problems, eh? lolz

Putting these boxes together came out of cleaning the dining room.  I had a large box of toiletries in there that needed to be moved out before Thanksgiving as we'll need that room then.  This box was overflow from the toiletries stash in tubs up in Hub's man cave room.  So instead of shoving them goodness knows where in the house and then trying to dig it all out to make up prize boxes for Giveaways I just "got 'er done" now and that potential job is off my plate.  I can just photograph the contents and write up each Giveaway post as needed next year.  I think I have room under the daybed that the dog spends her days napping on in the living room to tuck these away until needed.  This hiding place will be easy to access too.

Here is the Food Bank donation I gathered so far......


Assorted foodstuffs and 10 bottles of shampoo


I'll probably add to the food component before I take this all in next week, as I will be reorganizing the stockpile in the garage some more and will most probably find more "goodies".

And speaking of the garage, next week once I am feeling like myself again I need to concentrate on going through stuff in the garage to donate to charity.  Between the stockpile, Daughter and BF's stuff and all my old eBay selling days stuff out there it's just too, too much in there and I am ready to let go of more crap!

I want to do at least another 4 Salvation Army donations before the end of the year(not counting the one ready to go this weekend).  I've still got lots of new/unused toys and gift wear and this is the time of year that sort of stuff is highly sought after for gifting in the charity stores.
I'd rather donate and take the tax write-off(if we hit the threshold this year-last year we didn't)than spend lots of time and energy on eBay attempting to sell it.
There are a few items if I get the "umph" that I will try to sell....mostly items I know I can get a good price for(to make the hassle worthwhile).

Ok, I am off to breath and maybe get some more cleaning/organizing done today.
Oh, and a trip to Rite-Aid too if I can sustain some energy long enough to do that. 8-)))

What are y'all up to today?

Sluggy