Blog & Giveaway Business

Three items of blog business I need to address..........

* If anyone has any blogs they enjoy, please email me about it with a link to that blog so I can add it to my Blog Roll.  I always enjoy putting blogs into the roll so others can discover them too.  I try to remember when I happen across one to add it here but sometimes I get distracted and/or forget.  Even if it's your own blog, let us know about it, ok?

* The amount of spam comments has quieted down finally!
Some are most certainly spam, with links to everything from loan offers, to Viagara sales sites to sites on STDs. 

Then I keep getting comments from "people" who want to know what platform I use(Blogger, hello?...it's in the URL for this site lolz), to what apps, plugins and programs, etc. I use from how to keep folks from stealing my content to how to monetize my blog.

Then there are the commentors who want to share my blog with a F/B group or want to write articles for my blog who never leave an email addy so I can contact them.

Let's not forget the commentors who want to know how to write a blog.  Umm, go to a blogging site, pick out a name and just start writing! lolz

Or the folks who thank me for writing about "whatever the blog post title is".....this usually turns out to be a very old blog post or a blog title like "November Giveaway....Come Win Some Stuff!".

Or the comments that are obviously written by someone who doesn't know/speak English and are putting their comment through a language translator.  Usually those are comment left on weeks/months/or years old posts and few make any sense or say anything pertinent to anything I write about so they get kicked out to the spam folder.

Then there are those folks who just want to "help" me by letting me know my blog doesn't show up correctly in "pick a browser" and I need to fix that, the RSS feed is wonky(contact Google or Blogger not me)or they set up something on Blogger to receive notifications about my blog and they can't change it so I need to change it for them.  Sorry dude, I can't fix YOUR settings for you(contact Google or Blogger), especially if I can't see WHO YOU ARE. lolz

Or the readers who got my blog link from a father/brother/friend who want me to visit their site which usually turns out to be an online gambling site or want to sell me viagara.

Some days it's too many freaks and not enough circus when I go through the comments. 8-)))


* And lastly I now have a master list of everyone who has entered a giveaway with their name/non de plume and email addy.  I spent a long time going through 1.5 years of giveaway entries to compile this.  I did turn up a few folks whom I though I had info for that I don't, including someone known as MEG B. so if you are reading this Meg B. please email me so I can get you on the list.

I am going to now post this list of everyone I have email contact info for(without the emails listed however to protect their privacy).
If you like to enter my Giveaways and don't see your name on this list, PLEASE EMAIL ME to get on the list.(My email addy is under About Me" on the right side bar.)
I keep getting folks who enter but as they don't provide any contact info they can't win so do yourself a favor and make sure that you are on the list(and I may have left someone off inadvertently too).  It will be m go-to for giveaway info and will be updated monthly from here on out.  I am just tired of trying to hunt down readers who enter a giveaway but don't provide a way to contact them.

Here is the list............. it is arranged alphabetically by first name/non de plume.

Alice Williams 

Amanda 

Amber R

“American Dreamer” 

Amy Walter 

Annamarie Voss 

“Anne in the Kitchen” 

Barbara 

Barbara G

Barbara S 

Belinda R

“Bellasmom"

Bobbie 

Bonnie Swanson 

Carol Pavlick 

Carolsue 

Cheryl Soergel 

“chopf” 

Chris T

Coleen C

Crystal Hankey 

cskies 

CT MOM

Dana Matthews 

D.A. Vick 

Debbie 

Debbie S

Diane 

Donna F

Elena Pendell “Ellie” 

“farmgirl”

Gaby “violinista” 

Gayle Binkley

Gerry T

Grammy Goodwill 

Heather H Temp 

Heather McC

“j.rontal” 

Janet Mendonca 

Janie Junebug 

Jean Lange 

Jen G.

Jenifer Rigby

Jess

Jessica Fletcher-Fiero 

JoAnn

Joyce 

Jull 

Kathi Davis in FL 

Kathy Sheffield

“kat kaz” 

Kelly M. 

Kim H. 

Kimberly 

Laura H.

Laurie 

Linda “practical parsimony” 

Lisa C “ladybug” 

Lisa R

Lori 

Lorraine 

“Lucy-A Dime at a Time” 

Lucy 

“Making Cents of it All"

Marcia 

Marcia C “miserly mac”

Marie Galtier 

Mary G

Mary L

“McVal” 

Melissa Storms 

Meme “Ellen” 

Meredith M 

Michelle 

Michelle D

Michelle H

“nives” 

“pamintexas” 

Pamela J 

Patti

Patti or Precious People Preschool 

Patti 

Rachel D

Ranee Milliman in MN 

“Rhitter” 

“rivulet”

Rosemary Ford

“SAM” 

Sandi 

Sandie in CT 

“seyrey” 

Sheila Womack “Sheila”

Shirley 

“sparky136” 

Susan Lasker “Sue” 

Susan Steiner “SMS” 

Susanna Smith 

Tebble 

Teddie 

Tammy 

Terri S. 

”Urspo” 

“vaj” 

“wondrfluf” 

Wendi

Wendy Clark 

Also if you leave entries and you only supply a first name PLEASE leave at least the first initial of your last name too.

I currently have 3 each of Patti, Michelle and Barbara and not all have given me a last name or at least the first initial of which.

I can get confusing at times to say the least. ;-)

And with that I am outta here.

Got to get my butt up to "Ollie's"(Good Stuff Cheap!)before my 15% off flyer expires and then there are some house things to work on.

Sluggy

Just Because It's June, June, June......Another Giveaway!

See what I did there?
In honor of a Revival of "Carousel" being on Broadway now, let the Bustin' Out Begin!



June means it's time for the seventh Sluggy's Boring Blog Box Giveaway for 2018. 8-)

Back to our regular giveaway mode, I pick the goodies!
And even though it's Summer weather there is CHOCOLATE in this box.....chocolate with a candy shell so it melts in your mouth and not in your hand.  Woohoo!

A nice box of goodies will head to whomever's name is picked from the entries.
Somebody has to win and it might just be YOU!

Here is what you can win if your entry is picked.

1 x Dove body wash(sample)
1 x Speed Stick dodorant
1 x GE LED bright stick bulbs
1 x Suave shampoo
1 x Aveeno radiant skin cleanser
1 x Zim's max freeze topical pain relief
1 x Aquaphor healing ointment
1 x Ace heat pack
1 x Crest toothpaste
1 x Colgate toothbrush
1 x Schick razors
1 x Reach dental floss
1 x R-A gift tape
2 x Muscle Milk protein bars
2 x M&Ms candy(1 milk choc./1 peanut butter)


Over $70 in regular retail of goodies.
Closeup shots of the goodies up for grabs......

Within reason I'll also let you swap out something here for something else(if I have it).

I'll leave this giveaway open until Wednesday, June 20th at 11:59pm Eastern Time, so that gives everyone a full week to enter this one.  On June 21st I'll mark all the valid entries and use Random dotorg to pick a number and that corresponding person's entry wins.

*Please note the rules*
I'll post the name/Id of the winner on this blog and that person has 48 hours from then to contact me privately via email(my email addy is listed on my "About Me" page).
If I am not contacted via email I'll attempt to contact the winner via the email they supply with their entry and if that email is not responded to within another 48 hours I'll pick another winner.

There will only be ONE way to enter this time and only ONE ENTRY per person.

Leave a comment on this post before June 20th at 11:59pm Eastern time.

One entry per person. Period.  Leveling the playing field and all that.  8-)

Disclaimer--This giveaway is open to those with mailing addresses within the US only.
As the cost of postage to foreign countries has gotten to high I am sorry to say I can no longer afford to mail boxes outside the US.  These giveaways are not sponsored by any companies, I pay for it all(cost of items given away and the postage to mail it all)out of my own pocket.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Please make sure there is a way for me to contact you in your comment.

If you're not a registered Blogger User with your contact information on your User page, please put your email addy in your comment or email me your email addy privately when you leave a comment so I can get a hold of you. If your Blogger associated user profile is a GOOGLE one with those Google Circles nonsense I CAN NOT CONTACT YOU as Google Circles doesn't show your contact info.

If I can't contact you then you can't win.  I am still having to disqualify entries due to this issue and I sure don't like doing that.  Thanks!

So let's get this started!

Sluggy

About The Tonys

Having been in the "theatuh" world in my previous life I like to tune into the Tony Awards.
I like to see the numbers that are performed from the actual shows up for awards.

Also having been in that world back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, I know that actors(for the most part)are self-centered narcissists who are good at appearing to be likable people(their job is acting after all!)who care about others and the world.

Now there are some exceptions to this rule(like those true artists who have other skills like writing, design, directing, etc.)but mostly actors are superficial jerks from my experiences.
And they are good at reading scripted material(that's their job)but many can't pull a coherent thought together if their life depended on it.
That is why after they announce winners in the acting categories I hit the mute button on my remote so I don't have to suffer through a badly written or even worse, a spontaneous bout of verbal diarrhea from an actor/actress.

Take Robert DeNiro for instance.

A well respected actor who has many acting accolades to his credit and pulls down a large income.
But that doesn't make him someone to emulate(other than his study in his craft).
Especially after the stunt he pulled at the Tony Awards.

Mr. DeNiro was there to introduce his friend, Bruce Springsteen, before Bruce performed a song.
DeNiro took it upon himself to hurl profanities at the President before his introduction of Bruce.

Keeping it classy Bob......

Actors and small spoiled children are known for pulling stunts in public like this.

Not getting many good acting jobs?
Go on national television and shock the folks at home with profanities directed at a President(which were bleeped out)whom many see as great target to deride, mock and hurl f-bombs at lately.

And now the media outlets are blown up over the stunt Robert De Niro pulled proving once again, at least with actors, negative attention is better than no attention at all.
Of course, knowing that "crowd" in the auditorium, De Niro received a standing ovation for hurling insults at this POTUS.

This old guard "respected" actor just toppled off his pedestal in my view.

The Tony Awards shouldn't be a grandstand on which to hurl your political diatribe from and/or a stunt pulled to get you more work consideration.
Thanks for putting a damper on this celebration of the work of live theater's honorees Bob D.

No Class Bob DeNiro.
I hope he is happy with himself and the damage he has ultimately done to his own reputation.


Sluggy

This Week on the Dining Table

The "Open Wide and say 'Ah'" Edition--

This is Chester and Cinnamon performing one of their rituals.  Cinnamon lays under my desk while I am on my computer there and lets Chester "clean" her mouth.  Sometimes he also licks her eyes. ick.
I guess it's all part of the grooming ritual some animals perform amongst  themselves.
I suppose I should sign Chester up for a dental hygienist course, huh? ;-)

Moving On....

Onward to the meal planning!

This is what was planned--

1. Sunday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Asparagus

2. Monday--Marinated Beef w/Broccoli, Rice

3. Tuesday--Tacos

4. Wednesday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

5. Thursday--Stuffed Shells, Salad

6. Friday--Fish?

7. Saturday--Leftovers

And this is what actually happened--

1. Sunday--Tuna Noodle Casserole, Asparagus

2. Monday--Marinated Beef w/Broccoli, leftovers Rice

3. Tuesday--Leftovers or TV dinners

4. Wednesday--Stuffed Shells, Salad

5. Thursday--Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

6. Friday--Beef Pie

7. Saturday--Leftovers

Everything but the fish got served.

Last week saw 5 nights of home cooked dinners, 2 night of leftovers/fend for yourself, 0 nights of Take-Out or Eating Out.  

A trip to the Bread Outlet, Weis, Boyer's and Aldi's brought the weekly food spending to $115.65 and the monthly total to $231.63.

I've got $168.37 left in the food budget for June and 19 days left in my shopping month.  

My savings percentages last week was 56.11%(without Rite-Aid trips)and June's monthly savings total so far is at 55.12%.

Leftovers going into this week......1 helping of tuna casserole, 1 pork tenderloin, a few helpings of Beef Pie and lots of Stuffed Shells(it makes a ton).

Here is this week's "food plan".....

1. Sunday--Tacos

2. Monday--Leftovers(Stuffed Shells or whatever you find)

3. Tuesday--Pecan Chicken, Squash Casserole

4. Wednesday--Reuben Sandwiches, Cabbage

5. Thursday--Eggplant Parm, Salad

6. Friday--Chicken Tenders, Veg(TBD)

7. Saturday--?  Pizza or something easy from the Freezer

This week will see 5-6 new meals cooked, 1 night of leftovers/FFY and 0 nights of Take-Out/Eating Out.

What needs buying for this menu?  More Squash, Cabbage.  That's about it.

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

Randomness Around Chez Sluggy

Just some random things going on around here........

*  I finally got around to posting the Eating Out and updating the Totals on that page HERE,
April's total was high due to a short trip down to see Eldest son.  We paid when going out but Eldest son picked the restaurants and I have to say......he's all about expensive beer and food! lolz
Next trip, either we'll pick the places or put a price limit on him. ;-)

May wasn't bad in one way but bad in another way--Not bad since the Birthday eating out was paid for last year with gift cards bought then and we had no Trip Eating Out....Bad in that the regular day-to-day Eating Out was $170.04 for the month. Ugh.  That's a LOT of take-out!

We are still under $1K for the rest on Eating Out/Take Out so far but the year's not even half over.

*  The end of June marks the First full Year of Hubs retirement.  If things continue as they have been going now, he needs to find things to do outside of the house or we need a bigger house!!! ;-)
Some days it's all I can do not to want to put my hands around his neck and throttle him.

*  I spent very little of my WAM again in May, going into June with $306 of leftover WAM.  Add in June's $100 and I started this month with $406 in WAM.  It's June 9th and I've only got $396 of WAM left.  Whatever will I do?!?  8-))

*  I am beyond frustrated with trying to plan some travel this Summer.  I thought I'd take the 2 kids living here down to VA for a bit to see my brother and go see their sibling/my eldest but both the 2 kids started jobs right away after school let out. Then  I though Eldest was going to come here straight after his school let out(June 15th)and then we could travel down to VA to see my brother/his uncle and make some day trips to OBX but now eldest is going to teach Summer school so he's wedging in a trip here for a few days between that ending and when he has a friend coming from NY to visit him at the end of July.
We can't go anywhere in August because daughter has two trips planned then, one at the beginning of the month to TX and one near the end of the month to a conference in Boston and we have to take care of her dog because she won't board her.  Plus I had two doc appts.(one annual w/sleep doc and one semi-annual with my primary doc).  Both of them were cancelled and rescheduled for different dates so I am having to replan around those.  Add in Hubs surgery and recovery plus his eye doc appts. and shots which also need planning around.
At this point I have a small window of opportunity between June 21st and July 8th but I can't get Hubs to even agree to plan anything!
So it's looking like I am home bound until at least Sept. if we can't get anything together in the next week.  It's just not the Summer I was planning at all!


*  And the best-est thing going on around here......

Ex-College Boy's diploma arrived and I got a picture of him with it n front of the rhododendron bush while it was flowering.
Then I got this photo which is even better..........

Working Man(formerly known as College Boy)holding his first REAL PAYCHECK!!!
No more restaurant kitchens for this guy!
He's got a job working for a real company(not that restaurants aren't real companies)making a decent wage.
And he gets benefits after 60 days!!  Can you say "off our health/dental/vision premiums"?!?
And once he's settled a bit and saved up for some short term/long term goals there's a 401K with a match.

I feel relief that I don't think he'll be living in my basement the rest of his life......hehehehe

Sluggy