The Best Way to Save Money on Anything

by Guest Writer, Ruth Morse

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YOU CAN'T BEAT IT!!
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Here's the bottom line. The best way to save money on anything is this: don't buy it in the first place.
How do you get away with that? I've already admitted that I am not trendy. I've come to realize that my NOT TRENDY ATTITUDE covers more than clothes, shoes and purses. Let's face it, cooking/kitchenware gadgets and dishes, pots, pans and electronics can be real budget busters! I'm not consumed by buying the newest, the faddiest, the shiniest new kitchen thing. I guess you could say I'm not a good consumer, but I'm OK with that. A few examples of how to apply an NTA in the kitchen.
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Our Blender:
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I have no idea how old this appliance is. I bought it at a garage sale about 20 years ago. Check out the push buttons: that helps narrow down the decade it was made. And then there is the fact that it is HARVEST GOLD. Does anybody even remember harvest gold appliances? They came into vogue a bit after women were getting tired of the AVOCADO and COPPERTONE ones. We had a harvest gold side-by-side refrigerator and I loved it. We used it for a quarter of a century! (That sounds a lot more impressive than just saying "25 years" - right?) When it was about 12 years old, it survived a ghastly (and stinky!!) encounter with a mouse who got stuck in the circulating fan blades. We were on vacation, so the poor fridge motor ran for about 5-6 days straight until we got home, opened the back door and the aroma hit us. We unplugged the poor old thing, shoveled out all the spoiled food in the fridge and freezer, and called a repairman. Turned out the only thing the guy had to do was remove a petrified mouse from the fan! Old faithful started right up again and kept us happy for another decade plus. You know the old saying: they don't make 'em like that anymore!
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Back to the blender. It works fine, it lives inside a base cupboard so we don't have to look at the outdated color, it's heavier and sturdier than anything I might purchase to replace it. So we'll use it until it dies and goes to appliance heaven.
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Wedding Presents:
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I'm still using quite a few wedding presents! We got married in 1966, (editor's note: !!!!!) so do the math on the shelf life of things, like our electric frying pan. Sure, the numbers on the temperature dial have worn off, but no big deal. I just turn the dial up or down until things are cooking the way I want them to. My good dishes are dated and not in "style" with their pretty rose pattern, but my mom and dad bought us these dishes at Britt's (ever heard of that store?) and I am quite sentimental about them. And guess what -- they hold food!
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Disclaimer:
I bought a new slow cooker this year.
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My old one was undependable and too small. See our shiny new stainless model? The glitz was not what lured me. It was the versatility. It came with three different sized crocks: 2 quart, 4 quart, 6 quart. They all nest inside each other when not in use -- a space saving feature. Just pick the appropriate size for the volume of food you are going to cook. The whole kit and caboodle fits nicely in the same base cupboard as the blender. Love that! I've discovered that there are oodles of websites and blogs dedicated to slow cooker recipes. My favorite is crockpot365.blogspot.com. This lady actually publishes a slow cooker recipe for evcery single day of the year! Quirky, fun writing style and she gives a totally, brutally, humorous honest verdict on how the recipe went over with her family.

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...and one more thing......
uh, I'll get back to you when I remember it.
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The Cheap Senior Citizen is a Guest Writer who occasionally shares helpful hints she has learned through her experience.
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Popinjay - Dangerous

dan-ger-ous
1. involving or filled with danger; perilous
2. being able or likely to do harm

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This was my last bike.
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I would head out to it when

I was tired of my own voice.
Take a bead on the northern plains

And just roll that power on.

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{heavy sigh}

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Popinjay. A little Michelle Pendergrass magic.

Final Round of 2010 EWC, France

Ladies & Gentlemen: The Husaberg Factory Team at their finest. Sort of. Check out Oriol Mena's new signature move. (:38)

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Husaberg does a great job with their videos. You can catch several of them on the Home page of The Race Shop.
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Looks like Oriol Mena has definitely got back into the spirit after a bad crash in May, busting up his ribs and last year's EWC collarbone breakage. This was the ’09 Enduro Junior World Champion's first year in the E3 class and he did alright, even got a podium one time.
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Mika Ahola (Honda) is, as expected, the 2010 EWC Champion, a consecutive four time winner described as "a marvel of efficiency." A much deserved first time win for Ludivine Puy in the women's rally, the first time FIM has awarded a Female World Champion Enduro title.
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And, speaking of women in enduro, Annie Seel finished the Australasian Safari 15th overall, the first woman to cross the line. The Australasian is great prep for the Dakar and almost as difficult. 112 bikes started the Australasian this year with only 64 of them finishing.
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AND, speaking of Dakar, (you knew I'd get there) registration (for bikes) is already full four months prior to the start of Dakar 2011. Apparently, there are a lot more people than me ready for this thing to get going. Dakar begins Jan. 1 and continues for 16 days, allowing one day of rest, riding through Argentina and Chile.

A Dream Pang

I had withdrawn in forest, and my song

Was swallowed up in leaves that blew alway;

And to the forest edge you came one day

(This was my dream) and looked and pondered long,

But did not enter, though the wish was strong:

You shook your pensive head as who should say,

‘I dare not—too far in his footsteps stray—

He must seek me would he undo the wrong.

Not far, but near, I stood and saw it all

Behind low boughs the trees let down outside;

And the sweet pang it cost me not to call

And tell you that I saw does still abide.

But ’tis not true that thus I dwelt aloof,

For the wood wakes, and you are here for proof.

~ A Dream Pang, Robert Frost

(Photo: overlooking Salzburg, Austria)

Popinjay - Caged

Caged - confined, enclosed
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The Colorado River in the Grand Canyon.

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ISS Change of Command

On Wednesday, Sept, 22, 2010, on his 97th day aboard the International Space Station, US Astronaut and Army Colonel Doug Wheelock accepted command of the ISS from Russian Cosmonaut Colonel Alexander "Sasha" Skvortsov. Doug had sent me an email previously describing his emotions over such an incredible event and some of the activities aboard the ISS as they prepared for this event, but currently NASA regulations prevent me from publicly sharing the contents of the email. So.... until things settle down and Doug can give me a call with the OK to share information..... I will continue sharing information that I gather from people here on planet Earth (internet, TV NASA Channel).

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For the ceremony, the 6 crew members were floating comfortably, hands purposefully held to sides, with Tracy's signature pony tail circling her head. They were dressed formally, making the international aspect pointedly obvious. Sasha spoke English; Doug, Russian.

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Sasha: "Today is a great day for me. I am Alexander Skvortsov, Colonel in the Russian Air Force, Cosmonaut and Commander of the ISS since May, 2010. Today, I am honored to relinquish command to US Colonel Doug Wheelock." At which point, they crossed their heart and Doug accepted command of the space station with great honor and humility.
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Sasha continued, "We have been flying together over three months. It is a good example of how working peacefully together we can accomplish great things. I am sure the new ISS Commander, Doug Wheelock, will continue the great tradition of International teamwork on the ISS." The mic was then turned over to Doug.

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"This is a great honor for me to accept command of the ISS," Doug started out quietly, humbly, and I thought he might get emotional. He continued, "I remember when I was a boy, it was a time of the Apollo program when we were making first friendships (with Russia) and the ISS program was a matter of dreams. Today it's a reality. The ISS program today is an example of successful cooperation, as partners, friends. This is a wonderful example for our children."
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Then he turned to face Sasha, "Sasha, I wish your crew the best of luck. We will be looking forward to seeing you on the ground. We wish you safe landing and most importantly...."
---- don't hate me --- I couldn't quite catch this part of it, but I think he said, "Break a leg." or maybe he said "Don't break a leg." But he definitely finished up loud and clear with "Thank you and best wishes!" Wheelock also thanked the ground support and then added, "Thank you for joining us, it's kind of a bitter sweet moment for us because we are saying farewell to some friends. We'll see them back on planet Earth and we wish them a safe journey back to the planet and also good luck."
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The next event after changing command is the Hatch Closure and then Undocking, I believe; however, they had a few minor problems and undocking has been delayed. The original plan was to land in Russia tonight, but I think the current plan is to undock tonight and land in Russia Saturday morning their time, Saturday night, our time. But I could be wrong. I'm horrible at math and all the time changes are nothing but pure, evil math. (The ISS is on "Greenwich Mean Time") ("Mean" -- see? What did I say?)
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I'll have upcoming posts that discuss the purpose of the ISS, history and future, life on the ISS and hopefully some Q&A with Doug if we can get it approved. Basically, the ISS hosts an international crew for 6 months each. Currently, three Americans and three Russians have been up there. One American - Tracy Caldwell Dyson -- is returning now with two Russians -- Sasha and Mikhail Kornienko. Doug, Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin will remain on board until Nov. or Dec. Three more will go up in Mid-October, including US Astronaut Scott Kelly, whose twin brother is also an astronaut.
Doug's Bio
Beautiful Pictures from space on Doug's Twitter
My first ISS post.
My second ISS post: Change of Command
My third ISS post. To Infinity & Beyond: A Young Boy's Dream?
My fourth ISS post. ISS: Home Away From Home
My fifth ISS post. One Big Science Lab
My 2nd fifth ISS post. No Vacancy
My sixth ISS post. In Which Doug has a Screw Loose, I mean a Loose Screw
My seventh ISS post. Personal note from Doug about working with the Russians
My eighth ISS post. Doug talks about the emergency on the ISS
My ninth ISS post. Everyday Life on the ISS
My tenth ISS post. Heading Home

Ordering Your Private World

by Gordon MacDonald
Thomas Nelson Publisher

Gordon MacDonald first published this book in 1984 and published this updated version in 2007. -
I am slowly progressing through Ordering Your Private World and enjoying every morsel, as expected; I am a big Gordon and Gail MacDonald fan. The basic premise:

• "The inner world of the spiritual must govern the outer world of activity."


• "If neglected, this private world will not sustain the weight of events and stresses that press upon us."


• The heart must be developed and maintained, "A wellspring of life from which you and others can drink,"


• The heart's maintenance, protection and development is only possible by "A deliberate and disciplined choice."

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MacDonald claims that an orderly inner world 1) strengthens our inner reserves for our own well being, and 2) will radiate influence in the outer world. He believes

"that one of the great battlegrounds of our age is the private world of the
individual. There is a contest that must be fought particularly by those
who call themselves practicing or observant Christians. Among them are
those who work hard, shouldering massive responsibilities at home, at work and
at church. They are good people, but they are very, very tired! And
thus they too often live on the verge of a sink-hole-like collapse."

You know it, right? You've seen it, maybe recently, in your own church. I have. Repeatedly. I can now predict it coming like a church meteorologist.
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MacDonald begins there and leads to the difference between the "called" and the "driven." We must understand the difference before we can order our private world. I found the book's examples very interesting: King Saul was driven, John the Baptist was called. I had never really looked at these two side-by-side or noticed the similarities before. MacDonald distinguishes the two as such:

"Driven people often project a bravado of confidence as they forge ahead with
their achievement-oriented life plan. Called people possess strength from
within, a quality of perseverance and power that are impervious to the blows
from without." "Called people possess an unwavering sense of
purpose."

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Controlling your inner world takes intention and determination. It won't happen by accident or negligence. I have to admit: the frantic, outer world of activity usually ruthlessly propels me.
I am looking forward to finishing this book. I might give you another review covering another step in the process or you might just have to read it for yourself. I strongly recommend it.
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Gordon and Gail MacDonald are frequent guests on Moody Radio's Midday Connection. Here are links to some of the past programs:
Becoming People of God By Intention
A Resilient Life (I read this one, too, reviewed it here)
The Importance of Reading Biographies
Qualities of a Friend (I LOVED this one) My Post on the Friends Broadcast.
The Life of Caleb: There's Power in the life of Old People (!!)

There's a bazillion more shows featuring the MacDonalds here.
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While I do review books for Thomas Nelson Publishers, I did not review this one for them. I bought this book and read it for my own pleasure and heartily recommend it.

NASA - ISS Expedition 25

Today is a momentous day for an old childhood friend of mine. On this his second visit to the International Space Station (ISS), my old buddy, Doug Wheelock will be assuming command of the ISS as Expedition 24 ends and Expedition 25 begins. Doug will remain on the ISS for three more months. That's Commander Douglas Wheelock to you.

It's been exciting for me personally to see an old friend accomplish something so great. It's been even more exciting as we have been in touch via email while he is on the ISS. I will be writing a series of posts on the ISS and Doug's part in it soon, I'm really eager to share some Q&A from Doug himself and I've already gotten the local school kids involved with some questions of their own.

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Today - September 22, at 5:05 pm our time, the ISS Change of Command will be televised on the NASA Channel. And, yes, I received an invitation to the event, however, due to a lack of transportation to outer space, I was unable to attend.

Doug's Bio
Beautiful Pictures from space on Doug's Twitter
My first ISS post.
My second ISS post: Change of Command
My third ISS post. To Infinity & Beyond: A Young Boy's Dream?
My fourth ISS post. ISS: Home Away From Home
My fifth ISS post. One Big Science Lab
My 2nd fifth ISS post. No Vacancy
My sixth ISS post. In Which Doug has a Screw Loose, I mean a Loose Screw
My seventh ISS post. Personal note from Doug about working with the Russians
My eighth ISS post. Doug talks about the emergency on the ISS
My ninth ISS post. Everyday Life on the ISS
My tenth ISS post. Heading Home

Happy, Happy Husaberg

I'm over at The Race Shop today all kind of giddy, getting amped up on the Australasian Safari 2010 with Annie Seel sporting Husaberg's blue & yellow. First, the Husaberg team came across a dead-ish kangaroo in the road, so they pulled over to check on it and the thing jumped up and hopped away. Second, Annie found herself in a tree, which didn't bother her at all and reminded me of her Tomb Raider experience in the Dakar, which also didn't seem to bother her at all despite the near-death aspect. When I grow up? Yeah, I wanna be Annie Seel.

Asheville: Drum Circle

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Drupal Camp - Asheville was calling our name so our Techie-being-raised-to-graphic-artist, employee of the month and I jumped in the car to go get Broadstreet Consulting's CEO and go to Drupal Camp.
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As we were pulling out of town, however, this sunflower beckoned me to come out and play, that he could lead us to a field full of his buddies where the sun shines all day and the tree of life provides life-giving shade.

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What's a girl to do?

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While Tommy practiced with his new camera, I headed out to play.
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However, every sunflower had four or five bees hard at work.
I tip-toed away.
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We got back on the road, picked up said CEO and headed out I-26 West. We crossed the North and South Tyger and then the exquisite French Broad and found ourselves in the heart of Asheville where no man can decipher the freeway system. Even your GPS will back down, stutter, stammer, say things like "hmmmmm" and "maybe you should" and "try a U-turn" etc.
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It was nearly dark by the time we dropped our luggage off at the room and arrived in the ecclectic, happenin' part of town at Pritchard Park - somewhere around Patton and College Streets. The Drum Circle has been a part of Asheville's Friday night scene since 2001.
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I'm not a big drum circle fan. I was introduced to the concept in the granddaddy of all Drum Circles - Venice Beach, CA, so any others ARE going to be a let-down. But I do like exploring the artistic side of cities and towns, so we had to check out the Asheville Drum Circle.
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While there was a cool, southern breeze and the silhouette of Smoky Mtns in the backdrop, the crowd looked to be of California descent and the sound, that of African jungle. So it definitely put all of my senses on high alert. It was crowded with a lot of very spastic dancing featuring Bob Marley fashion -- colored knit caps, dreads, knee socks peeking out of high boots, that sort of thing. Tommy was atop a boulder, photographing, while Tom waded into the middle of the circle, his head bobbing to the drumbeat. And then came the glow sticks. All this to confirm something I've suspected since Venice Beach: the hippie movement is alive and well.
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The drumbeat was steady with an occasional burst of the cowbell, the gentle background of maracas. A child sways on daddy's shoulders; a mother kneels down to talk to a child, long hair hanging out her bandana. And then.... a princess arrives. A 7 year old dressed like one of Disney's cherished (and money-making) princesses. Suddenly, the drumbeat picks up speed relentlessly, louder, faster; body spasms ensue. Four college frat boys, white oxfords with pressed blue jeans, stand together, arm in arm, heads bowed, dancing. Much later, they stand up straight, arms drop to side, big sighs. And then.... a train begins. Starts with hippies, in line, hands on the shoulders before them, known as the Soul Train in the disco world of which I am more familiar. The train grows in length as yuppies shrug off their 9-5 attitudes and join, feeling a sense of such wild abandon. Of course clapping begins and the train dissipates as hands are redirected.
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Yet, despite it all, I stand back, atop a boulder, arms crossed, hopes up, with my eyes peeled for ... the Charlie Brown Dance.
Alas, I leave disappointed.

Red Moon ~ Lunar Eclipse ~ Blood Moon

I am so perplexed. My bed lies right under two great windows where I can gaze out at the moon most of the night. It glides into my view around 1:00 am and slithers out of view around 4:15 am. Sunday, Sept. 19, at 3:00 am I rolled over and saw this outside my window:
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Photo: Stefan Seip, Nasa.gov
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So I've been asking around and nobody saw the Red Moon. I googled it and found out there are times when the moon appears red, certainly, but nobody else was claiming it was red Sept. 19. I finally end up at NASA with this photo which is EXACTLY what I saw and the blurb says it occurred Sept. 19 !! ..... 2005. What are the odds it would occur Sept 19 '05 and again Sept 19, '10? Because it did.
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Nasa says "it's a deep orange cast of a waning gibbous Moon seen very close to the eastern horizon, almost at Autumn Moon." The one in this photo has a "tantalizing lunar 'red flash' at the bottom" which I didn't notice on my Red Moon.
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If you missed my Red Moon, you can catch one on Dec. 21 when we have a total lunar eclipse. It should look red then also.

PS. Is anyone looking at Jupiter tonight? It hasn't been this close since '63 and won't be this close again until 2022.

The Sun's Wooing

The sun just touched the morning;

The morning, happy thing,

Supposed that he had come to dwell,

And life would be all spring.

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She felt herself supremer, --

A raised, ethereal thing;

Henceforth for her what holiday!

Meanwhile, her wheeling king

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Trailed slow along the orchards

His haughty, spangled hems,

Leaving a new necessity,

The want of diadems!

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The morning fluttered, staggered,
Felt feebly for her crown, --
Her unanointed forehead
Henceforth her only one.
~ Emily Dicksinon

Photos: Myrtle Beach, SC 2010

168 HOURS: You Have More Time Than You Think

I just discovered and will soon read the book 168 HOURS: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. I went to her blog and discovered I missed participating in her 168 Hours Challenge by just a few days, doggone, that would have been fun and revealing.
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Speaking of which..... the challenge includes tracking your time and then publishing that information. Think about that. How would your life be different if you were publicly accountable for every hour? Or even if you simply recorded your hourly endeavors for your own review?
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Why should I analyze my spent time?

• to learn where to trim the fat and utilize my time better
• to learn more about myself and how I can personally improve
• to diagnose inaccuracies in my perception of spent time

Despite missing her challenge, you might want to check out some of her blogposts, they look very helpful, particularly her Pre-Challenge Thoughts. See what she's learning and how she's analyzing her timesheet on her Day Two Challenge post. Take the challenge and come up with your own Pre-Challenge Thoughts.
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Gotta run. I'm accounting for my time now and hate to admit how much time my blog consumes.

Cupcake, Columbia SC: Take 5

Melodramatic soul bearing at the beginning followed by the cupcake review. Scroll down if you just want the cupcake review, which, by the way, if you notice below, Cupcake is getting sloppy. Even though the icing is high and plentiful, it doesn't cover all the cupcake, it's just kind of slopped on top as if the decorator was rushed.
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The waiting time when you're near the end with one who is terminally ill becomes a block of your life with a life of its own. Life is suspended. New routines are developed and maintained during this interim, later to be quickly forgotten. "The drive" which starts so unfamiliar becomes annoyingly familiar. You become like a background movie extra in the lives of other people. Suddenly, briefly, you are an observer of or even a bit-part player in their routines: the smiling coffee attendant, the meticulous proprietor sweeping the sidewalk, the drooping homeless man packing up.

So it was I crossed the Edisto and then the Saluda, heading towards the Broad and much later, the Catawba. Cloud cover slowly rising as I resumed the drive, again, to Charlotte, the Queen City I had just exited three days prior where my Nana lay just outside Heaven's gates, life slowly leaving her. Taking my new routine's usual right on Gervais, left on Lady, right on Lincoln, squeezing into a parking spot, passing the Cupcake's inviting sign, enroute to Starbucks. Passing the homeless man who has had a knee brace on now for about 3 weeks, I suddenly stop and reverse my route, creating a fission in the fabric of everyone else's routine. Something different. Today I'm going to pop in the Cupcake store. It's about time we do another taste test on more flavors, don't you think? I resolutely order the four flavors of the day, faltering over the mocha chip (blech!) and quickly text the family that I'm bringing cupcakes with me.

Much later, after a visit to the nursing home, after a quiet dinner where grief has pulled up a chair, I whip out the cupcakes and cut them into tiny, bite sized pieces. We all know a taste test is serious business and we promptly get down to it.
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We are all forced to try the Mocha Chip for the integrity of the blog. Mom pops the coffee bean topper into her mouth with the passion one would express with a chocolate chip. "Erg!" Quickly she is choking, spitting it out. "That wasn't chocolate," she gasps. "No.... No," I say, "That would be the mocha part of Mocha Chip." We all try the Mocha Chip to get it over with. "I'll try it," Lisa agrees, "if I don't like it, I'll put it on someone else's plate." But the Mocha Chip surprised us all. "Wow," Lisa shakes her head, "It's not too bad. If it's all they served, I'd eat it." Steve said the flavor isn't over powering, very moderate, while Dad, on the other hand, moaned in ecstasy, his perfect cupcake!


Next we bit into the watermelon. Right. Watermelon Cupcake. It consisted of a green vanilla cake with watermelon flavored pink icing sprinkled with mini chocolate chips. Very cute. Tom swallowed, "Tastes like a Now & Later." Mom shook her head, "Not for me. The good part is the chocolate chips." I thought it had too much of an artificial, fake flavor, you know, like cough medicine. A forced fake-happy flavor. Like when a kid forces an unapologetic "I'm sorry" out his mouth. Fake. Steve said he'd like the watermelon maybe one time a year while Lisa said it very well could be her favorite cupcake. Go figure.

The third taste was the White Chocolate Raspberry. You know it. Sweet mercy. A vanilla cake with raspberries baked in, white chocolate icing in pink and sprinkled with mini white chocolate chips. "Mmmmm," Lisa moaned. "Wow. Mmmmm. Wow," and she closed her eyes. Mom thought it was awesome. Dad grumbled, "And we paid for this??" Meanwhile, Tom announced that he could eat one every single day for the rest of his life.
 


Our final flavor for the evening was Mandarin Orange -- a chocolate cake with orange icing and an orange candy proudly atop (not unlike the Creamsicle one that I, in a rare moment of wild abandon, declared my favorite). "Mmmmm," said mom, "It tastes like a creamsicle." Dad said it's a little too overpowering. Steve said it'd be better on a vanilla cupcake. (I disagree) Lisa would certainly eat it again. Tom says, "Nah, too orangey -- too much zest, I taste orange peel zest." Dad said the chocolate cupcake was too rich, "I want my cupcake to be mild and sweet like my women." To which mom piped in, "Well then what are you doing married to me, you old fart?"

Taste Test Results:

White Chocolate Raspberry gets 3 votes as favorite.
Mocha Chip gets 1 vote was favorite.
Orange gets 2 votes as 2nd favorite.
Mocha and Watermelon tie for 3rd and 4th place, a cupcake we'd eat if we had to and we really wouldn't want to pay for it.

See a previous cupcake review here.
Believe it or not, we have found a cupcake we don't like. Read all about it, here.

Creamsicle is now no longer my favorite (replaced by White Chocolate Raspberry), but click here to find out my previous #1 favorite, now dropped to #3. Click here for the Cupcake website, current daily flavors and locations.

Helpful Hint #483: The Well Stocked Purse

Guest Writer: Ruth Morse
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For The Frugal Senior Citizen: The Well Stocked Purse

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OK, let me just get this over with.

• I am not trendy.
• I am not fashion driven.
• I am way too practical and - worse - boring!

I am admitting to all this just to make the following confession:
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I only own one purse at a time.

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I know that's not how most women feel. I didn't always feel this way. I use to love to have multiple purses and switch them out. That part of my life ceased about the time I broke my leg and/or when menopause hit. (Can I say menopause in Valerie's blog? We'll see if that gets by the censors.)
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When I broke my leg, I did a fabulous job. Ended up on crutches off-and-mostly-on for the next 2 1/2 years. You know what? You can't really carry a purse and use crutches at the same time. Oh, sure, if I were younger and more coordinated, I'd have found a snazzy little backpack for the duration. Frankly, just getting from here to there on the dratted crutches was more important at that time than carrying a purse.

Somewhere in that time span (I don't forget the "M" factor going on at the same time -- what does that have to do with anything? If you have to ask, you are too young for the answer), I lost all interest in cute purses.

Just give me something that can hold the basics and has just enough little compartments so I am not hunting for my cell phone, checkbook, wallet, pen and so forth. Once I get a purse all set up, I am content to leave it alone until the purse gives out.
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I don't like to carry much in my purse. I do have a bit more than Jim's mom did in hers. She had tons of Kleenex and her wallet and that was about it.

I have been watching senior citizen women for the last decade or so with awe at their ingenuity. And I've come up with a list of MUST HAVES for the frugal Senior Citizen.

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1. Kleenex. OK, Jim's mom had the right idea. She didn't have one of those fancy little travel tissue packs or cute little containers for folded tissues. Anybody and everybody near her knew if they needed a tissue, Becky could supply one.
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2. Zip-loc bag. The expert at this was Aunt Helen. She never left the house without at least one little (or maye not so little) baggie in her purse for any and all leftovers at lunch. She said they were for Uncle Bob. I have no clue if Bob ever saw all the Olive Garden breadsticks Helen took home! She only took the extras from our own table, though those left on all the tables around us probably looked pretty good, too.
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3. A tiny pair of scissors. (The more observant readers will notice I've pictured the scissors in all three positions so you can see exactly how they operate)
As you get older and your hands are not as strong or nimble as they use to be, it's nice to be able to whip out a pair of scissors to slit open a package of ketchup. Not sure if they work on butter packages. What kind of glue do they use to seal those buggers?? Oops, not a good word to use when you're talking about food. If you want to safely carry little snips, you might want to select a folding pair of scissors. These little cuties belonged to Jim's dad, who used them for his needlework. I don't think I would try to get on a plane with them, but in a purse, out and about town? Just the thing to have.
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4. A tiny wee little purse sized roll of duct tape. OK, I made that up. But I think it's a good idea and someone should market one small enough to fit into my purse. If anybody sees one, please let me know!
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A SAD FOLLOW UP: I told you I would get back to you on the woodchuck/juicy fruit gum trick. I know two people who have tried this gimmick. Neither of them had any success in getting rid of their critter. If anybody has any suggestions that do not involve guns, please post them on this blog.... pronto! By the way, anybody need gum?

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...and one more thing......
uh, I'll get back to you when I remember it.
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The Cheap Senior Citizen is a Guest Writer who occasionally shares helpful hints she has learned through her experience.
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Lose-A-Palooza Today Only

I wanted to remind you that today is Weight Watcher's Lose For Good Lose-A-Palooza, a one day social media event to help stop world hunger.
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No, you don't have to lose any weight. All you have to do is use your social media -- today -- to spread the word about Weight Watcher's Lose For Good campaign. Each time you do that today, 9/14/2010, under their stipulations, they will donate $1.00 to fight world hunger.
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What are you waiting for? You have a free pass to tweet, facebook, blog and 4-square a lot today!

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Popinjay: Selfless

Selfless

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Michelle's Popinjay for this week is Selfless. I've spent a considerable amount of time visiting Nana at the nursing home this past week so maybe that's why this photo comes to mind when I think of the word "Selfless."
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You see, on first thought, Selfless makes me think of the caregivers. The ones who repeatedly, tirelessly visit the shut-ins, denying their own agenda, goals, desires. The ones who visit regardless. Consistently, even when it hurts, even when it costs. Even when it frustrates. Even when it feels unappreciated.
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But then I thought about Nana and the others who require the care of the caregivers. And the term "Selfless" took on a new meaning. Self Less. Less Self. Nana can't decide for herSELF what to eat for dinner. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to bathe or wash her hair. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to visit someone. Nana can't decide for herSELF when to watch her shows or where to set her AC temperature. And when there is no personal choice, no self-consideration in your daily routine, isn't that really Selfless?

Charleston, SC: Labor Day

With our little Labor Day holiday, we piled in the car and went back to Charleston, SC, Isle of Palms, specifically, Paradise. Eva got sick of sitting in the surf with us and marched into deep waters to find Grampsy.
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Which reminded me of a little somebody else who doesn't like to sit at the beach, took his board and marched off: (her Uncle Tommy)
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However, "Uncle Tommy" wasn't with us at Isle of Palms, he was a few beaches south of us at Edisto Beach with his girlfriend's family. I love this picture of the two of them. They go to Edisto every year, as do a lot of people around here. Edisto is rather barren, uncommercialized. Don't go unprepared. You should have a place to rent before you go, they have private rentals or timeshare resorts. When I went, we couldn't get a place to stay and had to drive to Charleston. There were no hotels. Very few restaurants -- plan to cook your meals.
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Tommy got this incredible camera -- Canon Rebel T1i -- for one of his photography classes and I am very impressed with the photos. I am finally convinced I need a better camera.
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After the beach, we took Eva down to the docks (20 minute drive into Charleston from Isle of Palms) to run in the sprinklers and we found what Eva strongly believed was a Pirate Ship. Very cool. I explained to her the real meaning of "booty."
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Then we walked over to the old Market and took Eva to the candy shop because she had a ton of her own money from the lemonade stand and she was budgeted to buy some candy. You can see that two of us really didn't need more candy.... but... they had Swedish Fish and, what Charleston is famous for, Praline Pecans. We again went to A.W. Shucks for dinner. Click on this link to read more about Food Options in Charleston. Follow this link if you want info. on Boone Hall Plantation. Follow this link if you want a Pictorial Overview of Charleston.
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Tom swung by the Citadel to pick up Jon and bring him out to play with us. We had a great time catching up with him and seeing him in his uniform -- I mean element. Seeing him in his element, y'know --familiar surroundings.



For Labor Day Weekend, my brother and his family came to visit, which I chronicled in this video. A lot of outdoors fun and a couple of great evenings talking. The Charleston trip was a day-trip only.

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So that was our Labor Day. How'd you spend yours?

Pocket Testament League: Design a Cover

Pocket Testament League (pocketpower.org):

• Carry the Gospel of John in your pocket.
• Give them away to interested people.
• Have handy for unexpected time to read.
• Share your story.
• Share your faith (Evangelism Boot Camp will help)
• Choose from a variety of covers.

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The Pocket Testament League has come up with another awesome idea. For a few more days, they are running a Cover Design contest and I think YOU should enter. Go for it!

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Design Your Cover details.

This Just In: Ray Stevens USA Video

Sent in by an alert reader. (HA! And you thought there were none)
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Poppinjay - Domestic

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Do-mes-tic

Of or relating to a country's internal affairs

Produced in or indigenous to a particular country

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Early September is when we begin to see the white of the cotton in our part of SC. For a month, the green in the field will continue to fade until it looks like a blanket of white and you want to keep it that way forever.

You may drive past again and again just for the view.

Then the brown starts peeking through and you must harvest. As more brown speckles the field, it becomes easier to let it go and harvest.

The view is just not as delicious.

So we harvest.

Then harvest again.

And probably wearily harvest a third time.

Plow.

Rest.

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Popinjay...a little Michelle Pendergrass Magic

Fighting World Hunger One Tweet at a Time, It's . . .

On Sept. 14, 2010 Weight Watchers will donate $60,000 to fight world hunger.

If you help.

If you show your support.

It's easy.

It's fast.

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Lose-A-Palooza is a one-day social media event, part of Weight Watcher's Lose For Good® campaign, created to encourage participation in Lose For Good.
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For every accepted mention or acknowledgment of "Lose For Good" made on September 14th through blogs, Twitter, Facebook and check-in via foursquare, Weight Watchers will donate $1 - up to $60,000. - to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

• A hungry child can't learn.
• Nearly 17 million children in America (that's almost one in four) face hunger.
• Hunger impairs our children's physical and mental health.
• Thousands of children are facing starvation now in the Democratic Republic of Congo

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Share our Strength is working hard to put a stop to childhood hunger in America.
Action Against Hunger is helping hungry kids worldwide.
You can help both just by using the social media tools you've come to love.
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Here's what you can do on September 14th to help fight world hunger:
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Twitter: Spread the word! Let others know how they can join you in the fight against hunger. Include the hashtag #LoseForGood and the link http://bit.ly/LoseAPalooza in your tweet. For example:

Today Only! Lose-A-Palooza -Weight Watchers donates up to $1 for each #LoseForGood social media mention http://bit.ly/LoseAPalooza

Facebook: "Like" or comment on any of the Weight Watchers "Lose-A-Palooza" updates throughout the day. "Like" WeightWatchers, Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.
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Get more details at the Weight Watcher's Lose For Good site.
I hope you'll join me on September 14 and spread the word about world hunger.

This post is part of a campaign with the One2One network.

The Lost Jewel

I held a jewel in my fingers
And went to sleep.
The day was warm,
and winds were prosy;
I said: "'T will keep."
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I woke and chid my honest fingers
The gem was gone;
And now an amethyst remembrance
Is all I own.
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~ Emily Dickinson

When Good Days Go Bad

My brother and his family came down for Labor Day Weekend. We had a great time of relaxation and fun and, well, a few minor injuries and some surprising plumbing problems.
But that's to be expected....
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Cupcake, Columbia, SC: Take 4

OK, my hungry little readers, we did it again . . .

Jen and I graciously visited the Cupcake Shop to review some more flavors for you. All for you, my friend, we sacrifice just for you.
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This little, sweet thing is now my favorite cupcake.

Creamsicle.

And no, I'm not a creamsicle fan with all these warm, fuzzy childhood memories of creamsicles. I was skeptical right from the start. Creamsicle? How cliche -- the old person wanting a happy little memory from his/her childhood. But I tried the creamsicle for Tom S and Steve H, both of whom are creamsicle fans. The creamsicle flavor is all in the icing. It is served on a vanilla cupcake and we think that is the secret to making it so good -- the icing has so much flavor, it has to be balanced out with a plain cupcake. There are little bits of orange candy scattered in the icing with an orange gumdrop on top. Delish! Want to kick it up a notch? Pair it with a chocolate drink like, oh, hmmm... say..... an iced mocha from Starbucks, conveniently located next door.
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Jen had the double chocolate lemon. See our previous review of it here. It was a little too sweet for Jen. She suggested it was the "double chocolate" that was too much and perhaps she would like a single chocolate.

Believe it or not, we have found a cupcake we don't like. Read all about it, here.
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Creamsicle is now my favorite, but click here to find out my previous #1 favorite, now dropped to #2. Click here for the Cupcake website, current daily flavors and locations.

Sharpie: A Doodle A Day

Do you doodle??

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Why, yes. Yes I do doodle.

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Do you?

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You can submit your doodle to the Sharpie Showcase and Doodle Expert Sunni Brown might analyze it for you. Sharpie's Doodle Expert will analyze a doodle a day.
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(& You know I'm gonna use that name on my next trip to Starbucks)

I'm not always alone when I doodle . . .

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. . . and I like to use mixed media when I doodle . . .

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. . . really, really mixed media . . .
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How about you?