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Staying Cool, in Spite of Yourself

Hopefully it's not as hot and sweaty and muggy in your part of the world as it is in mine...and really, we're lucky. Our part of Colorado cools down in the evenings. (yeah for breezes!)

But if you're watching moisture drizzle down your face, or down your dog's/daughter's/husband's, as well, this group of posts about dealing with the heat is for you. Take your time -- a number of valuable links here.

It has just been a zany week. The Mama and Cousin Joy have been here, which means extra driving and tourist stuff and meetings with the girlies. Tomorrow we head to Ikea, which finally opened a store in the Denver area, to look for a rug for Daughter #1, and storage units for the basement.

Life goes on...I just wish I didn't have to run so hard to grab for my place on the merry-go-round. At least the end is getting more near. (After being gone for most of next week in Nebraska, that is. Will explain more later.)

Home Again

After 19-plus hours on the road, plus an overnight stay in Evanston, WY, I'm home. Which means clean sheets on the bed, a very happy Charley, and Husband, who was happy to have his cooker/cleaner/snuggler home!

Something has been wrong all week in the Blogpost department -- I've tried several times to post, but was unable to retain anything except the post title! Aargghghghg....true to form, I mentioned this to Husband tonight, brought up the blog to show him...

And it looked totally different from the gibberish I've been enduring all week.

And the test post Worked. Just. Fine.


Husband, sitting next to me, burst into laughter. I think the computer likes him more than me.


More tomorrow, after I get my head together. I'm so happy to be back!

Shower Presents

Bridal shower gifts, that is! Every year about this time, it seems like the showers proliferate. I've got one coming up fast for the fiancee of our good friends' son, Deano. What should I get?


Like Mother, Like Daughter advocate the "something old, something new" approach, suggesting that a deviled egg dish (vintage, if you can get it), an old-but-reliable cookbook and a pretty new apron fit the bill. Good ideas...and there's even a link to an apron-making tutorial.

I thought these suggestions were good ones, too, from The Knot.com.

The Mama is fond of making a 'shower doll,' starting with rolled dishcloths and towels to make the doll's body, then adding whatever kitchen tools she can find on sale: spatulas, peelers, scrubbers and such. It's cute and kitschy (and useful!), all at the same time.

My favorite offerings vary some from these ideas:

*Christmas bubble lights. They're hard to find (so I stock up when I do), but add a fun, old-fashioned touch to holiday trees. And they last forever -- we still have lights purchased during the first five years of marriage. (We're pushing 30 right now.)

*A collection of frugal-themed books. These can often be found at booksales or your local thrift shop for pennies on the dollar. Look for the Tightwad Gazette series, anything with 'Cheapskate' in its title, or a Suze Orman book. (I'll pick up cookbooks  too, especially when they deal with Depression Era cooking, leftovers, or cheap foods.) Snuggle them in a basket with a big bow on the handle, and you're giving good sense advice for the young couple to save money. 


*A good tray. We were given a Blue Willow patterned metal tray for a wedding present that's held like iron -- it's gracefully collected everything from flowerpots to teasets, and looked good in the process. It has a few scratches now, but I'm reluctant to let it go.
    Choose a nice wooden or resin tray, add a few napkins and/or placemats, and you've got a piece anyone can make use of. If possible, get one of those breakfast trays with collapsible legs -- they sure come in handy for breakfast in bed!

Bankruptcy...And More

*Does it ever make sense to file bankruptcy in retirement?
     This slide show will give you some very matter-of-fact information, if you've been mulling over the possibility.


*PRISM: An insanely cool short film, courtesy of the makers and Youtube. If you enjoy sci-fi, you're going to love this one.

*Weird (and unsettling) facts: did you know the director of the American Red Cross makes close to a million bucks in salary a year?  Gee, that gives me pause. The director of Compassion International, an adopt-a-child program we support, with a 'son' in Brazil and another that was in Africa, makes a little more than $250,000 yearly. Not great -- but bearable.

And Chocolate Cherry 'Ice Cream' Popsicles, courtesy of Cheap Healthy Good. 

Did a huge batch of appraisals this morning...and now it's hot hot hot. Makes you wish for a swimming pool within tippytoe reach. Ah well.

More Mystery Guitar Man

Mystery Guitar Man's got a great 'Mystery Guitar Boy' video you've got to see.

And in honor of the new Harry Potter flick hitting the screens on Thursday...
   a Harry Potter Water version, too.

I love this zany Brazilian-American's musical forays -- you will, too. (A new video comes out every Thursday.)

Gripe, Moan, Complain

Boy, what a downer that previous post was...but somehow I feel better.
Thanks for listening.

At least some people had a better time -- like Aunt Purl in Florida. Gives you hope, doesn't it!

Happy Fourth!

Take a day to celebrate this big, wide-open, wonderful country of ours. Happy Fourth of July!

More lovely box-moving is on our docket, both at home and for a friend...we'll also visit Clive Cussler's little-known auto museum, and stop by Creekside Bible for a picnic. You're invited, too -- it's tomorrow, July 3, at noon; drop by the church for hot dogs, hamburgers and fun. Hooray!

A Dog's Life...Could Be A Very Wealthy One

Read about the world's richest pets here, including Trouble, Leona Helmsley's dog. Trouble died recently -- poor puppy, her award from Leona's will was cut to $2 million, instead of the original $12 million. ($6 million of that amount went to two Panzirer grandchildren who had been cut out of Helmsley's original will.
   Not a cent of Trouble's money will go to Helmsley's grandchildren, though -- Trouble's money will revert to a foundation.


I'd better not tell our dog Charley about these developments -- he might start demanding more than his usual kibble and snooze in the sun!

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

A guy gets himself painted, so he fits into a wide variety of buildingscapes, sculptures and so on --
     The Human Chameleon.

You really need to click on this slideshow -- amazing.

Trading Places

From Business Insider,
    The best trades of all time. And...

The worst trades of all time.

Hey, you gotta have both!

Grand Central Station

...It is total chaos at my place.

Daughter #1 and her friend are schlepping boxes and trash out of the sewing room. Snatches of laughter and music float up periodically.

Libby is sewing her husband a pair of pants for their gig tomorrow at the Renaissance Festival. She enjoys passing on her latest thoughts, with the machine whirring away.

The frig opens now and then, as someone gets a cold drink. (It's REALLY hot outside, with no breeze.)

The dumpster guys will be here any minute to pick it up -- which means that Daughter #1 and Shannon have to get as much crap out of that sewing room as possible right away.

Husband is gone to work (whew for him) --
Four dogs periodically trample through the house, looking for handouts and barking at each other.

And where Adam is (Libby's huband), I don't have a clue...but in a few minutes, he'll start banging away at the portable closet he's putting together for me.
    Which will start the dogs barking again.
    And various humans yelling at the dogs to shut up.


And yours truly is sitting vewwwyy qwietly in a corner, typing away and hoping not to be noticed.

Soon it will be lunchtime, and the fun ratchets up even more. 

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Six Ways to Express Your Independence -- finally speaking, that is. The rule that really stuck with me: "Act Like A Hamster, Live Like A Hamster." In other words, believe -- and buy -- every thing that comes down the pike, and you'll not only be in debt, but a prime candidate for every future marketer to profit by.


Time to put some pizza in the oven for the crew. Maybe I'll make them all smoothies, too.