Money Reminders For the Christian

 ...Others can learn from it, too.

The Brick and I are big fans of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, a 19th century preacher whose writing (and lessons) are just as fresh now as they were back then. We irreverently call him Chuck now and then, especially when he gets overwhelmed, and breaks into poetry. Bad poetry. So far, though, we've been forgiven for our rudeness. (Sorry, Chuckles.)

Today's bit, from Spurgeon's Morning by Morning (also called Morning and Evening), seemed particularly apt. 

“And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.”— 2 Chronicles 25:9

A very important question this seemed to be to the king of Judah, and possibly it is of even more weight with the tried and tempted O Christian. To lose money is at no times pleasant, and when principle involves it, the flesh is not always ready to make the sacrifice.

“Why lose that which may be so usefully employed? May not the truth itself be bought too dear? What shall we do without it? Remember the children, and our small income!”

All these things and a thousand more would tempt the Christian to put forth his hand to unrighteous gain, or stay himself from carrying out his conscientious convictions, when they involve serious loss. All men cannot view these matters in the light of faith; and even with the followers of Jesus, the doctrine of “we must live” has quite sufficient weight.

The Lord is able to give thee much more than this is a very satisfactory answer to the anxious question. Our Father holds the purse-strings, and what we lose for his sake he can repay a thousand-fold.

It is ours to obey his will, and we may rest assured that he will provide for us. The Lord will be no man’s debtor at the last. Saints know that a grain of heart’s-ease is of more value than a ton of gold.

He who wraps a threadbare coat about a good conscience has gained a spiritual wealth far more desirable than any he has lost. God’s smile and a dungeon are enough for a true heart; his frown and a palace would be hell to a gracious spirit.

Let the worst come to the worst, let all the talents go, we have not lost our treasure, for that is above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. Meanwhile, even now, the Lord maketh the meek to inherit the earth, and no good thing doth he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

A good reminder that what we have isn't really ours -- it's God's. 

                 How much will we trust Him with it?

Monday Stuff On the Way To Other Stuff: Heading Home

 It's time to hit the road. The Mama's Christmas tree is up, and her list of chores is almost done. (The Brick did his share. I should have painted the garage door before it got so cold -- red face. It will have to wait until spring.) Presents are wrapped, with some to take back to the kids, along with two bushels of dark red King David apples. The truck is back from the shop. (Two new batteries, plus a thorough checkup.) We did some work yesterday, but have a few more hours before the trailer's hooked up. 

Then it's on to Colorado -- and home. 

Meanwhile:

Twelve of Colorado's strangest rock formations -- including the butte above our own beloved Castle Rock!  (From Out There Colorado)

A pumpkin pie milkshake -- and a great way to use up leftover pie. I wonder if it would work with pecan pie, assuming we actually HAVE leftovers some day...  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

'Free' Christmas presents that will help your strained budget.  (From My Abundant Life)

Denver, CO's mayor tweets to remind people to stay home over Thankgiving -- then 30 min. later, takes a plane to visit his family in Mississippi. ('But I would have had to stay here alone!' he explains later. Ummm....when did his wife and daughter get to Mississippi, then?)

A rare gold bead from the First Temple Period -- found during the sifting project for Jerusalem's Temple Mount. It was in such good condition that the supervisor thought it was a modern discard at first!

See what happens when you eat bad pears?

Researchers find fungi, bacteria and human DNA (maybe his?) on Leonardo daVinci drawings. Gross, but interesting.

Seattle homeowners are being told they will be evicted -- by a group using phony papers. 

Homemade sausage meat -- no additives.  (From Supermom - No Cape) 

Have a great week. 

A resemblance to Charley?? Naah.

Frugal Hits & Misses: November Report

 When we leave Sunday for home and Colorado, we will be one day short of spending the entire month of November in Michigan. I grew up here -- I should be used to day after day of gloomy weather that follows each other with heavy tread. But I'm not. And the Brick certainly has had his share of struggles with it, too. Things felt worse when the truck broke down and Covid restrictions kept us here, rather than  celebrate Thanksgiving with our kids. (Although The Mama was happy we stayed.) Trudging through the revisions for the new book hasn't been fun, either. 

     Whenever the blues threatened, one of the ways I counted my blessings was by adding stuff to this report. I'm not sure why, but it helped. So did a fair amount of reading in wide variety of subjects, including the Mayflower. (The Mama is not much for movies, so we didn't watch many.) 

     If we're allowed to, we're planning on doing something else that will help -- a few days in Puerto Vallarta next month. So far, Americans are allowed to fly in and out of Mexico, with the proviso that they'll be checked for temperature and symptoms both ways. Since neither of us has symptoms, we should be ok. But we'll get a Covid test when we get home anyways, just in case.

No, I did not do this. One does not dance with turkey breast.

FRUGAL HITS

Some of these are from late October.

*My first Social Security payment was deposited. Not a lot of money...but a goodly amount. The only weird thing about this: how can I be old enough to qualify for Social Security???

*Two pairs of jeans from the thrift shop -- and a third pair from The Mama. Which is a relief, since my final pair of 'working' jeans from cruise ship times was ripping apart. Also found: a t-shirt, short-sleeved shirt and cable sweater. 

*Two bushels of apples, for the kids and us. Much cheaper than paying by the pound. (We got some cider, too.)

*Took Brother, Sister and their kids' family to the airport, then picked them up on their return. Picked up a cousin at the airport, too. Glad to help out.

*Ghosts & Legends is going to be made into a children's book! More on this as it develops, but it means extra royalties -- without having to rewrite the book. 

See it? Next to the bottom -- noticed by friend Tommy
at our local Safeway.

*Some income from doing music for gatherings. Working on one final report -- and a couple of quilt restorations I'd dearly love to finish.

*Royalties from Ghosts & Legends FINALLY deposited. A month late. Maybe they were just following my lead -- I had to ask for a few extensions to even get the revisions on  The Book done.

*Finished up revisions for The Book. (Colorado Curiosities is the tentative title.) Just a few changes to photo captions and the Bibliography, and it's hopefully done. 

*The Brick scanned and double-checked all the extra photos needed for the Curiosities book. Sweet man.

*Sold some books -- to an old customer who became a Redwork Friend, and a quilter at our Michigan church.   

Note: if you're interested, we'll make you a deal -- any of my Crazy Quilts, Golden West or Ghosts & Legends books for $20, including FREE shipping!  And for the two quilting books, we'll even throw in a folding laminated pocket guide for either embroidery or Crazy quilt stitches. For the Colorado book, we'll add an antique postcard with a Colorado or Western theme. We'll even gift-wrap, if you request it.

This special goes through Christmas Day 2020.

*Went home to eat several times, instead of going out -- helped by Governor Whitmer's pronouncement. (All Michigan restaurants are closed for dine-in.) Macaroni & cheese is almost as good as Chinese food! The Mama paid for a few takeout meals, which were great -- we paid for a Little Caesar's feast, as well.

*Enough for another free $25 Amazon giftcard -- just because I did an online pickup order for Sam's Club. All stuff we needed, anyways, including toilet paper, dogfood and dog snacks. (The peanut M&Ms were also necessary. I swear.)

     Sam's was running a special: 10% off via Swagbucks, which we use anyways. It's really easy, and costs nothing to join. Click here for more.

*Got some nice deals on Amazon, including stocking presents and some stuff for the Brick. (Yes, I used the gift card I earned on Swagbucks to help pay for them.)

*Repairs for The Mama. The Brick installed an under-cabinet light and got her ancient microwave firing up again. He also did some work on the fifth-wheel.

*Found goodies for Operation Christmas Child from Dollar General, as well as items I'd stashed during the year. We really enjoy filling boxes for kids around the world.  This year, the local church in Michigan filled the boxes, instead -- I just dropped the items off. (It was a little wistful, but necessary.)

*Food bargains -- mostly from Daily Deals in Grand Rapids the first part of the month: 99-cent boxes of imported cookies, a 50-cent pkg of Ball Park beef franks, 79-cent pound packages of imitation crab and Johnsonville beer bratwurst, and 11-cent mozzarella cheese sticks. (We munched them, and gave bagfuls to The Mama and our nieces and nephews, as well.) Also 50-cent cream cheese dips, salad at about 25% of the regular price...and regular credits -- $2 and $4 each time, just for shopping there. That's my kind of store! It also makes it easier to be generous...like four pounds of deli-style bologna for an older friend who loves it. At 99 cents a pound. It's even easier to treat others, when you know your money went further for a good value.

    Oh yes, got a turkey breast, as well. 99 cents a pound. And yes, we had it for Thanksgiving. Delicious.

*A package of Victorian-style octopus buttons (octopi?) -- half-price. (I know -- weird. But I love these.)

Very much like this lapel pin from Etsy -- but 7 buttons for 2 bucks. Nice.

*A replacement laptop for our second 'dinosaur.' (Mine was replaced last month by a lighter, smaller version -- I'm typing on it now.) The Brick was about to order it from Amazon -- and found the same model for $250 less at Best Buy!

*Babysat for nieces and nephews -- and took them Christmas shopping at the Dollar Store for their folks and each other.

*Got an income tax refund -- always welcome. Not a lot, but we can still put it to good use.

*A big box of printer paper from Staples -- $2.99/ream, delivered free!

*Alternated making meals with The Mama. Made lunch for friends, and supper for cousins. We were taken out to eat -- BEFORE Governor Whitmer's pronouncement -- and treated to takeout and pizza by Sister and cousins.

*Got two new pairs of Chaco sandals for $10 each -- thanks to a generous cousin who had them, but didn't need them herself.  These fit and wear wonderfully...I know, I used to have a pair. 

    Why, do you ask, did I need to replace the sandals I already had? Because Something took ONE EACH of the sandal pairs we had outside the fifth-wheel, while parked in Colorado. Our friend suspects it was the local fox, grabbing items for their den. But one sandal, from each pair??? 

*Left Christmas presents for the Michigan relatives, so we don't have to ship them. (Wrapped a bunch for Colorado family and friends, too, thanks to the Mama's generous offer of wrapping paper.)

*Used one credit card so could take advantage of the $20+ cashback. (We'd stopped using it, not realizing that we couldn't access the cash back until it was more than $25.)

*Kept the heat turned low -- and pretty much off when we were inside the house with The Mama.

*Couldn't go to the library in Michigan -- but I did borrow a number of books from a friend, and got to read some of the books I'd already purchased via Amazon and thrift shops. I also went through book boxes in the garage, and pulled out some favorites.

*Borrowed Civil War-related books from a friend...and read them. Every time I came across a book or video I wanted to borrow, did it online at our Colorado library -- then put a 'pause' on the hold until we got back from Michigan. Worked like a charm.

*80 pounds of birdseed for The Mama's new birdfeeder. And at a good price.

The starlings are the bullies at The Mama's feeder.

FRUGAL MISSES

*A stop in the shop for the truck. Which was critical, because we needed it to pull the fifth-wheel back home. Fortunately, both batteries just needed replacement. Unfortunately, that cost about $400. Ouch. The guy could easily have charged us much more, though -- and we would have paid it.

     (We also got an old repair, done for a recall, re-done...but that didn't cost us anything, except time and aggravation.) 

*A Colorado teaching gig in February was cancelled. Sigh. I wonder now if any of my 2021 gigs, many rescheduled from 2020 cancellations, will fly. 

*Hotspot overextended. Again. We cannot seem to find a solution to this without spending an extra $100-125 monthly...which we wouldn't need anyways when we're staying home. (We share our friend's internet while parked in our Colorado spot.) 

*Remember my 'fun' experience at IKEA? I got a "well, we're sort of wrong" apology letter (handwritten) from the manager, hoping we'd come back and try it again. Which was nice. I guess.

    I also sent a copy of the letter to corporate in Pennsylvania -- but have yet to hear from them.

*Ordered more Christmas cards than I was planning -- to help out a friend. They're beautiful, though, and will come in handy. 

*Ordered 15 pounds of black licorice...and got a stick. A big one, but nonetheless. Really. I am not making this up. Somebody in a Kentucky Amazon warehouse must really like licorice. I'm still trying to understand, though...did they think I wouldn't notice the difference? (Yes, the money was refunded.)

      Bought some smaller packages of licorice at Vanderveen's, Grand Rapids' Dutch Store, instead, for a lot less money. (Personally, I would be happy to see all black licorice disappear from the face of the earth, but the Brick and a few of our friends are passionate about it.)

*Bought some quilt-related antique photos for low prices on Ebay...but honestly, I think I could have gotten one for less, had I not assumed it was photo #2 and clicked the 'accept deal' button before I confirmed it. Aargh.

*Stayed up late too often, and often for silly reasons. Not good for our health.

*Missed an online class I'd planned to take -- but fortunately my fee was refunded.

*Needed to replace the Brick's sandals, as well. (See above.) We spent a little more than $100 for two pairs, one of them Chacos, plus a heavy woolen-type shirt. (Buy one, get two free special at the footwear outlet.) We wouldn't normally spend this much, but these sandals wear like iron and are extremely comfortable. The shoes were $49 and $59 each; that sounds like a lot, until you know that Chacos normally sell for $110 a pair. 

*Renewed the trailer license (late, darn it -- $10 fee extra) and finally gave up and ordered a replacement set of truck tags. Never received before -- but we had to pay $4 extra for the privilege of getting them again. AARRGghghgh.

*Cancelled a writing club membership I should have gotten rid of long ago -- $59 spent for no gain. Shame on me.

* * * * * * * *

Here's last month's report.

And last year's November report.

And off we go, to December.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Thanksgiving

 This is going to be one of those weird 'bonus' weeks. Everyone else may be celebrating Thanksgiving, but we already had our family one last week Thursday! So this week's version seems like Thanksgiving Redux. We had not planned to still be here -- but Colorado's restrictions have slammed down the possibility of seeing Daughters #1 and #2, Son #1 and their families. Also, we could not get Covid test results in time to ease their minds, particularly Daughter #1's. 

     So we stay in Michigan. Which made The Mama very happy. I just wish I felt more peaceful about it...the mom in me badly wants to spend the day with our girlies and their families. Covid has run amuck with that notion, though, for so many people.

     Ah well.

     Revisions on the book are done and submitted -- I have a few things to do to update photo captions and the Bibliography, but have to wait on my editor for that. We did some work on the trailer, including pulling out the nasty, shredding couch I have hated -- and torching it on the burnpile. We should have danced around it, yelling like Indians! Now there's a nice clean spot in its place, and we'll have room to put up the keyboard. Eventually, we'll get a small loveseat, but for now, just use the two lounging chairs already in the fifth-wheel.

     Other chores will be easier to get done now, as well: painting the garage door; finish wrapping Christmas presents (the Brick said, "It's not Christmas Eve yet!); work on some quilt restoration, and finish up the very last report. Plans at present have us heading back to Colorado the end of the week. 

     We'll see.

Revisiting Warren Buffett's suggestions from 1999. Did it work out the way he advised?

Quilts -- should you cut them up for clothing or home dec? Well, maybe...and then again, maybe not. A classics from yours truly.

Little things really can help, even on bad days.  (From Poor Girl Eats Well)

"What's the most polite rudeness you've ever heard? Another intriguing one from Quora.

The Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree had a surprise passenger!

One of the funniest posts ever for thrift shoppers -- a husband who believes everything there is there because 'somebody died on it.' Or in it.  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

A Ruby McKim turkey redwork pattern for you to copy and use:

How the Frugalwoods celebrate Thanksgiving -- a classic worth reading again. 

A beautiful albino white moose -- slaughtered and left to rot. Shame on these hunters.

Six tactics for handling heavy credit card debt.  (From The Simple Dollar)

'Whack a mole' -- canine style! And in the spirit of things:

A dog who outsmarts its owner, treatwise.

Boy, I could use a bellyrub right now, too:

The Franklin Expedition -- portraits and phrenology. I continue to follow this subject with fascination. Hopefully you're intrigued, too. And speaking of:

What did the sledge boats that the Franklin Expedition dragged actually look like? 

'Death in the Ice:' the 2018 Canadian museum exhibit based on the expedition -- and recent findings. Includes a very helpful timeline.

Can you find Dutch Schultz's hidden treasure?   (Two 1903 gold coins have been found in the general vicinity, so far, in New York. Part of the loot?)

Looking for holiday work? Go here for possibilities around the country.

"Why I threw away my underwear." This is actually a treatise on how the Frugal Mind works -- Donna Freedman's, anyways. (P.S. I've been gradually discarding my 'cruise underwear,' so understand where she's going here.)

Have a good week. Gobble, gobble.

Dogs And Alexa

 

(Thanks for sharing, mysteryreadersinc.blogspot.com)

Covid-19 Blues

 ...and we thought Michigan was bad: all dining-in is now gone, along with movies, gyms, etc.

Colorado's heading there now, as well. Stores and restaurants can still be open, but are severely limited. As for personal stuff: no fraternizing with anyone outside your personal household, and all "indoor events" are closed. (I assume that means church, as well.)

Sigh. 

What do we do now, about Thanksgiving? I know -- five bazillion people are asking the same question.

Maybe I should take care of this while we're still at The Mama's house:

To Grandmother's House We Go

 'Over the river and through the woods' may not even be a possibility this year. But just in case...

Monday Stuff On The Way To Other Stuff: Brrrrr....

Man, is it cold here. And windy. And rainy.

We're still in Michigan. The fall leaves are a fond memory -- and a wet sodden mess everywhere. But we've been enjoying the warmth of visiting our family. One more week -- then, barring any shutdowns at the state border, it's a stop at the factory in Indiana to (hopefully) get a problem with the jacks fixed. Then back to Colorado, get a Covid test -- and celebrate Thanksgiving with our kids. Hopefully.

I miss them. Big-time.

The Colorado Buffs won again! 35-32 against Stanford.

As for Michigan's loss to Wisconsin -- I STILL don't want to talk about it. Ditto for the Broncos.

A 3,000-year-old patterned bronze sword -- found sticking out of the ground in a Czech forest! 

Giving your walls an 'old brick' effect with frogtape and just a little paint. Note: not us old Bricks!

An ballet dancer with Alzheimer's re-remembers her old Swan Lake dance moves. Take a look at this profoundly moving video.

Corporate Slave, another new blogger I've been reading recently. A gay guy my age, his world is completely different than mine, including name-dropping, rich friends, upscale restaurants and the galleries he patronizes. (It's in Denver!) He's got some odd 'friends with benefits,' too. Yet we share similar tastes in modern art, food. I've been enjoying his viewpoint, though gay people will probably get more out of it. He looks at Denver's social and art world very differently than I do, but writes well. He's a good contrast to another blogger I read a lot, I Pick Up Pennies.

How much various actors make in residuals. Tom Selleck makes $0 for his work in Magnum P.I.??? Wow. You can tell who had brave agents that thought ahead. The cast of Gilligan's Island had the same struggle. (And no, 'Mary Anne' -- Dawn Wells -- did NOT get paid residuals; everyone else didn't, either.) More on this general subject here. 

How did this giant tropical fish get in atypical waters???

Some of the untold stories -- most of them unfortunate, a fair amount self-caused -- behind Extreme Makeovers: Home Edition.

A fascinating (and detailed) look at Notre Dame's restoration after its 2019 roof fire.

Some of Robin Williams' funny moments from Whose Line Is It, Anyways...

Here he is, doing voices:

If $400,000 yearly is considered 'wealthy,' how far will it go in a big city?  According to CNBC, that is. 

And here's Wallet Hacks' version of same. 

I find this rather hilarious, considering that we lived on $20,000 -- or less -- yearly for decades. How many people actually make this much money?? Guess you'd better read this one, too:

Real people, real debt. How they accumulated it -- and what they plan to do about it.

A photo essay on people who live in motels.

And...various places that will pay you to move there, including the Ozarks.

Cost-effective strategies that keep the winter blues at bay.

"Celebrities I've served:" a fun look by a waitress in New York City. (I know...celebrity gossip. Shame on me.)

The Trump Accountability Project -- a blacklist to punish Trump supporters?  Here's what Whoopi Goldberg had to say about it:

“This is not a good idea, okay? Your idea of who you don’t want to work with is your personal business. Do not encourage people to print out lists because the next list that comes out, your name will be on, and then people will be coming after you!”

Secret Service code names for the Trumps. (In case you're wondering, the President's name is 'Mogul.' Joe Biden's name is 'Celtic.')

Working as an election judge in Pennsylvania.  If this woman's experience is at all typical, it's no wonder Pennsylvania's vote results were such a mess. (From Don't Read This, It's Boring! I'm not making it up; that's what the blog is called.)

Naan bread to make (I LOVE naan bread!), plus flourless fudge cookies. (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

Marty, the 12-year-old mascot for Mount Washington's observatory, has died. He joins his fellow cathedral cat in that Great Litterbox in the Sky...

 A KIS (Keep It Simple) way to deal with debt.  (From Thrifty Mom in Boise. So glad she's back.)

How to become a millionaire by saving $405 (or a little more) a month.

Have a great week. Don't do this.

It's Not Too Late for Operation Christmas Child!

 Operation Christmas Child is still one of our favorite ways to gift kids for the holiday season. It's hard to believe, but we've been packing boxes since at least 2015 -- and I think at least a few years before that. The Mama's church here in Michigan has been packing boxes, and we contributed everything from markers to tiny dolls to help fill them up. It's a wonderful way not only to help and encourage others, but a gentle reminder that the world does not revolve around America. Or Covid-19, for that matter.

Children around the world need our help! It's not too late to pack a box...but the deadline is Nov. 23. Here are some creative ways to do it, even with Covid breathing down your neck. Cash donations are always appreciated, as well, to help out with shipping costs. 

Look here for more. Hop to it. 

Another Great One Is Gone

 Alex Trebek died Sunday, Nov. 8. He was the longtime host of the game show Jeopardy! , and had finished taping the 46 shows for the season only 10 days earlier. 

Trebek in 2012 (all photos Wikipedia)

Trebek announced in March 2019 that he'd been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. The outlook was not good -- he acknowledged that. But he also said that he would continue to host Jeopardy! as long as he could. After all, Trebek said, he had to keep his contract -- and it obligated him to do it for three more years, regardless of his health! (Current show watchers will notice an occasional slight slurring of his words -- Trebek had trouble speaking clearly sometimes because of mouth sores, a side effect of chemotherapy.)

This wonderfully self-effacing man was born a Canadian citizen, but became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1998. He started in radio; his first job as game show host was in 1973 for Wizard of Odds. He took over the Jeopardy! job after his friend, former host Art Fleming, refused the job after the show was revived. Fleming thought the show had been 'dumbed down' from its move to Hollywood. (Fleming, whose real last name was Fazzin, had his first job as a stunt double for Ralph Bellamy on a detective tv series. He died in 1995 -- ironically, also from pancreatic cancer.)

                                                  I remember watching this regularly after coming home from school.

Jeopardy! first ran from 1964-1975. It appeared weekly for a few years, then started up again in 1984, with Trebek at the helm. It's been going strong ever since, for 37 seasons. Merv Griffin, its creator, originally intended to call it "What's the Question?" He said:

"My wife Julann just came up with the idea one day when we were in a plane bringing us back to New York City from Duluth. I was mulling over game show ideas, when she noted that there had not been a successful 'question and answer' game on the air since the quiz show scandals. Why not do a switch, and give the answers to the contestant and let them come up with the question? She fired a couple of answers to me: "5,280"—and the question, of course, was 'How many feet in a mile?'. Another was '79 Wistful Vista'; that was Fibber and Mollie McGee's address. I loved the idea, went straight to NBC with the idea, and they bought it without even looking at a pilot show."

   Other than an April Fool's episode 4/1/1997, when he switched places with Pat Sajak on Wheel of Fortune, Trebek hosted the rest of the episodes -- year after year after year. The show won international recognition and several awards, including a coveted Peabody. 

Some unusual facts about the show: 

*The timing song, used during the final question, is called "Think!" It was originally composed by Merv Griffin as "A Time for Tony," and meant as a lullaby for his son. When the syndicated version of the show came back on in 1984, a version of that tune has also been used as the main theme song. It has become so recognizable that it is used in many other events -- Griffin estimated that royalties for "Think!" had earned him more than $70 million in his lifetime.

*During the 2009-2010 season, a special edition of Celebrity Jeopardy! was played, featuring 27 contestants from past celebrity episodes, competing for a million-dollar prize to be given to charity.

    The winner? Michael McKean -- the so-called brainless Lenny, who with his squirrelly shorter friend Squiggy, caused so much trouble for Laverne & Shirley. Go figure. 

*Ken Jennings competed on the show from June 2-Nov. 30, 2004, winning 74 matches, along with $2.5 million and change, before his defeat by Nancy Zerg in his 75th appearance. He is now one of the executive producers -- and is rumored to take over as host in the 2021 season. 

But he will never replace Alex Trebek. 

You still have a chance to see him in action; the current Jeopardy! shows will continue through fall, with Trebek's final show on Christmas Day.

Thank you, Alex, for making it 'cool' to be a fact nerd, captivated by every new discovery. 

Thank you for emphasizing that words were wonderful, meant to be played and experimented with.

Thank you for your kindness and tact. Your dignity, in spite of difficult situations.

Thank you.

 

Cold, Dreary...

...the perfect afternoon to write about the Ludlow Massacre.

Oh goody.

Had better get on with it. Green chili's bubbling in the pot, and we'll watch a more cheerful movie tonight.

 

Happy Veterans' Day

 To those who set our country's interests first, before their own...

 

                    Thank you for your service. We're grateful.

Hanging On

 

...not that I can always do this. Hopefully you can -- as well as others in the political field!

Monday Stuff On the Way To Other Stuff: The Election, Covid and Who Knows What Else

 Yes, Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the presidential election. Good luck to him. (There are still questions that need to be answered, though.)

Now's the time for President Trump and VP Pence to finish up. You've got three months to do your jobs, guys. Go to it! 

We're still here in Michigan, looking out at The Mama's field. It's a pretty place when the sun is shining...a little dreary, otherwise. But I'm guessing that's our sunshine-loving Colorado genes talking. 

Covid-19 is still on our minds, particularly here. Michigan has new restrictions, thanks to Governor Whitmer's continuing influence. Restaurants are still dine-in...sort of. Now their capacity is much more restricted -- and if you eat there, you must also provide your name and contact info. If you then test positive, the state will be contacting everyone around you and making them quarantine, as well.

Can you imagine what a nightmare that's going to be for restaurants, keeping track of this info? 

Family and friends we know here are saying forget it -- either they'll continue to use takeout, or they won't patronize the restaurants at all. Eating places in Michigan have been going through hard times, anyways...this is just going to make it worse. 

People here are back to stockpiling somewhat -- every cart we saw going out of Sam's Club last week included a very large package of toilet paper. (Ours, too.) I have plenty of nonperishable foods, and quite a lot of sale meat in The Mama's freezer. We should be fine. 

We hear that we'll see similar situations in Colorado, once we head back in a few weeks. The ski resorts are facing this, as well.

On to better news:

The Buffs beat UCLA 48-42! Whoo hoo!

Go Ralphie! CU's mascot strikes again

As for Michigan's loss to Indiana...well, I don't want to talk about it.

If you're a veteran -- or related to one -- Wed, Nov. 11, is Veteran's Day...and a perfect chance to get free meals and other discounts. My dad was in Army, and the Brick's father was career Navy. His brothers were career Navy and Air Force; the Brick put in 6 years himself in the Navy. So we know this viewpoint well.

Another way to celebrate All Souls Day.  (From Surviving and Thriving)

How the top female winner in Jeopardy! spent her winnings. Julia Collins' advice could also help anyone who gets a windfall, as well.

A blog I've been enjoying lately: Mama's Mercantile. Homey, thrift-shoppity, etc.

Listverse's top 50 jokes. (Warning: a fair amount of these are connected with toilets and sex. But they are funny!)

Pierre Simonet died. What -- you don't recognize his name? He was one of three prominent figures in the French Resistance during WWII. Simonet was 99; he joined the cause at age 17.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has cashed in MORE THAN $3 BILLION of his shares this year. Yes, they're risen in value considerably, but...what does that tell you??

A startling opinion from the Wall Street Journal editorial board -- the party's over, President-Elect Biden. Now the rough stuff begins.

Now that she's been reelected (with a comfortable margin), Nancy Pelosi may find that being Speaker of the House again may not be quiiiiite as easy. (Ask AOC what she thinks about this.)

Which is a better investment: real estate or stocks?  Financial Samurai weighs in.

If you're thinking of moving to Canada, now that your favorite candidate didn't win -- it's not going to be easy.  Even though celebs make this threat all the time.   (They usually don't do it, anyways.)

"Now that's what I call financial independence:" rude, but some good sense here, as well.  (From the Escape Artist)

Just a reminder, in case you missed it:  Five presidents who won, even though they lost the popular vote. (No, I'm not saying this is going to happen in Trump's case -- even though it did, in his first term.)

Do woolly mammoths still live on Earth? Some accounts suggest they do.  (From Mysterious Universe) This is strange, too --

A snake eel rips through its eater's throat, while the heron is flying. Who will survive?

A wide mix of Halloween-themed dinner items, hosted by Hikendip.  Including Creepy Eye Pies by Not Quite Nigella.

    These 'Creepy Eye' tarts are fascinating...and unnerving!

Election cake -- a brief history and recipe.

25 places people keep disappearing from.

So much for political polls being accurate -- and they know it.

How to make money self-publishing romance novels. The best sellers: interracial romances! Why? I have no idea.  (From Making Sense of Cents)

Stocking stuffer ideas for teenaged boys and men.  (From My Abundant Life)

Two whale watchers nearly get the Jonah experience.  Fortunately, the only fatalities were a pair of lost car keys.

The top ten spookiest submarines. A Listverse classic.

How to stock your pantry for the holidays. Some good quick recipes, too.  (From Thistlewood Farms)

The red ghost of the Southwest.  A spooky true story.

One of the most unusual wreaths I've ever seen -- an American Eagle wreath! (Click on the highlighted area to order one; they're on sale right now.)

Settlements around the world that were flooded. Occasionally some of them reappear. (Also from Listverse)

A mirror hanging in the bathroom for 40 years turns out to have belonged to Marie Antoinette.

A whale's tail saves a crashed train from falling!  Vreemd, maar waar. 

And a parting quote from the New York Post:

Mainstream media outlets often suggest America’s COVID woes are worse than elsewhere, but the truth is “the virus is out of control in much of the world,” especially Europe, reports Alex Berezow at the American Council on Science and Health’s Web site. Sweden experimented with a “laissez-faire approach” during the summer but was unable to avoid a severe second wave. Belgium’s cases are off the charts, and even “countries that once had the virus under control, like France, Italy and the UK. ” We tend to think that “the US is somehow uniquely bad in terms of controlling the coronavirus,” but our stats are “not unusual” compared to Europe. That doesn’t mean “the American response was flawless.” But it’s comforting to “put things into context.”

 Instead of horrible political commercials on tv, we are now inundated with spokesmen shilling Medicare Part B plans (Joe Namath, what were you thinking??) and various medications whose side effects are nearly as bad as the disease they treat. We may go back to a no-news/no regular stations approach, though the Insp channel, our favorite because of its many cowboy shows, is stuffed with this kind of advertising. I'd happily retreat to our favorite DVDs...but The Mama is not fond of mysteries or science fiction, some of our favorites. At least she likes Westerns. 

I keep reminding myself: God is good -- all the time. All the time -- God is good.

Have a great week. 

...and get myself in big trouble sometimes
because of it...

Veteran's Day Specials

 Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veteran's Day -- a chance to honor those who have given their service for our country. 

And if you're a veteran, there are a number of free specials to express that thanks.

Like restaurant meals...

Many are different this year, due to Covid-19 restrictions. A number of restaurants are handing out coupons good for several months, instead of just that night. (Whew, no dealing with crowds!) But you do need to stop and pick up the coupons. Meanwhile, veterans can also take advantage of...

free haircuts, store discounts and more.

THANK YOU, Veterans and Military Service Members. 

Thank you so much.

Limbo

    I have never seen an election this strange.

So who's going to win, ultimately? The odds would say Biden, but given the other weird stuff that's happened -- who knows.

It's hard to wait.

The Moneylender

 Thought you'd like this 19th century print...not that this EVER happens nowadays!

God Is In Control

 ...no matter what happens.

PSALM 146

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. 

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them -- He remains faithful forever. 

He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free; the Lord gives sight to the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 

The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the father and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.

                                         Praise the Lord.

Planetary Moves

 This week -- or at least for a few more days, until Mercury 'disappears' -- you can technically see all of the planets in the nighttime sky. You'll need binoculars or a telescope for Neptune, Uranus and possibly Pluto, but the others can be seen with the naked eye. Mercury, however, has a faster revolution around the sun, so won't be here long. 

Why? Because according to astronomers, the planets are currently all on the same side of the solar system -- with Earth in the middle of the cluster.

Here's where to look. Quick, before one or more 'go away,' so to speak.

Patricia Tokarz chart, via Pinterest - purchase it at her Redbubble shop.

Jupiter and Saturn are also lined up, and will generally stay that way until Christmastime, until they form the 'Great Conjunction' Dec. 21st. On that date, they will appear closer together than any time since JULY 16, 1623. (Yes, you read that right.)

What could this mean, astrologically-speaking? Let's put it this way: weird stuff. According to Astrology King:

"Jupiter conjunct Saturn is also known as the Great Conjunction that happens on average every 19 years. Throughout history, it has been closely observed by astrologers and been linked to the rise and fall of royalty, leaders and great people. Some believe that the biblical “Star of Bethlehem” was the great conjunction of 7 B.C. [1]

According to astrologer Daniel T. Ferrera, when a great conjunction occurs during an election or inauguration year, the president is likely to die in office,,, this has been the case since 1940, except for the last two great conjunctions. However, there were assassination attempts against both those presidents."

On the other hand:

"Jupiter conjunct Saturn transit is a time of opportunity, growth and good fortune...

"You may find barriers to your progress which you need to climb over or go around. But if you have planned well, are self-employed or have a lot of freedom, you could grow within the existing structures of your life,,,

"This is a time of greater self-awareness when you may realize you are not content with things as they are."

Darkstar Astrology calls the event "The Great Leveller" in the battle between good and evil. Jupiter represents the Great Leader, while Saturn is, you guessed it: Satan. Who gets helped -- and who doesn't -- is unclear, though according to Darkstar, the bad guy has the edge.

Also a bit wacky. But hey, it has been a very difficult year for the world, in general. At this point, anything could be possible.

'Celestrial' photo by wboland on Flickr - via Pinterest