Welcome, 2021!

 ...and here we go. Hopefully the sunshine will outlast the clouds.

2020 In Review: Do We Want to Do That Again??

 Are we really almost through 2020? 

After:

*Covid-19 weirdnesses -- which also limited how much we saw family and friends

*The world cruise cancelled -- and other travel plans affected, as well

*all of my teaching/judging gigs cancelled 

*appraising slowed down...but at least, it continued

*delays on the New Book (many of these caused by yours truly's struggles)

Nonetheless:

*We held steady financially, and ended up with even more income when I began collecting Social Security. That, in spite of no teaching gigs or my usual little extra jobs here and there. 

*Our actual costs declined some in the area of entertainment -- we have cut way back on restaurant meals. Takeout is fun, but not as nice as dine-in. The movie theaters have been closed. Other than groceries and stops at the library and post office, we really haven't gone out much. 

*Book sales have continued steady. I'm hoping the New Book will do just as well, when it comes out in 2021.

*Living in the fifth-wheel is working out just fine. There are a few small issues -- but anywhere you live will have things to work through. 

*Our Colorado home should be set for the coming year, as well. Our 'landlord' is very kind, and we seem to have proven our value to him. (Besides, we watch the place when he's gone.)

Others are talking about what really matters to them -- and how that's kept them going this year. I've learned that changes in plans still can be enjoyable, even if they weren't what you expected to do right then. I've also seen, even more clearly, that the people you can count on -- can still be relied on, even in uncertain circumstances. And I know that I love our family -- and I love the Brick. That commitment is even stronger. 

So what will happen in 2021? 

For once, I think I'm willing to let that stay uncertain for now.

Come January, we'll head south, pulling our home with us, and stay where it's warmer. We hope to do some volunteer work for a missions group while we're down there, in return for a spot to put our trailer.

We'll continue to be careful with our money, and look for bargains on everyday needs, as well as things like travel. (We love to travel.) We'll go back to Michigan periodically to check on The Mama -- but will spend most of our time in Colorado. We may also look for a piece of land we could use for staying now and then, plus a small building for storage. 

I want to get all of my restoration jobs and writing commitments DONE. Maybe start a new blog...or work again as a staffer part-time. Who knows. 

We need to get more exercise. (Maybe swimming?) Keep watching our weight. Get the sleep we need. 

The Brick needs to fix a few things here and there on the fifth-wheel. Meanwhile, I need to figure out how to fit what we need smoothly in place, and get rid of the rest. 

I have no great reassurance that our new president will put our needs before his own. (Or his family's needs, for that matter.) Congress is rowing the same boat. There may be plenty of unrest before next year is done -- and that could easily include financial upsets. Our children could struggle -- something that bothers me more than us going through it. Our health could change. (Please, no more crowns needed on our aging teeth!) Our savings are conservatively invested, so may not grow much. On the other hand, they shouldn't disappear, either.

But I do know some things, for certain. I trust and love our friends, our family...and the Brick. And God is in control. Bring on 2021 -- let's go!

Warmth Comes in All Sorts of Ways...

 

Frugal Hits & Misses: December Report

 Is it the end of 2020 yet? 

Even December's been on the weird side. Like many of you, we didn't do a lot of celebrating -- and what we did wasn't our usual. No Seven Fish Dishes, either. (Part of it was the Brick fighting off a messy cold -- and me flirting with it. But at least our Covid tests came up negative.) 

    We didn't do that much Christmas shopping. I was surprised, however, at how many items I'd accumulated throughout the year on sale or elsewhere -- as referenced by the volume of presents we ended up wrapping. Thankfully, we were largely able to finish that onerous chore a month ago. ('No staying up to wrap on Christmas Eve!' the Brick chortled.) 

     We were lucky to be able to spend some hours of the Christmas holiday with our children. I was very grateful for that. New Year's Eve and Jan. 1 will be much quieter -- but that's normal. There's going to be a bonus flipside for this simpler holiday season -- not much to get stale, or clean up and put away!

FRUGAL HITS

(some of these are from late November)

*Clementines!  Both the Brick and yours truly have loved eating all the sweet little oranges we can stuff in. Ironically, the mandarins in Mexico weren't that good. But I found a sale at King Soopers when we returned home, and bought 9 pounds for less than a buck each. Ooh, they've been good.

*Found an American taco place that produces tacos that taste like they were made in Mexico! And the 'chicken carbon' version is only a buck...not much more than the 75-cent tacos we were loving in Puerto Vallarta. If you like closer-to-true Mexican food, sprint to Del Taco. (They also have a 79-cent taco that's similar to Taco Bell's...and sales on Taco Tuesday and Thursday.)

    They've got a great special on giftcards running through Dec. 31, as well:

(yes, I took advantage of it)

*Outback Steakhouse had a one-day sale: for every $50 in giftcards, you got $20 back, instead of $10. (Did I take advantage of this one, too? You betcha.)

*Free rides to/from DIA -- thanks to our friend Tommy. (We reciprocate when he and his wife head somewhere.)

*Helped out our 'landlord' some. (Though not as much as previous months -- it's been pretty quiet, and we've been gone a lot.)

*FINALLY got two cashback credits on credit cards we've been waiting ages for. By just asking, I also got a late payment fee and subsequent interest refunded. (That's what we get for going to Mexico, and staying away from finances while we were there. Things mess up that way.)

*Found 26 cents at the airport -- including a quarter in the X-ray machine! I walked away from another penny at the Phoenix airport, because we were late, and I confess it -- I was tired. (The Brick finds it hilarious that this would bother me.) However, getting out of the Uber car at PV, we lost a coin: either one or five pesos: 5 or 25 cents down the tube. (I know. This is silly, too.)

Puerto Vallarta savings from our recent trip: -----------------------

*Southwest plane tickets let us take two suitcases each -- free. Love this airline; when you confirm your ticket early, you get on earlier -- which in three of the four planes, meant we could grab first-row seats. More legroom!

*We stayed at two places -- the Casa Pavlova (5 nights) and the Costa Sur resort (3 nights) --averaging our costs out to less than $50/nightly.

*We rented a car, instead of taking public transportation, for most of our trip. It cost more than taking the bus or Uber, but we had a free place to park and could go anywhere and anytime we wanted. That was a big savings -- not having to 'arrange' things.

*Bought much of our food at the grocery store -- plus souvenirs. You can purchase many of the same things as the shops downtown -- but La Comer had better selection and prices.

*We ate cheaper meals in our room, interspersed with more expensive ones eating out.

*Even the restaurant meals ranged from less to more expensive. (However, we didn't stint on tipping -- these people are looking at slim pickings, thanks to far fewer tourists.) It was SUCH a burden, having to subsist on margaritas, seafood practically straight off the boat, and fresh-made salsa!  (limp hand to forehead)

*Souvenirs were limited to grocery store buys, cheaper items (like 'Virgin of Guadalupe' keychains for $2), 'liquidacion' items -- or even a plate from a restaurant we went to. (See below for more on this.)

*We brought our own equipment for snorkeling. The afternoon we spent doing this was one of the best days on the trip.

*We interspersed free fun with paid ones. Strolling the malecon (a sort-of sidewalk along the ocean) and visiting the cathedral mixed with a trip to the botanic gardens.

*Our price at the Costa Sur resort was much less than usual, thanks to being willing to sit through a timeshare presentation. (We also got a free breakfast, two free drinks and a 10% discount on food at the restaurant.) 

*Cake slices -- on sale! Our room was above a European-style cake bakery. The morning before we left, they had a half-price sale on slices. We bought four -- and took two with when we left. (Our landlord had also given us two free slices earlier in the week, for putting up with a defective safe.) Yes, we were bad kitties. And they were delicious. 

----------------------------

*Two free appraisal reports done - in return for kindnesses done for us.

*$25 Amazon giftcard, earned with points from Swagbucks. This is a great way to make your regular shopping and searches pay off -- for no extra cost. Go here to sign up, and you'll give me a small commission for doing so, as well.

*More $2 videos from the library's used book sale room -- plus a set of Gunsmoke videos bought via Ebay and Amazon, mostly featuring our favorite guy: Festus Haggen.  (We got hooked on this quirky Western tv series while staying at The Mama's.)

*Applied for help with the world cruise refund. We were supposed to get one month's cost back, but CMV went bankrupt, instead. The Americans banded together on this one...though the lawyer says not to expect much. (We're also  requesting it via the credit card companies. Always put your payments, if possible, on credit cards-- so you get not only cash back...or you should... plus a sort of 'insurance' on future items you have to pay for now.)

*Beans! I gave dozens of pounds to our church's Senior Luncheons program -- which shut down in 2020, due to Covid-19. Suzie's used some, and promised me a pound or two back regularly. Wonderful. (One of my quirks, whenever uncertain or hard times seem to be coming, is to buy beans. And I think they're coming. Both the beans AND the hard times, that is.)

*Sold some books! The December special we ran for Brickworks garnered quite a few customers. (BTW, if you visited the Brickworks website and it was 'shut down,' no worries -- my IT guy had to fix a few glitches.)

*Got some great-priced plane tickets for an upcoming trip in the spring: $49 each way to Florida on Southwest, with two free suitcases. Nice to think about, now snow's coming.

*Some half-priced bargains after Christmas -- next year's Christmas cards, plus a box of chocolate-covered cherries and a 'yard' (18 bars) of Snickers. Nothing amazing...I'm trying hard not to stock up, like I used to, thanks to limited space.

FRUGAL MISSES

*Truck repairs while in Michigan -- $1000 down the drain. 

*Rented a car for most of our trip in Puerto Vallarta. (More $$ -- but it was worth it.)

*Paid for the care of Charley and Ruby, our furry dears, while in PV. 

*A new laptop for the Brick, plus a new mattress for the trailer. Hopefully the latter will give us better sleep. There's a bonus here, though -- the Brick saved money on each by careful shopping and looking for bargains.

*Paid insurance for the trailer and truck for six months in one swoop -- we saved on fees, true, but OUCH.

Last month's Hits & Misses are here. 

December's statement from last year is here. 

The last month ends, of a strange year. What's next? The only thing I know for sure: we'll be ok, whatever happens. God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.

Monday Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: Work, So We Can Play

      We got to see our children for Christmas, after all.

Christmas Day was unusually warm here, and it was no problem to hang out by the firepit at Daughter #1's house, while the Yule Log burned. Son #1 and Daughter #2 came back with us for supper, and say they'll be by at New Year's, as well. 

Wow. A negative Covid-19 result made a real difference.

I still have some reports to finish up, and tweaking on the New Book. But a baby quilt needs restoration work, as well as a Sunbonnet quilt. No more lazing about, if I'm going to enjoy the New Year with our family. 

Here's hoping that you got to see the ones you love, as well...or at least had a good rest. 

One of the great ones in bluegrass is gone. Tony Rice died on Christmas Day. This singer, songwriter and guitarist had a heavy influence on bluegrass's evolution into modern music. His friend and fellow player, Ricky Skaggs, wrote:

"Tony Rice was the single most influential acoustic guitar player in the last 50 years. Many if not all of the Bluegrass guitar players of today would say that they cut their teeth on Tony Rice’s music. He loved hearing the next generation players play his licks. I think that’s where he got most of his joy as a player,"

Rice was 69.

And one of the not-so-great: Englishman turned-Russian spy George Blake is dead. Now he can explain to the Great Judge why he comes with so much blood on his hands, from others who died after he betrayed them.

The brave police who cleared the area just in time before the Nashville RV explosion. Good for them!

When do you actually 'feel' rich? And it's not when you have the most money, either. (From Financial Samurai)

A dozen money tips you probably didn't learn in school. 

Anna Sorokin says she's sorry and ashamed, finally -- to who else, but the parole board. (Of course, this came after one of the commissioners said her actions were "flippant" before this.) Sure, you are. I believe everything this little dear says.

The 'Balloon Boy's' parents have been pardoned. Whew.

23 very funny social media statements in 2020...by that prankster, Ryan Reynolds. (His buddy Hugh Jackman gets special treatment.) I laughed hard at Conan O'Brien's twitter cracks, too...

Slow cooker desserts??  Yes, according to Betty Crocker.

Amazing wartime heroism that sounds fake -- but it really happened.

BLM protesters sued the cops in Detroit. Now Detroit is suing the protesters for "civil conspiracy."

"What I buy and why:" interview with an art collector. (She mentions the textiles of Sonya Clark -- I've never heard of this artist, but that will be fixed very soon. Update: I did! She's amazing -- works with everyday objects, as well as thread and hair. Check out her portrait of Obama, using Lincoln pennies.

Lessons from scratch-and-dent shopping... one of my favorite things to do. (From Penniless Parenting)

An ancient church found near the Jerusalem site of the Last Supper -- as well as a Jewish ritual bath.

Polymer clay Christmas ornaments -- it's going to be a bit painstaking, but you can actually make this house...or your own!  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

Forty ways to use it up, make it last or wear it out.  (From Harvest Lane Cottage)

Clever hacks on IKEA's own DIY website,

John Fielder: amazing wildlife photographer -- and how he got there. 

Was Helen Keller just a spoiled white privileged person? This black activist thinks so. Yep, Ms. Keller had it so easy...

"Why I'm so optimistic about 2021." Mr. Money Mustache explains.

Enjoy this final holiday week...before the rat race begins again.

A New Kind of Gingerbread House

 

Winter Solstice, Thomasing, Christmas Eve -- And Updates

 So here we are, back home, snugged against the mountains, where we can see over the valley.  Our neighbor has lit deer decorations in their front yard -- near where the real deer have been feeding. I wonder if they even notice...

'Lover Boy' has been hanging around a lot, thanks to a group of doe that often show up around dusk. He hasn't had a lot of success, though. Poor guy.

It's back to icy cold, with a trace of snow on the ground. But for the next day or two, we're posted to have temps in the high 40s. A storm's due in shortly after. Welcome to Colorado.

Somehow I missed winter solstice earlier this week. 

I also missed the traditional date for the Festival of St. Thomas (Dec. 21). In Europe, it was customary for the men to have their farmyards blessed; in the Germanic countries, like Switzerland, they would also go out, cracking whips or shooting guns, to 'drive the bad demons away' from their Christmas celebrations.

    Meanwhile, the ladies were either scrubbing their households clean (in Finland)...or begging door to door ("Thomasing") for flour, fruit, etc. from better-off households. Often the recipients of that largess would give sprigs of holly or mistletoe in return. This was also called "doleing," "corning" or "mumping." (From a Saxon word, "mompen," which meant 'to beg.') 

Well-a-ay, well-a-day, St. Thomas goes too soon away;
Then your gooding we do pray, for the good time will not stay.
The longest night & the shortest day!
Please remember St. Thomas's Day!

People are celebrating very differently this year, as you all too well know. You're not the only one who's staying home with immediate family this year. (And if you have kids and/or grandkids, be sure to read this one, too.)

Earlier this week, we were resigned to being by ourselves this Christmas -- with the exception of a friend who lives on the same property that we do. Our Covid test results (negative!) at least reassured our little children that we weren't contagious. So now we'll have coffee and sweet bites (at a distance) with everyone Christmas Day, as well as supper later on with Daughter #2 and our son. 

Not bad. Not bad at all.  No Seven Fish Dishes or Sachertorte, like we traditionally do. (Although I did manage to get Christmas cake baked tonight.) I haven't done much decorating this year, other than put out the Nativity set, our special candle, and add a strand of lights. My heart just hasn't been in it...

I haven't baked that much, and we didn't shop too often for presents. (What we did get were nearly all wrapped while we were in Michigan earlier this fall, thanks to The Mama's huge collection of giftwrap.) We've given a lot of food gifts this year to friends and our family, mostly from trips to Michigan (apples and the Dutch store) and Mexico (gamesas and holiday decorations). 

It doesn't matter. We will spend time with our children...and that means a lot. 

There may be hope yet. 

Merry Christmas to you. Please take time to reflect on whose holiday this really is.

(Adoration of the Shepherds by Petrus Van Schendel)

Her Majesty's Holiday Address -- Done A New Way

     It's traditional for Queen Elizabeth to deliver a Christmastime address to her loyal subjects. (Note: I said SUBJECTS -- not us pesky Americans.)  Here's 2019's version:

Maybe she's tired of just talking -- because here comes a very interesting version that has her not only dissing Meghan and Harry (because they prefer Canadians, Americans too, no doubt) -- but dancing on her desk!

(No, I'm not making this up. But it is made up.)

Here you go. Take a look.

Your Kids (Or You) Can Visit Santa... Virtually!

 Brad's Deals gives you eight different ways to do it,  including Zoom.

And several are FREE.

(I know, I know -- eight different Santas? I may have just blown up your belief in the Bearded One.)

Click on the link above to visit a website, and set up your appointment. 

Peace On Earth: Quilting-Style

 

(Thanks, Julia Icenogle.  I was amused, though, at the quilters comments -- several said they wouldn't be able to get up from this position!)

See, Black Lives DO Matter...

 ...more than others, that is. 

Now that the new vaccine is getting ready to ship, 25 out of 50 United states plan to prioritize who gets it first -- and 'white' people are lowest on the list. 

(graphic is referenced in the link)

Really. If you consider yourself Caucasian, plan to be at the end of this train. 

This comes on the heels of a study of a two-month period in California -- that says people without college degrees account for two-thirds of the Covid-19 related deaths then. Lower income and people of color are mentioned too, of course. 

Well, that leaves the Brick and yours truly back in the caboose somewhere -- because we have college degrees and aren't destitute...thanks in great part to being real Hollanders about our financial planning. Oh yes, we're also considered 'white.' (Personally, I think of us as sort of a pinkish-tan.) Frankly, it's not that big a deal for us, for a number of reasons. But -- 

Some of my Facebook friends have pointed out that doing this rebalances out previous inequities -- that clinics in the past have had a disproportionate lesser share of the poor and 'people of color.' And they have a point, although they seem to be arguing that two wrongs WILL make a right, eventually. However, I have a few questions:

*If this sort of planning gave a back seat to Black and Hispanic citizens, instead of White ones, wouldn't it be immediately dismissed as bigoted and racist?

    (I can just imagine the screaming, yelling and carryings-on.)

and...

*What are you going to do if your dad is Black -- and your mom is White? (Or vice versa) Does that mean you don't qualify...or you do? How much of a 'minority' percentage do you have to be, in order to qualify?

*Where do you fall in this mix if you consider yourself Asian -- does that count as White -- or something else? Native Americans, where do you fit? Or Hawaiian, Polynesian, Maori...where do they land in this? Are you a 'minority,' too?  

    Our son is quarter-Inuit Eskimo, mixed with a healthy dollop of Irish and Italian. But his wife  Daughter #2  shares a Heinz 57 mix of cultures from the Brick and myself, including lots of Scotch, English, Dutch, Irish, Welsh, Danish -- and a smidgen each of Basque and Russian Jewish blood. (A little more than Elizabeth Warren's Indian genes -- but not much.) Does that exclude her -- and include him? (Getting the vaccine is very important to our kids. VERY important.)

and finally...

*How much do you want to bet that well-off and/or celebrity individuals are magically going to qualify for an early handout of the vaccine? (It sure seems that way for a number of politicians 'patriotically doing their duty.') Certainly these people can finagle a way to prove they're 'essential,' or at least have a spoonful or more of 'minority' DNA. Or perhaps they can hop over to a state that it won't matter as much.

Inquiring minds want to know. 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Celebrating...I Guess.

 Is Christmas weird for you this year?

I know I'm not the only one struggling with Covid-19 restrictions ...and others have had it worse. Many others. I know that. But when the prospect of celebrating Dec. 25 alone looms, away from Daughters #1 and #2, as well as Son #1 and Daughter #1's partner, it is bleak.

Being away from them at Thanksgiving was hard. Because we're actually back in Colorado, this is worse. There is a faint possibility we may be able to meet, socially distanced and properly masked. But the odds are stronger that we can't. 

Celebrating Christmas with the Brick won't be horrible -- I love him, and love spending time with him. Commemorating the birth of our King is important. The music and movies have been fun. But we have not been able to see our children much, if at all, this year. 

Barring a surprise, Christmas will be the same.

One scary car crash from Winter Storm Gail -- there were plenty. 

Ten facts you probably didn't know about the movie White Christmas. If you enjoyed that, there's ten more about National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, plus ten about It's A Wonderful Life. 

Are politicians following the restrictions they demand of us? And if they don't, how do YOU feel about it?

Three-ingredient sugar cookies: incredibly, these are really three basic ingredients! And they're slice and bake, making the dough easy to keep in the freezer. Thanks, Betty Crocker.

Is Jill Biden really Dr. Biden? Yes, she has a doctorate in education. And she really earned it. Yes, she should be able to say 'Dr. Biden,' and not get pestered about it -- plenty of professors do this all the time. (Not to mention that a Ph.D. is another 4-6 years or so work, on top of a Master's. An honorary degree...now that's another story, to my mind.)

Meals -- mostly Mexican -- to cook in an RV.  (From Heath and Alyssa)

Extreme frugality -- holiday-style.  (From Surviving and Thriving)

A strange 'winter wonderland' after a blizzard visits an abandoned mall.

Pete Buttigieg is the first openly gay Cabinet member...right? (Sorry, Mr. Grenell, appointed by Trump and conveniently passed over by Biden's publicity team...)

The 96-year-old WWII veteran, reunited with the three Italian children he nearly shot. (Whew.)

Paper stars -- from paper bags!  (Thanks, Chicken Blog)

Denver's beloved Tattered Cover bookstore has new owners. And despite its new claim that it's the largest black-owned bookstore in the U.S., only one of the 13-member investment group is actually Black. 

Ten international candies you can order on Amazon. 

60 vintage Christmas dishes to try. Just don't make the jello ones! (That was my childhood 'yecchh.')

Victoria Findlay Wolfe shows you how to make a coat from a finished quilt. (The lecture costs $30, but you get how-tos, plus access to a recorded version.)

Gingerbread scones. Yum. (From Can't Beet Plants)

Charleston, SC's Black American seamstresses.  (From Civil War Quilts)

Last-minute exhausted Christmas quilters!  Lots of stories from Quilting Daily.

Last-minute orders, baking and such. Been there, doing that.  (From My Threadbear Life)

Twenty best Christmas dinner ideas.  (From Poor Girl Eats Well)

Ten times artificial intelligence did something weird, and shocked us.  (From Listverse) Also:

Some still-unsolved modern mysteries...including a real gargoyle!  

Can you live in an airbnb for less than renting somewhere? This person says yes -- emphatically.

Have a wonderful, relaxing week. And if you can spend some time with the ones you love -- don't hesitate. Do it. 

President Trump's Christmas Card

 He and Mrs. Trump certainly did something I haven't seen on presidential portraits -- they dressed to match!

(No, I didn't get one of their Christmas cards, either.)

Holiday Respect

 ...at Arlington Cemetery. It's called Wreaths Across America, and it's been going on for decades.

Our cousin kindly put similar wreaths on the Brick brothers' graves in Missouri -- including that of the Brick's dad, Clyde. They have another holiday tradition there I'd never seen: sometimes pine boughs will be woven to make a 'blanket' covering the grave. What a beautiful sign of respect. (Thank you, Brick cousin Nancy!)

Christmas Cake...and Tasha Tudor

 Years ago, I read Tasha Tudor's Take Joy!  The famous artist had a lot of fun handcrafting the holiday in simple fashion with her kids -- in part because she enjoyed tradition. (And, I suspect, she wasn't making much money then, either.) 

With the possible exception of Sachertorte, Tasha's Christmas cake has been a go-to for decades at our house -- with the exception of those sticky fruit bits used in fruitcake. I substitute maraschino cherries, instead, and add a lot more nuts.

It was one of the first recipes I ever published in this blog. Go here -- have fun.

Frost and decorate your cake, British-style -- something like this.  (This version from Good to Know)

 

When I enjoy Miss Read's Christmas stories, they're always frosting this kind of cake -- and topping it with snowmen, deer...and a robin.

The Three Wise Men Meet Their Match

 ...in Three Wise Women (from Cardfool.com)

HOME

 ...such a wonderful word, although we came home to single-digit temperatures and six inches of snow on the ground. And some very happy dogs. 

I made breakfast and finished off some work. Now off to get dressed and shovel snow for a while, before the sun melts it rock-hard. Then it's on to unpacking suitcases and washing stinky clothes. 

We're already missing the warm sun, snorkeling and the pool. Ah well.

(Take a look at Goats on the Road's experience at PV.)

See, It Helps to Be A Brick

 Friend Tommy sent me a photo of this t-shirt for sale:

So now you know. It's good to have a Brick around... just in case.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Home -- Soon.

 Puerto Vallarta has been a very interesting experience.

The weather's warm and lovely, but downtown's malecon, a well-known walk along the ocean, has been comparatively quiet. Normally, it's stuffed with the teenagers and tourists; some are there, but not nearly as many as our last visit a few years ago. 

    Our hotel (we're at the Costa Sur now, a lovely place) has only a handful of Americans and Canadians, along with a sprinkling of Mexican tourists. And this is with extra fussing about masks, sanitizing and such. One of the employees told me this morning that the hotel was shut down completely for two months earlier in the year, and everyone put on furlough. I highly doubt most are back yet; only a few waiters can easily handle the diners and poolside people ordering drinks.

     It's a good reminder that Covid-19 hasn't just hurt the States -- but Mexicans, as well. And I don't think they get help with unemployment or stimulus checks, either. 

     We'll be back home by mid-week. I'll spend the rest of our time by the pool, or snorkeling in a lagoon they have out in the ocean. (You can see it in the photo above.) After all, our part of Colorado has snow. Not a lot -- but snow, nonetheless.

Meanwhile:

Douglas County, Colorado, is hosting two fireworks displays in late December!  We didn't have one in July...too dry, and officials were worried about fire hazards. (That didn't stop umpteen neighbors from firing off stuff, anyways.)

How to beautify a chainlink fence.  (From Lisapie's Mumblings, Musings and Rants)

Some other famous Virgin Mary festivals...like our much-missed Lady of Guadalupe event.  (From Moving with Mitchell)

Tater tot breakfast tacos!  My one suggestion: add B-A-C-O-N.

Did media sources generally wait to cover Hunter Biden's various predicaments until AFTER the election? If this is true, ouch, now media sources are generally acknowledging that Biden is being actively investigated. 

Good ideas for Christmas stocking stuffers.  (From one of my favorite bloggers, Thrifty Mom In Boise)  And while we're on that subject:

Ten strange facts about popular Christmas movies.  (From Listverse) Plus:

An easy and stylish way to wrap Christmas gifts.  Plus

How to sew a reversible Christmas tree skirt.  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

Two years after their incredible lottery win, this Irish couple has given away more than half of it. And they plan to continue...

How to retire just on Social Security. It will take some work and planning, but you CAN do it.

Some unusual decorated items for the holidays -- including a dump truck parade!  (From Living Rich on the Cheap)

Have a great week. Hey, go decorate something...as for me, I might just play in the snow.

Covid Logic

 Attention: Rudeness alert. 

But this spiel, courtesy of our friend Connie Pelster, does encapsulate some of the weird double-standards Covid-19 has introduced into our lives. Legislatures and Congress, are you listening -- and noticing this??

    Don't jump all over me for not cooperating. The Brick and I both wear masks, regularly wash our hands, practice social distancing (even to the point of not going to church, when we want to), use sanitizer, etc. etc. But I still don't understand why shopping with strangers at the grocery store is okay -- but going to church with friends, properly separated, is not. 

     It. Doesn't. Make Sense. And this post points many of those inequities out.

Me AT GROCERY STORE:

Why is there plastic on the payment keypad?

Cashier: to protect people from Covid.

Me : but isn’t everyone touching the plastic keypad the same way they would the regular keypad?🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Cashier: no words. Confused look. 

Me : Why Dont you pack the grocery bags anymore? 

Cashier : Because of covid 19 to reduce the spread of catching or spreading the virus. 

Me : But a shelf packer took it out of a box and put on the shelf, a few customers might of picked it up and put back deciding they Dont want it, I put it in my cart then on the conveyer belt, YOU pick it up to scan it.. But putting it in a bag after you scan is risky?? 

Cashier : no words, confused look  

Me AT DRIVE-THRU

Server: (holds a tray out the window with a bag of food for logical friend to grab)

Me: why is my bag of food on a tray?

Server: so I don’t touch your food because of Covid.

Me: didn’t the cook touch my food? Didn’t the person wrapping my food touch it and then touch it again when placing it in my bag? Didn’t you touch the bag and put it on the tray? Didn’t you touch the tray? 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

Server: no words. Confused look. 

Me in SOCIETY 

Society ; If you cough or sneeze do it in your elbow or sleeve, 

Also society : Dont shake hands or hug anyone or you will spread the virus.. 

To greet people do an elbow tap instead. 

Me : Elbow tap 🤷‍♀️? Isn't that where you tell people to sneeze or cough? into their elbow? Now you want people to tap each other with that elbow  🤦‍♀️ 

wouldn't it be safer to sneeze into elbow and shake hands like we did before Covid 🤷‍♀️

Me AT RESTAURANT:

Hostess: ok, I can seat you at this table right here (4 feet away), but I will need you to wear a mask to the table.

Me: what happens when I get to the table?

Hostess: you can take off the mask.

Me: then it is safe over there?

Hostess: yes.

Me: are those fans blowing above the table? Is that the air-conditioning I feel? Is the air circulating in here?🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️ Hostess: no words. Confused look.

SOCIETY : You are not allowed to stand and drink at the pub you have to sit down. 

But at the shopping centre you are not allowed to sit down, all the chairs are roped off. 

Who thinks this shit up?

Life is hard for logical people right now. We are being raised without the ability to process and execute logic 

  Amen to that.

Bits & Pieces - And Updates

It's been a strange few weeks...to the point that my poor body wonders where the heck it is sometimes.

We had intended to be back in Colorado for Thanksgiving. Just a few days before we were to leave, the truck went dead. The Brick barely got it started enough to limp to the auto repair place. The guy was a gem-- realized we needed to leave, didn't make up any extra work -- and charged us for just what he did. (This doesn't happen much anymore.) Two batteries needed replacing: $450 or so.

So we spent Thanksgiving with The Mama, packed up everything again and tried to leave. We got no further than the freeway when -- the truck's brakes went out. By the time we limped back to The Mama's, unhooked the trailer, then limped to the auto place, brake fluid was running down the left front tire. 

That time: $550 or so. So we spent more than a thousand bucks. On the other hand, thanks to the wonderful folks at Alpine Auto Care, we left the next afternoon, and made it back to Colorado safely, with no further problems. I would much rather have dealt with these issues while staying at The Mama's, instead of out in the boonies somewhere.

P.S. Alpine Auto Care, you are AMAZING. Thank you so much.

    P.P.S. If you need work done in the Sparta/Grand Rapids, Michigan area, we highly recommend this place. 

We were in Colorado only a few days before needing to leave for a scheduled vacation to Puerto Vallarta. (The Brick had given me this package as a birthday present, and we'd scheduled plane tickets months before, when things were looking up some.) Our bodies only started to adjust to altitude in Colorado -- a three or so day process. Then ZOOM...we were headed somewhere else. We've been to Vallarta before. The strange thing: in spite of the fast-approaching holidays, and the importance of the Virgin of Guadalupe Festival to PV, there are hardly any tourists here! Some Mexicans, yes...but the Americans are few and far between. Covid-19 really has them scared. 

What's odd about this is that Mexican authorities are being much more on the spot about it than we've seen in the States. They've kept the restaurants open -- but forced most to close at 6 p.m. to minimize crowds. The open-air plazas, normally filled with vendors and food courts, are roped off. (The markets, however, are still open.) Also, we can't go in a grocery store without having someone take our temperatures. And masks are, of course, required everywhere. 

And the Festival was cancelled. The same one we'd come specifically to see. That was extra-disappointing. 

We're fairly certain that PV businesses count on this time to make money that keeps them going the rest of the year. How are they going to accomplish that, when so few tourists are in town? The answer is not a pretty one. We already know that Colorado businesses will be going under next year for the same reason. 

We've not seen the worst yet, financially speaking, of this pandemic. 

It's ok for us. We have a regular income from my work, Brickworks and the Brick's pension, as well as Social Security. We don't have debts or large financial commitments. But I worry about our children, our cousins and other family members. Most are okay, so far. But what will happen in the new year? 

Just have to wait and see. 

Meanwhile, we've been careful about spending a lot of money here, alternating cheaper meals with more expensive ones, and watching our expenditures on souvenirs, with just a few, mostly for the kids. Those will probably go into Christmas stockings...which are also being stinted somewhat this year. Who knows -- that money may be needed for other purposes in 2021. (The one exception I can see: we're being more generous with tipping than usual. But it seems the right thing to do.) 

     We've been careful, wearing masks, staying at a reasonable distance from others, washing our hands regularly, etc etc. We'll be fine. This vacation has been fine. 

But it's going to be tough on Mexicans in this area -- and on people, in general, unless life goes somewhat back to normal soon.

Which it won't.

Meanwhile, life goes on, even in a resort town. Small luxuries are evident: a number of homes are lavish with lights, and the cake bakery under our room has been busy as all getout. (Yes, our room at Casa Pavlova is above a panderia that specializes in European-style cakes.) People are still going out to eat, even if it's at a streetside taqueria, rather than a sitdown restaurant. (Our favorite, so far, has been Taqueria Lupita. Yes, she and her husband are there, frying up meat in a cloud of aromatic smoke. Delicious.)

So hard times come. They've come before. You tighten your belt, and hold on, hoping that life will get better. Often it does.

I hope it will, for these people in Vallarta. They're warm, friendly -- and work very hard.