Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Looking Forward

...to Thanksgiving, and the holidays. 
     I have to keep reminding myself there's work to do before I can play. Paperwork is progressing -- it needs to be done by Thanksgiving.
     We'll spend part of Thursday with Daughter #1 and her partner Dre at his restaurant, Interstate Cafe: turkey, dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and of course, pumpkin and 'pay-kan' pies, made by yours truly. Son #1 and Daughter #2 are coming, too. Should be fun.
     Meanwhile:

Outlaw King, the story of Robert the Bruce -- here mentioned by yours truly, a descendant of John Comyn, the man he murdered! Actually, the movie is quite good -- lots of great costumes, fights and swashes. If you're Scottish, this is a more realistic version than Braveheart. No kilts -- they weren't popular until at least a few hundred years later..
    NONETHELESS-- the Cummings clan motto (actually, one 'm' in my family) has always helped me. It reads simply

    'COURAGE'

A brave family, known for its courage (see above) and skill in fighting. Unfortunately, the sides the Cummings took often tended to be the losers.

A retreat report from Australia -- almost as good as being there. (From one of my Australian tour buds, News from Jude)

Twelve habits of intelligent people. Got any of these? (My desk has papers stacked high...does that count?)

An interesting blog on frugal living -- the Non-Consumer Advocate's 'Five Frugal Things' are a regular feature I really enjoy.

A camel...in a snowstorm? Yep...only in Pennsylvania.

A hunter bags a two-headed buck. (Happens more than you'd think.)

Marie Antoinette's pearl and diamond pendant sells for MORE THAN $36 MILLION -- far more than it was appraised for. Just goes to show what strong provenance and high quality will get you.
      (Shame on the appraiser who set the price -- but I can understand it. How many other royal pendants did he/she have to compare it to?)

Loving the snow -- 20 ways to do it different!

Like this!

Holiday austerity -- ways to come up with wrappings, gifts and other stuff, even when you're flat stony broke.  (From Practical Parsimony)

 What demonizing Trump produces...in your heart and your attitude. A classic from yours truly,
    Lest you scoff that this doesn't happen -- did you know that Trump not only is "the Devil," but caused the California wildfires? That's what Marlon Wayans thinks.

Eleven secrets travel booking companies don't want you to know.

Twelve frugal challenges you can start today -- and save.  (From The Simple Dollar)

21 tiny changes that changed the world.  (From Cracked)

"The Fabric of India"... from the Cincinnati Art Museum. A fascinating look at fabric history.

A day at Poopy Cat Office:

"Old Mike." One of the stranger Arkansas mysteries, on display for decades.

It was all a scam. The 'kind' homeless vet who gave up his last $20 to pay for a lady's gas -- it was all a story to get people to contribute to a GoFundMe account. After the couple sponsoring it spent most of the $360,000 gained on themselves, the vet wanted his share...but it was all gone. Authorities now say the threesome would have gotten away with it, had they not started fighting among themselves. Pathetic.

The Thanksgiving tree. An interesting way to celebrate from Diary of A Stay-At-Home Mom.

British recipes for the holidays; Schichttorte (a German-style torte made on, of all places, the grill!)  Plus Madeira cake.  From the BBC and Lindy's Cakes.

New York cops find an elephant wandering along the road late at night. Only in New York...

'What was a meal you loved as a child...but didn't find out until later that your parents made it because you were poor?' 
     An interesting question, plus more than a hundred answers, from Quora.

Snappy comebacks by famous people... 31 of them. Including several by my buddy Winston, plus this:
Rev. Edward Everett Hale was asked if he ever prayed for senators. His response: "No, I look at the senators -- and pray for the country."

Financial independence -- even when just making $40,000 in Manhattan, NY.  (From Financial Samurai)

RealtyShares shuts its doors.  (From Retire by 40)

Michigan's college football is doing good.. but they've had to work for it. They just beat Indiana -- but barely. Ohio State is Saturday...if Michigan wins, they win the title.





And CU football?  I don't want to talk about it. 

Have a great week.

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it. -     Benjamin Mee"

Read more at Search Quotes.

A Cumings ancestor on the hunt, no doubt, for turkey.

Saturday Sillies

Came across these videos, while looking for something else:

A very unusual fish net.

Even better -- a horse's new toy.

(When I played this, Ruby listened, head cocked to one side -- then got out her own squeaky toy to chew on. That dog loves squeakiness.)

And strangest of all -- chickens with pants.

Some people have too much time on their hands...

Sick... And Tired

Woke up this morning with a new friend:

              THE FLU.

No going to have breakfast with Daughter #1.

     Or finding bargains at the Friday/Saturday store.

Or going to see The MEG with friends tonight. (Love them shark movies.)

No more weekend plans -- except work here at the house. 

Instead, I get to throw on (then take off) blankets as the fever hits -- then recedes.

Drink this awful tea the Brick believes does wonders.

Try to work -- and doze off in mid-sentence.
               (My eyes are fighting to close while I'm typing this. Really.)

Watch tv -- but rarely finish anything. (Usually asleep when the climactic fight occurs.)

And try to keep the Brick from picking it up, even while I'm hacking and sneezing in his general direction.

Oh joy.

Hopefully tomorrow is better.

Free Them Animals!

Latest installment from the Department of the Ridiculous:

PETA wants to set the animal crackers loose.

Yes, the society who speaks out on behalf of our furry, feathered and scaly friends (and throws blood and red paint on people wearing fur coats) has as one of its great aims in life --

Making sure that the animals in 'Barnum's Animals' crackers are not behind bars anymore.

“Given the egregious cruelty inherent in circuses that use animals and the public’s swelling opposition to the exploitation of animals used for entertainment, we urge Nabisco to update its packaging in order to show animals who are free to roam in their natural habitats,” PETA said in its 2016 letter.

And Nabisco caved. 


Now the old box:

Looks like this, instead:




The animal crackers' namesake has been out of business for some time. Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey closed up shop in 2017. The circus removed elephants from its shows after pressure from PETA and other groups in 2016, but never could recover financially.

The sad part: I really like this new design! But I do NOT approve of an organization who puts its dictates far above the needs of the creatures it's supposedly representing. (We humans don't even get that consideration -- we're last on the foodchain.)

      Quit being a bully, PETA, and focus on more important issues. Like blue crabs.
                  Or Aretha Franklin.

Now, Gentle Readers, you've got a politically correct reason to buy animal crackers.

Just in time to fill Christmas stockings.

While you're doing that, be sure to hum the tune to a very fitting anthem: Born Free.

Travel Food for the Road

Are you headed somewhere for Thanksgiving?

If you're driving, you could stop three times a day for greasy fast food. It tastes great...for a while. But your stomach will eventually rebel.

If you're flying, you could pay for overpriced airline food. And blow your budget before you reach your destination. (Yep, it can be greasy, too.)

The solution: portable items that easily furnish the ingredients for a quick meal or snack -- and stretch your vacation money even further. They're good for hotel room suppers, or a picnic by the waterside.

FOR YOUR PACK (immediate access):
*empty water bottle (refill when you can)
*flavored drink powder sticks or straws
*protein bars (we've just started carrying these delicious meat bars, based on an old Lakota pemmican recipe)
*small candy bars -- non-chocolate ones like Paydays give a nice protein boost, and don't melt or smear from body warmth.

An apple's nice, if you're not crossing state lines that don't allow fruit.

If I'm driving, I also tuck in a plastic bag of carrot, cucumber and celery sticks, pretzel rods/chips and a pack of bubble gum. Crunchy things keep you awake during long drives.
     We also pack two travel mugs and a large thermos. 

Pack dogfood and bones, if someone's along. "Cmon Mom - let's go!"
(Add a plastic milk gallon of water nestled in an empty half-gallon, for use as a drinking bowl.)

FOR YOUR SUITCASE (longer term):
*set of plastic cutlery - 1 for each person in the family
*sharp knife (jackknife or paring knife -- obviously, this won't be welcome in your carryon)
*can opener
*handful of napkins
*instant coffee sticks and/or teabags
     (plus cream and sugar -- we get a small bottle of milk at a convenience store)
*packs each of crackers and cookies
*individual packs of peanut butter or cheese spread
*small can of chicken breast, seafood or tuna
*microwavable mac and cheese (keep the bowl for future meals)
*packet of dried soup

If driving, do you have lots of room? A small crockpot and cans of soup, stew or other entrees make for delicious eating after a long day of sightseeing. Set the crockpot on low or warm, and add extra water, just before you leave for the day -- your food will be piping hot and ready when you return. (I would love to say I came up with this idea myself -- but I didn't.)


Here are other suggestions. These items take up surprisingly little space. Planning ahead, even for basics like food and drink, saves in the long run.

Charley Would Do This If He Could

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Veteran's Day & November Thoughts

     Yow, it's been busy. Every single day this past week, we've had something going -- and some days had multiple events. I don't mind heading out for this or that once or twice, but this week has been exhausting. Our friend's passing Monday night didn't help matters, either. Guess we're not the only ones.
      This week, in comparison, should be more peaceful. Yeah, right.

Happy Veteran's Day to those who served -- and served for us. Thank you, soldiers, sailors (including Coast Guard!) and marines. 

Uncle Archie Cumings' Air Force fighter squadron patch in WWII 

We'll go out and take advantage of a Veteran's Day meal special. (I wouldn't be surprised, either, if the Brick didn't get a free haircut coupon -- another VD freebie. P.S. He did.) The Brick's six years in the Navy entitle him to this. 
    It will be a nice treat. Early November is always tough for me -- I fight the blues. Unfortunately, it runs in the family -- The Mama really struggles this time of year. Doesn't matter how well things are going, or what the weather is. (And it's been gloomy, mostly.) Must be genetic.

Update on Charles le chien:  He's been limping for some time now. Unfortunately, it's the same problem the Brick and I both have: aging, with some arthritis mixed in. Charley is part Golden Lab, part Chesapeake Bay Retriever -- both large dog breeds that are apt to have hip problems. And he does, as well as a rupture on a hind leg. Both will probably never completely heal.

Dog butt hanging rack -- perfect for an animal clinic

  
   The vet was optimistic that Charley would continue to get along, with a little help from us, including chondroitin and (surprise) a marijuana byproduct, CBD oil. I should also keep giving him regular massages, which he loves. 
     Charley will turn 9 in January. The vet thinks he could easily keep going for at least 3 more years, maybe more. Hey, I still limp sometimes from the knee blowout Charley gave me a year ago, jumping across my lap. Guess we're two of a kind. 

Mama loves her little baby dog.

Why the Free Birth Society no longer exists...at least in a public forum. Having had two healthy childbirths without drugs -- but in a hospital -- I am not sure what to think about this. More on this soon...

Ten people who became real-life heroes...and often sacrificed their own lives, in the process.  (From Listverse) While you're pondering that:

Ten strange UFO reports you probably haven't heard about. Most, I have heard about, but there are two from 2018!  While you're at it, Ten UFOs said to be physically recovered. (By governments or the military, naturally.) Also:

Ten amazing creations inspired by dreams. Including Paul McCartney's Yesterday.

Winners from the 2018 Siena International Photo Awards contest. Amazing.  And not to be outdone:

Winners from the 2018 British Wildlife Photography Awards.

What's currently happening in the Georgia governor's election results. If you haven't been following this litany of name-calling, insults and allegations, you've been missing the fun. Oprah and other celebrities just had to insert themselves into the picture, as well. (Votes are not completely counted yet -- why not? -- but so far, the Republican candidate is ahead. Ironically, as current Secretary of State, he's also the chief election official in Georgia.)
    Florida has a similar mess on its hands.

31 easy ways to save money.  One example: use water softener salt to de-ice your sidewalk. (From Compounding Pennies)

Another viewpoint on the Bob Acosta Wars.  Or... is he a poor innocent, picked on because he wouldn't put the mike down? Yes, ladies and gentleman, let's blow this one way out of proportion, as well.

Funny (and sometimes wistful) last words from famous people.   Even stranger:

Celebrities who might have faked their deaths.   Yes, including Elvis. And leading from this:

Who really was buried in Jesse James' grave? Not the outlaw, says his descendant. Or so DNA seems to prove. (From Texas Monthly) Also from them:

The Hero of Sutherland Springs remembers the shootings at the First Baptist Church...and tries to forget.

A millionaire interview -- one in a series. (From ESI Money) Including this important comment:

Once your mind is open to the fact that wealth is achievable, you will find the simple formula for becoming wealthy: live off less than you earn, and invest the difference. You can accelerate your wealth building by earning more, investing more, cutting expenses (including taxes), and staying away from debt. None of this will happen overnight but you can make one step at a time in the right direction.

She's right! (And yes, I'm speaking from experience. That plan of action is how the Brick could retire at age 60.)

"My Grandma's Legacy."  (From Pretend to be Poor)

Scooter the Canine Hunter. A very funny photo essay on a victorious Mole-Killer -- funny, that is, unless you're dealing with the little buggers. Lots of tips.  (From Get Me to the Country)

In the flesh...Scooter hisself.

"What was the most bone-chilling thing a child said to you?"  A lot of strange and intriguing answers here.  (From Quora)

Crockpot mashed potatoes.   The turkey empenadas look good, too. (From Cheap Recipe Blog)

The Man Who Never Got A Real Job.  (From Mr. Money Mustache)

Have a great week.