Congratulations, Georgia!

 The Bulldogs CRUSHED TCU 65-7 in the national championship game. 

Go here for more. Goooooooo, Bulldogs!   woof woof woof woof woof...

(And, of course, the Wolverines too...)

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: What The?!?

     Boy, try to spend a peaceful, quiet week at home -- and all hell breaks loose. (And Michigan lost in the Fiesta Bowl!) Arguments and fistfights in the House. A football player whose heart suddenly stopped -- from a hit that didn't look any different than usual. (Thankfully, he's doing better.) President Biden finally decides to visit the border. (I truly hope that it wasn't tidied up for his arrival -- but the cynical part of me knows full well it was.) Add to this our usual fervid mix of illegal immigrants, government spending, accusations about this and that -- and bad weather. Yep, the world is just a fun place to be in right now. 

     I would like to say we did Exciting Stuff last week. But other than a trip to town for the Brick, we stayed home. It was nice. But cold.

     Back to work this week. 

P.S. If you get Paramount Plus, be sure to take some time to watch 1883. We are loving this pioneer-era miniseries, even though the female narrator sometimes has rude things to say about the Mean and Inhospitable West. But she's slowly changing her mind. 

     The episodes of 1923 (so far) are good, too. But we both thought Yellowstone, the final part of the series, implied that only the rich and entitled know what's best for us 'little people.' If you know Westerners at all, this kind of arrogance is an easy way to piss us off. After all, a lot of people emigrated just to get away from Eastern attitudes like this. But don't let that stop you from watching the 'older' two series.

Meanwhile:

Colorado's esteemed Governor Polis announced that migrants bussed to Denver would be sent on to places he said they really wanted to go. Like Chicago and New York City. Those mayors protested -- and Polis backed down. The weenie.

    "One time we had to deal with Republican governors sending migrants to New York. Now we’re dealing with Democratic governors sending migrants to New York," Adams [NYC's mayor] said Wednesday.

Boo dee hoo hoo. Those poor delicate mayors. At least they added requests for the government to 'step up' and do its job. Now what's Governor Polis going to do??

* * * * * * * *

And now for a step up on the soapbox for a moment:

Lies are lies are lies. If we want President Biden accountable for his lies, overstatements and plagiarism, we need to see George Santos accountable for his, too. 

     Oh, wait a moment. Is President Biden being held accountable?? Well, he (and Santos) should be.

     Stepping down now. And back to:

* * * * * * * *

How to prepare for your next emergency.  Financially, mostly.

A professor is fired -- for showing a 14th century portrait of Mohammed to her students. (No, I am not making this up. Apparently it was done with proper respect, but some Muslims believe that seeing any pictures of Mohammed might induce them to start worshipping the portrait, instead. The professor even warned her class ahead of time that she planned to do this -- including just before class started. One student didn't protest then -- but she did, later on. And BOOM -- the professor is out. 

     Incredible. Don't university presidents have ANY courage? Doesn't anyone else's 'academic freedoms' matter??

TV shows that were cancelled after only one episode.

The William/Harry tussle -- of course it happened this way. (See if you can watch without laughing...or remembering some childhood fights with your siblings!)

I am amazed at the petty incidents and innuendos trotted out to prove how poor ol' Prince Harry (not to mention his saintly wife) has been treated so mmeeaan. Kudos to Prince William, HIS saintly wife and King Charles for maintaining a dignified silence. I'm sure it's not easy. Blaming them for the actions of the media  -- or at least suggesting it's their fault because, by not being silent, 'they could make them stop.' 

    Harry then made this statement: "I love my father. I love my brother. I love my family. I all...will always do. Nothing of what I've done in this book or otherwise has ever been to, uh, any intention to harm them or hurt them."

    Sure, Harry. Sure.

Pope Benedict XVI's funeral happened this past week. He had asked for a simple funeral -- but world leaders and clergy attended, along with many, many followers packed into St. Peter's Square. Benedict's plain wood coffin, no flowers, was simply placed on the stage. 

    President Biden says he is a fathful Catholic -- he wasn't there. Nor did he send anyone to represent the United States.

"Things were way tougher:" Charlie Munger's take on the stock market today. (In case you're wondering, Charlie is Warren Buffett's business partner.)

Two men have been arrested and charged in the power substation attacks in Washington State.

The University of Michigan -- and coach Jim Harbaugh -- are slapped with multiple violations from the NCAA.  Not good. Then again, I'm reading that these were actually quite minor. So... is Harbaugh moving on to the NFL? He says that he's staying at Michigan.  But now the NFL Network says he's interviewing for the Denver Broncos job. (Noooooo....) We'll see what happens, fellow Wolverines.

Thirty different ways to fix broken or chipped wood. A number of these are quite clever. (Aluminum foil, anyone?)

Ghost-hunting dogs??   While we're wandering through Weirdsville:

Ten cases of exploding creatures.  Toads, rats, cows (you figured that one, didn't you)...and William the Conqueror. I am not making this up.

A two-legged fox? Yes, and she's got the video to prove it.

A self-proclaimed 'mammoth expert' says that up to 500,000 mastodon tusks were dumped in NYC's East River during the Forties. By mistake...but dumped. According to this guy, the bones were dumped at an old landfill site off the river near 65th Street.  My question: if there were that many, shouldn't they have been found in quantity in this area for decades?? (Let me know if you find anything.)

The best side hustles for introverts.

'What's the fastest way you've wiped a smirk off someone's face?' More interesting Quora answers.

    I have been answering questions on Quora for years. Currently I make a few cents now and then on the site, thanks to a new 'monitization' program. (In three months of steady answers, I've made a blazing $4.30.) I doubt I'll be making millions off it -- but I do get paid. A little.

    If you're curious, use this link to stop by. You'll help me a little -- and give yourself a lot of entertainment. (Just don't take everything seriously. Some questions are definitely real -- some rmade up for shock effect. You can tell.)

Another case of "Wanna-be-someone else" is exposed -- only this time, the woman claimed to be Native American. She isn't. (Perhaps she is because she "identifies" as this. Hey, it's worked before!)

Frugal living: one person's take on it.  (And a whole lot of tips -- thanks, My Money Wizard.)

Money lessons from celebrities who know how to save.

'Preparing for the inevitable:' does your family know where to find all the documents, if something happens to you?

A BUNCH of items, including Sherlock Holmes and an 'ice cream song,' enter public domain.  Plus this fun song, done best by Fred Astaire:

 

Teddy Roosevelt's revolver sells for nearly a million bucks. Wow.

Stupid mistakes doctors make (mostly financial) -- contributed by doctors! (From experience, I'm assuming.)

Ten things to know about the Book of Kells.  I am intrigued by this Irish artifact and its incredible illustrations.  (From Book Riot)

Ten strange relics we're STILL arguing about. 

Important Supreme Court cases in 2023. Including Biden's student loan forgiveness plan. 

Recipes from the Great Depression that are worth duplicating -- including surprising recipes using saltine crackers. 

The mansion formerly owned by Evelyn Waugh gets sold for 2.5 million -- but the tenants (who pay just $250 a year) won't move. Hmmm.

A sheikh wins a $5 million legal battle with a London antiquities dealer -- because the guy sold him 'ancient' statues that were really contemporary fakes. Naughty, naughty.

A woman who was able to retire at 36 -- because she'd started saving for it as a teenager. 

Have a good week. 

Let the Games Begin!

This seems fitting, after 15 votes to choose a Speaker of the House. 

(Congratulations, Kevin McCarthy. I guess.)

(This actually happened during the Civil War.)

 At least they took things seriously, instead of rubber-stemping. But as Arlo Guthrie so gleefully pointed out:

    "Thass America." And it is.

Hmmmm....

 

from we (heart) it.com

Body Language

 ...Here's hoping the Brick says the same thing.

Groceries on $30 A Week? The Redux

     Some years ago, I wrote a post on buying groceries if you only had $30 weekly to spend. That post has been visited and revisited -- and its general advice still holds. But boy, have prices been changing!

*Milk is nearly $4 a gallon here in the Denver CO area...on sale. It can easily go up to $6 or so.

*Eggs have skyrocketed to $5 or more for a large dozen. That's right -- the cheapest kind. If you want organic or free-range, you'll be paying at least $5 on top of that. 

And butter? During a stop at King Soopers (our Kroger) on New Year's Eve, I noticed the 'everyday' price:  $8.69 a pound.

Yow.

We don't have that kind of money to spend on groceries. Neither, I suspect, do you. So here are some ideas that should help keep your expenditures at a sort-of reasonable level:

*Buy generies and house brands. Get the fancypants stuff later, when your budget's not so limited.

*Buy on sale -- and stock up whenever possible. If the price is right, buy as many extra as you're allowed to. 

*Put it in the freezer. Milk, butter and cheese keep just fine this way. Entrees and soups can be easily stored (plastic bags or tubs) for future use. Cookies and bread, baked or unbaked, will do just fine, as well.

*Grow your own -- or buy your veggies from a stand. It helps them, and you get fresher produce in the bargain.

            Green beans are one of the easiest things to grow for yourself. 

                      Canned or frozen green beans are good, too.

*Check the clearance and discount bins.

*Check in at Amazon Warehouse for canned goods and specialty items... but always cross-check with Walmart's and SamsClub or Costco's websites. Sometimes the prices listed sound good -- but aren't.

*Make it yourself. Bread is not difficult to bake, especially when you use Mavis' recipe. The internet is filled with good, easy recipes for all sorts of things.

Here's my version of her bread. Delicious.

*Make more than enough  -- and stash it for future meals. This can be a real timesaver, but is a Godsend when it's late, you're cold, tired -- and hungry. Just pull the pan out of the freezer and heat it up. (Keeping some good canned soups and stews, or corned beef hash, will do the same thing. And it's a lot cheaper than a trip to Burger King.)

*Use up your bits, pieces and leftovers. They can be the foundation for some great soups and stirfries, especially. Or dishes like Hoppin' John. I currently have some in the crockpot.This is good- luck eating around New Year's Day! But it's also using up a hambone, celery leaves, an onion and a small amount of tomatoes I had sitting around.

Now for the grocery list. Denver is not the cheapest of cities to live in, so I feel confident that you could do as well as this -- if not better. I'm assuming that you have baking powder, baking soda, salt, some sugar ($2-3/lb) and flour ($3.50/five pounds) in your cupboard. (If not, spend a little extra and get some.) Spices like garlic, marjoram, basil, etc. add flavor and texture.

A $30 Grocery List for One Person - One Week

*half-dozen eggs    $3.00

*pound of oatmeal   1.50

*pound margarine    1.50  (If butter's on sale at $1.97, get that, instead)

*two pounds rice      2.00

*tomatoes                 1.50   (fresh, or a few cans)

*gallon milk             3.60  (get whole milk - a half-gallon, if price is too high)

*celery                      1.25  (a pound)

*chicken                   3.00  

                                 (Chicken breasts are 97 cents a pound at Safeway this week --  or buy at least two pounds worth of thighs, leg quarters, etc.)

*onions                     1.50   (a pound)

*potatoes                  3.00    (5 pounds)

*loaf of bread           2.00   (or make your own, and save)

*peanut butter           2.00    (one jar)

*bacon                      4.00    (on sale - or get a half-pound at the deli section)

               -------------------

                          $29.85

These are prices I've seen -- or paid -- in recent months here in the Denver area. If chicken isn't on sale, buy $3.00 worth of something else -- ham has been 97 cents a pound here ($1.27/lb for spiral-cut) all through December. If you've gotten some items cheaper and have money leftover, buy apples or a can of peaches, for a batch of fruit crisp.   (Use less fruit, if you have to -- you've got the other ingredients already on this list.) 

Here goes:

First, pour 1/3 - 1/2 of your milk in another container -- then fill the gallon back up with water. You've just given yourself '2%' milk which tastes a lot better than the stuff in the cooler. Not to mention a 'free' gallon or so for next week.

Next, chop up your celery and onion. (Add a chopped pepper -- $1 -- if you can afford it.) This mixture will keep all week in the fridge. Put the celery end and onion skins in the crockpot along with one of the chicken breasts, then fill with water. (Add a few chicken bouillon cubes, if you've got them.) Let cook on low overnight, pull the meat off and set aside, then strain -- this broth is the basis for your chicken soup. 

More chicken can be diced, cooked or uncooked, for future meals -- cooking the meat in the dish adds flavor. (Keep any bones for making more broth.)

Think of the bacon as a  flavor enhancer -- not a primary source of protein. One or two slices, chopped, can be used for frying. Or crumble ocooked bacon over the final dish. Butter/margarine should be used the same way -- or spread thinly on bread or toast. Fresh tomatoes are tasty on sliced bread -- canned tomatoes can be added to any of the supper dishes.

If possible, make some bread. Or biscuits. This will help stretch your meals further. 

BREAKFASTS----

Oatmeal with milk and sugar

One egg (boiled or fried) with toast

One strip bacon with toast

French toast (bread soaked in egg/a little milk mixture, then fried. Sprinkle with sugar before serving)

Hashbrowns (chopped potatoes) with onion, fried with 1 slice chopped bacon

Leftovers from lunches & suppers

LUNCHES -- 

Peanut butter sandwich

Sliced chicken...in a sandwich, or just by itself

Any of the soups (see below)

Any of the supper leftovers

SUPPERS -- 

Chicken & rice 

Chicken soup with veggies (The broth, plus one handful each of diced chicken, rice and the veggie mixture. Some tomato is good, too.)

Buy less rice, and get some noodles for this variation

Potato soup   (chopped potatoes, a tablespoon of the veggies cooked in water. Drain, add milk and a pat of butter when the potatoes are done, and heat to boiling. Salt and pepper heavily.)

Baked potatoes -- with chicken, an egg or a strip of bacon inserted inside the potato when nearly baked

Spanish rice (veggies, tomato, rice -- and an egg stirred in just before serving)

Chicken and dumplings  (chicken, veggies, a little of the chicken soup broth -- and this basic recipe)

That should get you through the week -- with leftovers. A biscuit or slice of bread and butter will help fill you up, if soup's the only thing on the menu. Or use one of the eggs to make oatmeal cookies. (You can use an eggshell of water for the second egg -- but you'll need the first one.) For this week, drink water or milk.

NEXT WEEK:  Plan to use any leftovers from Week #1. Use the savings on the milk to buy coffee or teabags, instead. Get a pound of white or pinto beans. (Beans and rice are the universal moneysaving food the world around.) Jam! (It's good on toast, and stirred into the oatmeal.) Buy a different protein, for variety -- or get a pound of cheese and have grilled cheese sandwiches and cheese-topped baked potatoes, instead. You were short on dessert last week -- maybe a sampler pack of candy bars, or chocolate chips for cookies?

For two people, you can easily stay in the $50 range each week, instead of spending $60. (Use the extra for canned veggies on sale, salad makings, popcorn, beans, etc.)

It won't be lavish. And you'll have to plan ahead. But if you truly need to, you can stick with a $30-a-week budget until things get better. 

They will.

Prayers Needed for Damar Hamlin

      Football lovers everywhere...Damar and his family need us right now. 

Update:  He's awake. Please keep praying.  (He can't speak yet, due to the breathing tube for the ventilator. But the first question he wrote on a clipboard: "Did we win?")